The United Grapes of America - Virginia - The Trifecta

StarChefs.com: The United Grapes of America

Being a resident of the Old Dominion, I am somewhat familiar with the wines produced from the 210 or so wineries operating in the Commonwealth. Many of my favorites are included in this Northern Virginia Magazine post on Wine Recs From Local Winos.  And there is such nice grape variety in Virginia - from Viognier, Chardonnay, Bordeaux varieties, Vidal Blanc, Petit Manseng, Albarino, and of course, Norton. And yet, I have been able to narrow my favorites to The Trifecta: the Glen Manor Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, the Boxwood Winery Rosé, and the Barboursville Vineyards Octagon.Why these? Just check out the VirginiaWineTV video below comparing these wines to some I found in the Sunshine state. Cheers.

Kiwi Day Dreaming, #winechat, & New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

Last night, Wednesday September 20th, our friends William and Juli, co-bloggers at Kiwi Day Dreaming hosted a session on Wines of New Zealand for #winechat. For the event, William and Pasternak Wine Imports provided us with two Sauvignon Blancs, the Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2011 ($12) and the Goldwater 2010 Wairau Valley, Marlborough ($16). During the chat we also learned bushels of new facts about the New Zealand wine industry, the Malborough region, and the Wairau Valley sub-region. Specifically, I was fascinated to learn that Sauvignon Blanc from the Wairau Valley characteristically express sub tropical fruits in the finish. And this was identical to my tasting notes for the Goldwater 2010. And the aroma from this one is strong, overpowering so, where the citrus leads to a rich wine - depth and flavor - and a long nicely acidic finish. The Dashwood was lighter, with a nose and flavor of grapefruit and a touch of lemon without the grass. The finish, refreshing acidity with some minerals mixed in. Both are nice wines, nice price points - time to start exploring New Zealand wines.

The United Grapes of America - Tennessee - Countryside Vineyards Chambourcin

I leveraged a trip to the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion  to visit Countryside Vineyards & Winery, located not far down Route 81 in Blountville, Tennessee. There are about three dozen wineries operating in the Volunteer State (visit Tennesse Wine Country), with most producing wine from French hybrids, native labrusca grapes, or country wines from berries. Countryside opened just over a decade ago and owner-winemaker Jim Thomas is most proud of his Chambourcin. This French-American hybrid was developed by Joannes Seibel in the Loire Valley of France in the 1860s - probably to help alleviate the affects of the phyloxera epidemic. However, it wasn't until the 1970s that the grape was planted widely in the United States for commercial use. Since then, its planting
has exploded because of its vineyard hardiness (cold and humidity) and diversity in styles. It can be vinified into a full or medium bodied dry red, a rose, or even a sweeter wine. Countryside's Chambourcin is a medium bodied wine, with smooth cherry-chocolate flavors, and a slightly peppery finish. The is a nice, easy drinking wine; affordable ($13); and worthy of the winery's praise.

StarChefs.com: The United Grapes of America

The United Grapes of America - Washington - Chateau Ste. Michelle Rieslings

StarChefs.com: The United Grapes of America

We continue our Pacific Northwest and the Summer of Riesling binge with Washington State's oldest winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle.  The winery was founded in 1934 - that's getting an early post-Prohibition start - and is located northeast of Seattle, in Woodinville. Although the estate vineyards are located in the Puget Sound AVA; many of their wines are made from grapes harvested in the Columbia Valley AVA. This is the largest AVA in the Evergreen State, accounting for "99% of wine grapes. (See the Washington Wine Commission for more facts on Washington wines.)  Riesling is a major player in the area and benefits from the warm, sunny days and cool evening temperatures. And Chateau Ste. Michelle produces three versions of Riesling which the recently sent me: a 2011 Columbia Valley Dry Riesling, a 2011 Columbia Valley Riesling, and a 2011 Columbia Valley Harvest Select Sweet Riesling.

I tasted these wines on multiple occasions over the weekend, and all are very nice; and every time I preferred the 2011 Harvest Select Sweet Riesling.  This wine possesses a strong peach profile - both in the aroma and flavor - but the wine's acidity has no problems balancing the 5.2% R.S. At times this wine reminded me of several local Petit Mangseng wines I've tasted recently - refreshing even with the sugar.  The Columbia Valley Riesling is made semi-dry at 2.2% R.S. and like the previous, the acidity had no problems balancing the sugar. In fact, I didn't even notice the sugar, just this time an apricot profile with the lemon-tart finish. And this wine tamed a couple spicy fish tacos. The Columbia Valley Dry Riesling is very clean, with more citrus flavors accompanied by the now familiar crisp acidic finish. Yet, this wine just didn't have the full flavor profile as the others. Not bad, but for my tastes, I seem to prefer a little more R.S. in my Riesling. All in all, a nice set of wine; cheers to Columbia Valley Riesling.

The United Grapes of America - Idaho - Sawtooth Winery Riesling

It's still the Summer of Riesling so we turn to Idaho where Sommelier Vino50.com recommended Sawtooth Winery and we selected their 2011 Riesling (a blend of 95% Riesling and just 5% Muscat Blanc).  Any discussion of Northwest wine production should not be monopolized by Oregon and Washington; Idaho and British Columbia should be included - particularly since the first vines in the Pacific Northwest were planted in Idaho in the 1860s. The terrior in Idaho is similar to that of eastern Washington & Oregon except its higher elevation produces a larger diurnal temperature variation. We are talking 30*-40*  at the highest elevations. The Snake River Valley was Idaho's first designated American Viticultural Area (AVA) and encompasses the strategic 43°- 46° latitudes.  Sawtooth Winery was founded in 1987 as started as Pintler Cellars, with early plantings of Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Semillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon.  In 1998 Pintler joined Corus Estates & Vineyards and was re-branded as Sawtooth Winery - honoring the Sawtooth Mountains. Today Sawtooth is one of about forty wineries operating in the Gem State.
Andrew Stover of

StarChefs.com: The United Grapes of America

The grapes for the 2011 Sawtooth Winery Riesling were harvested from the winery's Skyline Vineyards, a new vineyard with slopes facing in all directions. The east and north facing slopes are planted with cooler climate grapes such as Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling; whereas the south and west facing slopes are warmer and host Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Interesting - different micro-climates within he same vineyard.  The wine is made semi-dry with 2.0% RS but tons of acidity to balance the sugar. The aroma exudes peach, whereas the flavor is primarily lemon grass similar to some Sauvignon Blancs. There is also a honey richness to the wine that is followed by the pleasing acidic finish. Also pleasing is the price, $12 at Norms Beer & Wine. Cheers to that.