Winston wishes he could taste the Hedonia wine we sampled at Fox Run Vineyards during their 22nd Annual Glorious Garlic Festival (August 2, and 3) Either that or he is mad at us for not taking him! But if we had, we never would have made it to the wine tasting tent and had a sit down tasting with Peter Bell, Winemaker extraodinaire. We learned how the Chardonnay grape can produce two very different tasting wines. First we sampled the Un-oaked Chardonnay which is aged in stainless steel tanks. This produces a refreshing, crisp, light, fruit forward, dry wine that is very drinkable by itself on the deck or with food. Next we sampled the Reserve Chardonnay which is aged in French and American oak barrels to create that rich mouth feel and buttery, creamy wine that we love so much with seafood. Fox Run's Reserve Chardonnay is well balanced - no overpowering oak here. Peter tells us that it is the malolactic fermentation that the Oaked Chardonnay goes through that coverts the malice acid (think green apple tartness) to lactic acid ( fuller mouth feel and buttery notes). That explains why the Un-oaked has the tartness and crispness (and is the same reason a Riesling or Gewurztraminer is crisp, tart and fruit-forward) - no malolactic fermentation!
Next we tried the Hedonia. This fortified wine occupies a unique niche. If you like Gewurztraminer, you will like this wine as it is made from the Traminette grape - relative of the Gewürztraminer grape. Peter feels the best way to drink it is before dinner (as an aperitif) to wake up your taste buds. And simpler is better - on the rocks with a twist of orange. Ways to mix it to create other cocktails are on the Fox Run website, but we really enjoyed sipping it alone and well chilled. At 20% alcohol and with 9% residual sugar, it is delicious, serious and needs to be experienced!
Of course, there were many things garlic at the Garlic Festival, too. Local garlic cheeses, pickles, sauces, and crafts along with the music of various bands. A great way to spend a hot August weekend!
We tired Winston out just talking about it!
(Think LLBean will want him as a poster child?)
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