2021 Vermilion Valley Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc – Lake Erie
The Winery
From Vermilion Valley Vineyards Website
I recently did several stories on Vermilion Valley Vineyards and The Winerie at Sandusky (both labels are the same ownership and winemaker). The Vermilion Valley story was on how delicious their Pinot Noir and who knew the quality of Pinot Noir could be grown in Ohio.
The second story was on a wine seldom seen in California and many have never tasted, Lemberger wine.
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2024/03/10/the-winerie-at-sandusky-2021-lemberger-wine
Vermilion Valley Vineyards has 100 planted acres in four different locations. With micro climates, this allows all his wines to be 100% estate grown. What is interesting about Ohio is that some 370 wineries exist but only 900 acres of grapes are planted! Doing some simple math, removing the five largest vineyards in the state, you are left with each winery having a one acre parcel! Thus many wineries in Ohio rely on importing juice from various areas like the Central Valley of California and Washington. That is one of many unique characteristics of Vermilion Valley Vineyards and their estate wines.
Currently they produce the following red wines: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Dorsa, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lemberger, Chambourcin, Dornfelder, Nebbiolo, Malbec, Pinotage and Merlot. Ditto for their white wines producing: Muscat Ottonel, Riesling. Gruner Veltliner, Müller-Thurgau, Traminette, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Valvin Muscat, Ribola Gialla, Petit Manseng, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Albariño, Pinot Blanc and Arneis. That is a wide variety of wines and all estate grown!
You can read their webpage about their high level of sustainability incorporating land use and their buildings. Link at the bottom of the page
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Two days this last week, had a very nice crisp and fresh Sauvignon Blanc. This coming from Ohio, is the first one I have tasted from the region. Definitely an “Old World” bent with clarity and light golden in color. On the nose, aroma’s of orange blossoms and slight spring grasses. On the palate, the dominate characteristic was its minerality and a hint of Mandarin oranges. The finish again showed the minerality and great acidity. At a very reasonable price per their website.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Brought this wine for dinner with our Friday Night Wine & Dine group at Verona18. Dinner was supposed to be a grilled Mahi Mahi with a citrus salsa, basmati rice and sautéed seasonal vegetables. Unfortunately it was served with a egg batter and panko encrusted, which did not enhance the wine experience. So the pairing was average, but the wine was delicious.
Other delicious wines were enjoyed during the dinner from Amador County, Sonoma Valley, Paso Robles and Oregon.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Sláinte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
https://www.vermilion-valleyvineyards.com
https://www.coppervalleygolf.com/homepage/current-operations