Silver Crest Cellars Wins Best of Show from People’s Choice Judges at 5th Annual Cabernet Franc Wine Competition
Photo ©Michael Kelly
At the 5th International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition & Celebration, Silver Crest Cellars won Best of Show from the People’s Choice Judges in the Central Division. They also won a Silver Medal from the People’s Choice Judges. This division was for Cabernet Franc varietal wines representing a minimum of 75% Cabernet Franc grapes.
The Winery
Photo from Silver Crest Cellars website
Silver Crest Cellars is located northeast of Cleveland, Ohio in Madison Ohio near the edge of the Grand River. They opened the winery in June 2018 by local grape growers and uses grapes from their family vineyard which dates back as far as the 1930’s and other local vineyards.
Today they make a variety of wines including besides their Cabernet Franc Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dornfelder and Chardonnay. Additionally, they make other local and historical varieties and blends.
Map from The Stories | Crushed Grape Chronicles
Ohio grows a broad range of grape varieties and today they boast between 450 – 500 wineries in the state. This makes them one of the top ten wine-producing states in America. In Ohio there are five recognized viticultural areas: Lake Erie, Isle St. George, Grand River Valley, Ohio River Valley and Loramie Creek.
The Wine – “Wine if bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Besides winning the Best of Show at the 5th Annual Cabernet Franc Competition from the People’s Choice Judges, they have also won the following awards:
• International Cabernet Franc Competition – BEST OF SHOW
• San Francisco Chronicle: Silver Medal
• San Francisco International: Bronze Medal
• Dan Berger (formerly Riverside) International: Silver Medal
• American Wine Society: Bronze Medal, 86 points
This 2018 Cabernet Franc was grown at their Schubert-Ferney vineyard on the south side of the Grand River Valley. Here at this warm climate site, it allows the Cabernet Franc grapes to fully ripen with red fruit, spicy flavors and very typical of Loire-style Cabernet Franc.
On the eyes a medium dark reddish brown brick coloring. On the nose fragrant aromas of violets. On the palate, soft tannins and reserved fruit flavors. On the finish a little tart cherry and rhubarb.
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
The wine was specifically selected for tonight’s dinner to go with a dry rubbed BBQ’ed chicken breast. The dry rub included chili powder, brown sugar, dried oregano, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, fine sea salt, chipotle seasoning, pepper and a little extra virgin olive oil. The slices of chicken provided ample flavors and the wine was wonderful assimilating with its this refreshing and exquisite flavors. The meal was accompanied by roasted Brussel sprouts drizzled with balsamic reduction, artichoke and a fresh garden salad.
Sláinte,
Michael