2022 Vermilion Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosé – A Delightful Surprise!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
Picture from Vermilion Valley Vineyards
Recently I have authored 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 that quality of Pinot Noir could be grown in Ohio.
The second story was on a wine seldom seen in California that many have never tasted, Lemberger wine.
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2024/03/10/the-winerie-at-sandusky-2021-lemberger-wine
Vermilion Valley Vineyards has one hundred planted acres in four different locations. With microclimates, this allows all his wines to be 100% estate grown. What is interesting about Ohio is that 370 wineries exist but only nine hundred acres of grapes are planted! Doing the 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 the 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 important 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
In full disclosure, any Rosé is not my go to type of wine. I don’t have any in my cellar and have never purchased a Rosé. So now I am writing about this one! Joe had sent me this bottle and I held off opening it as long as I could to taste it, and if good I would write about it. I now wasted a complete summer not enjoying this delicious wine!
First on the eyes a translucent and curious copper color and light viscosity. On nose strawberry was the dominant aroma. Now on the palate, this wine bursts forth with flavors of cantaloupe, brioche and nectarine. A light flavorful wine with more punch than expected in a Rosé. The finish was cool and refreshing, especially with the meal we enjoyed with it. A strong minerality and stone fruit completed the tasting experience and was very dry. It is 12% alcohol.
The wine lists for $18/bottle and for this robust flavor and taste I would buy a bottle! Joe may have moved me off my stance on Rosé wines!
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
Pulled this wine as I thought a lighter wine with the meal would work this evening. The dinner was chicken stir fry with some unique ingredients. The stir fry sauce used soy sauce, chicken broth, corn starch, honey, minced ginger, minced garlic, and Momofuku Chili Crunch. The stir fry portion with the chicken pieces also included broccoli, Ramon Noodles, and cashews. Topped off with sesame seeds for a tasty and spicy dish. The wine served chilled was perfect combating the heat of the food and added a soothing touch to the food as well as introducing fruit flavors. An excellent food and wine pairing.
Sláinte,
Michael