The Other 46

Originated in Southern Québec, ice cider (or cidre de glace in French) is a dessert wine made from apples and concentrated by natural winter cold.  There are two approaches to producing ice wine according to Wikipedia: cryoconcentration and cryoextraction. “Cryoconcentration involves harvesting the fruits late in season and leaving them in fresh storage until late December, when they are [...]

When it comes to Virginia wine, the two varieties most mentioned are Viognier (the state’s official wine grape variety) and Cabernet Franc.  Both are deserving of the discussion.  And just for the record, I’m a fan of both.  But for those new to Virginia wine, you would be remiss if you overlook Merlot, a variety [...]

The hardest decision at the end of the day can sometimes be the wine choice.  Whether selecting a wine to pair with dinner, or simply finding a wine to enjoy on its own, the decision can be daunting. The other night I wanted a glass of wine to pair alongside a veggie flatbread pizza.  Nothing [...]

Don’t be fooled by the unassuming entrance to Chester Gap Cellars.  In fact, if you don’t pay close attention, you may miss some of the best views and wines the state has to offer.  Located just off route 522 (literally), Chester Gap sits at over 1000 feet elevation at the northern tip of Rappahannock County, Virginia. [...]

Over the holidays, I tasted a number of wines from the other 46 states, with a Bordeaux-style blend leaving a lasting impression.  The wine, the Yonah Mountain Vineyards 2006 Genesis, is produced by Yonah Mountain Vineyards.  I’ve written about their wines a number of times (read more here), and each time I come away more impressed. [...]

Partners Maynard James Keenan and Eric Glomski produce a number of wines from 100% Arizona fruit under their Arizona Stronghold Vineyard label.  Well-priced and widely distributed for local wines, the ASV portfolio of wines are a great introduction to the Grand Canyon State. A Rhone blend, the Arizona Stronghold Vineyards 2009 Nachise is made up [...]