Comments for wine(explored) by wine(accessorized)

Comment on Virginia Wine Tour: Chateau O’Brien by Ed Lohmann

Ed Lohmann — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:40:43 +0000

OK so Chateau O’Brian make a decent tannat. For my taste a tannat from Tablas Creek, Paso Robles is by far the best. Not to mention a Tanat from the Bouza vineyard in Uruguy or a Mediran Tanat from Chateau Montus. Now then, Chrysalis’ recent release of its tannat blended with a touch of Viogne is a sheer delight.

Comment on A Brief Treatise on Iowa Wine, Part 1: History by N

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:56:30 +0000

Thanks for this excellent summary, it’s a great intro to Iowa’s wine industry. I’ll be sure to share this link with all my wine buddies.

I was happy to see your mention of both Elmer Swenson and Dr. Murli Dhrmadhikari. These two are something like rockstars in the wine and grape-growing community and deserve so much credit for what they’ve done. I’m personally indebted to them both – my family vineyard wouldn’t be what it is today if not for them. Thanks again!

Comment on A Brief Treatise on Iowa Wine, Part 2: Varieties by wineaccguy

wineaccguy — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 04:06:07 +0000

Thank you! I actually did visit Fireside Winery on my travels. They did have good wine, and I in fact left with a bottle of their wine. I was in Cedar Rapids on a business trip, and I visited 4 wineries: Cedar Ridge, Fireside, Ackerman, and Collectively Iowa, as I work with the first three in my business, and I had talked to Royce on the phone about some educating at the fourth. Next time I get out to Iowa, I will definitely plan some extra time to expand my touring circle.

Comment on A Brief Treatise on Iowa Wine, Part 2: Varieties by Amazing Vanish (@Vanish)

Amazing Vanish (@Vanish) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 03:59:18 +0000

Nice write up. I’m an Iowa native who has been exploring the wine industry with interest and enthusiasm. I always enjoy hearing of others’ experiences tasting our newest industry. I am always baffled that everyone who does online reviews of Iowa Wineries visits the Eastern set. Western Iowa wineries outlasted the rest into the prohibition and conversion to corn and soybean crops. The history there has been preserved and carried forward,

But it’s the central Iowa wines that I like the best, as do most who I get to try them. Fireside Winery in Marengo and Summerset in Indianola have some of the best tasting wines on offer. Summerset has the best LaCrosse available as well as a red named Caba Moch that is usually described as a party in your mouth. Think sangria. It’s the state’s top seller. Fireside makes the best St. Croix you’ll ever taste, and they have a White Zin-like wine named Firefly that is very pleasing to the palate.

I encourage you to expand your experience here beyond the eastern side of the state. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. there are some dry whites elsewhere that will leave you parched.

Comment on A Brief Treatise on Iowa Wine, Part 1: History by Santa Barbara Wine Tours

Santa Barbara Wine Tours — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:41:17 +0000

Very interesting. I have to admit, until reading this post, I didn’t know that there was an Iowa wine country.
I do know something about the Santa Barbara wine country, and actually we’ve seen a similar explosion of wine making in our region. In the early ’80s there were only 13 wineries in Santa Barbara county, but now there are well over 100, and most of that increase has been in the last 15 years or so.

Lots of regions of the use have experienced a similar growth in their wine industry–Oregon and Washington for example–which is all to the good. We already can compete on an equal footing with European wines in terms of quality, and I’m sure that will also start approaching them in terms of quantity as well.