Pennsylvania Wine Tasting Redux

Given the success of my most recent classes on Pennsylvania wines,  I suggested this theme to a group of wine friends who meet semi-regularly.  They were game to throw caution to the wind and heartily embraced the idea.  Ergo, I now present to you a summary of the dinner's libations which turned out to be a surprise hit.  The "carte à vins" include selections from my last class as well as a few new additions.

We started with a comparison taste test of two Gruner Veltliners - one from Stargazer (the preference of most imbibers), the other from  Galen Glen.  This was followed by a newcomer - an Albarino from Maple Glen, courtesy of my good wine friend and confidante Mary Lou.

Two different 2013 reds from Karamoor, a Cabernet Franc (the clear winner of the evening) and a Meritage (Bordeaux-style blend) led us into the second half of the dinner, topped off by a Saperavi from Fero Vineyards of Lewisberg, which was also a crowd pleaser.

Though still a fledging in the world of quality wines, Pennsylvania has nevertheless come a long way since I began conducting wine tastings with much promise for the future.

Galen Glen Gruner Veltliner 2018 http://www.galenglen.com/

                                     

Origin: Lehigh Valley

Varietal: 100% Gruner Veltliner

Production/Tasting Notes: Second oldest Gruner planting in the US; aromas of white grapefruit, passion fruit with sweet minty herbal note; bright acidity; subtle creaminess on palate; long, honey-tinged finish

Food  Pairing: aperitif; seafood, sausage, schnitzel

Alcohol: 12%

Stargazer  GrunerVeltliner 2015 http://www.stargazersvineyard.com/

                              

Origin: Chester County

Varietal: 100% Gruner Veltliner

Tasting Notes: Citrus aromas and mineral flavors complemented by stone fruit and fresh vegetal notes and the variety's trademark hint of white pepper

Food pairing: Traditional Wiener schnitzel; Wasabi and tuna salad; Zucchini quiche

Alcohol:  12.5%

Maple Springs Alabarino 2018

              

Origin: Bechtelsville,  Berks County

Varietal: 100% Albarino

Tasting Notes: Fermented cold in stainless steel to bring a pure expression of the fruit; after fermentation the wine was kept cool and allowed to clarify on its own; bottled after  three months,  with minimal intervention; peach fruit, citrus, mineral, subtle salinity, and mouthwatering acidity (Placed in the top three wines at the PA Sommelier Judgement Day competition.)

Food Pairing: Seafood; Paella with lobster and chorizo; Green-lipped mussels grilled with parsley butter

Alcohol: 13%

Karamoor Estate Cabernet Franc 2013 https://www.karamoorwines.com/

                           

Origin: Ft. Washington, Montgomery County

Varietals: 100% Cabernet Franc

Production/Tasting Notes: Huckleberry, moss and savory aromas are accounted with light berry flavors, clove and peppercorns leading to a medium bodied, soft tannic finish

Food Pairing: Grilled Italian sausage; stuffed portabellas with smoked cheese; prime rib; eggplant parmesan; pizza

Alcohol:  13.9%

Karamoor Estate Meritage 2013 https://www.karamoorwines.com/

                            

Origin: Ft. Washington, Montgomery County

Varietals: 35% Merlot; 27% Cabernet Franc; 23% Cabernet Sauvignon; 15% Petit Verdot

Production/Tasting Notes: Aged for 16 months in 65% French oak, 20% American oak, 15% Hungarian oak, of which 30% was new oak; plums, currants, and traces of dusty leather carry to opulent, dark fruit on a silky textured palate; well-managed tannins create velvety mouthfeel and allow for aging potential.

Alcohol:  13.7%

Fero Saperavi 2017 http://www.ferovineyards.com/

                          

Origin : Lewisberg

Varietal: 100% Saperavi

Production/Tasting Notes:  18 months aged in oak; primary grape of the Republic of Georgia; 

extremely dark grape skin and juice due to red anthocyanin pigment; 

fragrant, fleshy, grapey, floral; creamy vanilla; faintly herbal meaty notes; 

moderate acidity; long finish

Food Pairings: Stew, lamb

Alcohol: 13%

Winery Notes

STARGAZERS Vineyard and Winery was founded by Alice and John Weygandt. The Vineyard was first planted in 1979; the winery was established in 1996. The Vineyard overlooks the Brandywine Creek from its south facing slopes just north of Unionville, PA in Southern Chester County.

The Vineyard is near the "Stargazers Stone" which marks the location of the observatory Mason and Dixon used in surveying the border between Pennsylvania and Maryland. They were known as "the stargazers" because they used celestial navigation to correct their measurements over the ground. For more about the Line see www.mdlpp.org

We have an excellent vineyard site in the heart of southern Chester County on a south-facing slope with heat retaining, well drained, schisty soil. Situated on a hill above the Brandywine Creek, Stargazers Vineyard has its own special environment and microclimate.

Karamoor Estate's vineyard is 27 acres of densely planted, immaculately maintained vinifera vines.  The vineyard was designed and architected by Lucie Morton  who was highlighted in Vineyard & Winery Management's "Top 20 Most Admired People in the North American Wine Industry".  In 2003 (when she began working with Karamoor); she chose the varieties of vinifera grapes that we would plant here and she chose where they would be planted.

Lucie is a big advocate of high-density planted vineyards.  The normal vineyard may have about 600-800 vines per acre, but the vineyards that Lucy designs on the east coast have an average of 1600-2000 vines per acre.  The reasoning behind high-density planting is that it promotes even and full ripening by asking the vine to produce less fruit (esentially, making the vine do less work, allowing it to concentrate on fully ripening a smaller crop).

In 2006, the first 10 acres were planted, in 2008, an additional 5 acres, and in 2013, the final 10 acres were planted.  As far as varieties of grapes; we grow Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Malbec, and Pinot Gris.

Maple Springs Vineyard

The selection of our varietals at Maple Springs Vineyard has been made with close attention to each specific vineyard – their soil makeup, climate influence, elevated hillside locations, and our growing understanding, season by season, of what makes them produce the best wines.

We planted our first vineyards in 2008 on four acres on Maple Springs Farm, two acres on two different sites on the Farm. We started the project with all Chardonnay vines as it's the varietal we drink most often! We have proven it's possible to develop estate grown vinifera vineyards in Pennsylvania that produce high quality, dry, Burgundy-style wines.

Our wines include classic Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Albariño, Grüner Veltliner, and Syrah, as well as a Rosé and Cuvee 30 dessert wine.

Galen Glen Winery

Trips to Germany and wine from Hawaii via Galen's best friend collided to inspire Galen and Sarah to leave corporate jobs and acquire the Troxell family double century farm. Galen brought with him years of experience as a mechanical engineer combined with a natural ability to grow things from his youth. Sarah worked as a chemist, packaging liquid drugs, and transitioned to a new product, wine.

Land

Our heirloom property is named after Galen and our terrain, a glacially carved 'U' shape or 'glen'. The tasting room is located high on one hillside with vineyards, the cellars are tucked into the base of the glen and more vineyards are on the other hillside.

Stick

This cherry sapling symbolizes our perseverance. Chopped down by Galen, our first vineyard was planted using it for row to row spacing, creating meandering grapevines.