Many thanks to The Cork Report for organizing the May 22 #OpenLocalWine day to celebrate wines from all over North America. With winery tasting rooms around the country closed due to COVID-19, local wineries need support now more than ever.

With some of my fellow wine friends, we celebrated wines from Texas (of course), the Finger Lakes and Virginia. Thank you to Jennifer McInnis with Bending Branch Winery, Joanna Wilczoch with Pedernales Cellars, and Matt McGinnis with Big Thirst Marketing for bringing wines to share and toast some fabulous wine regions making really stellar wines.

Kyla Pet-Nat, Pedernales Cellars, Stonewall, Texas
Love this newly released pet-nat of 100% estate Tempranillo, with notes of cherry and strawberry

 

Dry Riesling Classique, Forge Cellars, Seneca Lake, New York
Beautiful expression of Riesling with lemon-lime, honey and hint of petrol notes

Sparkling Pinot Meunier, Lost Draw Cellars, Fredericksburg, Texas
Delicious fizz with yeasty / toasty notes

Tradition, Afton Mountain Vineyards, Afton, Virginia
A big red of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet with notes of red and black fruit

 

The Monticello Rose, Monticello Wine Company (second label of Afton Mountain Vineyards), Charlottesville, Virginia
This rose of Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet has bright red fruit and a bit of tannic structure

Cabernet Franc, Hermann Wiemer Vineyard, Finger Lakes, New York
Red fruit, leather, and green tobacco notes

 

GSM, Fall Creek Vineyards, Tow, Texas
Always a favorite, this red has notes of black and blue fruit, herbs and smooth tannins

 

Petite Sirah, Bending Branch Winery, Comfort, Texas
A big red with lots of blackberry and blueberry notes and baking spices

Thanks Texas Wine Lover for the face mask. These are definitely weird times but glad we can still taste wines while socially distancing!

Cheers,  Denise

Certified Wine Educator, WSET Advanced, Certified Sommelier, French Wine Scholar, Les Dames D’Escoffier Austin
Phone: (512) 587-5879
Email: denise@deniseclarkepr.com