Wine Tips - Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurtztraminer and Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon

Greetings from Vintage Connections! 

This week's wine tips!


Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurtztraminer 2008

This semi-dry gewurtztraminer is from the Columbia Valley in Washington state.  If you haven’t tried a gewurtztraminer before, this is one that you should try.  It is light, almost invisible yellow in color with aromas of summer flowers, lychees and citrus.  It has a spicy flavor with hints of grapefruit and other citrus and a lingering, refreshing finish. 

This wine is good with spicy foods as well as drinking by itself.  It is clean and simple, with balanced acidity.  Very floral and good for folks that lean toward the slightly sweet wines.

Chateau Ste Michelle Winery is one of Washington state’s founding wineries.  Established on the lands of lumber baron Frederick Stimson in 1912 shortly after prohibition was repealed as Pommerelle Wine Company and National Wine Company.  It became Chateau Ste Michelle in 1976 when the French style Chateau was built.

Alcohol is 12% by volume.  PLCB product code is 8065 and sells for $10.99 a bottle at most PA Wine and Spirit Stores.

Souverain Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

This excellent deep ruby-colored, dry red wine is actually a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Syrah, 1.5% each of petit sirah and cabernet franc made by Chateau Souverain.  It has aromas of coffee and black fruits with flavors of plum, blackberries and black currants.  It has a long satisfying finish.

The grapes for this wine came exclusively from the 120 year old estate vineyards in the Alexander Valley.  It was aged in 100% new oak barrels, 60% French, 20% Hungarian and 20% American for 24 months.

The name Souverain was chosen by the original owner J. Leland Stewart’s young daughter.  The word comes from the French word for “sovereign” or “supreme”.  Souverain started in the Napa Valley and shortly before Stewart’s retirement was moved to the Alexander Valley where Beringer’s bought it.

Alcohol is 14.1% by volume.  PLCB product code is 4723 and sells for $19.99 at most PA Wine and Spirit stores.


Up-coming Events

Jazz Jam at Pinnacle Ridge

Sunday, July 18

Manatawny Creek Wine Festival 
Saturday, July 24

The Great PA Wine Toast
August 14
Across the Commonwealth
Let's Toast!
More Info Coming Soon

Bottle Shock Revisited!
USA vs. France blind wine tasting
Saturday
September 18
6:30 - 9:30 PM

Benefits the American Wine Society Educational Foundation

Wine and Appetizer pairing and
"blind tasting" 
of USA vs French wines.

Taste and vote for your favorites!

Perkiomen Valley Library, Schwenksville
$49 per person
$90 per couple
$350 per group of eight.
More details coming soon!
Visit the Perkiomen Valley Chapter of AWS.

Mom's House
Benefit Wine Dinner 

Saturday, October 23 
Five course dinner, each course paired with a different wine.  
Kimberton Arts Center  6:30 PM
For more information about Mom's House, click HERE

This Week's Fun Fact 
Gewurtztraminer grapes are actually light pink to slightly red in color.  
Someday, there will be a quiz!

Contact us at 610-469-6164 or at Vintageconnections@Comcast.net to discuss a wine seminar, tasting, or other event for your business, organization, or at your home.S