Local Flavor
My father sent me an article from the Wall Street Journal last week about local wineries selling their wines in airports. What a great idea! We’re always looking for that last minute gift to buy for our family and friends back home. What better than a consumable item, unique to the place you’ve just visited. Who really needs another coffee mug, ashtray, refrigerator magnet, T shirt…?
Almost every state has at least one winery. They are usually family-owned and operated and many of them (more than you might think) make fabulous wine. I have had the opportunity to taste wines from all over the world as a judge for the International Wine Competition held at the State Fair here in Indianapolis. Don’t harrumph! It’s one of the largest in the nation. Stone Hill Winery in Branson, Missouri won Best White Wine with its blend of Vidal and Seyval Blanc a few years ago. This was a beautiful, crisp, dry wine with distinctive fruit flavors and a long, lovely finish. A wine I would be proud to pour at the restaurant. Unfortunately, it’s not available in Indianapolis. These are for the most part, small production wines so you might only be able to buy them at the wineries.
There’s a fabulous sparkling wine from Albuquerque, New Mexico - Gruet Brut. It’s hard to believe, but true. This is such a great wine that it has a “special mention” in the third edition of Wine For Dummies. By the way, this is a great reference book for wine lovers from rookies to pros. Full of information and written with a sense of humor.
Some wineries make wine from fruit other than grapes. These are not wines I would think of pairing with dinner but how about as an addition to Sangria? I love a Michigan cherry wine in mine. Or how about a Blackberry wine with a cheese course or a rich, chocolate dessert?
Bottom line
These are wines made by local “farmers”, vines nurtured like children and sold for the most part, only locally. So, the next time you’re traveling, take the time to look up that local winery, taste their wares and take some home to your loved ones. You’ll be glad you did.
Here’s one of my favorite recipes using Jalapeno Wine from Circle S Vineyards in Houston, Texas.
GREEN CHILE RISOTTO
1 cup Arborio rice
¼ cup minced onion
1 cup Jalapeno wine
4 cups Chicken stock
1 small can diced green chiles with liquid
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
½ cup parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons butter
Sweat onions in 1 tablespoon of olive oil over med heat.
Add rice and stir to coat. When rice is coated and begins to look opaque, add wine and simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed. Begin adding chicken stock (make sure you heat your stock) just enough to cover the rice, stirring often, adding more stock as the last is absorbed. Add the chiles and their liquid last. To finish, add remaining olive oil, butter and cheese and blend completely.
Don't forget about my Women's Wine Workshop on August 15th, 2005 at Oakleys bistro. Our group just gets bigger and bigger every time so hurry to sign up!
L. Cunningham
A Woman on Wine
