Spectacular Wines: Somerset Ridge Traminette Oktoberfest (2009)

The continuing series highlighting the best of the best, Spectacular Wines from the Midwest as acknowledged by the acclaimed Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition (2010). 

Somerset Ridge Traminette Oktoberfest 2009 Kansas

Jefferson Cup Winner

The Wine – Traminette:  “German style semi-sweet white wine. Made from the highly acclaimed Traminette grape (a Gewurztraminer hybrid.) Our top-selling white wine. Smooth, very fruit-forward, with a spicy finish. Great with a wide range of foods, including spicy Asian dishes.”

Details via Somerset Website

Total Cases: 2500
Harvest Dates: September 2008
Bottling Date: February 2009
Release Date: May 2009

Average Degree Brix: 21.0
Titratable Acidity: g/L
pH at Bottling:
Alcohol Level: 11.5% 

Buy This Wine: Click Here

The Winery: (Via Facebook info):  “We are a family-owned vineyard and winery located in the rolling hills of Miami County, Kansas, approximately 20 miles south of the greater Kansas City area. We take pride in making handcrafted, premium wines from Kansas grown grapes.”

Visit: Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery

Spectacular Wines: Holy-Field Vineyards & Winery Chambourcin (NV)

The second, in the series of Spectacular wines from the Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition comes from Holy-Field Vineyards & Winery located in Kansas.  This Chambourcin was selected as only one of two non-vinifera (i.e., traditional, European red wine grape) red wines to win the coveted Jefferson Cup in the 2010 competition.

Holy-Field Vineyards & Winery Chambourcin (NV)

Jefferson Cup Winner

 The Wine:  Chambourcin - “A great tasting dry red wine with loads of berry character.  Just the thing for those special pasta or steak dinners.  Aged in American Oak 12 - 16 months”.

About the Winery:  “Holy-Field Vineyard & Winery is a family owned business committed to producing a limited variety of premium fine wines. Founded by Les & Michelle Meyer (father & daughter), the first vines were planted in 1986 and have grown to include over 12,000 vines located on fourteen beautiful acres at the intersection of 158th Street and 24-40 highway in southern Leavenworth County Kansas. Holy-Field derives its name from the days when 158th street was named Holyfield Road. Opening our doors for the first time in 1994, Holy-Field began serving its customers from our Basehor, Kansas location.

The vineyard is planted with Native American and French Hybrid varieties with an emphasis placed on growing superior grapes. The carefully tended grapes are harvested by hand and then immediately pressed. Our wines are fermented, aged and bottled in the cellars located beneath our tasting room. Harvest production annually produces about 7,000 gallons of wine from our ten varieties of grapes.

Located on our thirty acre Estate are a spacious Tasting Room & Gift Shop, Vineyard Room (Banquet Hall), Wine Deck & Gazebo. The winery offers a warm and inviting atmosphere for our visitors to enjoy fine wines, specialty gifts and good company”.

Visit the Website:  Holy-Field Vineyard & Winery

Spectacular Wines: Debonné Vineyards Vidal Blanc Ice Wine (2008)

Midwest Wine Review is in the midst of establishing wine review protocols, identifying qualified individuals to serve on judging panels; however, while we are working behind the scenes there are outstanding and award winning wines we can highlight.

Among the many wine competitions a few stand out as exemplary.  The Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition should on all wine aficionados radar with particular attention given to the wines achieving top honors “Nominee” or “Jefferson Cup” winner.  Other great wines are identified and awarded titles such as “Medals of American Merit” (comparable to a Silver medal) and “American Examples of Greatness” (comparable to Gold medal).

What distinguishes the Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition is the fact that only the best of the best are asked to submit wines to the competition.  Says Doug Frost (MS/MW), founder and organizer, “the Jefferson Cup is a different sort of wine competition, in that it is an invitational in which over six hundred wines are pre-selected which exemplify viticulture and winemaking in America.”

As one of only three people in the world to possess the distinction of Master of Wine and Master Sommelier, Doug Frost, knows great wines!

Debonné Vineyards Vidal Blanc Ice Wine (2008)

Jefferson Cup Winner

The Wine: “Produced from naturally frozen Vidal Blanc grapes, hand-picked and pressed frozen immediately to capture a few drops of sweet, concentrated juice. Perfect served with desserts or by itself at the completion of a fine meal.” ($29.99).  To Order, Click Here.

About Chalet Debonné Vineyards (via website):

“Our family vineyard operation was founded by Anton Debevc in 1916.  In 1971, Tony Sr. and son, Anthony, created Chalet Debonné Vineyards, establishing world class standards in the Lake Erie & Grand River Valley District (Ohio) and developing one of the most successful wineries in the Midwest.”

“Grape growing (viticulture) and winemaking (enology) are the areas that we at Chalet Debonné consider to be the foundation of our business.  In the last decade we have consistently gained recognition in competitions from San Francisco to New York, from Toronto to Dallas.  Our family commitment to excellence begins in the vineyards and is reflected in the quality of our premium Debonné Vineyards varietals and the original Chalet Debonné blends.”

Visit: Chalet Debonné Vineyards

Midwest Wine Review

Welcome to the inaugural posting for Midwest Wine Review!

WHY?  Great wines are being skillfully crafted in nontraditional locations, places such as: Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Visit most any wine retailer in the heartland and you'll be inundated with shelves lined with California wines and those from far-away lands.  More frequently these days you're likely to find locally made wines in these same stores!  

For many, "local wines" are synonymous with low quality.  While that may have been the case in the past, today's local wineries are crafting wines of extraordinary quality. 

How to Choose: Traditional wine regions are favored by the large monthly wine fan magazines that highlight the best of the best (typically California-centric); unfortunately many local wine enthusiasts are left to fend for themselves.

That's where Midwest Wine Review hopes to come in!

Midwest Wine Review will review, score and discuss the wines from the heartland.  Using highly skilled wine industry professionals (e.g., Sommeliers, Wine Science/Service instructors, and Wine Competition Judges) each quarter, Midwest Wine Review will focus on a particular wine variety/cultivar and systematically and critically evaluate those wines.

Wines will be evaluated blind, that is to say, only the varietal and residual sugar levels will be known to the judges.  (MWR staff will not identify wineries, states, regions, or AVA to the panel of judges prior to or during judging). Judges will individually taste, critique and evaluate each wine separately (written); and then, after each flight of wines, the judging panel will discuss. 

Judge sensory analysis notes, personal scores, and group scores, will be collected; final scores and consensus review notes will be compiled and reported on this site.  

Scores below 83 (a "B" or Bronze award level) will not be reported to the public and not shared on this site.  Wineries are encouraged to report the findings from the Midwest Wine Review on their websites, social media, and use as "table talkers" for public displays.

Scoring and Defining Qualities:

98-100 Spectacular— Flawless wine; epitome of varietal expression; Reflects highest quality standards equivalent to Sweepstakes nominees and awards, and Double Gold medal and/or Best of Show recognition; Rare and transcendent wine.  Top 3%

94-97 Exceptional— Wine of exceptional quality; excellent and highlights the best expression of varietal characteristics Reflects very high standards of quality; equivalent to Gold medal; Excellent wine. Top 6%

90-93 Great— Praiseworthy wines; Wines expressing varietal characteristics to high degree; Reflects professional standards; equivalent to Silver Medal; Great wine. Top 10%

87-89 Sterling— Wine of very good quality; Varietal characteristics expressed; well-balanced and harmonious; Reflects  high standards; equivalent to Bronze+ medal; Very good wine. Top 13%

83-86 Select— Wine of good quality; Some varietal expression; balanced; equivalent to Bronze; good wine. Top 17%

FUTURE PLANS: Currently, we are in the process of identifying trained and knowledgeable wine industry professionals to volunteer their expertise to this important effort.  If you are interested and possess critical wine sensory analysis expertise, please email Brad Johnson, Winedustry Editor - Brad@winedustry.com - www.winedustry.com