This unusual apple wine had us scratching our heads and asking for another glass.
A Taste Of Fall In The Bottle
We received a sample of Oliver Winery’s limited release of their Apple Pie Wine. Why not, we said.
A cook-out with the neighbors was scheduled for the weekend, and Tom and Debbie have a sweet tooth when it comes to wine. This was the perfect opportunity to try a “slice” of the Apple Pie Wine.
The Leading Indiana Winery
In the Midwest, states like Indiana, Ohio and Michigan not only have award-winning wineries, but bountiful fruit harvests. For several years I served as a wine judge at the Wood County Fair in Ohio and tried scores of fruit-based wines. Some were quite good.
So its only natural that Oliver has been producing apple wine and cider for decades. Winemaker Dennis Dunham came up with the idea for Apple Pie wine, but he was greeted with skepticism. In the end, he convinced the sales team – and we’re glad he did.
Does It Really Taste Like Apple Pie?
The secondary flavors really made the difference. There are hints of cinnamon and vanilla. After several glasses it wasn’t hard to imagine a warm slice of apple pie with a flaky crust and some whipped cream on top.
Oliver says this is a wine designed to share around a holiday table. We’ll agree with that. This won’t replace Cabernet Sauvignon – but then again, it isn’t intended to. It’s a nostalgic wine that evokes memories of frost on the pumpkin and a warm fireplace.
This has 7.3% residual sugar, certainly sweet, but much less so than an icewine or late harvest wine. The alcohol level is 10%, a lower level than a typical wine which allows Apple Pie to pair well with dessert or a meal with hearty flavors.
Apple Pie is available September through November in Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Connecticut, Missouri, Texas, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. It is also available from Oliver online. The cost is a tasty $8 SRP. Pie anyone?
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