Adelaida Vineyards Releases Trio Of Spring Wine Winners

Rhône grapes add up to unique and refreshing new bottles from Paso Robles.

Adelaida Vineyards is a pioneer in Paso Robles wine. Established in 1981, it was the ninth winery in Paso. It is family-owned and all wines are 100% estate-grown and organically certified.

We were delighted to have the opportunity to taste three spring releases from this critically-acclaimed limited-production winery. The 2023 Adelaida Rosé, 2022 Adelaida Picpoul Blanc, and 2022 Adelaida Anna’s White all come from the Anna’s Estate Vineyard.

The vineyard is dedicated mostly to Rhône varieties. The white varieties (except for Viognier) lie at the lowest part of the vineyard where they benefit from cooler air. The red varieties are planted at higher elevations to capture greater sun exposure.

Adelaida is located just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The afternoon sea breezes contribute to a dramatic diurnal temperature swing allowing slow ripening and the development of nuanced flavors and high acidity.

The Anna’s White is a standout wine that delighted us from the opening sip. The blend is 41% Grenache Blanc, 37% Roussanne, 17% Muscat Canelli, and 5% Picpoul Blanc.

It's golden yellow in the glass and coats the tongue with rich, strikingly complex flavors of tart green apple, stone fruit, and ginger. The Muscat Canelli adds an interesting twist to this wine. It's aged nine months in a combination of new French oak and concrete. This is a smashing Rhône-style wine. Highly recommended! SRP $45.

We paired the rosé with vegan African Peanut Stew with brown rice and crispy kale topping. The rosé is one of the best we've tasted this year. It has "a lot going on" with 74% Grenache and smaller amounts of Cinsault, Mourvedre, Syrah, and Counoise.  In the glass, the wine is a beautiful pink pearl. A contemporary style of rosé, it’s nice and juicy. It offers floral scents and rounded flavors of cranberry and cherry blossom on the palate. SRP $35.

We’ve been fans of the Picpoul Blanc grape for many years and were looking forward to tasting this new release. Our daughter is a vegan chef, and she whipped up a special dish to pair with the Picpoul Blanc, vegan Aloo Gobi Mutter (potatoes, cauliflower, and peas with Indian spices). The wine is aged in concrete eggs and neutral oak for nine months. We love that as it adds an extra layer of texture without smothering the flavor.

Picpoul translates to “stings the lips” and there is ample acidity here that creates a vibrant wine. It is flush with tropical flavors, minerality, and notes of stone fruit. It’s a refreshing glass that certainly goes with seafood or plant-based dishes. Only 293 cases were produced. The SRP is $40.

As if producing wonderful wine isn’t enough, Adelaida is a forerunner in the ecology movement. Only 10% of Adelaida’s 1,900 acres are planted to vineyards; more than 1,000 acres of land remain undeveloped and unfenced, for ecological and wild animal habitat. The winery also produces all of its energy needs from its own solar farm and recycles its pond water for storage and ranch use.

These wines are available directly from the winery via its website.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

German Riesling 589 Years Old And Better Than Ever

Last month Riesling marked its 589th birthday. Loved around the world, it originated in a vineyard in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

Count Katzenelnbogen logged the first evidence of the Riesling grape, near the Rheingau region on March 13, 1435. It began a new age of white wine in Germany. Riesling was much better quality than typical for the time, was more resistant to frost, and had a much fruitier aroma.
 
Riesling has been a favorite of ours for many years (but less than 500!). It can be finished in a variety of styles, from bone dry to semi-dry to late harvest and even ice wine.

It thrives in colder climates and is high in acidity. The acidity give it a fresh and delicious character. Residual sugar (left when the fermentation is stopped) often gives the wine needed balance.

We are super-fans of dry Riesling, but more and more I’m drawn to the off-dry style which, in my view, allows you to experience the full spectrum of flavors.

California, Washington, New York State, France, Austria, and Australia all produce quality Riesling. The undisputed champion of Riesling is certainly Germany. Germany grows more than four times the acreage of Riesling compared to the nearest competitor, the US.

We recently tried two delicious German Rieslings. The 2022 Dönnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett carries the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter) eagle on its label, a symbol that the wine comes from a vineyard from one of Germany's top producers. Elegant notes of apple ripple with acidity balancing a light sweetness. A wonderful example of Kabinett Riesling.
 
The 2019 Leonard Kreusch Estate Riesling (Mosel) is a delightful off-dry wine with notes of lime, peach, and grapefruit. The medium acidity balances the residual sugar for a smooth sipping experience. This was perfect for an aperitif.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Eight Wine Trends For 2024

Wine Trends For This Year

When I was asked to put on a wine tasting for the Peak City Exchange Club Of Apex (a community service group), I landed upon the theme of wine trends for 2024. The wines for the event at Peak of the Vine were selected accordingly.

Here are the trends I highlighted and four wines that were served along with the presentation:

1. The NOLO (No- and Low-Alcohol) wine category is on fire. Low and No-Alcohol Wines continue to grow. Some call it needless but others see it as an exciting part of wine’s future. It fits in with Dry January, responsible drinking, and healthy lifestyles.
2. Organic and sustainable wines are trending. When it comes to social issues and sustainability, consumers want to spend in a way that’s consistent with their values. In particular, the 21-35 age group buys “responsible” wine more regularly than the older generation.
3. After the COVID pandemic, consumption has dropped and rising costs are affecting wineries. Labor shortages are a real concern for vineyards. Wine prices are going up. cheaper wine brands have consolidated through major wine deals and smaller producers are focusing on higher-priced premium wines to cope.
4. Rosé all year is now a thing. The quality of rosé has never been higher. The drier Provence style has captured the world market. The blush wine pairs perfectly with many dishes making it a perfect go-to wine no matter the season.
5. The sparkling wine category is showing strong growth. This also benefits Champagne alternatives, such as Prosecco, Sekt, and Cava. Crémant from France is one of my favorite values. During the pandemic, people discovered Champagne tastes just as good in sweatpants as in a tuxedo. As a result, sparkling isn’t reserved for just special occasions.
6. Orange wines, also known as skin-contact wines and amber wines, are made from white grapes. They possess both the flavors of white varieties with the texture and tannins common to red wine.  They are good for people experiencing “wine fatigue” and can develop flavors of nuts and dried fruit.
7. Obscure grapes are on the rise. Grapes such as Mourvèdre, Petite Verdot, Carignan, and others are being bottled on their own rather than being a small part of a blend.
8. There's a lot of food and drink inflation going on. This includes grocery stores, restaurants, and the wine shelf. The prices of wine have gone up, reflecting increased winery costs. Portuguese and Chilean wines are tasty and affordable exceptions.

These Four Wines Are On Trend

Mas Fi Cava Brut, Spain: This sparkling wine is made with the traditional method in Penedes, Spain. Undergoing a second fermentation in this bottle, it is aged for 10 months providing its fine bubbles and complex and structured palate. There are notes of white flowers and citrus on the nose, with fresh stone fruits and pleasant creamy flavors in the mouth. SRP below $20.

Santa Julia 2023 “El Zorrito” Orange Wine Chardonnay, Mendoza: This unfiltered and flavorful wine opens with aromas of lemon peel, yellow grapefruit, and grass. The palate has weight and delivers bright grapefruit, lemon, and apple. A perfect pour for summer days, we discovered this winery during our recent trip to Argentina. The wine shows yellow apples and lemons, marmalade, and lemon drops, and peaches and tangerines in abundance, with a touch of creme brulé. Texturally, a few extra days of skin contact make the El Zorrito juicy, intense, and energetic. SRP $19.

Quinta de la Rosa 2019 DouROSA, Douro, Portugal: Produced with 50% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca, and 10% Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) this is an accessible red that delivers smooth flavors of cherries and black currants. The tannins are smooth but will develop with aging. Pairs well with roasted veal and potatoes. 13.5% alcohol. SRP $18.

Lapostolle 2019 Grand Selection Carménére, Rapel Valley, Chile: This bold wine has a fresh nose with red fruit notes such as strawberries and plums, along with red paprika and spices. This delicious wine is perfect for grilled red meat and medium-seasoned dishes. The Lapostolle family began winemaking in France in 1827. In the '90s they established a winery in Chile. In 2005, they became the first South American winery to have a #1 wine as selected by Wine Spectator. SRP $16.

These wines provide the value, style, and flavors that are on trend this year.