Hello Wine Club Members,
As autumn leaves begin to fall, we reflect on a year filled with memorable moments. Each season brings a level of excitement and dynamic reaction from our team that keeps us busy all year long! Let’s capture a brief snapshot of the winery through this year.
We were greeted by an unusually warm spring, fostering early and abundant plant growth in the vineyard. Early warm springs impose a risk to spring frost for the vines and when this occurs it’s a harrowing period for farmers. Thankfully we made it through with minimal damage to the vineyard, and that early growth gave us a big jump forward in the seasons growth cycle that turned out to average around three weeks ahead of our normal growing schedule. Spring was wrapped up in the most spectacular fashion with the once-in-a-lifetime celestial event: a solar eclipse that captivated millions worldwide and our little vineyard sat right in the middle. Magical.
Summer time gave us a beautiful growth cycle in the vineyard, consistent rains kept the vineyards thriving and lush and our crew was able to manage our crop with expert precision. Meanwhile our kitchen continued to delight with a dazzling array of creative cheesecake flavors, from the classic New York-style to other creative seasonal flavors of the world, our cheesecakes continue to be a weekly retreat for dessert lovers. This year our kitchen also introduced the Supper Club. This series of expertly crafted gourmet dishes that showcase the finest seasonal ingredients and our teams excitement for gastronomy. That flair for gastronomy was expressed even more as we paired those dishes with current release wine and the exciting announcement of our Library Wines. Our Library Wines, which are wines we’ve set back for special occasions, have been making exciting appearances during the supper club and we have even been opening up purchasing for them just for those evenings. You never know what old wines might grace the menu, just for an evening.
Late Summer and early Autumn bring harvest and this year’s harvest was truly bountiful, yielding an exceptional crop of grapes that exceeded our expectations. The vines flourished under the warm summer sun, producing plump, juicy grapes with intense flavors. We were particularly pleased with the quality of our estate-grown Marquette, Steuben, and Catawba grapes. We are also excited as we
have the supply to release our signature Indiana Uplands Nouveau
which will be coming in November.
This vibrant, fruity wine is a celebration of the season’s bounty and a testament to the exceptional quality of our grapes.
We aren’t finished yet, as the holiday season approaches, we invite you to cozy up by the fire with our Fireside wine which is very similar to a traditional mulled wine. This heartwarming libation is a delightful blend of red wine, aromatic spices, citrus peel, and ginger, creating a comforting and festive flavor profile. Whether you prefer to savor it on its own or mix it with other beverages, Fireside wine is sure to add a touch of warmth and cheer to your holiday celebrations.
Anthony A. Leaderbrand