Branching Out

Do you know why grape vines are trellised and pruned in certain ways?

Well, I don’t know a heck of a lot about it either but apparently, it is important to let the sunlight reach the fruit clusters for ripening creating a balance between fruit and shoot growth which is helpful for the overall health of the plant.

So… maybe you do or maybe you don’t care about pruning and trellising. Now you know one more thing. And one more thing is good.

Several weeks ago, friends and I were at a restaurant perusing the menu for lunch. One friend peered at the menu and with assertion and confidence ordered the Vermentino. Wow! Now I’m kinda impressed. Who the heck orders Vermentino? My other friend asked if that came with red or white sauce. The server smiled and explained that Vermentino is a white wine.

At the next table, we heard the typical orders for Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir. Apparently, this was quite the day drinking crowd. The three of us decided to split this new interesting wine that paired beautifully with our lunches. For those of you that may be curious about this grape please find some cool info below.

Vermentino is primarily found growing in Sardinia but is very important in Tuscany as well. The grape closely resembles Albarino in body, acidity, and pairings. But, like Viognier, can be fermented in oak or stainless steel. Because of its general anonymity, there are some great deals to be found on this high-quality varietal.

Ok. Now you know one more thing again. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are not the only dependably decent white wines. Ask your servers for recommendations on alternate varietals. It’s good to branch out!

Fruit For Thought

October One Vineyard