Still another discovery from the Charleston Food and Wine Event’s, “Blended” Evening at Founder’s Hall in West Ashley.
The Cline Winery Farmhouse Red is next up …
Many years ago, when visiting the Northern California Wine Country, Joy and stopped by the Cline Winery in southern Sonoma. On prominent display outside the winery was a beautiful vintage Red Truck. Acquired by Cline owners Fred and Nancy Cline through an auction to support the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, the truck became the symbol behind the blend of Syrah, Petite Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Mourvedre and Grenache. Introduced in 2002, and was very popular, but the label was sold three years later to Dan Leese and Doug Walker, two former Foster’s Wine Estates executives. Cline Cellars continued to source the grapes for Red Truck wines.
Cline has been producing wine since 1982, and they have long focused on sustainable approaches to farming and wine making. They have now fully embraced the ‘Green String” method of sustainable farming. Working on the principle that farming and winemaking should “optimize the health of the soil, plants, and animals”. They promote biodiversity and to seek to minimize pollution.
Winemaker Charlie Tsegeletos also produces a product that is vegan (no animal derived products) and gluten free.
Vinified from nearly 60% Zinfandel (with some smaller quantities of Syrah, Carignane, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah and something called ‘mixed red’) this offers the flavor characteristics of a field blend sourced from the Southern Rhone. This Farmhouse Red is aged for 7 months in 40% new French Oak.
The wine was medium bodied with excellent dark fruit elements on the nose and palate. This will be excellent with grilled sausage and lamb…Summer is coming.
I could not find a ‘downstate’ New York retailer, but the Farmhouse Red is available at Stew’s in Danbury. In South Carolina you could find the wine at Bill’s in Summerville or Harris Teeter.
The Farmhouse Red should sell for under $12…but drinks as more expensive…