A Moooving Wine from America’s Dairyland
January 4, 2011 by Ricardo
Filed under Travel + Wine, Wine & Vineyards
I can’t remember how many bottles of wines we had over the holidays. And if I may add – not one single headache.
Some were average tasting wines, some predictably amazing wines, some others I’d rather use to clean my car tires, and of course there’s always the presence of exotic wines (forever welcome at TravelPlusWine HQ).
The exotic ones are also the high-risk wines because you don’t know what to expect, but you also don’t want to make any false assumptions.
Such was the case of a 2009 Prairie Fumé from Wollersheim Winery in Wisconsin (Go Badgers!).
You are probably asking… what, wine from Wisconsin? You betcha!
You might also be surprised to hear that the Hungarian Count Agoston Haraszthy (known as the Father of Modern Winemaking in California) was a pioneer winemaker in Wisconsin in the 1840’s before he ever set foot on California and before California was even part of the USA.
But enough history, I think my point is clear: Wisconsin has a long history with wine. Now, back to the 2009 Prairie Fumé.
This semi-dry white wine made of 100% Seyval Blanc grape grown in New York, has a light color and nice aromas of tropical fruit and citrus elements.
On the palate the wine is crisp and very joyful; the flavors of citrus are dominant with slight hints of pineapple. I was very pleased with its smooth structure and delicious taste.
It’s no surprise this Prairie Fumé has been awarded so many Gold Medals every single year in the last decade. And best of all, its price is only $9 a bottle!
This fine wine from “The Dairy State” is ideal when served at a temperature of 40º – 45º, and it pairs great with seafood, pastas, and of course, cheeses from Wisconsin.
Keep in mind, I did say this wine is exotic, meaning it is hard to find and sold exclusively in Wisconsin.
However, thanks to the internet you can order wines from their site. Just make sure you check the states where Wollersheim Winery ships.
Have you had “exotic” wines from the Midwestern states? What was your experience? Please share and comment.
I’ve looked to this blog for tips for over a year now. So glad you discovered one of my all-time favorites, bottled practically in my back yard. Wollersheim is traditionally always a good choice. Another local gem to try: Botham Vineyards. Cupola ad Big Stuff Red are both very nice.
Hi Kris!
Thank you so much for your comment and we’re so glad you have followed our tips for all this time (we welcome any suggestions). As for Wollersheim’s Prairie Fumé, I agree with you, it was a great discovery for us as well and surely one we were delighted to come across. We have heard about Big Stuff Red, but haven’t had the chance to try it yet, perhaps soon. All the best!
Ricardo