Virtual winery’s debut white
l’Acadie grapes are a hardy white hybrid ideal for Nova Scotia’s climate. It is the backbone of most of the table wines, blends, and bubbly produced in the province. So incredibly versatile, some winemakers are pushing the limits of what it can do. My choice for Wine of Week #10 is this oaked l’Acadie another versatile winter white for March.
L;Acadie Fumé
The wine: l’Acadie Fumé 2010 $.18.99
l’Acadie wine aged in new French and American oak. Described by the winemaker as ‘unlike any l’Acadie Blanc you’ve tried before.”
The winery: The Rafuse Wine Company
A virtual wine company owned by Simon Rafuse. produced on site at Blomidon Estate Winery facilities and sold at the NSLC and Bishop’s Cellar.
Simon Rafuse Winemaker
The Winemaker: Simon Rafuse
Rafuse is the celebrated winemaker at Blomidon Estates winery who wanted to have his own label “Just for fun. It gives me a way to try things out.”
The accolades: Rafuse says there aren’t any yet, but it was getting a lot of buzz among the wine community when I was wine touring in Nova Scotia last spring.
Why I chose this wine: I’ve been a huge fan of Simon Rafuse ever since he joined the team at Blomidon Estates so I was eager to try his first private label wine.
The winemaker’s notes say “Barrel fermented and aged in French and American Oak, this wine was kept on its lees for 5 months. Citrus and floral aromatics are accentuated by a hint of vanilla. This full bodied wine is framed by soft acidity. Pear, Jonagold apple and spice fill the palate.”
Blomidon Estate Winery
Due to the new oak, it has vanilla and smoky flavours not usually associated with Nova Scotia whites and it needs to be carefully paired. Rafuse suggests to treat it like an oaked Sauvignon Blanc rather than a Chardonnay and pair with salads, soft white cheeses, white fish, Asian dishes or chicken in herbed lemon sauce. I found it worked well on its own with a sharp cheddar.
The next offering from The Rafuse Wine Company will be a sparkling wine with a possible release in December
Virtual Wineries are on the rise. Check out The Fantastic Four by Rick VanSickle for Quench Magazine . The first winemaker mentioned is Wes Lowrey at Five Rows Craft Wine in Niagara. Wes was a former winemaker at Blomidon Estates when it was known as Habitant Winery and owned by the Jensen family.
Previous blogs about Blomidon Estate Winery and Simon Rafuse
Winemaker vs Brewmaster Dinner
Looking for answers at Creekside Estate
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