shore of Seneca Lake…Four Chimneys Organic Winery. Established in 1980, Four Chimneys was green before being green was cool. In addition to crafting their wines in accordance with the standards for organic wine established by the NOFANY Certified Organic, they also do not utilize any animal products in their wines. For these reasons, many vegetarians embrace the Four Chimneys wines as well and have contributed to their enormous popularity. Four Chimneys offers several interesting wines, ranging from dry to sweet, and also features several fruit-based wines that are extremely popular. For those who love Pinot Grigio, their “Kingdom White” is worth sampling. This is Four Chimney’s driest white and is an ideal accompaniment to light seafood preparations. “Kingdom Red,” also a very dry wine, is similar in texture to a Merlot and will please Merlot drinkers, offering full and rich berry and plum flavors on the palate. For those who enjoy a touch of sweetness in their wines, their “Eye of the Dove” is a slightly sweet, Cabernet Franc based red, which is best served with a slight chill. This wine makes a lovely accompaniment to barbecue and other dishes with a bit of smoke and heat. Even sweeter on the scale are their “First Love” and “Eye of the Bee” wines. “First Love” is most reminiscent of Riesling, although it is based on the Vidal grape. This very fragrant wine is quite refreshing and offers up aromas of fresh white peach and honey. Their most popular wine is “Eye of the Bee,” a semi-sweet rose-colored wine, whose flavors and aromas mimic those of freshly picked grapes off the vine. Their offerings of fruit wines also are quite popular. These combine organically grown grapes with organically grown fruits from their farm. With names like “Honeydew Moon,” “Celestial Peach,” “Strawberry Meadows” and “Raspberry Sun,” these sweet fruit wines would make an interesting choice with your dessert and are also delightful served alongside some soft ripened cheeses such as Brie and Camembert and fresh fruit. This is just a small introduction to the world of organic wines. For additional information, or if you have specific questions about the differences among organic wines, please stop in and chat with me about this very popular subject! I am more than happy to answer any additional questions that you might have! Cheers!
Patricia Novo is the owner of Crush & Cask Wine and Spirits at 170 South Broadway in Saratoga Springs. She holds an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts from SCCC and also serves on their Advisory Board. Patricia also has certification in Wine and Spirits from the WSET, as well as an Aficionado of Wine Certification from the Robert Parker and Kevin Zraly Wine Program. She is pursuing her Sommelier certification in Winter 2011.
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