Kiona Red Mountain Lemberger

January 13, 2016

20160113-075249.jpg We took a week-end trip to the Yakima and Tri-Cities area years back to enjoy the scenery and tour some wineries that the area is so well known for. This is when we stumbled across Kiona Vineyards. It is also the first time we were exposed to and tried Lemberger. Kiona was the first winery in the United States to produce Lemberger in 1980, which has since become a Red Mountain cult classic. I was so happy to see it gracing the shelves of our local grocer out on the island. It was perfect with our roasted chicken with root vegetables on Sunday for supper. Thought it would make the perfect Wine Wednesday post as it was as we remembered it, so very lovely and a heck of a great price for such a tasty bottle.

From the maker:
About the Wine: This consistent award-winner is a signature wine for Kiona. Lemberger is a relatively obscure Eastern European grape that is sometimes known as Blaufränkisch. The vine grows exceedingly well on Red Mountain, where we have established the go-to vineyard in Washington for the varietal. We use our premium fruit and extensive experience with the wine to craft an immensely versatile and universally appealing medium-bodied wine with plenty of style.

Tasting Notes: This bright, medium-bodied, fruit-forward wine surprises many with its unique characteristics. Kiona’s Estate Lemberger has a vibrant, well-balanced palate along with plenty of earth and spice that showcases Red Mountain’s unique terroir. This wine goes to show that Red Mountain is well-suited to varietals well outside the standard set.