Three Unique Craft Wines to Taste

The Craft often refers to witchcraft. There is no witchcraft here, only magic.

The Craft Wine Association was formed in 2016 as a membership organization with the simple mission to make craft wine as available in the marketplace as craft beer and spirits. The association confers the designation of Certified Craft Winery to qualifying wineries

I had the recent pleasure to be a guest during a Craft Wine Webinar co-hosted with International Food Wine Travel Writer’s Association (IFWTWA).

The event featured three wineries. Spokespersons for each winery described their vineyards, history, and of course, the wines.

I was graciously afforded a bottle of 2016 Limited Reserve Pinot Noir by E2 Family Wineries in Lodi, CA.

Only 50 cases of the wine were produced, commemorating the 23rd anniversary of Greg Vaughn hitting a San Diego Padres record of 50 home runs in one season. A record that remains unbroken for the Padres today.

Because E2 is a certified craft winery, one of its capabilities is private labeling. Small but mighty, the winery is backed by 4 generations of family, with winemaking going back to before prohibition.

The wine I tasted was soft and easy. No pairing was necessary as it stands alone in its smooth finish and an airy hint of fruits.

I am a noobie to the world of wines and wine tasting. this was a pleasurable experience and I learned much. The hosts were gracious and the guest speakers very informative. They made me feel welcome and comfortable.

This event banished my preconceived ideas about wine tasting. I had images of uppity snobs raising glasses against the light and shoving their noses as far into the glass as it would reach. preconceived

While they indeed described the wine in terms of oaky, acid, dry or sweet; these were not unfamiliar to me.

The one that got me was "terroir." From the French word "terre," meaning “earth,” terroir describes the entire natural environment where a particular wine is produced, including the soil, climate, and topography. So now I know.

Even though I don't intend to be a wine connoisseur, I will be able to enjoy some of the finer points of wine beyond the design of the label.

T he following copy is provided by IFWTWA

Established in 2016, CraftWine.org is a membership organization that helps the owners, vintners, and winemakers of small production wineries to increase the market for Craft Wine. The association certifies Craft Wineries and sponsors an online marketplace called NxtCrush that directly supports wineries that can sell their certified and distinctly American wine directly to consumers.

The Urban Legend Manifesto says Rules be damned. Listen to your palate. Not someone else’s. If you want to serve red wine with ahi, do it! If you prefer to aerate rather than decant, who are we to argue? If you like sipping white wine from a martini glass, be our guest. It’s your tastes that drive our choices – and why we’re so very meticulous about our craftsmanship. We’re doing something remarkable with wine here. We’re listening. Coming from a background of engineering and biotech, Steve & Marilee Shaffer decided to join forces and make wine that is true to the fruit and terroir through what they call simplicity and minimalism.

Second-generation owner proprietor Lindsay Hoopes leads Hoopes Family Vineyards. Lindsay, a homicide lawyer, turned winemaker after a family illness forced her to take over the reins in 2012. Hoopes utilizes regenerative agriculture and sustainability in their vineyard practices.

E2 Family Winery has a long history in Lodi and the wine business. It goes back to before prohibition. The family settled in the area in 1835, but it was not till 1921 that wine came into the picture. Now in their 4th generation, the Ehlers’ family continues in the footsteps their father and grandfather laid.

Be sure to read Jim Delillo's other featured stories on Vocal

You can write for Vocal, too– Join Here