Savage Grace š·
Thereās no better way to kick off another wild October in Salem than with a truly savage producer: Savage Grace! Founded by Michael Savage, this special winery produces elegant, graceful wine from grapes that grow in the wild and savage environment of Washington State. Michael is passionate about French wine, and uses them as inspiration: he picks grapes early in harvest season to preserve acidity, and creates wines that are generally low in alcohol and meant to be enjoyed with food.
The best part? Michaelās commitment to natural winemaking. Michael practices regenerative agriculture in his own vineyards and purchases fruit from other sustainably farmed vineyards, some of which are certified organic. He refuses to use herbicides on his vines and he uses only native yeasts in his fermentations. These techniques - and the minimal intervention in the vineyard and the cellar - make Savage Grace wines taste less āmasked,ā less engineered. While commodity wines are often made with chemicals to ensure consistency and mass-marketability, natural wines are complex and raw, offering the nuanced flavors of the grapes and the earth theyāre grown upon.
2016 Savage Grace Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Red Willow Vineyard located on the Western side of Yakima Valley. Itās super smooth with dark chocolate mocha notes and bright red cherry flavors on the finish.
Another perfect red for a cool October evening and meal is 2018 Savage Grace Pinot Noir from Underwood Mountain Vineyard. These Pinot Noir grapes are from Columbia Gorge, which is one of the colder appellations located on the southern border of Washington State and Oregon. Michael describes this Pinot Noir as a Burgundian in style with savory aromas of cranberry, orange peel, and baking spice.
Whatās October without orange wine? 2019 Savage Grace GewĆ¼rztraminer undergoes 16 days of grape skin contact. While there is a good amount of tannin on the finish, this isnāt a totally dry wine as thereās a hint of sweet clover honey on the finish and bountiful aromas of dried apricots. Pair with dishes that have salty, umami flavors, like ramen or a spicy kimchi grilled cheese sandwich.
Craving a dry white wine for fall? 2019 Savage Grace Sauvignon Blanc is a fresh and fabulous dry white from Red Willow Vineyard. Aged partially in barrel, the texture is full and unctuous like a perfectly ripened pear.
Happy October everyone!
Fun Fact: Live out west or planning a visit to the Columnbia Gorge? The Savage family has two tasting rooms; one is a quick drive from Seattle and the other is located outside of Hood, Oregon on the Columbia River.
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