There’s nothing
like a Wednesday morning history lesson. How could I have known that when I
randomly picked up today’s Wine Wednesday feature it would peak my curiosity
and have me googling about in an attempt to solve a puzzle of sorts. The 2013 Two Arrowheads White Blend is third
in a series of wines being vinted and bottled by American Pioneer Wine Growers.
Each wine in the series is intended to reveal one part of a mysterious tale - providing
a clue that will ultimately help reveal the name of their new winery in
Geyersville, CA. It’s an interesting
marketing tool, one that first struck me as a bit far-fetched. Would the
consumer really play along? Well, I
guess it worked on me.
The first release
was named “The White Doe”, the second, “Manteo”,
the third, today’s feature “Two Arrowheads” and the fourth “The Lost Colony”. What
do all of these have in common? Some of you history buffs may know. Manteo was a Native American Croatan Indian
chief that befriended English explorers in the early 1500’s. The expedition of
1587 would include men, women and children in an effort to establish a permanent
colony – Roanoke Colony. As history
goes, the colony did not endure and it’s a mystery as to what happened to the 80
men 17 women and 11 children that made up the lost colony over 400 years ago.
So what does
all of this have to do with wine? It’s
the American Pioneer Winegrowers way of paying homage to influential people,
places and stories that are part of early American wine making. English explorer Thomas Harriot from the
expedition noted a luscious sweet grape growing in the wild. He may have been
describing what we in the south have come to know as Muscadine. A 400 year old
Scuppernong (Muscadine) “Mother Vine” still exists on Roanoke Island today and
a clipping will soon be planted on the estate vineyard of the new Sonoma County
winery. I appreciate the symbolic gesture, but it’s not a varietal I am a fan
of – at least not for wine making.
So much for
the story – now today’s wine. Two Arrowheads is a white blend of 71% Viognier
and 29% Roussane. On the nose, wild flower honey, fresh herbs, pear and a hint
of baking spice. I’d describe it as a medium bodied wine with a slight
silkiness on the lips and tongue. It has
a crisp, clean, yet juicy finish. The acidity on the finish is short but the fruit lingers in a quite delightful way with a subtle bit of butter and
vanilla.
Now, as for
my guess on the name for the winery (or maybe they want us to name it), I have
3 guesses: Roanoke, Virginia Dare or Croatan.
What are your guesses? Please
feel free to opine!
Pair with Salpicao (Brazilian Chicken Salad) or Grilled Spice Rubbed Chicken Thighs. To print or save the recipe pairing suggestions, click the links below.
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