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New Red Blend wine releases on March 1
You're invited to celebrate the release of our new Red Blend wine on Tuesday, March 1.
“This year is a milestone year for the winery,” explains Donna and Quintin Smith, owners of Gideon Owen Wine Company. “And the release of our Red Blend wine is the first of many special events and surprises we have in store as we celebrate 150 years of this community landmark.”
The Smith's purchased the winery in 2019 with a vision to bring back wine production to Catawba Island, a rich tradition of the region that dates back to the late 1800s.
“The original group of fruit growers who banded together to create this national treasure, named the entity the ‘Catawba Island Wine Company,” explains Quintin. “They had the wisdom to view their creation as the community’s wine company, not just theirs. It is this knowledge that has guided our efforts to restore the facility and grounds into something that will be a point of pride for the community.”
In fact, the couple named their business after one of the original grape growers of the region, Gideon Owen, who was instrumental in the booming fruit harvests of the 1870s. The Smiths are taking Catawba Island back to its roots as one of the world’s great winegrowing regions, and with the release of this Red Blend, have established the first commercial vineyard on Catawba Island in over 100 years.
Fruit for the new Red Blend wine was grown, harvested, and fermented in Ohio and finished at the winery. The wine has been resting in the Smith’s 1872 European-inspired cellar for the past two years and is now making its debut. Some of the wine aged in the cellar’s new French oak barrels, while the rest was stored in newly installed tanks.
Red Blends are crafted from a variety of grapes. Our blend is 47% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 26% Cabernet Franc with aromas of ripe berries and slight herbal notes.
“The variety of red wines give it a good synergy,” explains Margot Federkiel, Gideon Owen’s new Winemaker, with 18 years of winemaking experience in California and the Midwest region. “The palate is bright, cranberry, herbal, and mocha.”
The 2019 Red Blend will be available on tap in the Chalet and the Tirage Wine Bar starting on Tuesday, March 1.
“It’s an easy wine to drink,” says Federkiel. “The Red Blend is great for outdoor parties in the spring or summer, and it pairs well with a variety of dishes.”
On our menu, order a glass with the Berkshire Kurobuta Pork Chop, Black and Bleu Burger, Quinstock Spicy Pepper Burger, Steakhouse Salad, or Meat Lovers Pizza. To dine in the Chalet, reservations are recommended.