A few years ago the curious asked about Iowa wineries – how many were there? Where were they located? What could you do there?
The curious who visited Iowa wineries were pleased with their experiences.
Today, the curious ask about Iowa wines – how do I know which ones are good? Who recommends what? What do the grapes taste like?
The curious who try the best Iowa wines can, according to Clark Smith, discover new wine favorites. As he says of Iowa wines, “Yet for the adventurous connoisseur, those ranks include some of the most interesting, well made, and flat out delicious wines on the continent.”
Clark Smith, an international wine consultant with over 1,200 clients, is Director of Best-of -Appellation Evaluations for Appellation America, http://www.appellationamerica.com. Recently Smith turned his attention to Iowa wine and, after a thorough review of the industry from its 1850s beginning in the Amana Colonies to the focused work to improve wine quality led by Dr. Murli Dharmadhikari, unveils his Iowa wine reviews.
A panel of three, Smith, Michael Havens, and Iowa native Richard Peterson tasted through eighty wines and provide reviews and tasting notes on their picks. By the way, Richard Peterson was the featured in the Summer 2007 issue of Make Mine Wine, and is a judge at the Mid-American Wine Competition each year at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa.
Categories of Iowa wines considered by the panel are: crisp dry whites, full-bodied whites with oak influence, aromatic dry and off-dry whites, aromatic semi-sweet whites, versatile rosés, light, fresh picnic-style reds, serious Burgundian styles, manly reds, silky reds, and dessert wines.
Thirteen Iowa wineries are represented among the picks.
Iowa wine lovers should check this list to see what is said of their favorites, and to look for recommendations on new wines to try.
If you have been waiting for the right recommendation before you tried Iowa wines, this is your chance to read tasting notes from well-respected tasters and then, give one or two a try.
The link for the article, Midwestern Magic: Iowa’s Home-Grown Innovators, by Clark Smith (published March 19, 2009) is http://tinyurl.com/ckx9uz.
Love to hear about your favorite Iowa wines – please leave a comment here or on www.twitter.com @MakeMineWine.
Cheers!
Barbara Rasko
Publisher
Make Mine Wine
www.MakeMinewinemagazine.com
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