Spring has officially sprung and it is time for you to start making your selections for the Spring 2024 Wine Club Allocation. To help you in the journey, our Director of Winemaking Drew Perry has pre-selected three wines including a summer favorite, a popular white variety, and a delicious red blend.
SUMMER FAVORITE: Pinot Noir Rosé
With the warmer weather ahead, a glass of our Pinot Noir Rosé is the perfect way to ring in the new season.
When producing this wine, our team let the juice stay in contact with the skins of several Dijon clones for 20 hours. Perry explains that the Aurora Cellars Pinot Noir Rosé is one of his favorites to produce. He can extract all of the beautiful, subtle color and aromatics that come with it. Generally, rosés are short-lived and are great for the summer time but ours has held on well, he goes on to explain.
This wine brings red berries followed by a crisp finish with Meyer lemon and ripe Michigan tart cherry aromatics. While most rosés are enjoyed in the warmer months, this one is ideal to enjoy year-round due to the wine’s creamy texture and strawberry aromatics extracted from the long contact with the grape skins. The Pinot Noir Rosé will pair decadently with thyme-roasted chicken, Gouda cheese, salmon, and salads. You also won’t go wrong with chicken tacos or wraps, asparagus, and creamy Italian pasta.
POPULAR CHOICE: 2022 Dry Riesling
The 2022 Aurora Cellars Dry Riesling is a popular choice among our dry wine lovers.
Fruit used in the production of this wine is grown in three isolated spots along the Leelanau Peninsula. When it is harvested, our production team ferments the juice from all three vineyard sites together before being bottled.
On the nose, you will get a burst of white peach aromatics, while the palate will enjoy a mouthwatering, but crisp, finish with classic minerality pulled from the vineyard soils.
Past vintages of this wine have been nationally and internationally recognized. The 2021 vintage received a 90-point rating from Decanter, as well as several awards from wine competitions.
This wine pairs well with fish, seafood, and white meat dishes. If you’re feeling exotic, dry riesling also pairs well with spicy Indian or Asian cuisine. Looking to pair it with a nice spread of cheese? You can’t go wrong with Asiago, Colby, fontina, Monterey Jack, Swiss, muenster, Havarti, or different types of cheddar cheese. Creamy cheeses like camembert or brie are also great choices.
BLEND: Radiance
A staple in our line of red wines, Radiance is a beautiful blend of 25% Merlot and 75% Blaufränkisch.
The fruit used in this wine is grown in heavy clay soil. Nearly all of Aurora Cellars’ property consists of hard, compact clay protected in the heart of the Leelanau Peninsula. Clay soil has tiny particles that help store water, allowing our vineyards to thrive without the need for irrigation. Both Merlot and Blaufränkisch thrive in these types of soil.
Director of Winemaking Drew Perry explains that Radiance is a blend that we have been able to evolve every year. The current version is bright with subtle notes of blackberry and vanilla on the nose. The finish provides crushed black pepper which is a classic flavor from cool climate Blaufränksich.
We recommend pairing Radiance with darker poultry, most types of game, and lean cuts of red meat.
The Spring 2024 Wine Club Allocation Customization period runs from Monday, April 8 through Friday, April 19. If you haven’t tried one or any of these wines, please visit our tasting room! Need help customizing your Spring allocation? See instructions here.
