A Good Blend is like a Good Marriage

Thanks to everyone who came out to the winery this past weekend for our May blending session! On Saturday, Vintners own wine lovers and master enologist Benedictine Rhyne got together at the winery to attempt to create the 'perfect' Bordeaux blend.

Benedictine, a native of Aix-en-Provence and currently a wine consultant living in Fredericksburg, gave a short power point presentation and conducted the session. Doling out helpful advice, she challenged blenders to use every sense while tasting to truly experience every facet of the wine.

Blending participants, Vintners Own resident winemaker and the winery Owner, Silvano Payne sat side by side in the barrel room with three wine glasses containing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec lined up at each place setting. The dining room table of the Barrel Room was covered with wine bottles, beakers, and pens and paper, and served as a mock experimental wine lab. The task at hand: to begin to blend these three types of wine to create a good "wine marriage." 

The group at the blending session chose the method of process of elimination to determine what truly tasted the best! At First, every person had a different idea of which smell and taste was superior. Some thought a blend should primarily be made of Merlot while others thought Cabernet should provide the base and foundation of the blend. Everyone decided to split into three sections to narrow down to three choice blends. The final blend consisted of 70% Merlot, 10% Cabernet and 20% Malbec. 

To pick the final blend, Benedictine introduced everyone to the blind taste test. Without any knowledge, of which blend was which, every person smelled and sipped form three glasses of wine and voted on a favorite. The final blend consisted of 70% Merlot, 20% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

It was a great way to spend a Saturday and with such a good turnout, we've decided at Vintners Own, another blending session is soon to follow!