06/13/06 Lemberger

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and today we will discuss a grape varietal that has a misleading name and is one of our favorites. The grape known as Blaufrankisch in Austria and most of Eastern Europe is one that is grown now in parts of the United States. However, here it is called Lemberger, derived from the German name for the grape Limberger. A grape by any other name is not nearly as misunderstood as the grape Lemberger. The name conjures up the image of stinky cheese and dirty gym socks. But it couldn't be further from the case. This grape, produces wines that are anything, but stinky. In Austria the grape produces tannic wines that need a long time in the cellar to smooth out enough to actually enjoy drinking them. But the wines from Washington state are quite different. On a recent wine tasting tour I had the opportunity to taste Lemberger made in many different styles. From the very light Beaujolais style to a little bit bigger wine that was reminiscent of an Italian Dolcetto and then a wine that was smooth rich and silky as any big Merlot can be. It is a grape varietal that does lend itself well to blending but most wineries still keep it within the 75% required to label the wine Lemberger. So don't let anyone try to convince you otherwise. I will have to admit that Kiona Lemberger is still my favorite and consistently garners great praise from members of the press. If you would like to learn more visit their website kionawine.com And thank you for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.