If you were lucky like we were in North West Ohio, you may have gotten a pretty awesome lightshow this past weekend. It was truly an extraordinary experience that normally you might need to head north to Alaska or Finland to experience. For Heather and I though, we got to not only enjoy the lights ... but sampled some fabulous wines from Oregon that were made in celebration of the Northern Lights. Borealis Vintners couldn't have picked a more perfect time since their Rose, Pinot Gris, and White Blend arrived just in time for us to chill them a bit and put it in our cooler to enjoy while relaxing outside enjoying the northern lights.
Borealis Vintners Wines:
All three of these wines were very easy drinking and despite their value price of between $15-20 retail, they were perfect for the occasion. While we like our higher-end wines, sometimes it's nice to have a casual drink and just pop open a bottle, drink it out of a metal wineglass while relaxing on a summer evening looking at the stars ... or the aurora. For me, retail bottles are a difficult beast since there are many that are just simply not that good. Borealis impressed me though and I'd see myself buying another bottle of their Pinot Noir Rose especially.
2022 White Blend:
Willamette Valley Müller-Thurgau and Gewürztraminer are blended with Pinot Gris and Riesling sourced from the Yakima Valley. The grapes are fermented cool and aged in stainless steel to preserve aromatics. The blend has a tropical nose, with a creamy palate of pear, green apple, and guava, and is just barely off-dry. It is perfect alone or could be paired with seafood, spicy stir fries or a charcuterie platter.
2022: Pinot Gris:
This Pinot Gris is sourced from the Rogue Valley in southern Oregon, a region famous for its dramatic diurnal shift, creating complex, full-bodied fruit. The sunnier growing season is moderated by elevation and cool winds from the Pacific. Fermented in stainless steel, the wine has a powerful nose of peach and citrus, with Granny smith apple, stone fruit and lime on the palate. The vibrant acidity makes this a great food wine, pairing well with grilled fish, asparagus, or summer salads.
2023 Rosé of Pinot Noir:
Borealis Vintners Rosé is also sourced from the Rogue Valley, where sunnier growing seasons produce wonderful color and fruit forward rosés. The grapes were pressed after a few hours of skin contact for a deep rosy hue. Cool fermentation in stainless steel keeps the aromatics bright, and the wine opens with notes of fresh strawberry, golden apple, and jasmine. The utterly drinkable rosé has a smooth finish with balanced acidity and a touch of honey.
Where To Find Borealis Wines
Borealis wines or distributed nationally at retail stores like Binny's, HEB, and other wine sellers around the country. There's a finder on the website to help you locate where to find their wines.
