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Wine Details
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Description:
"What kind of a grape is a Trinquer", our customer asked. Well, it isn't, I said. Then the customer asked, "Well, what kind of a fruit is it then?"
I took a deep breath and went on to explain, that Trinquer, is our proprietary blend of three wonderful white wine grapes - Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Viognier and it is just perfect with our Northwest seafood. I had to explain what a "vignar" was, and finally just said, "Try it, I hope you like it". It was well received, and a smile and better conversation ensued.
The Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon came from our friend Fred Artz on Red Mountain where ripe pear and apple flavors flourish. The Viognier is from Crawford Family Vineyard in Prosser and has the classic aromatics of peach and apricot. Barrel fermented, the Viognier lends a wonderful depth to a classic wine combination already made famous in Bordeaux.
"Trinquer", means to clink glasses in French, and is pronounced sort of like "trank-kay". It reminds us of the celebration wine brings to any meal. Try it with seared scallops, oysters, shrimp, or halibut.
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Varietal Definition
Sémillon:
A thin skinned grape producing wines of high extract and flavour but soft acidity. In France it combines with Sauvignon Blanc to make the white wines of Bordeaux, most notably the sweet dessert wines of Sauternes and Barsac. Its thin skin leaves it susceptible to the fungus botrytis* the much sought after 'noble rot' in these sweet wine regions. As a varietal it has fared best in Australia, notably the Hunter Valley, where it produces well-rounded wines with lots of tropical fruits and honeyed tones. Here too it is blended with Chardonnay and oak aged to give an added dimension.
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Sauvignon Blanc:
Sauvignon Blanc is widely grown in California — at over 15,000 acres, it’s now the third most planted variety — and often assumes the moniker ‘Fume Blanc’. This popular synonym, credited to Napa’s Robert Mondavi, derives from the grape’s historic home of Pouilly in France’s Upper Loire Valley, where Sauvignon Blanc is the dominant varietal and goes locally by the name of ‘Blanc Fumé’. When treated with respect and afforded suitable growing conditions, Sauvignon Blanc is one of the wine world’s darlings. Steely, racy acidity, green, gooseberry fruit, asparagus and a grassy, herbaceous character characterize dry wines made from this grape.
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Viognier:
The most acclaimed white wine grape from France's Rhône Valley, Viognier is a highly aromatic varietal, with a flavor profile that could include peach, apricot, nectarine, lichee, musk and flower blossom. The heady perfume of this varietal is one of its trademarks, although its flavors are sometimes problematic in matching with food. However, it does well with lobster, crab and moderately flavored fish. Use it as an apéritif as an alternative to Chardonnay. The "Rhône Rangers" in California have done an excellent job promoting this varietal.
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