Following the instructions authored by beau at Basic Juice, this month’s host of Wine Blogging Wednesday, the wine for this tasting note was selected based on the following criteria.

By Wednesday, October 11th, sample a wine from one of the following areas:

White Wine - New York, Oregon or Italy
Red Wine - Washington, Spain or France

Typically the parameters for a WBW stop right about there. However, this month beau has added a twist. The identity and origin of the wines will be withheld from the event summary and only a description of the wines will be included. Then, all WBW participants will take part in a competition where the person who correctly guesses the origins of the most wines in the event will receive $20! A wine challenge with cold cash on the line? I’m in!

So without betraying the identity of the wine I selected, here is a description of the tasting experience.

This wine is a tale of two grapes, an odd couple of sorts, blended in equal parts. Although both varieties share the same color and have long histories in wine making, the similarities end there.  One is a classic grape which has enjoyed international success both as a blending wine as well as standing on its own. Lately this grape is also experiencing unprecedented popularity in California where significant new plantings are showing up each year. The other grape, however, continues to toil in obscurity where it is only celebrated, and perhaps marooned, in the region where this wine originates. 

Let’s see what happens when these two grapes are lifted up together and share the same glass.

This wine is light straw in color with a watery clear edge. The nose is dominated by tropical fruits, pineapple taking center stage. The fruit aromas are complimented by scents of honey and flowers. The presence of a subtle clean mineral edge, however, keeps the nose focused and promises balance. In the mouth, this wine is initially soft and supple with the honey and tropical fruit flavors melding together and then fading into a crisp, clean, and slightly tart finish. An uncomplicated but still refined effort, this is a food friendly wine that would pair beautifully with fish or poultry.

It’s hard to say why some grapes gain world acclaim while others do not but clearly these two grapes flourish both in the ground next to each other as well as blended in the same bottle.

NOTE: I will update this post with producer, grape, and appellation details once the WBW challenge winner has been named. Be sure to check back.