The saga of the Now And Zin trip to northeastern Pennsylvania continues today, back at my brother-in-law's house in Kingston, PA. Denise and I sat with Steven on the porch in wicker chairs and let some relaxation creep into our collective consciousness. Robin had the brilliant idea of helping it along, and she produced a bottle of wine they had procured on a visit to the Finger Lakes region of New York. Despite Mrs. Now And Zin's weak protest - "What, drinking again?" - the other three of us outvoted her. Besides, wine tasting is what I do. Even on my time off, it's work, work, work.
The Cascade Riesling which Robin brought to the porch hailed from Cascata Winery, a boutique winery/art gallery/bed & breakfast in Watkins Glen, NY, near Seneca Lake. Robin told me the winery's tasting room is housed in a 19th century home on a beautiful estate. From the Cascata website: "Our wines include examples of dry and semi-dry Vinifera, dry and semi-dry French-American hybrids, and sweet Labrusca." The Cascade Riesling is one of the winery's semi-dry white wines. It's a double gold medal winner from a competition somewhere, if that sort of thing intrigues you.
The wine sits quite pale in the glass, almost colorless. The nose shows plenty of citrus notes with a hint of apricot. On the palate, lemon peel plays against a backdrop of minerals and a faint sense of petrol comes through. It's quite an appealing wine, with enough acidity to welcome food pairing. It's also nice to sip, just sitting on the porch in a wicker chair.
