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Chambourcin

A word about Chambourcin (also a very long Fun Fact).

You won't find this wine in the PLCB stores (maybe rarely if they have a PA wine section). 

Chambourcin is an American-French (or French-American) hybrid grape used to make many styles of wine, from slightly sweet rose to dark reds to drinkable port.  The wines are wonderful whether bone dry or with residual sugar. There is no bitterness which is often found in purely native American wine grapes.    

Chambourcin's creator, Joannes Seyve, died before writing down the components of the Chambourcin hybrid, but he  often used Seibel hybrids.  The Chambourcin grape has only been available since 1963.  It is extremely resistant to fungal diseases making it an excellent choice for cooler, wetter climates.  Chambourcin has become Pennsylvania's signature grape, and is "the grape" of the Lehigh Valley AVA.  It is available at many PA wineries, as well as in the Finger Lakes and higher elevations of VA. MD and NC.

We are amazed at the wide variety of Chambourcin wines available at many of our favorite wineries, from the slightly sweet Chambourcin Rose available at Pinnacle Ridge to the luscious blend available at Blue Mountain, to a Chambourcin port we found several years ago at the Winery at Wilcox (near Erie).   We compared three Chambourcins this past week, pairing them with grilled pork ribs.  Two were from Pennsylvania and one was from the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina.   Their reviews follow.

We like and drink Chambourcins from many (mostly PA) wineries.  The three below are the ones we happened to pick from our wine rack this week.  No offense to other wine makers who also make wonderful Chambourcins.

Grassy Creek Chambourcin 2007 

 This dark ruby red dry wine comes from the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina.  We found this wine to be fruitier than most Pennsylvania Chambourcins we have tried, but certainly not a fruit bomb!  It had rich aromas of plums and red berries with flavors to match.  It had a satisfying finish and worked well with the grilled ribs with garlic butter sauce.  The winery is located in an old dairy barn at what was the Klondike (dairy) Farm.  They actually sell one of their wines in a milk bottle shaped bottle.  Alcohol is 13.8% by volume, but was by no means "hot".  Available at the winery outside of Elkin, NC for $16.00 a bottle. 

Pinnacle Ridge Chambourcin 2006

Our second Chambourcin of the evening was Pinnacle Ridge Chambourcin 2006.  Pinnacle Ridge Winery is located outside of Krumsville, PA in the Lehigh Valley AVA.  This ruby red dry wine is darker in color than the Grassy Creek.  It has berry aromas with a slight smokiness from being aged in toasted oak barrels for over a year.  The flavor is less fruity than the Grassy Creek Chambourcin but still with with flavors of red berries.  The smokiness in the aroma comes through in the flavor.  Alcohol is approximately 12% by volume.  Though the 2006 is no longer available, the 2008 Chambourcin is available at the winery for $14 a bottle and displays much the same excellent color, aroma and flavor as the 2006.   Brad Knapp, the owner and winemaker, also makes a Chambourcin Reserve.  We buy cases of it and save it for a few years.  We'll soon start drinking the 2004 vintage, but DON'T save most Chambourcins for more than a year or two, especially any NOT aged in oak for a year or more. 

Blue Mountain Chambourcin 2005

The last wine we compared and paired with our pork ribs was Blue Mountain Chambourcin 2005.   As soon as we poured it in our glasses we realized this was DARK for a Chambourcin and quickly made the assumption that is must be a blend.  Sure enough, the Blue Mountain Chambourcin 2005 is a blend of 82% Chambourcin and 18% Shiraz, making this dry red wine a dark deep red with purple tones.  It displays the red berry aromas typical in a Chambourcin, with a richer re berry taste,  softly rounded by the Shiraz.  We found this to be ever so slightly smoky, combining the best of both the Grassy Creek fruitiness and the Pinnacle Ridge smokiness into one delicious wine.  This also worked very well with the grilled pork ribs.  Blue Mountain Winery is located near New Tripoli, PA in the Lehigh Valley AVA but they also have a store in the Coventry Mall.   Taste it there before buying, especially if you have never had Chambourcin before.  Alcohol is 13.1% by volume.  Available at the winery and it's several outlets for $16.50 a bottle

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