Rockway Vineyards 9 Spritz 2017

Molly Amoli Shinhat reviewed this wine as follows:

It's a somewhat unusual grape when it comes to making a spritz or sparkling wine. Who would've thought Vidal, the grape used to make most ice wine, would make such a delicious spritz?

Made in stainless steel vats, it's an enlivening, summery show of grapefruit, lemon, ripe peach, and lime with a fine backbone of bracing acidity - this, despite being at the upper end of dry at 14 g/l residual sugar. At 10% a.b.v., it's a perfect sipper for a deep summer afternoon or evening, or to sip in winter to remember a gorgeous, lazy summer afternoon. Don't think less of it because of the screw top - the bubbles are fabulous and fine!

Vidal, a hybrid grape, was developed by Jean-Louis Vidal (1880-1976) in France in the 1930s. His intention was to develop a hardy, cold-weather survivor to make cognac. Brought to Canada a decade later to see which varietals would survive our harsh Canadian winters, it went on to become a star of ice wine production because of its ability to ripen late and become sweeter yet maintain its acidity.

This delicious spritz pairs well with most salads, cheese, vegetarian sandwiches, or a late afternoon in a favourite spot with a good book.