Julien's Journal March 2016 (Volume 41, Number 3) | Page 22

STEPPING OUT

ARTS

MUSIC

EVENTS

CULTURE

Celebrating the Fruits of Our Labor
by Barbara Sue Schubert for Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery
As Galena Cellars Winery and
Vineyard starts to literally
come alive in anticipation of
spring, it also means the celebratory release of their 2015
harvest wines and the start to
a new growing season.
“We had the best harvest ever,” said winemaker Chris Lawlor of the 2015 harvest. “It
was a very temperamental season and you
really had to be on top of the game due to a
wet spring and rollercoaster temperatures
in April and May.”
Galena Cellars winemakers, however, were
well ahead of the game and produced some
very interesting rosés and a Britt White
that features a new blend of Illinois grapes.
“At Galena Cellars, we grow French hybrid
grapes which are very versatile and can
hang tough when the season or reason calls
for it,” she said. “And although their roots –
no pun intended – come from Europe, their
adaptation to North America can produce
beautifully nuanced, food-friendly wines.
We will be showcasing several of these
wines at our Illinois Wine Lovers’ Luncheon
in March.”
Chris is particularly excited about the new
Vineyard Rosé that features a blend of 40%
Frontenac and 60% Chambourcin grapes.
A special process, called saignée, was used
in making the blend, she says. Saignée is
actually a by-product of red winemaking.
During the fermentation of a red wine,
about 10% of the juice is bled off. This process leaves a higher ratio of skin contact on
the remaining juice, making the resulting
red wine richer and bolder. The leftover
bled wine, or saignée, is then fermented
into rosé. “Wines made from the saignée
method are typically much darker in color
and also much more savory,” Chris added.
While the 2015 season was unfolding, Galena Cellars also brought home numerous
wine awards including:
• 2015 International Women’s Wine Competition: Double gold medals for the Mead/
Honey and a gold medal for the Red Raspberry Framboise
• 2015 Illinois Wine Competition: Silver
medal for the Daffodil (LaCrosse) wine
20  ❖  Julien’s Journal  ❖  March 2016

• 2015 Indiana International Wine Competition: Double gold medals for the Sparkling
Frontenac Gris; and silver medals for Daffodil, the Late Harvest American Riesling,
2013 Illinois Seyval Blanc, Wedding Cake,
the Blackberry, Cherry, Red Raspberry,
Strawberry/Rhubarb and Peach wines
• 2015 Mid-American Food/Pairing: Gold
and silver medals for Eric the Red
• 2015 Illinois State Fair: Double gold
medals for the 2013 Illinois Seyval Blanc,
Cracklin Apple wine, and Sparkling Frontenac Gris
Punctuating this great New Year celebration is none other than Galena Cellars’ participation in Galena Wine Lovers’ Weekend,
March 18-19 (www.wineloversweekend.
com). Both Galena locations – 515 S. Main

St. and 4746 N. Ford Rd. – will be open for
tastings where you can enjoy the new releases and all the winery’s award-winning
wines. The vineyard also offers tours so
you can experience wine making first hand.
A special Wine Lovers’ Luncheon is being
held at the vineyard on Saturday, March
19, featuring Chef Ivo Puidak’s five-course
meal, each course paired with a Galena
Cellars wine. Reservations are required for
this special noon event as space is limited.
Cost is $49.95 per person. Reservations
are accepted online at www.galenacellars.
com (events).
We invite you to stop in one of our three
tasting rooms to judge for yourself! Visit
us online for more upcoming events and
announcements at www.galenacellars.com
and www.facebook.com/galenacellars.