March is Washington Wine Month, and is the perfect excuse to try different wines from all over Washington State. And what better place to start than the beautiful San Juan Islands and a bottle of San Juan Vineyards 2012 Siegerrebe.
I had never heard of Siegerrebe until I tried this wine, prompting me to find out a little more about this varietal. Siegerrebe is German and means “Victory Vine”. The grape is grown primarily in Germany, but is also grown in a few other spots around the world, including Washington State. It also grows well in a colder climate, making the San Juans a good spot. This grape is also very high in sugar, and is similar to the muscat grape.
The wine was very light yellow, almost clear, with a nose of honey and citrus. But there was more to it, I also felt like the wine smelled almost green, like spring, as well as an almost mildew odor. *Odd, I know.* I can be pretty sensitive to smell, and the mildew really threw me off.
The wine tasted delicious, it was light and fruity, with hints of tangerine and citrus. But I honestly could not get past the mildew nose. I have a feeling this is part of the grape, and is where it starts to be reminiscent of the muscat grape.
I don’t mean to talk bad about the wine either. The flavor was wonderful, but for some reason my sensitivity to the smell made it hard for me to enjoy. I really think this was just me, as everyone else in my party seemed to enjoy the wine.
I will have to try another bottle of Siegerrebe in the future to see if I have the same experience or if the wine has a bit different nose to it.
The Splendid Grape 