South Carolina - Hilton Head - Island Winery

Island Winery - (July 2017) You can choose six of the available wines for a complimentary tasting; there were twelve on the available menu while we were there.

I started with the 2015 dry Riesling, grapes from Washington state, with an apple aroma and a light lemon flavor, it was not until the third taste that the honeysuckle entered the finish. The American Riesling, done in a German style, had the sweet Riesling grape aroma with a clean tart finish. The 2016 Carmenere, from Chile, with hints of blackberries and mild oak was nice, but it was the 2016 Malbec, also from Chile, with its dark cherry notes, more balanced with even softer tannins and oaking. The 2015 cabernet sauvignon, from California, had notes of plum, higher tannins, but a nice mild oak finish. The 2015 petit sirah, also from California, was deep with higher tannins, blackberry on the nose and notes of plum and currants.

My wife started with the Sea Island white, a blend of vidal blanc, seyval blanc and pinot gris from Michigan, with its faint pear-skin finish. The harvest white sweet muscadine was balanced and at a 4% residual sugar, was not overly sweet. Peach on the Beach, had good aroma, but reminded us of cling peaches in syrup, without the thickness. Southern Passion, their southern style sangria was bland except for the hint of orange at the end. The margarita wine had it all there, minus the salt rimmed glass; refreshing. She chose not to do the elderberry mead as she felt she had too much to drink at that point.