Demejeanne Vermont Rouge - 2018
La Garagista
- Region
- USA » Vermont
- Type
- red still, dry
- Producer
- La Garagista
- Vintage
- 2018
- Grapes
- Marquette
- Alcohol
- 12.5
- Sugar
- 1
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Cellar
- not available
Marquette is an inter-species hybrid red wine grape variety. Like most other hybrids used in Vermont, it was developed at the University of Minnesota as part of its grape breeding program1. Its goal is to develop high-quality, cold-hardy, and disease-resistant wine cultivars. Marquette is a cross between the other two hybrids - MN 10942 (aka Minnesota 1094) and Ravat 2623 (aka Ravat Noir). Marquette was introduced in 2006 and has good resistance to downy mildew, powdery mildew, and black rot, as well as being cold hardy (survives -37°C when fully dormant).
In 1347 Queen Joanna of Naples was exiled to Avignon. Caught in the mistral, she sought refuge in the small castle of a gentleman glazier. When she was shown into his atelier the next day, she startled the artisan at his work. The result was a bulbous vessel that could hold ten liters. Instead of calling the broad-shaped bottle Jeanne-Reine, the modest queen suggested he call it Lady Jane, or Dame-Jeanne.
Marquette grapes are sourced from Vergennes vineyard located on the hills and valleys of Vermont. Grapes are fermented on their skins with native yeasts and blended after a year of élevage in glass demijohns.
Footnotes
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U of M Expertise : Grapes : University of Minnesota. (n.d.). ↩
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Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Grapevine Breeding, Geilweilerhof ,Siebeldingen, Erika Maul, Reinhard Töpfer, Alina Ganesch. (n.d.). MINNESOTA 1094. Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Erika Maul. ↩
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Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Grapevine Breeding, Geilweilerhof ,Siebeldingen, Erika Maul, Reinhard Töpfer, Alina Ganesch. (n.d.-b). RAVAT NOIR. Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Erika Maul. ↩
Ratings
100% Marquette, a hybrid cold-hardy variety. Every bottle from this winery is something unique (no quality connotations, just fact). Earthy-driven bouquet with notes of Isabella grape, cured meat, violets, dogwood, horse and a pile of wet autumn leaves. Mineral, not simple and demanding. Interesting to taste, but not for everyone.
La Garagista
*La Garagista*
/noun/
One who makes wine in a garage, one who works in a garage, one who uses all parts of a garage.
La Garagista (one who makes wine in a garage) is located on Mount Hunger at the edge of the forest in the Châteauguay and in the Piedmont chain of hills in Barnard, Vermont, USA. It's a small homestead farming focused on vines, but they also grow vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs for personal consumption. Deirdre Heekin and Caleb Barber started the farm in 1999, yet the winery opened its doors in 2010 with the first vintage. They currently make around 34 distinct cuveés, including several ciders.