American Heritage
Wines!
On a recent Florida Spring morning, a
soft breeze drifted across the uncut grasses between the neat rows of
grapevines. It was approaching 8:00 am and a brand new day was awaking. As the
first sunbeams stretched out across this idyllic canvass, buds of bright yellow
slowly appeared. Beginning as a tiny stream of color, a raging river of flowers
soon washed the landscape. Unfolding before our eyes was this days harvest …
the “Dandelion Flower”!
Long before you or I were born, our
ancestors awaited this same moment with bountiful joy! Our ancestors considered
this wonderful wildflower the grandest of the bloomers. The roots provided
delicious teas and broths. The leaves were eaten raw in salads or cooked with
other dishes. The bright yellow flowers, however, were the most treasured.
These tiny petals were destined to become their most precious possession … “Dandelion
Flower Petal Wine”!
What I have just described is a prime
example of an…”American Heritage Wine”!
On another day, a whole passel of
brownish-red tubers were gently dug up from the ground beneath our feet. Kind
of long and roundish these gems were not potatoes. They were and are a
part of the southern landscape of America. Again, our ancestors recognized and
appreciated this grand tuber for what it was, a delicious feast when cooked and
a fabulous adult beverage when fermented into…”Sweet Potato Wine”!
What I have just described is another
prime example of an…”American Heritage
Wine”!
As Spring evolves into Summer,
another beautiful plant rises from the soils of the southeast United States. A
member of the nightshade family, it soon bursts into countless clusters of
white flowers. Under the warm southern sun, green fruits soon appear. Almost
with the blink of an eye, these green fruits ripen into bright, luscious and
plump red fruits. Today, they mostly garnish our fresh green garden salads. To
our ancestors, however, these red fruits had a grander purpose. With visions of
a spectacular and unique taste, our ancestors were able to transform this
indigenous and delicious fruit into the most wonderful and golden colored…”Cherry
Tomato Wine”!
Again, what I have just described is
another prime example of an…”American
Heritage Wine”!
Our ancestors settled all across our
country. They were a hardworking and industrious lot! Most were farmers and
knew how to grow things. Most had the knowledge to make wines. If wild Native American
grapes ( muscadines, catawba’s, concords, fox grapes, etc.) grew where they
settled, they were certain to use them to make fabulous grape wines. Grapes,
however, were not their only choice. Many other wines were made from local fruits
and vegetables.
As you visit wineries in America,
today, we encourage you to ask them about those “American Heritage Wines” that they produce. It’s time that
we celebrate our collective heritage. It’s time that American wineries reach
back into their regions past and bring forward to us the great American wines of
yesterday!
Until next time….”Salute and
Happy Days”!
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