Wine Making Is Redefining Southern Utah
– By Patrick Hayes –
Right now, at Zion Vineyards, this August, we are hoping for Monsoon rains. The June and July 100 degree plus days were rough on the grapes this year. Typically, we water 3-4 days a week in June and July, this year it was 5-6 days a week, and we water mostly at night. Our irrigation system is a drip system, allotting a gallon and a half of water per vine per day, with little evaporation loss. The problem is the vines are utilizing the water to survive, instead of going to the grapes to add volume to the pulp. Grapes are like humans, struggle breeds’ character and we want grapes with lots of character, structure, and balance.
The grapes are ripening beautifully, and we are looking at some high-quality fruit. We are striving for higher sugar concentration yielding higher alcohol content and wines with a well-balanced acidity and structure. Wines that not only have a fantastic taste and mouthfeel but pair perfectly with a wide variety of foods. This year at Zion Vineyards, we expect Harvest to start late August and run through October.
In August and September come out and join us for a Wine Tasting and ask for a Tour. We will take you out into the vineyard, and ripeness permitting, you may taste many of our different grapes, hanging on the vine.
We brought two wines back to our menu this month. Our Tempranillo and Tempranillo Reserve. This is a Spanish varietal; ours is full-bodied with red fruit characters and is similar Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. It has contrasting flavors of leather and cherries, and with a nice balance between earth and fruit. The finish is smooth and lingers with the taste of tannin on both sides of your mouth. The Reserve has added nuances and flavors due to maturation in a brand-new French Oak Barrel. Imparting notes of cocoa and spice, toasty oak and smoke.
Please come on out and join us for a fun time and taste some of our award-winning wines. You may also help us Harvest by getting on the Volunteer List. Visit us at 5 Hidden Valley Road in Leeds. We are just 12 miles north of St George and just off the I-15 in beautiful Leeds Utah. Reservations are not needed, we are Open Seven Days a Week, noon till 6 PM. Online at www.zionvines.com or call 435-216-1340
