Also popular in the northeast part of the county, this white wine producing hybrid is a favorite choice to craft dessert wine, especially when picked late. Vignoles typically develop a very high sugar content with high acidity. Vines are hardy, with moderate vigor and productivity. Bud break is late, reducing the risk of spring freeze injury. The fruit clusters are small, compact and susceptible to bunch rot in humid conditions.

In the spring of 2008, Smoky Hill will introduce a varietal wine, Dry Vignoles. About two dozen wine enthusiasts joined the winemaker in late February to sample this dry, white wine with long, creamy finish.

So what is a varietal wine?  A varietal wine is a wine crafted from a minimum of 76% of one particular or specific grape: think Merlot, Chardonay, Pinot Noir.  In the Midwest, varietals are mostly hybrids, vine stock developed to withstand our climate.

The Vignoles (veen-YOLE) is a complex grape variety produced from a cross of two grapes, the Seibel and Pinot de corton.  Smoky Hill offers six varietal wines: Norton (Norton grapes) River Valley Red (Concord grapes) Pink Catawba and Sweet Lady (Catawba grapes), Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Smoky Hill Vineyards & Winery's Dry Vignoles will be a single barrel bottling, meaning there will be 350 or fewer bottles.  Founder's Circle Honors Club members will receive first notice of this wine release, and will be eligible to purchase this special wine in advance of it hitting retail shelves.

For club information, click here.