"ironstone vineyards" news and stories

I didn't know that you could make a brand new fruit, but I guess if you can make a grapple (that's an apple that tastes like a grape), you can make a grape called Symphony.

Dr. James Olmo created the Symphony in 1948 (that's a baby by wine grape standards!) at UC Davis by  crossing the Muscat of Alexandria grape with Grenache Gris.

Ironstone Vineyards in California makes a wine called Obsession from Symphony grapes from their own vineyards. I bought a bottle of the 2004 Obsession a few nights ago only because I was curious about a California born-and-bred grape, and the wine guy said that it's light, sweeter, a little bubbly, and would go well with spicy foods. Besides, how could I pass up a wine called "Obession?!?"

I drank a glass first while cooking, since I was preparing for Spirited Cooking (which I took quite literally). The wine looks very pretty - light, pale, and the wine guy was right. The Obsession sort of sparkles in the glass as well as on the tongue. It was much sweeter than I expected, though. Not quite like a Moscato or the super-sweet Rieslings, but still rather sweet and perfume-y for something right before dinner.

It was fine with the spicy foods we were having for dinner, but I couldn't really imagine drinking the Obsession with Korean food. The search for a good pairing with kimchee still continues.