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Schmidt Family Vineyards 2018 Albariño
All in the family
In France, you’ll run across multigenerational families that all work together to produce wines, but it’s rare in the US. But that’s exactly what Schmidt Family Vineyards is.
When I met with the newest family member to join the team, Christine, she laughed and said everyone in the family works at the winery at one point or another during their lives.
It all started with Cal and Judy, who bought the original acreage twenty years ago, successfully transitioning from wheat farmers to grape growers and vineyard managers. Their other passion is architecture, construction, and landscape design – on full display at their gorgeous tasting room and winery property, with walking paths, ponds and landscaping surrounding the Applegate Valley property.
These days, you’ll find multiple generations working in the winery. Cal and Judy’s daughter Rene does double duty as winemaker and lab manager. Rene’s sons Spencer and Duncan are the tasting room manager and assistant winemaker. And Christine, the sales director, is Cal and Judy’s niece. All in the family!
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Schmidt Family Vineyards, Grants Pass, Oregon
2018 Albariño
Ah, Albariño. Like so many wines in Southern Oregon, it’s a Spanish varietal that’s not found in many other places. Hailing from northwest coastal Spain, it’s a great winter white.
We opened this bottle from the Schmidt family and were instantly wowed! A gorgeous wine, full of citrus and bold fruits with good but not overwhelming acidity. It has aromas of lime zest, tangerine and orange blossom. You’ll taste lemon, orange zest and apple nicely complemented by a streak of minerality.
Albariño is a great food wine thanks to the bright acidity and lower alcohol. It pairs nicely with seafood of all kinds, pasta with cream sauces, and goes particularly well with Spanish cuisines – we love it with paella!
A Cellar 503 selection in February 2020, Spotlight on Southern Oregon Applegate Valley | Albariño
