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Jackalope Wine Cellars 2020 Rosé
The Craigslist Winemaker
There’s a way you’re supposed to become a winemaker. You’re expected to apprentice in France or Italy, get a graduate degree in oenology, and find a millionaire investor.
Or, if you’re Corey Schuster, you answer an ad on Craigslist for a winery assistant to work on the harvest crew and pour wine in the tasting room.
It’s not as if Corey had nothing better to do. After all, he was making a good living as a civil engineer. But looking for a change, he promised himself that he’d try any job for one day.
When he answered that Craigslist ad, the winery manager asked him what he knew about wine. Corey’s answer: “Not much. But I like drinking it!” His honesty won him the job that day. And his hard work ensured he kept it.
Starting at the Southeast Wine Collective in Portland, Corey’s now moved to another shared facility in SE Portland. Known for his experimental style, he’s winning fans in Oregon — and more than a few around the world.
The winemaker from Craigslist has found his place. Says Corey, “The wine industry is about community, and a love of the work, something I’d not experienced before.”
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Jackalope Wine Cellars, Portland, Oregon
2020 Rosé
You’re not imagining it. Rosé wines are everywhere these days, with nationwide sales growing over 50% a year in the last few years. And it’s no wonder – rosé is versatile, it’s tasty and fun, it’s typically affordable, and yes, it’s Instagram-worthy.
Best of all, we’re now seeing top-tier winemakers apply their talents to making rosé wines, so the quality is improving dramatically. This is no longer supermarket jug wine.
A blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Cabernet Franc, this Jackalope rosé has a brilliant copper color and opens with floral aromas of lavender. As you sip, you’ll notice flavors of watermelon and raspberry, alongside the citrus notes of blood orange and lime.
It has far more depth of flavor than a typical porch-pounder rosé, but it’s still drinkable enough to curl up in the hammock with a bottle and your favorite summertime novel.
A Cellar 503 selection in August 2021, Summer BBQ Wines Oregon | Cabernet Franc, Grenache
