Ahhh...finally it is Spring! This is the time of year most of us begin craving being outside: planting, landscaping and just generally reconnecting with the sun and soil we have been disconnected from all winter. As you are making plans and implementing them in your yards this year, consider creating a wine sensory garden. Wine sensory gardens allow you a tranquil place to contemplate the colors, aromas and flavors that are characteristically used to describe wines. Wine tasting is already a full-body experience; a wine sensory gardens help deepen that experience by incorporating the senses of smell, sight and touch. When tasting a glass of wine in one of these gardens, the whole experience is heightened.
When planning your garden, select plants that remind you of the color, flavor and aroma of your favorite wines. For example, a corner of the garden dedicated to Riesling could incorporate white and apricot foilage with scents that remind you of the wine: geranium, rose, honeysuckle, jasmine, peach and lilac, perhaps. The area dedicated to Pinot Noir could incorporate blackberry bushes and cherry blossoms as well as plums, raspberries, tomato vines, and violets. The plants you choose would be a personal decision, just as tasting is a very personal experience.
Eliza Frey of the organic Frey Vineyards in California recently blogged about wine sensory gardens. Read her blog here. She gives some great advice on garden plants that can be incorporated into your new "sipping space". Don't forget to add in a few sitting areas for family and friends so you all can enjoy the "fruits" of your labor.
Below is a list of planting ideas from Kendall-Jackson's Wine Sensory Garden at their Wine Center Chateau. Kendall-Jackson has an expansive wine garden that varies by season but is guaranteed to bring you a new sensory palette of sights, tastes and smells to enjoy and explore. These are just a few ideas that you can personalize to your taste and run with! Enjoy!
RED WINE SENSORY GARDEN / Kendall-Jackson
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Descriptors
Eggplant, black beans, broccoli, beets, radicchio, carrots, olives, green beans, sage, rosemary, basil
Affinities
Oregano, tobacco, blackberry, black cherry, bell pepper, black currant, mint, dill
Pinot Noir
Descriptors
Blueberry, cherry, plum, raspberry, strawberry, tomato, violets, cinnamon
Affinities
Figs, squash, pumpkin, leeks, beets, carrots, fennel, coriander, ginger
Zinfandel and Syrah
Descriptors
Peppercorn, licorice, roses, pomegranate, blackberry, lavender, plum, black currant
Affinities
Tomato, squash, cumin, sage, garbanzo beans, cloves, saffron, ginger, black olives
Sangiovese & Italian Red Varietals
Descriptors
Rose, cherry, raspberry, red plum, orange peel, tobacco, anise, olive
Affinities
Tomato, garlic, onion, radicchio, zucchini, basil, caraway, sweet peppers, parsley, fennel, red cabbage
WHITE WINE SENSORY GARDEN / Kendall-Jackson
Chardonnay
Descriptors
Apple, lemon, peach, pear, melon, quince, gardenia, vanilla, guava, nutmeg, cinnamon
Affinities
Potato, pumpkin, squash, coconut, pineapple, turnips, thyme, mustard, tarragon, anise, corn, sage
Sauvignon Blanc
Descriptors
Melon, fig, pear, grapefruit, lemon, green grass, hay, gooseberries, dill, olive
Affinities
Lavender, rosemary, dill, chilies, radishes, horseradish, cilantro, spinach, parsley, lemon grass, chard/collard greens
Viognier
Descriptors
Honeysuckle, apricot, orange, nectarine, lemon, peach, lychee, passion fruit
Affinities
Fig, lemon thyme, Jerusalem artichoke, cilantro, carrots, sweet onion, sweet peppers, corn, pumpkin, pear, marjoram
Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat (Floral Varieties)
Descriptors
Geranium, rose, honeysuckle, orange blossom, jasmine, grapefruit, apricot, peach, melon, lilac, mint, rhubarb, lime, pear
Affinities
Sweet onions, sweet peppers, lavender, caraway, fennel, persimmons, lime, chilies, ginger, cloves, snow peas, carrots
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