Pro tip: Use the word "variety" instead of "varietal" when referring to the type of grape in a wine (e.g. Merlot, Chardonnay, etc.).
Varietal refers to a wine that is mostly made up of one grape variety.
This is a VERY common misconception, so don't feel bad. (I'm generally terrible with grammar and spelling, so zero judgment). But it is still misused in a lot of prominent publications, so it can be confusing.
An easy way to remember it is:
Variety is a noun.
Varietal is an adjective.
For example: A wine that is made from 95% Merlot would be a varietal wine made from the Merlot variety.
Producer
Michael Shaps
Wine
Riesling
Vintage
2022
State
Virginia, USA
Region
Shenandoah
Riesling 100%
This term refers to the period of time after the wine has been fermented, but before it is bottled.
During this period, the winemaker usually stores the wine in some sort of vessel to let the wine "mature" before releasing it.
The type of vessel used, typically oak barrels or stainless steel tanks, will have an impact on the flavor and texture of the finished wine.
14 months
Stainless Steel 100%
Short answer: Structure includes the elements in a wine that you feel more than taste. Think of it as what you could detect if you had a cold and took a sip.
Acidity: Makes your mouth water after you swallow the wine. Common terms: Bright, crisp, linear.
Tannin: This is responsible for the drying sensation felt on your palate, typically with big reds. Similar to a tea that has been steeped for a long time. Common terms: Grippy, chewy, velvety.
Alcohol: The real reason you're here. Wines are usually somewhere between 7% and 16%.
Sweetness: The amount of sugar left over in the wine after fermentation. Usually referred to as residual sugar or RS for short.
This part can be pretty intimidating for newcomers. Someone asks you what you're getting from the wine, but all you smell is...wine?
The fact is, wine contains THOUSANDS of chemical compounds found in other fruits that make up the aromas and flavors in each glass, which can make it difficult to pick out a select few.
The good news is that this not only makes wine complex and interesting, but also means that it's actually pretty difficult to be "wrong" when calling out flavors. As with most things in life, confidence is everything.
Some prompts if you're stuck:
Peach, Apricot, Honey, Lime
Michael Shaps 2022 Riesling
This Riesling was fermented until dry, meaning almost no residual sugar was left over, as can be the case for many Rieslings. Instead of tasting like a typical Riesling from Germany, this bottle was inspired by the Rieslings of Alsace in France, where a dryer style is common and slightly lower acidity tends to make the wines more approachable. All of the fermentation process and aging was done in stainless steel tanks, allowing for the natural fresh flavors of Riesling to be preserved without the influence of oxygen or oak.
Approachable, bright, crisp, and bursting with fruit-forward aromatics, this wine offers all the classic elements found in Riesling, but without any sweetness.
Perfect for outdoor drinking on its own or paired with most cheeses and lighter fare.
In A Pinch
Most cheeses, lighter fish, and anything fried.
Deeper Dive
Remember, this is a DRY Riesling, so there is no sweetness. The acidity is still going to be key here which will help match or cut through a wide range of dishes.
Lighter fish dishes are great, but this will really shine with some sushi. Riesling tends to pair nicely with Asian cuisine, like Chinese or Thai, especially if it’s fried and this bottle is no different. The lower alcohol will also allow it to go along side some heat as well.
The medium body and high acid will also be great for a raw bar or anything briny.
Stand out features: Elevated acidity and dry style.
Recipe Ideas
Cheeses
Steer Clear
Most red meat is probably not the best bet (pork is an exception here).
Also anything sweet won’t do well here since this is a dry Riesling.
Glassware
All-purpose or white wine glasses are going to be best here.
Should I decant this wine?
Explanation
This wine will benefit from some oxygen, but this can probably be achieved by some swirling in the glass. No need to break out the decanter here.
Serving Temp
When should I open this?
If a wine has been released by the producer and is available for sale, it means it is ready to drink. Wines don’t necessarily get “better” with age, they just change. Typically, this change involves things like losing fresh fruit flavors in exchange for more savory notes.
The moment you should open the bottle depends on your preference, so it’s more important to understand the evolution and the life span of the bottle than it is to try to time its opening perfectly. (It’s far better to open a bottle too early than too late.)
This bottle should probably be opened between:
2024 – 2029
Founded in 2007, Michael Shaps Wineworks is located in the former Montdomaine Winery, twelve miles south of Charlottesville, Virginia. The original concept was to use the facility for production of the existing Michael Shaps brand of wines, and to produce a second brand called Wineworks, a more value-oriented line of Virginia wines.
Within the first year the opportunity arose to develop Virginia’s first contract winemaking operation–more commonly known as custom crush–to make wine for independent growers who want their own brand. Found in many wine regions around the world, this previously untapped market became a focus for Wineworks.
Between 2008-2014 the customer base grew to over twenty contract winemaking clients and the facility grew in size and capacity, requiring two expansions. Wineworks quickly became a regional leader for contract winemaking, serving clients from Tennessee to Delaware.
Michael ShapsWhen Michael’s founding partner left in 2014, he brought in investors to expand the winery facility to increase production capacity to 30,000 cases of wine and changed the name from Virginia Wineworks to Michael Shaps Wineworks. In 2015 the processing volume reached 430 tons (approximately 28,000 cases) and the 2017 harvest brought in over 500 tons.
In 2015 Wineworks acquired a 16,000 square foot warehouse on Avon Street Extended, located one mile from downtown Charlottesville. The primary goal was to find a location to bottle and warehouse wine for Wineworks and its clients, due to the land constraints of the winery location at Harris Creek Way. In August 2015 renovations to the warehouse site began and were completed in early 2016.
In addition to developing the Avon Street location into a warehouse and bottling facility, Wineworks converted what was once office space into a second tasting room, with an upper-level private room with a catering kitchen that can accommodate up to 50 seated guests for private tastings, parties or meetings.
Less than a mile from Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall, the warehouse is located directly across the street from the Fifth Street Station shopping center. The tasting room is designed to be a neighborhood wine bar and taphouse–featuring wine on tap with six different taps for growlers, carafes and wine by the glass. Bottle sales include Michael Shaps wines, Wineworks bag-in-box wine, imported wines from Maison Shaps in France, as well as other French imports.
Interested in joining our wine club?
Membership Benefits:
- 4 shipments per year: February, May, September, December
- 30% discount on all Wine Club shipments
- 20% discount on all other wine bottle purchases–both online and in tasting rooms
- Complimentary wine tastings for two (limit 2 per membership) at the winery of either Virginia or Burgundy wines, depending on your club each time you visit the winery
- 20% off wine flights at Wineworks Extended each time you visit
- Discounted tickets to many special events
- Access to pre-release & “library” wines not available to the public
- Tickets for two (limit 2 per membership) to the quarterly Wine Club Pickup parties, held in February, May, September, December
Contact
p: 434.296.3438
tastingroom@michaelshapswineworks.com
Open Daily 11am-5pm
