Thirty-three years after introducing Prairie Fumé, Wollersheim Winery is releasing Scarlet Fumé, a red wine rendition of Wisconsin’s most popular wine, on April 8, 2021.
Like Prairie Fumé, Scarlet Fumé is well balanced, bright and fruity,with a hint of sweetness that quenches your thirst but leaves you wanting more. The red blend is characterized by the intense aromas of luscious cherries and sun-splashed violets with an eye-pleasing ruby hue. The palate is bright and balanced with a smooth finish, making this wine an easy to drink red, perfect for enjoying with friends and family.
Scarlet Fumé didn’t happen overnight. It was a multi-year process that started as conversations between Wollersheim’s Winemaker, Philippe Coquard, and his daughter Céline Coquard-Lenerz, Wollersheim’s Enologist. Finding the right grapes and perfecting a new fermentation process was a challenge that took nearly 3 years.
“The first year, the grapes weren’t earmarked for Scarlet Fumé, but it gave us the chance to work with those grapes,and Céline noticed that the direction we were going in was too tart and too bitter,” Philippe said.“Under Céline’s leadership,we were able to adjust the fermentation and extract less tannin, making the wine lighter and fruitier for Scarlet Fumé.”
To make the wine, the grapes are crushed and destemmed before being fermented on the skins for approximately one week. After the fermentation process is complete, the wine is left unoaked, in order toretain more of the fresh and fruity flavors. “We are super happy with result and we are anticipating that is going to sell out,” Philippe said. “We are already looking at making double for next year.”
Other upcoming releases from Wollersheim include Wisconsin Bourbon and Ice Wine. For more information on Wollersheim Winery, Distillery and Bistro visit Wollersheim.com
