Finger Lakes Wine of the Week:
Fox Run Vineyards Hedonia
By Nicholas Baldwin
The back label of the non-vintage Fox Run Vineyards Hedonia begins with a definition, and so will I. He-don-ia, [he-doh-ne-ǝ], noun, the ability to experience extreme pleasure. This fortified white wine from Fox Run is truly pleasure in a bottle. The wine, which comes in a 375-ml. bottle, boasts 20-percent alcohol-by-volume and is made from the Traminette grape, an American hybrid of Gewürztraminer and Joannes Seyva, developed at Cornell University. It had a fair representation across the Finger Lakes, but is mostly used for blending to add its fantastic floral characteristics to white wines. The team at Fox Run, who isn’t rookies to making dessert wines, hit the ball out of the park with Hedonia.
This is perfect as an aperitif before dinner time, or a dessert treat after dinner. It has a very fragrant nose of roses, white peach, orange citrus fruits and kiwi. It has a full body and an even richer finish on the back of your palate. Don’t be afraid to change up how you drink wine with this one. Drinking it on the rocks with a twist, or with a splash of your favorite Finger Lakes sparkling wine is perfectly acceptable and encouraged. You can even go with Chef Brud Holland’s suggestion and try The Sparkling Hedonia Cocktail. Retailing for only $10 at most wine and spirits stores, there is no reason not to give this one a try.
Nicholas Baldwin has worked in the wine and spirits business for more than 12 years and traveled the world visiting vineyards. He holds numerous wine certifications.
For more of Nicholas Baldwin’s wine tasting notes, click here.
If you’re a Finger Lakes wine producer and would like to submit wines for consideration, please contact Nicholas Baldwin at nick@nicholasbaldwin.com.
