Davesté Vineyards’ Tasting Room
We recently held a vertical tasting of Rkatsiteli from Davesté Vineyards in Troutman, NC. We first reviewed Davesté’s Rkatsiteli several years ago (Previous Review). Davesté produces the only known single variety Rkatsiteli in North Carolina. It’s become their signature wine.
Davesté opened in September, 2007. The grapes were first planted in 2005. Owners Dave and Ester DeFehr, whose combined first names are the inspiration for the Davesté’s name, first began plans for the vineyard and winery in 2003. Land was purchased in 2004. Today, in addition to Rkatsiteli, Davesté grows Traminette and Chambourcin. Most other fruit is sourced locally within North Carolina with some coming from Virginia and California.
Rkatsiteli grapes nearly ready for harvest at Davesté Vineyards
Rkatsiteli is thought of have originated in the country of Georgia and is believed to be one of oldest vinifera varieties. It’s typically known for producing high acid wines. It’s gaining popularity in the Finger Lakes region of New York and in Virginia.
We inquired how Rkatsiteli does here in North Carolina. Winemaker Leslie Johnson tells us, “In the vineyard, Rkatsiteli is pretty easy to manage. It likes to grow straight up instead of sprawling like a hybrid. The main disease we fight every year is downy mildew for this varietal. We like to harvest these grapes a bit earlier than others to help retain the acidity.”
She added, “In the past, all of our Rkatsiteli has been fermented and aged in stainless steel. With our increased yields in 2019, we currently have some Rkatsiteli aging in French oak barrels to try something new.” We can’t wait to taste a barrel aged Rkasiteli!
We tasted the 2015 – 2018 vintages of Rkatsiteli from Davesté. Here are our notes and information about each wine.
2015
- 100% Rkatsiteli
- 12.5% Alcohol
- Bronze Medal Winner at the Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition
- Nose: Pear, lemon rind, and honey
- Palate: Bruised pear, preserved lemon rind, pithy
- Finish: Medium
2016
- 100% Rkatsiteli
- 13.5% Alcohol
- Nose: Faint pear and light honey; Delicate and refined
- Palate: Fresh pear and zesty lemon
- Finish: Medium+
- Favorite overall
2017
- 100% Rkatsiteli
- 12.8% Alcohol
- Double Gold Medal Winner at the Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition and Silver Medal Winner at NC State Fair
- Nose: Floral, minerally, and honeysuckle
- Palate: Minerally with notes of lemon
- Finish: Short and tart
2018
- 100% Rkatsiteli
- 12.8% Alcohol
- Silver Medal Winner at the Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition and Double Gold Medal Winner at NC State Fair
- Nose: Perfumy, pronounced honeysuckle, sweet pear
- Palate: Rose petals, lemon, lime, fresh and vibrant
- Finish: Medium+
Davesté suggests pairing their Rkatsiteli with pad Thai, shrimp scampi, or chèvre. We had spinach pie, roasted vegetables with a lemon tahini sauce and various cheeses. Rkatsiteli should do well with most vegetables and seafood.
If you’ve ever in the Troutman / Lake Norman area, stop by and visit Davesté. Their beautiful grounds are the perfect place to relax. In addition to wine, Davesté produces beer and has many live music events throughout the year, but be sure to pick up a bottle of Rkatsiteli while you’re there!
Cheers!
