Swedish Hill Vidal Blanc 2009

I have learned over the past few years, that the Finger Lakes Wine Region makes some fabulous Rieslings. I have also learned to appreciate many of the other white wines and a few of the red wines manufactured in the region. One of the new ones, at least for me, is Vidal Blanc.

Vidal Blanc is a French hybrid bred from the crossing Ugni Blanc(Trebbiano) and Rayon d'Or grapes and is best known for the hardiness of the vines, and is usually grown in locations that are too cold for well known grape varieties. Vidal Blanc is more often used for late harvest sweet wines and for ice wines and not often as an everyday table wine. But, when made as a dry white table wine, it makes for a very nice and delicious table wine.
This past week-end I continued to open some of the white wines I brought home from my Cayuga Lake wine tour.  One was the 2009 Swedish Hill Vidal Blanc ($12).
Soft golden color with aromas of wildflowers, pineapple, grapefruit and a hint of peach. Finish was dry with a little honeylike sweetness.
Opened for a dinner of broiled scallops and broiled ocean perch basted with butter and  then covered with juice of fresh lemon.  Ocean perch is a nice light white fish and went very well with the Vidal Blanc.  This wine will also do well with salmon or trout, chicken dishes and summer salads.
The cobalt blue bottle will also look very cool sitting in an ice bucket on the patio while nibbling on some Edam or Swiss cheese.