The award-winning Red Lion Chardonnay makes its local debut, Friday.
For what may be Chester County’s most honored winery, the awards just keep on coming — and this time winning in the heart of California’s famed wine country, Sonoma County.
Galer Estate Vineyard & Winery just won Gold again for their latest Chardonnay. Galer Estate’s first release of an un-oaked Chardonnay recently was awarded a Gold Medal in the 2015 International Women’s Wine Competition that took place in Sonoma County California. This 2014 Red Lion Chardonnay was one of the first wines entirely crafted by Galer’s new winemaker Virginia Mitchell and is made entirely from five year old vines at the upper Red Lion Vineyard located at the winery site in Kennett Square. The winery is celebrating the new release of the Red Lion Chardonnay this Friday, August 7th, from 5-7pm.
The International Women’s Wine Competition is an annual blinded wine competition with thousands of entries from around the world. All judges are female, but wines are produced from both women and men winemakers. Galer Estate also won a Silver Medal for its new 2014 Pinot Gris and a Bronze Medal for the 2013 Equivine Chardonnay.
“Winning a gold medal for the 2014 Red Lion Chardonnay at the 2015 International Women’s Wine Competition is such a special award,” Mitchell said. “This medal is a team effort, from the vineyard work throughout the years to the 2014 harvest team and the winemaking decisions that followed. The ideal growing season of 2014 contributed to the complex flavors of the Chardonnay grapes. It was kept out of oak and fermented in Stainless Steel as a stylistic choice to really express the terroir of this Chester County vineyard.”
Galer owners Brad and Lele Galer — long-time Chester County residents — expressed their delight at winning yet another award.
“We are so very proud of Virginia and our entire team,” they said in a statement. “We look forward to sharing and enjoying all of Virginia’s wines that express her vibrancy and distinctive palate” .
This Friday, Galer Estate will be officially releasing this Gold Medal wine at their winery in Kennett Square. The Red Lion Chardonnay Release Event is from 5-7pom this Friday, August 7 and will include a complimentary cheese selection from The Country Butcher in Kennett Square. The winemaker describes this wine as having “aromas of lemon zest, pineapples and bananas. With the crisp acidity and flavors of citrus, this un-oaked Chardonnay is appropriate for any occasion.” Lele Galer adds, ” Make sure to raise your glass to Virginia Mitchell, for the delicious wine, and also because she is due to have her first baby in 3 days!”
Open to the public in 2011, following 4 years of major construction, Galer Estate Winery has earned over 90 international and national medals and awards for their wines. All Galer wines are made from grapes either grown on Galer vineyards or neighboring vineyards within a 30 mile radius of the winery. Galer Estate wine is sold at the winery location (open Thursday through Sunday)at 700 Folly Hill Road in Kennett Square and at select restaurants in our local area.
