Linden Update | April 20, 2023
The wisteria is in full bloom and the barn swallows are back from their winter vacation. Linden’s deck is the place to be this weekend.
Early Spring
Right now spring is early, warm, and dry. Next week may be different. Our seasonal and vintage expectations have to be constantly modified. Planning is taking a back seat to reacting. Our climate change in the Mid-Atlantic has been different from that of the West Coast or Europe. Warming seems to be less dramatic, but our precipitation is increasing. Unpredictability is shared by all regions. We need to be more resilient, and grape varieties need to be more resistant.Early Spring
Learning to pronounce the names of certain grape varieties is one of the many hurdles we face.
Climate Change Trial Plantings
This week additional vines are being planted in our Climate Change Trial Vineyard. Our total will soon be 22 varieties. The only way to find out what works is to plant and observe. We only plant a small number of vines of each variety. Those varieties that fare well could be planted in large enough quantities for us to eventually make and evaluate wine quality.
The two characteristics we are looking for are late ripening and rot resistance. The best ripening time in our region has been the end of September to the beginning of October. This is when the nights are cool and the days are warm, but not hot. A slow ripening under these conditions gives ideal aromas, flavors, color, acidity, and tannins. A warmer climate will accelerate ripening and we may lose this ripening sweet spot with some of our existing varieties.
Rain, especially from hurricanes, can cause bunch rot. Some varieties fare better than others in a wet vintage. Those with thick skins and loose clusters usually perform best. There is only one way to find out which varieties are best adapted to our new climate: plant them.
Linden Vineyards Wine Dinner at the Buttery
2049 Millwood Rd, Millwood, VA 22646
May 4, 5 & 6
Thursday, Friday & Saturday
6:30 pm start time with very limited seating
Jim Law will be hosting on Thursday night.
Jonathan Weber will host Friday and Saturday evenings.
Menu
Amuse bouche
White asparagus salad, fava bean crisp, vanilla bean and lemon radish
Linden Village Chardonnay 2018
First
Seared Atlantic char, charred mango puree, pickled green coriander risotto, spring pea and mint broth
Linden Avenius Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Second
Roasted mushroom ravioli, sautéed pea vines and fava beans, morel and pine nut cream
Linden Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Third
Rosemary smoked lamb, rhubarb gastrique, vanilla scented sunchoke puree, butter roasted baby carrots
Linden Hardscrabble Chardonnay 2019 and Linden Claret 2020
Fourth
Dark cocoa rubbed ribeye, grilled asparagus, green garlic vinaigrette, spicy burnt caramel sauce
Linden Hardscrabble Red 2019
Dessert
Rhubarb and thyme upside down cake, roasted strawberry coulis, toasted hazelnut Chantilly
Linden Late Harvest 2015
Reservations at the Buttery
$165 per person, plus service charge & taxes (No further discounts.)
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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Update: April 20, 2023