Shady Lane Cellars’ Kasey Wierzba talks truly special moments in sustainable winemaking and how to identify them
SUTTON’S BAY, MICH. (Oct 3, 2022) – Ever wonder what the designation reserve really means when you see it on a wine label?
The concept of a reserve wine is a simple one. It refers to winemakers to reserve, or hold back, some wine once they taste a particularly good vintage. Reserve wines are often aged longer than other wines and they represent the very best product a winemaker can offer at a given time.
Shady Lane Cellars didn’t always offer reserve wines. Executive Winemaker and General Manager Kasey Wierzba started the reserve program at the Leelanau Peninsula-based winery in 2016 and it continues today. She tastes every barrel of wine produced there – and often brings in Vineyard Manager Andy Fles and Assistant Winemaker Maddie Vint to join her. Every so often they come across a barrel that exceeds their expectations.
Whether or not a reserve wine will be released depends primarily on the climate and conditions during the growing season as well as the vintage itself. Not every year or every growing season can give rise to a reserve wine. When it does, the opportunity arises in just a few barrels based on tasting.
That’s why reserve wines are limited in nature. At Shady Lane Cellars, Wierzba only makes 100 to 125 cases of most of the wines that earn this distinction.
“It always seems that four to six barrels will really jump out at us,” she said. “These are really something special. Then, it all comes down to how the wine is maturing in the barrel.”
Following the 2016 growing season, Wierzba found that Blaufrankisch had derived strong characteristics of blackberry. It became the first Shady Lane Cellars Reserve wine. The following year, Pinot Noir grapes had their own moment and Wierzba crafted a Pinot Noir Reserve.
“Everything came together for Pinot Noir that year. It was a very warm, dry fall and very cool summer,” she recalled.
The process of crafting a reserve wine from these stand-out barrels takes just under three years, about 30 months. Once, the reserve is ready for bottling, these wines are given special treatment. At Shady Lane Cellars, you can spot a reserve wine because it is hand-dipped in a wax enclosure.
“We go that extra mile with reserve wines,” said Wierzba. “We want you to know by looking at them that these are something extra special.”
It’s been about three years since Shady Lane Cellars has released a reserve wine. That’s about to change. In 2019, the team handcrafted a Blaufrankisch Reserve. Wierzba said the upcoming reserve will be characterized by a lot of concentrated flavors, rich cherry, berry reduction and warm spices. It’s highly anticipated by wine fans, she said.
“It’s a really beautiful expression of the fruit,” said Wierzba. “Blaufrankisch tends toward rustic blue fruits – mulberry and blackberry. After aging in the barrel for 31 months, the warm baking spices are more evident.”
The best way to ensure access to these extra special and rare wine releases, is to join Shady Lane Cellars Wine Club. Reserve wines are released first to wine club members. Due to the limited supply, it’s the best option to secure one for yourself or a gift – before they sell out.
“The wine club is a great holiday gift,” said Wierzba. “Sign up for a one-year subscription to receive four shipments of wine from Shady Lane Cellars. It’s perfect for siblings, parents, holidays or birthdays. It’s the ideal gift for those who want experiences.
The options are a three, six or 12 bottle shipment which arrives four times per year. Blaufrankisch Reserve 2019 will be pre-released in a Holiday 3-pack available to the Shady Lane Cellars Wine Club members.
And it’s not the only extra special wine due to be released soon.
“We have another reserve coming – a Dry Riesling 2020 aged in 50 percent neutral Oak and 50 percent Stainless Steel,” Wierzba announced.
This wine was crafted using the French process known as Battonage which gives a rich texture and minerality to the wine. Wierzba described it as “totally dry with the aromatics and flavors of preserved peaches, ripe pears and limoncello.”
Expect to wait until 2023 for the Dry Riesling Reserve to be available to wine club members first at Shady Lane Cellars. Now is the time to join the club or give the gift of a membership. Members enjoy discounts on all wine purchases, complimentary wine tasting for up to four guests at the winery, exclusive invitations to the annual wine club dinner and the option to reserve private group tastings.
ABOUT SHADY LANE CELLARS
Located at 9580 E. Shady Lane in Suttons Bay, Mich., Shady Lane Cellars produces one of the largest percentages of estate-grown wine in its region. Offering hilltop views of the Leelanau Peninsula in northern Michigan, the winery and its staff create a comfortable approach to wine. The winery was founded in 1999. Since 2017 all Shady Lane Cellars wines are 100 percent estate-grown. In 2020, Shady Lane Cellars’ vineyard earned Sustainability in Practice – or SIP Certified – status and renewed this certification just this year. Tours, tasting experiences, private events and a wine club membership are all available. Visit www.shadylanecellars.com. Connect on Facebook or Instagram.
