Sweet seduction in South Carolina

Browsing the local market in Charleston, bored of a tacky souvenirs, my eyes lit up as they were captivated by a sign “Market Street Winery“.

I had to peak in. Bartender’s welcoming huge smile so typical of local people persuaded me to ease my purse of $5 for tasting of 5 wines.

Their wines are different though.

The producer is experimenting with various grape varieties combining them with fruits such as peach, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, apple and even cranberry!

The wines are light (only 11% of alcohol) and their sweetness scales from 10 % of residual sugar to none in the local version of Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay both very refreshing.

The Shaftesbury Blend emphasised already slightly peachy chardonnay to an extreme. The peach dominated the wine. Perfect match for summer afternoon.

Merlot in the North Market Red was crowned with blackberry. Very balanced taste great for those with the slightest affection towards tannins so common in red wines.

Moving to medium sweet wines with the Market Street Mead made from honey. I am not joking. I was explained that this was actually the ancient way to make wines. By fermenting honey you get a very deep and distinctive wine. Who would ever have thought of wine from honey! Unbelievable and enchanting.

Sweetgrass Blackberry with 3-5% of residual sugar is also sweater resembling more a blackberry juice, than a wine. I wasn’t much impressed by it.

Raspberry Redemption at the end assured me that I can never combine this wines with food, but it is better to enjoy them on their own. Using other fruits than grapes in wine diminishes the wonderful variety of flavours for which we treasure our wines. But, it is something different, you have to try it.

If you are really curious you can order them online and make your opinion.

• POLITICS: U.S. Mission to Burma Heralds Obama's New Diplomatic ...