For some, a winery tour is all about the vineyard. But I’ve battled panic attacks whenever considering touring a vineyard. I’m not into gardening so if I’ve seen one vine, I’ve seen them all. I’m always afraid my secret thoughts of “Can we just jump ahead to the winery already?” would come out of my mouth and not just my mind. What if the hot sun bakes the tour group, bugs fly around, and suddenly I have to go to the bathroom and can’t find the port o potty amidst the rows of grapes? All I really want is nothing to whine about, and just enough 411 on the process so I’m a great dinner guest at holiday parties, just falling short of wine snobbery.
Enter Island Winery in Hilton Head. Problems solved.
Owners Dr. Georgene Mortimer and her husband Loren have run Island Winery for the past 3 years sans vineyard. While land is too expensive and the climate not optimal, the Mortimers are following a trend of small vintners around the United States – setting up shop in areas not known for grape productions. Georgene explains, “In a sense, it’s the same business model as the micro pub or brewery but has distinct advantages. First, is having the ability to select your grapes from the best vineyards in the world [France, Italy, and California] versus being tied to one type. This allows us to purchase grapes from regions that we know have had a good growing year. Secondly, it allows areas not famous for grapes to become known for its’ wineries.” All without the bugs.
Yet, even without the vineyard, Georgene and Loren work every bit as hard at Island Winery as any other vineyard – like the one they also own in New Jersey. At Hilton Head, they have two wine-making seasons (because grapes from Chile ripen in the Spring, and grapes from Italy and US ripen in the Fall. Use that little factoid at your uncle’s holiday table). Given the wide variety of grapes, they have the time to discover perfect blends for wine. With an extensive wine list, they hand bottle year round. Nothing here is mass-produced, but I can’t give away their secrets. I’m only giving a few highlights and there is much more to learn about the wine making process (barrels, acid and tannin levels, blending, to name a few). You can see all this first hand in less time than it takes to find a port o potty in an Italian vineyard -- and still have time to make supper freshly armed with a few choice bottles of wine.
So, it’s a great winery tour -without the whine. But is the wine good? Really good? While other wineries are tending the grapes, giving tours and killing bugs, the Mortimers are producing award-winning vintages. At the Hilton Head Island Wine Fest (the East Coast’s largest outdoor wine festival) over the past 3 years, they’ve won an unheard of 8 silver medals for vintages such as Praline Honey Wine, Shiraz, and Merlot. This past two years, they cinched gold for ’05 Joe’s Reserve Zinfandel and ’06 Meritage.
Although they have every reason to be exalted wine snobs, Georgene and Loren’s motto is “wine should be for everyone and at the same time, lots of fun.” And they mean it. By offering wine flights (tastings in 3’s), happy hours, and wine and cheese tastings, they bring wine to every level -- from those who just turned 21 to the seasoned imbiber – or group of imbibers. From their own unique Sangria recipe to the bold Cabernet Sauvignon, everyone finds something. My choice? The fruity Raspberry Wine featuring locally grown fruit-- and a bottle of award winning Meritage for my sister-in-law who had my kid at Disney while we visited the island. I realized I should have given her three bottles. Always buy extra bottles of Island Winery’s wine, because no matter how many you buy, you’ll still come up short. Good thing they take internet and over the phone orders.
Island Winery removes the whine factor while offering the best of all worlds – a signature island winery experience complete with tour, samples, and a few bottles of new favorites to take home to your friends – with time leftover to hit the beach.
See www.Islandwinery.com for more information and call for directions to this Hilton Head hot spot.
by Vikki Spencer, our resident wine peasant and typically pleasant traveler. (She's not whiny, we swear.)
Because we promote responsible imbibing, we also recommend you find lodging accommodations within a reasonable walking distance. May we suggest a vacation condo rental near Folly Field or a private vacation home for rent in Palmetto Dunes?