Varietal(s):
100% Petit Manseng

AVA:
Middleburg Virginia AVA ☸

Vineyard:
Iron Will (Waterford Estate) ☸

Harvest Date:
September 10, 2022

Fermentation and Aging:
Steel Fermented
For 4.5 Months

More Technical Stuff:

Alcohol 13.5%
pH 3.02
Brix 22
Residual sugar 0.5
Cases Produced 120

Label:
Front and Back Label

Background on the Wine:
We have come to love Petit Manseng, a varietal we admittedly knew little about when the Wine Reserve at Waterford began charting its path back in 2015. We have come to champion the fruit and its unique character that is a great first impression for anyone unfamiliar with Virginia white vinifera. First Harvest is the only wine we have made the same since day 1 and since its release its been a flagship in our portfolio. For the 2022 release – dare we say the best yet – you can expect big green apple notes, flowery zest on the nose, with a sliver of ginger and lime ending with a sharp and refreshing mineral finish from the steel aging.

The nose is a 50/50 Balance of crisp apple and grapefruit, and soft hint of fresh grated lime peel. On the palate you are greeted with taste of grapefruit, green apple and blossoms. A tartness lingers on the back of the tongue with a clean finish thanks to the stainless steel aging.

The 2022 release earned gold status in the 2023 Loudoun Wine Awards.

More details on the process:
We had tried Petit Manseng in many styles but wanted to keep the presentation of the fruit as dry as possible. Needing some small bit of residual sugar for the tip of the tongue we settled on .5 percent to allow something for the sweet receptors before all the bold green apple notes take over on the backside of your palate. Aged in stainless for a crisp finish, we feel we have perfected our fruit with this annual release.

Background on the name:
The name “First Harvest” is based on the 2017 Petit Manseng harvest being the first full harvest of any fruit for wine-making purposes of our Waterford estate vines. As the formula for this wine has never changed, and because we love that milestone, the name kept – even if its properly a Third, Fourth , or Fifth Harvest.