Tasting notes for a flight of country wines

Country wines from local fruit behave differently from grape wines: they are made to be drunk young, usually within a year of bottling, while the fruit still tastes fresh and clean. A short flight poured in the order below lets each bottle show its own character instead of the sweet ones crowding out the crisp ones.

The order to pour them in

Start with Rhubarb, the lightest and crispest of the whites, then move to Apple, also light but rounder, especially warmed with a stick of cinnamon. Follow with Harvest Blend, a semi-sweet blush, and Purple Passion from concord grapes. Finish with the full-bodied pours — Ruby Red, Elderberry and Raspberry — letting Cherry Chill, a blend of white grapes and fresh cherry juice, close the evening.

What to put on the table

Harvest Blend is best with cheese, ham and sausage; Cranberry is a natural with turkey and ham; Elderberry holds up to pasta and beef; Raspberry is a dessert wine that suits chocolate and cheesecake. Keep the pours small, since the point is comparison rather than volume.

Writing down what you liked

Notes taken during the flight are worth little if they get lost, so keep your order history in one place and glance at it before the seasonal list changes. If you order online, the steps for getting back into your account, including a forgotten password, are gathered on the betwinwins page, so a lost note does not cost you a bottle you meant to reorder.