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Cardinal Red

Cardinal Red Wine Details
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Description: Cardinal Red is a semi-dry red made from a blend of Concord and Catawba grapes grown at Prairie Crossing and elsewhere in Iowa. Cardinal Red is our light red party wine and Prairie Crossing’s way of saluting the Treynor Cardinals!

Varietal Definition
Concord:
This native American grape varietal (of the genus vitis labrusca) is used in making old- fashioned, "rustic" country-style red wines, often displaying what most people think of as a "grape jelly aroma." In fact, the Concord is widely used in the production of jellies and jams. This East Coast varietal produces wines that have been variously described as foxy, meaning they have a unique aroma/flavor profile variously described as wild and musky. Mogen David is perhaps the quintessential Concord wine.
Catawba:
This was perhaps the earliest discovered native American grape, growing wild in Ohio and New York valleys, but it has since been surpassed by the Concord as the most widely planted native East Coast grape varietal. It primarily is used to make off-dry or sweet red wines, with a pronounced foxy (a unique aroma/flavor profile variously described as wild and musky) labrusca flavor. A number of producers also utilize this grape to make sparkling wine.


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