Review of Finnnriver’s Black Currant wine with apple brandy. I was lucky enough to host a cider tasting at my house where some friends brought this rarity for us to try.
Cider: Black Currant Wine
Cidery: Finnriver
Cidery Location: Chimacum WA
ABV: 18.5%
How Supplied: 375ml
Availability: Likely difficult to find outside of their Port Townsend area cidery & farm and their booth at the Ballard Farmer’s Market. In general, Finnriver ciders are sold in WA, OR, CA, AZ, NV, TX, IL, CO, and Alberta & BC Canada (detailed info here). They also have an online store (which can ship to WA, OR, CA, AK, CO, MN, FL, & WA D.C.).
Black Currant Wine Description: We believe there is an alchemy to making a fine fermented drink. First, sun, rain and soil work earthly magic to produce fruits full of possibilities. Then we handcraft our fruit wines by pressing, fermenting, and blending with apple brandy to bring forth the vital flavors of the fruit. We call these wines “fruit for grown-ups.” Enjoy sipped, as a sweet complement to dessert or as dessert itself!
Cidery Description: At Finnriver we gather and ferment the flavors of the land to offer you farmcrafted hard ciders and spirited fruit wines. We are inspired by the allure of the fruit, the ancient history of the craft of fermentation and the lively traditions we now seek to revive. Our mission is to inspire a deeper connection to the land that sustains us….Some of these ciders are small-batch, seasonal and labor-intensive. Others are produced with contemporary methods and more readily available year-round…Finnriver grows over twenty varieties of traditional and heirloom apples in our organic orchard, to feature in our traditional and specialty ciders. They have a tasting room open seven days a week, noon to 5pm, and are on the Olympic Pennsylvania cider route along with Eaglemount and Alpenfire cideries.
Price: n/a (but I believe it runs $20)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home (my cider tasting event)
How Found: n/a
I tried it at room temperature, but I wouldn’t have minded it cold, or even, shocker, over ice (or maybe ice cream?). It tasted a lower ABV than it was, which could be dangerous.
Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Intense black currant with blackberry and cranberry notes. Low acidity and tartness. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Full bodied. Medium finish length.
Closing Notes: Yum! What a special treat.
Have you tried any Finnriver apple brandy products? What did you think?
Cider Says 