Flower wine has a rich and diverse history, offering unique flavors and cultural significance that set them apart from traditional grape wines. In this blog post, we’ll explore the origins of flower wines, delve into the offerings of FlorVino—a Texas-based winery with ties to Alberta, Canada—highlight the benefits of flower wines, and introduce other non-grape wines that are worth exploring.
A Blossoming History: The Origins of Flower Wine
The art of crafting wines from flowers dates back thousands of years across various cultures. In ancient China, chrysanthemum wine is popular as early as the Han Dynasty (247–195 B.C.E.) and was traditionally consumed during the Double Ninth Festival for its believed protective qualities. (wineenthusiast.com)
Similarly, in ancient Egypt, lavender flowers create complex libations, showcasing the early Egyptians’ appreciation for floral-infused beverages. (sfbaytimes.com)
In Europe, the tradition of flower wines continued, with recipes for gilliflower (a type of carnation) wine appearing in 18th-century England. An old recipe from 1753 details the process of fermenting gilliflowers to produce a fragrant and flavorful wine.
FlorVino: A Fusion of Texan and Canadian Floral Winemaking
FlorVino is a unique winery that specializes in crafting award-winning flower wines from Texas’ wildflower nectar and culturally significant flowers. The winery’s formulas are developed by top flower winemakers worldwide ensuring a memorable and exquisite Texas wine experience.
The inspiration for FlorVino came when founder Manny Ortiz discovered flower wine during a visit to Spirit Hills Flower Winery in Alberta, Canada. Motivated to bring this unique beverage to Texas, he established FlorVino to craft flower wines using local Texan flora.
FlorVino has a tasting room in downtown San Antonio, TX, where you can taste and shop across their range of 6 wines.
FlorVino offers six distinctive flower wine labels:
- Jasmine: A fragrant wine with the delicate aroma of jasmine blossoms. (very similar in style to Chardonnay!)
- Wild Rosy: A romantic and aromatic wine infused with rose petals and wildflowers. Serve chilled with dessert as this sweeter wine is a perfect pairing.
- Peaches: A common flavor in warm-climate white wines, this peach blossom and wildflower wine is slighly sweet yet refreshing.
- Glory Hibiscus: A vibrant wine with tart cranberry, cherry, and tangy profile from hibiscus flowers. Great served chilled.
- YeeHaa!: Spicy cinnamon and baked apple make this your go-to for barbeque to Thanksgiving.
- Dande: A unique wine with earthy notes derived from dandelion petals, this off-dry white wine is a fruit basket of peach, apricot and honey.
Curious about what wines to serve hot or cold, click here!
These wines are winning awards at wine competitions nationwide including the San Francisco Chronical competition held recently. Their praise is for their body, complexity, structure, uniqueness, and long, velvety smooth finish.
The Benefits of Flower-based Wines
Flower wines offer several advantages over traditional grape-based wines:
- Unique Flavors: The infusion of various flowers imparts distinctive flavors and aromas not found in grape wines, providing a novel tasting experience.
- Cultural Significance: Many flower wines build on cultural traditions, offering a connection to historical practices and regional heritage.
- Potential Health Benefits: Certain winemaking flowers, such as lavender and rose, are believed to have health-promoting properties, including relaxation and antioxidant effects.
- Sustainable and Organic Farming: As with vegetables and fruits, flowers are farmed with sustainable and organic farming principles.
Exploring Beyond Grapes: Other Non-Grape Wines
The world of non-grape wines is vast and varied, offering a plethora of unique beverages to explore:
- Mead: Known as “honey wine,” mead is one of the oldest known alcoholic beverages, made by fermenting honey with water, and sometimes adding fruits, spices, grains, or hops.
- Fruit Wines: Beyond grapes, wines are made from a variety of fruits, including apples, cherries, and berries. These fruit wines offer diverse flavor profiles and are popular in many regions.
- Herbal Wines: Infused with herbs and botanicals, these wines are historically for medicinal purposes and offer complex flavor profiles.
The resurgence of interest in these alternative wines reflects a growing curiosity and appreciation for diverse winemaking traditions.
What’s in it for you?
Flower-based wines provide a delightful departure from traditional grape wines, offering unique flavors, rich histories, and cultural significance. FlorVino exemplifies this tradition by crafting exquisite flower wines that capture the essence of Texas flora. As the world of wine continues to evolve, exploring these floral and non-grape alternatives can lead to new and exciting tasting experiences.
