WINES

OUR WINEMAKING GOALS

We strive to produce the highest quality wines in the Brandywine Valley using meticulous work in our vineyards and utilizing the best of “old world” and “new world” processes in our winery. 

Our aim is to have our wines reflect our extensive growing knowledge of  our unique Brandywine Valley terroir and also reflect each year’s distinctive growing season climate.  Galer Estate promises that we will not only produce and sell consistent high quality wine every year, but  will create inherent unique and novel wines, with their own characteristic aromatics, flavors, and colors.  And like many great winegrowing and winemaking regions around the world, each year our winemakers will create different blends that will best show our fruit. 

OUR WINES AND VINTAGES

While 2008 and 2009 were good years for winegrowing and winemaking in Pennsylvania Brandywine Valley, 2010 was just a spectacular year.  2010 brought the sun, heat, and dryness that enabled our vinifera grapes to create outstanding wines, allowing for complex, fruity, and well ripened fruit. 2010 also awarded us 33 medals in major wine competitions, including 2 Double-Golds and a Best in Show for our Vidal Banc "IceBox" wine.

2011 was a trying year for winemaking in the Brandywine Valley, with record rainfall, especially during harvest. However, with Jan's meticulous work in the vineyard keeping our fruit and vines clean and healthy, and Catrina's thoughtful and labor intensive winemaking tecniques in the winery, we have created very interesting and tasty 2011 wines. For our 2011 wines, we recieved 9 medals, including a GOLD medal for our 2011 Chardonnay Reserve.

2012 was a SPECTACULAR year for winemaking in our wine growing region! All of the fruit came into the winery with clean, ripe and concentrated flavors. Catrina has taken good care in the winery to ensure that alll of our 2012 wines will bring out the best of what Brandywine Valley has to offer. We are just now sending in our 2012 to wine competitions, so please wish us luck!

Most of the wines from 2010 and many from 2011 are sold out, but new wines will be released over the 2013 Spring and Summer, including our first-ever releases of Albarino and Sauvignon Blanc, and our highly anticipated fan-favorite Pinot Gris. The 2011 reds will be released some time in the Summer of 2013.

OUR AWARDS:

__2011 Albarino

  • 2013 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition- Bronze
  • 2013 International Eastern Wine Competition (Sonoma) - Bronze

__2011 Chardonnay Reserve

  • 2013 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition- Gold

__2011 Riesling

  • 2012  NextGen Wine Competition (Sonoma) – Bronze
  • 2012 Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition - Bronze

__2011 White Huntress blend

  • 2013 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition- Bronze

__2011 Cabernet Franc  “Icebox” Wine

  • 2013 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition- Silver

__2011 Vidal Blanc “Icebox” Wine

  • 2013 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition- Silver
  • 2013 International Eastern Wine Competition (Sonoma) - Silver

__2010 Cabernet Franc

  • 2012  NextGen Wine Competition (Sonoma) – Silver
  • 2012 Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition – Silver
  • 2012 International Women’s Wine Competition (Sonoma) - Bronze

  _ 2010 Chardonnay

  • 2012 Fingerlakes International Competition - Silver
  • 2012 Pennsylvania Wine Association – Bronze
  • 2011 International Women’s Wine Competition - Silver
  • 2011 International Eastern Wine Competition – Bronze
  • 2011 Atlantic Seaboard International Wine Competition – Bronze

    _2010 Chardonnay Reserve

  • 2012 U.S. National Wine Competition [NAPA] - Gold
  • 2012  NextGen Wine Competition (Sonoma) – Bronze
  • 2012 Fingerlakes International Competition - Bronze
  • 2011 International Women’s Wine Competition – Silver
  • 2012 International Eastern Wine Association – Bronze
  • 2012 Women’s International Wine Competition (Sonoma) - Silver

__2010 Huntress Red

  • 2012 Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition - Bronze

    2010 Pinot Gris

  • 2012 Fingerlakes International Competition - Silver
  • 2011 Fingerlakes International Competition – Bronze
  • 2011 International Eastern Wine Competition – Silver
  • 2011 NexGen Wine Competition – Bronze
  • 2011 International Women’s Wine Competition – Bronze

__2010 Reserve Red Blend

  • 2012  NextGen Wine Competition (Sonoma) – Silver
  • 2012 Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition – Bronze
  • 2013 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition- Silver
  • 2013 International Eastern Wine Competition (Sonoma) - Silver

     2010 Rosé Wine

  • 2012 Fingerlakes International Competition - Silver
  • 2011 Atlantic Seaboard International Wine Competition - Bronze
  • 2011 NexGen Wine Competition – Silver
  • 2011 International Women’s Wine Competition – Silver

    2010 Vidal Blanc “Icebox” Wine

  • 2012  NextGen Wine Competition (Sonoma) – Best of Show/Double-Gold
  • 2012 Pennsylvania Winery Association – Double Gold
  • 2012 International Eastern Wine Association- Bronze
  • 2012 Fingerlakes International Competition – Silver
  • 2011 International Women’s Wine Competition – Bronze

    2009 Galer Estate Chardonnay

  • 2012 Fingerlakes International Competition - Bronze

     2009 Rosé Wine

  • 2011 Fingerlakes International Competition – Bronze

    2008 Galer Estate Chardonnay

  • 2011 Fingerlakes International Competition - Bronze

 

AVAILABLE WINES:

CHARDONNAY

  • 2011 Chardonnay (58 cases) $19 per bottle

    With aromas of toasty vanilla, cinnamon and apricot, this lovely chardonnay lingers on the palate, accompanied by flavors suggesting hazelnut and nutmeg as well as balanced acidity.

    Geology: Gladstone Gravelly Loam, Hatboro Silt Loam series, 8-15% slopes, Glenelg Silt Loam Series Manor Loam Series, 3-25% slopes 
    Vineyard: Red Lion Vineyard, Kennett Square, PA, Old Stone Farm, Landenburg, PA
    Blend: 100% Chardonnay
    Elevage: Cold fermented partially in French oak and aged in stainless steel for 8 months.
    Dates of harvest: 11 September – 25 September 2011

 

 

 

 

2011 Chardonnay Reserve(72cases) $25 per bottle

  • Our Reserve Chardonnay's aromas suggest buttery sweet cream and yellow peaches. On the palette, you will find round acidity and lingering creaminess, with flavors that suggest baked apple pie, hazelnut, and allspice.
  • Geology: Gladstone Gravelly Loam, Hatboro Silt Loam series, 8-15% slopes, Glenelg Silt Loam Series Manor Loam Series, 8-25% slopes 
  • Vineyard: Red Lion Vineyard, Kennett Square, PA, Old Stone Farm, Landenburg, PA
    Blend: 100% Chardonnay
  • Elevage: Cold fermented 7-28 days in new French oak using Montrachet and CY307 yeast and aged in30% new French oak & battonage surlies stirred bi-weekly.
    Dates of harvest: 11 September – 25 September 2011

AWARDS: 2013 GOLD -Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

 

FRENCH STYLE ROSE

Each year, Galer Estate produces a Rosé using the French Saignée  (bleeding the vats) method, taking the free flowing juice from all the red varietals that are processed in the winery and blending them together during fermentation.

2011 Rosé Wine (143 cases) $17 per bottle

This dry Rosé is copper colored with aromas suggesting tree ripened sweetcherries and watermelon. The palette has refreshing acidity balanced with a touch of sweetness. This wine displays flavors of ripe summer berries and grapefruit.

  • Geology: Glenelg Silt Loam Series, Manor Loam Series, 8-25% slopes 
  • Vineyard: Galer Home Vineyard, West Chester, PA, Waltz Vineyard, Manhiem, PA
  • 2036 vines per acre
    Blend: 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet France, 10% Petit Verdot
  • Elevage: Collected over the entire harvest season using the saignée method, fermented cold and slowly using cross evolution yeast; aged and fermented in stainless steel for 7 months
    Dates of harvest: hand harvested from 23 September - 26 October 2011

 

2010 Rosé Wine (165 cases) $15 per bottle

 Our 2010 Rosé is pale peach colored with hints of cranberry and apricot aromas.  With balanced acidity and a touch of light sweetness, this wine displays flavors of ripe summer berries and grapefruit. It has a crisp, fresh finish.

AWARDS:
Bronze - 2011 Atlantic Seaboard Int. Wine Competition Silver- 2011 NexGen Wine Competition Silver- 2011 Int. Women's Wine Competition

 


2011 Albariño (29 cases) $35 per bottle

This wine suggests aromas of white peach, wet slate, summer honeysuckle, and toasted chestnuts. On the palate, you will find hints of ripe pineapple with structured acidity and a pleasant, lingering minerality driven finish. 

  • Geology: Manor Loam, Glenelg Silt Loam Series, 8-25% slopes
  • Vineyard: Galer Home Vineyard, West Chester, PA
  • # vines/ acre: 1905
  • Blend:  85.8% Albariño, 14.2% Chardonnay
  •  Dates of harvest: Painstakingly Hand Harvested on 22 September 2011
  • Élévage: Cold fermented using VL1 aromatic yeast and aged 5 months in stainless steel
  • Quantity produced:  29 cases
  • AWARDS: Bronze - 2012 Atlantic Seaboard Int. Wine Competition , Bronze- 2012 NexGen Wine Competition

 

 

2011 Riesling (100 cases) $19 per bottle

This lovely dry Riesling wine begins with aromas of summer peaches, lychee, honeysuckle, and a hint of minerality. The palate is crisp and lengthy with lingering acidity, flavors of orange blossom honey with a pleasant finish.

Geology: Gladstone Gravelly Loam Series, 3- 25% slope
Vineyard: Beekman Orchards, Boyertown, PA
Blend: 94% White Riesling, 6% Traminette
Dates of harvest:  22 September- 1 October 2011
Élévage: Cold  Fermented using VL1 and VL3 yeast and aged in stainless steel for 5 months

AWARDS: Bronze- 2012Next Gen Wine Competition

 

 

 

2011 White Huntress (136 cases) $25

This pale blonde wine begins with aromas of pears and nectarines, orange blossom honey, and toasted hazelnuts.  On the palate, you will find sweet cantaloupe, and red apple flavors supported by ample acidity with a lingering, full finish.  

Geology: Gladstone Gravelly Loam, Hatboro Silt Loam series, 8-15% slopes , Gladstone Gravelly Loam Series, 3- 25% slope, Glenelg Silt Loam Series Manor Loam Series, 3-25% slopes
Vineyard: Red Lion Vineyard, Kennett Square, PA, Beekman Orchards, Boyertown, PA Old Stone Farm, Landenburg, PA
# vines/ acre: Varied
Blend:  9% Traminette, 23% Riesling, 68% Chardonnay
 Dates of harvest:  11 September – 1 October 2011
Élévage:  Cold fermented partially in oak and in stainless steel using several yeasts, aged in stainless steel for 8 months

AWARDS:2013 Bronze-Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

 

RED WINE--Bottled in Spring of 2012 and 2013, more is on its way to be sold in Summer of 2013

2010 Galer Estate had its first red grape harvest from our Galer Home Vineyard and what a vintage it turned out to be!  The 2010 Fall was perfect weather for allowing great ripening of red fruit, with extended summer-like sun and warmth and a late frost with only one intermittent rain event. After two years of tending the wine, our reds were introduced to the public this past Spring to great reviews!

Wines were placed into new and used French oak for aging.  There the wines will live for over a year until the tasting trials show the wines are ready to be bottled.  They are being meticulously stirred, topped, and tasted regularly to monitor their oak aging process.

We started selling our red wines in the Spring of 2012, and fortunately or unfortunately we sell them out very quickly. Please remember that it takes at least two years from the day the fruit was picked to when it is ready to drink. The dates on wine labels refer to when the grapes were harvested. We are very proud of our wines, but our reds take an especially long time to bring to you, adn we hope that you enjoy them!

 

DESSERT “ICEBOX” WINE

When planting our Galer Home Vineyard, Brad & Lele knew they wanted to create a special desert wine.  They had fallen in love with the Ice Wines from Ontario Canada and late-harvest wines from California.  Thus, Vidal Blanc, Galer Estate’s only non-vinifera vines, was planted specifically for this purpose. Galer Estate makes its desert wine in a unique way- we call it “Icebox Wine.” 
We pick our Vidal Blanc grapes later in harvest, to insure a high sugar content.  We then immediately bring the grapes to a commercial freezer and freeze them for 4-8 weeks.  The sugars and other dissolved solids in the grapes do not freeze, but the water does, resulting in a very concentrated juice.  The frozen grapes are then pressed and fermented, creating small amounts of a more concentrated, thick, very sweet wine. 

2011 VIDAL BLANC “Icebox” Wine (73 cases) $35 per bottle

Our Vidal Blanc from 2011 has fantastic aromas of ripe yellow peaches, homemade apple pie filling, brown sugar, and dried pineapple. It is brilliantly golden in color with balanced acidity     throughout and a lush ripe palate with flavors suggesting mango, butterscotch, and honey. 

Geology:  Manor Loam, Glenelg Silt Loam Series, 8-25% slopes
Vineyard: Single Vineyard Origin:  Galer Home Vineyard, West Chester, PA
# vines/ acre:  1904
Blend: 100% Vidal Blanc
 Dates of harvest: Hand harvested on 27 September- 29 September 2011
Élévage: Cryopreserved for 18 weeks prior to pressing, cold and slowly fermented with V1116 yeast and aged for 5 months in stainless steel

AWARDS:Silver 2013-Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, Silver 2013 International Eastern Wine Competition (Sonoma)

 

 

 

 

2011 CABERNET FRANC “Icebox” Wine (52 cases) $42 per bottle

This wine was born in concept after the 2011 Halloween snow storm. On the nose, you will find aromas of fresh strawberry jam, sweet summer apricots, local red delicious apples, and jasmine. The rich palate has flavors reminiscent of kiwi, golden raisins, and strawberry, with structured acidity and a lush finish.   We are particularly proud of this delicious, exotic, naturally sweet dessert wine.

Geology: Manor Loam, Glenelg Silt Loam Series, 8-25% slopes
Vineyard: Single Vineyard Origin:  Galer Home Vineyard, West Chester, PA
# vines/ acre: 1788
Blend: 100% Cabernet Franc
 Dates of harvest: Hand harvested on 2 November 2011
Élévage: Cryopreserved for 14 weeks prior to pressing, cold and slowly fermented  with V1116 yeast and aged for 5 months in stainless steel

AWARDS: 2013 Silver-Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

 

 

Cheap Screw Series

These fun, popular table wines are inexpensive easy- to-drink wines that are on the sweeter side. Perfect for a picnic, with some seltzer as a spritzer or with fruit as a sangria.

The name came from a lively dinner conversation about what to name an off-Galer label, inexpensive screw cap wine...and tada! Cheap Screw. With visions of 1940s-style pinups, Lele painted these label originals.


 

 


Galer Estate
Copyright 2011
Contact: info@galerestate.com