Passion at the Water’s Edge

Water’s Edge is a winery and restaurant which aims to give customers a relaxed atmosphere and an all around pleasant time.  Whether you are dining alone, as a family or perhaps lunch meeting for business or at one of their fun events, Water’s Edge has something for you. 

The Wine:  

          Berry Melon-y- Strawberry is exactly what its name suggests.  It is a white Shiraz that starts out with a kind of Jolly Rancher or Starburst flavor, full mouth feel but light.  Then you get almost the rind of watermelon, not the whitest, but right where the watermelon flesh and rind meet.  Then it finishes with a honey-crisp sort of unctuousness.

Good ol’ Gerty, the white wine made from the Gewurztraminer grape.  This grape is a pink to red variety which is said to share its aroma with the lychee and produce wines with a floral note.  For me, Gerty had a spring-water quality to it with the flavors of fruit skins.  Also, it had a faint hint of the Traminette grape to which the Gewurztraminer is a parent.  

One of my favorites was the Almond Sparkling!  The soft and playful bubbles definitely left their memory on my palate.  But what was intriguing about this California sparkling wine was the ‘almondeyness’ of it.  If you are thinking your morning oats or perhaps a breakfast cereal, let’s change that.  The almond in this wine has the flavor of a good, light marzipan or a frangipane.  The baking ingredients used in decadent cakes, often of the French variety.  The very subtle acidity plays well with the light sweetness of this bubbly wine.

Honorable mention goes to the Got Red.  This one was gifted to me as a kind gesture.  I had it at home for a couple of weeks before I opened it. I stored it out of any light in a cool, dry place.  (I don’t have my wine cellar built yet, just in case anyone wants to volunteer).  This wine was juicy and jammy and full of sweet and tart notes.  I would call it a medium-heavy mouthfeel, just enough to let you know it was there but doesn’t linger too long.  Paired with alfredo pasta with just a hint of black pepper, Got Red would be its best bud.  

The Experience:

          Now my experience was a bit different, as I visited just a few days before the Thanksgiving holiday on an early Friday evening.  It was a bit chilly so most people were probably in for the evening.  There was a couple in eatin when I entered and a group of four plus a baby arrived while I was in.  

For me, this was great.  I felt like I had the space to myself.  There were plenty of orders, maybe call-ins, being prepared because the kitchen was busy.  The light crowd afforded me an opportunity that is not always available.  I got a chance to sit down with the owners.   First, Charlie came to scope out the common area and he noticed my ten glasses of wine.  We taste and we don’t judge 😉.   When he went back into the kitchen, I asked my nice server if he was in fact the owner and if he would be available to speak with me for a minute.  He was and he did!  In our conversation he said, “You should talk with my daughter!”.  What I learned was that his agreement to purchase the business was so that she could have a place to put her college degree to use.  That has turned into her being the winemaker at Water’s Edge E-town.  

Tiana is a calm spirit.  She is also kind and creative and like me, looking for opportunities to grow as well as to inspire others.  She showed me around the building and we talked about future growth in our professions.  Charlie was kind as well and I really enjoyed my time there.  

As far as their regularly scheduled program, Water’s Edge always has something cool going on.  Stay in the loop by following their Instagram page (see links below).  They often host events in addition to offering a full menu during their regular hours as well as having a private event space for rental.  They also host contests ever so often.  They were just gearing up for a Blue Envelope contest where if you brought yours back during a specified time, unopened, you would win what was inside.  Someone won a full case of their wine.  How awesome!

Tastings:  

          The options for tastings are well-rounded.  All tastings come as five wines.  The first option is 2oz. pours which are preselected for 20$, 1oz. pours of Fruit infused for 6$, 1oz. pours of Dry for 8$ or 1oz. pours of Mixed for 10.

My Takeaway:

When you think of wine, you probably think of mass produced products by a corporation.  But keep in mind that lots of wineries are mom and pop’s or family run.  We know that the personal touch is what you get in the smaller establishments and Tiana and Charlie have definitely added their personal touch.  Water’s Edge Winery & Bistro in Elizabethtown, KY gives a fun and welcoming vibe with a wine to suit every palate.