What an absolutely eye-opening experience with Rachel Lipman at Loew Vineyards! Rachel is making some of the most sophisticated meades I have ever tasted. She is an amazing font of knowledge as well as a bit of a historian. It seems a shame to call them meades since they taste like really good wines!!!
Rachel uses a unique and old-time traditional method to make her Polish inspired meade/wine. She uses Maryland hobbyists’ honey. Black locust local honey. Super light. Super Floral.
Her Chenin Blnce and Muscat, both tinged with honey, are absolutely phenomenal. These are bone dry wines, but because of the introduction of honey into the process, the law requires her to call them meade. Great whites, reds, and sparkling!
According to the website, "The Loew family’s establishment in the wine production dates back at least as far as the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is woven into a rich tapestry of European custom and tradition. The family began their journey in producing mead (also known as honey wine) in 1870. There, the matriarch and patriarch of the Löw family, Malka and Meilech, first established a meadery in the town of Bursztyn, Poland and later another meadery in Lwów (now known as Lviv, Ukraine). They had ten sons and two daughters who were all involved in the mead business. As their families grew, so did the mead enterprises. By 1930, the Löw family owned over five different prominent meaderies. One of the sons, Eisig Löw, established his meadery in Lwów, Poland; where he established the “first national meadery and beeswax production facility” in Poland. He and his wife, Klara had three sons, Abraham, Elimeilech, and Wolf."
"In the late 1930s and 1940s, the Löw families and their mead-making businesses, like many of their community, were destroyed during the onslaught of the Holocaust. All were lost, except for Wolf, who survived through hiding in a woman’s home, escaping and traversing over the Tatra mountains into Hungary where he and others joined the underground resistance. Eventually, while on a mission sent by the underground headquarters, he was captured by the Hungarian Gendarmes. Initially, they thought he was a spy since he spoke multiple languages. After interrogations, he was imprisoned in the Budapest Political Prison and a few weeks later transported to Auschwitz Concentration Camp. After five months, he was transported to Flossenburg Concentration Camp, and later a death march where he was liberated by the 99th Division of the US Army. After restoring himself and his health, he finally made his way to the United States." Eventually the family began a new vineyard in America, Loew Vineyards.
Now, eldest granddaughter Rachel (Lipman) is making the wines. Growing up learning about the family history and having fond memories of the vineyard, she began to immerse herself in all aspects of the industry. With a Bachelors of Science in Plant Science and a Bachelors of Arts in Communications from the University of Maryland, College Park. She also studied in France, interned at an organic vineyard in the Loire Valley. She also completed the Washington State University Enology Certification Program. Rachel currently is managing most aspects of the operations for the vineyard, winery, and tasting room. Including winemaking.
To understand Rachel and what she's accomplished, we have to start out with a story. "In 2017, when Rachel was working as a wine distributor, Rachel had the opportunity to meet and work with a biodynamic winemaker from Oregon. During their car ride they talked about mead and my family’s history. After a few minutes the Oregon winemaker mentioned of once trying a Champagne where the wine was tiraged (the dose of sugar + yeast to bottle ferment) with honey instead of sugar. The idea stuck with Rachel. She searched for that Champagne producer for years. In fact, each winemaker that she talked to about this idea also mentioned hearing about a Champagne that was tiraged with honey instead of sugar. No one has been able to find it. At this point, it’s an urban legend. So, with a small amount of extra Chardonnay from the 2022 vintage, she decided to experiment and see if it was possible." The Festtive Feries, featuring and Simcha (which means "joy"), Chaya, and Mazel are delicious proof!
The Festive Series
Loew Vineyards Simcha 2022 is a 100% Chardonnay dry sparkling wine. Barrel aged for 9 months and uniquely tiraged with local wildflower honey. Wonderful mature flavoes. A terrific dry sparkling wine with wondernotes of flowers, and tropical fruits. Fruit forward, but dry, with a creamy finish.
Loew Vineyards Chaya 2023 is the winery's Rosé blend of 72% Pinot Noir and 28% Merlot. And again, tiraged with wild flower honey. Lovely notes of bright cherry and strawberry, with a lovely middle, and a nice acidity which makes this an absolute lip-smacking sparkler.
Loew Vineyards Mazal 2022 is a dark sparkler made from 100% Barbera Nouveau. The winemaker's notes are dead on right - "Dry, with notes of plum, blackberry, and spice." Absolutely lovely!
There is no question that among my favorites of the entire tasting is the super seductive Loew Vineyards Nouveau 2023. Super, super seductive. It was one of the best Nouveau's made in the US in 2023 (I hsould know, I was part of a panel tasting). This Nouveau is quickly fermented in a carbonic macération (whole grape/berry fermentation) and released in November. This was the third year they've used Maryland grown Barbera grapes are sorted through and de-stemmed by hand. Notes of black raspberry, violet, and plum all come through with a hints of spice on the finish. An absolutely delicious wine, one of the best produced that we found or tasted!
Rachel and her Grandmother
Loew Vineyards Klara was an eye opener, and the 2022 Maryland Governor's Cup Gold Medal, Best in Class and Jack Aellen Award Winner! The wine is named for Klara Margulies Löw who was the loving mother of our co-founder, William Loew. This dry wine was fermented from Muscat Canelli, with wildflower and clover honey added. Barrel aged for nine months. Just phenomenal!
I also got a sneak peek at the 2024 Maryland-grown Chenin Blanc, with small additions of honey that Rachel made that will be released in 2025! Super remarkable!!!!
What Rachel Has created is nothign short of extraordinary - both historically, stylistically, and with such flavor! Loew Vineyards is Living HIstory - in the best possible way!