Ficklin Vineyards grows Portuguese winegrape varieties such as Tinta Madeira, above. Peter Ficklin says port wines pair well with holiday favorites including richly flavored cheeses, chocolate and caramel desserts, and salted and smoked nuts.
the winery’s tawny port aged for 10 years. For a traditional dinner of turkey, stuffing and potatoes, Ficklin said, “I would pair that with a rosé port, or a port that has a little sweetness, since sweeter ports go well with a wide array of f lavors.” Fickl in Vineyards wine club member Rebecca King of Visalia said the tinta and Old Vine Tawny ports are her favorites, and she has visited the winery during the pandemic to have the bottles delivered to her car. The staf f also hosts webinars and virtual tastings for those interested in learning more about their products. “Peter and the folks at Ficklin Vineyards are really passionate about the different types of port wines they sell. They are really down to earth and will give you their own recipes that they’ve tried pairing with the wines,” King said. “We tell everybody that they rea l ly need to t r y thei r por t wines . They have
something for everybody.” Along with receiving numerous internat iona l accolades for the ports he makes, Peter Ficklin was honored in 2012 with the Wine Lifetime Achievement Award from the California State Fair. Last year, Ficklin Vineyards received a request from the U.S. Embassy in London to serve the winery’s Old Vine Tinta and Aged 10 Years Tawny ports at future dinners. F i c k l i n V i n e y a r d s c u s t ome r s “ a r e w i n e af icionados that enjoy different wines and ports,” Ficklin said. “They seek us out. We have visitors from all over the world, people that visit Yosemite and make a stop. They will (make a) pilgrimage here to come and see us. It’s young people and boomers and all across the board.”
Christine Souza csouza@californiabountiful.com
MORE ONLINE At californiabountiful.com, Peter Ficklin shares holiday recipes that pair well with port, plus a cold-weather favorite: hot buttered tawny.
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November/December 2020
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