Ferrante Winery, Grand River Valley (Ohio) Vidal Blanc 2021

 You might not think of Ohio first (or second or sixth) when it comes to premium wine, but there are top flight producers in the region.  Ferrante Winery dates back to the 1930s and is still family owned and run.   It was a pleasure to have this spot-on ice wine cross my desk recently.  It is the real deal, meaning it was frozen on the vine, and it’s a stunner.  That freezing allows the sugar in the fruit to go way up — up to 42% in this case.  The finished wine keeps almost half of that sugar intact, and the singing acidity in the wine keeps it light and bright rather than sticky or cloying without sacrificing intensity of flavor.  It is a decadent dessert on its own, but if you really want to go for it, pair with Stilton or Foie Gras.  Sold in a 375ml bottle.