Behind the Cork™ - Sweet Wines of Oliver Winery for Valentine's Day

Oliver Winery, located in Bloomington Indiana, is “Driven by curiosity and creativity” according to Rob Warren, VP of Winemaking. This ‘hobby winery’ has grown to be among the 30 largest wineries in the U.S. They seek to set the quality standard for the sweet and flavored wine category with innovative yet approachable wines - unpretentious, full of personality and refreshingly real - No flavorings or colorings, no high fructose corn syrup.

Oliver wines are:

  • Giftable: Bright, bold flavors make these wines a thoughtful and approachable gift for wine enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike

  • Chocolate Pairing Perfection: Dreamberry and Cosmoberry complement a variety of chocolates, while the Sweet Red pairs with everything from truffles to chocolate-covered pretzels

  • Celebration-Ready: Whether for a party or romantic dinner, these wines are festive, fruit-forward options

The ‘Soft Wine Collection’ from Oliver Winery (including the three featured wines below) is crafted with juice from the cool-growing Great Lakes region and cold fermented in stainless steel tanks resulting in a bright fruit taste and aroma.

Oliver Winery - Sweet Red ($13)

Ranked one of the Top 6 sweet red wines in the U.S.

Classic Concord grape aroma, deliciously smooth, fruity taste, and ruby-red color. This soft red wine is fresh, crisp, and just-sweet-enough.



Oliver Winery - Dreamberry ($16)

This wine has layered real flavors of light and tropical lychee and raspberry with sweet red wine and a hint of lime. A refreshingly real, deliciously juicy wine. Made with the very best fruit and natural ingredients.



Oliver Winery - Cosmoberry ($16)

Inspired by the classic Cosmopolitan cocktail, this berry-infused sweet red wine has a familiar Concord-based red wine a twist, with a bright balance of natural cranberry, strawberry, and blood orange. Cosmoberry is a smooth, easy-to-drink wine.

For 50 years, Oliver Winery wines has represented the highest-quality ingredients. Their winemakers continually refine each wine in their portfolio to create approachable, fruit-forward, flavorful wines you can enjoy again and again. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review.

Media Samples Provided by Oliver Winery

Behind the Cork™ - Signature Cocktail Collection from Oliver Winery

Oliver Winery of Bloomington, Indiana has just introduced its first Signature Cocktail Collection. If you’re craving a French 75, Sangria or Passionfruit Martini, you’ll love these new inspired bottled wine cocktails that give you a refreshing flavor with the convenience of simply chilling the bottles and pouring them over ice. 

Produced with a crisp white wine base infused with real fruit flavors and natural botanicals, the new collection includes three varietals that are the perfect complement to warm weather sipping: Passion Fleurtini, Blossom Drop, and Peach Sangrini.

With a 13% ABV, these refreshing wines offer a fresh take on fan-favorite cocktails, boasting a lightness and drinkability that’s great for both casual sipping and special occasions.

Just chill and enjoy, or add a garnish and pour over ice for the cocktail experience.

Passion Fleurtini ($13.99) - Passion fruit is followed by a blush of soft & floral rosewater. A delicate delight that should be served chilled over ice or in a Champagne coupe glass for a little extra flair.



Blossom Drop ($13.99) - Crisp lemon & elderflower shine in this spritz-inspired wine cocktail. Light and bright on the palate, with just the right amount of spritz. This one should be served over ice and garnished with a lemon wheel and rosemary. Or, just chill and sipped as is.



Peach Sangrini ($13.99) - This bellini-inspired wine cocktail is like a sangria, with notes of bright peach and zesty lemon. Deliciously light and drinkable. Shake over ice and serve with fresh fruit.

For over 50 years, Oliver Winery has upheld its dedication to offering a guilt-free indulgence at an affordable price, welcoming wine experts and novices to enjoy their offerings with enthusiasm and accessibility.

This Signature Cocktail Collection from Oliver Winery is a great way to enjoy a warm evening, or really anytime. And, at these very affordable prices, they are a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week! Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Samples Provided by Oliver Winery via Dittoe Public Relations

Behind the Cork™ - Summer Wines from Mack & Schuhle

It’s Summer! And time for some light and refreshing wines. Mack & Schuhle Importers have just the wines to cool and refresh you during these hot summer days!

Light wines are versatile and can be enjoyed on their own as a refreshing drink or paired with a wide range of summer dishes, from salads and grilled vegetables to seafood and lighter meats and they won’t overpower the flavors of lighter summer foods.

The flavor profiles of light wines, such as citrus, green apple, and floral notes, just shout freshness which is especially appreciated during the warm summer months.

Summer foods tend to be lighter and fresher. So, light wines will complement these foods well and enhance their flavors.

Mosketto Delicate Sweet Pink ($11.99) — Italians love to start off an evening, especially at a social gathering, with a glass of this delicious pink bubbly wine. It really doesn’t matter what time of year it is, the wine’s presence puts everyone in a good mood. The pleasant bubbles in this wine come from a natural carbonation process without the addition of CO2 or artificial flavors. It is produced in Italy from Brachetto and Moscato grapes.

This Mosketto is salmon in color with very delicate aromas. On the palate it has sweet flavors of white cherry and peach. At 5% Alcohol by volume (ABV), this is indeed a light and refreshing wine to enjoy throughout the summer (or anytime!).

Art of Earth Riesling ($11.99) — Any time is the right time for a Riesling.  Many wine lovers claim, however, that if there is one wine that is considered to be the best for warm weather, it has to be Riesling.

This Riesling is from the Reinhessen QBA in Germany and is produced in the dry, trocken style. It is pale gold in color with delicate aromas that include nectarine and citrus blossom. On the palate, this off-dry wine has flavors of green apple and pineapple with good acidity and finishes bright with some minerality.

This one is Gluten Free, Non-GMO, Organic, Vegan.

Artigiano Peach Bellini ($12.99) — It is said that Cipriani in Beverly Hills could only serve the Bellini during the summer months of the early 1900s, but nowadays this cocktail can be enjoyed year-round. A comparable alternative to the mimosa, Bellinis make an excellent brunch drink because of their fruit juice and light sparkling wine flavor.

This Belinni is from Spain and made from a blend of 100% organic white wine and peach puree. It’s got big peach flavor and is lightly carbonated. This is a sweet one with just 6% ABV.

With these hot summer months, these three wines are perfect to enjoy with friends and family. And, at these very affordable prices, make them great fits as the Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Samples Provided by Mack & Schühle

Behind the Cork™ - Rockbridge Vineyards V d'Or Dessert Wine

2019 Rockbridge Vineyards V d’Or ($32)

Rockbridge Vineyards is located in Raphine Virginia which is part of the Shenandoah Valley AVA.

Approved in 1982 as Virginia’s first American Viticultural Area, the Shenandoah Valley AVA is located in the Appalachian region of the eastern United States covering the land along the western edge of Virginia and spilling into the easternmost portion of West Virginia.

The Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail (aka the Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 2003 to support economic growth and tourism in the Shenandoah Valley by promoting the cultivation of wine grape varieties grown in the Shenandoah Valley AVA.

Rockbridge Vineyards V d’Or dessert wine has won multiple awards including:

  • 2020 Gold Medal-Virginia Governor’s Cup & 1 of 12 in the Governor’s Case

  • 2021 Silver Medal- VA Governor's Cup Competition

  • 2021 Gold Medal - Shenandoah cup Competition

  • 2023 Third Place - Shenandoah cup Competition

This V d’Or dessert wine is made in the style of an Ice Wine where the grapes are picked at their peak of ripeness and then put into freezers to yield frozen grapes. Hydraulic pressure is then used to crush the grapes while still frozen, resulting in a very small amount of very concentrated sugary substance. Because the water is frozen solid, it is not extracted from the grape in the pressing process. This high sugar extract is then put through fermentation to produce this sweet dessert wine.

This V d’Or is a blend of 26% Vidal Blanc, 26% Traminette, 24% Vignoles, 24% Riesling. It is yellow-orange in color with delicate orange and honey aromas. On the palate it is sweet (15% RS by weight) with fruit flavors of mango, pineapple and apricot with some spice notes.


This is a unique Shenandoah Valley V ‘Or dessert wine from Rockbridge Vineyards is this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers to a sweet start to 2024!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Rockbridge Winery via the Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association and Donna White Communications

Ever Wonder? What Makes Some Wines Sweet?

In wines, there is a wide spectrum of sweetness. Those that are not sweet are referred to as “dry” wines while those that are sweet are simple referred to as “sweet” wines. And, in the wine world, this all has to do with ‘residual sugar.’

When wine grapes are ready for harvest, one of the primary indicators to the winemakers is their sugar content. Using a device called a refractometer, they are able to analyze a drop of grape juice and determine its sugar content. By passing light through the juice and measuring the refraction (i.e., the amount that the light bends), the sugar content can be measured. This is referred to as Brix.

So, in simple terms, when the grapes are ready to be harvested they have ‘just the right amount’ of sugar. Anyone who’s had a glass of grape juice with breakfast knows that grape juice is naturally sweet. And, this natural sugar in the grape juice is the key to fermentation. Yeast is added to the grape juice and the live yeast feed on the sugar and converts it to alcohol. And, in general terms, once all the sugar is eaten up, fermentation ends.

But, wine makers have some control over this process. They can allow fermentation to go to the end which means that there is little to no ‘residual sugar’ in the juice that’s now wine. This is the ‘dry’ wine. But, if the fermentation is halted, or only a small amount of yeast is added to the juice, the wine ends up with significant ‘residual sugar.’ And, this results in a ‘sweet’ wine.

That’s a quick overview of sweetness in wine. For further reading, check out these past blogs: