This wine spotlight features Kindred, a 50/50 blend of Traminette and Gewürztraminer. Winemakers intentionally blend these grapes to build layered flavors and expressive aromas, creating a wine that feels vibrant and complex. Traminette, an American hybrid grape, delivers the aromatic charm of its European parent, Gewürztraminer, while offering greater vineyard resilience.
Both varieties thrive at Matt and Emily Deitrich’s vineyard in Baroda, where most of the fruit for Kindred was grown. In addition, select grapes sourced from the Lake Michigan Shore enhance the blend. Together, these vineyards allow the wine to showcase bold spice and delicate floral notes that naturally complement one another.
On the palate, Kindred bursts with sweet notes of lychee, peach, apricot, blossom, ginger, and lemongrass. At 6% residual sugar, the wine balances fresh tropical fruit with bright acidity, keeping it light and refreshing. As a result, Kindred pairs easily with a wide range of foods—if you don’t finish the bottle first.
For example, Middle Eastern and Moroccan dishes shine alongside this wine, especially those featuring nuts, dried fruits, and roasted meats. Likewise, coconut shrimp makes a standout pairing, so don’t hesitate to bring out your favorite recipe. You can also enjoy Kindred with grilled pineapple, curried chicken salad, Mexican cuisine, sushi with pickled ginger, mango sorbet, or fresh lychee.
So, what is a lychee? It’s a sweet tropical fruit that tastes like a blend of strawberry and pear with a hint of rose water. Fittingly, it’s the perfect kindred fruit to Kindred wine.
