River Run Plants Vineyard

Triminette, Chambourcin, Seyval Blanc and Vidal Blanc – not a foursome you would normally expect the starter to mention at your favorite golf course, unless of course, that course is the River Run Golf Club, Gary Player’s Ocean City Masterpiece. 

Who are those “guys” and what are they doing here?

They are four grape varieties, recently planted in strategic areas throughout the front nine, that will in late 2013 add a special flavor to the post round ritual of drinks with your friends in the Player’s Club Restaurant – wines from the vineyards of River Run.

In consultation with Costa Ventosa, a local Winery located in nearby Whaleyville Maryland, four varieties of grapes  were all chosen for their excellent wine quality, productivity, disease resistance and adaptation to the climate of the Mid-Atlantic region.

Just to the left of the first tee is Triminette, a cross between the French American Hybrid Joannes Seyve and the German cultivar Gewurztraminer. Triminette will produce a white wine with a spicy fruit characteristic (Gewurz in German means spice) with apricot and honey overtones.

To the left of the 3rd green is Chambourcin, another French American Hybrid.  The Chambourcin grape produces a deep colored red wine with a full aromatic flavor.  Chambourcin wines can be made into a dry style or one with a moderate sugar level, giving it a pleasant sweetness.  Chambourcin wines are often served with dark chocolate or chocolate desserts, but go great with grilled meats, sausages, roasted poultry, and dishes with mushrooms.
Just ahead by the fourth tee is Seyval Blanc, a cross between the Seibel and Rayon d’Or varieties and will produce a crisp white wine, perhaps a Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay with citrus elements in aroma and taste.  Wines made from the Seyval Blanc grape are often paired with both fish and shellfish due to their palate refreshing qualities.

To the right of the sixth fairway is Vidal Blanc, a white grape developed in the 1930’s from a cross between Ugni Blanc and Rayon D’Or grapes.  Wines produced from Vidal Blance are fruity, with grapefruit and pineapple tones and are particularly suited to sweeter dessert wines.

For Lew Meltzer, River Run’s owner and developer, the addition of vineyards will continue his vision of making River Run a “Beautiful, unique, fun place to live, play, and enjoy some of life’s finer pleasures”.