On a sunny late summer day, right before the kickoff of college football, Ed and I journeyed to the Big House at the University of Michigan for another kind of kickoff–a private reception to introduce Intercept Wine. 

Storied University of Michigan Heisman winner Charles Woodson, in his post-NFL career, has turned to winemaking. This fall, in order to reach more of his fans, he has partnered with O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, the seventh largest winery in the US, with Paso Robles-based winemaker Amanda Gorter at the helm for Intercept, his second line of wines. 

Woodson and O’Neill’s Intercept wines include:

Cabernet Sauvignon: aromas of black currant, sweet tobacco and spice, flavors of dried blueberries, cedar, and forest floor.

Red Blend: full-bodied wine with a deep ruby color, aromas of berry cobbler, savory herbs, and tobacco with a long spicy finish.

Pinot Noir: medium-bodied wine with a garnet color, aromas of strawberry, pastry cream, and nutmeg, with dusty fine grained tannins and long juicy finish.

Chardonnay: bright straw-gold color medium-bodied wine with notes of apple, peach, and baking spices, and a toasty oak finish.

The room was decorated with photos, wine, and food (of course! Nothing goes better with wine than food).

Food pairings gave suggestions and compositions that Intercept wines go well with, including prime New York strip with wild mushroom bread pudding, roasted brussels sprouts, smoked grapes, and Bordelaise sauce; whipped ricotta salad with heirloom tomatoes, cherries, cucumber, Saba syrup, black pepper, and crispy flatbread; and pan-seared jumbo sea scallop, potato puree, brown butter vinaigrette, parsley salad, honey-roasted apples, and hazelnuts. It was all delicious, and gave us plenty of ideas to go with these delicious wines.

After the curated tasting and wine pairing, and hearing from both Woodson and Jeff O’Neill, we walked next door, to Michigan Stadium. Heading down the tunnel to the field, one could feel history come alive, and hear ghostly echoes of decades of cheering from the stadium. 

We spent time on the field, and then viewed Intercept’s video on the enormous screen at the far end of the stadium. 

The clouds chased us off the field, up the tunnel, through the locker room, and back into real life. Luckily, we can relive the deliciousness of the day whenever we’d like, as can you. Intercept wines are available in the Midwest (of course: Big 10 country!), Florida, and California, to start with. What will you make for dinner?

All photos courtesy and copyright Wandering Educators