History Chef Featured At Vino 100 Feb. 11

History, literature, food and vino all blend beautifully together for a special event at Vino 100 Wine Bar, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee, (419) 866-8466, on Thursday, February 11, 6-10 PM, featuring renowned chef Andrew Caldwell. Known as the History Chef, Andrew will be signing his new book, "Their Last Suppers: Legends of History and Their Final Meals". The book looks at the lives of the famous -- the mistakes they made (both funny and sad), and concludes each chapter with the recipe for their last meal. This book is shortly to be a TV series.

Vino 100 will offer a variety of ways to introduce recipes from the book. On the menu for the evening will be:

• Oysters a la Russe (Captain John Smith of the Titanic) $3
• Scillas (Julius Caesar) $4
• Stone Crab w/ Maltaise Sauce (John F. Kennedy) $4
• Tiger Nut Sweets (Cleopatra) $2
• Spicy Hot Chocolate "Martini Style" (Montezuma) 5 oz. $5-10 oz. $9

Andrew will personally pair a wine with each exciting and unique dish. The tasting includes  3 ounce pours of four wines and a sample of each dish for only $25. If you don't want to do the tasting, you can enjoy one of the wines by the glass only. Each glass of wine for the pairing will be $7. This event allows you to be in control of how much you want to spend, but still be able to enjoy this renowned author's company and anecdotes.

The books retail for $19.95 each and Andrew will be more than happy to sign it for you. Andrew has prepared meals for both the Queen of England and Nelson Mandela. His British accent only makes his stories that much more intriguing and interesting. He is full of positive energy that will surely give a great boost to the start of the holiday weekend.

Andrew initially was trained as a classical chef in some of Bermuda's, finer resorts. From an early age he was recognized for his creative talent and has won gold medals for ice and butter sculpture.

Eventually developing his own hotel from scratch in New Mexico, he took a rundown adobe estate in Albuqueque and within two years 'Las Palomas' was rated in 'Americas Top 100 Little Inns'.

Always being a student of history, Andrew has walked Hadrians Wall, The Inca Road in Peru and visited Pyramid sites from Egypt to Mexico to satisfy his thirst for knowledge. The pirate haunts of the Caribbean and the lost cities of Central America have also been visited.

His writing comes from a desire to combine history and food in a package that people today with their active lifestyles can appreciate. "We can teach ourselves and our children so much by learning from the past, says Andrew. "This way we can do it with a great meal along the way."

This is truly going to be a memorable event. No reservations are needed.

 

Domaine de Plaugier: Toledo Museum of Art Tasting

Friday is a great day to check out the Glass Pavilion at the Toledo Museum of Art, the site of the Wine By the Glass Pavilion wine tasting series. Toledo may be the only place you can sample a tasting of fine wine while enjoying a glass blowing demonstration.

If you seek an imaginative idea for a date or an evening out -- this is it. Nibble on tasty appetizers while you enjoy the exhibits and the activities in the hot shop (the room where the glass artists do their thing). The walls of the Glass Pavilion are, you guessed it, glass which allows a great view of the art even while you chat with friends in the seating area. I think you get the idea -- a wine tasting at the museum is a lot of fun. An insider tip: This is great for a cold evening -- it's toasty warm when the glass furnaces are opened.

Last week's tasting featured French winemaker Domaine de Piaugier. Domaine de Piaugier is situated in and around the village of Sablet, which stands in the Southern Rhône region.

All the grapes are hand-harvested and pressed. The main grape is Grenache but others include Syrah, Counoise, Cinsault, and Carignan. Grenache produces medium bodied wine with a raspberry or strawberry tones. It is very easy to drink and is popular in Spain as well as southern France. The Piaugier wines are made from whole bunches. Leaves are removed but the bunches are not destemmed. Most of the red wines are not filtered.

Four wines were on the tasting menu, the first was Sablet Côtes du Rhône Villages Blanc, made with fairly equal parts of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Roussanne. Our wine host, Adam Mahler, said he got flavors of kettle corn from this unique wine. The wine was enjoyable, but wasn't remarkable in our opinion.

Next up was Les Ramieres,this is an easy drinking and affordable blend of Grenache and Merlot. It had a slight tannin structure and I got some nutiness in the glass.

La Grange de Piaugier Côtes du Rhône was our next sample.  This is a field-blend, which means that the different grape varieties are grown in the same field as opposed to being harvested from separate vineyards and blended at the winery. This wine is primarily Grenache, along with Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan. This was my first sampling of Cinsault. Adam informed me of something that sounded odd -- but tasted delicious. This wine was aged in a cement tank, which apparently is a traditional Grenache method. The wine had medium body, was very pleasing and reminded me of Malbec. It had a jammy (but not sweet) flavor. My wife commented on the long finish.

We wrapped up with Sablet Côtes du Rhône Villages Rouge. This is 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah from 40-year-old vines. The Grenache is aged in a cement tank and the Syrah in barrels. My wife (aka Green Dragon) got floral notes on the nose. This was medium in body with little tannins yet a bit more tartness and cherry. This seemed less dry than the other reds and had a perfect balance.

It was a nice way to cap an artful evening.

Michigan Winery Visit: Lone Oak Vineyard Estate

Cabin fever can hit a person hard in Northwest Ohio in the dreary month of January. Gray skies, gray snow, stray snowflakes floating in a dreary sky. But it's always sunny inside the tasting room, and so my wife and I fired up the car and hit the road for a zip trip to sample some Michigan wine.

I had been interested for some time to check out the Jackson area wineries. They're close enough to Toledo (about an hour and a half) to leave in the morning, do some wine tasting, have some lunch and be back in the Toledo area before night. Chateau Aeronautique is a new winery we were hoping to visit, but unfortunately it is only open on weekend and we were visiting on a Monday (Martin Luther King Day). There were two others I wanted to hit, Lone Oak Vineyard Estate and Sandhill Crane Vineyards.

These two wineries are part of Michigan's Pioneer Wine Trail, a trail that admittedly isn't as well known as the trails that encompass the Traverse City area and Michigan's west coast. The Pioneer Wine Trail features seven wineries (although one is the St.Julian tasting room, which is more like a retail store).

Lone Oak is very accessible from the highway, and we were rolling up to the winery building in short order. It's obvious a lot of off-season work is taking place at Lone Oak as evidenced by construction inside and out. Inside we met Dennise Barber, who owns the winery along with husband Kip. Dennise explained that they had just constructed a deck and were expanding the tasting room. They were working hard to get things ready for their Valentine's Eve event. We then met Ozzy the winery dog who appeared with a roll of bottle labels in his mouth.

We usually start with the white wines, but at Dennise's suggestion we started with the dry reds and saved the semi-sweet whites for later. Our first sample was the 2005 Merlot. As we sampled the Merlot, Dennise explained that the vision for Lone Oak is to produce great wine with grapes grown on the 25-acre estate and also to bring great red wine into the Michigan wine picture. The Merlot is oaky, with flavor notes of coffee and black cherry.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is a tasty bottle. It has layers of cherry and leather and a smooth rewarding finish. This sells for $24.95 and would get even better if laid down for a year or two.

A special treat was the 2005 Vin Du Roi. This estate grown beauty is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petite Verdot. It has an aromatic, floral nose, a full body and smooth finish. This wine is blended with the best grapes from the south facing hillside and features some nice "legs."

The 2008 Riesling is a sweet wine which could be a nice everyday, easy-drinking wine. It is a bit sweet for us as we prefer dry Riesling.

The 2008 Gewurztraminer was an eye-opener. This was a sweet Gerwurz that was akin to a late harvest or dessert wine. It comes in a 375 ML half bottle and was delightful to sip. It emitted spicy and floral notes and will be a great match with spicy food or as an after dinner drink. At only $9.95, this is a great QPR (quality price ratio) for a special wine.

Sweetness isn't our thing wine-wise, but at Dennise's suggestion, we sampled the Red Raspberry wine. The wine is made with 100% Michigan raspberries and is one of Lone Oak's most popular wines. This was one of the best wines we sampled and we ended up buying a bottle (along with the Vin du Roi). We tried it along with a dark chocolate candy and the combination is sublime. No wonder this wine won a gold medal at the 2009 Great Lakes Wine Competition.

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Celebrity Wines Vineyard Adventure Set Feb. 13 at Toledo Zoo

The Toledo Zoo has scheduled its latest Vineyard Adventure wine event. Titled Celebrity Wines, the event will take place February 13 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Enjoy an exotic evening in the African Lodge surrounded by genuine Africa artifacts while sampling wine and enjoying entertainment and hors d'oeuvres


Each Vineyard Adventure is based on a unique theme and is spent at a different location at the Zoo. At each event you will enjoy a delectable mix of wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, live music, and socializing.

The price for Toledo Zoo members is $35. The cost for non-members is $40. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. You must be 21 years or older to attend a Vineyard Adventure and a valid ID will be required. For information call (419) 385-5721, ext 3092.

Photo by The Ewan

Hugel Gentil 2008

Hugel Gentil is a traditional Alsatian wine assembled from noble grape varieties. Gentil "Hugel" allies the suave, spicy flavor of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of Sylvaner.

We became interested in Hugel when we were exploring Gerwurztraminer from Alsace. We were looking for a casual bottle to have after dinner and picked up the Gentil. This is a cool blend. Although the percentage in the blend isn't listed, the three key grapes are Gerwurz, Pinot Grigio and Riesling -- what's not to like?

This wine has a fresh bouquet. It is dry and crisp, but fruity and floral with apple flavor notes. The interplay of the three main grapes makes this a stimulating wine and a refreshing one.

Drink it chilled and it will be a nice companion to seafood or appetizers. This can be an interesting everyday wine. Easy on the palate and also on the wallet.

Wine Tastings & Events: Week of February 1, 2010

Image of MacMurray Ranch via Snooth

Monday, February 1

Vino 100 Shop and Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. 5-10 PM Wine flight of the week. 1.) 2008 Wild Rush Pinotage 2.) 2008 Conquista Malbec 3.) 2008 Terra Andina Carmenere 4.) 2007 Perfecta Chardonnay. Cost is $15, served with marinated olives, bread, cheese, and Marcona Almonds.

Tuesday, February 2
Vino 100 Shop and Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. 5-10 PM Wine flight of the week. 1.) 2008 Wild Rush Pinotage 2.) 2008 Conquista Malbec 3.) 2008 Terra Andina Carmenere 4.) 2007 Perfecta Chardonnay. Cost is $15, served with marinated olives, bread, cheese, and Marcona Almonds.


Wednesday, February 3
Anderson's Market, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Yes, more close-outs. Selections for the tasting will be made early in the week. Nominal fee.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. Super Bowl party wines. 6-8 PM, $15.

Vino 100 Shop and Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. 5-10 PM Wine flight of the week. 1.) 2008 Wild Rush Pinotage 2.) 2008 Conquista Malbec 3.) 2008 Terra Andina Carmenere 4.) 2007 Perfecta Chardonnay. Cost is $15, served with marinated olives, bread, cheese, and Marcona Almonds.

Thursday, February 4
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting.  5-7 PM. Some of Kris' favorite wines. 1. Chateau Lamothe de Haus, 2. Kings Estate Pinot Gris, 3. Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, 4. Monkey Business Zinfandel. Pay by the sample or $7 for the flight. 

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM. Italian Wine Not from Tuscany. 1. Ronchi Fattori, 2. Alois Legeder Pinot Grigio, Dolomiti, 3. Cantele Primativo, Salento, 4. Allegrini Palazzo della Torro, Verona, 5. Sam Pietrana Salice Salentino Riserva, 6. Mazzi Valpolcella Classico Superiore, 7. Scagliola Petali di Rose, Piedmonte, 8. Dulis Moscato d'Asti, Piedmonte, Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. Super Bowl party wines. 6-8 PM, $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM.  So Happy Together. Often times customers say, "You know, I don't really like blends." What most people don't realize is that the large majority of wines on the market are, in fact, blended in some way, shape or form. Sample some of the world's classic blends. Cost $1 to $3 per sample.

Vino 100 Shop and Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. 5-10 PM Wine flight of the week. 1.) 2008 Wild Rush Pinotage 2.) 2008 Conquista Malbec 3.) 2008 Terra Andina Carmenere 4.) 2007 Perfecta Chardonnay. Cost is $15, served with marinated olives, bread, cheese, and Marcona Almonds. Live music featured 7-10 PM. Mike Whittey performs piano jazz.

Friday, February 5 
* Special Event * Wine by the Glass Pavilion Winemakers Series, Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion, 2445 Monroe St., 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Adelaida, Paso Robles, California. Enjoy four wines, light snacks and a view of glassmakers working in the Hot Shop. Cost is $15 for museum members and $20 for non-members.

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Sonoma County, California, Pinot Noir. 1. MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir, 2. Schug Pinot Noir, 3. Taft Street Pinot Noir, and 4. Scherrer Pinot Noir. $10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. So Happy Together. Often times customers say, "You know, I don't really like blends." What most people don't realize is that the large majority of wines on the market are, in fact, blended in some way, shape or form. Sample some of the world's classic blends. Cost $1 to $3 per sample. 

Vino 100 Shop and Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. 5-10 PM Wine flight of the week. 1.) 2008 Wild Rush Pinotage 2.) 2008 Conquista Malbec 3.) 2008 Terra Andina Carmenere 4.) 2007 Perfecta Chardonnay. Cost is $15, served with marinated olives, bread, cheese, and Marcona Almonds.

Saturday, February 6
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Sonoma County, California, Pinot Noir. 1. MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir, 2. Schug Pinot Noir, 3. Taft Street Pinot Noir, and 4. Scherrer Pinot Noir. $10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville, Wine Tasting. 1-3 PM. Closeouts. Nominal fee.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 p.m. French Wine Closeouts. By the sample or by the flight.

Vino 100 Shop and Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. 5-10 PM Wine flight of the week. 1.) 2008 Wild Rush Pinotage 2.) 2008 Conquista Malbec 3.) 2008 Terra Andina Carmenere 4.) 2007 Perfecta Chardonnay. Cost is $15, served with marinated olives, bread, cheese, and Marcona Almonds.

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[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]

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