Saturday, February 27, 2010

On The Road: Glorious T Visits Ferrante

During the recent Chocolate Lovers wine trail event in the Geneva area, tasting team member Glorious T was front and center, tasting wine, snapping pictures and overall having a great time with her husband. High on her list for this trip was Ferrante Winery. "The barbecue bean soup was so delicious'" she reported. "We love this place." The soup is made with a generous helping of wine.  The hearty, spicy Cabernet Franc was a favorite.

Garnering special attention during the visit was the Signature Series Pinot Grigio  Grand River Valley 2008. As reported here earlier, this wine was recently recognized with a "best of show" medal at last month's annual American Fine Wine Competition in Florida.

Glorious T is also a great photographer and she snapped this shot of the award winning wine -- decked out with more medals than Apolo Anton Ohno and Bode Miller. (Check out our in-depth feature on Ferrante.)
Technorati Tags:


Bookmark and Share

Friday, February 26, 2010

Winegrowers of the Grand River Host 7th Annual Ice Wine Festival March 6 and 13

Fans of the rare and tasty treat ice wine can rejoice. The Winegrowers of the Grand River Valley are hosting the 7th Annual Ice Wine Festival from noon to 5 PM on Saturday, March 6 and Saturday, March 13.

The Winegrowers of the Grand River Valley include: Debonne Vineyards, Grand River Cellars, Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, St. Joseph Vineyard, and Laurello Vineyards. Joining in this festive event is South River Vineyards. The wineries are in the Madison-Geneva area in Northeast Ohio.

Toledo Wines and Vines has recently visited each of these wineries during special wine trail events. If you haven't had a chance to visit them yet, this is a golden opportunity. We are fortunate that our region has the grapes, climate and winemaking know-how to produce the rare and delightfully sweet ice wine. 
 
The cost for the event is only $5 at each winery. This is ridiculously low considering that the grapes for ice wine must be harvested at just the right temperature (freezing!) and all at once -- making this an expensive wine.

Patrons will visit each of the participating wineries and sample their ice wine along with a complimentary appetizer. Many of the wineries will also have a featured event including ice carving, jewelry shows, dog sledding demonstrations and much more.

The cost of $5 per person at each winery includes wine samples, appetizer and special events. (To make it even more of a deal, bring in a canned food item and receive $1 off per person and help support the local food banks.) For more information, call 440-466-3485. Here's a peek at the appetizer menu and special events:
DEBONNE’ VINEYARDS: Almond Butter Cookies served with Dried Apricots -- Ice Carving at 1 p.m. -- Ice Wine Martini Bar (small additional fee) -- Winter Glow Progressive Dinner- each Friday evening. Call 440-466-3485 for more information on the dinner.

FERRANTE WINERY & RISTORANTE: Crostini made with Caramelized Onions, Gorgonzola Cheese, and our Ice Wine Fig Jam -- 1 p.m. Cooking Demonstration by Chef Nina of Ferrante Winery -- 3 p.m. Local Artist Carol Johnson creating Glass Art Grape Jewelry -- 4 Course dinner specials paired with wine in the restaurant that evening.

GRAND RIVER CELLARS WINERY & RESTAURANT: Warm Peach Cobbler -- Ice Carving at 1 p.m. -- Live painting by area artist Wendy Peskar -- Free Wine Jelly Samples by Gathering’s on March 6th -- Ice Wine Marshmallow Roast All Day (small additional fee) -- Winter Glow Progressive Dinner- each Friday evening. Call 440-298-9838 for more information.

LAURELLO VINEYARDS: Dessert Pizza with a Cream Cheese topped with Strawberries, Pineapple and Crumbled Bacon -- Featuring Beach Glass Jewelry -- Free Wine Jelly Samples by Gatherings on March 13th -- Candlelight wine cellar dinner in our newly renovated 100 year-old barn following the ice wine festival each weekend. Chef Justin Severino will be preparing a 5 course family style meal paired with wine. Menu and cost to be announced at http://www.laurellovineyards.com/.

SOUTH RIVER VINEYARDS: Free Ice Wine Glass to the First 2,000 attendees -- Winter Glow Progressive Dinner- each Friday evening.

ST. JOSEPH VINEYARDS: Pound Cake With a Maple Glaze -- Maple Syrup Demonstrations
Technorati Tags:

Photo by Dominic Rivard
Bookmark and Share


Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Thursday, February 25, 2010

C'mon Toledo, Liberate That Bottle: Open That Bottle Night is February 27

Somewhere in the recesses of your wine rack or refrigerator, there is a special bottle of wine, one that has been sequestered for just the perfect special occasion. As the years have gone by and the planets have failed to align, you've not made your first million in the stock market or been elected governor, that bottle has remain corked.

OTBN, Open That Bottle Night, was created to liberate just such a bottle. OTBN will be celebrated this year on Saturday, February 27. Open That Bottle Night was created by Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher, writers for the Wall Street Journal, in 2000. The goal is to provide the opportunity to open that bottle, be it white or red, expensive or not. OTBN is always the last Saturday of February and it is about time Toledo got on board.

OTBN can be celebrated simply or with a full fledged celebration, anywhere there is a unique bottle of wine. What really matters is the memories with the axiom being that wine is created to be enjoyed, not to remain bottled gathering dust.

In past years restaurants, wineries and wine shops have offered specials. How about it, Toledo? Vino 100, you've had quite a few special events lately, how about helping us celebrate OTBN? Aficionado and Walt Churchill's Market, you both have tastings on Saturday, can you offer a special? Andersons, Corks and Beer and Wine Cave, how about it? Helping with the celebration of this event deepens the appreciation of wine (and boosts sales as well).

A fun OTBN event can be easily assembled on your own simply by asking friends to bring a special bottle of wine for a gathering. For some added interest, try a blind tasting. This can be easily done by simply bagging the wine and having guests rate the unknown wines.

Greater Toledo (and all those out there in the blogosphere) raise a glass and celebrate Open That Bottle Night. Let's hear your comments and let us know what wines you're drinking.
Photo by Mike DelGaudio
Technorati Tags:

Bookmark and Share

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Michael-David 2006 Symphony

The name of the Symphony grape conjures up images of harmony, balance and tasteful enjoyment. You can add "elusive" to that list because wines made from this grape are darn hard to find. Until picking up this bottle of Michael-David Vineyards Symphony, I had only tasted one other Symphony wine, Ironstone's Obsession (you can read the review here).

The Ironstone wine is one of our favorite casual sippers, and so I've always been on the lookout for more Symphony. A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon the Michael-David wine amidst the closeouts at Andersons.

The Symphony grape was developed at UC-Davis and thrives in the Lodi AVA in California. It has a pleasing floral bouquet, golden color and a dollop of fruity sweetness (residual sugar of 3.13%). There are flavor notes of honey and orange blossom and a sweet, extended finish.

The winery is owned by brothers Michael and David Phillips. The Michael David Vineyards label includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Symphony, and Maley Vineyard Zinfandel. The winery also makes 7 Deadly Zins, Incognito and Earthquake.

The winery only has 2.5 acres of the grape, but Symphony has loyal followers (like me) so they continue the wine. Their Symphony plantings are some of the first of the variety in the state. It is also a strong white that is a good counterpoint to the winery's powerful reds.

We enjoy this wine and recommend it, but judge it a notch below the Ironstone Vineyards Obsession Symphony. This is mainly due to the unfettered sweetness. The Ironstone wine is about half as sweet (1.6% residual sugar) which allows savoring of the delicate floral flavors. This is a nice addition to the lineup of Symphony wines which is, unfortunately, miniscule compared to the aisle after aisle of Chardonnay.

Technorati Tags:



Bookmark and Share

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Ohio Winery Visit: The Winery at Spring Hill

Toledo Wines and Vines paid two visits to The Winery at Spring Hill, once in December and the second earlier this month during the Chocolate Lovers wine trail event by tasting team members Spider Man and Glorious T. Based on the great blend of great wine, friendly people and excellent tasting room and grounds, you can bet we'll be returning again in the near future to this Geneva, Ohio, establishment. This is a new winery that does everything right.

The first impression of the winery is "first class." The bar is impressive with granite counters and a spectacular display of wines. The main seating area can handle large groups -- and often does, especially during the weekend entertainment. The furnishings, lighting, seating and flooring is all top flight. The comfortable sofa and seating near the fireplace is especially welcoming during the cold winter weather.

The slogan for the winery is "Our heritage is fruit, our legacy fine wine." For many years the farms grew fruit before branching into winemaking. The winery still offers fruit wine as a link to the past, but our tasting team was most interested in the Spring Hill Premium Wine Collection, which included Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

During their recent visit, Spiderman and Glorious T were impressed, "The winery is an older farmhouse with contemporary touches and great ambiance and hospitality." Their tasting included Cahmbourcin, Merlot, Riesling and Vidal Blanc.
The Chambourcin exhibits a bright ruby/violet color. It is dry and fruity with a cranberry finish. The Chambourcin grape is really a regional treasure that grows very well in the Geneva area. The Riesling was of the sweeter variety and most of our tasting team prefers the dry version. However, the Vidal Blanc was a winner during both TWAV visits. Glorious T said the Vidal has a fruity aroma, citrus flavor notes and a nice finish.

In addition to the excellent wines, Spring Hill also has a nice menu of appetizers and a bakery, which whips up some nice desserts including a wine cake and Merlot brownie.

Bookmark and Share
Technorati Tags: ,

Monday, February 22, 2010

Wine Tastings & Events: Week of Feb. 22, 2010

9 Mile RoadImage of 9 Mile Road via Snooth

059216-yellow-road-sign-icon-food-beverage-food-grapes
Monday, February 22
Vino 100 Shop and Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. Noon to 10 PM. Flights & Bites: Choose four Lucky 7 wines to taste. Selections include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rose, Merlot, Carmenare, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon. $15 includes a plate with marcona almonds, cheese, bread, and marinated olives. Available all day.

Wednesday, February 24
Anderson's Market, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Closeouts. Robert Mondavi Solaire Chardonnay, Davis Bynum Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Rosenblum Syrah, Rosenblum Black Muscat . Nominal fee.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. California Wines. 6-8 PM, $15.

Vino 100 Shop and Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. Noon to 10 PM. Flights & Bites: Choose four Lucky 7 wines to taste. Selections include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rose, Merlot, Carmenare, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon. $15 includes a plate with marcona almonds, cheese, bread, and marinated olives. Special Guest: Sid Patel, owner and winemaker for Lucky 7 wines, just being launched in Ohio.

Thursday, February 25
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting.  5-7 PM. Closeout Pink Wines (Rose’ Wines). 1. Mas Belles Eaux – Languedoc, France – Rose', 2. Montes Cherub – Colchagua Valley, Chile – Rose’ of Syrah, 3. E. Guigal – Cotes du Rhone, France – Rose’, 4. Green Valley Cellars – California – Merlot Blanc {White Merlot}. Pay by the sample or $3.50 for flight. 

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM. Its Written in the Script. (All wine labels selected are in cursive script.). 1. Annabella Chardonnay, Napa. 2. Alexandria Nicole Viognier, Washington. 3. Daniel Bocquenet Nuit Saint-George Red Burgundy. 4. King Estate Pinot Noir, Oregon. 5. Parducci Cabernet, Mendocino. 6. Petalos Mencia, Bierzo, Spain. 7. Girard Artistry, Napa. 8. Fess Parker Riesling, Santa Barbara. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. California Wines. 6-8 PM, $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM.  A Clockwork… Grape? Exactly what role does the winemaker play? How far will he or she go to manipulate and control the grapes and/or harvested juice? Examine wines that have been tampered and meddled with in order to create a more complete product. Now, which movie to watch? Cost $1 to $3 per sample.

Manhattan’s Restaurant, 1516 Adams Street, Toledo. Wine Tasting with Uptown Vineyard. 6:30 PM. $15. Five wines and appetizers. In Union Square room. All new wines, including a Torrentes, Muller-Thurgau and a Carmenere. Reservations required. E-mail info@uptownvineyard.com or call (866) 276-1984.

Vino 100 Shop and Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. Noon to 10 PM. Flights & Bites: Choose four Lucky 7 wines to taste. Selections include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rose, Merlot, Carmenare, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon. $15 includes a plate with marcona almonds, cheese, bread, and marinated olives. Available all day. Live music scheduled 7:30 to 10:30 PM. Jeremy Jones will be playing the acoustic guitar.


Friday, February 26 
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Cabernet Sauvignon: 1. Canyon’s Edge Cabernet Sauvignon, 2. 9 Mile Road Cabernet Sauvignon, 3. The Guardian Cabernet Sauvignon, 4. 1865 Cabernet Sauvignon. $10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM.  A Clockwork… Grape? Exactly what role does the winemaker play? How far will he or she go to manipulate and control the grapes and/or harvested juice? Examine wines that have been tampered and meddled with in order to create a more complete product. Now, which movie to watch? Cost $1 to $3 per sample.

Vino 100 Shop and Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. Noon to 10 PM. Flights & Bites: Choose four Lucky 7 wines to taste. Selections include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rose, Merlot, Carmenare, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon. $15 includes a plate with marcona almonds, cheese, bread, and marinated olives. Available all day.

Saturday, February 27
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Cabernet Sauvignon: 1. Canyon’s Edge Cabernet Sauvignon, 2. 9 Mile Road Cabernet Sauvignon, 3. The Guardian Cabernet Sauvignon, 4. 1865 Cabernet Sauvignon. $10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville, Wine Tasting. 1-3 PM. We finally got these back in stock! 1. Paso a Paso, 2008, Verdejo, Spain. 2. Baciami, 2009, Albana Di Romagna. 3. Adesso 2009, Cagnina Di Romagna . 4.
Canaletto, 2006, Pinot Noir, Italy. Nominal fee per sample or $2.50 per flight..

Vino 100 Shop and Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. Noon to 10 PM. Flights & Bites: Choose four Lucky 7 wines to taste. Selections include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rose, Merlot, Carmenare, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon. $15 includes a plate with marcona almonds, cheese, bread, and marinated olives. Available all day.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 p.m. Vintage of the Century Tasting. 2007 Chateauneuf-de-Papes and other Rhones. Premium tasting (higher cost will apply). 

[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]
Technorati Tags:
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Michigan Winery Visit: Sandhill Crane Vineyards

Technorati Tags: ,
The second leg of our recent tasting trip to Michigan found us at Sandhill Crane Vineyards in Jackson. The road to the winery was rutted and icy. We felt that way too, until we stepped inside the friendly and inviting tasting room.

Anne was our server and was helped by Rose the winery dog. The Sandhill Crane winery is a family owned and operated winery and features estate bottled wine. The winery is part of the Pioneer Wine Trail, located in Southeast Michigan. The winery is in a picturesque setting and looks like a perfect venue for warm weather fun.

The tasting room offers one of our favorite vintages -- “free.” There is no charge for tastings, but the wide array of great wines almost guarantees you’ll be going home with a bottle or two.  The tasting menu offers a tantalizing 32 wines.

We began with the Chanson, which is made from the Chardonelle grape. This grape was originated at Cornell University. This is the driest Sandhill Crane wine and is crisp with a hint of butter and oak.
The Chardonnay followed and  is citrusy with a note of green apples.

We enjoy tasting some off-beat varietals, and Sandhill is a good place to do this. The 2007 Legacy is a limited edition dry blend of Chardonnay and Vignoles. It has a touch of sweetness and goes well with chicken and fish. An added bonus is that $4 from the sale of each bottle goes to the Legacy Land Conservancy, which protects local nature and farmland.

Traminette is another unusual grape. It is related to Gewürztraminer and shares many of the same traits. This is a dry, floral wine. We felt this wine wasn’t quite crisp enough for our taste.

The Vintner’s Select Riesling brought smiles to our faces. This is a dry Riesling with pear and green apple flavor notes. This unique wine also had a pleasing clean acidity.

Moving to the reds we sampled the Moulin Rouge. It is a light blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chancellor. It is a golden red color and surprisingly has a caramel aroma.

The 2004 Merlot struck a black cherry and currant chord with us and is lightly oaked. This has a pleasing red berry bouquet and has a smooth and lingering finish.

The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon was the winner of the 2008 Great Lakes Wine Judging and is made with grapes from Michigan’s oldest vines (Lemon Creek). It has dried cherries and black pepper flavors. We judged it pleasant, but wasn’t full-bodied enough.

We can’t get enough of Chancellor. The 2005 Proprietor’s Reserve Chancellor features a deep purple hue and a rich and velvety body. It might have been the frosty day outside, but we enjoyed a nice warming effect followed by a cranberry finish. This was one of our favorites.

The Abrazo wine has a great story to it. It was developed in honor of the Cascades Humane Society who rescued Rusty (pictured on the label) from the animal pound on the last day. Rusty, one of the world’s greatest huggers, now lives with Holly, the Sandhill winemaker. $2 from every bottle goes to the CHS. The wine features De Chaunac and Chambourcin and has a twangy, jammy taste.

We finished up our tastings of the dry and off-dry wines with the Vidal Blanc. This is complex and sophisticated. The finish is long and clean. This is a great white (peachy and floral) and one or our favorites. It’s also a steal at only $13.95. We picked up a bottle of this baby.

The rest of the Sandhill lineup ramp up the sugar scale from semi-sweet to sweet. We tried  Overture, Staccato and Rhapsody in Red. Of the three, Staccato was most noteworthy.

Sandhill Crane Vineyards is a great destination for a wine getaway or a day trip. It offers friendly people, great wine and a super setting.
Technorati Tags:

Friday, February 19, 2010

Dinner Concerts Set For Lone Oak Vineyard Estate

French wines are usually made to accompany food.Image via Wikipedia
Lone Oak Vineyard Estate, 8400 Ann Arbor Rd., Grass Lake, MI, (517)522-8167, has announced a new series of dinner concerts. Their newly expanded wine tasting room provides an intimate setting for dinner concerts and has seating for 42 guests. Every seat has a great view of the stage. Enjoy dinner and wine while listening to high quality, live music. Appetizers and dessert are also available.

You can beat the winter blues every Saturday, from 6 to 9 PM. The winery offers a different prix fixe menu each week. Dinner includes salad, bread and entree. Appetizers, dessert and, of course, wine by the glass will be available.

February 20th - Enjoy the music of local favorites, Steve Tucker (guitar/vocals) and Dean Borso (bass/vocals) in this most intimate setting. This duo will entertain you from the first note to the last.

February 27th - Tap your toes and dine to the sounds of legendary R & B vocalist/musician, Bob Schultz, of "BigFoot Bob and the Toe Tappers". Bob created the signature organ sounds for the Bob Seeger System. His keyboard, sax and vocal skills are incomparable.

Music will start at 6 PM, dinner will be served between 6:30 and 7:00, and music will continue until 9 PM. There is a $5 cover charge. Seating is limited, so call now for reservations to make sure you don't miss out.


Bookmark and Share

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Surviving Snowmaggedon With Wine

When "Snowmaggedon" hit the Toledo area, most people headed to the grocery store to stock up and maybe to Home Depot for a shovel -- not your Toledo Wines and Vines tasting team. We had been planning to go to the Sonoma County Pinot Noir tasting at Aficionado with Sax Man and Wine Chick, but the snow began falling in earnest. A brisk wind made the flakes shoot across horizontally. Luckily for our readers, neither snow, nor wind, nor common sense could deter us from the wine tasting -- in fact we also decided to go to the Cork's tasting of blended wines as well.

Aficionado was crowded. Apparently being surrounded by wine and friends is a fun way to flaunt the advice of "Blizzard" Bill Spencer, the Channel 13 weatherman.

We opened with the 2007 MacMurray Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinor Noir. This is a classic Pinot with rich aromas of red fruit, but it seemed like it could use a bit more time in the bottle. Certainly a nice wine, but our least favorite of the evening.

The 2007 Taft Street Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir was a popular pick, not only with our gang, but other tasters as well. This is very reasonably priced at $19.99. It has a big bouquet with a woodsy flavor. I've noticed Taft Street featured at some top restaurants across the country and now I know why. This is also a great QPR (Quality Price Ratio).

The 2007 Schug Sonoma Coast Pinor Noir is a delicate Pinot that is steel fermented. It has cherry and spice in the mouth. This is well balanced and a great wine.

The grand finale was the 2006 Scherrer Sonoma County Pinot Noir. This is priced at $39.99 and is on a different plateau than the other Pinots. Only 360 cases of this gem were produced. Upon swirling and enjoying the wine visually, great "legs" were evident. These little runners down the inside of the glass are taken by some to be a mark of quality for red wine, although I understand it has mostly to do with the alcohol content. This is a harmonious wine with a cola and lightly toasted oak taste. It has a central fruit element as well. In short, this was the crown prince of the evening, with Taft Street coming in a close second.

Outside the storm was getting worse, so we did the logical thing and headed for Corks.

Featured for this evening were wine blends and we started with a 2008 Eric Ross Marsanne-Roussanne from the Russian River Valley in California. This is a rich, North Rhone style blend. It is light straw in color with a rustic flavor.

Our next glass was the Chateau Virgile 2007Costieres de Nimes Rouge. This red is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. This is a tasty wine with staying power.

Next up was the Newton 2005 Napa Valley Claret. Claret is an old English term applied to red Bordeaux blends. This is a wine that is casual yet sophisticated.  It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Syrah. It has flavors of black cherry and blackberries. This was the most enjoyable wine of the evening at Corks. It costs about $17.

Rounding out the evening was D'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie 2006, a Shiraz Viognier blend from Australia. The vineyards and bushlands around the D'Arenberg winery are full of the the unique native Australian bird, the Kookaburra, famous for its distinctive laughing call. Two daughters of the winemaker began calling the birds "the laughing magpies" and the name stuck -- to the birds as well as the wine. This wine has a rich fruit aroma and a lush mouthfilling flavor of cranberries, blueberries and cherries. The 2006 vintage is said to be one of the best for this wine. D'Arenberg also makes the well-known "The Stump Jump" wines and the high end "The Dead Arm" Shiraz. The Laughing Magie was nice, but a tad too fruit-driven for my liking.

Warmed by the fruit of the grape, we headed back out into the swirling snow...
Technorati Tags:

Bookmark and Share

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

2006 Seven Artisans Meritage

A make-your-own pizza dinner party was the scene when we popped the cork on this bottle from a small winery in Suisun Valley, California. Meritage is America's version of a Bordeaux style blend (check out our story on Meritage) and this blend is about 90 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon with dashes of Malbec and Petite Verdot.

I was hoping for a bit more body from this wine so it would stand up to our pizza creations. The label didn't disclose the percentages of the various grapes, so a didn't realize it was dominated by the mellower Merlot. That being said, it was a very enjoyable wine -- although not the perfect match for pizza. This would be a better match with beef or lamb.

It was a light to medium body with flavors of cherry and slight earthiness. I picked this bottle up at Aficionado in Perrysburg on sale. It usually retails for $17.99, which is a nice price for this wine.

Read our interview with Seven Artisans winemaker Jeff Miller


Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Wine For Free -- Well, Sorta

Stag's Leap Wine CellarsImage via Wikipedia
Here's the deal. I just  got a really nice case of wine -- for free.

I guess some explanation is needed. First of all, if I told my wife I wanted to buy a case of wine I'd go through interrogation worse than any dished out by Homeland Security. Not that my wife doesn't like wine, she does, and we enjoy it together. We don't have a vast stockpile of wine, but I have 20 to 30 bottles on hand (you never know when there'll be a power outage or we'll be snowed in!). She is, however, unlikely to say, "Sure, indulge your whims, pick up a case or two of reserve quality wine."

So how do I end up with the nice case of Sheldrake Point (Finger Lakes) Gewürztraminer? It turns out that this is really a wonderful double-play.

You'll notice in the upper left corner of our page a link to Wine for Haiti. This is a fantastic effort put together by our friends at Palate Press, the top online wine magazine, to help raise money for the relief effort in Haiti through an online wine auction.

Now here's the free part: My wife told me that we needed to make a contribution to the Haiti relief effort. I told her about the wine auction and she basically said we had a choice. I could simply make a designated contribution to the American Red Cross or I could bid in the auction (proceeds of which go 100% directly to the Red Cross Haiti fund).

Hmmm... This was quite a dilemma. Should I simply contribute $100 or more, or should I contribute the exact same amount, going to the same charitable cause, and get a "free" case of wine in recognition as well. As you can imagine, I deliberated on this for many, many, many...  milliseconds.

Wineries and individual wine enthusiasts have contributed wine and wine-related items for the online auction. Here's the link to the auction catalog. Here you will find crazy good deals on wine -- ranging from fine French wines to cases from great Finger Lakes wineries like Heron Hill, Hazlitt, Knapp and others. You'll find vintage wines and also large format wines. There is a 6 liter bottle for auction -- that is the equivalent of eight bottles of wine. At the risk of people bidding against me, I also want to mention what I think is a great deal -- the McGregor Vineyard (Finger Lakes) Reserve Cabernet Franc. The Stag's Leap Collection is from Stag's Leap employees and includes some very special bottles. Here are some of the great offers:

Raphael First Label Merlot

Fine French Sampler

A Pair of Napa Cult Wines

Dunn Vineyard Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

McGregor Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Franc

A Stag's Leap Collection

The format of the auction is fun and easy. You make your contribution directly to the American Red Cross Haiti relief fund. The e-mail notification will go to Palate Press and they will arrange with the seller to ship your wine to you.

It's simple and it's your chance to contribute to the important work of recovery in Haiti, and reward yourself with some "free" wine for your trouble.

 
Bookmark and Share
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Monday, February 15, 2010

Wine Tastings & Events: Week of February 15, 2010

Raptor Ridge Winery Image of Raptor Ridge Winery via Snooth


059216-yellow-road-sign-icon-food-beverage-food-grapes
Monday, February 15
* Special Event *A special West Coast wine dinner is scheduled 7:00 PM Monday, February 15, at Pasta Fina, 5931 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, (419) 866-0670. The meal will feature six wines paired with courses. Cost is $40 per person and reservations are suggested.

Wednesday, February 17
Anderson's Market, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Close-outs continue:  1. Spann Vineyards Betsy’s Backacher Bottle Blond , 2. Spann Vineyards Betsy’s Backacher Mayacamas Range Red, 3.Spann Vineyards Syrah, 4. Meyer Syrah. Nominal fee.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. New World vs. Old World Wines. 6-8 PM, $15.

Thursday, February 18
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting.  5-7 PM. Fireside Wines: 1. Tarrica – Monterey Co. Calf. – Pinot Noir, 2. Atteca – Calatayud, Spain – Old Vines Garnacha {Grenache}, 3. Alexander Valley Vineyards –Sonoma Co. Calf.- Merlot, 4. Hardy’s Whiskers Blake –Australia – Tawny Port. Pay by the sample or $7 for flight. 

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM. A Cruise Through California Wines: 1. Match Book Tinto Rey, Dunnigan Hills; 2. Souverain, Alexander Valley Merlot; 3. Fess Parker Syrah, Santa Barbera; 4. Lyeth Meritage, Sonoma; 5. Vina Robles Cabernet, Paso Robles; 6. Ridge Pagani Ranch Zinfandel, Sonoma; 7. La Storia Petite Sirah, Alexander Valley; 8. Campbell’s Rutherglen Dessert Muscat, Australia 375ml. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. New World vs. Old World Wines. 6-8 PM, $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM.  Stranger in a Strange Land. We all know the classic standards: cab, pinot, syrah, merlot, chardonnay, etc. BORING! Let’s try some strange and unusual varietals grown in even stranger locales. Cost $1 to $3 per sample.

Friday, February 19 
* 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. Raptor Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon. Winery owners Annie Shull and her husband Scott (also the winemaker) have owned Raptor Ridge since 1994 and will be present to talk about the winery. 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. German Wines: 1. Dr. Crusius Pinot Blanc, 2. Louis Guntrum Scheurebe Kabinett, 3. Dr. Fischer Steinbock Riesling, 4. Fritz Windisch Trocken Dornfelder.$10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM.  Stranger in a Strange Land. We all know the classic standards: cab, pinot, syrah, merlot, chardonnay, etc. BORING! Let’s try some strange and unusual varietals grown in even stranger locales. Cost $1 to $3 per sample. 

Saturday, February 20
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. German Wines: 1. Dr. Crusius Pinot Blanc, 2. Louis Guntrum Scheurebe Kabinett, 3. Dr. Fischer Steinbock Riesling, 4. Fritz Windisch Trocken Dornfelder.$10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville, Wine Tasting. 1-3 PM. Closeouts: 1. Nobilo, 2006, Chardonnay New Zealand; 2. Gysler, 2004, Silvaner Halbtrocken, Germany; 3. Chateau Greysac, 2005, Medoc France; 4. Villa San Juliette, 2006, Shiraz/Cab. Flight $2.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 p.m. Rediscovering California Merlot.

[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]
Technorati Tags:
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Saturday, February 13, 2010

OTBN: Open That Bottle Night Scheduled Feb. 27

A bottle of Château Margaux 1994.Image via Wikipedia
Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 27. That's the date for Open That Bottle Night.

Are you saving a certain bottle of wine for a special occasion that never seems to arrive? Created by Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher, wine writers for the Wall Street Journal, Open That Bottle Night makes the last Saturday in February just that occasion. Use OTBN as a reason to enjoy that special wine — while it’s still at its prime!

The topic of OTBN came up while we were returning from wine tastings at Corks and Aficianado. Our neighbors (Sax Man and Wine Chick) hadn't heard of OTBN, but quickly grasped the concept. It's like having fine china and crystal that never gets used because no occasion seems to be special enough.

We hope you use this opportunity to pop a special bottle. Let us know about your OTBN bottle (click on comment below).

Cheers!




Bookmark and Share

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Friday, February 12, 2010

Ferrante Winery Pinot Gris Takes American Fine Wine Award

More than 500 American-produced winers were swirled and sipped during last month's annual American Fine Wine Competition in Florida. the results are now in and the winners are two wines from California and Ohio.

Selected as Best Red Wine was the 2007 Cabernet Franc from Turnbull in Napa Valley, California. While the Best White Wine honors went to the 2008 Pinot Gris from Ferrante Winery in Grand River Valley.

The judges awarded more than 40 Double Gold medal winners. Double Gold medals were awarded only when all judges on the panel of four thought the wine was worthy of a gold medal, thereby moving it into the “best of show” category, where all 20 judges decided the final winner.

During our swing through Geneva area wineries back in December, we found Ferrante to be perhaps the best all-round winery visited. You can read about our trip here.


Bookmark and Share

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Pairing Perfection: Wine and Chocolate

Some call it a match made in heaven, others say it can’t be done:  pairing wine with chocolate. To enjoy this delicious duo, here are some pairing tips to keep in mind:

  • The wine must be at least as sweet, maybe a bit sweeter, than the chocolate your are serving it with.
  • Although there are exceptions, red wine is your best bet. The "go to" wines are Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.
  • The stronger the chocolate, the more full-bodied the wine should be. Lighter, more elegant wines pair well with lighter bodied wines.
  • The darker the chocolate, the more likely it is to pair well with red wine.
  •  White chocolate is a tricky pairing. Spanish Sherry or Moscato are your best bets, picking up the creaminess of the chocolate.
  • For milk chocolate you can try champagne, Riesling, a Pinot Noir or light bodied Merlot.
  • Dark or bittersweet chocolates need a wine with a more robust flavor, perhaps with chocolate flavor notes of its own. Cabs and Zinfandels are close to the perfect dark chocolate match. If you are considering something special for Valentine's Day, this is the way to go. A Pinot Noir or a Merlot can handle dark chocolate around the 55% cocoa mark. A Tawny or Vintage Port is a balanced approach to a dark chocolate dessert or truffle.
  • Try a D.I.Y. wine and chocolate pairing. Buy a few bottles of wine and several quality chocolate bars or truffles and experiment.

 Bookmark and Share


Wednesday, February 10, 2010

West Coast Wine Dinner Set for Pasta Fina on February 15

A special West Coast wine dinner is scheduled 7:00 PM Monday, February 15, at Pasta Fina, 5931 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, (419) 866-0670. The meal will feature six wines paired with courses. Cost is $40 per person and reservations are suggested.

The menu is as follows:

  • Welcome: Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut Reserve
  • Pairing 1: Blue Pirate Pinot Gris, Oregon with sautéed jumbo shrimp tossed with slivers of jalapeño and lightly seasoned, splashed with tequila, and fresh lime. Served over a bed of cilantro rice.
  • Pairing 2: Genesis Syrah, Washington with Lamb Porterhouse over a mélange of root vegetables roasted and stewed in a red wine demi-glace.
  • Pairing 3: Three Rivers –Rivers Red, Washington with Moscovy duck sausage stuffed baby portobello mushroom caps.
  •  Pairing 4: Hayman and Hill Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with beef ribeye tips with wilted spinach and bacon in a molasses thyme brown sauce.
  •  Dessert: Robert Mondavi Moscato d’oro with cheesecake topped with a touch of Stilton and candied nuts and drizzled with caramel.

 Bookmark and Share


Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Wine and Toledo.com: A Winning Combination

Today marks the official start of our partnership with Toledo.com. Toledo.com is the premiere online portal for people who live, work and play in the greater Toledo area. It's a superb source, especially if you are looking to keep up with the many events happening in Northwest Ohio. You can feel the digital pulse of greater Toledo through blogs, photos, features and links.

Starting today, readers of Toledo.com can access Toledo Wines and Vines content through a special landing page with links to some of our popular posts. At Toledo Wines and Vines we have an interest in promoting area wine events (many of which benefit charitable causes), raising awareness of regional wineries and drumming up support for local wine shops. We also promote the enjoyment of wine and throw in a dash of education as well. With well over 100,000 visitors per month, Toledo.com is a great way to get the word out.

They're a local business and good people -- pour a glass of wine and check them out.


Bookmark and Share

Riesling Drinkers Rejoice: Taste Profile Pinpoints Sweetness

Pacific RimImage of Pacific Rim via Snooth
The Riesling grape is one of the most versatile. It can create a wine of dry minerality or a sweet late harvest wine suitable for dessert. This merits applause, however it can cause consumers to double-clutch when they are preparing to buy a bottle. Until now there hasn't been a way to gauge the sweetness in advance.

“We have long felt buying unfamiliar Riesling was like playing sugar roulette," explains Chris Stamp, winemaker at Lakewood Vineyards in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Now more than a million cases of Riesling wines marketed in the United States this year will include a “Riesling Taste Profile” designed to make it easier for consumers to predict the taste they can expect from a particular bottle of Riesling.

The Riesling Taste Profile was created by the International Riesling Foundation (IRF), a global nonprofit organization formed to promote Riesling as the world’s most noble white wine variety. Research reaffirmed that many consumers still think of Riesling only as “a sweet white wine” despite the wide range of tastes it can represent.

Major producers in the largest Riesling producing states—Washington, California, Oregon, Michigan and New York—will be using the Taste Profile, along with some wineries from other states and countries including Germany, Australia and New Zealand. (In some countries such as Canada, Germany, and South Africa there are regulatory restrictions preventing its use on labels of wines sold within the country, but wines exported to the United States may include it.)

“We use the IRF Taste Profile on the back label so the customer can easily choose the style of Riesling. This variety varies dramatically from growing conditions and winemaking approaches, making it the most versatile food -- and mood -- companion,” said Jim Bernau, founder and president of Willamette Valley Vineyards in Oregon.

A key step in the project was to identify appropriate terms for describing the relative dryness or sweetness of the wine. Four categories were selected: Dry, Medium Dry, Medium Sweet, and Sweet. (Some producers continue to use Semi-Dry or Semi-Sweet on their front labels, but the Taste Profile uses “Medium” in both cases.)

I think this is a great advance. The term "semi-dry" has always seemed inappropriate since it often labeled what I considered sweet wines. It is a common practice in Finger Lakes tasting rooms to list the residual sugar of the various wines, which lets you determine sweetness, and I've always been grateful for that.

The following lists some of the many Riesling producers who are using the IRF Riesling Taste Profile on wines from the 2009 vintage:

Washington State: Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pacific Rim, and Sageland Vineyards.


Oregon: Bridgeview Vineyards, Brooks Winery, Chehalem and Willamette Valley Vineyards.


California: Hagafen Cellars, Jekel, Scott Harvey Wines and Trefethen.


New York: Anthony Road Winery, Atwater Estate Vineyards, Hunt Country Vineyards, Keuka Lake Vineyards, Lakewood Vineyards, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Company, Sheldrake Point Vineyards and Wagner Vineyards.


Michigan: Black Star Farms, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Chateau Grand and St. Julian Winery.


The taste profile will also be used by several wineries in Australia, Germany and New Zealand.

Bookmark and Share

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Monday, February 8, 2010

Wine Tastings & Events: Week of February 8, 2010

Bonny Doon VineyardImage of Bonny Doon Vineyard via Snooth

059216-yellow-road-sign-icon-food-beverage-food-grapes
Wednesday, February 10
Anderson's Market, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Close Out Wines. Nominal fee.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. It’s Mardi Gras Time, Festive Wines. 6-8 PM, $15.

Manhattan’s Restaurant, 1516 Adams Street, Toledo. Wine Tasting with Uptown Vineyard. 6:30 PM. $15. Five wines and appetizers. In Union Square room. All new wines, including a Torrentes, Muller-Thurgau and a Carmenere. Reservations required. E-mail info@uptownvineyard.com or call (866) 276-1984.

Thursday, February 11
* Special Event * History Chef Book Signing, Food and Wine Pairing Vino 100 Shop and Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. 6-10 PM Andrew Caldwell, known as the History Chef, will be signing his new book, "Their Last Suppers: Legends of History and Their Final Meals". Andrew will pair a wine with a dish based on a last meal of a famous person. The tasting includes  3 ounce pours of four wines and a sample of each dish for only $25. Wines by the glass for the pairing will be $7. No reservations required.

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting.  5-7 PM. Sweetheart Wines. 1. Methve - Willamette Valley, Oregon - Pinot Noir, 2. Louis Chavy Mercurey - Burgundy, France - Pinot Noir, 3. Yangarra - McLaren Vale, Austrailia - Old Vine Grenache, 4. Grant Burge - Barbossa, Austrailia - Shiraz. Pay by the sample or $6.50 for the flight. 

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM. Wine Education Series: "What Is Merlot?” 1. Mollydooker “The Violinist” Verdello, Australia. 2. The Velvet Devil Merlot, Washington. 3. Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandra Merlot, Chile. 4.Chatrau Graves du Burt Saint-Emilion Bordeaux.  5.Sineann Merlot, Washington. 6. Grgich Merlot, Napa.  7. Feist LBV Port, Portugal. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. It’s Mardi Gras Time, Festive Wines. 6-8 PM, $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM.  Gimme Some Sugar. Of course it was completely inevitable. Lineup consists of wines that are rich and decadent, and can be enjoyed by themselves or with something sweet. Also, we’ll hold an experiment in chocolate and dessert wine pairing. Cost $1 to $3 per sample.

Friday, February 12 
* 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. Second Annual Bubbles Tasting. 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. Valentine’s Tasting: 1. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne, 2. Peirano “The Other” White Blend, 3. Crescendo Hills “Bangin’ Red,” 4. O’Brien “Seduction. $10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Gimme Some Sugar. Of course it was completely inevitable. Lineup consists of wines that are rich and decadent, and can be enjoyed by themselves or with something sweet. Also, we’ll hold an experiment in chocolate and dessert wine pairing. Cost $1 to $3 per sample. 

Saturday, February 13
* Special Event * Celebrity Wines Vineyard Adventure at the Toledo Zoo, 7:00 – 9:00 PM. Enjoy an exotic evening in the African Lodge surrounded by genuine Africa artifacts while sampling wine and enjoying entertainment and hors d'oeuvres
Members $35, non-members $40. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For information call (419) 385-5721, ext 3092.

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Valentine’s Tasting: 1. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne, 2. Peirano “The Other” White Blend, 3. Crescendo Hills “Bangin’ Red,” 4. O’Brien “Seduction. $10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville, Wine Tasting. 1-3 PM. 1. Montes, 2008, Cherub, Rose of Syrah, Chile. 2. Van Ruiten, 2007, Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi . 3. Stephano Farina, Moscato D’ Asti, Italy. 4. Versailles, Schokoladenkirschwein Ohio. Nominal fee.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 p.m. The “New” Bonny Doon Winery. By the sample or by the flight.


[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]
Technorati Tags:
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]