Ohio, Finger Lakes Wines Claim Grand Harvest Awards Gold

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Wines from Ohio, Niagara Peninsula Ontario and the Finger Lakes region of New York have claimed gold medal honors in the Grand Harvest Awards, a unique wine competition that focuses on terroir.

Established in 1990, it is the only wine-judging event in North America that is based on terroir - a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation, and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions, grapes and wine making savoir-faire, which contribute to give its specific personality to the wine. In other competitions, this factor is ignored. At the Grand Harvest, judges taste wines with other wines of the same appellation. Thus, with cross-regional competition removed, the inherent quality of wines can be seen without the influences that sometimes eclipse even a wine of very high quality.

Gold Medal winners were as follows:

Ontario, Niagara Peninsula (DVA): Hillebrand Winery, 08 Trius Riesling, $14.05; Hillebrand Winery, 08 Trius Chardonnay, Barrel Fermented, $18.95; and Peller Estates Winery, 08 Family Series Riesling, $11.05.

Ohio, Grand River Valley (AVA): Chalet Debonne Vineyards, 08 Riesling, $10.99; Ferrante , Ferrante Winery, 08 Riesling, Signature Series, $15.00.

New York, Finger Lakes (AVA): Dr. Konstantin Frank, 08 Gewurztraminer, Reserve, $24.99.

New York, Cayuga Lake (AVA): Hosmer Winery, Riesling, $12.00.

The full list of winners can be found here.

Dr. Frank and Ferrante are favorites and other great wineries can be found among the silver and bronze medals. I was a bit surprised that Michigan didn't land some medals.

A goal of Grand Harvest is to learn more about how terroir contributes qualities of excellence and distinctiveness to wines. Over the course of this event, judges have learned to recognize when terroir is - and is not - a factor of wine quality. We think the bar has been lifted a little, and as a result, each year we perceive greater interest in terroir by winemakers and critics alike. Favorable awards support increased local and regional sales. A win in Grand Harvest can put your wine into a whole new sales category.

All wines are judged in the context of their viticultural region in order to accomplish two things: greater sensitivity to the complexities and nuances of regional wines and also to measure the influence of regional soil and weather characteristics on the taste and quality of individual wines.

The 2010 Grand Harvest Awards, completed its mission to recognize outstanding wines from all over the world and simultaneously studying the effects of terroir on wine characteristics. The 20th annual Grand Harvest Awards was held February 24-25, 2010 at Sonoma Mountain Village, Rohnert Park, California. Twenty-three judges evaluated over 1,500 entries and awarded a total of 141 gold, 426 silver and 457 bronze medals. Garnering medals at the Grand Harvest Awards has been tough to achieve historically because of its high standards of excellence. Wine competitions are invaluable purchasing tools that help consumers choose from over 5,000 wineries in the US alone.

Most entries in the Grand Harvest Awards were grown and produced in the United States and Canada with some originating in Australia, Eurasia (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey), Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and South America (Argentina and Chile). In Grand Harvest there are two principal classes of entry; those with specific geographical appellations and those without. Both are treated with equal emphasis, but terroir discovery is not attempted in classes without geographical specificity. To win, your wine must be nominated for Bronze or higher by each of the three judges per panel.

Technorati Tags: wine,Finger Lakes wines,Ohio wines

Finger Lakes: Leidenfrost Vineyards

Continuing a wrap-up of our fall Finger Lakes winery visits. The Leidenfrost family has raised grapes and made wine at their scenic Seneca Lake location since 1947 and was a stop on our whirlwind wine tour I was really looking forward to. During our Finger Lakes visit last year we were just a hop, skip and a jump from this winery, but it somehow didn’t make our itinerary. The somewhat Germanic name and chalet-style architecture of the winery beckoned to us this time around.

Leidenfrost Vineyards began production in 1990 and soon was selling some of the earliest Pinot Noirs, Merlots and Cabernets in the Finger Lakes. Their first shop was set up in a log cabin adjacent to the estate. The winery remains a family run operation and produces only 3,000 cases of wine annually.

The small, homey feel is apparent as soon as you enter the tasting room. The deck has a spectacular view of Seneca Lake and on the brilliant sunny day of our visit, it was a million-dollar panorama. Inside the tasting room, peanut shells littered the wooden floors as wine lovers munched on the nuts and tossed the “empties.” Leidenfrost is known for its reds, which are fermented in small batches in stainless steel tanks, keeping the emphasis on freshness and fruit. We dove right in to the Pinot Noir.

The 2007 Pinot Noir was nice with a touch of cedar in the bouquet, followed by fresh fruit and black cherry. We then had a tasty glass of Tango, a red blend with a smokiness and a touch of bacon.

The winner of the day was the 2008 Baco Noir, an awesome, delicious glass of this medium-bodied French-American hybrid. This is has a soft fruitiness with warm black pepper flavors.

The only place you can get all the Leidenfrost wines is in the tasting room. The winery is beginning to distribute to some locations in upstate New York, but your best bet is to go right to the winery Web site. The prices are amazingly low -- $15 for a great bottle of smooth Cabernet Sauvignon or an ‘07 Cabernet Franc.

The vibe here is a small, friendly winery with high-quality, low production wines in a scenic setting. During our visit they were offering a case discount of 25% (much better than the typical 10%) plus a “Winemaker’s Seven” where you could purchase seven bottles for the price of six.

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Toledo Museum of Art Announces Wine by the Glass Pavilion Schedule

The Toledo Museum of Art has announced its schedule for the upcoming Wine by the Glass Pavilion tastings. These popular drop-in tasting event are scheduled Fridays from 7:00 to 9:30 PM at the Glass Pavilion. Enjoy four wines, light snacks, and a view of our Hot Shop. Prices are $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers.

Winemakers Series

• March 19: Cab vs. Merlot
• March 26:  Spring Riesling
• April 2:  Ampelos Cellars with special guest Rebecca Work, co-owner and co-winemaker.
• April 9:  New French Discoveries
• April 16:  Buttonwood with special guest: Winemaker Karen Steinwachs will be in from Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara.
• April 23:  Erika's Picks

Photo by Quaktackulous

 

International Wine Festival in Cincy March 11-13

The 20th annual Cincinnati International Wine Festival, one of the Midwest's largest wine events, is scheduled to take place Thursday, March 11, through Saturday, March 13. The festival was founded in 1991 to promote the wine industry and raise funds for local charities. Each year the festival has grown with increasing winery participation, events and attendance. Wine legend Michael Mondavi is the honorary chair for this year's event.

The Festival is made up of four prominent events: the Winery Dinners, the Charity Auction and Luncheon, the Grand Tastings and the Russ Wiles Memorial Golf Tournament. Through these events the Wine Festival has donated almost $3 million dollars to local charities in the past 19 years.

"The Grand Tastings" are the centerpiece events of this multi-day festival and feature more than 130 wineries pouring nearly 600 wines, as well as delicious foods, souvenirs and live music. New, rare, and exciting wines from around the world are available for tasting. Whether you're a seasoned expert or an intrigued beginner, winemakers and winery representatives welcome you as they mix useful knowledge with exquisite samples of their art. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. A ticket for the special tasting room allows you to enjoy high end wines for one hour prior to the Grand Tastings. Each ticket will be an additonal charge of $35 for 7 tastes.

Winery Dinners combine the country's best winemakers with greater Cincinnati's finest chefs for an incomparable evening of perfectly complemented wines and fine cuisine. Reservations are limited and some dinners are now sold out. Other Festival events include cooking demos, wine-themed seminars, wine maker meet and greet opportunities and  off-site wine tastings.

Here's an overview of the schedule:

Grand Tastings: Duke Energy Convention Center

• Friday, March 12, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 13, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 13, 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Tickets: $60 - $75

Special Tasting Room: Duke Energy Convention Center

• Friday, March 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 13, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 13, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Tickets: $35 plus the purchase of a Grand Tasting ticket

Winery Dinners
10 of Greater Cincinnati’s Finest Restaurants
Thursday, March 11, 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $125 - $150

Charity Auction & Luncheon
Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Hall of Mirrors
Saturday, March 13
9:30 a.m. Reception and Auction Lot Preview
11:00 a.m. Live Auction
Winery Luncheon immediately following
Tickets: $125

Technorati Tags: wine

Wine Tastings & Events: Week of March 8, 2010

Image of The Four Graces via Snooth

Wednesday, March 10
Anderson's Market, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. The Close-Outs continue. 1. Newman’s Own Chardonnay, 2. Pezat Bordeaux Superior, 3. Greg Norman Reserve Shiraz, 4. Selbach-Oster Riesling Spaetlese. Nominal fee.

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

Thursday, March 11
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting.  5-7 PM. Screw-top wines: Poorly made, cheap wine? I don’t think so… 1. 2008 Kim Crawford – Malborough, New Zealand – Sauvignon Blanc, 2. 2005 Stoller –Dundee Hills, Oregon – JV Pinot Noir, 3. 2007 Di Arie – Sierra Foothills, California – Zinfandel, 4. 2008 Leitz – Rheingau, Germany –Dragonstone Riesling. Nominal fee per sample or $9 per flight.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM. Australian Wines: 1. Peter Lehmann Layers Chardonnay blend, 2. Yalumba Dry Riesling, 3. The Stump Jump GSM, 4. Simon Hacket OV Grenache, 5. Marquis-Philips 9 Shiraz, 6. Elderton Barossa Shiraz, 7. Peter Lehmann 8 Songs Shiraz, 8. Old Codger Tawny Port. Nominal fee per sample.

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

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM.  Willamette Valley Oregon Wines. Oregon's Willamette Valley is home to some very talented winemakers. Riesling and Chardonnay are really starting to take off there, however Pinot Noir rightly rules the roost. Come in and see why this is one of the most exciting and terroir-driven AVAs in the states! 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. Reservations required. E-mail info@uptownvineyard.com or call (866) 276-1984.

Friday, March 12 
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Oregon Pinot’s: 1. King Estate Pinot Gris
2. Anne Amie "Prisme" Pinot Noir Blanc, 3. Van Duzer Vin Cuvee Pinot Noir, 4. Four Graces Pinot Noir. $15 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. No tasting tonight. Mike is off.

Saturday, March 13
* Special Event * Toledo Zoo Vineyard Adventure: Titled Wines from Down Under, 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Enjoy wine, entertainment and hors d'oeuvres in the Aquarium. Price for Toledo Zoo members is $35. The cost for non-members is $40. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. For information call (419) 385-5721, ext 3092.


* Special Event * Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Wine Tasting & Art Auction, 6:00 PM, Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons in Perrysburg. $45 per person. Reservations are required and payment is due upon reservation. Call (419) 878-5188 or e-mail at admin@watervillechamber.com.

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Oregon Pinot’s: 1. King Estate Pinot Gris 2. Anne Amie "Prisme" Pinot Noir Blanc, 3. Van Duzer Vin Cuvee Pinot Noir, 4. Four Graces Pinot Noir. $15 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville, Wine Tasting. 1-3 PM. 1. Penfolds, Hyland Chardonnay, 2. Meulenhof, 2002 Riesling Kabinet, 3. Strub 2002 Riesling Kabinet, 4. Castle Hill Pinot Noir. Nominal fee per sample or $2.25 per flight..

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

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Wines From Down Under Slated March 13 at Toledo Zoo

The Toledo Zoo has scheduled its latest Vineyard Adventure wine event. Titled Wines from Down Under, the event will take place March 13 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Enjoy a fascinating evening in the aquarium surrounded by aquatic life from around the world 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 Keven Law