Wineries Plan Mother's Day Events

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Need a suggestion for a special way to celebrate Mother's Day (May 9)? Two regional wineries have special events that will let you enjoy some wine (and no whines).


At Lone Oak Vineyard Estate, 8400 Ann Arbor Rd., Grass Lake, Michigan (517) 522-8167, they are serving up a Mother's Day Open House from 12 noon to 5:30 PM. There will be wine tasting, complimentary appetizers, and live music on the deck. Steve Tucker will perform from 1 to 4. There is also a free gift for all moms. It's a great way to treat mom to the kind of leisurely day she deserves.

At Grand River Cellars, 5750 S. Madison Rd. (Route 528), Madison, Ohio, (440) 298-9838, the day will feature entrée and dessert specials and, perhaps best of all, every mother will receive a potted flower to take home with them. A children’s menu is also available. Reservations are strongly suggested.

Charmed & Cherished Wine Tasting at Navy Bistro on May 6

Helen of Troy may have had the face that launched a thousand ships, but the Charmed & Cherished wine tasting is the event that launched hundreds of my blog postings.

The Charmed & Cherished wine tasting event will take place 6:00 to 8:00 PM Thursday, May 6, at Cousino’s Navy Bistro at the Docks in Toledo. Tickets are $40 per person or $75 per couple. A $100 ticket is available per couple for Reserve Tasting. Tickets are available at the Navy Bistro or Ahava Spa (34 S. St. Clair St) or at the door. Additional information is available by calling (419) 241-5877.

This fabulous event benefits Cherished Friends of Ahava and its special guests. Through the program, more than 400 men and women undergoing cancer treatment have enjoyed a day of pampering and relaxation at the Ahava Spa and Wellness Center at no charge.

This is one of the favorite events of Toledo Wines and Vines. Last year, before the TWAV blog began, my wife and I and another couple (Spiderman and Glorious T) attended the event. We had a blast. The event had the right mix of wine, food, setting and commotion and it blended into a great night. It’s just this sort of event that inspired us to launch Toledo Wines and Vines so that everyone could know about and enjoy evenings like this.

This event “flies under the radar” compared to the more publicized wine galas. That’s all the more reason to check it out.

Technorati Tags: wine

Wineries of Leelanau Peninsula Schedule Spring Sip and Savor

The wineries of Leelanu Peninsula (Traverse City, Michigan) are offering up Spring Sip & Savor on May 1 and 2 to provide seasoned wine trail guests or first time visitors with a memorable experience that will allow themyou to celebrate spring, indulge your senses and learn more about Leelanau Peninsula wines.

Visit up to eight wineries on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and up to eight on Sunday from noon to 5:00 PM.

Tickets are $30 and include wine and food pairings at each winery, a limited edition LPVA glass coffee cup and a $10 gift certificate, that can be used at any LPVA winery.

For additional information, visit www.lpwines.com/spring/

Photo by Jeff Kubina

Wine Tastings & Events: Week of April 26, 2010

Wednesday, April 28

Anderson's Market, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.

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

Vino 100 Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. Opens at 4:00 PM. Flights and Bites. Four Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa Valley. Cost is $20, served with marinated olives, bread, cheese, and Marcona Almonds.

Thursday, April 29

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting.  5-7 PM. Nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM. “What Is Cote du Rhone?” We present several different examples from the fabulous 2007 vintage of Cote du Rhone. These wines are the everyday reds from the Southern Rhone and some of the most food friendly food versatile wines in the world. Nominal fee per sample.

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

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Great Whites Pt. 2: the Revenge! So many sequels are obligatory and uninspired: this one is 100% REQUIRED! Wake up taste buds, spring is here and back with a vengeance. Welcome her with wines both refreshingly refined and classically complex. Too scared to go in the water? We'll have a couple of reds open for you at the concession stand. $1 to $3 per sample.

Vino 100 Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. Opens at 4:00 PM. Flights and Bites. Four Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa Valley. Cost is $20, served with marinated olives, bread, cheese, and Marcona Almonds. Live music scheduled by Mitch Cahl.  7:30 to 10:30 PM.

Friday, April 30
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Red Blends: 1.Langhorne Crossing, 2. Rocca Della Macie "SaSyr," 3. X Winery "Red X," 4.Branham "Jazz." $10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Great Whites Pt. 2: the Revenge! So many sequels are obligatory and uninspired: this one is 100% REQUIRED! Wake up taste buds, spring is here and back with a vengeance. Welcome her with wines both refreshingly refined and classically complex. Too scared to go in the water? We'll have a couple of reds open for you at the concession stand. $1 to $3 per sample.


Vino 100 Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. Opens at 4:00 PM. Flights and Bites. Four Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa Valley. Cost is $20, served with marinated olives, bread, cheese, and Marcona Almonds.

Saturday, May 1
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Red Blends: 1. Langhorne Crossing, 2. Rocca Della Macie "SaSyr," 3. X Winery "Red X," 4.Branham "Jazz." $10 tasting. 

The Andersons, Woodville, Wine Tasting. 12-3 PM. Nominal fee.  

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 p.m. Pay by the sample or flight ($10 to $15 for flight). 

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

Technorati Tags: wine

Breitenbach Wine Cellars Hosts Dandelion Festival April 30 - May 1

Silly me. All these years I have been trying to keep dandelions out of my yard. In Ohio's Amish country they are baking them, making wine from them and, in fact, celebrating them with a very special festival.

BreitenbachWine Cellars, 5934 Old Route 39 NW, Dover, Ohio, (330) 343-3603, will hold its annual Dandelion Festival Friday April 30 from noon-7:00 PM and Saturday May 1 from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. This festival provides fun and many activities for the entire family. Dandelion wine sampling, cellar tours and live entertainment are scheduled for both days.


On May 1 at noon, children can enjoy the dandelion picking contest and making their own dandelion jelly. (Meet in front of the purple barn. This year you will be able to make your own dandelion pizzas. Dandelion sausage, dandelion bread, dandelion gravy, dandelion lasagna, dandelion ice cream and dandelion sangria will be available both Friday and Saturday.

The 17th Annual Great Dandelion Cookoff will be held Saturday, May 1 at 2:00 PM. This annual event
will be a major part of the festivities. Creative dandelion dishes provide tasty samplings while participants compete for cash awards. For those who big appetites for dandelion's, the Great Dandelion Cookbook is available through the winery.

Dandelions are great in food, they are fun to pick and they can beautify your life. A juried dandelion arts and craft show will feature beautiful handmade jewelry, oil and watercolor paintings, candles, hand-made soaps (including dandelion soap), books about dandelions and much more. Also, you can learn about cooking with dandelions and the healthful benefits of dandelions.

Greg Chek will be preparing Dandelion Pizza at 10:30 in the purple barn. Ruth Hale from "April Showers Greenhouse" will lecture on the healthful benefits at 11:30. At 12:30 Cheryl Cohen from Taste of Home Cooking School will have cooking demonstartions. She will be preparing "Dandelion Crescent Pie" and "Blueberry Medley Salad with Dandelion Greens". All of the food in the demonstrations will be available for sampling.

In the Dandelion May Run, runners compete for cash prizes. The course is 3.5 miles through beautiful, hilly Amish Country. Registration for the run begins at 7:30 AM on May 1. Be sure to stay afterward and enjoy the festival.

Entertainment is scheduled from noon to 7:00 PM on Friday and from 11 AM to 7 PM on Saturday.

Photo by Jenny Downing

It's Beer Versus Wine at Throwdown 419 at Mancy's Italian on April 29

A beer versus wine tasting is scheduled for Mancy's Italian Grill at 6:00 PM on Thursday. April 29. Five beers from Goose Island Brewery, Chicago, will square off in a delicious competition with five wines from Eric Ross Wines of Sonoma.

The cost is $30 for the beverages plus four artisan cheeses and a chocolate. For reservations call (419) 882-9229.

This is certain to be a great evening.