Pioneer Wine Trail Schedules The Wine Days of Summer August 7 & 8

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The Southeastern Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail has scheduled The Wine Days of Summer, on Saturday, August 7, andSunday, August 8. This is a self-driving tour of the wineries.

At each stop you’ll be served a wonderful picnic-related food prepared by a local chef or restaurant. Each winery will provide a generous pouring of one of their wines that pairs well with the food. You’ll also receive a recipe card to take home with you. The hours of the event are Saturday 11-6 and Sunday 12-6.

Be prepared for beautiful scenery. great wines and a fun weekend.

There are a limited number of tickets available.  Ticket sales will end on Thursday, August 5 at midnight (or earlier, if sold out). Tickets will NOT be available the day of the event. The ticket price is $25.

The wineries with their food, chef/restaurant, and wine pairing are:

Burgdorf’s Winery, Lemon basil and cranberry chicken salad croissant, Golden Rose/Country House Catering, 2009 Chardonnay or semi-sweet Riesling.

Chateau Aeronautique Winery, Tuna Kebobs and Sesame-Ginger Slaw, Chef John Jones, Cabernet Franc.

Cherry Creek - Old Schoolhouse (To be announced,)

J.Trees Cellars, Asian Barbecue Pork & Kohlrabi Spring Rolls, (vegetarian spring rolls available), Hathaway House, 2008 Dry Riesling.

Lone Oak Vineyard Estate, Rosemary Infused Prime Rib Kabobs, Bone Island Grill, 2005 Merlot, Pioneer Red, or Festiva Red.

Pentamere Winery, Grilled pork with fruit chutney, White Swan.

Sandhill Crane Vineyards, Warm goat cheese salad with dried cherries and Blushing Crane vinaigrette, Blushing Crane.

Sleeping Bear Winery (To be announced soon.)
Click Here for Wine Days of Summer Ticket Reservations.

Hudson Wine Festival Scheduled July 17 and 18

Wine and animal lovers of all ages will converge upon Hudson, Ohio, to raise money for animal welfare in Summit County during the third annual Hudson Wine Festival, a benefit for Pawsibilities: The Humane Society of Greater Akron.

The event is scheduled Saturday July 17, 1:00 – 9:00 PM and Sunday July 18, 1:00 – 6:00 PM.

The festival will be located along Village Way, beside the Hudson Library & Historical Society in the First & Main Shopping District

Summit Charitable Events Foundation has partnered with Pawsibilities: The Humane Society of Greater Akron (HSGA) to hold the third annual Hudson Wine Festival July 16 -18, 2010.

The event will showcase over 250 wines from national and international producers. Guests will enjoy musical entertainment, delectable food from Hudson’s Restaurant & Catering as well as Fresh Fork Market, wine education seminars, artists and exhibitors along with raffles throughout the weekend. Adoptable pets from the Humane Society will also be on site and leased pets are welcome!

Hudson Wine Festival tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and include 10 tastings and a souvenir wine glass. Additional tastings are 10 for $5 at the event. Weekend passes are available for $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Wines sampled on site will be available for purchase through all Heinen’s locations in Northeast Ohio throughout the month of July.

Event tickets can be purchased at Green Roots Collection, InStyle Accessories, The Learned Owl Book Shop, Heinen’s locations in Hudson, Aurora, Twinsburg and Brecksville, the Humane Society or online at http://www.hudsonwinefestival.com/.

Sponsors for the Hudson Wine Festival include: Adams Reserve New York Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, First & Main Shopping District, Wind River Associates, LLC, Neace Lukens, Cleveland Magazine, Scriptype Publishing, The WineBuzz, WAKR / WONE / WQMX & AkronNewsNow.com and Wasacz & Skvoretz LTD.

Photo by Sonjia Pieper

Wine Corks Ideal For Recycling

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While attending the North American Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla, I was impressed with the efforts to recycle the hundreds of corks popped during the three day event through the ReCORK program. There were corks aplenty as you might suspect with an event that started with 27 wineries pouring samples at 10:30 in the morning at registration.

Wineries are an agricultural business and are very environmentally conscious. After all, it is their livelihood. Wineries have launched programs to protect the salmon, birds, soil and the air. I see the effort to recycle corks as "all good" and part of the sustainability efforts of wine producers.

Why recycle wine corks? There are 13 billion (yes, billion!) natural cork wine closures sold into the world market each year. At present, the majority of them end up in landfills instead of in reuse applications. While natural cork will degrade over time, landfill capacities in most communities are at a critical state. Cork is ideal for recycling. It is biodegradable, renewable, energy efficient, sustainable, and 100% natural.

ReCORK is a natural wine cork recycling program. The ReCORK program is sponsored by Amorim of Portugal, the world's largest producer of natural cork wine closures, SOLE, a leading manufacturer of footwear products, and Amorim’s U.S. sales affiliates – Amorim Cork America and Portocork America. The goal is to recycle corks and to educate and inform consumers about
the crucial role cork forests play in curbing climate change.

There is no reason natural wine corks should end up as garbage when recycled cork can become flooring tiles, building insulation, automotive gaskets, craft materials, soil conditioner and sports equipment. Because of a worldwide interest in sustainable agriculture and natural products like cork, an alliance of concerned businesses, individuals, and ecological organizations has been formed to address the opportunities to recycle natural cork closures.

ReCORK has already collected more than 8.6 million used corks. SOLE has successfully developed a unique cork blend that enhances the material properties of their footwear products, and replaces some of the petroleum-based material with natural cork, a sustainable alternative.
For more information, check out ReCORK.org. At present I see no drop-off locations in the Toledo area, but hopefully that will change in the future.

Vintage Ohio Wine Festival Returns August 6 and 7

It's been named one of the nation's top wine and food events and is the most acclaimed summer wine festival between the Appalachians and Rockies. Vintage Ohio Wine Festival will be celebrating its 16th anniversary August 6 and 7, when more than 30,000 wine and food lovers will travel to the beautiful grounds of the Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Kirtland, Ohio. The event will feature more than 150 vintages of exceptional regional wines, three stages of entertainment, demonstrations by the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking and Friday night fireworks.

Entertainment will range from jazz, reggae, oldies and light rock from the time the doors open through the last hour. Sixteen different restaurants and caterers offer food ranging from bison burgers to baklava. There will also be a locavore food sampling.

The wine education tent will feature various topics including Ohio ice wine, Zinfandel and the state's wine appelations. There will also be plenty of games, crafts and exhibits.

Participating wineries are:

• Breitenback Wine Cellars
• Buccia Vineyard
• Candlelight Winery
• Debonne Vineyards
• Emerine Estates
• Ferrante Winery
• Grand River Cellars
• Grape and Granary
• It's Your Winery
• Klingshirn Winery
• Maize Valley Winery
• Marietta Wine Cellars
• Old Firehouse Winery
• Old Mill Winery
• St. Joseph Vineyard
• The Winery at Spring Hill
• Valley Vineyards
• Wyandotte Winery

The adult sampler ticket is $27 ($25 in advance) and designated driver ticket $10. Presale tickets are available at participating wineries, online at http://www.ohiowines.org/, by calling (800) 227-6972 or at participating Giant Eagle Stores. You can save $2 with a Giant Eagle Advantage card.

No backpacks, coolers, carried-in food or pets allowed.

Photo by Jesie Hart

Wine Tastings & Events: Week of July 10, 2010

Wednesday, July 14

Anderson's Market, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8:00 PM. We will be conducting a blind tasting, pitting two big name producers’ higher-end wines against two of their less expensive competitors. See how they stack up. Votes will be tallied and posted at the next tasting. $9 flight.

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

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Bastille Day– Gourmet French Wine Dinner -  $60pp. Tickets required.

Thursday, July 15
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Wines of Orin Swift in Celebration of Bastille Day: 1. Veladra – Sauvignon Blanc, 2. Papillon – Red Blend, 3. The Prisoner – Red Blend, 4. Saldo – Zinfandel. Pay per sample or $14.50 per flight.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM. Wines of Oregon & Washington: 1. Maryhill Winemakers White, WA, 2.  Chateau Bianca Pinot Gris, OR, 3. Foreplay Chardonnay, Naked Wine Co., WA, 4. Chehalem Dry Riesling, OR, 5. O’Reilly’s Pinot Noir, OR, 6. J.K. Carrier Provacateur Pinot Noir, OR, 7.  Syncline Syrah, WA, 8. Abbot’s Table Red Wine, Owen Roe, WA. Nominal fee per sample.

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

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Pape Dat Neuf! Southern Rhone might just be the greatest wine region in the world. Châteauneuf-du-Pape might be the greatest appellation in Southern Rhone. You see where I'm going with this? $1 to $3 per sample.

Vino 100 Wine Bar, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. 6-10 PM. Justin Hickman Art Show. This will be Justin's fifth solo show of his acrylic and ink works. Justin's paintings are a favorite in NWO. Justin will have 13-15 new pieces, all one of a kind, at the showing. All paintings can be purchased the night of the event. No reservation needed.

Friday, July 16
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Rosé Wines: 1. Chateau Sainte Eulalie, 2. J.K. Carriere "Glass,” 3. Toad Hollow, 4. Francis Coppola "Sofia."

$10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Pape Dat Neuf!
Southern Rhone might just be the greatest wine region in the world. Châteauneuf-du-Pape might be the greatest appellation in Southern Rhone. You see where I'm going with this? $1 to $3 per sample.

Saturday, July 17 

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Rosé Wines: 1. Chateau Sainte Eulalie, 2. J.K. Carriere "Glass,” 3. Toad Hollow, 4. Francis Coppola "Sofia."

$10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville, Wine Tasting. 1-3 PM. Saturday tasting: 1. Big House White 3 Liter Box, 2. Big House Red 3 Liter Box, 3. Canyon Oaks Moscato, 4. Koonowla 2001 Shiraz Clare Valley. Nominal fee per sample or $1 per flight.

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

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

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Summer Whites to help you Beat the Heat

Image of King Estate Winery via Snooth

The heat in July has been insufferable. It has been blazing hot at lunchtime and then has even gotten hotter in the afternoon. The Fourth of July weekend was blistering.

Fear not. Steve Parks, owner of Aficionado Wine & Cigars in Perrysburg, assembled this quartet of white wine recommendations to keep you cool while the temperature climbs. They are listed from dry to sweet.
 

2008 Provenance Sauvignon Blanc -- #56 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2009! The 2008 Provenance Vineyards Estate Sauvignon Blanc shows off layered aromas of white peach, cantaloupe, caramel, vanilla and nutmeg. Its crisp, dry flavors of tropical fruit and lemon meringue pie are richly textured from sur lie aging. This beautifully balanced wine combines creaminess with fresh acidity that adds vibrancy to the fruit-intense finish. $19.99.

2008 King Estate Pinot Gris  -- #77 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2009! This golden straw colored wine has fresh aromas of pear, peach blossom, lime, grapefruit, and floral notes. The flavor has lively citrus, peach, tropical fruit, mineral, and honey. The finish hangs on the palate until the next sip. $17.99.

2008 Robert Hall Orange Muscat -- A vivid yellow-gold in color, this wine entertains the senses with fresh citrus and orange blossom aromas with a touch of sweet ginger spice echoed by bright, sweet tropical fruit flavors. Medium-bodied, the Orange Muscat features a balancing crisp acidity that brightens the finish. Pair with spicy cuisine, as an accompaniment to dessert or as an aperitif. About $17.

2008 Dr. Loosen Bros. Riesling -- # 62 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2009! This wine is sleek and tangy, showing apricot, lime and mango flavors matched to a lively structure. There's nice harmony and persistence through the finish. Priced at only $11.99.

Hogue Cellars Terroir 2005 Syrah Fries Vineyard, Columbia Valley

This fine wine was the hit of our Friday night tasting. The Terroir label is only sold at the Hogue Cellars tasting room, and so I was very fortunate to receive a bottle from Co Dinn, Hogue's director of winemaking, while in Washington for the North American Wine Bloggers Conference. Hogue Cellars is located in Eastern Washington's Columbia Valley and was founded in 1982.

Like many wineries in Washington, Hogue has made the move to screw tops. This completely eliminates the possibility of cork taint and is environmentally desireable as well. The technology has improved to the point where the screwcaps allow the wine to breathe and age much better than a cork. All Hogue wines, with the exception of their premier Genesis line, use screwcaps. I'm sure that change will be made once the public fully understands the benefits of the closure change.

So, there was no wrangling with a corkscrew with this bottle. We decanted it for about an hour. The color was a beautiful purple hue, similar to robes I imagine royalty wore back in Biblical times. This wine also has the distinction of being the last wine to be served from my decanter. Green Dragon had an "incident" while washing it. (No worries, a replacement has already been purchased.)

We started the evening with a very nice Trapiche Broquel Malbec (see our Facebook page for Glorious T's brief review). Glorious T loves pepper and smokiness. She is the only member of the tasting team who can immediately identify a half dozen different varieties of pepper tastes. Her husband, Spiderman, is not a big pepperati. While the  Traipiche finished with a pepper flourish, the Terroir Syrah was supple and smooth.

The Terroir was probably aided by being born out of the almost universally acclaimed 2005 vintage. The wine opened with some brushstrokes of tobacco and herbs before settling in for smooth gliding raspberry and berry flavor. The finish was remarkably smooth, having more fireworks up front than in the end. This is a medium bodied wine that seems to be an eloquent expression of what Syrah should be.