Saturday, July 31, 2010

Indy International Wine Competition Slated August 4-6

Mein Wein / My WineImage by rpeschetz via Flickr
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Winemakers from around the world will send their best wines to Indiana for the Indy International Wine Competition, August 4-6th, 2010. Over fifty judges will travel to Purdue University from throughout the United States, Europe and Canada to taste, analyze and score the various wines.

The Indy International Wine Competition is the largest scientifically organized and independent wine competition in the United States, the world's largest wine market. More than 3,000 commercial entries from 12 countries and 39 US states will be evaluated by our distinguished judges. Wine writers and winemakers, winegrowers and enologists, chefs and sommeliers, wine distributors, retailers and consumers meet every year in Indiana, the heart of America, a truly central place for wines to be seen and recognized.

Competition categories include commercial and amateur entries. Amateur winemakers and commercial fruit winemakers will find the Indy International appealing since the Indy International provides special trophies and recognition for both of these categories. Trophies for the commercial wine class include Wine of the Year, White Wine of the Year, Red Wine of the Year, and a Pacesetter Trophy, awarded to the winningest winery at the competition.

The competition will be held at the Purdue University Memorial Union in West Lafayette, Indiana. Judging will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and from 10am-12pm on Friday. Information is also available at http://www.indyinternational.org/.

The Indy International Wine Competition is sponsored by Purdue University, Main Street Cheese, Rawles & Associates, Danville Honey, Graber Olives, Lallemand, Inc., Indiana Winery & Vineyard Association, Tippie Tasters AWS Chapter, The Phil Leisure Family, Indiana State Beekeepers Associations and Cintas.

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Friday, July 30, 2010

4 Essential Items to Know Before Building Your Wine Room

Are you fascinated in the idea of having your very own customized wine cellar? As you have started down the path to collecting wine and bringing it back home, where are you storing it? Hopefully it’s not hidden away in your pantry, or tucked away in the closet. You need a place to show off all those carefully collected wine bottles! Your collection has turned into a piece of art that you want to show off and share with friends and family.

If you are thinking about building out a wine room, there are important things you should consider. With the amount of wine bottles you have collected in the past years of learning about wine, you may be running out of room or even just want more of a showcase look to entertain with.

With a customized cellar you know that you can add some personal touches and you can cater it to your particular specifications for keeping and storing your wine collection. There are actually a wide variety of options readily available to people who aspire to construct their very own customized wine cellar. Fortunately for them, these wine rooms or cellar styles and designs are for anyone interested - from the complete amateur to the enthusiastic do-it-yourself wine cellar maker, and to those who have state-of-the-art woodworking experts to work for their wine cellars.

Now, if you are looking to create a wine cellar that is custom-designed to your needs but you don't intend to build a wine racking system from scratch, then here is the basic remedy that will certainly enable you to create your unique custom-made wine rack style or design.

The modular wine racking arrangement is usually in the market in various grains and coatings. In general, the least costly are those made from pine wood. Traders of modular wine racking systems most likely will propose other materials of construction like premium Redwood, Malaysian Mahogany, or red cedar. After the style of wood is selected, you can have different lacquers and stains applied to really be unique.

With modular wine racks available today, it’s easy to buy different wine rack kits to create a customized cellar that fits into the available space in your home. The best part of opting for modular wine racks is the fact that it can be easily combined and complemented with several varieties of other cellar racking styles. This will satisfy particular requirements or generate a distinctive personal style.

After selecting the specific wine racks, the choices of crown molding and skirting items are offered so you can simply blend together various designs of wine racking components and kinds.

Several wine cellar rack manufacturers currently have particular pieces that can aid you further in modifying your modular racking scheme.

Recent designs include a built-in glass racking system which is tailored to suit conveniently in any racking system. This feature adds to the character or ambiance as well as efficiency of the custom-made modular wine holders.

The most cost-effective kind of component cellaring is the dozen-bin racking system. This type of racking in modular mode can accommodate a dozen of wine bottles in one compartment. This can be specifically suitable for wine fanatics who buy their favorite wines by bulk.

Case racking on the other hand, have two types - standing wine case and short wooden case. Case racking is quite an appealing and an efficient way of storing wine bottles in their original packaging.

If you are building out a complete wine cellar room, the most visually important aspect of the area is the door. Wine cellar doors are also deemed notable part of the style as well as constructing procedure. Knowing the layout of your room and how you want your door installed is the first step. The second step is deciding upon the style of door to complement your room. With different varieties of wood, glass, and wrought iron, the possibilities are endless.

Today we have a guest author, Kristi Davis. Kristi loves working at Grotto Custom Wine Cellars and helping wine lovers figure out the best way to store their wine. She has two kids, a loving husband, and some beautiful wine racks filled with wine.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Greg Norman 2007 Limestone Coast Shiraz/Cabernet

It's always good to spot an old favorite! Such was the case when Glorious T visited a convention hospitality suite last week. Wanting a break from the Charleston sweet tea (although delicious!), like any good wine chick she happily spotted a bottle of Greg Norman 2007 Limestone Coast Shiraz/Cabernet.

This is always a reliable and drinkable choice and it did not disappoint! As the dashing bartender (yes - he was handsome enough to be a prince) poured, the beautiful crimson purple color attracted the attention of fellow wine lovers.

This complex wine offers an array of dark fruit aromas and the cherry and blackberry were evident. Light vanilla on the finish with slight tannins. Well worth the typical $12.99 price tag, this is a good wine to keep on hand since it offers wide appeal.


Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Wine Tastings & Events: Week of July 26,2010

Wednesday, July 28
Anderson's Market, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8:00 PM.
Kiona Vineyards WineryAnother blind tasting: Our blind tastings have been going over so well, we decided to do another, with yet another twist.
Stop in and add your input. Results will be posted for the next tasting. Flight $6.50.

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

Thursday, July 29
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Wines of the Tour de France featuring the Rhone Region. 1. Domaine de La Royere – Red Luberon, 2. Louis Bernard – Cotes du Rhone, 3. Domaine des Amariniers – Cotes du Rhone Villages, 4. Les Trois Couronnes – Vaqueras. $4.50 per flight.
059216-yellow-road-sign-icon-food-beverage-food-grapes
The Andersons, Talmadge Road. No wine tasting this week. Wine department being relocated.

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

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. South American Showdown: We all know that South America is home to some amazing, world-class wines. It is also a definite hot-spot for top-notch values. But who really rules the roost here? Drop in as we call out the two South American powerhouses -  Argentina v. Chile.  $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, July 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. Unwooded Chardonnays: 1. Travis Unfiltered, 2. Razor's Edge, 3. Mossback "Russian River,” 4. Norton Ridge Late Harvest. $10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. South American Showdown: We all know that South America is home to some amazing, world-class wines. It is also a definite hot-spot for top-notch values. But who really rules the roost here? Drop in as we call out the two South American powerhouses -  Argentina v. Chile.  $1 to $3 per sample.

Saturday, July 31
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Unwooded Chardonnays: 1. Travis Unfiltered, 2. Razor's Edge, 3. Mossback "Russian River,” 4. Norton Ridge Late Harvest. $10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville, Wine Tasting. 1-3 PM. Saturday tasting: 1. Kiona 2008 Riesling, 2. Burgans 2008 Albarino Spain, 3. Underwood 2009 Pinot Noir, 4. Urban Uco 2008 Malbec. Nominal fee per sample or $2 per flight.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 p.m. Understanding USA Pinot Noir. Pay by the sample or flight. Premium tasting, cost is somewhat more than usual.

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

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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Klinker Brick Tasting: Farrah Syrah, Old Vine Zinfandel, The Old Ghost

klinker 007
The red and yellow blotches on the Doppler radar finally passed by Perrysburg swinging to the southeast. We were glad because we were planning on heading to Corks for a special tasting of Klinker Brick Winery offerings. The winery is owned by Steve, Lori and (daughter) Farrah Felten. Lori and Farrah were in town to pour three of their wines and a funnel cloud would have made our choices very difficult.

When we arrived at Corks there was a good crowd considering the tornado warning that was issued earlier in the evening. Mike Gregg’s tasting lineup had an interesting white blend from Pacific Ridge and some interesting Zinfandels for comparison with Klinker Brick. Some of the Zins are known for their higher alcoholic content, so we decided to focus on the three Klinker Brick wines.

A quick verdict is that these Klinkers aint no klunkers. We enjoyed three quality wines that exhibited finesse and are also great values.

Farrah did the pouring and was able to provide background on the wines. Klinker Brick Winery is in Lodi, a rustic and welcoming wine community about 40 minutes south of Sacramento. The winery produces 30,000 cases annually. Klinker has 15 vineyard blocks of zinfandel that range in age from 37 to 112 years old in the Mokelumne River sub-appellation of Lodi. The yields are small from these gnarly, ancient vines and they produce wines of intense color and concentrated flavor.

The Syrah vineyard is named after Farrah Felton, so there was no better person to pour and illuminate us on the Farrah Syrah. We tried two vintages. The ‘08 had a smokiness with flavors of berries and tobacco. The 2007 had settled down a bit and had a smooth mellowness to it. Both are in the French style with a nice balance and finished in oak.

I was surprised at the 2007 Old Vine Zinfandel. Upon first sip I expected to be smacked with aggressiveness but I was greeted with a supple, smooth glass with juicy flavors of cherry and plum. Farrah opined that I might be enjoying the results of the longer hang-time their vineyards enjoy. This was a much more elegant wine than I expected. This wine is blended from 14 different Old Vine vineyard blocks.

The much anticipated star of the evening was The Old Ghost, produced from a 97-year old vineyard. This is a more polished wine than the Old Vine and exhibited more spiciness. This is a fine wine and a multi-layered treat that you could sip and contemplate all evening.

The Syrah and Old Vines Zinfandel list for $17.99 while The Old Ghost goes for $39.95. Great values for brick solid wines.

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Monday, July 26, 2010

Wine Lovers Reap Benefits From Excess Inventory, Closeout Sales

A precipitous drop in demand for wines priced more than $40 means that thousands of wineries have millions of cases of expensive wine that they are unable to sell. The wines can't just sit around because they must be moved out of the warehouses to make way for the next vintage. Wine lovers are now able to benefit through a growing number of wine websites specializing in deep discounts and flash sales.

Among these discounters are: Wine Woot!, Wines 'til Sold Out, Wine Spies, Cinderella Wine, Wine Heist, Vinfolio Flash Sales, Cellar Thief, Winery Insider, Wineshopper and Vinobest.

When I read about this on another blog, I checked out a few and the deals are pretty impressive. You typically have to "join" at no cost by creating an account and password. You then receive e-mails once or twice a week offering large discounts but for a very short period of time.

Wine Shopper is an example. I received an e-mail on Thursday for a sale that ended the following Tuesday. Being offered was an organic, single vineyard Columbia Valley Riesling by Pacific Rim. It lists for $32 and was on sale for $17.49. Also being offered was Hogue 2006 Genesis Syrah for only $7.99 (regularly $16). The Genesis is sold in lots of 3 only. If you bought only one bottle of the Pacific Rim Riesling, however, the shipping was $12.45. I assume the shipping becomes more reasonable as your quantities increase. I noticed that one of their special offerings, a Barossa Valley Estate 2003 E & E Black Pepper Shiraz, quickly sold out. Wine Shopper is a spin-off venture of Wine.com.

Winery Insider is another flash sale site that I checked out. It offers "the world's best wine at insider prices." Its wines are really interesting and some of their sales are just 24 hours. Their most recent offering was a special case sale from Viansa Winery in Sonoma County. You could purchase cases of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Vernaccia or Arneis for only $99. These last two wines are unusual Italian grapes. The Vernaccia usually sells for $300 a case while the others sell for $240. Winery Insider also had a recent sale of "cult" Pinot Noirs. This is a site to watch for the rare and unusual.

Another discount site is Wines 'til Sold Out. Their most recent deal was Iron Horse Vineyards Green Valley Russian River Valley Estate Chardonnay 2006 for $14.99 (versus the retail of $29.99). One nice feature is they offer free shipping when you buy the minimum quantity. In this case it was four bottles, but it is never more than six.

There is a sense of excitement in nabbing a bargain and then tearing open the shipping carton to view the newly arrived booty. That being said, there are great deals at your local wine shop too -- plus you are supporting local business.
Photo by Peter Kaminsky
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Saturday, July 24, 2010

Riedel VIP Tasting to Kick Off Vintage Ohio

One of the world's iconic wine stars will be featured at a preview to the 2010 Vintage Ohio wine festival. This is a chance to spend an elegant evening with Max Riedel of the famed Riedel Austrian crystal company while enjoying incredible Ohio Wines. Using wines from across the region Max will illustrate how his stemware provides an exceptional tasting experience versus regular wine glasses.

The event will take place on Thursday, August 5, at Quail Hollow Resort in Concord, Ohio. The cost is $95 per person and includes the program, an hors d'oeuvres reception, fine wine tasting and a collection of lovely Riedel stemware ($125 retail value) to take home. Register at OhioWines.org. Only 100 seats are available.

As the event begins, you will stroll through a collection of luxury cars provided by sponsors Stoddard Porsche and Willoughby Audi. Upon arrival in the Quail Hollow ball room, you will enjoy a glass of sparkling water and a cheese display presented in part by our host, Quail Hollow resort and by Adam's Reserve cheddar cheese.

Then Max will work his "magic" with a presentation of the famed Riedel stemware showcasing some of the best Ohio wines from across the state. Following the program, Quail Hollow will present a lovely hors d'oeuvres reception complemented by another glass of award winning Ohio Wines.

The wines selected by the Riedel team for this special event include 2007 Grand River Valley Reserve Chardonnay from Debonne' Vineyards in Madison, 2008 Grand River Valley Gewürztraminer from Ferrante Winery in Geneva, 2008 Grand River Valley Pinot Noir Select from St. Joseph Vineyard in Thompson and from Dover, Ohio, Breitenbach Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon.

At the conclusion of the evening, your own set of Riedel glasses, valued at $125, will be wrapped for you to take home before you leave to stroll once more among the Porsche and Audi vehicles displayed under the Quail Hollow portico.
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Friday, July 23, 2010

Michigan Winery Visit: J. Trees Cellars


2010_0318Pentamere-Trees0007 
The second stop on our Michigan weekend day trip was the new J. Trees Cellars tasting room115 N. Main St., Blissfield, Michigan, (877) 304-3254. The J. Trees Cellars tasting room is located across from the Main Street Stable and Tavern Grill in historic Blissfield. It was a beautiful day and we were zipping along enjoying the sunshine and soon overshot the general area where we knew the tasting room was located. We circled back and located the diminutive tasting room.

The tasting room is small but tasteful, with a nice bar and a side room we imagine could handle overflow crowds. J. Trees is the effort of winemaker Jon Treloar. He opened the tasting room in Blissfield in April to showcase his first four releases. The vineyards are located in Petersburg, Michigan, and plans are to open a tasting room in the original farmhouse on that property.

Paul Evans was handling duties at the tasting room and started us off with the 2008 Chardonnay. This lively wine set the tone for our tasting. It was surprisingly good. That’s not to say we doubted Jon’s winemaking chops – he has a Masters in Viticulture from Michigan State and was in charge of their vineyard program – but for his first effort he’s come up with a Chardonnay that compares favorably with just about any in Ohio and Michigan. It is lightly oaked with sophisticated tropical flavor notes. Green Dragon isn’t fond of heavily oaked Chards, so we were liking this.

2010_0318Pentamere-Trees0008The highlight of our day was the 2008 Dry Riesling. We think Dry Riesling done right is absolutely sublime. We gladly travel hundreds of miles to the Finger Lakes to sample and buy Dry Riesling. J. Trees Cellars has done Dry Riesling right – we knew it after just one sip. It has the acidity that dials in crisp refreshment and a light mixture of apple and pear flavors with a dash of minerality. This might be the best Dry Riesling within a hundred miles of Toledo.

The next tasting was Fuji Ice Cider. We approached the tasting bar cautiously – we’re not fruity wine people and our palate trends to the dry side. All righty, our preconceptions were wrong again. This is a beautifully tasting drink (I guess this is cider versus a wine). It takes 70 to 80 apples to make one bottle. The apples have to be picked at the height of winter when they are frozen. That’s a lot of effort for a $20 half bottle. This is a unique bottle that I believe stands alone in the area.

We wrapped up with the 2008 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine. Jon must love the bitter Michigan cold, because the grapes for this dessert wine must also be harvested after they freeze on the vine. The flavors are intense and concentrated. This full bodied, thick wine tastes of pineapple and honey. Very nice and a good buy for $35 (half bottle).

Blissfield is a very short distance from Toledo and the J. Trees Cellars tasting room is well worth the trip. It is open Friday through Sunday and 4 to 7 on Tuesday. You can also visit them during the Wine Days of Summer special Pioneer Wine Trail promotion August 7-8.


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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Michigan Winery Visit: Pentamere Winery

To avoid the heat and humidity of Toledo, we hit the road to the Irish Hills in Michigan. It was just what the doctor ordered. The rolling hills, great scenery and wafting breeze chased the sweaty humidity right away.

We decided to visit Hidden Lake Gardens, a botanical garden about eight miles west of Tecumseh. On our return trip we planned to visit the J. Trees Cellars tasting room in Blissfield. As we motored through the downtown Tecumseh, we noticed Pentamere Winery and decided that would be another great stop on our weekend outing.

Pentamere Winery, 131 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh, Michigan (517) 423-9000, is an urban winery. That’s something that’s not uncommon in hipper wine communities in California or the Northwest – but it is a rarity in our area. Pentamere is Michigan’s first urban winery and one of the state’s smallest winery.

We certainly have a preference for estate wineries – wineries that produce their wine on property with grapes that they have grown – but Pentamere has a unique angle that I find very intriguing. All their wine is produced at their downtown winery and their grapes are sourced from growing regions around the Great Lakes including Michigan, Ontario and Ohio. As Sherry told us as she poured us samples, all the growing regions must be in the Great Lakes watershed.

The tasting room is light, airy and very classy. It features a long bar and one of the best assortment of wine accessories you’ll find anywhere. Pentamere is a combination of Greek and Latin words meaning five lakes, which ties in nicely with their nautical theme. Almost all the wines are named after ships.

We followed their first rule stated on their tasting notes: “Drink what tastes good to you” and started with the dry whites. First was Wings of the Wind, which had a clean citrus fruit flavor. I must point out one drawback at Pentamere and that is that the grapes in the various wines are always not listed on the bottles or tasting notes. I believe this blend had Vidal Blanc, but a check of the website shed no light on this mystery.

The 2008 Dry Riesling, which lists for $18, has pronounced lemon and pear flavor notes. It was pleasing, but lacked the acidity we like in a Dry Riesling.

White Swan was our favorite. It is a dry Vidal Blanc and had a medium body with an interesting tangerine zing. This wine is a good selection for seafood or poultry. We bought a bottle of this.

Moving to the dry reds, we started with Walk-In-The-Water, a blend of five reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chambourcin, Zweigelt and Syrah. This had cherry, cedar and an earthy quality. Very unique.

The 2003 Chambourcin is finished in oak and so is unlike most Chambourcins we’ve had. Le Griffon 2005 is a red Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cab Franc. This is Pentamere’s top of the line wine and lists for $32.

We wrapped up with a sample of Monarch of the Glen. This is a medium dry Cabernet Franc. We are big Cab Franc fans and we enjoyed this light red wine.

Tecumseh is a very appealing town and Pentamere is front and center on their tourist-friendly main street. Add this urban winery to cap off a nice day of sight-seeing and dining in Southeast Michigan. Pentamere is part of the upcoming Pioneer Wine Trail event, the Wine Days of Summer.

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Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Wine Tasting & Events: Week of July 17, 2010

Wednesday, July 21
Anderson's Market, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8:00 PM. Washington State Syrah Tasting. Be sure not to miss these four outstanding high-end Syrahs from Washington. AlmaTerra is a project of Smasne Cellars in which three single vineyard Syrahs are produced using identical processes in order to showcase the unique attributes of each vineyard site. The “Coeo” (Symphony) is a blend of the three.Come experience this unique opportunity to sample four world-class Syrahs and speak with Dave Pirwitz about the hot Washington wine scene! 1. Minick Vineyard Yakima Valley Syrah, 2. Horse Heaven Hills “Coyote Canyon” Syrah, 3. Red Mountain “Ciel du Cheval” Syrah, 4. “Coeo” Three Vineyard Syrah. Flight $9.50. (Half-samples, full samples also available.)

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. New arrivals: Alice Prosecco, White Truck, Hey Mambo Bistro Style White, Alice Sparkling Rose', Saint Esprit Cotes-du-Rhone, Petrognano Chianti, 7 Deadly Zins and Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz. $15.

Thursday, July 22
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Wines of the Tour de France featuring Alsace: 1. Gustave Lorentz –Pinot Blanc, 2. Cleebourg – Pinot Gris, 3. The Furst – Riesling, 4. Cave de Ribeauville – Gewürztraminer. Nominal fee per sample or $7 per flight.

059216-yellow-road-sign-icon-food-beverage-food-grapes
The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM. Wines of Oregon & Washington: Everyone Deserves a Little Celebration, “Uplifting Wines:” 1. Riondo Prosecco, Italy; 2. Domaine Guindon Muscadet, France; 3. Larochette Manciat Macon Les Morizotte, France; 4. Mount Nelson Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand; 5. Mollydooker “The Violinist”, Australia; 6. Mon Coeur Cote du Rhone, J.L. Chave, France; 7. Gorman “Pixie” Red Mountain Syrah, Washington; 8. Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkastler Badstube Rieslinh Kabinett, Germany. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. New arrivals: Alice Prosecco, White Truck, Hey Mambo Bistro Style White, Alice Sparkling Rose', Saint Esprit Cotes-du-Rhone, Petrognano Chianti, 7 Deadly Zins and Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz. $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Zin'in Ain't Easy: A lot of people will tell you that summer is the time for rosé, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. Well, those are nice wines...for BABIES! Join us as we pop the top grillin' and chillin' wines of the summer. Special Guest: Farrah Felten, daughter of the estate founders, pouring Lodi Farrah Syrah, Lodi Old Vine Zin, and the Old Ghost Zin. Don't miss it! $1 to $3 per sample.

Friday, July 23
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. French Wines: 1. Robert Klingenfus Pinot Blanc, 2. Justin Monmousseau Sancerre, 3. Baron de Luze Red Bordeaux, 4. Clos de L'Oratoire Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. $10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Zin'in Ain't Easy: A lot of people will tell you that summer is the time for rosé, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. Well, those are nice wines...for BABIES! Join us as we pop the top grillin' and chillin' wines of the summer. Pouring Lodi Farrah Syrah, Lodi Old Vine Zin, and the Old Ghost Zin. $1 to $3 per sample.

Saturday, July 24
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. French Wines: 1. Robert Klingenfus Pinot Blanc, 2. Justin Monmousseau Sancerre, 3. Baron de Luze Red Bordeaux, 4. Clos de L'Oratoire Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. $10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville, Wine Tasting. 1-3 PM. Saturday tasting: Barefoot wines will donate $ .50 on every bottle we sell to the Toledo Boys & Girls Club through the first week of September. 1. Barefoot Moscato Spumante, 2. Barefoot Moscato, 3. Barefoot Pinot Grigio, 4. Barefoot Merlot. Nominal fee per sample or $1 per flight.

[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]
Photo by Torsten Reuschling

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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Special Zinfandel Tasting Set For Thursday, July 22, At Corks

Rich, intense and multi-dimensional Zinfandel are in store at Corks Wine and Liquor, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800, during a special tasting of Klinker Brick wines, Lodi, California, 6:00 to 9:00 PM Thursday, July 22.

Special guest will be Farrah Felten, daughter of Steve and Lori Felten, founders of the estate. She'll be pouring the Lodi Farrah Syrah, Lodi Old Vine Zin, and the Old Ghost Zin.

A treat will be the Old Ghost Zin, produced from “Old Vines.” Old Vines, those at least 50 years old, yield more intense sugars, color and concentration of flavors, producing wines that are generally better balanced with more body and structure. Old Ghost comes from a 96-year-old vineyard.

If you're curious about the name, Klinker Bricks are highly prized bricks that grace many of the historical buildings in Lodi. Chosen by Craftsmen architects in the 1920’s for their distinctive qualities, including unique shapes and dark, rich color, these bricks are “heavier” than regular bricks. “Klinker” refers to the sound that they would make when banged together, because of their increased weight. Rich, deep color, enormous density, unique and distinctive are the same qualities found in their old vine Zinfandel.

Klinker Brick Winery wines will be featured at the Corks tasting on Friday as well, but without the special guests.

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Monday, July 19, 2010

Viking Vineyards Chambourcin Ohio NV

satek 164An evening cook-out featuring vegetable and shrimp shish kabobs was the perfect opportunity to introduce my brother Tom and his wife Helen to some fine Ohio wine.

Tom and Helen were driving west to go to the String Cheese Incident concerts at Red Rocks in Colorado and our house made a convenient stop-off location. They’ll make another pit stop on the way back and provide full details of the concerts.

The wine selection was a Viking Vineyard Chambourcin. This Chambourcin is deep red in color with a great bouquet of red fruit. It is smooth with little tannins and refreshing dark notes of black cherry and raspberry. This is a dry and enjoyable wine that is delicate enough to pair well with the shrimp and vegetables (including some great sweet corn from upstate New York).

Viking Vineyards, located near Kent,  is a fun wine destination with great wines and a full schedule of entertainment and activities. The grounds are also excellent for savoring wine by the lake. Here is a link to our last trip there. We’ll have to go there soon since we’re out of Viking wine!
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Saturday, July 17, 2010

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

Grapes and leaves of the grape variety Caberne...Image via Wikipedia
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.

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Friday, July 16, 2010

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
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Wine Corks Ideal For Recycling

A cork stopper of a wine bottle (made from com...Image via Wikipedia
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.

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Thursday, July 15, 2010

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:

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

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010

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.

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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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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Summer Whites to help you Beat the Heat

King Estate WineryImage 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.

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Monday, July 12, 2010

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.

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Saturday, July 10, 2010

Celebrate Ohio Wines by Using Fancy Wine Words

Wine and cheese tasting @ Strewn WineryImage by Vincent Ma via Flickr
June was Ohio Wine Month (here at TWAV we've decided to extend it through July, making it the month of "Junuly") and many wine drinkers will be flocking to their local wine shops to peruse the fancy-clad bottles adorning the shelves. Of course, like a book cover, the myriad of wine labels feature fancy artwork and lingo to woo potential buyers. But what do all of those fancy wine words really mean?

Legs: The ribbons of wine that cling to the side of a swirled glass are legs, according to Christy Eckstein, the executive director of the Ohio Grape Industries Committee. The legs you see are related to the alcohol content of wine and sometimes to the sweetness level. In general, the higher alcohol content, the more legs there are. Thick, sweet wines often have more legs. Legs are easy to see and easy to talk about, but they are not necessarily connected to quality, she said.

Vintage: The vintage is the year the grapes were harvested to make the wine. This is important to consider for a number of reasons. “The vast majority of wines being made today are bottled to drink now. Our preservation methods are much better than they used to be. The percentage of wine that can be kept over a three or four year period of time is tiny,” Eckstein said. “Reds can age longer because of the tannins that break down and add new flavor with age. The flavor becomes more concentrated and pronounced. There are a few wines that are ageable, and most of them are reds. Ports, ice wines and sherrys that are very sweet can also be aged a few years.”

Reserve: This fancy sounding term means different things in different places. Spain and Italy, for example, have strict rules and qualifications for use of the term. The U.S. does not. In general though, reserve can mean a late harvest or grapes that are set aside for a specific product. Some Ohio wineries use the term for special wine that has been set aside.

Late harvest and ice wine: Late harvest generally means that the grapes are left on the vine longer than usual. With the ice wine, the grapes are actually frozen while still on the vine. “The solids in the grapes don’t freeze but the water does, and that concentrates the sugars and flavors,” Eckstein said. “It could be Thanksgiving or Christmas before you get that freeze so you’ve got birds and animals going after the grapes, and it is more work to make.” As a result of the extra production challenges and highly concentrated product, ice wines are sold at higher prices and often in smaller bottles.

Appellation: An appellation is a designated wine-growing region governed by specific laws. Ohio has five appellations including an island appellation with North Bass Island in Lake Erie, which is the Isle St. George Appellation.

Estate bottled: There are three main parts to this. The wine must designate an appellation and both the vineyard and the winery must be located in that region. The winery has to have management over the vineyard that produced the grapes. The wine must also be produced from crush to bottle in a continuous process without leaving the winery premises. Those seeking Ohio wines should look for estate bottled wines or Ohio Quality Wines that are made with a 90% minimum of Ohio-grown grapes. 
“If they are looking for truly local Ohio wines, the Ohio Quality Wine program will really help them find wines made with locally grown grapes,” Eckstein said.

As the international awards pile up and the standing of Ohio wines grows in world stature, more people are seeking out wines with Ohio appellations. The wine industry has been making dramatic strides in quality and quantity in recent years. The number of Ohio wineries has grown from 124 in 2008 to 143 in 2010, and wine production increased nearly 500,000 gallons from 2006 to 2008.

Ohio wine production now contributes more than $580 million to the state economy and creates 4,000 jobs with a payroll of $124 million.

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Friday, July 9, 2010

St. Michaels Winery 2008 Long Splice

Looking for some wine with a nautical theme to spank the summertime heat? Here's a unique wine we picked up at the License to Steal wine marketing conference held at Geneva, Ohio, that will have you feeling ship-shape. 
St. Michael's Winery is a boutique winery in the Chesapeake Bay resort town of St. Michael's, Maryland. Their Long Splice is a unique blend of 73% Seyval (a French-American hybrid grape) and 27% Chardonnay. The long splice is an especially difficult rope splice done by sailors. The matching of Seyval and Chardonnay is a challenging splice as well -- one that I think works.

We tried the 2008 vintage. When I sampled it at the conference, it struck me as a notch above some of the other regional wines. This is, to my knowledge, the first Maryland wine I've tasted and I liked the freshness. The Seyval gives it a bit of spice that differentiates it from straight Chardonnay. The body is medium and, as you may expect from a winery on the Eastern Shore, it goes well with seafood -- especially oysters.

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Thursday, July 8, 2010

Riesling Release, Antique Airplane Fly-In Scheduled at Chateau Aeronautique

How's this for a high-flying event: An antique airplane fly-in paired with a special sampling of an acclaimed Michigan Riesling? That's what scheduled Saturday, July 10, from 12 noon to 6:00 PM at Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 1849 Rives-Eaton Rd., Jackson, Michigan (517) 569-2132. You can have a relaxing afternoon in the Hangar ~ sit back, have a bite to eat, enjoy some wine, and see rare and exotic airplanes from a bygone era flying and on static display.

Antique Airplanes will be coming and going throughout the afternoon to the delight of enthusiasts of flying machines from "the golden era of aviation." There will be a selection of delicious foods available to pair with your wine, including salmon burgers, hamburgers, and hot dogs on the grill.

As if the Antique Airplane Fly-In were not enough, there will be a pre-release party in celebration of the imminent release of the 2009 Riesling.  Limited quantities of the acclaimed 2009 Riesling will be available for tasting and purchase with a limit of one bottle per person.
Photo by Sam Churchill

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Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Wine Tastings & Events: Week of July 5, 2010

Wednesday, July 7
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. $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. Reservations required. E-mail info@uptownvineyard.com or call (866) 276-1984.

Thursday, July 8
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM.
Nominal fee per sample or per flight.

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The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM. Classic White Wines of the World. 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. World Cup 'o Wine: So the World Cup ends next week, and of course we all know who's not in it. So, let's start it all over. Six great countries. Six great wines. Two nights. One champ. $1 to $3 per sample.

Friday, July 9
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Italian Wines: 1. Cristina Ascheri Gavi, 2. Mazzi "Poiega" Valpolicella Classico Superiore, 3. Avignonesi Rosso, 4. Gagliardo "Villa M" Moscato. $10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. World Cup 'o Wine: So the World Cup ends next week, and of course we all know who's not in it. So, let's start it all over. Six great countries. Six great wines. Two nights. One champ. $1 to $3 per sample. 

Saturday, July 10 
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Italian Wines: 1. Cristina Ascheri Gavi, 2. Mazzi "Poiega" Valpolicella Classico Superiore, 3. Avignonesi Rosso, 4. Gagliardo "Villa M" Moscato. $10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville, Wine Tasting. 1-3 PM. 1Nominal fee per sample or per flight.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 p.m. Blind Tasting – Malbecs from Argentina. Pay by the sample or flight.

[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]
Flickr photo by Cane Rosso
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