Budget Travel Selects Finger Lakes as Most Beautiful Destination

   Thrifty travelers and wine lovers take note: Budget Travel magazine has selected the Finger
Lakes as the readers' choice for most beautiful wine destination in the world. In doing so, the Finger Lakes outscored Napa Valley, Tuscany, the Loire Valley, Willamette Valley and Australia while absolutely crushing Hungary. You can see a Budget Travel reader pulling into town in the photo. (Just kidding!)

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We concur that the Finger Lakes is absolutely gorgeous and an amazing value. Recently while traveling between Richmond and Baltimore on Amtrak I had a chance to peruse Vineyard & Winery Management magazine. A columnist had surveyed wineries on their tasting room fees. This should be no surprise, but several examples were cited of Finger Lakes wineries with $1 or $2 tasting fees (some free). This was in contrast to some of the Napa wineries where $10 was the norm with additional charges for reserve wine tastings or other add-ons.

The Finger Lakes region encompasses 9,000 square miles of rolling hills and beautiful lakes in the state's panhandle. It has 117 wineries, a concentration second only to Napa Valley. The wineries are close enough to be clustered into great wine trails and the majority of wineries have great tasting rooms and beautiful scenery.

The wine, well it is of surprising quality -- especially if you love Riesling and Gerwurztraminer that thrive in the limestne and mineral terroir. Finger Lake reds are also on the rise. The QPR (quality price ratio) really tips in favor of Finger Lakes wines. You can grab a beautiful bottle of wine for $25 or less that might cost $10 to $20 more if it came from California.

The Finger Lakes can, at times, also seem like an insider's secret. Uncrowded tasting rooms with very low tasting fees abound. You also have a good chance to meet the winemaker or owner. The Finger Lakes also can offer fall foliage that California simply cannot match. A word of caution: The word is getting out so you may want to plan on going in off-season (summer is good) because the fall can be very busy.

As you can tell, we love the Finger Lakes. We suggest you see what all the talk is about by planning a visit there soon.

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O-H-I-O Wines: Making the Rounds of Geneva Area Wineries

 We love regional wine and we're helping to celebrate Regional Wine Week with this report on some of our favorites. The week-long celebration is sponsored by Drink Local Wines.

Sax Man and Wine Chick met up with some friends recently to introduce them to Ohio wineries. Although they have lived in the area for several years, they had not yet visited the wineries or experienced an “official” wine tasting. Because we were traveling on behalf of the TWAV Tasting Team, we had to give our friends nicknames: Pinot (who likes a good Pinot Grigio) and Scarlet (you may not find a bigger Buckeye fan – she was very nervous about missing the game).

The tour circled around the Grand River area. We began at Grand River Cellars, a great winery and restaurant. Some of our favorites included Austin’s Red, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah; and Stonewood Red, a blend of Merlot, Red Zinfandel, and Shiraz. All were reasonably priced.

The next winery was St. Joseph’s Vineyards, a small winery with great wine. We spoke to the owner for a while who had just been out in the vineyards hand picking Pinot grapes for their award winning Pinot Noir. We tasted that as well as the Pinot Noir Reserve and St. Joseph’s Noir, a great blend. This winery was perhaps our favorite of the day.

Thirdly, we traveled to Debonne, which was hosting a wedding and was very busy. The wines were good, but we felt like we were intruding on the festivities, so we went on to Ferrante.

We had lunch at Ferrante and then a tasting at our table. There we found the Pinot Grigio of the day, which made Pinot happy. It is part of their Signature Series and won the White Best of Show.

We then traveled on to South River, the winery in the church. The place was packed and the wine was good. We particularly liked Karma and Trinity, both red blends.

We ended our tour at Harpersfield, a French style winery with two Jack Russell’s as greeters. This winery also had their vineyards close to the edge of the property, which displayed great ripe bunches of grapes. Very welcoming and cozy, the winery offers a variety of reds and whites. This is where Wine Chick found her buttery Chardonnay of the day.

Overall, it was a great tour, if a bit chilly and overcast. The Buckeyes crushed Eastern Michigan (Scarlet checked her phone for ESPN updates quite frequently) and we all sampled great Ohio wines. We recommend a tour to this area to anyone who is

looking for a good wine tasting experience.

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Save The Woods Wines Sparkle at Benefit Event

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The 15th Annual Bowling Green Parks Foundation Wine and Cheese Social, held September 24 at the Simpson Building in Bowling Green, was a smashing success in all regards. It was attended by more than 400 people and appears to have set a new high in attendance. The event also raised more than $37,000 for the foundation's Save the Woods campaign.

Wine for the event was provided by Norm Heinemann, president of Bowling Green Beverage distributors. He really outdid himself this year with another globe-spanning selection that introduced some new wine producing countries to guests.

I had volunteered for the event and so was working furiously to help the team handle the large crowds that hit when the doors opened. Green Dragon plus tasting team members Ace of Bass and Glorious T arrived when the crowds started to ramp down, so I was able to join in the tastings.

For many, the '06 Warwick Estate Pinotage was the first taste of South African wine. I've only tasted a few Pinotages and so enjoyed this sample, which starts with dark berry flavor but has a nice tannin finish that would make this wine well suited for steak.

One of my favorite reds was the '09 Schilds Grenache M.S. from Australia. This is a traditional Rhone-style blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Shiraz. The flavor explodes with cherries and spices. It is unoaked, so it is a smooth, fruit-driven wine.

When Norm heard that we really loved Malbecs, he was kind enough to have two on the tasting menu, the '08 Finca Flichman Malbec Reserva from Argentina and the 2006 Midnight Cellars Malbec from Paso Robles. Which is better? That's a delicious decision to which there is no wrong answer. The Reserva has more plum flavor notes and a slight earthiness wrapped in soft tannins. The Midnight Cellars, which is a beautiful deep violet color, is more jammy, but with a nice medium body and succulent finish.

On the white side, perhaps the biggest surprise was the '09 Chateau Julia Chardonnay from Greece. Yes,

Greece. This is yellow-green in color and has a fruity aroma with a distinct lemon taste. The Chardonnay is finished in steel, rather than oak, so it has none of the woody, buttery qualities that Green Dragon dislikes. This was one of the most popular wines of the evening.

The '09 Lenz Moser Heuriger Gruner Veltliner from Austria is a simple wine -- simply delicious that is! This is a young white wine comparable to a soft Sauvignon Blanc. It goes well with poultry, fish or cheese and costs less than $10.

Another  favorite was the '06 Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone Blanc from France. Cotes du Rhone is known mostly for its reds, but it is a mistake to underestimate this great white. It is a blend of white Grenache, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne and Viognier. It is a much fuller bodied wine than the Gruner and has a bouquet of peach and apricot.

I was looking forward to the '07 Tangent Ecclestone (California) and it did not disappoint. This is a blend of Pinot Gris, Viognier, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat and Albarino. That is an unusual mixture. There isn't that much Albarino in Califonria, so this is a unique wine. The key word is tangy, with orange and honey flavor notes. It finishes up crisp and clean. This is an enjoyable solo sipper or a versatile food partner.

Thanks to the many volunteers and generous sponsors who made this event hapen.

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Wine Tastings & Events, October 6-9, 2010

Image of Beaux Frères Vineyard via Snooth

Wednesday, October 6
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. 1. Chamisal Vineyards Stainless Chardonnay, 2. Apothic Red, 3. Bogle Phantom, 4. Bricco Riella Moscato D’Asti. Nominal fee per sample or $8.50 per flight.

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

 

Thursday, October 7

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Great Red Blends under $10: 1. Lacour Peyade – Bergerac, France, 2. Charamba – Portugal, 3. Panarroz – Jumilla region, Spain, 4.  Menage ‘a Trois – Napa County, California. Nominal fee per sample or $4 flight. 
 

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Fabulous Oregon Pinot Noir: 1. Anne Amie Prisme Pinot Noir Blanc, 2. Patricia Green 2008 Reserve Pinot Noir, 3. Domaine Drouhin 2006 Pinot Noir, 4. Elk Cove Mount Richmond 2008 Pinot Noir, 5. Elk Cove La Boheme 2007 Pinot Noir, 6. Beaux Freres 2007 Pinot Noir,  7. Ken Wright Cellars Guadalupe Vineyard 2008 Pinot Noir, 8. Wright Cellars Savoya Vineyard 2008 Pinot Noir . Nominal fee per sample. Premium tasting.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. Spanish  wines. $15. 
 
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample.

Friday, October 8

* Special Event * Wine by the Glass Pavilion, Toledo Museum of Art. 7:00 – 9:30 PM. Drop-in wine tasting: Fall Friendly Wines. Enjoy four wines, light snacks and a view of the Glass Pavilion Hot Shop. $15 members, $20 non-members.

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Aussie Wines: 1. Peter Lehmann "Layers" White, 2. Alkoomi Riesling, 3. d'Arenberg "Stump Jump" Shiraz, 4. Molly Dooker "Maitre'd" Cabernet Sauvignon. $10 tasting. 

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample.

Saturday, October 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. Aussie Wines: 1. Peter Lehmann "Layers" White, 2. Alkoomi Riesling, 3. d'Arenberg "Stump Jump" Shiraz, 4. Molly Dooker "Maitre'd" Cabernet Sauvignon. $10 tasting.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 PM. Producer Profile – Lioco. With Jim Krusinski of Vintner Select. Pay by the sample or flight. Premium tasting.

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

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Wine Crime: Doctor Busted For Swapping Wine Price Tags

  A Cincinnati-area podiatrist has gotten the boot for switching price tags to buy expensive wine for as little as $1.59 per bottle. Dr. Dominic Rizzo, of Madeira, Ohio, went to one Kroger grocery where he got two bottles of Crystal wine and then replaced the price tags with tags from two cheaper bottles of wine. He then went to the self-serve scanner and bought the repriced wines for $3.99 and $5.99.

Apparently his thirst for great wine bargains wasn’t quenched. He admitted in court last week that he did the same thing the next day at a different Kroger, this time putting $1.59 stickers on bottles of wine that retailed for $44.99 each.

This must have been entertaining for store employees who witnessed this and captured it on store video systems. When confronted by police in August, Rizzo confessed. A municipal court judge convicted the 38-year-old doctor and sentenced him to a year of probation. Rizzo was also ordered to stay out of all Kroger stores.

Rizzo had no comment after his conviction, but word is that the wine and cheese party at his house was cancelled. The judge also fined Rizzo $200, ordered him to pay court costs and to attend a special class. Rizzo was arrested in August after an investigation and the other shoe finally dropped last week.

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Niagara Peninsula Ontario Winery Visit: Eastdell Estates Winery

Another in our series of Niagara Peninsula Ontario winery reports.
Eastdell Estates Winery looks unassuming from the outside but a rewarding experience lies within. The front of the winery has a “general store” look and its tasting bar (tasting boutique as they like to call them in the Niagara area) is rather compact. But one glance out the window of its restaurant lets you know that Eastdell has a scenic location second to none.

As I stepped past the tasting bar and into the restaurant, the view was spectacular. In fact The VIEW is the name of their restaurant, and with good reason. The restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows provide a picturesque view of rolling vineyards and Lake Ontario shimmering in the distance. It has rustic wood and stone décor and in cooler weather, guests can enjoy the warmth of a roaring fire in the large stone fireplace.

After savoring the view, it was time to sample the wines. I started with a 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, which was crisp and fruity. The second tasting was the 2007 Black Cab. The Black Cab is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Baco Noir. This was smooth on the palate with flavors of cherry and blackberry. Baco Noir is a French-American hybrid that was first brought to the cooler regions of the U.S. and then into Canada in 1955. The grape flourishes in Ontario and we tasted some delicious examples during our trip.

The Black Cab is a rewarding, highly enjoyable wine. I was startled to see the wine priced at $19.95 and had to do a doubletake when seeing this was the price for a 1.5 liter magnum and not just a regular bottle. I snarfed up the bottle. I later discovered that this is their best selling wine at the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) liquor stores.

The tasting wrapped up with the ‘07 Pinot Noir Niagara Peninsula. This was light bodied with cranberry flavor notes and is very drinkable.

Eastdell is a great winery destination, especially if you have time to hike the 5 kilometers of trails that meander through their grounds or dine in their scenic restaurant. Of course, don’t forget about their Black Cab! Eastdell Estates is part of a family of wineries that operate under the umbrella of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd.  (also includes Birchwood Estate, Lakeview Cellars, De Sousa Wine Cellars, 20 Bees Winery and Dan Aykroyd Wines).

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