Saturday, October 30, 2010

Toledo Zoo Halloween Adventure October 30

Bookmark and Share  The Toledo Zoo Halloween Vineyard Adventure will take place Saturday, October 30, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Nairobi Pavilion.


Sample wines of the world with a Halloween twist! Come in costume and enjoy great live entertainment along with tasty hors d'oeuvres and an amazing array of wines.
The price for Toledo Zoo members is $35. The cost for non-members is $40. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. You must be 21 years or older to attend a Vineyard Adventure and a valid ID will be required. For information call (419) 385-5721, ext 3092.





Friday, October 29, 2010

Tannenbaum Wine Trail Weekends Set For Northeast Ohio Wineries

Bookmark and Share  Wineries on the Vines and Wines wine trail will be hosting their annual holiday-themed Tannenbaum Trail event for three consecutive weekends in December (3rd and 4th, 10th and 11th, and 17th and 18th). Normally we're not fans of rushing the holiday season, but this event sells out so quickly we wanted to give our readers a chance to take advantage of this great event. The cost is $45 per couple.
The event gives you the opportunity to travel to wineries in northeast Ohio. Between noon and 6:00 PM each day you can sample wine and enjoy appetizers. At a designated winery you will recieve a beautiful Schott Zwiesel wine glass and a 16" Christmas tree. At each of the wineries you will pick up an ornament to adorn your tree.

There is a great list of participating wineries this year:
  • Biscotti Family Winery, Conneaut
  • Bene Vino Urban Winery, Perry
  • Buccia Vineyards, Conneaut
  • Debonné Vineyards, Madison
  • Emerine Estates, Jefferson
  • Grand River Vineyards, Madison
  • Ferrante Winery, Geneva
  • Laleure Vineyards, Parkman
  • Laurello Vineyards, Geneva
  • Maple Ridge Vineyards, Madison
  • Old Firehouse Winery, Geneva-on-the-Lake
  • Old Mill Winery, Geneva
  • St Joseph Vineyard, Madison
  • The Barrel Room Winery, Wickliffe
  • The Winery at Springhill, Geneva
  • Virant Family Winery, Geneva
To make your reservations please call (800) 227-6972 or order online here. The event is sponsored by Adams Reserve Cheddar and organized by the Ohio Wine Producers Association.

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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Boo! Hallowine Events Scheduled

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Looking for a way to celebrate "Hallowine" this weekend? Here are some suggestions:

Thursday, Oct. 28 -- Tickle your palate with some spooky wines at the Andersons in Maumee from 5 to 7 PM. Among the selections are Vampire Pinot Grigio, Bogle Phantom, Big Red Monster and 7 Deadly Zins.

Friday, Oct. 29 -- Aficionado Wine and Cigars in Perrysburg will help you celebrate Halloween "Napa Style" with a great selection of Napa wines (two white, two red) for a measly $10. The tasting runs from 5 to 8:30 PM on Friday and Saturday.

Saturday, Oct. 30 -- To warm up you can try Leelanau Witches Brew Spiced Wine from Michigan at the Andersons-Woodville Mall tasting, which is scheduled from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Cost is only $2 for four wines.

Things really get rolling in the evening. You can choose from two winery parties in Jackson, Michigan. 

At Lone Oak Vineyard Estate, 8400 Ann Arbor Rd. Grass Lake, Michigan, (517) 522-8167, there's bewitching music and food from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Music is provided by Koke McKesson and Doug Decker. Dinner, light fare and great estate grown wines are available. Dinner menu will include BLACKened CATfish served with au gratin potatoes -or- GHOULash! Each served with salad and bread. Dinners are $14. Dinner is optional and must be ordered in advance. Seating is limited. Reservations are required. There is a $7.50 cover charge.

Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 1849 Rives-Eaton Rd., Jackson, Michigan, (517) 569-2132 has scheduled its first annual Halloween Masquerade Ball Saturday from 8 PM to midnight. The evening will include music, dancing and fun. Entertainment will be provided by Michigan based “Big Foot Bob and the Toe Tappers.”  They have a unique and entertaining approach to a wide variety of classic R & B, jump, swing, blues, as well as original material. All you can eat “Witch’s Stew” will be available. The cost is $5.

See our Facebook page for some great suggestions for frighteningly good wine.

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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Wine Tastings & Events: October 27-30, 2010


Wednesday, October 27
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Spooky Wine. Come see if you can figure out the common theme to this year’s Halloween tasting!: 1. Michael David Incognito Viognier,  2. Affentaler Spatburguner, 3. Corvidae Wine Co. (Owen Roe) “Rook,” 4. Klinker Brick Zinfandel. Nominal fee per sample or $8.00 per flight.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. Inexpensive wines. $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.Just in time for Halloween. You'll just die for our Deadly Red Merlot and don't be afraid to try our Superstition Riesling/Pinot Blanc
Thursday, October 28
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Spooky Wines: 1. Vampire – Pinot Grigio – California, 2. Bogle’s Phantom – Red Blend – California, 3. 7 Deadly Zins – Zinfandel – Lodi, California, 4. Big Red Monster – Red Blend – California, 5. 2009 Abstract – Red Blend – California Inaugural Vintage.  Nominal fee per sample or by the flight. 
 
The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Jim’s Anniversary Wine Tasting: 1. Covington Cellars Voignier – Washington,  2. Treana White (Rhone style) – California,  3. Orzada Carmenere – Chile, 4. Abstract Red – California, 5. Barrel Chaser Napa Red, 6. Treana Red (Rhone style) – California, 7. Harmonium Super Tuscan – Italy, 8. Mollydooker Gigglepot Cabernet, 9. Elyse Cabernet Port 375ml – California. Nominal fee per sample.
Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. Inexpensive wines. $15. 

 
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. I Want My GSM! Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre - there's a reason why these grapes play so well together. Stop in for an amazing mega-tasting of the best damn blend in the land. Nominal fee per sample.
Friday, October 29
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Halloween "Napa Style:” 1. Honig Sauvignon Blanc, 2. Merryvale "Starmont" Chardonnay, 3. Oberon Merlot, 4. Duckhorn "Decoy" Cabernet Sauvignon.  $10 tasting.
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. I Want My GSM! Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre - there's a reason why these grapes play so well together. Stop in for an amazing mega-tasting of the best damn blend in the land. Nominal fee per sample.
Saturday, October 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. Halloween "Napa Style:” 1. Honig Sauvignon Blanc, 2. Merryvale "Starmont" Chardonnay, 3. Oberon Merlot, 4. Duckhorn "Decoy" Cabernet Sauvignon.  $10 tasting.
The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM. 1. Lotus Cabernet Sauvignon, California, 2. Leelanau Witches Brew Spiced Wine, Michigan, 3. Elsa Bianchi Torrontes, Argentina, 4. Peter Brum Bacchus Sweet White, Germany.  Nominal fee per sample or $2 for flight.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 PM. Superstar Wine Smackdown #1: 2007 Chateauneufs – Beaucastel vs. Pegau, Napa Vally Cab Sav  - Ehlers 1886 vs. Cakebread, Modern Spanish Masters – Numanthia vs. Clio. Special premium tasting.
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[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]
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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Maryhill 2007 Winemaker's Red Columbia Valley

Bookmark and Share  This nice everyday red from Washington State is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. It's got quite a bit of flavor for about $14.

Maryhill Winery is located in the scenic Columbia River Gorge with its grapes grown at one of the state's most established and oldest vineyard sites. The winery opened in 2001and is the 15th largest in the state (out of 600). The winery produces about 80,000 cases a year and has a 3,000 square foot tasting room and a 4,000 seat amphitheater for concerts. It was named winery of the year in 2009 and consistently produces award-winning wines.

Like similar efforts from other wineries, the exact blend varies from year to year. This wine has a nice bouquet of dark fruit and garners a smooth texture from the Merlot. The Syrah and Cab Franc keep things interesting with a dash of earthiness and spice. It has light tannins to hold it all together and a medium finish that can linger.

For the price, this is a satisfying wine on several levels. The wine unwinds nicely, revealing different flavor components. 
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Monday, October 25, 2010

Niagara Peninsula Ontario Winery Visit: Ridgepoint Wines

Another report in our series of winery visits in the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario.

Ridgepoint Wines is a small estate winery on the Niagara Escarpment. It was founded 15 years ago by Mauro Scarsellone and his sister Anna Gottardo. The vineyards are planted primarily with Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon rounded out with several white varieties. It also features the Italian grape Nebbiolo, which has become the Ridgepoint’s signature wine. Ridgepoint is responsible for the first commercial bottling of Nebbiolo in Ontario. That’s a notable achievement. The winery specializes in premium and ultra-premium wines with the Twenty Mile Bench appellation.

The winery also offers the Dining Room for light and casual dining and special events.

The tasting room is small and decorated in bright Tuscan yellow with a large display of wines for sale. I started off with The 2008 Dry Riesling. The Riesling, regrettably, was nothing special. It was lacking in acidity and so didn’t have the crispness we like. Since Ridgepoint is known for reds, I moved to the 2007 Meritage.

The Meritage was a new release a featured a smokiness and tobacco flavor note over dark fruit. This is a nice bottle but fell somewhat short of some of the others we tasted on our trip thus far. I wanted to sample the Nebbiolo, but unfortunately, the winery doesn’t provide samples due to the limited supply. The Nebbiolo goes for $40 a bottle.

No other wines registered as special with our tasting team. We had just finished visiting the impressive Tawse Winery and Ridgepoint may have suffered in our eyes by comparison. Perhaps if we had visited Ridgepoint as one of our first stops on the wine trail we would have enjoyed it more. However, on this day it came across as unremarkable and so much so that we limited our time and went off in search of the ultimate Ontario grape experience.

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Saturday, October 23, 2010

Starborough 2009 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc


During our recent trip to Mohican State Park, we took advantage of a special package that included dinner in the lodge restaurant. My wife asked for a wine recommendation to go with her fish entree and I scanned the wine list and recommended the Starborough 2009 Sauvignon Blanc. One of Green Dragon’s favorite wines is Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and I thought the Starborough would hit the right note for dinner.

It did and she loved it. Although it wasn’t a side by side tasting, she said she might actually prefer the Starborough over the Kim Crawford. They both are Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs from the Marlborough wine region in New Zealand. Sauv Blanc is a signature wine from New Zealand and when done right can be a mouth-watering, tangy treat.

We picked up a bottle a couple of weeks later for an after-dinner drink. The wine had a powerful bouquet of fresh grass and a full body. The acidity gives it a firm crispness. In fact, drinking it without dinner Green Dragon felt it was almost too much. We then tried some cheese and crackers and the wine seemed to mellow noticeably as we sipped.

To me, the wine had pronounced lemon and mineral flavors. Green Dragon felt that grapefruit more accurately described it. Either way, it provides the full flavor of citrus but is well balanced with acidity.

This isn’t a wine for the meek. If you prefer a more dialed down flavor profile, you might want to look elsewhere, like California or France.

For a nice pairing with fish, the Starborough is outstanding and is a great value at just under $15.

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Friday, October 22, 2010

Wine Sales Benefit Toledo Museum of Art

Bookmark and Share  .Enjoy a nice bottle of wine and benefit the arts? That's a great combination. Through an
Glass of California, Napa Valley red wine. Opu...Image via Wikipedia
onging program with The Andersons, when you buy a bottle of special Toledo Museum of Art-labeled wine, you’ll help raise funds for TMA. For every $9.99 bottle sold, $2 will be donated to help support free admission, mount exciting exhibitions, offer free public programs, and enrich the lives of children through educational offerings.

There are four varietals available: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and White Zinfandel. (Sorry about that last one, but it is for a good cause!) And just in time for the holidays, it’s a gift that gives twice!

The wines are available for purchase at The Anderson’s retail stores in Maumee, Toledo/Talmadge Rd., Woodville, and the Sylvania Market.



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Thursday, October 21, 2010

Chateau Aeronautique Schedules Halloween Masquerade Ball on October 30

ImageHalloween 2006 by Terry.Tyson via Flickr

Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 1849 Rives-Eaton Rd., Jackson, Michigan, (517) 569-2132 has scheduled its first annual Halloween Masquerade Ball on October 30 from 8 PM to midnight. The evening will include music, dancing and fun. Entertainment will be provided by Michigan based “Big Foot Bob and the Toe Tappers.”  They have a unique and entertaining approach to a wide variety of classic R & B, jump, swing, blues, as well as original material. All you can eat “Witch’s Stew” will be available for $5.

The public is invited to attend.

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Wine Tastings & Events: October 20-23, 2010

Old Vine cabernet from Chateau Montelena, Napa...Image via Wikipedia
Wednesday, October 20
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Spooky Wine. Come see if you can figure out the common theme to this year’s Halloween tasting!: 1. Michael David Incognito Viognier,  2. Affentaler Spatburguner, 3. Corvidae Wine Co. (Owen Roe) “Rook,” 4. Klinker Brick Zinfandel. Nominal fee per sample or $8.00 per flight.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. Special guest: Michael Kasper of South American Wine Importers and new selections from Chile. $15.
Thursday, October 21
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Spooky Wines: 1. Vampire – Pinot Grigio – California, 2. Bogle’s Phantom – Red Blend – California, 3. 7 Deadly Zins – Zinfandel – Lodi, California, 4. Big Red Monster – Red Blend – California, 5. 2009 Abstract – Red Blend – California Inaugural Vintage.  Nominal fee per sample or by the flight. 
 
The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Great Italian Wines with Food. White: 1. Ca Vi-Ti Prosecco, 2. Garofoli Verdicchio, 3. Moris Vermentino. Red: 1. Sampietrana Tacco Barocco Primativo, 2. Baron Ricosoli Chianti, 3. Lucignano Chianti, 4. Esprit Follet (fumin) Vallee d’Aoste, 5. Insoglio Toscana. Nominal fee per sample.
Anneliese’s Fine Dining and Lounge, 105 W. 5th St., Perrysburg -- (419) 931-1999. 6:30 PM. Wine tasting featuring 6 wines and 6 food courses. Call for reservations and information.
Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. South American Wine Importers and new selections from Chile. $15. 
 
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. The Greatest Grape Vol. 3 : Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon is undoubtedly the most prestigious of the noble grape varietals. Join us for our third installment of the Greatest Grape series as we conduct an in-depth exploration of the mighty King Cab. Nominal fee per sample.
Friday, October 22
* Special Event * Wine by the Glass Pavilion, Toledo Museum of Art. 7:00 – 9:30 PM. Drop-in wine tasting: Blind Tasting. 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. Wines of Italy: 1. Zardetto Prosseco Brut, 2. Dino Torti Barbera, 3. Poggio Amorelli Chianti Classico, 4. Secco-Bertani Valpolicella Ripasso. $10 tasting.


Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. The Greatest Grape Vol. 3 : Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon is undoubtedly the most prestigious of the noble grape varietals. Join us for our third installment of the Greatest Grape series as we conduct an in-depth exploration of the mighty King Cab. Nominal fee per sample.
Saturday, October 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. Wines of Italy: 1. Zardetto Prosseco Brut, 2. Dino Torti Barbera, 3. Poggio Amorelli Chianti Classico, 4. Secco-Bertani Valpolicella Ripasso. $10 tasting.
The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM. 1.Century Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, 2. Marchese Montefusco Syrah, 3. Marchese Montefusco Grillo, 4. Leonard Kreusch Late Harvest Riesling.  Nominal fee per sample or $2 for flight.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 PM. Forgotten Wines – That shouldn’t have been forgotten. Pay by the sample or flight.

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

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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Niagara Peninsula Ontario Winery Visit: Tawse Winery

Another in our series of reports on Niagara Peninsula wineries from our visits last month.
If we had visited only one winery during our trip to Ontario and it was Tawse Winery, the trip would have been well worth it. We visited more than 20 and that goes to show the high regard we have for this winery and its superb lineup of wines.

We had grouped the wineries into clusters to simplify our itinerary. One cluster was to the west of Beamsville and we visited six wineries there. Tawse was the first winery in the second cluster of five wineries to the west of Vineland. Approaching the Tawse the striking architecture of the winery building lets you know in advance that this is going to be a truly remarkable experience. The winery has a six-level gravity flow system so that the wine can flow gently from pressing to bottling. Organic and bio-dynamic growing techniques are used. To reduce costs and the carbon footprint, the winery relies on geothermal for 80
percent of its energy needs. The winery is built into the hillside and the wines are aged in cellars covered with about eight feet of earth.

Stepping inside you see a  swanky tasting bar with Riedel glasses and a floor to ceiling wall of windows that enables you to look into the fermenting room with barrels and glinting stainless steel tanks. It reminded me of the New York Marriott Marquis except instead of looking out onto Times Square you are looking at the heart of the winemaking operation.

We began with the 2009 Quarry Road Gewürztraminer. This is an estate wine with grapes coming from the Quarry Road vineyard in the Vinemount Ridge AVA. This is spicy with floral flavor notes and perhaps a touch of ginger. No question that this would be great with Asian food.

We were ready to dive into reds and the first Tawse red was perhaps the last word in Cabernet Franc. The Tawse 2008 Laundry vineyard Cabernet Franc was perhaps the best Cab Franc we tasted during our Canadian swing. This is an exceptional wine that is plush and organic with an intense nose. This had flavors of black fruit and also tobacco. This
was a wine to relax and spend an evening with. I had prepared some TWAV Award of Excellence cards for our tasting team to award during our winery visits. This wine was the only one to receive that award. It is a true winner! It sells for $29.95.

Our tasting team pushed on in our delightful endeavor, now tasting the 2007 Meritage. This is a blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and 27% Cab Franc. It is aged in oak barrels and is full, rich, and complex. It has a beautiful dark color and its flavors mirror that darkness with tastes of dark fruit, rich soil, and pepper. It sells for $57.95 and can be cellared for up to 10 years.

We wrapped up our tasting with a flavorful Cabernet Sauvignon and after a few final minutes soaking up the great atmosphere, headed for our next stop.
Tawse is a must-see. Great people, great winery and winemaking at its finest. Oh, Canada!
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Monday, October 18, 2010

Ohio Winery Visit: Troutman Vineyards Celebrates Harvest

Green Dragon and I spent the weekend at Mohican State Park hiking and enjoying wonderful October weather. Before zipping back to the Toledo area, we thought we would check out Troutman Vineyards which had a Harvest Festival scheduled. Troutman Vineyards is set among the rolling hills of southwestern Wayne County in Ohio, about five miles south of Wooster and on the fringes of the Mohican region and the Amish community.

Andy and Deanna Troutman opened the winery in 2001 and the winery building is in a refurbished chicken coop that was originally built in 1935. A former owner of the winery land sold honey and flowers from a roadside stand. Andy lived not far from the site of the current winery and his interest in winemaking started at an early age. When he was in 4H he grew grapes. The vineyard was planted in 1998 with the first harvest in 2000. The vineyard focuses on grapes that Andy has determined thrive in Wayne County: Vidal Blanc, Lemberger, Traminette, and Cabernet Franc.

Things were really popping at the winery when we arrived. The tasting bar was jammed and there was a bluegrass band with a nice crowd in a picnic area in the back. There is a spacious tasting room that had hosted a Harvest Feast the night before we arrived and looks like it is great for special events. This is also a nice destination for kids, who are sure to enjoy the goats and donkey.

The wine samples are a ridiculously reasonable 25 cents. We started with the White Menagerie, a dry white made with Ohio-grown Seyval Blanc grapes. This snagged a gold medal at the Finger Lakes international competition and was a winner with us also. It had tropical fruit flavor notes and a good crispness. We purchased a bottle of this for $14.

The 2008 Pinot Gris is a dry white which is aged in French oak for six months. Although enjoyable, we prefer a bit more crispness.

We also tried the 2009 Cabernet Franc. We love Cab Franc and this is from estate-grown grapes and only 43 cases were made due to the small crop. This had a very pleasing taste, but we expect it will be even better after aging another year or two.

The most popular wine was Farmer’s Red. While we were at the counter at least two cases of Farmer’s Red were sold in addition to many bottles and glasses. This is a sweet red wine made with Concord grapes and we’re told it really goes well with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Andy gave me a tour of the production room and I was impressed with the array of tanks and equipment for such a small production winery. Andy’s winemaking experience has really benefitted the operation. He spent three years working at Wolf Creek Winery before opening his own. This gave him an insight of different equipment and connections that enabled him to find out about good deals on used equipment.

As we walked through the tank room Andy pulled out one of his few remaining bottles of sparkling white wine. This sparkler, made of Wayne County Vidal Blanc grapes, was dry and creamy. Thoroughly delicious.
I savored this and walked out to the bluegrass music where Green Dragon was enjoying a glass of White Menagerie. It was crowded with families who were enjoying picnic lunches, blue sky, and great music. Another feature of the Harvest Festival was grape stomping, something that Green Dragon always wanted to do.

This was a head-to-head competition. Two plastic tubs were filled with grapes in various stages of crushedness. There was a little hole at the bottom which trickled out to a cup. Green Dragon went head-to-head with a 6-year old boy who was apparently a professional grape stomper. Although she lost the race, she was pleased and purple.

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Saturday, October 16, 2010

Ventana 2001 Cabernet Franc Arroyo Seco


Overly mature or pleasant surprise?
Bookmark and Share  I recently entered all my wines into Manageyourcellar.com. This is an easy to use, free cellar management program. I don't have a massive wine cellar, but enough that if I don't keep track of it I might overlook the perfect bottle for an occasion. One nice feature is that once the wines are entered in, it gives you recommendations on when to drink the wine or let it age. When a wine is listed as "mature" it may be on the downhill slide.

We picked up this 2001 Ventana Cabernet Franc at a closeout sale at Andersons in Maumee. Based on the Manage Your Cellar rating, it was two years past its prime, but still listed as "drink." Green Dragon assisted in the tasting and her first words were, "this is very good." I was glad to hear it because I was expecting a tired wine that lost its fire.

Ventana doesn't make Cabernet Franc every year, only when the grapes are exceptional. Several years ago this wine took some medals in competition in the $10 to $20 range. We were able to snag this bottle for a mere $7.

The grapes were handpicked and hand-punched (ouch!). It was aged in French and American Oak for 18 months.

This was a softly textured wine with a dark ruby color. To my knowledge, this is my first wine from the Arroyo Seco AVA. The body and finish were both medium. My initial reaction was that the flavor was a bit flat. It seemed lacking in tannins. As sipping continued, the blackberry flavors stepped forward. It had some subdued smoke and pepper. It left me wondering whether the subtle pepper was by design or might have been more intense had we opened a bottle two years earlier. Either way, we dubbed this a good choice for an evening unwind wine. It also left me wanting to sample more Ventana wine. 
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Friday, October 15, 2010

Blog Action Day: Wine and Water – You Can Make A Difference

Bookmark and Share  Today is Blog Action Day, when more than 2,200 bloggers from 113 countries will all be joining together to focus attention on a matter of global importance. This year the topic is water. Even the White House and the UK Foreign Office will be joining in to blog about the issue today. I think it is great that we have the opportunity to harness the power of social media for the greater good and – yes, there is a connection to wine.

Why is water important? Consider this.

Unsafe drinking water and lack of sanitation kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Unclean drinking water can incubate some pretty scary diseases, like E. coli, salmonella, cholera and hepatitis A. Given that bouquet of bacteria, it's no surprise that water, or rather lack thereof, causes 42,000 deaths each week.

More people have access to a cell phone than to a toilet. Today, 2.5 billion people lack access to toilets. This means that sewage spills into rivers and streams, contaminating drinking water and causing disease.

Every day, women and children in Africa walk a combined total of 109 million hours to get water. They do this while carrying cisterns weighing around 40 pounds when filled in order to gather water that, in many cases, is still polluted. Aside from putting a great deal of strain on their bodies, walking such long distances keeps children out of school and women away from other endeavors that can help improve the quality of life in their communities.

It takes 6.3 gallons of water to produce just one hamburger. That 6.3 gallons covers everything from watering the wheat for the bun and providing water for the cow to cooking the patty and baking the bun. And that's just one meal! It would take over 184 billion gallons of water to make just one hamburger for every person in the United States.

The average American uses 159 gallons of water every day – more than 15 times the average person in the developing world. From showering and washing our hands to watering our lawns and washing our cars, Americans use a lot of water. To put things into perspective, the average five-minute shower will use about 10 gallons of water. Now imagine using that same amount to bathe, wash your clothes, cook your meals and quench your thirst.

While these facts may be grim, there is hope for real solutions as more and more people around the world are waking up to the clean water crisis. Earlier this year, the UN declared access to clean water a human right and groups like charity: water and Water.org continue to work tirelessly to bring water access to the developing world.

In doing research for this story, I was struggling with the connection with wine lovers – aside from the fact that our readers are well informed and socially responsible people. I discovered the work of a group called Wine to Water and it allows people with a love of wine to channel that into greater access to clean drinking water for those in need.

Wine To Water is a 501(c)(3) non-profit aid organization focused on providing clean water to needy people around the world. Nearly 1 billion people in the world today lack access to adequate water and 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation. WTW is devoted to fighting this epidemic. Wine symbolizes fortune in our society. The WTW goal is to give the fortunate population an opportunity to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.

The founder of the organization is Doc Hendley. He was a bartender and playing music in North Carolina nightclubs when he dreamed up the idea. A year later the first fundraiser was held and by August of that same year Doc was living in Darfur, Sudan installing water systems for victims of the government supported genocide.The haunting memories of what he had seen in Darfur drove him to continue building the organization he started two years before. In 2007, after working two jobs and volunteering his time for over three years, Wine To Water became an official 501 (c) (3) and Doc's dream finally became a reality.

You can get involved by hosting a benefit for Wine to Water in your community, school, or home. Wine tastings, whether in restaurant or home settings, have always been a part of Wine to Water. They are a fun way to gather your friends or community together while helping a good cause. The Water to Wine website offers downloadable fact sheets, checklists and other information that make it very easy to host an event. All donations made to Water to Wine are tax deductable. WTW also offers a line of wines and a portion of proceeds from each bottle goes to the cause. The WTW wines are a 2007 Old Vines Zinfandel and a 2008 Estate Chardonnay.
Photo by Vincent Lock

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Thursday, October 14, 2010

Pennsylvania Winery Visit: Courtyard 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.

When we returned from our recent trip to Ontario, where we visited wineries in the Niagara Escarpment and Niagara-on-the-Lake, we came back across the bridge into Buffalo and drove west along the south shore of Lake Erie. We were hoping to hit some wineries, but a long delay at the border crossing had taken the wind out of our sails and we were anxious to get home. We did have a chance to hit one last winery. We were “freestyling” and decided to check out wineries in the community of North East, Pennsylvania.

North East is part of a little sliver of Pennsylvania that borders on the Lake Erie and runs from that community west through Erie and almost to Conneaut, Ohio. The first vineyards were planted in North East in 1850 and grapes, wine and agriculture have been a part of the community’s fiber ever since. There are 10 wineries in the area and the nickname of the local school teams is the Grapepickers. How would you like to be the Grapepicker placekicker?

The Ace of Bass was cruising at high velocity along the interstate but we sensed grapevines and exited at North East. We had a couple false starts (one closed and the other’s exterior didn’t appeal to us). We decided to give it one more shot and fate brought us to Courtyard Wineries, 10021 West Main  (Route 20)  North East, PA, (814) 725-0236.

This is a spanking new winery and the finishing touches are still being put on the special barrel room tasting area. We visited during the Labor Day weekend and the official opening of the winery had not yet occurred.

Randy Graham is the owner and is a former engineer who believes that the Lake Erie climate and his vineyard’s location on a plateau afford him a great grape-growing climate. The winery has a split personality – with two different brands and two tasting rooms. The main tasting room is a first-class effort with marble counters and beautiful woodwork. The emphasis is on quality, which our band of weary wine bloggers appreciated.

The Barjo Bons label is for their casual style wine some made with Niagara and Cayuga grapes trending toward the sweeter palate. We sampled the Barjo Bons Radiance, which is a Vidal Blanc wine with a nice pineapple taste. The La Courette label is for their fine wines and includes Vintner’s Reserve Blanc, Riesling, and Merlot. 

All of the grapes for his wines come from 15 miles of the winery. We sampled the Vintner’s Reserve Blanc which caught my attention because it is made with a little known grape called Giesenheim. This wine is a full-bodied white with dryness. It is unoaked, which Green Dragon likes. It also had a bit of a pop to the finish. This was the best of the tasting and we purchased a bottle for $15.95.

Our next taste was the ‘08 Riesling. This had 1.3% residual sugar, a little sweeter than the dry Riesling we prefer. This has flavor notes of lemon and apricot. After a weekend of tasting Rieslings from Niagara, we thought there wasn’t enough body or complexity with this one.

We finished with the ‘08 Merlot, the highest price offering at Courtyard at $17.95. The Merlot is finished in oak and was a pleasant sipper with cherry notes. The texture was smooth.
Courtyard Wineries is a great addition to the North East, PA, wine community. This is going to be an appealing wine destination for tourists and the wines we samples show great promise. To catch a glimpse of Courtyard, be sure to watch the Rachel Ray show October 25-29 when Chef William will be featured preparing dishes in segments that were taped at the winery.
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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Wine Tastings & Events: October 13-16, 2010

Image via WikA bottle of Stag's Leap Cask 23 Californian Ca...ipedia

Wednesday, October 13
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. 1.Chateau des Tourtes Sauvignon, 2. Sacred Hill Sauvignon Blan c, 3. Plan Pegau   Selectionne par Laurence Feraud, 4. Schild Estate Barossa GMS. Nominal fee per sample or $8.00 per flight.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. Special guest: Mel Masters of Tortoise Creek wines. $15.
 
Vino 100 Wine Bar and Shop, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee -- (419) 866-8466. 5-9 PM. Meet the artist: Jane Williams.
 
Thursday, October 14
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Great Red Blends Under $20: 1. LChateau Kefraya – Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2. Apothic Red – Modesto, California, 3. Hook & Ladder – Sonoma County, California, 4. Genesis – Columbia Valley, Washington. Nominal fee per sample or $6.50 flight. 
 
059216-yellow-road-sign-icon-food-beverage-food-grapes The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. 1. L’Ecole No. 41 Merlot, Washington, 2. Cuvaison Napa Merlot, 3. Gilbert Claret, Washington, 4. Norman No Nonsense Red, Paso Robles, 5. Saviah Cellars Big Sky Cuvee, Washington, 6. Hauck Meritage, Sonoma, 7. Covington Cellars Red Mountain Cabernet, Washington, 8. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet, Napa. Nominal fee per sample. Premium tasting.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. Tortoise Creek wines.  wines. $15. 
 
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. France Redux: Need a break from all that fresh, Napa juice? We've got just the thing: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, Champagne, Loire and the Rhone - Oh my!
Nominal fee per sample.

Friday, October 15

* 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. Chilean Reds: 1.Cantaluna Pinot Noir, 2. Alta Cima Carmenere, 3. Santa Ema Merlot, 4. Parrone Cabernet Sauvignon. $10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. France Redux: Need a break from all that fresh, Napa juice? We've got just the thing: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, Champagne, Loire and the Rhone - Oh my!
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. Chilean Reds: 1.Cantaluna Pinot Noir, 2. Alta Cima Carmenere, 3. Santa Ema Merlot, 4. Parrone Cabernet Sauvignon. $10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM.1. Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon, 2. Napa Cellars Pinot Noir, 3. Genesis Chardonnay, 4. Black Tower Riesling. Nominal fee per sample or $2 for flight.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 PM. Kermit Lynch Imports with Erika Speelman of Wine Trends. Pay by the sample or flight. Premium tasting.

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

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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Anniversary Contest Winner Loves Steltzner Vineyards Claret

Bookmark and Share   To celebrate the milestone of the first anniversary of Toledo Wines and Vines, we offered up a contest with goodies being provided by True Fabrications, a cool Seattle wine accessory store. We're pleased to announce that Liana Carr is the grand prize winner, taking home the Vinturi wine aerator. Here is Liana's entry.

My favorite wine is Steltzner Vineyards Claret. I was first introduced to this wine at Biaggi's Restaurant. I was stumbling with a red wine selection and the waiter said, wait one moment. Much to my surprise, he brought me 4 tastings.

I tasted the first two and so so, I tasted the third and said hmmmm. I then tasted the fourth and went back to the third as my final selection. About a couple of months later, I went to a wine tasting downtown. I was with my mom and my sister and we were having a great time. I had a couple of white tastings and then I moved onto red. My mom handed me the red so I didn't know the of the name of it. I said hmmmmmmm what a great wine.

I went over to see the name of it and I was pleased in seeing the words Steltzner Claret. I still to this day choose this wine as my favorite.

Liana, thanks for sharing your wine experience. The Steltzner Claret is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The grapes come from Steltzner's Stags Leap vineyards as well as other Napa vineyards. Stags Leap is well known for ultra quality wine.



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Monday, October 11, 2010

Ravines Wine Cellars: Tastes Like Success

Regional Wines from Ravines Wine
Cellars were featured during the recent TWAV tasting.
Bookmark and Share    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.

 Ravines Wine Cellars on Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York is a small boutique winery whose quality has captured the imagination and the palates of the Toledo Wines and Vines tasting team. Owner Morten Hallgren was educated on his family's Centuries-old vineyard in the South of France and degreed at Europe's premier winemaking school. He marries Old World winemaking techniques with American innovation to craft small batches of dry, elegant and balanced wines from 100% Finger Lakes grapes.


When Wine Chick and Sax Man made their most recent visit to the Finger Lakes, they too had a great tasting experience and joined the Ravines wine club. They recently received their fist shipment and were kind enough to share the bounty during a special Ravines tasting at their home.

The first bottle was the 2006 Dry Riesling, a single vineyard selection from the Argetsinger Vineyard, one of the oldest and most beautiful in the Finger Lakes region. It is on a steep limestone hill which helps give the wine its minerally quality. This wine had a delightful crispness and flinty taste. This is what quality dry Riesling is all about!

To round out the Ravines bottles, we had a couple of other wines. The first was a 2007 Tangent Ecclestone. Ecclestone is a rockin' white California blend with Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Albariño, Viognier, and Riesling. This was tangy and mineraly with a nice balance. Ace of Bass considered the wine to be "unexpected."

Returning to the Ravines portfolio, the next wine was the 2008 Pinot Dry Rose. Green Dragon is a little hesitant about rose since I brought one home and she thought it was objectionable. (I thought it was fine, which is good because I had the whole bottle to myself.) But there is a whole world out there of light, dry rose. The Ravines falls into this category.  It is pleasant to drink and is a good choice when you want something different but not a heavy red.

The Ravines 2008 Pinot Noir was up next. This is what quality winemaking is all about. This has a deep violet color and a wonderful balance. It is lithe enough so that the subtleness isn't concealled behind dense oak and tannins. This was perhaps the tastiest bottle of the evening.

I'm a fan of Ravines' Cabernet Franc and was looking forward to the 2007 Cab Franc. Glorious T is our in-house expert on Cabernet Franc -- she has the ability to discern between at least four different types of pepper tastes. Cab Franc -- at least to me -- is most noticeably different from Cabernet Sauvignon due to the dash of pepper in its flavor. This is an elegant, hearty wine that has a round mouthfeel and tastes of black berries. If you want a quality Cab Franc, bypass California and go directly to the Finger Lakes -- and Ravines would be a good place to start.

Corks were popping and appetizers blazing as the party moved out to the newly expanded and refurbished deck outside. To round out the evening I grabbed a bottle of 2007 Prejean Marechal Foch. We had learned that the next day was the birthday of the French WWI war hero. Although we were a bit hazy on his accomplishments, we all agreed that this Finger Lakes wine was a winner with a great finish and fruit balanced by light tannins.

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