Thursday, March 31, 2011

Austrian Hopler Winery Tasting Produces New Favorites


Here's the favorite, featuring Austria's national
grape: Gruener Veltliner!
Bookmark and Share  Glorious T provided this report from the recent Hopler wine tasting at Stella's Restaurant in Perrysburg. Hopler wines are featured in Bobby Flay's restaurant in New York and Jamie Oliver's restaurant in London. One out of every 10 Austrian wines in the US is exported by Hopler.

I met Ace of Bass and friends at Stella's for the Hopler wine tasting last Monday, and they were already enjoying the fourth wine, so I had some catching up to do.

They were raving about the first wine so I started there and they were right. We are fans of Austria's national grape, and this Gruener Veltliner was exceptional, with a slight white pepper finish. In fact, it was so good I wanted to drink it all night. But, winemaker Christof Hopler was there, all the way from his family's winery along the western banks of Lake Neusiedl in the Austrian province of Burgenland. So it was only proper to try all the wines he had to offer.

Christoff was charming and accommodating, and poured his Riesling next. Many in the crowd enjoyed, but I am not typically a fan of Reisling and found this to be sweet but very acidic. After a couple of sips I found our friend Chris from Heidelberg. He thought I would enjoy the Pinot Noir and he was right. This was pleasant and very drinkable and appealed to our expanding group of friends. The dark red burgundy-colored wine was bursting with red berry flavors and a slight earthiness. This could only be described as simply excellent and a perfect representation of this variety.

We did not know quite what to expect with the Zweigelt. Christof told us it is the most widely planted red variety in Austria. I instantly found a new favorite. This dark ruby red was spicy! Heavy pepper was mixed with the dark cherry and a berry finish. It was magical! We finished the tasting with the lovely Guttenberg Gruener Veltliner, a delightfully slight sweet find. It fits somewhere between a sweet white and ice wine and would be best enjoyed on a hot summer day.

By now it was time to choose selections to take home, and since I had been busy chatting I missed out on the Gruener Veltliner as it had sold out early in the tasting. Chris said the Hopler wines are now available at Stella's of course, as well as Anderson's and Churchill's. I did purchase the Pinot Noir and the Zweigelt, and Christoff graciously signed both bottles, and chatted happily until the very end and sent me home with a beautiful guidebook on his winery.

Many of these wines, deservedly, have won international awards and Hopler wines are widely available throughout the US. The wines range in price from $14 (Gruener Veltliner) - $21.


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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Wine Tastings & Events: March 30 – April 2, 2011

 
Wednesday, March 30
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Employee Picks Competition, Part IV. 1. The Furst Pinot Blanc, 2. Le Lapin Multiplicity, 3. TAZ Pinot Noir, 4. Cline Cashmere. Nominal fee per sample or $7 flight.
  
Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. White Wines. $15.

Thursday, March 31
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Wines you’ve probably never heard of… don’t miss these: 1. Les Chanteaux – White Chinon (Chenin Blanc) – France. 2. Treana – White Blend {55% Marsanne and 65%Viognier} – California, 3. Argiolas – Costera – Cannonau Grapes – Sardinia, Italy, 4. La Spinetta – Langhe Nebbiolo – Italy.  $9.00 per flight or nominal fee per sample.    

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. The fabulous wines from Elyse Winery, California: 1. L’Ingenue, 2. C’est Si Bon, 3. Nero Misto, 4. Morisoli Zinfandel, 5. Petite Sirah, 6. Tietjen Cabernet, 7. Morisoli Cabernet, 8. Cabernet Port. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. White Wines. $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Join us the entire month of March for The Madness. Every Thursday and Friday we'll feature a bracket of four competing wines from the world's classic winemaking regions. Every night is a different region. Championship bracket. Nominal fee per sample.

Friday, April 1
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m.  Spanish Wines: 1. Condesa Eylo Verdejo, 2. Valminor Albarino, 3. Vina Vilano Crianza, El Nido "Clio." $15 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Join us the entire month of March for The Madness. Every Thursday and Friday we'll feature a bracket of four competing wines from the world's classic winemaking regions. Every night is a different region. Championship bracket. Nominal fee per sample.

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

Saturday, April 2
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m.  Spanish Wines: 1. Condesa Eylo Verdejo, 2. Valminor Albarino, 3. Vina Vilano Crianza, El Nido "Clio." $15 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM. Wine tasting: We will be trying wines from the Winery at Versailles, Ohio: 1. Pinot Grigio, 2. Mustang Rose, 3. Autumn Leaves, 4. Dark Red. $2 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 PM. Customer Appreciation Tasting #4. Extreme discounts on world-class wines. Premium tasting.
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample or by the flight.
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Escape to California Wine Country for Earth Day With Eco-Friendly Events

Bookmark and Share  With the world's largest sustainable winegrowing program, California wine country is the
Alexander Valley - Sonoma CountyImage via Wikipedia
perfect place to celebrate Earth Day on April 22 this year and throughout the month.

Whether you're passionate about protecting the environment, dealing with a bout of spring fever after a long winter or a wine lover eager to experience a new wine region, California's wineries and hotels are making it easy to escape for an eco-friendly getaway. Wineries throughout the state are offering special events and programs to help visitors learn more about eco-responsible winegrowing and winemaking while enjoying California's beautiful wine country. Various hotels and travel companies are also offering travel deals to make attending these events even more enticing.

"Earth Day is a great time to think about how California's wine industry has raised the bar for producing wines that are responsible to the earth and communities," said Allison Jordan, executive director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), an organization established by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers to help the state's growers and wineries become the world leader in sustainable winegrowing practices. "Consumers are interested in knowing where and how their wines are grown and made, often wanting to experience that knowledge first-hand. These Earth Day events and travel deals are a great incentive to getaway this April to California wine country, one of the most progressive advocates of environmentally conscious practices in the world."

To date, 1,566 vintners and growers – representing about 68 percent of the California's vineyard acreage and 63 percent of wine production – have assessed the sustainability of their operations. Many of these vintners and growers are hosting fun events this April, such as Wente Vineyards in the Livermore Valley wine region, a participant in CSWA's third-party certification program. Wente is offering a special wine and food tasting event, a tour of their organically farmed Chef Gardens and Audubon Sanctuary, as well as live music.

Kunde Family Estate in Sonoma Valley is offering a special "Hike and Taste in the Vineyards" tour of their sustainably certified estate with docent Bill Myer. Grgich Hills Estate in Napa Valley is offering two-for-one biodynamic estate tours and tastings, while four wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains Organic Wine Trail will celebrate Earth Day 2011 by showcasing their CCOF certified organic vineyards with a tour and tasting of wines at Cooper Garrod, Silver Mountain, Vine Hill and Alfaro Family Vineyard. Check out these events and travel deals here. To learn more about California wines and regions, visit http://www.discovercaliforniawine.com/.



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Monday, March 28, 2011

Niagara-on-the-Lake Winery Visit: Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery

Another in our series of Niagara-on-the-Lake winery reports.
Jackson-Triggs is a heavyweight on the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine scene. Chance are you have heard of them even if you have never ventured north of the border. They are well known for their icewine, which is widely available in the US.
As we were driving to the winery we noticed an odd building in the distance and weren’t quite sure what it could be – the futuristic, industrial lines looked like it could be a power plant or something from Tron Legacy. Rolling closer we realized this was in fact our destination.

Without a doubt, this is one of the most unusual and coolest winery buildings you’ll ever see.2010 Sep 04 158 It was past noon and we were ready for some food. We pulled out our cooler and picnic goodies and made ourselves at home at a picnic table with a good view of the winery and the vineyards.

The winery is a state-of-the-art facility and 20 times Jackson-Triggs
has been named Canadian Winery of the Year. The secret is out, however, and on the day of our visit, the facility was teeming with busloads of visitors. Jackson-Triggs is part of Vincor, which was purchased by Constellation, one of the world’s foremost wine and liquor companies.
2010 Sep 04 159
My tasting was somewhat limited here. The tasting room was crowded and in order to pace myself (we had been visiting other wineries), I decided to sample just a couple of selections.

My first was the 2006 Niagara Peninsula Meritage. This is a blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot. This had some nice raspberry and plum flavor notes, but to me, it had a rough quality – perhaps due to high tannins.

My next selection was actually a Le Clos Jordanne wine. Jackson-Triggs and Le Clos Jordanne are stable mates within the Constellation brand. I sampled the 2007 Le Gran Clos Pinot Noir. This is a super premium Pinot that lists for about $70. It has dancing flavors of chocolate and cinnamon along with red fruit. 2007 was considered a top vintage and there is no doubt this is one of the premier Pinots in Ontario.

The winery is a showcase and also offers a full experience with winery tours, culinary events, and musical performances. You can also check out icewine from four different grapes: Gewürztraminer, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, and Vidal. A sparkling Riesling icewine is also offered.
This is a NOTL must-see.

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Saturday, March 26, 2011

Ohio Wineries Earn The Ohio Quality Wine Designation

Bookmark and Share  Eight wines from three Ohio wineries received the prestigious Ohio Quality Wine award designation.

This is an important program that is helping to define a high quality standard for Ohio wines. Ohio has a winemaking tradition that dates back more than a century. You know when you have an OQW wine that you are truly "tasting Ohio" in your glass.

The Ohio Quality Wine award designation, created in 2007 by the Ohio Grape Industries Committee, is assigned to wines made from at least 90 percent Ohio-grown vinifera and hybrid grapes. These wines must also achieve at least 15 of 20 points on a sensory evaluation and pass a chemical analysis conducted by the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster before receiving the quality seal.

The latest wineries to receive this designation include Breitenbach Wine Cellars (Dover), Burnet Ridge Winery (Cincinnati), and Ferrante Winery (Geneva).

The wines earning the designation from Breitenbach are their Cabernet Sauvignon (Lake Erie), Merlot (Lake Erie), Solara Cream Sherry (Grand River Valley) and Tawny Port (Ohio River Valley). For Burnet Ridge their 2010 Pinot Gris (Lake Erie) earned the OQW. Ferrante has three of their Signature Series wines now designated as OQW, their 2009 Signature Series Cabernet Franc (Grand River Valley), 2010 Signature Series Pinot Grigio (Grand River Valley), and the 2010 Signature Series Riesling (Grand River Valley).


By focusing on wines made from Ohio grapes, the Ohio Quality Wine program spurs the expansion and renovation of Ohio’s vineyards to meet the needs of Ohio winemakers. The program provides five judgings per year to include all possible wine releases. Chemical analysis sets this quality program apart from others by identifying flaws that can be missed when only sensory testing is used. There are currently 174 wines that have earned this top status.

The Ohio Grape Industries Committee is housed at the Ohio Department of Agriculture and provides wineries a means to market their top-quality wines against well-known California and European wines. To learn more about the program or for a complete list of Ohio Quality Wines, visit http://www.tasteohiowines.com/.


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Friday, March 25, 2011

90+ Cellars Lot 8 Garnacha 2007 Crianza


This is a Spanish wine from Carinena, Spain. It was purchased from Winery Insider which offered a special deal on mixed case party wines. The Ace of Bass and I split up the case randomly and he got the Garnacha (known as Grenache in other parts of the world).

The wine made a welcome return appearance at my house during a recent party.
I
’m a big Grenache (and Garnacha) fan and Spain produces some vibrant wines and sterling values. 90+ Cellars, located in Boston, aims to source wines from around the world that are worthy of a 90+ rating and offer them at a very affordable price. This wine, produced in a limited quantity of 2,200 cases, retailed for $12. This offering was very popular as it is now sold out.

Carinena is a region of Spain with a wine-making history that dates back to Roman times. The wine is aged in French Oak for six months which earns it the “Crianza” label.
Grenache is often unoaked and has a soft feel and fruitiness. This Garnacha had a nice flavor of forest fruit, a bit of chocolate, nuts and a spicy finish. This wine was surprisingly good.

Chalk up a win for Garnacha and make a note to check out the great deals from 90+ Cellars. I’ve got an 90+ Cellars Australian Zinfandel that is just begging to be opened!
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Thursday, March 24, 2011

US Now Is World's Largest Wine-Consuming Nation

drinking wine
Image by littlekim via Flickr

 

The U.S. surpassed France as the world's largest wine-consuming nation in 2010, with wine shipments to the U.S. from California, other states and foreign producers growing 2% from the previous year to nearly 330 million cases, a record high for the industry, according to wine industry consultants Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates in Woodside. The estimated retail value of these sales was $30 billion, up 4% from 2009.

California wine accounted for a 61% volume share of the total U.S. wine market with sales at 199.6 million cases, up 1% from the previous year. Retail value was $18.5 billion. California's total wine shipments worldwide to all markets in the U.S. and abroad (including exports) were 241.8 million cases, up 2% from the previous year.

"U.S. wine market conditions remain highly competitive, but we are optimistic that this growth trend will continue. Americans are increasingly interested in a lifestyle with wine and food, demonstrated by the presence of wineries in all 50 states and 17 consecutive years of growth in U.S. wine consumption," said Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, President and CEO of Wine Institute.

"This year we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the CBS TV 60 Minutes news broadcast on French Paradox news report which expanded awareness of how moderate wine consumption can be part of a healthy lifestyle. Wine consumption is still a low 2.6 gallons per capita, but the adult population is growing every year as echo boomers come of age and adopt wine just as their baby boomer parents did," said Jon Fredrikson of The Gomberg-Fredrikson Report.

Many new creative wines were introduced last year to keep consumers excited, including value-priced Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Riesling and off-dry wines, as well as affordable Pinot Noir from inland California regions. Sales of high-end wines remained challenging, but marketers used social media technology to reach increasingly wired consumers, said Fredrikson.

California Varietal Table Wine Trends
Fredrikson estimates for California bottled table wine volume to the U.S. market by varietal were led by Chardonnay, up 5% to over 53 million cases. Cabernet Sauvignon also grew rapidly, rising 6% to nearly 33 million cases. Other California bottled varietals growing notably in sales included Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Riesling and Muscat.
S
parkling Wine/Champagne Sales in the U.S.
Sparkling wine and champagne had a remarkable year, up 10% in the U.S, suggesting that consumers may be broadening their use of these wines beyond special occasions. The category's 15.4 million cases represent 4.6% of all wine sales in the U.S., of which the majority is produced in California, according to The Gomberg-Fredrikson Report.

U.S. Wine Exports Rebound
In 2010, U.S. wine exports, 90 percent from California, jumped 25.6% in value to an estimated $1.14 billion in winery revenues. Volume shipments rose 1.9% to 47.3 million nine-liter cases, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data. U.S. wine export volume has nearly doubled in the last decade.

Thirty-eight percent of U.S. wine exports by value were shipped to the 27-member countries of the European Union, accounting for $435 million of the revenues, up 14% from 2009. Volume shipments to the EU reached 27.6 million cases in 2010, up 11% from the previous year. Changes in the dollar exchange rate, a gradually recovering economy and California's effective marketing and high wine quality have helped exports rebound. Other top markets were: Canada, $308 million; Hong Kong, $116 million; Japan, $76 million; and China, $45 million.
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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Wine Tastings & Events: March 23-26, 2011


Wednesday, March 23
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Employee Picks, Part III. 1. Moobuzz Pinot Noir, 2. Wrongo Dongo Monastrell
3. Liberty School Cuvee, 4. Cascina Ca’Rossa Birbet. Nominal fee per sample or $7 flight.
  
Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Cutting Edge Selection Wines. Special Guest Ann Boucher. $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, March 24
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Spring has sprung: 1. Edna Valley – Sauvignon Blanc, 2. Albert Mann – Pinot Blanc, 3. Bridesmaid – White blend, 4. Toad Hollow – Pinot Noir Rose. $6.00 per flight or nominal fee per sample.    

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Wine & Meatloaf Night with meatloaves from The House of Meats: 1. Pine Ridge Chenin Viognier, 2. Torres Sangre de Toro, 3. Vitiano, 4. Hill of Content, 5. Charles & Charles, 6. Waterbrook Melange, 7. Farm Boy Red, 8. Carchello. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Cutting Edge Selection Wines. $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Join us the entire month of March for The Madness. Every Thursday and Friday we'll feature a bracket of four competing wines from the world's classic winemaking regions. Every night is a different region. Australia & France. Nominal fee per sample.

Friday, March 25
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. Trimbach Pinot Blanc, 2. Chateau Virgile White, 3. Delas Crozes-Hermitage, 4. La Font De L'Olivier Carignan. $15 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Join us the entire month of March for The Madness. Every Thursday and Friday we'll feature a bracket of four competing wines from the world's classic winemaking regions. Every night is a different region. California & Pacific Northwest. Nominal fee per sample.

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

Saturday, March 26
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. Trimbach Pinot Blanc, 2. Chateau Virgile White, 3. Delas Crozes-Hermitage, 4. La Font De L'Olivier Carignan. $15 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM. Wine tasting: 1. Mi Terruno Malbec, Argentina, 2. The Naked Grape Pinot Noir, California, 3. The Naked Grape Pinot Grigio, California, 4. Dr. Konstantin Frank Gewurztraminer, NY. Flight $1.75 or nominal fee per sample.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 PM. Vertical Tasting: Domaine du Clos Frantin Gevrey-Chambertin ‘Les Murots’ – French Burgundy (Pinot Noir).Clos Frantin sits on some of the world’s finest terroir for Pinot Noir, featuring 5 Grand Crus. Unfortunately, the wines were rather poorly made until recently purchased by superstar Burgundy negociant,  Albert Bichot.  Bichot radically upgraded the winemaking to match the storied terroir and this wine has been going from strength to strength, but remains a great value and underappreciated. We shall be tasting the 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 vintages. Premium tasting.
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample or by the flight.
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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Riesling Rocks Finger Lakes Wine Country In April and May

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A wine barrel at Glenora winery in the Finger ...Image via Wikipedia
Riesling is king in the United States. It is one of the fastest growing wine varieties in sales volume percentages. The wine is food-friendly, affordable, and diverse in style from bone dry to dessert.

Riesling is also king in the Finger Lakes. This noble grape is the Finger Lakes’ most widely planted Vinifera variety with almost 1,000 acres in production and nearly every winery producing at least one Riesling brand. The microclimate conditions and the slate soils created by the glacial-formed lakes that are so special to the Finger Lakes are exactly what makes Riesling thrive here.

The wineries of Finger Lakes Wine Country continue to be internationally recognized for their award-winning Rieslings in such publications as Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Food & Wine, Wine & Spirits, and Decanter. Many of the region’s Rieslings have won many prestigious medals at wine competitions like Riesling du Monde, or Rieslings of the World, in the Alsace region of France. In 2010 alone, nearly twenty different Riesling wines received 90 + scores from Wine Spectator.

To celebrate the Finger Lakes most famous and renowned wine variety, the months of April and May have been dedicate to Riesling. “In previous years we declared ‘May is Riesling Month,’” said Morgen McLaughlin, president of Finger Lakes Wine Country. “This year we have expanded the celebration into April to offer more opportunity for special Riesling events, packages, and great savings on Finger Lakes Riesling purchases. We invite visitors from all over the world to come to the Finger Lakes this spring to meet the winemakers at their source and to discover why our region is home to world-class Riesling.”

The Spring into Riesling celebration will include special events like the Riesling Experience Tastings at Red Newt Cellars, vertical Riesling tastings at Hunt Country Vineyards and Lucas Vineyards, and a prerelease event at Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars. Also enjoy winemaker dinners and promotions like free shipping on Rieslings at Atwater Vineyards and other participating wineries. The Seneca Lake Wine Trail’s Riesling to Visit Passport, the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail’s Vino Visa Coupon book, and the Keuka Lake Wine Trail Passport will be available for great savings along the respective trails.

In addition, the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel and other participating hotels, inns, and bed & breakfasts will be offering special Riesling-themed getaway packages that may include the wine trail passports and a taste of Finger Lakes Riesling. Area restaurants will feature Finger Lakes Riesling on their menus. The Ginny Lee Restaurant at Wagner Vineyard’s will offer a free glass of semi-dry Riesling with the featured lunch special.

More information on Spring into Riesling can be found RieslingRocks.com including a comprehensive database of Finger Lakes wineries at Wineries.FingerLakesWineCountry.com.

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Monday, March 21, 2011

Helfrich Vin D’Alsace 2008 Gewürztraminer


This Gewurztraminer shows intensity and finesse and was the hit of a recent dinner party.

The Alsace region of France is a haven for dry white wines. It is also the only region in France where the wine is labeled with the grape variety, as opposed to the region and producer. That certainly makes things less confusing for the typical American consumer.

We’re fans of Gewurztraminer but haven’t tried a large number from Alsace. We’ll certainly have to correct that situation. Wine Chick and Sax Man brought this to the party and died-in-the-wool red drinkers found this to be a really enjoyable wine. This wine exhibited the trademark floral notes with a bit of spice and citrus. There was a hint of rose petals – but not enough to overpower.

This is a dry wine with a light body and a nice balance. It has acidity to give it a crisp touch.

The selling price is about $14, so it is an affordable French vino worth seeking out. It has a nice complexity and a finish that lingers.

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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Michigan Wine Celebrated on SE Michigan's Pioneer Wine Trail April 9-10


Photo by Angelo Cesare
 Bookmark and Share Wine lovers will be celebrating Michigan Wine Month in April and you can join the fun during the Michigan Wine Celebration on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10. The event is sponsored by the wineries of Southeastern Michigan’s Pioneer Wine Trail. Tickets are $25 per person for this self-driven winery tour.
 
Each winery along the trail will feature an appetizer or dessert prepared by a local chef and paired with their featured wine. The ticket price also includes one tasting glass. A recipe card with the featured recipe will be given out to ticket holders at each winery. The food ranges from roasted sweet Italian Sausage simmered with Michigan apples at Burgdorf’s Winery to dark chocolate filled crepes with raspberry sauce at Lone Oak Vineyard Estates.Tickets, which include eight delicious food and wine pairings are $25.

 
The wineries included in this event are:  
  • Burgdorf's Winery (Haslett)
  • Chateau Aeronautique Winery (Jackson)
  • Cherry Creek Cellars Old Schoolhouse Winery (Brooklyn)
  • J. Trees Cellars (Blissfield)
  • Lone Oak Vineyard Estate (Grass Lake)
  • Pentamere Winery (Tecumseh)
  • Sandhill Crane Vineyards (Jackson)
  • Sleeping Bear Winery (Parma)
 
Ticket holders are welcome to visit each location over the two-day event, or they may choose to limit their visits (as time permits). The Wine Trail encourages ticket holders to bring a designated driver. Hours of the event are Saturday, April 9, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday, April 10, from noon to 6:00 PM. There are a limited number of tickets available. Tickets will not be available the day of the event.
 
For more information call (517) 531-3080. Ticket holders are welcome to visit each location over the two-day event, or they may choose to limit their visits (as time permits).
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Friday, March 18, 2011

Niagara-on-the-Lake Winery Visit: Lailey Vineyard

Continuing our series on Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, winery visits.
Lailey is a small Niagara-on-the-Lake winery that is a welcome change of pace from giants such as Inniskillin, Peller Estates, or Jackson-Triggs. In fact, the tasting room is about the size of the coatroom in these other wineries. Without the expansive grounds and the hype, this little winery can focus on producing some amazingly good wines.

Lailey Vineyards got its start back in the 1970s when David Lailey and his wife Donna converted the family fruit tree farm to growing vinifera grapes. After selling grapes to wineries for years, they obtained a winery license in 2000 and were joined by former customer Derek Barnett who took over the role of winemaker. Today Lailey is considered in the top tier of Niagara wineries and regularly wines prizes in prestigious wine competitions for their Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.

The tasting room is a blockish, modern-looking structure with enormous windows and a high ceiling. However, there just isn’t much room. A long bar runs the length of the room and there is just a small swath of standing room between the counter and the window. While the larger NOTL wineries can handle hundreds of visitors at a time, 20 visitors at Lailey is quite a crowd.

It reminded me a bit of standing in line for concessions at Yankee Stadium. However, once you make your way to the counter, you get something much better than warm beer and an overpriced hotdog.

We started off with the 2008 Counterpoint, an interesting white blend of Gewürztraminer (37%), Sauvignon Blanc(34%), Un-oaked Chardonnay (13%), Semillon (11%), and Riesling (5%). This was pleasant, but not a show-stopper. It had citrus flavors with a touch of peach. The bottle retails for $25.

Reds were on our minds and I started with the 2007 Gamay-Zweitgelt Niagara Peninsula. This is an off-beat wine that combines the fruity Gamay with the spicy Zweigelt. This is a fun and playful wine that would be right at home on the patio for a backyard barbecue. It only costs $14 and is a nice value. A check of the Lailey website shows that it is currently sold out.

The next glass was the 2008 Syrah. I have to give props to my server. When he was asked to describe the flavor of the wine he said, “salami, pastrami, and toffee.” What a combination! The wine was indeed delightfully complex with earthiness and flavors of smoked meat. You could take time unraveling the many layers of this wine. It has sufficient tannins to lay down for several years.

The grand finale was the 2008 Pinot Noir Brickyard Vineyard. The Brickyard is a tiny 3.2-acre vineyard growing Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. In 1800 settler John McFarland, a boat builder to King George III used the clay from this site to build his brick home. This is a beautifully balanced wine. It has flavor notes of jasmine and ripe red fruit. This was the standout wine of our visit.

Donna Lailey was the only female founding member of the Vintner’s Quality Alliance (VQA), which is now the standard for quality Canadian wine. Lailey is small, but packs a powerful and tasty punch.

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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Champagne Bureau: More Than Half Of US Sparkling Wine Is Mislabeled

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Bubbles of rose sparkling wine.Image via Wikipedia

The production of Champagne is a pain-staking process. Two fermentations are required. The bottle must be frozen and the sediment (lees) quickly removed. The traditional method and blending of many vintages of grapes results in an elixir that is the pride of France.


And they don’t appreciate other countries horning in on their prized product.

More than 40 renowned chefs, sommeliers and wine educators called for truth-in-labeling for wines on the fifth anniversary of the Wine Accords by sending a joint letter to members of Congress. The letter calls on Congress to address “misleading wine labels that do not correctly represent the wine’s place of origin.”

There are a number of “American Champagne” winemakers that were exempted under a grandfather clause including Korbel and Cook. Cook, for example, has been making “Champagne” for more than a century.

On March 10, 2006, the United States and the European Union signed an agreement to end “mislabeling of wines” in the U.S. by prohibiting new labels with misleading names such as Champagne or Port. However, existing labels were “grandfathered in,” so today, more than five years later, more than 50 percent of the sparkling wine sold in the U.S. is still incorrectly labeled as Champagne, according to the Champagne Bureau.

“There are many fine American sparkling wines, but they’re only Champagne if they come from Champagne, France,” said Sonia Smith, director of the Champagne Bureau. “We’re encouraged that some of the country’s most famous chefs and sommeliers understand how important label accuracy is for consumers.”

In the five years since the Wine Accords, other countries have taken steps to tighten usage of the term Champagne, often in exchange for concessions from the EU. In 2010, Australia began a one year phase-out of such wine labels, and it plans to eliminate all “false Champagne and Port” by September 2011. The European Union has led the way in defending wine region place names and granted Napa Valley protection in Europe starting in May 2007. Yet in the United States, the Champagne Bureau contends that consumers are still regularly deceived by inaccurately labeled wine.

What’s my take on it? Is anyone really deceived into thinking a $6 bottle of Cook’s Champagne is similar to a fine Krug Champagne that costs more than $200? The claim that millions of Americans are being hoodwinked by charlatans trading on the Champagne name doesn’t ring true to me. Buyers of $6 wine aren’t really customers of true Champagne in the first place.

However, the high road for producers outside Champagne, France, certainly is to label the product as a special Cuvee or sparkling wine. A number of French Champagne houses have opened up shop in California, Domaine Carneros and Domaine Chandon are two examples. They produce outstanding sparkling wine in the traditional style without a misleading label and they do quite well.

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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Wine Tastings & Events: March 16-19, 2011



Wednesday, March 16
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Employee Picks, Part II. 1. Uvaggio Rosso Vecchio Barbera, 2. Thief Syrah, 3. Rosemount McLaren Vale Shiraz, 4. Piece of Cake Chocolate Cake Liqueur. Nominal fee per sample or $7 flight.
  
Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Meet the Wine Maker: Carol Shelton, award-winning Zin Specialist. Carol Shelton Wines. $10.

Thursday, March 17
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Shades of Green: 1. Green Eyes – Love over Money – Gruner Veltliner – Austria, 2. Anne Amie – Cuvee’ A – Muller-Thurgau – Willamette Valley, Oregon, 3. Duck Pond – Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley, Oregon, 4. Coppola – Syrah-Shiraz – Napa Valley, California. $6.50 per flight or nominal fee per sample.    

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Affordable Argentine Malbec: 1. Massimo, 2. Trivento, 3. Budini, 4. Odfjell Orzada, 5. Catena, 6. Suzanna Balbo, 7. Norton Cosecha Tardia Late Harvest Chardonnay, 8. Hahn Piesporter Riesling. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Carol Shelton Wines. $10.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Join us the entire month of March for The Madness. Every Thursday and Friday we'll feature a bracket of four competing wines from the world's classic winemaking regions. Every night is a different region. California & Pacific Northwest. Nominal fee per sample.

Friday, March 18
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m.  South American Tasting: 1. Crios Rose, 2. Armador Carmenere, 3. Trivento Select Cabernet Sauvignon, 4. Emiliana "Coyam" Red Blend. $15 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Join us the entire month of March for The Madness. Every Thursday and Friday we'll feature a bracket of four competing wines from the world's classic winemaking regions. Every night is a different region. California & Pacific Northwest. Nominal fee per sample.
* Special Event * Wine by the Glass Pavilion, Toledo Museum of Art. 7:00 – 9:30 PM. Drop-in wine tasting: Vino Italiano. Enjoy four wines, light snacks and a view of the Glass Pavilion Hot Shop. $15 members, $20 non-members.

Saturday, March 19
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m.  South American Tasting: 1. Crios Rose, 2. Armador Carmenere, 3. Trivento Select Cabernet Sauvignon, 4. Emiliana "Coyam" Red Blend. $15 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM. Wine tasting: 1. Layer Cake Shiraz, South Australia, 2. Darke Red from the Winery at Versailles, 3. Mi Terruno Sweet Torrontes, Argentina, 4.Ca’Tullio Prosecco Italy. Flight $2.50 or nominal fee per sample.

* Special Event * Vineyard Adventure at the Toledo Zoo, 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Features a selection of wines that help you go green, appetizers and entertainment. At the aquarium. Call 419-385-5721, ext. 3092 or visit www.toledozoo.org. The cost is $40 for non-members and $35 for members.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 PM. Elite Boutique Wines of Washington State with special guest Dave Pirwitz of DJP Selections. Ultra-small production wines from Washington State. Something for everyone from crisp-refreshing Sauvignon Blancs to lush Merlot and powerful Syrah. This is a chance to discover this exciting wine region through some of its finest wines. Premium tasting. Nominal fee per sample.

Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample or by the flight.

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[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]
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Monday, March 14, 2011

Stonehedge Winery 2007 Reserve Napa Valley Merlot

Bookmark and Share This lush Merlot was the choice during a recent dinner party. Stonehedge is a Napa Valley winery that aims to produce “exciting, delicious and multi-dimensional wines” at a price point that makes them available to most people.

Their Reserve Napa Valley Wines are produced from specifically selected blocs of famous vineyards embodying the best a grape variety has to offer.

The 2007 Stonehedge Napa Valley Merlot is produced exclusively from grapes grown in mountain top hillsides of Napa Valley. The desolate rocky soil in high altitudes causes the vines to be stressed. As a result they yield a very limited amount of grapes with intense flavor concentration.

We decanted this bottle and were rewarded with an elegant and smooth wine. It seems that often Merlot plays second fiddle to Cabernet Sauvignon, but this Merlot shows the beauty of the grape without the harsh tannins that can accompany some Cabs.

The wine had layers of ripe cherry, berry and plum flavors. The finish was long and strong. The wine retails for about $25 and lives up to the multi-dimensional, inter-galactic claims of the winemaker.

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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Wine By The Glass Pavilion Schedule for March and April Announced

New Glass Pavilion, Toledo Museum of ArtImage by mmeiser2 via Flickr
Bookmark and Share   The Toledo Museum of Art has announced its schedule for the upcoming Wine by the Glass
Pavilion tastings. These popular drop-in tasting event are scheduled Fridays from 7:00 to 9:30 PM at the Glass Pavilion.

Enjoy four wines, light snacks, and a view of the Hot Shop. Prices are $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers.
 
  • March 18 Vino Italiano
  • March 25 Perfect Pairings
  • April 1 Lighten Up: Wines for Spring
  • April 8 Undiscovered France
  • April 15 Sineann Wines
  • April 22 Blind Tasting
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Friday, March 11, 2011

License To Steal Wine Marketing Conference Set April 12-14 in Geneva, Ohio

Winery owners and marketing directors, tourism specialists, businesses that benefit from wineries in their region, economic development people and all interested in the growth of the American grape and wine community will gather April 12-14 at the Lodge and Conference Center in Geneva, Ohio, for the annual License to Steal Conference.

The conference focuses on marketing and is designed to help keep wineries ahead of the marketing curve. The program has outstanding keynote speakers lined up and is a superb opportunity for winery owners to share ideas and “steal” the best thinking of others.

We attended the conference last year and the exchange of ideas from wineries around the country was amazing – no doubt the ideas could translate into thousands of dollars through increased sales and greater visibility in the market.
Among the featured speakers are:
  • Tim Hanni: author, lecturer, media guru and long time California proponent of broadening the base of the wine consumer pyramid.
  • Julie Dion: Sarasota marketer and consultant on media purchasing.
  • Chris Davidson, partner and Principle of Y Partnership providing research on major travel trends.
  • And the best and brightest minds in American wine marketing willing to share openly every secret in their repertoire.
The conference begins at 10:00 AM on April 12 with the first 'Steal Session' and ends at noon on April 14 with a recap of all the information gleaned and shared.
Here’s the link to register for License to Steal 2011, and get the latest information on the conference.

State wine producer associations from Ohio, New York, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Indiana will be participating. Wineries from across the country are expected to participate.
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Flickr photo by Mukumbura