April Is Michigan Wine Month: 10 New Wineries Open

 Governor Rick Snyder has declared April as "Michigan Wine Month" to honor Michigan's

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wide selection of quality wines and the wine industry's significant contribution to the economy.

"Michigan's 81 wineries welcome more than 1 million visitors to their tasting rooms each year and offer a truly Pure Michigan agri-tourism experience," said Keith Creagh, Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) Director. "Not only do these businesses offer a quality product and memorable experience, but our wine and grape industries also contribute nearly $800 million to the state's economy annually."

Sales of Michigan wines in the state rose nearly 12 percent in 2010, while total wine sales increased just 4 percent. Michigan wine sales have outpaced total wine sales for the past 10 years, doubling the Michigan wineries' market share to 6.5 percent. Just in the past year alone, Michigan has added 10 new wineries to its roster -- up from 71 in 2010 -- across the state from the Thumb to the Upper Peninsula and down to the state line.

"April is a great time to kick off winery touring. Not only can travelers benefit from off-season rates and overnight packages at hotels and B&Bs near wine country, but tasting rooms are less busy in the spring, and staff are delighted to provide visitors with extra attention," said Linda Jones, MDARD's Grape & Wine Program Manager. "Many wineries anticipate some of the best wines they've produced to come from the long, warm 2010 growing season. They will begin to release new wines from the 2010 vintage this spring; additional red wines from the 2009 vintage will also be available."

Many events are planned this spring and early summer that will provide opportunities to meet winemakers and sample a variety of Michigan wines, including:

Michigan Wine Celebration: April 9-10 - Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail (http://www.pioneerwinetrail.com/)

Michigan Wine Showcase: April 11 - Radisson Bloomfield Hills, home of Northern Lakes Seafood Company (www.michiganwines.com/showcase)

Spring Sip & Savor: April 30 & May 1 - Leelanau Peninsula Vintners (http://www.lpwines.com/)

Blossom Days: May 14-15 - Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula (http://www.wineriesofoldmission.com/)

Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival: June 18 - Lake Michigan Shore Wine Country (http://www.miwinetrail.com/)

April will also see the release of the 2011 Michigan Wine Country magazine, an indispensable guide to the wines and wineries of Michigan. The magazine contains maps and touring information, as well as a popular section on "what's new at the wineries." To request a free copy of Michigan Wine Country, visit www.michiganwines.com or contact the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council at 517-241-1207. The magazine is also available at all Michigan wineries and Travel Michigan Welcome Centers.

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Charmed and Cherished Wine Event Set May 19 at Toledo Club

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One of our favorite wine events is coming. The Charmed and Cherished wine tasting is scheduled May 19, 6:00 to 8:00 PM, at the Toledo Club, 235 14th St., Toledo. This great event, coupled with the elegant surroundings of the Toledo Club should add up to an evening to remember.

 This fabulous event benefits Cherished Friends of Ahava and its special guests. Through the program, more than 550 men and women undergoing cancer treatment have enjoyed a day of pampering and relaxation at the Ahava Spa and Wellness Center at no charge. The program caters to those who are newly diagnosed or currently in treatment for cancer.

Tickets are $50 per person or $60 per person for the reserve tasting. Call (419) 241-5877 for tickets.

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New Artisan Cheese and Wine Weekend on Keuka Lake April 9-10

Photo of Keuka Lake by Lida Rose

  Enjoy two Finger Lakes Trails in one delicious weekend. The Finger Lakes Cheese Trail joins the Keuka Lake Wine Trail on April 9 -10 for Artisan Cheese and Wine Weekend, a new event celebrating local producers. While driving along Keuka’s beautiful hillsides, attendees will find warm hospitality at each of the eight wineries with the addition of a regional cheese maker at each location.

One ticket allows attendees to visit all eight wineries at a relaxed pace over the weekend. Included in the ticket price are special wine and food tastings at each winery, complementing the cheeses of their visiting producer. The cheese producers will offer samples, have artisan cheeses for sale, and will chat about the process of making these exceptional cheeses. Enjoy dishes such as aged cheddar soup, Buffalo chicken dip, and cheese empanadas.

The Keuka Lake Wine Trail strives to provide a high-quality, lively experience where guests can expect to feel satisfied by our food and stimulated by the conververation. This event collaboration with the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail is sure to provide a tasty and informative culinary weekend.

“Look forward to lots of variety!” says Rose Marie Belforti owner of Finger Lakes Creamery LLC, “We make the only farmstead Kefir cheese of its kind in the western hemisphere, as far as we know. The Kefir culture allows us to make cheeses with a myriad of tastes from nutty and creamy, to zesty flavor, to a Roquefort-inspired hot blue.” With summer entertaining right around the corner, return home inspired to create the ultimate local cheese plate. For those who enjoy the region’s famed Rieslings, look forward to tasting cheeses to pair specifically with this wine.

For the value packed weekend price of $25 per person, attendees will receive a souvenir wine glass, thirty-two wines to taste, food samples and artisan cheese samples. Designated driver and Sunday-only discounted tickets are available. Event hours are Saturday 10AM – 5PM and Sunday 11AM – 5PM. Tickets may be purchased by calling (800) 440.4898, or through KeukaWineTrail.com. Friend the Keuka Lake Wine Trail on Facebook and receive event updates and previews. All ticket holders are entered to win a one-night stay for two at the Inn at Esperanza Mansion, including a sightseeing cruise aboard the Esperanza Rose, and a bottle of wine from each winery on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail.

The Keuka Lake Wine Trail located in Finger Lakes Wine Country, New York was established in 1985 and today includes: Heron Hill Winery; Dr. Konstantin Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars; Stever Hill Vineyards; Hunt Country Vineyards; Keuka Spring Vineyards; Barrington Cellars; McGregor Vineyard Winery and Ravines Wine Cellars.

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Wine Tastings & Events: April 6-9, 2011

Wednesday, April 6

The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Nominal fee per sample.

  
Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Great Wines Under $20. $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, April 7

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Some Great Pinots: 1. Tiefenbrunner – Pinot Grigio – Italy, 2. Anne Amie – Pinot Gris – Willamette Valley, Oregon, 3. Elk Cove – Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley, Oregon. 4. Joseph Carr – Pinot Noir – Sonoma Coast, California. $9.00 per flight or nominal fee per sample.    

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Wines for Easter Dinner: 1. Frisk Riesling, 2. Reuscher Haart Riesling, 3. St. Urbanshof Riesling, 4. Bishop’s Peak Pinot Noir, 5. Lyeth Pinot Noir, 6. Georges Dubeouf Morgon Beaujolais, 7. Del Rio Rose Jolee, 8. Don Bosco Malvasia. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Great Wines Under $20. $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. March Madness Semifinal: Argentine malbec-blend, Amalaya, needs an opponent! Join us Thursday for the semifinal bracket between Washington, Australia, France, and our Rocky/Rudy wildcard pick, New Zealand! The winner gets no time to rest, because the championship is Friday. Nominal fee per sample.

Friday, April 8

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m.  Barbeque Zins: 1. Tin Barn Russian River, 2. Brazin Lodi OV, 3. Seghesio Sonoma, 4.Orin Swift "Saldo." $15 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. March Madness Championship: Argentine malbec-blend, Amalay vs. semifinal winner. You don't wanna miss this one. Nominal fee per sample.

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

Saturday, April 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.  Barbeque Zins: 1. Tin Barn Russian River, 2. Brazin Lodi OV, 3. Seghesio Sonoma, 4.Orin Swift "Saldo." $15 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM. Everyone wanted a Dornfelder tasting, so here it is. All 4 of these Dornfelder’s are from different areas of Germany and have different levels of sweetness. 1. Valkenberg 2008 Dornfelder Rheinhessen, 2. Karlbach Max 2009 Dornfelder Pfalz, 3. Muller 2009 Dornfelder Baden, 4. Schlink Haus 2009 Dornfelder Nahe. $2 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 PM. The “why aren’t more people buying this great wine?” tasting. The wines in this tasting have been neglected by the wine-drinking public and even our own customers, despite being incredibly interesting wines at very good prices. Nominal fee per sample.

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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.

Technorati Tags: wine

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

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The Soave Experiment: We Taste Two From Italy and Get One Hit and One Miss

If the name Soave isn’t familiar, you can be excused – but not for long. Soave, the fresh white wine of Italy’s Veneto region, has been absent from the world stage for decades but is poised to make a big comeback.

World War II veterans returned from Italy with scraps of European culture and lure, among them the mistaken idea that “Soave” was a generic term for light, dry wines and “Chianti” was the term for inexpensive red wines. Although inaccurate, the idea kept the name in the commercial mainstream. I recall decades ago Soave Bolla being advertised on television. It was a wine favored by Frank Sinatra in the late 1950s.

Soave is among Italy’s best white wines and has a fresh, delicate character that emphasizes the aromatic quality of it’s main grape, Garganega.Last year Soave exports to the US increased by more than 20%.

The scattered hillsides of Veneto east of Verona are home to the vineyards of Soave. Beautiful centuries-old castles, churches, bell towers and aristocratic villas are all part of the rich history and traditions of this area. The terroir is rich with minerals and volcanic soil which imparts distinctive fresh, clean and fruit-forward flavors.

We recently sampled two Soave wines. The first was the Re Midas Soave DOC. The “King Midas” wine is 100% Garganega coming from the vineyards in the village of Soave with mostly volcanic soil.

The aroma from this wine was wonderful, prompting our tasting crew to think of a crisp, dry Riesling. The body wasn’t as light as I thought it would be. The mouth texture seemed more silky than crisp with minerality. Sax Man said he felt it was a little flat and could use a spark. However, when sampled with a slice of apple, it paired very well. Fresh fruit flavors were evident and the finish had a nutty, earthy quality to it. That was a surprise to me as I was expecting more of a Pinot Grigio style.

Our second tasting was the Tenuta Sant’Antonio DOC Fontana 2008. This bottle was a problem from the beginning. The capsule was intact, but after it was removed we could see that the seal from the cork wasn’t good. Wine had seeped out leaving a sticky brown residue.

The color of the wine was a much deeper honey yellow and it gave off a perfume-like aroma. We sampled a bit, but we weren’t sure whether the musky, nut-like flavor that dominated was the aim of the winemaker or the result of a bum cork.

Warmer weather is coming (so they say) and that means ideal conditions for becoming reacquainted with Italy’s light and fresh Soave wines.

Full disclosure: We received these wines as samples.

Technorati Tags: wine,Soave,Italian wine,Italy

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Red Guelbenzu 2007, Ribera del Queiles

This Spanish wine is from the Ribera del Queiles appellation, which covers a stretch of 22 kilometers south of the Rio Ebro, between Navarra, Rioja and Aragon. It is named after the Queiles River, a tributary which rises in Mount Moncayo and flows into the river Ebro, in the area of Tudela.

The red wine is a blend of 45% Merlot, 30% Syrah, 18% Tempranillo and 8% Graciano. You would think that this would be a smoothly drinking wine, but our first glass tasted tightly wound.

While we enjoyed our meal of grilled chicken, beet salad and roasted potatoes with beet greens, the wine began to open up.The wine is a beautiful violet color and casts off an aroma of red fruit. The drinkability really rose as the wine opened, so I would suggest some decanting before you try.

The wine has more complexity than your typical Merlot with an unusual finish of earth and mint.

A nice price point is available for this wine at about $12. Not bad for a Robert Parker 90 point vino.

Technorati Tags: wine,Spanish wine

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