12th Annual Vintage Indiana Wine & Food Festival Slated June 4 in Indianapolis

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Wine sampling from more than two dozen Indiana wineries will share the spotlight with musicians Brigid’s Cross, Jennie DeVoe and The Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band at the 12^th annual Vintage Indiana Wine & Food Festival. The popular outdoor fest is slated for Saturday, June 4, 11 am to 7 pm at Military Park in Downtown Indianapolis. Over 10,000 wine, food and music aficionados from throughout the Midwest are expected at this family-friendly event.

The wineries will offer literally hundreds of Indiana wines for tasting. Wine sampling and all entertainment, including the concerts, are included in the ticket price. Advance sale tickets are available now at Marsh Supermarkets, participating wineries and on-line at www.vintageindiana.com. Tickets are $22 for adults (age 21 and over) in advance; $25 at the gate. Designated drivers can attend the festival for only $10 – and receive free Pepsi products all day long. Tickets for youths ages 6-20 are $5, while children 5 and under are free.

“Vintage Indiana has become one of those annual ‘must attend’ events,” said Jeanette Merritt, director of marketing for the Indiana Wine Grape Council. “People love listening to our top name entertainment line-up, learning new food and wine pairings during cooking stage demos, exploring new food sensations served up by our on-site vendors, and, of course, discovering exciting new favorites from our Indiana wine makers.” Among wines sampled will be the state’s signature wine, Traminette.

A wide variety of cuisine from several of the state’s top eateries will be available for purchase at the event. Festivalgoers also will enjoy an eclectic arts & crafts showcase, the interactive KidZone presented by Indy’s Child, and mouth-watering cooking demos from the Wine & Food Experience Pavilion stage sponsored by Clark Appliance and the Indiana State Poultry Association.

Proceeds from Vintage Indiana benefit the Indiana Wine Grape Council, a not-for-profit advisory organization that furthers the development of Indiana’s wine industry from its headquarters at Purdue University. Over 50 wineries operate within the Hoosier state, whose wine industry dates all the way back to 1802.

For advance sale tickets or for more information, log on at www.vintageindiana.com. The 12^th annual Vintage Indiana Wine & Food Festival is presented by the Indiana Wine Grape Council. Festival partners include Indiana’s Family of Farmers, NUVO Newsweekly, Indiana State Poultry Association, WISH-TV, American Dairy Association of Indiana, MyNDY-TV/23, Clark Appliance, 93.3 WTTS, National Turkey Federation, Indianapolis Ambassadors, Indy’s Child, and Marsh Supermarkets.

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Sandhill Crane Vineyards 2005 Proprietor's Reserve Chancellor

Sandhill Crane Vineyards is a great Jackson, Michigan, winery with an expansive range of wines in their tasting room. It’s a great location for a day trip and an opportunity to sample some offbeat grapes such as Traminette, Vignoles, Seyval Blanc, Chardonel and Vidal Blanc. During our last visit we sampled and loved the 2005 Proprietor's Reserve Chancellor.

Chancellor, a French-American hybrid with origins in the Rhone area of France, is now found mostly in the eastern US. The grape can produce rich wines with strong tannins and berry flavors. The Chancellor grape was developed in the mid-1800s.

The 2005 Proprietor's Reserve has robust tannins that knocked us back a bit when we uncorked this baby. After the wine (and us) settled down a bit, the dark cherry flavors rolled out. The wine has a medium to full body with twinges of chocolate mocha, almost Italian in style. It is velvety smooth.

The wine has 12.5% alcohol and cost $23. For the adventurous wine explorer, this is well worth checking out.

Technorati Tags: wine,Michigan wine

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Wineries of Lake Erie North Shore Offer Great Wine and “Southern” Hospitality

Tanya Mitchell smiles when she explains that “Southern hospitality” is what sets apart the wineries of the Lake Erie North Shore wine growing region. It may sound strange to a visitor from the US, where the phrase conjures images of magnolia trees and Georgia mansions, but LENS is the southernmost winegrowing region in Canada and is blessed with a unique maritime climate thanks to its location hugging the north side of Lake Erie.


The president of the Southwestern Ontario Vintner’s Association and winemaker at Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery, Tanya had pointed out to me that while Toledo Wines and Vines has had numerous features on Niagara Peninsula wineries and those in Niagara-on-the-Lake, we had overlooked the LENS wineries, which are less than 100 miles from Toledo and just a short drive from Windsor. A visit was clearly in order.

“We have 14 wineries and four more are getting ready to open,” said Tanya. “We have the best growing season in Canada and the motivation to do it right.”

Sprucewood produces about 5,000 cases a year and is a beautiful destination winery with a beach front on Lake Erie.It’s a family affair, as the owners are Tanya’s parents, Hannah and Gord Mitchell.
We tasted through a couple of whites and several reds. The 2010 Chardonnay had a nice aroma and flavors of lemon and banana. On the red side, our favorites were the 2007 Lady in Red (blend of Cab Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon) and the 2007 Meritage. The 2009 Baco Noir was beautiful in color with a juicy fruit flavor and a touch of sweetness.

We were headed to London to catch a play before continuing on to Niagara-on-the-Lake for TasteCamp North (reports coming soon), but we wanted to hit a couple more LENS wineries before leaving the area.

Our next stop was Viewpointe Estate Winery, which boasts a panoramic view of Lake Erie and some tasty Ontario wine. The tasting room is spectacular and the most discerning wine lover would feel right at home. The winery offers an impressive array of wine education and culinary classes.

We opened up our tasting with the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc VQA. Sauv Blanc is currently Green Dragon’s favorite white, and she gave this one a thumbs up. It had a great aroma of grassiness and grapefruit. The 2008 Riesling VQA was pleasant but lacked the acidity to give it the necessary pop.  The 2008 Auxerrois VQA is a unique grape. It had a pineapple flavor with a slight tang. There was a bit of sweetness. I enjoyed this one.

The 2005 Cabernet Franc wasn’t available for tasting, but the server opened a bottle of 2002 Focal Pointe Cab Franc. We didn’t care for this. It was red brick in color, light in body and had a woody taste.


The 2007 Fine Point Pinot Noir VQA was on target. This had earthy tones and nice cherry flavors. Our favorite was the 2009 Colchester Cuvee. The Cuvee is a blend of three experimental grapes selected from 2,800 varieties grown in a test program. The are called HG01, HG03 and HG04, but all you really need to know is that they rock, producing a Cabernet Sauvignon type wine with a deep red color, meaty aroma and juicy ripe fruit flavor.

Our final LENS stop was the case of the road less travelled. The two largest wineries in the region are Pelee Island Winery and Colio Estate Wines. Our path took us right past Pelee Island, but we opted to instead head north to Aleksander Estate Winery.


The winery is run by the Bemben family, and Genny Bemben was our very pleasant server. All grapes come from their five-acre vineyard atop one of the highest points in Essex County.

We tried the Pinot Grigio which was crisp with apple and pear flavor notes, but then moved to reds. Our two favorites were the Baco Noir, velvet-smooth with a tasty berry flavor and full body, and the Amarouge. The name Amarouge is a salute to the families grandchildren. The wine is a medium bodied blend of Cab Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. This is a twist on the typical Meritage, which features the two Cabs and typically Merlot. This wine is dry and recommended.

We closed with the Cassis, a sweet wine made with black currants.

Although Aleksander doesn’t boast the impressive grounds of some of the other wineries, they pour the good stuff and it is worth the visit to sample their unique wines.

Focus on the LENS wineries if you are seeking an Ontario wine experience that offers great wine, eye-catching scenery and exceptional value.

Technorati Tags: wine,Ontario

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Wine Tastings & Events: May 18-21, 2011

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Wednesday, May 18

The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. A tour of Italy: 1. La Fiera Pinot Grigio, 2. La Fiera Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, 3. Dievole Chianti Classico, 4. Villa M Rosso. $7 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Washington Wines Part 1. $15.

Thursday, May 19

* Special Event * Charmed and Cherished benefit wine tasting. 6:00 to 8:00 PM, at the Toledo Club, 235 14th St., Toledo. $50 per person or $60 per person for the reserve tasting. Call (419) 241-5877 for tickets.

 

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Burger wines: 1. Senda 66 – Tempranillo – La Mancha region of Spain; 2. Massimo – Malbec – Mendoza, Argentina; 3. Armador – Cabernet Sauvignon – Maipo Valley, Chile; 4. Trivento – Cabernet Sauvignon – Mendoza, Argentina. $4.50 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Italian Wine Month: The Glory of Tuscany. 1. Seraphicum Toscana, IGT Sangiovese Cabernet blend; 2. Colitbuono Chianti Classico,
DOCG Sangiovese; 3. Guado al Melo, Cabernet, Merlot blend; 4. Baron Ricasoli Chianti Classico Riserva, DOCG Sangiovese; 5. Piaggia Carmignano Riserva, DOCG Sangiovese; 6. La Serena Brunello di Montalcino, DOCG Sangiovese; 7. Ilatria. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Washington Wines Part 1. $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Chile Chillin': Wedged between the mighty Pacific Ocean and the rugged Andes mountain range lies the mega-wine-producing nation of Chile. Chile is quickly becoming a hotspot for many high-quality and high-value wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc rule the roost here...  Nominal fee per sample.

Friday, May 20

* Special Event * The Wood County Humane Society Annual Wine & Cheese Benefit with Live and Silent Auctions, Nazareth Hall, 7:00  to 10:30 PM. For info and tickets go to  www.woodcountyhumanesociety.org. $65 per person or $120 per couple.

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Spring Sauvignon Blancs: 1. Joel Gott, 2. Guy Allion, 3. Alexandria Nicole, 4. Cloudy Bay. $15 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Chile Chillin': Wedged between the mighty Pacific Ocean and the rugged Andes mountain range lies the mega-wine-producing nation of Chile. Chile is quickly becoming a hotspot for many high-quality and high-value wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc rule the roost here...  Nominal fee per sample.

Saturday, May 21

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Spring Sauvignon Blancs: 1. Joel Gott, 2. Guy Allion, 3. Alexandria Nicole, 4. Cloudy Bay. $15 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM. Saturday wine tasting: 1. Ruffino Prosecco, Italy; 2. Jam Cellars Red Blend, California, 2008; 3. La Fiera Montelpulcianno D’ Abruzzo, Italy; 4. Seven Heavenly Chardonnay, by Michael David, 2010. $2.25 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Back to Bordeaux: We return to the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot-based wines of Bordeaux. These are the classic examples from the world’s most important wine region. Join us for high quality, highly rated, sophisticated 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.

Technorati Tags: wine

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

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Celebrating Riesling Month: Dr. L Prevails In Blind Tasting

There’s no two ways about it: We are Riesling fans. The month of May is ours to celebrate this great white grape (at least according to wine growers in the Finger Lakes who declared Riesling month 60 days long!).

To celebrate, we put together a blind tasting of top Rieslings and put a tasting panel from TWAV to the test. Our wines included two from Germany, one from the Finger Lakes and one from Washington state.

Our lineup was:

Ravines Wine Cellars 2008 Riesling, Artsinger Vineyard, Finger Lakes, New York.

Chateau St. Michelle – Dr. Loosen 2008 Eroica Riesling, Columbia Valley, Washington.

Loosen Bros 2009 Dr. L Riesling, Mosel, Germany.

Von Schleinitz 2008 Uhlen Dry Riesling, Mosel, Germany.

Joining Green Dragon and I were tasting team members Jazz Man and Wine Chick, two very noted connoisseurs of Riesling.

We used the cool blind wine tasting kit that I received as a birthday present. Each vino was designated W-I-N or E. The letter “S” was on standby in case we were still thirsty.

Tasting notes – Five point rating scale:

W - Ravines Artsinger Vineyard: Pale gold, some sheeting, pear and light floral flavor notes. Fruit and mineral approach and dry finish. Acidic and dry.  -- 4 

I - Eroica: Pale gold some cloudiness.Medium floral with hint of citrus. Noticeably sweeter than “W.” Good match with food. Light body and minimal aroma. – 3

N – Dr. L: Color of pale lemon water. Sweet start and dry finish. Soft and fruity with crisp apple. Medium body. Pleasant mouthfeel. – 5

E- V.S. Uhlen: Golden straw color. Light floral perfume. Crisp with pronounced minerality. Club soda, floral flavor. – 4 

When the covers were shed, there was some surprise. Eroica is considered by some to be the best expression of Riesling in the U.S. In fact it is the product of a joint venture between Loosen Brothers in Germany and Chateau St. Michelle. Dr. L is a non-estate wine, but the grapes come from excellent Mosel vineyards and the wine is a perfect expression of the mineral rich, stony soil. Uhlen is a Grand Cru vineyard in Mosel and one of the steepest in Europe. Of the four wines, this had the most mineral tone.

The Ravines Artsinger, available only to Ravines wine club members and made available courtesy of Jazz Man and Wine Chick, is a wonderful example of Finger Lakes Riesling at its best.

At the end of the evening, Dr. L Riesling was standing tall, but any of the four would make a great selection. Green Dragon and I enjoyed the rest of the Eroica bottle the next night and it seemed to exude elegance and balance.

Technorati Tags: wine,Riesling

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Great Lakes Wine Fest Scheduled May 21 at Michigan International Speedway

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The second annual Great Lakes Wine Fest at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan is scheduled Noon  to 9:00 PM May 21. It will feature 25 Michigan wineries, a number of state breweries and a special focus on Michigan foods.

Activities will take place in the reserved parking lot in the infield. There will be a store for purchasing bottles of wine.

Besides wine and beer tastings, visitors can enjoy food seminars, live entertainment and or take a three-lap ride around the track in a pace car for an additional charge of $10.

The event is presented by the Jackson County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Advance tickets are $25, and include $10 worth of tasting tokens; walk-up admission is $35. Advance pricing ends May 20. for tickets go to www.greatlakeswinefest.com or call (800) 354-1010. Camping is available.

Technorati Tags: wine

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