Pairing Wine and Dress Shirts Lets You Proudly Untuck

For those of you who worry about things like this, a fashion designer has now created dress shirts especially designed to go with wine. Wine and fashion are often times two extremely intimidating subjects for most men – and not always the manliest. Chris Riccobono is believes guys can conquer them both comfortably, without sacrificing their manhood.

Chris is a video blogger with a casual approach. He uses his site to introduce different wines and his love for vino. Now, he’s trying his hand at fashion with UNTUCKit, a new line of dress shirts specifically designed to be worn untucked.

Each UNTUCKit style is named after a region of wine. You can choose from the casual plaid of the Paso Robles or the classic crispness of the Russian River.
Prices range from $79 to $129, so don’t wear this shirt when you are sipping Barefoot wine!

For more information on UNTUCKit, please visit http://www.untuckit.com/.

If you have any suggestions for clothing and wine pairings, use the comment button below and let us know. I’d like to know what hat I should wear when drinking Gerwurztraminer.

Technorati Tags: wine,untuckit

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Finger Lakes Winery Visit: Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard

Our recent “zip trip” to Seneca Lake included a visit to Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, a Mecca for lovers of Dry Riesling. The day was perfect” baby blue sky, wafting clouds, rippling lake waters and grapevines bursting forth everywhere. All that was needed was some great vino to complete the picture.
Hermann Wiemer is an iconic figure in Finger Lakes winemaking. He emigrated to the area in the 1960s bringing with him 300 years of family winemaking tradition from Germany’s Mosel Valley. German folk wisdom dictated that wine grapes would flourish where black cherry trees grew. Thus Hermann purchased 80 acres in Dundee, the site of the winery and the HJW Vineyard.

Today the Wiemer winery produces some of the top Riesling in America and regularly receives exemplary ratings from the wine press.

The winery building has a rustic barn façade with the retail shop and tasting room inside. The tasting bar is located in the tank room and looks out onto a sunny patio.

Green Dragon and I started the tasting with the 2009 Dry Riesling. This is considered their signature wine. One sip of this wine causes California Riesling to meekly slink away defeated with its tail between its legs. It’s the “real deal” and a beautiful wine. It has pronounced grapefruit flavors and beautiful balance and minerality. The wine is a blend of Wiemer’s three vineyards: Magdalena, Josef and HJW.

We next sampled the Frost Cuvee 2009. This is a blend of Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. It has a touch of sugar at 1.5% residual sugar. The bouquet was closed with almost no smell. There was some interesting minerality, but this was not a remarkable wine.
We ran through a trio of reds, the 2007 Pinot Noir, 2007 Field Cuvee and a young 2008 Cabernet Franc.

The Field Cuvee is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Lemberger and Pinot Noir. This is an enjoyable medium bodied wine that retails for $14. Field cuvees typically use a variety of different grapes that are grown in the same field and harvested together. Although this blend isn’t made this way, it is still an interesting wine.

Marissa Merwarth, wife of winemaker Fred, is part of the second generation of the Wiemer wine legacy. She stopped by to chat and answer question. “We’re proud of the history of this winery,” she said. “Our goal is to take it to the next level.” Part of that involves the production of single vineyard wines. The Magdalena, Joseph and HJW vineyards each have different, expressive terroir. The retail store features a display of soil samples from each of the sites.

The Dry Riesling Reserve 2009 is made from select grapes from each of the three vineyards. Although this wasn’t available for sampling, it has garnered many awards. Single vineyard Rieslings from each of the sites are also produced.

We sampled the Magdalena Vineyard Dry Riesling 2009 and it is one of the finest Dry Rieslings we have ever enjoyed. It is juicy and fresh with trademark minerality and a smidge of sweetness (1% residual sugar). The Magdalena Vineyard is the northernmost vineyard and has some of the warmest temperatures in the Finger Lakes. It was planted in 2000 and first produced wine in 2003. This wine is spectacular and deserving of every accolade. It retails for $36 and is an amazing value at that price.

As we were purchasing our bottles we ran into Fred Merwarth, the winemaker who apprenticed with Hermann for eight years. It gave us a chance to compliment him for his artistry with grapes.

Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards is a Riesling rock star.

Technorati Tags: wine,Finger Lakes

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Grapevines Sprout In Toledo Backyard Vineyard

Tasting Team member Josh Kessler has a green thumb – or maybe that should be a purple thumb. You could call him an urban farmer. In his backyard he has a 10-vine vineyard with great grape varieties including Riesling, Vignoles, Catawba, and Pinot Noir.

He is especially proud of his Pinot Noir and Riesling since he was told he wouldn’t be able to grow them here.

Take note of the owl protecting the vineyard from predators.

We’ll be sure to have a write-up when we get a chance to sample some of the wine.

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Wine Tastings & Events: July 6 –9, 2011

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Wednesday, July 6

The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. 1. Kiona Chenin Blanc, 2. Aqua Pumpkin Grenache, 3. Cascade Cliffs “Goat Head Red,” 4. Rosenblum “Eagle Point” Zinfandel. $8.50 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

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

Thursday, July 7

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. 1. Angoves – Limestone Coast – Chardonnay – South Australia, 2. Over The Edge – Pinot Noir – Martinborough, New Zealand, 3.Shiloh Road – Merlot – Sonoma County, California, 4. Toasted Head – Untamed Red – Red Blend – California. $4.00 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. The Fabulous Terry Thiese Portfolio Tasting. Nominal fee per sample.

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

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

TREO Wine Bar, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, (419) 882-2266. Wine & Cheese Thursday. Explore the wonderful world of wine and cheese. Try four different wines with a sample platter of the day’s cheese.

Friday, July 8
* Special Event * Toledo Museum of Art Wine by the Glass Pavilion series: Pacific Rim. 7:00 to 9:30 PM in the Glass Pavilion. Enjoy four wines, light snacks, and a view of glassmakers working in the Hot Shop. Prices are $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers.

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Riesling Tasting: 1. Gauthier G-Squared, 2. Valckenberg, 3. Monchof Kabinett, 4. Merkelbach Wurzgarten Spatlese. $15 tasting.

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

Saturday, July 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. Riesling Tasting: 1. Gauthier G-Squared, 2. Valckenberg, 3. Monchof Kabinett, 4. Merkelbach Wurzgarten Spatlese. $15 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM. Saturday wine tasting: Bastille Day (July 14th) is just around the corner. So join us this Saturday for our annual Bastille Day Tasting, where we celebrate the glories of French wines. 1. Albert Bichot Clos de L’Eglise – Macon-Villages (Chardonnay), 2. Les Trois Couronnes Cotes du Rhone, 3. Les Trois Couronnes Gigondas, 4. Chateau Gravas Sauternes. $4.50 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12 Noon – 5:00 PM. Summer Blockbusters – Old World Edition. Fresh delicious wines from Old World Wine Countries
France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, & more. Pay by the sample or flight.

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.

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. Spanish Fiesta wine flight ~ 5 wines, includes an appetizer and dessert for one. Cost is $15.

AREA WINE BARS

• Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
• Vino 100 Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 866-8466, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite C, Maumee.
• Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.

Technorati Tags: wine

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

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Whitehaven 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

A recent trip to San Diego took me to Ostero’s a stylish restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter. It’s known for its seafood, as well as its wine tower. I was told that the waitresses would actually rappel down the tower to grab your selected wine.

No such rappelling was going on (unfortunately) during our dinner, but I was able to enjoy a very nice 2009 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough). Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand’s Marlborough region is one of the ideal wines for pairing with seafood.

After a walk from our hotel through the Gaslamp District, the Whitehaven has just the refreshing treat we needed. Straw-like in color, it had a lively citrus aroma with a grassy smell of herbs.

This is a medium bodied wine with a clean taste of minerality and citrus. To me, the wine had less pop than other Marlborough wines I’ve tried. The pairing with the sea bass special, however, was sensational. The wine has a beautiful dry finish.

This wine is a great match for seafood and shellfish as well as poultry. It’s also a spot-on selection for chillin’ during a hot summer day.

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