Saturday, July 30, 2011

Vintage Ohio Wine Festival Scheduled August 5-6; Special Discount Is Available

It’s almost here. The Vintage Ohio Wine Festival is scheduled August 5 and 6 at the Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland. The event showcases Ohio wineries and is packed with entertainment, gourmet food, crafts, exhibits and wine.

Toledo Wines and Vines and the Ohio Wine Producers Association are offering you a very special discount on tickets. By ordering your tickets by using a special promotional code, you can purchase your tickets for $19 instead of the regular advance ticket price of $25 or the $27 price at the gate.
To take advantage of this deal, order your tickets here. In the information box, type in this special discount code: TWV2011.

Twenty-four Ohio wineries are scheduled to take part in the event which runs from 1:00 to 10:00 PM each day. The event is in a great outdoor setting off of I-90 east of Cleveland.
This is fun in the sun at its best. Unwind and uncork at Vintage Ohio 2011

Technorati Tags: ,,
Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, July 29, 2011

Virginia Winery Visit: Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery

The second Virginia winery stop on our Wine Bloggers’ Conference mystery bus tour was Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery. Cardinal Point earned its spurs as a vineyard before construction of a winery building in 2002. Our tour leaders were winemaker Tim Gorman and his sister Sarah.

To help us knock off the road dust and revive from the heat, we enjoyed a 2009 Barrel Select Chardonnay in the tasting room. This had a bright, refreshing flavor of crisp green apples.

We then crossed the walkway to the winery and descended into the tank and barrel room. This was Tim the winemaker’s domain.

The tasting continued with a dry Cab Franc Rose’. Another great choice for a swelteringly hot day. This is a lively wine with a surprising thread of banana. It retails for $15.

Tim then led us through a tasting of the ‘09 Riesling/Gewürztraminer, a sassy wine that has just a touch of sweetness. The grapes marry very well with the minerality of the Riesling helping to mellow the floral aspects of the Gerwurz.

The next wine captured the crowd. The 2009 Cab. F + Vio is a blend of 95% Cabernet Franc and 5% Viognier. The red and white grapes are fermented together. The wine has a round, supple flavor of cherry and blackberries. The addition of just a small amount of Viognier makes this a smooth ride indeed. ****

Winemaker Tim Gorman
There was no drop-off with the next wine, the 2009 Clay Hill Cabernet Franc. Tim described it as a typical Virginia Cab Franc with herbaceous flavors. Sure it was typical – if awesomeness is typical in the Old Dominion! This is 100% Cab Franc with a mélange of warm berry taste. ***+

We were in for quite a surprise next. Tim pulled out an 18-year old bottle of Afton Mountain Winery Cabernet Franc. The wine was from grapes supplied by Cardinal Point and bottled for release in 1994. At the time the wine was very tannic and there were some upturned noses.

Not today! The tannins integrated beautifully with the brambly fruit for a well structured and aged wine with a rewarding finish.**** Tim said he thought there was a flaw in the wine – if so, no one present detected it.

I made a mental photograph of the moment. Here was the winemaker, sharing a rare bottle with new friends in the barrel room of his family’s winery. There were smiles all around.
That Cab Franc was great! I'd like some more.

I paused on the way out for a sip of Union, a new red blend of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon and to enjoy the antics of Gracie, the winery dog.

Cardinal Point produces captivating wines and none top $25. The family friendliness and creative winemaking with Virginia grapes makes this a great stop on your next wine caravan.

Technorati Tags: ,,
Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Virginia Winery Visit: WBC 11 Bus Visits Flying Fox Vineyard

Part of the magic of the Wine Bloggers’ Conference is the mystery bus tour. You load onto a bus for a trip to two or three wineries and vineyards never quite knowing where you’re going until you are underway. At WBC11 in Charlottesville, Green Dragon and I took what surely must have been the best tour of all visiting three standout Virginia wineries.

As we got underway, we learned that we were headed to Nelson County, which has only one stoplight, but 10 wineries and at least three breweries. It’s all part of the effort to build the “agri-tainment” industry.We were getting a chance to visit a small, medium and large winery.

Our first stop was the Flying Fox Vineyard tasting room. in Afton. This is a micro-sized tasting room that has a stated limit of 15 persons – but it packs a lot of luscious flavor into its friendly confines. The winery is family run, by Lynn Davis and Rich Evans, and has 6.5 acres of vineyard. This is small production winemaking at its best.

We started the tasting with two Viogniers, a 2009 from the Shenandoah Valley AVA and a 2010 from the
Monticello AVA. The Shenandoah had beautiful citrus flavor notes and a dry finish. Surprisingly the 2010 was a bit mellower and had a smidge more residual sugar. The growing season was very hot and the grapes were harvested early.

Viognier is Virginia’s signature grape and the state’s best can stand proudly with the top whites in the US.

Flying Fox taught us an important lesson about Virginia wine: You will be surprised by the high quality of Virginia reds.

We then moved into a vertical flight of Petit Verdot. The Petit Verdot I’ve tasted has mostly been used as a blending wine, with 5% here and 7% there. The 2006 Monticello Petit Verdot flipped the tables with a blend of 75% Petit Verdot and 25% Merlot. It was a true eye-opener with rich mouthfeel with a smooth approach and mellow finish. This was one of the standout wines of the trip and we bought a bottle of this.****+

Continuing on we moved to the 2007 Petit Verdot***, which I judged to be earthier than the ‘06. While still a delight, it was ranked below the other two PV. The finale for the vertical tasting was the 2008 100% Petit Verdot. This is barrel-aged for two years. This had a bit more firmness and a captivating sour cherry flavor. This is also a winner.****

On the tasting sheet two additional wines were listed as “and if time permits…” Well, I was going to be sure that time did indeed permit. since they were two small production Cabernet Francs. The first was the 2007 Shenandoah Valley Cab Franc with 88% Cab Franc and 12% Petit Verdot. The grapes for this vintage came from Lynn’s sister’s vineyard when a contract fell through right before harvest. The grapes were smaller
berries on small clusters. 195 cases were produced. The wine is a pure expression of Cab Franc with no bite whatsoever. ****+

The 2008 Monticello Cabernet Franc is estate grown with 90% Cab Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. This had more tannins and more noticeable pepper than the ‘07, but is indeed awesome. ****

We finished with a bonus tasting of Flying Fox Red, a red blend geared for the sweeter palate.

Flying Fox is a great experience for wine lovers. You'll be rewarded with well made boutique wine and stunning scenery.

Technorati Tags: ,,
Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Wine Tastings & Events: July 27-30, 2011



Bookmark and Share
Wednesday, July 27
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Extremis: 1. Arca Nova Vinho Verde, 2. Domaine DelSol Picpoul de Pinet, 3. Cameron Hughes “Lot 244,” 4. Orin Swift “The Prisoner.” $8.50 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Value Wines - Quality Juice at Quantity Prices, great bang for the buck. $15.
Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. Party Pleasers wine tasting snacks served. Cost is $15.

Thursday, July 28
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio, same grape, many flavors: 1. San Pietro – Pinot Grigio – Italy, 2. Coppola – Bianco – Pinot Grigio – Geyserville, California, USA, 3. Cleebourg – Pinot Gris – Alsace, France, 4. Anne Amie – Pinot Gris – Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA. $4.50 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

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

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Value Wines - Quality Juice at Quantity Prices, great bang for the buck. $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 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. Red Summer Sweeties: 1. Oliver Soft Red, 2. Hazlitt Red Cat, 3. Huber Sweet Marcella, 4. Grand Traverse Sweet Red. $10 tasting.

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


Saturday, July 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. Red Summer Sweeties: 1. Oliver Soft Red, 2. Hazlitt Red Cat, 3. Huber Sweet Marcella, 4. Grand Traverse Sweet Red. $10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM. Cameron Hughes Wines: 1. Lot 217 Russian River Sauvignon Blanc, 2. Lot 266 Los Carneros Pinot Noir, 3. Lot 230 Chalk Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, 4. Lot 259 Chenin Blanc/Riesling. $3.00 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12 Noon – 5:00 PM. Wines of Ampelography with Adam Mahler.Adam Mahler is back with a collection of interesting, small production wines from across his portfolio. 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. Wine flight ~includes appetizer & dessert for 1 . 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:
[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]
Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Sipping On Acai Berry: Wine Guy Takes A Cocktail Break

Tasting Team member Josh Kessler was invited to Ruby Tuesday, 2915 Glendale, Toledo, to sample their new line of cocktails. He filed this report:

Casey and I were invited to taste a new line of cocktails at Ruby Tuesday that included the new liquor, VeeV, the world's first spirit derived from the Amazon Acai berry (pronounced ah-SIGH-ee).  Acai is considered the world's superfruit and contains loads of heart-healthy anthocyanins and more antioxidants than both pomegranates and blueberries.

Let me first give a little background on VeeV.  This is a company dedicated to renewable energy, conservation, and preservation of the rain forests.  Other than the Acai berry, which is only found in Brazil, all ingredients are found locally and within 500 feet of the distiller.  The VeeV bottle is made from partially recycled glass and is printed with soy ink.  One dollar of every bottle sold goes to rainforest preservation.  VeeV is the only certified carbon neutral spirits company in the world.

Upon arrival to Ruby Tuesday Friday night, me being a wine guy, I immediately noticed a better-than-average wine selection on the wall.  Director Mike Hemmig happily greeted us and was very informative of both the VeeV product as well as the positive direction and vision the company is taking as a whole.  We tried two VeeV cocktails, starting with the
  Acai Mojito.

This was an interesting blend of flavors, including mint, fresh lime, agave nectar, and pomegranate.  Acai is something that tastes "different" as first, but grows on you until you love it!  It's great, and I would recommend trying it.

Next is the Superfruit Cooler that really took me by surprise.  Cucumbers in a fruit drink?  I don't even like cucumbers...but I sure loved this!  The Superfruit Cooler contains VeeV, of course, Absolut Berri Acai vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh cucumber, and agave nectar.  You get all kinds of fruit flavor in a glass, accented by the cucumbers.  Casey and I voted this the best of the two, by far.  This is a favorite of the staff as well.

It was a great time talking with Mike.  When I mentioned the wine selection, he stated that it is all part of the commitment the company is taking to become the restaurant of choice when it comes to a quality selection
of food and drinks.  Ruby Tuesday is one of the very few restaurants currently serving the VeeV spirit, so why not support two great companies, Ruby Tuesday and VeeV, and support a great cause as well?!
Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, July 25, 2011

Michigan Winery Visit: The Fox Barn Winery

What's better than 20,000 screaming, sweaty fans at a music festival? How about a refreshing glass of Michigan wine and a scenic tour of the state's western shore?

We took a break from the recent Electric Forest festival in Rothbury, Michigan, to visit a couple of nearby wineries. The Fox Barn Agricultural Marketplace and Winery focuses on fruit wines which we normally don't seek out. But the day was beautiful and the winery was nearby, so we piled in the car to check it out.

The Fox Barn is a nice destination for any traveler in the Silver Lake area of Western Michigan. The winery is in Shelby, a couple minutes from the waters of Lake Michigan and the sand dunes of Silver Lake. We also stopped at a scenic lighthouse before quenching our thirst.

This winery is known best for -- of all things -- wine made from asparagus. Shelby has a big asparagus festival and I guess the drink of choice is asparagus wine. Unfortunately (or maybe not) they were sold out of asparagus vino during our visit.

The offerings are easy-drinking, non-vintage wines that range from semi-dry to semi-sweet at a budget-minded price point. We started with the Harvest Red, a smokey blend of Marechal Foch, Chancellor and Rogen. We had to adjust our mindset, since Green Dragon and I prefer the drier side of the spectrum. Our friend Willy was along and he has unabashed appreciation for the sweeter stuff.

Our next sample was Harvest Tart, a wine made from the essence of Montmorency Cherries. This was dry and tart.

During our unconventional visit, the white wine came next with the Harvest White, a blend of Vidal Blanc, Seyval, Vignoles, Muscat, and Cayuga. This was simple but satisfying.

We closed out our tasting with the Harvest Rose'. Unfortunately, our server wasn't familiar with rose' and so kept referring to this as the Harvest Rose (as in the flower). By whatever name you call it, this was a light and refreshing Catawba wine with a hint of berries.

This is a fun wine tasting experience and the Fox Barn itself is a shopper's delight, with plenty of produce (including Michigan cherries) and unique gifts. It's fun for children as well as adults. Fox Barn also produces hard ciders.

Green Dragon and I enjoyed the wine tasting, but Willy loved it. He came away with a case of wine which he said would be just perfect for a hot day on the patio.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Sunday, July 24, 2011

WBC 11: Live Wine Blogging - The Reds!


A belated post from the WBC 11... It's time for live wine blogging Part 2. Five minutes for each wine. Here are the notes:

Decibel Hawkes Bay NZ 2009 Malbec. Tiny production. 50 cases. $18 retail. Vanilla and oak. Lighter style. Coming to 4 or 5 states. Different style than Argentina. Pair with lamb, roasted veggies. ***

Rodney Strong Alexander's Crown 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. Single vineyard. Sonoma Valley. Alexander Valley. $75. Earthy nose with some chocolate. ***1/2

Château Edmus 2007. St. Emilion Grand Cru. $30. Very smooth Bordeaux. Dark berries. Some tobacco. ****

Veritas Pet it Verdot 2009 Monticello, VA. Drinks smooth. Minimal tannins. Winemaker's favorite red. Nice balance. Five acres planted. $25. Some black pepper. ****

Luis Can as Reserva 2003. 95% Tempranillo. Green pepper and vegetal flavor. Fruit bright. Not a favorite. **

Artesia, Carneros, CA. 2009 Pinot Noir. Light body. Complex with red fruit. $20 to $25. Not yet on market. ***1/2.

Rappahannock Cellars 2009 Cabernet Franc. Mellow and flavorful Cab Frac. Slight pepper punch on the end. Glenway Vineyard.***1/2.

2009 Tapena Tempranillo. $10. Barbecue summer wine from Spain. Tasty for the price. ***

Jefferson Vineyards 2005 Petit Verdot Reserve, Virginia. 60 cases. ****

Keswick Vineyards. 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. Monticello, VA. Governor's Cup winner. 75% Cab, 25% Merlot. $35. Beautiful full body. Fresh. Smokey black cherry. ****

Talisman 2007 Red Dog Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Mountain. Unfiltered. $46. 218 cases. Delicate flavors. The grapes do the talking. ****1/2

Lovingston 2006 Pinotage, VA. Old school value. Warm flavor notes with vegetal taste. Well constructed. Unique. Hand-picked, gravity flow, small lot. $24. ****

Saturday, July 23, 2011

WBC11: Wine Reception at Monticello Is One Hot Evening!


It’s the goal of the Virginia governor and the state’s winemakers to become the most notable wine state in the East. As part of the 2011 Wine Bloggers’ Conference in Charlottesville, Virginia Wine pulled out all the stops with a wine tasting reception at Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello.

More than 30 wineries poured their best while the crowd numbering more than 300 sampled and dined on local delicacies like shrimp and grits and pork belly sliders.

For me, the top varietal continues to be the Viognier.Tarara and Pippin Hill had great Viogniers. Another standout white was Barboursville Vineyards 2010 Vermentino Reserve. This is a grape I haven’s sampled before and it was fragrant and ripe with a touch of minerality – just what was needed on a sweltering hot night.

The heat index was well over 100 and the reception was outside with the wine being poured under a large tent. The heat caused me to focus on the whites – it was just too darn hot for the reds, which was unfortunate.

We were able to tour Monticello and ol’ TJ had a pretty fancy home. Perhaps the nicest feature was the air conditioning. One fellow blogger was commenting on how miserably hot it was, how she didn’t want to move, and so on. I couldn’t resist. I told her to go inside that they were having a special demonstration of Monticello’s furnace room – perhaps she’d enjoy that!

Technorati Tags: ,,

Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, July 22, 2011

WBC11: Live Wine Blogging - Whites and Rose'


Sample a wine every five minutes for one hour? Sure, no problem. This is the Wine Bloggers' Conference version of speed dating. It's fast and fun and some great new wines were discovered.

Shindig Vidal Blanc/Riesling 2010, Finger Lakes - All Seneca Lakes grapes. 410 cases. Refreshing taste. Good with Oriental food. *** Available in NYC and DC. Riesling grapes from Anthony Road.

Veritas Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - Monticello AVA in Virginia. ***

Festival Rose 2009, Bordeaux. Château Le Gay. Food friendly. ** Price $13.

Rodney Strong 2008 Russian River Valley Reserve Chardonnay. Okay and buttery. Retails for $35 to $40. Apple and toast. Nice sophisticated Chard. ***1/2

Decibel 2009 Hawkes Bye Sauvignon Blanc. First release. Hotter than Marlborough. Only 1,000 cases. $16. **** Fruit riper.

Afton Mountain 2008 Tete du Cuvee Brut. 50-50 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Great sparkler from VA winery. $30. ****

Llano Estacado Vivana 2009, Texas. Blend of Gerwurz, Riesling, Viognier, and Muscat Canelli. Retail $22.95. Dry. Nice blend. 500 cases. **

wbc_thumb[7]Château Morrisette Dry Rose. 100% Chambourcin. Roanoke, VA. * I love Chambourcin, but this missed the mark for me.

Boxwood Winery Rose 2010. Cab Sauvignon and Merlot. All Estate grown. Only produce red wines. Former owners of the Washington Redskins. **

Barboursville Viognier 2009 Reserve. Citrus and lemon peel. Age on the lees. Viognier can take the heat. Refeshing. **1/2

Tabarrini Montefalco Adormando 2008. Ageable and interesting. Trebbiano and Spoletino. Full structured. Cool but I'm not feellng it. **

Michael Shaps Viognier 2008. All wild fermentation and aged in stainless. 200 cases. Retails for $30. ****

WBC11: Why You Should Drink Local

Panelist encourage drinking local
Report From Wine Bloggers Conference, Charlottesville -- Panelists Lenn Thompson, Remy Charest and Dave McIntyre are covering a subject dear to our hearts: Drinking Local. We believe in local wine. To us, nothing beats sampling a newly discovered wine, talking it over with the winemaker all while looking out from the winery at the grapes that go into the bottle.

"I appreciate knowing who has grown the grapes in the wine I'm drinking," said Thompson. He went on to say that you can find outstanding wine in non-classic places and feel the joy of experiencing a local food sensation.

Remy said it is important to make wine that defines the region's character. Virginia winemakers are focusing on their signature grape of Viognier. It's quite good and I'm looking forward to sampling more tonight at the reception at Monticello.
Enhanced by Zemanta

International Wine Tasting Kicks Off North American Wine Bloggers’ Conference



The 2011 Wine Bloggers’ Conference kicked off in fine fashion with an International Wine reception at the Charlottesville Omni. Green Dragon and I drove in from Toledo and used the trip to visit the scenic areas of Virginia and cruise the Skyline Drive. The views were sensational. The temperatures were so hot that the park ranger advised us against a mile-long hike we had planned. as we descended into Charlottesville, the mercury creeped up to the 103-degree mark.

After a quick dip in the pool, we surreptitiously slipped to the “secret” tasting of Chilean wines. For us one of the finest wines of the evening was the 2006 Casa Silva Carmenere (*****).  Carmenere is Green Dragon’s new favorite red wine. This was succulent with a bit of spice and a full body. Also making an impression (and just a notch below the Casa Silva) was the Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon (****).


We slipped out for dinner to Fellini's, about two blocks away, for some soup and salad before jumping into the International Reception.

Notable wines included:
Dourthes Le Grand Cuvee 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (France) ***
Negre Scala Dei 2009 Garnacha (Spain) ***
Vina Zaca 2008 Rioja (Spain) ***
Vina Pomal Rioja (Spain) ***
Voga Sparkling Pinot Grigio (Italy) **1/2

Ca Montini Pinot Grigio Trentivo (Italy)  ***
Piccini Chianti Classico 2008 Tuscany (Italy) ****
Del Martino El Leon 2007 Carignan (Chile) ***1/2
Grey (Glacier) Single Block 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile)  ****

Technorati Tags: ,
Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, July 21, 2011

WBC 2011 Or Bust: Wine Bloggers Gather in Charlottesville, Virginia

wbc

More than 300 wine bloggers, new media innovators, and wine industry leaders are gathering July 22-24, 2011 in Charlottesville, Virginia for the fourth annual North American Wine Bloggers Conference - the premier conference for new media and the wine industry. This three-day symposium focuses on the unique intersection of wine with the world of new media including blogging, social media, and more.

Toledo Wines and Vines is happy to be part of the event for the second year. The Green Dragon and I will be covering the event and seeking out the best vino from hundreds of bottles being poured.

I want to give a shout-out to the sponsors of the event. They deserve a lot of credit for making the event possible. And since in the midst of the live wine blogging, I might forget to mention them, we’ll give them props right now.

Highlights of the event include an international wine reception, featuring wines from Chile, South Africa, Spain and France (among others), a reception focused on Virginia wines at Monticello, an Other 46 reception presenting wines from states other than California, Washington, Oregon and New York and live wine blogging.

My favorite part of the WBC is the visits to the wineries and vineyards, which includes “back stage” access to the winemakers and their best bottles.

Look for our reports in the days to come…

Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Wine Tastings & Events: July 20-23, 2011

Bookmark and Share
Wednesday, July 20
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. France! 1. Jovly Vouvray, 2. Altitude 500 Ventoux, 3. Les Trois Couronnes Vacqueyras, 4. Les Trois Couronnes Gigondast. $9 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Creative Wines. $15.
Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. Blind Tasting cheese & fruit various snacks. Cost is $15.

Thursday, July 21
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Whites you’ve probably never heard of… 1. Taburno – Falanghina – Italy, 2. Domaine De Pouy – Gascogne, France, 3. Lenz Moser – Heuriger – Gruner Veltliner – Austria, 4. Domaine Bott Geyl – Pinot d’ Alsace Metiss – Alsace, France. $4.00 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Spanish & other Summer Wines: 1. Gazella Rose, 2. Vinum Chenin Blanc, 3. Domaine du Pouy Cote du Gascon, 4. Martin Codex Albarino, 5. Evodia Garnacha, 6. Tarima Tempranillo, 7. Chehalem Three Vineyards Pinot Noir, 8. Baron de Lay Rioja. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Creative Wine. $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 22
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Moscato Tasting: 1. Ed Hardy Moscato, 2. Villa M Moscato, 3. Montaribaldi Moscato d'Asti, 4. Santero Rose of Moscato. $10 tasting.

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


Saturday, July 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. Moscato Tasting: 1. Ed Hardy Moscato, 2. Villa M Moscato, 3. Montaribaldi Moscato d'Asti, 4. Santero Rose of Moscato. $10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM. The Best Way to Learn About Wine is to Taste It: 1. Riff Pinot Grigio, 2. Root 1 Carmenere, 3. Marquis Philips “Sarah’s Blend,” 4. Darting Riesling Kabinett.
$2.50 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12 Noon – 5:00 PM. 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. Joyce’s Picks  wine flight ~includes appetizer & dessert for 1 . 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:
[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]
Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Finger Lakes Winery Visit: Shaw Vineyard Winery


A recent “zip trip” through the Finger Lakes provided us the opportunity to make a return visit to Shaw Vineyard’s Seneca Lake tasting room. The small. unpretentious tasting room has an eclectic funkiness and gives visitors an intimate opportunity to sample some outstanding limited production wine.

Our previous visit to Shaw Vineyard was memorable, but for all the wrong reasons. This time it was a pleasurable experience we’re happy to recommend to others.

The tasting room is a simple wood structure that contrasts mightily with some of the temple-like structures erected by some of the larger Finger Lakes wineries. It’s a one-room affair with
a central tasting bar and a scattering of colorful, abstract oil paintings.

This visit to the tasting room had the most important decoration of all: a friendly and knowledgeable server! I’m typically in a jovial mood when I’m wine tasting in the Finger Lakes and I was given even more reason to smile when we entered the tasting room and I heard the strains of Neil Young from one of my favorite albums, Zuma.

After a quick tasting of an enjoyable Li Bella Pinot Grigio, we turned our focus to the reds. Winemaker Steve Shaw is known for his painstaking attention to detail with his wines. Whenever possible the grapes are worked by hand or with low-pressure processes so as to ensure every subtle nuance of the grapes is maintained. He has tried to utilize many of the techniques he observed during travels to Burgundy and Napa while adapting his practices to the cooler climate of the Finger Lakes. The wines also see considerable time in the barrel. We sampled the 2006 vintages of the Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir.

The Finger Lakes area is known for its outstanding Riesling and Cabernet Franc, but not so much for its Pinot Noir. Pinot is a finicky grape that can test the mettle of the best winemaker. Some Finger Lake Pinots are one dimensional: You get the varietal fingerprint, but not the subtleties that can elevate Pinot Noir to the ethereal.

The first swirl and sniff of the Shaw Pinot Noir revealed an unexpected complexity. The wine has smooth tannins with bright cherry flavors with flavors of earthiness and spice. This is a hand-crafted Pinot to savor.

Steve Shaw’s unique approach to winemaking creates some awesome wines and a great stop for you on your next visit to the Finger Lakes.
Technorati Tags: ,
Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, July 18, 2011

M. Chapoutier Belleruche Blanc Cotes-du-Rhone 2009


Cotes-du-Rhone is one of the world’s most celebrated wine regions, known primarily for its easy-drinking reds that offer superb value. This white wine from Michel Chapoutier is a great introduction to the region.

Belleruche Blanc is food-friendly wine with a cast of off-Broadway grapes that put on a command performance. It is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Clairette, and 20% Bourboulenc.

The wine is pale yellow in color. The aroma is of green apples, citrus, and exotic fruit. I found the wine refreshing with crisp acidity balanced with fat flavors of fruit.No oak is used, so the flavors are bright and fresh. The finish has good length.

It’s a serious and enjoyable wine. Refreshing as Sauvignon Blanc, but with an air of intrigue. The price tag is a mere $12.99. Wine from one of the best  French wine appellations for less than $13? Absolutely!

The Chapoutier family has been making wine in the Rhone Valley since the 19th century and have been leaders in sustainable winemaking. Another cool aspect of their wine is the label, which is overwritten in Braille so that visually impaired persons can read the name, appellation and other information to enhance their enjoyment.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.

Technorati Tags: ,
Enhanced by Zemanta

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Cleveland Wine Festival Scheduled July 29 and 30

The view from Prospect Avenue, looking westImage via WikipediaThe Cleveland Wine Festival presented by Giant Eagle will return to Voinovich Bicentennial Park in downtown Cleveland later this month.

Set for Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30, the sixth annual wine festival will offer a variety of tastings, food and wine education, and cooking demonstrations in a scenic setting on the shores of Lake Erie. Festival guests can taste from a selection of more than 270 international, domestic and Ohio wines and enjoy food from fine Northeast Ohio establishments, including La Strada, La Dolce Vita, Ponte Vecchio Ristorante, Zinc Bistro, Morton's The Steakhouse, and Angelo's Pizza of Lakewood.

Back by popular demand is the Belgian Beer Café featuring Belgian beers Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Leffe. The Lincoln Entertainment Stage will showcase live music throughout the two-day event featuring the Lloyd Dobler Effect and Michael Heaton Band.

Adult Wine Tasting Tickets are $27 in advance (purchased online) and $35 at the door. This ticket includes a souvenir wine glass, ten tastings, festival program, food and wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment, and the opportunity to purchase wine at a discount.

Additional tasting coupons may be purchased at the festival. Designated driver tickets are $10 in advance or at the door. This ticket includes two non-alcoholic drinks, festival program, food and wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment, and a souvenir wine glass upon departure. Those under 21 admitted free when accompanied by paid adult.

Among the wineries and distributors pouring wine are: Aveniu Brands, Banfi Vintners, Buckeye Distributing, Consellation Wines US, Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, E&J Gallo Winery, Ferrante Winery, Gnarly Head, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, Heck Estates, Laurello Vineyards, Maize Valley Winery, Mezzacorona Wines - Prestige Wine Imports, Michael David Winery, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Treasury Wine Estates, and Trinchero Family Estates. That's a pretty impressive lineup.

The Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center is featuring an exclusive “Sip, Savor and Sleep” package (available July 29 and 30 only). Call 216-696-9200 for reservations and details.

Sponsors of this year’s festival are: Giant Eagle, Lincoln, Bright Side of the Road Foundation, Stella Artois, Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center, U.S. Bank, and Aruba Tourism, with support from the following media partners – Cleveland Magazine, Ohio Magazine, Q104, Metromix Cleveland, The Wine Buzz and Cleveland.com.

The festival’s proceeds will benefit the Bright Side of the Road Foundation. The non-profit organization was founded by Chagrin Falls resident Barry Winovich to help find a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the devastating disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.  The 2011 Cleveland Wine Festival is produced and managed by inPLAY EVENTS, a corporate events and marketing consulting company.

Festival hours are Friday from 4:00 to 10:00 PM and Saturday from 3:00 to 9:00 PM. For more details, visit www.clevelandwinefestival.com or call 847-382-1480.

Bookmark and Share
Enhanced by Zemanta