Finger Lakes Gears Up For 2010 Riesling Launch

The arrival of the 2010 Finger Lakes Rieslings will be celebrated the week of September 19-24 with the national debut of the 2010 Rieslings from 30 Finger Lakes wineries.

2010 was an excellent year for Finger Lakes Rieslings and the occasion will be highlighted with a special Riesling Hour virtual tasting on Thursday, September 22, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM EDT. Gatherings will be held at restaurants, wineries and homes with tastings commenting in real time on Twitter, Facebook and blogs.

TWAV will be participating and sharing our thoughts about the newest vintage of one of our favorite wines. To whet your appetite, check out the video about Finger Lakes Riesling.

 

Technorati Tags: wine,Riesling,Finger Lakes wine,Riesling Hour

Related articles

• Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Red Newt Cellars Named Among Wine & Spirits Magazine's 2011 Top 100 Wineries of the Year (prweb.com)
• World Class Riesling in Finger Lakes Wine Country, New York (prweb.com)
• Finger Lakes Winery Visit: Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard (toledowinesandvines.blogspot.com)
• Finger Lakes Winery Visit: Lakewood Vineyards (toledowinesandvines.blogspot.com)

2010 SOHO Black Label Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

This expressive New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc was the second half of an outstanding online wine purchase. For $25 I purchased a “duo” of Sauvignon Blanc from SOHO, a cool Marlborough winery through Lot 18, which offered free shipping.

One bottle was the White Label, which was billed as the everyday drinker. Everyday must be nice in New Zealand because it was rated very highly by us. The Black Label is dubbed as the choice for special occasions.

A side by side tasting would have been ideal, but as things turned out, we tasted each about a week apart, starting with the White Label.

The White was like a rogue ocean wave hitting you in the face on a sunny summer day. It was crisp and refreshing. We were looking forward to tasting the “dark side” with the Black Label.

The Black Label begins with a splash of lime. There is also a fleshy, herbal quality to go along with the bright fruit. It gives the wine a fuller mouthfeel and a layer of nuance not found in the White Label.

The acidity is mouthwatering and the overall sensation very refreshing. The wine can stand alone or pair beautifully with seafood. Black or White label is a good choice with the Black flashing a bit more sophistication.

 

Technorati Tags: wine,Sauvignon Blanc,New Zealand wine

Related articles

• Meet Sauvignon Blanc - The Rebel (rveroniquefitzgerald.blogspot.com)
• Sauvignon Blanc our pick for Chicken Piccata (kitsapsun.com)
• SOHO 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough (toledowinesandvines.blogspot.com)
• Whitehaven 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough (toledowinesandvines.blogspot.com)

Colorado Winery Visit: Canyon Wind Cellars

The wine at Canyon Wind Cellars is as refreshing as the spectacular scenery at the Palisade, Colorado, winery. This was the third in a quartet of winery stops we made earlier this month in the Grand Valley AVA of Colorado.

The winery was founded in 1996 and is run by the Christianson family with able assistance from Napa Valley winemaker Robert Pepi.

Patriarch Norman Christianson is a retired geologist  whose trained eye recognized the unique setting in Palisade, Colorado – the cobblestone bench, abundant water, fertile soil, cool mountain breezes and low humidity – was perfect for growing high-altitude wine grapes.

We were immediately impressed by the locale of the winery. Winds through the canyon ruffled the vineyard leaves while the surrounding rough, rocky mesas jutted into the picturesque blue sky.

Ready for some vino after a long day of traveling, we stepped into the small but impressive tasting room.
Canyon Wind has 35 acres under vine divided between two vineyards: the Riverside Vineyard and the Cliffside Vineyard. They have an impressive array of wines. With the help of our server Pam, we began tasting through their goods.

We kicked off with the ‘09 Pinot Grigio. This was a light bodied wine with a slight hint of honey. Another white, the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, soon followed. Like the Grigio, this is 100% Cliffside Vineyard. This was another light bodied wine that lacked the snap of a New Zealand Sauv Blanc, but was refreshing.

The wine lineup began to shine with the reds. We opened with the ‘09 Cabernet Franc that came from the Riverside Vineyard. The wine is aged for 15 months in oak and has a supple body with flavor notes of cranberries and blueberries. This is a nicely balanced wine that drinks well.

We were interested in tasting the ‘09 Tempranillo because we learned that this would be the last vintage of this wine for CWC. Pam told us that the winery was going to remove the Tempranillo vines and replant with the more popular Malbec. This was a lush wine with red fruit and touches of vanilla. The wine sprang from an experimental planting. It’s a great wine and we hate to see it go. Grab a bottle now if you still can! This was our favorite and we picked up a bottle.

We finished with a strong trio of reds that shows the strength and diversity of the CWC lineup. The ‘08 Petit Verdot was a rich dark wine with deep flavors of black cherry, the ‘07 Syrah had a complex swirl of flavors with earth and roasted meat, and the ‘05 elegant ‘05 Cabernet Sauvignon was remarkable. The Cab is a blend from the two vineyards with rich plum and cherry and notes of mocha. This is the flagship wine of Canyon Wine and it is easy to see why. It’s a complex wine with potential for aging that displays Colorado winemaking at its best. It sells for $26.
Two other CWC bottles warrant mention – and they “cover the waterfront” in terms of price. The first is IV, a handcrafted, very limited blend of the best Petit Verdot, Cab Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. No samples were available as this wine retails for $100. We’re told that the wine is a popular seller despite the price. More accessible is the 47-Ten red, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This is an easy drinking winemaker’s blend that costs $13. We also bought a bottle of this and enjoyed it during a late night family gathering in Telluride. The name comes from the altitude of the vineyard, 4,710 feet above sea level. This wine is high-altitude in terms of value too.

CWC is a scenic winery fueled by awesome estate vineyards and savvy winemaking. It’s a top pick for those seeking some of the best wines Colorado has to offer.

Technorati Tags: wine,tempranillo,Colorado wine

Related articles

• Colorado Winery Visit: Whitewater Hill Vineyards (toledowinesandvines.blogspot.com)
  
• Colorado Winery Visit: Mesa Park Vineyards (toledowinesandvines.blogspot.com)
  
• Early Morning Flight, Late Night Colorado Wine (toledowinesandvines.blogspot.com)

Wine Tastings & Events: September 14-17, 2011

Image of Giacomo Mori via Snooth

Wednesday, September 14

The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Wait…what? Four lesser-known wines. Come experience these unusual treasures: 1. Toricino Fiano di Avellino, 2. Domaine Chandon Pinot Meunier, 3. Corti Benedettine del Padovano Raboso, 4. Le Rivesaltes de Leonie Vin Doux Naturel. $9 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Fritz Winery Wines (with special guest). $15.

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. 6-9 PM. Wine Tasting. Cost is $15.

Thursday, September 15

* Special Event * -- 4th Annual Wine and Wishes fundraiser, benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Ohio. The event will take place on Thursday, September 15, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on the boulevard at Levis Commons. Wines from Heidelberg Distributing, appetizers from Levis Commons restaurants and live music by Hepcat Revival. Tickets $50. Call 419-931-8888, or online at www.ShopLevisCommons.com.

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Take a trip to Italy: 1. Branchni – Pignoletto, 2. Giacomo Mori – Chianti, 3. Sasyr – Sangiovese and Syrah, 4. Masi – Campofiorin Rippaso – Corvina, Molinara, Rondinella. $5 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. French Wine Values: 1. Jean-louis Denois Brut Sparkling Chardonnay, 2. Plan Pegau Cote du Rhone, 3. Les Terrasses de Bouey Bordeaux, 4. Chateau Des Leotins Bordeaux, 5. Cuvee Alice Ollieux Romanis, 6. Domaine du Dragon Provence, 7. Les Trois Couronnes Chateauneuf du Pape, 8. Domaine Cady Coteaux du Layon. Nominal fee per sample.

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

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Purple Feet: First of our portfolio tastings showcases Purple Feet Distributing, of Macedonia, Ohio, a small, boutique-based distributor with a strong focus on high-quality California wines. We'll be joined by Purple Feet wine associate, Angela Pringle. This tasting is going to be chock full of fantastic California Cabernet, Pinot Noir, and many others. 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, September 16

* Special Event * Toledo Museum of Art Wine by the Glass Pavilion series: Passion's Fruit: Pinot Noir. 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. Grapes Off the Beaten Path: 1. Borsao Macabeo, 2. Beaulieu Picpoul de Pinet, 3. Ciconia Aragonez/Syrah/Touriga Nacional, 4. Odfjel "Orzada" Carmenere. $10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Purple Feet: First of our portfolio tastings showcases Purple Feet Distributing, of Macedonia, Ohio, a small, boutique-based distributor with a strong focus on high-quality California wines. We'll be joined by Purple Feet wine associate, Angela Pringle. This tasting is going to be chock full of fantastic California Cabernet, Pinot Noir, and many others. Nominal fee per sample.

Saturday, September 17

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Grapes Off the Beaten Path: 1. Borsao Macabeo, 2. Beaulieu Picpoul de Pinet, 3. Ciconia Aragonez/Syrah/Touriga Nacional, 4. Odfjel "Orzada" Carmenere. $10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM. Saturday Wine Tasting. 1. Niner Sauvignon Blanc, 2. Le Lapin Speed Bump, 3. Bogle Phantom, 4. Mulderbosch Rosé. $2.50 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. The Last Great Rosé Tasting of the Year. Fall is less than a week away. So let us celebrate the end of Summer with delicious Rosés from around the world. And if you haven’t tasted these crisp, dry, and refreshing wines – make sure you attend.

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

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. 6-9 PM Wine flight TBA. 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.]

Related articles

• Colorado Winery Visit: Whitewater Hill Vineyards (toledowinesandvines.blogspot.com)
  
• Cava from Sant Sadurni D'Anoia: Berberana, Marqués de la Concordia, Marqués de Monistrol (i-winereview.blogspot.com)
  
• Rosé Makes a Comeback! (redwinediva.wordpress.com)

Vino 100 Maumee Celebrates 6th Anniversary

Vino 100, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite D, Maumee, (419) 866-8466, is celebrating its 6th anniversary with special activities this week. Tonight (Tuesday, September 13) from 6:00 to 9:00 PM  there will be a tasting of wines from Franciscan Winery. Featured wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and the higher end Magnificant. The tasting will include salmon crostinis, tomato bruschetta, and capresse salad on a skewer. Cost is $25.

The 2007 Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon, which received 94 points from Wine Enthusiast will be on sale at a special price.

On Thursday, September 15, Vino 100 will be pouring more than 20 different wines for only $5 per glass until gone. Cake will also be served for the 6th anniversary celebration.

Photo by Angelo Cesare

Related articles

• Review: *** $ Abby Road Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State, 2008 (spiritofwine.blogspot.com)
  
• Gilbert Cellars: Through a Vertical Lens (winepeeps.com)
  
• Caldwell Family Winery: An Urban Oasis of Texas Wine in Downtown Houston (vintagetexas.com)

Colorado Winery Visit: Whitewater Hill Vineyards

Our second Colorado winery visit took us to the “handgrown, handpicked and handcrafted” wines of Whitewater Hill Vineyards in Grand Junction. This was less than two minutes from our first stop at Mesa Park Vineyards.

Walking into the tasting room, you can’t help but notice the well-kept vines with the palisade in the background against the “bluebird” sky of Colorado. That’s just the thing to set the mood for tasting some wine.

Nancy Janes,  Whitewater’s winemaker, was on hand to help us taste through their wines. We opened with the 2009 No Oak Chardonnay, which featured a clean, light taste with hints of grapefruit.

The next wine was perhaps the best white we sampled during our four-winery swing through the Grand Valley AVA: the 2010 Barrel Select Chardonnay. This not only had light citrus fruit, but just the right touch of “toast” due to the aging in oak barrels. A flavor note of vanilla helped round out a well balanced glass. Green Dragon doesn’t care for oakiness, but she thought this was excellent.

The 2006 Merlot was big with spiciness and soft oak.The dark berries rumble in this tasty wine. The 2008 Shiraz has a slight sweetness, perhaps only an impression based on the fruit forward style.This is a wine that jams and is jammy as well.

Continuing the tour of reds we sampled the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is aged 30 months in oak. It is light in style with taste of blackberries. The 2008 Cab Franc exhibited some tannins, but was a big, full-bodied wine with dark berry flavor notes.

The closer was a special wine indeed. The 2008 Ethereal is a true reserve wine that isn’t made every year – only when the grapes are exceptional. It is a complex blend of Cab Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. It is only available at the tasting room.

Ethereal uses Nancy’s favorite barrels of wine blended into a big wine with structured tannins and flavor notes of currants and spice.The is a great bottle that sells for $29 (compared with the rest of the line which sells from $12 to $18.

Whitewater Hill is an estate winery with an enviable record of awards. the tasting room is inviting and friendly. Stop by for a visit soon and get a splash of Whitewater.

Technorati Tags: wine,Colorado wine,Chardonnay

Related articles

• Colorado Winery Visit: Mesa Park Vineyards (toledowinesandvines.blogspot.com)
  
• Millbrook Chardonnay tops Hudson Valley competition (timesunion.com)
  
• Early Morning Flight, Late Night Colorado Wine (toledowinesandvines.blogspot.com)