Budding Wine Lovers Want To Know: What Is An AVA?

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As you tour the world searching for great vino, or maybe just scan the shelves at your local wine shop, you will come across the terms appellation or the acronym AVA. What exactly do these terms mean?
An appellation is a wine growing region. In the United States they are called American Viticultural Areas. These are the official grape growing regions that have been designated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF).

When a label lists an AVA, 85% of the grapes used for that wine must come from the AVA. AVAs are geographic areas that share the same soil, climate, elevation and other properties and give the wines particular characteristics. However, being from a particular AVA isn’t a guarantee of quality.

AVAs can be subdivided into smaller sections. For example, Stags Leap is a subdivision of Napa Valley. As you learn about different AVAs, you may discover that certain grapes grow well in specific AVAs. For example, Willamette Valley in Oregon is know for Pinot Noir and the Finger Lakes AVA is known for its great Riesling.

The largest AVA is the Ohio River Valley, which spans Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia with 16 million acres. More well known is the sprawling Columbia Valley AVA in Washington and bits of Oregon which has 11 million acres.

Some of the best known AVAs are in California including Napa Valley, Russian River Valley, Cry Creek Valley, Rutherford, Sonoma Valley, Mount Veeder and Howell Mountain.

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Toledo Museum of Art Announces Schedule for New Wine Tastings Paired with Art Tours

The Toledo Museum of Art’s popular wine tasting series has been enhanced for 2012 with the addition of free, Docent-led tours of objects in the collection that expand upon the theme of the tastings. For example, the first tasting in the series features wine by women winemakers, and the theme of the related tour is women artists. Eight tastings spanning January 13 through April 13 are slated.

The series—called “Art of the Vine”—runs from 7–9:30 p.m. on select Friday evenings during It’s Friday! programming. With the purchase of a wine tasting ticket ($15 members/$25 nonmembers, plus tax), visitors can sample four wines, light snacks, and a complimentary art tour at 7 or 8 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the TMA information desks; reservations are not required.

Locations for the 30-minute tours can be found online, or at the wine tasting galleries as listed below. Visit www.toledomuseum.org/events for the full schedule.
· January 13 Wine: Women Winemakers (Cloister) and Tour: Female Glass Artists.
· January 20 Wine: Roussillon Region French Wines (Cloister) and Tour: Cloister Architecture.
· January 27 Wine: Who’s Wine is it Anyway? (chef’s choice) (Cloister) and Tour: Surprise!
· February 10 Wine: Blowing Bubbles (GlasSalon) and Tour: Glass with Bubble Inclusions.
· March 9 Wine: Beware the Wines of March (cutting edge wines) (GlasSalon) and Tour: Iago’s Mirror (studio glass).
· March 16 Wine: When Irish Wines are Smiling (GlasSalon) and Tour: Campiello del Remer #2.
· April 6 Wine: Dionysus’ Delight (GlasSalon) and Tour: Ancient Drinking Vessels.
· April 13 Wine: Friends, Romans, Countrymen (GlasSalon) and Tour: Italian Art.

Technorati Tags: wine

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Pacific Estates 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles: A Friend Helps Untangle My Cables

After my epic adventure on Black Friday the appointed day finally arrived to set up my new HD television. It’s amazing how much work is involved in something that should be so simple.

Lending a hand was Ace of Bass, whose skills with audio equipment is legendary. Thank goodness, because the days of simply plugging in a TV and turning it on are long gone.

The system was straight forward enough compared to my old TV and stereo equipment, which was connected with a tangled spaghetti of cables and wires. There are four components, the TV, the Blu-Ray player, sound bar and satellite receiver. But that also means four remotes, three new manuals, two rooms full of Styrofoam (and a partridge in a pear tree!).

It goes without saying that wine was needed to complete the job.
We got a late start because I had an evening meeting. Green Dragon had prepared some snacks to keep us fuelled for the effort. We started with some 2008 Satek Winery Marechal Foch, an enjoyable bottle from our favorite Indiana winery.

After the initial set up, Ace of Bass punched various buttons and eventually the glorious picture illuminated casting a heavenly glow through the family room. Cascades of applause and a trumpet fanfare erupted (not really, but they should have).

As we continued to noodle with the finer points and battle to see who was smarter (us or the Smart TV) it was time for a reward. The 2003 Pacific Estates Cab is a wine that I loved when I picked it up a couple years ago at Vino 100. We enjoyed one bottle straightaway and set the other down for some aging.

Time has served it well. The cab has a luscious bouquet and a ripe flavor notes of blackberry and cherry. The tannins have mellowed and integrated into a superbly balanced wine. There is a lip smacking finish.

This is a high-definition wine with a crystal clear picture!

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Toledo Area Wine Tastings & Events: December 14-17, 2011

Image of Longboard Vineyards via Snooth

Wednesday, December 14
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Great Kosher wines for Hanukkah. We are out to prove that there is more to kosher wine than Manischewitz and Mogen David. 1. Galil Dry Rose (Galilee, Israel), 2. Golan Heights Yarden “Mount Hermon” Red (Galilee, Israel), 3. Golan Heights Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon (Galilee, Israel), 4. Borgo Reale Moscato D’Asti. Nominal fee per sample or $10 flight.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Rombauer Wine with representative Clyde Gilbert. $15 per flight.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 5:00 – 8:00 PM. The Best Values in the Store. Sample the finest wines in the store under $15. $15 per person.

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. 6-9 PM Special wine tasting. Paige Park from 55 degrees with wines great for holiday parties. 1. Toad Hollow Risque (sparkling palate cleanser), 2.  Valckenberg Riesling (semi-sweet, dry finish), 3. Mountain View Monterey Pinot Noir (easy to drink, fruity), 4. Mathew Fritz Cabernet (Napa), 5. Fritz Late Harvest Zin (a Zinful favorite). Paired with appetizer and dessert. Cost is $20.

Thursday, December 15
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Maumee’s Magnificent Line-Up: 1. 2004 Domaine J.L. Chave – Hermitage Blanc, $199.99; 2. 2006 Saddleback – Zinfandel, 3. 1999 Penfolds Grange – Hermitage, $226.99; 4. 2003 Chateau de Segur – Sauternes. $31 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Great wines to take to a party or dinner. 1. Alexandria Nicole Shepard’s Mark White, 2. Cameron Hughes Russian River Pinot Noir, 3. Pretense Zinfandel, 4. Cigar Box Malbec, 5. Longboard Vineyards Point Break Red, 6. Selby Merlot, 7. Leitz Dragonstone Riesling, 8. Smith-Woodhouse Late Bottle Vintage Port. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Rombauer 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, December 16
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Merry Merlots: 1. Domaine Sonoma Merlot, 2. Mercer Merlot, 3. Markham Merlot, 4. Abeja Merlot. $15 tasting.

Saturday, December 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. Merry Merlots: 1. Domaine Sonoma Merlot, 2. Mercer Merlot, 3. Markham Merlot, 4. Abeja Merlot. $15 tasting.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. The Last Tasting of the Year, Customer Appreciation Day. As our thank you for another great year, we are offering our best discounts of the year at this tasting. Premium tasting.

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 Special wine tasting.

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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Humble Wine Blog Not Immune to Email Scams

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As a wine blogger, I receive some interesting communications. I get emails asking for help locating hard to find wines. I get messages seeking assistance with rebates. One Saturday I got a phone call from someone wanting to make a reservation at a local wine bar and restaurant. And then there are emails like this…

Hello ,
We are interested in purchasing
:- 36 bottles Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne ( In gift boxes if avaialable )
:- 6 bottles Dom Perignon ( In gift boxes if avaialable )
Do confirm how soon you can have them ready as we need them for an event on Dec 24th . I'll wait to read from you with the total cost for the bottles . Do you accept MasterCard or Visa ? . Our Pickup men will come for the boxes as soon as the Credit card goes through .
Regards,
John

Sorry Mr. John Peterson, no sale.

The above email, which I’ve gotten from a number of “potential customers” is interesting, Of course, this is a wine blog and we don’t sell anything. Your antennae may go up at the dollar value of the sale, between $9,000 and $10,000. Cristal ain’t cheap. But the real scam doesn’t have to do with the product at all.

Once the scammer orders the wine, there is a problem. Since he lives out of the country, he’ll ask his shipping company to pick up the wine. You are asked to charge the sale and the shipping fee to the customer’s credit card but then wire the shipping fee since the shipping company is not set up to take credit cards. Of course, that's money you'll never see again and the credit card is a stolen one. Since the wine is being shipped overseas, the cost might be as high as $200 a case. I’ve also been able to track where this blog site has been searched for particular wines and then a scam email comes to me asking to order a wine that has been featured on the blog. 

It’s crazy in cyberspace – be careful out there!

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Quartet of Syrah Delivers Taste and Value Under $20

Syrah is a red wine that is flying under the radar and delivering sensational taste and value. We had the opportunity to taste four Syrahs at a recent tasting at Aficionado Wine & Cigars in Perrysburg. The emphasis was on bottles from California.

2007 Robert Hall Rhone de Robles – This Central Coast Rhone style blend marries Syrah, Grenache and Cinsaut grapes. It has a light body with nicely structured tannins. Wafting aroma of blueberry with cherry and cranberry flavors prevail. A nice start to our evening. Retails for about $18.

2007 Lost Canyon Russian River Syrah, Trenton Station Vineyard – This Syrah is high on the QPR (quality price ratio) scale, being marked down from $38 to $16. This displayed less tannins than the Robert Hall and had a more earthy yet refined flavor. This was less fruit driven than the Hall as well. It’s an unfiltered wine with some sediment.

2006 Chatom Vineyards Syrah – The champ of the evening. This wine is from Calaveras County, the first I’ve had from this emerging AVA in the Sierra Foothills. The color is jewel-like and the flavor is intense yet balanced. There is a dash of white pepper flavor over the black cherry flavors. This is a complex, enjoyable wine that only will set you back $19.99. It is a limited production wine of only 800 cases.

2009 Can Blau Cellar Can Blau – Another California Syrah had been slated to bat clean-up, but this wine from Spain was substituted when the other was determined to be “off.” The Can Blau is a Rhone style blend with 40% Mazuelo, 40% Syrah and 20% Garnacha. Mazuelo and Garnacha are the Spanish names for Carignan and Grenache. This is an enjoyable wine, but was very light with a diffused, somewhat watery flavor. This might be a nice casual sipping wine, but is not a good choice for an earthy, robust Syrah. Costs about $17.

This is a nice group of wines with the Chatom Vineyards being our favorite. For those who like bolder wines, consider Syrah from Washington State and bypassing the blends.
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