The Most Popular TWAV Stories of 2011

The year 2011 is rumbling to a close, an old locomotive chugging up to its last stop. Soon a shiny new engine will fire up and the train will leave the station and go down the tracks towards destinations unknown in the year 2012.

Its been a good year for Toledo Wines and Vines and this writer. As of this writing, we had more than 16,300 visitors and more than 27,000 page views. Our visitors hailed from 113 different countries including Macau, Monaco and Luxembourg.

What have our fair readers been looking at? Here is a list of our top 10 stories for the year:

Zinful Wine Bar and Restaurant Now Open In Waterville
The Closest Wineries to Toledo, OH: Choices Abound Within 60 Miles
Banrock Station Moscato 2009
Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge Now Open At Levis Commons
Big Six Grape Varieties
Orin Swift Wines Captivate Crowd: New Release Abstract Joins The Prisoner
Best Wines Under $30: Austin’s List
6,000 Year Old Wine Press Unearthed: Ancients Into Dry Red Wine
Stonehedge Winery 2007 Reserve Napa Valley Merlot
J. Trees Cellars Wines Shine at TREO Wine Dinner

Photo by G.F. Peck

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A Simple Way To Preserve Your New Year’s Eve Bubbly

Get depressed at the thought of all your pricey Champagne and sparkling wines going flat after midnight on New Year’s Eve. A recent episode of Mythbusters showed that inserting a spoon in the bottle certainly didn’t do anything. (Surprise!)

So what if anything can be done? The solution is simple, as demonstrated in the following video courtesy of Domaine Carneros. In fact, I’m going to search out and buy the solution this weekend so I’m ready…

Domaine Carneros Founder Eileen Crane Shows How To Preserve Your Bubbly

Domaine Delsol 2010 Picpoul de Pinet

Picpoul is an obscure white grape from Coteaux Languedoc, France, that really rocks.

Many years ago I stumbled across a Picpoul de Pinet from Hugues Beaulieu. The great value and crisp taste earned it a permanent place on my “go to” list of every day wines.

I’ve never seen a PDP from another winery… until last week when I stumbled upon the Domaine Delsol PDP at Corks. We chilled it down and when Green Dragon ran out of her Sauvignon Blanc, we opened this baby with anticipation.

Picpoul de Pinet (the name of the appellation as well as the grape) is the largest grape growing region in Languedoc, France, itself a huge area. It is a limestone plateau covered with vineyards and scattered pine groves. The vineyards are among the oldest in the Mediterranean. This is a white variety with enduring characteristics that tickle the taste buds, but cannot be confused with Riesling, Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.

The wine should be enjoyed chilled. The color is clear with green highlights. The flavors are mineral and steel with a puff of grapefruit aroma. White pepper flavor is sprinkled throughout. It has a light to medium body with a crisp, acidic finish.

At a price of only $9.99, this a refreshing bargain that will pair well with fish, shellfish and even poultry.

Rating: 3+ out of 5

 

Related articles

• Wine Review: Picpoul de pinet (telegraph.co.uk)
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Toledo Area Wine Tastings & Events: December 21-24, 2011

Image via Wikipedia

Wednesday, December 21
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Hearty Winter Wines. $15 per flight.

Thursday, December 22
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Spectacular Sparklers plus": 1. 2Pommery Brut Royal, 2. Veuve Cliquot Brut, 3. Fleur de Champagne by Perrier – Jouet, 4. Telegraphe “La Crau”. $17 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Great wines for gifts or wines to take to dinner: 1. Jean Louis Denois, 2. Anne Amie Pinot Gris, 3. Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc, 4. Cuvaison Chardonnay, 5. Abstract, 6. Mollydooker Two Left Feet, 7. Treana. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Hearty Winter 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, December 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. Christmas Cabs: 1. Artesa Elements Cabernet Sauvignon, 2. Bon Anno Cabernet Sauvignon, 3. Treasure Hunter 5th Sense Cabernet Sauvignon, 4. Buehler Cabernet Sauvignon. $15 tasting.

Saturday, December 24
Christmas Eve

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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Domaine D’Andezon 2010 Cotes du Rhone Red Wine

This is an outstanding Cotes-du-Rhone blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Grenache. The Syrah vines are more than 40 years old and the Grenache vines more than 60.

It has a deep rich color and lush blackberry flavors. The body is full and the flavors complex, fresh and dry.

CDR wines are accessible and affordable. The Andezon is a special bargain and can be found for less than $20.

I enjoyed this while in New Orleans at a colleague’s house before heading out for dinner at Clancy’s Uptown. It provided an elegant and enjoyable start to a great evening.

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Rubizzo 2009 Sangiovese de Toscana

Sangiovese is a grape that shines in Tuscan wines whether at the top end in price or very affordable, such as this offering from Rubizzo.

Green Dragon picked up this bottle for $10 at Corks as she was looking for a tasty, yet affordable casual sipper. She scored big in terms of flavor.

This Sangio has very smooth tannins with a mélange of ripe dark cherries. This wine has about 5% Merlot to further add to the silky texture. There is a slight nuance of leather and earth.

The Rubizzo is food friendly with pizza, pasta or veal. It is also a great wine for everyday use but is a crowd pleaser that will work for entertaining as well.

Technorati Tags: wine,Italian wine,Sangiovese

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