Walnut Block Wines Collectables 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

The postage stamp design on the Walnut Block Wines Sauvignon Block is quite eye-catching, but this New Zealand wine doesn’t make a special delivery.

It’s designation as part of the “Collectables” series had us hoping for just a little bit more than what we found in the glass. The citrus and melon flavor notes along with the herbaceousness associated with Sauvignon Blanc add up to a perfectly satisfactory wine. Those who want something extraordinary, however, won’t find it here.

This wine retails for about $15, but can be found on sale for less.

Technorati Tags: wine,Sauvignon Blanc,New Zealand wine

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Moscato Wine Trend Shows Growth, Michigan Winemakers Get On Board

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Plantings of Moscato grapes are expected to increase in the US more than 130% in the next three years.  This push for Moscato is driven by the Echoboomers and the Millennials, the generations born between 1980 and the mid-1990s, and wine grape growers are really happy because grape prices are up right now.

Moscato, the wine with the Italian name and long European heritage, is making its mark in the mid-priced sweet, aromatic wine category. Moscato is made from Muscat grapes, several varieties are grown commercially in Michigan for Moscato and other styles of Muscat wines. Michigan State University researchers are evaluating Muscat varieties for expansion of acreage in what is now a minor wine grape category.

Matt Moersch, southwest Michigan winemaker and owner of Free Run Cellars, felt the trend came on fast for Moscato. With three different Muscat varieties in the vineyard, Free Run Cellars already has Moscato. At Moersch family wineries, Free Run and Round Barn, they are always trying new grape varieties. “The beauty of the tasting room for the customer is to taste new wines such as Moscato at the winery,” Moersch said.

Reports of Muscat-based Moscato flying off the shelves of American retail winery shelves is not lost on Mike Merchant, Tabor Hill Winery winemaker. Tabor Hill Winery’s planting of Muscat varieties is probably one of the largest in Michigan from which they make a Muscat wine with a dry, off -dry flavor profile much different from Moscato. According to Merchant, if there is a place for Moscato, it will be considered.

Technorati Tags: wine,Michigan wines

Michigan State University Assistant Professor Paolo Sabbatini caught the Moscato wave five years ago while designing wine grape variety trials with colleague Tom Zabadal. Orange Muscat, Muscat Ottonel, Moscato Giallo, Moscato Canelli and Valvin Muscat were planted in a pilot testing vineyard.

“When we planted the new grape variety trial in Michigan few years ago, the national trend in consumer preference was a rapid increase in popularity for Moscato and dessert wines,” Sabbatini said. Sabbatini believed that this is a sweet spot for Michigan wine producers (aromatic Moscato wines and sweet dessert wines) and therefore was pivotal to evaluate the viticultural and enological performances of Moscato varieties in our climate.

Sabbatini describes Moscato as the, “perfect wine for the American sweet tooth. It’s simple and doesn’t scare the new wine drinker. Michigan is strategically placed in a viticultural region where Moscato could be a signature wine.”

Grand River Valley Winegrowers Cool Hosts Of 9th Annual Ice Wine Festival

The flier for the 9th Annual Ice Wine Festival, hosted by the Winegrowers of Grand River Valley sports a photo of snowman in the middle of a swirl of snowflakes. The recent summer-like weather would reduce Frosty to a puddle of water in a flash but provides great traveling weather for visitors to Ohio’s wine country.

That was the case last weekend when we dropped in at the festival, which runs for three Saturdays in March. The festival continues this Saturday (March 17) from noon to five.The five participating wineries are Debonne Vineyards, Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant, Laurello Vineyard and St. Joseph Vineyards. The cost is $6 per person for ice wine samples plus a complimentary appetizer. You can read more tickets, etc. at the link below the story.

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Grand River Valley 2012 Ice Wine Festival

Green Dragon and I aren’t big sweet wine drinkers, but appreciate the artistry and hard work that goes into making this tasty elixir. The grapes are harvested when frozen then immediately pressed. Here’s an important secret – taste in very small sips to enjoy the nuances and not be knocked out by the sugar.

This is one of the biggest events in Ohio wine country nestled near Lake Erie and in between Madison and Geneva. One winemaker told us that more than 600 people visited during the first Saturday of the festival – that’s a huge crowd for some mostly small wineries.

The festival is a blast. The wineries are rocking and people are in a boisterous and friendly mood. The sunshine and sweetness made it a great getaway for Green Dragon and me. We also enjoyed our stay at the Quail Hollow Resort in Painesville.

We started our visit at Laurello, which has a great tasting room plus a wide range of tasty wines. Our next stop was Ferrante. As usual, this winery is a class act. Most of the ice wine we sampled was from Vidal Blanc, which is perfect for this type of wine and thrives in our area. A few also offered ice wine from Cab Franc. The Cab Franc icewine at Ferrante was awesome with concentrated cherry and raspberry flavors. Green Dragon chose their Vidal Blanc ice wine as her favorite.

St. Joseph Vineyards Pinot Vista tasting room was next. It’s open, airy and a big improvement from their original tasting room. St. Joseph is known for their award-winning Pinot Noirs, but we sampled an awesome 2009 Gamay that is delicate but nicely structured with light fruit. They also produced a standout Late Harvest Vidal Blanc (the conditions weren’t cold enough to produce a true ice wine.

We headed to Debonne next, but the parking lot was full and it was as crowded as a Justin Bieber concert (is that dude still popular?). We pulled out of the parking lot and noticed a sign for South River Vineyards. They’re not a member of the winegrowers association, but they are one of our favorite area wineries.

It was also packed, probably more than it ever was when it was a church. We squeezed in and took a break from ice wine by sampling the Karma (Cabernet blend) and Dry Riesling. It was a massive party that we enjoyed from a prime viewing location. All was fine until we got up to leave. My jacket sleeve brushed against the wineglass sending it shattering on the floor. The hundreds of people in the room became silent – and then broke out in applause, which I acknowledged with upraised hands.

We cruised to Grand River Cellars and enjoyed our ice wine in their cellar, a first for us, while chatting pleasantly with another couple. GRC offered sparkling Vidal ice wine, which had enough frizzante to make it tickle. One of the best on our trip.

The only down note on the trip was when we tried to visit Farinacci Winery. This was at the farthest westerly part of our trip and we had good reports from our tasting team members. It was closed. On a Saturday? With hundreds of wine lovers roaming around just a couple miles away?

We zipped back to an old favorite, Harpersfield Winery. Their beautiful estate wines rate among our favorites in Ohio. I enjoyed the unique Musette blend of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin (highly recommended). Green Dragon was sippin’ on a pre-release Pinot Gris.

You’ll be pleased with a visit to any of this wineries no matter the season – but if you can, catch the last Saturday of the ice wine festival before it melts away!

Technorati Tags: wine,icewine,Ohio wine

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Toledo Area Wine Tastings & Events: March 14-17, 2012

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Wednesday, March 14
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Steve is back…well, sort of. Steve is now one of our wine reps, and will be bringing by some of the incredible wines of Orin Swift (and a great German style Riesling) for you to try. 1. “Cabinet” Riesling, 2. Orin Swift “The Prisoner,” 3. Orin Swift “Saldo,” 4. Orin Swift “Palermo.” $13 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

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

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville, (419) 878-9463. 6:30 – 8:30 PM  Italian wine tasting featuring unique and unusual grapes. The cost is $20 per person and includes food pairings.

Thursday, March 15

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Meet the Owner/Winemaker of Fattoria Rodano
Enrico Pozzesi from 5-6:15 P.M. with special guests Blair Taylor of Enotec (Importer of Rodano wines) and Diana Kerr-Brown form Wine Trends (our distributor of Rodano wines). 1. 2009 Poggialupi – 90% Sangiovese – 10% Merlot, 2. 2006 Chianti Classico, 3. 2004 Chianti Classico – Riserva Viacosta, 4. 2001 Monna Claudia. $9 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

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

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 5-7 PM. Three Good Reds and a Sweet Irish Mead: 1. Rhiannon Red, 2. Tresor de la Riviere Cotes du Rhone, 3. Sebastiani Merlot, 4. Bunratty Irish Mead. $2.25 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

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

Bistro at Maumee Wines, 2556 Parkway Plaza, Maumee, (419) 893-2525, 6:30 PM. Enrico Pozzesi, owner of Fattoria Rodano Winery, hosts wine dinner featuring his winery’s Tuscan wines. Six wines will be paired with six gourmet appetizers. Cost is $48 per person. For reservations, call (419) 893-2525. Seating is limited.

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, March 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. St. Patrick's Green Labeled Whites: 1. Cleebourg Pinot Gris, 2. Burgans Albarino, 3. Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc, 4. Mirth Unoaked Chardonnay. $15 tasting.

Special Event – Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion, 7:00 – 9:30 PM. Art of the Vine. Wine: When Irish Wines are Smiling (GlasSalon)
Tour: Campiello del Remer #2. Sample four wines, light snacks, and enjoy a complimentary art tour at 7:00 or 8:00 PM. $15 members or $25 nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased at the TMA information desks; reservations are not required.

Saturday, March 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. St. Patrick's Green Labeled Whites: 1. Cleebourg Pinot Gris, 2. Burgans Albarino, 3. Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc, 4. Mirth Unoaked Chardonnay. $15 tasting.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 Noon - 5:00 PM. Superstars of Oregon Pinot Noir. A collection of some of the very best single vineyard and highly rated Pinot Noir from Oregon. Many rated 93 points and higher. Most very limited and rare. Premium tasting. Nominal fee per sample.

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


AREA WINE BARS

• The Bistro at Maumee Wines, (419) 893-2525, 2556 Parkway Plaza, Maumee.
• Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
• 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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Vignoble de la Jarnoterie 2008 Concerto Old Vines Cabernet Franc, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil

This French Cabernet Franc comes from vines between 60 and 80 years old. The Concerto Cuvee raises expectations of a virtuoso performance, but it was off-key for us.

We’re big Cab Franc fans and so we were anxious to check this version out. Our favorite Cab Francs come from the Finger Lakes and Ontario.

Concerto is aged six to eight months in chestnut barrels which rest under the vineyards in caves. Grapes are hand picked and sorted. With this much coolness, I was expecting something truly special.

I must say that our tasting team wasn’t dazzled by this wine. It’s just too refined. There is no punch in the tannins and the pepper notes are too demure. The producer suggests this as a good wine for aging, but the tannins seem too loose already.

On the nose there is a nice ripe fruit aroma. The black fruit and cranberry flavor notes are intertwined in an easy style dusted with a bit of earthiness. It is a smooth, pleasant wine, but with none of the rowdiness we like in a Cab Franc.

Rating: 2.5 of 5

Third Annual Great Lakes Wine Fest Scheduled At Michigan International Speedway May 19

Here’s looking at you again, Michigan International Speedway.

Michigan International Speedway, a 1,400-acre historic NASCAR racetrack in Southeastern Michigan’s Lenawee and Jackson Counties, will host its third annual Great Lakes Wine Fest presented by the Jackson County CVB on Saturday, May 19.

This event will once again feature the tastes and toasts of Michigan wineries, Michigan breweries and Michigan eateries in a unique setting — the state’s only NASCAR Sprint Cup racetrack.

“We are really excited to bring back the Great Lakes Wine Fest for the third year,” MIS President Roger Curtis said. “We had a fantastic event the past two years, and it has really grown into a can’t-miss for wineries and breweries, and for people who like sampling and enjoying the state’s wine and beer.”

The wine festival will once again be held in the speedway’s infield on Saturday, May 19. Entertainment will be featured throughout the day from the MIS stage. Other activities are also planned including wine, food and beer product vendors, tastings and displays.

Award-winning wineries from across the state of Michigan will be on hand showcasing more than 100 varieties of wine including, Riesling, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet and others.

Beer will also return to the Great Lakes Wine Fest presented by the Jackson County CVB in 2012. Nearly 20 brands of locally-brewed beers were featured at last year’s event and are expected to return.

In addition to wine and beer sampling and seminars, the festival will include an on-site retail store with select wines available for purchase. Only a handful of festivals allow guests to walk away with having purchased the wines and beers they tasted and liked, and MIS is one of them!

Advance one-day tickets are $25. Each ticket includes $10 worth of tasting tickets per day. This event is for guests 21 and older.

Tickets and details are available at www.GreatLakesWineFest.com or by calling 800-354-1010. The Twitter feed is @GLWineFest.

The event is being held in conjunction with the Michigan Wine Foundation, an organization devoted to Michigan wine education.

Camping is available for $35 for a non-electric site; and $50 for an electric site in the track’s MISCamping.com Graves Family Campground. Camping includes electric hookups. Need an RV? A turn-key camping option is available for the wine and brew fest at www.MIScamping.com.

Photo by Michela Simoncini