A few months ago I became aware of the Riedel stemware which Riedel created specifically for Oregon’s Pinot Noir. This week I had the opportunity to use one of these glasses for a tasting. The bowl is large and the top flared. The flared top helps direct the aroma of the wine towards the nose. The aroma gathers and then is released towards the nose. This glass is lightweight and easy to hold. Despite the large size of the glass, the glass is not unwieldy and it is delightful to use when tasting Pinot Noir in Oregon. While some may not care what stemware they use, I enjoy the experience of using quality stemware for tastings. For me the experience influences the tasting of wines.

On Saturday before Easter, we were planning a tomato pasta dinner for special guests. After looking at our wine cellar (wine shelves in a cool area) we discovered only white and fruit wines. There was nothing that seemed to pair with a tomato based pasta dinner. After our experience in Italy, we knew we liked Chianti. As my daughter and I browsed the Italian wines available at our local wine shop, we discovered several Chianti wines. We started to discuss the names. Even though both of us had visited Italy at different times, neither of us recognized the names. Another shopper overheard us discussing which wines to purchase and offered some friendly advise saying she had tried some of those wines. This was definitely a refreshing trip to the wine shop. We took her advise and were happy with the wines we chose.Somehow wine, winemaking and vineyards all seem to bring people together with a common interest. After all, how often have you been in a grocery store choosing a brand  of peanut butter and had someone nearby offer their opinion?

Recently I was in a well-known restaurant. Taking a look at the two pages of wine offerings were some unique listings. Selections included wines from France, Italy, California and more. I was pleasantly surprised by the addition of wines from local wineries.  When tourists visit an area where wineries and vineyards are established, it certainly adds to their experience to be able to drink wines which have that area’s terroir. I believe that it is in restaurants and visitors interest to have available the “best” wines from the area as well as wines from other areas of the world. Some winemakers believe that people do not know about the wines in their own backyards and how good they can be. Check local wines out and you may be surprisingly pleased. 

The deep, dark ink color of Cathedral Ridge’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 wine and it’s definite cherry aroma makes this an intriguing wine. Slanting your wineglass one can see a purple hue edge on the wine. The taste is dry and crisp. With an alcohol level of 14.4 percent, this young, medium bodied wine is hot on the finish. This is a wine that may age well. Even exposed to the air in the glass, there was a difference in the mouth feel and the taste mellowed.For this wine, we paired it with beef brisket and it balanced well. The brisket did not overpower the wine and the wine did not overpower the brisket. We enjoyed this wine with the beef brisket, potatoes, carrots and cabbage.

Agricultural tourism is sometimes referred to as agri-tourism. Agricultural tourism is not a new concept. For a long time people living in crowded cities have sought to escape from the crowds and enjoy spending a day in the country. Farms provide numerous reasons for visiting. Whether visitors want to pick apples, visit a pumpkin patch, wander through a corn maze, visit a wine tasting room, take a winery tour,  or enjoy a picnic at some farm locations, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The farmer, local businesses and visitors benefit. Nearby restaurants are likely to see increased business. Bed and breakfasts will benefit from people who decide to spend the night. Agri-tourism is a win-win concept for everyone.