Tuesdays are known as traveltuesday for a group interested in travel on Twitter. Just use the hashtag #traveltuesday after your tweet about travel.

Today (Tuesday) is the perfect day to suggest that those who enjoy tasting wine at wineries check out the itineraries on the Wine Trail Traveler website. If you will be traveling for Labor Day weekend, you may want to consider one of the itineraries. Keep in mind that these itineraries are suggestions only but they do give wine enthusiasts a starting point. These itineraries are based on two to three day trips and provide a tool in helping you with planning travel to wine regions.

States covered in the itineraries include California, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington. There are also three itineraries for Ontario, Canada. Altogether there are more than 50 itineraries available on the website.

Enjoy planning a visit to wine regions across the country.

Cheers! Kathy

When I was in college I enjoyed learning about politics. In fact I majored in Political Science and was a summer intern on Capitol Hill. All those years ago, I was impressed with the Congressman I worked for and what I was doing in his office. Frequently there were messages from constituents who asked for help and the staff would work on solving the issue or providing information to help. Yes, I was young and idealistic. I knew what politics historically had been like and believed it had changed for the better.

As years have passed and I see politicians on both sides of the aisle distort their records and mislead voters, I have become dissatisfied and wonder why I ever thought politicians would work for the constituents. I even believed that “common sense” was applicable to all issues and that’s what politicians should focus on concerning legislation. Today I’ve turned 180 degrees and am convinced that politicians are only concerned with voting for legislation that will keep them in office. Of course staying in office also requires money and it appears that politicians are more than willing to accept donations from lobbyists for their election campaigns.

In Maryland direct  wine shipping foes are providing money to help politicians win elections. How will the majority of these politicians vote? Just look at their past records. For more information about politics and wine in Maryland visit Maryland Wine and Maryland for Better Beer & Wine Laws.

As far as the fall elections go, yes I’ll definitely vote but I will study what the candidates say now in comparison with their past actions. Learn about your politicians so you can Vote Smart!

Cheers! Kathy

It’s still summer so if you are grilling, here is a recipe for Grilled Peaches that uses red wine. Enjoy!

Cheers, Kathy

Grilled Peaches with Fresh Cherry Sauce

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

For the sauce:

1 lb dark Northwest cherries, pitted (about 1 cup)
1 T sugar
1/2 c dry red wine
1 t balsamic vinegar
1 t kirsch (cherry liqueur)

For the peaches:

4 medium peaches
2 T unsalted butter
2 T brown sugar
1 c vanilla ice cream
4 cookies

Directions

For the sauce:

1. To make the cherry sauce: In a sauté pan over medium-high heat, combine the pitted cherries, sugar, red wine, and balsamic vinegar.
2. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is soft, 6 to 8 minutes.
3. Transfer the mixture to a food processor and purée until completely smooth.
4. Return the mixture to the sauté pan over medium-high heat.
5. Add the kirsch.
6. Simmer until reduced to about 1/4 cup, 1 to 2 minutes.

For the peaches:

1. Cut the peaches in half and remove and discard the pits. Place the halves in a medium bowl.
2. In a small saucepan set over low heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together.
3. Coat the peaches with the butter mixture.
4. Grill the peaches over direct medium heat until grill marks are clearly visible and the peaches are soft, 10 to 12 minutes, turning once halfway through grilling time.
5. While the peaches are still warm, layer each serving glass with 2 peach halves, 1 scoop ice cream, and 1 tablespoon cherry sauce.
6. Tuck a cookie into each glass. Serve immediately.

Provided by Northwest Cherry Growers

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! If you are planning on grilling salmon this weekend or for Labor Day weekend, you may enjoy this cherry sauce that is served over grilled salmon. It calls for ten ingredients but its an easy recipe to prepare. Enjoy!

Cheers! Kathy

Grilled Salmon Cherry Sauce

Ingredients

3 c pitted Northwest fresh sweet cherries
1/2 c water
1/2 c dry white wine
1/4 c chopped onion
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 T honey
2 T fresh lemon juice
1 t freshly grated lemon peel
1/2 t salt
1/4 t crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

1. In large saucepan, combine all ingredients; bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes or until mixture thickens, stirring frequently.
3. Serve over grilled salmon.

Recipe provided by Northwest Cherry Growers

New and unique wine packaging has been introduced into the United States. Will it take a while to catch on? Already the AstraPouch is being used in the UK, South Africa and Australia. The AstraPouch was developed by AstraPouch North America and is being used by Glenora Wine Cellars to package their Trestle Creek Riesling. Glenora is using the 1.5L pouch.

AstraPouch packaging offers a number of advantages for wineries and for consumers. These pouches are very light. If you have ever moved a case of empty glass wine bottles you’ll notice how heavy glass can be. This all adds up to an increased carbon footprint. By using AstraPouch packaging the carbon footprint should dramatically decrease.

The lighter weight of carrying wine is also great for the consumer who wants to carry the wine while camping or hiking.

The nozzle on the pouch allows wine to pour out but keeps oxygen from entering into the pouch and oxidizing the wine. According to the AstraPouch North America website, after opening the pouch, the wine will stay fresh for up to one month.

Kudos to Glenora Wine Cellars for beginning the use of a new environmentally friendly option to glass bottles.

Note: A review of Glenora Wine Cellars is available on the Wine Trail Traveler website at

http://winetrailtraveler.com/newyork/glenora.php.

Cheers! Kathy

Celebrate the 1^st day of September, drink Maryland wine and support the Maryland Winegrowing PAC. On Wednesday, September 1 guests will be able to join WYPR’s Cellar Notes host Al Spoler at Clementine, Baltimore MD.

Guests will enjoy wines that scored high during the Maryland Governor’s Cup Competition as well as wines that are not yet publicly available.  Hors d’eourves will be paired with the wines.

Tickets are available at http://www.missiontix.com/events/product/9476/an-evening-of-top-maryland-wine. All proceeds will benefit Supporters of Maryland Winegrowing PAC. This is a beginning of a number of events to be hosted by the Maryland Winegrowing PAC.

Enjoy wine, hors d’eourves and help support Maryland’s wine industry.

Cheers! Kathy

Thursday is the day I enjoy posting events at wineries for the coming weekend. Check the winery website sfor times and descriptions. Enjoy a visit to one of our WTT partners.

Cheers! Kathy

Lorimar Winery
August 28
Music/Naomi Balcombe Sax/Jazz
Lorimar WineryWebsite

Tesoro Winery
Temecula, California
August 27
Hot Summer Nights in Old Town – Valley Winds Big Band Swing
August 28
Clean Comedy Just for Fun(d) with Rocky Osborn
Tesoro Website

Orfila Vineyards and Winery
Escondido, California
August 28
Annual Grape Stomp
Orfila Website

Thornton Winery
Temecula, California
August 29
Dave Koz & Jonathan Butler special guest Sheila E.
Thornton Winery Website

Chateau Chantal
Traverse City, Michigan
Daily Tapas Tours
August 28
Wine Dinner
Chateau Chantal Website

Messina Hof Winery & Resort
Bryan, Texas
August 29
Wine Appreciation Class
Messina Hof Winery Website

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante
Geneva, Ohio
August 27
Music/ Larry Smith
August 28 Afternoon
Music/Ron Sluga
August 28 Evening
Music/Tom Todd
August 29-10
Music/Legacy
Ferrante Winery Website

Barrel Oak Winery
Delaplane, Virginia
August 29
The inimitable Steve Hudson on guitar
Barrel Oak Winery Website

Tarara Winery
Leesburg, Virginia
August 28
Tarara’s Toast to the Tunes
Summer Concert Series: The Reflex
Tarara Winery Website

Three Fox Vineyards
Delaplane, Virginia
August 28
Veraison Celebration
August 28
Reston Limo Public Wine Tour
Three Fox Vineyards Website

I enjoyed reading a long post about wine competitions by New York Cork Report. The staff of the New York Cork Report has decided that for the foreseeable future they will not judge wine competitions. Titled We Won’t Participate as Judges in Wine Competitions: Here’s Why the lengthy post describes many of the issues involved with judging wines. Among the reasons why include the number of wine competitions and medals awarded means that many consumers do not know what the medals mean. As stated in the post, “There are so many medal-awarding competitions that the events have lost any sense of meaning to the average consumer, and even wine-loving consumers can’t possibly know the significance of a single bronze or silver or gold medal awarded at the many, many events.” This post is lengthy and well worth reading by winery owners, winemakers and wine enthusiasts.

This article reminds me of what a winemaker said one day while I was attempting to get a sense of what all the different medals and wine competitions meant. The winemaker said, “It’s like entering a third grade science fair, everyone gets a ribbon just for participating.” Since hearing that I have always looked at the medals draped around a wine boggle necks or decorating wall space, with a jaundiced eye. I know of one winery that entered the same wine two different years into the same competition. The first year the wine won gold and the second year it did not even place.

When you visit the  New York Cork Report site to read the complete article, be sure to read the comments posted. There are many opinions about the value of wine competitions. How do you feel about wine competitions? Do you buy wines based on whether they have won medals?

Cheers! Kathy

Below I have listed four wine festivals from across the country that will take place Labor Day Weekend. An array of wine events will take place Labor Day Weekend so be sure to check out what’s available in your area.

I will tweet more Labor Day wine festivals in the next few days. Follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wineabout .

Cheers! Kathy

Millbrae Art & Wine Festival
Millbrae, California
September 4 and 5
Website Info: http://www.miramarevents.com/millbrae/

2010 Nauvoo Grape Festival
Nauvoo, Illinois
September 3-5
Website Info: http://www.nauvoograpefestival.com/
This year they are celebrating their 73^rd Grape Festival!

Jazz it Up Wine and Food Festival
at Allaire Village, New Jersey
September 4 and 5
Website Info: http://www.allairevillage.org/Event_Descriptions/Wine_Tasting.html

New Mexico Wine Festival at Bernalillo
Bernalillo, New Mexico
September 4,5 & 6
Website Info: http://www.newmexicowinefestival.com/
This is the 23^rd annual festival!

Soon a wine and culinary center will be built in Washington. The supporters of the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center in Prosser, Washington are striving to start with an outdoor event facility with an area that is also capable of holding meetings and small events. The building is expected to be opened in the fall of 2010. The Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center is planning to offer events in this facility.

The Wine and Culinary Center is named after Dr.Walter Clore, a renowned viticulturist. Dr. Clore began experimenting with vinifera grapes in the 1930’s. Today he is considered the Father of Washington Wine.

The Center is supported by numerous groups including: Washington Wine Commission, Washington State University, Prosser Economic Development Association and the City of Prosser.

Eventually the Wine and Culinary Center will add more space and include interactive exhibition galleries, a flexible orientation theater for lectures and demonstrations, a demonstration kitchen, vineyards and gardens, a wine bar/tasting area, a retail shop for local products and classroom space.

To keep up with the development of the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center, be sure to visit their website.

The site of the center in Washington wine country seems to be ideal. While visiting wineries in Washington, this will become an ideal way to spend a day in Washington Wine Country.

Wine lovers who are interested in wine and culinary centers may want to visit the New York State Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua, New York. You can find a review of NYWCC at http://winetrailtraveler.com/learning/nywcc1.php.

Cheers! Kathy