I opened a bottle of Gnarly Head 2010 Old Vine Zin last night to pair with pasta and a red sauce. My first reaction was that it was not a Sonoma County Old Vine Zin nor a Temecula Zin. In fact, the wine tasted very similar to a Petite Sirah that I made with juice from Lodi. I would categorize my Petite Sirah as an OK table wine especially with pasta or pizza that has red sauces. However, I would never serve my Petite Sirah at a multi-course dinner with friends or family. I have similar feelings about the 2010 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin.

Compared to a Sonoma County Zin that I cellared and oaked, the Gnarly Head was lighter in body. It offered a light translucent ruby color with aromas of dark fruit and spices. The influence of oaking trumped the fruit on the aroma. On the taste the explosion of fruit was short lived and spice kicked in. The heat from the 14.5 % alcohol paid a visit if the wine lingered in the mouth. It was the quick flash of fruit followed by prolonged spice that made me think that the wine was so similar to the 2010 Petite Sirah from Lodi juice I made last year and bottled this year.

The wine matches well with red sauced pasta and would also do well with pizza. However I see it as a daily table wine and would not serve it to guests.

Cheers,
Terry

It’s not often one gets to help harvest grapes for making Ice Wine. However, Laurello Vineyards in Ohio is offering volunteers the chance to help pick grapes for Ice Wine. The harvest is scheduled for January 2 at 12Noon. The location is South Ridge Vineyard at 398 South Ridge Road East in Conneaut, OH.

If you haven’t picked grapes for Ice Wine, be sure to dress warmly and have different pairs of gloves. While I haven’t had the opportunity to pick frozen grapes before I have heard a lot of tales and suggestions include wearing several layers of clothes.

If you can participate in this special harvest, text Larry at 440-536-0325. Wish I could be there.

Cheers! Kathy

While many wineries are closed for New Year’s Eve, others have planned special events. Below is a list of five wineries that will have special New Year’s events. It’s time to ring a New Year in! Be sure to call ahead in the case reservations are needed.

Cheers! Kathy

DelFosse Winery, Virginia
Event: New Year’s Day Brunch
Website Info

Lorimar Vineyards & Winery, California
Event: New Year’s Eve Party
Website Info

The Winery at LaGrange, Virginia
Event: New Year’s Eve Celebration
Website Information

Pahrump Valley Winery, Nevada
Event: This winery has the Symphony Restaurant. A special menu is planned. Check it out on their website.
Website Information

The Winery at Versailles, Ohio
Event: 2^nd Annual Pre-Party! Enjoy dinner  6pm-7:30pm Reservations required.
Open Party from 7-9pm – No reservations needed; no entry fee.
Website Information

Are you still at a loss as to what Christmas gift for someone special on your holiday list? An article a couple of years ago is as relevant today as it was then. I wrote about gift basket ideas with specific suggestions. Ideas were included for food lovers, car enthusiasts, home beer or wine makers, gardeners and golfers. For specifics check out this article link Holiday Wine Gift Baskets.

Cheers! Kathy

I just looked at a list of of international tour operators and travel agents that will attend the International Wine Tourism Conference in January 2012 in Perugia, Umbria, Italy. I noticed a couple of the participants are from Virginia. Although I reside in neighboring Maryland, Virginia would make a wonderful host for a future International Wine Tourism Conference.

Virginia has much to offer. The wine industry is young and growing. The state now has 200 plus wineries with several more opening each year. There are two wine regions that could be a base for an international conference. Northern Virginia is close to Washington D.C. and is one of the nation’s fastest growing wine regions. Charlottesville, further south, is also an acclaimed wine region.

Virginia has a history that mirrors American history. Although one will not find dwellings from c. 1000 as in Tuscany, visitors can explore early American history to the present. Many wineries in the state are helping preserve our history by taking an historical site and preserving it for the future. For example the Winery at LaGrange has a tasting room in a house built in the late 1700’s on land named by the Marquis de Lafayette. We made a barrel of Cabernet Sauvignon at Vint Hill Craft Winery. The winery is in a century-old barn that during World War II was used by the military to decipher messages sent from the Japanese Embassy.  It was in this barn that the United States discovered the whereabouts of the Japanese fleet in the Pacific.

Virginia has sponsored wine conferences. Wineries Unlimited Trade Show and Conference has moved to Richmond for its annual conference. In 2010 the Drink Local Wine Conference was held in Northern Virginia and in 2011 the Wine Bloggers Conference was held in Charlottesville. Currently, Virginia has a state government that is pro the wine and tourism industries. It is easy to fly into Virginia and the state is closer to Europe than wine regions on the west coast.

Virginia is very welcoming and has many wineries to explore. Viognier is perhaps the champion grape in the state. Many Virginia winemakers also like Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot and Tannat. Keeping with its historical image, many winemakers are also making wines from the native American grape Norton that during the 19th century was winning awards in Europe.

The International Wine Tourism Conference should explore Virginia for a future conference site. The state is easy to travel to and from, is home to many wineries and close to one of the major cities in the world.

Cheers,
Terry

With this being the last weekend before Christmas, it may be the perfect time to bake cookies or at the very least develop a menu for when you have guests to your home. Even if you will be spending the holidays elsewhere, consider baking or cooking a special treat to greet your family and friends.

Wine Trail Traveler has collected many recipes that use wine as an ingredient. Some of the recipes are quick and easy, while some are more difficult. Other recipes are unique and unexpected.

If you are looking for an easy dessert recipe that makes a big impression, consider baking the Blackberry Wine Cake.

Enjoy browsing through the Recipe Section that includes beverages, appetizers, entrées, desserts, vegetables, salads and soups.

Cheers! Kathy

Check these fun event and entertainment this weekend before Christmas! While at a winery remember to look for last minute Christmas gifts! Enjoy!

Cheers! Kathy

Friday, December 16

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, OH
Event: Tannenbaum
Entertainment: Ron Sluga
Website Information

Winery at Perennial Vineyards, OH
Entertainment: Bongo Joe & Little Steve
Website Information 

Saturday, December 17

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, OH
Event: Tannenbaum
Entertainment: Uncharted Course
Website Information

Laurello Vineyards, OH
Pizza Special: olive oil spinach, bacon and more
Website Information 

Lorimar Vineyards & Winery, CA
Entertainment: Stoney B Blues
Website Information

Three Fox Vineyards, VA
Event: Holiday Open House and Sing-A-Long
Website Information

Sunday, December 18

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, OH
Entertainment: David Young
Website Information

Laurello Vineyards, OH
Pizza Special: olive oil spinach, bacon and more
Website Information 

Three Fox Vineyards, VA
Event: Holiday Open House and Sing-A-Long
Website Information

Christmas and holiday time is a great time of the year to fill your home with the scents of mulled wine. As long as you have a few simple items in your kitchen, you can easily make a mulled wine. Good ingredients to have on hand for making mulled wine include: red wine, sugar, spices or mulled spice mix, and oranges.

Several recipes for mulled wine are in the Recipe Section of the Wine Trail Traveler website. There are also a couple of recipes that do not use a red wine. One recipe from Black Star Farms uses a hard apple cider. This is a particularly nice mulled wine for those who do not drink red wines.

My favorite recipe is one that Kevin has made at home for us and I’m hoping he will make it again this year – Mulled Wine Recipe.

Enjoy making a mulled wine that will fill the house with holiday scents and tastes delightful. For those who avoid the kitchen, check with the wineries in your backyard to see if they have bottled mulled wine or spice wine available.

Cheers! Kathy

If you have a creative spark in you, consider making theme gift baskets for anyone who enjoys a glass of wine.

Purchase baskets at your local arts and crafts store. Make sure they are large enough to hold a bottle or two of wine with room for more goodies. Add a couple of wineglasses, a corkscrew and a few other items. Below is a list of ideas to get you started. If you enjoy the holiday shopping take time to browse the specialty stores including sports, arts & crafts, and kitchenware stores.

For those who don’t have the time to create gift baskets, visit area winery tasting rooms where you will often find wine gift baskets. Some wineries make wine gift baskets on demand whereas others have pre-made gift baskets.

Based on the theme for those who enjoy:

Cooking: kitchen towels, spice grinder, spices, olive oil, grape seed oil, apron with a wine saying “I love to cook with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food.”

Golfing: golf tees (personalized), golf balls, gloves, sunscreen, and hat

Tennis: tennis balls, headbands, wristbands, sunscreen

Fishing: lures, gloves, sunscreen, hat

Sewing: Rather than using a traditional basket perhaps look for a sewing basket to fill. Add knitting needles, crochet hooks, pattern books, yarn

Gardening: Think about using a watering can or a large flowerpot instead of a basket to fill. Add hand gardening tools, a package of seeds, gardening gloves.

Home Winemaking: corks, labels, airlocks, a subscription to WineMaker Magazine

After filling your basket, watering can or flowerpot, wrap the entire container and add a ribbon!

Enjoy this salad for everyday meals or perhaps with Christmas or New Year’s dinner. If you don’t have champagne vinaigrette on hand, check out some winery tasting rooms or specialty stores including Williams-Sonoma.

Cheers! Kathy

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette

Serves 4

Ingredients

8 mixed heirloom tomatoes, cored and cut in wedges
3 shallots, finely chopped
3 T champagne vinegar
¼ c extra virgin olive oil
12 basil leaves, torn
1 sweet baguette
4 oz goat cheese, room temperature
1 T chopped chives

Directions

1. Toss tomatoes with shallots, vinegar, olive oil and basil. Allow to marinate for 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2.  Preheat oven to 375°F. Slice baguette on a bias into 1/4 “ slices. Brush with olive oil and lay on a sheet tray. Toast for about 12 minutes until golden.
3. Serve on chilled plates and garnish with a basil sprig and a crouton spread with fresh goat cheese and chopped chives.

Enjoy with a glass of Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc.

Recipe provided by Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley, California