Sometimes it’s so easy to miss the delightful boutique wineries in your own backyard. Those who follow our winery and vineyard travel adventures know that we have traveled to wineries near and far. We have been fortunate to travel to the West Coast of the United States, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and Italy. We also are fortunate to have numerous wonderful wineries within driving distance of our East Coast home. We have visited many of the local wineries and enjoy what each one has to offer.

While it’s fun to plan a long trip, it’s also great to discover the wines produced along the East Coast. We’ve been home for a few weeks now and while continuing writing winery reviews, adding photos and editing our first book, getting caught up on Social Media and writing blogs we have also taken several day trips to wineries.

In Pennsylvania, we visited with the owners of Tuscarora Mt. Winery in Chambersburg.  We also made a stop at Trickling Springs Creamery, where we were able to get some great milk that we used at home to make our first feta cheese.

On our way to Tuscarora Mt. Winery we visited Knob Hall Winery in Maryland where we met the owners, Richard and Mary Beth Seibert. Mary Beth is also the winemaker. On another day we visited Romano Vineyard and Winery. While the Romanos do not have a dedicated tasting room yet, they occasionally do wine tasting onsite and at small Maryland wine festivals. Thanksgiving Farm Winery is a jewel to be found in Anne Arundel County not far from Annapolis. The very long driveway goes past farm buildings, farm equipment and through shady trees until visitors see vineyards and arrive at the winery.

Yesterday we drove along Route 15 between Frederick, Maryland and Leesburg, Virginia. After passing into Virginia there are several wineries and we were delighted to visit three of these wineries. Fabbioli Cellars, Lost Creek Winery, and Hidden Brook Winery. All are within a few minutes of each other and offer different experiences.

We are currently contemplating visiting more wineries in our own backyard!

Cheers! Kathy

With all of the economic problems that the EU is having lately, I was surprised to learn that Italy, Spain and Greece are being penalized for planting too many vineyards. According to an article, “EU fines Italy, Spain Greece of Illegal Vine Plantings,” in Harpers Wine & Spirit by Chris Mercer, “Spain must hand back €131.3m (US$164m) of funding handed out by the European Commission, while Italy must repay €98.9m.” Greece needs to repay €21.3m.

Okay, it makes sense that the EU does not want an overproduction of grapes, which could lead to too much wine production. The EU is having difficulties and three of the countries in the news are Greece, Spain and Italy. Exactly where are they going to come up with the funds to pay the fine?

There must be other solutions to the problem of overproduction of vineyards. Create wines that can be aged for years. Not every year is phenomenal and eventually supplies will moderate. Use the grapes to produce things other than wine. Rather than creating wine during years of production why not produce 100 percent juice from the varietals. In our travels we have come across wineries that do produce juice and we have found it to be delicious. It’s also a great way to taste particular varietal grapes.

It seems easy to say let’s fine them but it’s harder to think outside of the box. Maybe the EU should think outside the box.

Cheers,
Kathy

Save vacation days to use this October when the New York City Wine & Food Festival takes place. Scheduled for Thursday, October 11 to Sunday, October 14, this event is sponsored by Food & Wine. Events include an assortment of activities including seminars, dinners, parties and more. Many personalities are involved with the wine and food festival including Rachael Ray and Paula Deene.

Tickets are available online now. They can be purchased as single events or packaged events. Consider purchasing tickets soon before certain events are sold out.

This is a large charity event. This annual celebration of food benefits Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength that has an ongoing campaign “No Kid Hungry.”

“100% of the net proceeds benefit the Food Bank For New York City, fighting hunger in the five boroughs; and Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit working to end childhood hunger in America.”

Cheers for a good cause!

Kathy

Mission: Small Business has 12 grants to offer for small businesses. CHASE and Living Social designed this program to help small businesses by providing $250,000 for each of 12 grants.  To be reviewed for a grant, applicants must receive 250 votes via Facebook by June 30.

To support a small business, go to Mission: Small Business website and click LOG IN & SUPPORT. You can search for small businesses that have applications for a grant. Two wineries that I know of have submitted applications and need your vote. Check them out and vote for them so that they receive enough votes to have their applications reviewed- Tuscarora Mt Winery in Chambersburg, PA and Vineyards at Southpoint in North Carolina.

We first became aware of the program when we visited Tuscarora Mt Winery last week. I also received an email from Vineyards at Southpoint in North Carolina. They also need the votes to help see that their application is reviewed.

Owning and maintaining a winery and vineyards is an expensive venture. Putting in vineyards costs thousands of dollars and oaks barrels frequently cost $1,000 apiece. A common acknowledgement of the cost of owning a winery and vineyard is the comment. “Want to know how to make a million dollars? Start with two million.”

The Small Business grants would go a long way to help Tuscarora Mt Winery and Vineyards at Southpoint.

It only takes seconds to help these wineries get their applications reviewed. Go to Mission: Small Business and select Log In & Support. Search for Tuscarora Mt Winery and Vineyards at Southpoint. It only takes a few seconds to help these small wineries.

Cheers! Kathy

Tomahawk Vineyard & Winery in scenic southern Virginia provided the chicken recipe that follows. The recipes uses Tomahawk’s Chardonnay. Tomahawk winery has a lot to offer visitors including vineyards, history and a mill pond. The property was originally the Tomahawk Creek grist mill that opened in 1888. Visit the Tomahawk Mill winery website. Wine Trail Traveler offers an article with photos under winery reviews.

Cheers! Kathy

Nancy’s Tomahawk Mill Chicken Breasts

Ingredients

1 pkg chicken breasts or tenders
Salt and freshly ground pepper
¼ c flour
¼ c butter
2 T spring onion
½ c to 1 c Tomahawk Mill Chardonnay

Directions

1. Skin the chicken breasts and cut in about 3 inch pieces.
2. Salt and pepper and dredge with flour.
3. In a large skillet heat the butter, add the onion and sauté.
4. Add the chicken and brown on both sides.
5. Add the Tomahawk Mill Chardonnay, cover and cook over very low heat for about 10 minutes.

The result will be a very tender, tasty chicken with a delicious gravy.

Recipe provided by Tomahawk Mill Vineyard & Winery, Chatham, Virginia

Summertime is a great time to visit a winery. Vineyards are filled with various shades of green. The tiny grapes are forming and getting larger every day. Many wineries offer tours so that visitors can see the wine in the barrels and stainless steel tanks and learn about the winemaking process. Lots of wineries have event and by using the Internet it’s easy to discover a winery event you will enjoy. To get you started below is a short list of winery events for this first weekend of the summer. Check winery websites about events.

Cheers! Kathy

Friday, June 22

Chateau Chantal, Michigan
Event: Tapas Tour-Daily ’til 9/3/12
Website Information

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Music: Larry Smith
Website Information

Serpent Ridge Winery, Maryland
Event: First Friday
Website Information

The Winery at LaGrange, VA
Event: Wine Down
Website Information

The Winery at Perennial Vineyards, OH
Music: Scott Paris
Website Information

Saturday, June 23

Cava Winery, NJ
Event: Summer Daze Weekend
Website Information

Chateau Chantal, Michigan
Event: Wine Dinner
Event: Tapas Tour-Daily ’til 9/3/12
Website Information

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Music: Tom Todd (afternoon)Whooz Playin (evening)
Website Information

The Winery at Perennial Vineyards, Ohio
Music: B&C
Website Information

Three Fox Vineyards, Virginia
Event: Foodie Fight!
Website Information

Sunday, June 24

Cava Winery, New Jersey
Event: Summer Daze Weekend
Website Information

Chateau Chantal, Michigan
Event: Tapas Tour-Daily ’til 9/3/12
Website Information

Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Music: 4-Kings
Website Information

Are you looking forward to some enjoyable and fun two or three day trips this summer? Terry developed numerous short winery travel itineraries to help wine lovers and travelers. Each itinerary includes a map. These itineraries are suggestions to help get you started in the region you want to visit. Keep checking back as we will continue to add more itineraries. Countries covered by the itineraries include Canada, New Zealand and the United States.

The itineraries are located on the Wine Trail Traveler website

at http://www.winetrailtraveler.com/itineraries/tripitineraries.php.

Canada has itineraries for Lake Erie North Shore, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Jordan and Vineland, and Prince Edward County.

New Zealand itineraries include Waiheke Island, Hawke’s Bay, and Marlborough.

The US North East section offers itineraries for New York’s Finger Lakes’ region while Pennsylvania has suggestions for Brandywine Valley, Lehigh Valley, North East and Interstate 83.

US Mid West itineraries include wineries in Michigan and Ohio. The itineraries include Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula. Ohio’s regions covered are Conneaut and Geneva/Madison.

US South offers itineraries in Maryland, North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, and Virginia. Eight itineraries are in Virginia and five in Tennessee.

 US West itineraries cover California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

Keep checking back as we will continue to add more itineraries.

Cheers! Kathy

Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo, owners of Messina Hof Winery and Resort, will have four of their Messina Hof wines at the United States Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal for July 4. Paul is also the winemaker at Messina Hof. The wines to be enjoyed include Rea Gae Cabernet Sauvignon, Private Reserve Chardonnay, Private Reserve Pinot Noir and Private Reserve Semillon.

A July 4 celebration will include a red, white and blue barbeque with the Messina Hof wines. Paul and Merrill will be at the Embassy to enjoy the celebration of the 4^th of July with dignitaries and guests.

What a wonderful way to celebrate the Fourth of July 2012 – with wines from the United States!

We visited Messina Hof Winery and Resort and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Since we visited they have added another location in Fredericksburg, Texas. Check out our article and visit the Messina Hof Winery website.

Cheers!

C. Mondavi & Family has just announced their first new wine brand in more than 50 years. The Divining Rod brand is based on Marc Mondavi, winemaker and his intense interest in water witching. Marc Mondavi is third winery generation in the C. Mondavi family and  he is also a water witch.

Currently two Divining Rod wines are available: 2010 Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay and a 2010 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Both wines are distributed around the United States. I haven’t had the opportunity to try either wine but I am looking forward to tasting them at my next opportunity.

According to a press release, Marc Mondavi says, “I have been water witching since I was just a teenager.  It usually catches people a bit off guard the first time they see it, but my track record speaks for itself; I’ve been able to find water where geologists have come up dry.” “I basically grew up in the vineyards learning about viticulture and winemaking.  This new brand is first and foremost a tribute to my winemaking heritage of which I am very proud.  It allows me to leverage all of my practical winemaking skills with a unique talent I have perfected over the years, a talent that some may think is a little more supernatural than normal.”

During June a special sweepstakes is taking place. Visit the new Facebook page, The Divining Rod, to enter a special sweepstakes. Winners will receive a Divining Rod Party Kit.

Water witching has been around for centuries and is a legitimate way to discover where underground water may be located. It saves the expense of drilling for water where there may not be any. While it’s not 100 percent accurate, it can work and save money and time.  I had an uncle who used water witching. Uncle Paul was a farmer and a carpenter. I recall as a young girl, Uncle Paul traveling a couple of hours to reach our small farm. He brought his divining rod with him to try to help my father and brother locate water on our land. I can still recall Uncle Paul noting a particular area where water might be found underground. I was fascinated with the idea and now my interest has been rekindled.

Cheers, Kathy

Vino & Notes, a Colorado wine festival, will be fun and help to support Help the Needy.

Save the date August 4, 2012 and plan to travel to the small Woodland Park town near Colorado Springs, Colorado for the 5^th Annual Vino & Notes Festival. Travelers and tourist will discover jazz, food and wine. The festival takes place in “Old Towne” Woodland Park’s Memorial Park.

Eighteen wineries and more than twenty vendors are participating in the 2012 festival. Live music will be available.

Tickets are $25 a piece and for military members $20. Tickets for Vino & Notes are available online. Military members need to show their ID at the gate.

Park State Bank & Trust is the festival 2012 Title Sponsor of Vino & Notes. They have chosen Help the Needy as their charity for the event this year. Help the Needy is a charity organization in Woodland Park who helps those in need.

The Vino & Notes festival is brought to you by the owners of The Cellar Door, Jamie and Ben Caperton. The Cellar Door pours wines from Aspen Peak Cellars. They also have wine related products and many local artisan products. Be sure to stop by The Cellar Door when visiting Woodland Park, Colorado.

A variety of sponsorships are available. Some of them include $1,500 Music Stage Sponsorship, $1,500 Wine Glass Sponsorship, $500 VIP Tent Sponsorship and $100 Poster/Website Advertising and more. Group Tickets are also available. Purchase 25 tickets for $625 and get 5 free tickets.

Enjoy a day at the Vino & Notes festival in the tourist town of Woodland Park located about 18 miles from Colorado Springs. Directions are available online.

Cheers!