View from Barrel Oak Winery, VA

This Memorial Day weekend is a big weekend at Barrel Oak Winery in Northern Virginia. They will be celebrating their 5^th anniversary of their opening.  At the same time they will be supporting the Red Cross in its efforts to help Oklahoma victims.

We first met Brian and Sharon Roeder, the owners of Barrel Oak Winery, before the winery was built. We’ve enjoyed watching the progress of the winery and vineyards from the very beginning.

They chose an ideal location for the winery just off of frequently traveled Interstate 66. This makes it easy to stop by while traveling or easy to get to and spend the day. After five years the winery has acres of vineyards surrounding the beautiful facility.

In celebration of their 5^th Anniversary they have several groups providing live music.

Friday:   Michael Stephenson 5:30-8:30pm
Saturday:  The Folsom Prisoners 5:30-8:30pm
Sunday:  The Electeds 1-5pm
Sunday: The Karl Stoll Power Trio 5:30-8:30pm
Monday:  Steve Hudson: 1-5pm

In addition, wine lovers are welcome to bring picnic baskets, children, grandparents and dogs. Wine tasting experiences at the John Marshall Tasting Experience will be 25 percent off.

In light of the tragic tornado in Oklahoma, Barrel Oak Winery is donating two percent of its gross proceeds from wine sales over Memorial Day Weekend, from Friday thru Monday, to the Red Cross to help the victims of the devastating tornado.

Support of charities is nothing new for Barrel Oak Winery. Throughout the year they have a variety of special events for a variety of charities.

When visiting Barrel Oak Winery this weekend be sure to buy a bottle of wine to help support Oklahoma.

Cheers! Kathy

Wine Trail Traveler

The spring edition of the Wine Trail Traveler Quarterly focuses on the wine regions in Europe and the US. Filled with many original photos, we hope you find the Spring Edition fun to browse through and may be inspired to travel to one of the wine regions.

Contents

On the Cover: The Abbey of Rosazzo in Udine, Italy
Focus on Friuli, Italy
Focus on Croatia
Focus on Long Island
Wine in the Bible: False Prophets and Bearing Fruit
Partners
Back Page: Wine is made in the vineyard

The Quarterly is available to view at http://winetrailtraveler.com/newsletter/magspring13.pdf.

If you missed the past editions of the Quarterly, they are available at
http://www.winetrailtraveler.com/newsletter/newsletter.php.

If you would like to receive an email reminder when a new Quarterly is published, please contact us at kathy (at) winetrailtraveler.com.

Cheers!
Kathy and Terry

A Maryland Vineyard

Each year Maryland is becoming home to more wineries and vineyards. Vineyards are a wonderful way to preserve the land. The establishment of wineries provides vineyard owners an opportunity to earn back some of the cost of planting and maintaining the vineyards. In some cases, value added farming helps farms and vineyards keep from selling out to developers.

Maryland recently passed a new law, House Bill 978 that Gov. O’Malley signed. Beginning June 1, this law allows wineries to sell their wines at farmers’ markets. This law is a win-win situation for winery owners and consumers. Wineries can sell their wines directly to consumers without the middleman and consumers can discover local wines without driving to the winery.

While many consumers have supported the eat local movement, it’s time for people to support the drink local movement.

It should be noted that not every Maryland farmers’ market may have a winery participating. Do your homework and find the local farmers’ market that will have wineries at their market.

According to Maryland’s Best website, currently six of the farmers’ markets in the state may have local wine for sale. This summer while perusing the locally grown vegetables, fruits and baked goods of Maryland be sure to checkout the Maryland wines.

As a resident of Maryland, I hope that more Maryland farmers markets will also feature local wines.

To view a list of Maryland’s farmers market go to http://marylandsbest.net/search.php#. If your favorite farmers’ market does not have a winery represented, contact the market and ask for it. Also contact Maryland wineries and ask them to participate.

Cheers!

Kathy

West of Atlanta, Georgia is Carroll County. This county has taken its first steps into becoming a wine region by granting a permit for the establishment of a winery.

According to a Times-Georgian.com article “Vineyard gets county’s first commercial winery permit” by Winston Jones, Carroll County has issued its first permit for a conditional use permit. This will allow the construction of a winery building.  The owner of the property currently has young vineyards established. The winery building is expected to be finished in time for the 2014 harvest and will be named Little Vine Vineyards.

Georgia is not well known for vineyards and wineries. Some people think that the climate is not conducive to growing the type and quality of grapes needed for making quality wines. Pierce’s disease is also a challenge for grape growers. However, wine lovers and travelers may want to check out the website of The Vineyard and Winery Association of West Georgia. This website includes information about wineries and vineyards in the West Georgia region. According to the association, grape varieties that do well in West Georgia include Blanc du Bois, Norton, Villard Blanc, and Lenoir. Of course Muscadine grapes do well in Georgia.

The Georgia Wine Country website offers a lot of information about wineries in Georgia including a map that shows the location of more than 40 wineries with the majority of wineries in northern Georgia.

Traveling to Georgia? Check out some of the wineries.

Cheers! Kathy

On Wednesday May 8, Wine Trail Traveler, LLC announced the establishment of the Wine Tourism Club. This club is free and for people who visit wineries and wine tasting rooms while traveling.

Benefits: The Wine Tourism Club provides a way for visitors to winery tasting rooms to keep track of their visits to wineries and of course receiving a personalized certificate for “bragging” rights.

Membership in the Winery Tourism Club is free. Download the application, complete the application and send it to Wine Trail Traveler LLC. You will receive a membership certificate.

Currently six levels are available. The first level will be Pioneer ranging from 1 to 99 visits. You can get your first certificate after visiting 100 different wineries. The following certificates are Pathfinder 100 visits, Voyager 200 visits, Wayfarer 300 visits, Crusader 400 visits, and Globetrotter 500 visits.

Wine Tourism Club applications are available online:

• pdf application
• Excel file application

Download a copy of the application and keep it in your car or carry it with you when you travel.  For more information visit the wine tourism page.

We hope you enjoy participating in the Wine Tourism Club.

Cheers!

Kathy

Port of Leonardtown Winery

The first Wine Tourism Day takes place Saturday, May 11.  According to the Wine Tourism Day website, “Wine Tourism Day is designed to feature the many wineries offering events through North America, promote the concept of traveling to wine regions on vacation, and highlight the economic impact of wine tourism. Most of all it is about you, a lover of wine and travel, having fun.”

Tourism should not be under estimated. Tourism is an important aspect of any country’s economy. Tourists/visitors can impact restaurants, stores, hotels, bed and breakfasts, gas stations, car rental agencies, airports and more.

In France it was noted that tourism is one of the few industries that cannot be outsourced to another country. (Becker, Elizabeth, Overbooked: The Exploding Business of Travel and Tourism, 2013) Tourism also cannot be created on a movie screen or in a book. However, these are good ways to learn about destinations but not the same as visiting and experiencing the cultures and talking with the residents.

Wine tourism is growing with more people interested in visiting wine regions throughout the world. Here in Maryland the wine industry is growing and now has more than 60 wineries with more planning to open within a year or two.

Check your region and state for wineries celebrating Wine Tourism Day.

Maryland hosted the successful Drink Local Wine Conference in April. Now numerous events are planned for May 11, Wine Tourism Day. Some of these special events include:

• Crow Farm Vineyard will be offering one free wine tasting and sample of Crow Farm products

• Galloping Goose Vineyards will feature a flight of three red wines hors d’oeuvres for $12.00

• Distillery Lane Ciderworks is offering a cider making class covering the basics of home cider making. Head cider maker, Tim Rose, and orchardist, Rob Miller, lead the class.  Topics covered include: the desirability of various apple varieties, how different apples are used , the fermentation process, the importance of sanitation, and blending the final product. The class is $100 per person (preregistration and a $25 non-refundable deposit is due to hold a spot in the class). This fee covers the class, tastings, and the materials needed for participants to ferment a case of their own hard cider at home. To register, please visit their website or call 301-834-8920

• The Piedmont Wine Trail will host a Vidal wine tasting on May 11 and May 12. Each winery will have a different special with the Vidal grape. Participating wineries: Basignani Winery, Boordy Vineyards, DeJon Vineyards, Fiore Winery, Harford Vineyard and Winery, Royal Rabbit Vineyards, and Woodhall Wine Cellars.

• Catoctin Breeze Vineyard offers a featured sample of their wines for a tasting fee of $6, including a complimentary tasting glass. Private tours are  available and include a guided tour of the vineyard and winery, followed by a private tasting of all currently available wines, complete with cheese pairings. The private tour is $25 per person and reservations are required. For reservations call 240-449-0677 or email tours@catoctinbreeze.com.

• Port of Leonardtown: Marvelous Mom’s Celebration & National Wine Tourism Day, Cost: Pairing of chocolate truffles and wine $10. Reservations required please call 301-690-2192.

Enjoy celebrating Wine Tourism Day by visiting a winery.

Cheers, Kathy

Candoni Wines is working with Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees in the United States National Forests. You can help by going to Facebook and “liking” Candoni Wines. Until the end of May, for every 10 “likes” Candoni Wines will donate one tree. To find the Candoni Facebook page go to https://www.facebook.com/candoniwines. Click “like” and help support the planting of trees in US National Forests.

Our US National Forests need help to repair the damage done by forest fires. According to the  Arbor Day Foundation‘s website, “Record wildfire seasons in recent years have destroyed millions of trees in forests around the country. Many areas have burned so severely that replanting is necessary.” Even as I write this blog, firefighters are working hard to stop forest fires in California.

Candoni Wines is an Italian family who has been producing wines for 150- plus years. They have also established an import company (Arel Group Wine & Spirits, Inc.) in the United States focused on importing only the Candoni wines into the US. Check out the Candoni website which has information about the family, recipes and also 11 art projects.

Appreciators of art will enjoy the artistic wine labels on each bottle of Candoni wine. The Candoni website notes, “Each Candoni bottle is rendered a unique piece of art by a serigraph reproduction of an Etruscan fresco painting. Serigraphy is the technique of permanently applying color through the use of screens of woven of silk. in the case of the bottles, ceramic colors are applied to the surface of the glass, which is subsequently subjected to heat treatments that render the color indelible. “

Be sure to help add a tree to the National Forests by “liking” Candoni’s Facebook page.

Note: Candoi Wines include: Chianti D.O.C.G. Pinot Noir, Merlot D.O.C., Moscato d’Italia, Pinot Grigio D.O.C., Organic Merlot, Organic Pinot Grigio and Prosecco D.O.C.

Cheers! Kathy

Before you know it, Mother’s Day will have arrived. No matter what area of the country you live in, you can find Mother’s Day cards and gift ideas. So what’s different with the list of suggestions below? These suggestions are for moms who might enjoy wine related items.

For this year consider some of these ideas. Of course, I’ll begin with a copy of our recently published book, “A Wine Journey.”

1. A Wine Journey: If planning a visit to Three Fox Vineyards in Delaplane, Virginia on Mother’s Day, you can purchase the book, meet the authors and have the book signed. The book is also available through several online stores including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. More information is available online.

2. A bottle of wine: Buy a special pen that writes on glass and write, “Happy Mother’s Day 2013″ on it. After enjoying the wine, the wine bottle becomes a keepsake.

3. Winery visit: If your mom lives in a wine region, give her a special time by treating her to a visit at a winery. Many wineries host a variety of events and numerous wineries have restaurants.

4. Wine glasses: Purchase a pair of wine glasses and paint them with permanent paints or tie a ribbon with a carnation or rose to the stems. When purchasing wine glasses, look for clear wine glasses with a thin lip and good balance.

5. Varietal Grape Seed Oil: Grape seed oil is more unusual than olive oil making it a special gift for the cook. We have used varietal grape seed oil from AprèsVin. The company produces several styles and our favorites are Lime Riesling and Grapefruit Chardonnay.

6. Decanter: Wine decanters can be used for both white and red wines.

7. Wine glass charms: When enjoying wine and mingling with others, wine charms are a great way to keep track of your own wine glass.

8. Locally made: Frequently in addition to selling wines, wineries feature locally made products. Browse the selections and choose an item that is unique and will be remembered.

9. Art: Many wineries provide wall space for artists to display their pieces of art.

10. Flowers: Flowers that remind one of a wine aroma. Help your Mom start a wine aroma/sensory garden. Checkout the sensory garden at Reif Estate Winery located in Canada’s Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Paul Dolan, Biodynamics and the North Coast Wine Challenge

I still recall my reaction to meeting Paul Dolan a few years ago. In advance I was hesitant knowing that he supported organic and Biodynamic principles. I wondered if he was he going to be one of “those” people who border on rudeness with respect to nature? Absolutely not, we soon discovered, that Paul is enthusiastic about organic and Biodynamic principles but he emphasizes education rather than passion.

Paul Dolan is a friendly, laidback winegrower and winemaker who is genuinely excited about Biodynamic principals. We were privileged to taste some of his wines and walked with Paul as he explained Biodynamic principles beginning with the buried female cows’ horns filled with manure that after months turn to compost and then used as a “tea” for the vineyards. Eventually we went through the vineyards past a vibrant and colorful flower garden that helps to attract beneficial insects. Finally we ended at a structure called a flow form. It resembles a waterfall. A tower collects rain and a solar powered pump moves the water up to the top where it then runs to the bottom becoming oxygenated along the way. The compost is added and mixed with the running water and then sprayed on the soil. For more about Paul Dolan read the article at http://winetrailtraveler.com/california/pauldolan.php. We were grateful that Paul took so much time describing the vineyards and Biodynamic principles with us.

Paul Dolan Wine Website

Paul Dolan Vineyards has an unusual winery website, that may inspire other winery owners. Upon entering the website, visitors will see an image of vineyards and property. The image is interactive. By moving the cursor over the image names appear including: habitat breaks, rainwater collection tower, owl box, Biodynamic vineyards, bug farm, waterfall, and mobile chicken coop. Website visitors can also find out more about flora, fauna, soil and art. Paul has placed a daily Biodynamic calendar on the first page. After I planted onions yesterday, I quickly discovered that April 23 was a Root day – so quite by accident I planted onions on the “right” day according to followers of Biodynamics. Will it make a difference? Perhaps.

North Coast Wine Challenge

What brings all this to mind is that Paul Dolan is scheduled to be one of the wine judges at the North Coast Wine Challenge in late May. This wine challenge will be the first of its kind with winemakers from wineries in the North Coast AVA.  They are all “neighbors.” According to Wine Institute’s website, the area covers “more than three million acres, includes Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties, and portions of Marin and Solano counties.”

This wine competition could be quite a challenge for any of the wines entered from any of the counties. Napa has a name and fine wines, what will the reaction be if Napa wines do not compare well with those from any of the other counties. On the other hand, Napa wines may be highly ranked. The results should be very interesting. Perhaps it should be renamed a Judgment of North Coast California 2013.

Task, create a Pinot Noir blend from Pinot Noirs from different vineyards.

Last August 2012, while in Portland, we were invited to a blending party at R. Stuart & Company in McMinnville. This was not our first blending session. Previously we blended a wine during a class at a Virginia winery and we have hosted a blending party at our house for a California Cab and Virginia Tannat blend that we were making. At R. Stuart the process was more involved. Our task was to make a Pinot Noir blend from six Pinot Noirs made from six different vineyards. Each Pinot was currently in a barrel.

To start off, we had a barrel tasting of each Pinot. During this tasting we took notes and started forming our group. We wanted a group that had similar tastes for Pinot. Kathy and I joined Bill and Rene Eyer and William Pollard Jr. We had spent two weeks with Bill in Italy for the 2012 International Wine Tourism Conference. We quickly determined positions for our group and set in at the task at hand.

Trying to get five people to agree on a blend is a challenge for most winemakers. However our group melded quite well. We stated the wines we liked and those that we didn’t care for. We were able to eliminate two of the Pinots from two vineyards. So now we to work with Pinots from four vineyards. We all liked the Weber Vineyard the best so we decide the largest percentage of the blend would be from that vineyard. We created a blend, than played with changing a percentage here and there.

Rene Eyer accurately measures the wine for the appropriate percentage in the blend.

We learned that just changing one vineyard’s Pinot by a couple percentage points changed the entire wine. We quickly determined the general blend, then spent quite awhile honing in to the perfect blend for us (60% Weber Vineyard, 30% Daffodil Hill Vineyard, 5% Courting Hill Vineyard and 5% Hirschy Vineyard).

Our next task was to create a name for the blend. We choose Reverence. We thought the name evoked a certain elegance for the wine that mirrored the blend. Our last task was to write tasting notes. I mentioned that at conferences, I like to write Haikus. So our group went with that idea. Our tasting notes were:

Reverence Pinot
Darker color, aroma
Tannins dance with food.

Fast forward eight months. R Stuart & Company bottled our blend and sent us two bottles. We plan to open one of the bottles on April 23rd and use Twitter for our tasting. Follow the hashtag #bloggersblend to see what everyone had to say about their blends. There are many events and activities that wineries can do for wine enthusiasts including bloggers. R. Stuart & Company had an educational and fun activity that we will remember for a lifetime.

Terry & Kathy Sullivan, Maria Stuart, Rene & Bill Eyer, and William Pollard Jr.

Returning unused Pinto back to the barrel

Cheers,
Terry