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Wine Books Signing Today

October 27, 2013 – 6:45 am

Book signing today at the Howard County Library Miller Branch from 1:30 – 4:30. Terry and Kathy will have their two books A Wine Journey and A Wine Tourist’s Guide: Visiting Tasting Rooms available for sales and signings. Come and meet the authors who have visited and written about more than 1,000 wineries in North America, Europe and Oceania.

The newest book A Wine Tourist’s Guide: Visiting Tasting Rooms was published last month. This is a must have book for anyone that visits wineries and vineyards. What are the expectations and etiquette when visiting tasting rooms? What are some of the common international grapes that you will discover while visiting? What are some misconceptions that wine travelers have about wine? How do you figure out where to visit in the first place? This book will guide you through the answers to those questions.

A Wine Journey was published last November. The book explains how anyone can learn about wine, make wine and engage in wine travel. This book provides the motivation for ordinary people to become more involved in the wonderful world of wine.

We hope that if you are in the region, you’ll stop by the Miller Branch of the Howard County Library today.

Cheers,
Terry

By Terry | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Postage Stamps for Wine Enthusiasts

October 25, 2013 – 9:40 am

Wine enthusiasts and philatelists will enjoy the series of stamps designed in Austria emphasizing Austria’s wine regions. The first stamp in the series began with the Weinviertel wine region. The stamp features a glass of Grüner Veltliner. This variety has the most vineyards planted in Weinviertel. Included in the image area  are a Grüner Veltliner grape leaf and a cluster of the grapes. In the background is another image of a windmill in the Weinviertel region. This stamp became available in October 2012.

The Südsteiermark stamp was released this summer. Austria’s Südsteiermark wine region is known for Welschriesling, Muskateller, Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Sauvignon Blanc and Morillon. The stamp image has a Südsteiermark vineyard, grape leaf and grape cluster. Also part of the image includes a Klapotetz. The Klapotetz reminds one of a windmill but is actually used to scare birds.

In 2014 Austria will release a stamp featuring Austria’s Wachau wine region.

The Weinviertel and Sudsteiermark stamps are available at Austria’s post offices and online.

Cheers! Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Halloween and More Wine Events Coming Up!

October 24, 2013 – 4:37 pm

The calendar of wine events on the Wine Trail Traveler website was recently updated. With Halloween quickly approaching, be sure to check out the special Halloween activities.

At Pearmund Cellars in Virginia pumpkin carving will take place Friday night. You will want to check out the wine bottle costume that was posted on Pearmund Cellars Facebook page. What a great idea for decorating by dressing wine bottles in Halloween costumes.

Other events for this week and Halloween are noted below. Now is the time to start watching and planning for special holidays events.

Friday, October 25

Chateau Chantal, MI
Event: Wine Dinner
Website Info

Lorimar Vineyards and Winery, CA
Event: Live Music in Wine Country
Website Info

Pearmund Cellars, VA
Event: Celebrating Wines of The World Series
Event: Pumpkin Carving!
Website Info

The Winery at Perennial Vineyards, OH
Music: Austin “Walkin’ Cane”
Website Info

Saturday, October 26

Grand River Cellars, OH
Event: Halloween Party
Event: Dinner & a Thrill Package
Website Info

Lorimar Vineyards and Winery, CA
Event: The Great Pumpkin Carving Contest
Event: Live Music in Wine Country
Event: Live Music in Old Town
Website Info

Pearmund Cellars, VA
Event: Book Signing with Susan McCorkindale Pearmund
Website Info

Three Fox Vineyards, VA
Event: Halloween Celebration!
Website Info

Sunday, October 27

Chateau Chantal, MI
Event: Jazz at Sunset – Fall Session
Website Info

DelFosse Vineyards & Winery, VA
Event: French Crepes
Website Info

Lorimar Vineyards and Winery, CA
Event: Live Music in Wine Country
Website Info

Slack Winery, MD
Event: Retrophyt Patty & John
Website Info

Three Fox Vineyards, VA
Event: Halloween Celebration
Website Info

Wednesday, October 30

Chateau Chantal, MI
Event: Wine Dinner
Website Info

Lorimar Vineyards and Winery, CA
Event: Halloween Party (Night of the Living Wine-O’s)
Website Info

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

If you are a winery and would like to advertise your winery and/or events please contact us for details at info@winetrailtraveler.com.

Cheers! Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Winery Events | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Four Wines from the O’Neill Vintners Portfolio

October 23, 2013 – 11:41 am

In September we received four wine samples from California to write about for the coming holidays. Included in the samples were Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. The wines are in O’Neill Vintners portfolio that includes four national wine brands:  Allegro, Camelot, Pepi and Tin Roof Cellars. Mark Rasmussen, an experienced winemaker, is the head winemaker at O’Neill’s. Mark began making wine in the late 1970s.

We discovered these four wine samples from O’Neill Vintners to be pleasant and to pair well with food. The wines are a good value for the money and would be good for casual enjoyment.

Allegro Riesling 2012

The Allegro Riesling 2012 has an unpretentious price that offers delightful nuances. We discovered this light yellow wine to have an aroma of peach and floral. The taste offered a tingle on the tongue and reminded one of peaches and orange blossoms. The finish was relatively short. For $12 per bottle wine lovers can enjoy this Allegro Riesling on a sunny afternoon on the deck or paired with a variety of foods including cheese, Asian dishes and fruit. We found that the fruitiness of the wine was more evident at the beginning than on the finish.

The Riesling grapes were harvested in September 2012 and sourced from Monterey vineyards. The wine was produced in stainless steel.

Camelot Pinot Grigio NV

Pleasantly surprising with many notes including citrus, melon and peach. This is an affordable wine that also has a lot to offer.  The wine had a straw color with a light green hue. This non-vintage Pinot Grigio is a good value at only $7 per bottle.

Tin Roof Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Of the four wines, we found the Sauvignon Blanc at $10 per bottle most enjoyable. The taste had more complex notes and included hints of citrus and pineapple. Suggested pairings included light seafood dishes, roast chicken, Caesar salad and mild spiced Asian foods.

Tin Roof Merlot 2010

This Tin Roof Merlot offered aromas of red raspberries and oak. In addition the taste had notes of oak, red raspberries, coffee, leather and a hint of vanilla. The finish had more oak influences than fruit.

To produce this wine a little Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petite Sirah was added to the Merlot. The wine was aged in French and American oak.

Cheers, Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine Notes | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

October 22, 2013 – 8:26 am

The annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Canada begins November 1 and finishes November 10. The fair includes animal shows and competitions, culinary demonstrations, food and wine, a mixologist competition and a Pub Crawl.

In addition to the many agricultural related activities and shows, Ontario wineries will be showcasing their wines at the Wine Competition. More than 60 wineries are expected to be involved with the Wine Competition. Wines will include red, white, rosé, sparkling and dessert wines.

Another wine event will be the Pub Crawl. The Pub Crawl takes place on November 2 at 7:30pm at The Royal Vineyard & Brew House. After a toast participants pick up a map and find their way to several locations including The Bit & Bridle Pub, The Bull Pen Saloon and the Hitching Ring Cafe & Bar.

The Royal Mixology Competition

On November 4th, 10 of Toronto’s best mixologists will compete at the Fair. This is the 4th year for the competition. The audience will sample an array of hand mixed cocktails and then vote for their favorite mixologist.

Tickets for various events including the Pub Crawl and The Royal Mixology Competition are available online.

The first Royal Agricultural Winter Fair took place in the 1920s and today more than 300,000 people attend this 10-day event. If you have the opportunity, try to attend The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

Cheers, Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary, Wine Notes | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Harvest Ridge Winery Opens with a Grand Dinner

October 20, 2013 – 3:49 pm

Harvest Ridge Winery Tasting Room, Delaware

Last night we had a delightful time at Harvest Ridge Winery’s opening dinner. The new winery is located about 20 minutes from Dover, Delaware. We started off in the winery where visitors could view the press pad and stainless steel tanks. After touring the winery and enjoying appetizers and wine, we left the tank room and proceeded to the nearby tasting room and event room.

The idea and driving force behind Harvest Ridge Winery is Chuck Nunan. However, this winery with vineyards, tasting room and event room is a family production. Chuck, his wife, sons and daughters-in-law, and Chuck’s parents all attended the celebration of the opening of the winery that included a gourmet dinner. Neighbors, friends and wine enthusiasts attended this welcoming of Delaware’s fourth winery.

While touring the Harvest Ridge winery guests tasted a Chenin Blanc Riesling wine. The wine was a light yellow color. The aroma offered floral (roses) hints. The taste was floral with notes of peaches. The wine had some sweetness but dried on the finish. The wine was very nice as a stand-alone wine or with appetizers. The dinner had six courses and each course was paired with a different wine from Harvest Ridge.

The gourmet dinner began with Baked Oysters Asiago with Fennel & Apple paired with a 2012 Chardonnay. The Chardonnay was a straw color. The aroma and taste reminded one of apple with a hint of pear. The finish was crisp and fruity. The second course was Parsnips & Pear Soup with Brown-butter & Almonds paired with Viognier 2011. This wine was a yellow color with a floral aroma and notes of roses and honeysuckle. Then we started with the red wines. The 2011 Merlot was paired with Roasted Quail with a Black Garlic Romesco  & Pork Belly Hash.  The Merlot was a translucent red with earthy notes and mild tannins. Next the Malbec 2012, a ruby color, was poured to be enjoyed with the succulent Short Rib Cacciatore with a Sweet Pepper Ravioli. The Malbec offered notes of dark fruits. The finish was of leather and dark fruits. Bold tannins accompany the finish that had fruit yielding to leather. The 2012 Vidal Blanc was served with the dessert of Fig Tart with a Mascarpone Sorbet. Vidal Blanc was a light straw color with hints of a floral aroma. The taste was also floral and reminded one of daisies with a hint of honeysuckle. The finish was crisp and slightly sweet.

We enjoyed our visit to Harvest Ridge Winery and welcoming the 4th Delaware winery. We look forward to seeing Harvest Ridge Winery growing as well as seeing the Delaware wine industry expanding.

Cheers! Kathy and Terry

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Tomorrow is the Delaware Wine and Beer Festival

October 19, 2013 – 9:55 am

Tomorrow, October 20th from 12Noon to 5pm the 4th Annual Delaware Wine and Beer Festival takes place in Dover, Delaware.

Tickets at the door are $35 each (includes 10 tastings.) Designated driver tickets are $10 each.

The focus of this year’s festival is “Drink Local, ”Buy Local” and “Eat Local.” The festival will also include live reggae music.

While enjoying visiting all of the participants in the Delaware Wine and Beer Festival, consider looking for some original gifts for the upcoming holidays.

Beer, Wine and Spirits

  • Seven breweries
  • Four wineries including Delaware’s newest winery Harvest Ridge Winery
  • Two distilleries

Artists/Artisans

Fifty Delaware artists will inspire your holiday shopping with displays of pottery, photography, jewelry and more.

Food

Eight vendors with restaurants included will have food available for purchase.

 

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

The Pinot Affair Event: October 19 and 20

October 18, 2013 – 11:07 am

Coyote's Run Estate Winery Niagara-on-the-Lake

 

 

 

This weekend, October 19 and 20, visit 10 wineries in the Ontario-on-the-Lake region that are featuring The Pinot Affair. Ontario-on-the-Lake wineries celebrating The Pinot Affair include:

 

 

 

  • Coyote’s Run Estate Winery
    – Taste Coyote’s Run Estate Winery’s specially paired Pinots with a series of lamb sliders each topped with a different creation
  • Flat Rock Cellars
    – Taste the difference between different vineyard blocks
  • Henry of Pelham
    -Enjoy classic back vintages of estate and reserve wines
  • Hidden Bench
    – (Reservations Required) Taste wines with local specialties
  • Inniskillin
    -Taste a 2007 Pinot Noir and 2011 Reserve Pinot Noir with braised Pork Belly and Toasted Apples
  • Lailey Vineyards
    -Enjoy Pinot Noirs with Cassoulet
  • Les Jordanne Wine & Culinary Affair @Jackson Triggs
    – (Reservations Required) Taste four Pinot Noirs with canapés and artisanal cheese
  • Malivoire
    -(Reservations required) Meet the winemaker and learn about barrel ages and more
  • Rosewood
    – Reservations Required -Meet beekeeper winemaker Luke Orwinski and taste a vertical tasting of Pinot and food pairings
  • Tawse
    –  (Reservations Required) Taste Pinot Noir at different ages beginning with a barrel sample. Food pairings will be available.

Tickets are available at http://www.thepinotaffair.com/tickets.html.

For more information about these wineries visit Wine Trail Traveler winery reviews.

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary, Winery Events | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Mason-Dixon Wine Trail Event: “Wine Just Off the Vine”

October 17, 2013 – 12:19 pm

Reid's Orchard Winery

The Mason-Dixon Wine Trail is an unusual wine trail as the trail includes a combination of Maryland and Pennsylvania wineries.

The next major Mason-Dixon Wine Trail event is coming up in November. It  is the Wine Just Off the Vine event. Participants in the event can taste wines that have just been freshly pressed.

The Wine Just Off the Vine event takes place on two weekends of November, November 9-10 and November 16-17 from 12Noon to 5pm. The standard $15 ticket to the event includes:

 

 

  • Admission to all participating wineries on both weekends
  • Special wine tastings
  • Light food
  • Winemaker presentations
  • Tasting glass (souvenir)
  • 10 percent discount on wines

Why not add a Winemaker Dinner to your experience? On November 8, a special Winemaker Dinner will take place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Beginning with a reception at 6:30 attendees will have assorted appetizers to enjoy. The dinner menu includes:

  • Mushroom Parsnip Napoleon
  • Braised Short Rib
  • Pan Seared White Fish
  • Purple Haze Goat Cheese
  • Cambozola Black Label Blue
  • Blood Orange, Chipotle Sorbet
  • Pumpkin Crème Brulee

Tickets for the dinner include tips and gratuities. Price: $60 per person
Tickets for the Winemaker dinner are available online at
http://tamanendwinedinner.eventbrite.com/.

To find out more about the wineries on the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail read the Wine Trail Traveler review articles.

Cheers! Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Winery Events | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Wine Trail Traveler Quarterly Features Georgia the “Cradle of Wine”

October 16, 2013 – 7:25 am

 

Wine Trail Traveler Quarterly Fall: Focus on Georgia "Cradle of Wine"

We just published photos with captions of our recent visit to the country of Georgia that is known as the “Cradle of Wine.” Winemaking in Georgia has been traced back 8,000 years.  If you have the opportunity to visit Georgia, you will discover wonderful people and a comforting mix of wine, winemaking, history and religion.

The quarterly photos portray our journey across Georgia from Tbilisi to Batumi on the Black Sea.

2013 Fall Quarterly Contents

On the Cover: Qvevris made by Zaliko Bodjadze
Focus on Kartli, Georgia – Sakartvelo
Focus on Kakheti, Georgia – Sakartvelo
Wine in the Bible: The Cry of the Poor
Partners
Back Page: Besini Vineyards in Tsinandali, Telavi, Kakheti, Georgia

The Fall quarterly is available at
http://winetrailtraveler.com/newsletter/magfall13.pdf.

 

We hope you enjoy this issue of the Wine Trail Traveler Quarterly. If you would like to be added to the Wine Trail Traveler Quarterly email list, please let me know.

Cheers, Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

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