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Leese – Fitch 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

September 1, 2011 – 6:25 pm

For #CabernetDay I chose a 2006 Leese – Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon mostly because it had a Zork closure and I was interested to see how the wine faired with the closure. The peel off strip easily peeled off and the stopper came easily out of the bottle.

The wine offered a dark purple color with a ruby rim. There were blackberries and a hint of leather on the aroma. The fruit yielded to leather on the taste. The finish had mild tannins and overwhelming leather for me.

There didn’t seem to be any problems with the Zork closure. The Cab, however, didn’t matched well with other California Cabs that I like or the Cabs that I’ve made. Since I still have enough Tempranillo left for a glass, I finish my evening with the Texas Lone Oak winery Tempranillo that I enjoyed more.

For me, TempranilloDay won over CabernetDay.

Cheers,
Terry

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

Visit a Winery to Celebrate Labor Day Weekend (events)

September 1, 2011 – 9:22 am

Lots of winery events are taking place this Labor Day Weekend! Which one will you attend? Check with the winery for any changes to their event schedule. Some wineries encourage visitors to bring picnic baskets, although no outside alcohol is allowed. Call ahead to find out if travelers are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch.

Cheers! Kathy

Thursday, September 1

Cava Winery & Vineyard, New Jersey
Event: “Thirsty Thursday Social Happy Hour”
Website Information 

Chateau Chantal, Michigan
Event: Tapas Tour
Event: Jazz at Sunset
Website Info

Friday, September 2

Chateau Chantal, Michigan
Event: Tapas Tour
Website Info

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Entertainment: Don Perry Duo
Website Info

Pearmund Cellars,Virginia
Event: TGIF
Website Info

Serpent Ridge Vineyard, Maryland
Event: First Friday Music
Website Information 

Three Fox Vineyards, Virginia
Event: “On the Boardwalk”
Website Info

Saturday, September 3

Cava Winery & Vineyard, New Jersey
Event: Cava’s Labor Day Celebration
Website Information 

Chateau Chantal, Michigan
Event: Tapas Tour
Event: Wine Dinner
Website Info

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Entertainment: Afternoon-Dennis Ford / Evening-Timeless Duo
Website Info

Peaks of Otter Winery, Virginia
Event: An Apple A Day Open House
Website Information 

The Winery at LaGrange, Virginia
Entertainment: Damon and Dave
Celebrate Winery at LaGrange 5th Anniversary
Web Info

Three Fox Vineyards, Virginia
Event: “On the Boardwalk”
Website Info

Vezer Family Vineyard
Event: Joe Mattox & Friends
Website Info

Sunday, September 4

Blue Ridge Vineyard, Virginia
Event: Sounds of Summer- Exit 162
Website Info

Cava Winery & Vineyard, New Jersey
Event: Cava’s Labor Day Celebration
Website Information  

Chateau Chantal, Michigan
Event: Tapas Tour
Website Info

DelFosse Winery, Virginia
Event: Labor Day Weekend Picnic
Website Info

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Entertainment: 4-Kings
Website Info

Peaks of Otter Winery, Virginia
Event: An Apple A Day Open House
Website Information 

The Winery at LaGrange, Virginia
Entertainment: Damon and Dave
Celebrate Winery at LaGrange 5th Anniversary
Website Info

Three Fox Vineyards, Virginia
Event: “On the Boardwalk”
 Website Info

Monday, September 5

Chateau Chantal, Michigan
Event: Tapas Tour
Website Info

Three Fox Vineyards, Virginia
Event: “On the Boardwalk”
Website Info

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

Texas Tempranillo

September 1, 2011 – 8:14 am

It seems that in many new world wine regions there is a tendency for winegrowers to plant what they like. Over the decades they pull out the grapes that didn’t perform as well as expected and begin to search for varieties that may do better. Winegrowers in Texas followed a similar path. Now they have a better understanding of what grows well in their state. One of those varieties is Tempranillo.

Gene and Judy Estes at their Post Oak Vineyard in Burleson, Texas grow Tempranillo and believe the variety produces quality grapes. They are the current owners of Lone Oak Winery, also in Burleson, south of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. We acquired a bottle of the 2008 Lone Oak Winery Tempranillo from Russ Kane at the 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference.

The wine was a dark ruby with a granite rim. The aroma offered dark fruit and tobacco while blackberries and cherries were predominant on the taste. Mild tannins on the finish were accompanied by fruit yielding to a tobacco, leather aftertaste. I enjoyed this Tempranillo and believe Texas may have a winner with the varietal grape.

Cheers,
Terry

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

Apple Barn Winery in Tennessee

September 1, 2011 – 7:09 am

Apple Barn Winery in Tennessee is located near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee. When planning a visit to this resort area be sure to stop and visit Apple Barn Winery.

Located in the Apple Barn Village area of Sevierville, Tennessee Apple Barn Winery focuses on producing apple-based wines. While visiting take time to watch the virtual tour. Large windows allow views of the winemaking process in progress. (more)

Enjoy a visit to Tennessee wineries including Apple Barn Winery. More Tennessee winery information and photos are available in this summer’s Wine Trail Traveler Quarterly.

Cheers, Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Winery Tasting Rooms and Cellar Doors | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Maryland Homebrew Moves to Larger Site

August 31, 2011 – 1:18 pm

Home brewers and winemakers can shop for supplies at Maryland Homebrew in Columbia, Maryland. On Sunday the store closed its doors and moved to a new location during a visit by Hurricane Irene. The new location is just six doors away from the former location. Owner, Tom Brenton, was delighted about the new location. The square footage of space increased from 2500 square feet to 6750 square feet. That is more than two and a half times the size of the original location that served Central Maryland home brewers and winemakers for 16 years.

In this new location there are separate rooms for winemaking and beer making supplies. A room off the winemaking supplies room will serve as a winemaking demonstration room. There are many rooms in the new location. A library is planned for customers to sit and read wine and beer books or surf the Internet for recipes. The beer supply area is quite large and there is a separate room for the grains.

Wine and beer supplies won’t be the only thing to look forward to. Within the next couple weeks Maryland Homebrew will stock cheese making supplies. Customers can purchase rennet, cheese cultures, cheese presses and hard wax. Not only will there be cheese making supplies, the store will also stock supplies for making vinegar. Both red wine mother and white wine mother will be in stock. Those winemakers that do not like the way a wine turned out can try their skill at turning their wine into a wine vinegar.

Doors opened to customers during the regular business hours today. The staff did an incredible job moving from the old location to the new location during hurricane conditions over the weekend. Although there is more to set up over the next few weeks, Maryland Homebrew is worth a visit today.

Cheers,
Terry

Wine supply area in Maryland Homebrew’s new location

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

Tomorrow is #CabernetDay and #TempranilloDay

August 31, 2011 – 8:45 am

It seems September 1 is becoming red wine day with the 2nd Annual #CabernetDay and the First Annual International #TempranilloDay vying for recognition on the same day. Wine enthusiasts can choose between tweeting and blogging about Cabernet or Tempranillo. It’s unfortunate the same day has been chosen to celebrate two different wine varieties.

If you would like to participate with both wines, consider enjoying one variety today, take notes and write about it tomorrow. Enjoy the other variety tomorrow. Tweet and blog about the experience tomorrow. In fact it was noted that some people have already been tweeting using the hashtags #TempranilloDay and #CabernetDay.

When tweeting about the wines, use the hashtags #TempranilloDay and #CabernetDay.

Either way if you have a little Cabernet wine left use it to make one of these recipes.

Dark Chocolate Fudge with Savoy-Lee Cabernet Sauvignon

Ingredients

1 (12oz) bag of Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Chips
1 (10oz) bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips
1 (14oz) can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
½ c of shredded coconut
½ c of Savoy-Lee 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
1 c chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Place medium size pot on very low heat.
2. Add milk, chocolate chips and peanut butter chips.
3. Stir CONSTANTLY with wooden spoon until all chips are melted.
4. Add wine. Stir thoroughly.
5. Add coconut.
6. Stir thoroughly.
7. Add nuts.
8. Stir thoroughly.
9. Pour mixture into oblong casserole dish which has been lightly greased with olive oil.
10. Cover with foil and let set overnight.
11. Next day – cut, serve and enjoy. Great gift idea!

Recipe provided by Savoy-Lee Winery & Vineyard, Virginia.

Vintage Ridge Cabernet Franc with Gorgonzola Meatballs

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef, lean
1 egg, beaten
1 to 2 small cooking/boiling onions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ to ½ c crumbled bleu-OR-gorgonzola cheese
½ c Italian breadcrumbs
1 T extra-virgin olive oil
½ c dry red wine
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
½ t crushed red pepper flakes
2 sprigs fresh oregano, chopped
A handful of chopped flat parsley
Salt & Pepper (to taste)
Package of spaghetti or egg noodles

Directions

1. Combine meat, egg, onion, garlic, cheese, breadcrumbs, & a few dashes of black pepper.
2. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat & drizzle w/olive oil.
3. Roll small balls & drop into hot pan. Give pan a good shake & cover. Cook about 8 minutes, shaking frequently (to avoid burning).
4. Add wine and let reduce 1-2 minutes.
5. Add tomatoes & red pepper flakes, then oregano & parsley.
6. Simmer until pasta is ready. Serve over a plate of noodles or toss with entire pasta bowl.
7. Serve and enjoy!

Provided by Lindsey Charles at Vintage Ridge Vineyard & Winery, Virginia.

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

Skirt Steak Recipe with Tempranillo

August 31, 2011 – 1:02 am

Thursday, September 1 is Tempranillo Day. Tempranillo is a red Spanish wine. Tempranillo is found in the Rioja region of Spain, Argentina and California. Consider setting aside a cup of your Rioja wine and using it as a marinade in the following recipe. Alternatively, pair the Tempranillo with your dinner!

Cheers! Kathy

 

Grilled Skirt Steak

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb skirt steak
1 c red Rioja, preferably a Reserva or Gran Reserva
1 T olive oil
1 garlic clove, peeled and halved
2 T butter
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Using a fork, make a series of holes on both sides of the steak to help the marinade penetrate more effectively. In a sealable bag or non-reactive bowl, combine steak and wine; allow to marinate for a least 1 hour, the longer the better.
  2. Remove meat from marinade; season liberally with salt. Reserve marinade for later use.
  3. Brush heated grill with olive oil; cook steak until medium-rare, about 4 minutes on one side, then 3 minutes on the other. Remove steak from grill; rub with garlic; let rest 5 minutes.
  4. While meat is resting, transfer wine marinade to small saucepan over high heat; cook until liquid has reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Wisk in butter, salt and pepper. Spoon over sliced meat and serve.

Yield: Serves 4-6

Suggested Pairing: Tempranillo

Recipe provided by Vibrant Rioja in “At Home with Rioja”

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

Gearing Up for Winery Visits

August 30, 2011 – 11:04 am

Late August to late October is the high tourist months for many North American wineries and vineyards that have tasting rooms. It is at this time of the year that wine enthusiasts can observe the most activity in the vineyards and wineries. Although grapes have already been harvested in some wine regions, others still hang on the vines offering photographic views. Many wineries are in the process of making wine during this time offering visitors a chance to see the process.

Wine Trail Traveler has several resources to help travelers with their winery and vineyard visits. The Travel section of the website has over 60 trip itineraries to wine regions. Use these itineraries as is or use them as a tool to help you research what places to visit. There are articles written for those traveling to tasting rooms. Tasting Room Expectations gives you a sense of what to expect when you arrive at a tasting room. Tasting Room Etiquette is about how one should conduct oneself in a tasting room. It offers some do’s and don’ts. There are many different paths to wine knowledge. Those beginning on their wine journey should ask questions. For Fear of Ignorance addresses the need to ask questions.

Some wine travelers expect to see vineyards next to winery tasting rooms. It is important to keep in mind that winegrowing and winemaking are two different businesses. When tasting a wine, ask where the grapes were sourced. The wine could be made with grapes on the property, down the road or up to thousands of miles away. Start preparing now for winery visits during the next couple months.

Cheers,
Terry

By Terry | Posted in Winery Tasting Rooms and Cellar Doors | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Labor Day Weekend Wine Festivals

August 30, 2011 – 1:02 am

Enjoy this Labor Day weekend by visiting a wine festival. If you are looking for a smaller wine event checkout your neighborhood winery. With more than 6,000 wineries established in the US, there is likely to be a winery somewhat nearby. Check the festivals below and discover one that interests you. Website links are provided so that you can get full information.

Cheers, Kathy

7th Annual Taste of Hudson Labor Day Weekend
Hudson, Ohio
September 4-5, 2011
Website: http://www.tasteofhudson.com/index-1.html
This event for adults included the North End Wine & Beer Garden.

Sonoma Wine Country Weekend
September 2-4, 2011
Website: http://www.sonomawinecountryweekend.com/
This three-day event includes winemaker lunches, winemaker dinner parties, a wine auction, and wineries bbqs.

2011 Nauvoo Grape Festival
September 2-4, 2011
Nauvoo State Park, Nauvoo, IL
Website Information: http://www.nauvoograpefestival.com/
Enjoy Rheinberger Museum tours of wine cellar and grape samples from Illinois’ oldest vineyard, tours of Weld House Museum, entertainment, pancake breakfast, volleyball, grape stomp 5-K run/walk, archery exhibit, a wine tasting by Baxter’s Vineyards and Nauvoo Grape Festival Pageant – The Wedding of the Wine and Cheese, arts and crafts show, and flea market.

41st Annual Millbrae Art & Wine Festival
September 3-4, 2011
Millbrae, California
Website Information: http://www.teamproevent.com/events/millbrae.html
Enjoy arts include paintings, pottery, jewelry, toys, leather, and glass works. Food available includes baklava, barbecue ribs, garlic chicken sandwiches, fried oysters, as well as wines and microbrews.

The TASTE – Food & Wine
September 2-5, 2011
Three locations – Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Downtown, California
Website: http://events.latimes.com/taste/
Events at Beverly Hills include Secrets from the Kitchen & Cellar, Fashion Bites Brunch,  Desserts After Dark and Picnic in the Hills. In Hollywood enjoy Art of Mixing, Taco Tequila Tryst, and Street Eats. Finally in Downtown enjoy Food Noir.

 

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

First Winemaking, Next Cheesemaking

August 29, 2011 – 4:25 pm

For me, the most I learned about wine was from making it. Kathy and I made wine at home from kits, juice and grapes. We made a barrel of a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot co-fermented and aged 9 months in American oak at Tin Lizzie Wineworks. We made a barrel of 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 plus months in new French oak at Vint Hill Craft Winery in Virginia. The process of making wine is an excellent learning tool.

Our next venture is to learn about cheese and wine vinegar. After learning much about wine from making it, it stands to reason that we can learn about cheese and wine vinegar from making it. We were told at Chaples Creamery in Easton, Maryland to start by making Mozzarella cheese. Numerous directions can be found on the Internet. Most of the lists of ingredients includes rennet. Finding rennet is easier said than done though.

Columbia, Maryland has several different grocery stores. The likes of Giant, Harris Teeter, Safeway and Food Lion carry a good supply of common everyday items. Rennet is not an everyday common item. When in Columbia and you can’t find what you’re looking for go to the only Trader Joe’s in town. The staff is very helpful at our Trader Joe’s. They didn’t have rennet, however, they did suggest that we try an organic food store on Rt 175 called Mom’s Organic Market. Since the electricity was off at our house due to Hurricane Irene, we extended our planned outing. Mom’s is not a small grocery store. They are medium sized and have a large assortment of things organic. The customer service desk is past the fresh fruits and vegetables. We asked about rennet, and they had it. Finally on a winning streak, I thought to ask about red wine mother to make wine vinegar. Certainly a store called Mom’s should have mother. No luck there though, the store had vinegar with mother in it but not red wine mother. Off to the Internet for that item. With rennet in hand, we  will soon try making Mozzarella.

Cheers,
Terry

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

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