New and unique wine packaging has been introduced into the United States. Will it take a while to catch on? Already the AstraPouch is being used in the UK, South Africa and Australia. The AstraPouch was developed by AstraPouch North America and is being used by Glenora Wine Cellars to package their Trestle Creek Riesling. Glenora is using the 1.5L pouch.

AstraPouch packaging offers a number of advantages for wineries and for consumers. These pouches are very light. If you have ever moved a case of empty glass wine bottles you’ll notice how heavy glass can be. This all adds up to an increased carbon footprint. By using AstraPouch packaging the carbon footprint should dramatically decrease.

The lighter weight of carrying wine is also great for the consumer who wants to carry the wine while camping or hiking.

The nozzle on the pouch allows wine to pour out but keeps oxygen from entering into the pouch and oxidizing the wine. According to the AstraPouch North America website, after opening the pouch, the wine will stay fresh for up to one month.

Kudos to Glenora Wine Cellars for beginning the use of a new environmentally friendly option to glass bottles.

Note: A review of Glenora Wine Cellars is available on the Wine Trail Traveler website at

http://winetrailtraveler.com/newyork/glenora.php.

Cheers! Kathy

Celebrate the 1^st day of September, drink Maryland wine and support the Maryland Winegrowing PAC. On Wednesday, September 1 guests will be able to join WYPR’s Cellar Notes host Al Spoler at Clementine, Baltimore MD.

Guests will enjoy wines that scored high during the Maryland Governor’s Cup Competition as well as wines that are not yet publicly available.  Hors d’eourves will be paired with the wines.

Tickets are available at http://www.missiontix.com/events/product/9476/an-evening-of-top-maryland-wine. All proceeds will benefit Supporters of Maryland Winegrowing PAC. This is a beginning of a number of events to be hosted by the Maryland Winegrowing PAC.

Enjoy wine, hors d’eourves and help support Maryland’s wine industry.

Cheers! Kathy

Thursday is the day I enjoy posting events at wineries for the coming weekend. Check the winery website sfor times and descriptions. Enjoy a visit to one of our WTT partners.

Cheers! Kathy

Lorimar Winery
August 28
Music/Naomi Balcombe Sax/Jazz
Lorimar WineryWebsite

Tesoro Winery
Temecula, California
August 27
Hot Summer Nights in Old Town – Valley Winds Big Band Swing
August 28
Clean Comedy Just for Fun(d) with Rocky Osborn
Tesoro Website

Orfila Vineyards and Winery
Escondido, California
August 28
Annual Grape Stomp
Orfila Website

Thornton Winery
Temecula, California
August 29
Dave Koz & Jonathan Butler special guest Sheila E.
Thornton Winery Website

Chateau Chantal
Traverse City, Michigan
Daily Tapas Tours
August 28
Wine Dinner
Chateau Chantal Website

Messina Hof Winery & Resort
Bryan, Texas
August 29
Wine Appreciation Class
Messina Hof Winery Website

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante
Geneva, Ohio
August 27
Music/ Larry Smith
August 28 Afternoon
Music/Ron Sluga
August 28 Evening
Music/Tom Todd
August 29-10
Music/Legacy
Ferrante Winery Website

Barrel Oak Winery
Delaplane, Virginia
August 29
The inimitable Steve Hudson on guitar
Barrel Oak Winery Website

Tarara Winery
Leesburg, Virginia
August 28
Tarara’s Toast to the Tunes
Summer Concert Series: The Reflex
Tarara Winery Website

Three Fox Vineyards
Delaplane, Virginia
August 28
Veraison Celebration
August 28
Reston Limo Public Wine Tour
Three Fox Vineyards Website

I enjoyed reading a long post about wine competitions by New York Cork Report. The staff of the New York Cork Report has decided that for the foreseeable future they will not judge wine competitions. Titled We Won’t Participate as Judges in Wine Competitions: Here’s Why the lengthy post describes many of the issues involved with judging wines. Among the reasons why include the number of wine competitions and medals awarded means that many consumers do not know what the medals mean. As stated in the post, “There are so many medal-awarding competitions that the events have lost any sense of meaning to the average consumer, and even wine-loving consumers can’t possibly know the significance of a single bronze or silver or gold medal awarded at the many, many events.” This post is lengthy and well worth reading by winery owners, winemakers and wine enthusiasts.

This article reminds me of what a winemaker said one day while I was attempting to get a sense of what all the different medals and wine competitions meant. The winemaker said, “It’s like entering a third grade science fair, everyone gets a ribbon just for participating.” Since hearing that I have always looked at the medals draped around a wine boggle necks or decorating wall space, with a jaundiced eye. I know of one winery that entered the same wine two different years into the same competition. The first year the wine won gold and the second year it did not even place.

When you visit the  New York Cork Report site to read the complete article, be sure to read the comments posted. There are many opinions about the value of wine competitions. How do you feel about wine competitions? Do you buy wines based on whether they have won medals?

Cheers! Kathy

Below I have listed four wine festivals from across the country that will take place Labor Day Weekend. An array of wine events will take place Labor Day Weekend so be sure to check out what’s available in your area.

I will tweet more Labor Day wine festivals in the next few days. Follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wineabout .

Cheers! Kathy

Millbrae Art & Wine Festival
Millbrae, California
September 4 and 5
Website Info: http://www.miramarevents.com/millbrae/

2010 Nauvoo Grape Festival
Nauvoo, Illinois
September 3-5
Website Info: http://www.nauvoograpefestival.com/
This year they are celebrating their 73^rd Grape Festival!

Jazz it Up Wine and Food Festival
at Allaire Village, New Jersey
September 4 and 5
Website Info: http://www.allairevillage.org/Event_Descriptions/Wine_Tasting.html

New Mexico Wine Festival at Bernalillo
Bernalillo, New Mexico
September 4,5 & 6
Website Info: http://www.newmexicowinefestival.com/
This is the 23^rd annual festival!

Soon a wine and culinary center will be built in Washington. The supporters of the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center in Prosser, Washington are striving to start with an outdoor event facility with an area that is also capable of holding meetings and small events. The building is expected to be opened in the fall of 2010. The Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center is planning to offer events in this facility.

The Wine and Culinary Center is named after Dr.Walter Clore, a renowned viticulturist. Dr. Clore began experimenting with vinifera grapes in the 1930’s. Today he is considered the Father of Washington Wine.

The Center is supported by numerous groups including: Washington Wine Commission, Washington State University, Prosser Economic Development Association and the City of Prosser.

Eventually the Wine and Culinary Center will add more space and include interactive exhibition galleries, a flexible orientation theater for lectures and demonstrations, a demonstration kitchen, vineyards and gardens, a wine bar/tasting area, a retail shop for local products and classroom space.

To keep up with the development of the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center, be sure to visit their website.

The site of the center in Washington wine country seems to be ideal. While visiting wineries in Washington, this will become an ideal way to spend a day in Washington Wine Country.

Wine lovers who are interested in wine and culinary centers may want to visit the New York State Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua, New York. You can find a review of NYWCC at http://winetrailtraveler.com/learning/nywcc1.php.

Cheers! Kathy

The beverages available at Brittany’s and Kevin’s wedding rehearsal dinner included: ice-tea, water, fruit punch, Coke, beer, the Brancott Sauvignon Blanc and a Fox Horn Vineyards Merlot. The New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc was the most popular wine outpacing the Australian Merlot by a four to one ratio. It also held its own in popularity compared to the other beverages.

Why did this Sauvignon Blanc do so well? At the time of the dinner, we had an 84º temperature and it was humid. Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect wine to drink in those weather conditions. The tropical fruits aroma had a hint of citrus. The predominant tropical fruit taste was pineapple with citrus following on the finish. The clean crisp finish was palate cleansing. The wine was also able to hold up paired with the pulled-pork and fried chicken served for the dinner.

The dinner took place at the Coho Grill in Columbia, Maryland. We were set up on the outdoor covered patio overlooking the golf course and beautiful landscaping. Everyone enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The Coho Grill staff took care of the group seamlessly. This was a great choice for a restaurant for the rehearsal dinner.

Last week I suggested that we go with the Sauvignon Blanc over a Chardonnay. It is really nice when things work out.

Cheers,
Terry

Winery events to think about attending this weekend are listed below.The events are from some of Wine Trail Traveler’s winery partners. Check the event details online.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Cheers! Kathy

Tesoro Winery, Temecula, California
Friday, August 20th – 7-10 p.m.
Hot Summer Nights in Old Town – Kenny Marquez
Info: Tesoro Winery

Thornton Winery, Temecula, California
Champagne Jazz Concert Series
Tickets
August 21; 7:00 pm? Bobby Caldwell
General Admission $60.00; Gourmet Supper Package 3 Course Meal $135.00
Information: Thornton Winery

Chateau Chantal,Traverse City, Michigan
Tapas Tours – everyday
Wine Dinner August 21
Time: ?Optional Winery Tour at 6:00pm; Dinner Seating at 6:30pm
Cost: ?$50 per person, plus tax and gratuity; Reservations are required I
nformation: Chateau Chantal

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Entertainment:
Aug. 20 Friday Just George
Aug 21 Saturday Afternoon David Young; Saturday Evening Mac & Leah
Aug 22 Sunday 4-Kings
Information: Ferrante Winery & Ristorante

Barrel Oak Winery, Virginia
August 21; 12:00 pm? Book Signing by Ellen Crosby, a local author
August 21; 6:00 pm? Demetrios & Curtis on Guitar
Information: Barrel Oak Winery

Pearmund Cellars, Virginia
August 22; 11:00 am to Noon ?In Vino Veritas Spiritus Preacher Kim J. Ciftci
August 22 Nat’l Honey Bee Awareness Day 11am – 6pm
Information: Pearmund Cellars

Tarara Winery, Leesburg, Virginia
August 21 ?Tarara’s Toast to the Tunes
Summer Concert Series: David Andrew Smith
Information: Tarara Winery

Three Fox Vineyards, Virginia
August 20th – 22nd ?Celebrate “La Trovatella” The release of our first ever estate Merlot!
Info: Three Fox Vineyards

Why are vineyards romantic? I can certainly understand that wine is probably the most romantic beverage/food. But why are vineyards chosen as a sight for proposals, wedding pictures and anniversaries?

In this photo, Kevin Sullivan and Brittany Powers pose a few weeks prior to their August wedding. The backdrop is Niagara grapes that were transplanted from Kevin’s grandmother house in upstate New York. Vineyards have a connection to the past. Their potential to produce wine grapes gives them a connection to the future. The aroma of the Niagara was evident even weeks prior to harvest. As a wine, Niagara elicits comments such as, “Grandma’s house.” The grape creates wines that not only offer aroma and taste, but also a sense of time and place.

Perhaps vineyards are chosen as a romantic site because they are deep rooted and enduring. What are your thoughts?

Cheers,
Terry

Have you attended the Annual Virginia Wine Festival at Bull Run Park before? This year on September 18 and 19^th, the 35^th Annual Virginia Wine Festival will take place at Bull Run Park’s Special Events Center. This annual festival features the best of Virginia with about 50 Virginia wineries attending and offering samples of their wines.

During the weekend enjoy entertainers including Over the Rhine, guitarist John Jorgenson,  Robert Jospe with John D’earth & Royce Campbell and The Woodshedders.

Want to learn more about wine? This annual wine festival is the place to do it. Be sure to participate in the free seminars.  The seminars will include Becoming Wine Savvy in 45 Minutes and Discovering the Aromas and Tastes in Wine-Experiments You Can Do at Home. Dave McIntyre from the Washington Post and www.drinklocalwine.com will present Holding a Successful Home Wine Tasting Party.

In addition to all of this, visitors to the wine festival will be able to browse numerous artisan creations.

Bull Run Park, located in Centreville, Virginia is part of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. The park offers a host of activities as well as special events. Activities include boating, hiking, camping, soccer fields and a waterpark. Anyone planning to attend the wine festival may want to make arrangements to spend a few days in the area and enjoy everything Bull Run Regional Park has to offer.

Tickets and more information are available at http://virginiawinefest.com.

Enjoy planning a trip to this Annual Virginia Wine Festival.

Cheers, Kathy