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WINEormous in Temecula, California

October 18, 2010 – 10:54 am

On Sunday morning, Tom Plant from WINEormous picked us up at the Hampton Inn in Temecula, California. Tom and his wife, Laura, provide visitors with the tours of wineries. Using a large van that seats two to six passengers, there is plenty of room. Tom knows his way around Temecula wine country and is able to talk and provide interesting details on the way to each winery.

Tom and Laura Plant, both writers, developed the idea of WINEormous. Tom explained that the name just came to him and actually encompasses everything they do with the idea that WINEormous can continually be expanded.

Currently the tours that Tom provides can be customized to meet the needs of  travelers. In our case, we had already visited many of the Temecula wineries and wanted to visit some we had not seen before. Tom obliged and picked out four wineries that he thought we would enjoy seeing. His choices of wineries to visit were very good.

At each winery, Tom introduced us and then stayed near to hear the conversations and was able to interject with information that he felt was important for us to know. It’s obvious that Tom knows Temecula wineries and enjoys the wine world.

If you’re planning to visit Temecula, check out the WINEormous website. You may decide that you want to visit wineries in Temecula, leaving the driving to WINEormous.

Cheers! Kathy

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

Thornton Winery Events, Temecula

October 17, 2010 – 10:45 am

Thornton Winery, in Temecula, California has a wonderful concert series each year called the Champagne Jazz Series.  Last night we were able to attend the last concert for this year that featured two groups. The first group was with Chris Standring.  Chris, a classically trained guitarist was the lead guitarist. Several other instruments accompanied Chris including strings. Most of his music related to his growing up on a farm in England and striving to reach London.

The second group was Fourplay. These four musicians were Bob James, Nathan East, Chuck Loeb and Harvey Mason. The quartet provided delightful contemporary jazz.

Those who attend the Thornton Concerts can choose between seating in the audience or a specially prepared three-course dinner with wines. Last night’s dinner featured Crab and Mango Salad, Hoisin Glazed Beef Short Ribs and Red Berry Tart. Dinner was delectable. The crab salad was light and tasty. The beef short ribs melted in the mouth. The dessert while sweet was not too sweet.

While last night’s concert was the last for 2010, Thornton Winery has several events coming up before the end of the year. Check out these events beginning with October 30/ Halloween Murder Mystery, November 25 is Thanksgiving at Café Champagne, December 25 is Christmas Dinner at Café Champagne and December 31 is New Years Eve Gala. For more information about these events visit the Thornton Winery website as it is updated.

Be sure to watch for next year’s Champagne Jazz Concert Series.

Cheers! Kathy

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

Braised Short Ribs Recipe that Uses Red Wine

October 16, 2010 – 10:49 am

Check out this recipe for short ribs that uses red wine as one of the ingredients. Seems like a perfect recipe to prepare for a cool fall day! Many thanks to Executive Chef Greg Stillman at Ponte Family Estate in Temecula, California who provided this recipe.

Cheers! Kathy

Braised Short Ribs with Polenta

Ingredients

4-12 oz boneless short ribs
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
¼ c canola oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, sliced
2 celery ribs, sliced
3 garlic cloves, thickly sliced
2 T tomato paste
½ bottle of your favorite Ponte red wine
1 bay leaf
2 quarts low-sodium beef broth
4-5 thyme sprigs
1 T peppercorns, crushed

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. In a large oven-safe skillet, heat the oil. Season the ribs with salt and pepper. Add them to the skillet and cook over moderate heat, turning once, until browned and crusty, about 5 minutes on each side. Transfer the ribs to a plate.
  3. Add the onion, carrots, celery and garlic to the skillet and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until very soft and lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
  4. Add the tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
  5. Add the wine, bay leaf and thyme sprigs and bring to a boil over high heat.
  6. Add the beef broth and bring to a boil. Add the ribs and cover, and braise in the oven for 2 hours.
  7. Transfer the ribs to a clean plate. Strain the liquid into a saucepan and reduce to a sauce consistency, about 30 minutes.
  8. Add the short ribs back to the pan to warm, and then serve over polenta with horseradish sauce and your favorite vegetable. Enjoy!

Recipe provided by Executive Chef Greg Stillman, Ponte Family Estate, Temecula, California

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

Briar Rose Winery’s Talking Frog Wine Lager

October 15, 2010 – 12:14 am

In February 2008, we had the delightful opportunity to visit Briar Rose Winery in Temecula, California. It was just a wonderful visit and we loved the story behind the winery as well as the wines we tasted then. At the time owner and winemaker, Les Linkogle was creating a beer using wine grapes. We had the opportunity to taste it and it was wonderful. We’ve talked about it to everyone.

Today we had the chance to visit Briar Rose again and were so delighted. As Terry said “We could have spent all afternoon there talking with Dorian Linkogle and the assistant winemaker.

We did ask Dorian about the experimental beer and it has become very successful. Briar Rose is now bottling it with the label Talking Frog. Above the picture of the frog with a crown, the label says “Sometimes You have to Kiss a lot of Frogs ‘til You Find a Prince.” This wine lager is made with 100 percent Viognier. It has been such a great success that it is sold out at the moment but will be available by the end of 2010. Check out the Talking Frog and try it when you have the chance

Cheers! Kathy

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

Tacones 2007

October 13, 2010 – 10:26 am

I always enjoy the wine selection on Continental Airlines. However it would be nice if they would serve a few domestic wines.

Yesterday on a flight from Houston to Ontario, CA I had a Tacones 2007. We were flying to Ontario, California. I can see where ONT, CA could be confused with Ontario, Canada and one passenger had to leave the plane before we taxied out. He had purchased a ticket thinking he was going to Ontario, Canada. One of the cabin crew commented that it occasionally happens.

The wines served with lunch included a Chardonnay and the Tacones. I wasn’t in the mood for Chardonnay even though it would have paired better with the chicken salad for lunch. So I opted for the red. The wine, from Mendoza, Argentina, was a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. The dark ruby color was faintly translucent. The aroma and taste was black fruit especially black cherries and black berries. The finish offered medium tannins and was fruity yielding to spices. Tacones means high heels in Spanish. It is a symbol of elegance and sensuality in an Argentine Tango.

The Tacones was not my favorite wine that I had on Continental. I would have preferred bolder tannins and less spice. However it matched better with the food than the profile of a Cab that I like.

Cheers,
Terry

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

One Lake Two Completely Different Wine Regions

October 12, 2010 – 1:30 am

Lake Michigan is a large body of water that at points separates Wisconsin from Michigan. The 55 miles width of the lake has a profound effect on weather. On the Wisconsin side in Door County, grape growers are successful with cold varietal grapes. On the Michigan side of the lake, grape growers on Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas grow cool varietal grapes. What is the difference between cold and cool grape varieties?

In Wisconsin wine travelers will find wines made from cold hardy grapes developed by the University of Minnesota and hybrids such as La Crescent, La Crosse, St. Pepin, Seyval Blanc, Frontenac and Marechal Foch. While on the Michigan side of the lake wineries are making wines from vinifera grapes including Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir and Merlot.

It is interesting that just 55 miles of water can have such an effect on what varietal grapes can be planted. Temperatures can vary by 30 degrees, with below zero temperatures in Wisconsin and above zero in Michigan. Residents in these areas have a variety of local wines to enjoy. One wine that is popular in both areas is made from locally grown cherries. What are the local wines in your area?

Cheers,
Terry

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

Still Time to Make Wine at Tin Lizzie Wineworks, Maryland

October 12, 2010 – 1:04 am

Tin Lizzie Wineworks is located in Clarksville, Maryland. Currently they are designated as a winemaking facility. The head winemaker is Dave Zuchero who is enthusiastic about wines and winemaking. Dave believes in allowing the grapes to speak for themselves. We were part of a team that made Cabernet Sauvignon with the 2009 grape harvest. That wine has been bottled now and though it will improve even more as time passes, it’s wonderful now.

There is still time to join the winemaking experience for 2010 at Tin Lizzie Wineworks. To learn more about everything that is available at Tin Lizzie Wineworks, check out the Tin Lizzie website.

Clarksville, Maryland is easily accessible from the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. If you want to learn about winemaking this is a great way to do it.

Cheers! Kathy

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

Backyard Niagara for Regional Wine Week

October 11, 2010 – 2:33 pm

When Kathy and I started Wine Trail Traveler LLC we thought that it would be a good idea to increase our wine education. In addition to a WSET class, we decided to plant a couple of vines in our back yard. Four years later we had our first harvest. Actually there would have been a harvest last year, however, I reacted too late and wrong to black rot that hammered my crop yielding nothing. Charlie Barra offered some advice and this year we did indeed have a small crop of grapes.

Because of our travel, we harvested the grapes in August and promptly made wine, something we had been doing now for a couple years. Our winemaking skills are getting better. From wine kits to grape juice at home in carboys to Cabernet Sauvignon in American oak at a Maryland winery and Cabernet Sauvignon in French oak at a Virginia winery we’ve learned a few things about winemaking. So making wine out of the little juice Kathy stomped out of the Niagara grapes was rather simple. After a week of fermenting, we started traveling. So I placed the wine in a gallon carboy and put it in the refrigerator. In three weeks it cleared up nicely.

With this being regional wine week, I had to steal a taste. After all you don’t get much more regional than 30 feet out your kitchen door. The wine is a gold color and has a wonderful aroma of flowers and honey. It smells sweet although I fermented it dry. It has a floral taste with a long honeysuckle finish. It is quite dry. A little foxiness does creep in after a few moments. Wait a little longer and the foxiness is replaced by honeysuckle. My plans are to let the wine chill out till Christmas. I’ll then sweeten it a bit and serve on Christmas Day.

No matter what kinds of wines you like, it’s nice to try wines made by grapes grown locally. How do you like the “taste of your place?”

Cheers,
Terry

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

Seven Reasons to Visit Your Local Winery Tasting Room

October 11, 2010 – 8:25 am

This is Regional Wine Week! Visiting wine tasting rooms involve delightful experiences. Stop by your local winery. Taste wines and enjoy the experience. Take time to browse the gift selections that many tasting rooms offer.

1. One of the benefits of visiting your local tasting rooms is the opportunity to taste wines that you may not find on the shelves in your grocery store and wine shop. Distributors to stores choose among the thousands of wines available to decide which wines to accept for distribution. This leaves out many local wines that are just as good and may be better depending on wine lovers tastes.

2. Wine tastings are offered at wineries. This enables visitors to try a wine before making a purchase. How many other foods can you do that with? Each tasting room has its own rules as to how many tastings. Fees vary from nothing to a moderate price. Only a very few wineries charge an exorbitant amount and these are usually high profile wineries.

3. Due to the high markup of prices by distributors, numerous wineries do not use distributors. These wineries sell only from their tasting room and possibly online.

4. Many wineries offer tours of the winery and vineyards. Each tour is different and offers a new experience. Take a camera and preserve memories for a lifetime. Check out tours at Messina Hof Winery & Resort in Bryan, Texas

5. By drinking local wines, visitors are supporting the local economy. This helps to keep the money you spend in your region. Restaurants, gas stations and stores benefit from tasting rooms.

6. Some wineries offer dog owners the opportunity to bring their pets on leashes. One example of this is Barrel Oak Winery. This winery located in Delaplane, Virginia has a variety of charities that it supports and some of these are directed toward dog rescues.

7. Some tasting rooms welcome children with a small variety of toys to play with, away from the tasting counter but safely within view of parents. Examples of this are Pearmund Cellars in Broad Run, Virginia and White Fences Vineyard and Winery in Irvington, Virginia. Call wineries in advance if you have any questions.

Remember to visit the wineries in your own backyard. Experience the wines produced locally.

Cheers! Kathy

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

Discover Recipes at Local Wineries

October 10, 2010 – 11:14 am

Regional Wine Week is starting. This is the 3rd year to celebrate Regional Wine Week that was started by Jeff Siegel and Dave McIntyre of www.drinklocalwine.com. Writers and bloggers are encouraged to write about local wines and wineries.

A local winery tasting room can be a great place to discover recipes. Frequently tasting rooms will have recipes with suggested wine pairings. Of course, these usually feature wine that is produced by the winery. While it is nice to use the suggested wine with the prepared recipe, it certainly is possible to use a similar style wine or a wine you prefer paired with the recipe.

It’s interesting when wine is combined with food. It can certainly create added aromas and flavors for the food. When we visited Doukénie Winery in Virginia we came home with the tip to add wine to any leftovers and tomato sauce. The wine tip didn’t call for any specific wine, one can just use what they have.

Some recipes can also be discovered online at winery websites. Again some will use wine in the recipe or wine will be paired with the food. You will want to check out recipes online at some of these wineries including Pearmund Cellars in Virginia, Contessa Wine Cellars in Michigan and Winery at Wilcox in Pennsylvania.

Enjoy good food and local wine!

Cheers! Kathy

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

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