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Winery Events this Weekend – Friday thru Sunday

September 9, 2010 – 1:02 am

While deciding what wineries to visit this weekend, you may want to consider attending one of these special events at Wine Trail Traveler partner wineries.

Fall is a wonderful time to visit wineries. Visitors will discover the busyness and the ambiance of harvest season. Be sure to take a camera for photo memories.

Enjoy, Kathy

Fri, September 10

Messina Hof Winery & Resort, TX
Event: Tailgate Special Menu
Web Info

Barrel Oak Winery, Virginia
Event: The Inimitable Steve Hudson on Guitar
Web Info

The Winery at LaGrange, VA
Event: Movie Night
 Web Info

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, OH
Event: Music/4-Kings
Web Info

Tarara Winery, Virginia
Event: Music on the Deck-Jon Fritz
Web Info

Saturday, September 11

Tarara Winery
Event: “Toast to the Tunes summer Concert Series” – Ted Garber Band
Event: Paddle, Wine & Concert
Web Info

Three Fox Vineyards, Virginia
Event: 3rd Annual Feast of San Gennaro!
 Web Info

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, OH
Event: Music/Stan Miller
Web Info

Lorimar Winery, California
Event: Art & Wine Show/Jami Tobey?Entertainment: James Gibson/Blues Guitar
 Web Info

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, OH
Event: Music/Uncharted Course
Web Info

Lorimar Winery, California
Event: Live@Lorimar/James Gibson-Blues Guitar
 Web Info

Tarara Winery
Event: Toast to the Tunes Summer Concert Series-Ted Garber Band
Web Info

Pearmund Cellars, Virginia
Event: Winemaker’s Dinner
 Web Info

Sunday, September 12

Barrel Oak Winery, Virginia
Event: WALK FOR THE CURE
 Web Info

DelFosse Winery, Virginia
Event: French Crepe Day
Web Info

Tarara Winery, Virginia
Event: Music on the Deck-Barry Charlton
Web Info

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, OH
Event: Music/Ron Sluga
Web Info

Three Fox Vineyards, Virginia
Event: “Winemaker Walkabout”
Web Info

Thornton Winery, California
Event: Champagne Jazz Concert Series/Mindi Abair and Spencer Day
Web Info

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

Carlo Rossi Reserve Merlot

September 8, 2010 – 7:21 pm

After traveling in a car for six hours, I was ready for some wine at the Hampton Inn’s manager reception. The Streetsboro, Ohio Hampton Inn had a Carlo Rossi Reserve Merlot that comes in a five liter box.  There was a slight aroma of black fruit. The taste was smooth with raspberry nuances. The finish had lingering fruit, very mild tannins and a bit of heat. Not meant to be aged, the wine is ready to drink now. One can drink it alone or pair with food. The reception included nacho chips, ground spicy ground beef and a cheddar cheese topping. One could drink the Merlot with this.

Box wines have improved much recently. They can last longer on the shelf or in the refrigerator. Some consumers have a negative impression of wines packaged in boxes. However there is an air tight bag inside the box that collapses in on itself, keeping oxygen out. Wines in boxes can stay fresher for a longer time than bottled wine. On the other hand, if you can drink five liters at a time it may just be a mute argument.

Cheers,
Terry

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

September is California Wine Month

September 8, 2010 – 9:38 am

On August 19, 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger declared September as “California Wine Month.” In the one page proclamation, Gov. Schwarzenegger mentions the history of California winemaking and the future. He notes that this is an “important industry.” The proclamation briefly includes statistics about the industry including that the wine community supports 820,000 jobs countrywide.

Part of the proclamation states, “For the month of September, I encourage all Californians to appreciate the world-renowned wine industry we have right here in our backyard.” The proclamation goes on to suggest touring a local winery, taking a tasting class or enjoying a glass of wine.

If you are looking for specific activities consider these California events below.

26th Annual Winesong
September 10-11

Temecula Valley Wine & Culinary Showcase
Friday, September 17

Sonoma Valley Crush
September 18-19

While many people think of local wine as excluding major US wine regions, for the people who live in those areas it is their backyard. Anyone who enjoys wine should try the wines in their own backyard as well as other areas of the country.

Cheers! Kathy

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

Two East Coast Festivals for September 18-19

September 7, 2010 – 8:59 am

On the East Coast, there are two great wine festivals on the weekend of September 18 and 19. The mid- Atlantic states are delightful to visit in September. The temperatures tend to cool off especially at night and humid days are infrequent. While planning a visit to either of these two wine festivals, you may want to check out the weather. Be sure to have sunscreen on hand.

In Westminster, Maryland there is the  Maryland Wine Festival located at the Carroll County Farm Museum. This festival includes food and craft vendors, live music, wine seminars and an amateur wine competition. When planning your visit to this well known wine festival, be sure to check out the Carroll County Farm Museum website.

The Virginia Wine Festival takes place at Bull Run Park Special Events Center in Centreville, VA. More than fifty Virginia wineries will be participating.  Seminars and workshops will be available. Live music, food vendors and artisans will all be part of the fun. Anyone who travels to this wine festival will want to check out the Bull Run Region Park website. The park offers camping, walking trails, disc golf, soccer fields and more.

Enjoy these festivals and discover many of the wines Maryland and Virginia produce.

Cheers! Kathy

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

Labor Day Brings to Mind All the Work That Goes into a Bottle of Wine

September 6, 2010 – 10:11 am

According to a US government Department of Labor website, “Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

Today American workers contribute to the economy by providing goods and services to others. There are many seldom seen jobs and careers of which the public may not be aware. In the wine industry, there are the vineyard managers and workers. At the wineries one will find winemakers, assistant winemakers and cellar masters. The work in the vineyards and wineries is year round. However one of the most hard and stressful times of the year must be during harvest. The vineyardists are desperately praying that rain does not fall in the vineyards until the grapes are harvested. As soon as the brix level is high enough to make a good wine, it’s time to harvest and it must be done in hours. Quickly the grapes must be shipped to the wineries where the winemaker must have everything ready to go. These days the hours of work can be as much as 12 to 18 hours a day. The winemaking process does not happen on a nine to five daily job. (That’s why legislation limiting winery hours will not work.)

As you realize winemaking is work from the vineyards to the tasting room or wine shop. That’s why we suggest that if you are enjoying a visit to a winery, remember those free tastings actually cost the winery. When you discover wines you like at a winery, purchase a bottle or two perhaps even a case. This is especially important for wineries where tastings are free.

Enjoy today and plan a trip to a winery!

Cheers! Kathy

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

September Focus on Michigan Wineries

September 6, 2010 – 5:47 am

During September WTT will focus on wineries in Michigan. The state’s agriculture is the second most diverse in the US leading the country in the production of some dry beans, blueberries, tart cherries, cucumbers for pickling and some flowers. With such a diverse agriculture, one would expect to find grapes somewhere in the farming mix.

It is interesting to note the differences in varietal grapes planted in Wisconsin and Michigan. Separated by the waters of Lake Michigan, on the Wisconsin side, expect to see hybrids planted. The much warmer Michigan side has favorable conditions for the planting of vinifera grapes. Although there is a scattering of wineries throughout the state, the highest concentration of wineries lies along Lake Michigan and inland from Buchanan in the south to Traverse City in the north.

During this month some of Michigan’s wineries will be highlighted on Twitter. Today’s focus is on Domaine Berrien Cellars in Berrien Springs. More than 40 acres of grapes planted include Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Marsanne and Viognier. Flagship wines include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Marsanne.

Take time during September to visit wineries throughout the state.

Cheers,
Terry

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

JELL-O and Zinfandel Dessert Recipe for Labor Day

September 5, 2010 – 10:59 am

Looking for a quick and easy dessert recipe for Labor Day? Below is “Zinfandel Wine Jello Shots” a fun and easy recipe. If you have a bottle of Zinfandel available, you may want to try it. You only need 4 ounces of Zinfandel so you may as well put out some wine glasses and enjoy the rest of the bottle. Just remember to save a glass of wine for the cook!

If you don’t have Zinfandel on hand, you might want to experiment with another red wine. Remember the slogan  “There’s always room for JELL-O?” If you’re interested in discovering the history of JELL-O, check out The JELL-O Gallery in Le Roy, New York.

If you enjoy cooking check out the Wine Trail Traveler website Recipe Section which has 153 recipes that use wine as an ingredient. Keep checking back as the number of recipe continues to grow! Many thanks to all those who have contributed recipes!

Cheers! Kathy

Title: Zinfandel Wine Jello Shots

Ingredients

1 Small Raspberry Jello Package
1 Small Berry Blue Jello Package
16 oz of boiling water
4 oz of Chumeia Vineyards Zinfandel California
Glass or plastic shot glass cups

Directions

1. Boil the water. After the water has started to boil, remove from stove and measure out 16 oz. Pour the water into a large bowl.
2. Pour each Jello mixture into the bowl of boiling water. Stir until the Jello has completely dissolved.
3. Add the Red Wine to begin setting the Jello. (The Jello will probably take longer to cool because of less water being used than normal. If you would rather the Jello set a little quicker you can add a small amount of cold water.)
4. Pour the entire mixture into shot glasses or little plastic cups.

Provided by Chumeia Vineyards, Paso Robles, California.

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

Why Is There a Black Rooster on a Wine Bottle Stamp?

September 5, 2010 – 9:36 am

Usually at the end of a month going into the beginning of the next month we analyze our website statistics. One of the variables we look at is what articles or blog topics have the most page views. There are several evergreen articles in the Opinion section of the website. Month after month, year after year one of the most popular articles is The Legend of the Black Roster. The legend dates back to the formation to the Chianti Classico region in Italy. Although it’s a legend, on our tour of Tuscan wineries we always observed a twinkle in the eyes of winery staff when asked about the legend. Often they would say that there must be some truth in a legend.

The perennial interest in this article is not unique. After all how many people wonder why there is a black rooster on the stamp around a bottleneck from the Chianti Classico region? Much of the wine from this region is exported worldwide. There is a lot of this wine out there and the image of the black rooster gets around. If traveling the roads through the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany you’ll notice billboards with the image of the black rooster. Next time that you are in a wine shop, see how quickly you can discover a wine from the Chianti Classico region.

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

Labor Day Grilled Salmon Recipe with Wine

September 4, 2010 – 8:45 am

Labor Day Weekend is here! Hoping everyone has beautiful weather for the entire weekend. If you are considering grilling, check out the following recipe for salmon steaks! This is an easy recipe with the ingredients found in most kitchens. Enjoy the weekend.

Cheers, Kathy

Grilled Bodega Salmon a la Marino

Ingredients

3 lbs, fresh salmon steaks, about 1 ¼” to 1 ½” thick
1 c olive oil
3 dried whole bay leaves
2 T dried tarragon
1 t freshly ground black pepper
1 c dry white wine
3 lemons, thinly sliced
¼ c fresh parsley, finely chopped

Directions

  1. In a deep roasting pan, marinate salmon in olive oil, tarragon, pepper and white wine, for two hours.
  2. Transfer salmon to hot grill, and cook on each side for 4 to 5 minutes.
  3. Brush frequently with the marinade.
  4. Transfer to serving platter, and cover with thin lemon slices and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

Serves 6 to 8, accompanied by pan-fried potatoes or sea-food risotto.

Provided by Crinella Winery, California

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

Labor Day Recipe with Wine for the Grill

September 3, 2010 – 12:42 pm

Labor Day Weekend is upon us and I have discovered another recipe for the grill. This recipe calls for dry red wine and dry sherry. The Italian marinade is an option to commercial barbecue sauces. Check the recipe out below.

In other news, it appears that Cabernet Day using hashtag #cabernet was successful. Did you participate in it ? Did you find a Cabernet Sauvignon that is great for your palate? I wonder what Rick Bakas will decide for the October wine tasting.

Cheers! Kathy

Barbecued Ribs with Italian Marinade

There is nothing like barbecued meat, but most commercial barbecue sauces are loaded with sugar, spices and preservatives that are foreign to the Italian palate. Here is a simple but flavorful marinade that can be used to barbecue either beef or pork ribs.

Ingredients

4 lbs, (or 4 racks) of pork ribs
1/2 c olive oil
1 c dry red wine
1/2 c dry sherry
4 medium garlic cloves, crushed
1 T dried thyme
1 T dried tarragon
1 T finely ground black pepper
1 small (about 8 ounce) can tomato paste
1 t salt
12 quarts water

Directions

  1. Par-boil ribs in large 12-quart sauce pan for 15 minutes, then remove.
  2. In a mixing bowl, add all ingredients except ribs, and mix thoroughly.
  3. Place ribs in a deep roasting pan, and pour mixture over them.
  4. Marinate for 6 hours, turning and basting ribs to ensure that they are well-covered with the marinade.
  5. Barbecue ribs on grill for 1/2 hour.
  6. Use spray bottle with water to keep down the flames.

Provided by Crinella Winery, California

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

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