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WineFest in Pennsylvania’s North East is this Weekend

September 28, 2018 – 11:00 am

South Shore Wine Company

The first time we traveled in Pennsylvania’s North East region (in the northwestern part of the state along Lake Erie) it was early Fall when grapes were ripe and just hanging, awaiting the harvest. At the time large trucks filled with luscious, ripe grapes rolled along the roads leaving behind whiffs of grape aromas. Needless to say the grapes were not all wine grapes but many were of the Concord and Niagara varieties for commercial juice. We drove along the roads with our windows down enjoying the aromas.

While in North East we also discovered several wineries also producing traditional wines.

All of these reminisces were brought back by the announcement of the 2018 Wine Country Harvest Festival. This year the Winefest is this weekend from September 28 to September 30. The festival takes place at two parks, Gibson Park and Gravel Pit Park.

Events and activities include:

Penn Shore Winery

Wineries participating in the WineFest include:

  • 6 Mile Wine Cellars
  • Arrowhead Wine Cellars
  • Arundel Cellars & Brewing Company
  • Burch Farms Winery
  • Courtyard Wineries
  • Heritage Wine Cellars
  • Mazza Vineyards
  • Penn Shore Vineyards
  • Presque Isle Wine Cellars
  • South Shore Wine Company
  • Yori Wine Cellars

While visiting the this area of Pennsylvania we enjoyed visiting five of the wineries. We certainly want to go back and visit more of the wineries located in Pennslvania’s North East region. Articles and photos about the wineries we visited are available online.

Cheers!
Kathy

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

Winemaking and Wine Tasting at Tin Lizzie Wineworks

September 25, 2018 – 2:57 pm

A couple of weeks ago we stopped by Tin Lizzie Wineworks, a teaching winery, in Clarksville, Maryland. This is an unusual winery where wine enthusiasts and wine lovers can produce their own wines under the guidance of Dave Zuchero, owner and winemaker. 

Yesterday we received an email from Dave announcing an “Exclusive Vertical Cabernet Tasting”  that is scheduled for October 3. If you are interested in crafting your own wine, you may want to attend this event. The wine tasting is limited to only 20 people. If you want to attend, contact Dave Zuchero at dave@tinlizziewineworks.com.

The email from Tin Lizzie announced that for a very limited time, there is time for anyone to sign up to make wine this fall. Spaces are still available to craft quarter and half barrels of wine. As of yesterday, interested people can choose to participate in any of the following barrels:

  • Super Premium Paso Robles the Prison-Style Zinfandel Blend
  • Super Premium Left Bank Bordeaux Blend
  • Super Premium Sauvignon Blanc
  • Super Premium Albarino
  • Premium Rose

If you are interested in crafting your very own wine this year, learn more by attending the “Exclusive Vertical Cabernet Tasting”. Time is getting short to get in on the 2018 winemaking at Tin Lizzie. 

We have crafted wine at Tin Lizzie in other years and discovered it to be a fun way to learn more about wine. Since our last winemaking experience at Tin Lizzie, Dave has increased the size of the winery production area and added other changes as well. We suggest you check Tin Lizzie Wineworks website and talking with Dave soon for more details.

See the photos of our last visit to Tin Lizzie.

Wine anaylsis equipment
Wine anaylsis equipment
More winemaking analysis at Tin Lizzie.
More winemaking analysis at Tin Lizzie.
Tinlizzie3IMG_5647
Dave Zuchero pours a wine tasting.
Dave Zuchero pours a wine tasting.
Tinlizzie5IMG_5643
Wines crafted at Tin Lizzie Wineworks
Wines crafted at Tin Lizzie Wineworks

Cheers!
Kathy

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

Books & Wine Event at Ohio Winery

September 24, 2018 – 12:31 pm

A Vineyard in Ohio

Books and Wine! What could be a better match than pairing books with wine to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library?

The Books & Wine event takes place in Xenia, Ohio not far from Dayton. The location for the charity is Caesar Creek Vineyards. The event is scheduled for October 1 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library helps to provide books for children from birth through 5 years of age. This is a wonderful opportunity for young children.

Online tickets are $25 each. Waiting until the day of the event, ticket prices will be $30 at the gate. Tickets are also available at the local Greene County Public libraries. Each ticket includes live music, food from Bella Sorella and a glass of Caesar Creek Vineyards wine. 

For anyone who is busy on October 1 and would still like to make a donation, information is available online. Donations may also be made to the Greene County Public Library Foundation.

Everyone benefits when children learn to read and appreciate books early in life.

Caesar Creek Vineyards is located on a large farm which includes more than 200 acres. A large portion of the farm is devoted to corn and beans. However in 2005, they planted  2 1/2acres of grapes and as the years go by they continue to increase the vineyard size. Currently they are growing nine grape varieties which include Cayuga White, Chardonel, Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, GR7 (Rubiana), Marechal Foch, Noiret, Seyval Blanc and Traminette.

While Wine Trail Traveler has not had the opportunity to visit Caesar Creek Vineyards, we have visited many of Ohio wineries. You can find our winery articles and photos online. 

Cheers!
Kathy

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

A 2017 Sauvignon by The Sisters in New Zealand

September 21, 2018 – 9:05 am

2017 Sauvignon Blanc from The Sisters in New Zealand

Last night we enjoyed a  2017 Sauvignon Blanc  produced by The Sisters in New Zealand. The wine was a light yellow color with a light green hue. The aroma reminded us of a tropical fruit salad. The taste included notes of papaya, pineapple, mango and  citrus-especially grapefruit. The mouthfeel was smooth yielding to bright acidity. Food pairing suggestions included: chicken, salads, seafood and Asian cuisine.  The wine had 12.5% alcohol. 

The front label of the Sauvignon Blanc features an image of a woman in black leaping up with excitement.  On the image is written, “‘I achieve many things every day. Say it., believe it, celebrate it. This is our time.”

We paired the Sauvignon Blanc with crostini, a sliced baguette topped with a combination of cheese, green onion and butter. This easy-to-prepare appetizer would pair well with many white wines.

The Sisters website provides recipes the following recipe for a Sauvanilla Cocktail which uses the mouth quenching Sauvignon Blanc.

Sauvanilla Cocktail

Ingredients: (makes two cocktails)

  • 120mls The Sisters Sauvignon Blanc
  • 1 shot Vodka infused with vanilla
  • Fresh apple juice
  • Soda water

Method:

  • Combine the vodka and Sauvignon Blanc and mix.
  • Add the apple juice.
  • Top with soda water if desired
  • Service on ice in  a chilled glass and enjoy

The Sisters is  located in Marlborough, New Zealand. The wines are produced to celebrate the busy lives of women and their girl friends. The term girl friends is meant to include any of the women in a woman’s life  whether it might be school friends, moms, sisters or colleagues. 

The Sisters produces four wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Rosé and Pinot Noir. The grapes for these wines are from Waihopai Valley, the Wairau Valley and the Awatere Valley in Marlborough.

See the Wine Trail Traveler blog about the Pinot Rosé. The Sisters supports the Dress for Success organization. This is a not-for-profit organization located in 19 countries.

Cheers!
Kathy 

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

Gersing Cellars Shell Viognier

September 20, 2018 – 1:05 pm

Gersing Cellars Shell Viognier

Late yesterday afternoon, after a day of preparing our gardens for fall, we decided to enjoy a glass of white wine on our recently renovated deck overlooking our small landscaped backyard. The Gersing Cellars Shell Viognjer 2017 was a perfect match for the backyard experience. 

The Viognier was a light yellow color. The aroma offered notes of floral and tropical fruit. The mouthfeel was velvety. The taste offered notes of citrus, pineapple and mango with a little rose petal and a bit of minerality. The finish had a long fruit taste. The grapes for this Viognier were sourced from the Yakima Valley.

The back label of the wine bottle explains the musical Shell name. Shell definition, “An open, two-note chord structure played on the piano by the left hand in accompanying oneself or another soloist. This wine-floral, citrusy, and mineral-driven – sings with the clear, pure harmony of a shell.”

Gersing Cellars is located in Portland, the city’s SE region. I also wrote about the Gersing Cellars Nebbiolo in an earlier blog.

Not mentioned in the first blog was that this urban winery offers wine enthusiasts a Jazz wine Club. Wine lovers can choose between the TWOs and FOURS wine clubs. According to the Gersing Cellars website: 

TWOS wine club members:

  • Receive two bottles each of three latest release wines, twice yearly (6 bottles in spring and 6 bottles in fall)
  • 15% discount on club shipment wines
  • 15% on any additional wines purchased at any time
  • Invitation and preferential pricing to Gersing Cellars release parties and special events for member and 1 guest
  • Pre-release access to exclusive wines, such as small production wines, library wines, and large format wines.
  • Preferential pricing for wine educational events for member and 1 guest

FOURS Wine Club members:

  • Receive four bottles each of three latest releases, twice yearly (12 bottles in spring and 12 bottles in fall)
  • 20% discount on club shipment wines
  • 20% on any additional wines purchased at any time
  • Invitation and preferential pricing to Gersing Cellars release parties and special events for member and 3 guests
  • Pre-release access to exclusive wines, such as small production wines, library wines, and large format wines.
  • Complimentary access to wine educational events for member and 1 guest
  • Yearly tasting with the winemaker

If you have the opportunity when visiting Portloand, Oregon be sure to visit SE Wine Collective Tasting Bar to taste the wines of Gersing Cellars.

Cheers!
Kathy

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

28th Annual Virginia Wine & Garlic Festival!

September 18, 2018 – 2:58 pm

Burnley Vineyards will attend the Annual Virginia Wine & Garlic Festival in October.

Like wine? Like garlic? Then the 28th Annual Virginia Wine & Garlic Festival is a festival you want to be sure to attend.

On October 13th and 14th Rebec Vineyards in Amherst, Virginia will be the location of  the Annual Virginia Wine & Garlic Festival.

Eleven Virginia wineries are participating in the festival. Look for wines from Rebec Vineyards, Peaks of Otter Winery, Lazy Days, Rockbridge Vineyard, Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery, Burnley Vineyards, Mountain Cove Vineyards, The Homeplace Vineyard, Virginia Mountain Vineyards, Cobbler Mountain Cider and AmRhein’s Wine Cellars. Check out Wine Trail Traveler if you you want to know more about what it’s like to visit some of these wineries.

This fun event includes entertainment and garlic-themed cuisine. Food options available include:

  • Asian inspired cuisine
  • Crab cakes
  • Greek & Italian-based cuisine
  • Smoked BBQ sandwiches
  • Shrimp, crab and lobster
  • Fried chicken
  • Pulled pork
  • Tacos, Fajitas
  • Garlic burgers, fries
  • BBQ-style nachos, brisket

A variety of entertainment will include: Applebutter Soul, Steve Freeman Band, Dragonfly, The Ruckus, Firecracker Jam, Tom Euler Band, Pete Turpin Band, L&H Acoustic with David Foust, The Severed Heads of Guion Pond, Bo-Zac, Randy Johnston and Sunshine the Clown.

A large number of artists and craft vendors will participate in the festival. Meander past numerous works of art and crafts. Look for handcrafted toys, furniture, scarves, hats, pottery and much more.

Festival Tickets

Several types of tickets are available online and include:

  • VIP Package – Saturday only: $60.00
  • Admission & Wine Tasting – early bird: $25.00
  • Admission Only – No Wine tasting – early bird: $15
  • Group Wine Tasting & Admission: $20

Activities for children include: a Bounce House, KidZone Fun Station, face painting, pony rides and inflatables.

Plan an exciting trip to Virginia to enjoy the Annual Wine & Garlic Festival in October.

Cheers!
Kathy

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

67th Annual Niagara Grape & Wine Festival

September 17, 2018 – 8:24 am

Legends Winery participates in Niagara Wine Festival

Check out the 67th Annual Niagara Grape & Wine Festival.

The Montebello Park Experience

The 67th Annual Niagara Grape & Wine Festival  takes place at Montebello Park September 21-23 and 28-30. 

The Montebello Park Experience includes 100 wines and 50 hours of music. In addition, food and entertainment is available. Best of all admission is free; although food purchases must be purchased with purchased tokens. Festival tokens may be purchased at the park.

Special tickets are available for the Harvest Lounge and the Sommelier Wine Lounge. The Harvest Lounge will have specially chosen VQA wines and a charcuterie bar. The Sommelier Wine Lounge offers ticket holders an al fresco wine café experience where premium VQA wines and chef prepared food bites are available.

Montebello Park will be open:

  • Fridays: 5pm til 10:30pm
  • Saturdays: 11am til 10:30pm
  • Sundays: 12Noon til 8pm

In addition to the Montebello Park location, the festival includes a Discovery Pass program that started this past weekend. The special Discovery Pass allows the ticket holder to have eight VQA wine and culinary pairings.

Each Discovery Pass may be used on one of the next two weekends. Ticket prices are priced at $45 and the Driver’s Pass is $35. There are more than three dozen participating wineries from which to choose to visit.

Participating wineries include:

  • 13th Street Winery
  • Cave Springs
  • Creekside Estate Winery
  • Fielding Estate Winery
  • Flat Rock Cellars
  • GreenLane Estate Winery
  • Hernder Estate Wines
  • Hinterbrook Estate Winery
  • Inniskillin Wines
  • Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery
  • Kacaba Vineyards Winery
  • Konzelmann Estate Winery
  • Legends Estates Winery
  • Lundy Manor Wine Cellars
  • Magnotta Winery
  • Malivoire Wine
  • Marynissen Estates Winery
  • Megalomaniac
  • Niagara College Teaching Winery
  • Palatine Hills Estate Winery
  • Peller Estates Winery
  • Pillitteri Estates Winery
  • Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery
  • Red Stone Winery
  • Reif Estate Winery
  • Ridgepoint Wines
  • Riverview Cellars Estate Winery
  • Rockway Vineyards
  • Rosewood Estates Winery
  • Southbrook Vineyards
  • Stoney Ridge Estate Winery
  • Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery
  • Tawse Winery
  • Trius Winery
  • Vieni Estates
  • Vignoble Rancourt Winery
  • Vineland Estates Winery
  • Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery & Distillery

During the festival travel to some of your old favorite wineries but be sure to try wineries that you have not visited before. It definitely adds to your wine experience!

Wine Trail Traveler has visited many of the wineries participating in the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival. Check out the articles online. We truly enjoy visiting this area of Canada with its vibrant vineyards and excellent winemaking skills.

Cheers!
Kathy

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

35th Annual Maryland Wine Festival Postponed!

September 12, 2018 – 8:05 am

Photo from an earlier Annual Maryland Wine Festival at the Carroll County Farm Museum

One of Maryland’s very well-known wine festivals is the Annual Maryland Wine Festival. Due to the strong possibility of a very rainy and maybe more difficult weather for this weekend according to the festival website, the 35th Annual Maryland Wine Festival has been postponed until October 13. 

For those who have already purchased tickets for this weekend’s festival be sure to save them for using on Saturday, October 13, which will only take place on Saturday.

The location of the Annual Maryland Wine Festival is the Carroll County Farm Museum which offers a historic farmhouse and numerous farm buildings plus animals. It is a superb museum to visit and is ideal for children, adults and families. 

Here are some of things you will miss if you decided not to visit the 35th Annual Maryland Wine Festival in October:

  • More than 25 Maryland wineries with 150 wines
  • 40 juried vendors
  • 24-plus food vendors
  • Live music with selections of folk, jazz and ’80s covers.
  • A cheese pavilion with local artisanal cheeses

In addition, the Port of Leonardtown Winery which won the Governor Cup will have a public release of their Barbera Reserve 2015. 

Tickets for the October 13th Date

As mentioned earlier, tickets from this weekend’s postponed event may be used on Saturday, October 13. If you need tickets for the October 13th event several types are available including:

  • Explorer Pass
  • Explore Pass Designated Hangout
  • General Admission
  • Designated Driver
  • Children ages 13 to 20

It should be noted that children 12 and under are admitted with a paying adult. Festival tickets are available online.

Festival Location

Carroll County Farm Museum
500 S. Center Street
Westminster, MD  21157

For directions and parking visit the online festival website.

Cheers!
Kathy

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

It’s North Carolina Wine & Grape Month!

September 11, 2018 – 9:40 am

Biltmore tasting room

The North Carolina Wine & Grape Month takes place during September. Although North Carolina wines are not frequently in the national or world news, the wineries in North Carolina are definitely worth visiting. September is a lovely month to visit the wineries where visitors can find beautiful vineyards, grape stomping activities and of course sip a variety of wines.

North Carolina vineyards

Did you know that North Carolina has five American Viticultural areas? The AVAs are: Appalachian High Country, Haw River Valley, Swan Creek, Upper Hiwassee Highlands and Yadkin Valley. 

The wineries in North Carolina are located from the Mountains to the Coast. The wineries are also divided between the Mountains, Piedmont and Coast. The wineries in the Mountains and Piedmont are growing traditional vitis vinifera grapes as well as hybrids. Visitors to the Coastal area are likely to discover Muscadine (Scuppernong, Vitis rotundifolia) wines and more. Some of the wineries on the Coast are also producing traditional wines.

Wines at A Secret Garden

Wine enthusiasts can choose from more than 185 tasting rooms to visit. Choose between small boutique wineries and large wineries such as the winery at Biltmore and Duplin Winery. One of the smallest and very interesting wineries is A Secret Garden Winery that is devoted to producing organic wines.

 

 

Divine Llama Winery pairs vineyards with alpacas & llamas

Wine Trail Traveler has visited more than 30 North Carolina wineries in all three geographic areas. Read the reviews with photos online.

During hurricane season, when planning your visit to North Carolina be sure to watch the weather forecast and as always it’s a good idea to contact the wineries prior to visiting. We hope everyone will be safe from the current possibility of Hurricane Florence  reaching the East Coast. 

Cheers!
Kathy 

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

Tzafona Cellars Vidal Icewine for Yom Kippur

September 7, 2018 – 10:32 am

Tzafona Cellars 2015 Vidal Icewine

On one of our trips to wineries in the Niagara Peninsula, we learned that if Icewine were a stringed orchestra, Riesling would be the violins and Vidal would be the cellos. We were thrilled to receive a bottle of Tzafona Cellars 2015 Vidal Icewine, and immediately thought of Yo Yo Ma. According to the back label, Tzafona is an ancient Hebrew word meaning northward. Wineries along the Niagara Peninsula are among some of the most northern wineries in North America. Tzafona Cellars’ Vidal Icewine would be a perfect sweet accompaniment to desserts on Yom Kippur.

The certified Kosher Icewine had a dark gold color with orange hue. The aroma of this 100% Vidal Icewine suggests honeysuckle and jammy peaches. The full-bodied and silky mouthfeel could best pair with a rocking chair on a porch. The taste included honey, nectarines, apricots and peach notes. Although sweet, the wine had good acidity. The wine was 11.5% alcohol and the residual sugar measured 20.2% or 202 grams of sugar per liter. 

A partnership between Toby Berkel and Avi Gislason provided the motivation to create Kosher wines in the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario, Canada. In addition to the Kosher Vidal Icewine, they also produce a Kosher Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine and a Kosher Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are crafted by the winemakers at Lakeview Wine Co. under the supervision of the COR and Mehadrin Toronto – Rav Shalom Hirsch Adler.

Cheers,
Terry

By Terry | Posted in Spirits: whisky, tequila, bourbon, rye, vodka | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

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