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Don’t Travel July 4th! Stay Close to Home and Visit a Winery!

June 29, 2018 – 11:01 am

A Maryland Sparkling Wine

The news has been reporting that travel over the 4th of July  is expected to rise. Rather than getting involved in intense traffic congestion, why not stay close to home and enjoy visiting a winery in your neighborhood? You may even want to consider leaving the driving to Lyft or Uber.

In a winery tasting room you can enjoy the atmosphere while having an enjoyable conversation with other like-minded wine enthusiasts. And the topics are not just about wine, but can cover anything from food to travel and so much more. Do yourself a favor and visit a nearby winery and save the frustration of hours of driving.

Fast Facts

  • Every state has at least one winery.
  • Several states have significant wine regions.
  • Numerous wineries offers special events open to the public.
  • Wines produced in the United States can rival those from other countries.
  • The top six states for producing wine include: California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Virginia and New York.
  • Visitors to wineries often have access to wines that are not available in wine shops. 
  • There are many types of wine including the still wines that may be dry or sweet, sparkling wines and fruit wines. Other alcoholic beverages that might be found in a winery tasting room are hard ciders and distilled spirits.
  • In the United States, only wine from the onsite winery may be on the premises. Fines are hefty if anyone brings in a wine from another winery. This is regulated by law, not the winery.

Not sure about what it is like to visit a winery, check out this article Terry and I wrote about tasting room etiquette.

Cheers!
Kathy

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

Traveling to Michigan this Summer? Discover the Leelanau Peninsula Wineries

June 28, 2018 – 12:05 pm

Willow Vineyard, Leelanau Peninsula

Visitors to Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula will discover a delightful combination of fun activities, quality wines and exquisite landscapes. Upon reaching Traverse City, it is easy to find your way to the wineries on the Leelanau Peninsula. Don’t miss the nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes, a National Lakeshore. While driving between the wineries, stop and enjoy the scenery and the small town atmospheres.

Leelanau Peninsula Wineries

More than 20 wineries are located on Leelanau Peninsula. Twenty-two of these wineries belong to the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail, which claims to be the oldest wine trail in Michigan. To help travelers navigate their way to the wineries, the wine trail offers three loops with suggested wineries. The loops are: Sleeping Bear Loop,  Northern Loop and Grand Traverse Bay Loop.

45 North Winery, Leelanau Peninsula

Located in the cooler state of Michigan, numerous winemakers have discovered that Michigan is a great place to produce wine.  The Leelanau Peninsula is one of Michigan’s five AVAs (American Viticulture Appellations). Even though the region is so far north, the vineyards on the peninsula are protected by the Lake Michigan lake effect. It is important to note that this region has the same 45 parallel as Bordeaux.

L Mawby produces sparkling wines.

The most popular wine grapes growing on the Leelanau Peninsula are Riesling and Pinot Noir. Other wine grapes in the region are Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Franc. In addition to numerous types of grape still wines produced, the region also produces fruit wines and sparkling wines as well as distilled items and hard ciders.

Some of the wineries are located close to Lake Michigan and travelers will want to take numerous photos of the landscape which may include the sparkling blue waters and thriving vineyards.

Wine Trail Traveler has visited and written reviews about many of these wineries. These reviews are available online.

Enjoy your visit to Leelanau Peninsula soon!

Cheers,
Kathy

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

12th Annual Maryland Wine Comptroller’s Cup Awards, Part 2

June 22, 2018 – 1:06 pm

The day of the 12th Annual 12th Annual Maryland Wine Comptroller’s Cup Awards, dawned bright and clear. By 10:30am we were at Catoctin Breeze Vineyard, located outside of Frederick, Maryland where the sky was a bright blue with snow white, fluffy clouds. The awards ceremony, with Comptroller Franchot presenting the awards, was held on the patio of the recently added tasting room.

It was impressive to see and hear the enthusiasm of the Comptroller, winemakers, winery owners and the media. After the awards ceremony, everyone gathered inside the tasting room to enjoy appetizers and taste the award winning Maryland wines.

As Terry mentioned in yesterday’s blog, Catoctin Breeze Vineyard was awarded Best in Show for their delightful Cabernet Franc 2016.

The Maryland wines I tasted included Great Shoals Winery Northern Spy cider. The cider was a yellow/light gold color. The aroma reminded one of the scent of fresh apples. The taste was similar to apple pie with hist of apple pie and tartness. The finish was long and apple-y.

Layton’s Chance Boberry Strawberry was a translucent orange color with a red hue. The aroma was intense with strawberry-like notes reminding one of strawberry shortcake. Again the taste reminded one of strawberry shortcake with a bit of acidity. Terry remarked that the taste reminded him of strawberry freezer jam as the wine did not have a cooked strawberry flavor. The finish with strawberry notes was long. The strawberry wine was “summer in a glass.”

Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards’ Home Sweet Home 2016, a dessert wine, was a dark ruby color. The wine was sweet with notes of chocolate and raspberry. 

Far Eastern Shore Winery offered the Dream NV produced with raspberries and chocolate. This dessert wine was brown with orange hues. The wine was sweet and full-bodied. The aroma had a vast scent of chocolate. The taste was sweet with notes of chocolate and fruit. The finish was sweet with enough acidity to make it “finger licking good.”

Be sure to watch the Maryland wine industry as it continues to rapidly grow. View many of Wine Trail Traveler’s Maryland winery articles online.

Cheers!
Kathy

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

12th Annual Maryland Wine Comptroller’s Cup Awards, Part I

June 21, 2018 – 7:41 am

Kathy and I were invited to the awards event for the Best in Class winners of the Maryland Comptrollers Cup. The event was held at Catoctin Breeze Vineyard who won Best in Show for their 2016 Cabernet Franc. Comptroller Peter Franchot spoke to the group of winemakers, winery staff and media. He pointed out, “Maryland is home to some world class vineyards.” Mr. Franchot regulates the wineries and also is an avid supporter of Maryland wines. He will often purchase a wine when visiting a Maryland winery. Peter Franchot mentioned that his wife is a very good wine critic. She usually likes the wines that he brings home.

Receiving the 2018 Comptroller’s Cup for Best in Show is the staff from Catoctin Breeze Vineyard.

Accompanying the Comptroller in handing out awards was Frederick County Executive Jan H. Gardner. The first award was the large glass bowl for the winner of the 2018 Best in Show. Voytek Fizyta and his wife, Alicja along with the winemaking team approached the podium to receive the award. Afterwards, winemakers or winery representatives were called to receive their award for Best in Class. The Best in Class awards were given for and to:

Best in Class

White: Knob Hall Winery • Vidal Blanc 2016 (Washington Co.)

White Blend: Cool Ridge Vineyard • Cool White 2017 (Washington Co.)

Rosé: Port of Leonardtown Winery • Chaptico Rosé 2017 (St. Mary’s Co.)

Red: Catoctin Breeze Vineyard • Cabernet Franc 2016 (Frederick Co.)

Red Blend: Janemark Winery & Vineyard • Aviation 2016 (Prince George’s Co.)

Off-Dry: (tied!) Port of Leonardtown Winery • Chaptico Rosé 2017 (St. Mary’s Co.) & Romano Vineyard & Winery • Fallen Leaf (Prince George’s Co.)

Sweet: Far Eastern Shore Winery • Dream NV (Talbot Co.)

Fruit: Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery • BoBerry Strawberry Wine 2017 (Dorchester Co.)

Cider: Great Shoals Winery • Northern Spy 2017 (Montgomery Co.)

Dessert: Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards • Home Sweet Home 2016 (Prince George’s Co.)

After the awards ceremony, The Best in Class wineries poured their award winning wines. I tasted several of the wines.

Catoctin Breeze Vineyard’s Best in Show and Best in Class Red was their 2016 Cabernet Franc. The wine had a translucent ruby color. Black fruits and leather were noticed on the aroma. The taste included blackberries, black caps, leather and a hint of tobacco. The medium-bodied wine had soft tannins. The finish was fruity with oak influences.

The Best in Class White was a 2016 Vidal Blanc by Knob Hall Winery. The wine had a light yellow color and floral aroma. The mouthfeel was smooth and dry. It is a wonderful food wine. Cool Ridge Vineyard won the award for Best in Class White Blend for their 2017 Cool White. The light yellow colored white was a blend of Chardonnay, Traminette, Viognier and Pinot Gris. The wine had a floral and yellow stone fruit aroma while daises, roses and peaches were noticed on the taste. The finish was crisp.

The Best in Class Red Blend was the 2016 Aviation by Janemark Winery and Vineyard. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot had a translucent dark ruby color. The aroma included black fruits while the taste offered blackberries, black raspberries leather and mineral. This full-bodied wine had mild tannins. The finish was fruity with oak influences.

We will report in another blog post the Best in Class for Sweet, Fruit, Cider and Dessert wines. If you enjoy Maryland wines, check these Best of Class wines. If you are new to Maryland wines, this is a great starting list of wines to try.

Cheers,
Terry

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

Make Plans for the New York City Wine & Food Festival!

June 18, 2018 – 1:33 pm

Get your tickets now for the New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF) this fall. The dates are October 11 to October 14.

Tickets for this grand wine and food charity event are now available through Capital One Cardholder Pre-Sale.

The NYCWFF  features a Signature Grand Tasting, Rooftop Parties, Intimate Dinners, Culinary Demos and Family Events.

The NYCWFF organizers partner with two charities whose focus is to help those who suffer from hunger. The partners are No Kid Hungry® and Food Bank for New York City. 

Over the years, the New York City Wine & Food Festival has provided $11.5 million to help those who are hungry. Perhaps this year you can help by attending the October festival or volunteering. 

The NYCWFF website offers several reason why you may want to volunteer this year. 

Why Should I Volunteer at NYCWFF?

  • Lend your time and support to take a stand against hunger
  • Participate in the biggest and best wine and food festival in New York City
  • Be part of a community of culinary enthusiasts
  • Gain firsthand experience in special event production
  • Have fun while supporting an amazing cause

Suggested ways to help include: setup, check in, providing directions, ticketing etc.

Don’t wait until October. Decide today to either attend NYCWFF or volunteer!

Cheers!
Kathy

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

Visit A Winery with a Father’s Day Event this Weekend!

June 15, 2018 – 11:20 am

Orfila Vineyards & Winery in California offers spectacular views!

Warm weather encourages wineries to offer more fun events. With Father’s Day this Sunday, many wineries are offering special ways for Fathers to celebrate. Several special events for this weekend are listed below.

If you can’t visit one of these wineries, call your neighborhood winery and discover what specials they are offering for Father’s Day!

Saturday, June 16

Catoctin Breeze Vineyard, Maryland
Event: Live Music by California Bob
Website Info

Duplin Winery, North Carolina
Event: Live Music: Mykel Barbee
Website Info

Potomac Point Vineyard & Winery, VA
Event: Sipping Under the Stars-Wonder Woman
Website Info

Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards, Oregon
Event: Port & Cigar Appreciation
Website Info

The Winery at Perennial Vineyards, Ohio
Event: Live Music
Website Info

Sunday, June 17

Catoctin Breeze Vineyard, Maryland
Event: Father’s Day Celebration
Website Info

Effingham Manor, Virginia
Event: Father’s Day – King for Day
Website Info

Orfila Vineyards and Winery, California
Event: Happy Father’s Day
Website Info

Painted Stave Distilling, Delaware
Event: Father’s Day Brunch
Website Info

Pearmund Cellars, Virginia
Event: Happy Father’s Day; Father’s receive complimentary gift
Website Info

Potomac Point Vineyard & Winery, Virginia
Event: Sunday Brunch
Event: Father’s Day Fest
Website Info

Vint Hill Craft Winery, Virginia
Event: Happy Father’s Day (wine tasting with cigar purchase)
Website Info

Youngberg Hill, Oregon
Event: Happy Father’s Day!
Website Info

Cheers,
Kathy

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

Celebrate National Rosé Day on Saturday!

June 7, 2018 – 1:24 pm

Sangiovese Rosé from V. Sattui Winery in Napa

Saturday, June 9 is National Rosé Day! Do you have a rosé wine waiting to be enjoyed so you can celebrate National Rosé Day? If not, check with your neighborhood winery to see if they are producing a rosé wine. Many rosés are delicious as aperitifs while others pair delightfully with a variey of foods including poultry, fish and salads.

History of National Rosé Day

Bodvár, House of Rosés developed the concept if a National Rosé Day for the United States.  They selected the second Saturday of June for the annual event. According to the Bodvár website, “Our goal is to raise awareness and give Rosé lovers a day to celebrate with ‘summer’s water’ all over the world.” June 13, 2015 was the first annual National Rosé Day. 

Traditionally rosés are produced by exposing the juice of the grapes to the grape skins for a limited amount of time. Even a few minutes of skin contact will begin to tint the juice. The longer the skin contact, the darker the final wine. Light rosés are particularly good for summer as the rosés are not as intense and the mouthfeel is lighter. White and red wine lovers can find rosés they are likely to enjoy.

Cheers! Kathy

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

Third Annual Frederick Wine Festival

June 5, 2018 – 4:02 pm

Big Cork Vineyards attending Frederick Festival

Celebrate Maryland wines at the Third Annual Frederick Wine Festival this Saturday, June 9. The location is the Carroll Creek Urban Park in historic Frederick, Maryland.

For 2018, the  festival has been divided into two sessions. Session 1 is from Noon unitil 3pm. The second session is scheduled from 4 until 7pm.

Twenty of Maryland’s wineries are planning to participate in the festival. Ticket information is available online. Tickets are also available for designated drivers.

Catoctin Breeze Vineyard to be at Frederick Festival

Food and Small Plate vendors include: Baklava Couture, Crisafulli’s Cheese Shop, HarborQue BBQ & Catering, Holy Crepes, Oil & Vinegar, Pizza Llama and The Sweet Farm.

Gringo Jingo, The Ultimate Santana Tribute Band will perform at the Amphitheater stage. 

Activities at the festival include sampling a variety of flavors at the Filippo Berio

Look for The Urban Winery at the Festival

Sampling Tent and backyard games.

If the day is hot, plan to cool off at the BGE Home Misting Arch. Complimentary cold water will also be available.

This all sounds like a lot of fun! Hope you can make it.

Cheers!
Kathy

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

Upcoming June Events at Wineries

June 4, 2018 – 3:12 pm

Potomac Point Winery in VA

The Wine Trail Traveler blog posts have not been frequent recently due to a broken arm during the second week of May – totally not wine related. Now that things are getting much better, blog posts will be written much more frequently. Cheers! Kathy

For today’s post check out numerous wine events coming up soon in early June!

Thursday, June 7

Potomac Point Vineyard & Winery, Virginia
Event: Ladies Night & Wine Bingo
Website Info

Texas Legato, Texas
Event: Teacher Thursdays
Website Info

Friday, June 8

Catoctin Breeze Vineyard, Maryland
Event: Rose Friday! Wear Pink
Website Info

Orfila Vineyards and Winery, California
Event: Tunes on the Terrace
Website Info

Painted Stave Distilling, Delaware
Event: 90’s Dance Party
Website Info

Potomac Point Vineyard & Winery, Virginia
Event: Friday Night Music
Website Info

Texas Legato, TX
Event: Wine Down Happy Hours!
Website Info

The Winery at Perennial Vineyards, Ohio
Event: Live Music
Website Info

Bon Niche, a CA winery

Saturday, June 9

Bon Niche Cellars, California
Event: Bon Niche Cellars & PVWT Celebrate Tuscany
Website Info

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

8th Annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Coming Soon!

May 23, 2018 – 5:44 am

Atlanta, Georgia is the place to be from Thursday May 31 through Sunday June 3 for the 8th Annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. The long weekend celebrates culinary traditions of the South. Experts in the culinary fields include sommeliers, chefs, mixologists and local growers. 

Types if tickets

Tasting Tents
Events
General Day Passes
Connoisseur Day Passes
Connoisseur Dinners
Master Studios

The Tasting Tents are described as “Designed to take guests on an epicurean journey through the South….”

Participants can choose to attend: Destination Delicious, Entrepreneurs Program Presented by Craft Catalyst, Brew-zy Brunch: Southern Staple Showdown, The Ingredients of Taste presented by ADAC, eat the Heat Presented by the Local Palate – VIP: Early Access, Day Pass – Friday, 2 Day Pass – Friday + Saturday, and Weekend Pass – Thursday – Sunday.

Connoisseur Passes are available for Friday, Saturday, Connoisseur 2-Day (Friday + Saturday), and Connoisseur Weekend (Thursday – Sunday).

The Connoisseur Dinner Series includes a choice if Edible Ends, Plate Sessions, Dine by Sign, the Hibachi Phenomenon, Sense & Sensibility and Backyard Braai.

Master Studios selection include: Southern Ingredients & their International Counterparts – Southern Asia, Southern Ingredients & their International Counterparts – Europe, Southern Ingredients and their International Counterparts – Latin Americas, Flights & Bites, Down to the Ash and Taste & Tempo.

If you have the opportunity to attend the  Annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, this will be a great way to start your suumer 2018 experiences. The hashtag is #KnowTheSouth.

Cheers,
Kathy

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