December 26, 2008 – 2:49 pm
We hope you all had a delightful and peaceful Christmas. Many of our family members were able to be home for Christmas. Christmas morning began with opening stockings and then breakfast before getting to other gifts. Soon we were in the kitchen preparing a mid afternoon dinner. We had a traditional Christmas dinner and everyone helped with the cooking or cleanup. For dinner we chose to have a wine produced by Hinnant Family Vineyards in North Carolina. Holiday Classic is a muscadine wine that offers a spicy and fruity taste. It was quite sweet. We noticed with our family, one either likes muscadine wine or not.
Muscadine wines are quite unusual but some people say that it reminds them of Concord grapes with its foxy taste. When we visited eastern North Carolina wineries last year we discovered muscadine wines and found that consumers either really like it or not. According to the wineries that produce muscadine wine, muscadine wines have ten percent more antioxidants than red wine. Of course, a red wine drinker has been heard to say, “I’d rather drink ten glasses of red wine than one glass of muscadine wine.” lol
If you haven’t tried a muscadine wine, try it when you have the opportunity. Don’t expect a taste like a traditional red wine but try it for the experience and you may just like it. We came across many people in North Carolina who really enjoy a muscadine wine. One of our family friends who enjoys beer rather than wine, enjoyed the Holiday Classic wine last night.
Cheers!
December 23, 2008 – 6:28 pm
With only two shopping days before Christmas, most of my shopping is completed. In a couple of cases, “coupons” may just do the trick. It’s time to begin celebrating the season, and whatever you do put your heart and soul into it. If you are having family and friends at your home this season, consider warming a mulled spice wine in your crock pot. The aroma upon entering a room where the warmed wine is served is absolutely wonderful. Occasionally, you will discover bottled spice wine. Ferrante Winery & Ristorante offers Celebration Spice wine. If you choose this wine for dinner in their Ristorante, it is served warm with a cinnamon stick. It is delightful for an after dinner drink on a cold day. Already bottled spice wines make it easy and a success. On the other hand, perhaps you would like to try to make your own mulled wine. Visit the Wine Trail Traveler recipe section to discover mulled wine recipes. Many winery tasting rooms offer spice bags with the mixed spices ready to use and add to the wine. If you purchase a spice bag, ask the staff to recommend wines to add to the spices.
Enjoy time at home with family and friends.
Cheers!
December 21, 2008 – 2:02 pm
I love Italian food and am always willing to try Italian restaurants. As I walked into Bucci Ristorante in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, I immediately notice that this restaurant was different from others. I discovered it had a kitchen open to viewing by the patrons. The kitchen area was separated from the seating area by a counter, where patrons could sit and as they ate, watch their meals prepared. This open kitchen experience was interesting to observe. My brother selected this restaurant because it is one of his favorites and we came early so that we could sit at the counter. It felt like we were in the kitchen and could observe everything the chefs were doing. The restaurant also has traditional seating. Total seating capacity is 65.
Bucci Ristorante is the creation of head chef Bujar Mamuslari whose childhood nickname was Bucci. Since our group came near opening time, there were few other patrons at that time. Both Bujar and his wife, Shpresa took time to talk with us. My brother brought two wines from his cellar, a Palmaz Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and a Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. During our appetizers and entrée Bujar and Shpresa tasted the wines and offered their comments. Seldom will all wine enthusiasts agree about wines. However this evening, all agreed that the Roy Estate was the better wine. It offered a more complex aroma and more layers of taste. The lighter tannins made it a perfect match for the different entrées that our group ate. We were impressed with Bujar and Shpresa tasting the wine. They made us feel like family.
Although my wife and I have been to dinner theaters, Bucci Ristorante offers cooking theater right in front of you. You can observe the preparation of the food from start to finish. Shpresa said that not everyone could handle the constant scrutiny. It takes a special chef that can cook in the kitchen while every action is being watched. The chefs also do observing. They can see the reactions of the customers to their creations. Bucci also constantly observes what is happening in the kitchen to make sure the foods served are created with perfection.
The appetizers enticed our palates and discussion centered on the Palmaz Cab. Our entrées were served hot and my lobster paired perfectly with the Roy Estate Cab. The food was excellent, the atmosphere offered a breadth of fresh air and we were treated as family. When visiting the Detroit area, I plan to stop at Bucci Ristorante. If you have the opportunity, be sure to visit Bucci Ristorante.
Bucci Ristorante
December 20, 2008 – 12:50 pm
Having dinner with my brother presents a wine adventure. He decided to waver from his favorite Camus Special Select and took a bottle of Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon to Bucci Ristorante in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. The bottle was opened and sat as we drank a bottle of 2002 Palmaz Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon with bread and appetizers. When the entrees arrived we turned to the Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. The first impression was the first nose. Smoke and wood gave way to fruit. You can notice layers of aromas and you need to take the time to enjoy the wine’s wonderful bouquet. The taste also had layers with fruit predominant. The tannins were light. This wine paired well with my entrée of fire grilled lobster and scallops and pasta in a red sauce. There was no fining or filtration of this wine. Although some consumers are wary, I like the aromas and tastes of wines that are not fined or filtered. It doesn’t bother me to see a bit of sediment in the bottle or even in my glass. This was an enjoyable wine to share with family and food.
December 19, 2008 – 3:58 pm
With only six days left before Christmas, have you finished your shopping yet? If you haven’t, consider a home winemaking kit or accessories to go along with it. Last Christmas I purchased a winemaking kit by mail after reading online what some home winemakers said were good kits.
The great thing about winemaking kits is that they teach the beginner many of the necessary steps to creating wine. Once that is learned it’s easier to go on and create their own wines.
Last Christmas, I ordered a kit from Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies. Using it was a great learning experience and my husband is now making a mead wine using the equipment from the kit. However, rather than using the 6 gallon plastic carboy from Midwest, he opted to purchase two 3 gallon glass carboys from Presque Isle Cellars. Presque Isle Wine Cellars offers a variety of equipment and supplies for commercial and home winemakers.
Warning With a Smile: Once some begins making wine and can easily turn into a fun hobby with no end in sight. It’s great to experiment with different grape varietals and fruits to create one’s own special wine.
Links:
Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies
Presque Isle Wine Cellars
December 18, 2008 – 11:29 am
Time is running out on holiday gifts but gift ideas for wine enthusiasts are plentiful. If your wine enthusiast enjoys puzzles consider a wine bottle puzzle. The puzzle is quite simple to take apart and put back together, assuming you place the parts in order by size and start with the larger parts first. It should be easy to put together even after a glass of wine.
The wine bottle puzzle is made of hardwood and looks attractive. It comes in a darker color and lighter color, presumably to represent red and white wines. Place the bottle puzzle next to wine glasses or on a bar. It should spark conversation. I’ve seen different manufacturers of these wine bottle puzzles. The one I have is made by Oenophilia. I’ve also seen a wine glass puzzle; the glass and bottle make a nice set. Amazon.com also sells the wine bottle puzzle.
Oenophilia
Amazon
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All is Calm
Christmas morning always seems quieter and calmer than other mornings throughout the year. It offers a time for reflection. Since January, 2007, Wine Trail Traveler visited 300 winery/vineyard tasting rooms. During our travels we’ve heard many heart-warming stories. The holiday season is a good time to read some of these stories.
December 2008 issue
Extending a Helping Hand, a story of a winery owner reaching out to help other businesses in the community.
Last Three Rows: a tribute to a grower by a winemaker.
Austin’s Red and Austin’s White: a new career in the wine industry offers an opportunity to help children with autism.
Families Creating Together is about the many family run wineries.
December 2007 issue
Teddy, a story of survival.
Romance for the Heart: a look at the romantic side of wineries and vineyards
A Parent’s Eye: parents pride of their children.
If you have a chance for a quiet time today, enjoy these stories. The Wine Trail traveler staff wish you and your family a blessed holiday season.