Recently I was in a well-known restaurant. Taking a look at the two pages of wine offerings were some unique listings. Selections included wines from France, Italy, California and more. I was pleasantly surprised by the addition of wines from local wineries. When tourists visit an area where wineries and vineyards are established, it certainly adds to their experience to be able to drink wines which have that area’s terroir. I believe that it is in restaurants and visitors interest to have available the “best” wines from the area as well as wines from other areas of the world. Some winemakers believe that people do not know about the wines in their own backyards and how good they can be. Check local wines out and you may be surprisingly pleased.
The deep, dark ink color of Cathedral Ridge’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 wine and it’s definite cherry aroma makes this an intriguing wine. Slanting your wineglass one can see a purple hue edge on the wine. The taste is dry and crisp. With an alcohol level of 14.4 percent, this young, medium bodied wine is hot on the finish. This is a wine that may age well. Even exposed to the air in the glass, there was a difference in the mouth feel and the taste mellowed.For this wine, we paired it with beef brisket and it balanced well. The brisket did not overpower the wine and the wine did not overpower the brisket. We enjoyed this wine with the beef brisket, potatoes, carrots and cabbage.
Agricultural tourism is sometimes referred to as agri-tourism. Agricultural tourism is not a new concept. For a long time people living in crowded cities have sought to escape from the crowds and enjoy spending a day in the country. Farms provide numerous reasons for visiting. Whether visitors want to pick apples, visit a pumpkin patch, wander through a corn maze, visit a wine tasting room, take a winery tour, or enjoy a picnic at some farm locations, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The farmer, local businesses and visitors benefit. Nearby restaurants are likely to see increased business. Bed and breakfasts will benefit from people who decide to spend the night. Agri-tourism is a win-win concept for everyone.
February 29, 2008 – 1:14 am
While there are some wine enthusiasts who believe that only wines can be or should be made from fermented grapes, there are others such as myself, who enjoy a “fruit” wine.I recently had a raspberry wine with dinner. Chateau Le Cabin with 11.5% alcohol, was produced by Horton Vineyards in Virginia. This wine has a definite raspberry aroma with an emphasis on a raspberry taste. It was interesting to note how well this raspberry wine paired with a simple fruit cocktail side dish. If you enjoy raspberries, this may be a wine you want to try when you have the opportunity.
February 22, 2008 – 10:07 pm
I just finished a fiction book that takes place in a fictitious town in the beautiful Finger Lakes area of New York State. The economy is depressed and the owners of an upscale inn are desperate to make ends meet. The owners of a non-existent winery and a group of senior citizens, “Crafty Ladies,” are involved in this mystery. It is a surprise until the end of the book as to “Who did it?”If you don’t want to read a serious fact-filled wine book this week, and you just want to relax by a warm fire, you may like A Touch of the Grape by Claudia Bishop.
February 20, 2008 – 9:35 pm
The state of Maryland has some of the harshest wine shipping laws in the U.S. Should the adult citizens of our fair state be able to purchase and ship wine to themselves? What happens when you visit Oregon, Washington or California’s very prolific winery areas? You are not able to legally ship wine back to your home in Maryland. Wineries in Maryland and outside of Maryland are not allowed to ship wine to those living in Maryland. Do you know that many wines produced throughout the country can not be purchased at a local wine store?The answer to all this is being debated in the Maryland legislature. It has passed one committee but has a long way to go. If you are concerned about the state of shipping wine in Maryland contact your state legislators.
February 18, 2008 – 8:53 pm
Saturday and Sunday we took time to visit Maryland’s eastern shore and took a side trip to Delaware to visit wineries. St. Michaels Winery is located in St. Michaels, Maryland. St. Michaels appears to be a popular winery with people strolling by and stopping to taste wines. About 30 – 40 minutes away is Tilmon’s Island Winery. Starting as a hobby, Tilmon’s Island Winery produces about 500 cases of wine.On Sunday we visited Nassau Valley Vineyards, the first farm winery established in Delaware. This is also a popular location with many vacationers to the shore stopping to taste and buy wines.Pet Peeve: Hotels that believe it’s okay to heat water for tea in a container that was used for coffee. The result is a coffee-tainted tea.
February 14, 2008 – 4:51 am
Last night for dinner we paired Chianti Classico with spaghetti topped with a red sauce. The Chianti Classico 2005 was from Coltibuono. We visited this Italian winery last fall where we had a lovely tour and lunch at their restaurant. On the menu was wild boar which we tried. The Chianti Classico 2005 was good but somehow the experience of drinking it in Italy increases the appreciation of it. Last night the wine had a cherry aroma and taste. It was light bodied and cleansed the palate. It paired well with the red spaghetti sauce.
February 12, 2008 – 10:42 pm
As we travel, we come across wineries that are more than just a winery. The owners believe that vineyards are a way of preserving and appreciating the land. Many will talk about value-added farming or agritourism. Here you may see a mix of vineyards, winery, tours, lodging and perhaps a reaching out to other agricultural interests. A large agricultural destination site, we visited recently is Black Star Farms in Michigan. Here you will see vineyards, a winery, a distillery, orchards, pears in brandy bottles (how do they do that?), creamery, stables as well as an elegant bed and breakfast. In addition they assist with rescued animals. This is definitely a destination site for couples and families. Donald Coe is continually searching for new ideas to promote Black Star Farms as an agricultural destination site. If you can’t make it to the winery, check out the Wine Trail Traveler article at http://winetrailtraveler.com/michigan/blackstarfarms.php.Cheers!Kathy
February 12, 2008 – 1:26 am
Tonight for dinner we tried a Pinot Gris. This particular bottle came from Cathedral Ridge in Oregon and was a 2006 vintage. This particular Pinot Gris had a citrus nose with a grapefruit taste, a smooth mouth feel, and a light to medium body. It was refreshing with an acidic finish. It had a long aftertaste with a light honey taste at the end. Consider pairing Pinot Gris with poultry or fish. With its fruit flavors it would also be a refreshing summer wine to drink.How do you feel about Pinot Gris?
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Maryland Wine Shipping Laws
The state of Maryland has some of the harshest wine shipping laws in the U.S. Should the adult citizens of our fair state be able to purchase and ship wine to themselves? What happens when you visit Oregon, Washington or California’s very prolific winery areas? You are not able to legally ship wine back to your home in Maryland. Wineries in Maryland and outside of Maryland are not allowed to ship wine to those living in Maryland. Do you know that many wines produced throughout the country can not be purchased at a local wine store?The answer to all this is being debated in the Maryland legislature. It has passed one committee but has a long way to go. If you are concerned about the state of shipping wine in Maryland contact your state legislators.