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A Wine from Campania, Italy

January 3, 2018 – 1:35 pm

Campi Flegrei Falanghina 2016

Last night we made our first visit to the Facci Restaurant in Laurel, Maryland and discovered the restaurant to be warm in appearance and feel, especially considering the extensive cold weather the East Coast has been experiencing.

We were meeting with a group of about 30 members of the The Village in Howard which is part of the extensive Village to Village Network located in many areas of the United States and beyond.

Outside and at the front  of the restaurant several tables and place settings were set. Laughing in the bitter cold, Terry commented, “Hope we are not meeting out here tonight.” However, the nicely setup area added to the lovely experience we expected as we opened a door for the bar area and table seating beyond. At the far end of this area, the back wall is filled with an impressive display of wine bottles.

After picking up name tags and greeting many of our friends, we sat down to order wine and appetizers. Facci’s Happy Hour includes half price appetizers, $1 off cocktails and half price bottles of wine.

Terry noticed an Italian wine from the Campania region. This was a produced with a wine variety that we remembered from our trip to Campania a few years ago. (Read our online reviews of Campania.)It is not easy to discover a Falanghina wine, so we were pleased to see it on the Facci menu. The Campi Flegrei Falanghina 2016, with 12% alcohol, was a yellow to light gold color, giving the wine a particular elegance. The aroma was of floral and apricot notes. The dry, crisp taste was creamy, with notes of apricots, citrus and daisies. The finish was fruity and long.

Discovering the Facci Restaurant with an extensive wine menu and yummy Italian foods was a delightful experience and a great way to start the New Year!

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

Two Rose Infinie Wines Capture the Essence of Côtes de Provence

December 26, 2017 – 4:07 pm

The 2016 Rose Infinie Blanc, AOP Côtes de Provence

Some winegrowers have planted rose bushes at the ends of some of the vineyard rows. They do this to help as a warning for the presence of Oïdium (Powdery mildew). Some believe the fungal disease spreads to rose bushes before grapevines. Perhaps more revealing is the romance associated with the rose and the romance of wine. Rose Infinie  wines capitalize on the romantic notion with the following quote on their bottles,

“I will pick the Rose
At the foot of the vine
And I will offer it to you
As a symbol of our infinite love.”

We had the opportunity to sample two of Rose Infinie wines, a white and a red. The bottles are elegant with a unique punt on the bottom. The label is simple with the image of a rose and the name Rose Infinie and the AOP Côtes de Provence.

The 2016 Rose Infinie Blanc, AOP Côtes de Provence was a light yellow color and was a blend of Rolle (Vermentino), Clairette and Ugni Blanc grapes.The 13.4% alcohol wine had a predominant citrus aroma. The taste included citrus, peach, pineapple and mineral. The finish was crisp and fruity. We paired this wine with different cheeses. The Manchego cheese was an excellent match for this wine. The suggested price for this wine is $14.94.

2015 Rose Infinie Rouge, AOP Côtes de Provence

The 2015 Rose Infinie Rouge, AOP Côtes de Provence was a blend of Syrah, Vieux Carignan and Mournèdre. The opaque ruby colored wine offered red and black fruits on the aroma. The taste was reminiscent of cherry, spices, leather and licorice. The wine had a smooth mouthed, full body and medium/bold tannins. The finish was fruity yielding to oak influences. This wine was paired with meatball sandwiches. The meatballs were cooked in a crockpot in a chili sauce base. The suggested price for this wine is $14.63.

The vineyards for these wines are in the Vallée de l’Arc near Aix-en-Provence. This area of Southeastern France has had vineyards for thousands of years. The soil consists of limestone, clay and red sandstone. The vines receive abundant sunshine and are influenced by the Mistral wind that helps keep the vines dry and fungus at bay.

You do not have to pay high prices for French wines. The Côtes de Provence area has many producers of affordable wines.

Cheers,
Terry

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

Discover Maryland Wineries During the Holidays!

December 20, 2017 – 1:17 pm

The 2017 Governor’s Cup Award Cool Ridge Red

As Terry mentioned in an earlier blog, last week we attended the 29th Annual 2017 Maryland Wine Governor’s Cup Awards event. Most of the award winning wines were produced by several of Maryland’s more recently opened wineries. If anyone wonders why the earlier Maryland wineries were not winning awards, the newer wineries understand that they are building these award winning wines based on the hard work, and research that the earlier wineries have done. So kudos to all of the Maryland wineries.

One of the speakers noted, “If you like high end local wines, this is a great spot . Our goal is to make the best wines possible.”

The wineries of Maryland range from the small boutique wineries to much larger wineries. We have discovered they are delightful to visit. In fact, we were asked to revisit Catoctin Breeze Vineyard due to all of the changes, this family owned and operated winery have made since our last visit. Upon arriving at the winery, we discovered a new winery tasting room with and new attached winery. The old tasting room and winery are now used for storage. The tasting room offers seating at the wine counter, a fireplace and large windows overlooking the countryside. In addition, for summer months they have a large pergola with tables and chairs. As far as the quality of wines, the 2015 Estate Syrah was named “Best Syrah on East Coast” by the Atlantic Seaboard Competition. Suggestions for foods to pair with this Estate Syrah were meats that were grilled or roasted.

While traveling to or from your holiday destinations in Maryland, be sure to stop by and purchase a bottle of wine to open and enjoy when you reach your destination. For a list of Maryland wineries, check out the Maryland Wine website.

Cheers!
Kathy

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

Three Wines from Mercer Estate in Washington

December 19, 2017 – 5:29 am

Mercer Estate Malbec – Horse Heaven Hills AVA

Mercer Estate Winery in Eastern Washington is located in Prosser. At this time, the Mercer vineyards consist of more than 2,000 acres. Don and Linda Mercer planted the first grapevines. It was in 2005 that Rob and Brenda Mercer started Mercer Wine Estates.

Historically, the Mercers have been farming the property since 1886 which over the years has included livestock and row crops and then adding vineyards. Sustainability is important to the Mercer family. This effort includes water, soil, integrated pest and waste management.

Recently the Mercer Estate winery sent us three wine samples to review. All three wines are produced with Horse Heaven Hills AVA fruit.

The 2016 Mercer Horse Heaven Hills AVA Sauvignon Blanc was a light yellow color with a light green hue. The aroma included notes of mineral, citrus and tropical fruit. The taste offered grapefruit, lemon grass and a hint of pineapple. The finish was very crisp with lemon grass notes yielding to citrus. The grapes were from the Mercer estate vineyard, Princeton. The alcohol of the wine was 12.5%.

The 2015 Malbec Horse Heaven Hills AVA was a black color with a purple rim. The aroma was light and the full-bodied wine offered tastes of blackberries, black pepper and baking spices. The wine had medium to bold tannins. The finish offered fruit and spice notes.  The estate grown wine was produced with grapes from the Spiced Cabinet Vineyard. The wine was produced with a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Old and new French oak barrels were used for malolactic fermentation. The wine was 14.8% alcohol.

The 2015 Sharp Sisters Red Blend Horse Heaven Hills AVA was a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrah, Carignane and Petit Verdot.This red blend was a dark ruby color. The aroma offered notes of black cherries, plums and blackberries. The taste also included notes of black cherries, plums, and blackberries plus leather, vanilla and baking spices. The finish had fruit notes yielding to spices.

The grapes for the Sharp Sisters red blend are from the estate vineyards. Specifically the Merlot grapes were from the Dead Canyon Vineyard while the Cabernet Sauvignon was from the Eagle & Plow Vineyard. Spice Cabinet Vineyard was the source of the Grenache, Syrah and Carignane. The Petit Verdot grapes were from Mercer’s Milt’s Vineyard.

The winemaking protocol included aging the wine in a combination of American and French barrels for 18 months. The wine had 14.8% alcohol.

Horse Heaven Hills AVA produces fabulous fruit. Consider trying some of the Mercer Estate portfolio of wines for this holiday season.

Several years ago we visited Mercer Estate in Prosser, Washington. The article review is available online.

Cheers!
Kathy

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

Domaine Houchart Provence Tradition Blanc

December 14, 2017 – 10:15 am

Domaine Houchart Provence Tradition Blanc

We received samples of wines from Provence in France. We were curious about wines from Provence since our daughter spent a semester in Provence. Domaine Houchart, in Cotes de Provence, is located near Aix en Provence and at the base of Mont Sainte Victoria. Today the winery Domaine Houchart is a part of Famille Quiot. The Quiot family began planting grapes in 1748. The main Quiot family vineyard is the Domaine du Vieux Lazaret with more than 100 hectares (247 acres) of grapes. This estate is currently worked by the 13th generation of the Quiot family.

Domaine Houchart has a long history including becoming a part of the Quiot family wines in 1890. Currently, Florence and Jean-Baptise, the fifth generation of the Houchart family to work the estate, are involved in Domaine Houchart. The interest in vineyards by the family Houchart dates back to the 1800s when the property was expanded by Aurélien Houchart who wanted to increase the family’s estates. Near the end of the 1800s, he reactivated the  Puyloubier vineyards which had been devastated by phylloxera. Eventuallly this vineyard became known as Domaine Houchart.

The 2016 Provence Tradition Blanc is a pale yellow colored blend of 75% Clairette and 25% Rolle (Vermentino). The aroma suggests peach, citrus and mineral. The taste was reminiscent of  peach, grapefruit, and mineral. The finish is very crisp and fruity. The wine dances in the mouth and begs for a pairing with seafood. However on a frigid below freezing winter-like late autumn evening, we paired the wine with homemade chicken, rice and dumpling soup. The suggested price for this wine is $12.59. The Provence Tradition Blanc also pairs with cheese soufflés and makes an excellent choice for an aperitif.

Consider wines from Provence in Southeastern France for the holidays and throughout the year. The wines offer a great value.

Cheers,
Terry & Kathy

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

2017 Maryland Governor’s Cup Award Event

December 12, 2017 – 9:42 am

2017 Maryland Wine Governor’s Cup Awards

Yesterday, Kathy and I attended the awards event for the 29th Annual 2017 Maryland Wine Governor’s Cup Awards. The awards were handed out by Maryland’s First Lady, Yumi Hogan at the Old Maryland Grill, across from the University of Maryland’s main campus in College Park. The First Lady talked about the growing number of wineries in Maryland and the importance of wine tourism in the state. She commented, “I’m pretty good at tasting too.”

Governor’s Cup was awarded to Cool Ridge Vineyard for their 2015 Cool Red showing Yumi Hogan, Al Spoler, and Gerhard and Suzanne Glocker of Cool Ridge Vineyard.

This year’s Governor’s Cup was awarded to Cool Ridge Vineyard for their 2015 Cool Red. A recent new award, The Jack Allen Cup is awarded to the best fruit wine, cider or mead. Great Shoals Winery 2016 Hard Plum won this award.

Best in Class awards were handed out to several of the state’s over 70 wineries.
Best Sparkling: Turkey Point Vineyard • Elk Neck Bubbly 2016
Best White: Boordy Vineyards • Pinot Gris 2016
Best White Blend: Cool Ridge Vineyard • Cool White 2016
Best Rosé: Crow Vineyard & Winery • Barbera Rosé 2016
Best Red: Big Cork Vineyard • Cabernet Franc 2015
Best Red Blend: Cool Ridge Vineyard • Cool Red 2015
Best Sweet: Dove Valley Winery • Mr. Bentley’s Choice 2014
Best Dessert: Black Ankle Vineyards • Terra Sol 2016
Best Cider: Willow Oaks • Gloaming NV
Best Fruit: Great Shoals Winery • Hard Plum 2016

Old Maryland Grill’s wall of Maryland wines

The Governor’s Cup, Jack Allen Cup and Best in Class awards were handed out by Yumi Hogan and Al Spoler of WYPR, co-host of “Cellar Notes.” After the awards were given, wines that won these awards were available for tasting. Accompanying the tasting were appetizers prepared by Old Maryland Grill. The restaurant is in the newly opened The Hotel at the University of Maryland. Restaurant owner Mike Franklin spoke to the assembled group and said that he decided to focus on Maryland cuisine and Maryland wine, beer and spirits. Along one wall of the restaurant, there are wine bottles from Maryland wineries. This wall of Maryland wine is unique in the state’s restaurants.

The 2017 Governor’s Cup Award Cool Ridge Red

We tasted a few of the wines. The Governor’s Cup winner, Cool Ridge Vineyard 2015 Cool Red was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 45%, Cabernet Franc 20%, Merlot 20% and Petit Verdot 15%. The wine had a translucent ruby color. Black fruits were noticed on the aroma. The taste included cassis, blackberries, leather, licorice and an earthiness. The medium/full bodied wine had medium/bold tannins. The finish was a blend of fruit and oak.

The Jack Allen Cup was awarded to Great Shoals Winery 2016 Hard Plum. The wine had a plum aroma and taste. It had some effervescence and a very pleasant aftertaste.

If you have not had a chance to visit these Maryland wineries, winter time is an excellent time to visit. Meanwhile, search for these Maryland wines for your holiday meals.

Cheers,
Terry

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

Galil Mountain Winery: Affordable Kosher Wines for the Holidays

December 11, 2017 – 7:57 am

Galil Mountain Winery Sauvignon Blanc

We received samples of three wines from Galil Mountain Winery in the Upper Galilee near Kibbutz Yiron. Two millennial ago, the Upper Galilee had many vineyards planted. Today, the region is returning to a tradition of wine growing and winemaking. The winery was established by Kibbutz Iron and Golan Heights Winery. The winery sources grapes from six vineyards ranging in altitude from 420 meters (1,378 feet) to 800 meters (2,625 feet).

We invited some friends to taste these wines with appetizers in our wine room. The first impression was the fruit forwardness of the wines, all from the 2016 harvest. The second impression was the price points. We tasted the Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Sauvignon Blanc was crafted with hand harvested grapes. After a three-week fermentation, the wine was racked to a stainless steel tank. The 2016 Sauvignon Blanc had a yellow color with a gold hue. The 13.5% alcohol wine offered lemon and tropical fruit notes on the aroma. The taste was reminiscent of lemon and lemon grass with a hint of pineapple. The finish was very crisp with fruit yielding to mineral. This was the only white wine tasted and our group enjoyed it. The Sauvignon Blanc retails for $17.99.

Our next wine was the 2016 Merlot. The wine underwent fermentation in stainless steel tanks for seven days. It was then racked to stainless steel tanks for six months of aging. The opaque dark ruby colored wine was 15% alcohol. The aroma had black fruit notes with a hint of chocolate. The taste included black cherries, black berries, mineral and forest floor. The very smooth mouthfeel was accompanied by a medium/full body with medium tannins. The finish offered fruit, chocolate and earthiness. The wine retails for $14.99 and was considered the best buy of the three sampled wines. This Merlot was enjoyed by the group and became the favorite of the evening.

Our third sample was the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon. Like the Merlot, this Cab was fermented in seven days and then racked to stainless steel tanks for Malolactic fermentation and six months of aging. The color was a dark ruby to black. The 15% alcohol wine had an aroma of black fruits. The smooth mouthfeel had tastes of cassis, blackberries and spices. This medium/full bodied Cab had medium/bold tannins. The finish was fruity. The Cabernet Sauvignon retails for $15.99.

All three wines were Kosher Lamehadrin Kosher for Passover. The wines were not mevushal. If you have not tried an Israeli wine, and you enjoy fruit forward wines at an affordable price, try Galil Mountain Winery’s wines this holiday season. The website KosherWine.com carries these wine as does jwines.com.

Cheers,
Terry

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

Would the Patron Saint of Beekeepers Like Mead?

December 7, 2017 – 12:02 pm

Meads at Orchid Cellar Winery in Maryland

Mead is a delightful alcoholic beverage produced with honey. We made a 5-gallon carboy of mead a few years ago. My brother is a beekeeper in New York State and provided us with some delicious honey that we decided to experiment with making a mead. In addition to learning the protocol of making mead, we also learned patience. Initially the mead in the carboy was very cloudy. A few days went by, then month after month passed by and the mead remained cloudy. Then about a year later, the mead cleared in just a few days. So if you try to make your own mead, remember patience is needed; however, you are likely to be rewarded with a yummy mead.

While enjoying a glass of mead, think St. Ambrose of Milan whose feast day is celebrated on December 7. St. Ambrose of Milan is known as the patron saint of beekeepers. According to an article about St. Ambrose, (a church in Baltimore is named for the saint), “Legend suggests that when he was an infant a swarm of bees settled on his face while he was lying in his cradle and left behind nary a sting, but a drop of honey. This prompted his father to declare it was a sign that his son would become a sweet-tongued preacher of great significance.”

Since there are a wide variety of mead styles from light to heavy-bodied meads, a wide variety of foods can be used as complementary foods. Consider cheese, meat, seafood and desserts. If you have a heavy, sweet mead on hand, on a cold day – plan to sip it by a warm fireplace to help keep the chill away.

Wine Trail Traveler has visited several meaderies. One of the first was Orchid Cellar Winery in Maryland. The owner introduced us to several different types of meads and explained that he was using mead recipes that had been used in his home country of Poland. The recipes were from monasteries and dated back centuries. Read the review we wrote after visiting Orchid Cellar.

Cheers!
Kathy

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

Books & Wine Sets for Unusual Gift Idea

December 5, 2017 – 8:22 am

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

I love a good book. For relaxation, nothing is better for me than to spend a few minutes every day reading a book that takes me to other worlds for just a little bit of time. Whether in a rocking chair on the porch, a sunny window seat or near a roaring wood fire, a book with a glass of wine is a great way to enjoy a bit of quiet time. With numerous book clubs around the country, reading is obviously a delightful experience for many people. Francis Ford Coppola Winery has found a unique way of capturing this audience.

The Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Sonoma, California is now offering gift purchases of Books & Bottles. Currently the winery is offering four options.

1) The Truth about Thea Red Wine Gift Set includes one book and bottles of Votre Santé Pinot Noir and Rosso & Bianco Rosso.

2)   The Truth about Thea White Wine Gift Set has one book and a bottle each of Votre Santé Chardonnay and Rosso & Bianco Pinot Grigio.

3) I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around Red Wine Gift Set includes one book and Votre Santé Pinot Noir and Rosso & Bianco Rosso.

4) I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around White Wine Gift Set has one book and Votre Santé Chardonnay and Rosso & Bianco Pinot Grigio wines.

Each of the Books & Bottles gift sets retail for $49.

We visited Francis Ford Coppola Winery when it was officially unnamed. Read our Wine Trail Traveler review of the winery.

If you are interested in wine books for yourself or gifts, check out the Wine Trail Travel book store.

Cheers!
Kathy

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

Turbiana, a Classic Variety from Italy’s Lugana DOC

November 30, 2017 – 9:43 am

Cà Mail Lugana Brut Metodo Classico. The sparkling wine was made entirely from Turbiana grapes.

In early November we attended a wine tasting of Turbiana wines from the Lugana DOC in Northern Italy. The DOC lies south of Lake Garda. Turbiana is the main white varietal grape in this region of Italy. The wines are divided into Lugana, Lugana Superiore and Lugana Riserva. The superior wines have been aged for a year while the riserva wines have been aged for a minimum of two years of which six months of that time the wines are aged in the bottle. Many of the producers also make a sparkling (spumante) Luguna.

Grapes have been cultivated and wine crafted in this area since the time of the Roman Empire. Lake Garda is a large lake in Italy, and provides about 30% of Italy’s fresh water. The lake helps control the temperatures in the vineyards. The soils are mostly clay and stone. The Lugana DOC has 4,628 acres under vine. The region produces 15 million bottles of wine of which 70% is exported.

We arrived at the Italian restaurant Café Milano in the Georgetown area of Washington DC. Our Lugana wine and lunch was held in the Wine Room on the second floor. Notable in this room was the wall of cooper colored shingles that were backlit. This was a perfect setting for a presentation of the Luguna Consortium and several Luguna Turbiana wines. The Lugana Consortium promotes, markets and protects the wines produced in the DOC.

Café Milano in the Georgetown area of Washington DC

During our lunch, representatives from the Luguna Consortium discussed their wines. They believe that the United States is a potential market for Lugana wines made from the Turbiana grape. We discussed white wines that were similar to Turbiana. Some mentioned Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. If you like Pinot Grigio, you will probably like wines crafted with Turbiana, especially those from the Luguna DOC.

Wines

Prior to lunch, we had a chance to try several wines. I started with the Cà Mail Lugana Brut Metodo Classico. The sparkling wine was made entirely from Turbiana grapes. It had a yellow color with multiple columns of tiny bubbles forming a mousse on the surface. The sparkling wine offered citrus and freshly baked bread on the aroma and taste. The finish was crisp and palate cleansing. Producers have a challenge in selling a sparkling wine. The Luguna wine region lies between Prosecco and Franciacorta.

One of my favorite pre-lunch wines was the 2013 Cà Lojera Luguna Riserva del Lupo. The yellow colored wine had a floral aroma. The smooth mouthfeel had a taste that was complex with layers of roses, daisies, citrus and a faint hint of petrol.

2016 Cantina La Pergola Lugana DOC paired with an arugula salad with pears, goat cheese, hazelnuts and Sardinian bread.

During lunch we had several Luguna Turbiana wines. The 2016 Cantina La Pergola Lugana DOC was a light yellow color. The wine had mineral and floral notes on the aroma. The taste reminded me of roses, honeysuckle, mineral and a hint of tropical fruit.  The wine was paired with the Antipasti course consisting of an arugula salad with pears, goat cheese, hazelnuts and Sardinian bread. The finish was crisp. The 2016 Tenuta Roveglia Lugana Limne DOC was also a light yellow color. The wine offered lemon and tropical fruits. The crisp finish yielded to a mineral aftertaste. The wine was paired with the first Prime course, a house made tortilla pasta filled with pumpkin and parmigiana cheese, butter, sage and almond sauce.

For the second Prime course we had the 2016 Selva Capuzza Lugana DOC. This wine was yellow colored with floral and oak notes on the aroma. The taste had orange blossoms, vanilla and butterscotch. The finish had mineral and citrus. The wine was paired with Tagliolini pasta with green beans, potatoes and basil pesto. For the Second course, we had the 2013 Perla del Garda Luguna Riserva Madre Perla. The wine spent two years in stainless steel tanks and had a light yellow color and offered an aroma and taste of flowers and citrus. The finish was crisp. This wine was paired with Branzino filet in a white wine sauce with seasonal vegetables.

2016 Selva Capuzza Lugana DOC paired with Tagliolini pasta with green beans, potatoes and basil pesto.

The Dolce course had a 2014 Maragona Lugana DOC Vendemmia Tardiva. The yellow colored wine’s aroma was floral and sweet. The taste reminded me of honeysuckle and citrus. This late harvest wine had less that 20 g/L of residual sugar. The finish had mineral notes. It was paired with house-made cookies and biscotti.

If you enjoy white wines, search for a Turbiana wine from the Lugana DOC. It should pair nicely with holiday fare.

Cheers,
Terry

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

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