Some wines are just perfect for the lazy, hazy days of summer. My preference is for a light bodied white or rosé wine with a few crackers and bite-size pieces of Manchego cheese. The cheese brings out the quality of the wine. Yum!
Please keep in mind, especially during the heat of the summer, to enjoy a refreshing glass of water while imbibing.
Banshee Sauvignon Blanc for summer days!
Recently we enjoyed a sample 2020 Banshee Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County, California.
Banshee Wines was established in 2009 by a group of friends in San Francisco. A few years later, the winery was moved to Healdsburg and the tasting room opened in 2013. The winemaker is Alicia Sylvester. The winery is currently producing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Banshee Wines sources grapes from several vineyards. They have also established their own vineyard, the Estate Vineyard. The Estate Vineyard was planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
While traveling to Sonoma County, plan on stopping by the Banshee tasting room to explore their wines.
Recently we enjoyed a sample 2020 Banshee Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County, California. The 2020 Banshee Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County was a light yellow color with a light green hue. The wine, with 13.6% alcohol, was crafted entirely of Sauvignon Blanc grapes from six different vineyards spread out in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Valley. The delightful aroma was reminiscent of a tropical fruit salad. The taste included pineapple, melon, papaya, lemon and a hint of mineral. The finish was crisp with fruit yielding to mineral on the aftertaste. We served the wine as an aperitif with a couple friends. It was cool and refreshing in the shade of a hickory tree on a sunny warm summer’s day.
We received three small wine samples to taste from Domaine Andre Ehrhart. The domaine is located in Alsace and dates its history back to 1904. The winery is currently operated by the 4th generation family.
The first three wine samples was crafted with grapes that were from Grand Cru vineyards. The 2019 Gewurztraminer AOP Alsace Grand Cru Hengst was a light yellow color with 13.5% alcohol. The aroma was very floral. The taste was also floral with some spicy notes. The wine had a racy acidity. The finish was floral with a layer of hazelnuts. The aftertaste was long. Pair the wine with cheeses, sweet dishes and use as an aperitif. The 2019 Pinot Gris AOP Alsace Grand Cru Hengst was a straw color. The 13.5% alcohol wine had a floral aroma. On the taste there were notes of honeysuckle and lemon. The mouthfeel was creamy. The crisp finish had a long aftertaste. You can serve the wine as an aperitif. The 2019 Riesling AOP Alsace Grand Cru Steingrubler had a straw color. The aroma offered white peaches. The taste was also reminiscent of peaches and lemons. The wine had a racy acidity. The finish was crisp, fruity and had a long aftertaste. One pairing suggestion was to pair with sauerkraut and fish.
Wine from Domaine Andre Ehrhart
The 2019 Pinot Noir had a translucent red color with a dark pink hue. The 14% alcohol wine offered red berry fruits on the aroma. Red raspberries and a bit of strawberry were on the taste. The wine had a medium/full body and soft tannins. The finish was fruity. Pair with meats such as white meats, cold meats or grilled meats.
The last two wines were in the Tradition series. The 2019 Riesling Tradition was a straw color with a light gold hue. The 13.5% alcohol wine had a faint peach aroma. The velvety mouthfeel offered peaches and citrus. The crisp finish was fruity. Use the wine as an aperitif or pair with seafood, salads or sauerkraut. The 2019 Pinot Gris Tradition was a yellow color with a golden hue. The wine had 14% alcohol. The aroma and taste were reminiscent of a spring floral bouquet and gingerbread cookies. The finish was crisp and leaving you wanting more. Pair with a rocking chair on a porch or in front of a fire.
Domaine Paul Kubler is located in Alsace. The family interest in viticulture dates back to 1620. Today the winery produces still and late harvest wines. Wine production includes: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir and Sylvaner.
Domaine Paul Kubler wines
We were fortunate to receive a sample box of five Domaine Paul Kubler wines. This was part of the Hopwine Fair that took place in April 2021 online. Each sample was 20 ml, enough for a tasting.
The 2019 Les Panetiers, AOC Alsace, was made from Pinot Blanc grapes. The 12.5% alcohol wine had a yellow color with gold hue. The aroma reminded us of a tropical fruit salad. The taste included nectarine, melon, citrus and a hint of pineapple. The finish was very crisp with lingering fruit. Pair the wine with vegetables including asparagus and fish dishes.
The 2017 Les Combes, AOC Alsace, was made from Pinot Gris. This 14% alcohol wine had a light yellow color. The aroma offered yellow stone fruits. On the taste there was peaches, apricots and grapefruit. The finish was very crisp and fruity. We would enjoy this wine as an aperitif or paired with chicken dishes especially with mushrooms.
The 2017 Les Pierriers, AOC Alsace was crafted with Riesling grapes. At 13% alcohol the wine had a yellow color. Yellow stone fruit was on the aroma while the taste had notes of white peach and white grapefruit. The finish was crisp and refreshing. The wine had a long fruity aftertaste. In addition to an aperitif, pair the wine with a rocking chair on a porch during a hot summer day.
The 2017 Breitenberg Riesling, AOC Alsace had 13% alcohol. The light yellow colored wine’s aroma was citrus forward. The taste included lemons, limes, minerals and a hint of salt. The finish was crisp. Pair the wine with fish dishes.
The 2019 Weingarten Pinot Noir, AOC Alsace had a translucent dark ruby color with purple hue. The 14% alcohol wine had red fruits and spices on the aroma. The taste offered cherries, baking spices and a mineral undertone. The medium full-bodied wine had medium silky tannins. The finish was crisp with a blend of fruit and spice. This Pinot Noir can pair with beef dishes.
This weekend June 25, 26, 27 Milbrandt Vineyards, located in the state of Washington, will continue celebrating the Coeur Cause® Wine Release that benefits Walk to End Alzheimer’s®.
Milbrandt Vineyards winery
Milbrandt Vineyards has three tastings rooms. Events will take place at the tasting rooms located in Woodinville, Leavenworth and Prosser.
In addition to benefitting the Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, Milbrandt Vineyards is releasing the Coeur Cause® wine, a sparkling Riesling. Ten percent of the sales of the Coeur Cause sparkling wine will be donated to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s® through 2021.
Registration for the event is $35. Anyone who purchases two bottles of the Coeur Cause sparkling wine will have the ticket price waived. For club members of Milbrandt Vineyards and Ryan Patrick Wines, there is no charge for a ticket.
Reservations:
Reserve Woodinville Here or call 425-949-7660. Reserve Leavenworth Here or call 509-888-2236 Reserve Prosser Here or call 509-788-0030
The Coeur Cause Wine Release event includes: wine tasting, special pairings, raffles and music at some locations. The raffles will include:
winemaker dinners for six
guided river rafting trips
a Cascade Hideaway & Spa Retreat
a luxury Cottage Wine Country Getaway
Bed and Breakfast Romantic Excursions,
a Golf Excursion
several five-star dinners at restaurants in Washington
Discover the Coeur Cause® sparkling wine and help support Walk to End Alzheimer’s® this weekend!
DrinkMaryland events help local Maryland beverage businesses to showcase their products. On June 19 the Drink Maryland wine event takes place in downtown Centreville from Noon until 5pm. This event will be followed by a DrinkMaryland event in North Beach on June 26.
The Urban Winery plans to participate in DrinkMaryland events.
Participants in the Centreville and North Beach events will include wineries, breweries, distilleries, artisans and food vendors. See the lists below of the vendors you can visit at each location.
At the Centreville event, music will be provided by J. Coursey Willis & The Stone Authors and The Justin Taylor Band featuring PRS Guitars Pulse Artists.
Wineries Cove Point Winery Olney Winery The Urban Winery
Breweries Bull & Goat The Buzz Meadery Oliver Brewing Co. Maryland Beer Company Ten Eyck Brewing Co
Distilleries Baltimore Spirits Co. Blackwater Distilling East Road Beverages Gray Wolf Spirits LYON RUM McClintock Distilling Old Courthouse Distilling Old Line Spirits Twin Valley Distillers
Vintage Indiana Wine Fest is taking place June 5, 2021 at Military Park in Indianapolis.
Brown County Winery to participate in Vintage Indiana Wine Fest in June
Currently the Vintage Indiana Winefest is seeking volunteers to help with the festival. Position locations that still need filling include: Front Entrance Gate, Beverage Tents, Wine Organization and Sitting Area Sanitizers.
The festival website includes the following descriptions of the responsibilities of the volunteers.
Front Entrance Gate – Volunteers will take tickets and check IDs at the main festival entrance.
Beverage Tents – Volunteers will serve free soft drinks to Designated Driver wristband-wearers, as well as sell soft drinks to other festival-goers.
Wine Organization – Volunteers will organize bottles of wine purchased by festival-goers to be picked up at the Wine Pick Up Tent.
Sitting Area Sanitizers – Volunteers will clean all sitting areas after patrons have left.
Participating Indiana wineries include:
Winzerwald Winery, Indiana
Ash & Elm Cider Co. Best Vineyards Brown County Winery Carousel Winery Daniel’s Vineyard Ertel Cellars Harmony Winery Hartland Winery Heagy Vineyards Holtkamp Winery Huckleberry Hill Winery Madson County Winery Mallow Run Sip & Share Wines Two EE’s Winery Winzerwald Winery
Wine Trail Traveler visited a number of Indiana wineries several years ago. We remember our delightful visits to the wineries including beautiful vineyards, boutique and large facilities, the delicious wines and the great staffs. Check out the online articles we wrote about Indiana wineries.
Unfortunately no live music will be taking place at the Wine Fest because of COVID-19 regulations. However there will be DJ Kurt Streblow and WZPL or 1079 The Mix.
Eight food vendors have confirmed they will attend the Wine Fest. Look for Bazbeaux Pizza, Da Blue Lagoon: Jamaican Kitchen, El Venezolano, Glodo’s Kettle Korn, J & J A Taste of Home Catering, Ruth’s Chris. Wicked Good Cupcakes and Wild Boar BBQ.
Several artisan vendors also plan to attend.
Tickets (Everyone attending must be 21+. No pets are allowed.)
VIP: $60 pre-sale only Adult Ticket: $40 pre-sale only Designated Driver: $20 pre-sale only
COVID-19 rules for the Wine Fest include following social distancing guidelines and masking up if not eating or drinking. More sanitation and hand washing stations will be also be available.
When planning to attend the Vintage Indiana Wine Fest or any wine festival please keep your safety and others safety in mind.
St. Patrick’s Day is here! As I say every year, on St. Patrick’s Day almost everyone wishes they were Irish. In honor of the day, below you will find a recipe from Round Barn Distillery, for a St. Patrick’s Day cocktail as well as facts related to St. Patrick’s Day.
Shimmering Shamrock Cocktail
Shimmering Shamrock Cocktail
Product Feature: Round Barn Distillery’s Red Sky Rum
Ingredients
1 ½ oz Red Sky Rum (or a white rum)
1 ½ oz Green Shimmering Simple
1 oz Cantaloupe Juice
½ oz Lime Juice
Directions Combine all ingredients in pint glass over ice. Shake & strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a rainbow candy.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
As you enjoy the Shimmering Shamrock cocktail, find out if you know the these St. Patrick’s Day facts?
St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland.
We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 because it is believed that St. Patrick died on March 17 in the 5th century – perhaps 461 A.D.
St. Patrick was baptized with the name Maewyn Succat .
As a teenager St. Patrick was kidnapped by Irish pirates and taken to Northern Ireland. Several years later he escaped and was able to return to Britain where he was born
St. Patrick most likely did not drive the snakes out of Ireland. It is believed that no snakes were in Ireland at that time.
St. Patrick decided to return to Ireland to evangelize the people. He spent about 40 years in Ireland.
It is believed that St. Patrick used the 3- leaf clover to explain the Holy Trinity. However, no written evidence of this existed until the early 1700s. Over the many years, did the 3-leaf clover legend pass down verbally?
Pearmund Cellars has announced that they will continue their traditional spring barrel tastings in March 2021. However, the winery is taking special precautions because of the pandemic.
Barrel room at Pearmund Cellars, VA
The Event:
Tasting 2020 wines from the barrels and some tanks
Learn about the winemaking process
Discover Pearmund Cellars techniques
When: Weekends during March 2021 March 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28
How to Attend: Make reservations online on Eventbrite
Pearmund Cellars Cares About Your Safety
According to the information in a recent email, Pearmund Cellars is focused on everyone’s safety. The safety protocol for this event is described as: “To ensure safety and comfort, the tastings will be done classroom style in our tank room with pre-poured wines at specific times. Between sessions, the area will be sanitized. Total of 10 people per session, with tables properly distanced.”
Price: $35 per person
Location: Pearmund Cellars 6190 Georgetown Road Broad Run, Virginia
How do you most enjoy a margarita? Over ice or frozen.
Do you like a salted rim glass or a glass without any salt?
Do you know where the largest margarita was made? (This must have been in the days before we knew about COVID. The large margarita was produced in Las Vegas. It took 60 people 300 hours to down it.
What unique item was in a $64,360.25 margarita? A diamond.
The recipe does not come close to the $64,000 price tag for the above margarita recipe that was sent to us. Enjoy the recipe from Round Barn for today or any day throughout the year.
The above questions are based on information from Margarita page on https://nationaltoday.com.
Messina Hof Winery is the first Texas winery to use augmented reality on some of their wine bottle labels. Augmented Reality, or AR, is a technology that can superimpose computer images while viewing the real world. An easy example of this is watching football games on television. The producers color the line of scrimmage and the line that needs to be reached for a first down. Those lines were computer generated, they are not on the field of play. This example of AR can enhance the experience for the viewers of the game by letting them know if the offense is close to a first down or if the defense is stopping the offense. But what about wine bottles?
AR turns wine bottle label alive with a gentle shower.
Can Augmented Reality enhance the wine experience? After viewing several videos of posts showing AR wine bottle labels, I would conclude that whether AR enhances the wine experience depends on the individual and the AR experience after the novelty wears off. One wine producer crafted several wines with individual heads on the labels. During the AR experience the head talks and you hear what is said. It is more about the person on the label than the wine in the bottle. Another example viewed showed how a husband/wife team met, married and work in a vineyard, winery and sharing the fruits of their labors. This example of AR allows the viewer to learn about the winery and its owners who made the wine in the bottle. What about Messina Hof’s AR?
This bottle was sitting on a puzzle with the AR surrounding the bottle.
If you are interested in the novelty of seeing a wine bottle label come to life, Messina Hof has done a great job; however, they went beyond novelty. The three Messina Hof wines that feature AR have unique proprietary names Vitality, Abounding and Emblaze. These names go with the images on the labels and the AR experience. One has to download to their phone or tablet the Messina Hof app. Then they can aim the camera on their device at the wine bottle label and see a grapevine sprout from the ground and grow twirling around the wine bottle. A cluster of grapes form on the vine and ripen. The narration mentions, rather philosophically, the name of the wine. As you are viewing the AR on your phone or tablet, notice the background beyond the wine bottle and AR, it is your surface that the bottle rests on, in our case a jigsaw puzzle in progress.
How does Messina Hof AR wine labels enhance the wine experience? Listen to the narration, perhaps playing it more than once. Questions about the content come to mind. These questions can spark dinner table conversations. The AR experience along with the wine, food and friends can add a dimension to the experience.
Vitality
This yellow colored wine was a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Blanc. The wine had 12% alcohol. The very aromatic aroma had traces of flowers and tropical fruit with a hint of lemon. The taste included honeysuckle, citrus and melon while the finish was
crisp, refreshing and cleansing. Use the wine as an aperitif or paired with cheeses, poultry or fish.
Vitality Table Talk
1. Discuss the importance of rain to agriculture.
2. Specifically for grapevines, when is the best time of the year for rain?
3. What is the worst time of the year for grapevines to receive rain?
4. Is rain better for vineyards or should irrigation of the vines be used where allowed?
5. What was your impression of augmented reality (AR) as it played?
Abounding
The Abounding dry red wine was crafted with grapes from the Texas High Plains AVA. The 13.5% alcohol wine was a blend of Merlot, Petite Sirah, Tempranillo, Primitivo, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The translucent dark ruby colored wine had an aroma of a fruit salad of dark berry fruits and other black fruits. The taste was reminiscent of leather, black raspberries, blackcaps, earthiness-forest floor and black cherries. The wine had a medium-full body with mild tannins. The finish had a nice integration of fruit and oak influences. Pair the wine with beef dishes.
Abounding Table Talk
1. Raise your glass to a toast for the harvest. Why aren’t all harvests the same year after year?
2. What vineyard conditions, during the year, provide an abundance of fruit?
3. Why do some vine growers drop fruit?
4. What was your impression of the augmented reality (AR) as it played?
Emblaze
Messina Hof’s use of AR leads to discussion.
Emblaze with 12% alcohol was a proprietary blend. The wine had a translucent dark ruby color with a dark pink hue. Black fruit was on the aroma. The taste was slightly sweet with black raspberries and black plums. It reminded me of a black fruit pie. The wine had a medium/full body with mild tannins. Pair this wine with a rocking chair in front of a fireplace or wood burning stove on a cold, snowy day.
Emblaze Table Talk
1. How well does this wine pair with a fire on a cold winter’s day?
2. Does the wine provide warmth and comfort?
3. If port is too alcoholic for you, can Emblaze be used instead of a port?
4. What was your impression of augmented reality (AR) as it played?
The use of AR on wine bottle labels can bridge the gap between the wine consumer and the winegrowers and winemakers, especially during the time of the pandemic.
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DrinkMaryland Upcoming Events
DrinkMaryland events help local Maryland beverage businesses to showcase their products. On June 19 the Drink Maryland wine event takes place in downtown Centreville from Noon until 5pm. This event will be followed by a DrinkMaryland event in North Beach on June 26.
Participants in the Centreville and North Beach events will include wineries, breweries, distilleries, artisans and food vendors. See the lists below of the vendors you can visit at each location.
At the Centreville event, music will be provided by J. Coursey Willis & The Stone Authors and The Justin Taylor Band featuring PRS Guitars Pulse Artists.
Tasting tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
Centerville tickets
North Beach tickets
Participants at Centerville on June 19
Wineries
Cove Point Winery
Olney Winery
The Urban Winery
Breweries
Bull & Goat
The Buzz Meadery
Oliver Brewing Co.
Maryland Beer Company
Ten Eyck Brewing Co
Distilleries
Baltimore Spirits Co.
Blackwater Distilling
East Road Beverages
Gray Wolf Spirits
LYON RUM
McClintock Distilling
Old Courthouse Distilling
Old Line Spirits
Twin Valley Distillers
Artisans
Alloyed Earth Jewelry
Caulfield Provision Company
Chesapeake Shoppe
Fresca Frankie Recycled Accessories
Pope’s Leather
Resouled
Food Vendors
Heavenly Delights
Jimmy’s Fat Rolls
Shore Good Eats
Smoke, Rattle & Roll
Team Autism
The June 26 DrinkMaryland event at North Beach on June 26 is also from Noon until 5PM
Participants at North Beach DrinkMaryland event on June 26
Wineries
Cove Point Winery
Generations Vineyard
Olney Winery
Running Hare Vineyard
The Urban Winery
Breweries
The Buzz Meadery
Charm City Meadworks
Greenspring Brewing Co
Gypsy Brewing Co.
Distilleries
Baltimore Spirits Co.
BlueDyer Distilling Co.
East Road Beverages
Gray Wolf Spirits
LYON RUM
MISCellaneous Distillery
Sagamore Spirit
Tenth Ward Distilling Co.
Food Vendors
Grizzly Mountain Grill
Kinda Jerky Really Nutty
New Orleans By Myra
Phelps Concessions
Artisans
Aliada Learning
American Glassware
IBH Creations & Boutique
Furtastic Collars
Jacqueline Handley Designs
PFD Printing
Sisters of the Moon
Discover what Maryland has to offer soon!
Cheers!
Kathy