Wine Trail Traveler

2017 d’Vine Affair in Chicago Supports Self-Sufficiency Programs

January 8, 2017 – 8:12 am

On Sunday, January 29, 2017, from 1:30 pm until 6:00 pm, the 2017 d’Vine Affair takes place. This is Chicago’s Premiere Wine Tasting event that will have 90 vintners with more than 250 types of wine available. Participants can taste wines and attendees will be able to purchase their favorite wines.

For those who prefer beer, this special event will include a Craft & Imported beer tasting.

D’Vine Affair will feature a Live Auction of a Barrel of Wine. That’s a lot of wine as typically a barrel of wine can hold about 270 – 300 bottles. In addition there will be a silent auction of dining, entertainment and wine experiences, a raffle and a wine grab.

This special wine tasting event benefits the Catholic Charities Self-Sufficiency Programs.

The 2017 d’Vine Affair takes place at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd.

D’Vine tickets and raffle tickets are available online. Those interested in sponsoring the event will also find the information online.

If you are not able to attend this charity event, donations can be made online.

Cheers!
Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged beer, Catholic Charities, charity, Chicago, event, wine | Comments (0)

Today is National Whipped Cream Day!

January 5, 2017 – 12:30 pm

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards offers wine and food pairings.

National Whipped Cream Day has arrived. January 5 is the annual national day to celebrate whipped cream. After all those mouthwatering holiday foods and New Year’s resolutions to eat healthy, National Whipped Cream Day has arrived. I guess the New Year’s resolutions will just have to wait one more day to start!

Good to Know: Whipped cream was made as early as the 1500s. Aaron S. Lapin invented Reddi-Wip in the mid 1900s.

Check out this recipe from St. Francis Winery & Vineyards.

Chocolate Mousse with Zinfandel and Raspberries
Description:

Description:
Delicious chocolate mousse with raspberry garnish. Serves 8

Pairs With:
Zinfandel

Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients:

1 pound bittersweet chocolate
4 cups cream
6 egg whites
1/4 cup sugar
1 pint raspberries

Preparation:

Melt the chocolate and 1 cup of cream over a double boiler until chocolate is melted and the cream is incorporated. Meanwhile, whip the egg whites and sugar until soft peaks form. Remove egg whites to a large mixing bowl. Whip the remaining cream to soft peaks. Let the melted chocolate cool slightly. Fold the chocolate into the whipped cream. Fold the whipped egg whites into the chocolate and whipped cream mixture. Refrigerate the mousse for three hours or until it has set. Use a pastry bag to pipe the mousse into martini glasses and add raspberries to the top of the mousse.

Four other recipes that use whipped cream and wine are listed with the links below.

Peaches and Cake
Hawk and Horse Vineyards Latigo Sweet Potato Pie
Rose Chiffon Pie
Lovers Leap Blackberry Wine Zucchini Bread

Happy National Whipped Cream Day!
Cheers!
Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine/Food/Recipes | Tagged National Whipped Cream Day, recipes, whipped cream, wine | Comments (0)

Favorite Vineyard Photos from 2016

January 4, 2017 – 11:00 am

We enjoy four seasons in a vineyard and have seen some fantastic vineyard views during 2016. The following photos are some of our favorites.

Rocklands Farm Winery in
Poolesville, Maryland

Last February, we were invited to participate in a small group pre-pruning session at Rocklands Farm Winery & Market in Maryland. Several rows of Chardonnay grapes required pre-pruning. TJ Fleming, winemaker and vineyardist, demonstrated the pruning technique and offered words of wisdom from his bible. Read the Wine Trail Traveler Rocklands Farm Winery article.

Pomar Junction Vineyard & Winery in Templeton, California

Pomar Junction Vineyard & Winery, located in California’s Paso Robles region, provided us with a delightful view of a ladybug visiting a developing grape bunch. The vineyards benefit from the Templeton Gap that allows the cooling air from the ocean to rush in and cool the vineyards. Read the Wine Trail Traveler Pomar Junction Vineyard & Winery article.

Great Frogs Estate in
Annapolis, Maryland

Great Frogs Estate winery and vineyard is located in the outskirts of historic Annapolis in Maryland. In late spring, visitors can view the life of the grapevines bursting forth with energy that will eventually result in clusters of grapes hanging from the vines. Read the Wine Trail Traveler Great Frogs Estate article.

Thistlethwaite Vineyards in
Jefferson, Pennsylvania

A scenic view at Thistlethwaite Vineyards in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The property is a fifth-generation, 19th century farm. Today the property has five acres of vineyards including: Chambourcin, Villard Noir, Cabernet Franc, Marechal Foch, Leon Millot, Traminette, Vignoles, Vidal, and Seyval. Read the Wine Trail Traveler Thistlethwaite Vineyards article.

Chateau Bu-De Winery & Vineyard in Chesapeake City, Maryland

The contrast of ripening grapes against sparkling blue water and a summer’s blue sky offered visitors a delightful experience. Chateau Bu-De Winery & Vineyard in Chesapeake City, Maryland is a hidden gem that must be visited. Read the Wine Trail Traveler Chateau Bu-De Winery & Vineyard article.

Serra Vineyards in
Grants Pass, Oregon

Serra Vineyards offers scenic views for wine enthusiasts and art lovers. The fall visit was breathtaking with its autumn colors throughout the vineyards and the mountains in the background. Serra Vineyards is located in Applegate Valley. If you are visiting at the right time of year, you may even see turkeys parading from the vineyards past the tasting room. Read the Wine Trail Traveler Serra Vineyards article.

Abacela in Roseburg, Oregon

Abacela winery located in the countryside of Roseburg, Oregon is the result of what two enthusiastic people can accomplish through hard work, dreams and persistence. The winery is located in the Umpqua Valley. Abacela is the result of the owners interest in finding the perfect area in the United States to grow Tempranillo. Read the Wine Trail Traveler Abacela article.

During our 10 year wine journey, we have met many wonderful people and visited numerous delightful wineries. We wish everyone much success during the coming year. We hope during 2017 to visit and write about many more breath-taking vineyards.

(If you are interested having us visit your wine region, contact us.)

Cheers,
Terry & Kathy

By Terry | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged destinations, photos, travel, vineyard, wine | Comments (0)

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2017 – 12:47 pm

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful New Year in 2017!

Cheers!
Terry and Kathy
Wine Trail Traveler

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

12 Grapes, a New Year’s Tradition

December 29, 2016 – 4:46 pm

Yesterday, I wrote that one of the customs for celebrating New Year’s involves eating 12 grapes at midnight. Each grape represents a month of the year. As you eat your way through the twelve grapes, note the flavor of each grape. The sweeter grapes represent good months and a sour/bitter grape is believed to represent a not so good month.

If you will be participating in the New Year’s Eve grape tradition, you are likely to have some grapes left over. Why not try this simple recipe that even children will enjoy putting together for New Year’s Day? This recipe from British Columbia Grape Growers’ Association traditionally uses Coronation grapes.

Unfortunately, table grapes are not particularly common at this time of the year. Look for other grapes that are similar to the Okanagan Coronation grapes. When in season, be sure to look for Coronation grapes from Okanagan.

The British Columbia Grape Growers’ Association describes the Coronation grape as:

• Coronation is the most abundantly planted table grape variety in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. It is a blue, seedless variety developed in Summerland, making them unique to our region

• Seed traces are sometimes found in Coronation grapes. These are called vestigial seeds, and are usually soft, and not noticeable

• Coronation grapes can be used in any berry recipe. Whatever cross-grocery items featured with strawberries, raspberries or blueberries should be displayed with these grapes.

Grape Parfait Recipe

A delicious dessert that couldn’t be easier to make. Kids especially love layering fruits in fancy glasses.

Ingredients

•4 cups (1000 mL) Okanagan Coronation grapes
•1 cup (250 mL) sour cream, stirred
•4 tbsp (60 mL) brown sugar
•Optional garnish: fresh mint sprigs

Instructions

1. Add ½ cup (125 mL) of grapes to parfait or stemmed goblets and top with 2 tbsp (30 mL) sour cream.
2. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Repeat layers and refrigerate.
3. Chill before serving.
4. Garnish with a sprig of mint, if desired.

Serves 4.

Recipe provided by British Columbia Grape Growers’ Association.

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary, Wine/Food/Recipes | Tagged grapes, New Year's, recipe | Comments (0)

New Year’s Traditions

December 28, 2016 – 3:19 pm

Herring in Wine Sauce for New Year’s

New Year’s Day food traditions are a great way to celebrate the beginning of a New Year! Do you have a traditional food favorite or tradition for New Year’s Day?

Terry’s family had traditional foods that were a “must have” to eat on New Year’s Day. However, they also “believed” in not eating a certain type of meat. My mother-in-law insisted that pork needed to be eaten on New Year’s Day. When asked why, the response was always that pigs root, ie rooting in your foundation or burying your treasures. Some say that pigs root forward indicating progress. On the other side of the issue, one was never to eat chicken on New Year’s Day. Why? Chickens scratch the ground and whoever eats chicken on New Year’s Day will be scratching to make ends meet throughout the year. It should also be considered that when scratching, chickens move backward.

Another tradition from Terry’s family is to eat pickled herring. So every year we head to the grocery store to pick up a can of pickled herring. Supposedly if you eat herring on the first day of the New Year, it will bring you good fortune. Beware that if you wait until the last minute, your grocery store may not have any herring left on the shelf. For this year, we discovered pickled herring in a wine sauce, sounds yummy.

Many of the food traditions for New Year’s appear to be in search of prosperity for the future. For example leafy, green vegetables are popular because their appearance may remind one of paper money. Other foods that are round resemble coins Be sure to include beans. Fish scales are also said to resemble coins, so fish is often is included.

Ringed foods like round cakes and doughnuts are thought to bring one full-circle.

Perhaps the one food that I like the thought of is on New Year’s Eve at midnight eating 12 grapes. Each grape is said to represent one month. Each grape that is sour or bitter is thought to represent a not-so-good month; each grape that is sweet will be a good month. Now that I think about that, am I willing to leave every month up to chance? What if all of the grapes were tart? Would I need to wait until 2018 for a good month?

Maybe I’ll just settle for enjoying a glass of sparkling wine, whether it be cava, champagne or presecco. Of course, adding a frozen raspberry will make it even more festive.

Cheers!
Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged food, New Year, New Year's, traditions | Comments (0)

Two Wineries Celebrate New Year’s Eve

December 26, 2016 – 10:24 am

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at a winery in Delaware or Texas.

Harvest Ridge Winery event center

Harvest Ridge Winery is offering a spectacular way to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

The New Year’s Eve celebration begins December 31 at 9pm and ends at 12:30am on January 1. Attendees can enjoy music, dancing, dinner and door prizes.

Harvest Ridge Winery, a friendly, Delaware winery, is hosting a performance by Larry Weaver, a comedian. Cannatelli Entertainment will provide the music.

This New Year’s Eve event includes dinner and a cash bar. Discounts will be included for cider and wine.

The dinner menu will feature an Italian Bar, Polish Bar and Taco Bar. Items at the Taco Bar include: tortillas, chipotle chicken, homemade salsa and much more. The Polish bar will feature handmade potato-cheese pierogi, handmade polish sausage and sauerkraut. The Italian bar will include handmade meatball sliders and antipasto skewers.

Tickets for this event are available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-years-eve-at-harvest-ridge-winery-tickets-29785073958 .

Harvest Ridge Winery
447 Westville Road
Marydel, Delaware

Haven’t been to Harvest Ridge Winer yet? Check out the Wine Trail Traveler online article.

Texas Legato Winery in Lampasas, Texas

In Lampasas, Texas, Texas Legato Winery, visitors can ring in 2017 with an “overnight fun-fest.” According to the winery website, “PARTY, PARTY, PARTY! WEAR YOUR JAMMIES, & BRING A SNACK TO SHARE , & SLEEPING BAGS, CAMPERS, ETC. FOR GAMES, AND AN OVERNIGHT FUN-FEST! Cabbage, black-eyed peas and cornbread at Midnight, while we *clink* and raise our wine glasses to the NEW YEAR!”

Texas Legato Winery
2935 FM 1478
Lampasas, TX

Haven’t been to Texas Legato Winery, read our article about the winery experience.

Cheers!
Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Winery Events | Tagged Delaware, events, New Year, New Year's Eve, Texas, Winery Tasting Rooms and Cellar Doors | Comments (0)

Peace and Good Wishes for Everyone!

December 24, 2016 – 11:05 am

Peace on Earth!

We wish everyone a wonderful and peaceful holiday. This is a wonderful time of the year to celebrate the peace and good will of people from around the world. No matter what reason you celebrate the holidays, we wish the best for everyone in the world.

Cheers,
Kathy and Terry
Wine Trail Traveler

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged Christmas, Hanukkah, holiday, peace | Comments (0)

Christmas at a Winery

December 21, 2016 – 7:00 am

Many wineries in late November and December decorate for Christmas. Some decorations are simple while others can become elaborate. One winery visit in Southern Oregon will truly put you in the holiday spirit. Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards in Roseburg was the most decorated for Christmas winery we have experienced in the last ten years of wine travel.

Front door to tasting rooms and winery is only the start of the Christmas decorations.

A Christmas tree adorns the winery space.

Nativity scene in the hall leading to the tasting areas

Christmas trees alongside barrels aging wine.

Our tasting alcove had decorations along the wall.

Cheers,
Terry

By Terry | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged Christmas, OregonWine, Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards, wine | Comments (0)

5th Annual Winter Wine Showcase

December 20, 2016 – 9:25 am

B&O Railroad Museum: site of the Winter Wine event

Are you searching for a romantic gift for a wine lover? You will want to check out the 5th Annual Winter Wine Showcase at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore taking place at the end of January. This is a stylish event, plan to dress up.

On Thursday evening, January 26 wines from around Maryland and appetizers will be enjoyed in the B&O Roundhouse. The guest curator will be Al Spoler from WYPR. Music will be provided by David Bach, a jazz musician.

Winter Wine event at B&O Baltimore Museum

Winter Wine event at B&O Railroad Museum

This year the event starts with a sparkling wine pre-reception that will include traditional and non-traditional sparkling wines. This portion of the Winter Wine Showcase takes place from 6pm to 7pm. A limited number of tickets are available for the Pre-Reception.

The main event takes place in the Roundhouse and includes numerous wines including sparkling, white, red and dessert wines. This portion of the event takes place from 7pm til 9:30pm.

Tickets that include the pre-reception and the main tasting are $70. The tickets for only the main Roundhouse tasting are $55. Tickets and event information are available online.

Each year the Annual Winter Wine event takes place at the B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD.

After the 2016 Winter Wine event, another attendee told us that it is one of the East Coast’s best wine events of the year. It may well be one of Maryland’s best kept secrets, that should be discovered.

Two Wine Trail Traveler blog entries about the 2016 Winter Wine event: http://winetrailtraveler.com/blog/2016/01/30/maryland-winter-wine-event-photos/ and http://winetrailtraveler.com/blog/2016/01/26/marylands-winter-wine-event-2/.

Enjoy!
Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged event, Maryland, wine, Winter Wine | Comments (0)

2017 d’Vine Affair in Chicago Supports Self-Sufficiency Programs

Today is National Whipped Cream Day!