A wonderful experience is important when enjoying a wine. Discover these upcoming wine experiences.

Cheers! Kathy

Thursday, August 30
Location: Vint Hill, Virginia

At the Cold War Museum The Travel Channel will feature Gary Power who was shot down in 1960 while piloting the U-2 spy plane. Gary’s son will tour the Cold War Museum with The Travel Channel. Enjoy picnicking and Vint Hill Craft wines as well as this special event. For more information visit the Cold War Museum website and the Vint Hill Craft Winery website.

Thursday, August 30

Location: anywhere with online access

3^rd Annual #CabernetDay

Enjoy a Cabernet on August 30 and be sure to post online about the wine. Try something new or perhaps a different vintage. Everyone can participate no matter where they are around the world at a restaurant, winery or at home.

Saturday, September 1

“Harvest of the Century” with a Vineyard Feast
Location: Bryan, Texas at Messina Hof Winery & Resort

Menu:

1^st Course: Grilled Glazed Semi-Boneless Texas Quail
2^nd Course Fresh Green Salad with Fresh Vegetables and Homemade Vineyard Dressing
3^rd Course Catfish Poached in Messina Hof Wine on a bed of Cooked Collard Greens
4^th Course Texas-Raised Elk sautéed with onions and peppers and a side of Calabasitas
5^th Course Fresh Fruit with Sherried Mascarpone and Homemade Cookies

For reservations for the End of the Harvest Feast visit www.messinahof.com

Saturday, September 29 from 2pm to 6pm

Location: Southern Maryland

Feast in the Fields at Jubilee Farms for Slack Wine Club Members (if you are not a member there is still time to sign up for membership)

Feast in the Fields Menu:

Johnny’s Corn & Oyster w/ Parsley (Maestro’s Symphony)
Salsa Verde & Margherita Tortilla Pizza (Red Drum Red)
Jubilee Fall harvest Greens w/ Creamy Garlic, Parsley & Feta Dressing (Slacker and Lush Blush Rosés)
Apple Pie w/Crème (Danny Boy Danny, Southern Roots)
Website Information

Messina Hof Winery & Resort is providing several ways to celebrate Father’s Day. Messina Hof is a winery destination site in Bryan, Texas.

Included over the weekend of June 16 and 17, visitors will discover wine samplings, a special dinner and a choice of gift baskets. Samplings are available June 11 to June 17. Begin with sampling Papa’s Day Paulo and Port samplings at the wine bar. Perhaps this is a good time to find out what wine your father enjoys and purchase a bottle for him.

The restaurant at Messina Hof will feature Surf ‘n’ Turf and will be available Saturday and Sunday. If planning to take your Father to dinner at Messina Hof  be sure to make reservations so you won’t be disappointed. Phone number: 979-778-9463 ext. 234.

Three gift baskets suitable for Dads include: “Texas Dad,” “Presidential Dad,” and “Good Ole Daddy Basket.” The “Texas Dad” basket includes a Texas Hold ‘Em Red or White wine plus a stemless wine glass. The “Presidential Dad” basket includes George Bush Presidential Library wines – a bottle of each, Gewurztraminer Raspberry Chipotle Sauce and wine crackers. The ultimate basket “Good Ole Daddy Basket” includes a Port, Cabernet Sauvignon, Roasted Garlic BBQ Sauce, Papa Paulo Spiced Jam and two “Redneck” wine glasses.

For details about Father’s Day at Messina Hof visit their online events page. An article about Messina Hof Winery is available online. Since that article was written, they have opened a second facility in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Cheers, Kathy

A group of writers used Twitter to renew our friendships and taste wines together. This was our first tasting together since February 4th in Napoli, Italy. This time we tasted four Messina Hof wines. The day also reminded Kathy and me about our first Drink Local Wine Conference that was held in Texas and featured Texas wines. The Messina Hof Winery is in Bryan, Texas and owners Merrill and Paul Bonarrigo provided wines that would represent the grapes grown in Texas. Both Paul and Merrill were with us in Napoli. Their winery derives it name from their ancestors. The ancestors of Paul lived in Messina, Sicily while Merrill’s ancestors lived in Hof, Germany.

With others from our blogger/media IWINETC group, we tasted four wines. Our blogger friends are spread out from Southern California to New England as well as Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Spain. The wines chosen by Messina Hof Winery were an excellent representation of what can be produced with Texas grapes. I noticed that the Cabernet Franc was fruit forward with no herbal traces. Not only can they ripen Cab Franc in Texas but the grape also develops some nice phenolics.

Our tasting and tweeting lasted for 90 minutes and everyone enjoyed the wines. Keeping what is becoming a signature of my wine comments, I wrote a haiku for each of the wines tasted.

Port Haiku:
Port, jammy, fruity
Drinking from a Port sipper
Now for a good book

2011 Late Harvest Moscato Haiku:
Floral aroma
Orange blossoms, smooth, ginger hint
Pair with summer temps

2009 Cab Franc Haiku:
Vanilla dark fruit
Texas can ripen Cab Franc
Velvet, fruity, spice 

2009 Merlot Haiku:
Merlot black cherries
Fruity, violets, spicy
Delicious right now

This experience once again proves that wine is better when enjoyed by friends. Twitter is a vehicle that brought us together even though separated by thousands of miles.

Cheers,
Terry

When you spend a couple weeks with a group on tour you begin to establish bonds. In January and February of this year we went on a blogger/media FAM tour of wineries in Umbria and Campania Italy. The trip also included the International Wine Tourism Conference in Perugia. We arrived in Italy a few days early and just happened to meet two other members of our group Jennifer Waters & Thaddeus Buggs of the Minority Wine Report. We spent time talking with the two and throughout the trip. Thaddeus likes older wines and we’re waiting for a time he will be in our area to try an old Petite Sirah.

Prior to the FAM tour we had met four of the other attendees. We met Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo a few years ago at their beautiful Messina Hof Winery in Bryan, Texas. In addition to the winery, they have vineyards, a restaurant and lodging facility. Their site can be the “poster child” for the agri-tourism movement. While on the bus, traveling the back roads through Umbria and Campania, Paul gave a narrative of the pruning system the area growers were using. We had previously met Marcy Gordon of Come for the Wine while attending a Wine Tourism Conference in Napa last autumn. We met Tom Plant, Wineormous, while traveling in the Temecula wine region of California.

During the two weeks, we had the opportunity to meet several other bloggers and media on our trip. The group became close enough that after the trek was over we were looking at ways to create a reunion. This was a challenge since we are scattered throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and France. We decided on a Twitter wine tasting. Bill Eyer, Cuvee Corner, suggested April 17 the day after tax returns were due in the US. Now that our taxes are done, we can use some wine. Next week many of our group will begin tweeting on wines. Although this will not be a physical reunion, wine can still bring people together and Twitter can become a vehicle for communicating with each other.

For the tasting, Kathy and I are going to open four Messina Hof wines. We have a 2009 Cabernet Franc, a 2009 Merlot, a 2011 Glory a late harvest Moscato and a 2005 Papa Paulo Port. It has been awhile since we had some Texas wine and we look forward to tasting these Messina Hof wines. There are many challenges in life. Wine, food and friends offers an island refuge that renews acquaintances and creates lasting memories.

Cheers,
Terry

FAM is short for familiarization. A FAM trip is designed by a sponsor to provide experiences for the participants. If the participants are bloggers and media, they will write or broadcast about these experiences. Since 2008 we have attended both group and individual FAM trips designed for bloggers and media. It is interesting to note that not all sponsoring agencies like group FAM trips.

Our first FAM trip was with a group of writers, one was a magazine editor that  had issues with all the wines we tasted and winemakers we met. The other media representatives on the trip felt sorry for us because we were in the same van as this individual who had nothing good to say about our online publication. On the other hand, we have been with group FAM trips where the group gelled together and worked well together. The reason sited by sponsoring agencies against hosting a group FAM trip is the occasional participant that causes a sour note for all the other writers. It was probably good for us to experience this, however we have also experienced group trips that were very positive.

So we are keenly interested in experiencing the FAM trip to Italy with 20 other bloggers and media. Fortunately we already know four of the twenty and look forward to meeting the others. We met Paul & Merrill Bonarrigo at their Messina Hof Winery on our first visit to Texas in 2009. The following year we met Tom Plant while attending winery media events in Temecula, California. Later in 2010 we went on a wine tour with Tom and wrote about his tour company WINEormous. Although we were both at the 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2011, we didn’t meet Marcy Gordon until November at the Wine Tourism Conference in Napa. We have been emailing Marcy since the November conference.

The Italy FAM trip is sponsored by Wine Pleasures. It will include visits to wine related sites in Umbria and Campania. We are looking forward to meeting other writers that have a passion for wine. Over the next several weeks, we’ll write blog entries about them and their publications. In addition to visiting wineries, the group will also attend the International Wine Tourism Conference in Perugia, Italy.

Cheers,
Terry

Messina Hof Winery and Resort in Bryan, Texas could easily be the “poster child” for the agri-tourism movement. Visitors can certain take advantage of what Messina Hof has to offer beyond the tasting room. A bistro is adjacent to the tasting area and a restaurant is located in the building to the right of the tasting room facility. Elegant meals are prepared in the restaurant. Stroll the vineyards or take one of the tours offered. If you like pampered elegance, spend the night in the villa located to the left of the tasting room facility.

You can read about Messina Hof Winery and Resort on the Wine Trail Traveler site.

The companion lodging site has a review of the Villa at Messina Hof.

Cheers,
Terry

Tasting room and retail facility with a bistro to the left at Messina Hof

Restaurant at Messina Hof Winery and Resort

Villa at Messina Hof Winery and Resort

Do you have plans for celebrating New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day? Why not check with your neighborhood winery to discover if they have special activities to celebrate the New Year? Of course, some wineries plan to be closed for New Year’s Eve and Day, so be sure to check in advance before driving to a winery tasting room.

Some examples of what you might find at wineries to celebrate the New Year include:

New Year’s Eve

Messina Hof Winery & Resort in Bryan, Texas
Watch the Ball Drop at Messina Hof. The evening will include specialty drinks, menu items, music and a Champagne toast. For more information or to reserve a table, call 979-778-9463 ext. 244.

Lorimar Winery and Vineyards in Temecula, California
Friday, December 31st, 8:30pm – 12:30pm
New Year’s Eve Party
This celebration will include wine tasting, appetizers, live music with Kenny Marquez, party hats and horns. RSVP to Shannon@lorimarwinery.com

Thornton Winery in Temecula, California
New Year’s Eve Gala “Casino Night”
7pm-12: 30am

New Year’s Day

Time: 12: 30pm
DelFosse Winery, Virginia
Event: New Year Day 2011 Brunch

Time: 11am-5pm
Serpent Ridge Vineyard, MD
Celebrate New Year’s Weekend by visiting Serpent Ridge Vineyard

Time: 6:00pm
Barrel Oak Winery, Virginia
Event: FarmDoubt Rocks BOW!

Enjoy the beginning of the New Year!

Cheers! Kathy

Even though Thanksgiving is next week there are winery events to attend this weekend. Starting tomorrow, November 20, several of Wine Traveler’s partners have events. If you have time to visit a winery this weekend, check out these events. Winery links are provided below.

Enjoy a wonderful weekend at a winery before celebrating Thanksgiving!

Cheers, Kathy

Friday, November 19

Messina Hof Winery & Resort, Texas
Event: Tailgate Specials at the Restaurant
Web Info

Pearmund Cellars, Virginia
Event: Relax & Thank God It’s Friday (TGIF)
Web Info

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Event: Red & White on a November Night
Web Info

Barrel Oak Winery, Virginia
Event: Bryon McShea on Guitar
Web Info

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Event: Music/Trevor Tompson
Web Info

Saturday, November 20

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Event: Music/Tom Todd
Web Info

Tesoro Winery, California
Event: Rocky Osborn, Comedy Magician
Web Info

Barrel Oak Winery, Virginia
Event: Benefit: The Bald Bash
Web Info

Lorimar Winery, California
Event: Ron Freshman/Flamenco Guitar
Web Info

Orfila Vineyards and Winery
Event: Merlot Future Party
Web Info

Sunday, November 21

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Ohio
Event: Music/TBA
Web Info

Messina Hof Winery & Resort, Texas
Events: Wine Appreciation Class
Messina Hof Wine Network Live
Web Info

Enjoy a weekend event at one of these wineries this weekend! These events are from some of Wine Trail Traveler partners. If you aren’t near any of these wineries, be sure to check out the winery events in “your own backyard.” Have fun discovering new wines and meeting new friends.

Cheers, Kathy

California

Vezer Family Vineyard
Suisun Valley, CA
August 7, 2010
Summer Concert Series/The P-PL Band
Website: http://vezerfamilyvineyard.com/events/

Tesoro Winery
Temecula, CA
Event: Kenny Marquez Live! @ The Club House
August 7, 2010
Website: http://www.tesorowines.com/events.html

Thornton Winery
Temecula, CA
Event: Champagne Jazz Concert- Warren Hill and Acoustic Alchemy
August 7, 2010
http://cf.thorntonwine.com/tickets.php

Michigan

Chateau Chantal
Traverse City, Michigan
Tapas Tours – August- daily
Wine Dinner - August 7
Website: http://www.chateauchantal.com/event-calendar

Ohio

Ferrante Winery & Ristorante
Geneva, Ohio
August 7, Saturday Music – Mike Woytilla, Uncharted Course
August 8, Sunday Music – Back 9
Website: http://www.ferrantewinery.com/event.htm

Texas
Messina Hof Winery & Resort
Bryan, TX
Saturday, August 7 Murder at the Juice Joint Murder Mystery Dinner
Saturday – Sunday August 7-8, Harvest Weekend #4
Website: http://www.messinahof.com/events_calendar.php

Virginia

Barrel Oak Winery
Delaplane, VA
Events: TGISunsets Friday and Saturday
Sunday: In Vino Veritas: The Blessing of the Vineyard
Sunday: Music – Poor Ellen Smith
Website: http://www.barreloak.com/events/index/event_calendar

DelFosse Vineyards and Winery
Faber, VA
August 8, 2010
Event: Wine and Food Pairing
http://www.delfossewine.com/events.htm

Tarara Winery
Leesburg, VA
Date: August 7, 2010
Event: Toast to the Tunes Summer Concert Series/Shane Gamble
Website: http://www.tarara.com/

Three Fox Vineyards
Delaplane, VA
August 7: The Palio!(recreate the Palio di Siena Three Fox Style)
Sunday, August 8: “Winemaker Walkabout” Tour