Thursday, October 31, 2013

Toledo Wines and Vines Tasting at J. Patrick’s November 19 Helps You Pick Thanksgiving Wines

Needs some helping picking just the right wine for your juicy Thanksgiving turkey? Have no worries. Toledo Wines and Vines is teaming with Heidelberg Distributing on a special Thanksgiving-themed wine tasting on Tuesday, November 19, at J. Patrick’s restaurant in the Holiday Inn French Quarter, Perrysburg. The fun begins at 6:00 PM and the cost is $25 per person. 

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, there is no better time to start planning for Thanksgiving and to discover new wines to compliment the feast. This will be a for a fun and casual time featuring six great wine selections with sample sized food pairings. 

Featured wines from Heidelberg Distributing include:
  • NV Poema Cava Brut Sparkling, Spain
  • 2010 Firelands Gewürztraminer, Isle St. George
  • 2012 Saint “M” Riesling, Germany
  • 2009 Louis Jadot Pinot Noir, France
  • 2011 Joel Gott “815” Cabernet, California
  • 2011 Amado Sur Malbec, Argentina
  • Reserve Wine: 2011 Shatter, a 100% Grenache Joel Gott / Dave Phinney wine from  Maury, France (extra cost)
You’ll be able to enjoy the wine with Thanksgiving-themed eats and when you find your favorite, bottles will be available for purchase – some at special pricing. Your RSVP is encouraged but not required to perrysburgfrenchqtr@gmail.com . You can also purchase tickets online here.

We just visited J. Patrick’s and had a chance to sample a variety of dishes. The food is great and we’ll be lining up a nice selection of food to go with the wines. 

We look forward to greeting you on November 19th at J. Patrick’s!

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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: October 30–November 2, 2013

molly dooker 2 left feet
molly dooker 2 left feet (Photo credit: rambleonsylvie)
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Wednesday, October 30
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. 1. Ruby Kurant the Archer, 2. Black Rock Petite Sirah, 3. Humble Bee Valhalla Meade 4. Humble Bee Pumpkin Harvest. Nominal fee per sample or $7 per flight.
Denny’s Craft Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. Call for schedule… 6-8 PM. $15.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000, 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Halloween - Wines So Good They're Scary… with Wine Consultant Joe Mosier. Nominal fee per sample.

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. Call for schedule… 6:00 – 9:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
Thursday, October 31
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Great International Blends: 1. 2010 Tait – Ball Buster – Barossa Valley, 2. 2009 Monte Antica – Tuscana, Italy, 3. 2009 Chateau Timberlay – Bordeaux, France, 4. NV Stratton Lummis – The Riddler – Napa Valley, California.  $7 per flight or nominal fee per sample.
Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Molly Dooker Night.  1.2 Left Feet, 2. The Boxer Shiraz, 3. Maitre D Cabernet, 4. Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz, 5. Gigglepot Cabernet, 6. Enchanted Path. 7. Carnival of Love. Nominal fee per sample. If we have enough customers who will pledge to by a sample at $12 we will open a bottle of the Velvet Glove.
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
TREO Wine Bar, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, (419) 882-2266. Wine & Cheese Thursday. Explore the wonderful world of wine and cheese. Try four different wines with a sample platter of the day’s cheese.
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. Happy Halloween. No tasting.

Saturday, November 2
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. Wine tasting… with Wine Manager Austin Beeman. Nominal fee per sample.

Special Event 26th Annual Mobile Meals of Toledo Wine Gala, 6:00 PM, Stranahan Great Hall. Wine tasting and appetizers, a sit-down dinner and an auction of fine wines. Black-tie optional. Silent auction, raffle and entertainment. Tickets are $150 ($100 tax deductible) or $175 for patron tickets ($125 tax deductible). You may purchase your tickets online here.

Sunday, November 3
Special Event Black & White with a Splash of Red to benefit Red Cross of Northwest Ohio, 5:00 to 9:00 PM, Diamond Nursery and Greenhouse, Perrysburg. Wine tasting event featuring "Old
World Flavors" from France, Spain and Italy. Appetizers followed by 5-course meal. Tickets are $100/person and are available online here.
AREA WINE BARS
  • The Bistro at Maumee Wines, (419) 893-2525, 2556 Parkway Plaza, Maumee.
  • Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
  • Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.
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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Hermann J. Wiemer 2009 Reserve Cabernet Franc


Saturday was a day that began with frostbitten winds and ended with the warming flavors of great wine. Our Exchange Club was holding a tailgate party at the “I-75 Showdown” between Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo on the BGSU campus.

I agreed to help with the set-up. It was supposed to be the warmest day of the week, with temperatures getting up to around 50 degrees. What wasn’t factored in was the winds of about 25 mph. And at 9:00 AM when I was helping friend Sean set up, the temperature was about 35 degrees.

We soon had the giant cooker in place and tables and accoutrements all laid out. The grill was fired up and we started broiling four different varieties of bratwurst and a new dish for me, spiedies.  A spiedie is a chicken (or beef) sandwich that is marinated in an Italian oil and herb sauce, grilled, and then served on Italian bread like a hot dog. It’s a popular dish in upstate New York.

The wind was fierce and we saw various pieces of tailgate parties blow past us like old Western tumbleweeds. Soon friends arrived and our party began picking up steam. I must say, spiedies rock! If this were the only highlight of the day, it would be well spent.

The Cabinator arrived at the tailgate and we agreed that we’d head to the game, sit through about 15 minutes, and then head for the warm indoors and crack open some great wine. We finally wedged our way into the stadium and started enjoying the game.

It looked like a blowout for Toledo and we were prepared to head out. Just then the sun emerged for about 10 minutes and cast its heated rays on the stadium. Conditions were looking much better. The sun then returned to its hiding spot and we headed for the parking lot.

We later rendezvoused at the abode of Cabinator and Glorious T. We opened with a red blend from Argentina and followed that with the fantastic Brandborg 2009 Ferris Wheel Pinot Noir. At this point we were enjoying the Ohio State romp over Penn State.

The shining star of the day was the 2009 Hermann J. Wiemer Reserve Cabernet Franc. This premier Finger Lakes winery is known for its mastery of Riesling – but can they rock a Cab Franc? The answer is a resounding “yes!”

We decanted this fine wine and enjoyed the glowing ruby color. This is a harmonious wine, with no harsh tannins. The tannins are woven seamlessly into the wine, which exhibits great flavors of plum and red berries.

This wine is fermented in small lots and aged in new and old French barrels. It is a graceful wine. The Cabinator doesn’t care for the explosions of pepper that Cab Franc sometimes has. The Wiemer Reserve has no sharp edges and no pepper kick – but it is everything a Cab Franc fan is looking for.

If I have to endure freezing winds on the tundra of “Blowing Green” in order to enjoy a Cabernet Franc like this, well, it is a sacrifice I’m willing to make!
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Monday, October 28, 2013

Brandborg Vineyard & Winery Offers Cool Taste of the Umpqua Valley


Terry Brandborg and wife Sue searched high and low for the perfect spot to produce Pinot Noir. They ended up in Elkton, in Oregon’s Umpqua Valley. Their vineyard in the coastal mountains has proved ideal for crafting award-winning wines.

We were fortunate to sample three of their current offerings: the 2009 Ferris Wheel Vineyard Pinot Noir, the 2012 Oregon Riesling from the new Elkton AVA, and the 2006 Syrah.

Brandborg’s location is unique in the Umpqua Valley, which is in Southern Oregon and known for being hotter and drier than the areas to the north. Elkton, however, is unique. The vineyard is only 25 miles from the ocean and this allows for marine breezes and fog to penetrate into the valley. The climate is a main reason why Elkton was designated as its own AVA in February of this year (it is a sub-region of Umpqua Valley which itself is part of the Southern Oregon AVA).

Brandborg 2012 Oregon Riesling, Elkton AVA – This is the first wine ever bottled from the new Elkton AVA.Wines with Elkton on the label will certainly be worth checking out. The wine is light gold in the glass with medium body. Grapes come from the Bradley Vineyard and offer rich fruit with the taste of apples. There is a pleasant acidity and the finish is off-dry and long-lasting.

Brandborg 2006 Umpqua Valley Syrah – This is a full-bodied wine with tart berry flavors. We decanted this wine to soften the tannins. The wine features Syrah grapes from the warmer areas of the Umpqua Valley and there is a peppery finish. This is a robust wine.

Brandborg 2009 Ferris Wheel Vineyard Pinot Noir, Umpqua Valley – This is a wine to treasure. In the glass it is a translucent red brick color. It features complex flavors of luscious cherry with smoke, some earthiness and a pinch of tea leaf. The finish is nice and long. This is an elegant wine that we savored in our Oregon Pinot Noir glasses, all the better to sniff and swirl. It is one of our top rated Pinots this year.

Some say Willamette Valley is the benchmark for Pinot. During the 2012 Wine Bloggers Conference we had a chance to taste bountiful wines from there and they are indeed good. The distinctive wines from Umpqua Valley caught my attention during that meeting, simply because they were making wines uncommon to Oregon.

This trio of Brandborg wines has allowed us to further explore the wines of Umpqua. After this tasting we say, don’t overlook the undiscovered gems of Umpqua Valley, the new Elkton AVA and very specifically, the great wines of Brandborg.

These wines were received as a marketing sample.
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Friday, October 25, 2013

Grand River Valley Wineries Host 6th Annual Turkey Trot November 9; Event Helps Local Food Banks

Turkeys on path
Turkeys on path (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The leaves are all turning and there is a chill in the air which means it's time for the 6th Annual Grand River Valley Wine Region Turkey Trot. Join Debonné Vineyards, Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant, Laurello Vineyards, and St. Joseph Vineyards on Saturday, November 9 from 12:00 to 5:00 PM for this drive yourself tour of wine tasting paired with food samples for your Thanksgiving meal.
All five participating Northeast Ohio wineries are within 10 minutes of each other making this a very convenient excursion for travelers. Each winery will feature a different part of the Thanksgiving meal and pair two wines that compliment it. In addition, recipes will be given out. The cost is only $5 per person at each winery and if you bring in a canned food item to each winery you will receive $1 off. These food items will be donated to the local food banks just in time for the holidays.
 
"With harvest over we can now begin to focus on the holidays. This is a great way to prepare for the holiday season by giving the consumer a chance to shop local and try amazing, award winning, local wines," says Kim Laurello from Laurello Vineyards.
 
"Thanksgiving is a time for families to get together and share a delicious meal" says Cindy Lindberg, owner of Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant. "Since we are all family owned and operated wineries, this event is a perfect pairing in many ways and one of my favorite events of the year!"
 
While visiting the area the group encourages travelers to take a mini-vacation and spend their weekend in wine country. There are lots of shops to visit and beautiful covered bridges to check out in the area. For those looking for other things to do in the area contact the Ashtabula County Conventions & Visitors Bureau (www.visitashtabulacounty.com) or the Lake County Conventions & Visitors Bureau (www.lakevisit.com).
 
The Winegrowers of the Grand River Valley formed a group several years ago when they began to realize how quickly their wine region was growing. The Grand River Valley Wine Region is one of the fastest growing wine regions in the United States and has the quality wines to prove why. Member wineries have achieved national and international recognition with award winning wines. These wineries must adhere to strict standards.

The Turkey Trot is just one of a series of events The Winegrowers of the Grand River Valley host each year. Other events include the ever-popular Ice Wine Festival and the Cask Tasting.
For more information about the Turkey Trot call (440) 466-3485 or go to www.debonne.com.
 
Those taking part in the Turkey Trot will visit each of the five wineries in any order they choose. Each winery will provide samples of their wines along with a delicious appetizer. Area maps will be provided at all wineries to help patrons plan their trail.
Turkey Trot Menu
- Debonne Vineyards - Turkey Sliders
- Ferrante Winery & Ristorante - Turkey Turnover with a Cranberry Wine Glaze
-Grand River Cellars Winery & RestaurantBacon Cheddar Cornbread Stuffing
- Laurello Vineyards - Cranberry Feta Pinwheels
- St. Joseph Vineyards - Pumpkin Mousse Tart



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Thursday, October 24, 2013

Black & White with a Splash of Red Wine Event on November 3 to Benefit NWO Red Cross

The American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio is hosting an unique wine tasting
event, Black & White with a Splash of Red presented by the Anderson's
Charitable Foundation 5:00 to 9:00 PM Sunday, November 3. The event supports the Red Cross mission and services in our local community.
In Northwest Ohio, Red Cross volunteers are responding to a devastating house fire every day.  Red Cross provides emergency shelter, food and clothing to families that have just lost everything they own.  By supporting the event, you are helping your friends and neighbors in a time of greatest need following an emergency.  All proceeds from this event will stay in Northwest Ohio to continue our local services and programs.
Walt and Lois Churchill and Dick and Fran Anderson are the honorary
chairpersons for this unique wine tasting event featuring wines with "Old
World Flavors" from France, Spain and Italy.  Wine Trends will lead the
evening with a special presentation by Enrico Pozzesi, owner of Fattoria Di
Rodano vineyard in Italy.  Jim Hodulik, owner of Stella's restaurant will be
discussing the food pairings. 
During the cocktail hour there will be appetizers followed by a five course meal including dessert.  Each course will be paired with a specific wine that will be presented to explain the unique qualities matched for that specific dish.
The event will be hosted at Black Diamond Nursery and Greenhouse in
Perrysburg on November 3 from 5:00 to 9:00 PM.  Other activities include a
wine bottle raffle, and silent and live auctions  David Lester, a finger
style guitarist, will be playing background music for everyone's enjoyment.
Tickets are $100/person and are available online here. Only 150 tickets are available and a sellout crowd is expected, so don’t delay.
Photo Credit: Prayitno/ more than 1.5 millions views: thank you! via Compfight cc
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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: October 23-26, 2013

Cabernet Sauvignon grapes growing in the Frenc...
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes growing in the French wine region of Bordeaux (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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Wednesday, October 23
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. Spooky Wines: 1. Orin Swift “Mannequin,” 2. Skeleton Gruener Veltliner, 3. McNab Ridge “Zinzilla,” 4. Palmeri Van Ness Vineyard Syrah. Nominal fee per sample or $7 per flight.
Denny’s Craft Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. Call for schedule… 6-8 PM. $15.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000, 4:00 to 7:00 PM. New Discoveries… with Wine Consultant Joe Mosier. Nominal fee per sample.

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. Call for schedule… 6:00 – 9:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
Thursday, October 24
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Spooky Wines: 1. 2010 Vampire - Pinot Noir, 2. 2009 Owen Roe – Lenore – Syrah, 3. Michael David – Freakshow – Cabernet Sauvignon, 4. 2010 Bogle Phantom – Red Blend.  $6.50 per flight or nominal fee per sample.
Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Bordeaux:  The French Wine Series. Bordeaux is the largest wine making region in the world. Here is a good entry into the styles within Bordeaux. 1. 2012 Chateau Guiraud G Bordeaux Blanc, 2. 2009 Chateau Fleur Haut Gaussenes Bordeaux Superior, 3. 2009 Chateau tour Bicheau Graves, 4. 2009 Ronan Grand Vin de Bordeaux, 5. 2009 Chateau Coutet Saint Emilion Grand Cru, 6. 2009 Chateau Seran Grand Vin de Bordeaux. 7. 2003 Sociando-Mallet Haut Medoc. Nominal fee per sample.
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
TREO Wine Bar, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, (419) 882-2266. Wine & Cheese Thursday. Explore the wonderful world of wine and cheese. Try four different wines with a sample platter of the day’s cheese.
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. 1:00 – 5:00 PM. West Coast New Arrivals. $10 per flight.

Saturday, October 26
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. Port, Sherry, & Dessert Wines… with Wine Manager Austin Beeman. Nominal fee per sample.
AREA WINE BARS
  • The Bistro at Maumee Wines, (419) 893-2525, 2556 Parkway Plaza, Maumee.
  • Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
  • Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.

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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Fulkerson Winery: Finger Lakes Winery Visit


Another in our series of reports on Finger Lakes wineries from our recent visit.
Fulkerson Winery on Seneca Lake has become a regular stop during our junkets to the Finger Lakes. They are located in a very convenient spot on West Seneca Lake, making it easy to pop in for a quick visit if you are planning multiple stops (as we usually do).
Convenience is only part of the story, Fulkerson offers an amazingly wide range of wines served in an airy, comfortable tasting room. Their lineup ranges from Gruner Veltliner to offbeat hybrids like Vincent and Diamond. They have 30 different wines on their tasting menu. Fulkerson offers more than 200 years of family tradition and is known for their fresh grape juice as well as their wines.
We started our visit with a tasting of the William Vigne 2010 Dry Riesling. This estate wine is named in honor of the first generation of Fulkersons in New York. It has just a touch of residual sugar and some nice mineral flavors.
The Gruner Veltliner offers great flavors of white peach and citrus. It retails for $13.99.
We then proceeded to the dry reds, opening with the 2011 Dornfelder. This is a soft red German style wine with flavors of cherry and barnyard.
The rich, dark 2009 Vincent is a favorite of ours. This is a full bodied wine with plums and black oak. It is so delicious that the bottle we purchased lasted only one night – we opened it that evening at our bed and breakfast and polished it off. For only $9.99 this is an incredible bargain!
For this tasting, the star was the 2011 Lemberger. The grape is Austrian in origin and it is a rising star in the Finger Lakes. It has delicate flavors like Pinot Noir, but a wonderful smoky complexity. This is the highest priced Fulkerson wine (excluding the ice wine), but even this is just $15.99. That’s real value.
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon was a bit light bodied for our taste, but there are plenty of other wines from which to choose.
Farm fresh, friendly and value priced sums up this recommended stop on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
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Monday, October 21, 2013

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Meritage

Three bottles of various Meritage Wines

Three bottles of various Meritage Wines (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Meritage Alliance is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Here we present an interesting collection of tidbits about our favorite wine…

WHAT IS MERITAGE?

While Meritage wines are wildly popular (the fastest growing wine category in each of the last three years!) not every blended wine is a Meritage. Meritage wines must meet strict guidelines.

A red Meritage must be a blend of at least two of the following varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot St. Macaire, Gros Verdot or Carmenère.

A white Meritage is a blend of at least two of the following varietals: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon or Sauvignon Vert.

No single grape variety may make up more than 90% of a Meritage wine.

WHAT IS THE MERITAGE ALLIANCE?

The Meritage Alliance is an organization that owns the Meritage registered trademark and promotes the Meritage concept.

In order to use the Meritage trademark on a wine label, a winery must meet the strict Meritage blending guidelines (above) and must be a dues-paying member of The Meritage Alliance.

Membership fees are modest. The Alliance charges $1 per case produced, up to a maximum of $500. Fees are assessed on each vintage of Meritage a winery releases.

As of January, 2013, there are nearly 320 wineries that are members of The Meritage Alliance, representing 26 U.S. states and six other countries – Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Israel and Mexico.

More information about The Meritage Alliance is available online at www.meritagealliance.com .

HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE “MERITAGE?”

Meritage is probably the most mispronounced wine term because people mistakenly think it’s a French word. It’s not!

Meritage rhymes with “heritage.”

The word is a combination of “merit” (for the quality of the grapes) and “heritage” (recognizing the centuries-old tradition of blending wine varietals).

Meritage was selected from more than 6,000 entries in an international contest held to come up with a unique name for wines blended in the tradition of Bordeaux.

-continued-

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR MERITAGE MILESTONES?

Meritage wines have been produced for 25 years since the founding of The Meritage Alliance (formerly The Meritage Association) in 1988. Here’s a look at our history!

1987 Two dozen California vintners, led by Agustin Huneeus (Franciscan Winery), Mitch Cosentino (Cosentino Winery), Julie Garvey (Flora Springs) and David Stare (Dry Creek Vineyard), conducted an international contest to come up with a unique name for wines blended in the tradition of Bordeaux. The word “Meritage” was selected.

1988 The Meritage Association is founded and Meritage is trademarked.

 1988 “The Poet” by Mitch Cosentino (Cosentino Winery) becomes the first Meritage released to the market. It was a 1986 vintage.

1988 Dry Creek Vineyard releases its 1985 Meritage, which is the oldest vintage labeled “Meritage.”.

2001 Wineries from Canada join the Association as membership is expanded beyond the U.S. borders.

2003 Meritage wines are included in tastings at VinItaly, expanding their reach into the European wine community.

2005 Membership exceeds 100 for the first time.

2006 Meritage wines were invited to participate in a tasting of Bordeaux-styled wines organized by Italian journalists in Vicenza, Italy.

2007 Membership exceeds 200 wineries for the very first time.

2009 The Meritage Association changes its name to The Meritage Alliance.

2010 For the first time, Meritage becomes the fastest growing wine category across all price ranges, up 14% over the previous year.

2010 The Meritage Alliance is a key sponsor of the third annual Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla, WA.

Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta and the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival.

2012 For a third straight year, Meritage sales grow faster than any other wine category, this time up 26% from 2011 totals.

2012 The Meritage Alliance pours at the Charleston Wine & Food Festival, with Bravo TV’s Top Chef taping a segment tasting through members’ wines. The Alliance also poured at the Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival.

2012 Membership surpasses 300. At the end of 2012, 319 wineries in 26 U.S. states and six other countries are members of The Meritage Alliance.

2013 The Meritage Alliance celebrates its 25th anniversary.

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Friday, October 18, 2013

Bocelli Rosso Toscano, IGT


While in Richmond for a meeting our small group visited La Grotta restaurant in Shockoe Slip, a historic district with cobblestones and plentiful restaurants and bars. The restaurant is highly awarded and known for its Northern Italian cuisine and tasty homemade pasta.
Upon scanning the menu I selected the Agnolotti alla Panna, which is homemade ravioli filled with spinach and ricotta cheese served in a light cream sauce. Since there were just three of us and one wanted white, we decided to go by the glass. We ordered a glass of Trebbiano, Basel Cellars Cabernet and I decided some Sangiovese was in order.
My choice was Bocelli, a red wine from Tuscany that is 100% Sangiovese. Sangiovese is a delicious grape that pairs perfectly with Italian food. My selection was soft and lush, brimming with red cherry flavors and nary a tannin in sight.
The ravioli was superb, not a heaping mound of machine-made circles, but about a dozen carefully crimped pastas loaded with a beef, veal, spinach and veggie filling. They were resting comfortably in a pool of delicious sauce, which wasn’t heavy. I didn’t need it, but the waiter gladly added a couple tablespoons of fresh Parmesan cheese.
Rule one of wine pairing is to match the cuisine with wine from the same region. This is a good example of why this axiom is true. The softness of the Bocelli blended with the creaminess of the sauce and the mild seasoning of the filling without being clumsy.
The sound system supplied a liberal dose of Rat Pack era Sinatra while we enjoyed our meal in the the grotto-like setting of the restaurant. It’s located down a flight of stairs and also features a bartender quite knowledgeable about the inside game of baseball.
Bocelli is a friendly, dependable red to accompany your Italian fare.
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Thursday, October 17, 2013

Imagine Wine 2007 Pearl Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon


Imagine Wine 2007 Paso Robles Cabernet was supposed to be a dinner guest – nothing more. We were gearing up for the online release of the 07 Paradise Mountain Syrah (also from Imagine – you can find a link to our review at the end of the article) but since the release was 7:00 PM PT, we had several hours before the event began.

So… we started with a delicious meal prepared by the Green Dragon. My wife is a great cook and she delivered one of her best meals: Mahogany Chicken with Cilantro Chimichuri  Sauce, Sweet Potato and Quinoa. This is not your standard pairing for Cab – but sometimes you have to walk on the wild side.

The Cabinator joined us for dinner and brought a partial bottle of 09 Napa Cab. We never did get the full story on that! It was a nice opening and we followed it with the Imagine Cab.
The Pearl is indeed a gem, being aged 36 months in a combination of Hungarian, French and American Oak. This was a smooth and silky ride with integrated tannins, dark cherry flavor notes and several delightful layers of flavor.

After polishing off the last of the entree, we headed out to the firepit in the backyard to enjoy a decadent brownie dessert. The Paso Cab was right on target, providing the perfect accompaniment for the crackling fire and chocolaty goodness.

This wine was to be a tune-up for the release of the Winged Syrah, which is indeed awesome. But we found the Pearl Cabernet to be impressive as well, prompting a call from at least one of our group to purchase a case. It’s a great value at $39.

Imagine this: Not one but two impressive wines from Imagine Wines, their 2007 Pearl Cabernet and the 2007 Paradise Mountain Winged Syrah!

Full disclosure: We received this bottle as a marketing sample.
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Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: October 16-19, 2013

Several French wines from the southern Rhone w...
Several French wines from the southern Rhone wine region all featuring the embossed papal crest that are unique to wine bottles from Chateauneuf du Pape. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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Wednesday, October 16
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. 1. Pont de Caylus, 2. Chateau Wiala Fitou Harmonie, 3. Vinum Cellars Red Dirt Red, 4. Fritz Windisch Niersteiner Kirchplatte Kerner Auslese. Nominal fee per sample or $7 per flight.
Denny’s Craft Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. Call for schedule… 6-8 PM. $15.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000, 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Reliable Wines of Autumn… with Wine Consultant Joe Mosier. Nominal fee per sample.

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. Call for schedule… 6:00 – 9:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
Thursday, October 17
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Some new specials for Fall: 1. 2009 Lapostolle – Chardonnay – Casablanca Valley, Chile; 2. 2010 Clos du Mont-Olivet – Font de Blanche – Cotes-Du-Rhone – France; 3. 2009 Thief – Syrah – Columbia Valley, Washington; 4. 2009 Sebastiani – Merlot – Sonoma County, California.  $4 per flight or nominal fee per sample.
Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Rhone & Chateauneuf du Pape French Wine Series. Wines of the Southern Rhone are some of the best wine blends of the world. 1. Clos du Mont-Olivet Cote du Rhone, 2. Domaine Lafond Lirac, 3. Domaine du Cayron Gigondas, 4. J. L. Chave Crozes-Hermitage Silene, 5. Chateau Fortia Chateuneuf du Pape, 6. Domaine Galevan Chateauneuf du Pape, 7. Domaine Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape, 8. Domaine Tour Saint Michel Feminessance
Chateauneuf du Pape. Nominal fee per sample.
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
TREO Wine Bar, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, (419) 882-2266. Wine & Cheese Thursday. Explore the wonderful world of wine and cheese. Try four different wines with a sample platter of the day’s cheese.
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. 1:00 – 5:00 PM. Red Blends from France. $5 per flight.

Friday, October 18
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 19
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. French Bordeaux & USA Cabernet Blends… with Wine Manager Austin Beeman. Nominal fee per sample.
AREA WINE BARS
  • The Bistro at Maumee Wines, (419) 893-2525, 2556 Parkway Plaza, Maumee.
  • Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
  • Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.

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Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Cameron Hughes 2010 Lot 313 California Field Blend


We’ve had great success with Cameron Hughes, a negociant who sources surplus grapes from top tier wineries. He then releases the wines with lot numbers and a bit of secrecy. We’ve scored some delicious wines through CH.

I like the concept of field blends, but in most cases the reality doesn’t play out well.  For a typical blend the varieties come from different blocks or vineyards. For a field blend, you have the grapes intermingled in one vineyard and the grapes go through the harvest and winemaking process together.

It’s not an expensive wine, at just $12, but it is out of the ordinary. Lot 313 is an interesting collage of Zinfandel 71%, Petite Sirah 10%, Syrah 10% and Carignane at 9%.

For us this was a “bridge” wine, if there is such a thing. We had enjoyed a nice Paso Robles Cabernet with dinner and were getting ready to uncork a nice Syrah at 10:00 PM sharp (part of an online wine event). However, our decanter ran dry too quickly, and we needed a wine to tide us over.

This has flavors of raspberry and blackberries interwoven with a slight tartness. It also has a fresh, juicy quality as if you were eating berries off the bush. There’s not much complexity and the finish is very short.

It is what it is – a refreshingly different California wine that can be had at a nice price. I can’t say it is “outstanding in its field” but you may enjoy it if you are out standing in a field.

Rating: 2 of 5  Value: 2.5 of 5

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Monday, October 14, 2013

Imagine Wine 2007 Winged Paradise Mountain Syrah

And now for something completely different! Last week we attended a virtual release of a new wine: The Imagine Wine 2007 Winged Paradise Mountain Syrah.
The wine comes from winemaker Ross Rankin, who formerly owned and operated several medical companies. Along with wife Dee and a number of partners, they opened Imagine Wine in 2004.
The winery is located in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County. It has extraordinary weather and unique soils.Not surprising, the 2007 Winged Syrah is a rare and unusual wine.
The wine has been aged for almost six years in oak and kept in cold storage during the process. That alone added an additional $12,000 in expenses. Only 246 cases were produced of this 100% Syrah.
We started with a gourmet dinner and the Imagine Wine 2007 Paso Robles Cabernet, which I’ll cover in another article. We decanted the wine and gathered around the roaring firepit counting down until the exact moment of release, which was 10:00 PM ET and coordinated with a live release party in California.
We allowed the wine to decant for an hour and were glad we did. After all that time in oak, it needs to breathe.
The first impression on the palate is that of blueberries and a rich, full body. The tannins are well integrated and don’t overwhelm the wine. The Winged Syrah is high in alcohol content at 16%, and started a bit “hot.” As our tasting continues, the wine relaxed and unwound in a good way. The complex flavors became more apparent including those of brambles and blackberry. It’s an elegant wine.
It’s recommended to be served 60-65 degrees F. That worked fine for us since we were sitting around a fire with some parts of our bodies roasting but the rest chilled by the night air.
This is a beauty of a wine that retails for $80. I’d be remiss if I didn’t comment on the stunning label, which features a painted reproduction of the “Winged Series 2” sculpture by Blake Rankin. Blake is Ross’ son. The sculpture is amazing and it elevates the wine to a great combination of style inside and outside the bottle.
The Winged Syrah has taken flight with its release. It’s a soaring success which we can highly recommend.
Full disclosure. This wine was provided as a marketing sample.
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Friday, October 11, 2013

Save The Date: Mobile Meals Wine Gala Scheduled Saturday, November 2

The 26th Annual Wine Gala to benefit Mobile Meals of Toledo is scheduled 6:00 PM Saturday, November 2, at the Stranahan Great Hall. The event will feature wine tasting and appetizers, a sit-down dinner and an auction of fine wines. The black-tie optional event will also feature a silent auction, raffle and entertainment.
This is the premiere wine event in the Toledo area! Not only is the event outstanding, but it benefits a very worthy cause.
Tickets are $150 ($100 tax deductible) or $175 for patron tickets ($125 tax deductible). You may purchase your tickets online here. For information call (419) 255-7806 or email info@mobilemeals.org. Your RSVP by October 16 is requested.
Here is the schedule for the evening.

6:00 - 7:30 P.M.
Wine tasting and appetizers
6:00 - 10:00 P.M. Silent Auctions - Tables will be closed for bidding at various times throughout the evening. Bid early and often for your favorite items!
7:30 - 8:30 P.M.
Gourmet dinner with accompanying wines

8:30 - 10:00 P.M.
Live auction of fine wines

10:00 – 11:00

Music and Dancing
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Photo Credit: alexbrn via Compfight cc
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Thursday, October 10, 2013

Majestic Oak Winery: Ohio Winery Visit


Doug and Laura Rufenacht dreamed of working together in agriculture. With some help from area mentors, they planted grape vines in 2010 and four years after their dream began, Majestic Oak Winery in Providence Township near Grand Rapids opened. After a recent soggy hike at Oak Openings, we dropped in for a visit to the area’s newest winery.
When we arrived Doug was working on preparing a batch of apples for some apple wine, assisted by their son Dan. The bees were swarming, so we headed inside to the tasting room where Laura told us more about Majestic Oak and poured us some wine.
The tasting room is in a converted house near the vines and sprawling oak that gives the winery its name. The tasting room has plenty of natural light and space for the small acoustic acts that perform there regularly.
Laura mentioned that the whole property is bonded, so you can enjoy your wine in the tasting room, sit on the deck or find your place in the sun in the backyard with a view of the vineyard. The winery started with 600 plants and today has vines of Cayuga, Marquette, and Chardonel.
It’s a family affair with Doug working on the winemaking, son Dan helping and Laura overseeing the tasting room. Daughter Erica is studying winemaking at Cornell, one of the nation’s top schools.
Majestic Oak currently offers six different wines, three reds, and three whites.  We began with the whites. White Rapids is a dry white blend of Traminette and Cayuga. It’s crisp and light. Moving up the sweetness scale we next tried Shade Tree Serenity, which is an easy-drinking Cayuga/Vidal Blanc wine with a soft finish. The Vidal Blanc is the sweetest white and it had a bit of tartness to it.
On the red side, we sipped the Mill House Marquette. The Majestic Oak wines range from $11.99 to $19.99, which is the price for the Marquette. Marquette is enjoying increased popularity in the region because it is a hardy species. This is an estate-grown wine that is a light rose red color with a great flavor of mulberry. This is a unique wine and my favorite of the visit.
Providence is a three-grape semi-dry blend with excellent fruitiness. We capped things off with their best-seller, the Shade Tree Red, with is a blend of Concord and Catawba. This has a bright, enjoyable flavor. It has a light body and it would be easy to drink a lot of this on a hot summer’s day.
We finished off our visit with a stroll to the majestic oak that soars over the vineyard. It’s a beautiful sight with a swing and some chairs nearby – a perfect location to enjoy a bottle of wine.
Majestic Oak Winery is becoming a popular destination with great events like a chili cook-off, wine and fudge pairing, a cruise-in, and after-football parties. The grounds are scenic and the wine is just right. Stop in, unwind and uncork.

Things have changed since our original review. Please visit the Majestic Oak website for the latest info.


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