Thursday, July 30, 2015

Sagrantino – The Jewel of Umbria’s Montefalco Wine Region

Wines from the heart of Italy’s Umbria region are capturing increased attention as international awareness grows in tandem with rising quality. At the symbolic and geographical center of the Umbrian Valley is Montefalco. The city is surrounded by 12th century walls and designed so that all roads lead to the beautiful Municipal Square.
The jewel of the Montefalco wine region is Sagrantino, a grape variety that grows only in this region of Umbria. How old and how native Sagrantino is has always been subject to debate.
The name can be traced to the word “sacraments” (from the Latin “Sacer” – “Sacred”) as the wine was cultivated by monks to make a wine for religious rites. Some say that the Franciscan brothers of Assisi imported the grape variety from Asia Minor in the 14th-15th centuries as they returned from missionary trips. Others claim that the grape is native to Spain and that the Saracens first brought it to the region.
The grape almost completely disappeared in the 1960s, but it was revived by a dedicated band of wine producers. In 1979 the DOC (Controlled Denomination of Origin) label was obtained and in 1992, the DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Denomination of Origin) label, reserved for Italy’s premium wines, was secured.
Sagrantino is an inky, purple grape, with one of the highest tannic levels of any in the world. Due to the massive tannins, the wines need three to four years to mellow. The wines are bold and heady with blackberry, plum and earthy qualities.
In 1998 the few Sagrantino vines in Montefalco were labeled and classified. It was found that some dated back to between 1700 and 1800. Between 2000 and 2008 the production of Sagrantino quadrupled and today totals more than 2.5 million bottles.
 
The medieval hillside town of Montefalco is also embracing the newfound  interest. Wine tourism is up 20% since 2013 and travelers can choose from winery tours, gastronomic adventures such as truffle hunting or pasta making, hiking or visits to their beautiful churches or Museo Civico di San Francesco.
Montefalco gives its name to a red DOC blend that is 60% to 70% Sangiovese and 10% to 15% Sagrantino. The remainder of the Rosso blend is from other grapes. There is also a fresh Bianco (white) DOC blend that is at least 50% Grechetto and 20 to 25% Trebianno. The DOC wines must age for 18 months while the Riserva DOC get 30 months of aging with at least 12 months in oak.
There are two varieties of Montefalco di Sagrantino DOCG: the dry red and the traditional Passito (sweet) wine. For the Passito, grapes are left to dry on mats for two months and then pressed. The must (pulps, skin and seeds) is left to ferment together with the grapes. The result? A sweet and unique “vino da meditazione” or meditation wine.
The main attraction is the immense and powerful Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG. To get to the heart of these wines, our culinary team (that is to say, my wife and daughter) decided to prepare an Umbrian dinner for us to enjoy the Arnaldo-Caprai 2012 Montefalco Rosso DOC and the Scacciadiavoli 2008 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG.
We began with olive bruschetta served with Pecorino Romano cheese and Heirloom tomatoes. This paired with the Arnaldo-Caprai Montefalco Rosso.
The Rosso is light garnet in color and sparkled like a jewel in the glass. The Pecorino is made from sheep’s milk and is hard and salty. It was a spot on pairing with the Arnaldo-Caprai, which exhibits a beautiful balance between fruit and earthiness. It is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Merlot. Soft and inviting, it has a medium body and lasting finish.
Arnaldo-Caprai has been a trailblazer in the production of top quality Sagrantino. In 1971 Arnaldo Caprai founded the winery in order to produce unique, high quality Umbrian wines. That quest has become a family enterprise.
In 1988, Arnaldo’s son Marco began managing the family business. His determination led to new acquisitions, scientific research and technological innovation. A collaboration with the University of Milan and other research institutes led to the identification of new clones of Sagrantino helping to propel production of the Arnaldo-Caprai’s awarding winning wines.
I savored each drop of their handiwork as Green Dragon (my wife) and daughter Rachel worked on the main course. Rachel is a hospitality management graduate from Kent State and has been working in ski resort restaurants, so her culinary skills were on display.
Knowing that Montefalco Sagrantino are big, bold wines, I started decanting the Scacciadiavoli two hours before dinner. Scacciadiavoli means “drives away devils.” The ladies decided on a rustic Umbrian meal of Salsicce con Lenticchie e Salsa di Pomodoro, a hearty lentil stew topped with a tomato sauce and Italian sausages. You can find Jamie Oliver’s recipe for the dish here. Our chefs added rainbow chard since they had harvested it that afternoon from our garden. Strong cheeses or meats are good choices for food pairings with Sagrantino.
Scacciadiavoli is the oldest winery in the Montefalco appellation. It was built in the second half of the 19th century when Prince Boncompagni-Ludovisi left Rome to dedicate himself to the art of wine production. The winery covers 321 acres, 86 of which are covered with vineyards. With sand, schist and clay soils, it is well suited for late maturing varieties like Sagrantino.
Sitting down at the dinner table, this is what I imagined Italy’s la dolce vita to be: family, delicious food and exquisite wine. The aroma of the Scacciadiavoli is intense with earth and leather mingled with red fruit and spice. The wine is aged in new oak for 16 months and the tannins pack quite a punch. The sausage and spice in the dish combined to dial back the power of the wine to a forceful elegance. For me, the wine offered freshness and red berry flavors in addition to a dash of spice.

These wines evoke a sense of discovery. They embrace a tradition that flourished in the 1500’s yet taste fresh and exciting. To experience Montefalco wines is to not only discover the heart of Umbria, but the soul of Italy.
Acknowledgements: Photos by TWAV, photo styling by “Green Dragon,” video photos by: HrodebertRobertus via Compfight cc ho visto nina volare via Compfight cc and diego_pino_garcia via Compfight cc . Grazie a Consorzio Tutela Vini Montefalco for providing the wine.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: July 29-August 1, 2015

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Wednesday, July 29
The Andersons, Sylvania, No Wednesday wine tasting. Tastings will resume August 19.
Veritas Cork and Craft, 505 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo – (419) 214- 9463. 5:30 – 7:30 PM. Wednesday Wine Tasting. Come out with friends, have fun, taste good juice! $15 per person.
Thursday, July 30   
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Cabernets and Chardonnays -
Different styles…all California: 1. 2013 Mer Soleil – Silver – Unoaked Chardonnay – Santa Lucia Highlands, 2. 2013 Rombauer – Chardonnay – Carneros, Napa Valley, 3. 2013 Justin – Cabernet Sauvignon – Paso Robles, 4. 2012 Mount Veeder – Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley. $11 flight or nominal fee per sample.

Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6 – 8 PM. What’s New? 1. Hugel Pinot Gris, 2. Custard Chardonnay, 3. Coté Mas Rosé, 4. Bread & Butter Pinot Noir, 5. El Miracle Grenache, 6. Chateau De Landiras, 7. Scott Harvey Three Stags, 8. Zanon Zinfandel. Nominal fee per sample.
Kroger Maumee, 1435 South Reynolds Road, – (567)-302-2688. Wine Tasting, 2 – 8 PM. 1. Chateau Ste Michelle – Riesling, 2. Matua - Sauvignon Blanc, 3. Kendall-Jackson - Summation Blend, 4. Kenwood - Cabernet Sauvignon. Flight $1.
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. Thursday Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM.
Noir Fine . Wine and Beer, 1616 East Wooster, Bowling Green, 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample or priced per flight.
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.
Friday, July 31
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. Wine tasting – 4:00 – 7:00 PM.
Saturday, August 1
Kroger Maumee, 1435 South Reynolds Road, – (567)-302-2688. Wine Tasting, 2 – 8 PM. 1. Kungfu Girl – Riesling, 2. Dellatori – Prosecco, 3. Mer Soleil - Concrete-Aged Chardonnay, 4. Hess - Red Blend, 5. Uno – Malbec, 6. Columbia Winery - Cabernet Sauvignon. $1 for four samples.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
AREA WINE BARS
  • Veritas Cork and Craft, 505 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo – (419) 214- 9463.
  • Zinful Wine Bar, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.
Technorati Tags: wine
[Information on tastings can be sent toTWAV@ATT.NET.]
Up & Coming:
Tuesdays – Weekly wine tasting at Forrester's on the River, 26 Main St. Toledo – (419) 691-2626. 5:00 – 7:00 PM. Five to six unique tastings of wine, that are not found on the menu, along with an assortment of tapas style appetizers to complement the wines.  Tastings are between $10-$15 per person and are held in their wine bar (Paige's Wine Bar).















Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Roth 2012 Estate Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast


It was a beautiful summer day in Toledo when the Green Dragon announced that I was going to take her out to dinner. We hadn’t been to the Docks recently so we dodged the orange construction barrels and headed north to Forrester’s on the River.
There are several nice restaurants at the Docks complex, on the east bank of the Maumee River. We wanted outdoor seating so we could enjoy the view of the Toledo skyline and the boats motoring up and down the river. We had hoped for Italian, but the long waiting time at our first choice prodded us down to Forrester’s, which had no waiting and a large outside seating area.
Green Dragon opted for the Chicken Marsala while I selected the Sirloin Steak Skewers. In an effort to find a wine that would match both entrees (and not be incredibly heavy on such a hot day), I selected the Roth 2012 Estate Pinot Noir.
Apparently the waiter wanted to age the wine further, because it took an awfully long time for the bottle to arrive. We adjusted the umbrella as best we could, but it was still broiling out. That’s when we got creative. We had requested glasses of ice water while waiting for our meal. Through some mix up, we ended up with four glasses of water.
Viola! We used the icy glasses to form a protective ring of coolness around the wine bottle. This ensured that the temperature of the wine wouldn’t heat it into a simmering grape soup.
This was a very nice bottle of Sonoma Coast Pinot. Surprisingly light in color, it still delivered some lush, dark cherry flavors tinged with a pinch of spice. Since I had steak kabobs, my meal was light enough that it didn’t overpower the Pinot. Of course, it went quite well with the chicken.
In short, it was a perfect wine for a casual yet stylish meal on a very sultry day. The price from the winery is $28 but the markup at the restaurant was quite reasonable.
Forrester’s hosts weekly wine tastings from 5:30 to 7:30 on Tuesdays and their wine list has a few pleasant surprises on it, including this Roth Pinot. Whether you are coming by boat or car, it’s a nice destination for dinner on the water.
Rating: 3 of 5  Value: 2.5 of 5 based on $28 SRP

Monday, July 27, 2015

Alto Moncayo 2012 Veraton, Campo de Borja


The Alto Moncayo Veraton was uncorked during a patio dedication party at my cousin Mary’s place in Huntington Beach. It was quite a party – until the police arrived – but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Mary and her husband Cleve live a short walk from the beach in California’s Surf City, also known as Huntington Beach. The houses are all pricey, built close together and have narrow street frontage, but often have patios in the back.
On this day, Mary and Cleve were unveiling their new patio in front. They put in a concrete pad, had some nice stonework done and added a gate. It’s just about right for four to six people to sit and observe street life and be able to spy the ocean waves down the road to the right.
Uncharacteristically, it was rainy in southern California during our visit, so after much noodling around with connectors and aluminum poles, erected a little canopy over the front porch. Barbecued shrimp and other treats were soon being cooked.
A dozen or more guests soon arrived, many bearing gifts of wine. Cousin’s cellar was well stocked to start with as they recently won a case of wine at a charity event. One of their friends, however, brought this magnificent Spanish Garnacha.
Alto Moncayo is located in the Campo de Borja district, which is in northwest Spain’s Aragon region. Veraton is produced from vines 30 to 50 years in age.
I was assisting with the wine pouring duties and we decanted this bottle. the decanting allowed the wine to open up, but even so, this is an immense wine.
It has deep chocolate and balsam notes with rumbling deep, dark fruit. The wine is warming and the finish long lingering. It’s a rich and aromatic wine.
We were enjoying the wine on the front patio and, as the crowd grew, another group camped out in the back patio. The houses are just feet apart and so through an acoustic anomaly, the noise in the front and the noise in the back bounced back and forth, united and somehow ticked off a neighbor.
The Green Dragon, who was helping with the cooking and other arrangements, didn’t help matters. At one point Cleve made a comment about her gaucho style belt. He asked her if she had won an international boxing federation championship. She popped up and started to wrap the belt around Cleve. There was a bit of shouting and mayhem.
Most the commotion had died down and just the four of us were in the back sipping one of the 15 bottles that were consumed that night when a knock came on the door. “This is the police,” came the voice.
Mary soon had the situation in hand and we scooted inside to enjoy the rest of the early morning conversation…
Rating: 4 of 5  Value: 4 of 5 (based on $30 cost)

Friday, July 24, 2015

The Other Guys White Knight 2013 Viognier, Clarksburg


According to their website, The Other Guys winery is saving the world from the “tyranny of Chardonnay.” In line with that, they offer all white wines: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and this Viognier.
The Clarksburg AVA spans three counties in California’s Sacramento Valley. Fog and cool breezes from the San Francisco Bay keep Clarksburg cooler than surrounding areas.
Speaking of cool – Viognier (vee-ahn-YEAH) is a cool French grape with billowing aromatics. Viognier is sometimes added to Syrah or other red wine for the delightful aroma.
The White Knight is a value buy at less than $10. But getting a 100% Viognier at this price is a steal. This is also a very good wine.
On the nose there are floral notes along with apple and honeysuckle. The wine is smooth and expressive. It has a rich body without being flabby. There is no acidic bit.
This is a pleasant pairing for pasta, chicken or Asian food. The White Knight may just be a hero at your next part.
Rating: 2.5 of 5  Value: 3.5 of 5

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Toast of Ohio Wine Heritage Festival Returns July 25

SANDUSKY, OHIO --- Celebrating eleven years, the annual Toast of Ohio Wine Heritage Festival will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2015 in downtown Sandusky ’s Veterans Park , located next to the Merry-Go-Round Museum at 301 Jackson St . The festival will feature ten fabulous Ohio wineries, gourmet food, live musical entertainment, and a juried art show in neighboring Washington Park . The festival grounds are open Saturday from noon - 8 pm.
Admission is just $5.00 per person and includes a souvenir Toast of Ohio wine glass and two complimentary wine tastings. Tickets will also be available to purchase for exchange of wine tastings. Wine tasting tickets are $1 each and glass pours will vary by vendor.  
Participating wineries include Paper Moon Vineyards, Firelands Winery, Ferrante Winery, Maize Valley Winery, Viking Vineyards, Stoney Ridge Winery, Humble Bee Vineyards, Quarry Hill Winery, D & D Smith Winery, and Chateau Tebeau.
Delicious food selections will be offered by: Krav Food Truck, Cold Creek, GessWho Tacos, and Gram’s Goodies.
A variety of musical entertainment and family fun activities will occur throughout the day, including performances from The Brad Walk Trio and Summer of ‘65. The adjacent Merry-Go-Round Museum will offer special $2 admission during the festival from 10 am to 5 pm.

Admission fees benefit the sponsoring Merry-Go-Round Museum . New local retailer Vine & Olive Mediterranean Bakery, Foods & Wine has come aboard this year as a major event sponsor. Other sponsors include Ohio Grape Industries, Ohio Magazine, and Lake Erie Shores & Islands.
The Lake Erie Shores & Islands region once featured huge vineyards that spread from east of Sandusky to the western region near the bay because of the lakeshore climate. The Toast of Ohio event was developed to celebrate the area’s winemaking heritage. Today, dozens of wineries still operate in the region.  Make a weekend of it with lodging packages available at SHORESandISLANDS.com and tour the area’s wineries. Call 1.800.255.3743 for information.
Photo by Angelo Cesare





Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: July 22-25, 2015

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Wednesday, July 22
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. And the Hits Just Keep on Coming (Wine hits, that is…): 1. Cataldi Madonna Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo 2014 Rosé, 2. Zanon 2011 Dry Creek Zinfandel, 3. C'est la Vie 2012 Syrah-Grenache, 4. Bolla 2012 Torr'alta Rosso, 5. Hope Estates 2010 "The Ripper" Shiraz. $8 flight or nominal fee per sample.
Veritas Cork and Craft, 505 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo – (419) 214- 9463. 5:30 – 7:30 PM. Wednesday Wine Tasting. Come out with friends, have fun, taste good juice! $15 per person.
Zinful Wine Bar, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. 6:30 – 7:30.  Wine Class: This class will focus on the health benefits of wine. Come and enjoy our classroom style, interactive learning space. $20 per person includes wine samples
Thursday, July 23   
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Midsummer Style: 1. 2009 Rudi Wiest – Rhein River Riesling – Germany, 2. 2014 Edmunds St. John – Bone Jolly – Rosé of Gamay Noir – California, 3. 2013 Tom Gore – Cabernet Sauvignon – California, 4. 2012 Vega Sindoa – Cabernet Sauvignon – Navarra, Spain. $5 flight or nominal fee per sample.

Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6 – 8 PM. Wines From Sunny Spain: 1. Egeo Verdejo, 2. Herdade do Esporao Verdelho, 3. Finca Sandoval Signo, 4. Con Blau, 5. Vargas Rioja Crianza, 6. La Atalaya, 7. Eternum Viti Tinta del Toro, 8. Genium. Nominal fee per sample.
Kroger Maumee, 1435 South Reynolds Road, – (567)-302-2688. Wine Tasting, 2 – 8 PM. 1. Bartenura - Moscato – Italy, 2. Joel Gott - Chardonnay - Monterey/Napa/Sonoma, 3. Ravage - Cabernet Sauvignon – California, 4. The Federalist - Zinfandel – Lodi.
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. Thursday Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM.
Noir Fine . Wine and Beer, 1616 East Wooster, Bowling Green, 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample or priced per flight.
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.
Friday, July 24
Kroger Maumee, 1435 South Reynolds Road, – (567)-302-2688. Wine Tasting, 2 – 8 PM. 1. Ogio - Rosso e Dolce – Italy, 2. Birthday Cake - Cheesecake – France, 3. Barefoot Bubbly - Tropical Fusion – California, 4. Te'a Roa - Sauvignon Blanc – Marlborough, 5. Ravage - Cabernet Sauvignon – California, 6. Urlo - Red Blend – Italy.
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. Wine tasting – 4:00 – 7:00 PM.
Saturday, July 25
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
AREA WINE BARS
  • Veritas Cork and Craft, 505 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo – (419) 214- 9463.
  • Zinful Wine Bar, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.
Technorati Tags: wine
[Information on tastings can be sent toTWAV@ATT.NET.]
Up & Coming:
Tuesdays – Weekly wine tasting at Forrester's on the River, 26 Main St. Toledo – (419) 691-2626. 5:00 – 7:00 PM. Five to six unique tastings of wine, that are not found on the menu, along with an assortment of tapas style appetizers to complement the wines.  Tastings are between $10-$15 per person and are held in their wine bar (Paige's Wine Bar).

















Friday, July 17, 2015

Sokol Blosser Evolution White Blend, 17th Edition


I say Dundee Hills, you say… Pinot Noir! Except in this case, the Sokol Blosser Winery in Oregon is producing an exotic white blend with a composition you’ll never guess.
This is the third edition of Evolution that we’ve tasted – and we’ve loved them all. It’s a non-vintage wine and it also is an “American” appellation, meaning the grapes could come from just about anywhere. A safe bet is that the grapes are from Oregon, Washington and perhaps California.
The cork closure bears the message “Chill. Pour. Sip. Chill.” What more invitation do you need?
Embellishing the label are quirky thoughts such as: “Happenstance? Coincidence? Chaos? Not a chance. This bottle you hold is a deliberate, pre-meditated attempt to advance the entire wine universe a notch or two. Grandiose? Perhaps, but without evolution we’d be slime crawling in ooze and that doesn’t sound too appetizing.” Very nice to consider as you relax with a refreshing glass of Evolution.
The blend is Muller-Thurgau, Riesling, Semillon, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Chardonnay in undisclosed proportions. This is not your average white wine blend. The Pacific Northwest excels with white wines and that quality is captured in this bottle.
The alcohol level is 12%, about what you would expect from a Riesling. That means it is a great food pairing wine. There is 1.2% residual sugar and so it has a flowing quality unimpeded by jarring acidity. It is citrus and floral up front with lush tropical flavors and a crisp finish.
You can find this for $18 or less. It is just right for hot summers around the pool or with some spicy Asian food.
Rating: 3 of 5  Value: 4 of 5
Technorati Tags: ,

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Lexicon Project Helps Winemakers Find Descriptions Easily Understood By Chinese Wine Consumers

The Chinese Lexicon Project – a two year long research initiative by the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute at the University of South Australia funded by the Australian Grape and Wine Authority (AGWA) – has revealed what terms Chinese consumers use when describing a wine and what Asian fruit and vegetable flavours are equivalent to the Western ones used to describe wine.
The project, led by Dr Armando Corsi, Dr Justin Cohen and Prof Larry Lockshin, involved more than 250 Chinese wine consumers from Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.
The participants described the taste of a selection of Australian white, red, sparkling and dessert wines.
Participants selected a series of generic wine descriptors as well as choosing from a list of specific fruit and vegetable flavours. These flavours were either Western fruit and vegetables or proposed Chinese equivalents.
The research found that generic wine descriptors, such as “mellow”, “lingering” or “fruity” were three times more likely to be used than specific wine descriptors by Chinese wine consumers.
Dr Corsi says that wine has been predominantly described in China using Western terminology but such descriptors lack meaning if the consumer has little or no experience of tasting that particular fruit, vegetable or spice.  
“Describing a wine as tasting of blueberry is hard to understand if you have never seen or tasted a blueberry,” Dr Corsi says.
“What this research has provided is evidence of what specific Chinese fruit and vegetable flavours are equivalent to the Western descriptors currently used on wines in China.
“We can now say that the equivalent to blackberry preserve is dried Chinese hawthorns.”
The project also investigated the likeability, willingness to pay and perceived price points of different wine styles.
The research showed that what is perceived to be more expensive is not necessarily what is liked the most.
“There is also the potential for similar research to be undertaken in other countries to determine what cultural descriptors they would use to describe the taste of different wines.”
Photo Credit: JenGallardo via Compfight cc











Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: July 15-18, 2015

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Wednesday, July 15
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. Jim’s Globe Trotting Tasting XXXV: 1. Frey-Sohler 2013 Muscat, 2. Chateau Kefraya Lebanese Red, 3. Fritz Estate Grown Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2012, 4. Hayes Valley 2013 Cabernet, 5. Banfi Belnero Toscana 2011. $10 flight or nominal fee per sample.
Veritas Cork and Craft, 505 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo – (419) 214- 9463. 5:30 – 7:30 PM. Wednesday Wine Tasting. Come out with friends, have fun, taste good juice! $15 per person.
Thursday, July 16   
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Great Summertime Wines: 1.
2013 Guenoc – Chardonnay – California, 2. 2013 Crios – Rosé of Malbec – Mendoza, Argentina, 3. 2013 Ryan Patrick – Redhead Red Blend – Columbia Valley, Washington, 4. 2012 Assobio – Red Blend – Portugal. $4 flight or nominal fee per sample.

Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6 – 8 PM. Adventure Wines: 1. Renegade Wine Co. Rose, 2. Frontier Red, 3. Renegade Red, 4. Troublemaker Red, 5. Treasure Hunter The Furious Damsel Cabernet, 6. Graham Beck The Game Reserve Cabernet, 7. Treasure Hunter Scallywag Red, 8. Amor Fati Syrah. Nominal fee per sample,
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. Thursday Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM. Special guest Eric Platt from Pacific Prime Wines. Please come join us for this special tasting and meet our new Wine Manager Katelyn Murray
Noir Fine . Wine and Beer, 1616 East Wooster, Bowling Green, 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample or priced per flight.
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.
Zinful Wine Bar, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. Zen and Zin. Call for information.
Friday, July 17
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. Wine tasting – 4:00 – 7:00 PM.
Saturday, July 18
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. Start of a New Era. Come support the new wine manager with a great tasting.
AREA WINE BARS
  • Veritas Cork and Craft, 505 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo – (419) 214- 9463.
  • Zinful Wine Bar, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.
Technorati Tags: wine
[Information on tastings can be sent toTWAV@ATT.NET.]
Up & Coming:
Tuesdays – Weekly wine tasting at Forrester's on the River, 26 Main St. Toledo – (419) 691-2626. 5:00 – 7:00 PM. Five to six unique tastings of wine, that are not found on the menu, along with an assortment of tapas style appetizers to complement the wines.  Tastings are between $10-$15 per person and are held in their wine bar (Paige's Wine Bar).
Wednesday, July 22Zinful Wine Bar, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. 6:30 – 7:30.  Wine Class: This class will focus on the health benefits of wine. Come and enjoy our classroom style, interactive learning space. $20 per person includes wine samples















Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Tokara: South Africa Winery Visit


Continuing the saga of our wine and safari expedition to South Africa…
If you know only one word about South African wine, chances are it is Stellenbosch. Located about 30 miles east of Cape Town, it is the most important wine region in the country of South Africa.
The first part of our wine adventure was spent in the Franschhoek Valley region. After a couple of delightful days there, we motored high into the Helshoogte Pass to our luxurious accommodations at Clouds Estate. Clouds is is sleek, modern B&B with an outstanding restaurant, unparalleled views and even produces its own wine.
Due to the immense size of Stellenbosch District and the large number of wineries, our exploration was limited to the Simonsburg Ward. What a problem to have! There are so many outstanding wineries in Stellenbosch that you could spend weeks, if not months, exploring them all.
One that is certainly at the pinnacle is Tokara. It is an impressive marriage of exquisite art, architecture, wine and scenery. If you travel thousands of miles to South Africa and saw only one winery, Tokara, you would feel it was worth it. Such is the impact of this magnificent wine mecca.
Clouds was conveniently located less than a kilometer away from Tokara, which is nice because Helshoogte Pass is a twisty, turny road you don’t want to navigate after a long day of wine tasting. Even the view from the parking lot is impressive, with the winery silhouetted against soaring mountains and rows of terraced vines on the hillside.
Tokara is the embodiment of owner GT Ferreira’s philosophy that good wine, good food and good art go together to make a good lifestyle. Walking into the wine cellar (as the tasting rooms are called) you pass by one of the impressive works of art on display, a metal sculpture of a tree with words gracing each branch.
The inside is impressive as well, with style and good taste in abundance. After taking in the scene, we settled in at the tasting bar for some wine.
We opened up with a 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, which we found to be soft with citrus flavors. Tokara offers three ranges of reserve wine: Director’s Reserve, Reserve Collection and Collector’s Release. We next explored the 2013 Director’s Reserve White, which is a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon. This was rich tasting with green, grassy flavors.
We continued the tasting experience with the 2012 Collectors Release Grenache, which features 12% Syrah. This is a reserved, smooth, blend of strawberry flavors. Superb!
Reds in general are outstanding in Stellenbosch and the 2011 Syrah, although from the lower range Reserve Collection, was no exception. It is a delightful, Old World style Syrah, with deep plum colors and briary fruit.
The tasting crescendo continued with the Director’s Reserve 2011 Red. This Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. This is a wine capable of aging for another three years or more, but offers delicious black cherry and berries for those who can’t wait.
Our report wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Tokara Deli. For those of you who might think this is a little sandwich shop, think again. It delivers dishes to delight any “foodie” in spectacular surroundings. We dined outside there twice – once by plan and once by chance.
After our first visit, we enjoyed a great lunch accompanied with some chilled rose. The next day we traveled to a nearby winery for a tasting and lunch, at least we thought. The power company had scheduled a rolling blackout, so the restaurant and cellar door were both closed. We hightailed it back to Tokara Deli and this time enjoyed the spectacular mountain views with our meal and a glass of Methode Cap Classique sparkling wine.

Tokara is a feast for the senses. It’s an exhilarating experience for the wine lover, but also for those with a sense of adventure and an eye for art.
It truly is a mountain top experience.

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Monday, July 13, 2015

Von Schubert 2010 Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling, Mosel Saar Ruwer


This bottle of outstanding German Riesling was liberated from the closeout sale at Zinful. The Waterville wine bar is reducing its inventor and had this marked down to $17.
The Maximin Grünhäuser estate lies at the foot of a long steep south-facing slope on the left bank of the Ruwer river, about two kilometers before it joins the Mosel. The estate belongs to the Von Schubert family and is divided into three separate but contiguous vineyards.
Wines from the Abtsberg Vineyard were destined for the table of the abbot of (or abt) of the Abbey of St. Maximin. Rieslings from this vineyard are among the longest lived in the region.
This wine is a crowd pleaser and I can’t imagine anyone, regardless of their palate, who wouldn’t enjoy it. Such is the quality and purity of the wine.
It has a delicate minerality with a dancing acidity. There is plentiful fruit flavor, but balanced in a delicate way. The overall impression is a light, refreshing wine with a crisp, precise finish.
This is one of the top Rieslings we’ve sampled in the last year. We recommend it highly.
Rating: 4.5 of 5  Value: 5 of 5
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Friday, July 10, 2015

Old Soul 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi


After our grand finale fireworks display finished, and the girls stopped dancing with their sparklers, our Fourth of July party-goers still wanted more. To entertain our guests, we had a bottle of Cava, a Napa Valley Cab and a Sonoma Pinot Noir – even some Sangria – but a party atmosphere prevailed.
I threw a couple more logs on the fire and brought this bottle out to the patio. We previously reviewed the Old Soul Pinot Noir and Pure Red blend. I was favorably impressed. This bottle uncorked another surprise – there’s pretty good Cabernet in Lodi too.
Since this is Lodi, Zinfandel does work its way into the picture. The Old Soul Cab is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Merlot. This blend makes for wonderful smoothness and a moist kiss of berry flavors. The alcohol level is 13% and so it is more refined than some with more alcohol.
The wine is aged in American and French oak, but the tannins are soft and relaxed. The grapes have been family farmed for five generations and the care is evident in the final product.
I do have a complaint. I stepped inside for a few moments to chat and share some photos from a recent trip. When I went back to the patio to refill my glass, Green Dragon and her girlfriends had drained the bottle!
Perhaps a wine can be too smooth and tasty!
Full disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Bel Lago 2012 Auxerrois, Leelanau Peninsula


It was the worst rainstorm in our 20 years of living in Toledo. Rain was pelting the highway and 40 mile per hour winds pushed our vehicle around the slickened road.
Those with less stout willpower would have headed back to the safety of home. But we had wine to taste – and we weren’t about to be stopped by a 100 year flood.
We were headed to visit tasting team member Dr. J and his wife Casey. As parents of a young child and busy professionals, it’s hard to find times when our schedules mesh. We finally had set an evening for tasting, and weren’t about to let torrential rain stop us.
A particular wine kept driving me on through the rain: Auxerrois. (Although not labeled as such, this is Auxerrois Blanc since in some parts of the world, Auxerrois is another name for Malbec – go figure.) The first challenge is figuring out how to pronounce it – it’s oh-zher-WHA. Next, you might enquire, what the heck is it?
Auxerrois is a white grape grown primarily in the Alsace region of France. However, this unique grape is also grown in Michigan. This bottle comes from Bel Lago Winery on Leelanau Peninsula near Traverse City. They were the first in the region to grow this variety, which is known as the “baby sister” of Chardonnay.
Although Bel Lago produces reds, including Pinot Noir, it excels with whites. Michigan is gaining a world class reputation for Riesling and other whites such as Gerwurztraminer and Chardonnay flourish there as well.
Much of the wine from the Leelanau Peninsula AVA is sweet – but the Auxerrois is refreshingly dry. An ample acidity gives a crispness to the wine, which has citrus and tropical flavor notes. The Auxerrois is aged in oak, so there is slight toasted flavor.
In short, this is an uncommon and refreshing wine. For a mere $19 SRP, you can sip a grape that sounds like a million bucks and tastes noteworthy as well.
Rating: 3 of 5  Value: 4 of 5
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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: July 8-11, 2015

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Wednesday, July 8
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. Light-Weight (But Big Taste) Wines For Summer Drinking Pleasure: 1. Mionetto Brut Prosecco, 2. Dr. Konstantin Frank 2013 Dry Riesling, 3. Bründlmayer 2012 Zweigelt, 4. Monte Antico 2010 Tuscan Red, 5. Marietta Old Vine Red Lot 62. $8 flight or nominal fee per sample.
Veritas Cork and Craft, 505 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo – (419) 214- 9463. 5:30 – 7:30 PM. Wednesday Wine Tasting. Come out with friends, have fun, taste good juice! $15 per person.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Austin Beeman’s Top Five Wines in the Store. Limited to 18 people.
$50 if you pay in advance. $75 day of the event.
Thursday, July 9   
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Thursday Wine Tasting: 1. 2013 Le Hameau – Sauvignon Blanc – France, 2. 2014 Elicio – Rosé – France, 3. 2011 Messmer – Pinot Noir – Germany, 4. 2011 Altitude 500 – Ventoux – France. $5 flight or nominal fee per sample.

Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6 – 8 PM. Wines From the Venerable Napa Winery Field Stone: 1. Les Domaniers Cote de Provence Rosé, 2. Dönnhoff Roxheimer Höllenpfad Riesling, 3. Field Stone Convivio Red, 4. Field Stone Merlot, 5. Field Stone Cabernet, 6. Field Stone Stanton Family Reserve Cabernet, 7. Field Stone Stanton Family Reserve Petite Sirah, 8. Carl Loewen Klostergarten Riesling Kabinett. Nominal fee per sample,
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. No tasting tonight. Tastings will resume July 16. 
Noir Fine . Wine and Beer, 1616 East Wooster, Bowling Green, 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample or priced per flight.
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.
Friday, July 10
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. Wine tasting – 4:00 – 7:00 PM.
Saturday, July 11
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. Special Event: Austin Beeman’s Last Saturday Tasting. After 9+ years with Churchill’s, Wine Manager Austin Beeman is leaving to become Director of Marketing for Bonny Doon Vineyard in Santa Cruz, California. Come say goodbye and drink wines he will soon represent. $20 value wines, $40 all wines.
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AREA WINE BARS
  • Veritas Cork and Craft, 505 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo – (419) 214- 9463.
  • Zinful Wine Bar, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.
Technorati Tags: wine
[Information on tastings can be sent toTWAV@ATT.NET.]
Up & Coming:
Tuesdays – Weekly wine tasting at Forrester's on the River, 26 Main St. Toledo – (419) 691-2626. 5:00 – 7:00 PM. Five to six unique tastings of wine, that are not found on the menu, along with an assortment of tapas style appetizers to complement the wines.  Tastings are between $10-$15 per person and are held in their wine bar (Paige's Wine Bar).















Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Poema Cava, Penedès, Spain


Cava is Spain’s answer to France’s Champagne. In fact more than a decade ago, Cava exceeded Champagne in sales.
Cava is produced in the same traditional method as Champagne. Wine sippers like me find the pricing of Cava to be much more reasonable than Champagne – and the flavor quality is high indeed.
For our Fourth of July party, we greeted our guests with chilled flutes of Poema Cava. The grapes for Poema are grown on the limestone hills surrounding Barcelona. It is this Penedès region that supplies about 90% of Spanish Cava. The vines are all at least 20 years old.
The wine is crafted from 40% Macabeo, 40% Xarel-lo, 20% Parellada grapes. It has a crisp minerality with citrus notes. It is best served in flutes so your guests can enjoy the showy stream of bubbles.
I have had Poema often enough to recommend it as a “go to” Cava. At $12.99 it drinks like a much more expensive bottle. It adds a touch of fun and elegance to parties to accompany light dishes or as an aperitif.
With the hot days and nights ahead, Poema is an excellent option for effervescent refreshment.
Full Disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.
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Monday, July 6, 2015

Chamonix: South Africa Winery Visit


Continuing the saga of our wine and safari expedition to South Africa…
The last winery visit during our stay in Franschhoek, the wine and food capital of South Africa, was Chamonix Wine Farm. My wife was getting tired from our long day of tasting, but I was determined to visit this one-of-a-kind winery.
Chamonix has a restaurant with a deck that protrudes into the forest, a tasting room in a blacksmith’s cottage that leads to and underground cellar and a mountain backdrop with an elevated view of the valley. It also has some splendid wine.
After working our way past a boisterous crowd on the deck, we settled in for a tasting inside the blacksmith cottage. Green Dragon, who was getting a bit grumpy, soon brightened as she picked a prime spot near the fireplace.
We began our premium tasting (which cost the “outrageous” sum of $3.32 each US) with the 2014 Unoaked Chardonnay. The Chard is fermented in stainless steel tanks and then spends four to six months on lees to give it more body. There are snippets of apple and grapefruit flavors and a lively acidity.
The 2013 Reserve White is a blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Semillon. It undergoes barrel fermentation and then is aged for 11 months in French barriques. Barriques are small barrels and their use can result in more prominent oak characteristics. This straw colored wine has a full body and an exotic nose.
Move to the reds, we began with a pair of Pinot Noirs. The high quality of Pinot in South Africa was a surprise to me. First up was the 2013 Feldspar Pinot Noir. It is medium bodied with sour cherry flavor. The 2013 Pinot Noir Reserve is a superior wine from the best block of Pinot Noir grapes. It is naturally fermented and barrel ages for 16 months. This is a complex Pinot with notes of caramel and toffee blending with cherries and violet. This was a steal at 270R (about $22 US).
Rounding out the tasting was the 2012 Rouge and the 2013 Greywacke Pinotage. The Rouge is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. It’s a satisfactory blend, but dimmed in comparison with the Pinot Noir and the Pinotage. Greywacke is a type of soil, in case you’re wondering.
The Pinotage uses the ripasso technique whereby a portion of the grapes used are partly dried and then added whole to the wine for a second fermentation. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and then is aged in oak for two years. That’s a lot of lovin’ in the wine making process and the results show. The Pinotage is a complex blend of flavors with berries and spice tinged with chocolate.
Chamonix exhibits the same skill in winemaking that the village blacksmith did centuries ago – forging outstanding wine in a unique setting. This is a recommended visit during the Cape Winelands tour.
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Friday, July 3, 2015

Indiana’s 5th Annual Uncork the Uplands Scheduled July 25

Summer is in full swing and now is the time to take advantage of early bird ticket pricing for the 5th annual Uncork the Uplands, the signature event of the Indiana Uplands AVA. For one night only on July 25, 2015, wine lovers can enjoy a taste of all nine south-central Indiana Upland Wine Trail wineries against the backdrop of one beautiful location at Huber’s Orchard, Winery and Vineyards in Borden, Indiana.
Uncork the Uplands offers guests the rare opportunity to sample delicious, award-winning wines of all varieties from nine wineries in one place. This year, vino fans can also participate in guided tours of one of Indiana’s largest and oldest vineyards. From vines to orchards, guests can witness some of the many crops growing on Huber’s almost 800-acre farm that have contributed to Indiana’s agritourism for over 150 years. Nationally renowned wine, local cuisine and live music in an idyllic setting are the ingredients that make Uncork the Uplands a perfect summer blend.
This year’s Uncork the Uplands will be catered by Plantation Hall, Huber’s onsite catering company. The evening’s menu will consist of several mouth-watering International food-tasting stations including Italian, Mexican and assorted desserts. Peacetree Mountain Truffles will also provide a special assortment of wine-infused truffles featuring wines from the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail! Guests will also have an opportunity to tour Huber’s new 20,000 square-foot stillhouse and hear from Huber’s own wine experts about the changing face of Indiana agritourism as they continue to explore the production of spirits.
The Indiana Uplands Wine Trail is located within the Indiana Uplands American Viticultural Area, a federally recognized grape-growing region established in 2013. The trail wineries include Best Vineyards Winery of Elizabeth; Brown County Winery of Nashville; Butler Winery of Bloomington; French Lick Winery of West Baden Springs; Huber’s Orchard, Winery and Vineyards of Starlight; Oliver Winery of Bloomington; Owen Valley Winery of Spencer, Turtle Run Winery of Corydon and Winzerwald Winery of Bristow.
Uncork the Uplands will take place on July 25, 2015 from 4-7 pm at Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyards located at 19816 Huber Road in Borden, Indiana. Early Bird tickets are $45 (before tax) through July 1 and $60 (before tax) through July 25. For more information about the event, please visit UncorktheUplands.com
Photo Credit: OhKyleL via Compfight cc





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Thursday, July 2, 2015

C’est Bon 2013 Reserve Selection Chardonnay, Oakville


This wine comes from online retailer Invino’s private label. It is their first release from their Reserve Selection portfolio.
C’est Bon 2013 Reserve Selection Chardonnay is from Oakville with fruit from the Money Road Ranch. We brought this with us on our recent rustic cabin trip to West Virginia.
The cooking chores were divided among the group of friends at the outing. For our dinner, Green Dragon and I (actually just her) decided on cedar plank salmon. My task was to build a hardwood fire in an outdoor grill and cook the fish.
It was mighty difficult to get the fire started. Once ignited it burned with intense flames, causing me to cool off with large amounts of chilled white wine.
Once the salmon was done, I expertly transferred it to a serving dish and the cedar plank was soon engulfed in an inferno. We were soon enjoying some (if I do say so myself) wonderfully cooked salmon paired with a great Napa Chardonnay.
The C’est Bon was part of a mystery half-case that I purchased. We aren’t over-the-top Chardonnay fans, but I was pleased to see this high quality Chard. It comes from one of the top sub-regions of California, located right in the center of Napa Valley.
Lightly oaked, the Chardonnay paired well with the smoky seasoning of the salmon. There were flavors of apple and peach leading to a very dry finish.
The bottle retails for $19.99 and I got it for about $15 via the mystery deal. That’s an outstanding value for a solid Napa Chardonnay.
Rating: 3 of 5  Value: 3.5 of 5

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: July 1-4, 2015

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Wednesday, July 1
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. Our Second Annual "Rosé Can You See" Wine Tasting: 1. Mas Carlot 2014 Rosé, 2. Gerard Bertrand 2014 Cote des Roses Rosé, 3. Charles & Charles 2014 Rosé, 4. Domaine Lafond 2014 Tavel Rosé, 5. Mulderbosch 2014 Rosé. $8 flight or nominal fee per sample.
Veritas Cork and Craft, 505 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo – (419) 214- 9463. 5:30 – 7:30 PM. Wednesday Wine Tasting. Come out with friends, have fun, taste good juice! $15 per person.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Premium Wine on the Patio: Pinot Noir and Syrah. Limited to 18 people.
$50 if you pay in advance. $75 day of the event.
Thursday, July 2   
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Happy Independence Day! 1. 2014 Picpoul De Pinet – France, 2. 2014 Domaine De Gournier – Rosé – France, 3. 2013 The Pinot Project – Pinot Noir – California, 4. 2012 Bertrand Stehelin – Le Vin de Pays de Vaucluse – France. $5 flight or nominal fee per sample.

Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6 – 8 PM. Unoaked Chardonnay and Refreshing Wines for Summer: 1. Heidi Schrock Rose Biscaya, 2. Navarro Chardonnay, 3. Hanna Chardonnay, 4. Meiomi Chardonnay, 5. Argyle Chardonnay, 6. Fattoria di Lucignano Chianti Colli Fiorentini, 7. Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas, 8. Big Guy Red. Nominal fee per sample,
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Weekly tasting. Nominal fee per sample.
Noir Fine . Wine and Beer, 1616 East Wooster, Bowling Green, 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample or priced per flight.
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.
Friday, July 3
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. Wine tasting – 4:00 – 7:00 PM.
Saturday, July 4
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. America’s Best Wines. Forget beer this holiday! America makes some amazing wines! Nominal fee per sample.
AREA WINE BARS
  • Veritas Cork and Craft, 505 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo – (419) 214- 9463.
  • Zinful Wine Bar, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.
Technorati Tags: wine
[Information on tastings can be sent toTWAV@ATT.NET.]
Up & Coming:
Tuesdays – Weekly wine tasting at Forrester's on the River, 26 Main St. Toledo – (419) 691-2626. 5:00 – 7:00 PM. Five to six unique tastings of wine, that are not found on the menu, along with an assortment of tapas style appetizers to complement the wines.  Tastings are between $10-$15 per person and are held in their wine bar (Paige's Wine Bar).