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A to Z Rose

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Photo Courtesy: A to Z WineWorks

Photo Courtesy: A to Z WineWorks

     With summer fast approaching I have decided to revisit a recommendation I made last year for my favorite summertime wine Rosé.  This wine is a perfect fit for an idyllic afternoon spent sitting on a blanket spread out on a lush green lawn under a shade tree with a picnic basket full of artisan cheeses, fresh fruit and a loaf of hard-crusted bread.  I like this Rosé because it is full of flavor and made to please with a slightly complex mid-palate that remains bright and juicy while filled with a virtual produce stand of red fruit flavors.  A to Z Rosé first catches your eye with its beautiful magenta color then tickles your nose with the aromas of strawberries, red currants, raspberries, peach and watermelon while finally winding it all up with a crisp clean finish.  There is no wine as closely associated with summer as Rosé, so when you pull out the shorts and sandals add in a bottle of Oregon-made A to Z Wineworks Rosé, you won’t be sorry you did! 

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Wine Down Wednesday

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English: this is a new version of the bossa no...

English: this is a new version of the bossa nova pattern, written in 2/4 which is typical of Brazilian charts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 

 

     First Commonwealth will be hosting Wine Down Wednesday this Wednesday, April 24th from 6-8 P.M. at Bossa Nova 123 Seventh St in Downtown Pittsburgh.  The event benefits the American Heart Association’s “Go Red For Women”.  The evening will feature a buffet of appetizers, light dinner fare, wine & spirits and dessert.  Activities will include a silent auction for gift baskets and packages with themes as well as salsa dancing.  Tickets are $45 each and $80 per couple and can be purchased at www.blacktie-pittsburgh.com/tickets/index.cfm

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Bodegas Arrayan Premium Red Blend 2005

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16052010      This proprietary red blend provides a complexity that can’t be matched by comparable mono-varietals because it has a powerful blend of 55% Syrah, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot coupled with 14 months of aging in new French oak behind it.  After starting with an aroma of sweet fruit, it is no surprise that the palate is one of lush black fruit which remains very persistent on your tongue and is then matched by the even longer finish.  This cuvee would be an excellent addition to a steak dinner or a nice complement to an evening spent entertaining around your homes outdoor space while you maximize the culinary potential of your grill.  Wine Advocate gave this wine a 93 point rating and it can be found in select P.L.C.B. stores at a discounted price of $24.99 with the product code 032370.  P.L.C.B. lists the quoted price at $45.00 but I managed to find it listed on Amazon wine for $39.99 making the $24.99 price a very good deal for a wine of this caliper.  The Arrayán family of wines are produced by La Casa de Las Cuatro Rayas in the Méntrida region of Spain.

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Spring Daffodil Dinner Details!

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Greendance is located just outside the town of Mount Pleasant, Pa on Rte 819 at 306 Deerfield Road and can be found at http://www.Greendancewinery.com.

Greendance - The Winery at Sand Hill's avatarGreendance

Daffodil Dinner

To attend please call, 724-547-6500   *Space is limited*

*Cost of attendance can be refunded up to 48 hours prior to event, after that time the cost is non-refundable. Thank you.

 

 Menu

Amuse Bouche ~ Organic Truffled Eggs – Horseradish Fluff

Salmon Tataki ~ Seared Salmon – Spring Veggies – Watercress Sauce

Wild Mushroom Risotto – Organic Pork Belly ~ Arborio Rice – Forest Mushroom

Creme of Potato & Laurel Mountains Ramps ~ Somerset Potatoes – Stream Side Ramps – Beet Chips

Olive Oil Poached Asparagus ~ Fried Torn Bread – Prosciutto – Aged Balsamic Vinegar

Intermezzo ~ Artisan Cheese – Raw Honey – Raisins on Vine

Braised Boneless Short Rib ~ Tomato – Organic Beef Short Ribs – Spring Onion Potatoes

Sand Hill Berries Dessert

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The Pennsylvania Winery Association

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Photo Courtesy: Pennsylvania Winery Association

Photo Courtesy: Pennsylvania Winery Association

      The Pennsylvania Winery Association has a very useful and informative website and you can get access to it by going to http://www.pennsylvaniawine.com..  Starting on the homepage you can explore many interesting features including an extensive list of winery events for the upcoming year plus trip planning info coupled with downloadable winery maps available under the Trip Planner tab.  Pennsylvania is divided into seven wine growing regions with my favorite designation being the “Groundhog Region”.  Let France have Bordeaux and Italy have Tuscany, give me that Groundhog A.V.A..  Pennsylvania is home to eleven wine trails and P.W.A. reports that there are one hundred twenty-three wineries in the Commonwealth.  While you are visiting the site take the opportunity to add your e-mail address to their e-mail list or consider following them on Twitter.  The Pennsylvania Winery Association has done an excellent job with their website and it will certainly offer anyone researching it with an insight into the state’s wineries that isn’t available anywhere else.  http://www.pennsylvaniawine.com   

Happy Easter

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Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglica...

Stained glass at St John the Baptist’s Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus’ description of himself “I am the Good Shepherd” (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: “To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Wishing Everyone God’s Blessing for a Joyous Easter.

Goulart Winery

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     The Goulart Winery is a partnership between Mauricio Parodi and Erika Goulart.  Mauricio Parodi is one of the most knowledgeable and accomplished agronomist in Mendoza and Erika Goulart, whose grandfather lead the overthrow of the Brazilian government in the 1932 Constitutional Revolution.  Erika is a successful entrepreneur who with the help of Mauricio resurrected her grandfathers Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Mendoza that were originally planted in 1915.  It took six years to rehabilitate the vineyards back to the point of perfect balance that is necessary to produce high quality wine and after the enlightened hiring of Luis Barrund all the pieces were in place for a world-class winery.  Goulart wines have been hard to find, especially in Pennsylvania, below I have posted the New Vintage releases for the United States so you can focus your search for the wines of this exceptional producer.  You can visit www.fincalugildegoulart.com.ar or click the link to the left to visit Erika’s Facebook page for more information that also includes the releases for Europe, Asia and South America.  

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Goulart Winery Labels

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Photo Courtesy: Goulart Winery

Photo Courtesy: Goulart Winery

Photos Courtesy: Goulart Winery

Photos Courtesy: Goulart Winery

Photo Courtesy: Goulart Winery

Photo Courtesy: Goulart Winery

Photo Courtesy: Goulart Winery

Photo Courtesy: Goulart Winery

Wine Tasting at Westmoreland County Courthouse

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     Westmoreland Community Action will be hosting its Eleventh Annual Wine Tasting Event on Friday, April 12, 2013 from 4:30pm to 8:30pm at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in downtown Greensburg.  Tickets for this event are $45 in advance or $50 at the door and can be purchased by calling Jennifer Kemer at 724-834-1260 ext. 153. Visit their Facebook page for more information.

Vina Equia Rioja Reserva 2007

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Vina Equia Rioja Reserva 2007

Vina Equia Rioja Reserva 2007

I believe that sitting around a table covered with tapas while surrounded by friends and enjoying a high quality Rioja is a memorable pleasure that everyone should get the chance to experience.  When you find yourself in this situation I hope that your wine glass is filled with Viña Equía Rioja Reserva 2007.  This Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain will not disappoint with its tight structure, great balance and smooth tannins framed by a noticeable acidity.  The bright cherry red color of this Rioja leads you flawlessly into a complex palate of red fruits and spice followed by a long finish to be savored with classic tapas fare.  This offering received a 92 point rating from both The Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator.  I have found that it pairs surprisingly well with chocolate, but I have had several people highly recommend it as an excellent choice to serve with lamb.  The real mystique of Rioja is that they are superb wines at a reasonable price, pair well with small plates and can set your imagination free to enjoy the simple pleasures around you or allow you to picture yourself in the green mountians of Basque country. 

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