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.
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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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Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Dinner
Seven Springs Mountain Resort will be hosting the Chateau Ste. Michelle Vineyards Wine Dinner in their Slopeside restaurant at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday March 20th, 2013. This dinner will feature a wine pairing for each course from the Chateau Ste. Michelle winery. I have posted the menu for your convenience. Reservations can be made by calling 800-452-2223 ext.6000. Seven Springs Mountain Resort is at 777 Waterwheel Dr. Seven Springs, Pa 15622. 
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Campo Maccione Morellino di Scansano 2008
Campo Maccione Morellino di Scansano 2008
This is a hidden gem that comes from the southwestern Tuscan town of Scansano. Morellino is the name for Sangiovese in Scansano but no matter what you call this red blend the one thing you will be calling it is delicious. Rocca delle Macìe produces this solid but modestly priced red blend that is softer and rounder than the wines from Chianti because the Zingarelli family vineyards are located further south in a more moderate climate that is warmer and drier. Best described as fruity and finely balanced this medium bodied offering has a nice finish that can be paired with a diverse menu. Pasta, pizza, roasted or grilled meats and aged cheeses are just some of the pairings that this food friendly wine can be served with to showcase its best qualities. When you start with a price that is easy on the wallet then add a taste profile that is easy on the palate what you will certainly end up with is a sure winner like Campo Maccione Morellino di Scansano 2008
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Free Finger Lakes Travel Magazine
Photo Courtesy Finger Lakes Wine Country
Anyone considering a possible trip to the Finger Lakes Region of New York should request this informative free guide. Simply go to the website www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com and select “Plan” from the toolbar then scroll down to the submission form or click on the picture of the magazine, if you prefer the human touch you can call Morgen, Christina, Teresa or Ginny at 800-813-2958 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday. While you are on the site consider subscribing to any of the free e-newsletters offering a wide spectrum of topics that will interest any visitor. The current 2012 digital issue of Finger Lakes Wine Country Magazine is also available for download from this site as well as a free Finger Lakes Travel app for your mobile device, which can prove to be invaluable while exploring the region. The information that you can obtain from the magazine and website can be very helpful but the real fun begins when you visit and begin discovering something new around ever turn.
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Hot to Trot Red Blend
Hot to Trot Red Blend Photo Courtesy: 14 Hands Vineyard
The 14 Hands Vineyard in Paterson, Washington produces one of the best blended red wines made in the United States. This red was once only available to restaurants in selected markets but now can be found in wide distribution due to overwhelming demand. Hot to Trot is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvgion, Mourverde and Petite Verdot grapes harvested from vineyards in several of Washington’s AVA regions including Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope and the Yakima Valley. It is made using techniques that are usually reserved for more expensive wines, these include cold soaking, performing a daily pump-over to extract color and flavor followed by aging in both French and American oak barrels. This extra care produces a medium body red wine with flavors of very lightly oaked red berries and dark fruit with a hint of vanilla giving way to refined supple tannins followed by a pleasant lingering spice and mocha finish. Reds from WashingtonState can be pricey but this blend always delivers a well crafted wine at a great price and its ability to pair flawlessly with a range of food makes it very difficult to beat. 14 Hands Hot to Trot Red Blend can be found at P.L.C.B. stores for $12.99 with the product code 5213. I suggest using the in store product locator on the website www.finewineandgoodspirits.com to check for availability of this wine because of demand.
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Bidding is Now Open!
All Materials Courtesy of Morrell & Company Fine Wine Auction
Have you ever wanted to bid on a great bottle of wine offered at a wine auction but could not stand the thought of sitting in a room filled with wine snobs while holding a little paddle with a number on it. If your answer is yes then you are in luck because Morrell & Company Fine Wine Auction is conducting an internet only auction on Wednesday February 27th at 10:30 a.m.(EST) on their website www.morrellwineauctions.com. Bids may only be placed by absentee bid and live bid. Absentee bids may be placed now and the live bidding will be available online at the commencement of the auction. To participate go to the website and register, peruse the catalog of offerings then place a bid if you find something you like. If you intend to bid live, Morrell recommends using their Live Bidding Simulator to check your computers compatibility to prevent any issues when live bidding starts. Need more information? Call 212-307-4200
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Paris of Appalachia
Photo courtesy: Bridge Ten Brasserie
I have often heard people refer to Pittsburgh using this “Left Handed” compliment and I can’t understand why there should be any negative connotation attached to it. Being compared to the “City of Light” can only be viewed as a ringing endorsement for the cultural achievements of the city. Dave DeSimone has brought his love of France to life at 20 S. 10th St. in the South Side of Pittsburgh through his restaurant Bridge Ten Brasserie. Bridge Ten Brasserie has captured the feeling of a French brasserie with its menu of hearty yet simply elegant selections that are sure to please any French food lovers palate. The wine list is exemplary and reflects Dave’s encyclopedic knowledge of French wine and their proper food pairings. The choices from the Parisian themed cocktail menu can easily spark vivid memories of an evening spent on The Champs-Élyées. If you would like more information on Bridge Ten Brasserie it can be found at www.bridgeten.com or by calling 412-586-5033
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Alta Vista Malbec Mendoza Serenade Vineyard 2009
Vineyard in Mendoza Province, Argentina. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I received a comment recently on my post “Bodega Goulart The Marshall Malbec 2009” from Erika Goulart the owner of the Bodega Goulart Winery in the Mendoza region of Argentina. She thanked me for commenting about her wine and wished me well. This particular post is the most viewed of all my posts and receives views nearly everyday, so with this in mind I will be modifying my subjects to better match the interests of my readers.
Alta Vista Malbec Mendoza Serenade Vineyard 2009 continues the long tradition of Mendoza Malbec but is a little stronger in structure and has more than ample alcohol content at 15.5%. This wine can be best described as rich and dense with aromas of vanilla mixed with wild berries. The flavors are as deep as one would expect with chocolate and blackberry giving way to oaked cedar then finishing with a spicy bite. Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate gave this vintage a 94 point rating which makes the P.L.C.B. price of $39.99 reasonable. The P.L.C.B. website www.finewineandgoodspirits.com can be used to locate this wine by using the product code 39823.
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Vina Cobos Bramare Malbec La Consulta Rebon 2009
Vina Cobos Bramare Malbec La Consulta Rebon 2009
I usually do not buy a wine with this many words in its name especially when I can not pronounce most of them but I was intrigued by the back story and origins of this Malbec. The Malbec grape is not native to Argentina but was introduced into the region from its homeland of France about 150 years ago, the vines quickly found their new home a perfect match and the rest is history that is still being made today. This Malbec is more complex than the Appellation Malbec with its aroma of exotic spices and floral notes. Dark violet tones treat the eye as the muscular palate of plum, raspberry and black licorice fill your mouth letting you know that this is a seriously complex wine. The finish can only be described as complex and long with rich pliant tannins. The grapes are the key here and are sourced from the Marchiori Vineyard and other properties within Mendoza. The word complex comes up often when describing this Malbec because so many factors come into play during its production not the least being that it is aged 18 months in 100% new Taransaud French oak and then bottled unfined and unfiltered. Wine Advocate gave this 2009 vintage a 94 point rating and commented that it needed to unwind 2-3 years making its cellar life 2014-2024. I am sure it will age wonderfully but I don’t like to wait so I aerated it and it opened up nicely with plenty of aroma. The P.L.C.B. has this wine in limited availability and is most easily purchased through their website www.finewineandgoodspirits.com. The product code is 39329 and the price is more than the normal price of the wines I review at $54.99.
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