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Winter at Standing Stone Winery

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Wine Barrels Photo Courtesy Standing Stone Winery

Wine Barrels  Photo Courtesy Standing Stone Winery

I have just heard from Martha Macinski or Marti as she is known to everyone in the Finger Lakes.  She updated me on the happenings around the Standing Stone Winery that she and her husband Tom have owned since 1991.  They have just finished pressing frozen grapes to make Riesling Ice and Vidal Ice.  The grapes are not picked frozen but are picked as late harvest and then frozen commercially so that they may be pressed to make Ice wine.  The Riesling Ice 2012, Vidal Ice 2011 and the Riesling 2012 are all ready and will be bottled in early March.  One of the nice things about stopping by the tasting room during the winter is that there are fewer people visiting so Marti and her staff will have more time to talk and share details about the wine.  The vineyard crew is busy fixing any trellis components that have broken over the previous growing season.  Pruning will start in February and after that task is completed the vines will be tied up before bud break in the spring.  There was some concern that the recent spike in temperatures would reduce the snow cover that protects the vineyard during the winter but the cold nights and the return of normal winter weather prevented any damage to the vines.  Marti made me laugh when she told me that ” You would be surprised how much work it is to taste 10 barrels of Standing Stone Saperavi.”  I know it is a tough job but I guess someone has to do it :-).  They will be bottling some 2010 and 2012 wines in April and May with the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon and the Merlot being of reserve status and reportedly delicious!  Thanks to Marti for keeping me informed on the latest news from Standing Stone Winery which is on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake in Hector, NY.  If you want more info you can visit the website www.Standingstonewines.com or go to their Facebook page.

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La Casa Narcisi Winery Regional Italian Dinner

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Vendors still go door-to-door in Civita , Calabria Italy. Photo Courtesy: About.com

Vendors still go door-to-door in Civita , Calabria Italy. Photo Courtesy: About.com

     Narcisi Winery will be holding its monthly wine dinner on Thursday January 31st at 6:30 pm at the winery on 4578 Gibsonia Road in Gibsonia Pa.  The 4 course dinner will be featuring the Calabria region and will include wine pairings, pictures and great conversation about the area.  The cost is $55 per person + tax and gratuity, for more information and to make the required reservations call 724-444-4744.  Narcisi will also be offering a 10 week beginner Italian language class starting on March 6th.  I find this to be a unique endeavor for a winery but a wonderful opportunity for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the Italian culture.  A complimentary glass of wine and an appetizer at the start of every class will get everyone in the mood to impara i’Italiano!  

Mad Dog 20-20

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MD 20-20 Photo courtesy MD 20-20

MD 20-20 Photo courtesy MD 20-20

     When you are out with friends and want to make them laugh, you might want to ask “Should we get a Pinot, Cabernet or maybe a nice bottle of Thunderbird or Wild Irish Rose?”  This will surly elicit the polite knowing snickers of someone who has sipped from a hi-proof wine bottle in their youth.  These wines have been around a long time and they will not be leaving the shelves anytime soon, much to the dismay of the fine wine crowd.  The names are iconic and well-known to the entire vertical scale of American culture.  The names include MD 20-20 and its many classic fluorescent manifestations starting with Banana Red, Electric Melon, Orange Jubilee, Peaches & Cream, Strawberry-Kiwi and  Red, also equally notable are Richards Wild Irish Rose and Night Train Express but the granddaddy of them all is Thunderbird.  I was very disappointed recently to learn that Boones Farm Strawberry Hill and the multitude of flavor choices it spawned was in fact a malt beverage!(Is nothing sacred these days).  We laugh about these products but they are still here because they provide a steady and reliable revenue stream to their producers unlike the Fine Wine business that is at the mercy of harvest quality, the skill of the wine makers and the opinions of the critics.  With that in mind may I suggest that it may be time to roll down the top of your paper bag, crack open the screw top and ENJOY!!! 

DaVinci Chianti D.O.C.G.

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DaVinci Chianti Photo Courtesy DaVinci Wines

DaVinci Chianti Photo Courtesy DaVinci Wines

     I like to try new wines but I also like wines that have a proven track record of high quality and consistency.  DaVinci Chiantis are all in this category because they always provide dependable results at a fair price.  DaVinci Chianti D.O.C.G. is the lowest priced offering from the DaVinci family of wines selling at the P.L.C.B. store for $10.99 (product code 9380) which is a $4 savings from the retail price.  This Chianti is made from 90% Sangiovese grapes and 10% Merlot grapes with produce a medium weight wine with a deep crimson color.  The grapes are crushed and fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks and left to ferment to a dry wine for eight days, then 15% of the batch is aged for six months in new and used American oak barrels to add complexity.  When recombined the resulting wine exhibits jammy flavors of ripe plums, cherries and red fruit along with round tannins that linger in a soft peppery and mineral finish.  The traditional pairing of pasta and meat dishes work well here and remember to serve this wine at slightly below room temperature to enjoy its complete taste palate.

Happy New Year!!!

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English: Image of comet C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake),...

Image of comet C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake),  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Happy New Year!  Wishing you Good Health, Prosperity and Great Wine in 2013.     Cheers!

Lakeview Festival of Food & Wine

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At San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival.

Wine & Food Festival. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa in Morgantown, W.V. will be hosting their 29th Annual Festival of Food & Wine January 18-20, 2013.  The theme this year is “The Art of Entertaining” and will feature culinary workshops, cooking classes, gourmet food and wine tastings.  The annual Iron Chef competition will once again be contested by a field of celebrity chefs.  Weekend and day resort packages are available, for more information call 800-624-8300 or visit http://www.LakeviewResort.com

Merry Christmas

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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Merry Christmas  and a Happy New Year to everyone!

Second Label Value

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Overture Photo Courtesy Opus One

Overture Photo Courtesy Opus One

CRU Photo courtesy Vineyard 29

CRU Photo Courtesy Vineyard 29

     There is real value to be found inside the bottles of the second label offerings of famous wineries.  These are very well-made wines by renowned wine makers that do not quite meet the high standards required for being sold under the flagship label of the winery.  The November 2012 issue of Men’s Journal Magazine had an interesting article on this category of wines.  Stoney Hill Winery is one of this country’s greatest white wine estates with  their flagship label Stoney Hill Chardonnay costing $42 but the second label is SHV Chardonnay that can be yours for only $24.  Opus One is well-known to everyone with the 2009 vintage selling for $225 but did you know that Overture is their second label and is only $80.  You can buy a bottle of Vineyard 29 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon for $225 or go with the second label CRU Cabernet Sauvignon for $54.  Great values can be found with some research and if you want to do some detective work who knows what wine secrets you will uncover.  Here is an example of a great value that could be easily overlooked by the uninformed wine shopper.  Boekenhoutsko is one of South Africa’s top producers and it’s flagship label sales for $45 but their secondary is called The Wolftrap 2010 and retails for $8.  Second label wines are an affordable alternative to their big-name and highly touted first label counterparts and can competently fill the need when a well made wine at a reasonable price is the challenge presented to you.  

 

Something Different

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Pinot Grigio

2011 Volere Pinot Grigio

2011 Volere Rose

2011 Volere Rose

     I have to tip my hat to Volére for the imaginative packaging of a box wine trio that was perfectly timed for the holiday season.  The wine business is extremely competitive and it is very hard to grab a consumers attention but this innovative idea does just that.  Volére has packaged three selections in a box that looks like a designer purse with details which include a color coordinated handle, hang tag and a zipper printed on the top of the purse.  The box contains 1.5 liter of either a 2011 Pinot Grigio, Rosé or Red Blend and is list priced at $14.99.  My wife purchased a few as hostess gifts that she will give out this holiday season.  I forgot to mention that the spout pulls out of the end of the box/purse, so it can serve on the go or from the shelf of your refrigerator.

Downtown Pittsburgh Celebrates the Holidays

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The Pittsburgh Creche

The Pittsburgh Creche

Market Square Lighted Sphere Xmas Tree

Market Square Lighted Sphere Xmas Tree

PPG Place

PPG Place

Market Square Holiday Marketplace

Market Square Holiday Marketplace

Free Carriage Rides

Free Carriage Rides

PPG Wintergarden

PPG Wintergarden

Market Square

Market Square

Ice Rink & Christmas Tree PPG Place

Ice Rink & Christmas Tree PPG Place

Downtown Pittsburgh celebrates the Holiday Season every weekend after “Light-Up Night” by offering a family friendly environment filled with plenty of Christmas themed events that showcase its unique personality.  I have posted a sampling of photos that will give you a feel for the type of activities that are available.  Parking is free at all the city owned garages, a free “Holly Trolley” shuttles visitors between venues, free horse-drawn carriage rides are offered, you can ice skate around the Christmas Tree in PPG Place and my favorite “The Pittsburgh Crèche” which is the only authorized replica of the Vatican’s Christmas Crèche that is on display at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.