I recently heard an interview with Billy Gardell, the star of the hit TV comedy Mike & Molly and Pittsburgh native, telling about a blind wine tasting party that he attended. Every year Louis Mustillo, who plays Vince on the show, throws a party for the cast at his home. Billy brings jazz records from his collection and Lou provides a blind tasting of wines ranging from $15 to $100. Billy said as the evening progressed everyone would sample a wine then he would play a song and they would discuss the wine. At the end of the evening they voted for their favorite wine and every year the $15 bottle has won. Then he did a great “Vince” impression saying “See, I told you the $100 bottle never wins.” I enjoyed hearing this story because it confirmed the foundation on which this blog is built. I have always said “Drink what you like because it doesn’t matter how much a wine costs if you don’t like it then it’s not a good wine for you.” I often have people say to me “I don’t know anything about wine” to which I respond “If it tastes good to you that’s all you need to know.” Billy is hoping that his wife will let him paint the Steeler end zone in his backyard and to that I say “Good Luck Billy.”
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Uptown Funk
From Pittsburgh’s East End the Bridges Wine Company will be bringing their wines to the Pittsburgh Public Market, 2401 Penn Ave. in the Strip District for the next two weekends. Get a taste of what Bridges Wine has to offer on Saturday March 14th & 21st from 9-5 and Sunday March 15th & 22nd from 10-4. The newly released 2014 Washington Moscato will be available for $15 along with the Bridges 2012 Pinot Noir and 2012 Zinfandel. James and Rebecca McCeney will also be offering special discounts on multiple bottle purchases.
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There’s a New Kid in Town
James and Rebecca McCeney celebrate Bridges Wine Co.
There’s a new kid in town and that kid is James McCeney. James has established his Bridges Wine Co. in the Point Breeze section of Pittsburgh on the second floor of a former warehouse at 6901 Lynn Way. McCeney married a local girl and settled in Squirrel Hill after leading the life of a wine vagabond. James was thirteen when he started working summers at a winery which eventually lead him to Napa Valley, California where he attended the University of California, Davis studying viticulture and enology. To take part in two harvests a year he split his time between California, New Zealand and Australia but with his wonderlust still not satisfied he managed to find time to work in Burgundy, France. You are probably are wondering how McCeney produces his wine from the second floor of a warehouse in the East End of Pittsburgh. Bridges wine is fermented in Sonoma, California and shipped to Erie, Pennsylvania for bottling then delivered to Pittsburgh. James hopes to someday consolidate his operations entirely here in Pittsburgh. Bridges Wine Co. has two initial offerings, a 2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and a 2012 Sonoma Valley Zinfandel , both are available online at www.bridgeswineco.com. The 2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is dark, rich and well-balanced with a nose of raspberries, strawberries and vanilla. The palate of spicy cherry is carried on refined tannins and a lively acidity into a long fleshy finish. 2012 Sonoma Valley Zinfandel is a deep purple wine that delivers with aromas of plum, black cherry and Asian spice that leads into flavors of ripe fruit. The structure is one of firm tannins and focused acidity with a hint of French Oak on the finish.
B.W.C. will soon be offering a Muscato that is now in the fermentation stage and is progressing as planned. James wanted to let everyone know that the tasting hours at his Point Breeze tasting room will be 12 pm – 6 pm Wednesday – Saturday and free shipping will be offered for the holidays.
I am happy to welcome James McCeney and his Bridges Wine Company to the winemaking family of Western Pennsylvania and as it is with any large and boisterous family there is always room for one more at the table.
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Greenhouse Winery
My wife and I made our first visit to the Greenhouse Winery a few days ago. As the name would suggest the tasting room and winery are located next to the impressive Hazuza greenhouse that is filled to overflowing with an amazing selection of flowers and vegetables. I talked with Gregg Hazuza, owner and winemaker of Greenhouse Winery, about the progress of his planned expansion. Gregg explained the project has been stalled due to problems getting all the permits approved by several different agencies. He said his contractor is ready to start construction as soon as all the permits are approved. He is planning to add ten jobs when the project is complete and is really happy about the prospect of having more space for the very popular weekly concerts that are now being restricted by the limited parking available at the current site. All the grapes used for winemaking at the Greenhouse Winery are sourced from Pennsylvania vineyards. When asked Gregg confirmed what winemaker Paul Vezzetti of The Vineyard at Hershey had told me earlier this spring about the need to have an established relationship with a grower to ensure access to wine grapes this year. Gregg said he has a good relationship with his supplier and that should guarantee that he will be able to get the grapes he needs for his winemaking operation. His producer also told him that the shortage of grapes will likely extend for two or three years because there was damage to the vines. Gregg will eventually complete his expansion and the grape crop will eventually recover to normal levels because in the wine business patience is a virtue and all good things come to those who are patient enough to wait. Greenhouse Winery 10828 Guffy-Rillton Rd Rillton, PA 724-446-9750 greenhousewinery.com
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Wine Down Wednesday
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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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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Downtown Pittsburgh Celebrates the Holidays
The Pittsburgh Creche
Market Square Lighted Sphere Xmas Tree
PPG Place
Market Square Holiday Marketplace
Free Carriage Rides
PPG Wintergarden
Market Square
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.
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Wrecking Ball
English: Airport in direction of Abidjan for the first amnesty international tour of Africa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Last night we went to the Bruce Springsteen concert at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. I can report that two red Robert Mondavi Wines were available at the Miller Lite Brewhouse Bar on the 200 level in the form of Woodbridge Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. We enjoyed our selection of Merlot served in a lovely clear plastic cup 🙂 as we looked out onto the skyline of the city through the glass walls of the bar. Bruce and his E Street Band are a powerful 17 member band with a five-piece horn section featuring Jake Clemons, the nephew of the late Clarence Clemons. The 63-year-old Springsteen showed incredible energy and stamina throughout his over 3 hour performance. Bruce said it best “I’m an old man but I don’t want to go home. I want to keep on rolling”. During the encore longtime Springsteen friend and Pittsburgh music legend Joe Grushecky and his son Johnny appeared on stage with Bruce much to the delight of the crowd. Reviews have this show as the best he has performed in the “Burgh” and I will echo the wishes of all of his fans that he will keep on rolling for a long time to come.
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