Tag wine tasting

Interview: Dr. Richard Lynn, Greendance The Winery at Sand Hill

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I recently had the good fortune to hear from Dr. Richard Lynn, owner of Greendance The Winery at Sand Hill in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. I appreciate him taking the time from his busy schedule, especially now during the high winter inpatient census and resulting elevated workload, to update me on the status of his vineyard. Rick is also the vintner who oversees the large and diverse plantings surrounding his winery. On a very cold day, a few years ago, he took me out to a block of his Marquette vines that I believe are the largest planting of this cold-hardy hybrid grape variety in Pennsylvania. I was working on an article and had asked him to show me how he pruned his dormant grape vines so they would produce high-quality fruit. We discussed the attributes of the Saperavi grape and how it might be a good complement to the other varieties he was growing. It has been a minute since that frigid winter day in his vineyard, and since then, Rick has added Saperavi to his lineup of grapes along with some other notable additions. With those memories fresh in my mind and a curiosity as to where things stand now, I asked him to bring me up to date on his vines and the near term outlook for his vineyard. 

wpawinepirate: 

How is your Saperavi program progressing, and what other varieties are you planting?

Dr. Rick Lynn:

“My Saperavi story is probably not the one you want to hear, but it’s not over yet.  After our initial trial planting of Saperavi, we had a small harvest 2 years ago and just did a simple fermentation and spent little time tuning it.  It was pretty good, and I think I still have a few bottles left. In the meantime, we have (?wisely) expanded our vineyard areas to be able to produce most of our wine from what we grow here. That required planting blocks of Riesling, Kerner, Sauv Blanc, Cab Franc, and Chardonnay.  This was our 2nd harvest of Riesling in 2025. We had small harvests of Chardonnay from the trial planting and just planted a larger 2A block in 2025.  We had temperatures in the vineyard of -13ºF last winter and did not expect many vinifera buds or vines to survive the insult.  Surprisingly, we had a reasonable harvest of Riesling and Vidal Blanc, and dribbles of Chardonnay, Kerner, and Sauv Blanc, back to the Saperavi. We planted a large block in 2023 and 2024, and the cold event last winter killed at least 30-40% of the vines. I was very surprised that the Saperavi was so selectively affected by the cold event. Possibly, they moved more slowly into the maximal stages of dormancy than the other vinifera.  Most of them were on 3309 roots, and some on Riparia, and I don’t have the data to determine if that was a discriminating variable. Our larger block was half from Wiemer and half from Eric Amberg. My Saperavi replants for 2026 have now been ordered from Eric Amberg and will be on 3309.”

Thank you, Rick, for sharing your candid insights with us. We all look forward to visiting Greendance Winery and Sand Hill Berries. 

greendancewinery.com  sandhillberries.com

Photo Credit: Greendance The Winery At Sand Hill

J. Stephen Casscles Releases Revolutionary “Wine Evaluation Schematic”

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Internationally renowned Heritage grape authority, Steve Casscles, has released an innovative wine evaluation schematic. He has envisioned all the information you need to analyze characteristics of a wide range of wine grape varieties. The how and why Steve created this tool and how to best use it are fascinating. I asked Steve to share the story behind his creation. The following is my verbatim and unedited interview with J. Stephen Casscles. 

“About 20 years ago, when I started to seriously evaluate wines to implement my idea for writing a Cool Climate/Heritage grape book, I was searching for a methodology to accurately evaluate wine and include descriptors that readers could use to understand these wines. There were several charts or aroma wheels that were a model for a good first step to evaluating wines.  However, while good in that they set up a framework for me to evaluate and write down wine descriptors, I found that they were somewhat deficient in the descriptors to be used for wine. Further, they were not organized by the kinds of fruits that were being cited as being in the wine. So I greatly expanded the fruit descriptors. More importantly, most evaluators put too much concentration on aromas/flavors, and not enough on wine texture, and energy on the palate. This Wine Evaluation Schematic brings in considerations such as texture, body, mouth feel, appearance, body, finesse, and how the wine is integrated into one unified taste experience. Also, most charts did not give guidelines to give a wine an “overall score”, so that the evaluator could go back years later to rate that wine with other wines that the evaluator has scored.”   

“It is my goal in releasing this Wine Evaluation Schematic that this Wine Evaluation Schematic is a starting point for each evaluator.  Modify it as you like to fit your needs, and please add your own terms and descriptors. This Wine Evaluation Schematic can be used by individuals who want to appreciate wine, wine educators who want to convey a methodology or a conceptual framework to approach teaching their students about the concepts of how to approach this subject, and wine writers that want to more accurately convey to their readers the wines that they are writing about, and wine judges that evaluate wines for their wine competitions.”    

“Right now, I have approached my wine colleagues in Korea, some of whom own wineries or wine schools, to translate this into the Korean language. Many of the grape varieties grown in New York State are also grown in Korea, so the flavor profiles of our wines are similar in many ways, especially regarding body, mouthfeel, and texture.”

A Winelovers Guide to Lake Erie Wine Country Wineries Part 2

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A big thank you to all my followers and readers for making my latest article “A Winelovers Guide to Lake Erie Wine Country” a resounding success. It garnered the most daily views of any post on the day it was published. I am following it up with a second installment that highlights five more exceptional wineries in Lake Erie Wine Country. 

As one of the newest wineries in Lake Erie Wine Country, Cellar54 is continuing to evolve and define its identity. Their table wines are made from grapes grown on the shores of Lake Erie and range from sweet to semi-sweet. 9368 W. Law Rd North East.  http://cellar54wines.com 814-572-9280

Lakeview Wine Cellars is a small boutique winery producing a limited number of premium wines made from locally sourced grapes. Check out their wine bottle-shaped pond while you sip wine on their covered patio.  http://lakeviewwinecellars.com 8440 Singer Rd North East  814-725-4440

For over fifty-four years Presque Wine Cellars has been producing award-winning wines from big bold reds to their famous ice wines. Visit their tasting room, The Isle House at 9440 West Main Rd North East. It offers a full menu of wine, wine slushies, spirits, and local craft beer. http://piwine.com 814-725-1314

Yori Wine Cellars is a family-built winery that started as a hobby in their hundred-year-old cellar and grew into a winery that makes over 25 varieties of wine and vineyards growing 15 grape varieties. Their tasting room is located adjacent to their Micheal’s Italian Restaurant. http://yoriwinecellars.com 18 South Lake Street North East 814-725-8466

Driftwood Wine Cellars is a family-owned and operated winery near North East with a storefront/tasting room at 20 E. Main St North East provides guests a relaxed gathering place for family and friends. 814-347-5292 http://driftwoodwinecellars.com

The wineries I have highlighted in these posts are just ten of the twenty-one-member wineries in  Lake Erie Wine Country. There is always something happening because wine trail members participate in the many themed events that Lake Erie Wine Country hosts throughout the year and hold their own activities. Visit the L.E.W.C. website event page to see the roster of events https://www.lakeeriewinecountry.org/events/winery-events

With a little research and planning you can enjoy endless adventures in Lake Erie Wine Country.  Photo Credit: http://lakeeriewinecountry.com

Review: Zaccardi Q Cabernet Franc Valle De Uco-Mendoza 2021

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Zuccardi Q Cabernet Franc Valle De Uco – Mendoza 2021 

Zuccardi is my go-to Argentina winery for dependable high-quality wines at a fair price. They are a multi-generational producer located in the Mendoza Region. This was the first time I tried a Zuccardi Q Cabernet Franc but it won’t be the last. I plan on having a few bottles on hand for when I want a solid food-friendly weeknight wine. 

Everything about this wine is in balance, from its understated acidity, smooth tannins, and restrained red fruit flavors that are carried on a medium dry body and then showcased in a dark purple/red colored wine in your glass. 

Grapes for this Cab Franc were harvested from two unique vineyards in the Andes Uco Valley. The Paraje Altamira vineyard is 3600 feet above sea level (F.A.S.L.), and the San Pablo vineyard is 4500 F.A.S.L. I purchased my bottle at a Pennsylvania Fine Wine & Good Spirits store as a “Chairman’s Selection” offering for the bargain price of $12.99, but it can be readily found in the $20 range. 

I recently reviewed two Cab Francs from Chateau Niagara in New York. Although this Zaccardi Q wasn’t as big or as complex as the Chateau Niagara Cabernet Franc Reserve Review: Chateau Niagara Cabernet Franc Reserve 2022 or Cabernet Franc Appassimento Review: Chateau Niagara Cabernet Franc Appassimento 2023 it certainly deserves a place on your dinner table.

A Winelovers Guide to Western Pennsvlvania Wineries Part 1

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If you have ever found yourself staring out the window and daydreaming about relaxing at a little bistro table sipping a glass of wine while overlooking a serene vineyard, you are not alone. Wine lovers in Western Pennsylvania need not lament the false notion that they must pack their bags and travel hundreds or thousands of miles to live that dream. 

Pennsylvania is home to more than four hundred wineries and over fourteen thousand acres of vineyards. Some of the very best are located on the western side of the state. The wineries are as unique as the wines they make. The following suggestions are just a starting point. The real fun comes in exploring all this region has to see and do. 

Guests at Ripepi Winery & Vineyard in Monongahela can enjoy the tranquil ten-acre vineyard from a Tuscan-inspired winery as they savor a glass of their estate-made wine.  Owner/winemaker Rich Ripepi founded his landmark winery in 1987. Today, it is a family legacy he shares with his winemaker/sommelier daughter Janelle Ripepi D’Eramo, and winemaker son Dr. Daniel Ripepi. They host a fun “Happy Hour” event every second Friday of the month. http://ripepiwine.com 724-292-8351

Traveling to Mount Pleasant you will find Greendance The Winery at Sand Hill. Greendance Winery is part of Sand Hill Berries, a small family-owned farm that specializes in berries, especially raspberries. You might recognize them from their raspberry specialty desserts booth at festivals. The winery and its grounds are set in the idyllic Laurel Highlands countryside. Stop by anytime to enjoy the rural ambiance but if you visit on a summer weekend you will be treated to live music as you unwind with a bottle of their wine. http://greendancewinery.com 724-547-6500

Up we go into the Allegheny Mountains to Chalk Hill where we arrive at Christian K. Klay Winery. A visit to Christian K. Klay Winery and its adjacent Ridge Runner Distillery will surely include wine, spirits, and beautiful vistas. http://christianklaywinery.com 724-439-3424

Bella Terra Vineyards in Hunker is easily accessible and has ample parking plus plenty of inside and outside areas making it a favorite meeting place for friends and family. Check their website for the many special events on the calendar. http://bellaterravineyards.com 724-635-3658

If you are looking for a twist on your usual night out then the City Winery is the place for you. Unlike the other wineries mentioned, City Winery is on Smallman St in Pittsburgh’s “Strip District”. It is a winery, restaurant, and event center that promotes live music, comedy shows, and wine events. http://citywinery.com/pittsburgh 412-246-1000

These are only a few suggestions to pique your interest. I will add new wineries for you to try in future posts. I urge you to do a little research on the Internet, and I’m sure you will be surprised by the number of interesting options you will discover in your area. Have fun, and always drink responsibly. Cheers!

Photo Credit: (Left To Right) Ripepi Winery & Vineyard, Bella Terra Vineyards, Greendance Winery

Book Review: Corkscrew by Peter Stratford-Bow

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Corkscrew is the highly improbable but occasionally true, tale of a professional wine buyer by Peter Stratford-Bow

This humorous novel follows the exploits of a young English wine buyer as he navigates an unlikely journey around the world of wine while trying to advance his career by any means possible. The author claims there is some truth in his characters and their adventures but if it is even only a small grain of it he is lucky to have survived to pen this story. By reading between the lines you get a glimpse into how some of the wines you find on the shelves of your favorite wine shop get there. The absurd situations the ascending young wine buyer finds himself in are hilarious. The way he extricates himself from them for his benefit will have you shaking your head in disbelief and laughter. I also learned a lot of British slang by reading the book which would have taken me months to pick up working on the docks in the Port of Felixstowe. This book will make you howl and keep you interested from start to finish because there is nothing about the plot, if there is one, that is predictable. Buckle up and hold on because you are in for one wild ride. 

 

Days of Wine and Cheeses: Finale

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Parmigiano-Reggiano is called by some “The finest cheese in the world.” Parmigiano-Reggiano is made in Italy from raw cow milk under strict adherence to a prescribed procedure. To harden the young cheese’s rind, it is left in brine for three weeks or more before being allowed to age from twelve months to three years. A wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano weighs eighty-five pounds and goes from an ivory paste color when young to an amber gold when mature. Don’t cut this cheese, use a blunt knife that will break it into chunks thus preserving its signature texture. You will need a medium to full-bodied red to pair with this cheese. Brunello di Montalcino, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Zinfandel would be a great pairing.

Original Blue is a raw cow milk aged blue cheese made by the Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company and is the only blue cheese made in California. The morning milk is taken directly from the milking parlor to the cheesemaker where it is cultured, coagulated with rennet, and inoculated with Penicillium roqueforti. As the cheese ages, it develops the characteristic blue-gray veins that give blue cheese its name and distinctive taste. Pair a French Pinot Gris or dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes of New York. I have also found Champagne is an excellent pairing because it cleanses your palate. 

Manchego is Spain’s most famous cheese. It is made from raw or pasteurized sheep milk but most of Manchego today is made on an industrial scale using pasteurized sheep milk. You can find year-old Manchego at cheese shops in the U.S.  This aged version of Manchego has a firm dry interior that is ivory to light yellow in color. It is best served with something sweet to contrast its tangy salty bite. Quince paste is usually served as the sweet accompaniment. Manchego pairs well with a Rioja from its homeland of Spain. Think tapas on a beautiful evening in Barcelona when selecting a wine.   

I hope you enjoyed my posts on pairing wine and cheese as much as I enjoyed writing them. Cheers!

Photo Credit: Gourmetfoodstore.com, PointReyesCheese.com, and almagourmet.com

Review: Bogle Merlot 2018

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Are you looking for an “Everyday” Merlot that won’t break the bank? An “Everyday” wine is one that is dependable, has an excellent quality-to-price ratio, pairs well with your favorite foods, can be easily found, and most of all one you enjoy drinking. Bogle Merlot 2018 checks all of these boxes and is very popular because it does. 

Bogle Merlot 2018 is a California Merlot from the Clarksburg Region. It has flavors of black fruit, vanilla, and oak with balanced acidity and approachable tannins. Bogle ages all of its red wines in oak barrels for twelve months. This practice is a rarity for a producer of this scale. I purchased my bottle for $12.99 at a Pennsylvania P.L.C.B. store but you can find it for less from other sources. Its 13.5 A.B.V. gives this Red a little “Jump” so be careful it can fool you. Just sayin!

Review: Ménage à Trois “Silk” Soft Red Blend 2020

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A few posts ago I wrote about mass-produced and widely distributed wines. To prove I just don’t “Talk the talk but walk the walk” I bought a bottle of Mènage à Trois “Silk” Soft Red Blend 2020 to review. This is one of the offerings from the immensely popular Ménage à Trois label of  Folie à Deux. Ménage à Trois is a St. Helena California winery. Mènage à Trois “Silk” Soft Red Blend 2020 is a blend of separately fermented Pinot Noir, Malbec, and Petite Sirah with a light oak flavor from the time it spent in French and American oak. “Silk” Soft Red Blend is a ruby red color in the glass with muted floral aromas followed by flavors of cherry and spice with both medium body and acidity. If you like a sweet light-bodied wine this wine is NOT for you. If you like a big California Cab this wine is NOT for you. If you want a red wine that is right down the middle in its body, fruit flavors, acidity, and economy priced then this wine is one you should take a close look at. I paired it with grilled steak and it was an acceptable match. I purchased it for $13.99 in Pennsylvania but it can usually be found for around $10-$15. http://menageatroiswines.com  

I Regret Nothing!

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After seeing how well a couple of my posts on Instagram (@rich_wpawinepirate_ ) were received I realized a lot of people were just as curious as I was about the wine they sell on QVC. I posted a bottle pix of Kevin O’Leary’s Malbec and Rosé. Like me, everyone had seen his wines being presented and wondered after listening to him hype the virtues of his wine if they might be an interesting wine to try. I know all too well the risks of buying “processed wines” as they are now being called. You might remember them as “industrial wine.” With that being said, this type of wine is widely distributed, readily available, and enjoyed by millions.

I ordered the Kevin O’Leary Fine Wines Reserve Series Malbec Argentina 2020 and the Kevin O’Leary Fine Wines Reserve Series Rosé Vintage 2019, to be exact. O’Leary wine is sold as groupings or as three bottles of a single variety. The wine arrived promptly, well-packed, and cost about $15 a bottle when purchased from QVC.

The Malbec has a light/medium body and wasn’t overly dry with “middle of the road” acidity. This wine is best suited for an evening of grilling on the deck with family and friends. Rosé was my favorite. It is a very drinkable wine with a lighter body and a touch of sweetness. The most noticeable feature of this Rosé is its inviting vivid color. Kevin mentioned in his sales pitch that it is a blend of seven grape varieties and you can taste that because no one variety stands out, it is truly a blend.

If you are feeling adventurous and want to try some of “Mr. Wonderful” wine I would suggest starting with his Rosé. It is not a serious wine and can be enjoyed either alone as you relax at the end of the day or paired with lighter fare on a picnic in the country. You don’t have to over think these wines.