Tag wine tasting

Courtyard Winery 2015 Chambourcin

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Courtyard Winery 2015 Chambourcin

     As we approached Northeast, Pa. during our recent visit to the Lake Erie Wine Region we were greeted by the obligatory downpour. Luckily, it was brief and by the time we pulled into the parking lot of Courtyard Winery the skies had already begun to clear. I had never been to Courtyard and was eager to taste their wines. The tasting room was very well designed with two bars, one for sweet and the other for dry. The classically styled wine library is decorated with wine barrels and the walls are covered by racks of archived wines. 

After tasting several of their dry Reds I decided on a wine that would be a perfect complement to picnic fare, Courtyard 2015 Chambourcin. This wine is barrel aged to help reduce the naturally high acidity of this grape. Courtyard 2015 Chambourcin is an easy drinking wine with red fruit flavors, light tannins and a smooth finish. Chambourcin pairs well with grilled meats or pasta with red sauce. The bright acidity and lighter body makes this Pa. Lake Erie wine similar to Pinot Noir in structure.

     Lake Erie Wine Country stretches almost 50 miles along the southern shore of Lake Erie between Harborcreek, Pennsylvania and Silver Creek, New York. On your drive you will pass through the largest grape-growing territory outside of California and the 23 wineries that call it home.        http://lakeeriewinecountry.org

Wine Library at Courtyard Winery

Wine Library at Courtyard Winery

2015 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon

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     Occasionally someone will ask me for my thoughts on a wine pairing for a dinner party or a casual evening of grilling in the backyard with friends. I would always make the same mistake of only thinking about pairing the wine to the menu and budget. The problem with that approach is that I was overlooking the most important part of the equation, the guests themselves. 

I now consider who will be attending first before trying to choose a wine that will satisfy the criteria of both food pairing and budget. It is difficult to completely concentrate on the wine at these gatherings because there are so many distractions. With that thought in mind I attempt to please the most people I can by “Painting with a broad brush, using bold strokes”.

     J. Lohr is one of California’s more dependable large, mid-priced producers and one of my favorite go to wineries in situations like these. The 2015 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is a solid choice in the settings I have described. 2015 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied red wine that is not elegant but has enough character to fulfill the expectations of your guest. It is an easy drinking Cab from Paso Robles with mellow oak, medium tannins and cherry/blackberry flavors that evolve into a lingering fruit finish which is very typical of a Paso Robles Cabernet. Pricing in the $15-$20 range makes it an outstanding value for a wine of this quality. If you can’t find it in your area you should have little problem substituting another J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cab vintage as a replacement to fit your needs.

Are you planning a party and want to serve something new? J. Lohr can help with free recipe booklets which include wine pairings that you can download and print. Go to http://jlohr.com  click: “life”, then click: “entertaining”.

If you are feeling adventurous and have a few extra dollars to spend you might want to explore J. Lohr’s artisan Cabernet Sauvignon label “Hilltop”. Hilltop is a bigger Cab with a slightly higher price of $35. Like all J.Lohr wines it displays the benefits gained from J. Lohr practicing Bordeaux winegrowing techniques in their Central California Coast vineyards.

Shocking

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     You may have heard the term “Bottle Shock” and didn’t know what it is or what causes it. Bottle shock refers to a condition when wine exhibits symptoms from getting too much air mixed into it in a very short time.  When this happens the wine will lack character in all respects.

This condition normally affects wine during the bottling process. Bottling is the most common cause of bottle shock because wine can easily absorb more oxygen than normal while being moved to a bottle and become saturated. Rough handling of bottled wine can also result in bottle shock because shaking the bottle can also mix air into the wine.

The good news is that bottle shock is temporary. After a few weeks of rest the ill effects will subside leaving the wine to not only recover but develop into a more complete

Barrel Room: Savage Wines Cape Town, South Africa

 wine than it was before the extra oxygen was introduced. The reason for this fortuitous transformation is that wine needs oxygen to age but it needs it added very slowly. Natural corks are perfectly suited to do this because air can penetrate them in such minuscule amounts that the oxygen can be gradually absorbed by the wine and not be overwhelmed by it causing the aging process to get out of balance.

     If you are patient with a bottle you think is suffering from bottle shock you will be rewarded for your patience with a wine that is better than it was before it got “SHOCKED”   

“Down Under” Saperavi Tasting

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When I was contacted by South Australian wine journalist Dan Traucki informing me that he was putting together a Saperavi tasting with wines from around the world I was intrigued. He had already gathered a diverse group of samples but was very interested in obtaining bottles from the “New World” producers here in North America. The North American entries were provided by the three pioneering wineries of the Finger Lakes Wine Region of New York that have advanced the development of this versatile grape for decades. The wineries are McGregor, Dr. Konstantin Frank and Standing Stone. At last count Dan had received 33 bottles with more arriving daily.

This event will give us a good idea about how the Saperavi grape is adapting to the different growing regions that it has been introduced into and how it is expressing the nuances of the terriors.

I have high hopes for the North American Saperavi and its potential to impress when it has its turn in the spotlight. It is said that “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” and I believe the FLX Saperavi will shine bright.

Dan had scheduled the tasting for Tuesday January 31, 2017 and you can follow his twitter @dandanwineman or mine @wpawinepirate for updates and links to any articles relate to this event.

McGregor Winery Saperavi Samples

McGregor Winery Saperavi Samples

Standing Stone Vineyards Saperavi Samples

Standing Stone Vineyards Saperavi Samples

Dr. Konstantin Frank Saperavi Samples

Dr. Konstantin Frank Saperavi Samples

Saperavi Vertical Tasting

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     Standing Stone Vineyards in Lodi, NY will be holding their annual Saperavi Vertical Tasting the weekend of October 29-30, 2016. This event is a rare opportunity to experience the evolution of a wine that is rare in the United States. Marti Macinski has developed her Saperavi vineyard and perfected her techniques for this wine over the years to the point where it has become a best seller among her excellent reds. When you see Marti make sure to tell her Rich wpawinepirate said “Hi”

Here is what Marti had to say about one her most popular events.

Saperavi and Standing Stone Vineyards are closely connected in the Finger Lakes. We planted this variety, not knowing much about how it grew, how it worked as a wine, and whether anyone would like it. Sometimes – you get lucky! Saperavi is now our most favored dry red variety – and we are just starting to learn enough about how it grows and works to shepherd it into wine. We will start with the current vintage in the barrel, and go backwards 5 vintages. Then we will pull out one of the oldest vintages from this farmstead. Do we agree with the Georgians that this wine can age for 50 years? Since this varietal did originate in the Republic of Georgia. Find out for yourself. Do not wait – this is always a sellout event. There are two Vertical Tastings scheduled for 12:30pm and 3:30pm on Saturday, October 29th and Sunday, October 30th with tickets $25 a person. Advanced reservations are required as space is limited. Please call the winery or head to our reservation page to book your seats.

http://standingstonewines.com/reservation/        Phone: 607-582-6051                       

 email:ssvny@standingstonewines.com     http://http://standingstonewines.com

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Merry Christmas

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merry xmas     May all that brings you happiness and gives you joy be yours this holiday season.   Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

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Complimentary Tastings @ Morrell Fine Wine

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It’s Wine Time at the Colony

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wine time     It’s Wine Time at the Colony wine festival returns to 365 Saxonburg Blvd Saxonburg, Pa on June 21st and September 6th, 2014.  The event has expanded and will feature 13 Pennsylvania wineries spanning three of the states most popular wine-producing regions.  Food purveyors will provide you with a taste of Pennsylvania cuisine using fresh and wholesome ingredients to prepare creations not found on a typical festival menu.  A wide range of artisans will be on hand to display their creative wares.  The tasting admission is $20 gets you wine-tasting and a souvenir wine glass while the non-tasting admission is $10 and is good for admission only.  Check their website for ticket specials.  winetimeatthecolony.com

Pittsburgh Penguins Wine Gala

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IMG_2129     The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation Third Annual Wine Tasting Gala will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2014 at the Consol Energy Center Pittsburgh, Pa.  Enjoy wines that have earned 90+ratings from around the world while sampling hor d’ oeuvres, mingling with Pittsburgh personalities and bidding on exclusive auction items.  The $250 event ticket also includes a Penguins-ectched sampling glass and a special parting gift. For more information and to purchase tickets call 412-255-1952 or visit http://www.Pittsburghpenguinsfoundation.org/shop/?wpsc-product=wine-testing-gala-tickets 

Day 5 The Napa Valley Wine Train

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Dining Car Photo Courtesy : The Napa Valley Wine Train

Dining Car Photo Courtesy : The Napa Valley Wine Train

     Today we will be boarding  The Napa Valley Wine Train for a 3 hour trip that will depart for Napa carrying us on a journey through Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford and St Helena while passing by some of the world’s most famous wineries along the way.  Before we leave the hotel we gather in the lobby for our group photo that will serve as a lasting memory of our time together.  The Napa Valley Wine Train is made up of meticulously refurbished Pullman cars from 1915-1917 and a vintage diesel locomotive that travel on tracks originally constructed in 1864.  We board the train and are seated in the lounge car where we are led through a tasting of two white wines and two red wines by the trains wine steward  A small plate of cheese, fruits, vegetables, and a huge prawn is served for pairing with this flight of wines.  After the tasting we sit back and relax as vineyard after vineyard pass our window until we are called to the dining car for lunch.  The walk through the turn of the century railroad cars traveling over mid-1800’s track proved to be very interesting and amusing to say the least.  The meals are freshly prepared onboard in the kitchen car adjacent to the dining area.  Everything is prepared using environmentally responsible ingredients; humanly raised, hormone-free meats and fresh line-caught fish, which is no surprise considering the commitment to excellence that  Executive Chef Kelly Mac Donald and his staff strive to achieve everyday.  Our meal and service were of the highest quality from start to finish with no aspect of our dining pleasure overlooked.  With the rest of the day left free we chose to explore Sonoma Square with it’s small shops and local charm.  After seeing all that Downtown Sonoma has to offer we walk the 1 mile back to the hotel taking in the wine country’s unique sights and sounds every step of the way.

 

Wine Tasting on The Napa Valley Wine Train

Wine Tasting on The Napa Valley Wine Train

City Hall Sonoma California

City Hall Sonoma California

 

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