Tag winery

Picnic Basket Wine

wpawinepirate Leave a comment
A green wine grape.

A green wine grape. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     I have just finished another enjoyable white wine from the New York Finger Lakes Region.  Swedish Hill Vineyards in Romulus produced my latest subject for review and it is Cayuga White 2010.  This wine is a light bodied semi dry that is crisp with aromas of apple and floral notes.  I think this wine would be a perfect choice for a picnic on a warm summer day.  Imagine reaching into a cooler and pulling out a bottle of Cayuga White and pouring a glass while sitting under a large oak tree in a lush meadow.  These were probably the same images that the researchers at Cornell University had in mind when they developed the Cayuga White grape for the Finger Lakes Region.  What they were thinking is open to debate but what is not in doubt is that they did an excellent job at the NYS Agricultural Station in Geneva, NY when they perfected this variety of wine grape.  All I have to say is “Job well done and Thank You”  

Party Time!!!

wpawinepirate 1 Comment
Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting (Photo credit: gibsonsgolfer)

     The Friends of the Monongahela Area Library will be hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, May 19th from 5:30 P.M. until ?.  The event will be held at the Ripepi Winery and Vineyards located at 93 Van Voorhis Lane Monongahela, PA.  The evening will feature wine tastings and vineyard tours along with other activities.  This is an excellent opportunity to get a close look at the Ripepi Winery and Vineyards plus the added benefit of helping out an organization that provides essential services to the community.  Tickets cost $25 and are available at the Monongahela Library 813 W. Main St Monongahela Pa. 724-258-5409.  Hope to see you there. 

Riesling hunting

wpawinepirate Leave a comment
Ripe grapes of Riesling.

Ripe grapes of Riesling. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     I will be going to the State Store soon to look for a bottle of Riesling. That in itself doesn’t seem like a difficult task but considering the last bottle I bought was a Hermann J. Wiemer 2009 Semi-Riesling it may prove to be a challenging search. The Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Winery is the premier Riesling producer in the New York Finger Lakes Region and perhaps the entire country. Riesling is one of the few varietals that is good in all ranges of sweetness. This wine uses its sweetness (2.4 Residual sugar) and acidity to show off its true flavor. It is a good choice for those who can’t seem to decide on a white wine. Fruit forward with a citrus fruit nose and finish makes this a balanced well made wine. The usual pairings include poultry, shellfish and asian dishes. These are all good pairings and you can’t go wrong with any of them but I have found it very drinkable at a family holiday gathering where ham is the main course. I will do my homework and follow my own guidelines that have appeared in previous posts and will try to pick the best Riesling available for my taste. I will let you know if I score a hit or a miss. 

Related articles

You are correct

wpawinepirate Leave a comment

     There was an interesting article in the Greensburg Tribune Review today. It reinforces the theme of this blog and my personal opinion. The Bloomberg article cited a report in the American journal of Enology and Viticulture that wine makers and critics surveyed in Canada had a much better ability to sense the tiny differences in wine  than the average human can. The main point that I got out of this article was summed up in a quote from John Hayes director of Pennsylvania State University’s Sensory Evaluation Center. John said “But to me the simplest rule in wine is if you like it, drink it”. I totally agree and I like his attitude but just one question “How do you get a job like that?” If it is true that we mere mortals can not enjoy all the subtle nuances of truly great wines then I have to ask why should I pay a lot for wine when I am not going to able to taste the small differences. This theory leads me to share my search to locate very good wines between $10 and $20. The economics of the wine market makes for the pricing of these wines below others of lesser quality because of simple supply and demand. When I find a candidate I will be sure to share it with you for your consideration.

     Let’s start with a favorite of friends and neighbors that populate my deck during the summer. J Lohr Estates Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon is a steady sure pick and at $15.99 is available at Pa State Stores or by special order code number 8785. Check store availability and location online at www.finewineandgoodspirits.com 

Late winter at Ripepi winery

wpawinepirate Leave a comment

I would like to express my deepest sympathy to Rich, Mike and Anthony Ripepi on the passing of their mother Adelaide. I had known Mrs Ripepi for over 30 years and she was a wonderful and kind person that loved her family dearly. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

     Rich Ripepi is the owner of the Ripepi winery in Monongahela Pa. I stopped by the winery today and talked to Zach and Mike as they were pruning vines in the vineyard. The vineyard looked good and well maintained coming out of this unusually mild winter. I couldn’t help thinking that with a little wine makers good luck this years harvest could be something special.

Time to pull the cork!

wpawinepirate Leave a comment

     Welcome to the wpawinepirate blog and thank you for stopping by. We will have an ongoing conversation about wine in general but more importantly wine and food in Western Pennsylvania. The enjoyment of wine, food, family and friends dates back to ancient times so I will do my best (with your help) to keep the tradition going. This blog is for everyone because there are no good or bad wines only wines that you enjoy or do not enjoy. Do you remember the baseball great Reggie Jackson’s famous saying that opinions are like noses because everyone has one. I feel wine drinking is like that, if you don’t like a wine try others because the search is the real fun. Now that you know how I look at things let’s go in search of good wine. 

     The Mountain Playhouse in Jennerstown Pa has what they call the First Friday Wine Tasting at their restaurant The Green Gables.This Friday March 2 will focus on the Piedmont region of Italy.The Piedmont is in the northwest corner of Italy and is the second largest of the country’s 20 wine-producing regions. This region is best known for making great Barolo and Barbaresco. You can find more information at their website about this and future tastings.Go to www.greengablesrestaurant.com then click wine and dining events then dates for reservations or call Tresa at 814-629-9201 ext300