Looking for that perfect Sparkling Wine for New Years Eve?

Looking for the perfect sparkling wine 

to bring in 2017?

My choice again this year is going to be Rosa Regale Red Sparkling Wine by Banfi.  This wine is a crowd pleaser and it will give you something unique to bring to a party. 

The 2014 Banfi Rosa Regale Sparkling Red is an Italian sparkling wine made with 100% Brachetto grapes.  The wine comes from the town of Acqui Terme in Piedmont Italy.  The grapes for the Banfi Rosa Regale come solely from this area and bares the DOCG label on the bottle.  The DOCG label means that the wine producers followed the strictest regulations possible to make this wine.  This label for Italian wines is based on the same system as the French controlled designation of origin, meaning that Italian Government certifies that this wine was produced within the specific region using defined methods.  

In the glass, Banfi Rosa Regale is a festive cranberry color and is quite bubbly as expected.  The bubbles are a light pink color making this a fun Sparkling wine to look at - Very Pretty.  the bouquet is very aromatic with strawberries, raspberries, and rose petals.  

The taste is sweet but dry at the same time, with a crisp acidity and a fresh raspberry flavor that is enticing to the palate and offers a softness that makes your mouth smile.  The finish is long, clean and the wine dances all over your palate.  

This wine is best served chilled and is perfect for any occasion.  It is a seductive aperitif and an elegant dessert wine.  Banfi Rosa Regale will pair well with a nice chocolate mousse. 

You can find Banfi Rosa Regale 2015 at Capital Cellars for $21.99 or at Kroger for $23.99 for my readers outside of Kentucky check your local wine shop or wine and spirits store.  

Tech Information:

Alcohol: 7% by Vol. 

Acidity: 7 g/l

Residual Sugar: 109 g/l

Rating: 89

Orin Swift Cellars - Papillon Wine

Who would have thought that a bottle hosting an image barring prison tattoos would be so popular and oh so delicious. Wine maker David Swift Phinney did.  In 1995 a friend of David suggested he take the study abroad program. David took his friends offer to spend a semester studying abroad.  During his semester abroad in Florence Italy, David was introduced to wine, how it was made and he got hooked.  After David finished his university studies, he went to work for Robert Mondavi Winery.  In 1998 David decided that if he was going to work extremely hard he was going to work for himself and founded Orin Swift Cellars named after his mother and father.  His company grew into a multinational brand that now includes 300 acres of vineyards in the Southwest of France, which allows for projects in Spain, Italy, Corsica, Argentina, and many other locations around the globe.  Despite all of the growth, Orin Swift Cellars continues to operate as a small, passionate team of friends and family dedicated to make great wine.

So how did a great wine with a beautiful name as Papillon (French for Butterfly) end up with prison tattoos as it's wine label?  The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvigon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec; and the grapes are coming from 6 different vineyards that have been chosen because of their unique fingerprint, and intensity Orin Swift Cellars wanted a Label that is just as fitting as they vineyards the juice came from.   World renowned photographer Greg Gorman and hand model Vince Tofanelli a third generation grape grower and friend designed and created the label for the bottle.  This wine is a Bordeaux style wine that is aged 16 months in French Oak, and is a true delight to drink, and I was fortunate enough to try during an monthly meeting of the AWS (American Wine Society) in Frankfort, Kentucky.  I loved this wine and would highly recommend it.

Papillon 2007

Maker: Orin Swift Cellar

Region: Napa Valley, CA

Grapes: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1 % Malbac

Appearance: Deep crimson with huge of magenta on the rim.

Nose: Instantly on the nose is the rich aroma of dark fruit, cedar, and mocha

On the Palate: Rich flavor of cherries, blackberries, smokiness of the oak, silky tannins and a nice lingering finish.

Southern Belle Shiraz

Southern Belle Shiraz
image from gardenandgun.com

Hello friends!  I know it has been 7 months and I have not disappeared.   I have been trying many different wines and bourbons; and now I have a lot to write about. I have made a few New Years Resolutions this year and one of them is to write more about what I like and keep up on the postings for this blog.    My first installment for the Month January is Southern Belle Shiraz.

Southern Belle Shiraz is the creative effort of wine aficionado Dan Philips of Southern Australia.  Philips is the palate behind the "Grateful Palate", which imports Australian wines and peddles mail-order edibles, including his bacon of the month club. At first Philips idea to age wine in bourbon barrels was rejected and winemakers refused to do it.  There is this perception that the French way is better; and French Oak is always better.  Lucky for us, Philips did not get discouraged and found wine makers to create Southern Belle Shiraz.  The sad news about this delicious wine is that it is a limited quantity and is only released twice a year.   The last release was Fall 2013.  I do not know when it will be released again but I am hoping it will be soon and I believe it will be around the next release of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon.  Southern Belle Shiraz is aged for 18 months in the 20 year old Pappy Van Winkle bourbon barrels, which is one of the most sought after bourbons on the market, and is only released twice a year with a very strict allotment per retail outlet.  The wine and spirit shop where I work (Capital Cellars Frankfort, KY) only had two bottles of the Pappy Van Winkle 20 year old for sale and we did not have one bottle left over for behind the bar.  Now for the those who pay close attention to alcohol content, you will be happy to know that Southern Belle Shiraz has an alcohol content of 17.6% (that is 35.2 proof for all you bourbon and whiskey aficionados). This is a wine I highly recommend getting or trying if you can.

Southern Belle Shiraz

Grape:  Shiraz/Syah

Region: Australia

Appearance: Very dark purple, nearly black

Nose: intense aromas of vanilla, oak, nutmeg, and very fruity

On the palate: Fairly light, very little tannin, flavors of caramel, toffee, and possible some leather and a warm nutty flavor in the back.  The back of the palate contains notes of leather.  The warm nutty vanilla flavors may be from the Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrels.  The wine is smooth and has a nice lingering flavor.

This wine is a true delight from the moment it is opened to the very finish.  It makes you wish you had more.  

Late Harvest Sweet Chardonnay

Hello my fellow wine lovers!  Over the weekend I stopped into the Liquor Barn in Lexington to pick up my favorite beer cheese, and I decided to walk around to see what they had new in their store.  I was not looking for anything particular; especially since I feel I should be supporting the place I work as a wine hostess.  Though I like to try things we don't carry in hopes that if it is good we will likely try and find away to carry it.  Needless to say I was looking at the white wines since we are starting to get into the warmer weather and I like my wine a little lighter in the summer.  I found something that caught my eye, it was this very spring looking bottle and I was surprised to see it said Late Harvest and Chardonnay.  I have seen many different brands of Chardonnay and have tasted many different ones over the years; however, I had never seen a Late Harvest Chardonnay.

This Chardonnay is made by Bodega Norton in Mendoza - Argentina and is called Sweet Chardonnay Late Harvest Series 2012. While reading the Label and saw that it was from the Mendoza region of Argentina I was kind of excited to try another wine from that region.  The last wine that I had tried from that region was the Bodega Elena 2010 Chardonnay, and it was a very good Chardonnay very rich and creamy with a nice finish. Since the label of the Bodega Norton Sweet Chardonnay had caught my eye and I noticed it was only a $10.00 bottle I just had to have it and try it.  Now it was time to research my wine to give my faithful readers some background to the wine.

Mendoza Argentina is at the foothills of the Andes mountain range.  The climate of the area is very nice in that it is mostly warm with lots of hours of sunlight.  It has a more Mediterranean characteristic making it a great place for the Chardonnay grape to flourish. The winemaker Jorge Riccitelli was awarded as "WineMaker of the year 2012" by the prestigious wine magazine Wine Enthusiast.

The sweet Chardonnay is not as sweet as I thought it was going to be.  This is very different than your normal Chardonnay.  It does not have that creamy, buttery flavor that most Chardonnay's have.  The Norton Sweet Chardonnay has citrusy and floral nose, with a natural sweetness that is well balanced.  On the palate you can taste notes of green apple, peach and I believe some pear.  The wine finishes with crisp soft floral flavor.  This wine reminds me of a Savuignon Blanc or a nice white blend.  You can pair this wine with a light salad, which is perfect for the hot summer, chicken, fresh fruit or for a special Sunday brunch.  It is best to serve this wine chilled

Look for this wine in your local wine shop!  For all you in Lexington, KY I know you can find this wine at the Liquor Barn.

It is Derby Week!

This week in Kentucky we are celebrating the 139th annual running of the Kentucky Derby!  There are so many events going on this week including the Derby wine tasting event.  This year I will not be able to make it; however, I thought I would post to my readers some of the events that are going on.   So don your hats and place your bets, and help celebrate the 139th meeting of the Kentucky Derby.

First I would like to post what is going on in my new home city.  Here in Frankfort, KY we are celebrating with a street festival on Saturday and on Friday night you will be able to find some of the happenings going around downtown. I can tell you that Capital Cellars will be having their 7th annual Kentucky Derby wine

tasting with themed wines from around the world, plus a bluegrass band "Hot Chocolate and the MarshMellows.  Capital Cellars also make the best mint juleps this side of the Kentucky River  with the most extensive Bourbon Bar in Frankfort. So on Friday night they are making mint juleps where you pick the bourbon.  Saturday is breakfast and $5.00 Mint Juleps, Mimosas, and Bloody Mary's.  

If you are going to be in Louisville checkout the Maker's Mark Lounge where they are partying all week for the Derby with their Derby Line up.  Wednesday they are having a Derby inspired  Woodford Reserve cocktail competition.  They are also having $5.00 drink specials featuring Woodford Reserve, Grey Goose, and Bacardi cocktails all night.  Maker's Mark Lounge is also hosting a Bet on Brunch from Thursday - Saturday, plus a hopping after party on Sunday. Checkout their website for more information.  For more of what is happening in Louisville checkout the flyer for Metrofest 2013.  

If you cannot make it to Capital Cellars, Maker's Mark Lounge or to Louisville and want a Mint Julep.  Here is a Mint Julep recipe and pod cast to go with it.  Remember this is a difficult drink to make and I have tried last year for our 1st Kentucky Derby and I was not as successful.  You will have to tell me if you are more successful. 

Mint Julep

1 oz of simple syrup

2 sprigs of mint

2 1/2 oz of Bourbon 

Gently bruise one sprig of mint in the bottom of a julep glass with simple syrup.  Add half of the bourbon and fill with crushed ice.  Swirl with a bar spoon until the outside of the glass frost.  Add more ice and the remaining bourbon. Stir again to frost the glass and garnish with a sprig of mint. 

* Woodford Reserve is the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby.  However, feel free to use which ever bourbon you think is worthy of your drink.  

Wine Tasting Club Week 6

Welcome Wine Enthusiast!

This weeks wine is another white since we are moving into the warmer weather!  I do promise to have another red up soon though.

This weeks wine selection is a Sauvignon Blanc from the United States.

Wine Selection
Two Vines  Sauvignon Blanc Columbia Crest
Country of Origin:  United States Washington State
Alcohol: 13%
Color White (light straw color)
Cost:$ 8.99 - $13.00

Two Vines Sauvignon Blanc Columbia Crest

The Two Vines Sauvignon Blanc * Columbia Crest 2011 scored an 87/100 for Wine Spectator.  This wine is bright in flavor and zesty with a juicy finish.  

You can find this wine in the following location:

New York:

Rochester, NY:  Marketview Liquor 1100 Jefferson Rd, Rochester NY

New York City:  Great Wines and Liquors 929 Lexington Ave. New York, New York

Washington D.C.

Chevy Chase Wine and Spirits 5544 Connecticut Ave, Washington D.C.

Colorado

Applejacks Wine and Spirits 3320 Youngfield St. Denver, CO

Washington

Mad Wine 2700 4th Ave S, Seattle, WA

Belgium

Mig's World Wines 43 Chaussée de Charleroi, Brussels

Germany

Terra-Vinum  112 Lokstedter Weg, Hamburg

Happy Tasting!

Wine Tasting Club Week 5

Welcome to another week of Wine, and it is Wednesday!

Normally I like to try and alternate between red wine and white wine each week.  However, since it is almost 80 degrees here in Frankfort, KY, I felt that it might be a little warm outside for a red.  So this week is another white wine.  This wine was featured in my Sip into Spring wine  tasting weekend at Capital Cellars, and received great reviews.  Now I want to put it to the test in my virtual wine tasting club.

This weeks wine is a Gewurztraminer from Germany.

Wine Selection
Valckenberg Gewurztraminer
Country of Origin: Germany
Alcohol: 11%
Color: White ( light yellow)
Cost: $10.00 - $20.00

Valckenberg Gewurztraminer

The Valckenberg Gewurtraminer scored an 88/100 through cellar trackers.  This wine is a full body wine that is off dry in flavor. The wine has a pleasant aroma of flower blossoms and flavors of melon and peaches.  This is a nice wine for Spring or Summer.  I look forward to your reviews.

You can find this wine in the following locations:

New York 

Marketview Liquor: 1100 Jefferson Rd.  Rochester

Sip Fine Wine: 67 5th Ave. (St. Marks and Prospect Place) Brooklyn

Mister Wrights: 1593 3rd Ave ( Between 89th and 90th streets) NY, NY

Washington, D.C.

Pearson's Wine and Spirits: 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington D.C.

Kentucky

Capital Cellars: 227 West Broadway, Frankfort KY

Germany

Clever Wein: 16 Heestweg, Hamburg 22143

Happy Tasting and I look forward to seeing you on the discussion board!

Wine Tasting Club Week 4

Welcome fellow wine lovers to week 4 of the wine tasting club.  Don't worry if you have missed some of the other weeks, you can always taste them and respond whenever the time is right for you.  Do not be afraid to say you don't care for one of the choice.  What I may like maybe something you may not like, and that is normal.  Trust you instincts you already know what you like so share your views with us.

So without further ado here is this weeks wine selection.  We will be tasting Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling.

Wine Selection
Chateau Ste, Michelle  Riesling 2011
Country of Origin: USA  Washington State
Alcohol: 11%
Residual Sugar: 2.23g
Color: White
Cost: $7.00 - $14.00

Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling

This bottle scored 91/100 through Wine Enthusiast. 

You can find this wine in the following locations

New York:

Best Buy Liquor - 1613 Neptune Ave, Brooklyn 

My Brooklyn Wine - 211 -213 5th Ave. Brooklyn

67 Wine - 179 Columbus Ave, New York, NY

Marketview Liquor - 1100 Jefferson Rd. Rochester NY

Washington, D.C.

Calvert Woodly - 4339 Connecticut Ave. Washington, D.C. 20008

Georgia 

Total Wine & More - Perimeter Square Center 124 Perimeter Center West, Atlanta 

North Carolina 

Total Wine & More - 3615 Witherspoon Blvd. Durham, NC

Colorado

Applejack Wine and Spirits - 3320 Youngfield St.  Wheat Ridge, Denver 

Kentucky

Capital Cellars - 227 West Broadway, Frankfort KY

Liquor Barn - 1837 Plaudit Place, Lexington KY

Germany

Baden - Wurttemberg Fine and Rear Wine Retailer - 2 Oberndorfer Strasse, Rottweil 78628 

England

AG Wines - 9b Denbingh Rd. London W13 8QA

Happy Tasting and I will see you on the discussion board! 

Wine Tasting Club Week 3

Welcome!

Sorry we have missed last weeks wine tasting and we have missed this Wednesdays post deadline.  The stomach bug has gone through my house, and now people are starting to feel better, including this wine enthusiast.

So without further ado, here is this weeks wine selection.  We will be tasting  a Pinot Nori from France.

Here is our wine selection

Pinot Evil - Pinot Noir
Country of Origin: France
Alcohol: 12%
Color: Red
Cost: $6 - $12 for the 750 mil  $14.99 - $24.99 for the 3L

Pinot Evil - Pinot Noir

You can find this wine in the following locations:

NYC

Long's Wine and Liquor on Fifth Ave  between 79th and 80th street in Bay Ridge

Rochester, NY

Marketview Liquor 1100 Jefferson Rd, Rochester

Canandaigua, NY

Ryan's 73 Eastern Blvd (Parkway Plaza) Canandaigua

Virginia 

Total Wine and More 6240 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA

Kentucky
Capital Cellars  227 Broadway, Frankfort KY
Meijer Lexington

Happy Tasting!

How Sassy Are You?

Hello fellow wine lovers!  Boy do I have a wine for you!  I was shopping in Lexington (KY) at the Liquor Barn and while I was there; there was this bottle of wine that caught my eye. At $8.99 a bottle I could not resist not to buy a bottle. There is nothing like an exciting title to get some attention.  That is exactly what those two words did for me.  So for my first bottle I chose the Moscato, I was feeling like a sweet wine today.  

Sassy Bitch wine is developed by Tami Fricks, Macon, GA.  The native Georgian started her company after talking with friends on how confusing wine buying can be for the average consumer.  Tami thought that if she could bring a wine to the market that had a catchy label, but tasted great she might have something.  So Tami and her friends thought about a cute name, and settled on Sassy Bitch because, she has some of the sassiest friends.  Tami traveled throughout the world and settled on a vineyard in Chile.  Sassy Bitch wines started out with four wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.  Since then they have added two more wines, the Sauvignon Blanc, and Moscato.  While all wines are produced in Chile; the Moscato is produced in California.  The Sassy Bitch NV Moscato received 86 points in Wine Enthusiast Magazine, and was also rated as a best buy and online exclusive.  This wine is considered by some market researchers as a wine that is directed towards a younger wine drinker, and possible people who are celebrating bachelorette parties, divorce parties, mothers' day gifts or other special gifts.  It has been said by some wine writers or market researchers that wine drinkers don't take these whimsical labels and wines to seriously and feel that the wine may even taste unsuitable, but I have found this wine to be delightful for the price.

The Sassy Bitch Moscato wine must be served ice cold. This wine is light and airy; However, not too sweet. The wine has soft, gentle floral notes and a fresh fruity aromas.  This is a great stand a lone wine, if I were to pair this wine with something it would be a fruit tray.  I did try to pair this wine with an easy light meal and it just made the wine bitter and not as good.  This wine really is a stand a lone wine and would go nicely with a light dessert.  Desserts like fruit, shortbread cookies, and some white chocolate. I would not rate this as my all time favorite wine. However, it is not a bad choice for the price, and it will make a great summer wine (just serve it ice cold).

If you are looking for a cocktail to try using the Sassy Bitch wines here is a video to help you!

Enjoy and bring out your inner Sassy!

Wine Tasting Club Week 2

Welcome!

Are you ready for week 2 and the new selection?  I know I am!  For this week we will be trying a Chardonnay from the great state of Washington.  

Here is our wine selection:

Chateau Ste. Michelle
Country of Origin:  USA  Washington State  Columbia Valley
Alcohol: 14%
Color: White

Chateau Ste. Michelle

This bottle scored 93 points by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.  I would try pairing this with roasted chicken.  

You can find this wine in the following areas. 

NYC: 

Sherry - Lehmann Wine and Spirits 505 Park Ave NY, NY

67 Wine  179 Columbus Ave NY, NY

K & D Wine and Spirits 1366 Madison Ave NY, NY
Best Buy Neptune Ave, Brooklyn NY  (possibly  hard to really tell from their website)

Rochester, NY 

Marketview Liquor 1100 Jefferson Rd, Rochester NY

Washington D.C. 

Calvert Woodley 4339 Connecticut Ave NW Washington D.C.

Kentucky:

Frankfort:  Capital City Cellars 227 West Broadway

Lexington:  Liquor Barn

                  Meijer 

This Bottle rages in price from $8.99 to $14.99

Happy Tasting and I will see you all on the discussion board! 

Wine Tasting Club Week 1

Welcome!

I am so excited you could take part in the wine tasting club.  I have decided to post the wine selection a little early.

Our first wine selection is the:

Castillo de Monseran 2010, Garnacha.
Country of origin: Spain (Northern Spain)
Alcohol: 12.5%
Color: Red

Castillo de Monseran 2010

 This bottle of wine has scored 85 points in Wine Enthusiast magazine.  I would try pairing this wine with a dark chocolate.

 You can find this wine in the following areas:

NYC:  Long's Wine and Liquor on Fifth Ave between 79th and 80th street in Bay Ridge

Rochester NY:  Marketview Liquor 1100 Jefferson Road, Rochester

Washington D.C. Whole Foods and Cost Plus World Market

San Francisco: K&L 638 4th Street, San Francisco

Hollywood: K&L 1400 Vine St. Hollywood

Frankfort, KY :Capital City Cellars:  227 West Broadway

Lexington, KY : Liquor Barn

This bottle ranges in price from $5.95 to 14.00


Happy Tasting and I will see you all on the discussion board!

Valentine's Day Pink Chocolate Chip Cookies

Normally I write about wine on this blog.  However, since it is Valentine's day tomorrow I thought I would share this recipe to my faithful followers.  This cookie would go nice with a Cabernet Sauvignon, a French wine  Banyuls, or Grenache Noir.

1 cup unsalted butter soften
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar

Mix well... then add
2 large eggs (beat in one at a time)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix well... then add
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (if you use salted butter, you can leave the salt out)

Mix well... Then add your food coloring.  I used Wilton food coloring (color Rose ~ 1/2 teaspoon or until you get the desired color you would like).

Add your chocolate chips and bake at 375 for 8 minutes

Enjoy

Another Great Red Wine from Deer Run Winery

If you liked Runway Red, you are going to like Max Black.  Deer Run Winery has done it again with this great red wine.  Max Black is in honor of the winemakers’ Scottish terrier, Max and is appealing to the sweeter wine enthusiast. 

Max Black gets it deep dark red color that almost appears black from a vintage grape that is not used very much anymore, the Vincent grape.  The Vincent was developed in Ontario, Canada at the Vineland Research station in 1967, and was developed to grow well in a cold climate. This allows the Vincent grape to be one of the last varieties to be harvested in the fall. Extra care must be taken while growing this grape, and according to research there are only three wineries in the United States that makes wine using the Vincent grape.  Deer Run Winery is one of the wineries in the United States making wine using the Vincent grape.  The Vincent is very useful for blending.  When I tasted Max Black wine I thought it tasted similar to the Concord grape, because Max Black has a very grapey taste. When I checked out what grapes are in this wine, to my disbelief the Concord was not listed, but the Niagara grape was. My next thought was that maybe the Vincent and the Niagara grape blended together could create the Concord taste; however, I had to know more. I was in such disbelief that I had to contact one of the owners to explain this to me.  Scott Kuyon, one of the owners of Deer Run Winery and vineyard manager explained this strange phenomenon.  The Niagara and Concord grapes are in the same family (Vitis labrusca).  The Niagara grape can be successfully grown in any grape district in New York.  The Niagara is a white grape and is used for freshness; however, it is not as cold hardy as the Concord.  Both the Concord and Niagara grape have the same flavor profile and characteristics.

I found Max Black to be a sweet, fruity, red wine that is smooth; with a nice fresh lingering taste.  Max Black has a 5.0% residual sugar making it a slightly sweeter red then Runway Red, which has 3.0% residual sugar.  Even though I found Max Black to be a sweet wine, it went well with pot roast, pizza, and 70% dark chocolate.

Since its release Max Black has been one of the tasting room’s most popular choices along with Runway Red, and Pebble Beach.  So if you enjoy good quality wine that has a consistent taste year after year… visit Deer Run Winery where the wine sampling is free, and Joan Kuyon (owner), a retired teacher, makes sure the retail shop is filled with delicious local cheese, mustards, and jams.  You could even sit out on the lawn and enjoy a bottle of wine that has been carefully crafted by George Kuyon (owner), a retired Kodak employee, who not only loves wine but loves to create different blends for others to enjoy.     

Comer con gusto,  Jouir, Genieten, Godere, Enjoy!

Max Black $8.49/bottle (What a deal!)

 Try this recipe to go with your next bottle of Max Black

Prosciutto-Wrapped Grapes

Ingredients

·         4 1/2 ounces very thinly-sliced prosciutto, cut into 36 relatively equal strips (about 1 1/2 inches wide by 3-inches long, if possible)

·         36 black seedless grapes

·         36 decorative toothpicks

Directions

Wrap a strip of prosciutto around each grape. Arrange them on a large plate or platter and place a toothpick in the center of each grape. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings. Each (6 grape) serving has: 66 calories, 6 g protein, 6 g carbohydrates, 2 g fat, <1 g saturated fat, 17 mg cholesterol, trace fiber, 570 mg sodium

Fly into Runway Red by Deer Run Winery

Are you looking for a red wine that will make your taste buds soar?  Deer Run Winery has a very nice, bold, spicy red wine that is just for you!

Deer Run Winery is located at the end of the Finger Lakes Wine Trail.  It is a picturesque winery that is not far from Conesus lake.  Deer Run Winery opened its doors to the public in 2003.  In its fist year they produced 5 varietals. After their first year, Deer Run also produced two semi dry wines- one red and one white.  Deer Run has a panoramic view of the Lakeville water tower and airfield. The owners (George, Joan, and Scott Kuyon) thought it would be fun to name these two new wines after the water tower and air field, thus giving you Runway Red and Watertower White.  In addition to their award winning wines, Deer Run offers many different wine-themed educational and social events.  These events include: the vintner's dinner, harvest festival, and wine pairings.  

Recently, I was able to order 6 bottles of wine from Deer Run and had them delivered to my brother and sister-in-law's home in D.C. I am a lucky girl especially since I cannot get wine delivered to me here in KY (www.freethegrapes.com).  One of the bottles that I had was the Runway Red and I highly recommend it. While the wine bottle does not feature a runway model, it does make you feel fashionable.  Runway Red is a bold, red wine with a hint of spice.  It is a well balanced, smooth, semi-dry red wine that will bring class and sophistication to your table.    I paired Runway Red with pot roast, mashed potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding, and it was a great combination. You could also pair Runway Red with pasta, eggplant Parmesan  prime rib, or lasagna.  If you like red wine but find that most red wines are either too dry or have a really strong oak taste, you will be pleasantly surprised by this red, and you may find it to be your favorite red.

If you are in the Finger Lakes region and have some time, go check out Deer Run Winery.  They have a lovely shop that offers their wines and free tastings.  You could also order a bottle online, or go to one of the many store locations listed to find this and some of their other wines. If you would like to find out more about Deer Run Winery before you go check out this video.

Deer Run Winery

3772 West Lake Rd

Geneseo, NY 14454

585 346 0850

Passionate Kisses for you!

No I am not giving out passionate kisses, but I am going to talk about the wine named Passionate Kiss by Equus Run Vineyards.  If you like chocolate covered cherries, you will love this wine.  A few weeks ago my husband and I went to Equus Run Winery where we were greeted by one of the wine pours.  She was very friendly and she helped us maximized our wine tastings.  One of our tastings included Passionate Kiss, which is a red dessert wine.

We had started the day with a stop at one of Kentucky's finest bourbon makers, Woodford Reserve on the Kentucky bourbon trail and very close to our home. On our way to Lexington for dinner and a movie (as this was our date night) we saw Equus Run Vineyards, so we decided to stop in to see if the tasting room was still open.  The tasting room was open and we were greeted warmly.  While there we got the chance to learn more about the owner Cynthia Bohn and the property as well.  While tasting the wine I noticed that the Cabernet and the Merlot had a distinct flavor that I could not discern.  It was at this point we learned that the vineyard was once a tobacco farm. Not only could you taste hints of minerals from the limestone here in Kentucky but you can also taste the tobacco flavor as well, which gave the wine a very unique flavor.

Getting back to our dessert wine, this chocolate infused Cabernet Sauvignon is a great wine.  It is not a powerfully sweet wine.  It is not quite a semi dry wine either.  It is a smooth, velvety, wine that has a lingering chocolate and black cherry flavor that stays with you.  At the tasting room they had you pair it with chocolate chips; however, after I bought this bottle I pared it with a Lindt dark chocolate truffle and a milk chocolate truffle.  All I have to say is-wow!  I will be buying another bottle of this as one of my wine club purchases.

Equus Run Vineyard is more than just a winery they have many events and picnic in the vineyard.  They offer self guided tours and privet tours, wine tastings $3.00 for seven tastings and you keep the glass, they have live music at the vineyard every Sunday, and if you are part of there wine club there are special events for you too.  The wine club is very neat.  Every quarter, 3 bottles are selected that non wine club members do not have access too.

So if you love chocolate covered cherries and wine; and have been looking for a dessert wine that is not too sweet this is a perfect choice.

Equus Run Vineyards
1280 Moores Mill Rd
Midway, KY 40347
859 846 9463

Wine Fest 2012 Kentucky Derby

Hello Fellow vino lovers!  I am sorry this is so late.  My summer has been so busy getting acquainted with Kentucky.  One of the activities that I went to, and that kicked off my summer was the Kentucky Derby Wine Festival.  Now I know what you are thinking "I thought the Kentucky Derby was just about the horse race."  Not true the Kentucky derby is a multi-week celebration that offers a lot of different festivities, ranging from steamboat races, hot air balloon races, to marathons.  Other festivities include Bar-BQ festival, music festival, wine festival and the famous Thunder Over Louisville fireworks display.

My husband showing off the items given to us.

The Wine Festival was held on May 1st and 2nd from 5pm - 9pm, and include a fancy pin, wine glass, wine shopping bag, a wine fest book that contains all wineries that were participating, hand passed hors d'oeuvres, and twenty tickets to try wine from the different vendors.  This was an outdoor event and it is rain or shine.  Thank goodness that the day we choose was a beautiful day, a little on the warm side but still very beautiful.

There was some strategic planning on our part to maximize our tastings.  The wineries we visited were: Best Vineyards, Broad Run Vineyards, Chrisman Mill Vineyards, Inc., Elk Creek Vineyards, Equus Run Vineyards, Huber's Orchard, Winery & Vineyards, Indian Creek Winery, Prodigy Vineyards & Winery, LLC., Purple Toad Winery, River Bend Winery, Rose Hill Farm Winery,Stonebrook Winery, and Wight - Meyer Vineyards.  During the winefest they had a wine competition.  The wines that I will be reviewing are the wines that I tried and won an award.

Prodigy Vineyards took home gold in the 101 Class White Native American for their Diamond 2010 sweet white.  This wine was smooth and sweet, with a mixed taste of they Cayuga grape and the Niagara grape, which is what I was tasting.  I did not note any hints of pineapple, peach or apricot.  This wine was smooth and crisp with a long lingering flavor.  Prodigy also took home the silver for their non-grape wine which is their blackberry wine.  This wine is more of a desert wine and will pair nicely with cheesecake,dark chocolate truffles, or a nice vanilla ice cream (which I would put on the top).  This wine is very sweet, almost too sweet as a stand alone, I would most pair it with something that is not as sweet.

At Best Vineyards (located in Elizabeth, IN ) we tried their non-grape wines Mango and Plum which also won silver.  However,  I would not recommend the plum wine.  I found this wine to be very dry with a strong oak taste.  Best Vineyards lists this wine as a sweet wine; pairing well with Chinese food and Thai.  I did not find the plum wine something to be desired.  Their mango wine won silver in the non grape wines.  This wine was sweet and had a nice finish to it.  I would recommend it with vanilla ice cream or fruit.

Elk Creek Vineyards took home silver for their Riesling.  I found their Riesling to be a little different than what I have had in Upstate New York.  It has a different flavor.  I am not sure if it has to do with their growing season, the different minerals in the ground or the tobacco that may have been growing in the fields in the past.  However, once you put aside what type of Riesling you are used to you will find this to be a very nice wine.  It has a crisp flavor with a lingering flavor of honey and apple, it is a semi dry wine that will pair will with chicken, ham, or cheese.  One person at the festival had stated that they liked it with chili.   I don't know about the chili, but I will most certainly try it this winter.

Huber's Orchard Winery & Vineyard (located in Starlight IN) took home gold in the 301white hybrid division for their Traminette. This wine is a semi dry wine, and reminiscent of a Gewurztraminer.  While this was a great Traminette that is crisp and refreshing with a slight hint of spice, it was not one of my favorites.

Purple Toad Winery located in Kentucky featured many different fruit wines; however, they also have a few grape wines.  One of their grape wines took home silver in the 501 white vinifera.  The Sauvignon Blanc is a dry white wine that was not aged in oak.  This wine was smoky, very smooth, clean and crisp in in flavor.  I highly recommend this wine.  I was surprised that this took home silver.  In the non-grape division they took home gold for their peach, which was very nice and very peachy tasting.  The peach was a little overwhelming but it was still very tasty and I wish I had some ice cream for it.

River Bend Winery located in Kentucky won silver in the 501 white vinifera with their Chardonnay, which is an unoaked Chardonnay.  This Chardonnay is semi dry and had a light bouquet of citrus flavors.  You can taste undertones of pear which gives it a refreshing flavor.

Stone Brook Winery located in Kentucky won silver in the 701 non grape division for their strawberry wine. I was surprised by this because I found this wine to be awkward.  While you can taste the strawberry it had the favor of vitamin water.  I am not sure if the heat got to this wine but this wine was not one that I would hurry back for.

Wight-Meyer Vineyard located in Kentucky took home gold in the 801 Dessert for their apple wine.  I am not shocked by this at all.  Their apple wine was so great we went back for this wine a few times.  This wine taste exactly like an apple pie.  The Apple wine was good alone, with or on vanilla ice cream.  The blackberry wine won silver in the 801 non-grape division. This wine is a nice forward fruit wine, that is sweet with a flavor of oak.  The blackberry wine was aged in oak; however, it has a smooth, sweet taste.

I had a great time getting to try just some of the wines that are around Kentucky and Indiana.  I look forward to trying some of the other wine of Kentucky and visiting their wineries.

Welcome to Trumansburg and to Frontenac Point Vineyard!

A couple of years ago I went on a camping trip to Taughannock Falls, now normally I would go hiking with the family; however, my children were tired from all the hiking we did the day before, so while we were around the Finger Lakes  my family and I stopped in at Frontenac Point Vineyards.  It was a beautiful fall day that was perfect for tasting local wines.  When we arrived, we were greeted by friendly and well-educated vintners. They even gave my daughter some crackers and put her juice in a wine tasting glass so she could be part of the fun.  Now when I go to taste wine with the family, we taste responsibly.  I am not an advocate for over indulging by any means nor do I subscribe to the practice of driving under the influence with or without my children on board.  So if you are reading this and saying I cannot believe she took her children wine tasting let me address this now.  I did the wine tasting, my husband drives and we only visit one or two wineries with the children.  Plus going to a winery during the week can be very educational for children as they can learn the science behind making a good wine.  Plus I always make sure that I have juice for them if the winery does not offer a juice tasting.  I have found many wineries are starting to offer juice tasting and that during the week they are very family friendly, which is a nice treat for all.

Now getting back to the wine, the staff at Frontenac Point Vineyards were very knowledgeable and family friendly.  As I was tasting some wine one of the staff members suggested that I try one of their white wines, that was less dry.  He introduced me to Frontenac White.  I enjoyed this wine so much that I bought 3 bottles of it.  So recently I just finished my last bottle of Frontenac White and decided it was time to share this bottle with the world.  Unfortunately, I now live in a state that does not allow shipment of wine, and cannot have more of this or any other wine shipped to me; however, they do have drive-through liquor stores.  This is a discussion I will leave for later.  I did however, go onto Frontenac's website to see if my favorite wine was still available and I did not see it listed. I was sadden by this news but then realized maybe they just sold out of the wine for the season.  I called up Frontenac Point Vineyard and spoke to a very nice lady named Carol Doolittle, she is the co-owner of the vineyard.  We had a very nice conversation on the phone about Frontenac White.  For me there is some good news: while they no longer have the wine name Frontenac White, they changed its name to Seyval Blanc, which happens to be the grape this wine is made from.

Now I bet you are wondering why I am writing about a wine that is not sold under the name Frontenac White anymore?  Simply put this was a great wine and while the name might have changed to Seyval Blanc the taste of the wine has not changed.  The Frontenac White (Seyval Blanc) is a very nicely balanced white wine that is not overly dry.  This wine is a medium bodied, white wine that is crisp, and refreshing with what I found to be a semi-dry to a dry wine with a slight citrus taste.  I could taste a green apple flavor and possibly  some sort of melon.  The finish of the Frontenac White was fresh and long lasting.  This wine did not hit your taste buds hard and just run away.  I found Frontenac White was quite attractive especially for a grape that seems to be one dimensional.  For my food paring I chose to make a lemon pepper baked fish with garlic shrimp and lobster ravioli.  The wine and food complemented each other quite nicely.  If you are not a fan of seafood you could pair this nicely with lemon and rosemary roasted chicken. This is a nice wine for anytime.

If you would like to know more about Frontenac Point Vineyard go and check them out.  What I can tell you about Frontenac Point Vineyard is that they are an Estate Winery and can only use the grapes grown on their vineyard.  Each year the vintage is different and the harvest is different due to weather conditions.  What some people don't know about the wineries in New York State is that the wineries are limited as to what they can produced and many times grapes go to waste.  New York State does not allow wineries to sell their wine to grocery stores thus causing a surplus of grapes for the wineries.  Currently there is an imbalance in the market between wineries and liquor stores, and this causes the wineries to limit production of wine, leaving grapes to rot on the vine.   What I find sad about this is that when you go in to a liquor store in New York State there is maybe only a few different New York wines, and many wines from other markets.  I am not saying that liquor stores should only showcase wines from New York State, but there should be more then a handful of New York wines available.  If wineries were allowed to sell their wines in grocery stores it would help support the local economy.  Thank you to Frontenac Point Vineyard and Carol Doolittle for working so hard to persuade New York Lawmakers to change their minds.  If you want to learn more and possible find out how you can help support the local economy and the cause go visit Frontenac Point Vineyard try some wine, and speak with Carol at Frontenac Point Vineyard.

Frontenac Point Vineyard
9501 Rte. 89
Trumansburg, NY 14886
607 387 9619

Their Tasting Room is open:
Mid May - June Saturday 10am - 4:30 and Sunday Noon - 4:30

Welcome to Maryland and Boordy Vineyards!

My latest wine experience brings me to Boordy Vineyards in Maryland.  This wine was a gift from my future sister-in-law Lauren and her wonderful parents.  As I had stated earlier, in December we went to an engagement party for my brother-in-law (Lou) and his fiancée. We are very excited about the coming nuptials.  Now getting back to the wine, the bottle that I received was a bottle from Boordy's landmark series. Maryland is known for a lot of things. It is one of the original 13 colonies to revolt from the British, the inspiration for Francis Scott Key's (and our National Anthem) Star Spangle Banner, the Mason-Dixon Line, one of the first capitals of the United States (Annapolis), and much more.  Who would have thought that Maryland would be a place for wine and grape growing too.

Boordy Vineyards is one of Maryland's oldest family owned vineyards.  Located just outside of Baltimore, Boordy currently offers three distinct categories of wine: the Landmark Series, the Icons of Maryland, and the Just for Fun Series.  The Landmark Series features Maryland grown grapes and is considered to be the finest wine, and is marked by vintage year. The wines that can be found in the Landmark Series are: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Landmark Reserve, Eisling, and Veritas.   The vintage year that I received was a 2008 Merlot.

Take a Video Tour

The 2008 Landmark Merlot is a full body dry wine.  Though I have found that my palate does enjoy a more semi dry wine, this bottle of wine had a nice finish and was not as dry as I had expected it to be.  The Merlot was very interesting because it was well balanced and did not overpower you by having a heavy oak taste, even though the aroma of the Merlot was oaky.  You could smell the oak right away and it smelled earthy.  The color of the wine was a dark ruby color and barely translucent.  I could taste the earthiness to the wine and I noticed that the wine did not have a lot of tannins to it, which is something I was expecting from a dry wine.  The finish of the wine was nice and long lasting.  It did not just hit hard and run away, and overpower you with the tannins and oak from the aging process.  I found this wine to be very enjoyable and I would highly recommend it.  As for food parings I would recommend this with Eggplant Parmesan.  I also soaked my Eggplant in about 2ozs of this wine and it made my eggplant very good.  I also made sauteed mushrooms and onions in a tsp. of the wine with a tsp. of olive oil.  and it made a very nice taste in my sauce.  If I was serving steak or lamb I could just see how placing my sauteed mushrooms and onions on top of the meat would be delicious and paired perfectly with the wine.  This wine is great on a cool spring, or fall day and as a winter treat.  I am not sure how this wine would be in the heat of the summer as I believe it may be too rich for the summer.  However, it is an excellent wine for cool days.  

If you would like to learn more about Boordy Vineyards or would like to order a bottle of this to try for yourself.  There are three options:  The first options is if you are on your way  Florida (trying to escape the winter blues) Take a side trip into Maryland, stop at the vineyard located at 12820 Long Green Pike,  Hydes Maryland.  The wine tasting room is open daily at 2pm to 3:30pm and their store is open daily from 10am to 5pm.  Your second option is to visit their website and order your wine.  Check to see if you live in one of the states they deliver too. The third option is to check to see if it is at your favorite wine shop. If not see if they can order it for you.  Enjoy!

The Wine Journey Came to Me Part 2

In my last post I had posted about wine coming to my door via Wine Insiders.  I had purchased 4 bottles of wine for $15.00 which is a great deal!  In my last review, I reviewed the Maddalena Riesling from Monterey California.  Today's review is the Myth Chardonnay. This wine is another California wine and I must say a great find on Wine Insiders.  I must admit that my favorite wines are white, and  semi dry to a light sweet.  If you only like sweet wines, Wine Insiders may not be the place for you to order.  They specialize in dryer wines; however, with that being said I found this Chardonnay to be one of my all time favorites.  While some of the reviews I have seen about this wine have all stated that it is the quintessential summer wine, I would have to say that this wine is also very good on a brisk spring or fall day.  The Myth Chardonnay has a rich, smooth, and refreshing taste.

The Chardonnay grape makes an absolutely delicious wine which would explain why it is the most widely planted grape in the entire world. Chardonnay wine has become America's most popular selling white wine and boasts a very impressive range of flavors from smooth buttered oak overtones to sweet fresh fruit flavors. While the debate over which (if either) is better, many believe the very best Chardonnay wines are those with a smooth buttery taste. I found the Myth Chardonnay leaning more toward the sweet fresh taste but with a hint of the smooth buttery oak flavor. This Chardonnay is a great combination of the two and it create a nice flavor for any pallet. This Chardonnay pairs well with grilled seafood, chicken, and pasta dishes. It also pairs well with roasted chicken and pasta alfredo.




While this bottle of wine was only $3.20 it was a great bottle of wine, don't let the price fool you. If you live in an area where wine can be delivered to you, check out Wine Insiders and experience a variety of different wines from California. Sign up for their deals, because they do send you some great deals on wine. Enjoy!