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!