Eats Beat: Wine tours in Berks County – Philly.com
* There’s a good reason to head out of town this weekend – the Berks County Wine Trail’s anniversary celebration, this year with a “Grape to Plate” theme. Eight wineries will participate noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It’s mostly free, too. Details at berkscountywinetrail.com.
* Take the pain out of waiting for the train as The Porch at 30th Street Station and Bridgewater’s Pub host a Beer Garden, 3-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday. With swingin’ sounds by Evan Cory Levin Co., 6 to 8 p.m.
* It’s first-birthday time for Rex 1516 (1516 South St., 267-319-1366, rex1516.com), and along with a new spring menu, executive chef Justin Swain will offer a crawfish boil for $25 Thursday through Saturday. Plus live jazz on the patio with the Eric Wortham Trio.
* Chef Al Paris of Heirloom (8705 Germantown Ave., 215-242-2700, heirloomdining.com) has tapped The Farm The Fisherman’s Joshua Lawler for a collaborative dinner starring local spring goodies like ramps, fiddleheads, wild asparagus, rhubarb and English peas (they may be English, but they grow here, too). The five-course feast will be served on Wednesday, with seatings at 5:30, 6, 8:30 and 9 p.m. $75, plus tax and tip. Call for reservations.
* If you read our story about cupcake decorating today and are itching to show off your baking and decorating skills, the Philabundance hunger-relief organization will hold the third annual Cupcake Smash at the Piazza at Schmidts in Northern Liberties from 2 to 5 p.m. April 27. Professional and amateur bakers’ submissions should be inspired by Tommy Up’s menu at the Piazza burger joint PYT (1050 N. Hancock St., 215-964-9009, pytphilly.com). Tix are $25 ($30 at the door) at Philabundance.org.
* Reserve your spots for the Mother’s Day Mural Arts Tour and Lunch, May 11. (Technically the day before Mother’s Day, but why not start celebrating early?) See the murals from 10 to noon, then head to a three-course lunch at Positano Coast at 212 Walnut St. in Old City. $65 a person. Details at 215-685-0750 or muralarts.org.
Send food and restaurant news to Daily News Deputy Features Editor Laurie Conrad, conradl@phillynews.com.
A toast to the winemakers
WINE COUNTRY: A French country chateau houses the wine cellar and tasting room of Moon Dancer Vineyards and Winery in Wrightsville.
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When tasting wine, connoisseurs hold their glasses up to the light to look at the wine’s colour and clarity.
I don’t always know what I’m supposed to see, but at Naylor Wine Cellars in Pennsylvania, I held up my white wine and it was crystal . . . No. I have to say that it was most definitely cloudy. Very clearly cloudy.
During a tank-side chat about the steps in the winemaking process, assistant winemaker Ben McIntyre quickly clarified that I wasn’t imagining things. It was all part of the Tour de Tanks event held at 26 Pennsylvania and Maryland wineries in March, during which guests are invited into cellars and backrooms to learn about those various winemaking steps.
It’s a follow-up to the Wine Just Off the Vine event held in November. Last year, visitors sampled these wines just days after they were put into barrels. We sipped those same wines-in-progress, aged by five months.
Using York, Pa., as our home base, my tasting companion and I made plans to spend two days visiting six wineries along the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail that surrounds the city. The wineries don’t open until noon, so we spent the morning browsing through the shops in downtown York and downing a hearty breakfast at the newly renovated Central Market.
Then we set off on the trail, where interesting wine facts poured from winemakers’ mouths: why some use barrels instead of steel tanks; why the region makes so many fruity and sweet wines; and how snacks ranging from brownies to beef jerky to ancho-chilli chocolate are paired with Chambourcins, Traminettes and other wines.
As one winery worker put it, you don’t just buy a ticket to taste. You pay for an education.
At each winery, we presented our Tour de Tanks ticket – a frequent-drinking card of sorts listing each participating winery – for stamping. We picked up our free wine glass at the first stop and took it with us everywhere, as directed.
That meant making frequent use of “rinse stations” that consisted of everything from painted ceramic pitchers to big orange plastic buckets with spigots.
Used to simple tastings of a handful of bottled wines, I found it much more intriguing to step into dark cellars and brightly lit tank rooms to learn the backstories of the vineyards and vintners, and to taste both finished and unfinished wines.
The wineries varied from a country home to a former barn to the basement of someone’s house just off the interstate, and friendly winemakers answered questions about the grapes and the soil as well as about their businesses and themselves.
And really now, how could someone whose great-grandfathers were a cooper and a beer brewer not wind up in the business, as is the case with Jim Miller, the owner and winemaker at Moon Dancer Vineyards and Winery in Wrightsville, Pa.?
Moon Dancer was our first stop after setting out from our base in York, on roads that wound past stately houses and trailer homes, rising at one point for a view of one of the widest stretches of the Susquehanna River.
At the top of a gravel road, we reached a French country chateau framed by vineyards. After sampling from five bottles in a tasting room, the last one a warmed spice wine, we headed downstairs. “It’s the first sobriety test of the day,” said my friend Sid at the top of a steep staircase.
The cellar was a sight to behold. Candles flickered atop nearly every barrel, creating a golden aura. From behind a table laid with cheese, crackers, grapes and locally made beef jerky, Miller talked about the land, the Pennsylvania white oak barrels made in California and how he had learned to make wine years earlier from a book called “How to Make Wine.”
We moved on to Allegro Winery in Brogue, which has been in business for more than 30 years, helping ourselves to the hot tomato basil soup on offer – perfect for a raw March day – before taking a tour in the next room with owner and winemaker Carl Helrich.
When we were about to leave, Helrich issued a challenge involving a Bordeaux blend he is proud of, Cadenza 2010: He said that I should serve it to a friend who’s a wine connoisseur, tell her or him that it’s a French Bordeaux and see whether she or he disputes it. Only then should I say that it’s actually a Pennsylvania wine. I told him that I’d take the bottle home and give it a shot.
Naylor was our third stop, and as we entered the nondescript building, the smell of wine hit like a physical force.
Standing among the steel tanks, McIntyre poured us that cloudy glassful, explaining that it was an unfinished, yet-to-be filtered wine, but eminently drinkable.
Before we were allowed to taste it, though, he had us sniff the wine and guess what we were detecting. One person called it “grapey,” another “sweet.” McIntyre smiled. Yes, the wine was fruity, hence the powerful grape aroma. But sweet? “Your mind is playing a trick on you,” he explained.
“The learning experience here is, you can’t smell sweet.” The memory of grape juice or Concord grape jam made us all assume that the wine was sweet, he said. It was not. But it would be by the time it was bottled.
We went along to another “teacher” to taste some reds. He pulled the rich crimson liquid from a barrel with a “wine thief” – it looks like a turkey baster without the rubber top – and told us to take a sip of a Chambourcin, then a bite of a brownie and then taste the red again to see whether we noticed a difference. Most of us did.
Sid and I suddenly realized that we were off schedule and raced to Logan’s View Winery, trying to beat the clock. We thought we’d allotted plenty of time for four wineries in five hours, but between the chats and the sips and the second sips… and the third sips… we were lagging behind, and the drive between each winery added 25 minutes or so.
We pulled up to Logan’s View at 4:57, afraid that we’d be turned away, since closing time for all the Tour de Tanks wineries is 5 p.m. Instead, we got a warm welcome from one of the half-dozen owners – there are 18 in all – who were hanging out. They told us it’s typical to get a rush of people at the end of the day.
At this winery, as at nearly every one we visited, we were asked whether we preferred dry or sweet wines. Sweet wines are better sellers in the area, apparently.
I’m sure I tasted more varieties of sweet and fruity wine in two days than I have in years. At Logan’s View, the fruit used in the wine is grown locally, and we tasted blends with such names as Strawberry Blonde, Blackberry Nights and Logan’s Blue.
Our final winery, on Sunday, was in a converted barn. Basignani had the feeling of a rustic, high-ceilinged pub with long counters, and the walls were lined with empty, dusty wine bottles. Two friendly dogs roamed in and out at will.
A small group of us walked outside and around back to join the barrel tour with Vincent Basignani, the owner’s cousin, who explained that when the yeast is introduced to the grapes’ juice, it’s “very violent. You can hear it bubbling.” He also mentioned that the winery gets shipments of 190-proof brandy alcohol in trucks labelled “Hazardous Material.”
Clearly, making wine isn’t just rewarding, but dangerously exciting, too.
WHERE TO STAY
The Yorktowne Hotel, 48 E. Market St., York, Pa., 717-848-111. Historic hotel built in 1925, with 121 rooms and within easy walking distance of downtown restaurants and shops. Rooms are $145 on weekend evenings in March.
Grace Manor Bed and Breakfast, 258 W. Market St., York, Pa., 717-542-0787. Also in the historic downtown, this Beaux-Arts home has 10-foot ceilings and themed rooms that include France, Asia and Mexico. Rates start at $157.
WHERE TO EAT
The Left Bank Restaurant Bar, 120 N. George St., 717-843-8010. Fine dining. Entrees from $23 for artisan mushroom ravioli to $43 for filet mignon.
White Rose Bar Grill, 48 N. Beaver St., 717-848-5369. Wide-ranging menu with salads, sandwiches, burgers, seafood, pasta and chicken. Entrees start at $17
WHAT TO DO
Tour de Tanks, Saturdays and Sundays in March (except Easter Sunday). Twenty-six participating wineries on the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail in south-central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. Tickets ($30.5) may be purchased at any winery.
We visited:
Moon Dancer Vineyards Winery, 1282 Klines Run Rd., Wrightsville, Pa., 717-252-9463.
Allegro Winery, 3475 Sechrist Rd., Brogue, Pa., 717-927-9148.
Naylor Wine Cellars, 4069 Vineyard Rd., Stewartstown, Pa., 717-993-2431.
Logan’s View Winery, 4830 Hildebrand Rd., Glen Rock, Pa., 717-741-0300.
Royal Rabbit Vineyards, 1090 Jordan Sawmill Rd., Parkton, Md., 443-721-6692.
Basignani Winery, 15722 Falls Rd., Sparks, Md., 410-472-0703
- The Washington Post
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A toast to the winemakers of Pennsylvania and Maryland
When tasting wine, connoisseurs hold their glasses up to the light to look at the wine’s color and clarity. I don’t always know what I’m supposed to see, but at Naylor Wine Cellars in Pennsylvania, I held up my white wine and it was crystal . . . No. I have to say that it was most definitely cloudy. Very clearly cloudy.
During a tank-side chat about the steps in the winemaking process, assistant winemaker Ben McIntyre quickly clarified that I wasn’t imagining things. It was all part of the Tour de Tanks event held at 26 Pennsylvania and Maryland wineries in March, during which guests are invited into cellars and backrooms to learn about those various winemaking steps. It’s a follow-up to the Wine Just Off the Vine event held in November. Last fall, visitors sampled these wines just days after they were put into barrels. We sipped those same wines-in-progress, aged by five months.
Using York, Pa., as our home base, my tasting companion and I made plans to spend two days visiting six wineries along the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail that surrounds the city. The wineries don’t open until noon, so we spent the morning browsing through the shops in downtown York and downing a hearty breakfast at the newly renovated Central Market.
Then we set off on the trail, where interesting wine facts poured from winemakers’ mouths: why some use barrels instead of steel tanks; why the region makes so many fruity and sweet wines; and how snacks ranging from brownies to beef jerky to ancho-chili
chocolate are paired with Chambourcins, Traminettes and other wines. As one winery worker put it, you don’t just buy a ticket to taste. You pay for an education.
At each winery, we presented our Tour de Tanks ticket — a frequent-drinking card of sorts listing each participating winery — for stamping. We picked up our free wine glass at the first stop and took it with us everywhere, as directed. That meant making frequent use of “rinse stations” that consisted of everything from painted
ceramic pitchers to big orange plastic buckets with spigots.
Used to simple tastings of a handful of bottled wines, I found it much more intriguing to step into dark cellars and brightly lit tank rooms to learn the backstories of the vineyards and vintners, and to taste both finished and unfinished wines.
The wineries varied from a country home to a former barn to the basement of someone’s house just off the interstate, and friendly winemakers answered questions about the grapes and the soil as well as about their businesses and themselves.
And really now, how could someone whose great-grandfathers were a cooper and a beer brewer not wind up in the business, as is the case with Jim Miller, the owner and winemaker at Moon Dancer Vineyards and Winery in Wrightsville, Pa.?
Moon Dancer was our first stop after setting out from our base in York, on roads that wound past stately houses and trailer homes, rising at one point for a view of one of the widest stretches of the Susquehanna River.
At the top of a gravel road, we reached a French country chateau framed by vineyards. After sampling from five bottles in a tasting room, the last one a warmed spice wine, we headed downstairs. “It’s the first sobriety test of the day,” said my friend Sid at the top of a steep staircase.
The cellar was a sight to behold. Candles flickered atop nearly every barrel, creating a golden aura. From behind a table laid with cheese, crackers, grapes and locally made beef jerky, Miller talked about the land, the Pennsylvania white oak barrels made in California and how he had learned to make wine years earlier from a book called “How to Make Wine.”
We moved on to Allegro Winery in Brogue, which has been in business for more than 30 years, helping ourselves to the hot tomato basil soup on offer — perfect for a raw March day — before taking a tour in the next room with owner and winemaker Carl Helrich.
When we were about to leave, Helrich issued a challenge involving a Bordeaux blend he is proud of, Cadenza 2010: He said that I should serve it to a friend who’s a wine connoisseur, tell her or him that it’s a French Bordeaux and see whether she or he disputes it. Only then should I say that it’s actually a
Pennsylvania wine. I told him that I’d take the bottle home and give it a shot.
Naylor was our third stop, and as we entered the nondescript building, the smell of wine hit like a physical force. Standing among the steel tanks, McIntyre poured us that cloudy glassful, explaining that it was an unfinished, yet-to-be filtered wine, but eminently drinkable.
Before we were allowed to taste it, though, he had us sniff the wine and guess what we were detecting. One person called it “grapey,” another “sweet.” McIntyre smiled. Yes, the wine was fruity, hence the powerful grape aroma. But sweet? “Your mind is playing a trick on you,” he explained. “The learning experience here is, you can’t smell sweet.” The memory of grape juice or Concord grape jam made us all assume that the wine was sweet, he said. It was not. But it would be by the time it was bottled.
We went along to another “teacher” to taste some reds. He pulled the rich crimson liquid from a barrel with a “wine thief” — it looks like a turkey baster without the rubber top — and told us to take a sip of a Chambourcin, then a bite of a brownie and then taste the red again to see whether we noticed a difference. Most of us did.
Sid and I suddenly realized that we were off schedule and raced to Logan’s View Winery, trying to beat the clock. We thought we’d allotted plenty of time for four wineries in five hours, but between the chats and the sips and the second sips . . . and the third sips . . . we were lagging behind, and the drive between each winery added 25 minutes or so.
We pulled up to Logan’s View at 4:57, afraid that we’d be turned away, since closing time for all the Tour de Tanks wineries is 5 p.m. Instead, we got a warm welcome from one of the half-dozen owners — there are 18 in all who were hanging out. They told us it’s typical to get a rush of people at the end of the day.
At this winery, as at nearly every one we visited, we were asked whether we preferred dry or sweet wines. Sweet wines are better sellers in the area, apparently. I’m sure I tasted more varieties of sweet and fruity wine in two days than I have in years. At Logan’s View, the fruit used in the wine is grown locally, and we tasted blends with such names as Strawberry Blonde, Blackberry Nights and Logan’s Blue.
Our final winery, on Sunday, was in a converted barn. Basignani had the feeling of a rustic, high-ceilinged pub with long counters, and the walls were lined with empty, dusty wine bottles. Two friendly dogs roamed in and out at will.
A small group of us walked outside and around back to join the barrel tour with Vincent Basignani, the owner’s cousin, who explained that when the yeast is introduced to the grapes’ juice, it’s “very violent. You can hear it bubbling.” He also mentioned that the winery gets shipments of 190-proof brandy alcohol in trucks labeled “Hazardous Material.” Clearly, making wine isn’t just rewarding, but dangerously exciting, too.
Milestones here, near for Hershey Harrisburg Wine Country
Wine Country by the numbers
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15: The number of wineries participating in Hershey Harrisburg Wine Country. The wine trail started with 12 last year.
1: The Vineyard at Hershey, which led the charge in creating Wine Country, celebrated its first anniversary during the weekend.
12: The Vineyard at Hershey started with family volunteers. It has grown to a full-time, paid staff of 10 with two additional commissioned salespeople. And the vineyard is hiring as it grows and prepares to open a new building for production and entertaining.
60 percent: While 60 percent of The Vineyard at Hershey’s business comes from tastings and direct wine sales, a growing percentage is tied to private events, sales to area restaurants and other private label distribution.
50: The number of Wine Country tours booked last year. Wine Country President Jason Reimer expects that number to double this year; Premiere #1 Limousine Service LLC is projecting it to triple.
2,000: Ticket sales generated by signature events in the spring and fall last year. Of those, 30 percent came from outside a 60-mile radius. Promotional efforts last year focused on the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., markets. The focus this year is on marketing Wine Country to the Philadelphia market.
75 percent: The recent ValenWine’s Day event bolstered sales for participating wineries by an average of 75 percent over last year. There were 487 tickets sold that weekend, including 450 couples.
$600: The cost of the average wine tour package through Premiere #1 Limousine Service. Most group bookings have been for six to eight people.
32 percent: In 2011, 23 percent of Premiere customers said they heard of the company through referral or previous use. That percentage increased to 32 last year.
Wine for Valentine’s week, more on Rodeo Uncorked
By Ron Saikowski / Wine Walk
Next Thursday is Valentine’s Day, but why make only one day special for your love? Surprise your special person by showing them how very special they are by showering them with a week of special wines and events. Consider a special treat over the next seven days leading to Valentine’s Day such as:
• Friday – Pick up a bottle of blood-red Valentine Wine from Bernhardt Winery near Plantersville for a special sunset toast with your special friend.
• Saturday – Visit the wineries along the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail for the Chocolate and Wine Trail Tour. A trail ticket for two runs $45 and must be purchased online at www.TexasBluebonnetWineTrail.com. This trail runs through Sunday.
• Sunday – Attend the Chocolate and Wine Event at Crescent Moon Wine Bar from 6-10 p.m. benefitting the Breast Cancer Charities of America. Reservations can be made by calling 281- 364-9463 and are $50 per person for this special charity event.
• Monday – Special Valentine’s Dinner at Latin Bites Cafe located at 5709 Woodway Dr. Houston, TX 77057, featuring South American delicacies!
• Tuesday – “Bubbles and Botox” at the Urban Vine at 13215 Grant Road in Cypress.
• Wednesday – Flights of wines to be tasted at Woodlands Wine Company with your special love. Try four or five different wines from your favorite grape varietal or wine type.
• Thursday – The BIG day demands a dozen roses and a reservation at an intimate restaurant that you know will pair awesome wines with their great foods. For starters, try Red Brick Tavern in historic downtown Conroe; Fleming’s, Perry’s, Grotto ,or Kirby’s in The Woodlands, or Walden Yacht Club overlooking the romantic waters of Lake Conroe.
Hopefully, these suggestions will get your creative juices flowing to prepare for your week of wining and dining your love! Remember, wine is meant to be shared!
Houston Rodeo Uncorked
On Feb. 17, the Houston Rodeo Uncorked winning wines will be paired with special foods at the Reliant Center. More than 60 of Houston’s select restaurants and caterers will compete to win this year’s “Houston Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites competition” starting at 6 p.m. This premiere wine and food event is an excellent way to taste, compare, and rate the best of the wines and unique foods. It will also introduce your taste buds to a myriad of restaurants and taste fantasies.
If you want the ultimate in Texas hospitality, wines, and foods, try the Champion Wine Dinner and Auction on March 2. The evening starts off at 6 p.m. at Reliant Center with a wine reception featuring the winning wines of t he Houston Rodeo Uncorked Competition, followed by a sit-down dinner for around 1,000 around 7 p.m., and the ultimate in charity wine auctions at 8 p.m. For more information on both of these events, go to www.RodeoHouston.com.
During the Houston Rodeo, experience these winning wine at the Houston Rodeo Wine Garden in the Carruth Plaza from Feb. 25 through March 17. Enjoy your Wine Sensory Experiences which will help expand understanding and appreciation of fine wines. Seminar conducted by Houston’s top wine experts will be provided to help the beginning wine lover through the wine expert appreciate these sensory experiences. These wine seminars will provide in-depth experiences in a variety of wines from Texas to California to Old World and from Cabernet Sauvignon to Pinot Noir to Sparkling wines!
Texas Needs More Vineyards
Wineries in Texas have grown at a phenomenal rate while vineyard growth has lagged dramatically behind. Texas needs four times more vineyards than it currently has. Jerry Bernhardt has opportunities to learn the basics of establishing vineyards and growing grapes. Bernhardt Winery will host three Saturday sessions of “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Grape Vines” on Feb. 9 and 23, along with March 2. Jerry Bernhardt will start your morning off right at 9:00 in the Winery Event Room with coffee, juice, and fruit followed by an informative classroom presentation on growing and pruning vines. Jerry is a retired school teacher so his presentations usually include lots of hand-outs. Learn the basics of vineyard layout, grape selection, and vineyard support activities. I will be there the first two Saturdays to assist “Mr. J” as needed. At 10:30, Jerry Bernhardt and I will head out with the limited class into the vineyard to provide hands-on experiences for the seminar participants on pruning grape vines, vineyard hygiene, and physical vineyard layouts to develop your vineyard skills. You will also learn how to root grape vines from canes that are pruned in the vineyard. You can take these canes home to “root them” and eventually plant them in your home vineyard. You will leave with plenty of contact information for purchasing more vines, trellising supplies and related information to help you with this new hobby or business! You are welcome to take the vineyard cane cuttings home for rooting and making grape wreaths. These cuttings can become your vineyard in a few years producing grapes for you to make some homemade wine! After pruning, everyone will gather inside the winery for lunch and wine tasting. Lunch is proposed to be spinach, strawberry and walnut salad, chicken salad on croissant and chocolate dessert served with Bernhardt Winery’s award-winning port. The cost of the vineyard seminar and lunch is $30 and is limited to the first 24 people per session with paid reservations. Please call the winery at 936-520-8684 or 936-894-9829. You will need to bring pruning shears, a change of shoes in case the ground is muddy, appropriate clothing in accordance with the weather conditions, and a bucket to enable you to take your cuttings home.
Ron Saikowski may be reached at rsaikowski@comcast.net.
Make plans to pair wine with your Valentine
Make plans to pair wine with your Valentine
Related Content
RON’S WINE PICK
SINGING WATER VINEYARDS 2010 VINTNER’S RESERVE
Characteristics: Complex, well-balanced red wine made with Texas grapes, with velvety smooth tannin and flavors of black cherry, plum, licorice and toasted oak. This 55/45 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is aged in oak barrels for 18 months. Gold Medal Winner at the San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition
Pairs with: Grilled steak slaughtered with Bleu Cheese.
Cost: $32.95 per bottle
Where: Winery in Comfort, Texas in the Texas Hill Country. Purchase via internet at www.singingwatervineyards.com
Posted: Friday, February 1, 2013 4:00 am
|
Updated: 3:21 pm, Fri Feb 1, 2013.
Houston Community Newspapers
February historically is noted as the “Month for Lovers” with Valentine’s Day situated in the middle of February on the 14th. Surprise your lover with wine surprises during the month with special outings The nine wineries of the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail have grouped together to provide a special “Chocolate and Wine Trail” for the first two weekends in February. Wineries along the “trail” will open at 11 AM on Saturday and close at 6 PM with Sunday openings at noon with chocolate and wine tastings lasting until 5 PM. Your Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail ticket allows you to sample two luscious wine tastings paired with a wonderfully sexy chocolate delicacy. Tickets for the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail must be purchased online at www.TexasBluebonnetWineTrail.com with single tickets priced at $25 or a “Ticket-for-Two” priced at $45, plus handling fees and tax for each purchase. Tickets are good February 2-3 and 9-10, 2013, regardless of your purchase date.
The Texas Hill Country around Fredericksburg also has its Valentine Wine Lover’s Trail for ten days of wine. From February 8-17, 2013, you can celebrate your love with a romantic excursion to Fredericksburg and the surrounding communities. Book a night or two at a historic Bed and Breakfast or at the infamous Hangar Inn in Fredericksburg. If you can’t make it on a weekend, take some time to come out during the week for a quiet, romantic adventure. Spend time with a loved one, discovering the wine and nibbling on the signature foods created just for you by the Hill Country artisans. Ticket costs for the trail are $35per adult and $60 for a couple. Each ticket provides you with one set of complimentary wine tastings at each winery along with a box of cake balls.
Special winery events will also provide you with opportunities for unique winery events which include:
• Feb. 1 – Unveiling of this year’s Valentine wine at Bernhardt Winery between Plantersville and Dobbin, north of SH 105. This “blood-red” wine made from the rare Ives Noir grape smells and tastes like “cotton candy.”
• Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22 – Stroll the Messina Hof Winery with your love with a glass of their sparkling wine in the moonlit evenings, enjoying spectacular views of their lake and vineyards. After the tour, delight in a flight of Messina Hof wines perfectly paired with delectable tapas at the Wine Bar. Please call (979) 778-9463 ext. 223 to make your reservation for this romantic excursion. Enjoy a romantic dinner afterward in the Vintage House Restaurant and stay in their opulent Bed and Breakfast Resort.
• Feb. 10 – Romantic evening concert in the Bernhardt Winery Events Room featuring Skyline, a group that will take you to the day of the Chicago band.
• Feb. 10 – Cooking Party with the Vintage House Chef from 2:00-5:00 PM.
• Feb. 16 and 17 – Wine Club pickup at Saddlehorn Winery near Burton off U. S. 290.
For a special evening, book a night’s stay at one of the Bed and Breakfast facilities at either Bernhardt Winery or Messina Hof Winery. You will be pampered and bring home memories of an intimate affair. Each of the nine wineries along the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail want to make your visit with each winery a special affair to remember.
Opportunities in the Vineyard
Bernhardt Winery will host three Saturday sessions of “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Grape Vines” on February 9th, 23rd, and March 2nd. Jerry Bernhardt will start your morning off right at 9:00 in the Winery Event Room with coffee, juice, and fruit followed by an informative presentation on growing and pruning vines. His presentations usually include lots of hand-outs. I will be there the first two Saturdays to assist “Mr. J” as needed. At 10:30, Jerry Bernhardt and I will head out into the vineyard to provide hands-on experiences for the seminar participants on pruning grape vines and physical vineyard layouts to develop your vineyard skills. You will learn how to root grape vines to take home and plant. You will leave with plenty of contact information for purchasing more vines, trellising supplies and related information to help you with this new hobby or business! You are welcome to take your cuttings home and plant your own vineyard or at least some vines to make some homemade wine! After pruning, everyone will gather inside the winery for lunch and wine tasting. Lunch is proposed to be spinach, strawberry and walnut salad, chicken salad on croissant and chocolate dessert served with Bernhardt Winery’s award-winning port. The cost of the pruning and lunch is $30 and is limited to the first 24 people per session with paid reservations. Please call the winery at (936) 520-8684 or (936) 894-9829. You will need to bring pruning shears, a change of shoes in case the ground is muddy, appropriate clothing in accordance with the weather, and a bucket to enable you to take your cuttings home.
Italian Wines Invade Texas
One of the winery consortiums from Italy launched an informative assault on Texas Sommeliers and Wine media (including me) with an array of Brunello di Montalcino wines last Monday. These Tuscan wines made from Sangiovese grapes look and taste like expensive Pinot Noirs with their fresh fruits, earthiness, and color. Their depth of staying power coupled with their finesse make this one of Kevin Zraly’s top three wines. I was awed by their quality and low price for such Finesse. By the way, Kevin Zraly is an internationally noted wine book author and lecturer who led a 90-minute program keeping we wine people including the likes of wine guru/book author Denman Moody in awe with his knowledge interspersed with humor. March down to your favorite wine shop and pick up a few bottles of Brunello di Montalcino for your drinking pleasure. Don’t forget to use your hands when you slur out the words Brunello di Montalcino for effect when ordering!
Ron Saikowski may be reached at rsaikowski@comcast.net.
Posted in
Living
on
Friday, February 1, 2013 4:00 am.
Updated: 3:21 pm.
Days of Wine and Chocolate for NJ Wineries
Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and you’re still trying to decide where to take that special someone for a romantic date. Let the Garden State Wine Growers Association help with their annual Wine Chocolate Wine Trail Weekend, February 9th and 10th at participating New Jersey wineries. The trail features wine tasting and chocolate samplings from noon to 5 pm at more than 40 wineries across the state.
According to Tom Cosentino, Public Relations for the GSWGA, this a great opportunity for the wineries of New Jersey to shine. He says, “The Wine Chocolate Wine Trail Weekend provides a tremendous opportunity to showcase the New Jersey wine industry to individuals and couples throughout the state and surrounding regions. There is no better pairing than wine and chocolate and this trail weekend allows New Jersey wineries to offer visitors a sampling of their finest wines paired with chocolates, gourmet food and delicacies, and local entertainment. By promoting our wine trails we not only allow visitors to meet and talk with the winemakers themselves and see the vineyards, but they also get to experience the unique locales of the regions, including bed and breakfasts, restaurants and shops.”
Many of the wineries are offering more than just the standard tasting for this special weekend. Tours, live entertainment, food pairings, and even dinners are a part of the wine trail experience. “It’s an opportunity to check out many wineries in one day and know that there is something special going on at each one,” remarks Kate Quarella of Bellview Winery, New Jersey’s 2012 Winery of the Year. “We’ve always enjoyed the Wine Chocolate Wine Trail Weekend, but we are really excited about some new additions this year,” she adds. These include a customizable cupcake bar featuring The Sweet Life Bakery and the release of Bellview’s cellared 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon.
At Plagido’s Winery in Hammonton, the Wine Trail Weekend gives winemakers a chance to meet with their customers. “Guests are able to come through and tour the winery, like an Open House,” says owner Ollie Tomasello. Since he is so often out working in the vines during the year, this is an opportunity to learn what his customers like. And according to the Plagido’s tasting room staff, customers love chocolate. Look for chocolate-dipped wine bottles, courtesy of Cheryl Pirrera of Creative Customs, all weekend long.
The Wine Trail Weekend can also be an occasion for wineries to have a little fun with their guests. Sharrott Winery in Blue Anchor is featuring a special wine tasting featuring foods that “put you in the mood.” There may be more than a little tongue-in-cheek humor and certainly lots of innuendo on the Sharrott menu, but according to Larry Sharrott II, owner and winemaker, choosing to serve aphrodisiac foods this year was a no-brainer. “We wanted to try something new and fun, to give our customers an interesting experience.” He adds, “Many of our customers tell us that Sharrott wines make them feel more romantic!” Perhaps Sharrott sums up the weekend best when he quips, “Food and wine is sex you can talk about!”
If you go:
Call ahead or check the winery’s website. Many wineries charge an additional fee for special events and tastings. You may also need reservations for some wine tours or dinners.
Map out your route. Visit www.newjerseywinetrails.com for event information and maps.
Bring bottled water in the car. For hydration between stops.
Choose a designated driver.
And most importantly, have fun savoring the wonderful variety of New Jersey wines!
Jennifer Malme is a full-time mother, sometime substitute teacher, avid locavore, and enthusiastic supporter of New Jersey wines. Her lifestyle blog, Down-Home South Jersey, explores ways to live simply and eat well in and around Cumberland County. When she is not blogging, she enjoys cooking, touring local wineries, and reading. She has never met a cheese that she doesn’t like, and she especially enjoys finding new, authentic ethnic restaurants in her area. Jennifer lives in Vineland with her husband, teenage son, and very smart Siamese cat.
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WINE WALK: Make plans to pair wine with your Valentine
February historically is noted as the “Month for Lovers” with Valentine’s Day situated in the middle of February on the 14th. Surprise your lover with wine surprises during the month with special outings The nine wineries of the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail have grouped together to provide a special “Chocolate and Wine Trail” for the first two weekends in February.
Wineries along the “trail” will open at 11 AM on Saturday and close at 6 PM with Sunday openings at noon with chocolate and wine tastings lasting until 5 PM. Your Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail ticket allows you to sample two luscious wine tastings paired with a wonderfully sexy chocolate delicacy. Tickets for the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail must be purchased online at www.TexasBluebonnetWineTrail.com with single tickets priced at $25 or a “Ticket-for-Two” priced at $45, plus handling fees and tax for each purchase. Tickets are good February 2-3 and 9-10, 2013, regardless of your purchase date.
The Texas Hill Country around Fredericksburg also has its Valentine Wine Lover’s Trail for ten days of wine. From February 8-17, 2013, you can celebrate your love with a romantic excursion to Fredericksburg and the surrounding communities. Book a night or two at a historic Bed and Breakfast or at the infamous Hangar Inn in Fredericksburg. If you can’t make it on a weekend, take some time to come out during the week for a quiet, romantic adventure. Spend time with a loved one, discovering the wine and nibbling on the signature foods created just for you by the Hill Country artisans. Ticket costs for the trail are $35per adult and $60 for a couple. Each ticket provides you with one set of complimentary wine tastings at each winery along with a box of cake balls.
Special winery events will also provide you with opportunities for unique winery events which include:
• Feb. 1 – Unveiling of this year’s Valentine wine at Bernhardt Winery between Plantersville and Dobbin, north of SH 105. This “blood-red” wine made from the rare Ives Noir grape smells and tastes like “cotton candy.”
• Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22 – Stroll the Messina Hof Winery with your love with a glass of their sparkling wine in the moonlit evenings, enjoying spectacular views of their lake and vineyards. After the tour, delight in a flight of Messina Hof wines perfectly paired with delectable tapas at the Wine Bar. Please call (979) 778-9463 ext. 223 to make your reservation for this romantic excursion. Enjoy a romantic dinner afterward in the Vintage House Restaurant and stay in their opulent Bed and Breakfast Resort.
• Feb. 10 – Romantic evening concert in the Bernhardt Winery Events Room featuring Skyline, a group that will take you to the day of the Chicago band.
• Feb. 10 – Cooking Party with the Vintage House Chef from 2:00-5:00 PM.
• Feb. 16 and 17 – Wine Club pickup at Saddlehorn Winery near Burton off U. S. 290.
For a special evening, book a night’s stay at one of the Bed and Breakfast facilities at either Bernhardt Winery or Messina Hof Winery. You will be pampered and bring home memories of an intimate affair. Each of the nine wineries along the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail want to make your visit with each winery a special affair to remember.
Opportunities in the Vineyard
Bernhardt Winery will host three Saturday sessions of “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Grape Vines” on February 9th, 23rd, and March 2nd. Jerry Bernhardt will start your morning off right at 9:00 in the Winery Event Room with coffee, juice, and fruit followed by an informative presentation on growing and pruning vines. His presentations usually include lots of hand-outs. I will be there the first two Saturdays to assist “Mr. J” as needed. At 10:30, Jerry Bernhardt and I will head out into the vineyard to provide hands-on experiences for the seminar participants on pruning grape vines and physical vineyard layouts to develop your vineyard skills. You will learn how to root grape vines to take home and plant. You will leave with plenty of contact information for purchasing more vines, trellising supplies and related information to help you with this new hobby or business! You are welcome to take your cuttings home and plant your own vineyard or at least some vines to make some homemade wine! After pruning, everyone will gather inside the winery for lunch and wine tasting. Lunch is proposed to be spinach, strawberry and walnut salad, chicken salad on croissant and chocolate dessert served with Bernhardt Winery’s award-winning port. The cost of the pruning and lunch is $30 and is limited to the first 24 people per session with paid reservations. Please call the winery at (936) 520-8684 or (936) 894-9829. You will need to bring pruning shears, a change of shoes in case the ground is muddy, appropriate clothing in accordance with the weather, and a bucket to enable you to take your cuttings home.
Italian Wines Invade Texas
One of the winery consortiums from Italy launched an informative assault on Texas Sommeliers and Wine media (including me) with an array of Brunello di Montalcino wines last Monday. These Tuscan wines made from Sangiovese grapes look and taste like expensive Pinot Noirs with their fresh fruits, earthiness, and color. Their depth of staying power coupled with their finesse make this one of Kevin Zraly’s top three wines. I was awed by their quality and low price for such Finesse. By the way, Kevin Zraly is an internationally noted wine book author and lecturer who led a 90-minute program keeping we wine people including the likes of wine guru/book author Denman Moody in awe with his knowledge interspersed with humor. March down to your favorite wine shop and pick up a few bottles of Brunello di Montalcino for your drinking pleasure. Don’t forget to use your hands when you slur out the words Brunello di Montalcino for effect when ordering!
Ron Saikowski may be reached at rsaikowski@comcast.net.
Eat This: Food News And Events
Your local Food News And Events, from fine dining to Jersey Burgers:
Dinner, Wine and Dessert
The 4th Annual Homemade Wine and Dinner Event at Trattoria Rustica asks you to bring your own homemade wine, or a friend’s, to enter in a contest. The best wine will win a prize and they will provide you with dinner. The menu includes:
Starters
Cheese and meat platter
Grilled Tuscan bread w/mixed mushrooms , truffle oil
Meatball stuffed with ricotta cheese
Entrée
Braised short ribs ragu over pasta
Dessert
Trattoria Rustica
Thursday, January 31 at 6:30 pm
29.95 Per Person plus gratuity and tax. Call and book your reservation! 973-783-3436
517 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ, 07042
Looking for a romantic weekend to make your Valentine’s Day celebration memorable? Then the Wine Chocolate Wine Trail Weekend from February 9-10 at participating wineries throughout New Jersey.
The trail features wine tastings and chocolate samplings from noon-5 p.m. at participating wineries, showcasing the award-winning New Jersey wines being produced by the more than 40 wineries now operating throughout the state. From the Skylands in Northern Sussex County to the tip of Cape May, six different wine trails await you. Each winery along the way will offer wine tastings, tours, live music and other entertainment, special food preparation or dinners, as part of this special Wine Chocolate Wine Trail Weekend.
Wine Chocolate Wine Trail Weekend
Saturday, February 9 and Sunday, February 10
Noon - 5 pm at participating wineries
Breakfast All Day
On Tuesday, February 5 from 7 am – 10 pm, IHOP will be offering a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes for National Pancake Day. In return, diners will be asked to leave a voluntary donation to support the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals programs at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, and Children’s Specialized Hospital.
Local IHOPs:
542 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield, NJ
1129 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ
680 Route 3 West, Clifton, NJ
2500 Route 22 East, Union, NJ
A Jersey Burger
At Burger Deluxe on Route 23 in Wayne, they’ll be offering a New Jersey-inspired burger and fries from Monday, February 4 through Monday, February 11 to benefit the Sandy NJ Relief Fund—an independent non-profit organization dedicated to supporting New Jersey’s rebuilding process in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The charity is scheduled to receive 100% of the proceeds from the $9.75 Hurricane Sandy Relief Burger, dubbed the “HSR Burger.”
The HSR Burger features a half-pound patty of Pat La Frieda Beef, with Sausage, Red and Green Peppers, Sautéed Onion, Provolone Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, and Pickles. A side of “Jersey Shore Boardwalk-Cut Fries,” made from skin-on Russet Burbank Potatoes seasoned with Sea Salt, is included.
Burger Deluxe
1420 Route 23 North in Wayne, NJ
Open from 11 am – 10 pm, Sunday through Thursday, and 11 am – 11 pm Friday and Saturday.
973.305.0033
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The Verde Valley Wine Trail
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December 29, 2012
PHOENIX, Arizona, Dec. 29, 2012/ Troy Media/ – The Verde Valley, located about 100 miles north of Phoenix, is 35-miles long and is comprised of the towns of Cottonwood, Jerome, Sedona, Camp Verde, Clarkdale, and Cornville. Within the past five to 10 years several boutique wineries have opened in the area, creating a new wine culture for locals and visitors alike.
Arizona, once considered too hot and dry for grape vines, actually possesses the soil, exposure and climate needed to become a great wine making state. With elevations of 4,000 feet above sea level, the area has been compared to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, where grapes were first domesticated and the first wine was made. Arizona’s hot days are good for sugar production and the cool nights stress the grapes and are good for acid retention.
“Our wines are wonderful. They do represent quality, they do express terroir (the proper environmental conditions), and they speak about our state in a positive way,” says Paula Woolsey, CSW Wine Educator and National Sales Manager for Arizona Stronghold Caduceus Cellars. “Although we have only just begun on our journey to national recognition, we are already enjoying great praise.”
Wine enthusiasts can experience exquisite wines while visiting four wineries and seven tasting rooms on The Verde Valley Wine Trail.
Alcantara Vineyard (Cottonwood) is the largest of the vineyards on the Verde Wine Trail and is a dream venture created by Barbara Predmore, owner and proprietor. “Alcantara, which means ‘the bridge,’ is all about slowing down and appreciating both the land and the wine,” Predmore stresses. The 87-acre winery is located at the confluence of the Verde River and Oak Creek and produces 12 different varietals.
The Tuscan farmhouse, which serves as a tasting room, has a warm and inviting atmosphere that mirrors Predmore’s philosophy. An outside deck is surrounded by an abundance of wildlife including deer, elk, beaver, and a pair of bald eagles. In the middle of the vineyard is a chapel used for weddings, festivals, and other events. Says Predmore: “My dream is to add a Bed Breakfast, and eventually a whole Tuscan Village built around the winery.” (Founded 2004; 7500 E. Alcantara Way, Cottonwood, 928.649.8463).
Page Springs Winery is a four-acre estate vineyard owned and operated by Eric Glomski, who says his goal is to create delicious wines that express the character of the landscape. Grapes planted at Page Springs include Syrah, Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Grenache and Cabernet Pfeffer. Glomski is a true visionary who is seeking to bring Arizona wines onto the national stage.
Visitors to Page Spring Winery will find it a relaxing atmosphere with comfy sofas inside or umbrella-covered tables on the patio overlooking the vineyard and Oak Creek. Offerings include not only wine but cheese or bistro plates. After tasting, guests may even choose to further unwind with a massage in a private tent overlooking the vineyard. (Founded 2004; 1500 N. Page Springs Road, Cornville, 928.639.3004.)
Oak Creek Winery, located near beautiful Sedona on gentle slopes with a river nearby,grows 4,000 plants on just over 10 acres. Syrah and Merlot are grown in the higher elevations, with Zinfandel and Chardonnay in the lower portion. The winery also offers a large selection of wine-related merchandise, including a gourmet selection of cheeses, salami and other snacks. (Founded 2002; 1555 N. Page Springs Road, Cornville, 928.649.0290.)
Javelina Leap Winery is a 10-acre estate located just 10 miles outside of Sedona on the slopes of an ancient volcano. The property was part of the historic ranches in the valley of Page Springs, known for its abundance of natural springs. Owners and winemakers Rod and Cynthia Snapp make their wine one ton at a time, giving them ultimate quality control. The winery is known for its Zinfandel and Barbera grapes and deep full-bodied reds that it sells mostly to locals. Guest will enjoy the quaint tasting room that is fashioned after a turn-of-the-century western saloon. The winery also offers free barrel room tours on Saturday. (Founded 2005; 1565 Page Springs Road, Cornville, 928.649.2681.)
Tasting Rooms on the Verde Valley Wine Trail
Arizona Stronghold Tasting Room (Cottonwood)isthe result of a joint venture between Maynard Keenan of the band, TOOL, and Eric Glomski, owner of Page Springs Cellars. Their philosophy is all about place, people, quality and value. Keenan says the whole project has really been about reconnecting with the earth, the community and each other.
Foremost, however, they believe good wine doesn’t have to be expensive or pretentious. They also believe that the soils and the climate at the vineyard stand up to the finest in the world. With 60 acres producing vines, they are currently the largest producing vineyard in the state. Guests will enjoy their comfortable tasting room, complete with Wi-Fi!
Pillsbury Wine Company (Cottonwood) is owned by New Zealand film director, producer and writer Sam Pillsbury. Pillsbury says he fell in love with wine – Chateauneuf du Pape in particular – when he travelled to Europe on film business in the 1970s and 80s. From that point on, he dreamed of owning his own vineyard. Pillsbury has been producing Arizona wines since 2000 with a philosophy of creating a range of wines, and bringing out the best flavours of the grape.
Influenced by his visits to Europe, Pillsbury also believes that “wine should be an everyday part of our lives, not just something explosive for a special occasion.” A future dream includes plans to open up Pillsbury Vineyard Estates, a sort of wine country village where one can live amongst the vines.
At the Pillsbury Wine Company tasting room, guests will definitely be entertained while sipping wine with funky names like “One Night Stand” and “Wild Child Red.” The winery also offers outstanding homemade chocolates by Chocofin Chocolatier for wine pairing.
Wine Cellar Tasting Room (Cottonwood) owned by Sandra and Billy Baker, features a long, narrow outdoor patio with tables, or comfortable inside seating at the bar of at small intimate tables or sofas. The Cellar features Dionysian Cellars Wines whose grapes are all from California, although the wine is made in Arizona. They do offer one wine, a Barbera, whose grapes are from the Verde Valley.
Burning Tree Cellars (Cottonwood) the newest tasting room in Cottonwood, opened in August 2012. It offers boutique wines with live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Caduceus Cellars (Jerome) was born out of the passion and vision of lead singer Maynard Keenan (of TOOL). Keenan says he seeks to make his wine like his music: “thick, dense, rich, complex, engaging, emotional, and spiritual.”
Jerome Winery (Jerome) is built on the side of Cleopatra Hill between Prescott and Sedona, and offers over 30 handcrafted and individually distinct wines. Their goal is to create wines that are enjoyable for the novice and connoisseur alike.
Bitter Creek Winery (Jerome) invites visitors to experience wine tasting in an avant-garde gallery showcasing some of the area’s finest local artwork.
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