Hudson Heritage White

As you go wine tasting in the Hudson Valley you will run across a white wine called "Hudson Heritage White." This wine is available at many of the wineries. Although the same name, each winery will craft their own version of "Hudson Heritage White."

What does that mean...It is common practice in France for regions to have a clearly defined wine styles, with strict parameters established and enforced for grapes and blends that qualify. The growers in the Hudson Valley are using that platform to build their own identity and understanding for Hudson Valley Wines.

The Hudson Valley Grape Growers Association has selected Seyval Blanc as the primary grape for wines that will qualify for the new designation, with Vignoles, Vidal or Cayuga White allowed for blending. In time consumers will see wines labeled "Hudson Heritage White" and the wine will be a light and easy-drinking white wine with a pleasing balance of fruit and acidity.

Winery - Vineyard

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a winery and vineyard? The obvious is that a winery is where you make wine and a vineyard is where you grow grapes.

Not every winery has a vineyard and not every vineyard makes wine. When you visit a winery that is stand alone and doesn't have a vineyard, they will purchase grapes from local vineyards and make wine at their winery. The winery will have all the equipment from the press to the tanks and barrels.

A vineyard is where the grapes are grown. A vineyard owner doesn't always make wine. They may farm the grapes and sell them to local wineries so they can produce wine.

If you purchase a bottle of wine and it says "Estate Grown" you know the winery grew the grapes at their vineyard.

Another interesting fact is that a wine producer may own more than one vineyard and the winery may be located in a different location than the vineyard they own. You will find that case in California. As you are tasting wine, they will say this is from our XYZ Vineyard located in ABC.

Semi Sweet and Spice

Now that our gardens are all coming into harvest, it's time to think what to drink with those dishes we are making from our hot peppers. I love jalapenos and will make salsa and poppers. Along with that I will make meatballs & peppers, & sausage & peppers and just about anything I can put the hot peppers in.

When your mouth is on fire, you usually run to get the glass of water. Next time, run and get a glass of a Semi Sweet wine. Wine such as a Riesling or Gewurztraminer. They do make these wines dry, so make sure it a semi sweet bottle that you grab. The sweetness in the wine will react with the capsaicin in the peppers and cool down the heat in your mouth. It will make eating hot peppers much more enjoyable.

Topic Suggestions

I would like to hear from you on topics you would like to know more about. If you don't want to post publicly, please email me at hvwinegoddess@gmail.com

Wines served in Restaurants

Interesting tidbit......Did you know the top 100 list of wines served in restaurants iss dominated by U.S. producers, with most coming from California. There are also 15 wine makers from France, seven from Italy, two from Australia and one from Chile that were on the list.

The largest portion of wines consumed in restaurants sell for between $25 and $39 per bottle. Those bottles would cost $13 to $19 at retail.

Red wines outnumber whites by a ratio of two to one, with Cabernet Sauvignon edging out Chardonnay for the top variety. Pinot Noir was the second most common type of red wine listed.

Survey

I've posted a survey on the left hand side of the blog. Please take time to cast your opinion. No identification needed. I will post the results next week.

Thanks.

Residual Sugar

I've spoken about residual sugar and how the percentage of it in the wine makes it semi-dry to sweet.

High residual sugar can also be due to growing conditins in the grapes. Usually from varietal differences, late harvesting, botrytis or from freezing (ice wine) on the vine.

Some wine producers list the residual sugar content on the bottle. Dry wines have less than two grams of sugar per liter of residual sugar. Semi dry wines may have up to 18 grams per liter. Sweet wines can contain between 50 - 100 grams per liter or more...(now that's sweet!!)

Whitcliff Vineyard's Gourmet Burger Celebration

This event is a must! Have you eaten local grass fed beef, paired with red wine? You should attend this event. I attend last year and was amazed at the difference a grass fed burger tastes. Paired with Whitecliff's red wines...yum!! I am now a grass fed beef convert! Their red wines are the best IMO in the valley. I hope they have their Malbec bottled for this event. Last year it paired great with the burgers!

You will enjoy the pleasures of eating local in a Hudson Valley summer at Whitecliff Vineyard’s Red Wine & Grass-Fed Beef Gourmet Burger Celebration. It all takes place on Saturday and Sunday, August 25th and 26th, from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 12-3 Sunday. The Celebration will give you a true taste of Hudson Valley agriculture, as it offers up the delicious synergy of wine, burgers from local grass-fed beef, sweet corn, and ice cream.

For more information and tickets you can call the winery at 845-255-4613. You can visit their website as well at www.whitecliffwine.com although I didn't see the event listed there. Just call the winery.

Maybe I'll see you there.

New York Wine & Food Classic

This years New Yrok Wine & Food Classic was held at Copia in Napa CA. This year’s competition included 790 New York wines from Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Finger Lakes, Niagara Escarpment, Lake Erie, and other regions of New York State.

The awards were based on blind tastings by 24 expert judges—10 from California, 6 from New York, 6 from other states, and 2 from other countries. Judges included prominent wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers, and wine educators. Four-judge panels determined the initial awards, with top-scoring wines evaluated by all 24 judges for Best of Category and Governor’s Cup awards.

The “Best of Category” awards, all eligible for the Governor’s Cup, went to Swedish Hill Vineyards NV Spumante Blush for Best Sparkling wine, Thirsty Owl Wine Company 2006 Dry Riesling for Best White wine, Barrington Cellars 2006 Buzzard’s Blush for Best Blush wine, Pindar Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Franc for Best Red wine, Red Barn Winery 2006 Raspberry for Specialty wine, and Mazza Chautauqua Cellars 2005 Ice Wine of Vidal Blanc for Best Dessert wine.

Rivendell Winery, located in New Paltz received Best Semi-Dry Riesling wine for their 2006 Soho Cellars Johannisberg Riesling. Congratulations Rivendell!

For more information about this wine competition visit www.newyorkwines.org

Bordeaux First Growths

Did you ever wonder what it meant when you heard someone talking about Bordeaux First Growths? Here is the story behind it.

In 1855 the Chateaus on Bordeaux left bank were rated based on price and quality...they were given the highest rating....Premier Grand Cru

There were 4 Chateaus that achieved this rating. They are:

Chateau Haut-Brion
Chateau Margaux
Chateau Latour
Chateau Lafite

In 1973 Chateau Mouton achieved this rating as well.

Now when you pick up one of these bottles, you will know how they achieved their high ratings.

Cape May, NJ..Beach and Win

I just got back from some R&R in Cape May, NJ. Never thought at the beach there would be wineries..but I was wrong. We were driving and passed Cape May Winery....so we stopped in for a visit. We tasted some very nice wines! Honestly, I don't think of wineries at the beach. (once I download my pictures, I'll post them) At Cape May Winery we tasted some stainless steel fermented Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Cab Franc, Cab Sauvignon and Merlot. They are releasing a oaked Chardonnay in the fall. Their wines held up very well. I was quite surprised. There was also another winery we didn't get to called Turdo Vineyards. I heard their wines were very good. Even though we passed there every day on our way to the beach, they were closed when we returned.

See..even at the beach you can go wine tasting.