Weekly Vocabulary

I just realized it's been a while since I shared some wine vocabulary with you.

Herbaceous
A wine that has a green, vegetable smell. For example, sauvignon blanc is grassy when subtle, herbaceous when overpowering.

Herbaceous would be a great definition for California Sauvignon Blanc's which I think for the most part are grassy. It's all a matter of preference.

Hermitage
Hermitage is a wine region in southern France in the Rhône Valley. It’s rich, robust wines are made, primarily, from syrah, Grenache and mourvèdre grapes for the reds and marsanne, rousanne and viognier for the whites.

Top 6 reasons to drink wine

1. It's mostly water and water is really good for you.
   
2. Wine is easy…it comes in shades of two colors.
   
3. Wine is fruit juice and fruit is really good for you.
   
4. Wine bottles hold the perfect amount for a romantic evening.
   
5. Wine is an excellent excuse to have a wine cellar.
   
6. Wine grows in the most beautiful places, so it's the perfect excuse to plan a vacation there.

Did you say White Wine?

I have to share a funny story that happened this evening. I was attending the 40 under 40 Shaker Awards at the Mid Hudson Civic Center. This was a lovely dinner and ceremony recognizing 40 movers and shakers in the Hudson Valley under 40 years of age. The Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce did a wonderful job organizing this event.

As I arrived at the Civic Center, just like most people, I headed to one of 4 bars that were set up. I knew going in the wine at events like this usually aren't top of the line, but decent. When it was my turn to order, I asked the bartender what type of white wine she had. Her answer was "Merlot, Chardonnay, and White Zinfandel" and I stopped her mid stream, chuckling to myself and asked for a glass of Chardonnay.

The Chardonnay..I don't know what brand it was (I couldn't make out the bottle from where I was standing) I couldn't tell you about the bouquet because it was in a plastic cup, taste…nothing stood out. I didn't go back for a second.

Eat Local – Drink Local in your home

As the snow fell yesterday, I decided to defrost a Rib Roast that I had in my freezer. A nice meal for the family. This wasn't an ordinary Rib Roast I purchased at the grocery store. This rib roast was purchased from Kiernan Farms in Gardiner NY. I have to tell you I am not a roast cooker. The last roast I purchased from Kiernan Farms last year turned out fabulous! So I tried my hand at it again this year. I must add…not inexpensive but will worth it! If you had told me there was a difference between local grass fed beef and the beef I purchase at Adams or Price Chopper, I would have told you, you were nuts. However, I now have been converted to grass fed beef. Yes it does taste better. This roast came out fantastic!! Thank goodness for the temperature probe that came with my oven…it doesn't let me overcook it.

As the roast was cooking we went into our wine cellar to open a bottle. Paul selected a 2003 Whitecliff Vineyards Merlot. I was skeptical because I like a red wine that's more complex and full bodied with my roast, but I didn't argue. The wine was light and had hints of berries. It did go well with the roast, but it wouldn't have been my first choice. This Merlot would have also paired very well with a burger. Next time I think my husband should let the Wine Goddess choose the wineJ

Wine Futures

Wine Futures refers to buying wine after it is made, but before it's bottled. At times, samples are made available for tasting in the tasting room or to the wine trade. The wine is generally bottled and shipped anywhere from 6 months to two years later. In addition, Futures are offered at a price below what it will retail at when it is released.

When we visited the Santa Barbara region in 2006 and we purchased Futures from Rideau Vineyards. We chose their Premium tasting and had the opportunity to taste two futures: 2005 Iris' Estate Viognier, Santa Ynez Valley and the 2004 Iris' Estate Syrah, Bon Temps Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley. When we tasted the Viognier it has an amazing finish of banana. I've never tasted anything quite like it. The Syrah was very good as well. We purchased a case of each and it was shipped 6 months later, when it was released.

Once you taste Futures, will it taste the same when it arrives at your doorstep? Sometimes. I will tell you that the Viognier didn't have that banana finish I tasted in the tasting room. It had flavors of pears. Still a very good wine, but I was disappointed that the banana finish wasn't there. And I don't even like bananas!

My suggestion if you purchase futures is to purchase through a winery you trust. Many times, wineries will offer futures to their wine club members or email list. If you know and trust the winery (and wine maker) and know they produce quality wine to your liking…. go for it!! You most likely won't be disappointed. Especially if the winery is a small production winery or the vintage that is being offered is a small production. Don't wait, because when you do decide, it might be to late and there will be none available.

New York Wineries Win in Florida State Wine Competition

Congratulations go out to many New York wineries as they won 190 medals, including 19 golds in the Florida State Fair International Wine & Grape Juice Compeition in Tampa. There were more than 1600 entries from 36 states and 10 countries.

Goose Watch Winery won the most taking home 4 gold medals. Goose Watch is located in the Finger Lakes on the shores of Caygua Lake.

Congratulations to the following New York wineries:

• Anthony Road 2006 Cabernet Franc/Lemberger
• Casa Larga Vineyards Estate Bottled Pallido
• Chateau Frank Celebre Cremant
• Dr. Konstantin Frank 2006 Dry Riesling
• Duck Walk Boysenberry
• Earl Estates Meadery Raspberry Reflections
• Goose Watch Winery Classic Cream Sherry
• Goose Watch Winery Golden Spumante
• Goose Watch Diamond
• Goose Watch 2006 Melody
• Hunt Country Vineyards 2006 Cayuga White
• Knapp Winery Superstition
• Knapp Winery 2006 Cayuga White
• Lakewood Vineyards 2006 Chardonnay
• Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars 2006 Estate Bottled Chardonnay
• Penguin Bay Percussion
• Pindar Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Franc
• Torrey Ridge Winery Catawba
• Torrey Ridge Winery Diamond

Ice Wine

Ice Wine is a very sweet and expensive wine. One of the famous regions for making Ice Wine is Canada. A few years ago on a trip to Niagara Falls we visited the wineries of Lake Niagara. It was here were I was educated on Ice Wine.

Specifically, Jackson Triggs Winery is where the education took place. The girl who was working with us on our tasting was also educating us on Ice Wine. We also visited Inniskillen where we received an education as well.

How Ice Wine is made/harvested. Well that can be a loaded question. True Ice Wine produced from grapes that are left on the vine long after harvest. They are handpicked once temperatures reach a certain level. Usually about 17 degrees. This usually happens in January and the grapes are harvested in the middle of the night. These grapes are then crushed, since they are frozen, just a few drops of sweet juice is extracted and ultimately fermented. Harvesting is decided on the evening of…and the phone chain goes to work. Harvesters show up for work around 10pm and work until just before dawn. Once the sun begins to rise, the grapes can no longer be harvested.

The best ice wines are the ones that retain natural acidity in the late harvests and are high in sugars. Riesling is one of the best varieties for ice wine. There are also some made with Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

I did taste a Cab Franc Ice Wine in Niagara and personally it reminded me of cough medicine I had when I was a kid. With that being said, I liked the cough medicine, the wine wasn't bad. The Riesling Ice Wines weren't bad at all. You have to remember, they are very sweet and syrupy.

Oaked or Unoaked Whites

How do you tell the difference between an oaked white wine and an unoaked white wine by sight? Have you ever ordered a white wine and there was no description. Upon tasting, you realize something is missing. Well here is the difference between oaked and unoaked whites.

An oaked white wine will have a straw yellow, yellow gold or deep yellow color.

An unoaked white will have the absence of color. It will look clear, or pale yellow or have a hint of yellow in the color.

Taste – oaked will have some oak flavor and/or butter on the finish. Depending on the oak will depend on the buttery finish. An unoaked white will have a crisper finish.

 

MoJo Grill and Wine

Friday evening we went to MoJo Grill on Rt 376 in Wappingers for dinner. They had a prefix dinner that included wine with each course for $55 per person. We choose this option.

I will first say, we arrived before our friends, so we went to the bar for a glass of wine. I had the Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc, which is one of my favorites. Great crisp citrus notes. My husband ordered the Pedroncelli Chardonnay. Unfortunately the bottle must have been open for a while or not sealed correctly the evening before. The flavors were week. He wouldn't say anything to the bartender, and proceeded to drink his glass.

Once Teri and Frank arrived we went to our table. We all chose the prefix wine dinner. I think we would have done better if we ordered a bottle of wine. The selections of wine to choose from were weak and only included the wines sold by the glass. There was only a handful of those. I wasn't looking for a huge variety, but at least a little choice.

The first course I had Calamari and we all choose the Prosecco Villa Jolanda, Fruili Italy. It was a nice selection..however, me and bubbles don't mix. Knowing this, I still ordered the Prosecco..sometimes I just never learn.

Onto our salad…we all ordered the 2003 Pedroncelli Chardonnay. It was quite noticeable that they opened a new bottle for this. The wine tasted much better and had a creamy finish.

For the main course I had filet mignon with the 2005 Barton & Guestier Pinot Noir from France. I really wanted a heavier wine like a Cabernet but the choices were so limited I opted for the Pinot Noir. The wine was okay, light and earthy. Other than that, nothing stood out to write about.

I will say kudos to Mojo for carrying local wine. They have a few wines they offer for $20 a bottle and one of them is Glorie Farm Winery's 2006 Estate Grown Seyval Blanc. It's nice to see local wines on the menu.

Cooking and Wine

A little wine for me and a little wine for the food. That's sometimes how I cook. Last night I wanted something sweet, so instead of snacking on Oreo's I opened a bottle of Glorie Farm Winery "Jumpin Jazz" which is slightly on the sweet side and started cooking dinner.

I had found this recipe in this months edition of Rachael Ray. It was for bean enchiladas. A very easy dish to make. I substituted the chicken broth for Wine.

Here is the recipe:

Vegetable Oil

8 cloves garlic chopped

2 cans cannellini beans, drained

1/3 cup white wine

Twelve 6-inch corn tortillas

2 cups store bought salsa (I used Newman's bean and corn salsa)

1 ½ cups shredded pepper jack cheese or whatever cheese you have in the fridge

In a sauce pan, coat bottom with some vegetable oil and saute garlic about 3 minutes. Add beans and sauté 1 minute then stir in semi sweet white wine. Mash beans until soften and the look like mashed potatoes. Let cool slightly.

Line a baking sheet with paper towels. In a small skillet add oil and fry corn tortilla for 3 seconds on each side and transfer to baking sheet to drain. Place ¼ cup of mashed beans in tortilla, roll and transfer to greased 13x9 baking dish. Top with salsa and cheese.

Bake in oven at 375 for about 20 minutes.

Serve with what is left in the bottle of wine or open a new one.

Riesling

Did you know Riesling is the fastest growing white wine, and second only to Pinot Noir. Unfortunately, Riesling is broadly perceived as a "sweet white wine" despite its many styles; those who have not tried it are not inclined to do so; and Riesling's strengths—versatility in tastes, reflection of regional uniqueness, and food compatibility make it a wonderful selection. Riesling comes in many varieties (so to say) Dry, Off-Dry, Semi-Dry, Sweet, and Dessert. Dry having the least amount or residual sugar, Off-Dry having about 1% to Dessert Riesling being very sweet.

Depending on your palate and what you are eating, give a bottle of Riesling a try. A Semi-Dry Riesling will pair well with spicy food. A Dessert Riesling might taste very well with that bowl of ice cream, a little Riesling for me, a little poured over the ice cream.

Answer to the question

The answer to the question:

How many gallons of wine are produced by one acre of grapevines?

800

Wine and Licorice

I am going to stray from my tastings at Sun Fest. Friday night my neighbor Kathy came over for a glass of wine. It was a long and busy week and a glass of wine was need. Red was the color for the evening. I wanted Kathy to select the wine for the "session" so I waited until she arrived with complete with umbrella and PJ's. In my neighborhood, we drink in our PJ's, one less thing to do when returning home.

There was a bottle of Chappellet with a beautiful label. We decided to open this bottle. It was a 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Clone 7, Napa Valley. We poured a taste and neither one of us liked it. It had a high alcohol content and you couldn't taste flavors. We put the cork back in the bottle and made another selection. We never waste wine in our home. The Chappellet was used on Saturday in the Tomato Sauce my husband made. It was very tasty!

The selection of the evening was a Dover Canyon Winery 2003 Zinfandel. This wine was amazing! Soft tannins with a licorice finish. I don't like licorice but was amazed at the strong finish and it was quite good. Even if you don't like licorice, you will like this wine. We really enjoyed this bottle!!!

The picture above is the mascot of Dover Canyon Winery.