Candy Ass Red is a newly released wine from Glorie Farm Winery. I have to say, I love the label!
The wine is made from mostly Concord grapes. This is a first for me to taste a wine made with Concord. The wine is a sexy red color, and as the sunlight came through the window the wine danced and sparkled in the glass. It put a smile on your face before you even had the first sip.
The nose was grapes. At first I thought there must be some Cayuga in this, Cayuga to me is very grapey. I would have never guessed the wine was made with Concord. The taste - very sweet and grapey. A grape Jolly Rancher would describe this wine. Good mouth feel.
For wine drinkers who like wine on the sweet side, you will enjoy this wine. I think it just might become the Hudson Valley's Hot Tub Wine.
Candy Ass Red is available in the tasting room at Glorie Farm Winery and retails for $12.
We are coming up to the long weekend we have all been waiting for since January. Memorial Day Weekend signals the beginning of Summer! Okay - and we get a three day weekend. Have you made any plans yet? If not, you might want to look into Honor's Haven.
Honor's Haven is a Resort located in the Catskills just an hour and change from New York City and Poughkeepsie for that matter. On Saturday they are hosting "A Taste of the Valley" wine tasting event. Admission to the event is $10 and there will be a number of Hudson Valley wineries attending. The event takes place from 4p - 6p and they are offering a $25 Buffet Dinner afterwards. They do have overnight packages available. So if you haven't made any plans for the weekend think about attending Honor's Haven "A Taste of the Valley"
A great interview with Mark Miller former owner of Benmarl Winery from 1957 to 2003. This video highlights the history of Benmarl. Sadly he passed away September 9, 2008 at the age of 89.
Today the Spaccarelli Family owns Benmarl Winery and they are keeping with tradition that Mark Miller began many years ago. When you visit Benmarl Winery and take a tour of their cellar, you will even find bottles dating back to the 1950's. This really gives you a sense of the history of winemaking in the Hudson Valley.
On Saturday I had to fit many activities into my day. One not to be missed was the Arlington Wine & Liquor's Grand Tasting. They have this event twice a year. They had three New York Wineries pouring, Millbrook, Pindar and Duckwalk along with Tuthilltown Spirits and Harvest Spirits. If you are a vodka drinker - Tuthilltown and Harest (Core Vodka) Spirits produce great vodka.
When you walked in, your helped yourself to a glass and tasting sheet and the tasting tables were set up throughout the store. Valerie Keating was a great hostess as she was walking around making sure everyone enjoyed some cheese and that wonderful bread she made.
I have to make a confession - this was my second event of the day. I was at Millbrook Winery earlier enjoying their Tocai Release Party. Well the couple that is in the last slide below were at Millbrook with me too. Not only that - after I left Arlington Wines & Liquor I hopped across the street to Adams to by some gardening items and who do I run into - my new best friends. Cheers!
It was a busy weekend for the Hudson Valley Wine Goddess. I had purchased tickets to Millbrook's Tocai Friulano New Release Party for my husband and myself and I got stood up. Paul decided on a concert with friends in Philly, so I called the Babysitter and Chrystal came with me. I must say it was a beautiful day!
The event was very well organized and I wouldn't expect differently from Millbrook. Appetizers and wine were served from 12-12:30p. There was an assortment of appetizers to nibble on. Brescola wrapped Argula with Glazd Balsamic, Fried Gorgonzola Olives (very interesting), Assorted Cheese, Marinated Eggplant and Roasted Peppers.
Lunch was served at 12:30. We enjoyed dining on Chicken Marsala, Grilled Bistecca alla Pizziaola (Marinated Flank Steak with Olive Oil, Herbs and Tomatoes), Basil Cured Salmon, Spinach & Artichoke Ravioli, Roasted Summer Veggies and Assorted Breads with Villa Pillo Extra Virgin Olive Oil. They even had the steak cooked to various degrees so you if you liked it well done, you were able to get a piece well done. There was consideration put into that by Amici's because many times when you attend an event you get the meet cooked the way it's cooked for all.
Somewhere along the line they put out the Cannolis but didn't tell anyone. So when Stacy announced dessert was being served, I went to see what was offered. When I got up to the dessert table there were 4 cannolis left. But the most important is I got one! Amici's Restaurant did a fantastic job with the food and catering the event.
The wine - we enjoyed the 2009 Tocai Friulano, the 2009 Proprietor's Special Reserve Tocai Friulano and the 2009 Sangiovese. The Sangiovese grapes come from their vineyards in California. The Tocai grapes come from the vineyards on the property in Millbrook. All wines are crafted by Winemaker, John Graziano.
What was my favorite wine - I liked the 2009 Tocai Friulano. It was crisp with a nose of pear and citrus as well as pear on the palate. The difference between the Tocai and the Reserve Tocai was the Reserve Tocai was aged in oak. The oak on the Reserve did give it a good mouth feel. Wines were enjoyed by all.
The afternoon concluded with door prizes of wine (I didn't win) and a vineyard walk with winemaker John Graziano.
I am beginning to struggle every year on when to plant my garden. I normally would plant in the beginning of May. Now I begin to plant later in the month due to losing my crops to frost around Mother's Day. This is nothing compared to what many of the farmers face this time of year. This past week parts of the Hudson Valley were hit with a devastating frost. Some vineyards were hit hard.
Frost damage happens when temperatures drop below 32 °F after green growing tissue has appeared from a bud. The vine is in danger when the first green growth produced on a new grapevine shoot is two or three basal leaves, immediately followed by the embryonic flower clusters that will become this year’s crop. Many times the temps need to fall below 28 °F for the vines be severely affected, as in the case this past week.
Frost damage occurs due to the freezing of plant cells. As freezing occurs the ice expands rupturing cell walls, disrupting membrane function and irreversibly denaturing enzymes by dehydration. Mild frost injury may appear only in the death of a few leaf cells. Leaves affected have pale yellow or clear, mottled areas within their veins. Some tissue may eventually become necrotic, causing leaf distortion and have the appearance of dead leaf tissue. More severe frozen leaf tissue becomes soft, brown and limp.
Carlo Devito of Hudson-Chatham Winery was hit hard with last weeks frost. Here's what he has to say to YNN reporter Beth Croughan. Click Here.
As this week slips by, I am still digging out from mounds of Finger Lakes Riesling and other varietals of wine deciding what to write about.
I don't want the week to end without telling you of the events going on this weekend in the Valley. It's suppose to be a great weekend according to the weather person - I hope they aren't incorrect.
Millbrook Vineyard and Winery will be hosting their 3rd Annual Tocai Release Party on Saturday May 15. They will be celebrating all things Italian. Amici's Restaurant in Poughkeespie created a delicious menu to accompany Millbrook's wine. Reservations are required. Call 845.677.8383 x17 or click here for more info.
Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery will be hosting their annual Fresh Fish in the Vineyard on Saturday and Sunday May 15 & 16. Owner/Winemaker Michael Migliore travels to the Finger Lakes today to catch Rainbow Trout and he will travel back and prepare Fish Tacos to sample with the diverse selection of their white wines. For more information you can call 845.255.4613 or visit click here.
Applewood Winery It's Tapas and Sangaria this weeekend at Applewood Winery. Both Saturday and Sunday May 15 & 16. You can enjoy a selection of Tapas along with their Signature Sangria while enjoying live music with Latin Twist 12p - 5p.
Well I have piles of notes to go through on many wines and wineries along with video I shot, but thought I'd give you a short review of TasteCamp East 2010. I will post individual tasting reviews, experiences and video under - "A Wine Region Away - TasteCamp 2010 - Finger Lakes Wine Country"
What I learned at TasteCamp
No matter what lake you go to it's 4 1/2 hours from Poughkeespie
Some wineries make exceptional Rieslings other do not.
You can grow and produce good red wine vinifera in the Finger Lakes
As Riesling ages - the smell of Petroleum and Diesel Fuel become present in the wine.I was reminded of that on my walk/run this morning as the school bus passed I had a Riesling moment.
I am wondering if the enamel on my teeth will ever be the same.
It's great to get together will fellow wine bloggers.
No matter if you are new to wine blogging or an resident wino, everyone welcomes you with open arms.
Tom cleans up nicely when he's going on a BOAT. Even splurges on RedCat.
Lenn and Evan did a wonderful job in organizing this event
The Finger Lakes Wineries bent over backwards to make sure we experienced all aspects of Finger Lakes Wines and viticulture. Their hospitality was beyond expectations.
I just hope in the future other wine regions will recognize the importance of wine bloggers and open their doors to us so we can share the information with the world.
Here is a little video from the photos I took. I put it together real quick to share with all of you.
Here is another wine we opened recently. This 2007 Empire was released in the fall of 2009. This wine, produced by Hudson-Chatham Winery represents the three major wine regions in New York - Finger Lakes with the Cabernet Franc, Long Island with the Merlot and Hudson Valley with Baco Noir
When I initially tasted this the Baco was overpowering. You can see my previous post here. No the wine has matured so to speak. At first the nose took on the Long Island Merlot - earthy. The taste was Cabernet Franc - cherry with spice mid palate and ended with the smokey Baco.
As we sat on the deck and drank the wine, the flavors began to change. As it opened, the spice was more prevalent on the nose. The earthiness begins to fade. The Cabernet Franc really begins to dominate this wine. The Merlot and Baco flavors become very distant.
We paired this wine with a marinaded flank steak. Not a bad choice.
This weekend I am heading up to the Finger Lakes Wine Country to participate in Taste Camp East. I call it "A Wine Region Away." This has become an annual event that is put together by Lenn Thompson of the New York Cork Report.
Last year the event was held in Long Island Wine Country. This year we head up to the Finger Lakes. I am looking forward to this and the Rieslings I'll be tasting and the winemakers that will be educating us.
We have a full weekend in store! We will be begin with lunch on Friday at Heron Hill Winery and dinner prepared by Chef Debra Whiting at Red Newt Cellars. I was fortunate last summer to attend a dinner here prepared by Chef Debra. It was wonderful!
Saturday our day begins at ...8:30am with breakfast in the vineyards. That sounds wonderful, but 8:30AM! I won't complain, but I am not my best at that time of the morning. We have a full day ahead, concluding at Stonecat Cafe for a three course dinner. I wonder if we have time for a nap.
Sunday begins a little later at 10am. (Thank you!) and concludes at Hearts & Hands Wine Company. I can't wait to taste their Pinot Noir. I sampled some back in July when I worked at the NY Wine & Food Classic, but haven't had any since.
I am looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I hope one year Hudson Valley Wine Country will be strong enough to host 40+ wine bloggers for the weekend.
When we purchase wine, we usually do it in pairs. One to drink now, one to drink later. Later can be 6 months or 3 years.
In our wine cellar we found a bottle of Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery's 2007 Reserve Chardonnay. If you have any of this in your cellar - lucky you! We have 3 bottles left and I'm not sure if I'll share. This Chardonnay is 100% from their vineyard.
The bouquet on this wine is butterscotch with a background of citrus. You can taste some honeydew melon, lime and pear. The honeydew melon is very strong but not overpowering. This wine has nice balance with a long slightly acidic finish of honeydew.
I would enjoy this wine in the next few months. You never know with wine, it's forever changing and right now this Chardonnay is tasting mighty good.
After a quick exchange of wine trail companions, drop off mom and pick up Ashleigh it was on to the next 5 wineries. At least the switch off gave me some time to sober up after the previous 6 wineries of half glass tastings.
The next stop was Whitecliff which in all honesty is not one of my favorites and actually none of the next 5 are on my top 5 wineries of the valley list (this will change as the day progresses). With the pasta dish they served an ’08 merlot which seemed to be a great pairing. Definitely was impressed by this winery and enjoyed there Red tail a sweeter berry red and I enjoyed their Awosting White as it was dry yet sweet and refreshing definitely perfect for sipping on a warm summer day. Thank goodness they served us actual tasting sizes here.
Adair was hands down Ashleigh’s favorite winery and boy was I glad to make it here as it always seems it is last on my trial list and I never ever make it. The spring orzo pasta left a lot to be desired but it did pair well with the Cayuga white. We enjoyed all the wines we tasted but the Kir Rouge was amazing - a red and blackberry wine blend, perfect for sipping anytime. Not to heavy and perfect for any event, a close second was the Peche the amount of peach flavor in this was surprising but perfect, now where is the fruit salad to go with it. Ok well three more to go and not sure I am going to make it glad Ashleigh is here with a clean palette and clear mind, at this point everything has started to become fuzzy.
All day I kept hearing about Glorie Farms kicked up mac and cheese and boy did I need some food, they paired it with the Seyval Blanc which was amazing. This wine had a vanilla taste with a dry peppery finish, not one I would drink alone but with this dish awesome. The recipe for the mac and cheese is on their website and I suggest it to everyone. I truly did not enjoy any of the wines I tried until they allowed us to try their new Candy ass Red a sweeter red with hints of raspberry, but crisp and smooth. This is definitely a keeper for them.
On the short 2 minute ride to stoutridge I quickly explain to Ashleigh how this winery is a little different and that the wines at first taste are a little different as they are organic and unprocessed. I know this because it has taken me 3 trips to find any wines here that I enjoy, but the history of the land and the process they use makes it a winery not to miss. I only enjoyed the Frontenac probably because of the blackberry taste; at this point it seems anything with a berry type taste is on my good list. Time for our coffee chaser; always look forward to the coffee here, and definitely the pep up we need to make it to Benmarl.
Benmarl the last stop. They only offered one white their trimanette a lot of citrus but very dry. The Dechaunac was def my favorite red of the trail and I did buy 2 bottles because the Cia brother had to taste it. You cannot miss the mix of cherry and vanilla spice in every sip of this wine, just amazing. The CIA brother served this at a dinner he cooked for friends and they were all raving about it. We also got to taste the Baco noir not on the tasting list but definitelywould be great with a steak, smoky, dry smooth delicious. Ashleigh enjoyed the Sangria. We did get to go into the wine cellar at Benmarl and if you ever get the chance it is pretty amazing with bottles of wine dated back to when they opened, and a great ambiance.
Eleven wineries in 8 hours and I am still standing and kind of making sense. I think if the wine trial was spread out over 2 days it would give people a better feel of the true tastes of HV wine, however doing all eleven in one day definitely something to experience. Each winery has it s own amazing ambiance and view of the Hudson Valley. Even if you do not make it to a trail event, pack a picnic lunch and go enjoy a bottle of wine with friends at any of these wineries, you will not be disappointed
