New York Wine Club to benefit Times Union's Classroom Enrichment Program

Finally there is a wine club featuring New York wines.  Bacchus Wine & Spirits along with the Times Union and the New York Cork Report have joined together and launched the Times Union New York Wine Club. Not only will this wine club feature only New York wines, but proceeds from the wine club will go to benefit the Times Union's Classroom Enrichment Program.  Through this program, nearly 500 teachers from 274 Capital Region schools receive newspapers and other learning tools at no charge. 

Lenn Thompson, editor of the New York Cork Report will be selecting the wines. The wine club will feature two levels.  Your standard level that is priced at $29.99 plus plus shipping and handling and is perfect for someone looking to set a budget for their monthly wine spending, someone who has never joined a wine club before, or someone interested in introducing themself to New York wines.  The Premier Level will have a variable cost per month, but includes award-winning wines found from throughout the State. This level is perfect for the wine connoisseur.  

For more information and to sign up for the New York Wine Club visit www.timesunion.com/nywineclub

 I do hope to see some Hudson Valley wines included in a shipment or two.

Cooking Wine vs $5 Wine

I remember when I was in my early 20's learning how to be on my own and cook.  When the recipe called for wine, I purchased  Holland House cooking wine in the grocery store.  White, red or Marsala wine.  How many of you did the same?   They say, you shouldn't cook with wine you wouldn't drink. I didn't know that then, and back then, well, it was a different wine world, for me at least.     Thinking back, did you taste it before you added it to your dish?  I didn't, but the dishes I used it in came out good.

Let's fast forward to today.  For the same price of that bottle of Holland House you can go to the wine store and purchase a bottle of wine for between  $5 and $7.  That bottle is quite a bit larger than the one in the grocery store isle and taste better than the cooking wine, I'm sure.  

You will be surprised that the inexpensive wine you find in the wine shop isn't that bad after all. You can poor yourself a glass while cooking and the rest goes in the dish.  Then break out the expensive bottle with dinner.  For all your guests know, that's the wine that went in the meal.

Disclaimer:  This is not intended to be negative to Holland House.  They have a good product. One that I used for years.  However, as one matures so does their cooking skills and palate.

Just a Regular Joe

We are so fortunate to live in the Hudson Valley with so many great restaurants and the school where many of the great chefs began - The Culinary Institute of America.  Every winter the CIA offers a "Winter Dining Series" and this is a series of lunches and dinners focused on educating you on wine, beer and spirits.

We usually try to go to at least one or two of the wine dinners.  This year in January we attended the Joseph Carr dinner.  Joseph is a real funny guy.  We first met him at the NY Wine Expo 4 or 5 years ago.  This is his second time being included in the Winter Dinning Series.  Joseph is a New Yorker.  He grew up just outside of Albany.

Ginger Lemongrass Broth

The evening begins at the Danny Kaye Theatre where Joseph talks to us about his wines and we got to taste 4 of them.  From my crib notes:

• Jospeh Carr Sauvignon Blanc, Napa County 2009 - Nose of lime, citrus, hay.  Crisp and clean with a long finish of lemon zest.
• Joseph Carr Reserve Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast  2008 -Nose of wood, hint of butter,  creme brulee and vanilla.  Palate of honey dew melon, lime with a pineapple finish.
• Joseph Carr Meritage 2004 - Howell Mountain fruit. Merlot with a blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, barrel for 24 months. Nose of black fruit and plum.  Black fruit giving way to spice and a long black pepper finish.
• Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa County 2009 - This label is named after his dad.  The grapes come from Lake County and are organically and sustainably grown.  A sugar plum nose wiht a long clove finish.   Joseph says of this wine "Monday our wine or any time after 3pm"

After the seminar we walked across the street to the American Bounty for dinner.  The first course was a Ginger Lemongrass Broth, with Poached Shrimp & Cilantro.  They served it with two whites - the 09 Sauvignon Blanc and an 09 Josh Cellars Chardonnay, North Coast.  The sauvignon blanc paired very well with the soup, the chardonnay did not.  The chardonnay got lost with it. It didn't blend to well with the coconut milk.

The next dish was a Citrus Salad of Fennel and Frisee, Blood Oranges & Candied Almonds, paired with Joseph Carr Reserve 2008 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.  The salad was great, the wine was good, but not together.  The citrus in the salad just didn't do well with the wine.  A pairing gone wrong which surprised me at the Culinary.

The main course was Roast Dry Aged Strip Loin, Creamy Butternut Farro & Wild Mushrooms paired with Joseph Carr Merlot, Napa Valley 2008 and Joseph Carr Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa County 2008.  Both wines were nice, but I felt the Merlot paired better with the beef.  The merlot had a cassis nose and palate of cherry, coffee and spice.

We did have dessert but no pairing with it.  It was a Lemon Meringue Tart.  

I enjoyed the wines of the evening, but was a bit disappointed in how the chef paired the wines.  We are attended a North East France wine dinner this month, so hopefully the pairings be better.

Love in Wine for Valentine's Day for "The Babysitter"

By Chrystal Corsino aka "The Babysitter"

Chrystal, Lindsay and Jesse @ Benmarl Winery 

The perfect romantic weekend was spent wine tasting with two very different groups of people Sunday and Monday.  

On Sunday I took two local wine tasting virgins to Benmarl.   Jesse and Lindsay actually graduated with the owners son who poured our tasting. We each sampled 6 wines, which meant everything listed as we traded off.  They were tasting Slate Hill White, Seyval Blanc, Dry Rose, Triaminette, Dechaunac, Baco Noir, frontenac and Red Zinfandel, for free and all bottles were 20% off.

 As always my favorite white was Slate Hill, but hands down I loved the Dechaunac (12.99 a bottle) which is the perfect red for drinking alone or with food.  Jesse had at least 3 or more tastings of the Trimanette and to think I was told he was not a wine drinker. His Valentine bought him a bottle to enjoy at home. The dry rose is perfect for making a summer spritzer and Lindsays quote for the Frontenac was "it makes me smile".  

After this I took them to Stoutridge since it was close by and by far the coolest wine experience for those who have little experience with wine and especially local wine. Stoutridge is all unprocessed wine and can not be distributed due to this (as per the owner). As a beginner there wine was not my favorite and way to bitter. However the owner did a pairing of his Vidal that was a 2007 and a ten year old Vidal.  An aged white seemed crazy but it was good and would be perfect with pork. The ten year old Vidal was much fuller and not as bitter but yet not sweet. Also the reds were very enjoyable Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The owner kept Jesse and Lindsay very interested as he explained the whole history of his wine making and the winery. Perfect end to the day and for $5 you taste 6 wines and get a glass which they box up nicely for you to take home safe.

Now to Valentines day... Galaxy, Meg and I found ourselves dateless but have no fear The Dubliner put on a wine tasting and it turned out to be the best Valentines ever.  I was a little scared at first because unlike traditional tastings the owner mixed up the red and whites, he did not have us taste whites then reds. It all worked out and the idea was each wine had a country which we had to guess after hearing a love story for each wine we tasted and half way thru we were given a plate of yummy food for $20 bucks.  We were happy. We tasted the following wines: Masi Bonacosta from Verona Italy (Romeo and Juliet), Seyval blanc from France (Napoleon), Chardonnay From USA Cali (Ronald and Nancy Reagan), Shiraz Australia (Steve Irwin), Melbac Argentina (Evita), Seyval Blanc New Zealand (Xena and Danielle).  Galaxya and Meg really enjoyed the Wagtail Shiraz from Austrlaia.  It had a strong vanilla, plum on the nose, with an oaky smooth finish. My favorite was the Masi Bonacosta very smooth, oaky, blackberry finish .

The most interesting pairing suggested by the owner was the two Seyval  Blancs. The French selection was very dry, floral on finish but apricot and pear nose to it, almost bitter.  The New Zealand  selection was a touch sweeter almost like a Riesling with pineapple and pear taste.  Very light, less dry much smoother  These were the same wines but very diffrent when paired together at this tasting.

All in all even with out a Valentine at first, I ended up with my best friends as my valentines, what more can one ask for.  Here is to everyone finding love at least in wine.

Wine Blogging Wednesday #70 - A trip through Spain

I want to thank Lenn for bringing back WBW.  I have truly missed it.  Thank you Gabriella and Ryan Opaz of Catavino for hosting.

I know a few of my wine blogging friends have been in Spain last month.  Yes I am jealous, but this past November I did have the opportunity to attend a "Wine of Spain" hosted by Cornwall Wines and Spirits and Ole Imports. It's fitting as I am writing this I am drinking a Paza De Galegos 2009 Albarino.  Unfortunately, I am not writing about that wine(but it's goof), but the two reds I tasted.

The first wine on the table is a 2009 Ludovicus.  This wine was made with grapes from the high elevation region of Terra Alta, located south of Barcelona. The soil is clay, brown limestone, grown in hot days and moderate evening temps in a Mediterranean climate. The wine is a blend of 35% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo, 25% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

The nose is a smoky cigar giving way to berry and candied strawberry. On the palate I found ripe berry, strawberry and blackberry.  It didn't have a notable finish.

The next wine on the table was a 2009 Vizcarra Roble.  This is a young Tempranillo and I think will get better as it ages within the next 5 years. It is grown the Ribera del Duero region of Spain, which is located in central Spain. The Tempranillo grape in this region is called Tinta del Pais. It is bright cherry in color with a nose of mineral and berry.  The palate was had a little dry herbs, leading way to black raspberry and a long black pepper finish.

The evening of the dinner we got to sample 6 wines both red and white as well as a dessert wine.  The wines tasted today were wines I purchased from Cornwall wines after the dinner.

Double Bubble - Lakewood 2009 Dry Riesling

It was 2001 and my first wine tasting trip to the Finger Lakes.  The first winery we stopped at was Lakewood where along with friends had a picnic lunch. 

Since then I've gotten to know the Stamps from volunteering my time at the NY Wine & Food Classic (wine competition) in August.  I will say their winemaking has improved tremendously since 2001.

This Riesling on the nose was crisp with a hint of home heating oil which is a result of TDN. (to read more about TDN read the NY Cork Report post by Tom Mansell).  There was also hints of citus and orange peel.

On the palate the initial taste was double bubble, bubble gum.  As the wine opened up it became crisp and minerally and had nice apricot undertones.  

Keg of ......Wine?

When you think of a keg you think of beer.  I know I do.  Never did I think there would be keg wine, but think about it.  If you leave beer out open overnight it goes flat.  To much air in a wine similar things happen, it becomes oxidized.  But in a bar, beer on tap usually lasts a while.  There are preventive measures to make sure the beer doesn't go bad.  So why not do this for wine?

Keg wine has become a reality.  Yes..believe it or not.  Seems Wegmans which owns Next Door Bar and Grill are getting into the keg wine business.  They are working with Tom Higgins of Hearts & Hands Wine Company to create a Riesling blend for the restaurant.  If you are not familiar with Hearts and Hands, they are a small producer of Riesling, Pinot Noir and sparkling wine on Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes Region of New York.  I've personally been there and had the opportunity to taste their wines and speak with Tom and Susan Higgins. They are a wonderful couple who take great pride in what they do and produce.

In an article by Evan Dawson of 13Wham in Rochester, NY, Higgins states that "when it's in the keg, the wine stays fresh for as long as you need.  The inert gases don't affect the flavor or smell."

There are already kegs of wine in San Francisco and New York City.  I would love to hear from you if you have ordered wine from the keg.  There are times when I've ordered wine by the glass and you can clearly tell the bottle has been open for a while.  My question is how the keg of wine will hold up?

It is my understanding that Brotherhood Winery in the Hudson Valley is producing keg wine, but when I approached them for comments for this article, they declined.

Below is the Evan's story as it appeared on 13Wham.

Please voice your comments on this subject.  I'd like to hear your opinion.

Ice Wine for an Icy Day

Here in the East we have been dealt a heck of a hand this winter.  On a recent icy day, I opened a bottle of Inniskillen 2007 Cabernet Franc Ice Wine.

What is really my loss is that I went to college in Buffalo NY and would visit the Canadian side of the Falls quite frequently.  Never did drive around the bend to Lake Niagara and the wine.  Looking back, I wish I had, but back then I was more of a Brador and Extra Stock drinker (beer).  So trips across the border would land us at the beer distributor on the "scenic route" to the Falls and not in the tasting rooms.


Now back to the wine.  I had the opportunity to visit Inniskillin a few years back on a family trip to Niagara Falls.  However, this wine was a gift from a neighbor who went up for a visit over the summer.

This wine had a bouquet of sour cherry, plum and strawberry.  On the palate I found red berry, strawberry with a nice acid and sweetness balance.  It wasn't a syrupy wine, not to sweet and a very nice texture.

I am looking forward to visiting again in May when I attend TasteCamp.

Valentine's Weekend in the Hudson Valley

Chocolate, wine and roses, that's what Valentine's Day is all about.  In my house it's just a Hallmark Holiday, so no card, chocolate or roses, but there will be plenty of wine.

If you are itching to get a weekend away or get out of the house for a day there are plenty of special tastings going on at the wineries in the Hudson Valley for Valentine's Day.  So take your loved one out and get some romance at the wineries.

Here are some of the tasting specials you will find.

• Weekend of February 12 & 13
• Applewood Winery Frostbite Weekend
• Millbrook Winery - Guests can choose to enjoy a standard Portfolio wine tasting or a special holiday weekend Reserve Tasting. This Reserve tasting will include four of our Reserve wines along with cheese and chocolate fondue. This special tasting will be offered on the hour between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. both days. Reservations are strongly recommended as this event sells out quickly.
•  Robibero Family Vineyards - Sat. Feb 12th 4pm-5pm. Celebrate Valentines Day Weekend and come discover the romance of pairing wine with some of life's greatest pleasures. Indulge yourself with chocolate, cupcakes and wine in sinful combinations. You will be sampling 4 different wines while learning about the history of the grapes and the art of pairing $15 per person Reservations required.
•  Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery - Locally Grown: Art, Wine & Truffles Tastings will feature an organic truffle from Rosendale's fabulous Lagusta's Luscious, a rare tasting of Whitecliff's Sparkling Wine, and demonstrations on Saturday by two diverse Hudson Valley artists, sculptor Robert Breur, and painter Vince Natale, who are producing Whitecliff-inspired works as part of the year-long event, Art & Wine in the Hudson Valley.

• Weekend of February 19 & 20 Brimstone Hill Winery will give you a second chance at celebrating Valentine's Day if you messed up the weekend before.  Join them for their 13th annual Chocolate, Champagne & Valentines Event.  Visitors receive a flute of exquisite chocolates along with a tour of their storage facilities (including barrel samples of select wines.) They will have gourmet finger foods available to accompany the wines.  There is a $10 per person tasting fee.  

Get up and get out with the one you love and taste of the valley.

The Hidden Malbec

The only clean workspace I had for a picture

Once again, I did found a bottle of Hudson-Chatham wine hidden in the cellar with a tag on it that said drink in 2009.  We'll it's January 2011 when the bottle of 2007 Malbec was found and opened.  This goes to show how and why you should purchase 2 bottles of what you like.  One for now and one for later.

We decanted the 07 Hudson-Chatham Malbec.  It had a very nice deep color typical of a Malbec.

The wine was very aromatic with cherry, manure and Good & Plenty candy - black liquorice.

The wine I felt was a little thin in structure.  The black fruit, plum and blackberry with a strong long "good and plenty" finish (black liquorice finish)

This wine really brought me back to my childhood days and mistakenly getting that black Good N Plenty.  I have to say I don't like black liquorice at all, but wasn't bothered by its pronounced flavor and finish in this wine.