The Other Wines in the House - Introducing Sarah and Jess

Sarah and Jess are my neighbors, 21 & 23 respectively and it's no wonder they like wine living next door to the Hudson Valley Wine Goddess.  While their parents were sweating it on the golf course in 100 degrees, these two were over my house eating lamb burgers and drinking some wine. (It was a much better alternative to the text message they sent my daughter telling her to come over after cheer practice at 7p and bring a pizza)

Sarah is a senior at SUNY Fredonia majoring in Art History and worked last summer at Clinton Vineyards.

Jess just graduated this past May from Penn State with a degree in Architecture.  She is currently seeking employment and has previously worked for Brotherhood Winery during her summers.

The girls saw my tasting notebook on the table and a conversation about guest blogging took place.  At the time we were drinking a Sebastiani 2007 Sonoma County Merlot. I told them to jot down some tasting notes on the Merlot.

Here is what two sisters, two palates thought of the wine.

The Aromas:
Jess - Vanilla nose with oak finish
Sarah - Acidic, blackberry nose

On the Palate:
Jess - Earthy flavor and sour cherry.
Sarah - Tart cherry and sour taste with oaky finish.

Look for some more posts from the girls as the venture into the world of wine.

In Search of Rosé - Windsor Vineyards Rosé of Merlot

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from Windsor Vineyards as I search for a Rosé that I like.

It was a hot day when I uncorked this Rosé the 2010 Windsor Vineyards, Alexander Valley Rosé of Merlot and I must say, it was quite refreshing.  I was surprised at the dark strawberry color of the wine.  Almost a Pinot Noir like.

The nose was filled with earth and cigar some kir and hints of raspberry and bit of citrus hiding in all that.  I often find with wines that are chilled you have to enjoy the aroma at different points in time to receive the full notes of what is in the bouquet as I did with this wine.

On the palate I tasted cranberry and jamming strawberry.  This is a very fruity wine with a long lingering strawberry finish.  When I say long and lingering, I still had the strawberry finish on my palate after 5 minutes.  I'm not complaining, but after I finished the glass, I was cooking dinner and still had flavors of strawberry still lingering in my mouth.

This wine retails for $14.

While this Rosé was nice, I did enjoy it, but I am still waiting for the WOW factor.

First Blending Trials of Happy Bitch Wines

You, the extraordinary woman, became our profile to create Happy Bitch Wine. What, in our minds, defines an extraordinary woman? an extraordinary wine!

With that in mind, we sat at the tasting table.  Me, Paul, Keryl, Craig and the Winemaster. Ten groupings sat in front of us, each the different dosage, but with different base blends.  Group A was all the same base Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Group B was Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Let the fun begin!  That's 10 different blends to try.  Got to remember to spit!

Here are some of my tasting notes:

Appearance: Orangish, Salmon, Medium Salmon, Rougher, Orange,

Nose: Smarties, Sweeter - more aroma, nice-upbeat,

Taste: Dry - too dry, more flavor, flavor better than A but could be more, little sweeter, nice mouth feel, nice flavor, to sweet.

Paul's comments were a bit different: He didn't comment on the appearance.  Guess that is a girl thing. 

Nose: pear to melon, musty at first, fruity, dark fruit, candied, clean, fresh, strawberry, flat, clean

Taste: dry, citrus finish, not much fruit, tannic, slightly acidic, better balance, much 
heavier, flat, slightly , balance, sweet, no acidity, sweet.


Craig's notes were better nose, great mouth feel, floral


Keryl's tasting notes were are pulled from emotion: fun, fruity, happy and yummy!  Ok...she knows what she likes and wants to have fun with it!

Once we decided that 4A met our criteria we set up an appointment for tasting # 2.  At this tasting we will be deciding on the three blends to bring with us to the Hudson Valley Wine Fest.  It is at the festival that you yes YOU, will decide on the first blend.

Dining at The Woods Restaurant at Hollow Brook

The Hudson Valley is full of wonderful restaurants and this recently opened restaurant The Woods Restaurant at Hollow Brook is one of them. The restaurant is located at The Hollow Brook Golf Course in Cortlandt Manor, NY and opened this past March just in time for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week.

The restaurant and golf course are owned by the Torso Family. The restaurant features farm to table cuisine, homemade pastries all prepared with french fusion by Chef Rivalsi, formally of La Panetiere of Rye, NY and Maxime's of Granite Springs, NY.

When we arrived we were greeted by Rianna who gave us the choice to dine inside or out on the deck.  Of course I chose outside with beautiful views of the golf course and mountains.  Thursday evenings now through September you get to dine with live music during their Summer Music Series.  We were treated to live music on the deck by Cahill & Flowers Acoustics which we enjoyed very much.  What was nice is the music wasn't to loud so Heather (my date for the evening) and I were still able to carry on a conversation (planning our high school reunion) and enjoy the music.

The food!  Fantastic!  I could have made a meal just on the bread and olive oil alone.  We began the evening of course ordering a nice bottle of wine.  We chose a 2008 Argyle Pinot Noir from Oregon.  It complimented our entire meal that consisted of  beef, vegetable, lamb and veal.

For starters we had the Roasted Beet & Roquefort Salad and Beef Carpaccio.  Incredibly delicious.  My mom would have loved the beet salad.    The mustard with the beef had a nice bite to it.

For the main course I chose the Grilled Veal Chop topped with shallots, baby spinach, shiitake mushrooms and melted gruyere cheese.  This was served over pesto cavatelli pasta with a morel mushroom & Madeira wine sauce. When I am out, I try to choose from the menu items I would not normally cook myself.  This was definitely one of them.   The veal was cooked to perfection and the flavors blended very well with the pesto cavatelli.

Heather dined on the Grilled Rosemary Lamb Chops over white truffle polenta cake with sauteed Swiss chard and a Merlot reduction.  Nothing was left on her plate.

Then came dessert.  The part of the meal that finishes me off. I can dine on bread and dessert!  Heather and I shared the Carmel Flan. It was incredible and a nice end to the meal.

The Woods at Hollow Brook restaurant is open to the public and offers casual dining with an upscale view and is family friendly. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday.  The golf course is members only.  They are looking to expand and will be putting in a pool for next summer, some overnight rooms and a spa.  They will be offering a pool only membership as well.

The Other Wines in the House

This week we travel to Oregon as we tasted Cornerstone Cellars 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.  We received this selection with our Oregon Pinot Noir Club shipment. Robert Parker gave this wine a rating of 92 and there are only 50 cases of this wine produced.

This Pinot Noir had a beautiful bouquet of black cherry and red berry with hints of earthiness. 

The palate - well just say it put a smile on my face!  Black cherry, plum with earthy notes and soft tannins.  Very well crafted!  A wonderful wine!  Good job Craig Camp!

If you are interested where the grapes came from and how it was aged: 

75% Pommard clone, 25% 115 clone

50% Eola Hills AVA, 50% Yamhill Carlton AVA

15 months in 60 gallon French Oak barrels, 50% new, 50% 1 year old

We also opened a Valley of the Moon 2006 Port.  We were never into Port, but seem to be liking it these days. Especially when I am craving something sweet after dinner.   It agrees with me much better than the ice cream I would have plated for myself.

We purchased this port in October when we visited the winery. The port is a blend of 77% Souzao and 23% Syrah.  Aged in older French oak barrels for 24 months.  Comes in at 19% alcohol.

 Aromas of cherry, currants and hints of raisin on the nose.  

On the palate I found light raisin, currants ending with cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg.

In Search of Rosé - Casa V

My friends at Valley Wines & Liquor recommended I try this Casa V Rosé Veneto.

This wine had a nice pink color that looked like florescent salmon.  Just the nose on this wine will bring excitement to your tasting.  Filled with fresh berries, crisp and clean it will put a smile on your face.

The palate was soft and fruity.  Flavors of raspberry and peach dance on your tongue and end with a light citrus note.  This wine was fresh and fruity with a nice dry finish.

I give this wine a Thumbs Up - but still searching....

This wine sells for $12.99.

Meeting the Winemaster

After our meeting I contacted the Winemaster and an evening appointment was set up  at a local restaurant.  I really wasn't quite sure what to expect.  I met Keryl at her house and we drove over  together.  This also gave us time to talk and get our adrenalin moving, which was no problem for the two of us.

After the initial getting to know you, we received some great insight from the Winemaster.  Not just on the development of the product but on the packaging and distribution as well.  We went in there with ideas for one product and a little thinking outside of the box, views of the Winemaster, our  first product  was agreed on.  I will tell you it's a Rosé but it might just surprise you - Casual but Elegant!

Contracts were drawn up and Happy Bitch Wines was formed and our first blend is on its way...............

Take me to Virginia Wine Country #WBC11

It was the summer of 2003 a family trip to Williamsburg VA and the surrounding area with friends.   We enjoyed wine and this was before my journey into the wine industry.   I own a travel agency thats focus is on sending people to various wine regions throughout the world, so when I am in an area and there are wineries I try to visit a few,  even with young kids in tow.  (Kids are now 17 and 19)

Our first stop on this family vacation was Bush Gardens.  You can see here how Michael and Melanie began their introduction into the wine industry, hard at work stomping on those grapes.  They thought it was all fun and games.

After the fun at Bush Gardens there was some history to be seen.  A stop at Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s home) led us to the Jefferson Vineyards.  Then to First Colony Winery.  We arrived at First Colony Winery with our two young kids at the same time as a rather distinguished look couple who shot us a “I can’t believe you are bringing children to a winery” look .  The owner Randy was very welcoming even to our kids and took the 4 of us and the distinguished looking couple on a tour of his new winery.  At the end of the tour he asked if we had any questions.  My son raised his hand and asked “How do you know when the grapes are ready to be picked.”  That was a great question said Randy and now the distinguished looking couple were at ease with my children.  After the tour we went in for a tasting and as you can see, my kids sat down and amused themselves playing cards, while us adults tasted and we chatted with the distinguished couple.

Now 7 years later Virginia has a booming wine industry.  I am looking forward to attending the 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference this week.  God willing I will be there.  Hopefully I will get up to First Colony Winery and see how they’ve grown in the past 7 years.

I'll be driving down I81 - anyone have any good suggestions on where I can stop on the way to taste?

Here is a look at the VA Wine Industry today.

Cassis the Healing Liquor

Black Currants are the amazing berry Cassis is produced from.  While the quality of the Cassis produced is dependent on the variety of berries used, there are many health benefits to black currants.  So one can argue, that there are many health benefits to drinking a glass of Cassis.

Let's begin with the health benefits of the black currant berry.

• High in vitamin C
• High in anthocyanins
• High in fiber
• High in Potassium and Iron
• Anthocyanins & polyphenolics may protect against memory loss associated with Alzheimers & dementia
• Quercetin found in black currants may lower the risk of certain types of cancer
• Oil from the black currant seeds reduces "bad" LDL cholesterol 

There are 5 major varietals of black currants

1. Blacksmith
2. Boskoop Giant
3. Noir de Bourgogne
4. Wellington XXX
5. Willoughby 

In my research they say the Noir de Bourgnogne are the berries with the best flavor.  Since I have not tasted any of the varietals off the stem, I can't comment.  However, I will tell you that the varietals used in producing Cassis will effect the quality of the liquor.  Since there are so many positive health benefits of the black current  berry, I would say having a small glass of Cassis every couple of days would be healthy.

In the Hudson Valley, Clinton Vineyards was the only Cassis producer of Cassis for quite a while.  Now there are 6 producers of Cassis.  They are:

• Clinton Vineyards
• Hudson-Chatham Winery
• Tousey Winery
• Brookview Station Winery
• Glorie Farm Winery
• Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery

I have only tasted Cassis from two of the valley's producers.  One was smooth, not to sweet, well balanced and displayed the fruit well, while the other was tart and bitter.  When you are out tasting in the Hudson Valley, please let me know your thoughts on the Cassis you taste.

The Other Wines in the House

This week we take you to the Russian River and Greece.

We'll begin in California with a  2008 Castle Rock Russian River Valley Reserve Pinot Noir.  This had a garnet color with an initial bouquet of strawberries that lead to plum and vanilla.

The palate was dark fruit, somewhat cooked with oak and cinnamon.  The cinnamon spice was very pronounced on the finish as it lingered in your mouth.

Now we take a trip to Greece with a 2006 Vatistas.  This is a regional red wine of the Peloponese region of Greece.  The Peloponese region has the greatest concentration of vineyards in Greece.  This wine is a blend of 50% Agiorgitiko and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon.  The Agiorgitiko grape is a distinguished red variety grown in the Peloponnese region.

This deep ruby wine had a aromas of baked cherry, black currant, oak and a smoky cigar.  Put your smoking jacket on and the palate is filled with black fruit, and plum.  This is a very full bodied wine with slight tannins.

In Search of Rosé - SIN

Friends of ours Dave and Mary, invited us over one Sunday afternoon  to taste SIN - Summer in Napa, A Rosé wine produced by Trefethen Family Vineyards.  Mary knows I am in search of Rosé this summer and they belong to the Trefethen wine club and it was wonderful that they thought to share this selection with us.  Tasting was complete with Trefethen glasses, the only item missing was the view of vineyards from the back deck.

SIN - Summer in Napa is a Rosé of Pinot Noir. Bright strawberry color that goes along with the bouquet of fresh strawberries was achieved by soaking on the skins for 12 hours.

This nicely balanced wine had flavors of fresh cranberry and strawberry.    The long finish of fresh strawberry lingered on your palate.

This was a nice refreshing Rosé that was perfect on a hot summer afternoon.  Thank you Dave and Mary for inviting us over and introducing us to an afternoon of Trefethen.

Two Acquaintances, Three Tweets and a Brand-New Wine is Born

It all began as a tweet.  One tweet, lead to another tweet, that lead to a meeting. 

THEHAPPYBITCH Keryl Pesce 

Would you like to see a wine called Happy Bitch? Retweet if your answer is yes.

26 Apr

hvwinegoddess Debbie Gioquindo,CSW 

@THEHAPPYBITCH Would be great especially if you used #HudsonValley or NY sourced grapes

THEHAPPYBITCH Keryl Pesce 

@hvwinegoddess Would love to talk to you more about this Debbie. Send me email when you get a minute. Keryl@happybitchbook.com

28 Apr

Keryl and I aren't strangers.  We are both members of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, have both of our blogs hosted on the Poughkeepsie Journal's website and seven years ago I helped plan a surprise trip to Napa Valley for her husband's 30th birthday.   We'd run into each other occasionally at a chamber event, usually talking about a mutual passion.  You guessed it - wine.  But then Keryl sent out a Tweet, I responded and as a result, occasionally has now become daily, Keryl and I now talk multiple times a day.  Why? We're using our passion, our resources, our mutual desire to enjoy life and help others do the same, and creating the first ever Happy Bitch Wine. 

Our first meeting place - Bad Ass Coffee on Rt 9 in Wappingers Falls. Over a couple of frozen Koffee Koolers,  Keryl and I caught up.  She filled me in on her recently released self-help book for women "Happy Bitch." I filled her in on what I've been up to the past 10 years, then we got down to business, so to speak. Keryl showed me the mock up of what her vision was for Happy Bitch Wine.  The moment I saw it, I knew just who to call to bring this to fruition and guide us, the winemaster.


This is what just the beginning of what happens when you put together The Happy Bitch and Hudson Valley Wine Goddess together!  Happy Bitch Wines!

***Note:  I am dedicating Wednesdays to share with you the creation of Happy Bitch Wines.  This is a partnership between "The Happy Bitch" and the "Hudson Valley Wine Goddess."  Together we bring our palates and want you to share with us and be a part of this creation.***

Clinton Vineyards 34th Vintage 2010 Seyval Blanc

Clinton Vineyard has bottled their 34th vintage of Seyval Blanc.  I actually had the opportunity to help with the bottling back in May and the wine was released in June.

I found the bouquet very floral.  The aroma reminds me of a beautiful sunny day with a slight warm breeze. The palate was smooth and fruity with flavors of green apple and citrus.  I found the finish a little tart, but refreshing.

This wine is a great summertime choice for a hot summers day.

The wine sells at the winery for $18.50.  

Healing the Knee with a 2009 Flanagan Chardonnay

As you are reading this, I will be sitting in the waiting room of the Fishkill Ambulatory Surgery Center as my husband gets his torn meniscus repaired.  I thought it would be appropriate to post one of his new favorite wines today - 2009 Flanagan Chardonnay.  I know this should be in my Friday - The Other Wines in the House, but we can make an exception.

We met Eric Flanagan when we were in Sonoma last October.  We had a wonderful visit with him at his vineyard and waited 9 months for him to release this Chardonnay so we can enjoy it.

The nose was full of bright sunshine that gives way to a smile of honeysuckle, apricot and spice. The palate is soft, smooth and creamy with hints of pear, vanilla and a touch of butter. The wine balances minerality and is not heavily oaked. The finish is long and will remind you of dipping your lobster tail in drawn butter.

If you want to know the specs on the wine the grapes were harvested October 6, brix 23.9 T/A of 5.0 and pH of 3.96.

My patient better behave or I might have to tap into his remaining few bottles and enjoy them on the deck where he can't see me. Since I'll be the one taking the recycle bin out the next few weeks, he'll never know.

****Note: this blog was suppose to be released on July 5, the original date of the surgery.  At 8:15am we received a call that the Fishkill Ambulatory Surgery Center had no air conditioning so the surgery would have to be rescheduled.  Major upset of the week...so the surgery was rescheduled for today, Friday July 8.  Consider this part of "The other wines in the house." ****

In Search of Rosé - Mas de Gourgonnier les Baux-de-Provence

This weeks Rosé is from Provence, France.  This 2010 Mas de Gourgonnier les Baux-de-Provence is made from 60% Grenache and a blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault and Cabernet Sauvignon. 

The color was a nice pale salmon which I like for a Rosé.  The nose was minerally with hits of strawberry and distant notes of pear.

On the palate I found it chalk on slate. Flavors of strawberry, hints of cran-raspberry and lemon rind dance on your tongue.  The finish was lingering of tart cran-raspberry with a trace of strawberry.

I felt the wine was reasonably balanced.  

Price - $14.99 at Arlington Wines & Liquors

Still in search of....................

Tribute to Deb Whiting - Red Newt Bistro

This past weekend there was a tragic loss for the Finger Lakes community.  Deb and Dave Whiting owners of Red Newt Winery & Bistro were in a terrible car accident on the New York State Thruway.  This resulted in the passing of 52 year old Deb Whiting.  I've met Dave and Deb numerous times on trips to the Finger Lakes.  Words can not describe the loss. 

Jim Trezise of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation had a wonderful tribute to Deb & Dave in this weeks Wine Press.  Below you will learn about Deb & Dave, their commitment and the tragic loss that has occurred.  Please note: The Red Newt Bistro will be closed Tuesday, July 5 so friends and family may join in a celebration of Debra's life from 6-8pm at Red Newt Cellars, 3675 Tichenor Road, Hector, NY.

Deb&Dave Whiting have long been leaders in the Finger Lakes wine and food community, as was recognized this spring when they received our "Industry Award" for major contributions in advancing the industry.

Dave&Deb have also been among the most loved people in our community because of their passion for each other, life, and their calling. Deb&Dave were in a terrible car accident Thursday night. Dave is recovering in the hospital. Deb is gone.

It is hard to overstate their many contributions, Dave as a talented and innovative wine-maker, Deb as an incredible self-taught chef and locavore passionista. In fact, her influence in transforming the Finger Lakes food scene is comparable to that of Dr. Konstantin Frank on the wine side. Both combined vision, passion, and commitment to revolutionize an industry and a region.

In 1989, California wine writer Dan Berger, then at the Los Angeles Times, visited the Finger Lakes and wrote a glowing front-page piece about how spectacular the wines were (even then). He also wrote, accurately, that in the Finger Lakes "the culinary excitement is the local Pizza Hut." Indeed, even for years after that, the Finger Lakes food scene was a disaster until wineries like Wagner, Glenora, and Bully Hill opened their own restaurants.

Red Newt Cellars and Bistro, located high above Seneca Lake's east side, is a mecca for foodies and wine lovers alike. Dave&Deb always worked closely together to ensure the food-and-wine pairings were as harmonious as their relationship.

I take groups there often--like the judges at the New York Wine & Food Classic--and they come away stunned at the artistry they taste. Each serving is as visually beautiful as it is tasteful, and the creative juxtapositions of sweet and savory tantalize the tastebuds. The menu changes with the seasons, and virtually everything is local, with the sources identified.

Deb&Dave's commitment has extended well beyond their own business. Dave has hosted dozens of tastings for local winemakers to compare wines and share experience; and collaborated with two other winemakers on a fabulous "Tierce" wine which Dan Berger has named as the best Riesling made in America.

For years, Deb has served as president of Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty, a network of local food producers, processors, distributors, and restaurants. She has helped, and inspired, many other chefs in the region who are now also creating great food. Red Newt has been a popular part of our New York Farm Day each September in Washington, and of many charitable events.

Dave&Deb, or Deb&Dave, is one name for those of us who know them. They were the ideal couple--best friends madly in love, deeply devoted to their kids, always quick to laugh. It will be hard to adjust to a shorter version of the name, though not nearly as hard as the transition Dave now faces.

Yesterday afternoon, after learning of the tragedy, I and some other industry people went to Red Newt to pay our respects and show our support for the staff. One staffer told me that as Dave was being airlifted to the hospital he called Red Newt to tell them to keep it running. The Bistro was closed yesterday, but it's open today. That's how Deb would want it.

We offered to wait tables, wash dishes or do anything else needed, and they just may take us up on it. The Finger Lakes family of wine people takes care of its own. Deb's passing is still a shock that doesn't seem real. But it's a vivid reminder that we should greet every sunrise with gratitude that we are alive, and live every day as though it is our last.

Today the Finger Lakes is widely recognized as one of the finest wine country destinations in the world, in large part because the quality of the food has caught up to the wine.

That is the legacy of Deb Whiting.

BBQ Blues at Robibero Winery - Today

Got plans today?  If the answer is no and you are looking for something fun to do - I suggest heading over to R Winery for some BBQ, Bonfire, Blues Music, Color Wars, Cupckaes and more.

Cubby's Bigmouth BBQ will be bringing their custom built smoker and providing an "All You Can Eat" BBQ beginning at 2pm.  There is a $15 fee.

There will be lots of activities all day long - Volleyball (my favorite), Tug of War, Cork Toss, Wine Trivia and more.  Once dusk hits, it's bonfire time!  Hang and roast marshmallows and watch the fireworks from the fairgrounds.  They will be open until the fireworks "Grand Finale."

R Winery (Robibero Family Vineyards)  is located at 714 Albany Post Road, New Paltz, NY

The Other Wines in the House

This week brought us to the Finger Lakes - Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2009 Dry Riesling.  We purchased this last summer when we were visiting the region.  Looking forward to our trip up there in August to taste the 2010 vintage.

This pale straw color wine had hints of petrol and spice on the nose.  The palate was full of fresh melon, pear, citrus and kiwi. The finish was a nice citrus lime.  So refreshing on a nice summers evening.


This week also brought us to Beaujolais for a 2009 Beaujolais-Villages 100% Gamay.  Nose of anise leading to a violet floral finish, I found dark red fruit on the palate.  I'd call this wine light and fruity and was served slightly chilled.