Slow Food Olive Oil Dinner

Two of my favorite restaurants - The Artist Palate and Brasserie 292 are partnering up on this wonderful Slow Food Olive Oil dinner to be held December 7 at Canvas - 305 Main Street in Poughkeepsie.

This 4-course meal will be highlighting Lorenzo Caponetti's Organic Olive Oil and our Hudson Valley Bounty.  The menu is a great sample of what the Hudson Valley has to offer.

First Course

Duo of Hudson Valley Duck

Confit “Marmalade” Toasted Brioche, Foie Gras Torchon,

Clinton Vineyards Cassis Gastrique

Second Course

Montauk Striped Bass

Canivano Olive Tapanade, Broken Romesco, Micro Arugula Salad

Third Course

Braised Fazio Farms Rabbit

Picholine De Languedoc Olives, Fresh Rosemary, Orange Infused

Oil, Fennel Pollen Risotto

Fourth Course

Lorenzo Caponetti's Organic Olive Oil Three Ways

Olive oil Ice Cream, Semolina-Olive Oil Cake, Pine nut-Olive

Brittle, Thyme Honey

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed that they weren't using local wines. Well, they were using one - Clinton Vineyards. I did open my big passionate use local or at least NYS wines mouth and made some suggestions.  I am hoping that the wineries come through.

The cost for the dinner is $75 and reservations can be made calling The Artist Palate at 845-483-8074

Heading towards the River

I picked up this Hudson-Chatham non vintage Hudson River Valley Red and one sip and sniff I thought it was Christmas Eve. The aroma of clove on the nose was so pronounced it brought me to that moment. 

Actually the entire wine experience of the Hudson River Valley Red made me think of Christmas time,  The wine was smokey with black cherry, dark red fruit and spice.  Everything about the spice talked Christmas. 

The wine is a blend of 80% DeChaunac and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.  It retails for $12.95.

"Red, White, and Drunk All Over" is written by one of my favorite wine people Natalie MacLean.  I don't have that much time to read these days, but did get a chance to read this book over the summer and good thing because Natalie just came out with another book "Unquenchable" which I can't wait to crack open.

"Red, White and Drunk All Over" takes you throughout the wine world in a girlfriend kind of way.  Natalie takes you to famous renown places like Romanee-Conti, takes you to a day in the life of a liquor store owner, a sommelier in a five star restaurant and shows you that the thoughts going through your head during any wine moment and experience are okay.

While visiting the famous regions in Europe as well as California you will learn the history and winemaking techniques of the region. She sits down and talks with owners, family members and winemakers. At times she gets down and dirty working with Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon during harvest. As she writes about her experiences, she it telling you the thoughts that are going through her mind. Quite frankly, I'd be having some of the same.  You would never hear from a Robert Parker or any other wine critic in the way that Natalie speaks to you.  You really need that spittoon but can't get to it....Working as a sommelier Natalie realizes pouring wine standing up three feet above the glass isn't as easy as when you are sitting down at the table.  After she "nailed" every pour she felt like a gymnast who dismounts from the parallel bars doing a back flip and has a perfect landing.

Towards the end of the book Natalie recounts an experience she had at a restaurant that poured her a wine that was off.  The one time that happened to me (and it was a local restaurant) I got the same treatment. I felt that I was not alone.  (In my instant they copped an attitude that "how can that wine be bad, we only; serve good wine here." and after our dinner(with a new bottle of wine) the server came over and said the bartender did taste the wine and it as indeed off.  Why the hard time to begin with.  Needless to say I haven't been back to that restaurant.)

This is a  great book with history, education and some great laughs all over and about wine.

I will leave you with quote from Natalie "Think of wine like clothing: most of us choose it based on comfort, not fashion.  So pick wines you like to drink, not because they get high scores."

Serendipity

Serendipity defined by good fortune, luck, an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident, is exactly what I would call this wine from Robibero Winery.  This wine is a blend of 65% Chardonnay and 35%Seyval.

I have to admit, it's a nice blend and different. The color in the glass is a cross  between the straw of the seyval and yellowish of the chardonnay. The seyval ads a little acidity to the blend.  Floral aromas fill you nose with hings of apple and sweet melon.  Seyval comes across on the initial taste then your palate comes alive with some stone fruit and a bit of sweetness.

This wine sell for $13.99 in their tasting room.  Being that Thanksgiving is a few days away, this would pair nicely with your turkey.

Other Wines in the House - D Cubed Zin

When I opened the box the UPS man delivered from Vintners Collective and saw the 2008 D Cubed all I thought about were my California friends and I should be enjoying this with them.  We are D Cubed - Diane, Denise and Debbie...D1, D2 & D3. This wine must be named after us! Unfortunately we weren't together so I didn't enjoy it with them, but I do know they were or will be enjoying the same bottle because we all belong to the same club. I hope they think of me when they uncork.

Boy was this Zin jamming!  Some serious fruity strawberry going on in the aroma, on the palate, everywhere.  It was a sweet jammin fruitiness.  After you got past the fruity strawberry there was some ripe blackberries that came forward.  A palate of jam, I'd say. There was a slight hint of earthiness and some black pepper, but I felt the jammin berries overwhelmed the wine.

It's Beaujolais Nouveau Day!

Once a year on the third Thursday in November Beaujolais Nouveau is released.  It's the first wine of the years vintage.  Beaujolais is made from Gamay Noir grapes that grow extremely well in the granite soils of the Beaujolais region of France.  Beaujolais wines are intended for early consumption, so don't age them.

The Beaujolais Nouveau will typically exhibit bright red fruit aromas and flavors that are a result of carbonic maceration which is whole berry fermentation.  This produces exceptionally fruity, low tannin wines with a vivid purply-ruby color that can be ready to drink right after fermentation is complete.  These wines are then bottled and released the third Thursday in November.  (They go great with your Thanksgiving turkey)

Here are some facts on Beaujolais

• Beaujolais Nouveau is always released the third Thursday of November, regardless of when harvest began.
• The Beaujolais region in France is 34 miles long and 7 miles wide.  There are close to 4,000 grape growers who make a living in this region.
• All the grapes in the region must be picked by hand.
• Gamay is the only grape permitted for Beaujolais.  Gamay from other regions of the world will taste quite different due to their growing conditions and soils.
• Beaujolais Nouveau cannot be made from the grapes grown in the 10 crus of Beaujolais.  Nouveau can only come from the appellations of Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages.
• Approximately 1/3 of the crop in the Beaujolais region is sold as Beaujolais Nouveau.
• Serve Beaujolais Nouveau sightly cooled at about 55 degrees.  The wine is more refreshing and the fruit more expressive if served this way rather than room temperature.

A Humbling Experience

Happy Bitch Wines had their first outing this past weekend.  We attended the Pride of New York Harvest Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY.  We went with no expectations whatsoever.  What we found was an overwhelming amount of good wishes.

Genuine good wishes coming from not only the people attending this festival but from other wineries as well, mostly from the Finger Lakes region.  Having been involved in the local Hudson Valley wine industry prior to launching Happy Bitch Wines I only found support and well wishes from a few local wineries.  The advice and support we received from the wineries in the Finger Lakes, Lake Erie region and from some distributors this weekend was really heartwarming.   Thank you to all of you!

There was one that stood out from the crowd.  One winery who brought tears to Keryl and myself for their well wishes - Gene & Kathy from White Springs Winery.  Gene came over to us a few times and chatted and wished us the best of luck.  Then he came over and said "I want to give this to you girls.  It is tough to start a business, especially today.  I know you girls will be successful.  I give this to entrepreneurs I come across that I know will be  a success."  Ron and Kathy, Thank You, you especially warmed our hearts.

Thanksgiving in a Bag

Are you looking for the right wine to bring to Thanksgiving dinner? Arlington Wine & Liquor has solved your problem.  They have Thanksgiving in a bag. Brilliant idea - just pick up the bag and it has wines for every course from different regions of the word and a price tag that won't dig too deep into your pocket - $59.99. Your bag is stocked with a sparkling wine, two reds, two whites and a dessert wine, tasting notes and a recipes.

Begin your celebration with Filipetti Prosecco, a slightly off-dry Prosecco from Italy that is full of ripe fruit flavors. Enjoy this as you hang around chatting with your appetizers in hand.

When you sit down for the big meal there are two whites - Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris for those who like a dry, clean, crisp white wine and Brotherhood Winery's Riesling.  This blue bottle Riesling (as I call it) is a fruity semi dry Riesling that will match most foods on your table.

If you like red wines with your meal, in the bag is Angeline Pinot Noir from California.  A little tid-bit, the Angeline brand is part of Martin Ray Winery in Santa Rosa California.  This Pinot is said to have bright red berry flavors layered with creamy vanilla, smoke, some tea spice and toasty oak.  If you like your reds a little bolder, they've included Dancing Bull Zinfandel.

End your meal with dessert and Tomassello Cranberry Wine. Tomasselo Winery is located in the Garden State - yes New Jersey.  This wine will taste great chilled with cheesecake if you still have room.  If you can't wait until dessert to try this Cranberry Wine, try your Bartending hand and add some vodka and fresh lime juice for a Thanksgiving Cosmopolitan.

Most of all, enjoy your day with family and friends!

Millbrook Vineyards & Winery Grand Portfolio Tasting

On Saturday, November 19, Millbrook Vineyards and winery is opening up their entire wine portfolio and then some from their other properties for you to taste and enjoy.  What you might not have known about this Hudson Valley winery is that they own wineries in California and Italy.

This is a great opportunity to visit the winery and taste their wines from not only the Hudson Valley, but from California and Italy too. The event runs from 12 Noon to 5pm. Tickets are $45 and includes a commemorative 25th vintage wine glass.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 800.662.9463 ext. 11.

I attended last year and here is what you can expect.

Other Wines in the House - Gruner Veltliner

Gruner Veltliner is a grape grown in Austria and is mostly found in the Weinviertel region in lower Austria.  Vineyards growing Gruner Veltliner are located in the Wachau and Wagram areas as well as parts of Burgnland and Vienna. The Gruner Veltliner grape is recently being cultivated in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

I tasted the 2010 Leth Gruner Veltliner for a wine chat last week.  It's from the Wagram region of Austria. This is the first Gruner I've had from Austria.  I found it very aromatic with hints of minerality.

The wine was very acidic with flavors of tart green apple and lime.  As the wine opened the tart green apple turned into a jolly rancher.  There was a lot of minerality in the wine which gave it a flinty taste and the finish had notes of white pepper.

The price of this was was $15.99.

Gallo Family - Don Miguel Gascon Argentina Malbec

This was new to me that the Gallo Family represents wines from other regions of the world.  They have relationships with many wineries outside the US and import their products.  One of them is Don Miguel Gascon 2010 Argentina Malbec.

The Gascon Winery is located in the City of Mendoza.  Don Miguel Gascon began building the winery in 1884and it was completed in 1888.  It was owned by the Gascon family until 1993 when they sold it to investors led by the Catena family. They focus primarily on Malbec.

The wine is a blend of 95% Malbec and 5% Shiraz.  The grapes came from Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Malley in Mendoza.  The grapes were harvested by hand in mid March (remember their seasons are opposite of ours in the US)  The grapes then underwent cold maceration for four days to extract the deep purple color.  The wine has 13.90% alcohol.

This wine had a beautiful dark purple hue to it. Purple is my favorite color and the color definitely comes from the Shiraz in the blend and from sitting on the skins for 4 days.  Aromas of blackberry, plum and hints of cedar and violets filled the glass.  The wine was very smooth with rounded tannins and flavors of maraschino cherry, blueberry and black fruit.  The finish held hints of spice that lingered for a bit.

This wine sells for $15 at your local wine store.

First Outing for Happy Bitch Wines Rose

This weekend we are taking the Rose on the road.  We will be at the Pride of New York Harvest Fest in Saratoga, NY. The venue is the Saratoga Springs City Center.

You'll be able to sample and purchase Happy Bitch Wines Rose along with other New York State wines.  There will also be some yummy food exhibitors too!  This will be a great event to purchase your wine and speciality food items and a few gifts for the holidays.

Along with our wine, you will be able to purchase Happy Bitch Wines wine glasses, shirts and Keryl will be there to autograph her "Happy Bitch" book also available for purchase.

For more information on the Pride of NY Harvest Fest visit http://www.prideofnyharvestfest.com/alb/index.php

See you in Saratoga!

Greek Wine Tasting

Every year for the past four years I've poured at the Ladies of Philoptohos Greek Wine Tasting. It takes place Sunday, November 13 at the Kimisis Greek Orthodox Church in Poughkeepsie.  I am really quite disappointed because this year I will be out of town, but Mr. Hudson Valley Wine Goddess will be pouring in my place. 


I really enjoyed pouring at this event.  It gave me a chance to try the wines from Greece that you wouldn't normally seek out and learn about the indigenous grapes of the region. Surprisingly enough you come across a Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. In the past three years I have seen some great strides in the winemaking that has come from this country.

The price of admission to this event is $25 or $30 at the door.  Well worth the price even if you don't drink.  The food is incredible!  Not to mention all those wonderful Greek desserts.  I am hoping my wonderful husband will bring me home those cookies with the powder sugar on it. (some long Greek name I can't pronounce nor spell)


If you want to taste the different wines from Greece, I highly recommend spending Sunday afternoon at this wine tasting.  You will be able to taste the different varieties of wines that Greece produces.  

• Xynomavro - a red variety from the northern Greece.  Typically grown in Macedonia and is compared to a Pinot Noir
• Agiorgitiko - a red variety grown in the Peloponnese region.  Tannic and fruity.
• Moschofilero - grown in the Mantinia region of Peleponnese.  This grape has high acidity with floral and spicy aromas
• Assyrtiko - this high acidic variety is originally from the island of Santorini but now grown throughout the country.

If you do attend the tasting, make sure you say hello to Mr. Hudson Valley Wine Goddess.

All Aboard

All Aboard - this 2010 red wine blend from Brookview Station Winery is a blend of 40% DeChaunac, 30% Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot.

I found it light in body and the Cabernet Franc really comes through on the nose with aromas of raspberry and spice.

I found sweet cherry, some black fruit and nice subtle black pepper spice on the palate.  It had a lingering finish of sweet black fruit. But something was off to me.  I keep coming back to the word sweet. The sweetness did leave a sweet aftertaste in my mouth.  After a little research I found out that this wine has 1.3% residual sugar.

If you like your red wines slightly sweet, with no tannins, this is a wine you should try.  It sells for $11.99 in their tasting room.

Other Wines in the House - 2009 Fulkerson Lemberger

I have to admit, Lemberger isn't my favorite grape.  My first experience with wine made from this particular grape was B-O-L-O-G-N-A.  Yes it tasted like something from Oscar Mayer . I have now seen a new light.  On a recent trip to the Finger Lakes I began stepping out of my comfort zone and going towards wines I normally wouldn't pick up. It's called opening your mind and your palate. I have to convince my husband of this.

Lemberger is a grape that originated in Austria where it is called Blaufrankisch.  This 2009 Fulkerson Lemberer had a deep cherry garnet color that twinkled in the light.

Aromas of clove, black cherry and plum fill the glass.  Nice body on the palate, not to heavy with hints of oak as soft spice filling your mouth with nuisances of cherry lingering in the background.

This wine was quite enjoyable and would pair nicely with a leg of lamb. It is also reasonably prices at $15.99.

Gallo Family - William Hill Napa Vally Bench Blend Chardonnay

It always interesting when you taste to wines from the same year from the same winemaker and they are remarkably different.

That's what I found when I tasted the 2009 William Hill Napa Valley Bench Blend Chardonnay. Striking differences from the 09 Napa Valley Chardonnay.  This Chardonnay was much lighter in structure but tighter wound.  It needed to open up and relax some.

The grapes used in the wine were hand harvested and pressed as whole clusters.  Grape solids were left in the fermenting juice to add complexity and style to the wine.  The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel which enriched the mouth feel and added complexity to the finished product..  The Chardonnay was 100% barrel aged in 55% new French oak.  The wine was bottle aged 6 months prior to its release.

The wine had some nice aromas of peach, tropical fruit and finishing with melon.  The palate was soft and lush with hints of stone fruit and some nice notes of tasted oak and vanilla.

The wine retails for $35.

Shrinky Dinks - You Thought It Was Only for Kids

The very first SHRINKY DINKS were sold on October 17, 1973 at Brookfield Square Shopping Mall in Brookfield Wisconsin. Since that time there has been over 250 different Toy Activity and Craft Kits created and marketed. Whoever thought at my age I would be spending a day making shrinky dinks for adults.


It all began with the idea of Happy Bitch Wines wine charms or tuits two weeks before the launch. Where were we going to come up with these and what were we going to put on them.  Of course something that has to do with our brand and were we going to be able to get them before the big launch?


We searched the internet, made some phone calls and were thinking.  


Then I get a text from Keryl "Your partner is brilliant, shrinky dinks" with a picture of the wine charm bottle.  Crafts were never a strong point in in my life but shrinky dinks was a term from my childhood.  Oh my gosh they were great.  I was laughing.

So the Sunday before the launch we cranked out 600 shrinky dink wine charms, 150 each of the wine bottle, sign, shirt and lips. Yes printing, cutting and baking (and it wasn't cookies). The things you do to get a project done for our fans.

I hope everyone who attended the launch enjoys the wine charms.  All I got was carpal tunnel in my left thumb.