East Coast Wineries

Finger Lakes Wine Festival, July 17-19, 2009

2009-07-12T05:31:00.000-07:00

FINGER LAKES WINE FESTIVAL is next weekend, starting with the infamous “Toga Party” on Friday night and followed by two days of wine sampling and sales by over 85 wineries. Held at Watkins Glen International race track and presented by Yancey’s Fancy New York’s Artisan Cheese, the wonderful wine weekend also features many other products from food to jewelry and pottery.

New this year is a Vintner’s Riesling Room, hosted by Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association, where tasters may learn all about Riesling and why the Finger Lakes is such a great region for producing it. As usual, we’ll be coordinating a series of seminars including Wine & Chocolate, Wine & Cheese, Riesling, Ask the Winemaker, and presentations by regional wine trails on what makes them special. This Festival draws thousands of people from around the country, boosting the local economy and spreading the word about fine New York wine. It’s a great time for a very reasonable price.

For more information: www.flwinefest.com

Pairings Food and Wine Education Center at Winterport Highlighted by WCSH6 TV

2009-07-12T04:12:00.000-07:00

Pairings Food and Wine Education Center is an AMAZING hidden treasure in Winterport. They offer cooking classes and specialized dinners like a wine dinner every month. They make their own wines at their winery and the concept is to "pair" wines with good food so that the type of wine goes specifically with what course you're eating. Both the wine and the course taste so much better when they're paired properly.

I recently went to a five-course dinner and the owners are so passionate about educating people about how things are prepared and what types of foods and wines taste good with what. A five- course dinner plus wine is $80 including gratuity and tax. It can be a splurge but it is totally worth it because it's an experience, plus you learn something too! I highly recommend it.

from:
Priya Sridhar's Must-See Maine
Posted By: Maureen O'Brien, News Director
Read more at:
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/mustseemaine/story.aspx?storyid=106494&catid=245

Maine Wineries Highlighted By Maine Sunday Telegram

2009-07-12T03:51:00.000-07:00

Touring a Maine winery
Jun 28, 2009 05:54 AM
Lincolnville Winery offers tastings and instructions at two midcoast sites.
By BJ BANGS, Special to the Maine Sunday Telegram

A visit to the Cellardoor Winery & Vineyard offers an additional dimension to a vacation in midcoast Maine.

Cellardoor, about 5 miles from Camden Harbor, offers wine tasting, cooking and wine-making classes. The relaxing atmosphere that has the feel of Europe and California wine country with views of the vineyards in the distance takes in a bit of Maine history in the renovated post and beam barn.

Depending upon the timing of the visit, you will also be greeted by weekly entertainment, outside hiking possibilities and a gift shop full of wines made at Cellardoor and offerings of local chefs.

On the Maine Midcoast Wine Trail, Cellardoor is considered one of the pioneers in vineyards and winemaking in Maine. They make their wine from actual grapes, versus syrup, according to Bettina Doulton, owner operator, who says no two wines are the same. They use stainless steel, old oak and new oak vats.

Doulton has hooked up with two local winemakers, Brian Smith and Aaron Peet. Endless hours of studying winemaking and years of experience result in many special blends.

The restored 1790s post and beam barn, located on 68 acres, has authentic beams, floors and an indoor silo are augmented by the horseshoe bar sitting on old wine barrels. With a huge sliding glass door overlooking a balcony on the back, visitors are greeted by the sheer beauty of Maine's oldest vineyard, and the Cameron and Levenseller Mountains. Arriving at the front of the winery, one would have no idea of what lies behind or inside the rustic facade. That's one reason Bettina moved the parking area to the rear.

There are three Maine Winery Guild Wine Trails, one in midcoast, one Down East and one in Southern Maine. Maine is home to 18 wineries.

Cellardoor makes nuclide whites, reds, blueberry, fruit, and very sweet wines. Wines from grapes grown in various regions have different tastes, said Doulton, and grapes aged in different types of vats make the difference.

"It's all in the blends," she said.

Cellardoor Winery at the Villa is the second retail site. The Villa is located in a historic Victorian, often referred to as the House that was Yellow, at Routes 90 and 1 in Rockport. Their Web site says the Little Yellow Villa is a "gateway to the Maine Wine Trail as we bring a taste of the Vineyard experience to Route One. Here, you can experience some of the wines, food pairings and gifts offered in full at the Lincolnville vineyard."

Doulton purchased the vineyard three years ago after years of being a financial analyst for a large Boston firm. She said she was look for something a little more fun than going through endless financial statements.

The renovations were ambitious, she says, "but with a lot of hard work and a few tears, we made it. The renovators were here late into the wee hours of the night to make it happen."

Read the rest at:
http://exploringmaine.mainetoday.com/blogentry.html?id=14129

BJ Bangs is a freelance writer compiling a series of stories of places to go and see that are off the beaten path. She lives in Phillips.

New Jersey Wine Events

2009-07-12T03:40:00.000-07:00

Summer Brimming with Wine Events
July 09, 2009 06:45 PM ET | Guerra, Sue
NEW JERSEY MONTHLY MAGAZINE
There are more than 40 wineries in the Garden State. Many are taking part in some fun wine events this summer. Here’s a sampling.

July 11-12, Statewide: The Garden State Wine Growers Association holds its annual “Walk In the Vineyard,” from noon to 5 p.m. Most of the association's 34 wineries will be participating in the event, inviting visitors to tour vineyards and sample newly released wines for $5. Winery visitors will be eligible to win a free trip for two through French wine country. For more information and a list of participating vineyards visit: www.newjerseywines.com

July 18, Milford: Alba Vineyards Grand fireworks display features food vendors, children's activities, and live music by Cairo. Alba wines will be available for purchase (no sampling is available at this event). Parking is complimentary and admission is $15 for adults, $10 for children 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under. Rain date is July 25. Alba Vineyards: 908-995-7800; www.albavineyards.com

July 24-26, Summit: The first Summit Wine & Food Festival will showcase the talents of winemakers, chefs, and sommeliers for three days of cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, seminars, and food- and wine-pairing dinners. Individual events start at $45 with discounts for multiple events purchased as packages. A three-day unlimited pass costs $999. The Grand Summit Hotel: 908-277-6565; www.summitwineandfood.com

July 30-August 2, Atlantic City: The 2009 Food & Wine Festival at Bally’s Casino features four days of events, food and wine tastings, and celebrity appearances. Chefs from the Food Network and Bravo will host, demonstrate, and mingle with guests at more than twenty events throughout the weekend that range in price from $30 to $1,000. www.gourmetshows.com

August 1, Toms River: The Annual Harvest Kick-Off Party at the Bacchus Winemaking Club will include a roasted pig and other food and entertainment. Taste the different wines that you can make yourself in the upcoming winemaking season. Tickets are $25 for members and $35 for non-members. 732-505-6930; www.bacchusnj.com

August 8-9, Richwood: The Garden State Wine Growers Association sponsors the Jersey Fresh Wine & Food Festival at Heritage Vineyards. Wine tasting, winery tours, food, crafts, hayrides and live classic rock, jazz, and blues concerts will take place from noon to 5 p.m. each day. Tickets are $20 with free admission for anyone under
21.

For tickets visit www.newjerseywines.com/festivals.html

Also: visit "On the Vine" Sue Guerra's wine blog at:
http://njmonthly.com/blogs/on-the-vine/index.html

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Celebrates Anniversary

2009-07-11T04:04:00.000-07:00

The Lehigh Valley is Pennsylvania's fastest growing wine region, and, starting tomorrow, the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's anniversary celebration gets underway! Kari Skrip from Clover Hill Winery and Sam Landis from Vynecrest Winery stopped by 69 News at Sunrise on Wednesday to tell us more about the wine trail and what's on the agenda for this weekend. They also shared some tips for choosing and pairing wine.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is home to nine family-owned vineyards and wineries that have brought home the Governor’s Cup for eight out of the last nine years and won countless regional, state, national and international awards, including more than 50 for wines made from Chambourcin, its signature grape. Designated an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 2008, the Lehigh Valley is Pennsylvania’s fastest growing wine region. The fertile farmlands of the area provide an ideal growing environment, and the area’s close proximity to Philadelphia and New York City make the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail a beautiful and easy escape for wine lovers across the Mid-Atlantic region.

Baltimore Examiner Wine Expert Terry Sullivan Chronicles The Brandywine Wine Trail

2009-07-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

Terry's bio page:
http://www.examiner.com/x-11860-Baltimore-Wine-Travel-Examiner

Interstate 95 road trip to Brandywine Valley wineries, part one
July 6, 10:44 AM

A perfect daytrip to wineries from the Baltimore region takes travelers into the scenic Brandywine Valley. Following Interstate 95 north of Baltimore leads past several Maryland wineries. Continuing north, within 30 minutes of Exit 1 in Delaware, there are three nearby Pennsylvania wineries in the Brandywine Valley area. One can take Exit 1 and drive north on route 896 (map of wineries in the Brandywine Valley).

The first winery from the interstate is Paradocx Vineyard. The winery opened a new tasting room at the winery in Landenberg, Pennsylvania. They also operate a tasting room and retail store at one of the Shoppes at Longwood Village in Kenneth Square, Pennsylvania. The drive to the Landenberg tasting room is delightful. If travelers take back roads they can cross over one-lane bridges and past the White Clay Creek Preserve. There are also more direct routes from the interstate. Paradocx Vineyard‘s name is derived from the four owners, all doctors. Therefore there is a pair of doctors or Paradocx. The winery offers mostly dry wines made from vinifera grapes. The tasting room has a relaxed friendly atmosphere. Perhaps the most uniquely packaged wines are the Barn Red, White Wash and the Pail Pink. They are sold in three-liter reusable paint cans. The airtight plastic bag inside the paint can enables the wine to remain fresh for a few weeks.

A seven-minute drive from Paradocx Vineyards takes wine enthusiasts to Kreutz Creek Winery. This small family-owned winery is located in the lower level of owners Carole and Jim Kirkpatrick’s house. They have a small tasting room where gleaming stainless steel tanks and oak barrels are clearly visible. The driveway to the parking area is along rows of grapevines and the area offers a perfect venue for events. Wines are made from vinifera and hybrid grapes.

It will take eleven minutes to drive from Kreutz Creek Winery to VaLa Vineyards in Avondale, Pennsylvania. VaLa is an example of a multi-generation family that worked the farmland. Both French and Italian vinifera grapes grow well on the property that offers a unique terroir. Wines are handcrafted in small batches and represent creative blends. VaLa wines pair well with many foods especially Italian foods. Check out VaLa Vineyards website. It is the most unusual winery website on the Internet.

These wineries are within an easy daytrip from Central Maryland. There is much to see and do in the Brandywine Valley and in addition to a daytrip; the area makes for a wonderful weekend trip. People who visit the area during the week should visit the winery websites or call the winery to check on the hours of operation.

Go to this website, read the rest and then follow to Part 2:
http://www.examiner.com/x-11860-Baltimore-Wine-Travel-Examiner~y2009m7d6-Interstate-95-road-trip-to-Brandywine-Valley-wineries-part-one

Profile: Warren Rich of Ashby Vineyards in Maryland

2009-07-11T03:45:00.000-07:00

The first licensed winery on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Little Ashby Vineyards, is located on the banks of the Miles River in historic Talbot County, near the quaint colonial towns of Easton and St. Michaels. The winery can be reached by boat as well as by car or bicycle. Its elevated riverbank position gives the vineyards their own distinct microclimate, cooled by river breezes on hot summer nights and moderated by the warmer water temperature during the winter.

Charles Baudelaire, prominent French poet, once wrote, “Beauty is the sole ambition, the exclusive goal of Taste.” Taste is what Warren Rich has framed his life around. Warren Rich, owner and winemaker of Little Ashby Vineyards, is a modern Renaissance man. Educated in the school of chemistry, a confident lawyer with his own practice, a sophisticated winemaker, a loving dog owner—you name it, this man has it covered.

“I’ve always been a wine lover—I always loved Italian wine—and I was always interested in chemistry,” says Rich.Warren Rich began his search for wine property back in 1992, traveling throughout California’s Napa Valley to Oregon, where he initially thought he’d begin his winemaking career. But his wife, Lynne (co-owner of Little Ashby), encouraged the purchase of land belonging to an old estate in Talbot County. Warren and Lynne first planted their vineyard in 1992 before their house was even renovated.

“There are two things I’m concerned about as a winemaker, that every winemaker is really concerned about—humidity and temperature,” Rich explained, “Here on the Eastern Shore, in Talbot County, there’s a great microclimate for the production and persistence of grapes. “ If Rich’s attention to detail and demand for sophistication and specificity doesn’t attract you to his vineyard, his wine will. “I think that wine deserves an educated palette and a great nose,” Rich said, “and I produce wine for that educated palette.”

Rich developed his superior tastes during his travels throughout Italy and Europe. While he was developing his law career, he worked in Italy with a few friends, experimenting during his time away from the office with cooking and tasting wines from the local vineyards.

“That’s around the time that I really began to develop my appreciation for Italian wine, and between cooking with really fresh ingredients, and sampling different wines, I knew that I wanted to try and make my own,” Rich said. So after coming back to the States, Rich continued to work in enviromental law, but pursued winemaking at UC-Davis, where he took a short course to learn more about owning and maintaining a winery.

Rich wasn’t always focused on becoming a winemaker. Before his experiences in Italy and with law, he intended to go on to medical school, but decided that family was more of a priority. Instead of working long hours, and having to relocate, Rich chose to stay with Lynne and his children and find their own place to live and create wine.

“Warren has impeccable—almost immaculate—taste,” His wife, Lynne commented, “He knows how to make a superb, dry wine.”

Little Ashby's owners, winemaker Warren Rich and his wife Lynne, live on the property with their labrador retrievers, Chester and Teddy Bear, and their labradoodle, "Lola", whose portraits grace the labels of the wines.

Surrounded by water on three sides, Little Ashby benefits from a serene setting with spectacular sunsets and over flights of Canadian geese.

In 2003 Little Ashby produced a bordeaux-styled wine called "Super Talbot", named for the county in which the winery is located. This wine was awarded a gold medal at The Maryland Wine Festival, with the highest score in the 2005 Governor's Cup competition. The winery has received numerous other awards for its merlot, pinot noir, chardonnay and port.

The Super Talbot is the big red wine you're looking for. It's a big, red, deep and delicious wine. Nice tannins. Nice dry finish. A proven winner in a region that is making better and better wine.

In 2007 Little Ashby will offer a cabernet sauvignon blend, its new "Super Talbot", and a silver medal winning cuvée, "Ashby Red".

Due to limited production, this boutique winery limits sales to regional wine shops, superior restaurants, festivals and winery visitors.

Call ahead, because they are by appointment only. But don't let that scare you off! Go!

Little Ashby Vineyards
27549 Ashby Drive
Easton, MD 21601

410-819-8850 or 410-822-6027
Fax: 410-819-8849
lrich@bluecrab.org
www.littleashbyvineyards.com/

Hours:
July —Wed - Sun. Other times by appointment only.

Movies of the Vine – Nine Films About Wine

2009-07-03T02:28:00.000-07:00

Recently I just rented, and then bought, the movie Bottle Shock on DVD. I first watched the movie with absolute skepticism, because, while it was the story of the Paris wine tasting, it was not based on George Tabor’s wonderful book. At first, it seemed to me like someone rushed this film into production just to beat the film version of Tabor’s book to the theaters.

But happily, as is usually the case (my wife might tell you), I was wrong. Bottle Shock is the story of the Barretts pere’ & fils and their struggles to establish a quality, modern winery in a region that was then most famous for the jug style wines epitomized by Ernest & Julio Gallo and many others in the valley who made dark red sweet wines for wide consumption in that period.
The movie was fun, exciting, humorous, and above all, made me want to 1. go to Napa (even though I own my own vineyard) and 2. drink several bottles of wine
Then I got to thinking, what are some other good wine movies?

Well, of course, there’s Sideways. I love Sideways. Let’s be honest, it’s a buddy movie that uses the Santa Barbara region as a backdrop, but the region, like in Bottle Shock, is a character in the film. I love the funny dialogue and hilarious comedy of it. I suspend the disbelief that it is misogynistic, and prefer blithely, to think of it as two infantile men grasping for youth and the confidence that one owns before the veil is lifted. And of course, I love the talk about wine. It too makes me want to go to Santa Barbara and then drink wine.

OK, now, here’s a slightly different split. I draw dead-even on the next two movies: Mondo Vino and Autumn Tale, two small independent films. Mondo Vino gets the edge because I love wine consultant Michele Roland spouting “Aerate, aerate, aerate!” throughout the movie. I love the story of the small village fighting the big American monolith theme, though I thought the citizens’ victory a pirique one at best.

Filmed by award-winning director Jonathan Nossiter, Mondovino sparked much controversy in its theatrical run among wine producers, distributors and consumers as it shed light on the esoteric world of wine. Juxtaposing artesian wine growers with multi-national conglomerates, and peasants with billionaires, the film gives voice to those who create, critique and are involved in the commerce of wine, offering up a surprisingly prismatic, varied and sometimes controversial glimpse into something everyone enjoys but few people know much about.
However, others saw it differently, such as W. Blake Gray of the San Francisco Chronicle, “This plodding, anti-American wine documentary excited French audiences and angered some interview subjects who felt misled. If you're not a total wine geek, it's long and boring.” Geek. Guilty as charged.

Autumn Tale is different, as it is a fictional movie with a storyline. I love it because I love the main character, who insists that the magic of her small production wine comes form the fact that she lets the vines grow wild each year. The story line is only OK, but I do love the location and the themes. Both movies make me want to travel to France to see the vineyards, and of course they make me want to drink wine.

Film writer Robert Horton wrote of Autumn Tale, “Like everything else, the secret of a good wine is in the timing: the timing of the grape-picking, the fermentation, the breathing. And the timing is just right in Autumn Tale, a luminous story set in the winemaking country of France; director Eric Rohmer, in his late 70s when the film was made, clearly waited until this particular bottle had reached the proper maturity. At the center of the film is the friendship between two gracefully middle-aged women: Vineyard owner Magali (Beatrice Romand, star of the previous Rohmer gems Claire's Knee and Le Beau Mariage), blunt and compact, is currently unattached. Isabelle (Marie Rivière, from Summer), willowy and slightly ditzy, is married--and would like to see Magali happily wed. A matchmaking scheme via the personal ads leads to a gentle, amusing, yet increasingly profound romantic confusion.”

“At first glance, the film may seem like sun-dappled simplicity itself, but stick around for the final moments at the very tail of the end credits, and you'll appreciate the wise mingling of longing, satisfaction, and regret that have been percolating through the movie all along. ..Autumn Tale is …a warm, quiet masterpiece,” concluded Horton.

There is a very forgettable movie, that I know others love, which is A Walk in the Clouds starring Keaneau Reeves. I found the story line too far fetched for me to suspend my disbelief, but my wife and mother both liked it, and both rented it for me so I would see the “beautiful scenery.” Napa never looked so gorgeous, so sumptuous. Indeed, mid-way through the film, I did want to flee - to California to see some beautiful vineyards, and I definitely wanted to drink a bottle of wine.

Another wine movie is A Good Year. It’s a best a glossy movie about vineyard life. It’s not a great movie, despite the cast. But it is a small, trifling when you’re jones-ing for a vineyard flick. A Good Year is a 2006 romantic comedy film, set in London and Provence. It was directed by Ridley Scott, with an international cast including Russell Crowe, Marion Cotillard, Abbie Cornish and Albert Finney. It is based on the 2004 novel of the same name by British author Peter Mayle.

The film received generally negative reviews. On the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes the film has a 25% approval rating, and the consensus describes it as "a sappy romantic comedy lacking in charm and humor".

In his review in the New York Times, Stephen Holden called it "an innocuous, feel-good movie," "a sun-dappled romantic diversion," and "a three-P movie: pleasant, pretty and predictable. One might add piddling . . . A Good Year is the movie equivalent of poring over a glossy brochure for a luxury vacation you could never afford while a roughneck salesman who imagines he has class harangues you to hurry up and make a decision about taking the tour. My advice is to resist the pitch."

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times observed, "Though A Good Year is set in French wine country, it's best described as small beer. The scenery may be attractive and the cast likewise, but something vital is missing in this all-too-leisurely film . . . [it] is one of those ever-popular movies in which impossibly rich people, clueless about what really matters, turn out to be incapable of enjoying the simple things in life . . . The fact that we know exactly what will happen to Max from the moment he appears on screen is not what's wrong with A Good Year. After all, we go to films like this precisely because the satisfaction of emotional certainty is what we're looking for. What we're not looking for is a romantic comedy made by individuals with no special feeling for the genre who stretch a half hour's worth of story to nearly two hours."

I found a few more.

"This Earth Is Mine" (1959). This classic starred Rock Hudson, Jean Simmons, and Dorothy McGuire. The movie was filmed on what is now Rubicon Estate. The winery workers appeared in the film as extras. According to W. Blake Gray of the San Francisco Chronicle, “This film is even more winecentric than "Sideways," and just as accurate. Its portrayal of the issues that divided Napa Valley in the 1930s still seems prescient today. Also, some of the gender-preference innuendo in Hudson's dialogue is pretty interesting now…A Douglas Sirk-style twisted melodrama set at the end of Prohibition, "This Earth Is Mine" has never been released on video or DVD, although it can be seen on bootleg copies or TV movie channels. This CinemaScope film is crying out for a big-screen revival at a San Francisco movie house like the Castro or the Balboa.

“Claude Rains, around 70 at the time of the movie's release, plays the patriarch of a Napa Valley family who still insists on making fine wine every year, even though sales to the public are illegal. Hudson is his ambitious, callous grandson who is convinced the family and its neighbors can make a lot more money selling their grapes to bootleggers in Chicago.

“In this steamy version of Napa life, loveless marriages are arranged to bring desirable vineyard parcels, such as Stags Leap, into the family. Affairs of all types, even incestuous, are never out of the question, though the price will be high. And the Valley is exclusionary, classist and racist.
Hudson's mother, played by Anna Lee, says at one point: "Andre is thinking of selling Stags Leap. Cutting it up into little parcels. Selling it off to all the riffraff that come flooding in here because the price of grapes is high."

Gray continues, “Rains plays a noble character, believing that wine grapes are a gift from God. "The grape is the only fruit that God gave the sense to know what it was made for," he says. The film gives simple-to-understand descriptions of both the winemaking process and how to taste and appreciate wine.” It’s bad melodrama, but it’s first class Napa Valley history.

"They Knew What They Wanted" (1940). According to W. Blake Gray, “A must-see for Napa Valley historians. Unattractive Italian vineyard owner Charles Laughton uses Anglo farmhand William Gargan to entice waitress Carole Lombard to Napa to marry him. It's an invaluable film record of Italian-American wine culture, and also has great exteriors…the seriously dated ‘happy ending’ is just too bizarre today.”

Another oldie-moldy for those of you who can’t seem to get enough is "The Unholy Wife" (1957). Diana Dors, Britain's answer to Marilyn Monroe, starred as a gold digger who marries a wealthy vintner, Rod Steiger, and plots his murder. This interesting, accurate portrayal of a winemaking battle between Napa Valley quality and Central Valley quantity is undone by a preachy, slow-moving plot. Still, it is a period piece that brings back a lot of the “growing pains” memories that scarred the California growing region for years as it struggled for legitimacy.

I chose these movies because they feature winemaking and/or vineyard life. Wine was a featured player – a character. Regardless, each film made me want to travel to some wine country and then drink wine.

No wonder I like these films.

The Wine Nine
Bottle Shock
Sideways
Mondo Vino
Autumn Tale
A Walk in the Clouds

A Good Year
This Earth Is Mine
They Knew What They Wanted
The Unholy Wife

N.Y. growers expect grape glut, look to sell to wineries nationwide

2009-07-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

Tue Jun 30, 2009, 11:13 AM EDT

Canandaigua, N.Y. - With this year’s harvest of state wine grapes expected to yield a surplus, Cornell Cooperative Extension and New York Wine & Grape Foundation have partnered to help market the fruit to other states.Acting as “matchmakers,” said foundation president Jim Trezise, the extension and his organization aim to help growers sell all their grapes this year — at the same time building an out-of-state market for future years. On the Web site for the Finger Lakes Grape Program (flg.cce.cornell.edu), which serves Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Ontario and Yates counties, growers can place classified ads to sell grapes. Of the 56 ads posted there Monday, 48 were from the Finger Lakes region, where much of the state’s wine-grape crop originates.While the site has been used to sell grapes in previous years, this is the first year it is targeting out-of-state buyers.

Trezise said he has contacted colleagues and wineries in other states to let them know there will be New York wine grapes for sale this year, barring a weather emergency or other unforeseen circumstances between now and harvest. “For a number of wineries their tanks are full,” said Trezise, “and the economy is slow,” he added, keeping wine sales flat.Meanwhile, states that have lost grapes to frost and other weather-related factors need wine grapes, he said, citing Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.“We know the market in New York won’t be able to absorb all of New York’s crop,” said Jim Bedient, a grower in Yates County and president of New York Wine Grape Growers.With the connections Trezise has in other states, it should help get all the grapes to market, said Bedient. The Finger Lakes region produces between 40,000 tons and 50,000 tons annually, said Trezise.The anticipated yield this season is on the high end, about 50,000 tons, he said. Leading varieties are Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and several French-American and native varietals.

By the numbers
Statistics for the Finger Lakes region:9,124 Acres of vineyard41,403 tons: Average annual grape yield50,000 tons: Yield expected this yearSource: http://www.newyorkwines.org/

New York Times Recommends Williamsburg Winery

2009-06-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

JOSHUA KURLANTZICK wrote on June 7, 2009, in the New York Times:

Once consigned to the bargain bin of wine shops, Virginia wines now hold their own in global wine competitions, and the Williamsburg Winery, a few miles from the Colonial District (5800 Wessex Hundred Road; http://www.williamsburgwinery.com/), is one of the largest in the state.

Its chardonnays — particularly the fruity, oaky Acte 12 chardonnay — have won much acclaim from critics. On a spring afternoon, attend a tasting ($8 and $30) and then head over to the adjacent tavern for a light snack.

Read it at:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/travel/07hours.html?ref=travel

Jewell Towne Vineyards Takes Title of Best New Hampshire Wine at 2009 Big E

2009-06-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

Jewell Towne Vineyards of South Hampton won "Best New Hampshire Wine" at the 2009 Big E Northeast Gold Wine Competition.

New Hampshire's oldest and most awarded winery entered 12 wines, and each was awarded a medal, with an additional award for the Best Wine of New Hampshire granted to their estate grown 2008 Aurore Private Reserve. Jewell Towne deals exclusively with grape wines, specializing in eastern hybrid varietals.

In 2009, The Big E Northeast Gold wine competition remained regional. It continued to be available to all vinifera, hybrid and native grape wines, meads, fruit wines and fortified wines produced in wineries located in New England and New York.

Connecticut Wine Festival August 1 & 2, 2009

2009-06-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

The Connecticut Wine Festival will celebrate the bounty and diversity of Connecticut wines at the Goshen Fairgrounds in Goshen, CT. Support Connecticut agriculture by sampling fine local wines and delectable specialty foods. Peruse fine arts and crafts while relaxing to the sounds of various local musicians. This year’s festival offers the rare opportunity to purchase bottles and cases of wine directly from the wineries at the festival.Festival Hours are Saturday, August 1st from 12pm-7pm and Sunday, August 2nd from 12pm-6pm. The Goshen Fairgrounds are located approximately ½ mile south of Goshen center on Route 63.

http://www.goshenfair.org/directions.htm Parking is free.Ticket cost at the gate is $25 daily for general admission, $10 daily for designated drivers and those under 21. A two-day ticket is available for $40. Tickets may be purchased in advance at a discounted daily rate of $20 from the following CT Vineyards: Jones Winery, Shelton, CT; McLaughlin Vineyards, Sandy Hook, CT; DiGrazia Vineyards, Brookfield, CT; White Silo Winery, Sherman, CT; Hopkins Vineyard, Warren, CT; Haight-Brown Vineyard, Litchfield, CT; Sunset Meadow Vineyards, Goshen, CT; Miranda Vineyard, Goshen, CT; Land of Nod, Canaan, CT; Jerram Winery, New Hartford, CT; Rosedale Farms & Vineyard, Simsbury, CT; Gouveia Vineyards, Wallingford, CT; Priam Vineyards, Colchester, CT; Sharpe Hill Vineyard, Pomfret, CT; Heritage Trail Vineyards, Lisbon, CT; Jonathan Edwards Winery, North Stonington, CT; Stonington Vineyards, Stonington, CT; Maugle Sierra Vineyards, Ledyard, CT; Chamard Vineyards, Clinton, CT; and Bishop’s Orchards Winery, Guilford, CT. http://www.ctwine.com/

Admission includes a commemorative festival wine glass and tote bag, 20 wine tasting tickets, specialty food samples, entertainment and the opportunity to purchase bottles/cases of wine and artisan crafts. Additional tasting tickets are available for purchase at the festival.

Connecticut farm wineries occupy more than 1500 acres of open space in the state offering award-winning artisan wines. Connecticut grapes are cultivated from first bud through fermentation and wines are blended in small batches to produce extraordinary wines. Connecticut wines range from dry, barrel fermented Chardonnays, Cabernet Francs, Dry Rieslings and Seyval Blanc, to fruitier, sweeter whites, reds and late harvest Vidals, Vignoles and fruit wines.

2009-06-30T18:49:00.000-07:00

Embassies will celebrate the Fourth with taste of R.I.
01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, July 1, 2009
By Gail Ciampa

Journal Food Editor

They’ll be raising glasses of Rhode Island wine at the U.S. Embassies in the Ukraine and on Barbados for their July 4th festivities.

Every year, U.S. embassies around the world celebrate the Fourth with All-American cookouts and parties with local leaders in government, business, civil society and culture. This year Newport Vineyards of Middletown has supplied the wines for two celebrations, said John Nunes, vintner and co-owner of the winery with his brother Paul, vineyard manager.

At the embassy in Kiev, the winery’s Sauvignon Blanc and Rochambeau Red will be served to some 1,600 guests who will dine on grilled salmon on cedar planks with an orange and avocado salsa. Barbecue beef and pork will also be served with rice salad. For dessert, guests will dive into red, white and blue parfaits with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream.

Nunes said Embassy officials liked the historical name of the Rochambeau Red, a blend named after the French general who landed in Newport with 2,000 troops during the Revolutionary War.

In Barbados, a colonial- themed event is to be held at Las Cibeles, the Ambassador’s residence in St. James. Pinot Gris, Riesling, Great White and Merlot from Newport Vineyards will be served with barbecue and New England seafood. No word on the number of guests from Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

Read the whole story at:

http://www.projo.com/food/content/fd-US_embassy_and_RI_wines_07-01-09_42ERHL6_v22.217cf67.html

Burlington Free Press: Vermont vineyards turn to Minnesota grape hybrids

2009-06-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

Dan McLean – Burlington (Vt.) Free Press staff writer
Business – June 16, 2009 - 3:00am

GRAND ISLE, Vt. — A fierce hailstorm wiped out Bob and Linda Livingstone’s grape vines two years ago, forcing a time-consuming rebirth of East Shore Vineyard.

In addition to equipping their vineyard with netting to guard the vines, the couple plan to expand — much like the Vermont wine industry itself.

Hailstorms are just one of the challenges that face Vermont’s increasing number of vineyards. Frigid winter temperatures and a skepticism of whether decent grapes can grow in the state are other hurdles. Both are beginning to be overcome. Persistent farming and cold-hardy grape varieties developed by the University of Minnesota are making wine production in Vermont feasible.

Last year, grapes made up about 15 percent of the roughly 108,000 gallons of wine produced in Vermont, said Steven Justis, a senior agricultural development specialist at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. That’s up from no more than 2 percent a decade ago. Most of Vermont wines come from apples, but also from blueberry and rhubarb.

“We think the grape industry is going to increase very quickly over the next 10 or 20 years,” Justis said of Vermont’s growing number of vineyards, pointing to the boost from the Minnesota grape varieties .

The Livingstones started selling grapes wholesale in 2002. Five years later, they decided to make their own wine. Then came the high winds and nickel-sized hail. The storm wiped them out.

“We went from selling grapes to buying grapes within a 20-minute period,” Bob Livingstone said.

This year will mark the first time the majority of East Shore’s wines will come from grapes harvested from the Grand Isle vineyard.

The Livingstones’ property is a few miles northeast of Snow Farm Vineyard and Winery in South Hero, which has been growing grapes longer than any Vermont vineyard. (Fruit wines have been made since 1985 in Jacksonville in Windham County, the first licensed vineyard in the state since Prohibition).

“I think people are past the skepticism,” Harrison Lebowitz, CEO of Snow Farm, said of the perception of winemaking in Vermont. Lebowitz said he planted the vineyard in 1996 to help find a way for Vermont farmers to keep their land in agricultural use. He found his 14-acre plot had a “micro-climate” that was similar to Burgundy, France, a rarity for Vermont.

Lebowitz grows French hybrids, European grape varieties, and some of the cold-hardy University of Minnesota strains. He uses the Minnesota varieties for blending, however, saying “more research needs to be done” before will he will use them more broadly. Lebowitz makes 15 to 16 kinds of wines with eight varieties of grapes, he said in early June, taking a break from bottling Rieslings.

While his vineyard was growing during the first few years, he purchased all of his grapes from the Finger Lakes region in New York, a common practice for Vermont wineries. Now, 95 percent of the grapes used — enough for about 33,000 bottles — come from his Vermont farm.

This is only a small part of the whole story. Read it at:
http://rocnow.com/article/business/200990615022

Interstate 95 WInery Tour in Maryland and Terry Sullivan's Excellent Maryland Wineries Website

2009-06-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

Terry Sullivan, a retired educator and current wine enthusiast is an owner, writer, photographer and designer for Wine Trail Traveler: a winery and vineyard virtual visitor center. He looks forward to relating his wine travels.

He writes for the Balitomore Examiner.com and has an excellent Maryland Wineries website....here's a recent article. Lots of good stuff!

Baltimore Wine Travel Examiner
Maryland’s Interstate 95 wineries from oldest to newest

June 10, 8:18 AM

At times traveling Interstate 95 north of Baltimore in Maryland can be a breeze, at other times it can be torture especially on hot summer days when the traffic just doesn’t seem to move. For me the breeze usually comes before 5:00 am. At one of those not so pleasant times, consider that five wineries within 30 minutes of the interstate can transpose you from hectic to serene. Mount Felix winery is only one minute from exit 89 (see map).

This 53-mile stretch of the Interstate from Baltimore to the Delaware line can hardly be termed wine country, but it has a start. Closest to Baltimore is Boordy Vineyards in Hydes. Boordy is one of the oldest and largest Maryland wineries. The drive to Boordy is pleasant and takes you along winding country roads. Boordy is on a restful spot of land in the countryside. The tasting room was built in an 1830’s bank barn. Boordy produces three lines of wines and will certainly have wines that you will enjoy.

If Boordy is one of the oldest vineyards in the state, Legends Vineyard is one of the newest. Legends is located in the small town of Churchville and the tasting room opened in September of 2008. The vineyard was planted in the spring of 2008. Close to Legends in Havre de Grace is another new winery, Mount Felix. Located a minute from I-95, Mt. Felix produces several wines many with names that have historical significance to Havre de Grace and even American viticulture. The location of the tasting room is in a restored water house next to Mount Felix Manor that was built in the 1800’s. At one time the water house was used to pump water to the manor. In addition to tasting the wines in the tasting room, you will receive a gentle history lesson about important events and people from the area. You will learn about John Adlum and how he became the father of American viticulture. Ask about the story associated with the wine Matilda’s Devotion. It is very inspirational especially near Father’s Day.

After crossing the long Tydings Memorial Bridge with panoramic views of the river and countryside, you can take exit 93 and make you way to Dove Valley Vineyards in Rising Sun. The vineyards were planted in 1998 and the large log building houses the tasting room that opened in 2007. There is plenty of room to spread out and tables and sofas are available for tasting the wines. The owner, Harry Hepbron , decided to develop a vineyard and tasting room as a legacy for his children and grandchildren. Just before Delaware in Elkton, Maryland is Terrapin Station Winery. The first vines were planted in 2003 and at the time of my visit had picture perfect clusters of St. Vincent and Vidal. Currently the tasting room is under construction and should be open later in 2009.

Opening times vary for each winery. Call ahead of a visit or check their website for hours. The wineries along I-95 in Maryland give you a “taste of the place.”

You can read reviews of many of these wineries on the Wine Trail Traveler website.

Bangor Daily News Praises Cellardoor Winery

2009-06-28T01:41:00.000-07:00

Cellardoor Vineyard: 'This is a way to unwind'With 14 varieties and connections to community, Lincolnville gem exemplifies Maine's burgeoning wine industry
By Emily BurnhamBDN Staff

The symbol displayed prominently throughout the property and incorporated into the logo of Cellardoor Vineyard in Lincolnville features two outward-facing half-circles split by a vertical line, and connected by a horizontal one. According to historical lore, hobos would carve this symbol into abandoned spaces during the 1930s to indicate that the space was safe and welcoming.

When she spotted that symbol carved into an old barn door on the vineyard property, Cellardoor owner and operator Bettina Doulton did a little research and discovered its history. The sentiment behind the secret code was just the kind of thing she wanted to impress upon her guests.

“We want folks to feel welcome as soon as they walk in here. This is a place to get away from stress, from work, from the daily grind,” said Doulton, who has run Cellardoor since 2007. “This is a way to unwind. It’s a place to feel welcome. That’s what we pride ourselves on.”

Read the rest at:

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/108018.html

Wall Street Journal Advises go to East Coast Wineries for 4th of July

2009-06-28T01:35:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street Journal is telling you to go forth and drink wine this Fourth of July - on the east coast!

The article features numerous wineries from around the US, most Califfornia and the east coast! They advise a trip to the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail and Biltmore Estate Winery in South Carolina.

Read the article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204621904574244181054202214.html

New York Wines Win in Los Angeles

2009-06-28T01:24:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK GOLD was mined at the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition, where Chateau LaFayette Reneau led the charge and Riesling was the star. CLR got two Best of Class/Gold awards for its 2008 Dry Riesling and 2008 Late Harvest Riesling, along with another Gold medal for the 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling. Other Gold medals went to Chateau Frank 2002 Blanc de Blanc and 2002 Brut (each of which have also won Gold in several other recent competitions), Dr. Frank 2008 Dry Riesling, Goose Watch 2008 Diamond and Brut Rosé, Penguin Bay 2008 Riesling and 2007 Gewurztraminer, Sherwood House 2004 Blanc de Blancs, Swedish Hill 2007 Marechal Foch, Spumante Blush, and Country Concord, Wagner Vineyards 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling, and Waters Crest 2007 Late Harvest Night Watch (which also won Best of Class in the Limited Production category, and recently got a Platinum in the Critics Choice awards as well).

The event is run by by Dr. Bob Small (who makes Dr. Bob’s Ice Cream and judges at our competition), Mary Ellen Cole, and Margie Jones. The LA competition is a mammoth undertaking with nearly 4,000 wines and about 80 judges swirling, sniffing, sipping and spitting for three days.

Belhurst 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling Best in Show NY State Fair

2009-06-28T01:21:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK STATE FAIR COMPETITION results were also released last week, with the Belhurst 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling taking Best of Show Honors, joined by Best of Category winners Montezuma Cranberry Bog (fruit wines), Peconic Bay 2005 Merlot, Anthony Road 2008 Dry Rosé of Cabernet Franc, Chateau Frank 2002 Blanc de Blanc, Earle Estate Raspberry Reflections, Goose Watch 2007 Finale White Port, Montezuma Rhubarb, and Ventosa 2007 Tocaice (ice wine). Additional Double Gold medals went to Belhurst 2008 Dry Riesling, Chateau Frank 2002 Blanc de Noirs and Celebre Rosé, Hazlitt 2008 Gewurztraminer, Lamoreaux Landing 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling, and Lucas 2007 Chardonnay.

Full results are available at www.nysfair.org/competitions. The New York Wine & Food Classic, our annual event involving about 800 New York wines, will take place on August 16-18 in Watkins Glen, with an all-star cast of judges.

James Molesworth Calls Lake Seneca "High Rent District"

2009-06-28T01:12:00.000-07:00

HERMANN J. WIEMER VINEYARD and RED TAIL RIDGE both got nice plugs this week from James Molesworth of The Wine Spectator, who describes Seneca Lake as “The High-Rent District” of the Finger Lakes region. The blog post traces the evolution of the Wiemer operation—now run by longtime winemaker Fred Wermarth—and the differences in its three vineyards relative to how their individual characteristics influence the taste of the wines—terroir at its best. The profile of Red Tail Ridge focuses on the unique experience of husband-wife team Mike Schnelle and Nancy Irelan, their decision to come east from California to lay down roots, so to speak, and the green-ness of their new tasting room that will open this summer. Nancy has a ph.D. in vine genetics from the University of California at Davis , along with high-level research experience at Gallo, and is deeply involved in industry-wide research efforts like the National Grape and Wine Initiative.

Read Molesworth's comments:

http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Free/Feature_Teaser_Page?page_id=/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Detail/0,,2602,00+en-USS_0FSCC.html

El Paso WInery in the Hudson Valley

2009-06-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

In 1998 Maryl Vogel and her husband purchased the El Paso winery that was founded 21 years before by Felipe Beltra, an "old-world" Spanish winemaker from Uruguay, SA. He purchased the land and the old barn of a 125 year old farmstead and planted his grapes. He then went about converting the barn into his "tasting room".

Today, she still blends his sweet wine recipes from long ago and has expanded their selection of fine New York wines to include wonderful dry reds -- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir. And wonderful whites, like two Rieslings and Chardonnay.

The three I liked best were the Just Plain White, the Chianti, and the Dusty Barn.

The Just Plain White is a lovely Chenin Blanc blend. Dry, light, crisp. Very nice!

The Chianti was a lovely surprise. A medium-bodied red with ripe cherries, and a nice smooth finnish.

But my favorite was the Dusty Barn. A medium, ruby colored spicy red blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Very nice!

Maryl is such a nice lady. You have to find her tasting room in the Hudson Valley and you have to try her wines!

http://www.elpasowinery.com/

An Interview With Dr. Kevin Atticks

2009-06-25T17:23:00.000-07:00

Dr. Kevin Atticks is the executive director of the Maryland Wineries Association, the industry trade group representing Maryland’s wineries. He is a regular contributor to the Maryland Beverage Journal, Daily Record and was the wine editor of The Grapevine magazine. Atticks was the founding host of Word on Wine – a weekly show that explores the history and culture of wine WBJC-FM in Baltimore.

Atticks has been writing about wine since 1997 when he took interest in wineries in Colorado. After traversing that state and all of its wineries, Kevin returned to his home state of Maryland to publish a tour guide to the local wineries, titled “Discovering Maryland Wineries,” the first of its kind in the state.

Atticks then researched the wineries surrounding Lake Erie and soon published “Discovering Lake Erie Wineries,” which covers wineries in the lake regions of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Ontario. The series continued in 2000 with the publication of “Discovering New Jersey Wineries.”

He has been a member of the Communication faculty at Loyola College since 1999, where he teaches public relations and publication design.

Kevin Atticks

What is the biggest challenge facing wine in your state today? The biggest challenges our wineries face are the post-prohibition restrictions still in law. Many don’t make any sense, or contradict traditional winery operations. Secondly, we have five different growing regions throughout the state and it’s taken our industry decades to sort out which grapes grow best in each. Now, we’re finally seeing that the southern part of our state is more of a Italian/southern Mediterranean growing style, and we’ve got a region that can handle the Bordeaux varieties and so on.

What is the difference between wine in your region from ten years ago to today? There’s a lot more of it! And there’s more expertise in the region than there was tens years ago so new wineries are opening their doors with high quality wine and great marketing.

Where do you think wine in your region will be 10 years from now? We’ll have 60-80 wineries in the state and we’ll have made a reputation for certain grapes in each of our five distinct growing regions. Ten years ago Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Vidal and Chambourcin were planted everywhere…and they may not have been the best grapes for some of our regions. Now we’ve got superb Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, Malbec, Barbera, etc.

What’s the trend in wine in your region that has surprised you the most in the last 2-5 years? The diversity of grapes that we can grow well. You would never have thought that Maryland was a Gruner state, or an Albariño state, but we can grow the heck out of them.

Is there a new trend you expect to see in the next 2-3 years? I think the biggest thing we see on the horizon is the creation of appellations (AVAs) in the state …finding the outer perimeters of what grows where, and marketing the differences. We’re primed for appellations.

Do you find liquor stores and wine shops have been a good partner for your state grown wines? They are becoming good partners. We have a lot of work to do to encourage Marylanders to go to the stores and buy our wines. Retailers are in the business of selling wines from any/everywhere, and it’s our job to convince them through market demand that our wines have a place.

Regional wineries sometimes find it hard to sell wines outside of their state. How easy or difficult is it for your wineries to export their wines to other states…countries? We only have a few wineries whose markets have expanded beyond our state boundaries. We’re also bound by being a state that can’t ship to reciprocal states—like New York.

How big a part do festivals and farm markets play in your state‘s wine distribution? A large role. Many of our wineries attend festivals and farmers markets. They used to go for sales. As the retailers become bigger partners, farms stands and festivals become more about marketing than revenue.

What are the challenges of getting your wines covered by local press and the wine media? We find that the local press is interested when there is news. And so we have an easy time promoting MD wine when there’s an event, harvest, good growing season, etc. We’re a local crop, a local product. The wine media here and there pays attention to Maryland wine, but we haven’t made a national push yet. Our industry is still in its infancy, and we’re looking to grow our industry in a sustainable way first.

Are there any fears you may have too many wineries in your state? No. We’ve not had a problem with too many wineries. There’s enough interest in local wine that our wineries are able to sell everything they make, and the more wineries we have the more successful wine trails can become. Competition is healthy for any industry—only the weak suffer from competition.

Do you have any wine trails in your state? If so, how effective have they become? If not, why? We do and they are very effective. We have three wine trails with more on the way. Frederick wine trail. Patuxent wine trail. Chesapeake wine trail.

Are you finding there are enough grape growers to fill the demand created by wineries in your state? Absolutely not. We’re in desperate need for new grape growers. We have some crazy programs that have been enacted to get people to grow grapes here in Maryland.

One Woman Winery in Southold, New York

2009-06-20T03:27:00.000-07:00

So, I was at the Union Square Greenmarket yesterday and as usual, I bought a small bottle of iced cider from Eve's Cidery. Always one of my favorites. And as I continued my walk, among the crowded corridors of produce and cheeses, atc., I spied a new winery I had not yet heard of. One Woman.

The woman is Claudia Purita, and it seems she learned winemaking at her father Domenico's side, in Calabria, Italy. Luckily for us it seems, she's now on Long Island. And if the saying goes, behind every man is a good woman, well, the Purita's have it in reverse. Claudia's husband Lou is her rock. Claudia and Lou planted 12 acres in the North Fork. She's the inemaker and he's the born salesman.

As I neared the tent, I could hear Lou talking to customers in his big, affable voice.

I tried several wines, but the wine I liked was the Chardonnay Reserve. It was light but it had a slight touch of oak and nice balance. It was very nice.

There are people who know a lot more about Long Island wine than me, but it was a pleasant surprise on a warm and sunny June day in 2009. And that was good enough.

http://onewomanwines.com/

An Interview With Richard Leahy

2009-06-20T02:49:00.000-07:00

Richard Leahy is one of the most influential people in the east coast wine business. East Coast Editor for Vineyard & Winery Management and the author of Richard Leahy’s Wine Report at www.richardleahy.com/blog. He is also the organizer of Wineries Unlimited each year. He sees a lot of trends as they are happening on east coast wine. Richard is a tireless and affable and enthusiastic promoter of the east coast wineries and their constant upward surge.

RICHARD LEAHY

What is the biggest challenge facing wine in your state today?
Quality consistency, a reliable grape supply and profitability.

What is the difference between wine in your region from ten years ago to today?
A higher level of quality especially in the reds, and more sophisticated red Bordeaux blends; also the rise of new varieties like petit verdot and traminette.

Where do you think wine in your region will be 10 years from now?
Virginia has already established an international reputation with viognier. Advances in red wine quality should make a reputation for Virginia with regionally distinctive red Bordeaux blends based on merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot.

What’s the trend in wine in your region that has surprised you the most in the last 2-5 years?
The move away from low-acid, barrel-influenced viognier. Producers are realizing that better balanced white wines in warm climates should block malolactic fermentation and avoid obvious oak. The better acidity and fresher style is a positive change and should help keep Virginia viognier competitive on the international stage.

Is there a new trend you expect to see in the next 2-3 years?
It will be interesting to see if the newly legalized custom crush channel takes off for both commercial and private customers.

Do you find liquor stores and wine shops have been a good partner for your state grown wines? What have been some challenges?
Generally private and chain grocery retailers have been supportive. The problem is how to compete in a de-personalized environment with cut-price wines from all over the world. Most Virginia wines are not competitively priced except in the ultra-premium segment but people often prefer a more recognized region like Napa or St. Emilion when paying $20 for a bottle of wine.

Region wineries sometimes find it hard to sell wines outside of their state. How easy or difficult is it for your wineries to export their wines to other states…countries?
We’re fortunate in Virginia in that we’re developing promising markets in the U.K. thanks to the work of the Virginia Wine Experience in London two years ago and the work of Christopher Parker with New Horizon Wines. Virginia wines resonate well with the U.K. palate. Some wineries like Horton have been distributing some wines (viognier) in select California markets, but the most profitable channel for sales outside the state is through direct-to-consumer shipping, now legal in 36 states.

How big a part do festivals and farm markets play in your state‘s wine distribution?
We have to distinguish winery-specific events from regional festivals. The smaller wineries may not want to participate in the super-large festivals where they pour a lot of tastes and make relatively few sales compared to loss of total volume. Events at the winery are important for bringing people to the tasting room and creating an experience for them that adds to the value of the wine. The Virginia wine calendar is packed with events, both for individual wineries and trails and state-wide.

What are the challenges of getting your wines covered by local press and the wine media?
Newspapers are in trouble, and many wine writers have been let go; many papers aren’t even covering the wine scene anymore. Blogging is filling that vacuum. The “wine media” are no longer just the Wine Spectator and Parker’s Wine Advocate; there are hundreds of wine blogs that are democratizing the wine media. Many wineries still spend way too much time trying to get covered by either Parker or the Spectator but ignore the new wine media.

Are their any media streams that you have found that are more effective than not?
Not all wine blogs are created equal. Dave McIntyre who blogs but also writes the wine column for the Washington Post, and Jeff Siegel the “wine curmudgeon” now have a website called “drinklocalwine.com” which features lots of writing about local wine across the country.

Are there any fears you may have too many wineries in your state?
Well, existing wineries may fear that! There is not only a competition for sales but also for the grape supply. Too many growers open their own wineries and those grapes are no longer available to other wineries. Competition for the limited supply drives up prices. Generally though more wineries creates a critical mass of presence in the market and consumer awareness, which raises the tide for all boats.

Do you have any wine trails in your state? If so, how effective have they become? If not, why? How do your wineries effectively market themselves in groups? Or not? If not, why not?
There are a number of wine trails in Virginia with a local focus; throughout the East wine trails are great vehicles for promoting awareness of a very specific region while keeping publicity costs affordable for all members.

Are you finding there are enough grape growers to fill the demand created by wineries in your state?
As per my comments above, that is a concern. Some larger wineries worry about the sustainability of the industry if all growers only have a couple of acres and try to grow the most expensive grape varieties. All major wine regions (including California) rely on independent growers to supplement their top wines with commercial grade grapes which make competitively priced wines for the public; if every grower is an artisan, all wines will be priced accordingly which is bad in an economy like this.

EAST COAST WINE FESTIVAL IN NJ JUNE 27 & 28

2009-06-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

VACATION ON A PLATE/IN A GLASS AT EAST COAST FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL June 27 & 28, Pennington, New Jersey

Don’t have the time or money to take a food or wine vacation this year? No worries. The East Coast Food & Wine Festival, held on June 27 & 28 at Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington, New Jersey allows you to take a one day vacation on a plate/vacation in a glass!

In one day, and close to home, you can sample award winning wines, enjoy dishes prepared with the season’s locally grown vegetables, fruits, seafood, chicken, meats and more dished up by some of the most exciting chefs in the State; attend seminars and cooking demos with nationally known chefs and wine experts; purchase locally made cheeses, organic produce, honey, meats, seafood, gelato, flowers and much more at the Farmer’s Market to enjoy at the festival or to take home with you; take a winery tour led by a third generation winemaker from Tuscany and much more.

They have an amazing line up of restaurants this year which allows you to taste meals from some of the most exciting restaurants across the state – all in one place. Participating restaurants include Brother’s Moon, Hopewell; Catherine Lombardi, New Brunswick; High Street Grill, Mt Holly; Nomad Pizza, Hopewell; Stage Left, New Brunswick; and Tre Piani, Forrestal Village, Princeton. Food is available at a nominal fee and will include smaller sample sizes so you can sample for more than one (or all) of the restaurants; as well as a full meal size portion.

Professional wineries from the State will also be offering samples of close to 100 wines grown and produced near by. Attendees can sample wines from award-winning New Jersey wineries including host Hopewell Valley Vineyards (Pennington), Alba Vineyard (Finesville), Unionville Vineyards (Ringoes), Cape May Winery (Cape May), and Laurita Vineyards (New Egypt).

One of the elements that sets The East Coast Food and Wine Festival apart from other wine and food events is the high quality cooking demos and food and wine seminars offered. This year's event has attracted an all-star list of celebrity chefs and wine experts.

Topping this list is chef Michael Colameco, host of Colameco's Food Show on PBS and Food Talk on WOR radio, author of the soon-to-be-released Food Lovers Guide to New York City; and teacher of Cooking 101 at the International Culinary Center in New York City. Michael will be speaking on Saturday as well as serving as Master of Ceremonies for the Cooking Demo & Seminar Tent that day.

Also on Saturday, Maureen Petrosky, wine expert on NBC's TODAY Show, wine writer for New Jersey Life and author of the Wine Club will be speaking in the Wine Seminar tent. Attendees can also purchase her book at the event and have it signed.

On Sunday, George Taber, author of Judgment of Paris, will be on hand to discuss his book. George, who was a Paris-based reporter for Time magazine for many years, was the only reporter present in 1976 at the blind wine tasting that set the wine world on its heels. In this Paris-based tasting, California wines beat the French wines, putting California wines on the map and changing the wine world forever. His book is now being made into a movie. Copies of his book will also be available at the festival.

Cooking demos will also be offered on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Kerry Dunnington, author of This Book Cooks and Baltimore Slow Food chapter member, will be hosting a cooking demo as well as making copies of her book available for purchase. Wegman's chefs will be doing a Catch of the Day seafood cooking demo on both days.

These are just a few of the many chefs, cook book authors, wine experts, organic farmers, cheese makers, honey producers and more who will be speaking at the festival. A complete list of speakers, presentation times and bios can be found on http://cts.vresp.com/c/?HopewellValleyVineya/a1ccda97f4/35796386cf/e4e1413bab.

The East Coast Food & Wine Festival will be held June 27 & 28 from Noon to 5:00 p.m. at Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington, NJ. More information on this fun and informative weekend can be found at http://cts.vresp.com/c/?HopewellValleyVineya/a1ccda97f4/35796386cf/e7dc35933e. Here you can purchase advance discount tickets (tickets are also sold at the door), find information on lodging, participating wineries and restaurants, seminar schedules and more. You can also call the Festival hotline at 609-890-7103 for more information.

Ticket price covers parking, entrance into the festival, entrance into all of the cooking demos, wine presentations and winery tours, all the wine sampling, and an etched wine glass to take home with you.

You won't want to miss this one day vacation on a plate/vacation in a glass.