Vintage Connections Wine Info

Welcome to our revised blog.

Good News! In May we'll be offering Wine Appreciation Classes at Pinnacle Ridge Winery near Kutztown. More information is included below.

If you like wine and fiction, we also list a few of our favorite Wine Mystery novels and authors.

And, don't skip "What We've Been Drinking."

Dean and Lisa Foster
Vintage Connections: Wine Educators and Consultants

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Finally, Another Quiz - with an additional (an 8th) sponsor and prize!

"Thanks" to the Quiz Sponsors who are providing the PRIZE for this week's winner and who are listed below.  Be sure to email your answers by 5 PM, Wednesday, March 2 to us at vintageconnections@comcast.net

"Correct" answers are those included in our Fun Facts from the past few months.  
Even if we're wrong, we're right!    

If multiple readers score the same number of correct answers, we'll put their names in a hat and draw one name who will be the winner of this quiz.  The winner will have a choice of one prize donated from any of our sponsors (see below). 

1. Name at least three of the grapes used in red Bordeaux. 

2. What is the licensed name for Bordeaux-type blends produced in the USA?

3. What are the "parent grapes" of Cabernet Sauvignon?

4. What is the Syrah grape called (named) in Australia?

5. Lemberger is also known as what grape or wine in Austria?

6. Champagne or other sparkling wines go well with breakfast (according to some, including us) because the ________________ complements the soft texture of egg dishes.

7. The _________  was adapted from a French artillery device.
 

8.  Technically, only sparkling wines meeting strict criteria and from the Champagne district of France should be named "Champagne."  What is the "correct name" of sparkling wine from other regions of France?   (There are two other names in France, but we only mentioned one in our Fun Facts. That is the "correct" answer.) 
9.Gewurtztraminer is a white wine, however the grapes themselves are what color?  (Remember, the "correct" answer is from our Fun Facts.)

10. The Pinot Noir grape cluster is a tightly packed cluster and very dark in color.  What (according to our Fun Facts) is the English translation of the name Pinot Noir? 

Email your answers to Vintageconnections@comcast.net by 5 PM, Wednesday, March 2.  

THANK YOU to our Quiz Sponsors!

The winner from our Fun Facts Quiz may chose one of the following prizes offered by our Quiz Sponsors.  Sponsors are listed alphabetically.  Prizes can not be exchanged for cash or other considerations.  Some prizes may be mailed to the winners, but some may need to be picked up at the sponsor's business location.

Gallery School of Pottstown (Pottstown, PA) - $20 Gift Certificate toward the cost of any class.  Does not include Gallery merchandise.

Manatawny Creek Winery (Douglassville, PA) - Basket Box with a bottle of wine, valued at $20.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery (Kutztown, PA) - $20 Gift Certificate

Schuylkill River Heritage Area (5 county service area, entire Schuylkill River Watershed) - Choice of either the reprinted book, "The Schuylkill" recounting the history of the river, or the new PBS video, "Our National Heritage Episode One: The Revolutionary River" also depicting the history of the Schuylkill River, each retailing for $20.

Tri-county Performing Arts Center (Pottstown, PA) - $20 Gift Certificate toward one show, class, or private lesson.

Vintage Connections (Pottstown, PA) - One seat in the class, Blending Wine Bordeaux Style, Wednesday March 24, 6:30-9 PM, in Pottstown,  valued at $35.

Vynecrest Vineyards and Winery (Breinigsville, PA) - Cherry DiVyne with Chocolate, gift wrapped, valued at $20.

Wine Down Cafe and Winebar (West Reading, PA) - $20 Gift Card


Spring 2011 Wine Classes 

PLEASE REGISTER SOON or let us know of your intent to register.

Contacting us SOON about the March 24 class, "Blending Wine Bordeaux Style," is especially important because we need to buy the wines SOON!

To register for classes, to tell us of your intent to register, or for more information, email us at vintageconnections@comcast.net or call us (Dean and Lisa) at 610-469-6164 or 610-310-9942.

NOTE: WE ARE
NO LONGER TEACHING the WINE CLASSES at MCCC West Campus. 

We have moved to a new location so we could reduce the cost of our Wine Classes to $35 per person for the classes below.

Open Enrollment Classes Spring 2010

$35 per person, includes wine, cheese, crackers
and LOTS of  information about wine, and wine tasting.


All classes are Thursdays, 6:30-9:00 PM.

New Location - These classes will be held at the PDIDA Office,
139 East High Street, in downtown Pottstown. 
Plenty of on-street parking. 
  

March 24 - Wine Blending Bordeaux Style - Learn about and taste Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc individually, then blend them and experience how they complement each other and how blending produces a more complex aroma and (we think, a better) flavor.

March 31 - Wines of the Finger Lakes II - Learn about and taste wines from the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. Famous for Reisling, the Finger Lakes region also produces other excellent whites and in good years, excellent bold reds.

April 7 - Surprising Wines under $15 - It's often difficult to find a good wine priced under $15, but some are very good and reliable in this price range.  Learn about very affordable wines and taste a few of our favorites.

Date TBD (was April 14 but we need to change it)
Wine Gems from Our Cellar - "Someday we're going to drink this!"   
Tonight's the night!  We'll pull some of our favorites from our cellar, taste them and talk about wines that should be aged or not, and the effects of time in the bottle. 

Home Schoolin'
Wine Classes and Educational Tastings
·    In your home, at your business (within 15 miles of Pottstown**)
·    $250 for up to 8 people.  Includes wine, cheese, and crackers
·    Add $200 for an additional 8 people*
*  Additional discounts available for more than 16 people.
** Additional distance may require a travel charge.

Sample classes - Many other options are available.

Wine for Beginners      Basic Red and White       Wines of the World
                 Wines of the USA            Wines of the Finger Lakes    
          Wines of Pennsylvania                       What's in a Name     
Blending Wine Bordeaux Style             Surprising Wines under $15
              
OR - We'll design a CUSTOMIZED CLASS FOR YOU (costs may vary)

For more information or to register for classes, email us at 
Vintageconnections@comcast.net or call us (Dean or Lisa) us at 610-469-6164 or 610-310-9942.

Checks (payable to Vintage Connections) and cash only.


Thursday, February 17, 2011

Wine Tips - Framingham Sauvignon Blanc and Gemtree Shiraz

Cheers  from Vintage Connections
Dean and Lisa Foster, Wine Educators and Consultant

Please tell your  friends and family who may enjoy reading and learning about wine about this blog.  We also publish an e-newsletter each week with essentially the same information as this blog.  Email us if you want to be added to our e-newsletter distribution list.  You can always un-subscribe.


Framingham Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2009   
From Marlborough, New Zealand, our favorite source of Sauvignon Blanc, this wine displays traditional grassy/vegetal aromas and refreshing crisp citrus flavors on the palate.  It is aromatic, but not overwhelming.  It has flavors of grapefruit and passion fruit.  Its color is pale straw with green highlights.   

This vintage is made from seven different "base wines" from eight different areas of Marlborough.  It was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks.  It was cellared two years before being released.  It is an excellent wine to serve with a green salad and especially asparagus, or just to sit and sip.  We served this wine at a recent Valentine's Day dinner at our friends Sylvia and Carl's home.   

This wine is currently a PLCB Chairman's Select, product code 30871 and lists for $11.99 although it is valued at about twice that price (as are most Chairman's Selects).  13% APV (alcohol by volume).




Gemtree Vineyards McLaren Vale Tadpole Shiraz 2008

From the McLaren Vale in southern Australia, this is a surprising wine for the cost.  Deep dark red in color, it has aromas of blueberries and mulberries and just the right touch of oak.  It is medium to full-bodied with lots of juicy red fruit flavors, balanced acidity and a long lingering finish.   

This wine was aged for 14 months in American oak, and is bottled without fining or filtration.The grapes were grown organically.   

Gemtree Vineyards is owned by the Buttery family.  They purchased an old dairy farm where they have planted native plants and trees and built an interlocking network of ponds and waterways making a wetlands for "Greening Australia".   

Excellent when paired with grilled barbecue ribs.  Alcohol is 14.5% by volume.  This wine is available at many PA Wine and Spirit stores at $13.99 a bottle.  PLCB product code is 22914.


Spring 2011 Wine Classes 

PLEASE REGISTER SOON or let us know of your intent to register. 

To register for classes or for more information, email us at vintageconnections@comcast.net or call us (Dean and Lisa) at 610-469-6164 or 610-310-9942.

NOTE: WE ARE NO LONGER TEACHING the WINE CLASSES at MCCC West Campus. 
We have moved to a new location so we could reduce the cost of our Wine Classes to $35 per person for the classes below.

Open Enrollment Classes Spring 2010


$35 per person, includes wine, cheese, crackers
and LOTS of  information about wine, and wine tasting.


All classes are Thursdays, 6:30-9:00 PM.

New Location - These classes will be held at the PDIDA Office,
139 East High Street, in downtown Pottstown. 
Plenty of on-street parking. 
  

March 24 - Wine Blending Bordeaux Style - Learn about and taste Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc individually, then blend them and experience how they complement each other and how blending produces a more complicated aroma and flavor.

March 31 - Wines of the Finger Lakes II - Learn about and taste wines from the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. Famous for Reisling, the Finger Lakes region also produces other excellent whites and in good years, excellent bold reds.

April 7 - Surprising Wines under $15 - It's often difficult to find a good wine priced under $15, but some are very good and reliable in this price range.  Learn about very affordable wines and taste a few of our favorites.

Date TBD (was April 14 but we need to change it)
Wine Gems from Our Cellar - "Someday we're going to drink this!"   
Tonight's the night!  We'll pull some of our favorites from our cellar, taste them and talk about wines that should be aged or not, and the effects of time in the bottle. 

Home Schoolin'
Wine Classes and Educational Tastings
·    In your home, at your business (within 15 miles of Pottstown**)
·    $250 for up to 8 people.  Includes wine, cheese, and crackers
·    Add $200 for an additional 8 people*
*  Additional discounts available for more than 16 people.
** Additional distance may require a travel charge.

Sample classes - Many other options are available.

Wine for Beginners      Basic Red and White       Wines of the World
                 Wines of the USA            Wines of the Finger Lakes    
          Wines of Pennsylvania                       What's in a Name     
Blending Wine Bordeaux Style             Surprising Wines under $15
              
OR - We'll design a CUSTOMIZED CLASS FOR YOU (costs may vary)

For more information or to register for classes, email us at 
Vintageconnections@comcast.net or call us (Dean or Lisa) us at 610-469-6164 or 610-310-9942.

Checks (payable to Vintage Connections) and cash only.


Other UPCOMING EVENTS  

Buy a passport and visit any Lehigh Valley winery on any weekend in March.
 

 Fun Fact!

Cabernet Franc, one of the Bordeaux blending wines, is "the red wine" of the Loire Valley in France.  It grows extremely well in the Eastern USA, and especially well in Pennsylvania.

  There will be another quiz someday! 

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Honorable Mention Wines of 2010

Cheers from Vintage Connections
Dean and Lisa Foster, Wine Educators and Consultant
s

Please tell your friends and family who may enjoy reading and learning about wine about this blog.  We also provide the same information in a weekly e-newsletter sent automatically to about 300 readers.  If you'd like the convenience of the automatic newsletter, email us and we'll add you to our email list.  You can always unsubscribe to our newsletter.


Honorable Mentions of 2010

The following wines came close as we picked our Top 10 Wines of 2010. 

These wines are in no particular order.  Some may no longer be available or in limited supply, and prices may have changed.

Spice Route Pinotage 2007 (South Africa), PLCB code 30919, $12.99

Montepulciano D'Abruzzo (Italy), PLCB code 4560, $13.99

Pinnacle Ridge Blanc de Blanc (Lehigh Valley, PA)  
$16 at the winery (Gold Medal and Best Sparkling Wine, 2010 PA Farm Show) 

Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel (California), PLCB code 5043, $11.99 on sale (a GREAT buy, this should have been in our Top 10!)

Calveresi Reisling (Berks County, PA). The price is not listed and this wine is out of stock until March 1. 

Blair Wedding Cuvee (Berks County, PA).  $19.99 at the winery. Blair also makes wonderful Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays in the classic Burgundian style.  



Re-Cap of our Top 10 Wines of 2010

Again, these are NOT in any particular order. 
Some may no longer be available or in limited supply and prices may have changed.


Trapiche Sparkling Extra Brut, PLCB code 7224, $13.99
(was on sale for $11.99)

Sebastiani Pinot Noir, PLCB code 4985, $15.99

Bogle Vineyards Phantom, PLCB code 13432, $17.99

Manatawny Creek Cabernet Franc,  $14.95 at the winery.
The 2007 may no longer be available.  We recommend tasting the current vintage at the winery.  The 2010 should be excellent but will not be released for a while.)


Errazuriz Chardonnay (Wild Yeast), PLCB code 22502, $14.99

J. Lohr South Ridge Paso Robles Syrah, PLCB code 6311, $15.99

Pinnacle Ridge Veritas 2007 (PA Farm Show Gold Medal Winner), $20 at the winery

Brancott Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, PLCB code 9326, $17.99

Vynecrest Lemberger (PA Farm Show Silver Medal), $14.99 at the winery

St. Supery Moscato, PLCB code 18314, $11.99

Spring 2011 Wine Classes 

PLEASE NOTE WE ARE
NO LONGER TEACHING the WINE CLASSES at MCCC West Campus.

We have moved to a new location so we could reduce the cost of our Wine Classes to $35 per person for the classes below.


To register for classes or for more information,
email us at vintageconnections@comcast.net or call us (Dean and Lisa) at 610-469-6164 or 610-310-9942.

Open Enrollment Classes Spring 2010
$35 per person, includes wine, cheese, crackers and LOTS of good information about wine.

All classes are Thursdays, 6:30-9:00 PM.

New Location - These classes will be held at the PDIDA Office,
139 East High Street, in downtown Pottstown. 
Plenty of on-street parking. 
  

March 24 - Wine Blending Bordeaux Style - Learn about and taste Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc individually, then blend them and experience how they complement each other and how blending produces a more complicated aroma and flavor.

March 31 - Wines of the Finger Lakes II - Learn about and taste wines from the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. Famous for Reisling, the Finger Lakes region also produces other excellent whites and in good years, excellent bold reds.

April 7 - Surprising Wines under $15 - It's often difficult to find a good wine priced under $15, but some are very good and reliable in this price range.  Learn about very affordable wines and taste a few of our favorites.

April 14 - Wine Gems from Our Cellar - "Someday we're going to drink this!"    Tonight's the night!  We'll pull some of our favorites from our cellar, taste them and talk about wines that should be aged or not, and the effects of time in the bottle. 


Home Schoolin'
Wine Classes and Educational Tastings
·    In your home, at your business (within 15 miles of Pottstown**)
·    $250 for up to 8 people.  Includes wine, cheese, and crackers
·    Add $200 for an additional 8 people*
*  Additional discounts available for more than 16 people.
** Additional distance may require a travel charge.

Sample classes - Many other options are available.

Wine for Beginners      Basic Red and White       Wines of the World
                 Wines of the USA            Wines of the Finger Lakes    
          Wines of Pennsylvania                       What's in a Name     
Blending Wine Bordeaux Style             Surprising Wines under $15
              

OR - We'll design a CUSTOMIZED CLASS FOR YOU (costs may vary)

For more information  or to register for classes, email us at 
Vintageconnections@comcast.net or call us (Dean or Lisa) us at 610-469-6164 or 610-310-9942.

Checks (payable to Vintage Connections) and cash only. 
Fun Fact!

French Red Bordeaux is always a blend including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, sometimes with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenere.   

Meritage is a licensed name for blends made from the same grapes.

Many wineries make similar blends using whatever name they desire (e.g. Veritas at Pinnacle Ridge).     

  There will be another quiz someday! 

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Blog Delayed until February 10

Hi Folks!
Due to unavoidable circumstances, we won't be able to publish our next blog with 2010 Honorable Mentions until February 10. 
Sorry for the delay.


See previous blogs for Upcoming Events and our Schedule of Spring Wine Classes!


 
Vintage Connections