Wine Tips - Framingham Sauvignon Blanc and Gemtree Shiraz

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

March Madness on the Lehigh Valley  

Wine Trail  

(linked to website)

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!