Wine Tips - Blair Vineyards Lower Block Pinot Noir

Blair Vineyards

Owned and operated by Richard and Carol Blair and their five children, Blair Vineyards is a delightful mixture of modern technology and traditional wine making.  Their new facility at 99 Dietrich Valley Road, near Kutztown, is filled with some of the latest wine making equipment including a "SK Punch Down Station" which gently punches down Pinot Noir grapes to produce the the highest quality juice possible. Rich is the only winemaker in the USA that uses this advanced piece of equipment.

The beautiful building houses not only a large, beautiful tasting room, but the complete winery as well.  The crush pad is at ground level while the tank and barrel rooms are 18 feet below ground, allowing the juice to flow freely by gravity without the use of pumps.  The building is surrounded by breathing-taking views of the vineyards and countryside.  Here, Rich and his staff create delicious wines in the time-honored European, mostly Burgundian, style.  
 
Rich and Carol's daughter Missy expertly handles the tasting room.  You will often find her there with her two beautiful daughters.  Missy keeps her tasting room staff up to date not only on Blair Vineyards' wines but also about the world of wine in general, insuring each visitor with an exceptional wine tasting experience.  

Blair Vineyards Lower Block Pinot Noir 
Blair produces several different Pinot Noirs, along with several chardonnays, a Bordeaux-type blend called Wedding Cuveee, and several other excellent wines.

We chose their Bordeaux-type blend, Wedding Cuvee, for our Pennsylvania Wines class on October 14 at Montgomery County Community College in Pottstown.  We will be using Blair Vineyard's Lower Block Pinot Noir at the benefit wine dinner for Mom's House on October 23.  This excellent Pinot Noir is brilliant garnet in color with earthy aromas and flavors of black cherry. 

Wines of Pennsylvania class

Thursday, October 14, at Montgomery County Community College's Pottstown Campus.

We got so excited about these wines, we bought extra so you can still register until 4 PM the day of the class, this Thursday, October 14.  Class begins at 6:30 PM and will last until about 9 PM.

We have chosen 6 wonderful wines from 6 local wineries. There are over 100 commercial wineries in PA and these are six of the best.

Galen Glen Winery 2009 Gewutztraminer - This German style wine won a gold medal at the recent 2010 Finger Lakes International Wine competition. 

Calvaresi Winery 2009 Riesling - Typically a German wine, this delicious Pennsylvania Riesling has become the signature wine of Calvaresi Winery.  Made in the Germanic style, it is fermented slowly in stainless steel tanks.  It has a fresh tropical fruit aroma with sweet floral scents, but is not sweet on the palate.  Beautifully balanced acidity makes this a great pairing with spicy Asian food.

Manatawny Creek Winery 2007 Cabernet Franc - Aged primarily in Pennsylvania oak barrels, this richly-colored, aromatic red wine contains hints of tobacco, cherry and herbal notes. The perfect accompaniment to Filet Mignon!

Pinnacle Ridge Winery 2008 Chambourcin -  This signature Pennsylvania Wine won a silver medal at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Wine Competition, and a bronze medal at the Pennsylvania Wine Competition.  It is aged 10 months in Pennsylvania oak barrels and displays an intense fruit aroma. It is full-bodied and has dark fruit flavors with toasty oak overtones.  Great with savory foods and pasta. 

Blair Vineyards 2005 Wedding Cuvee - This rich full-bodied dry red wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  It was aged for 20 months in oak barrels.  It has aromas of coffee, licorice and blackberries with dark fruit flavors.  It has a medium finish and is great when paired with grilled steaks.

Vynecrest Vineyards and Winery 2009 Lemberger -  This deep, dark red dry wine is Vynecrest Winery's "Flagship" wine. Originally it was grown primarily in Austria where it is also known as Blaufrankisch. It received a bronze medal at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Wine Competition.  With aromas of black cherries, it has rich bold flavors with hints of raspberries and blackberries.  Great with hearty winter foods like pot roast. 

UPCOMING EVENTS
(click on the highlighted links)
 
MCCC Classes
See page 11 of the flier.
Call 610.718.1861 to register.

Wines of PA
Thursday October 14
6:30-9 PM

Wines of the Finger Lakes
Thursday, October 28 6:30-9 PM
 

Mom's House Benefit Wine Dinner

Saturday, October 23

Five course dinner, each course paired with a different wine.  Kimberton Arts Center  6:30 PM, $75 per person or $525 for a table of 8.

Contact us to schedule an event in your home, at your business, or for your organization.  

Fun Fact

The Pinot Noir grape cluster is a tightly packed cluster looking vaguely pine cone shaped.  The grapes themselves are very dark purple.  The French, therefore, called the grape Pinot (pine) Noir (black).

Congratulations to Bob and Jacki Folwell, winners of the first quiz.  They choose a free ticket to Mom's House "Wine Tasting Celebration" on October 23.

Wine Tips - Brandywine Valley Wine Trail

We were so excited about the wines we found at six PA wineries, we bought extra.

So, you can still register for the Wines of PA class until 4 PM, Thursday October 14.
The class is 6:30 - 9:30 PM on the October 14th at MCCC in Pottstown.
Call 310.718.1861 by 4 PM  THURSDAY to register. 


Brandywine Valley Wine Trail
(click this link)

The Brandywine Valley Wine Trail consists of eight wineries, only 7 of which are open regularly.  They are Black Walnut Winery, Chadds Ford Winery, Kreutz Creek Vineyards, Paradocx Vineyard, Patone Cellars, Penns Woods Winery, Stargazer Vineyards, and Twin Brook Winery.  I would guess that nearly everyone has heard about Chadds Ford Winery, but there are other excellent wineries on the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail well worth visiting.

Patone Cellars was only open for the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail Harvest Festival which is now over.

One of our favorite stops along the trail is Kreutz Creek Vineyards. 

Located in southern Chester County outside of West Grove, PA.  Kreutz Creek Vineyards is owned and operated by Jim and Carole Kirkpatrick.  They have been making wine since 1989.  Their fairly new and very attractive tasting room is open Saturdays and Sundays 11-6.  They also have a tasting room in West Chester, PA (this tasting room is pet friendly!)which is open Tuesday through Thursday, 11 AM to 8 PM, Fridays and Saturdays, 11 AM to 9 PM.  They make a variety of wines from chardonnay, both oaked and unoaked, to a virtually unheard of Cabernet Franc Ice wine.  Stop in and try some of their excellent wines!

Another nice stop along the wine trail is the newest winery in the group, Black Walnut Winery.  
 

Black Walnut is located in a newly renovated 200 year old bank barn in Sadsburyville, PA. 

Owners Lance, Valerie, Jack and Karen began making wine in 2001.  Their lovely and inviting tasting room is open Thursdays and Fridays 2 PM till 8 PM and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM till 6 PM.  There is a $6 tasting fee to taste 7 wines.  They, too, have a second tasting room.  It opened just a month ago in Phoenixville, PA.  The Phoenixville tasting room is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 PM until 9 PM, Fridays 4 till 10, Saturdays 11 AM till 10 PM, and Sundays 1 PM till 8 PM.   Stop in and taste some wine soon!



USA vs France Wine Tasting Report

Thanks to the 70 people who participated in the USA vs France, aka Bottle Shock Revisited Wine Tasting and Silent Auction on September 18th.  The event was themed after the movie Bottle Shock and the book Judgment of Paris, both of which portrayed the true story of the French versus USA Blind Tasting in Paris in 1976 where a USA (California) Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena outscored excellent French White Burgundies and a USA Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap outscored excellent French Red Bordeaux.

We tasted 8 wines, 6 of them for the blind tasting and rating. Including income from the Silent Auction we netted over $3,500 for the AWS Educational Foundation.

Participants began the evening with a choice of aperitif, either Blanc de Blanc from Pinnacle Ridge Winery near Kutztown, PA (made from 100% Cayuga grapes with 2.5% RS) or the dry Simonnet-Febvre Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Rose from Chablis, made from Pinot Noir with a hint of Gamay.

The blind tasting was conducted using three matched pairs of USA and French wines including

1)  Sancerre 2009 by Christian Salmon versus Sauvignon Blanc 2009 by Bogle (California).

2) Red Burgundy 2006, Mercurey, Premier Crus, Champ Martin by Albert Bichot versus Pinot Noir 2007 by Sebastiani, Sonoma Coast, California.

3) Grand Vin de Bordeaux 2004, Appellation Fronsac Controllee, Chateau Les Trois Croix versus Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 by Souverain, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California.

Participants were guided through the blind tastings and scoring of each pair of wines using the AWS scoring sheet and criteria.  After scoring, before revealing the wines which were concealed in mylar bags and coded by colorful ribbons, participants indicated by a "show of hands" which wine they believed to by French and which wine they believed to be from the USA.  About two-thirds of the group was incorrect when guessing the origins of the Sauvignon Blanc pair, while two-thirds or more were correct when guessing which red wines were French and which were from the USA.

Also before revealing each pair of wine, participants voted for their favorite from each pair.  After all scoring and voting was complete, wines and prices were revealed. 

Results do not always total 70 participants as a few had no preference and did not vote.

Results were
Sancerre by Christian Salmon - 46 votes ($20);  Sauvignon Blanc by Bogle - 24 votes ($11)

Red Burgundy by Albert Bichot - 11 votes ($25);  Pinot Noir by Sebastiani - 58 votes ($16)

Red Bordeaux by Les Triox Croix - 30 votes ($25);  Cabernet Sauvignon by Souverain - 40 votes ($18) 

Individual scoring sheets (70 of them) were totaled and averaged to determine the overall "Best of Evening."
Those average scores were

1. Sebastiani Pinot Noir = 15.5  ("Best of Evening")
2. Salmon Sancerre = 14.9
3. Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon = 14.7
4. Les Trois Croix Bordeaux = 14.2
5. Bogle Sauvignon Blanc = 13.0
6. Albert Bichot Mercurey Burgundy = 12.4

The silent auction included over 40 items including many wine baskets and wine-related items, but also two weekly condo rentals, one in Florida and one in Vermont, and a "Get-a-Way" week-end at a cottage in the Hudson Valley near the Shawangunk Wine Trail.  All items were donated free of charge by AWS members, guests, and area businesses and organizations. Although the final bookkeeping has not been completed, it is estimated that OVER $3.500 was raised for the AWS Educational Foundation. 

UPCOMING EVENTS
(click on the highlighted links)

Berks County Wine Trail
Artisan Cheese & Wine Pairing Event Weekend!" Saturday October 9th & Sunday October 10th

Schuylkill River Festival
Saturday, October 9 
11 AM - 4 PM
Pottstown's Riverfront Park
THIS IS NOT A WINE EVENT but an event we support and sponsor each year. See you there!

MCCC Classes
Wines of PA
Thursday October 14
6:30-9 PM

Wines of the Finger Lakes
Thursday, October 28 6:30-9 PM

Mom's House Benefit Wine Dinner

Saturday, October 23

Five course dinner, each course paired with a different wine.  Kimberton Arts Center  6:30 PM, $75 per person or $525 for a table of 8.

Fun Fact

Meritage wines must blend at least two of the Bordeaux wine varieites.  No single variety can make up more than 90% of the blend. (from Professor's House).

Congratulations to Bob and Jacki Folwell, winners of the first quiz.  They choose a free ticket to Mom's House "Wine Tasting Celebration" on October 23.
There will be another quiz someday! 

Contact us to schedule an event in your home, at your business, or for your organization.

Wine Tip - Berks County Wine Trail

Berks County Wine Trail

The Berks County Wine Trail is the home of eight diverse wineries with everything from award winning sparkling wines to award winning fruit wines. There is something for everyone along the Berks County Wine Trail.

The eight wineries which comprise the Berks County Wine Trail are Bayshore and Stoudt Winery(specializing in fruit wines), Blair Vineyards and Winery, Calvaresi Winery, Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery, Kog Hill Winery, Long Trout Winery, Manatawny Creek Winery and Pinnacle Ridge Winery (also part of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail). 

These eight wineries are spread wide across Berks County, so it will probably take you a couple of days to hit them all, but it is well worth the trip.  We enjoy and recommend most of these wineries.  

One of our favorite stops along the wine trail is Blair Vineyards and Winery.  They recently opened a new tasting room outside of Kutztown, PA in the beautiful countryside.  They are now open Monday through Sunday 11-5 (before harvest, they were only open Saturday and Sunday.  We still suggest you call ahead at 610-683-8463).

Another favorite stop is, of course, Manatawny Creek Winery located outside of Douglassville, PA.  They are open Monday through Saturday 10-6 and Sunday from 12-6. 

A fun stop, and one everyone should try at least once, is Long Trout Winery.  It is located outside of Auburn, PA and though a long ride out into the countryside, it is well worth the trip.  They are open Wednesday 6-9 PM, Saturday 1-7 and Sunday 11-5. 

Owned and operated by a pair of self-proclaimed hippies, their tasting room is full of 60's and 70's memorabilia, psychedelic lighting, and odd and unusual wines-everything from unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon to Blackberry Merlot, from Seyval to Chocolate Cherry and other chocolate fruit wines, to veggie wines including hot pepper wine with a hint of garlic.  It's odd, it's different, but it's fun!

There are plenty of other interesting stops along the Berks County Wine Trail where you can sample plenty of delicious wines. Take a ride today and check it out!

UPCOMING EVENTS
(click on the highlighted links)

Berks County Wine Trail
Artisan Cheese & Wine Pairing Event Weekend!" Saturday October 9th & Sunday October 10th

Schuylkill River Festival
Saturday, October 9 
11 AM - 4 PM
Pottstown's Riverfront Park
THIS IS NOT A WINE EVENT but an event we support and sponsor each year. See you there!

MCCC Classes

(see page 11 of brochure)
Wines of PA
Thursday October 14
6:30-9 PM

Wines of the Finger Lakes
Thursday, October 28 6:30-9 PM

Mom's House Benefit Wine Dinner

Saturday, October 23

Five course dinner, each course paired with a different wine.  Kimberton Arts Center  6:30 PM, $75 per person or $525 for a table of 8.

Fun Fact

Benjamin Franklin said "Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance."

Congratulations to Bob and Jacki Folwell, winners of the first quiz.  They choose a free ticket to Mom's House "Wine Tasting Celebration" on October 23.

There will be another quiz someday!

Contact us to schedule an event in your home, at your business, or for your organization.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail

This wine trail offers a wide variety of excellent wineries, from the south- Clover Hill in Breinigsville, to the north - Big Valley in Kunkletown, from the east - Franklin Hill Vineyards in Bangor, to the west - Galen Glen Vineyards and Winery in Andreas, there is much to choose from and some wonderful scenery along the way.

The Lehigh Valley was designated as an AVA (American Viticultural Area) in 2008.  An AVA designation denotes a unique wine growing region.  For more information, to the the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail link.

The wineries that are part of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail are: Franklin Hill, Vynecrest, Clover Hill, Pinnacle Ridge, Big Valley, Blue Mountain, Galen Glen, Cherry Valley, and Amore.  At some point in our winery travels we have visited all these wineries and have enjoyed a great many wines. 

One of our favorite and frequent stops is Pinnacle Ridge Winery.  We have written about many of winemaker Brad Knapp's wines, so please look back through our blogs if you are curious.  Below is a picture of a barn near the winery and tasting room.  You can see some vineyard in the background.

Today we will highlight Pinnacle Ridge Chambourcin.   This 2008 vintage is a full-bodied rich dry red wine with bright fruit aromas, flavors of ripe red raspberries and a long, satisfying finish.  It is aged for 10 months in Pennsylvania oak barrels.  Good to drink now, it will only get better as it bottle ages.  Great with rich, savory foods.   Available only at the winery for $14 a bottle.

Another favorite stop in the Lehigh Valley is Vynecrest Vineyards and Winery.  We have highlighted a few of Vynecrest's wines in past blogs.  Please look back through the archives it you are curious. This one view of their vineyards.

This time we are highlighting Vynecrest's Pinot Noir.  This 2009 vintage is a pleasant surprise after last year's very wet season. Bright ruby red in color it displays fresh fruit aromas with a flavors of red fruits and earthy overtones. Available only at the winery for $14.99 a bottle.  Great with grilled portabella mushrooms. 

UPCOMING EVENTS
(click on the links)

TODAY
(Saturday September 18)
Manatawny Creek's Last Festival of the Summer

 
Berks County Wine Trail
Artisan Cheese & Wine Pairing Event Weekend!" Saturday October 9th & Sunday October 10th

Schuylkill River Festival
Saturday, October 9
Pottstown's Riverfront Park
THIS IS NOT A WINE EVENT but an event we support and sponsor each year. See you there!

MCCC Classes
Wines of PA
Thursday October 14
6:30-9 PM

Wines of the Finger Lakes
Thursday, October 28 6:30-9 PM
 
Mom's House Benefit Wine Dinner

Saturday, October 23

Five course dinner, each course paired with a different wine.  Kimberton Arts Center  6:30 PM, $75 per person or $525 for a table of 8.

Fun Fact

 The chambourcin grape has become known as the “Lehigh Valley wine grape”.

Contact us to schedule an event in your home, at your business, or for your organization.

Wine Tips - Wineries of North Georgia

Georgia Wine Highway "There's Wine in them thar Hills"

We have family in the Atlanta area, so once every few years we take an alternate way home and visit some North Georgia wineries.  There are some surprisingly excellent wines, including dry reds and dry whites, hidden in these mountains.  Many of the wineries are new and hold spectacular views. 

When we made our first trip to wineries in North Georgia, we were not expecting to find much except sweet southern wine.  We were pleasantly surprised at the quality and variety of wines and vineyards available in this unlikely place. 

The mountains of North Georgia are well suited to growing many grape varieties, and the wineries there are making some really good wines.

The Dahlonega and Helen areas are also well-known and worthy tourist areas.

The mountains of North Georgia are well suited to growing many grape varieties, and the wineries there are making some really good wines.  We only have space to write about a couple.  Visit the Winegrowers' Association of Georgia website for great information and map, then visit winery websites and plan a visit the next time you head South.

Listed here are just two of our favorites and what wine we liked best from each. 

Yonah Mountain Vineyards
Located near Sautee, GA.  We arrived just 15 minutes before closing.  The woman at the wine bar was more than happy to stay open longer than closing time for us and gave us a very nice leisurely tasting.  We liked the chardonnay the best.  This rich buttery chardonnay was a pleasant surprise.  Full of fruit and very smooth despite the 14.6% alcohol by volume.  It was aged for 9 months in oak giving it a rich buttery, toasty flavor with hints of lime and tangerine.   Available at the winery for $32.  They provide an on-line order form but we doubt they can ship to Pennsylvania.

Three Sisters Vineyard
Located outside of Dahlonega, GA.  This is a beautiful spot.  We were treated to an excellent tasting at their beautiful tasting bar.  We brought home their 2006 Cynthiana.  This delicious deep red wine is also known as Norton.  It was Georgia’s premier grape back during Thomas Jefferson’s time.  Once again, vineyards are growing this grape.  It has flavors of butterscotch and black cherries.  Available only at the winery for $28.

Other wineries of note are:
    Blackstock Vineyards
    Frogtown Cellars
    Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery
 

UPCOMING EVENTS
(click on the highlighted links)
 
Blues in the Barn
at Pinnacle Ridge
Saturday and Sunday September 11 and 12

Vynecrest Vineyards and Winery

Harvest Weekend

Saturday and Sunday September 11 and 12
Other events almost every Saturday


Calvaresi Winery
Fall Festival
Saturday, September 11
7-11 PM

Manatawny Creek's Last Festival of the Summer
Saturday, September 18
 
MCCC Classes
Wines of PA
Thursday October 14
6:30-9 PM
 
Wines of the Finger Lakes
Thursday, October 28 
6:30-9 PM

Mom's House Benefit Wine Dinner

Saturday, October 23

Five course dinner, each course paired with a different wine.  Kimberton Arts Center  6:30 PM, $75 per person or $525 for a table of 8.

Fun Fact
As of this writing, all 50 states have at least 1 winery.  The USA is the 4th largest wine producer in the world.

 

Congratulations to Bob and Jacki Folwell, winner of the first quiz drawing.

They have chosen one free seat at Mom's House Wine Celebration on October 23.

 

There will be another quiz someday!

QUIZ Answers and Winner, Updated Silent Auction List for USA vs France Blind Tasting

Thanks to Everyone who submitted answers to our 
Quiz of Fun Facts.

Congratulations to the winner, Bob and Jacki Folwell.

As we said as we published the quiz, some answers are debatable (different sources cite different information) but the “correct” answers for this quiz are those provided in the Fun Facts of our blog.  Numbers 3 and 4 are two answers that vary based on the source.  The answers below are directly from the Fun Facts of our blog.  Notations about different answers (but not those in our Fun Facts) are provided in italics.  These "answers" were not considered as "correct" for the quiz.

1. The pressure in a bottle of Champagne is about 90 pounds per square inch.  That’s about three times the pressure in car tires.

2. It takes an average of 600 grapes to make one bottle of wine.

3. Chardonnay is one of the most planted grapes in the world with over 400,000 acres world-wide.  It is also planted in more wine regions than any other grape (wikipedia).

Another cite in Wikipedia says that Airen is the most widely planted wine grape (mostly in Spain) based on number of hectares or acres planted.  It cites 760,000 acres being planted of Airen (as of 2006), although it also said many vines were being pulled and replaced with other grapes such as Tempranillo.  Since Airen is not planted as densely as Chardonnay and many other wine grapes, it probably does not hold the record for the most vines in the world.  Today, it is generally acknowledged that Chardonnay is the most “widely” planted grape in the world when you consider the number of vines and different locations where it is grown. Cabernet Sauvignon comes close too, but Chardonnay grows better than Cabernet in a wider variety of climates and geographies, that is in “more wine regions” than any other wine grape.

4. The current "Guinness Book of World Records" record wine toast is held by the UK where 17,429 people toasted at over 400 pubs.

We found this number in an article published in PA Wine News on August 6th.  On August 14th, PA Wine News published another article citing 17,450 as the record.  A search today of Guinness records indicates that this record was broken on January 5, 2010 with 26,564 people simultaneously toasting at a concert in Albufeira, Portugal.

5. There are an estimated 49 million bubbles in a bottle of champagne.  Bubbles were viewed by early winemakers as an undesirable defect.  

6. Cabernet Franc is one of the parent grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, having been bred with Sauvignon Blanc to create Cabernet Sauvignon. 

7. The largest cork tree in the world (on record) is in Portugal.  It averages over 1 ton of raw cork per harvest, enough to cork 100,000 bottles of wine.

8.   Claret is another name (usually) for a red Bordeaux Blend.  In the 14th century, when France began exporting red Bordeaux to England, the English called it Claret because it was lighter and more clear than the deep, dark red Spanish wines they were used to.  At that time, the red grape skins were removed quickly when making Bordeaux, leaving a much lighter, clearer rose color than we are used to today

9. Many countries and appellations, including most in the USA, allow up to 25% of a different wine to be blended into a varietal without indicating so on the label.  Often, you can find this information in a specific wine's technical data on the winery's website, but not always.

10. The corkscrew was invented when wine was just starting to be stored in bottles rather than terra cotta amphoras and then oak barrels.  Once a narrow-necked bottle was created, wine could finally be safely stored for longer periods with the help of a cork.  The earliest known patent for the corkscrew was in England in 1795.  (From “History of the Corkscrew” by Mary Bellis).

UPDATED List of Silent Auction Items for the USA vs France Blind Wine Tasting, September 18.

 NOTE: We can only accept cash or checks for silent auction items and for registration.

For information about this event, see our previous blogs.
To check on availability of seats, call us at 610.469.6164 or email us at vintageconnections@comcast.net

EVEN NEWER SILENT AUCTION ITEMS!

"Rose: Solo Harp Music for Reflection and Relaxation" CD by Betsy Chapman
Betsy will be playing at the event. Click on the link to her website above.
Value - $10
Donated by Betsy Chapman


3 Month Membership, Lady of America Fitness Center (Royersford)
Value - TBD
Donated by Lady of America Fitness Center

NEW ITEMS!

Napa Valley Wine Basket 

including

2002 Vincent Arroyo Winery, Petite Sirah

2002 Summers Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon

2005 Ledson Winery, Chardonnay

2006 Raymond Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc

Value - $129 (minimum bid $50)
Donated by Lori Law

Brasserie 73 (Roadhouse) Gift Certificate (Skippack)

Value - $25

Donated by Brasserie 73

Gift Certificate 1/2 hour Massage at Touch Message Therapy (Schwenksville)

Value - $35

Donated by In Touch Massage

Items Previously Posted


Manatawny Creek Winery Basket of Wine, etc.
Value - $50
Donated by the Winery

Pinnacle Ridge Winery Basket of Wine and Goodies
Value - $50
Donated by the Winery

Vynecrest Winery Basket of Wine, etc.
Value - $50
Donated by the Winery

Wine Gift Basket
Value - $100 (minimum bid may apply)
Donated by Vintage Connections (Dean and Lisa Foster)

"Getaway Weekend" in Wine Country.  A weekend at a beautiful cottage in the Hudson Valley near the Shawangunk Wine Trail.
Date restrictions apply and winner must provide own transportation.We suggest choosing a weekend during the Wreath Fineries at the Wineries (winners must purchase own tickets)
Value - $450 (minimum bid $100)
Donated by Kim and Drew Wallace

Three Wine Books
Value - $100
"What to Drink with What you Eat"
"Cheese and Wine Book"
"Wine, Food & Friends"
Donated by John and Carol Conboy

One Week Condo Rental, Perdido Key FLA
Date restrictions apply and winner must provide own transportation.
Value - $600 (minimum bid $100)
Donated by Joe and Cecelia Sapira

One Week Condo Rental, Vermont
Date restrictions apply and winner must provide own transportation.
Value - $700 (minimum bid $100)
Donated by Vern and Jacki Hunsberger

Gift Certificate for 4 people for a 2-hour baking or cake decorating class at Churchill's Baker and Chocolatier (Pottstown)
Value - $400 (minimum bid may apply)
Donated by Churchill's Baker and Chocolatier

Schuylkill River Heritage Area Basket of Books, Maps, Mug, etc.
Value - $200
Donated by the Heritage Area

Two, one-hour clinical massages at Academy of Massage and Body Works (Pottstown)
Value $60 ($30 per hour)
Donated by Academy of Massage and Body Works

Original Photograph
Value - $100 (minimum bid TBD)
Donated by Fairyland Photography (Lisa Foster)

"Bottle Shock" Movie Night Gift Basket
Value - $50
Donated by John and Denise Nase

Framed and matted sailing print, Balangier item # 411778
Value - $250 (minimum bid TBD)
Donated by Chris and Frank Giesa

Wine Bottle cheese dish (melted wine bottle) and cheese knife
Value - $25
Donated by Walt and Mary Koser

Gift Certificate for art class at Gallery School of Pottstown
Value - $180
Donated by the Gallery School of Pottstown

Gift Certificate (maximum $25) towards a non-credit course at Montgomery County Community College
Value - $25
Donated by Montgomery County Community College Lifelong and Continuing Education

Awesome MCCC logo Sports Bag including mugs, poster, etc.
Value - $50
Donated by Montgomery County Community College Foundation

Gift Basket including MCCC logo gifts, bird feeders, gardening trinkets, and more
Value - $100
Donated by Montgomery County Community College Admissions

Two tickets to "Wait Until Dark" on Thursday, September 30, 7:30 PM at the Tri-County Performing Arts Center (Pottstown)
(note date restriction)
Value - $34
Donated by Tri-County Performing Arts Center

Gift Certificate to Positively Pasta Plus (Pottstown)
Value - $20
Donated by Positively Pasta Plus

Three piece Hurricane Tea light set
Value - TBD
Donated by Carol and John Conboy

Neoprene Double Wine Tote
Value - $20
Donated by Carol and John Conboy

Gift Certificate to Piazza Presto (Limerick)
Value - $40
Donated by Piazzo Presto

Glass Vase
Value TBD
Donated by Bob Carman

Wine Tips - Pinnacle Ridge Blanc de Blanc and Simonnet-Febvre Cremant de Bourgogone Brut Rose'

Cheers from Vintage Connections

Go to last week's blog to Take the Quiz by Friday, September 3 at 5 PM, get 100% correct and enter a drawing to win a free seat at one of two upcoming events.

Go to this link for more information about the USA vs France Wine Blind Tasting and list of Silent Auction items (September 18 in Schwenksville).  Click here for a registration form.

This Week's Wine Tips

Pinnacle Ridge Blanc de Blanc  

This is a very excellent, slightly sweet sparkling wine from Kutztown, PA, USA.  It is made from Cayuga grapes.  The color is very pale yellow, almost colorless.  It has a fresh, slightly yeasty aroma with great flavor and bursting with tiny bubbles.  It has 2.5% residual sugar. 

The winery was established in 1993 and has become what we feel is one of the best wineries in PA.  If you haven’t visited them yet, take some time to stop in the tasting room, there you will be treated to excellent wines served by friendly, and helpful, staff.

Only locally grown grapes are used in making Pinnacle Ridge wines, most on the estate itself. 

Available only at the winery, it sells for $14 a bottle.

This sparkling wine will be used as an aperitif at the upcoming AWS USA vs. France “Bottle Shock Revisited” blind wine tasting.

Simonnet-Febvre Cremant de Bourgogone Brut Rose'

This is an excellent dry sparkling wine from Chablis, France.  Made primarily from Pinot Noir, a small amount of gamay was added for color and complexity.  The color is very pale pink with many tiny bubbles.  It has aromas of red raspberrys and currents.

The winery was established in 1840 and after being nearly wiped out by phylloxera, they have rebuilt and replanted.  Many vines are now nearly 20 years old, and the vineyard is again regaining its prestige.

Alcohol is 12% by volume.  Great when used as an aperitif.  PLCB product code is 20863 and sells for $14.99 at many PA Wine and Spirit stores.

This sparkling wine will be used as an aperitif at the upcoming AWS USA vs. France “Bottle Shock Revisited” blind wine tasting.


Fun Fact
The longest recorded champagne cork flight was done by Heinrich Medicus at Woodbury Vineyard in New York in 1988.  The cork flew 177 feet and 9 inches, four feet from the ground.

Someday there will be another quiz!