Greetings from Vintage Connections!
For more information about these wines, go to our Vintage Connections Wine Blog.

Chianti - Il Piaggione Chianti Classico Reserva

From Il Piaggione Estate in the Tuscany region of Italy near Florence. This moderate-bodied red wine is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes. Its flavor has hints of ripe cherries and plum with a light fruity aroma. It has a long lingering finish and pairs exceptionally well with pasta dishes with red sauce. PLCB product code is 24790 and is available at many PA Wine and Spirits stores for $13.99.




Korbel Sparkling- Brut Champagne

From the Russian River Valley, CA. Korbel Brut Champagne is made in the traditional methode champenoise. It is made from a blend of chardonnay, chenin blanc, French columbard and pinot noir. Korbel Brut Champagne is "bright and crisp, with spicy fruit flavors ending with a medium-dry finish." Dosage level is 1%. It has 12.5% alcohol by volume. PLCB product code is 5943 and is available at most PA Wine and Spirit stores for $14.99.

Up-coming Wine Events in the Tri-County Area

Wines of the World
This Thursday, April 29

Wines of the World
6:30 - 9:30 PM

A one night wine seminar at Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown.

$52 per person
Call Lisa Miller at MCCC at 610-718-1861 to register until Wednesday 4 PM.

Cinco de Mayo
Wednesday, May 5
Begins promptly at 6:30 PM.

Wines from Spain, Chile, and Argentina at the Gallery School of Pottstown.

$45 per person

Register for Cinco De Mayo by going to the Gallery School's website HERE

American Wine Society Educational Foundation Benefit Tasting

Saturday
September 18
Wine and Appetizer Pairing, Perkiomen Valley Library, Schwenksville
Time and cost TBD
See more about the Perkiomen Chapter of AWS.


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. For more information about Mom's House, click HERE

Greetings from Vintage Connections!

This week,we feature an Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon and a Wild Yeast Chardonnay.

Also, see our Fun Fact at the bottom of the page. For more information about these wines and classes, visit our Vintage Connections Wine Blog.

Golan Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Golan Heights Winery near Katzrin in Israel. Founded in 1983, Golan Heights Winery began changing the face of wine making in Israel.

The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep red in color with full-bodied flavor and texture. Very drinkable now, it should be able to be cellared for up to 10 years. It has aromas and flavors of dark red fruits with hints of tobacco, chocolate and spice. It was aged for six months in mostly American oak barrels.

It is a Kosher wine, following all the criteria necessary to make it Kosher without harming the final product with pasteurization.

We were introduced to this wine by our friend John Nase and liked it so much that we are planning to use it for our “Wines of the World” class being offered at Montgomery County Community College.

Alcohol is 13.9% by volume. PLCB product code is 26931 and sells for $15.99 a bottle. It is available at many PA wine and Spirit stores especially during Jewish holidays.


Errazuriz Chardonnay 2007 from the Escultura Estate in Casablanca Valley in Chile, this Chardonnay was made from wild yeasts that are naturally present on the grape skins and in the air. Grapes are hand-picked, the juice fermented at low temperatures and then allowed to sit for 10 months in French oak barrels. It has tropical fruit aromas with toasty, nutty flavors and a long finish.
La Escultura Estate is located just twenty miles from the Pacific Ocean, so it benefits from the moderate temperatures of the Pacific breezes during the ripening period. In 2007 when the grapes were ripening the weather was unusually cool allowing the grapes to mature slowly which benefited the final product by allowing the grapes to “maintain their natural fruit flavor and acidity“.

Allowing the juice to ferment with wild, native yeasts “produces different concentrations and proportions of by products, adding distinctive flavors - and therefore more complexity - to the wine”. Seventy percent of the wine also went through malolactic fermentation.

Errazuriz Chardonnay is light yellow straw colored and is medium bodied.

We were a little concerned with what this wine was going to taste like having been made using the wild, native yeasts rather than the tamer yeast additives usually used. But we wanted to try it anyway. “Nothing ventured….” We were very happily surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the wine. So much so that we have decided to use it paired with plantain chips at the upcoming Cinco de Mayo celebration at the Gallery School in Pottstown.

Alcohol is 13.5% by volume. PLCB product code is 22502 and is sold for $14.99 a bottle at many PA Wine and Spirit stores.


Up-coming Events

Wines of the USA
Thursday, April 22
6:30 - 9:30 PM

A one night wine seminar at Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown. $52 per person

Register ASAP by calling Lisa Miller at MCCC at 610-718-1861 by Wed 4 PM.


Wines of the World

Thursday, April 29
6:30 - 9:30 PM

A one night wine seminar at Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown. $52 per person

Additional information about theses courses is available on page 30 of this brochure.

Register for this class.


Cinco de Mayo

Wednesday, May 5

Wines from Spain, Chile, and Argentina at the Gallery School of Pottstown.
Begins promptly at 6:30 PM. $45 per person

Register for Cinco De Mayo by going to the Gallery School's website.


American Wine Society Educational Foundation Benefit Tasting
Saturday September 18

Wine and Appetizer Pairing, Perkiomen Valley Library, Schwenksville
Time and cost TBD
See more about the Perkiomen Chapter of AWS.


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. For more information about Mom's House, click HERE.


This week’s Fun Fact

From “The Amazing Book of Useless Information”
It takes an average of 600 grapes to make one bottle of wine.

Greetings from Vintage Connections!

This week, learn about a special weekend on the Berks County Wine Trail, the Cinco de Mayo Wine Tasting on May 5, and a reliable and inexpensive Sauvignon Blanc.

The Berks County Wine Trail is having a special weekend April 17 and 18. No cost, no reservations, no tickets, but plenty of wine and food pairings. See their website for more information.

Cinco de Mayo – A Celebration!

Come join us as we observe this Mexican holiday celebrating Mexican heritage and pride, with a Spanish style wine and food pairing. The Celebration will be held at the Gallery School on High in Pottstown, PA, of course, on May 5. We will be tasting wines from many Spanish speaking countries and pairing them with some traditional foods. Cinco de Mayo is one of those special times when everyone feels a little bit Mexican in their souls, so a celebration in Pottstown just makes sense.

Register on the Gallery School of Pottstown's website.

Cocha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc 2008

We're really partial to Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand, so this Sauvignon Blanc has to be special.

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc wine comes from the Concha y Toro Winery in Pirque, Chile. Light yellow with green overtones in color, it has fresh aromas of herbs and grass with flavors of fresh tropical fruits. Best when served chilled. Great with seafood and guacamole. Alcohol is 13% by volume. PLCB product code is 9983 and is available at most PA Wine and Spirit stores for $10.99

Up-coming Events

View information about the Berks County Wine Trail weekend event, April 17-18.

Wines of the USA

Thursday, April 22

A one night wine seminar at Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown.

6:30 - 9:30 PM
$52 per person

Wines of the World

Thursday, April 29

A one night wine seminar at Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown.

6:30 - 9:30 PM
$52 per person

Additional information about theses courses is available on page 30 of this brochure.

Register for these classes.

Cinco de Mayo

Wednesday, May 5

Wines from Spain, Chile, and Argentina at the Gallery School of Pottstown. Begins promptly at 6:30 PM.

$45 per person

Register for Cinco De Mayo by going to the Gallery School's website.

American Wine Society Educational Foundation Benefit Tasting
Saturday September 18

Wine and Appetizer Pairing, Perkiomen Valley Library, Schwenksville
Time and cost TBD
See more about the Perkiomen Chapter of AWS.

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. For more information about Mom's House, click. HERE

Greetings from Vintage Connections!

Wines of the World “102” (or Part 2)

Come journey with us as we travel to some new and interesting places to experience wines of the world, figuratively speaking, of course. When we last offered this course we traveled to the more known wine regions of the world like France, Italy and Australia. This time we would like to take you to some lesser known regions and some that just might surprise you like New Zealand, South Africa and Israel. We’ve been diligently experimenting with some wines from these places and others to bring you something new and different.


Campo Viejo Reserva 2004


From the Rioja region of Spain, this red wine is a blend of 75 % Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, and 10% Mazuelo. Aged for 18 months in oak casks and 18 months in the bottle, winemaker Elena Adell says of her wine, “Good structure with a velvety texture, combining flavors of ripe fruit and vanilla”. Alcohol is 13.5% by volume. PLCB product code is 9327 and is currently available at most PA Wine and Spirits Stores on sale for $8.99, regularly $12.99.



Upcoming Events

Wines of the USA Thursday, April 22
A one night wine seminar at Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown.
6:30 - 9:30 PM
$52 per person

Wines of the World
Thursday, April 29
A one night wine seminar at Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown.
6:30 - 9:30 PM
$52 per person

Additional information about theses courses is available on page 30 of this brochure.

Register for these classes.

Cinco de Mayo, Wednesday, May 5
Wines from Spain, Chile, and Argentina at the Gallery School of Pottstown. Begins promptly at 6:30 PM.
$45 per person

Register for Cinco De Mayo by going to the Gallery School's website.

NEW: American Wine Society Educational Foundation Benefit Tasting
Saturday
September 18 Wine and Appetizer Pairing, Perkiomen Valley Library, Schwenksville
Time and cost TBD
See more about the Perkiomen Chapter of AWS.

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.

For more information about Mom's House, click. HERE