Greetings from Vintage Connections
Wine Educators and Consultants
 
This Week's Wine Tips

Artesa Chardonnay
From the Carneros area of CA, Artesa Chardonnay is 100% hand-harvested chardonnay.

Fifty percent of the juice was barrel-fermented with sur lees stirring and aging and partially stainless steel fermented.  Half of the wine also underwent a secondary malolactic fermentation, giving it the buttery smoothness characteristic of malolactic fermentation.  It has aromas of lemon flowers, pineapple and green apple with a crisp fruitiness, vanilla, butter and toasted oak flavors.  There is a “tingle of crisp acid” on the finish.    PLCB product code is 8036 and is available for $19.99 at most PA Wine and Spirit Stores.  Alcohol is 14.3% by volume.


Barren Ridge Vineyards  - Petit Verdot

From the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, this rich, deep purple almost black wine is made from 100% petit verdot grapes.  It has rich aromas of ripe dark red fruits.  The flavor is full-bodied with hints of violets and leather.  The tannins are light and drinkable, though strong enough to lay this wine down for a few years to allow it to completely mature and become more complex.  Though only available at the winery, we felt this wine was worth talking about.  It sells for $25 a bottle at the winery.  Alcohol is 13% by volume.



Up-coming Events - If you know of an up-coming local wine event, let us know and we will add it to our calendar.

Summer Solstice Festival at Manatawny Creek Winery  on Saturday, June 19.

Bottle Shock Revisited!

Saturday September 18, 6:30 - 9:30 PM 

Seen the movie? Read the book?  Now try it yourself!
Blind tasting of USA vs. French wines. Appetizers included.

Silent Auction! 

Benefits the American Wine Society Educational Foundation

$49 per person, $90 per couple, $350 per group of eight.

Perkiomen Valley Library, Schwenksville
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
Petit Verdot was originally used as one of France’s Bordeaux blend wine grapes.  It was used to add dark color and complexity to the wine.  Since it ripens a good deal later than the other Bordeaux grapes, winemakers have stopped using it so that their wine can be made that much sooner.