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Wine recommendations and comments from Dean and Lisa Foster, Vintage Connections Wine Educators and Consultants. Most wines are available in Southeastern Pennsylvania and are priced between $10 and $20. Up-coming "wine events" available in the Pottstown Tri-county area are listed.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Wine Tips - Honorable Mentions of 2010

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

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