Cheers from Vintage Connections  

Wine Educators and Consultants  

Dean and Lisa Foster 

We're publishing our newsletter and blog about twice a month.  We still welcome contributions of wine reviews and other wine related information from guest writers.  Send us your wine reviews, etc., we'll edit as needed and post in the newsletter and on our Grapevine blog in the Pottstown Mercury.

90+ (Ninety Plus) Shiraz/Viognier

Lot 4 2008

This surprising blend of shiraz and viognier comes from McLaren Vale in Australia. Though a blend of white and red grapes, this wine is  definitely a red wine.

The addition of the viognier to shiraz adds a delightful complexity to the wine.  90+  is medium-bodied and deep dark red in color. The shiraz and viognier are co-fermented and then aged for 14 months in French oak barrels. It has aromas of dark red fruits and just a hint of black pepper, with flavors of juicy dark berries and well integrated oak. The finish is long and savory.

Alcohol is 14% by volume. PLCB product code is 3732 and sells for $13.99 a bottle. This wine is available at most PA Wine and Spirit stores. Though a one time buy, this wine is also available as a SLO, PLCB product code 510571 and sells for $14.79. We plan on using 90+ at the upcoming Pottstown Library Tasting in November.

Rocca Dei Sanniti Vino Spumante Sparkling White Wine 2009

This delightful sparkling wine comes from the hills of the Sannio countryside near the ancient town of Benevento in Italy.  

This wine is a blend of 60% Falanghina, 20% Malvasia and 20% Trebbiano. It is not as sweet as an Asti, nor as dry as a Proseco, but falls pleasantly in between.  Light straw yellow in color, the bubbles are tiny and plentiful. Aromas of light summer fruits abound with flavors of pears, apples and white peaches. The finish is bright and fairly long for a sparkling.

Alcohol is 9% by volume. This wine is currently a Chairman's Select at many PA Wine and Spirit stores. PLCB product code is 13604 and sells for $13.99. We hope to use this sparkling wine as the aperitif at the Mom's House Wine dinner in October. 

Up-coming Events

** Berks County Wine Trail  Members are all participating in  

Artisan Wine & Cheese Pairing Weekend   

October 8th & 9th
Noon to 5:00 PM both days!

** Pinnacle Ridge

Jazz and Blues in the Barn 

Sunday, Oct. 9 

click to events 

** Manatawny Creek Winery 

** Blair Vineyards
Harvest Weekend
September 24-25 
Wine, food, music
 Click to events.
  
** Calvaresi Winery

** Vynecrest 

Music in the Vyneskeller every Saturday, 1-4:30 PM 

 Click to events.  

Galen Glen

Autumn Tours of Vineyard and Cellars 

Sundays 9/25 and 10/2

click to events 

Mom's House  
Benefit Wine Dinner

at Columbia Station

Robert Ryan Catering

 Phoenixville

(new location and food)
Friday, October 21
Begins promptly at 6:30 PM
$75/person
$525 for table of 8

click to website for reservations

Pottstown Public Library  

Benefit Wine Tasting
Saturday, November 5
Begins promptly at 6:30 PM
$40 per person
Call Library at 610-970-6551

Contact Vintage Connections to arrange a customized wine seminar, wine tasting, wine and food pairing, or any kind of wine related event.

Fun Fact
Sparkling wine goes by different names in different countries.  Champagne, Cremant, and Mousseux are French.  Spumante is the generic name for sparkling wine from Italy and is traditionally low in alcohol and high in residual sugar.  Asti (and Asti Spumante) is specifically from the Asti region of Italy and is made from Moscato grapes.  The Spumante featured today is NOT an Asti.