Cheers from Vintage Connections

This week we feature two excellent white wines from the Finger Lakes. 
Want to learn more about this wonderful wine region? 
Want to taste a few of our favorite wines? 

Join us for 

Wines of the Finger Lakes  

Thursday March 31 at 6:30 PM in Pottstown.

Registration is now open online.

Please register ASAP. 

 

Blog Changes!!!  

If you haven't checked out our OTHER blog, please give it a try at Vintage Connections Wine Info
last updated on March 20.
It's fun, interesting, and bit different (we think). 

Sheldrake Point Gewurtztraminer 2008

This full-bodied and fragrant Gewurtztraminer is pale yellow in color, but it's aroma and flavor is not remotely pale.  It has rich aromas of pear with floral notes, and delicious mouth filling flavors of pears, oranges and just a hint of tarragon.  It has only .5% residual sugar, so is pleasantly dry and not the least bit syrupy.  Alcohol is 13.3% by volume.

Sheldrake Point Winery is located on the shores of Cayuga Lake in the New York Finger Lakes region.  For the past two years, Sheldrake Point Winery was awarded "Winery of the Year" by "Wine and Spirits Magazine" and "New York Wine and Food Classic".  Definitely worth the stop if you are in the Finger Lakes.  Unfortunately, the 2008 Gewurtztraminer is no longer available, but we also highly recommend their Pinot Gris 2008 which is still available at the winery for $15 a bottle.  And who knows, maybe when you get there the 2009 Gewurtztraminer will be available.

White Springs Fume` Blanc 2009

This sauvignon blanc wine is pale yellow in color with hints of green.  It has soft aromas of  herbs and grass with a slight minerality.  It has refreshing flavors of citrus, smoke and vanilla with just a hint of coconut.  The wine was aged in small French oak barrels.  It has 0% residual sugar, making it a pleasant dry wine with a medium finish.  Alcohol is 12.5% by volume.  It is available at the winery for $14.99 a bottle.  White Springs Winery is located just south of Geneva, NY on Seneca Lake.

Fun Fact 

The term "table wine" in the US refers to a wine that has between 11-14% alcohol by volume.  In Europe it refers to the lowest quality wine rather than a wine designated with an appellation or regional designation.

Wines of the Finger Lakes - A Wine Appreciation Class by Vintage Connections

The Finger Lakes region in upstate New York is famous for Riesling but many of the 100+ wineries make other excellent wines as well including Chardonnay, Gerwertztraminer and Cabernet Franc. Join us to learn about, sample, discuss, and enjoy some Wines of the Finger Lakes, chosen by us on our wine adventure last October.  Registration is $35 per person.  Checks only and are appreciated at time of registration.  Click here for on-line registration through Monday March 28.

"Thanks" to the Quiz Sponsors who are providing the PRIZE for this week's winner and who are listed below.  Be sure to email your answers by 5 PM, Wednesday, March 2 to us at vintageconnections@comcast.net

"Correct" answers are those included in our Fun Facts from the past few months.  

Even if we're wrong, we're right!    

If multiple readers score the same number of correct answers, we'll put their names in a hat and draw one name who will be the winner of this quiz.  The winner will have a choice of one prize donated from any of our sponsors (see below). 

1. Name at least three of the grapes used in red Bordeaux. 

2. What is the licensed name for Bordeaux-type blends produced in the USA?

3. What are the "parent grapes" of Cabernet Sauvignon?

4. What is the Syrah grape called (named) in Australia?

5. Lemberger is also known as what grape or wine in Austria?

6. Champagne or other sparkling wines go well with breakfast (according to some, including us) because the ________________ complements the soft texture of egg dishes.

7. The _________  was adapted from a French artillery device.  

8.  Technically, only sparkling wines meeting strict criteria and from the Champagne district of France should be named "Champagne."  What is the "correct name" of sparkling wine from other regions of France?   (There are two other names in France, but we only mentioned one in our Fun Facts. That is the "correct" answer.) 

9.Gewurtztraminer is a white wine, however the grapes themselves are what color?  (Remember, the "correct" answer is from our Fun Facts.)

10. The Pinot Noir grape cluster is a tightly packed cluster and very dark in color.  What (according to our Fun Facts) is the English translation of the name Pinot Noir? 

Email your answers to Vintageconnections@comcast.net by 5 PM, Wednesday, March 2.  

THANK YOU to our Quiz Sponsors!

The winner from our Fun Facts Quiz may chose one of the following prizes offered by our Quiz Sponsors.  Sponsors are listed alphabetically.  Prizes can not be exchanged for cash or other considerations.  Some prizes may be mailed to the winners, but some may need to be picked up at the sponsor's business location.

Gallery School of Pottstown (Pottstown, PA) - $20 Gift Certificate toward the cost of any class.  Merchandise is not included.

Manatawny Creek Winery (Douglassville, PA) - Basket Box with a bottle of wine, valued at $20.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery (Kutztown, PA) - $20 Gift Certificate

Schuylkill River Heritage Area (5 county service area, entire Schuylkill River Watershed) - Choice of either the reprinted book, "The Schuylkill" recounting the history of the river, or the new PBS video, "Our National Heritage Episode One: The Revolutionary River" also depicting the history of the Schuylkill River, each retailing for $20.

Tri-county Performing Arts Center (Pottstown, PA) - $20 Gift Certificate toward one show, class, or private lesson.

Vintage Connections (Pottstown, PA) - One seat in the class, Blending Wine Bordeaux Style, Wednesday March 24, 6:30-9 PM, in Pottstown,  valued at $35.

Vynecrest Vineyards and Winery (Breinigsville, PA) - Cherry DiVyne with Chocolate, gift wrapped, valued at $20.

Wine Down Cafe and Winebar (West Reading, PA) - $20 Gift Card

Spring 2011 Wine Classes 

PLEASE REGISTER SOON or let us know of your intent to register.

Contacting us SOON about the March 24 class, "Blending Wine Bordeaux Style," is especially important because we need to buy the wines SOON!

To register for classes, to tell us of your intent to register, or for more information, email us at vintageconnections@comcast.net or call us (Dean and Lisa) at 610-469-6164 or 610-310-9942.

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.

Open Enrollment Classes Spring 2010

$35 per person, includes wine, cheese, crackers and LOTS of  information about wine, and wine tasting.

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 complex aroma and (we think, a better) 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.

Date TBD (was April 14 but we need to change it)
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.

"Cheers" from Vintage Connections
Dean and Lisa Foster, Wine Educators and Consultants

We hope everyone had a Happy New Year!  

This Week’s Wine Tips!

Mid-winter is a great time for hearty reds. 
One of our favorites is Old Vine Zinfandel from Bogle.  In fact, a wine-maker friend of ours told us that he's "never met a Bogle he didn't like" so during our New Year's celebrations with friends and family we tried several red Bogle's we had not tasted before.  We like ALL of them. 

Bogle's Old Vine Zinfandel is outstanding, is available in almost every PCLB Wine and Spirits store as a "regular" purchase for $12.99.  Product code is 5043.  You should be able to find this wine and purchase it regularly, but still check your local store for availability before driving there.

We agree with the winemaker's notes as provided below.

Head-trained, dry farmed old vines are again the source for Bogle’s Old Vine Zinfandel. These gnarly old vines produce concentrated fruit of unsurpassed quality and intensity.  This supple and mouth-filling vintage leads with juicy blueberry and ripe blackberry fruit. Black pepper and hints of chocolate notes integrate well with this soft, plush body. Subtle hints of spicy oak and pipe tobacco create structure, allowing this wine to stand up to a variety of fare.This is the perfect wine to pair with everything from rich sauces and unique dishes, to your favorite weeknight take-out.

To see a few other Wine Tips this week, go to our Vintage Connections Wine Info blog by clicking on the link on this page. 

Upcoming Wine Events in the Pottstown Tri-County Area
Saturday, February 13.

Wine after Five with Chocolate on the Side - Wine and Chocolate pairing seminar for Valentine's Day, at the Gallery School of Pottstown.  Begins promptly at 6:30 PM.  Snow date February 20.

$65 per person, $120 per couple, or $55 for Gallery School members.

Make reservations through the Gallery School website by clicking on the Gallery's link on this page.

Saturday and Sunday, February 13 and 14.

Berks County Wine Trail Wine and Chocolate Event.

For more information, click on the Berks County Wine Trail link on this page.