Wine And Dine At The Toledo Zoo February 14

Photo of the Toledo Zoo entrance gate. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Toledo Zoo could be the location for your perfect romantic evening! Valentine’s Day reservations are now available for an exclusive after-hours evening: Valentine Wine and Dine at the Toledo Zoo 6;00 to 9:00 PM Friday, February 14.

Valentine dates will enjoy a chef-designed meal in the zoo’s Arctic Encounter as polar bears and seals swim around the area. The full-service meal includes appetizers, entrees and desserts. Gourmet-paired wines enhance the experience. Ultimate Nights DJs is providing musical accompaniment, and artist Brenda Clixby will add a fun twist. Throughout the evening, she’ll create a painting that will be auctioned off at 9:00 PM with proceeds supporting animal conservation.

Reserve your spot by calling the zoo at (419) 385-5721, Ext. 6001, by 3:00 PM Feb. 13. Online reservations are also available at www.toledozoo.org/vineyards. You must be 21 or older to attend the Valentine Wine and Dine and reservations are required.

Tickets start at $80 for zoo members and $85 for nonmembers. The Toledo Zoo is open daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and is located on the Anthony Wayne Trail, four miles south of downtown Toledo. For information, visit www.toledozoo.org or call (419) 385-4040.

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Toledo Unleashed Schedules Benefit Tasting At Caper’s on November 12

 

With the help of Caper's Restaurant and Bar in South Toledo, Toledo Unleashed is hosting their first-annual wine tasting – Toledo Unleashed is Uncorked -- on November 12. Proceeds benefit Toledo Unleashed, the non-profit organization dedicated to bringing off-leash dog parks to the Toledo Area.


The event takes place at Caper's Restaurant and Bar at 2038 S. Byrne Road (at Heatherdowns) from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, November 12. A great selection of wine, craft beer and food pairings will be featured.


Toledo Unleashed was founded in 2009 with the goal of bringing the first community off-leash dog park to the city of Toledo. With support from the City of Toledo, Toledo-area residents and the Toledo Humane Society, the group has worked tirelessly for several years in locating a proper site for the park, securing use of the land and organizing a sustainable off-leash dog park that the community can enjoy for a long time to come.


Tickets for the fun and festive event can be purchased for $35 in advance online at http://www.toledounleashed.org/wine or $40 at the door at Caper's.


We hope to see you at Caper's!

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Summer in Paris Fundraiser at TREO Pairs French Cuisine and Wines

The iconic Arc De Triomphe in Paris. Photo credit: Anirudh Koul

TREO Restaurant and Wine Bar, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, (419) 882-2266, will host Summer in Paris, an elegant dinner with French white wines on Tuesday, June 18, at 6:00 PM. The event is the signature fundraising event for Beach House Family Shelter, one of the oldest organization in Toledo entering its 92nd year.  The emergency shelter has had great success in helping homeless women, children and families regain independence. Tickets for the event are $85.

The event embraces the European experience of the Din’re Blanch or “White Dinner,” which is a traditional celebration of the summer solstice in Europe.

The program will begin at 6:00 PM with a social hour featuring Champagne and hors d’oeuvres. This will also be an opportunity to view silent auction items.

Dinner seating will be at 7:00 PM. The meal will feature French flavored courses paired with wonderful French white wines.  A live auction begins at 8:30.

For tickets or information, please go to www.BeachHouseToledo.org.

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Elegant Summer in Paris Fundraiser To Be Held On June 19 At TREO

Deutsch: Paris: Eiffelturm und Marsfeld (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

TREO Restaurant and Wine Bar, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, (419) 882-2266, will host Summer in Paris, an elegant five-course meal paired with French white wines on Tuesday, June 19, at 6:00 PM. The event is the signature fundraising event for Beach House Family Shelter, one of the oldest organization in Toledo entering its 91^st year.  The emergency shelter has had great success in helping homeless women, children and families regain independence. Tickets for the event are $75.

The event embraces the European experience of the “Celebrer Solstice d’Ete,” a huge celebration to welcome the summer season.  The theme mirrors the celebration by hosting all white food, white wine and suggesting all guests where white as well.  The setting at Treo will be all white as well.

Guests will be welcomed in a special white tent erected on Maplewood Street directly outside of Treo’s entrance with champagne and appetizers to kick off the evening.  All the silent auction items displayed in the tent as well. 

Dinner will be inside Treo and will be four additional courses all with French flavor paired with wonderful French white wines.  Brett McIntosh, Treo Chef, has planned a great ‘white’ menu.  After dinner guest will return to the outside venue for a live auction and to continue the fun.  The event begins at 6:00 PM with seating for for dinner at 7:00 PM.

For tickets or information, please contact Kim Kaplan  at kkaplan@k-ltd.com  or call (419) 269-0002.

Technorati Tags: wine

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Cherished Friends of Ahava Wine Tasting At Toledo Club on April 26

A set up of Merlot wine tasting (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cherished Friends of Ahava wine tasting will be held 6:00 to 8:00 PM April 26 at the Toledo Club, 235 14th St., Toledo. This fabulous event benefits the Cherished Friends of Ahava and its non-profit special guests program.

Through the program, more than 550 men and women undergoing cancer treatment have enjoyed a day of pampering and relaxation at the Ahava Spa and Wellness Center at no charge. The program caters to those who are newly diagnosed or currently in treatment for cancer.

Attendees can sample more than 50 wines, appetizers, and desserts. A silent auction is part of the fun. The cost is $45 per person and $55 per person for the reserve tasting. For tickets and details call (419) 241-5877.

Halloween Vineyard Adventure October 29 at Toledo Zoo

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The Toledo Zoo has scheduled its annual Halloween Vineyard Adventure Saturday, October 29, from 7:00 to 11:00 PM. The Nairobi Pavilion will be transformed into a classy yet mystical setting with jack-o-lanterns and macabre décor. There will be a delectable mix of wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, socializing, and dancing to your favorite tunes.

Guests are encouraged to wear your favorite costumes and masks to get into the spirit of the evening. There will be a costume contest, and photos by Photobooth Live.

The Toledo Zoo’s Corporate Gifts department will provide a wide assortment of gourmet foods, wines, and other great gifts for additional purchase.

Tickets are $40 per person for non-members and $35 for Zoo members. Reservations can also be made by calling 419-385-5721, Ext. 3092. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance.

Please note: tickets purchased during the week prior to the event will be available through will call. Online sales of tickets are discontinued at 3:00 PM on the day before the event. You may purchase tickets online here.

Technorati Tags: wine

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Charmed and Cherished Wine Event Set May 19 at Toledo Club

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One of our favorite wine events is coming. The Charmed and Cherished wine tasting is scheduled May 19, 6:00 to 8:00 PM, at the Toledo Club, 235 14th St., Toledo. This great event, coupled with the elegant surroundings of the Toledo Club should add up to an evening to remember.

 This fabulous event benefits Cherished Friends of Ahava and its special guests. Through the program, more than 550 men and women undergoing cancer treatment have enjoyed a day of pampering and relaxation at the Ahava Spa and Wellness Center at no charge. The program caters to those who are newly diagnosed or currently in treatment for cancer.

Tickets are $50 per person or $60 per person for the reserve tasting. Call (419) 241-5877 for tickets.

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Wine Sales Benefit Toledo Museum of Art

 .Enjoy a nice bottle of wine and benefit the arts? That's a great combination. Through an

Image via Wikipedia

onging program with The Andersons, when you buy a bottle of special Toledo Museum of Art-labeled wine, you’ll help raise funds for TMA. For every $9.99 bottle sold, $2 will be donated to help support free admission, mount exciting exhibitions, offer free public programs, and enrich the lives of children through educational offerings.

There are four varietals available: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and White Zinfandel. (Sorry about that last one, but it is for a good cause!) And just in time for the holidays, it’s a gift that gives twice!

The wines are available for purchase at The Anderson’s retail stores in Maumee, Toledo/Talmadge Rd., Woodville, and the Sylvania Market.

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Blog Action Day: Wine and Water – You Can Make A Difference

  Today is Blog Action Day, when more than 2,200 bloggers from 113 countries will all be joining together to focus attention on a matter of global importance. This year the topic is water. Even the White House and the UK Foreign Office will be joining in to blog about the issue today. I think it is great that we have the opportunity to harness the power of social media for the greater good and – yes, there is a connection to wine.

Why is water important? Consider this.

Unsafe drinking water and lack of sanitation kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Unclean drinking water can incubate some pretty scary diseases, like E. coli, salmonella, cholera and hepatitis A. Given that bouquet of bacteria, it's no surprise that water, or rather lack thereof, causes 42,000 deaths each week.

More people have access to a cell phone than to a toilet. Today, 2.5 billion people lack access to toilets. This means that sewage spills into rivers and streams, contaminating drinking water and causing disease.

Every day, women and children in Africa walk a combined total of 109 million hours to get water. They do this while carrying cisterns weighing around 40 pounds when filled in order to gather water that, in many cases, is still polluted. Aside from putting a great deal of strain on their bodies, walking such long distances keeps children out of school and women away from other endeavors that can help improve the quality of life in their communities.

It takes 6.3 gallons of water to produce just one hamburger. That 6.3 gallons covers everything from watering the wheat for the bun and providing water for the cow to cooking the patty and baking the bun. And that's just one meal! It would take over 184 billion gallons of water to make just one hamburger for every person in the United States.

The average American uses 159 gallons of water every day – more than 15 times the average person in the developing world. From showering and washing our hands to watering our lawns and washing our cars, Americans use a lot of water. To put things into perspective, the average five-minute shower will use about 10 gallons of water. Now imagine using that same amount to bathe, wash your clothes, cook your meals and quench your thirst.

While these facts may be grim, there is hope for real solutions as more and more people around the world are waking up to the clean water crisis. Earlier this year, the UN declared access to clean water a human right and groups like charity: water and Water.org continue to work tirelessly to bring water access to the developing world.

In doing research for this story, I was struggling with the connection with wine lovers – aside from the fact that our readers are well informed and socially responsible people. I discovered the work of a group called Wine to Water and it allows people with a love of wine to channel that into greater access to clean drinking water for those in need.

Wine To Water is a 501(c)(3) non-profit aid organization focused on providing clean water to needy people around the world. Nearly 1 billion people in the world today lack access to adequate water and 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation. WTW is devoted to fighting this epidemic. Wine symbolizes fortune in our society. The WTW goal is to give the fortunate population an opportunity to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.

The founder of the organization is Doc Hendley. He was a bartender and playing music in North Carolina nightclubs when he dreamed up the idea. A year later the first fundraiser was held and by August of that same year Doc was living in Darfur, Sudan installing water systems for victims of the government supported genocide.The haunting memories of what he had seen in Darfur drove him to continue building the organization he started two years before. In 2007, after working two jobs and volunteering his time for over three years, Wine To Water became an official 501 (c) (3) and Doc's dream finally became a reality.

You can get involved by hosting a benefit for Wine to Water in your community, school, or home. Wine tastings, whether in restaurant or home settings, have always been a part of Wine to Water. They are a fun way to gather your friends or community together while helping a good cause. The Water to Wine website offers downloadable fact sheets, checklists and other information that make it very easy to host an event. All donations made to Water to Wine are tax deductable. WTW also offers a line of wines and a portion of proceeds from each bottle goes to the cause. The WTW wines are a 2007 Old Vines Zinfandel and a 2008 Estate Chardonnay.

Photo by Vincent Lock

Technorati Tags: blog action day,water,wine

Save The Woods Wines Sparkle at Benefit Event

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The 15th Annual Bowling Green Parks Foundation Wine and Cheese Social, held September 24 at the Simpson Building in Bowling Green, was a smashing success in all regards. It was attended by more than 400 people and appears to have set a new high in attendance. The event also raised more than $37,000 for the foundation's Save the Woods campaign.

Wine for the event was provided by Norm Heinemann, president of Bowling Green Beverage distributors. He really outdid himself this year with another globe-spanning selection that introduced some new wine producing countries to guests.

I had volunteered for the event and so was working furiously to help the team handle the large crowds that hit when the doors opened. Green Dragon plus tasting team members Ace of Bass and Glorious T arrived when the crowds started to ramp down, so I was able to join in the tastings.

For many, the '06 Warwick Estate Pinotage was the first taste of South African wine. I've only tasted a few Pinotages and so enjoyed this sample, which starts with dark berry flavor but has a nice tannin finish that would make this wine well suited for steak.

One of my favorite reds was the '09 Schilds Grenache M.S. from Australia. This is a traditional Rhone-style blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Shiraz. The flavor explodes with cherries and spices. It is unoaked, so it is a smooth, fruit-driven wine.

When Norm heard that we really loved Malbecs, he was kind enough to have two on the tasting menu, the '08 Finca Flichman Malbec Reserva from Argentina and the 2006 Midnight Cellars Malbec from Paso Robles. Which is better? That's a delicious decision to which there is no wrong answer. The Reserva has more plum flavor notes and a slight earthiness wrapped in soft tannins. The Midnight Cellars, which is a beautiful deep violet color, is more jammy, but with a nice medium body and succulent finish.

On the white side, perhaps the biggest surprise was the '09 Chateau Julia Chardonnay from Greece. Yes,

Greece. This is yellow-green in color and has a fruity aroma with a distinct lemon taste. The Chardonnay is finished in steel, rather than oak, so it has none of the woody, buttery qualities that Green Dragon dislikes. This was one of the most popular wines of the evening.

The '09 Lenz Moser Heuriger Gruner Veltliner from Austria is a simple wine -- simply delicious that is! This is a young white wine comparable to a soft Sauvignon Blanc. It goes well with poultry, fish or cheese and costs less than $10.

Another  favorite was the '06 Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone Blanc from France. Cotes du Rhone is known mostly for its reds, but it is a mistake to underestimate this great white. It is a blend of white Grenache, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne and Viognier. It is a much fuller bodied wine than the Gruner and has a bouquet of peach and apricot.

I was looking forward to the '07 Tangent Ecclestone (California) and it did not disappoint. This is a blend of Pinot Gris, Viognier, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat and Albarino. That is an unusual mixture. There isn't that much Albarino in Califonria, so this is a unique wine. The key word is tangy, with orange and honey flavor notes. It finishes up crisp and clean. This is an enjoyable solo sipper or a versatile food partner.

Thanks to the many volunteers and generous sponsors who made this event hapen.

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Mark the Calendar: Wine Affair and Wine Gala Scheduled In Toledo for November

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Toledo has a wine double-header of epic proportions in November, so mark your calendars appropriately.

The 23rd Annual Wine Gala to benefit Mobile Meals of Toledo is scheduled 6:00 PM Saturday, November 6, at the Stranahan Great Hall. The event will feature wine tasting and appetizers, a sit-down dinner and an auction of fine wines. The black-tie optional event will also feature a silent auction, raffle and entertainment by Touched.

The 19th Annual Wine Affair will be held 6:30 PM Friday, November 19, at Parkway Place in Maumee. The event will feature wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and silent and live auctions. The event will benefit the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio and will be emceed by Chrys Peterson.

More details will be provided in the near future. Don’t miss these opportunities to benefit great causes while sampling superb wine.

Technorati Tags: wine

Wine & Cheese Social Scheduled for Friday, September 24, in Bowling Green

 The Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Foundation’s 15th Annual Wine & Cheese Social will take place 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday, September 24, at the Simpson Building, 1291 Conneaut Ave., in Bowling Green. Tickets are $30 each and are available at the door.

The three leading civic groups in Bowling Green (Exchange Club, Kiwanis and Rotary) are teaming up with the Bowling Green Parks & Recreation Foundation to help make this year’s Wine and Cheese Social and Auction a success.

The wine selections will have an international theme with wines from five different continents. Wine has been generously donated by Bowling Green Beverage. Wine expert (and BG Beverage president) Norm Heineman will be on hand to answer your wine questions. Not only will there be outstanding wine aplenty, but there will also be an assortment of microbrew and craft beers. Of course delicious food and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.

The event features a silent and live auction with some great auction items. The live auction will be conducted by television newscaster Jerry Anderson of WTOL, Channel 11. It is certain to be a fun-filled, exciting evening.

Wines for the evening are as follows:

Reds

1. 06 Warwick Estate Pinotage (South Africa)

2. 09 Schilds Grenache M.S. (Australia)

3. 08 Finca Flichman Malbec Reserva (Argentina)

4. 06 Midnight Cellars Malbec (Paso Robles, CA)

5. 08 Pelee Sweet Merlot (Canada)

6. Smith Woodhouse 10 Year Tawny Port (Portugal)

Whites

1. 09 Lenz Moser Heuriger Gruner Veltliner (Austria)

2. 09 Prendo Pinot Grigio (Italy)

3. 06 Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone Blanc (France)

4. 07 Tangent Ecclestone (Edna Valley, CA)

5. 09 Chateau Julia Chardonnay (Greece)

6. 09 Kreusch Piesporter Michelsburg Spatlese (Germany) 

The beneficiary of the event is the Bowling Green Parks & Recreation Foundation Save the Woods campaign. The foundation purchased a parcel of land adjacent to the Wintergarden/St. John's Nature Preserve to prevent it from being turned into a housing subdivision. This fundraiser is helping to retire the debt.

Photo by Clif Boutelle

GrREAT Wine: The GaREAT Spring Wine Fest Revisited

Toledo Wines and Vines is fortunate to have a very talented tasting team including Stephanie and Patrick Wise. Stephanie's hectic schedule finally slowed down enough for her to submit this dispatch on the GaREAT wine festival held in May. Enjoy!

Substituting for Captain Vino and Green Dragon, Wine Chic and SaxMan once again set out on a wine tasting adventure, this time to Geneva, Ohio, where the Ohio Wine Producers Association sponsored a fundraiser for the GaREAT Sports Complex, an indoor athletic facility. Wineries from the Ohio region (predominately Northeast and Northcentral Ohio) showcased their wines to those visitors new to wine tasting and those (like us) looking for that new favorite.

Most of the wines were of the sweeter variety; the vintners hoping to lure in those unfamiliar palates and entice them with the sweetness of what Ohio wines have to offer. However, some wineries brought their semi-dry to dry selections as well, displaying a full continuum of flavors, body and sweetness. The grapes, though most not native to the region, are grown locally and harvested by the wineries themselves.

Although most of the wines we tasted were good, our palates tend to the dry side. We found our favorites that day in the following four wineries: Chaeau Debonne, Firelands Winery, Ferrante, and Maize Winery. Maize Winery is recent to the Ohio wine scene as of 2005 and was a pleasant surprise with their Traminette. Of course, the others are old favorites. Most of the wines are available in local wine and grocery stores.

For more information about Ohio Wines and the Ohio Wine Producers Association, go to http://www.ohiowines.org/. For information about the GaREAT Sports Complex, go to http://www.gareat.org/.

Technorati Tags: wine

Hudson Wine Festival Scheduled July 17 and 18

Wine and animal lovers of all ages will converge upon Hudson, Ohio, to raise money for animal welfare in Summit County during the third annual Hudson Wine Festival, a benefit for Pawsibilities: The Humane Society of Greater Akron.

The event is scheduled Saturday July 17, 1:00 – 9:00 PM and Sunday July 18, 1:00 – 6:00 PM.

The festival will be located along Village Way, beside the Hudson Library & Historical Society in the First & Main Shopping District

Summit Charitable Events Foundation has partnered with Pawsibilities: The Humane Society of Greater Akron (HSGA) to hold the third annual Hudson Wine Festival July 16 -18, 2010.

The event will showcase over 250 wines from national and international producers. Guests will enjoy musical entertainment, delectable food from Hudson’s Restaurant & Catering as well as Fresh Fork Market, wine education seminars, artists and exhibitors along with raffles throughout the weekend. Adoptable pets from the Humane Society will also be on site and leased pets are welcome!

Hudson Wine Festival tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and include 10 tastings and a souvenir wine glass. Additional tastings are 10 for $5 at the event. Weekend passes are available for $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Wines sampled on site will be available for purchase through all Heinen’s locations in Northeast Ohio throughout the month of July.

Event tickets can be purchased at Green Roots Collection, InStyle Accessories, The Learned Owl Book Shop, Heinen’s locations in Hudson, Aurora, Twinsburg and Brecksville, the Humane Society or online at http://www.hudsonwinefestival.com/.

Sponsors for the Hudson Wine Festival include: Adams Reserve New York Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, First & Main Shopping District, Wind River Associates, LLC, Neace Lukens, Cleveland Magazine, Scriptype Publishing, The WineBuzz, WAKR / WONE / WQMX & AkronNewsNow.com and Wasacz & Skvoretz LTD.

Photo by Sonjia Pieper

Findlay Wine Fest Set Saturday, June 26

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Findlay's Riverside Wine Festival, which benefits the Arts Partnership of Findlay, is scheduled noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 26, in Findlay's Riverside Park.

Featured will be 11 Ohio wineries, gourmet foods, arts and crafts, and demonstrations. Entertainers include Toledo guitarist Tim Oehlers at noon, the Jack Taylor Jazz Quartet at 2, and Blues 215 will be at 6.

Free parking and shuttle service will be offered at the event. Free parking will be available in the Riverside Park overflow lots and Masonic Temple. Shuttle service will be provided by Birchaven Retirement Village.

Ticket cost is $20 at the gate and includes a commemorative glass and 10 one-ounce tastes throughout the day. Designated drivers and those under 21 can attend for $10. Information: the Arts Partnership box office at 419-422-4624.

GaREAT Wine Fest Scheduled May 22

The GaREAT Spring Wine Fest is scheduled May 22 at the sports complex in Geneva. The event benefits the Geneva area Recreational, Educational and Athletic Trust. The event is a celebration of spring, of award winning Ohio wines and the first full summer of activities at the spectacular GaREAT Sports Complex in Geneva, Ohio. Fifteen wineries will gather for a gala day of fun, wine sampling and a preview of the new sports and education facility, 1822 South Broadway, Geneva.
The day will include wine tasting, food sampling, live entertainment an array of artists and crafters, sports related vendors and tours of the world class complex.

Participating wineries include: Al-Bi Winery from Dellroy; Candlelight Wine Cellars, Garrettsville; Debonne Vineyards, Madison; Emerine Estates, Jefferson; Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Geneva; Grand River Cellars, Madison; It’s Your Winery, Akron; Klingshirn Winery, Avon Lake; Maize Valley Winery, Hartville; Mastropietro Winery, Berlin Center; Old Firehouse Winery, Geneva on the Lake; Old Mill Winery, Geneva; The Winery at Spring Hill, Geneva; Viking Vineyards & Winery, Kent and Virant Family Winery, Geneva.

Hours for the Wine Fest are 2:00 to 9:00 PM. Tickets are $20 per person in advance and $25 at the gate. Each ticket includes ten sampling tickets as well as all of the activities and complimentary tours of the facility. Tickets are available by calling the Ohio Wine Produces at 800-227-6972 or may be purchased online.

A portion of the proceeds from the Wine Fest will benefit the Geneva Area Recreational Educational Athletic Trust, a nonprofit corporation supporting this world class multi-purpose facility. The complex will include more than 450,000 square feet of facilities on a 175 acre campus in Harpersfield Township at the intersection of I-90 and State Route 534. There is literally no venue of this kind anywhere in North America. They offer state of the art facilities for baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, softball, field and track as well as volleyball. Additional activities include programs for tots, Striders for Seniors, summer sports camps and community events.

Flickr photo by Pixle

Wood County Humane Society Wine & Cheese Benefit Set For May 21

The "swingin’ and swanky" 2010 Wood County Humane Society Wine & Cheese Benefit will be held 7:00 to10:30 PM on Friday, May 21. The event will be held at beautiful Nazareth Hall on the Maumee River located at the intersection of Route 65 and Weston Road. There will be live and silent auctions of great items (with auctioneer Jerry Anderson). Music will be provided by The Guytones Jazz Quartet and DJ Paul Spoerl. A DVD by BGSU design students will also be presented. There will be an assortment of hors d'oeuvres and numerous wines (from hearty Cab to sweet Moscato) to sample.

Tickets are $65 per person or $120 per couple and are available online. Order Tickets Online.  UPDATE: If you order before May 15, the earlybird cost is $55 and $110. A portion of your ticket is tax-deductable. Cocktail attire is appropriate. For additional information call (419) 378-1178 or e-mail WoodCountyHumane@gmail.com.

Items donated for the silent auction by WCHS friends and area businesses are cumulatively valued at more than $10,000, and items will be accepted through May 14th. These include fabulous items such as a timeshare vacation, a Kalahari Resort Package, Golf Passes, Vera Bradley items, sports memorabilia, Coach bags, hand crafted jewelry and art, restaurant, shop and salon certificates from area merchants and many more items for the entire family (including pets).

The Wood County Humane Society receives no government funding, and so relies on the donations of individuals like you to carry on its important work. WCHS is a private, non-profit, no-kill animal shelter. Its mission is to provide the best quality care for abused, homeless, neglected and abandoned animals in the community. Their Humane Agent responds to reports of cruelty throughout Wood County. Dedicated staff and volunteers also provide public assistance, information and assistance with low-cost spay/neuter programs and community education.

Flickr photo by Matt

 

Charming Wines at Cherished Event

Last week’s Charmed and Cherished wine tasting benefit last week at the Navy Bistro was a smashing success.

 

While the wining and dining was going on, yours truly was on the tennis court battling in a league match. As I was scrambling after fuzzy green balls, members of the Toledo Wines and Vines tasting team were “on the job” sampling fine wine from Heidelberg Distributing and the Walter Berman division with scrumptious morsels.

The report from the field is that the event was simply stunning. The number of wines available for sampling was down by a few compared with last year. Also, the mezzanine level wasn’t used for tasting as it was last year – so things were a little bit more cramped. But why quibble when there is great wine to be sampled for a good cause?

 

Here’s a list of some of the top tastes:

 

Excellent

• Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (pleasant, flavorful, great bouquet)
• Rosemount Shiraz (this is always a “go to” wine)
• Sebastiani Pinot Noir Sonoma County (a smash hit, smooth finish and full of flavor)
• Trapiche Cabernet Sauvignon (Great nose, easy to drink, delicious with chocolate)

 

Very Good

• Gascon Malbec (one of our favorite Malbecs)
• Alamos Torrontes (crowd favorite at table)
• Colores del Sol (deep color, nice, complex)
• Penfolds Bin 52 Shiraz Mourvedre
• Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc

 

The favorite wine of the evening for the tasting team was the Sebastiani Pinot Noir. We were able to sample a full bottle of the 2007 Saturday night. It was tasted with two other reds and two whites, but was selected again as the crowd favorite.

 

In the glass it is a clear, deep purple. The nose offers cherry scents. The taste has smokiness and a bit of spicy tannins that smooth out and leave a nice lingering finish. It has a zingy kick at the end.

 

The Sebastiani Pinot paired well with almonds and dark chocolate.  Although not as full bodied as a Cabernet, we suspect this elegant wine can stand up to a good steak too. At about $18, the price is as tasty as the wine.

 

Technorati Tags: wine,pinot noir

 

Paws and Whiskers Wine Benefit May 18

A wine tasting event to benefit Paws and Whiskers Cat Shelter, Toledo's only all-feline, no kill shelter, is scheduled 7:00 to 9:00 PM Tuesday, May 18, at  Capers Pizza Bar 2038 S. Byrne Road (at Heatherdowns) Toledo. The cost is $25 per person and includes five different wines to taste and five different grazing stations, including pizza, bruschetta, crackers/cheese, and more. For tickets call Capers at (419) 389-9900 or Paws and Whiskers at (419) 536-1914.

The shelter, governed by a Board of Directors, is dedicated to providing a safe haven for unwanted feline friends. It provides shelter, food, love, and veterinary care for the area’s homeless, unwanted, and orphaned felines, while seeking safe, loving homes.Through the dedication of Paws and Whiskers volunteers and generous contributions of supporters more than 8,100 cats have been placed with caring families over the past 13. The shelter even offers a “cat-back” guarantee. Any cat adopted from the shelter need never be homeless again because Paws and Whiskers will take it back at anytime, for any reason.

Flickr photo by Delphine

Sipping The Taste of the Nation Toledo

The April 25th Taste of the Nation event held at Levis Commons brought together top chefs and top wines in an elegant and fun evening. Our tasting team member, Spiderman, attended to provided this report.


"It was a very rainy and windy Sunday evening for the event. The tent company definitely had their hands full but did a nice job in keeping the event dry and warm inside the tents which were located in the back parking lot of Fat Fish Blue.

Upon arrival, there was free valet parking a nice and necessary service with the weather being so uncooperative. I checked in at the door with Marla Schecht one of the event chairs who was very nice and was excited to have a representative from TWAV attend the event. (Who wouldn't be?)

The food was outstanding as so many restaurants were able to be represented from the Toledo area. Each restaurant had a featured dish that was very unique to their respective chef. For instance Matt Lawrence the chef from Mancy's Italian served a dish call "Sheep's Milk Ricotta" which he described as ravioli without the dough. Matt was right and it was an excellent dish that you would not normally get to eat. The list went on and on with great chef's presenting their signature specialty dishes for this very upscale event.

Overall... Amazing food with an amazing representation of restaurants.

Now lets get to the wine...

There were two major distributors represented at this event: Glazer's Distributors of NW Ohio and Heidelberg Distributing Company. Some of the wines sampled...

Port... I tried a Penfolds Club Tawny that I would recommend in place of a traditional dessert wine because it was not as sweet as a normal dessert wine but would complement most desserts.

Pinot Noir..... My favorite Pino of the night was La Crema --- This was very crisp wine with bursting with plum and cherry. Cost is about $29. This wine would go fantastic with Mediterranean food.

Amarone... My favorite of the whole evening. It's a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes. Amarone is considered one of Italy's wine treasures and features ripe fruit, power, and roundness. It's an adventurous wine which has become very popular. This wine logically would be great with Italian food. Cost is $45 or so."

As if the great wine and food were not enough, the charity aspect of the event also is in good taste. The event's goal is to help ensure no kid in America goes hungry. One hundred percent of ticket sales go to charity with local beneficiaries being Toledo GROWS, Toledo Day Nursery, Aurora House and Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank.

Flickr photo by Amy