Lake Erie Wine Fest Set June 19-20 at Geneva-On-The-Lake

The Lake Erie Wine Fest will be held Friday and Saturday, June 19-20, at the Landing Festival Marketplace at Geneva-On-The-Lake (next to Old Firehouse Winery).

The event, which is scheduled 1:00 to 7:00 PM each day, will feature Ohio wines, food and wine pairing demonstrations from several local restaurants, home winemaking demonstrations, vinticulture lectures to help with your backyard vines and arts and crafts displays.

Participating wineries include: Old Mill Winery, Virant Family Winery, Lakehouse Inn & Winery, The Winery at Spring Hill, Klingshirn Winery, Old Firehouse Winery, Ferrante Winery, Emerine Estates and Debonne Vineyards.


Tickets are $20 for adult taster, $5 for designated driver, and $5 for under 21. Music is sponsored by The Northcoast Voice. Check out our artist, crafters, and demonstrations. Food will be available from some of the areas finest retaurants. For tickets and more information go to http://www.lakeeriewinefest.com/.

Flickr photo by Omar G

Lone Oak Vineyard Estate Sets Event for Dads

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Lone Oak Vineyard Estate, 8400 Ann Arbor Rd., Grass Lake, Michigan, (517) 522-8167, has scheduled a Father's Day open house on Saturday, June 19, from 12 noon to 4:00 PM. The Jackson-area winery will offer live music and complimentary appetizers on their new deck. Gary Detlefs will perform 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Gary will help "get your groove on" with the sounds of smooth jazz guitar.

All dads will receive one of the newly designed Lone Oak logo wine glasses. This is a great opportunity to give dad some quality "wind-down" time the day before his big day. The event takes place rain or shine with seating indoors if the weather doesn't cooperate.

Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival Scheduled June 19

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The rolling dunes and white-sand beach of Lake Michigan’s tranquil shoreline will be the setting for the 5th Annual Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival taking place June 19 on Weko Beach in Bridgman. Sponsors include the Southwest Michigan Tourist Council, the Economic Growth Alliance (Partnership of Lake Township and City of Bridgman) and the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail.

Live music is scheduled under a “Big-Top tent” overlooking Weko Beach (Located off Exit 16 of I-94, then north on Red Arrow Highway and west on Lake Street in Bridgman).

Festival attendeed can sample (tastes or by the glass) all of the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail locally-grown-and-produced varietals and wines fromTabor Hill, Contessa, Domaine Berrien, Fenn Valley, Karma Vista, Lawton Ridge, Lemon Creek, Round Barn, St. Julian, Free Run, Hickory Creek and Warner.

The event includes cuisine from local restaurants and a variety of music. Live chef demonstrations start at 2 p.m. and will run throughout the afternoon.

Admission to the festival is $10 for ages 21 and older (includes a souvenir wine tasting glass); ages 13 to 20, $5; 12 and under, free. Wine Tickets are $1 per ticket (one ticket for a taste) and five to seven tickets for a glass. Advance admission tickets are $8 and are available at http://www.ticketweb.com/.

Parking and shuttle buses will be available at designated lots in Bridgman. The event will take place rain or shine and takes place 1 to 10 p.m.

Bands performing include Ty Stone & Just Soul, Mighty Blue Kings, Midwest Hype, Ninth Street Bridge and Duke Tumatoe.

Cruising For Wine On The High Seas

  To mark a very special anniversary, my wife and I booked a Western Caribbean cruise on the Celebrity Solstice. The stops in Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Honduras certainly were appealing, but I must admit that the wine events scheduled on the ship may have sealed my decision to opt for this particular ship.

This dazzling ship features 13 different bars, outstanding entertainment and even has a “lawn club” up on the top deck with glassmaking demonstrations and lawn games.

One of the bars is Cellar Masters with a Napa Valley theme and enomatic wine machines that dispense tastes of some of the top wines in the world. Opus One anyone? The main dining area, the Grand Epernay, features a gleaming two-story glass wine tower. The ship also has a regular schedule of wine tastings throughout the voyage.

There were six special wine events during our seven-day cruise, and we took part in one called the World Wine Tour. The tasting had six different stations, each with two wines. It started in the Cellar Masters bar and then wound its way to various stations on Deck 4 overlooking the Grand Foyer.

The lineup included:
Station 1: Gruner Veltliner Nigl Kremser, Austria, (Gewürztraminer-like and tasty); and Riesling SA Prum Essence, Germany (semi-sweet and too sweet for our taste).

Station 2: Pinotage Blend, Heron’s Nest, South Africa (light red in color, tart cherry with a bit of pepper on the finish); and Malbec Elsa Valentini Bianchi, Argentina (smooth, rich, a bit like Layer Cake Shiraz).

Station 3: Chateauneuf du Pape Mont Redon, France (now we’re talking! low in tannins, smooth and pleasing finish); and Pouilly Fume Domaine Denis Gaudry, France (another winner with flavor notes of green apple).

Station 4: Chardonnay Cakebread Napa (I was looking forward to this and assumed it would be a highlight. Pale gold in color, oak on the nose – and unfortunately way too oaky. However, many of the other passengers dug it.); Cabernet Sauvignon Sequoia Grove (beautiful and for me the best wine of the tasting. Smooth, silky and a nice ride that concluded with a long finish).

Station 5: Valpolicella Classico Allegrini, Italy (nice, but non-descript red); Sparkling Ferrari Brut, Italy (great effervescence with a touch of sweetness).

Station 6: Albarino Paco Lola, Spain (straw in color, citrus on the nose and a mineral taste); Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva St. Carolina (nice, as I recall – but this was the 12th wine we tasted!).
The tasting was an outstanding event. Each station was set up with a flag representing the various countries to tie-in with the global theme. Not only were the wines enjoyable, but it was a great way to mingle with the other passengers.
Another thoughtful feature of the cruise was that if you ate in the main dining room (which we did) you could buy a bottle of wine and if you didn’t finish it, they would save it and you could have it with your meal the next evening. We enjoyed a superior white burgundy one evening (nothing left to save) and had a dynamite 2007 Pinot Noir Manzana Vineyard (Sonoma Coast) from Nickel & Nickel. Beautiful ruby color, dark fruit flavor notes with a touch of herbiness.

We were catered to by our sommelier who we got to know and who also learned our tastes. The ship has the most sommeliers I’ve ever seen in one place.

The cruise was a delight and the exceptional attention to the wine made sure it was smooth sailing the whole way!

Technorati Tags: wine

Vintage Indiana Wine and Food Festival

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The Vintage Indiana Wine and Food Festival, featuring wines from the Hoosier state and foods from the state's top culinary experts, is scheduled June 5 at Military Park in downtown Indianapolis. The festival is presented by the Indiana Wine Grape Council.

There will be 25 wineries participating and more than hundreds of wines to sample, all for $25. The Wine & Food Experience Pavillion will have food and wine sessions with chefs and winemakers. Entertainment will also be featured. Tickets are available online.

Vintage Indiana is in its 11th year and continues to grow, as does the Indiana wine industry. Last year eight new wineries opened in the state and up to 12 new wineries may open in 2010. Currently there are 46 wineries in the state.

Technorati Tags: wine

Toledo Wines and Vines Wins Washington Wine Blog Competition

We're celebrating! TWAV was selected as one of 12 national winners in the WBC or Bust blog competition sponsored by WineCHATr.com! As a winning citizen wine writer, TWAV won the opportunity to catch a free ride experiencing Washington wine country while attending the North American Wine Bloggers Conference in June.

More than 100 blog posts from around the country were judged in the following categories:

• Top 2 Best Washington winery posts
• Top 2 Best Washington wine or tasting note posts
• Best Washington growing region post
• Best Washington vineyard post
• Most Washington Related Posts

A total of 12 winning bloggers were selected.

Highlights of the WBC-or-Bust road trip include an exclusive winemaker dinner in Seattle at the Waterfront Seafood Grill, food and wine pairing at Chateau St. Michelle, a farm-sponsored lunch amongst the vines of DeBrul Vineyard and a Yakima Valley grand tasting at Prosser’s Vintner’s Village. And this is all before the North American Wine Bloggers Conference begins at Walla Walla.

During the WBC there will be wine tasting aplenty plus a live blogging wine tasting on two nights, one for reds and one for whites. We’ll be posting live so you can enjoy the wine with us (virtually, of course!).

To get some insight on Washington State’s wines, check out these TWAV stories:

Washington Wine: A Dash of Taste

Washington Micro-Wines Make A Splash in Toledo

Washington Wines: An Inside Look

Washington’s Five Star Cellars A Smooth Success

* If your winery would like us to sample your wines before the conference, please e-mail us at TWAV@att.net  for shipping information.

Technorati Tags: wine,Washington wines

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

W.I.N.O.S. Pairs Women and Shopping May 20

The Satek Winery, 6208 N. Van Guilder Road, Fremont, Indiana, has interested us for some time. It's located just off I-80 near Angola and so we've zipped past it on the way to various destination. The timing has never been quite right, so we've rolled on past the winery with a twinge of longing. From all appearances, Satek has some interesting wines and I'd like to sample what Indiana has to offer.

We intend to pay them a visit in the next few months. For those of you who can't wait, here is a special event combining wine, food, socializing and shopping that may catch your fancy.

W.I.N.O.S.-- Women in Need Of Shopping-- is scheduled for May 20th at Satek Winery.  It features an upscale party with gourmet finger foods catered by Sutton's Deli; a sampling of Satek wines at both indoor and outdoor tasting bars; some "retail therapy" at the Merchant Marketplace. You can enter drawings for numerous door prizes to be given away, mingle with friends and take in the gorgeous Spring weather in an outdoor tented picnic area.

The Merchant Marketplace features six vendors this month including Panache SalonSpa, Tastefully Simple, All About Me, Creative Memories, The Magnet Lady, and May Kay. In addition, Satek Winery will offer a 10% discount on all gift shop purchases that evening (wine purchases not included)!

Tickets are just $9 each, and if you buy your tickets before May 17th, you'll get a bonus Ice Wine Tasting (a $3 value) at no extra charge!

The event is held from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets are available for staggered entry times, but once you are in the door, you are welcome to stay as long as you like. When ordering your tickets, please indicate your preference of entry time: 6:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., or 7:30 p.m.

You can order your tickets online or you can charge tickets by phone by calling the winery during regular business hours at (260) 495-WINE.

Photo by Rudolf Vlcek

Destino Chardonnay Sonoma County

I had the opportunity to sample the Destino Chardonnay Sonoma County while visiting the uber-hip TWO urban licks restaurant in Atlanta. The restaurant is known for its "fiery American cooking" and its chic warehouse decor. What got my attention, however, is the unique wine wall. It stands 26 feet tall and holds 42 stainless steel barrels of wine and features a gravity flowed system for pouring. The barrels are displayed in a glass and steel, temperature controlled tower designed exclusively for TWO urban licks.

The wine barrel program is the only one of its kind in the country.

You can buy the wine in an assortment of quantities, ranging from a glass to a "thief." The theif is similar to a carafe, but holds 5 glasses of wine -- a bit more than your typical wine bottle.

I opted for the rotisserie chicken with the jalepeno glaze and Cuban sweet potatoes. The Destino was the perfect pairing. This wine is a different Chardonnay experience. Although aged in oak, there was no overt oakiness. It had a soft and subtle aroma. The taste was highlighted by minerality and a touch of herbs.

Destino is a boutique winery which handcrafts its wine. A check of their Web site didn't show a Sonoma County Chard for sale. Some of the wines offered at TWO are offered nowhere else, and that could be the case here.

Our business cocktail hour and dinner was in a unique courtyard at TWO, although inside the funky, industrial building, it had an outdoor feel and, in fact, I could look up and see the sky above through a large opening.

It was a great evening and the Destino is highly recommended as is TWO urban licks.

Wineries of Leelanau Peninsula Schedule Spring Sip and Savor

The wineries of Leelanu Peninsula (Traverse City, Michigan) are offering up Spring Sip & Savor on May 1 and 2 to provide seasoned wine trail guests or first time visitors with a memorable experience that will allow themyou to celebrate spring, indulge your senses and learn more about Leelanau Peninsula wines.

Visit up to eight wineries on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and up to eight on Sunday from noon to 5:00 PM.

Tickets are $30 and include wine and food pairings at each winery, a limited edition LPVA glass coffee cup and a $10 gift certificate, that can be used at any LPVA winery.

For additional information, visit www.lpwines.com/spring/

Photo by Jeff Kubina

Breitenbach Wine Cellars Hosts Dandelion Festival April 30 - May 1

Silly me. All these years I have been trying to keep dandelions out of my yard. In Ohio's Amish country they are baking them, making wine from them and, in fact, celebrating them with a very special festival.

BreitenbachWine Cellars, 5934 Old Route 39 NW, Dover, Ohio, (330) 343-3603, will hold its annual Dandelion Festival Friday April 30 from noon-7:00 PM and Saturday May 1 from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. This festival provides fun and many activities for the entire family. Dandelion wine sampling, cellar tours and live entertainment are scheduled for both days.


On May 1 at noon, children can enjoy the dandelion picking contest and making their own dandelion jelly. (Meet in front of the purple barn. This year you will be able to make your own dandelion pizzas. Dandelion sausage, dandelion bread, dandelion gravy, dandelion lasagna, dandelion ice cream and dandelion sangria will be available both Friday and Saturday.

The 17th Annual Great Dandelion Cookoff will be held Saturday, May 1 at 2:00 PM. This annual event
will be a major part of the festivities. Creative dandelion dishes provide tasty samplings while participants compete for cash awards. For those who big appetites for dandelion's, the Great Dandelion Cookbook is available through the winery.

Dandelions are great in food, they are fun to pick and they can beautify your life. A juried dandelion arts and craft show will feature beautiful handmade jewelry, oil and watercolor paintings, candles, hand-made soaps (including dandelion soap), books about dandelions and much more. Also, you can learn about cooking with dandelions and the healthful benefits of dandelions.

Greg Chek will be preparing Dandelion Pizza at 10:30 in the purple barn. Ruth Hale from "April Showers Greenhouse" will lecture on the healthful benefits at 11:30. At 12:30 Cheryl Cohen from Taste of Home Cooking School will have cooking demonstartions. She will be preparing "Dandelion Crescent Pie" and "Blueberry Medley Salad with Dandelion Greens". All of the food in the demonstrations will be available for sampling.

In the Dandelion May Run, runners compete for cash prizes. The course is 3.5 miles through beautiful, hilly Amish Country. Registration for the run begins at 7:30 AM on May 1. Be sure to stay afterward and enjoy the festival.

Entertainment is scheduled from noon to 7:00 PM on Friday and from 11 AM to 7 PM on Saturday.

Photo by Jenny Downing

Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail Celebrates Michigan Wine Month

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Celebrate Michigan Wine Month at Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail's "Michigan Wine Celebration" on Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18!

Tickets are $25 per person for this self-driven tour of the wineries of south-east Michigan.

Each winery along the trail will feature an appetizer or dessert prepared by a local chef and paired with their featured wine. The ticket price also includes one tasting glass. A recipe card with the featured recipe will be given out to ticket holders at each winery.

The wineries included in this event are:

• Burgdorf's Winery (Haslett) - Saturday only (until 5:00 pm)
• Chateau Aeronautique Winery (Jackson)
• Cherry Creek Cellars Old Schoolhouse Winery (Brooklyn)
• Lone Oak Vineyard Estate (Grass Lake)
• Pentamere Winery (Tecumseh)
• Sandhill Crane Vineyards (Jackson)
• Sleeping Bear Winery (Parma)

Chateau Aeronautique will be featuring delicious smoked salmon canapés with Chardonel cream sauce & cucumber relish prepared by Chef John Jones, paired with their Chardonel. The winery will be featuring live music from local musician Steve Tucker on Saturday from 2 pm to 5 pm

Ticket holders are welcome to visit each location over the two-day event, or they may choose to limit their visits (as time permits). The Wine Trail encourages ticket holders to bring a designated driver.

Hours of the event are Saturday, April 17, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday, April 18, from noon to 6:00 PM. There are a limited number of tickets available, ticket sales will end on Thursday, April 15, at midnight (or when sold out), and tickets will not be available the day of the event.

For more information call (517) 531-3080.

2nd Annual Southern Ontario Food & Wine Show Scheduled April 8 to 10 in Windsor

The 2nd Annual Southern Ontario Wine & Food Festival is scheduled April 8 to 10 in Windsor, Ont. The event offers food, wine from area wineries and entertainment. Admission is $15. The event will be held at the Windsor Expo Center and the show hours are: Thursday, April 8th ~ 5:00 PM - 12:30 AM, Friday, April 9th ~ 5:00 PM - 1:00 AM and Saturday, April 10th ~ 4:00 PM - 1:00 AM.

Featured entertainment includes:

Thursday: (Presented by University of Windsor Alumni), University of Windsor Jazz Ensemble - 5:45 - 6:45 PM, Alexander Zonjic - 7:00 - 8:30 PM and The Bomb Squad - 9:00 - 11:00 PM. http://www.bombsquadboom.com/

Friday: Shade Stone - 5:30 - 6:30 PM, Lynne & The Rebels - 7:00 - 9:00 PM http://www.myspace.com/lynneandtherebels, and Nemesis - 9:30 - 11:00 PM http://www.nemesisrocks.com/.

Saturday: Brooke Pashley & Brad Ouelette - 3:30 - 4:30 PM, Dream Catchers - 5:00 - 7:00 PM, Shakin Hoodoos - 7:30 - 9:00 PM and Big Wiggle - 9:30 - 1:00 AM.

Hotel packages are available at Quality Suites Windsor and Travelodge (Huron Road).

For further information on all shows, call (800) 787-9328.

Photo by Bill Masson

Finger Lakes Winter Wine Weekends Extended to April 30

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Winter Wine Weekends in Finger Lakes wine country are now extended through April 30. Demand for these packages has been strong, so most of the 27 participating accommodations are extending their valid dates from March 21 another 5 weeks until the end of April.

Participating lodging properties are offering "stay two nights, get the third night free." To make this promotion even more valuable you will receive a free bottle of a select Finger Lakes wine, and a free exclusive Palate Passport which offers free wine tastings, free museum visits, and other cool free stuff.

Did I mention, "free?"

Finger Lakes Wine Country Launches iPhone Travel App

The Finger Lakes Wine Country travel marketing group, in partnership with Discovery Anywhere Mobile, has announced the launch of a free travel application (app) for mobile devices. The travel app allows users to have information on wineries, attractions, restaurants, accommodations, and events in Finger Lakes Wine Country while also sharing their trip on social media. The app is one of the first in the travel industry to incorporate Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, into the trip sharing process.

The Finger Lakes Wine Country app places the user in driver seat to plan the perfect Wine Country getaway. To plan a wine country trip on-the-fly or in advance, the app’s interactive, location-aware capability features hundreds of continually updated listings. One user shared his thoughts: “Really slick app for exploring the possibilities of a FLX getaway. Love the AR feature – shows me what lies in store no matter which direction I’m headed. Great interface – smooth and simple with lots of info.”

The user can plan an escape to indulge in wine tours, peaceful views and unique experiences by searching through hundreds of activity listings. The user can read, write and share reviews for hundreds of accommodations, restaurants, wineries, and events. See what’s nearby with location-aware listings. Call accommodation providers, wineries, and restaurants with a single (iPhone) tap. The user can share experiences while on the go and read others’ reviews with live Twitter updates. With the live interactive map the user can drive off the beaten path and discover hidden treasures. With this app, the options are endless and the opportunities are great for the user to build an on-the-fly Wine Country getaway that will fit every personality.

To download the app visit the Apple Store on your iPhone or at http://www.apple.com/ and search “Finger Lakes.” The Finger Lakes Wine Country app is free to download. Applications for Blackberry and other mobile devices are coming soon.

Technorati Tags: wine

Finger Lakes: Leidenfrost Vineyards

Continuing a wrap-up of our fall Finger Lakes winery visits. The Leidenfrost family has raised grapes and made wine at their scenic Seneca Lake location since 1947 and was a stop on our whirlwind wine tour I was really looking forward to. During our Finger Lakes visit last year we were just a hop, skip and a jump from this winery, but it somehow didn’t make our itinerary. The somewhat Germanic name and chalet-style architecture of the winery beckoned to us this time around.

Leidenfrost Vineyards began production in 1990 and soon was selling some of the earliest Pinot Noirs, Merlots and Cabernets in the Finger Lakes. Their first shop was set up in a log cabin adjacent to the estate. The winery remains a family run operation and produces only 3,000 cases of wine annually.

The small, homey feel is apparent as soon as you enter the tasting room. The deck has a spectacular view of Seneca Lake and on the brilliant sunny day of our visit, it was a million-dollar panorama. Inside the tasting room, peanut shells littered the wooden floors as wine lovers munched on the nuts and tossed the “empties.” Leidenfrost is known for its reds, which are fermented in small batches in stainless steel tanks, keeping the emphasis on freshness and fruit. We dove right in to the Pinot Noir.

The 2007 Pinot Noir was nice with a touch of cedar in the bouquet, followed by fresh fruit and black cherry. We then had a tasty glass of Tango, a red blend with a smokiness and a touch of bacon.

The winner of the day was the 2008 Baco Noir, an awesome, delicious glass of this medium-bodied French-American hybrid. This is has a soft fruitiness with warm black pepper flavors.

The only place you can get all the Leidenfrost wines is in the tasting room. The winery is beginning to distribute to some locations in upstate New York, but your best bet is to go right to the winery Web site. The prices are amazingly low -- $15 for a great bottle of smooth Cabernet Sauvignon or an ‘07 Cabernet Franc.

The vibe here is a small, friendly winery with high-quality, low production wines in a scenic setting. During our visit they were offering a case discount of 25% (much better than the typical 10%) plus a “Winemaker’s Seven” where you could purchase seven bottles for the price of six.

Technorati Tags: wine

International Wine Festival in Cincy March 11-13

The 20th annual Cincinnati International Wine Festival, one of the Midwest's largest wine events, is scheduled to take place Thursday, March 11, through Saturday, March 13. The festival was founded in 1991 to promote the wine industry and raise funds for local charities. Each year the festival has grown with increasing winery participation, events and attendance. Wine legend Michael Mondavi is the honorary chair for this year's event.

The Festival is made up of four prominent events: the Winery Dinners, the Charity Auction and Luncheon, the Grand Tastings and the Russ Wiles Memorial Golf Tournament. Through these events the Wine Festival has donated almost $3 million dollars to local charities in the past 19 years.

"The Grand Tastings" are the centerpiece events of this multi-day festival and feature more than 130 wineries pouring nearly 600 wines, as well as delicious foods, souvenirs and live music. New, rare, and exciting wines from around the world are available for tasting. Whether you're a seasoned expert or an intrigued beginner, winemakers and winery representatives welcome you as they mix useful knowledge with exquisite samples of their art. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. A ticket for the special tasting room allows you to enjoy high end wines for one hour prior to the Grand Tastings. Each ticket will be an additonal charge of $35 for 7 tastes.

Winery Dinners combine the country's best winemakers with greater Cincinnati's finest chefs for an incomparable evening of perfectly complemented wines and fine cuisine. Reservations are limited and some dinners are now sold out. Other Festival events include cooking demos, wine-themed seminars, wine maker meet and greet opportunities and  off-site wine tastings.

Here's an overview of the schedule:

Grand Tastings: Duke Energy Convention Center

• Friday, March 12, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 13, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 13, 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Tickets: $60 - $75

Special Tasting Room: Duke Energy Convention Center

• Friday, March 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 13, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 13, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Tickets: $35 plus the purchase of a Grand Tasting ticket

Winery Dinners
10 of Greater Cincinnati’s Finest Restaurants
Thursday, March 11, 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $125 - $150

Charity Auction & Luncheon
Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Hall of Mirrors
Saturday, March 13
9:30 a.m. Reception and Auction Lot Preview
11:00 a.m. Live Auction
Winery Luncheon immediately following
Tickets: $125

Technorati Tags: wine

March 6 Ian Stewart Concert Set at Lone Oak Vineyard

Welsh born Ian Stewart, an accomplished singer/songwriter/guitarist who has played venues, large and small, all over the world will return to Lone Oak Vineyard Estate, 8400 Ann Arbor Rd., Grass Lake, Michigan, to perform on March 6. Ian plays a collection of classics, current, and original music, bringing warmth, personality and fun to every performance.
This encore performance by Ian Stewart is scheduled 6:00 to 9:00 PM. There is a $5 per person cover charge.

A prixe fixe dinner menu is offered: Chicken with Rosemary Cream Sauce or Grilled Shrimp with Spicy Apricot Sauce. Each entree will be served with roasted vegetables, salad and bread. Cost for dinner is $14 per person. Enjoy your meal with a glass of our estate grown wine. If you would like to have dinner, you must reserve your meal by 3:00 PM on Thursday, March 4. If you do not wish to have dinner, appetizers are also available.

Seating is limited to just 42, so reservations are a must. Call (517) 522-8167 to make your reservation.

Winegrowers of the Grand River Host 7th Annual Ice Wine Festival March 6 and 13

Fans of the rare and tasty treat ice wine can rejoice. The Winegrowers of the Grand River Valley are hosting the 7th Annual Ice Wine Festival from noon to 5 PM on Saturday, March 6 and Saturday, March 13.

The Winegrowers of the Grand River Valley include: Debonne Vineyards, Grand River Cellars, Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, St. Joseph Vineyard, and Laurello Vineyards. Joining in this festive event is South River Vineyards. The wineries are in the Madison-Geneva area in Northeast Ohio.

Toledo Wines and Vines has recently visited each of these wineries during special wine trail events. If you haven't had a chance to visit them yet, this is a golden opportunity. We are fortunate that our region has the grapes, climate and winemaking know-how to produce the rare and delightfully sweet ice wine. 
 
The cost for the event is only $5 at each winery. This is ridiculously low considering that the grapes for ice wine must be harvested at just the right temperature (freezing!) and all at once -- making this an expensive wine.

Patrons will visit each of the participating wineries and sample their ice wine along with a complimentary appetizer. Many of the wineries will also have a featured event including ice carving, jewelry shows, dog sledding demonstrations and much more.

The cost of $5 per person at each winery includes wine samples, appetizer and special events. (To make it even more of a deal, bring in a canned food item and receive $1 off per person and help support the local food banks.) For more information, call 440-466-3485. Here's a peek at the appetizer menu and special events:
DEBONNE’ VINEYARDS: Almond Butter Cookies served with Dried Apricots -- Ice Carving at 1 p.m. -- Ice Wine Martini Bar (small additional fee) -- Winter Glow Progressive Dinner- each Friday evening. Call 440-466-3485 for more information on the dinner.

FERRANTE WINERY & RISTORANTE: Crostini made with Caramelized Onions, Gorgonzola Cheese, and our Ice Wine Fig Jam -- 1 p.m. Cooking Demonstration by Chef Nina of Ferrante Winery -- 3 p.m. Local Artist Carol Johnson creating Glass Art Grape Jewelry -- 4 Course dinner specials paired with wine in the restaurant that evening.

GRAND RIVER CELLARS WINERY & RESTAURANT: Warm Peach Cobbler -- Ice Carving at 1 p.m. -- Live painting by area artist Wendy Peskar -- Free Wine Jelly Samples by Gathering’s on March 6th -- Ice Wine Marshmallow Roast All Day (small additional fee) -- Winter Glow Progressive Dinner- each Friday evening. Call 440-298-9838 for more information.

LAURELLO VINEYARDS: Dessert Pizza with a Cream Cheese topped with Strawberries, Pineapple and Crumbled Bacon -- Featuring Beach Glass Jewelry -- Free Wine Jelly Samples by Gatherings on March 13th -- Candlelight wine cellar dinner in our newly renovated 100 year-old barn following the ice wine festival each weekend. Chef Justin Severino will be preparing a 5 course family style meal paired with wine. Menu and cost to be announced at http://www.laurellovineyards.com/.

SOUTH RIVER VINEYARDS: Free Ice Wine Glass to the First 2,000 attendees -- Winter Glow Progressive Dinner- each Friday evening.

ST. JOSEPH VINEYARDS: Pound Cake With a Maple Glaze -- Maple Syrup Demonstrations

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Photo by Dominic Rivard

Ohio Winery Visit: The Winery at Spring Hill

Toledo Wines and Vines paid two visits to The Winery at Spring Hill, once in December and the second earlier this month during the Chocolate Lovers wine trail event by tasting team members Spider Man and Glorious T. Based on the great blend of great wine, friendly people and excellent tasting room and grounds, you can bet we'll be returning again in the near future to this Geneva, Ohio, establishment. This is a new winery that does everything right.

The first impression of the winery is "first class." The bar is impressive with granite counters and a spectacular display of wines. The main seating area can handle large groups -- and often does, especially during the weekend entertainment. The furnishings, lighting, seating and flooring is all top flight. The comfortable sofa and seating near the fireplace is especially welcoming during the cold winter weather.

The slogan for the winery is "Our heritage is fruit, our legacy fine wine." For many years the farms grew fruit before branching into winemaking. The winery still offers fruit wine as a link to the past, but our tasting team was most interested in the Spring Hill Premium Wine Collection, which included Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

During their recent visit, Spiderman and Glorious T were impressed, "The winery is an older farmhouse with contemporary touches and great ambiance and hospitality." Their tasting included Cahmbourcin, Merlot, Riesling and Vidal Blanc.

The Chambourcin exhibits a bright ruby/violet color. It is dry and fruity with a cranberry finish. The Chambourcin grape is really a regional treasure that grows very well in the Geneva area. The Riesling was of the sweeter variety and most of our tasting team prefers the dry version. However, the Vidal Blanc was a winner during both TWAV visits. Glorious T said the Vidal has a fruity aroma, citrus flavor notes and a nice finish.

In addition to the excellent wines, Spring Hill also has a nice menu of appetizers and a bakery, which whips up some nice desserts including a wine cake and Merlot brownie.

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