Wine Quote of the Week

"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Wine Quote of the Week

"My grandmother is over 80 and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle." ~ Henry Youngman

Wine Quote of the Week

"Great wine without great food is experiencing only half the pleasure." ~ Michael Mondavi

Wine Quote of the Week

"Wine is bottled poetry." ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Wine Quote of the Week

"What is better than to sit at the end of the day and drink wine with friends?" ~ James Joyce

Wine Quote of the Week

"Water divides the people of the world. Wine unites them." ~ Anonymous

WineTimers Oktoberfest

The October meeting of WineTimers brought forth the timely theme of Oktoberfest. Now, WineTimers know the Oktoberfest is much more about beer, but it did provide us the opportunity to feature some German wines. Scott and Pam were the hosts for the evening. The featured wines were two Rieslings to compare for sweetness. The first, 2006 Joseph Friederich Piesporter Michelsberg Kabinett,was made from the least ripe grapes, and the 2008 Joseph Friederich Piesporter Michelsberg Auslese was made fro a more ripened grape. We actually learned that tthere are 6 levels of ripeness in the riesling grapes, callled Prädikat and range ; in order from the least ripe to the ripest they are Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese (BA) Eiswein, and Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA). It is actually the ripeness of the grape that is rated, not the sweetness of the wine, but the ripest grapes do produce the sweetest wines.
It was a little more difficult to find a red German wine, as most German wines seem to be white. We did however come across Sun Garden Dornfelder. This is a medium bodied, very fruity red wine with a smooth taste to be enjoyed slightly chilled. Dornfelder is a relatively new grape that received varietal protection and was released for cultivation in 1979. Dornfelder has become quite popular in Germanyviticultural conditions which traditionally were seen as more suitable for white wine production.

The WineTimers were also entertained by our guest speaker, Marv and his wife Barb who specialize in home wine making. They belong to a similar wine group that meets to compare their home made wine and share the tricks of the trade. They call themselves "Superior Winers". .Marv told us a bit about the process of home winemaking, and the WineTimers had many questions as the evening went on. Best of all, Marv brought along 3 wine selections for us to try. I have to admit I was skeptical about wine made from rhubarb, but we were all pleasantly surprised by the wonderful flavors, and how the wines were, for the most part, more dry than sweet. The 3 wines sampled were Apple-Plum-Rhubarb, Cherry-Rhubarb and Oaked Raspberry. Many thanks to Marv and Barb for joining us and sharing their vast knowledge of home made wine. Maybe the Superior Winers and WineTimers will have to get together in the future. It's nice to know there's another active wine group in Superior! since it performs well under

Wine Quote of the Week

"I drink to the general joy of the whole table." ~ William Shakespeare

Wine Quote of the Week

"Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine so that I may wet my mind and think of something clever." ~ Anonymous

Wine Quote of the Week

"I drink champagne when I'm happy and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I'm not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it - unless I'm thirsty." -- Madame Lilly Bollinger

Wine Quote of the Week

"If Plato is a fine red wine, then Aristotle is a dry martini." -- Chet in Kicking and Screaming

A night of French Flair

With the arrival of Fall, the WineTimers have started their monthly "meetings". On Friday September 17th we were treated to a"Night with French Flair" hosted by Debi and Rick. Anxious to start up after our summer hiatus, all WineTimers were in attendance for the big night.
The wine tasting began with Cotes du Rhone from Delas, This was a smooth and delicious red wine, predominantly from the northern region of France as indicated by the dominance of Syrah. The blend consists of 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 5% Mourvededre, and 5% Carignan. This superb wine is described as having a "leather"nose, "like sticking your nose in a brand new wallet". It is also chocolaty with blackberry, plum and a little pepper.
The next selection was Beaujolais-Villages-2008 - Louis Jadot. Another red, this wine was a bit lighter and definitely dryer. The Gamay grape finds it's home in France's Burgundy region where it is responsible for the red wines of Beaujolais, producing light to medium bodied wines with modest tannins and good acidity. Do not, unfairly associate this wine with Beaujolais Nouveau, better known as the "Thanksgiving Wine".

Next, we sampled a 2008 Mouton Cadet Bordeaux. This wine had a clean, brilliant, pale gold color and an ample, nicely open nose, mingling peachy fresh fruit aromas with more complex notes of toasted hazelnuts and touches of dried apricots. The density of Semillon and the refinement of Sauvignon combine in a generous and beautifully balanced finish, the mark of a good vintage.
The last of the French wines to be tasted for the evening was Vouvray Demi-Sec. Another white wine, this selection was a bit sweeter than the last. This Loire Valley wine has a pleasing bouquet. It is soft and pleasant. This "just off dry" Vouvray is ripe, voluptuous, apple with a zingy citrus finish.

Many thanks to our hosts Debi and Rick for a wonderful evening that not only included wine, but wonderful French bread, cheeses, and steak and chicken kabobs.
The WineTimers look forward to our next gathering in October, exact date and theme not determined. Stay tuned...

Wine Quote of the Week

"Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used." -- William Shakespeare

Wine Quote of the Week

"If God forbade drinking, would He have made wine so good?" -- Cardinal Richeleu

Wine Quote of the Week

"Wine and wenches empty men's purses." -- English Proverb

Featured Wine Club: The New York Times Wine Club

The New York Times is well known as one of the most trusted new sources today. So why not trust them for wine, too?

Introducing The New York Times Wine Club!

From their site: Our Wine Club provides wines from the best regions of the world - direct from family run, boutique wineries with limited presence in the U.S. - selected for your enjoyment by experts from Global Wine Company to create a truly unique tasting experience.

By joining The New York Times Wine Club, you will not only receive wine in the mail, but you'll also receive tasting notes, related articles from the Times archives and gourmet recipes for your wine!

Sounds like a good choice to me!

Wine Quote of the Week

"Wine is bottled poetry." -- Robert Louis Stevenson

Wine Quote of the Week

"Good wine ruins the purse; bad wine ruins the stomach." -- Spanish saying

Wine Quote of the Week

"I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines." -- Oliver Goldsmith

New Wine Opportunities in Superior!

Two new wine experiences have opened in Superior, WI-- and neither is a bar! If you know anything about Superior, we love bars! Anyway, we visited both establishments and here's what we learned. The first one is called Wine Beginnings and is owned by Kim Moen. It's located on Tower Avenue, Superior's main drag. Wine Beginnings has all of the equipment and wine kits necessary to make your own wine at home. Kim's shop is very pleasant with a small assortment of wine themed gift items. Wine Beginnings also offers classes to teach the art of wine making at home. Classes are available by appointment and features some wine tasting upon completion. You can call for an appointment 715-392-VINO or just stop by.
The second establishment is called Wine Tyme Winery and is located on busy East 2nd Street in the Itasca area of Superior. Wine Tyme Winery is owned and operated by Linda and Tom Anesi. The winery offers wine kits and equipment for home wine making, but also will allow customers to make wine on site to be bottled at a future date. The owners make a variety of wines for sale, as well as for tasting when you visit the winery. We had the chance to taste several of the wines made at the winery and even bought a couple of bottles to take with us. Tom was very informative and knowledgeable about the wine making business. They also offer wine making sessions, for groups such as the WineTimers, by appointment, to include some wine tasting as well. For more information, call Wine Tyme Winery 715-392-1888.
Since I enjoy a good wine gift shop, I hope both shops will include more gift items for wine lovers like us!

Wine Quote of the Week

"The best use of bad wine is to drive away poor relations." -- French proverb

Featured Wine Club: Wine Insiders

This month's featured wine club is Wine Insiders, an online wine club with a smooth simplicity to it that allows users to not only join wine clubs themselves, but give the gift of a wine club to a friend!

When joining a club, you can choose from California Wines, World Classics Wines and the Connoisseurs Wine Club. And right now, they are offering free shipping on their individual bottle sales, which means you have money to buy more wine!

Wine Quote of the Week

"God made only water, but man made wine." -- Vixtor Hugo

Wine Quote of the Week

"Wine is the most healthful and most hygienic of beverages." -- Louis Pasteur

Wine Quote of the Week

"Up to the age of forty eating is beneficial. After forty, drinking." -- The Talmud

4th of July Wine Style!

With no particular plan for 4th of July weekend, Scott and Pam set out for the Brainerd Lakes area in Minnesota. We had no destination or reservations on arguably the busiest weekend of the year in this beautiful resort area. As it happens, we stopped at a fabulous resort on Gull Lake, Grand View Lodge. Although there was no room at the inn, we did walk around the grounds and enjoyed this very large resort in a rustic setting, but with all modern amenities as well as 2 golf courses. Scott had heard about a possible wine tasting at the resort on July 3rd and sure enough-- it was true! We entered the Gull Lake Center and proceeded to a tastefully decorated meeting room on the lower level and were pleased to see tables set-up for the wine tasting. The event was hosted by the Lodge's own wine sommelier, Timothy Edmunds. For those who don't know, a sommelier is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, commonly working in fine restaurants who specializes in all aspects of wine service including wine and food matching. The sommelier is often responsible to purchase the wine for the wine cellars at fine restaurants.
Mr. Edmunds treated us to 6 wines, chosen for the occasion-- all American, in honor of the holiday. The wines for the day were: Chateau St. Michelle Riesling, Bontera Viognier, Hamacher 2005 Pinot Noir, Michael David 2008 Petite-Petit, Kunde 2000 Zinfandel, and the bonus wine, Hahn Estates Meritage (rhymes with Heritage). With each wine presented, Mr. Edmunds provided background information as well as general wine information, no doubt gathered through his training. We also had a tour of the extensive wine cellar at Grand View and a generous spread of cheese, crackers, and fruit to enjoy with the wine.
An unusual 4th of July weekend to be sure, but definitely fun!

Wine Quote of the Week

"Wine rejoices the heart of man and joy is the mother of all virtues." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

WineTimers as Parrotheads

Yes it's true, some of the WineTimers are also Parrotheads and we made our annual pilgrimage to Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI to hear our favorite musical hero, Jimmy Buffett. As usual, a great time was had by all. The tailgating party did not disappoint as very hot weather brought out all sought after body parts! The boys had a good time searching for the ever present breast flashing games.
All that aside, a few of us WineTimer/Parrotheads spent a night in WI Dells. We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of golf at an incredibly beautiful course, Wild Rock Golf Club. Since we all had quite a workout due to "cart path only" golf, we treated ourselves to a fabulous dinner at The House of Embers. WineTimers agreed that the food was fantastic, but we also had some fun with bottles of wine that were all on sale at $17 each. As any wine fan knows, a $17 bottle of wine is a rarity in restaurants, so we were determined to see if any were worthy of the WineTimers. We ordered 3 bottles off the bat and were graciously served by our fantastic waitress, Holly.
First, we started with Boogle red table wine. We definitely thought this was pretty good for the price if not particularily complex. None of us had tried the brand before, and we thought the name was fun. Next we tried Cupcake Cabernet Sauvignon and were pleasantly surprised by this deep, red, rich wine. Once the second bottle was gone, we decided to compare with a second cabernet. Our next $17 bottle of cab was a 2007 Napa Creek brand. Again, this cabernet was enjoyed to the last drop with mixed comments about which cab was preferred. From past experience, we know that not all WineTimers agree on wine choices, but we do always have fun. It is a rare occasion that a bottle is not emptied, no matter what the opinion of the wine is. Many thanks to Holly who had extreme patience with the WineTimers. She must have had fun too, since she gave us her card and wanted to know about our group. I will be e-mailing our blog link to her and I hope she will check in to see what we're up to as we continue our wine adventures.

Featured Wine Club: Uncorked Ventures

Uncorked Ventures is an online wine store and wine club, offering high-wuality wine at all price levels.

Uncorked Ventures offers 3 different wine clubs, and offer them monthly or quarterly. Their wine clubs are the Wine Exploration Club, the Reserve Selections Wine Club and the Special Selections Wine Club. With choices like these, Uncorked Ventures is bringing new and delicious wines to your door when you want them.

Uncorked Ventures also offers a limited selection of some of their favorite wines for purchase on the website. This way, if you liked one wine, you can co ahead and order another bottle while waiting for your next wine club shipment to arrive.

Wine Quote of the Week

"It is better to hide ignorance, but it is hard to do this when we relax over wine." -- Heraclitus

Wine Quote of the Week

"Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup
And I'll not look for wine."
-- Ben Jonson

Wine Quote of the Week

"From wine what sudden friendship springs!" -- John Gay

WineTimers!

Here are the WineTimers at the last "meeting" before the summer break. Be sure to check in for summer updates!

Wine Quote of the Week

"Fill ev'ry glass, for wine inspires us,
And fires us
With courage, love and joy.
Women and wine should life employ.
Is there ought else on earth desirous?"
-- John Gay

WineTimers Last Hurrah for the Season!

So the last event before our summer break for the WineTimers took place at Bobbie and Frank's on May 28th. All of the WineTimers were present for the "Summer Wine" theme of the night. We enjoyed a wonderful evening in the backyard that ended with a fabulous bon fire.
The Summer Wines started out with Risata Moscato d'Asti - Italy. Bobbie's research revealed that "Risata" means laughter, and as usual there was much laughter to go around. Risata Moscato d’Asti is fresh and fragrant with vibrant flavors and aromas of ripe stone fruit, tangerines, and honey. The wine is concentrated and flavorful, but not overly rich or heavy; sweet, yet balanced. The grapes are hand harvested and grown in a combination of limestone and sandstone soils from the cool, hilly Asti region in northwestern Italy. The grapes are crushed, chilled to almost freezing in stainless steel vats, then fermented and bottled to capture the resulting carbon dioxide. The result is a low alcohol, slightly effervescent wine, or what the Italians call vino frizzante.
Nothing is better than hanging out with friends on a warm summer evening with a glass of muscato and a bowl of fresh fruit. You won't be disappointed-- and we weren't!
Next we had Barefoot Pinot Noir - California. This light red wine is billed as "Great wine without attitude! Barefoot began as a "garage wine" back in the sixties. They are teamed up with the grass roots non-profit, the Surfrider Foundation, to create the Barefoot Beach Rescue Project, designed to clean up beaches and ensure they are "Barefoot friendly."
Pinot noir, a red wine made from black grapes, thrives in France's Burgundy region. Pinot noir grapes are an ancient variety that may be only one or two generations removed from wild vines. By volume most Pinot noir in America is grown in California. Barefoot Pinot Noir is a medium bodied wine with tantalizing flavors of ripe cherry and wild raspberry. Hints of vanilla and spice complement a smooth lingering finish.
Next we were treated to a taste of Trapiche Torrontes. Torrontés is the characteristic white wine grape of Argentina, producing fresh, aromatic white wines. A good Torrontes will have an intense nose of flowers and tropical fruits but don't get confused and think that means it will be sweet. Torrontes is usually bone dry with a light to medium weight, good acidity and a long finish. This was a very dry, light wine, perfect for any patio gathering.
Last but definitely not least, Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon was served. The Alexander Valley in the heart of Sonoma Valley is best known for their outstanding cabernet savignon grapes. This reserve Cabernet Savignon exhibits rich aromas of blackberry and currants, and dried herbs and olives, with round and supple tannins typical of Alexander Valley cabernet. Rich and chewy, it is plush and smooth on the palate with perfectly integrated oak. New world cabernet savignons, such as this one, often have more pronounced ripe fruit flavors than Old World wines from regions like Bordeaux.
And of course we can't forget the healthy benefit of Reservatrol--naturally occurring substance in grapes is believed to reduce the chance of heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. I'm sure this is the number one reason that WineTimers drink wine!As usual we had a great time enjoying summer wine and food with our wine loving friends.
We all look forward to the first gathering of the Fall season of WineTimers in September and hosted by Debi and Rick. Stay tuned this summer for an occasional entry and a re-cap of all the great wines we have tried since the beginning of WineTimers!

Wine Quote of the Week

"Who does not love wine, women, and song
Remains a fool his whole life long."
-- Johann Heinrich Voss

Featured Wine Club: The Wine Club

With their slogan "Pairing wine with people since 1985" The Wine Club shows us exactly what they are about in 6 words.

The Wine Club offers many different types of mailing clubs to subscribe to, including Sleeping Beauties and The Dynamic Duo. Fantastic names for some fantastic wine that will be delivered right to your doorstep!

The Wine Club also features wines on their site for purchase, and has wine sales, so you can get great wine at a discounted price.

Wine Quote of the Week

"What though youth gave love and roses,
Age still leaves us friends and wine."

-- Thomas Moore

Wine Quote of the Week

"I rather like bad wine . . . one gets so bored with good wine." -- Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield

Wine Quote of the Week

"Wine comes in at the mouth
And love comes in at the eye;
That's all we shall know for truth
Before we grow old and die."
-- William Butler Yeats

Wine Quote of the Week

"With bread and wine you can walk your road." -- Spanish Proverb

Wine Tasting Winds Down

So... some WineTimers attended a wonderful wine tasting last week at the new UWS Yellowjacket Union. The night was billed as "An Evening of Wine and Jazz", and that it was. There was an extensive array of wines presented by the Keyport Lounge. As always the pourers were well versed in the wines they served. (One of the pourers wondered where her helper Frank was that night).The WineTimers reserved a table for the event. The wines provided on the table were Twisted Chardonnay and Twisted Zinfandel. Both thoroughly enjoyed as we sampled various other wines at the tasting tables. The jazz music provided a great backdrop to enjoy wine, food and conversation among friends. This wine tasting has been an annual event at UWS and enjoyed by alumni and community members alike. The fabulous food was provided by A'viands a Minneapolis based company whose motto is "beginning every day from scratch." Sadly, the wine tasting season is winding down for the year. Please let us know of any wine tasting events coming up, just in case we have missed any... Here's to wine tasting, a truly sublime pleasure, enjoyed by WineTimers!
Stay tuned for news of our next gathering at Bobbie and Frank's, May 27th!

Featured Wine Club: Celebrations Wine Club

Another month - another wine club!

Celebrations Wine Club offers a wide variety of clubs to register for - including Red Wine Clubs, White Wine Clubs and Combination Wine Clubs.

But after you join, wine lovers have access to many great perks, including a Celebrations Wine Club newsletter, and the ability to order wine online. Now, once you sample a fantastic wine and need to have 5 more bottles immediately, you can!

Wine Quote of the Week

"Wine gives courage and makes men more apt for passion." -- Ovid

Winetasting for WineTimers

Some of the WineTimers attended the wine tasting at the Depot in Duluth last Wednesday. It was a wonderful turnout to benefit the Minnesota Ballet. The wine tasting event Titled "Wine & Chee's" featured original art work by local artist Cheng-Khee Chee. (The artist was in attendance at the event). The food was fabulous with many local vendors providing sumptuous appetizers. The Keyport provided the wines and as always, friendly information about the wonderful wine selections. Toward the end of the evening, Frank went behind the tables to help pour. Bobbie was not too sure his help was appreciated, but it gave me an idea, that maybe the WineTimers could volunteer to pour at one of these wine tasting events! Not sure of the requirements to be a wine pourer, but willing to find out and see if we can do this sometime in the future-- stay tuned...
The next wine tasting event is at UWS on Thursday April 29th for " An Evening of Wine and Jazz". This has been a wonderful event for many years and we look forward to another great night out.
The next WineTimers event is on Thursday May 27th, hosted by Bobbie and Frank. After this, the WineTmers are planning to break for the summer, but no doubt a few inpromptu sessions will be held. Be sure to check in for further details.

Wine Quote of the Week

"A thousand cups of wine do not suffice when true friends meet, but half a sentence is too much when there is no meeting of minds." -- Chinese proverb

Wine Quote of the Week

"Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever." -- Aristophanes

WineTimers Over the Tapas!

On Friday April 9th, the WineTimers were treated to a "night with Spanish flare" by Anna and Blair. They truly rose to the occasion as only WineTimers can do and put on a fabulous event. The wines of the evening were all selected to pair with various "tapas" prepared by Anna. Tapas is literally defined as "small plate" and used for appetizers or snacks. When Anna and Blair traveled to Spain, they enjoyed opportunities to share tapas at Spanish establishments, equivalent to American bar hopping, with an epicurean twist. As Anna shared with the group, tapas in Spain are served communal style, each person armed with a glass of wine and a fork. The serving of tapas is designed to encourage conversation. It is customary for diners to stand and move about while eating tapas.
The first Spanish wine introduced to the group was a 2008 Salneval Albarino made by the Condes de Albarei winery. This wine has an expressive nose of white florals, green apple, pear and grapefruit. It smells refreshing but also complex. Slightly spritzy with bracing and ultimately refreshing acidity. Racy and zesty, but at the same time, round and soft.
The second wine was also an Albarino, a 2008 Burgans Albarino Rias Baixas. This wine is light, bright yellow in color. Lively lemon and lime aromas are complimented by melon, pear and salty minerals. The Albarino grape can be blended (and often is)! Only wine made from 100% albarino grapes can bear the label "Albarino wine". Most of the Albarino wine hails from the Rias Baixas-- a Spanish controlled appellation.
The last of the white wines served was Marques de Caceres Satinela. Henri Forner established this winery and named it for his friend who was also and investor in the winery. The wine is described as "full in the mouth with delicious fruit flavors of apples, pears and white peaches. It's silky, unctuous characteristic is enlivened by a refined acidity making it pleasantly light" Not one WineTimer knows what "unctuous" means, but it provided a great opportunity for many humorous comments.
To go with the very light and refreshing white wines, the group was served tapas of shrimp, swimming in a butter, garlic sauce and crostini to soak up the sauce-- a perfect pairing with Albarino!
The reds began with Tapena Garnacha. The garnacha grape was born in Spain, but is known to most of the world as Grenache. Garnacha is the most widely planted red wine grape in Spain. This wine is full bodied, but still lively with rounded tannins that combine with the fruit to produce a velvet finish.
Next we were treated to Tapena Tempranillo. Tempranillo (temp-rah-NEE-yo) translates as "the little early one". Think of tempranillo as something like pinot noir in blue jeans. Luscious red cherry fruit wrapped around an earthy, intense center. The finish is long and layered with a hint of coffee and chocolate and a pinch of spice.
The tapas paired with the reds, included a skewer of tender, juicy steak perfectly done, and then a tapas of chorizo sausage with cheese and small potatoes (tater tots!) with a wonderful dipping sauce.
As we learned from Anna, the word Tapena is derived from the combination of Tapas and Pena, which is slang for a group of close friends, a perfect complement for an evening of food, wine and conversation for WineTimers!

Wine Quote of the Week

"Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" -- Robert Fripp

Featured Wine Club: Cellars Wine Club

At the beginning of every month, we are going to feature a different wine club for you to join, so you can receive wine at your doorstep! I mean, if you don't have to go out for it, what better way is there to enjoy wine?

These wine clubs also allow you to sample new brands and styles of wines that you haven't tried before, thus widening your palette and exposing you to something new.

Our first featured wine club - Cellars Wine Club.

Cellars Wine Club is not just one, but 11 wine clubs. When you sign up, you can choose from one of their wine clubs, including the Single Bottle Club, the Red Trio Club or the International Wine Club.

Great as a gift or a wonderful treat for you, the Cellars Wine Club has something for everyone's taste - and can allow you to try something new!

Wine Quote of the Week

"It is is better for pearls to pass through the lips of swine than good wine to pass through the lips of the indifferent" -- Mark Luedtke

Upcoming Wine Tastings!

Just want to mention some upcoming wine tastings in our area. On Wednesday April 21st, the event is at the Depot in Duluth. All proceeds are to benefit the Minnesota Ballet. The sponsors include Keyport Liquor, CPL Imaging and Cheng-Khee Chee (local artist). This is a wonderful event we have attended many times in the past. Good wine, great food and of course, the silent auction!
The next wine tasting is on Thursday April 22nd. Titled, Wine in the Woods is the annual Hartley benefit auction now a spring event. Delectable treats, delicious wines, top-shelf items to bid on, it's all here. We have never attended this one, Fall or Spring, but it looks like another fun event to benefit a great cause.
Last and surely not least, An Evening of Wine and Jazz is again being sponsored by the UWS Alumni Association on Thursday April 29th. This has been a fabulous event over the years. We were concerned that they weren't going to have it this year with the transition from Rothwell to the new Yellowjacket Union, but are now excited to attend this great event, and also explore the new student union at UWS!
Check out the websites for further event details and ticket info. Be sure to add any other wine tasting events you're aware of. We just hate to see the "season" end:-(

Educational opportunities

In the previous post, we mentioned the wine tasting event to benefit the scholarship program at WITC. We also wanted to mention that WITC offers wine tasting classes, both in the Fall and Spring semesters. A few of us took a couple of the classes, and found them quite informative as well as fun. Our "professor" Tim Grenier, from Saratoga Liquor is both well informed and humorous, as he teaches to eager students, who don't mind studying one little bit for these classes! Information about registering for upcoming classes can be found by clicking on the WITC link.

WineTimers in-between

So, no new meeting to report on as the WineTimers are not officially meeting until April 9th when Anna and Blair host a night with Spanish flare. We're all looking forward to that, but in the meantime, what are WineTimers to do? Well, the answer is go to local wine tastings! Several of the group have attended various wine tasting functions over the past 2 months. The events are nicely done and provide opportunities to support local charities through ticket purchases as well as the quintessential silent auction, found at all such events. For those of us who attend, we can agree that Karen and Jeff are the big "winners" at all silent auctions. They have collected numerous great deals and look forward to many more as the wine tasting season starts to wind down in April.
On Thursday March 25th, a few WineTimers could be found at the Taste of the Vineyards, a wine tasting hosted by WITC to raise money for scholarships. The event was held at the Nemadji Golf Course Clubhouse. Wines were provided for tasting by the Belknap, and Saratoga Liquor. We had a great time and thanks to the organizers who made this a success.
As an aside, Scott and Pam visited with acquaintances, Marv and Barb. After catching up on our kid's activities, we found out that they belong to a group of friends that call themselves "The Winers", and they make all of their own wine! Very cool. After talking with them, I saw a tremendous opportunity to have the Winers join the WineTimers for a meeting and talk about their winemaking process and possibly taste some home brew? We are going to work at trying to set this up for one of our future meetings-- should be fun, and informative...
Another opportunity for the WineTimers will be a future event held at Fairlawn museum. Karen and Jeff were all over this at the silent auction and got it with the support of other WineTimers, Bobbie and Frank, and Scott and Pam. This promises to be a fun event coming up in our future.
Let us know about other wine tastings. We're always up for a night of good friends and fine wine!

Wine Quote of the Week

"In water one sees one's own face; But in wine, one beholds the heart of another." -- An Old Frech proverb

Did You Know You Can Put Wine In Cupcakes?

A friend of our daughter's loves to bake. She even posts some of her favorite recipes on her blog, complete with pictures.

Which is how we found out she made Chocolate Red Wine Cupcakes!

Yes, they look delicious, so scoot on over to Ashley Sassy Pie to take a look at the pictures of her cupcakes and read how she baked the cupcakes.

Perhaps we will have to try Chocolate Red Wine Cupcakes at an upcoming WineTimers, don't you think?

Wine Quote of the Week

"Give me wine to wash me clean of the weather-stains of care." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

WineTimers March On!

The March WineTimers meeting commenced on Friday March 12^th at Nancy and Mike’s. They planned a picnic theme and despite 30 some degrees and a stiff wind off the Lake, Mike grilled fabulous bratwurst from Superior Meats out on his patio. As he said, the weather wasn’t a great deal different than some of the days we have during the summer when the wind is strong off of Lake Superior, with fog and heavy mist.

WineTimers were introduced to 3 wonderful wines prior to our picnic fare. The first up was a 2005 Monterey County Pinot Noir called Irony. The description boasted “layers of sweet cherry, fresh raspberries,cola and earthy mushrooms”. We weren’t too sure about the “mushroom” flavor, but found the wine to be a very pretty, light red wine that would be an excellent accompaniment to any picnic. Mike and Nancy invited the group to share a story of “irony” in our lives, and that provided many laughs for the group… “Embracing Life’s Strange Twists”.

The next featured wine was a 2008 Domaine Pichot Vouvray from the Jean-Claude Pichot winery (France), produced in the family tradition, dating back to 1734. This wine is described as a “fresh, floral chenin blanc with crisp acidity and rich concentration, the Vouvray is slightly dry, pure and intense”. I don’t think anyone goes immediately to vouvray, when we think about a white wine, but what a wonderful selection for a very early Spring(?) picnic.

The third offering of the night is a special wine that Mike discovered at an event at the Kitchee Gammi Club in Duluth, MN. The Triton 2005 Vinas Del Cenit (Spain) hails from the remote region of Zamora, where they have cultivated a unique clone of Tempranillo for centuries. For this wine, small, hand harvested clusters of fully matured grapes were carefully chosen from 100 year old vines which have grown as thick as one’s torso. “The wine has an elegant balance of ripe red fruit flavors and a delicate spiciness. A hint of dark chocolate completes the long finish”. This is a very “grown-up”, rich red wine that is now on my list of favorites. Although not usually available in our area, it can be found online.

Last but definitely not least, Nancy provided a chocolate experience for all. Chocolat by Quintessential Chocolates (California Cabernet), a European style liquid center chocolate with a sugar crust creating a barrier for the true Liqueur Praline found inside. The key is to place the entire piece in our mouth, then bite to capture all of the liquid essence. This was a wonderful chocolate experience and what can be better than chocolate and wine in one bite!

The WineTimers enjoyed a wonderful picnic with fabulous wine and look forward to our next meeting as we forge ahead in our quest to learn about and sample different wines of the world. So much wine… so little time…

Wine Quote of the Week

“When wine enlivens the heart, may friendship surround the table” --Oliver Wendell Holmes

February WineTimers... With Boone's Farm?!?!

The second meeting of WineTimers was February 11^th. The group assembled at Jeff’s with Karen and Jeff as our hosts for the evening. They chose an Italian night theme and held a blind tasting, featuring 5 wines (2 whites, 2 reds, and a rose`). The members had the opportunity to characterize and rate the wines one by one.

The laugh of the night came when the wines were “revealed” and the rose` actually turned out to be none other than Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill! Prior to the reveal, the comments ranged from Mike thinking it tasted like Shasta pop, Frank thinking it was quite drinkable and Scott pouring his down the drain! The WineTimers then took a nice walk down memory lane as everyone had some experience (good or bad) with this "fine" wine... Thanks Karen and Jeff for the memories!

Other featured wines of the night included:

• Kroara Piemonte Cortese
• Bella Sera Pinot Grigio
• Bolla Valpolicella
• Placido Chianti

The night also included various appetizers with an Italian flare and a wonderful pasta dish served up by our hosts.

Be sure to check in for our next WineTimers meeting. Feel free to share your Boone's Farm experiences with us.

The First WineTimers Meeting

And so it begins… Our first meeting for WineTimers was January 14^th. Since the idea to form the group was Scott’s, he and Pam had the honor of hosting the first event. There was full attendance at this first meeting and a good time was had by all—although it did go a little later than we thought… :)

Scott and Pam introduced 2 wines to the group:

• 2008 Clos LaChance Glittering-Throated Emerald Chardonnay (unoaked)
• 2007 Desert Wind Ruah.

The Clos LaChance Winery & Estate Vineyard is located in San Martin, CA (20 miles south of San Jose). The 2008 unoaked chardonnay was one of the wines features last summer from the California Wine Club. We found the wine to be very light and crisp and perfect for a warm evening on the patio.

The Desert Wind Winery is located in Columbia Valley, Washington. The Desert Wind Ruah is a medium red wine varietal blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. This Ruah was a discovery about 2 years ago at a wine tasting at Surdyk’s in Minneapolis. We found it to be a very smooth and drinkable red wine that goes with virtually everything. Unfortunately we have been unable to find this wine in our area of Wisconsin, but enjoy a trip to the Twin Cities now and then, to pick up a few bottles (and enjoy the wine tasting at Sudyk’s).

We were satisfied with these wines, and hope you’ll be able to give them a try as well! If you’ve already sampled either of the wines listed above, let us know what you thought of them in the comments below.

Welcome To WineTimers!

WineTimers is our wine club that was formed by a group of friends who enjoy wine, want to learn more about wine and socialize in a relaxed setting, on a regular basis. We have loosely developed guidelines for our "meetings". The guidelines are:

• Meet once a month
• The host for the month provides 2 featured wines (one red and one white is suggested but not required)
• The host will also provide information to guests about the featured wines
• Guests will bring appetizers to share

As stated, these are only guidelines and each host in any given month can adapt as they choose for their event.

We look forward to sharing our wine experiences with you. Keep checking in and post comments if you please!