Homecomings of the past
Spotted: Optimist Run at VOA Park
Extreme Makeover: Home edition
Winery guessing game: Where was this photo taken?
Whaddaya think: Where was this photo taken? The answer appears in the jump (click on “continue reading)…
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What to do with unwanted wine fridge, and a busy weekend of wine
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Tastings? Yer darn tootin’, as Sarah Palin might say. And in addition to the regular lineup, the wines for the Dayton Art Institute are listed toward the bottom of the list, according to the fine team of wine listserv experts who compile this list.
But we also have this morning a question I pass along from a reader — a local wine enthusiast I got to know back when I was covering the higher education beat. Here’s his query:
Mark: I have two wine refrigerators that I am not using and would like to dispose of by either sale or donation. They cost $250 each and hold 24 bottles each. I will sell them for $50 each or both for $80. They are practically brand new and have hardly been used. Do you know of anyone who might be interested, perhaps through the wine blog? If I can’t find a buyer, I will consider a donation to one of the community wine events, where they could be auctioned and I would get credit as a donation. Any suggestions you have would be appreciated.
What do you think? Would the Fleurs de Fete or some other wine-themed charitable event be interested in accepting a donation of this type, or would opening the door to accepting used items for auction set a bad precedent?
And now … on with the tastings. A Super Saturday awaits at Arrow Centerville, and looking ahead, quite a run of special events Oct. 14-16, starting with two back-to-back events at Cuvee featuring visiting winery folks and eats, followed by a special event at Mr. Lee’s off of Poe Avenue north of Dayton on Oct. 16, among the many fine events available to you with just a click of your mouse button …
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Inventor claims ultrasound device turns plonk into fine wine
I … I … I don’t know what I could possibly add to this story from The Telegraph in London headlined “Ultrasound machine ‘turns cheap plonk into fine wine in 30 minutes’” … Blind taste test, anyone?
Thanks to eagle-eyed Uncorked reader Bob for culling this little gem from the pile of coal …
Winery site allows Amazon-style ‘customer reviews’ of its wines
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Here’s an intriguing development: Customers can submit Amazon-style product reviews (in this case, wine) on the winery web site of Dry Creek Vineyards.
Does anybody know of anyone else doing something like this? Dry Creek Vice President Kim Stare Wallace is quoted in a news release as saying, “This is cutting edge stuff for wineries. Most of our brethren wait around for the latest, greatest review in order to sell their wine. With customer testimonials, it’s the real deal. We’re posting first-hand experiences with our wines. We might be extending our necks a bit for some potential criticism, but we’re willing to take that risk. We’re confident that our wines will win out.”
I don’t know anyone at Dry Creek personally, but based on the thin-skinned personalities of some other winemakers and vineyard owners I’ve encountered, it’s hard to imagine some of them resisting the temptation to censor — um, I mean, take down — a scathing customer review that the winemaker considers unfair, uninformed, or perhaps “planted” by a scheming competitor.
That doesn’t seem to be even a potential problem so far on the Dry Creek reviews, which have been overwhelmingly positive. The only glitch seems to be that some reviewers’ low scores don’t make sense next to their glowing comments, as if they may have filled out the zero-to-five stars portion of the evaluation incorrectly.
What do you think of this idea? Would you use a winery’s customer feedback scores to guide your wine-buying decisions?
Internet free-speech case hinges on winery defamation claim
What do you think?
Most intriguing wine-related story on the web so far this week has got to be this piece from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat headlined “Korbel sues over postings on Craigslist/Wine giant accuses anonymous critics of defamation; case could test free speech on Internet.”
What could turn out to be a landmark case involving free speech and the web involves sex, a bitter family dispute, and a century-old California winery. Who woulda thunk?
Ohio wineries gear up for harvest with special events and more
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The folks at the Ohio Wine Producers Association and several Ohio wineries are putting together a wealth of activities this fall, and they sent me an email telling me all about it. Here are some excerpts:
Fall is here - the sky is blue, the clouds puffy white and the trees ablaze with reds, yellows and oranges. It is harvest time in Ohio’s Vineyards.
The Ohio Wine industry has lots of ideas to share to make this most glorious of seasons most memorable.
FALL FROLIC WINE TRAIL COMING UP
Road Trip!: Along the Canal Country Wine trail from Akron to Canton and east to Youngstown. Sample great wines, enjoy appetizers and receive beautiful Schott Zwiesel glasses as well as a wine and cheese picnic tote that includes a corkscrew, cutting board, cheese knife and two cloth napkins. $45 for a couple and $35 for a single. This is a unique self driving tour. Participating vintners are: Al-BI Winery, Dellroy, Breitenbach Wine Cellars, Dover, Grape and Granary, Akron, It’s Your Winery, C opley, Maize Valley Winery, Hartville, Mastropietro Winery, Berlin Center, Myrddin Winery, Berlin Center, Perennial Vineyards, Navarre, Sarah’s Vineyard, Cuyahoga Falls, Silver Moon, Dover, Swiss Heritage Winery, Dover and Viking Vineyards, Kent.
The trail ticket is good for three weekends, (Fridays and Saturdays) October 10-11, 17-18 & 24-25. Make your reservations soon so you have three weekends to visit all the participating wineries. Call 800-227-6972 for reservations or visit www.OhioWines.org [AND REMEMBER, IF YOU ARE A WINE & FRIENDS MEMBER - SEE BELOW - YOU WILL SAVE $5 OFF YOUR TICKET]
CELEBRATE THE HARVEST - A WINE TRAIL IN SE OHIO
And perhaps then plan another driving excursion to ‘Celebrate the Harvest.’ This Appalachian Wine Trail event in southwest Ohio comes with juice now in the tanks and winemakers ready to greet new faces after an arduous 6 weeks of the ‘crush.’ So join them to sip wines, enjoy appetizers and receive a cheese cutting board with a hidden tray containing ute nsils plus two of their logoed Schott Zwiesel glasses. Cost is just $30 for a couple and $20 for a single person. The travel ticket is good for 2 weekends, (Fridays & Saturdays) October 30-November 1 & 7-8. Make your reservations soon so you have both weekends to visit all the participating wineries. Participating wineries include Coffee Cake Winery, Hopedale, Marietta Wine Cellars, Marietta, Merry Family Winery, Gallipolis, Stone Crest Winery, Frazeysburg and Terra Cotta Vineyards, New Concord. To reserve your slot, visit one of the participating wineries, call 800-227-6972 for reservations or go to www.OhioWines.org. [Again, Wine and Friends members can save $5 per ticket if they order in advance.]
OHIO WINE AND FRIENDS - JOIN OUR FAMILY NOW
Ohio Wine & Friends - A consumer club for all who love the wines of this great state, want to connect with the wine community AND save some dollars on the events and festivals they so enjoy!! Annual membership is only $50 and if you join throughout the month of October you will receive an Ohio Wine Producers tote bag. Year round, members also receive $5 off all trial events and a special rate for Vintage Ohio. Other benefits include: A welcome Packet with wine history, tasting guide, entertaining tips, recipes and much more; an official membership card which provides dioscounts on many food and gift shop items at member wineries; and attractive member pin that illustrates you are part of the Ohio grape and wine community. You will receive a regular e-newsletter called “Wine Chatter,” and you’d be able to enter the ‘social networking’ world through a members ‘blog,’ as well as have your own password protected access to a page on the Ohio wines website. Then there are the dolllars you’ll save: the OWF discount booklet contains coupons with special offers from participating Ohio wineries, OWPA sponsored events, and partnering accommodations, restaurants and attractions. And more will be regularly added through the Wine Chater e-newsletter.
Finally, you will receive first notice for many winemaker, wine and culinary events - then be treated to two at-winery receptions and have a designed OWF tent at each Vintage Ohio where you can develop new - and reconnect with old - friends.
HOLIDAY TREE WINE TRAILS STATEWIDE
It is NOT too early to make plans for the Holidays. The most popular of all the trail events is northeast Ohio’s Tannenbaum Trail [which starts with a miniature tree that is decorated as you travel the event]. Because of the enthusiasm with which this event has been greeted, the industry will offer it STATE WIDE IN 2008 - ONE FOR EACH OF THE 6 ESTABLISHED WINE TRAILS. So get a minature holiday tree - and collect the ornaments as you sip wine from beautiful Schott Zwiesel souvenier glasses and enjoy snacks at wineries near your home, visit www.OhioWines.org — and then click on OUR TRAILS to find the one nearest your home. Or call 800-227-6972. TICKETS FOR EACH HOLIDAY TREE TRAIL WILL WILL BE LIMITED - SLOTS WILL FILL QUICKLY - SO MAKE YOUR PLANS AND ORDER SOON: Dates for all will be [Fridays and Saturdays], December 5-6, 12-13, 19-20. Hours for all will be 12 til 6 p.m. Vines and Wines Trail - in northeast Ohio/Lake, Ashtabula and Geauga countiesTannenbaum TrailCanal Country Tra il - around Akron/Canton and east to the Youngstown area Jolly Holly TrailWing Watch and Wine Trail - west of Cleveland to the Sandusky area Jack Frost TrailAppalachian Heritage Trail - southeast Ohio Jingle Bell Rocks TrailCapital City Trail - aournd Columbus and central Ohio Deck the Tree TrailNicholas Longworth Trail - southwest Ohio Santa’s Elves Trail
A RED CROSS WINERY PROJECT
The Ashtabula Chapter of the American Red Cross has asked us to announce their Passport to Wine Country. In an effort to raise dollars for disaster relief, they invite you to travel through the beautiful wineries of Ashtabula County during October, taking in the lakefront, the covered bridges and the gorgeous vistas of foliage on the back roads of the largest county in the state of Ohio. There are eight wineries participating in our Passport to Wine. The Passport will cost $25.00, this will include 10 tickets. One ticket for a sample of wine and 5 tickets for a full glass of wine. Tickets will be accepted at the following wineries in Ashtabula County: Biscotti Family Winery, Buccia Vineyards, Emerine Estates, Ferrante Winery, Harpersfield Vineyards, Laurello Vineyards, Old Firehouse Winery, Virant Family Winery. Tickets will be valid from October 1 to October 31. Tickets are on sale at the Red Cross Office at 433 Center Street in Ashtabula or by calling 440-998-1020
Which local wine tastings best suit wine novice ‘s palate?
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I received an email from a reader who wants a bit of guidance concerning Dayton-area wine tastings, and I thought I’d solicit the help of Uncorked readers in answering his question. What would you tell him?
My wife and I are not very familiar with wine, but would like to go to some tastings. We are beginners, but would like to know if you could advise some of the better wine tasting events in the area for someone new in this interest. I work part-time at (a local food-and-kitchen-themed store) as a second job, and get asked questions all the time about wines, but I am not much help and need to get more familiar with various wines. Any help would be appreciated.
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Easy. It’s Napa. That looks like the new winery being opened by the people that own V. Sattui.