Harvest 2014

When I grow-up (well actually, when my children are off to college) my career will exist consumed with my passion for wine, the fermented grape. The big question is what position will I play in the wine industry? It's not a bad thought to ponder. It is vey exciting, at the least. I recently had the opportunity to assist an awesome wine maker with the 2014 harvest season. During this fun and messy session, I worked with the continuous fermentation of freshly picked Syrah grapes as well as other varieties of red and white grapes. It was very interesting to me to learn about the complex stages of making wine. Cheers to Mrs. L. Baker-Hinson. I'm in debt to you and your family forever more!!! Looking forward to the next session. 

Uncorked in Rockville Maryland ....

The summer of 2014 may be coming to an end but the wine festivals continue through October. Enters the Uncorked Wine and Music Festival in Rockville, MD. I love the wineries, music and cooking demonstrations. This event is not one to miss. 

Check out the website to more details

http://www.rockvillemd.gov/index.aspx?NID=666

*Photo courtesy of www.rockvillemd.gov

Summer, Summer, Summer Time- Rose' Wine

OMG! What a summer? I have been learning so much about wine that I've not had time to do what I do best, "write about it"! One of my obsessions this season of sunshine has been dry rose'. I am totally in love with the saignée method of producing rose' wine. Saignée is a method of rosé production that involves bleeding off the juice after limited contact with the skins. What's left is a beautiful dark pink colored vino fermented primarily in stainless steel. I have tried a few dry rose' this summer and my favorite is from Old Westminster Winey. Maryland wine, Oh Yeah!!! Their Rose' is deliciously crafted using the signee' method. It leaves the vino smelling of crisped fresh berries chilled especially for summer wine tasting. 

Check out the website: 

http://oldwestminster.orderport.net/product-details/0027/2013-Rose

*picture curtesy of http://oldwestminster.com*

Millstone Cellars- Hopvine

This is my second year blogging about new comers Millstone Cellars. I know that this will not be the last. I had a chance to taste their Hopvine cider at the Decanter Wine Festival this year. I fell in love with it's taste that resembles a sparkling white wine. The palate of the cider is very floral with a honey aftertaste. Millstone Cellars is making cider the new alternative to wine and beer. Check out their tasting room. You will enjoy every slurp!

Cheers!!

http://www.millstonecellars.com/our-products/uncategorized/hopvine/

*picture courtesy of millstonecellars.com

Old Westminster Winery

Recently I visted Old Westminster Winery. It was a great pleasure to meet the Baker Family. I tasted a few wines and was blown away by the aroma and unique texture of the grapes which by the way are grown at the vineyard soaked in Maryland soil. Old Westminster is not your "run of a mill" winery. They produce fermented grapes for the mature palate. I fell in love with the unoaked Chardonnay. Defiantly one of my favorites. The winery is worth the drive to visit on a nice Spring day. They re-open to the public on Saturday, May 3. The wines are also sold at multiple wine stores throughout Maryland. Check put the website for more details http://oldwestminster.com.

Cheers Wine Lovers!

Decanter Wine Festival 2014- The Winery at Olney

The Winery at Olney

For Your Eyes Olney, Cabernet Sauvignon

This red wine was very interesting. The winery did a great job at attracting my attention to the bottle with the catchy name of the Cab and the eye tuning picture on the bottle. The wine was very smooth and had less tannin then I normally expect from a Cabernet Sauvignon. I recommend For Your Eyes Olney to those wine drinkers who are just starting to favor red wines. The light tannins will not leave your tongue thirsting for fresh air. I also tried the Australian Shiraz named "Down Under Red". It was a light flavored Shiraz with a lingering coconut aftertaste. 

I had a chance to chat with two of the owners, Joe and Jeremy. I really like the concept of a working winery in a urban setting. It's definitely something that I would love to be a part of in the future. I will be vitpsiting the tasting room very soon. Get Stained at the Winery at Olney.

Decanter Wine Festival 2014- Romano Winery

Romano Winery

Rougeon, 2012

This wine has a medium body with a sweet aftertaste. The grape used (Rougeon) is defiantly new to my vino vocabulary. Yes it is a red grape but ver light with little to no tannins. It's a truly unexpected flavor for a red wine. I will have to visit the family farm in order to get a taste of the other wines they have to offer.