Grapes and Small Plates Returns

04 Apr 2013 1 Comment

by Red Wine Diva in Drink Local, Food & Wine Event, NC Events, Wine Dinner Tags: , , ,

Grapes

Grapes and Small Plates returns to Winston Salem during the month of April for its second annual food and wine event.  This culinary event is an opportunity to try a great local restaurant at a really reasonable price.  Last year we discovered Cimarron and The District, both of which became immediate favorites during Grapes and Small Plates.  So as soon as I saw the event advertised again this year, I started scoping out all the new restaurants I could try.  This year’s event goes to a new level by partnering with local wineries and creating pairings for their menu.

The event started Tuesday, April 2.  There are 11 participating restaurants and five participating wineries.

We started this year’s event by going back to Cimarron.  To my surprise, they actually had someone from Childress Vineyards there pouring samples of the wines they had on the menu.  They were pouring the Childress Merlot, Chardonnay and Syrah as well as “3″.

Hubby ordered Prime Rib for his “small plate” and paired it with Childress Syrah.  His dinner was served with Au Jus, Horseradish Cream Sauce and Sautéed Vegetables, served with warm bread and a fresh basil olive oil dip.

2013-04-04 18.34.11

I selected Flank Steak marinated in a Sriracha, Lime, Cilantro and Cumin Sauce, then grilled.  This was served with Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Mashed Sweet Potatoes.  I also paired mine with the Childress Syrah.

2013-04-04 18.33.57

Each of our menu items was only $12.  The wine was $6 per glass.  We had a gourmet dinner for only $36.  The great thing about Grapes and Small Plates is that each restaurant prepares a special menu for each week, not just a special item.  You have several choices at each restaurant and the menu changes weekly.  It has been my experience with “Restaurant Week/Month” that each restaurant only offers one item for each night so this is a real treat.

Another added feature this year is a kiosk set up at each participating restaurant for donations to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

I already have a restaurant picked out for next week, but you will have to wait.  It is a surprise, and I have never eaten there so it should be fun!

For more information on Grapes and Small Plates, please visit:

Carolina Epicure:  2nd Annual Grapes and Small Plates

My post from the inagural Grapes and Small Plates

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Inaugural Wines

21 Jan 2013 Leave a Comment

by Red Wine Diva in Champagne, Drink Local, Finger Lakes Wine, Merlot, Riesling Tags: , , , , , , ,

Senator Chuck Schumer chairs the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and as such, he was able to get more media attention for the New York wine industry than money could ever buy.  The inaugural luncheon menu had each course paired with some of New York’s finest.  The first course featured lobster and New England clam chowder paired with a Tierce 2010 Dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes.  This Riesling is a joint effort from Anthony Road Winery, Fox Run Vineyards and Red Newt Cellars.

Tierce_riesling_re2

The second course, hickory grilled bison with wild huckleberry reduction and red potato horseradish cake was paired with a 2009 Merlot from Bedell Cellars.  Bedell Cellars prides itself  in allocating their wines to their wine club members first, then to restauranteurs, but something tells me they made an exception in this case.  This Merlot is touted as coming from some of the oldest Merlot vines in the country and the 2009 vintage was a stellar year for the North Fork area.  Even though I have never had this wine, the descriptors of  ”local red fruit flavors of strawberries, dried cranberries and cherries coupled with the subtle aromas of red raspberries, herbs and beach stones” make my mouth water.  (I may have to add this one to the bucket list!)

Bedell Cellars

The third course was the ever famous Hudson Valley apple pie served with sour cream ice cream, aged cheese and honey.  All of this was paired with Korbel Natural, a Special Inaugural Cuvée Champagne.

Korbel Natural

Grove Winery for the Holidays

10 Nov 2012 Leave a Comment

by Red Wine Diva in Drink Local, NC Wine, Tempranillo Tags: , , ,

Bragging Rights:  The annual North Carolina State Wine Competition was held on October 3-4, in Raleigh, featuring a record 471 wines. Guilford County’s Grove Winery once again came up big in this year’s competition by taking 15 medals, the most medals awarded to any small winery.

Gold medals were awarded to the Grove 2011 Estate Tempranillo and the Red Clay Red made from the Carménère grape. Silver medals were awarded to the Roanoke River Red and the 2011 Viognier. Eleven additional Grove wines were awarded medals. These wines are available at the Grove Haw River Valley tasting room which is open daily noon until 6pm. To see a complete listing of awards won by Grove wines click here.

 

Grove is offering a couple of GREAT specials reserved strictly for people who receive their newsletter so I would encourage you to sign up:
  • Knock out your entertaining and gift buying the easy way. Make any purchase of wine or wine accessories online by Tuesday December 18 and use discount code TakeTwenty to receive 20% off your entire purchase.
  • Buy at least one bottle of Grove wine at either TotalWine or The Fresh Market in November, December and/or January, send us a copy of the receipt, and you’ll receive a coupon for a free tasting or glass of wine at Grove. Additionally, each receipt sent to us also enters you in a drawing for other prizes including wine hardware, concert tickets and more. Receipts can be emailed to info@grovewinery.com or faxed to 864-752-4882.

Wine accessories like decanters, quality corkscrews, related foods, puzzles, etc. make great holiday gifts. And wine is one of the best and easiest ways to quickly shop for many people on your gift list. GroveWinery.com has some of the best prices in the country on wine accessories and you can, of course, buy Grove wines there as well. We have relationships accessory manufacturers like Oenophilia and VacuVin, so if there’s something you don’t see on our website, let us know and we might be able to get it.

As the holiday party season begins, keep local wine in mind for serving at parties and as hostess gifts.

In the interest of full disclosure, Grove Winery is a sponsor of this blog.

Let’s Get Vertical

29 Sep 2012 3 Comments

by Red Wine Diva in Drink Local, NC Wine, Red Wine Diva Media Samples, Wine Tasting Tags: , , ,

Category 5 from Raylen Vineyards has always been one of my favorite wines.  Every time I go to Raylen to pick up a case of wine, I make sure this wine is included.

With what I do in writing and tweeting about wine, I drink a good variety of wines and sometimes I forget what is in my wine “closet.”  (No, unfortunately it is not a wine cellar.  However, it is the coolest area in my house and actually does an excellent job of storing wine.  It keeps my wines at consistently between 65 – 70 degrees at all times.)  Flashback to 2010.  I was digging through my wines to see what I wanted to drink that evening and found a 2007 Category 5 and opted to drink it.  With Category 5 being a blend, you are apt to get a variety of aromas and flavors on the palate.  The aroma of this 2007 was absolutely heavenly.  With the first sip, cherry, plum, vanilla, and a silky finish that lingered just long enough on the palate to make you want another sip.  This is when I decided to collect enough Category 5 to do a vertical tasting.  I was on a mission. 

I had a bottle of the 2008 and the 2009 had not yet been released.  I went to Raylen Vineyards to see if they happened to have a bottle of the 2007 left over and as luck would have it, they did.  So I had the 2007 and the 2008.  I was only focused on having 3 vintages for my very own vertical tasting and with the 2009 aging nicely in the barrel at the winery, I knew I wouldn’t have to wait long. 

I picked up the 2009 on my next visit to Raylen, but as time and wine move through my life, I didn’t get around to doing the vertical tasting.  Then through a stroke of luck, I was playing the “Wine Board” at a local fund-raiser for the March of Dimes and pulled a bottle of the 2006 Category 5.  I was elated!!!  This changed the game.  I was determined now to go for 5 consecutive years for this vertical tasting and to make it a real party.  Afterall, there is no way I could drink 5 bottles of wine by myself in a week let alone one sitting so back to Raylen to pick up a bottle of the 2010 Category 5.

                                

Last week hubby and I decided to get vertical with six of our closest friends.

As is typical for any wine tasting, the comments and reviews of each wine were all over the board.  Unfortunately, the 2006 (which was completely out of my control) may have not been stored properly.  The general consensus was that it was a little flat and didn’t have anything on the nose.  Opinions varied for the 2007.  You could still pick up a bit of the vanilla and it was still very approachable.  We tried a second tasting of the 2007 by aerating it.  This really brought out the aromatics and that silky finish that I had remembered so well.   The 2008, though, was the winner overall; great bouquet, a little earthy with hints of tobacco and vanilla.  We decanted what was left in the bottle, but didn’t see any changes in the taste of the wine.  The 2009 was actually my favorite for the evening.  It reminded me of the 2007 that started me down this path.  I just happen to have one bottle of it left and will hold onto it just a while longer.  It will be a good wine to share with family over the upcoming holidays.  The 2010, while still a very drinkable wine, could easily be aged another couple of years.

 

 

A lot of people think that Category 5 is named after the strength of a category 5 hurricane when in reality it is named for the 5 grapes that have been meticulously blended to create this premium wine.  It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot.

Varietal: Red Blend          Alcohol: 13.8%          Price: $18.99

TWEETUP TIME!!!

08 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment

by Red Wine Diva in Drink Local, NC Wine Tags: , , ,

This is a special invitation from me (and the good folks at Grove Winery) to come join us Friday at 6 pm for a tweet-up and a new wine release!!!  Max and the gang will be releasing their new Cabernet Franc and all you have to do is show up to get free tastings!!!

But that’s not all – we are going to have a REAL party!  Light appetizers will be served along with your free tasting of the new Cab Franc and you will get 20% off bottle purchases; only $3 for glass purchases.  AND you will be entered into a drawing for tickets to the opening concert at Lake Cabernet on April 20.

The 2012 concert series starts off with Jon Shain who will be promoting his new The Kress Sessions album.   The concert series will run from April through October. Grove’s Lake Cabernet stage was voted runner-up as Best Outdoor Music Space in the Triad by the readers of the Greensboro News-Record in 2011. Two other winners in this Best of the Triad vote were Lauren Light  and Hanging Thread who will be making appearances this year at Grove on 6/15 and 7/20 respectively. We will also be featuring three large festivals this year. To see the complete lineup of artists, click here.

 What: Open invitation for wine, food and fun

Where: Grove Winery

When: April 13, 2012, starting at 6pm

Viognier: Poetry Bottled at Raylen Vineyards

05 Feb 2012 1 Comment

This wine was a media sample from Raylen Vineyards

Image

Raylen Vineyards Viognier chilled perfectly at 50 – 55 degrees fills my glass with a beautiful pale straw color.  The glass sweats just slightly as I put it to my nose and get a hint of honeysuckle.  Pulling the glass back, I give it a good swirl and repeat.  This time the floral aromas burst from the glass with apricot and peach on the palate.  Still being fairly new to the “white wine world”, I was pleasantly surprised at the tart but yet sweet taste of this wine.  Even though the humidity here can cause problems for the fruit, Steve Shepard, winemaker at Raylen Vineyards, does a great job with Viognier.

A light wine, Viognier almost became extinct a few years ago.  In the late 1960′s, there was approximately only 40 acres planted in the Northern Rhone Valley of France and that was it – world-wide!  Thankfully, somebody thought to bring this fruit forward grape to the United States where it is grown and appreciated from California to Virginia and North Carolina.  In California Viognier is basically used as a blending wine to bring out the aromas of Chardonnay, but in both Virginia and North Carolina it is bottled as a stand-alone grape.  Although Viognier can be temperamental, our long, hot, humid summers give the grape ample time to hang on the vine, achieving the perfect ripeness for harvesting.

 The Raylen Vineyards Viognier  pairs really well with foods that are mildly spicy: Thai, Black Beans and Rice, grilled chicken or a pasta Alfredo.  This 2010 Viognier can be drank now or layed down for a couple of years.

Varietal: Viognier        Alcohol: 12.5%                     Price: $15.00

Aside by Red Wine Diva

Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay

31 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment

by Red Wine Diva in Biltmore Estate, Chardonnay, Drink Local, NC Wine Tags: , , ,

This wine was a media sample from Biltmore Estate

“Red Wine Diva”  So what’s in a name – besides part of your identity? 

I like to think that I have come full circle in the world of wine.  Just a few short years ago, I couldn’t even find a white wine that I would drink.  I tried!  I thought the next natural step from “white zinfandel” was to go to Chardonnay but I couldn’t find one that I enjoyed.  I was able to drink some sweet Rieslings, but no Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc and NO Chardonnay.

Then I discovered Century White from Biltmore Estate - lighter wine, semi dry and I loved it.  I actually bought it by the case. 

The next step for me was red wine.  I forgot about whites.  I had been hesitant to try reds because I thought they would be dry and bitter, but was I in for a surprise.  Not having the appreciation for wine that I do today, I don’t remember much about my first red except that it was a Pinot.  I was hooked!  So I went for years without even trying white wine, that is unless someone just insisted that I taste something they were drinking.  I just didn’t get it – how could they drink that stuff!

Then a friend brought a Chenin Blanc to the house one evening and even though she is a red wine person as well, it was way too hot outside to be sipping red wine.  A good chilled white wine really hit the spot but I still didn’t get too adventurous until the following summer – the summer of 2010.  Boy was it hot!!!  Too hot for red wine.  I had no choice.  So I embraced white wine; and you know, it wasn’t half bad.  As a matter of fact, I learned to actually enjoy and appreciate it; and even though I am the Red Wine Diva, I frequently choose to drink white wine – even Chardonnay.   

This Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay was crisp and clean with tropical nuances.  I picked up the refreshing taste of kiwi with a buttery finish.  Yep, the Red Wine Diva is drinking, enjoying and writing about “white wine!”

Varietal: Chardonnay           Price: $14.99

NC Holiday Wine Project – Summary!

18 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment

by Red Wine Diva in Drink Local Tags: , ,

I love snow and the holidays!  Putting together the NC Holiday Wine Project was so much fun and the wineries that opted in (yes, they had to opt in!) to participate were great!  And, yes, I know I am a little late with this post, but I do want to take some time here and sum up the NC Holiday Wine Project.

So starting at the top:

NC Holiday Wine Project #1:  Raffaldini Vineyards featuring their La Dolce Vita.  Being a perfect companion for cheese and breads, this wine is actually great to have in the house year round to serve those unexpected guests.  Weighing in at 12.5% alcohol and retailing for $15 at the winery.

NC Holiday Wine Project #2: Grove Winery presented the Halbrotroken version of their Traminette.  This light elegant wine pairs well with the Holiday feast from appetizers to dessert and is mild enough to never overpower your turkey.  This wine weighs in at 12.5% alcohol and retails for $14.99.

NC Holiday Wine Project 3:  Laurel Gray Vineyards always features a special Holiday wine label on their Encore, a raspberry infused red blend bottled under the name for the Holidays.  This post was a lot of fun to work on as I used frosted glasses rimmed with chocolate – sounds like a great idea for a special Valentine’s evening as well!  Encore weighs in at 12.5% alcohol and retails for $17.

NC Holiday Wine Project #4:  Shelton Vineyards  participated in the Holiday Wine project by featuring their port.  A true aperitif, this Oporto Style port  weighs in at 18% alcohol and is a real bargain at only $16.

NC Holiday Wine Project #5:  Iron Gate Winery is another of those wineries that offers up a special Holiday wine.  This year was Blessings, a raspberry infused Pinot Noir with 4% residual sugar.  Blessings weighs in at 9% alcohol and retails for $12.85.  (This wine was a media sample from Iron Gate.)

NC Holiday Wine Project #6:  Raylen Vineyards presented their 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine stands in a class all its own as it won the prestigious title “Best in Show” at the North Carolina state fair this year.  This wine is great to just sip by itself but it also pairs really well with ham and pork anytime of the year.  This Cab weighs in at 13.5% alcohol and retails for $15.99 at the winery.

NC Holiday Wine Project #7:  Shadow Springs Vineyard took a different approach to the holidays with something we can appreciate all winter – Merry Mist. This wine is infused with just a touch of orange and has 3.5% residual sugar.  To create a mulled wine, all you need to add is a cinnamon stick and a cozy fire to sit in front of.   Merry Mist weighs in at 12.5% alcohol and retails for $14.

NC Holiday Wine Project #8: Biltmore Estate had several recommendations for the holidays from bubbly to semi sweet to bold dry wines.  For the Holiday Wine Project, I sampled their Century Dry Rose‘.  (This wine was a media sample from Biltmore.) For those that read my blog regularly or follow my tweets, you know I LOVE a good rose’ so this was a real treat.  By far one of the best rose’ wines I have had.  If you like rose’, I highly recommend that you try this one.  The Century Dry Rose’ weighs in at 12.5% alcohol and retails for $14.99 at the winery.

NC Holiday Wine Project #9:  The final wine that was featured in the Holiday Wine Project was La-Vinia from Cauble Creek Vineyards.  La-Vinia is made from North Carolina’s native grape, the Muscadine (this one was the Carlos variety) and is sure to please anyone who prefers a bold but sweeter wine.  La-Vinia weighs in at 13% alcohol, has 4% residual sugar and retails for $15 at the winery.

Unfortunately I didn’t get to sample all the wines that I had at home for this project, but each will eventually get its own blog post up soon enough.  I want to thank all the wineries that chose to participate in the NC Holiday Wine Project.  Without you it would not have been possible.  Thank you!

NC Holiday Wine Project – #9

11 Dec 2011 3 Comments

by Red Wine Diva in Drink Local, Muscadine, NC Wine Tags: , ,

The Muscadine grape is indigenous to the Southeastern portion of the United States.  A little known fact about Muscadines is that they bud four to five times per year.  You can actually harvest from the same vine from August all the way through November.  Being a hearty grape that is resistant to mold and mildew (not to mention a number of insects), our hot humid summers are the perfect pairing for growing Muscadine.  Muscadine actually comes in several different varieties just as Vinifera Grapes do.  Some of the more popular Muscadine grapes in North Carolina are the Carlos, Doreen, Magnolia and Noble.    And North Carolina’s 100th winery, Cauble Creek Vineyard, produces some of the best Muscadine in the state.

Cauble Creek Vineyard’s Wines
You can pull out your wine aroma wheel and search for Muscadine but you won’t find it there.  You also won’t find any wine books that recommend pairings or show great recipes for this plump, sweet grape.  The wineries that specialize in Muscadine wines have had to create their own pairings and recipes.
 
Cauble Creek’s La-Vinia, a semi-sweet white made from the Carlos grape, is the perfect example of creating a mouth-watering recipe for the holidays and a natural pairing that will make you smile.  The La-Vinia is fruit forward with a bit of a dry finish.  You may get a slight hint of cinnamon on the palate with a touch of pear.  An unlikely recipe for La-Vinia is to blend it with balsamic vinegar and use it as a marinade for shrimp, scallops or chicken and then use the marinade in your skillet when you stir-fry.  This is a perfect appetizer to serve with the La-Vinia during the holidays or any gathering of friends!
 
Varietal: Carlos Muscadine;   Alcohol: 13%;   Residual Sugar: 4%   Price: $15.00

NC Holiday Wine Project – #8

08 Dec 2011 4 Comments

by Red Wine Diva in Drink Local, NC Wine, Rose' Tags: , ,

This wine was a media sample provided by Biltmore Estate & Winery

Here’s to the corkscrew – a useful key to unlock the storehouse of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the gate of pleasant folly.

W.E.P. French  (From the wine list of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, LA courtesy of John McDonald, Dallas, TX)

The holidays are all about a “treasury of laughter”, fellowship and folly and what better way to share these than with friends and a favorite wine.  And what better wine to share (or pair) than a dry rose’.

This gorgeous pale (but still deep) red wine is the perfect wine for the holidays.   We are all concerned about our wines overpowering our holiday turkey.  This Biltmore Estate Century Rose’ is rich and full of flavor but still light enough to let the turkey take center stage.  Other pairing suggestions would be using the left overs to make turkey pot pie, pizza and Ginger Sugar Cookies.  This wine is so versatile!  At first I couldn’t figure out why I was so infatuated with this wine, then I realized it was the blackberry flavors and aromas that had taken me by surprise.  One would typically expect strawberry, but this was such a pleasant burst of flavor.  My only regret is that the bottle now lays empty and I have not seen this in local stores!

Varietal:  Blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Cabernet Sauvignon

Alcohol:  12.5%

Price:  $14.99

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