Wine blending party a hit at Woodhall

Just returned from a wine-blending "party" at Woodhall Winery in Parkton, Md., an event for case club members only. There were several couples that joined us to "experiment" during a session that began at noon and went past 3 p.m. Winemaker Chris Kent (right photo) pulled out vidal, seyval, cayuga and vignoles among the four white wines to blend. Among the reds he brought together were chambourcin, cabernet france, cabernet sauvignon and sangiovese.

Equipping up with a notepad and eyedropper, he told us to smell and taste each of the white and then mix them to our heart's content. And it was fascinating to try different percentages of the various wines and see what we concocted. We were instructed to write down one combo we liked the most, and he sent us home with a 350 ml bottle of red and white with our favorite mixtures (see photo).

Kent's background is as interesting as any of the winemakers that I've interviewed to date. It's rare to find anyone making wine who considered that as their occupation while they were growing up. Kent's the same. His background is in broadcast journalism, and after working for a long time in Louisiana he headed north, where (with plenty of vintages under his belt) he's now a fixture at Woodhall.

The blending party was something that the winery tried back in the mid-1990s, then just dropped, one of those ideas that moved to the back burner. Here's hoping it becomes an annual event at Woodhall and other wineries. It's instructive and fun, particularly sitting out a hot day down in the cellar. One young couple (hi Sara and Mike) talked about their time traveling abroad in Spain and Portugal and Italy. They're headed for South African in December. Another couple (hi Cooley and Kate) talked about the wine they drank during a trip to Australia.

It's a different twist on the many events that wineries hold. This one provided entertainment but also was educational, with a chance to pick the winermaker's brain about everything from blending the wines to the effects that global warming could have on the industry. It was a chance to relax, mingle and learn, and one I'd recommend other wineries trying in one form or fashion.