NY's next wine hot spot: Champlain region

Director Jim Trezise of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation reported in his weekly e-letter that the next area is his state to develop as a wine producer is the Champlain region — near Lake Champlain which separates New York and Vermont. He wrote that it already has three wineries, with more to come. He added that last week the foundation got notice that Eminence Road Farm Winery in Long Eddy is officially open and will be selling at area farmers’ markets and local wine shops. Owned by Jennifer Clark and Andrew Scott, the winery is located in a mountain valley in southern Delaware County (no wineries there before!) and is making unfined and unfiltered Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Dry Apple Wine and others (visit www.eminenceroad.com). He said: "When I first came to this industry 27 years ago, there were wineries in about 7 counties — compared with 45 now (of 62), which is just wonderful politically. Frankly, the industry is growing so fast it’s hard to keep up with it. As far as I know there are now 262 fully licensed (federal and state) wine producers (not including satellite stores), with many licenses still pending at the State Liquor Authority. Last week, a representative from the federal Tax and Trade Bureau said New York now has 294 TTB-approved licenses, which means we’ll probably top 300 in the near future. Now I ask you: What other industry in New York State is growing that fast?

Also in his newsletter:

CORNELL UNIVERSITY has been a major partner in the renaissance, reputation and growth of the New York wine industry, exemplified most recently by the unveiling of a new Teaching Winery on April 1, the first day of the Wine Industry Workshop in Ithaca. The event began with the cutting of a grapevine by Susan Henry, Dean of the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, who has been the driving force behind several key initiatives that promise a bright future for both Cornell and the New York wine industry. Several years ago at a strategic planning retreat of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, Art Hunt of Hunt Country Vineyards strongly suggested that Cornell become more involved with the industry beyond the traditional research. While some were initially resistant, Dean Henry was receptive to the concept and started by creating a new four-year undergraduate program in viticulture and enology. Art’s son Jonathan was the first to enroll, and is now deeply involved in the family business. In the past, students had no good place to make wines, making the teaching winery a key addition to the education and training process. It’s the first such facility in the eastern United States, and one of the finest in the country. The $900,000 winery at Cornell Orchards includes all the equipment needed to make and analyze wines—fermentation tanks, barrels, a sophisticated lab—as well as grapes grown by Cornell on that site and another. In addition to creating the V&E curriculum and teaching winery, Cornell has recruited several superb young extension agents and faculty members—Chris Gerhling, Anna Katharine Mansfield, Ramon Mira de Orduna, Hans Walter-Peterson, Gavin Sacks, Justine Van den Heuvel, Miguel Gomez, Brad Rickard—who bring diverse talents and new energy to the research and extension programs. A decade ago, the relatively small size of New York’s wine industry may not have justified this type of investment and commitment, forcing New Yorkers to train elsewhere and creating a brain drain. That has now changed, with world-class research facilities and faculty luring tomorrow’s leaders into the heart of New York wine country.

SUSTAINABILITY is a pervasive topic these days, and Cornell Cooperative Extension is one of the nation’s leaders in defining and refining it for New York grape growers and others. In fact, its comprehensive program (VineBalance Sustainable Viticulture) is being transplanted in Michigan and Washington State by Welch’s, which is owned by National Grape Cooperative headquartered in Westfield, NY. VineBalance was created by statewide CCE director Tim Martinson and his colleagues Alice Wise (Long Island), Hans Walter-Peterson (Finger Lakes), and Tim Weigle (Lake Erie), and now involves over 100 wine and juice grape growers throughout the state. The program includes a comprehensive workbook, and practices reflecting the grape growing conditions in the northeastern United States, although much could also apply to juice grapes in other regions. Since Welch’s sources grapes from all three states, uniformity of sustainable viticultural practices is important, especially as an increasing number of major retailers like WalMart are demanding products reflecting sustainable practices. There are similar programs in other states like California (Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance), Washington (Vinewise, for wine grapes) and Oregon (LIVE), and over time a challenge will be creating an integrated system which is both broadly applicable yet also responsive to local conditions.

FIGHT THE RECESSION: BUY LOCAL WINE is the theme of a terrific new poster created by artist Joanna Purdy for Fox Run Vineyards that may be adapted to any part of the country. The poster is reminiscent of those during World War II appealing to self-help and community spirit, and may be seen at www.foxrunvineyards.com. The first 500 printed copies of the poster have been funded by Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association. For more information on adapting the poster locally, contact Leslie Kroeger at Fox Run (leslie@foxrunvineyards.com, 800-636-9786).

YATES COUNTY (where I live in the heart of the Finger Lakes) is bucking the statewide decline in farms and acreage (-2.3%, -6.3%) with big increases in farms (142 new ones, 20% more) and acreage (11,000 new, up 10%) from 2002 to 2007. It’s also one of the state’s major sources of organic products, with 49 farms on 5,500 acres generating sales over $2.7 million. The key is diversity. When I moved here 27 years ago, the region was an ugly mosaic of abandoned vineyards, ramshackle barns, and rundown farmhouses. The transformation has largely been brought about by an odd combination of the wine industry renaissance and a growing community of horse-and-buggy Mennonites who are excellent farmers and stewards of the earth. As in other areas, dairy is the largest sector (262 farms, 12,150 cows—1 for every 2 humans) and livestock farms have also increased (363 farms, 19,000 cattle), but the grape and wine industry (with 26 wineries) is a major economic engine for agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. In fact, the 750 agri-tourism jobs represent a major “industry,” and wine is largely the catalyst.

Manatawny has Concord back on its shelves

Speaking of Manatawny Creek, owner and winemaker Joanne Levengood sent out an e-blast late Friday night that the Concord has passed muster and is ready for purchase. The winery will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, but closed tomorrow for Easter.

Levengood noted that 20 cases of Winter Warmth remain and the winery will keep its 20 percent off sale running until this wine is gone.

Manatawny is a member of the Berks County Wine Trail, which at this point still doesn't charge for tastings. So a trip to any of those wineries will get you a sample of most if not all their wines for free, something that's rare in this region nowadays.

Jeffries' next pairing partner: Manatawny Creek

My apologies for skipping a day. I think most blogger will tell you, most serious ones anyway, that once you start these you'd like to post something daily. Occasionally maters at home, vacations, illness and, oh yeah, the job that brings home the bacon, gets in the way. So let me catch up today.

John J Jeffries Restaurant is one of those rare gems that throws its support behind local business and sustainability. It's located inside the Lancaster Arts Hotel only a few minutes off Route 30 and not far from the Park City Mall.

As chefs Sean Cavanaugh (a Pittsburgh native and Marriott chef whose last stop was the Vail, Colo., Mountain Resort and Spa) and Michael F. Carson (a York Suburban grad at the Charleston Restaurant in Baltimore before coming home) descrive on their Web site:

"We believe you will find our passion for supporting local businesses and preserving the land we live on, to be contagiously obvious in how we run our restaurant. All of our meats are raised locally, confinement-free on fresh green grass pastures. No hormones, antibiotics, steroids or forced-fertilization occurs. Our produce is local organic or chemical free. We use local grass fed cream, butter and eggs. We also provide sustainable seafood and support sustainable fisheries and their communities. By doing so, we are encouraging a shift in consumer demand away from overexploited fisheries and unhealthy fish farming practices. Our water for drinking and cooking is filtered through an in-house carbon and reverse osmosis system. Our coffee is organic fair trade and locally roasted in small batches. At John J. Jeffries we also believe in sustainability for all the good folks that work with us. Medical insurance is provided to all of our full-time staff, and a family meal is prepared for all staff daily."

They've found a way on to my radar thanks to the food pairing seies they have started with regional wineries and brewries. The next one is schedule for Sunday evening, April 26, when for the first time they will pair with Manatawny Creek Winery in Douglassville. Winemaker Joanne Levengood will have her fine wines matched up with another first: the Jeffries chefs have never before made an all-vegetarian meal for one of these pairings. Haven't seen a price for this one, but generally the bottom line is a steal considering it encompasses a multi-course meal, the wines along with an appearance by the winemaker, and tax and gratuity. These pairings already have included Pinnacle Ridge and Chaddsford wineries, and as more open in the region surrounding the restaurant, the potential for the wine base expanding increases.

And I'll think of my buddy Joe Sixpack in Philly as I add this to the events list: a Sunday, May 3 fund-raiser for the Susquehanna Sustainable Business Network. It will include blues (DJ Mike Chandler), brews (from Stoudt's Brewing Company in Adamtown, Pa.) and BBQ, and take place at the restaurant's terace from noon to 4 p.m. The cost is $25 for SSBN members and $35 for nonmembers. For anything regarding the restaurant, call 717.431.3307.

The Event Grapevine: April 9-12

Two wineries – Chaddsford and Crossing Vineyards – with promotions schedules that rival the Phillies in quantity and quality have a couple of events on tap the next week that are worth noting.

Per my friend Rebecca Felton at Bull’s Eye Communcations:

A new course designed to take the guesswork out of selecting cheese to complement one’s favorite wines was such a hit when Crossing Vineyards and Winery in Washington Crossing rolled it out in January, that it’s been added to the Spring offerings of the “Wine Institute,” the educational arm of the winery.

The course, “Pairing Wine & Cheese,” will be offered at 7:30 p.m. April 16 at the winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road and will include wine tasting, cheese samples, instruction and learning materials.

“All our classes are created to enhance the wine experience,” said Crossing co-owner Christine Carroll. “They’re designed to take the tension out of wine selection. We want our “students” to be confident in making choices that will please them and their guests.”

Crossing Vineyards expanded its own knowledge of cheese when it teamed with igourmet.com last July to open the “Crossing Vineyards Wine and Cheese Shop” at Project Sunrise, a $208 million, 300,000 square-foot gaming and entertainment complex at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre. It offers exclusively igourmet.com’s product line which includes more than 850 imported and domestic specialty cheeses.

Carroll said wine and cheese tastings at social gatherings are becoming a popular replacement for expensive dinner parties. The course not only will help potential hosts select good pairings, but will give tips on identifying different types of cheese so guests will know, for example, if they’re selecting cow, goat or sheep’s cheese.

Cost of the course is $35. Reservations may be made by calling 215.493.6500, ext. 19 or online at www.crossingvineyards.com.


Meanwhile, Chaddsford will be holding its Crazy Eric Sale on Saturday morning. This is a twist on the library sales I’ve attended at several wineries, where they get rid of some of their older (but still very drinkable) stock. Co-owner Lee Miller agreed that the reference to the event as more of a garage sale is accurate. She wrote: “We are cleaning out old inventories we no longer consider to be in good shape. The wines range from $1/bottle to $5/bottle, with a few $6 wines and some large 3-5L bottles at higher prices.”

Still, she noted, “As for any drinkable wines, yes, there are a lot of $5 reds that are just a year older than our current release, and a palette of wines Eric ‘thinned out’ from his library - some very interesting things like '02 Due Rossi, 05 Merlot, 04 Miller Estate Chardonnay - I think these are all $6 wines.”

As for the “official release” on the event, this was gleaned off the Web site:

Following a tradition begun years ago when Chaddsford winemaker Eric Miller decided to make space in the cellar by selling off odd lots of old bottles for "a buck a bottle," we are once again planning to clean up and clear out the Chaddsford warehouse at a one-day sale on April 11, beginning at 9 a.m. The days of "buck a bottle" are long gone, but we will be offering over 200 cases of odd bottles at deeply discounted prices, plus over 950 bottles that Eric has gleaned from his library - going all the way back to 1985 and including a few 3L and 5L bottles.

The wines are a mixture that includes over-stocks in our library that are now past their prime, current cases that were returned from restaurants or wholesalers with unknown storage conditions, and others that just got lost or buried in the lab, cellar or warehouse. Since the conditions of these wines, or their drinkability, is unknown, we recommend they be used for cooking, punches, hot mulled wine recipes or Summer Sangrias!

Also included in this sale will be furniture and appliances returned to our warehouse after our three mall locations were closed last year. Lots of leftovers and assorted "junk" we just need to move out to make room for the 2008 vintage that is being bottled, including a (new) dishwasher, microwaves, small wine refrigerators, assorted chairs and old office equipment ranging from copiers and computer screens to cash registers and phones. Our cellar crew also cleaned out and threw in a few old tools and ladders plus some used wine barrels.

Sale will be on the grounds of the winery beginning at 9 a.m.; first come, first served! All bottles sold as is, no returns. For more information, please contact our customer service line at 610.388.6221 x103.

Breakfast, by the way, will be available nearby at the Antique Mall Coffee Shop.


One other warning for this weekend: Call ahead. Most wineries are closed on Easter Sunday. As for what’s going on elsewhere, both this weekend and beyond, take a look:

PENNSYLVANIA WINERIES

Adams County Winery, Orrtanna: Home wine-making class ($$), Sunday, May 10; concert series will begin July 4, link to winery

Allegro Vineyards, Brogue: Fridays’ Weekly Winedown ($$), 4 to 7 p.m.; Sweet & Spicy Saturdays ($$), 2 to 5 p.m.; Sip & Savor Sundays ($$), 2 to 5 p.m., all require reservations at 741.3072, all events at the Wine Gallery in Olde Tollgate Village; music of Ravensun ($$), Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m., link to winery

Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars, New Tripoli: Sunday Blues Wine Tastings, music every Sunday ($$), 2 to 5 p.m., through April, except Easter; 13th annual Candlelight Barrel Tasting, 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, 1 to 6 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, link to winery

Boyd’s Cardinal Hollow Winery, North Wales: Nina singing live, Saturday, 5 to 8 p.m., link to winery

Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford: Reserve tastings ($$) begin in April, 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m. every Saturday; Wine 101 ($$), Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m. with Eric Miller, the first of a series of classes that run through May; next class is Thursday, April 16, Decadent Chocolates and Dessert Wines, 7 to 9 p.m.; Crazy Eric sale at the winery, Saturday, starting at 9 a.m.; technical tour program, free, starting April 1, on Fridays at 3 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., reservations accepted, link to winery

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville: Beginner tasting class ($$), Saturday, April 25, 3 p.m.; A Taste of Spring, a Berks County Wine Trail event, April 25-26; vineyard and winery tour ($$), Saturday, May 30, link to winery

Country Creek Winery, Salford Township: Music, Christine and Company, Saturday, April 19, no cover charge, 133 Cressman Road, Telford, link to winery

Crossing Vineyards & Winery, Washington Crossing: Wine 101 classes ($$) at the institute, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Monday, the next one will be Wines of the World on April 13; Pairing Wine and Cheese ($$), Thursday, April 16, 7:30 p.m.; Wine Tasting for Singles ($$), Friday, April 17, 7 p.m.; Wine Tasting for Dummies ($$), Sunday, April 19, 2 p.m., at the institute, link to winery

Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor: Free winery tour, Wednesdays at noon, link to winery

Galen Glen Vineyard and Winery, Andreas: Mother’s Day party, Sunday, May 10; spring tour of the vineyards and wineries, May 16-17, tours begin at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m., link to winery

Hauser Estate Winery, Biglerville: Candlelight Friday, last Friday of every month, 5 to 8 p.m., wine tasting, music and warm food; Ken Garrett book signing, Saturday, May 2, link to winery

Kreutz Creek Vineyards, West Grove: Music at West Chester tasting room, 44 E. Gay St., Fridays and Saturdays, 6 to 9 p.m.; vineyard planning, volunteers welcome, Saturday, April 25; bottling work day on Memorial Day, May 25, both days will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and include Carol’s famous Vineyard Burgers -- reservations for both are requested at 610.869.4412; grand reopening on Saturday, May 30, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., music and snacks from 2 to 5 p.m. along with giveaways and wine sales, link to winery

Manatawny Creek Winery, Douglasville: Hours have changed to Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.; A Taste of Spring, Berks County Wine Trail event, April 25-26, link to winery

Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery, Wrightsville: Music Fridays (6 to 9 p.m.), Saturdays (2 to 5 p.m.) and Sundays (2 to 5 p.m.); Mother’s Day champagne brunch ($$), Sunday, May 10, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., call 717.252.9463 for reservations, link to winery

Naylor Wine Cellars, Stewartstown: Forget The Taxes and Red Wine Dinner ($$), Saturday, April 18, 3 to 6 p.m., and Sunday, April 19, 2 to 5 p.m.; Mason Dixon Trail event, April 25-26 and May 3-4; Grape Blossom Festival ($$), Sunday, June 7, noon to 6 p.m., link to winery
Nissley Vineyards & Wine Estate, Bainbridge: Will be pouring at one of the houses of a Time for Wine, a tour and taste of historic Marietta houses, Sunday, April 26, 4:40 to 7:30 p.m., enjoy wine or iced tea, delicious hors d'oeuvres, cheeses and appetizers in three of Marietta's lovely old homes. Your tour and taste will end with decadent deserts and coffee at the historic Union Meeting House, for reservations and tickets, please call Vivian Carroll at 717.426.1270, note the tour is limited to the first 100 reservations, to benefit the Marietta Restoration Associate's restoration of the Vesta Furnace Building, www.nissleywine.com

Pinnacle Ridge Winery, Kutztown: Taste of Spring, Berks County Wine Trail event, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, Day in the Vineyard ($$), at Clover Hill Winery, June 5-6, along with Vynecrest Vineyards & Winery, link to winery

Reid’s Ochards & Winery, Ortanna: New winery; call 717.677.7047 for more information.

Rushland Ridge, Rushland: Reopened, link to winery

Tamanend Winery, Lancaster: Open Thursdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m., classically styled premium wines in their bottled wine group, and premium sweeter styled wines in their Bag in Box group of wines, link to winery

Va La Vineyards, Avondale: Open Thursdays and Fridays, noon to 5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.; 2006 Patina being released in April; art of David Oleski through April 19, link to winery

Vynecrest Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville: 20th anniversary weekend, April 18-19, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., link to winery

Waltz Vineyards, Manheim: New winery, open Thursdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m., and by appointment; Chery Tree Merlot has been released, two bottle purchase limit, link to winery

Wycombe Vineyard & Winery, Furlong: Just reopened for the season, noon to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, link to winery


MARYLAND WINERIES

Basignani Winery, Sparks: Pizza and herbs ($$), April 18-19, noon to 5 p.m., link to winery
Black Ankle Winery, Mt. Airy: winner of Maryland Governor’s Cup in 2008; Friday Night Flights, 5 to 7 p.m., beginning April 17, link to winery

Boordy Vineyards, Hydes: Reds, Whites and Bluegrass ($$), wine and music, Sunday, April 19 and April 26; Queen for a Day, Mother’s Day picnic ($$), May 9-10, winery link

Frederick Cellars, Frederick: Happy Hour, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. every weekday, glasses are half-price; Music in the Cellar, every Friday and Saturday in April, 7 p.m., link to winery

Sugarloaf Mountain, Dickerson: Friday Flights ($$) is every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m., which consist of 3 half glasses of SMV wine, each paired with an appropriate cheese, fruit or chocolate, reservations at 301.605.0130; “April in Paris,” April 18-19, Noon to 5 p.m., come taste Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard's Bordeaux style red wines as well as its Chardonnays and Pinot Grigio along with light French fare, music and ambiance. Take a tour of the winery, link to winery; Countryside Artisans Tour, April 17-19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., tour studios and meet artists who create fine handblown glass, prints, paintings, jewelry, furniture, sculpture, ironware and at SMV, sample our handcrafted wine. For information, an electronic brochure and a map, visit www.countrysideartisans.com.

Woodhall Wine Cellars, Parkton: Patricia Della Casual Fine Dining on location, will be serving dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and lunch, call 410.357.5078 for reservations, link to winery

Other MARYLAND winery events can be found at this link, VIRGINIA events at this link and New York events at this link

WINE TRAIL EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

A Taste of Spring, annual celebration of Berks County Wine Trail, which will be celebrating its fifth anniversary, April 25-26, with wine and food pairings, wineries include Bashore & Stoudt, Blair, Calvaresi, Clover Hill, Kog Hill, Long Trout, Manatawny Creek and Pinnacle Ridge, link to trail Web site

Mason Dixon Wine Trail Spring Event, April 25-26 and May 2-3, Travel the trail between the 8 wineries on the Mason Dixon Wine Trail and collect a different herb to plant in your garden and a recipe card using the eight different herbs. The event is open to new and existing wine trail members free of charge. Wineries include Adams County, Allegro, Naylor and Seven Valleys in Pennsylvania, and Basignani, Boordy, Fiore, and Woodhall in Maryland, link to trail Web site

Third annual Longwood Gardens Wine and Jazz Fest ($$), Saturday, May 2, wine and jazz, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and jazz concert featuring pianist McCoy Tyner, 7:30 p.m., For ticket prices, etc., please see http://www.longwoodgardens.org/WineandJazz2009.html

Margaritaville 2009 ($$), to benefit Mason-Dixon Public Library, Naylor Wine Cellars, Stewartstown, Saturday, May 9, 5 to 1 p.m., rain or shine, must be 21 or over to enter, For tickets contact Mason-Dixon Public Library, 250 Bailey Drive, Stewartstown, PA 17363, 717.993.2404

Wine in the Woods Wine Festival ($$), Columbia, Md., Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17, noon to 6 p.m. each day, link to festival Web site

Bucks County Wine Tour ($$), Sunday May 30, 8 participating wine venues with food partners:
Buckingham Valley Vineyards - None Such Fard
Chaddsford Wine Shop - Earl's Prime Restaurant
Crossing Vineyards - Jamie Hollander Catering
New Hope Winery - Bobby Simone's Restaurant
Rose Bank Winery - Market by Shadybrook at Delaware Valley College
Rushland Ridge Winery - Luigi's Italian Ristorante
Sand Castle Winery - DISH Catering
Wycombe Vineyards - Andre's Cheese Shop
An after event reception will be held at the Tuscany at the Towpath in New Hope at 18 W. Mechanic Street from 5 - 6:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce, Doylestwon Bookstore or at any participating wineries the day of the event. Link to trail Web site


CLASSES

Wine School of Philadelphia: Wine 101: Intro to Wine ($$), Thursday, April 16, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., 2006 Fairmount Ave., Philly; Core Wine Certification ($$), classes for spring semester will begin April 23, contact Keith at 215.965.1514 x55, link to Web site

Bin 604, 604 S. Exeter St., Baltimore: Wine 101: The Basics of Wine Tasting ($$), classes on April 11 and April 25, at 2 and 3:30 p.m., classes limited to 12 people, they look at the typical characteristics of popular grape varietals and explain the terminology and techniques of wine tasting and learn how to recognize the subtle and subjective flavors of wine; Rite of Spring Riesling Tasting ($$), Thursday, April 16; Food and Wine Pairing class ($$), Saturday, April 18; Call 410.576.0444 for information and reservations, link here to Web site


RESTAURANTS

John J Jeffries, 300 Lancaster Ave., Lancaster: Happy Hour Revival, Friday, 4 to 6 p.m., Wine by the Glass: $5, Organic Cosmos: $4, Local Drafts: $3, Straub Light Bottles: $2

$$ – Fee

Four Brandywine members to pour at Philly fete

At least half of the members of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail have a date with history next week. Four or five will be pouring at the party marking the grand opening of the newly renovated Independence Visitor Center in Philly. That event, scheduled for Thursday, April 16, also will celebrate the 15 million visitors who have come through the doors since 2001.

Set to begin at 5:30 p.m. and continue for three hours, it is by invitation only. Guests can expect live music as the backdrop for hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Trail administrator Karen Cline, who just returned from a marketing workshop in Ohio that I'll puost about in the next couple of days, said by phone Tuesday night that Black Walnut, Chaddsford, Paradocx and Penns Woods have committed to serve their wines, and that she's still awaiting an answer from one more trail member.

That party is expected to draw 250 to 275 people, including government officials and members of the tourism industry. It's the kind of exposure in one grand evening that would be hard to put a price on.

"We just decided yesterday, in fact, [to participate], she said. "It [the renovated building] sounds really neat. They redesigned I think she said the north end of the visitors center . . . they're going to have digital screens and lots of really flashy visitor-friendly stuff going on in their center."

Tamanend's boxed series at 40 pct. of sales

While Terrapin Station in Maryland's Cecil County has gotten most of the love on this blog for its boxed wines, it's not the only winery in the region that has gotten away from the bottle and cork.

Tamanend Winery is in its first year and located in Lancaster, near routes 72 and 741. It's selling its dry wines in a bottle and its sweeter wines, with just a couple of exceptions, in 1.5-liter and 3-liter bag in a box. There are two exceptions to this dry bottle and sweet bag universe: its Port-style and an off-dry Reisling (called Irresistible) that are both bottled.

Co-owner Richard Carey said by phone earlier Tuesday that the boxed wines have been a significant amount of the new winery's business, around 40 percent. They're also applied to the Liquor Control Board to sell the boxed wines in Pennsylvania's state stores. A response to that application is still pending.

At some point, Carey said, they'll look at the numbers entering the winery and make a decision about extending their hours, which run from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays. "This being our first year in this location where we're open to the consuming public, we don't know exactly what this drill is going to be," Carey said, noting that "from a business standpoint we're accelerating rapidly so we know there are thing in store. We just don't know what it is yet."

Off their Web site, it appears they could get help from associations with two trails. They note that they have just become a member of Uncork York, which recently completed a highly successful fourth installment of Tours de Tanks. Members of Uncork run from east of the Susquehanna River to west of Gettysburg. The site also indicated that Carey and partner Linda Jones McKee are working with other wineries in and around Lancaster to form a Red Rose Wine Trail. Details on both no doubt will be forthcoming in the next few months.

No question who buys (and drinks) most wine

Read the most recent post from the blog Good Wine Under $20 and it was a subject -- the gender inbalance of the wine-buying public -- that you probably can relate to. So many couple we'll go out with where the female will almost always order wine and the male will do so only occasionally. Definitely, being a male whose favorite refreshment is wine puts me in the minority. At least I think so. What do you think?

As for nationally known blogger Deb Harkness, who writes out of the West Coast, here's what she thinks.