Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Brandywine Trail gets the word out on Barrels
Karen Cline, of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail, sent over this release earlier today that publicizes Barrels on the Brandywine 2009.
It will be held the weekends of Feb. 28 and March 1, March 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29, from noon to 5 p.m.
The six wineries of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail will be showing off their new 2008 vintage on those weekends. On each Saturday and Sunday, these local winegrowers and vintners will open their cellars and tasting rooms for barrel tastings, tours, music, art shows, food, and other special events. The Passport includes a tasting at each winery and a Wine Trail logo glass.
Each year the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail wineries come up with special activities for Passport holders during Barrels on the Brandywine, ranging from music and art shows to BBQs and barrel tastings. Admission to these special events is included in the price of your Passport. More information on planned events will be posted next month.
Visitors may reserve a Wine Trail Passport ($25) directly from the Wine Trail office now, or they may purchase Passports from any of the Wine Trail members beginning in February. The Passport includes a tasting at each winery and a Wine Trail logo glass. Passports for this event go fast, so pre-order yours now. Actual passports will be sent closer to the event. If you are giving the Passports as a gift, a Gift Certificate can be sent to you. Contact the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail at 610.444.3842 or by e-mailing info@bvwinetrail.com.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
'Paint cans' stirring again at Paradocx
The paint can is back, just in time for the holidays.
Mark Harris, one of the four principles involved in Paradocx Vineyard, in Landenberg, Pa., said one of the signature products of the operation is back on shelf after a three- to four-month absence. These are gallon paint cans that have a bag in them containing 3 liters of wine, the equivalent of four bottles. The white is called Whitewash, a mix of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Vidal; the other is named Barn Red, a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc.
Each sells for $40.99, equal to about 10 bucks a bottle. Harris said they’ve found a following since they were introduced. He called them “nice for parties and those sorts of things, because basically they have a spout on them so you can just pour yourself a glass, and the bag keep the wine, even thought it’s opened, safe for about six weeks or so. They’re popular for holiday parties and taking on vacation.”
It’s an idea others have inquired about, he said in response to a question. “But for right now we’re keeping it to ourselves,” he continued. “We did patent it and trademark it.”
For those who haven’t visited, the winery is owned and operated by the Hoffman (Carol and David) and Harris (Joann and Mark) families. All are practicing physicians, hence, Pair of Docs as the seed for the name. The winery produces about 5,000 gallons of wine annually; 15 varieties of grapes are grown on the property. Mark Harris said that while their 15 wines are a mix of red and white, they essentially make only dry wines, except for the dessert wine, a Muscat Ottonel. “[Otherwise] our sweetest wine [we make] is in the paint cans, the max is a 2 percent sugar.”
Other than the comeback of the cans, the news out of the winery has slowed for the moment. The Candlelight Christmas event, which included hayrides, got an added boost from a snowfall that provided a holiday feel. Harris said the winery also is pouring at two local Christmas tree farms; otherwise just getting ready for more sales related to the holiday. Two releases of specialty Chardonnays this past weekend will give customers a couple more options: One is an American oaked and the other is unoaked, more along the lines of a naked Chard.
Perhaps the one other visible change isn’t so much at the winery at all, but on its Web site. Upgraded in the past month, one notices the improvement as soon as they hit the home page.
“Our Web site was woefully outdated,” Harris said. “We now have an events coordinator who has the time to work on those kind of things. Her name is Kellie Caldwell. She actually has spearheaded getting our Web site updated, and when you call to schedule an event, she’s the first one you talk to. So our response time in terms of those kinds of things have improved dramatically. It used to be that one of the four of us were handling all that kind of stuff. So now we actually have someone who is dedicated to take care of those things and can get back to people in a prompt fashion.”
Mark Harris, one of the four principles involved in Paradocx Vineyard, in Landenberg, Pa., said one of the signature products of the operation is back on shelf after a three- to four-month absence. These are gallon paint cans that have a bag in them containing 3 liters of wine, the equivalent of four bottles. The white is called Whitewash, a mix of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Vidal; the other is named Barn Red, a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc.
Each sells for $40.99, equal to about 10 bucks a bottle. Harris said they’ve found a following since they were introduced. He called them “nice for parties and those sorts of things, because basically they have a spout on them so you can just pour yourself a glass, and the bag keep the wine, even thought it’s opened, safe for about six weeks or so. They’re popular for holiday parties and taking on vacation.”
It’s an idea others have inquired about, he said in response to a question. “But for right now we’re keeping it to ourselves,” he continued. “We did patent it and trademark it.”
For those who haven’t visited, the winery is owned and operated by the Hoffman (Carol and David) and Harris (Joann and Mark) families. All are practicing physicians, hence, Pair of Docs as the seed for the name. The winery produces about 5,000 gallons of wine annually; 15 varieties of grapes are grown on the property. Mark Harris said that while their 15 wines are a mix of red and white, they essentially make only dry wines, except for the dessert wine, a Muscat Ottonel. “[Otherwise] our sweetest wine [we make] is in the paint cans, the max is a 2 percent sugar.”
Other than the comeback of the cans, the news out of the winery has slowed for the moment. The Candlelight Christmas event, which included hayrides, got an added boost from a snowfall that provided a holiday feel. Harris said the winery also is pouring at two local Christmas tree farms; otherwise just getting ready for more sales related to the holiday. Two releases of specialty Chardonnays this past weekend will give customers a couple more options: One is an American oaked and the other is unoaked, more along the lines of a naked Chard.
Perhaps the one other visible change isn’t so much at the winery at all, but on its Web site. Upgraded in the past month, one notices the improvement as soon as they hit the home page.
“Our Web site was woefully outdated,” Harris said. “We now have an events coordinator who has the time to work on those kind of things. Her name is Kellie Caldwell. She actually has spearheaded getting our Web site updated, and when you call to schedule an event, she’s the first one you talk to. So our response time in terms of those kinds of things have improved dramatically. It used to be that one of the four of us were handling all that kind of stuff. So now we actually have someone who is dedicated to take care of those things and can get back to people in a prompt fashion.”
Deford: Repeal party at Boory 'was a gas'
Photos are courtesy of Boordy and include (clockwise from above) Dottie and Mark Bistransin (Dottie is the winery's event coordinator), several members of the Boordy staff, and a collection of some of the guests.
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Not all events are created equal nor are they assured to ascend to the planners’ loftiest goals.
But last Friday’s End of Prohibition party marking the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition set a standard that Boordy Vineyards’ Rob Deford said earlier today will be hard to top.
“It was a gas, everyone came in costume,” he said by phone from the winery, the oldest in Maryland, located on the outskirts of Baltimore. “We’re calling the best party we ever had here. I had concerns there would be a bit of overimbibing considering the scene. But it was an extremely responsible group. It was really, I can’t find anything wrong with it. We pick our parties apart until there’ nothing left to see what we did right and what we did wrong.”
Score everything for the right side, from the music played by the New Hots Jazz Orchestra to the hard work by the employees to the planned “raid,” that earned two people a trip to the Slade’s Inn B&B. About 150 people attended, Deford said. Even an “unplanned” wedding proposal went off without a hitch in front of everyone. She said yes.
Deford said that he didn’t realize until that evening that this year also marks the 75th anniversary of the publication of a book called “American Wines and How to Make Them,” written by Boordy founder Philip Wagner.
“So when I got up to make a toast I read the preface to that book, which is absolutely wonderful,” Deford said. “It was written during Prohibition actually and it was a guide on how to make wine, because there was a federal allowance for 200 gallons per family and Wagner’s goal was to teach families how to make better wine, which is how Boordy got started. Anyway, he said in his preface, ‘We can reasonably hope that if Prohibition continues in force for another couple decades that the United States might actually become a wine-drinking nation, because the consumption of wine rose steadily during Prohibition and so thus began the book that at the time was the only guide in English to making wine and was the founding of basically of this winery.”
The book was published in1933. “I have copy in my hand that Wagner gave me years ago and it’s absolutely charming, and was written as a sort of act of civil disobedience.”
While Deford’s copy might be rare, the text itself has been rewritten into a publication called “Grapes Into Wine” that passes along the same instructions to new generation, albeit one that knows Prohibition only from the pages of a history book. “It’s lost that Prohibition-era flair,” Deford said, “because, you know, as soon as repeal, that whole edge was lost. So that preface is sort of unique to that first volume.”
But last Friday’s End of Prohibition party marking the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition set a standard that Boordy Vineyards’ Rob Deford said earlier today will be hard to top.
“It was a gas, everyone came in costume,” he said by phone from the winery, the oldest in Maryland, located on the outskirts of Baltimore. “We’re calling the best party we ever had here. I had concerns there would be a bit of overimbibing considering the scene. But it was an extremely responsible group. It was really, I can’t find anything wrong with it. We pick our parties apart until there’ nothing left to see what we did right and what we did wrong.”
Score everything for the right side, from the music played by the New Hots Jazz Orchestra to the hard work by the employees to the planned “raid,” that earned two people a trip to the Slade’s Inn B&B. About 150 people attended, Deford said. Even an “unplanned” wedding proposal went off without a hitch in front of everyone. She said yes.
Deford said that he didn’t realize until that evening that this year also marks the 75th anniversary of the publication of a book called “American Wines and How to Make Them,” written by Boordy founder Philip Wagner.
“So when I got up to make a toast I read the preface to that book, which is absolutely wonderful,” Deford said. “It was written during Prohibition actually and it was a guide on how to make wine, because there was a federal allowance for 200 gallons per family and Wagner’s goal was to teach families how to make better wine, which is how Boordy got started. Anyway, he said in his preface, ‘We can reasonably hope that if Prohibition continues in force for another couple decades that the United States might actually become a wine-drinking nation, because the consumption of wine rose steadily during Prohibition and so thus began the book that at the time was the only guide in English to making wine and was the founding of basically of this winery.”
The book was published in1933. “I have copy in my hand that Wagner gave me years ago and it’s absolutely charming, and was written as a sort of act of civil disobedience.”
While Deford’s copy might be rare, the text itself has been rewritten into a publication called “Grapes Into Wine” that passes along the same instructions to new generation, albeit one that knows Prohibition only from the pages of a history book. “It’s lost that Prohibition-era flair,” Deford said, “because, you know, as soon as repeal, that whole edge was lost. So that preface is sort of unique to that first volume.”
Monday, December 8, 2008
Editor to wineries: Please feed the Grapevine
Since there are almost 60 wineries in my coverage area and only so much time in a day, it probably wouldn't hurt me to mention occaisonally that you are welcome to contact me with any news you have regarding events or releases or new labels. Or just because you like what this blog is doing and would like to save me a phone call. Out-of-region calls are welcome, too, if you care to submit news or views. Both are welcome/
I can be reached at 717.538.6639 or simply contacted at editorp@comcast.net.
Paul
Sunday, December 7, 2008
West Hanover set to close shop in Carlisle
George Kline, owner of the 21-year-old West Hanover Winery outside Harrisburg, says he’s seen a drop in sales by about $1000 a month since the beginning of the year.
“Everybody’s hurting right now,” he said the other day. “We’re not seeing the numbers from last year, so what do you do? You sit tight. You see, I don’t have to have this. I’m retired. That’s the difference between me and someone that needs this for a living. I don’t need this. I just do it to keep myself occupied.”
The winery produces right around 5,000 gallons of wine annually, Kline said. In addition to the tasting room that’s in a separate building connected to his home on Jonestown Road, a 3-minute ride off I-81, he also has satellite locations in Carlisle and over near Morgantown. Well, for now.
“I’m getting ready to close one over in Carlisle,” he said, relaxing behind his long tasting bar. “That has not done well, we’re breaking even over there, so I’m not staying.” The other one is in St. Peters Village, in Warwick, off Route 23. It has been open a year. “On a good week, we sell a lot of wine. It’s enough to keep us there, let’s put it that way.”
Kline said he’ll count on the Christmas rush bringing in extra business, and then hang in there until Tour de Tanks begins in March and runs every weekend. West Hanover is one of 12 members of the Uncork York trail that will be participating.
“We did almost $38,000 March last year,” he said. “That really picks up sales . . . that was the best year we’ve had [with the event]. The first 3 years, we might have done $8,000 to $12,000, but now since Cullari’s opened down here and there’s two wineries in Gettysburg, that has helped. They can hit two wineries here, go right over, a half-hour drive to Gettysburg, hit two over there, then go to York, so they can hit four right in an afternoon just in this area. Before, they’d be coming up here just for me.”
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Prohibition effects still weigh on wine industry
Repeating myself, I know, but in the spirit of sharing some of the more universal wine sentiments from Jim Trezise of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, here are some excerpts from this week's e-letter.
HAPPY 75TH ANNIVERSARY! (SORT OF). Prohibition is dead. At least in theory. Yesterday marked the 75th anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition, ironically pushed over by ratification from the most anti-alcohol State, Utah. Alas (and with apologies, though I wasn’t born then), New York State was the hotbed of the Prohibition movement, that “noble experiment” to legislate human behavior which created bathtub gin, speakeasies, and organized crime. The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which created Prohibition in 1919 was repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933—the only time a truly stupid law has ever been overturned in this way, requiring two Constitutional Amendments (whoops!). But the problem was, and still is, that wine was included in the definition of “intoxicating liquors” (objected to by the President, but overruled by Congress). In addition, the federal government punted, leaving it to each state to determine how to deal with “intoxicating liquors.” Like wine? That’s why the “United States” is, in effect, 50 different countries (states) in terms of where wine is sold (at the winery and/or through direct shipment to consumers and/or direct distribution to retailers [which may be liquor stores, grocery stores, drug stores, convenience stores, etc., depending on the state] and restaurants and/or through wholesalers). Each state is different—with different laws and regulations, bureaucracies, and tax structures—so the bureaucratic nightmare is overwhelming for most New York and other American wineries, which are primarily small farm family businesses. It is truly amazing that so many people of passion have elected to get into this business and stay in it, given all the obstacles our various levels of government have thrown at them. And while I don’t want to spoil the anniversary celebration, it is important to realize that there are many people—on state, national, and international governmental levels—who essentially want to revive Prohibition (without actually saying the word) through taxes, trade barriers, sampling regulations, and other means. There’s one country, for example, which doesn’t allow wine advertising and is considering a ban on sampling in tasting rooms. Where? France! And if it can happen there, it can happen anywhere. That’s why organizations like Farm Bureau (state level), WineAmerica (national) and FIVS (international) are so vital to the health of our industry. Anyway, Happy Anniversary—and may the next 75 years bring true Repeal. Cheers!
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GRAPES AND HEALTH is a fascinating, multi-faceted subject discussed by scientists from Hawaii to Boston this week in San Francisco at a seminar hosted by the National Grape and Wine Initiative (NGWI), the private sector strategic planning organization for research and education. One scientist noted that there are at least 1,600 compounds in grapes that affect human health. And did you know that raisins are good for you (and your kids’) teeth? Yes, those sticky sweet things, besides having lots of iron, have fructose and glucose (good sugars), but virtually no sucrose (bad sugar), and their stickiness takes away lots of other bad things in your mouth that could otherwise lead to problems. And what’s happening in your mouth affects the rest of your body. So eat lots of raisins—but not most commercial raisin bran, which contains lots of sucrose (read the label). Concord grape juice also has many health benefits, and current research is expected to confirm protection against Alzheimer’s and other dementia. In fact, we’ll be sponsoring a major media and trade event in New York City on the health benefits of Concord grape juice, when we hope to light the Empire State Building purple for the event. Table grapes also have various benefits, as does grape seed extract sold in many health and nutrition stores. We’re not allowed to talk about wine (ssshhh!!), but there are even rumors that regular moderate wine consumption has incredible, multiple benefits including the reduction of risk of heart disease, cancer, and other common killers. In short, the humble little grape is powerful medicine.
Va La: Up on Zafferano, down on Viognier
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Some snapshots taken outside and inside Va La Winery.
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Brought a bottle of Zafferano from Va La Family Vineyards in Avon Grove, Pa., to dinner last night and shared it with several dining mates. Now this was outside Dallastown in York County, at an exquisite eatery called Tapenade Bistro (dinner is served there only on Friday nights). So people recognized Avon Grove ("mushroom country, yes?") but had never heard of the winery nor the unique names that make up its list of wines. Zafferano is a 100 percent cold-fermented Pinot Grigio that went beautifully with our meals; it also gave me the chance to spread the word about one of my favorite little regional wineries.
Brought a bottle of Zafferano from Va La Family Vineyards in Avon Grove, Pa., to dinner last night and shared it with several dining mates. Now this was outside Dallastown in York County, at an exquisite eatery called Tapenade Bistro (dinner is served there only on Friday nights). So people recognized Avon Grove ("mushroom country, yes?") but had never heard of the winery nor the unique names that make up its list of wines. Zafferano is a 100 percent cold-fermented Pinot Grigio that went beautifully with our meals; it also gave me the chance to spread the word about one of my favorite little regional wineries.
We stopped at Va La a few weeks ago on a Saturday and did the two-floor tour; several tastings on the main floor that were paired with cheeses and, in one case, chocolates from local farmers and merchants, and then a move upstairs to try several more. The place was bustling on both levels, bad news only for a tiny parking lot that requires some imagination to find a spot when the crowds fill up the place on the weekends. But between the grand bar that dominates the first level and the artwork you find heading upstairs, and the warmth and attention given by owner Anthony Vietri and his staff, and the stable of delicious wines that feature names unlike any others -- La Prima Donna, Mahogany, Cedar, Silk and Siranetta, to name most of them -- it's worth dropping by and tasting what's been squeezed out of the seven acres that the family cultivates.
One note for those who follow the business: Vietri said he's pulling out all of his Viognier and replacing it primarily with Petit Manseng. While you can't beat the Viognier for its fragrance -- just hold a glass of Va La's Fioretti under your note for a minute or two and slowly inhale a few times -- you can beat yourself up trying to nurture the grape because of its susceptiblity to diseases. Wake up one day, Vietri said, and half of what was thriving yesterday is suddenly kerplunk. So, it's time to move on, with few regrets.
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