tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74553605987690919852024-03-04T23:14:41.508-05:00Grape Sense - A Glass Half FullCelebrating Value Wine, News, & Wine TravelHoward Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.comBlogger662125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-60652284839713868412013-03-01T08:37:00.000-05:002013-03-01T08:37:43.779-05:00Grape Sense Has Moved - Please Bookmark<h3 style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.howardhewitt.net/"><b>www.howardhewitt.net</b></a></h2>
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After five years, I've moved the blog to a new platform. Just click the link above and bookmark the new site! Thanks for reading Grape Sense - A Glass Half Full <br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i><br />
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<br />Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-56615876787491651142013-02-26T12:36:00.002-05:002013-02-26T12:36:59.188-05:00AVA Adds Credibilty to Indiana WineThe Indiana’s Uplands region being declared an American Viticulture Area Feb. 12 is good news for all Midwestern wineries.<br />
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<a data-mce-href="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/grape-sense-logo.jpg" href="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/grape-sense-logo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grape Sense Logo" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2732" data-mce-src="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/grape-sense-logo.jpg" height="150" src="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/grape-sense-logo.jpg" width="85" /></a>The
U.S. wine industry is driven by tourism. For those who take wine
seriously and want to learn more about wine, hitting up AVA-designated
areas assures a level of serious winemaking and even quality.<br />
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Michigan
leads the way in the Midwest with four AVAs: Fennville, Leelanau
Peninsula, Lake Michigan Shore, and Old Mission Peninsula. Ohio has four
AVAS: Lake Erie, Isle St. George, Grand River Valley, and Loramie
Creek. Illinois has the Shawnee Hills AVA and shares the Upper
Mississippi AVA with Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.<br />
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The Ohio River
Valley AVA is shared by Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Kentucky has no
other designated grape production area and Indiana did not until the
Uplands announcement.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/bordelon4blog1.jpg" href="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/bordelon4blog1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="bordelon4Blog" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-2924" data-mce-src="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/bordelon4blog1.jpg?w=107" height="150" src="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/bordelon4blog1.jpg?w=107" width="107" /></a>“It
just kind of affirms what we already know that we have some excellent
grape growing regions and they’re unique here in the Midwest,” said
Bruce Bordelon, Viticulture Specialist at Purdue University. “The
Uplands region is different than southwest Indiana. Posey County and
Gibson County have different climate and soils. There really is a
difference in the (grapes) that we grow and the quality that we get
between regions. It’s those little minor differences that makes vintages
special and make our varietal-labeled wines special.”<br />
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Oliver
Winery, near Bloomington, IN., is one of the Midwest’s largest. With
production in the 400,000-case range business is good. But Oliver
embraced the Uplands news every bit as much as the other eight wineries
in the Uplands.<br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/oliver4blog1.jpg" href="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/oliver4blog1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Oliver4Blog" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-2925" data-mce-src="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/oliver4blog1.jpg?w=109" height="150" src="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/oliver4blog1.jpg?w=109" width="109" /></a>“It
allows us to qualify as a true viticulture area and raise the level of
awareness that there is something special about this region,” said
Kathleen Oliver, Executive Vice President. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to
capitalize on that by saying there is something really unique about
these wines. We are producing great quality wines; we can do it just
like Napa and Sonoma. We are something special. And it gives us the
opportunity to look for a more premium price.”<br />
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The nine
established wineries in the Uplands AVA are Best Vineyards Winery,
Elizabeth; Brown County Winery, Nashville; Butler Winery, Bloomington;
Carousel Winery, Bedford; French Lick Winery, West Baden Springs; Huber
Winery, Starlight; Oliver Winery, Bloomington; Turtle Run Winery,
Corydon; and Winzerwald Winery, Bristow.<br />
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<a data-mce-href="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/butler2.jpg" href="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/butler2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fall - Christmas Good Time to Visit Uplands Wine Trail" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2664" data-mce-src="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/butler2.jpg" height="126" src="http://howardhewitt.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/butler2.jpg" width="90" /></a>Jim
Butler, Butler Winery also near Bloomington, spent nearly 10 years
working to achieve the AVA designation. He agreed that Indiana has a
niche with white Traminette and red Chambourcin wines that are grown
throughout the Midwest and excel in the Uplands region. But he also sees
other wines doing well and a future for more traditional plantings.<br />
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“Late
harvest Vignoles and Vidal does wonderfully,” Butler said. “We’ve been
doing Chardonnel. I think we’re going to see some more viniferas (think
traditional wine grapes) planted. “It takes four years to plant a vine
and then get your first crop. It’s going to be a decades-plus process to
zero in on those varieties that are going to give us the product that
we want.”<br />
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The 4800-square-mile Uplands AVA stretches from the
Morgan-Monroe County line near Bloomington south to the Ohio River. The
east-west boundaries run from Jasper in Dubois County to Knobstone Ridge
near Starlight, overlooking the Ohio River Valley.<br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-91276084313043982362013-02-25T18:06:00.000-05:002013-02-25T18:06:15.736-05:00Five Years Later, Grape Sense Making a MoveIt's pretty simple but will be seamless for regular and occasional readers of this blog. I'm moving it to different software and a more easily identified URL. Or, you might call it taking advantage of what I've learned from five years of wine blogging!<br />
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This blog is written on a fine, and easy-to-use, software platform from Google - it's called Blogger. It has gotten many a blogger writing on many different topics a start in online writing. But there are more sophisticated programs out there which offer far more options.<br />
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On the business side, this blog has been about 'building a brand.' I've experimented a lot and know what gets hits here and how it has nicely complimented my newspaper column.<br />
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The move will have later this week or weekend. Unless you have Grape Sense bookmarked, most reader will never notice the URL change. Most of my hits come from Google searches and Facebook/Twitter postings. I provide a link in those social media postings so no one needs to remember or bookmark my address.<br />
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The new site will categorize the posts I've written to date - or nearly 700 of them. It will look different but be quite easy to navigate.<br />
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I will also leave a post at top of this blog for some time with quick easy direct to new site. Stay tuned for the arrival of the moving vans and my new home for Grape Sense!<br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-51384280844922372622013-02-25T17:53:00.000-05:002013-02-25T17:59:13.129-05:00A So-So French Rouge and Nice BlancFrench wine isn't all $1,000 a bottle. The crazy things that happens with French futures and the high-end Chateau wines from Bordeaux grab the headlines but there are plenty of tasty treats at all price points.<br />
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Here is a look at two wines, a red and a wine, which are pretty easy to find and both under $15.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNfcJOVTyidD7UcEti2MAoA8UuDydFW531xorPsH5NNqF6pz8rGD4aoqjvX8YuZmHtkvsfkQ4Pi5fGc9jklwTSgqTmAhKEUlLC98cgScNB6CTYeu8ZP0LzHtJc8d8In_XV5q5EYh5rr8/s1600/madiran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNfcJOVTyidD7UcEti2MAoA8UuDydFW531xorPsH5NNqF6pz8rGD4aoqjvX8YuZmHtkvsfkQ4Pi5fGc9jklwTSgqTmAhKEUlLC98cgScNB6CTYeu8ZP0LzHtJc8d8In_XV5q5EYh5rr8/s200/madiran.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Chateau Peyros 2006 Madiran</b> - This southern Bordeaux wine is probably best suited for a red wine drinker who want's to try an easily affordable Bordeaux. Madiran is the appellation area while the grapes are Cabernet and a grape that will be unfamiliar to some, Tannat.<br />
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Tannat is the dominant grape in the Madiran region and also found in Uruguay. There's also a little Tannat grown in Virginia and California. Indiana's Jim Butler, at Butler winery near Bloomington, recently told me he is planting some tannat.<br />
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Tannat is a grape that produces a tannic wine that is intended for aging. It's most often blended with Cabernet and the other more traditional Bordeaux grapes.<br />
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These are dark wines with big flavor and can be quite rich and wonderful. They can also be too dry, leathery, and off-putting. Any wine with a dose of Tannat probably needs decanting.<br />
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The Chateau Peyros is easy to find but definitely needs that decant. I tasted it after pouring through a good aerator but found it lacking much fruit. I searched a few online reviews and found many agreeing with my first impression. Those who let the wine open up certainly liked it more than those of us who opened and poured.<br />
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Its a nice wine. It generally gets good marks 90-ish from critics. But on consumer driven wine review sites the wine scores lower. It's hard to recommend this wine because many are not going to care for it. Some will even find it thin straight from the bottle. If you have the patience to decant a couple of hours or more and like trying the proverbial 'something different,' then Chateau Peyros is worth your try.<br />
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<i>Chateau Peyros 2006 Madiran, $14, Recommended, with reservations noted.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixu2z47il5B46Gs90m_PVFTK53H4kHx-tEDqFxTr-ib3VXPq1x4nWLQAarOhOCtvH7zbyLgiPP7rRDC8iChGip7IGQiInGCevRHKcgIdqKVIb1QuH2pLAlHbzhuNw7nQWddUNNhg4nkc/s1600/clapping+hands.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixu2z47il5B46Gs90m_PVFTK53H4kHx-tEDqFxTr-ib3VXPq1x4nWLQAarOhOCtvH7zbyLgiPP7rRDC8iChGip7IGQiInGCevRHKcgIdqKVIb1QuH2pLAlHbzhuNw7nQWddUNNhg4nkc/s200/clapping+hands.png" width="191" /></a></div>
<b>Chateau La Tour de Beraud 2010 Costieres de Nimes</b> - If you like tart citrus, lovely blance, and crisp acidity - clap your hands!<br />
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This is a really delightful Southern France white wine. Generally, classifying wines to the season is geeky-goofiness that just doesn't matter. I like to live by the rule that if you like it - drink it.<br />
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I prefer these crisp whites in the summer but really loved this one in mid February with pasta. The Beraud has an aluring nose that hints of mineral and bright citrus.<br />
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There seems to be a touch of peach and a little satisfying sour/tart characteristic on the finish. The wine is made from Grenache Blanc, Rousanne and Marsanne grapes - the classic Southern French wine grapes. These are great grapes and wine blends to try. And, the Southern Rhone and Languedoc regions are making some wonderful value reds and whites which taste far above their often meager prices.<br />
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Costieres de Nimes is southern most Rhone and often associated with the ancient Romans. Romans planted some of the original vineyards in the ancient area.<br />
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<i>Chateau La Tour de Beraud 2010 Costieres de Nimes, $9-$11, Recommended!</i><br />
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Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.comHoward Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-58490533057756596712013-02-21T15:27:00.002-05:002013-02-21T15:28:20.808-05:00Saturday is Open That Bottle Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<![endif]--> One of the joys of keeping a substantial amount of wine in
your home is occasionally reaching for the good stuff. No! Don’t wait until a
birthday, visit from a special friend, or otherwise unusual occasion. Just open
the damn good bottle of juice and drink it because you deserve it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Such is the thinking behind the annual Open That Bottle
Night. Saturday, Feb. 23, is the 2013 OTBN so start thinking now.</div>
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<br /></div>
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OTBN has been around since the late 90s, brainchild of
Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher. The duo were wine writers for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wall Street Journal</i>. They left the
venerable old American newspaper icon in 2009 after 11 years of wine column
writing.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNITPFq2ImTBhgf-Ex3c8rFe5HfFCkg0OR6c-qtRBHXz260XxMUOYA_QQEZGZLHtu-jnOKLCefOuw-qVMQ21QUqoGiJYusDYZr34_5JwRXmvfVz8G8j1wPCYOLyHVqN79SC5MyzZ-QyI/s1600/John-Dottie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNITPFq2ImTBhgf-Ex3c8rFe5HfFCkg0OR6c-qtRBHXz260XxMUOYA_QQEZGZLHtu-jnOKLCefOuw-qVMQ21QUqoGiJYusDYZr34_5JwRXmvfVz8G8j1wPCYOLyHVqN79SC5MyzZ-QyI/s200/John-Dottie.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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They came up with the annual “Open That Bottle Night” in
2009 to encourage wine enthusiasts to open a special bottle of wine and share
the story with others. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Now you don’t need a wine column or a blog to participate.
Think how much fun it would be to invite a friend or friends over and pop open
something really special. </div>
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<br /></div>
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For me, it’s going to be a great Oregon Pinot Noir or maybe
a California Cab. I probably won’t decide until the last minute Saturday. </div>
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<br /></div>
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OTBN is always the last Saturday in February. But don’t wait
for another year to roll by before you grab a bottle of the good stuff “just
because.” You can celebrate OTBN any night of the year!</div>
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<br /></div>
<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-61693144321179399712013-02-14T19:28:00.000-05:002013-02-14T19:28:00.586-05:00A Classic Sonoma Label Produces Great BlendIt's almost always a safe bet that when you're dealing with a company that has been in business for more than 100 years that they probably know what they're doing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6fdPft2xq8bDKRCPBvvLss6s4q0LR8fxQ5zUr9njl7K1N9h25D9jMvboqopk6jLMPyThobQPWRNebUWaqdWA7qDaotVjYRoLaYPqtbAw9c-sa4nmeeRpJEqr2uuVzDlNHefkAbXeAGU/s1600/Kunde+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6fdPft2xq8bDKRCPBvvLss6s4q0LR8fxQ5zUr9njl7K1N9h25D9jMvboqopk6jLMPyThobQPWRNebUWaqdWA7qDaotVjYRoLaYPqtbAw9c-sa4nmeeRpJEqr2uuVzDlNHefkAbXeAGU/s1600/Kunde+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
Kunde wines sort of falls into the category of something I've often seen on wineshop shelves but never previously bought. I didn't have a positive or negative impression - just didn't know much about Kunde wines.<br />
<br />
A friend bought my a mixed case of goodies from Napa Sonoma last fall and it included a Kunde 2007 Red Dirt Red blend. I recently opened it and it blew me away. This is darn fine wine for around the $30 price point.<br />
<br />
It's a great American-grown, Italian blend of Barbera, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Sangiovese. It has really nice intense red fruit, spice, nicely balanced and a lasting smooth finish!<br />
<br />
Meat off the grill or red sauce-based dishes would rock with this wine. I had a nice round tip roast, medium-rare, that made a perfect companion. I'm anxious to try more Kunde wines.<br />
<br />
<i>Kunde 2007 Red Dirt Red, $28, Highly Recommended.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-27472795574108307332013-02-13T13:52:00.001-05:002013-02-13T13:58:20.493-05:00Wine's Best Friend: Dark Chocolate<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The world is awash in boutique wine, craft beers, herbs and
spices galore. Some call it the Food Network effect. One of wine’s best
friends, chocolate, has evolved with a similar <i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Renaissance.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GvgSNLtyijWOcUOD4vKZ5-A6Q3Od9SujHNTTgTmcGEwCnnMzMxJ5Eh2ai3GDxBUvU60CwDqYL1TpnY_lOw1OQg7J8Yq9Fv_taMFhVkv6cC6_EfxcdSFaB32tN54Fm42EZdqkUkdTX0k/s1600/Grape+Sense+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GvgSNLtyijWOcUOD4vKZ5-A6Q3Od9SujHNTTgTmcGEwCnnMzMxJ5Eh2ai3GDxBUvU60CwDqYL1TpnY_lOw1OQg7J8Yq9Fv_taMFhVkv6cC6_EfxcdSFaB32tN54Fm42EZdqkUkdTX0k/s1600/Grape+Sense+Logo.jpg" /></a></div>
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“I think over the past 15 years there has been an evolution
of foods, in general, and specialty foods,” said Indianapolis chocolatier
Elizabeth Garber. “It has happened to cheese, with craft beer, and even wine.
Chocolate has done that too. </div>
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<br /></div>
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“Chocolate has been around for ever and ever, but then you
started getting people specializing in the craft of chocolate and the higher
quality and the artistic side of chocolate. People started creating it more
visually and it became more about the palate. Now it’s what flavor profile is
in the chocolate and what works well with chocolate. Today you can find spices
and things like that in chocolate products.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wine and chocolate have been a natural pairing for a long,
long time but it’s not as simple as grabbing a bottle or wine and a chocolate
bar. There are far too many options not to explore the possibilities.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolatier Elizabeth Garber</td></tr>
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“There are levels and strengths in terms of sweetness,”
Garber said. “A white chocolate is going to be sweeter because it has a lot
more sugar in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some grades
of milk chocolate that sweetness depends on the amount of sugar, milk and cacao
in the chocolate. Then you get in to darks which are going to get more
bittersweet, though you can have really sweet dark chocolate too. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The higher the percentage of cacao you have on a bar means
more cacao and less sugar. Garber explains the 80 percent you see on a
chocolate bar means 80 percent cacao and 20 percent sugar, cacao butter and
other stuff.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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And simply enough the more bold the chocolate, the bigger
red wine you’re going to want to pair with the sweet treat. Chocolate ranging
from 60-75 percent cacao pairs great with big red wines. Any bold red wine will
do but experimenting will help you find your favorites.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But chocolate today is more than a plain chocolate bar. “We
do a cinnamon basil and it might go well with one thing versus another,” Garber
said. “A milk chocolate could be paired with a Chardonnay or whites. Sometime
that sweet white wine with a honey/lavender truffle is a great pairing. A sweet
floral chocolate might pair better with white than just a red. So many people
just think red wine with chocolate but you can mix it up.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Garber has been a chocolatier since 1994. She started in her
home and then opened a business just south of Indianapolis. She now has a
sizable shop in Indianapolis’ trendy Mass Ave district called “<a href="http://www.bestchocolateintown.com/" target="_blank">The BestChocolate in Town</a>.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garber's truffles feature unique flavor combinations.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She mixes all sorts of spices, fruit, and even beer in her
truffles to challenge her customer’s base palate. “There has been this slow
evolution going on,” she said. “It’s sort of like jams and jelly; it used to be
just grape and strawberry. Now you have pepper jellies and all sorts of
combinations. So now chocolate has evolved and continues to expand in new
directions.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Flavored truffles give wine fans a chance to really
experiment. Boutique chocolate shops have popped up in cities of all size.
Chocolate and wine is a very seductive treat for Valentine’s Day!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Howard’s Pick</b>: Try a 70 percent Cacao Truffle with hints of
coffee with a big fruity Zinfandel Delightful!</div>
<br />
<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-6945804792812214602013-02-12T16:55:00.000-05:002013-02-12T17:56:44.894-05:00Uplands AVA Adds Credibility for Indiana Wine<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i>Editor's Note: Here is story I did for Palate Press and the 22 newspapers which carry my every-other-week column. Big news for Indiana wineries today!</i><br />
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN. – Indiana winemakers believe validation and credibility come with the federal government’s designation of the Indiana Uplands in southeast Indiana as an American Viticulture Area (AVA).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim Butler talks about the AVA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Indiana Secretary of Agriculture Gina Sheets, members of Purdue University’s Wine and Grape team, along with representatives of Indiana’s nine Upland wineries made the announcement Tuesday at the Statehouse. Butler Winery owner and winemaker Jim Butler has pursued the designation for nearly 10 years. The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau granted the designation as the Indiana Uplands.<br />
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“I think what we want to develop now is when people see the name Indiana Uplands, it conjures up something in their minds about the area and the wines,” Butler said. “We want customers to have a real familiarity they can depend on knowing that they’re going to get a good wine.”<br />
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The 4800-square-mile Uplands AVA stretches from the Morgan-Monroe County line near Bloomington south to the Ohio River, a distance of more than 100 miles. The east-west boundaries run from Jasper in Dubois County to Knobstone Ridge near Starlight, overlooking the Ohio River Valley.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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“This legitimizes the area as a grape growing region,” said Kathleen Oliver, Executive Vice President of Oliver Winery. Oliver is one of the Midwest’s largest wineries. “I think that’s something we already knew. We have something special in our topography with well-drained soils and a climate ideal for growing grapes. This raises the level of awareness that there is something unique about our region. It’s just like Napa or Sonoma, we are now something special.”<br />
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There are more than 200 AVAs in the United States including the Ohio River AVA shared by West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Butler said most southern Indiana wineries have never wanted to use the AVA designation which would force them to put “Ohio” on their Indiana-made wines.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYsVo41v-sN-NKhVBHcOA98lEAjz6HMjlQRJ_1SgHhZfFnDWXdhqCgHsNHUTtvxbsmBllRy4JOwkHjfxcB0rOJLGATEyfiI9qEVD7v6A8E76c8zFwSLuGvQ8YIwByQUuQE-6HOjFjkk8/s1600/bordelon4Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYsVo41v-sN-NKhVBHcOA98lEAjz6HMjlQRJ_1SgHhZfFnDWXdhqCgHsNHUTtvxbsmBllRy4JOwkHjfxcB0rOJLGATEyfiI9qEVD7v6A8E76c8zFwSLuGvQ8YIwByQUuQE-6HOjFjkk8/s200/bordelon4Blog.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bordelon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But Bruce Bordelon, Purdue’s Viticulture Specialist, said it takes more than a designation or label to make the Uplands stand out. “Quality is always the goal whether it’s Michigan, Indiana, Ohio or Washington and California,” he said. “This is an affirmation that what we’re doing is successful and mainstream and good as any region in the world.”<br />
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Indiana has approximately 650 acres in vineyard and 63 bonded wineries. A substantial amount of Indiana wine is made from grapes grown out of state. The nine established wineries in the Uplands AVA are <a href="http://www.bestvineyardswinery.com/" target="_blank">Best Vineyards Winery</a>, Elizabeth; <a href="http://browncountywinery.com/" target="_blank">Brown County Winery</a>, Nashville; <a href="http://www.butlerwinery.com/" target="_blank">Butler Winery</a>, Bloomington; <a href="http://www.carouselwinery.com/" target="_blank">Carousel Winery</a>, Bedford; <a href="http://www.frenchlickwinery.com/" target="_blank">French Lick Winery</a>, West Baden Springs; <a href="http://www.huberwinery.com/" target="_blank">Huber Winery</a>, Starlight; <a href="http://www.oliverwinery.com/" target="_blank">Oliver Winery</a>, Bloomington; <a href="http://www.turtlerunwinery.com/" target="_blank">Turtle Run Winery</a>, Corydon; and <a href="http://www.winzerwaldwinery.com/" target="_blank">Winzerwald Winery</a>, Bristow. There are also a few vineyard-only properties.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merritt</td></tr>
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The winemakers acknowledged the big step is using the AVA designation to push quality, increase tourism, and sell more wine. “The big marketing point is they’re going to be able to put Uplands AVA on their wine bottles,” said Jeanette Merritt, Marketing Director, Indiana Wines & Purdue Wine Grape Team. “When people go out to buy wine they are looking for those special designations. Having the Uplands designation on the bottle and being able to promote that is going to encourage people to buy those wines.”<br />
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Butler said it’s a process that could take decades, but an important first step.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adams</td></tr>
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Dan Adams, winemaker and owner of one of the Uplands’ smallest wineries, Winzerwald, said everyone from Oliver to his small operation benefits.<br />
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“We have to get the word out and tell people we have unique qualities like a Napa or Bordeaux,” he said. “We’ll eventually achieve the same level of recognition that other areas have achieved. Some of those areas have had years, if not hundreds of years, head start on us.”<br />
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The Uplands wineries also have regular wine trail activities. <a href="http://www.indianauplands.com/" target="_blank">Check out their website here</a>.<br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-18783051098040532252013-02-12T08:14:00.001-05:002013-02-12T08:14:48.036-05:00Indiana Gets Its Very Own AVA TodayIt will present a very favorable marketing challenge, but Indiana wine is on the map today in an entirely new way. Later this morning in Indianapolis the Lt. Governor, Secretary of Indiana Agriculture, and nine Indiana wineries will announce the Federal government's approval of <a href="http://www.indianauplands.com/" target="_blank">Indiana Uplands</a>.<br />
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Indiana Uplands becomes the first state American Viticulture Area. Indiana has shared the Ohio River Valley AVA with Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia, but this will be the first all-Indiana AVA. The wineries in the region include two heavyweights - Olivers and Huber.<br />
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I'm on my way down and will update the blog when possible throughout the day. It's a really exciting day for Indiana wine.<br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-71258301961088560022013-02-07T18:46:00.000-05:002013-02-07T18:46:38.103-05:00Shop Local! Two Delightful Ladies Rocking Chocolate<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elizabeth Garber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The more you get into food and wine, the more most people get into the local farm-to-fork movement and buying local products.<br />
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With Valentine's Day just one week from today, many Americans are thinking chocolate. My newspaper column went out to the newspapers today featuring comments from Elizabeth Garber, Indy's <a href="http://www.bestchocolateintown.com/" target="_blank">Best Chocolate in Town</a> owner and chocolatier.<br />
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That column will be posted here the first of next week. But many people will be buying chocolate this weekend and I wanted to plug two friends in the sweets business.<br />
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Garber's story is one of building success form the ground up. She started small in Franklin, Edinburgh, and then opened her now-highly-successful shop on Indy's Mass Avenue. She has wonderful truffles with all sorts of flavored ganache. She has flavored popcorns and many other chocolate treats.<br />
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Her truffles just rock!<br />
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But I also know Julie Bolejack owner and chocolatier with her business <a href="http://chocolateforthespirit.com/" target="_blank">Chocolate for the Spirit</a>. She also has delightful truffles and all sorts of chocolate treats.<br />
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Julie has taken her chocolates on the road and won accolades at the New York Chocolate Show and had her goodies served at Super Bowl parties and the MTV Awards.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nZjzp0YbQWll-jV1GBj-XAcdj-VC40rbrX70Z-YaVrJwPoetERyfDjGM-KuCteyhDwAPZsEua1Oqc6rtVOGs4o9IQ_wZQTHdP4YxG1gaEinpFuFzSYHbZ3VXIDJiTpnnlkBBANQyq_4/s1600/JulieWeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nZjzp0YbQWll-jV1GBj-XAcdj-VC40rbrX70Z-YaVrJwPoetERyfDjGM-KuCteyhDwAPZsEua1Oqc6rtVOGs4o9IQ_wZQTHdP4YxG1gaEinpFuFzSYHbZ3VXIDJiTpnnlkBBANQyq_4/s320/JulieWeb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bolejack and her chocolate treats!</td></tr>
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One of her best known treats is her Mayan bar. It is very unique and attention getting spicy chocolate made with Saigon cinnamon, chipotle and chili spices - according to Julie's website. Julie also has a booth at Indy's popular City Market. She participates in several farmer's markets as well.<br />
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There are other artisan chocolate makers in Indy, I'm sure. But I've bought regularly from these two and have gotten to know them just a bit. They both have a fabulous product line. Both business have great websites linked here. You can learn more about where to buy the product.<br />
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Wine prices are always listed in every review I do on this blog. So it's fair to note that both of these chocolatiers make a premium product with a premium price. Depending on the exact product, you can expect to pay an average of $2 and up per truffle.<br />
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I make recommendations - okay, maybe this one sounds more like a plug. But there has been no chocolate kickback ... well, maybe a bite here and there. But these are local businesswomen succeeding at high and very tasty level.<br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-19008799334411540072013-02-05T19:17:00.003-05:002013-02-05T19:18:12.182-05:00The Ying and Yang of the Wine WorldThere isn't much of a bigger contrast than a soft and very nice Oregon Pinot Noir and a well-rounded, but acidic Italian Sangiovese-based wine.<br />
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These are widely available wines, easy to find, at the $23 to mid $30 price range.<br />
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<b>La Maialina 2007 Chianti Classico</b> - This is classic Chianti that is really drinkable Italian wine. I find a lot of Chianti, usually at a lower price point, unbalanced and too acidic. This wine may not have huge fruit but has nice balance.<br />
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The laMaialina needs some decanting but opens up very quickly and nicely. It had the typical cherry flavors with some earthy or woodsy hints. The acid was in balance. The wine was certainly smoother than most Chianti wines. I liked it a lot.<br />
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Top critics like the wine as well. James Sucking gave it 90 points and said the wine, "Makes you want to eat." Robert Parker's <i>Wine Advocate</i> went even further bestowing 92 points.<br />
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I have to thank one of my favorite wine retailers, Bethann Kendall at Vine & Table in Carmel, In. I've written many times in five years that wine newbies need to find a good wine shop, a retailer they trust, and then take their advice. Bethann hit this one out of the park.<br />
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<i>La Maialina 2007 Chianti Classico, $22.99, Highly Recommended</i><br />
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<b>Soter Vineyards North Valley 2010 Pinot Noir</b> - Soter Vineyards is certainly a big name in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Some how through three visits and plenty of consumption, I've managed to never taste their wines until recently.<br />
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Soter makes some great Pinot. Let's start there.<br />
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I think there is a real sweet spot for great wine in Oregon at the $30-$40 price point. This is a bit of a price structure you quickly pick up on if you visit the Willamette Valley. Everyone seems to have an entry level wine around $20-$30, then a mid price point at $30-$45, and top end of $45-$70.<br />
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I think you can buy some really great wines at the mid price point. These are Pinot Noir wines tasting far above their price point.<br />
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This wine was an example of better than the $30 retail price. The wine was beautifully aromatic with hints or red berries and spice. I liked the wonderful balance from tip of the palate fruit to a silky and lasting finish. Geeky words, indeed, but the best description I can give it.<br />
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<i>Wine Advocate</i> and Steven Tanzer each awarded this wine 90 points. I'd agree, if not maybe a single point higher.<br />
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<i>Soter Vineyards North Valley 2010 Pinot Noir, SRP $30, (Trade Sample) Very Highly Recommended</i><br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-57141267006286050312013-02-04T19:53:00.000-05:002013-02-04T20:24:26.405-05:00New Castle Courier-Times 22nd Paper Carrying Column<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't really pitched the column recently but had an old newspaper/editor friend reach out to me over the weekend wanting to add <i>Grape Sense</i> to his newspaper.<br />
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Editor Randy Renfeld, who once worked for me elsewhere, is adding <i>Grape Sense</i> to the New Castle daily.<br />
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Now instead of "nearly" 300,000 homes monthly I can say "more than" 300,000 homes monthly.<br />
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Thanks Randy and welcome aboard New Castle!<br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-3196358641401362352013-02-03T17:19:00.002-05:002013-02-08T11:33:16.698-05:00Super Bowl Day Deserves Super Wine<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terry Hoage at his Paso Robles Vineyard</td></tr>
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I keep a number of wines in two storage units where some are snuggled away for aging but most for special occasions. I always treat myself to one of those prizes on Super Bowl Sunday. On top of that, it's my birthday week. I'm only going to say it's a BIG one! Ha! I've been thinking of opening this wine for a few months and today could not be more perfect.<br />
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What better than to open a wine from a winery owned by a former All-American at the University of Georgia and finished in the Heisman Trophy top-five voting his senior year? He not only won a Super Bowl in 1992 with the Philadephia Eagles but had a 13-year NFL career.<br />
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<a href="http://www.terryhoagevineyards.com/index.php" target="_blank">Terry Hoage Vineyards</a> has become a landmark Paso Robles winery producing the kind of big,b right and smooth wines Paso has become known for in recent years.<br />
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Hoage's 2007 "The 46" is a 50-50 blend of Syrah and Grenache. The wine has rich plum and bright fruit flavors. Sure, the Syrah comes through with wonderful spice and earthiness but the often-sweeter-on-the palate Grenache provides perfect balance. If you've ever read a wine review, shelf talker, or blogger who talked about "velvety tannins" on the finish and thought "huh?" - you need to taste this wine.<br />
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For the football fans, the "46" is a salute to the style of defense Hoage played under colorful NFL coordinator and head coach Buddy Ryan.<br />
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The critics loved this wine. Wine Advocate gave it an outstanding 93 points. <a href="http://www.cellartracker.com/default.asp" target="_blank">Cellartracker</a> members rated it 90.3.<br />
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I had the chance to meet Hoage during a wine press trip in the fall of 2010. We had a "Rhone Rangers" tasting seminar at his winery. A couple of us scooted to the tasting room before leaving to buy a bottle.<br />
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I don't collect much wine memorabilia or trinkets, but I do collect signed bottles. Hoage signed this one for me as you can see above!<br />
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<i>Terry Hoage Vineyards "The 46," $50, Very Highly Recommended. UPDATE: I had originally posted this particular vintage was sold out but heard from the winery they do have a very limited amount available but only at or directly from the winery. The Hoage website linked above also has a 2010 vintage listed for $55.</i><br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-76498830166555398312013-02-03T10:44:00.000-05:002013-02-03T10:44:46.811-05:00For Traditional Italian Dinner, You Gotta Go to Mama'sDuring travel around the country for wine or work, I like to throw up a short blog post about any great restaurant visit. Living 45 minutes northwest of Indianapolis doesn't afford me many opportunities to get into the city to the better spots, but I make a point to eat well in Indy whenever I can.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">iPhone shot of my Rosemary Chicken Lasagna!</td></tr>
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An impending birthday (well, they can't be avoided so embrace them) was the reason to head to Broad Ripple on Indy's north side and a visit to classic - <a href="http://www.mamacarollas.com/" target="_blank">Mama's Corolla's</a>!<br />
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Mama's is a very busy spot for folks in the know looking for great Italian. I had been there once before and remembered it as good but Saturday night was off the charts good.<br />
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We started with the fried ravioli and a light marinara dipping sauce. The ravioli, with cheese stuffing, was toasty and delicious. We also had wonderful calimari - small pieces which were crispy and a great dipping sauce that had a hint of horseradish.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama Corolla's on 54th near Broad Ripple!</td></tr>
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My dinner was a signature Mama favorite, the Rosemary Chicken Lasagna. The old-fashioned sweet marinara was a perfect companion to the chicken, herbs, and cheese. It was one of the best entree's I've had in a long time.<br />
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We split a piece of Ricotta cake garnished with blackberries. All the time we were enjoying a big fruity and soft Italian Ripasso.<br />
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I love the new chef-driven and farm-to-fork restaurants popping up. But once in a while the classics can't be beat!<br />
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Oh Mama, you make me so happy!<br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-30245685158221629482013-02-01T20:41:00.001-05:002013-02-08T11:25:37.077-05:00Bigger Prices, Even Bigger Flavors - Great WinesHere are some quicky reviews on some really great red wines - not good, but really great. The price point is a tad higher than the value wines I write about in the newspaper column but, I'd argue, the wines are better than the price point listed!<br />
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<b>Philippe Cambie La Calendal 2007 Cotes du Rhone </b>- There is good and then there is crazy good. If you like Rhone wines, no .. make that ... if you like red wine, you are going to love this incredible and unique French blend.<br />
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I bought this wine because I had heard Philippe Cambie referrer to in such glowing terms in the wine media over and over and over. Well, my colleagues are right on this one. This is a unique Rhone wine because of the blend. It's 80 percent Mourvedre and 20 percent Grenache.<br />
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This was smooth and rich like many Rhone wines but it had much more of a mid-palate and secondary notes than most Rhone bottles. It has dark and earthy qualities beyond the usual $15 entry. For me, credit the Mouvredre - probably my favorite grape many haven't even heard about! Robert Parker gave this wine 92 points - quite high for a Parker rating of Rhone.<br />
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The Cambie wine is easily one of the best Cotes du Rhones I've ever tasted.<br />
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<i>Philippe Cambie La Calendal 2007 Cotes du Rhone, $23-$27, Very Highly Recommended. </i><br />
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<b>Girard 2009 Artistry</b> - This big red California blend is awesome wine. It's a rich blend of 56 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 percent Cab Franc, 11 percent Petite Verdot, 10 percent Merlot, and 8 percent Malbec. It's obviously a Bordeaux style blend that delivers serious bang for the buck. I bought this on an online wine site for $23-$24 but it normally sells at $45.<br />
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Frankly, I usually don't find these wines that good at $45 but this one is an exception. It's got bright flavors like a cherry or spice. It has a long-lasting finish and beautiful mouth feel. It's big alcohol at 15 percent without the burn on the finish.<br />
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The wine publications, <i>Wine Spectator</i> and <i>Enthusiast</i>, consistently like this wine with ratings of 89-92 through the 1008 vintage.<br />
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If you aren't drinking California blends you are missing out on a lot of great red wines.<br />
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<i>Girard 2009 Artistry, $44.99, Highly Recommended</i><br />
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<b>Morlanda Crianza 2007 Priorat</b> - This is great dry Spanish wine. At $40 it may scare some people off, but frankly it drinks above even that price point.<br />
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This dry beauty has currents, coffee, and dirt on the palate. This is dry and wonderful red wine. It's not a sipper but works well with food. I loved this wine with some mildly-spiced, roasted pork.<br />
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How do you coax a vineyard into making great wine? You drop fruit and take a low yield. The winery gets just over one ton an acre from the vineyards for this wine. And if you want another good sign, there are only 3,000 cases of the wine produced.<br />
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<i>Spectator, Enthusias</i>t and <i>Advocate </i>all give the 2007 a rating of 90 points.<br />
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<i>Morlanda Crianza 2007 Priorat, SRP $40, Trade Sample, Highly Recommended.</i><br />
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Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.comHoward Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-5614938133523582092013-01-30T17:14:00.005-05:002013-01-30T17:16:52.413-05:00Notes on Wine Blog, Chicago EventA few random thoughts before diving into some notes on a couple of bottles I want to review!<br />
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<b>The Blog</b>: I like fidgeting with the look and feel of Grape Sense once or twice a year. I blog on Google's Blogger. It's a free platform and not bad but I'm considering a big change this summer. So I have been playing a bit lately.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blake Gray</td></tr>
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I changed the look and simplified all the colors a few weeks ago. I always list some blogs I read in the right hand column but like changing those periodically. <a href="http://blog.wblakegray.com/" target="_blank">Blake Gray's blog</a> is the only one remaining at the moment. He's a well-known name in writing circles. Blake speaks his mind and isn't shy about ticking people off, if necessary. He's a bit irreverant, which I like a lot. But he does his homework and writes without a dose of geeky wine overkill. He also isn't afraid to poke fun, jab a stick in your eye, or call winos out for being pretentious.<br />
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I've removed the others I had listed for a long time. I want to add a few new ones and have a couple in mind. If you like wine, it's nice to see what some of the writers with an influential voice are saying about the wine world. If you have a blog you read regularly drop me a line at the address below and I'll give it consideration.<br />
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<b>New Indiana Winery Page</b>: I finally got a tab started at the top of the blog for Indiana wineries. I've only posted notes on two so far but have quite a few more to add to the short profiles. I'll be updating that each time I visit an Indiana winery.<br />
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<b>Oregon's best</b>: I'm really looking forward to Willamette Valley's "<i><a href="http://www.citywinery.com/chicago/tickets/pinot-in-the-windy-city-3-7.html" target="_blank">Pinot in the Windy City</a></i>" Mar. 7 in downtown Chicago. There are public tastings, trade shows, and all sorts of wine events in Chicago regularly. If I wasn't three hours away I'd attend more.<br />
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I've been to the valley three times and expect to meet some of the folks I've visited during those trips. More than 60 wineries will be representing Oregon. The trade tasting for wholesalers, retailers, and wine press, is in the afternoon. But there is a public event that night with all wineries pouring and small bites provided by City Winery on Randolph St. The cost for the evening public event really isn't bad at $65. If you consider the cost of visiting a handful of wineries while in Oregon, the $65 is pretty good bang for the buck.<br />
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My only disappointment about the Pinot event is that Provence producers will also be in town the exact same afternoon. I'd love to taste and talk to France's great Rose' producers.<br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-73679491938483986372013-01-26T19:09:00.001-05:002013-01-26T19:14:55.465-05:00Pioneering Indiana Winery and Pioneer Wine FigureINDIANAPOLIS, IN. - It's hard finding good wines, meats, bread and cheeses in small town middle America. Fortunately, such things aren't far away. A drive of an hour or less to Indianapolis pays off with lots of good food stuff.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chateau Thomas tasting room just off I-70, south of Indy airport</td></tr>
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I had such a great day today while really just running errands. It's worth sharing! I had to be on the city's west side for what turned out to be a missed appointment. Then realizing I was very close to <a href="http://www.chateauthomas.com/" target="_blank">Chateau Thomas</a>, one of Indiana's oldest wineries, I headed over.<br />
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Dr. Charles Thomas has been making wine for more than 25 years. He takes a different approach though than most Indiana winemakers. Many Indiana wineries by fruit or juice from other states. Dr. Thomas buys all his fruit from California, Washington, and Oregon. It had been approximately 10 years since I had last visited. The tasting room has doubled in size.<br />
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I'll write something more specific on the winery tomorrow or early this week and take a more detailed look at the wines. But I was very pleasantly surprised just how good the Carneros Pinot Noir, Amador County Cab Franc, and the Primitivo proved to be once tasted. The good doctor has quite a wine list. He also has pioneered, with a patent even, Slender wines with no carbs and only the calories generated by the alcohol. And guess what - I tasted one that was pretty good. I was warned it would be sweet, but it was not coylingly sweet at all.<br />
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The second part of my day was planned. That was a stop at Mass Ave Wine Shoppe downtown to meet of the most significant pioneers of Indiana wine - Dr. Richard Vine, previously of Purdue University. Dr. Vine is known across the country and has helped many wineries, especially in the Midwest, with site selection, terrior and grape decisions, and certainly winemaking and more.<br />
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He was promoting a book of wine stories, which I was happy to buy a copy of for a mere $20. You can read a review of the book <b><a href="http://midwestwinepress.com/2012/11/03/dr-richard-vines-the-curious-world-of-wine/" target="_blank">here</a></b>.<br />
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Dr. Vine and I had a great chat about Indiana wine and how he has seen it grow from non-existence to many Indiana wineries making serious and viable wines comparble to any in the world.<br />
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I'll certainly have more soon from Dr. Vine!<br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-66198304665882911912013-01-25T12:33:00.003-05:002013-01-25T12:43:18.185-05:00Chance to Meet Indiana Wine Icon Saturday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For readers in Central Indiana there is a great chance Saturday (Jan. 26) to meet one of the real icons of Indiana wine. If that was posed in the form of a question many would rattle off the names of Oliver, Easley, Huber, or Thomas - and they would be right.<br />
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But <a href="http://www.vintagewineryconsultants.com/Richard_Vine.html" target="_blank">Dr. Richard Vine</a>, Purdue University Professor of Enology, Emeritus, deserves to have his name along side those winery pioneers. He helped guide and steer the Indiana wine industry for decades.<br />
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Dr. Vine, and you have to love the irony of his last name, has a new book titled "The Curious World of Wine." It's a collection of stories, facts, and colorful tales.<br />
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He will be selling and signing copies of his book from 2-4 p.m. at <a href="http://www.massavewine.com/" target="_blank">Mass Ave. Wine Shop</a> in Indianapolis. You can stop in buy a book, get it signed and pick up a bottle or two from old friend Jill Ditmire's "Wall of Wine."<br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-36380841526853490112013-01-23T19:11:00.003-05:002013-01-23T19:11:55.866-05:00Indy's Tastings Wine Bar a Fun EveningThe concept of the pay card and two-ounce pours at wine bars isn't a new one. But it is relatively new in Indianapolis.<br />
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Though I had visited <a href="http://www.awineexperience.com/" target="_blank">Indy's Tastings wine bar</a> once previously for a winemaker event, I had never had the full experience until Monday night. In summary, it's fun and a real must-do for wine lovers. It's not expensive but certainly not cheap either.<br />
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The concept is simple enough. Your waitress or waiter will provide you a plastic charge card with as much credit as you wish to put on the card. There are nearly 100 wines available to taste in a two-ounce pour format. Now, two ounces really is a pretty nice, though small, glass of wine. It's plenty to determine whether you like the wine or not. The photo at right is one I took before writing this post. The smallish glass is sitting with a standard size bottle with about two ounces of wine.<br />
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There is a wonderful menu of small plates. I had proscuitto and fresh mozzarella on a crostini for $9 and it was better than good but not great. It was well worth the nine bucks.<br />
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I was meeting a young friend who wanted to expand his palate for job interview purposes in the wine industry.<br />
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We tasted the following wines:<br />
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- A New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that was $3.30 a pour and $24 a bottle.<br />
- A French Grenache-Syrah Cotes du Rhone for $4.15 pour or $30 a bottle<br />
- A California Lodi Zinfandel for $3.15 and $23 a bottle.<br />
- A French Chinon, or Cabernet Franc, at $4 a pour or $29 a bottle<br />
... then I splurged and bought my friend the last glass ... A prominent California Cabernet from a prominent maker at $9.65 a pour and $70 a bottle.<br />
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Now, about those prices. I didn't have much objection to the pour price but if you consider that there are approximately 25 ounces in a 750 ml bottle, at two ounces a pour they certainly are making some money.<br />
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Let's use the California Cab as an example. At $9.65 a pour, assuming 12 pours to the bottle, you get a nifty $115 gross. That's not bad for a bottle they're selling for $70. It's really profitable when you consider the Cab's retail price averages $45-$50. The other wines had similar mark ups.<br />
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Yes, the bottle mark-up is similar, if not quite, high-end restaurant prices. Tastings is a beautiful place, fully staffed, on the ground floor of Indy's Conrad Hotel. In other words, for the uniformed, this is not the low rent district.<br />
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Would I buy a bottle there? No, I wouldn't.<br />
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But put $25-$30 on a card and taste 4-5-6 wines with friends and taste new things? It's is absolutely worth the investment. I'll definitely go back!<br />
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Similar wine bars continue to pop up all across the country.<br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-47077423349169927692013-01-15T17:41:00.002-05:002013-01-15T18:16:32.484-05:00Enjoying a Nice, Unusually Smooth, Petite SirahPetite Sirah can be overwhelmingly big, bold, astringent, and other describers good and bad. But when the wine is done right it can also be very satisfying for big red wine drinkers.<br />
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I'm working my way through several sample bottles of California Petite Sirah. I'm just on the second label and so far been surprised at the smooth and lighter style employed by these winemakers.<br />
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Tonight, (Jan. 15) is my second night on a bottle of The Crusher, 2001, from Don & Sons. Now if Don & Sons doesn't ring a bell it should if I give away the fact their last name is Sebastiani.That family is an iconic name in Sonoma County wine dating back nearly 100 years.<br />
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The 'grower's selection' Petite Sirah had the beautiful dark purple of Petite along with the ripe plum, licorice, chocolate and a hint of herbs. The alcohol is in check at 13.5 percent. The wine did not have a lot of finish and would not have enough tannin for some drinkers.<br />
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One man's loss is another man or woman's gain. The Crusher is pretty easy to drink wine. If you've never had Petite Sirah it would be a good introduction to the grape. And because it is the Sebastiani family, it's widely distributed. I've actually seen it in a couple of Indiana wine shops since receiving the sample.<br />
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I had the wine on night one, when the fruit was more pronounced, with some beef roast and was excellent. The second night the wine had really leveled out with the fruit going a little softer and finish softer yet. That was ok with a quick pan of pasta with seasoned tomatoes.<br />
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The Crusher would be a killer selection for easy drinking or the Petite Sirah novice.<br />
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<i>The Crusher,$18, Trade Sample, Highly Recommended.</i><br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-48244895066503512852013-01-14T19:08:00.002-05:002013-01-14T19:52:10.590-05:00Latest 'Thing" Not Always That InterestingWriting about the latest wine topic is a sure way to drive blog numbers. Wine seminars, veteran wine writers, and more advise the first step for building an audience is writing about the lastest wine news and trends.<br />
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I do that some, but not as often as I know I should.<br />
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As a former news guy, I get it. But the wine writing community, through my limited exposure, spends too much time writing for each other and not enough time writing for the consumer. And, some of the current topics aren't all that interesting to me nor do I believe they'd be interesting to the average wine consumer.<br />
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The latest fuss is about a Canadian wine writer who allegedly re-published other writers' wine reviews and required wineries to subscribe to a pay website for their wines to be reviewed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could use the name, everyone else has,<br />
but hey - the writer stiffed me - twice!</td></tr>
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If either of those charges are true, and I'm certainly not here to substantiate or deny, it is really bad practices and worthy of some outrage. But I've found too many wine writers more than a little self-serving, self important, and plain ol' spoiled.<br />
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The Canadian writer reached out to me about a year ago promoting a new book. Value wine is a frequent topic for the writer so I agreed to a phone interview. The writer has a significant national profile and name recognition so my thinking was it would be good for this blog or my newspaper column. An appointment was made but no phone call came that day. A second appointment was made, and astonishingly, no phone call came. That was my first introduction to the self important wine community too busy to keep their own appointments.<br />
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Wine writers are flown around the world at no cost to be wined and dined in a first-class manner. On one European trip last year I witnessed a fellow wine writer - with national profile - be very rude to our hosts, our guide, and the rest of us on the trip.<br />
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Going on these free junkets shouldn't mean writers are hacks or mouth pieces for the marketing agencies that arrange the trips nor the wine regions paying the bill. I learned a bit about the ethics of such trips from a guy I really respect who also happens to be a lawyer. His advice was to go on the trip, make no promises, and be a good guest.<br />
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When approached for a wine press trip, and full disclosure is I traveled to France three times last year on press trips, I promise nothing. But I also note I have four writing outlets and if I go to any wine region I can't imagine NOT writing about the wine, the region, and the experience.<br />
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The ethics of wine writing comes back to the first great piece of management advice I've ever received - "just do the right thing."<br />
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<b>The real reward of wine writing!</b></h3>
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So yes, the free trips to wine regions isn't a bad gig. But there are other rewards far less tangible but just as memorable.<br />
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Over the weekend I had a utility issue to resolve and went to the office where I could get it fixed. While getting my bill corrected, a young man struck up a conversation about wine not knowing I was a wine writer. When I told him about this blog and my newspaper column, his excitement over a little advice and direction reminded me of the joy of sharing what I do know about wine.<br />
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I gave him some recommendations and guidance, a wine business card, and he was one darn happy camper.<br />
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Sometimes the little things are just as much a reward as the big things.<br />
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Maybe some of those veteran wine writers need to be reminded of that!<br />
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-79405318430554776012013-01-14T17:11:00.001-05:002013-01-14T17:19:23.696-05:00Taste, Taste, Taste to Learn More About Wine<br />
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Wine tasting sounds like something for wine snobs. Consumers who buy wine at groceries and liquor stores should do a little more wine tasting to expand their palate and knowledge.</div>
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Often novice wine drinkers shy away from tastings and wine events because of lack of knowledge. Still, human nature suggests learning more on a topic increases the enjoyment.</div>
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There's nothing wrong with buying your wine in the aforementioned retail outlets. But to increase knowledge and expand the palate a wine shop is the best 'next step' for wine beginners or those who want to learn more.<br />
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"Go to a wine store where they have a person to help you," said Dean Wilson, an Indiana-based distributor and former retailer. "A real wine person will educate you. Somebody in the retail market, who learns your palate, will guide you into other things to try.</div>
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"It is like Education 101, don't be afraid to taste new things. Trust your wine professional and go to as many tastings as you can."</div>
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Wilson suggested American consumers are actually hungry for wine knowledge. Sales figures over the past 15 years show significant increases in American wine consumption. And, there has never been a better time to try more and different wines.</div>
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"Consumers want a good deal," Wilson said. "Consumers realize they don't have to spend a lot of money on a bottle of wine. If they try something new and like it, then they can start trying different (price) levels of that wine."</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dean Wilson</td></tr>
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As a distributor, Wilson knows the wine market. He said the bulk of wine sales rests in the $9-$15 price range. The market "sweet spot" was just under $10 in the 1990s and then increased. The 2008 economic collapse dropped the sales point back below $10. Today, consumers are willing to pay $14-$15 a bottle.</div>
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You can expland your palate and education with a wine professional or a group of friends who enjoy wine. How many people do you wish to invite? Do you want wine education or enjoyment? Do you want to do specific wines or just have everyone bring a bottle?</div>
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You can make any wine event more fun by trying to pair wines with just the right food. Or have everyone bring 100 percent varietal wines in a brown bag and then try to guess the varietal. You could come up with geographical clues from the wine region to make the game even more fun.</div>
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If you have a friend who really knows wine or maybe you know a wine professional, give them a call. Most wine retailers, wholesalers, and wine journalists really enjoy sharing what they've learned from their experiences. </div>
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Drink wines at your normal price point. But maybe throw in one bottle of something special, and a little higher priced, near the end of your gathering.</div>
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"It's like we tell our kids, 'How do you know you won't like it, if you don't try it?" Wilson suggested. "That's also true on wine."</div>
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<i>Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com</i>Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-934578926446229762013-01-12T22:43:00.001-05:002013-01-12T22:46:41.754-05:00A Great Saturday Night Bottle of WineA lot of value wine is featured in reviews, and even more in the newspaper column, on Grape Sense. But like most people I save the 'good stuff' - which can also be interpreted as more expensive - for friends or the weekend.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grilled Angus ribeye, onions and a Peterson Zinfandel - in January!</td></tr>
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With rare warm weather, near 60 degrees, it seemed like a good night to grill a nice Angus ribeye. So with steak getting friendly with the sea salt and fresh ground pepper, it was time to rummage through the wine rack.<br />
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A Chilean Cabernet perhaps? Maybe, a big California meritage-style wine would be a great match with the steak and evening sipper. On the third shelf of the rack was two bottles of <a href="http://www.petersonwinery.com/index.php" target="_blank">Peterson </a>Dry Creek Sonoma Bradford Mountain Zinfandel. It was a gift through a work contact. That sounded great so one was opened and decanted a bit.<br />
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It was big and beautifully rich red wine that really hit the spot. It is a blend with mostly Zin, and just sa splach of Carignane, and Mouvredre. It has pretty serious alcohol at 15 percent.<br />
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Rich red fruit, chocolate, and a nice spicy/pepper finish makes the Peterson Zin a California (Sonoma) classic. If you like big and rich, the Peterson Zin really hits the spot. I liked the big smooth fruit that didn't clobber my palate like some Zins. And, frankly, was suprised to see the alcohol was 15.3 percent. I didn't get any burn on the finish.<br />
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The quality of small production wines are tough to beat. Peterson made just 375 cases of this wine from the 2010 vintage.<br />
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I visited Peterson briefly during a spring 2012 visit to Sonoma. It is in the same hilltop location with Indiana's Erik Miller's Kokomo Vineyards and a couple of other tasting rooms.<br />
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<i>Peterson Winery, Dry Creek, Bradford Mountain Zinfandel, $38, Very Highly Recommended.</i><br />
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Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.comHoward Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-58066005195738318872013-01-09T18:41:00.001-05:002013-01-10T08:15:55.214-05:00Deano Back Doing Wine TastingsI've written about the importance of tasting wine, exploring wine, and if at all possible attending wine tastings to expand your knowledge!<br />
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Tonight (Jan. 9) I reconnected with one of the people who really stoked my passion for wine - Dean Wilson of Indianapolis.<br />
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Dean works now for a distributor, but has worked for restaurants, owned his own restaurant and wine shop, and wine shop alone.<br />
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Dean is great at these because he doesn't just pour the wine. He talks about the winery, country, region, and educates his audience every step of the way.<br />
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Tonight, at <a href="http://www.augustinosindy.com/" target="_blank">Augustino's Italian Restaurant</a> on Indy's southside, we tasted Proseco, Pinot Grigio, and two Chianti wines.<br />
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There are other tastings around the city and a good chance one near you - no matter where you may live. There is no better way to learn than taste, listen to someone knowledgeable, and ask questions.<br />
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Howard Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455360598769091985.post-4847890144083463402013-01-06T17:39:00.000-05:002013-01-06T17:43:54.373-05:00Mmmm - Some Wonderful Big Red WineIt's winter and cold outside and there's nothing better than hearty food and some big red wine! I've had a couple this weeks that just knocked my socks off. The three range from a dynamite and impressive Washington Blend, an Italian classic, and a bold California Cabernet!<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.columbiacrest.com/" target="_blank">Columbia Crest</a> Horse Heaven Hills Les Cheavaux</b> - Indeed, it would not be a crazy mistake to mis-identfy this Merlot-driven blend as a Bordeaux wine. While not as nuanced as inexpensive Saint Emilion, it has the fruit characteristics to make you look twice at the bottle. It also has a price that doesn't look anything like what you'd pay for a right-bank Bordeaux!<br />
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Lets start with the blend which is 80 percent Merlot, 13 percent Cabernet, and 7 percent Syrah. If you like big bold fruit, you're going to love this wine. Big fruit, big tannins from 18 months in oak, and enormous value. Dark fruit, dark chocolate, some spice, plenty of earth, and a big finish makes this a great wine for hearty meals.<br />
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I'm excited about this wine because of the price point. You just can't find wine this big and this balanced for $10-$20 - and that exactly the price range you'll find Horse Heaven Hills in at your favorite wine shop. The national average is $15, duh, and I found it for a bit less!<br />
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Oh, did I mention I'm not the only crazy for this wine? <i>Wine Spectator</i> scored this wine at 90 points - and as one of 2012's outstanding values!<br />
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<i>Horse Heaven Hills Les Cheavux, $15, Very Highly Recommended.</i><br />
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<b>La Palazzetta 2009 Rosso di Montalcino</b> - Long one of the best values out of Tuscany, the Rosso di Montalcino wines seldom disappoint.<br />
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While this one was a bit flat on the fruit the freshness of the wine was still a defining characteristic. Good Sangiovese has acidity, certainly, but the better-drinking Sangiovese-based wines bring a clean fresh fruit to the palate.<br />
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This wine is even a bit floral and incredibly pleasant. I've had better, but not many.<br />
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<i>La Palazzetta 2009 Rosso di Montalcino, $19.99, Cork+Cracker, Indy, Recommended</i>.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.fontanellawinery.com/" target="_blank">Fontanella </a>2008 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon</b> - Oh my! This is darn fine wine. This bottle was a gift I had been saving for a nice occasion and a medium-rare roast with herbs and a friend made for good enough excuse.<br />
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After a nice two-hour decant, the Fontanella was silky smooth yet big Cabernet. I absolutely loved the rich mouth feel. Certainly has dark fruit and some hints of wood. It's a big mouthful of very drinkable California Cabernet.<br />
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Truly outstanding wine! 91 points from <i>Wine Spectator</i>!<br />
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<i>Fontanella 2008 Mt. Veeder Cabernet, $50, Very Highly Recommended.</i><br />
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Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.comHoward Hewitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08789080478995477656noreply@blogger.com0