Winning Wines Crowned in Ohio, Eastern and Riesling Competitions

Image of Swedish Hill Vineyard via Snooth

Wineries from Ohio and the Finger Lakes have been garnering accolades in three competitions for which results were announced last week.

The Ohio Wine Competition was held May 10-12 in Wooster, Ohio, and the 34th Annual Eastern International Wine Competition and Riesling Championship was held May 19-21 in Watkins Glen, NY.

The news was all good for Ferrante Winery of Ohio. Ferrante’s Gewurztraminer Signature Series 2008 (Grand River Valley) took overall best of show at the Ohio competition and a double gold at the Eastern competition. Their 2008 Vidal Blanc also nabbed a double gold. The Ferrante Pinot Grigio Signature Series 2008 (Grand River Valley) took the Best of Show honors in Ohio.

Debonne Vineyards took a double gold in the Ohio competition ice wine category with their Vidal Blanc Ice Wine Express.

Ravens Glenn Winery was awarded three Ohio golds for their Chardonnay, Barbera and Chardonel.
Also garnering honors in the Eastern International competition were Tabor Hill of Michigan with a gold medal for their 2008 Kerner, and Maize Valley Winery (of east central Ohio) which collected gold for their 2009 semi-sweet Riesling and their Summer Flig white blend.

Dr. Konstantin Frank’s Vinifera Cellars of the Finger Lakes remains the king of Riesling. Here are the results:

RIESLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Riesling Champion
Dr. Konstantin Frank, 08 Riesling, Finger Lakes (AVA), Bunch Select Late Harvest, $69.99
Best of Class
Best Dry Riesling
Eagle Crest Vineyards, 09 Riesling - Dry, Finger Lakes (AVA), $12.99
Best Semi-Dry Riesling
Chateau Ste Michelle and Dr. Loosen, 08 Eroica Riesling, Columbia Valley (AVA), $24.00
Best Semi-Sweet Riesling
Chateau LaFayette Reneau, 09 Riesling Semi-Dry, Finger Lakes (AVA), Estate, $14.99
Best Sweet Riesling
Dr. Konstantin Frank, 08 Riesling, Finger Lakes (AVA), Bunch Select Late Harvest, $69.99

Other Eastern International gold winners (DG indicates double gold) include:

Anthony Road (3), Atwater Estate Vineyards (DG for their ‘08 Dry Riesling), Chateau Lafayette Reneau (2 DG), Eagle Crest Vineyards (2), Fulkerson Winery, Glenora Wine Cellars, Heron Hill, Hunt Country, Knapp Winery, Lucas Vineyards, Swedish Hill (4 gold plus DG for their 2009 semi-sweet Riesling), and Thirsty Owl Wine Company.

Full results of the Eastern International Wine Competition can be found here.

Technorati Tags: wine

New J. Trees Cellars Winery Opens Tasting Room in Blissfield

A hop, skip and a jump. That’s how close to Toledo the new  tasting room for J. Tree Cellars is.

We were contacted by winemaker John Treloar  to let us know of J. Trees Cellars, the new winery he has opened up in Southeast Michigan.  The actual production facility and vineyards are located in Petersburg, MI (exit 9 off of 23), with the tasting room located in Blissfield, Michigan, across from the Main Street Stable Tavern & Grill.  The tasting room. is open 12 to 6:00 PM Friday through Sunday and 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Tuesday.

The first four releases that are being poured at the tasting room are ; 2008 Chardonnay, 2008 Dry Riesling, 2008 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine and the Fuji Ice Cider. 
We caught up with Jon to get the inside story on this new winery.

TWAV: What is your interest/background in wine?

Treloar: I began working with wine after completing my Bachelors in Botany and Plant Pathology at  Michigan State University.  After realizing that I had little choice but to pursue a Masters, I decided to go into Horticulture.  I started working with the Viticulture & Enology group in Horticulture in 2000, and soon thereafter took a full-time position as the research Enologist.  I was in charge of producing all of the wines (up to 300/yr) from our Vineyard trials, as well as my own work in Bordeaux varietals. 

In 2007 I left my position at MSU to begin commercial production.  We constructed a 3,200 foot facility at a property in Petersburg, a few miles from US 23, and planted 4-acres of vineyard.  We hope to remodel the original farmhouse on the property, and turn it into a tasting room.  I recently opened up the off-site tasting room in Historic, Blissfield to utilize until we get the on-site tasting room open.

TWAV: What is the approach to wine or philosophy of J.Trees?

Treloar: I started this winery with the idea that I will grow as much of my own fruit as possible, but if there is a varietal that I want to produce that can be grown better in a different part of Michigan, then I will seek out the best place, and best grower for that varietal.  I originally was only going to produce sparkling wines, particularly the ones similar to those produced in Northern Italy.  However, I have started with a few still wines and have 4 sparkling wines that will be released over the course of the summer.

I also have a strong interest in hard cider production.  There are more than 500 acres of apples within five miles of the winery, and I'm thrilled to produce ciders that are so local.  One of the most exciting cider products I've produced and will be focusing on is my newly released Ice Cider.  We left 15 acres of Fuji apples hang last yr. and harvested them on January 20th of this yr.  14 days of pressing (outside), and we were able to begin fermentation.  Three months later the fermentation was stopped with a wine that has 12.5% alcohol and nearly 15%  residual sugar left in it.

TWAV: What are your future plans?

Treloar: The plan is to make the Petersburg location solely the cidery, and construct another facility just south of Ann Arbor for all of the wine production.  For now we will continue to produce all of the products at the winery in Petersburg, and focus on getting the tasting room at that site opened.
You can keep up with J. Trees on Facebook.

Technorati Tags: wine

Michigan Winery Report: Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail

Josh and Casey Kessler are regulars at the Corks wine tastings and have contributed their tasting notes in the past. They spent their Memorial Day weekend up in Traverse City enjoying the wonderful scenery and wine. They filed this great report about their visit to the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail.

The lower half of the highway at the beginning of the peninsula was closed for a marathon when we started the trail, so we started in the middle, went up, and then worked our way back to the bottom.

Bry's Estate - This place has a wonderful tasting room.  It is an old renovated farmhouse with some top-notch wines.  Their winemaker is from South Africa and has won them many medals.  I liked most everything, but I didn't want to jump into buying several bottles since this was our first stop of seven.  Casey bought a bottle of Pinot Noir Riesling because it was unique.  I remember a fruity taste with a hint of sweetness.

Bower's Harbor - This is a smaller, lesser-known winery.  The Pinot Grigio really shines here.  I ended up buying a Cheritage wine, which is a blend of sweet, tart, and tangy cherries.  It was unlike any fruit wine I had tasted before.  I was surprised at their selection.  They make their wine from multiple vineyards within both the Old Mission and Lelanau peninsulas.

2 Lads Winery - We drove up looking at a building that resembled something you would see in the Jetson's.  It was very unique.  Their selection was thin but very good.  They claim to have the best overall view on the peninsula.  I took home a bottle of Rose of Cab Franc, which is one of their best sellers.

Chateau Chantal - This is one of the largest and aesthetically pleasing wineries.  The place was jam packed and what an incredible selection!  They were in the middle of a large addition, which the entire building sits in the center of acres upon acres of vines.  We were only allowed six tastes.  This made it very hard, due to the selection available.  I found myself tasting the same wines previously, so I decided I needed to change things up.  I started with the Pinot Blanc.  In a blind tasting, I would have guessed this to be a semi-dry Riesling.  It was wonderful.  Next, I chose the Chardonnay.  This is probably one of my least favorite wines, although I was flattered by this one.  It had just a hint of sweetness, which I what I really like.  All of the others I tried were great as well.  You have to go to the counter and ask for what you want.  I told the guy I wanted a bottle each of the Pinot Blanc and the Chardonnay.  He laughed and said that it was an odd request.  He said, "What you're liking there is the result of a cold summer last year.  You must appreciate a very fruit-forward character."

Chateau Grand Traverse - One of the largest, oldest, and best in my opinion.  Once again, I like just about everything I tried.  They were the only ones to have a Gamay Noir on their list.  All I remember is that it was a little smoky or peppery with great flavor.  I purchased a bottle of Silhouette.  It is a red wine blend of Cabernet Franc, Pinot Meunier, Gamay Noir, Merlot and Pinot Noir.  It is very fruity with a rich body.  CGT is probably the most affordable winery as well.  Here, Casey chose the Merlot Reserve (which I'm taking the description from their site). Classic oak and earthy undertones make this wine ideal for wild game dinners or simple steaks on the grill. Flavors of cherry, black pepper, and light plum combine for a smooth and captivating finish. Aged for 15 months in small oak barrels, this wine is ideal for heartier meats, pasta marinara, or most smoked fare.

Peninsula Cellars - is an old renovated schoolhouse.  I couldn't see much for vines growing around this place, but was surprised by the variety they offered.  The wines are named after a school theme.  I chose a bottle each of Old School White and Detention.  These were both made from hybrid grapes that no one else offered.  Though both were semi-sweet, I thought they were great!  The Detention consisted of: a blend of Baco Noir, Lemberger, and Cab Franc.  The Old School White was a blend of Cayuga, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Grigio.  I was very impressed with this little winery.

Black Star Farms - With this being the last stop, we were hungry and "wined out".  They charged $5 for their tasting and we didn't see anything on their list that enticed us or was anything we hadn't already tried.  I guess this wasn't fair to them, but we had had enough. (Publisher’s Note: On our last visit up north we went to Black Star as our first stop and had an enjoyable visit. Timing can be everything…) 
It was an overall amazing experience.  We want to go back and do the same thing on the Lelanau Peninsula in the future.

Josh and Casey, an outstanding story. Thank you. If you have a winery visit you’d like to share, send it to twav@att.net…

Technorati Tags: wine,Michigan wine

Wine Tastings & Events: Week of June 1, 2020

Wednesday, June 2
Anderson's Market, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8:00 PM. New Closeouts, Part I: 1. Koonowla Riesling, 2. Maioli Dolcetto di Ovada, 3.  Domaine Roche-Audran Cesar Cotes du Rhone, 4. Vina Alicia Paso de Piedra Malbec. Nominal fee per sample or $7.00 per flight.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. Summer Wines Tasting; Sum-r-chilled, Sum-r-not, Sum-r-red, Sum-r-white. $15.

Thursday, June 3
The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting.  5-7 PM.

Food Pairings – BBQ: 1. Grayson – Pinot Noir – Sonoma County, California, 2. Red Diamond – Merlot – Paterson, Washington, 3.  Owen Roe – Sharecroppers Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, 4. Campus Oaks – Old Vine Zinfandel – Lodi, California. Nominal fee per sample or $7.50 per flight.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting, 6-8 PM. Wines From Some Other Place. Places that make great wine that we don’t often get to try: 1. Royal Chennin Blanc, South Africa, 2. Baron de Hoen Pinot Blanc, Alsace, 3. Baron de Hoen Riesling, 4.  Baron de Hoen Gewurztraminer, 5. Lenz Moser Zweigelt, Austria,  6. Domaine du Dragon Cote de Provence, Provence, France , 7. Travaglini Gattinara 2005, Gattinara, Italy, 8.  Alcyone Late Harvest Tannat, Uruguay. Nominal fee per sample.


Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. Summer Wines Tasting; Sum-r-chilled, Sum-r-not, Sum-r-red, Sum-r-white. $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. No Spain, No Gain. Strangely enough, Spanish wines are still way off the radar for most people. While the top Spanish bottles are among the finest in the world, Spain's greatest strength rests in it's vast amount of values. $1 to $3 per sample.

Friday, June 4
* Special Event * Wine by the Glass Pavilion, Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion, 7:00 to 9:30 PM. Anne Amie Vineyards with special guest, winemaker Thomas Houseman. Enjoy four wines, light snacks, and a view of our Hot Shop. Prices are $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers.


Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Washington State Wines: 1. Hedges CMS, 2. Naked Winery Merlot, 3. Gorman Winery "Zachary's Ladder," 4. Heaven's Cave LH Riesling. $10 tasting. 

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. No Spain, No Gain. Strangely enough, Spanish wines are still way off the radar for most people. While the top Spanish bottles are among the finest in the world, Spain's greatest strength rests in it's vast amount of values. $1 to $3 per sample.

Saturday, June 5
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Washington State Wines: 1. Hedges CMS, 2. Naked Winery Merlot, 3. Gorman Winery "Zachary's Ladder," 4. Heaven's Cave LH Riesling. $10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville, Wine Tasting. 12-3 PM. Closeouts:
1. Nobilo, 2006, Chardonnay New Zealand, 2. Gysler, 2004, Silvaner Halbtrocken, Germany, 3. Chateau Greysac, 2005, Medoc France, 4. Villa San Juliette, 2006, Shiraz/Cab.  Nominal fee.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 p.m. New Discoveries and Forgotten Favorites. Pay by the sample or flight.
[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]

Technorati Tags: wine

2010 Excellence Award for Tourism Presented to Raven's Glenn Winery

Raven's Glenn Winery, 56183 CR 143, West Lafayette, Ohio (740) 545-1000,  has been selected as this year’s recipient for the 2010 Excellence Award for Tourism by the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance.

The winery is located in East Central Ohio and considers itself  "Ohio's crown jewel of wineries." Robert and Renee Guilliams entered the winery business in 2003 with a focus on crafting quality wines and how, if paired correctly, they can create a sustainable relationship to the hospitality trade. Robert Guilliams, co-owner says, “We have designed our facility around becoming a distinctive winery and restaurant destination.”

“This is a well-deserved award for a signature business that brings commerce from all over the state to our community, “said T.J. Justice, Coshocton Port Authority executive director.

The winery's slogan came about several years ago when an elderly visitor to Raven’s Glenn remarked, “this has got to be “Ohio’s Crown Jewel of Wineries” and the phrase stuck. Raven’s Glenn now attracts more than 55,000 visitors per year from Ohio and surrounding states.

Cleavage Creek 2008 Tracy Hills Reserve Chardonnay

I must admit that when I first saw “Cleavage Creek” wines for bid in an online auction to benefit Haiti relief, I kept on scrolling. Based on the name, I assumed that this was a misguided marketing ploy targeted at customers who like amusing “gag” wines.

My assumption was punctured when I read a review of some Cleavage Creek wines. Not only are the wines and winery good – they are the exact opposite of what I thought. Instead of a bottle of plonk that I would be embarrassed to serve (especially to women), the wines are delightful and their sale generates much needed revenue for breast cancer research.

The owner of California’s Cleavage Creek is self-made businessman and farmer Budge Brown. He lost his wife to breast cancer after 48 years of marriage. Brown purchased Cleavage Creek wines and put his business skills to work against breast cancer.
When I mentioned to Wine Chick and Sax Man, two tasting team members, that I brought some Cleavage Creek wine to sample and they saw a photo of a woman on the label, the snickers began. Upon explanation, the snickers turn to appreciation.

The label of each bottle of Cleavage Creek wine features the image of an actual breast cancer survivor whose story is told on the Cleavage Creek website.  “Putting a face on this disease and telling the stories of those who are dealing with it personalizes this and hopefully inspires everyone to take on the fight,” says Brown. 

Cleavage Creek makes a difference.  10% percent of the gross dollar amount of this operation is donated to cutting edge research to fight breast cancer.  That’s gross, not net—a huge difference when determining the amount of money that will be contributed. To date, Cleavage Creek and Budge Brown have donated over $72,300 to breast cancer causes. Money has gone to help women fighting breast cancer purchase medicine as well as found an oncology research center.

All this would be enough even if the wines weren’t exceptional. But they are.
Cleavage has vineyards in Napa as well as the new AVA Tracy Hills, which is where the reserve chardonnay comes from.

The wine is light in color with an oaky aroma. It has a classic chardonnay flavor with pear, roasted nuts and subtle oak. The reserve wine is aged in new French oak for 10 months. Sax man quipped that is a nice ecumenical wine – it can be enjoyed by those who love oakiness and those turned off by the big butter bombs. The flavor sneaks up underground and then emerges with a nice lingering finish.

We love Cleavage and think you will too.

Technorati Tags: wine