FOX 5 with Holly Morris at Chrysalis Vineyards

Clip from Fox 5 Morning News with Holly Morris of Chiefwino discussing wine blending with Curtis Vincent and Jennifer McCloud from Chrysalis Vineyards in Middleburg, Virginia

2009 Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington RAMMY Awards Clip from FOX 5 DC

Mug Shots: A Toast to Spring

A short clip of myself and Ali McSherry from Roll Call, the newspaper for Capitol Hill, discussing Pink Wines for the Cherry Blossom Festival.

2009 Inauguration: Edible Obama Treats and Libations from US News & World Report

To Cork or Not to Cork

Ah, yes...time for a quick discussion on corkage fees, i.e. the fee charged by a restaurant for bringing a bottle of wine to the meal.

In these uncertain economic times, the idea of bringing your own wine to circumvent paying high restaurant prices might seem like a good plan; however, a few points of etiquette should be followed.

Corkage fees can range anywhere from $10-50 per bottle and most restaurants have a maximum bottle limit of 2-750ml bottles per table (A magnum size bottle is normally considered 2 bottles). The fee is charged to cover wine service (not gratuity), wine glass breakage, glass washing and some of the lost revenue from not selling a bottle off the restaurant's wine list. Remember that restaurants are in the business to turn a profit and beverage sales are a major component of the equation.

Note that BYOB is not always available in some states due to varying liquor laws.

Chiefwino's Corkage Tips:

1. Always call the restaurant in advance and inquire about corkage. Also, check the restaurant's website to see if the wine you would like to bring is available on the list. NEVER bring a wine that is already on the list as many restaurants will not serve it.

2. Do not bring an inexpensive bottle of wine or bottles that are very common on grocery store shelves. The idea behind corkage is to allow you to bring a special bottle, perhaps an old vintage wine you have been saving for a special occasion or something very unusual. If you do bring an old vintage, you are absolutely entitled to having the wine decanted and the use of the restaurant's finest stemware.

Note: If you are dining in a more casual establishment, the "special" rule need not necessarily apply as many casual spots have dismal wine programs with a majority of the selections not being overly food friendly (think over-oaked and fruit bomb wines). But do stay away from common brands and grocery store items so as not to appear "cheap" to the restaurant's staff. A nice non-descript Italian white or Southern French wine should do just fine.

3. Make sure to REMOVE price tags from the bottle being brought to the restaurant (see actual photo above). Nothing is worse than showing exactly what you paid for a bottle you have brought. Also, bring the wine in something other than a brown bag (think wine gift bag) for fear of being pegged as "cheap" from the get-go.

4. ALWAYS tip as if you had purchased the bottle from the restaurant as the server still had to perform wine service without a higher check total. Use your best guess as to what the wine might have cost.

5. Offer the Sommelier or Wine Steward a small sample, especially if you have brought a very special wine. This is common courtesy and will you help earn points with the service staff.

6. Lastly, if you can consume more wine after finishing your own bottle, consider purchasing a bottle from the restaurant's wine list. Some restaurants may even waive the corkage fee with the purchase of a bottle.

When in doubt, call the restaurant in advance and speak to a manager or the Sommelier to inquire on their specific corkage policy if you have questions.

Cheers!

XM RADIO CLIP: HOLIDAY WINES ON A BUDGET

Join the Broads and I from XM Radio's Broadminded, Channel 155 for a discussion on holiday wines on a budget.


CLICK TO PLAY AUDIO CLIP

XM RADIO CLIP: DRINK LOCAL

Join the Broads and I for a spirited discussion on Drinking Local from October 29, 2008 on XM Radio Channel 155.


PLAY XM RADIO CLIP FROM BROADMINDED

Pinot Noir Tasting

In this clip, Beth Wolfe and I sample 3 Pinot Noirs: Au Bon Climat 'La Bauge Au-Dessus' from California, Staete Landt and Amisfield from New Zealand.

Ruche: The Pinot-Like Grape from Piedmont

In this episode, I am joined by Beth Wolfe of Siema Wines to discuss an obscure Italian grape called Ruché.



The wine we are sampling is the

Cantine Sant'Agata 'Na Vota' Ruché di Castagnole di Monferrato

XM RADIO CLIP: FALL FOOD & WINE

Join Amanda McClements of Metrocurean, myself and the Broads for a lively discussion of wine and foods for the fall. Clip from September 23, 2008 on XM Radio Channel 155.

PLAY XM RADIO CLIP FROM BROADMINDED

Local Wine Week: Virginia Wine Vlog

Local Wine Week: DC's Wine Country

The Loudoun County, Virginia Convention & Visitors Association has recently released a series of tourism videos aimed at promoting the area as "DC's Wine Country." Loudoun County is a mere hour-or-so drive from downtown Washington, DC complete with charming towns, breathtaking vistas and some of Virginia's best wines. Take a peek....


Chrysalis Vineyards, Middleburg, Virginia



Breaux Vineyards, Hillsboro, Virginia





Bluemont Vineyards, Bluemont, Virginia



Tarara Winery, Lucketts, Virginia





To learn more about "DC's Wine Country" - Loudoun County, Virginia, and all its culinary experiences, check out their Food + Wine guide at Loudoun Food + Wine.

Drink Local! Local Wine Week Kicks Off

My contribution to Local Wine Week is the following vlog where we discuss wines from Colorado, Illinois and Arizona. The week of October 6 marks the beginning of drinklocalwine.com, a portal dedicated to connecting readers with writers who concentrate on what's going on in their local and regional backyards.

If we eat local, why not drink local?

Kudos to Dave McIntyre from the Washington Post and Jeff Siegel of the Wine Curmudgeon for putting this initiative together.

Clip One: Colorado and Illinois



Clip Two: Arizona



And for those of you interested in more information on wines from Arizona and Illinois, visit the following sites and don't miss the Wall Street Journal's recent tasting of Illinois vs. Arizona.

Wall Street Journal: Tastings

Arizona Wine Grower's Association

Arizona Vines and Wines

Illinois Grape Growers & Vintners Association

Arts on Foot: Wine Seminar Recap

For those of you who braved the scorching heat to taste wines with me on Saturday at Arts on Foot, I present to you the much awaited recap on the wines featured and their respective winery's contact information. If you were not able to make it, use this guide as a resource on up-and-coming wineries and regions and take note. Most of these wines are available as part of my wine program at OYA Restautant & Lounge in the Penn Quarter.


ARTS ON FOOT WINE SEMINAR
Saturday, September 13, 2008

ABCs-Anything But California


I’m a maverick. Not like John McCain by any stretch of the imagination but in terms of fighting for small family owned wine producers and those in unknown wine regions. I would rather drink wines from “grass roots wineries” than those made by wine factories and big corporate giants that answer to shareholders.

I am also a big proponent of supporting local wineries—that cliché of “think globally, drink locally.” Locally produced/sourced wines take less fuel and packaging to get to you than those from further afield.

Wine is now produced in all 50 US States since the opening of a winery in North Dakota in 2002. However, not all states grow grapes—Alaska has grapes trucked in from other regions and Hawaii uses fruit to produce wines.

Contrary to popular belief, California was not always king of wine production in the United States. Prior to the Civil War, New York, Ohio, Missouri and Indiana—Indiana’s Ohio River Valley was often referred to as the “Rhineland of America” likening it to the great German wine region—were major players in the wine arena.

But that all changed with the Prohibition Movement and for most eastern states, the return to grape growing and wine making was slow in coming.

Aside from California, Washington and Oregon, New York, Texas and Virginia are top wine producing states.

Today’s tasting is a line-up of wines from what I consider up-and-coming wine regions—Michigan, Colorado, Arizona, Idaho and Illinois as well as the established New York and British Columbia regions.


Black Star Farms Pinot Gris 2006,
Old Mission Peninsula, Northwest Michigan
1000 cases; www.blackstarfarms.com

Black Star Farms is located on Northwest Michigan’s beautiful Leelanau Peninsula, near Traverse City and produce some of Michigan’s finest wines. Their proximity to Lake Michigan moderates the climate here, especially from harsh winter freezes.

Tasting Note: light, fresh, clean. Floral, herbal and citrus notes plus green melon and mineral. Crisp and refreshing.


Jack Rabbit Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2007,
Grand Valley, Western Colorado
239 cases; www.jackrabbithill.com

Located on Colorado’s Western Slope—West of the Rockies, Jack Rabbit Hill is not only certified organic but also biodynamic. The winery specializes in Pinot Noir, Riesling and Cabernet Franc. This Sauvignon Blanc was made from fruit purchased from a nearby vineyard and is not organic/biodynamic.

Tasting Note: ripe and tropical style. Apricot/peach, slight herbal notes, plus lemon citrus. It's made in more of a California style rather than the zingy New Zealand style. Medium bodied.


Mission Hill Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2004,
Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada
5000 cases; www.missionhillwinery.com

Mission Hill is situated in BC’s STUNNING Okanagan Valley, which features a 60-mile lake running down the center of the Valley. Often referred to as Canada’s Napa Valley, the Okanagan is at the northern end of the Sonora dessert and enjoys a dry climate with warm summers. It’s a must-do wine country vacation. Unfortunately, most of the wines from BC never make it outside of Canada, so a trip to the region is the only way to get acquainted with the excitement growing North of the border.

Mission Hill is a fairly large producer by Canadian standards but is still family-owned and operated. This particular wine is an interesting example of what Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon can do when fermented in oak casks.

Tasting Note: Vibrant floral and toasted hazelnut notes. Tropical fruit plus a streak of vanilla. Very similar to an oaked Chardonnay.


Wyncroft Chardonnay 2005, Lake Michigan Shore, Southwest Michigan
250 cases; www.wyncroftwine.com

If Michigan has a cult winery, then this is it. Jim and Rae Lee Lester make some of the BEST wines I have ever tasted from Michigan—so good, you forget they are from Michigan. These are a true testament that good wine can produced anywhere. Wyncroft is located in Southwest Michigan, very close to the Indiana border and not far from Chicago. The influence of Lake Michigan helps to moderate the climate. Wyncroft wines are highly sought after and are only sold via mailing list or at select retailers in Michigan and Illinois.

Tasting Note: Jim says this wine is like Kistler meets Meursault—and I agree. Big and lush with pineapple, honeysuckle and toasted almond. Smooth and creamy with a mineral streak. Truly a fabulous wine.


Galena Cellars ‘Eric the Red’ Marechal Foch 2006, Illinois
311 cases; www.galenacellars.com

Galena is one of Illinois’ largest producers, located in the Northwest corner near the Iowa border—close to the Mississippi river. Scott Lawlor, one of the owners, says Galena is the “Aspen” of Illinois—since the landscape features rolling hills instead of flat farm fields.

Marechal Foch is a French hybrid grape varietal developed in Alsace, France. Wines made from Foch can be light and fruity or dark and inky—depends on the region and what the winemaker has in mind. The Galena Foch is made in a lighter style, similar to Pinot Noir.

Tasting Note: Light and fruity—like Pinot Noir. Notes of cherry, violet/floral and a whiff of spice. Fairly easy drinking with a fresh finish.


Black Star Farms Pinot Noir 2006, Northwest Michigan
830 cases ; www.blackstarfarms.com

This is our second offering from Black Star Farms. Michigan is becoming noted for its Pinot Noir and it certainly has the right climate. Plus, Northern Michigan happens to be on the same latitude as Burgundy and Oregon, 2 noted Pinot producing regions.

Tasting Note: Bright cherry and raspberry fruit with layers of toasted nuts, earth and pepper. Light/medium bodied.


Dos Cabezas ‘DC RED’ Cabernet/Sangiovese 2004,
Southeastern Arizona
325 cases; www.doscabezaswinery.com

Arizona could well be the next Napa Valley. Land is abundant and inexpensive, labor is cheap and the climate is perfect for grapes—think Argentina—high elevation with desert-like conditions. Some big names have made their way to Arizona recently—Dick Erath of Oregon and Maynard James Keenan of the rock band Tool. Watch out NAPA!

Tasting Note: This wine is styled after a light Italian red—think Chianti-like. Loads of smoky raspberry and dark cherry, spice and truffle notes, smooth and silky, medium bodied.


Brooklyn Oenology Merlot 2005, North Fork, Long Island, New York
360 cases; www.brooklynoenology.com

In the wine biz, I love a great story—and what’s better than the story of a 30-something woman who leaves the corporate world to follow her dream of making wine—but not just anywhere—the vision to build a winery in the heart of Brooklyn. So goes the story of Alie Shaper, proprietor of Brooklyn Oenology. Currently her wines are made from Long Island grapes at a winery on the North Fork but will eventually be made in a winery in Brooklyn. The labels are cool too, each featuring works from Brooklyn artists and they peel-off for safekeeping. Alie makes a killer Chardonnay as well as this Merlot.

Tasting Note: Very Bordeaux-like—dark cherry and herbal, layers of fruit, cedar and vanilla spice. Soft tannins. Medium bodied. Its good enough to be served at the famed Gramercy Tavern in NYC.


Sawtooth Syrah 2004, Snake River, Idaho
1500 cases; www.sawtoothwinery.com

Idaho is not just for potatoes—the dry and arid climate in Western Idaho is similar to that of Eastern Washington, which we know produces fine wine. Sawtooth is one of Idaho’s best and primarily focuses on Rhone Valley grape varieties.

Tasting Note: Rich and brooding aromas of chocolate, cedar, dark plums, hint of earth. An explosion of black cherry and chocolate in the mouth, rich and velvety finish.


Sawtooth Elevation Red, Snake River, Idaho
139 cases; www.sawtoothwinery.com

This limited-release bottling is only available from the winery. The blend is 35% Syrah, 22% Petit Verdot, 17% Tempranillo, 17% Malbec and 9% Primitivo.

Tasting Note: Brooding dark fruit aromas with a whiff of smoke, plum, black cherry and cassis plus cedar spice and silky tannins.


Lynfred Seyval Blanc 2007, Illinois (Semi-Sweet White)
279 cases; www.lynfredwinery.com

Lynfred is a fantastic gem located outside Chicago near O’Hare airport. It doesn’t grow any grapes yet contracts with growers in Illinois and California to obtain the best fruit for their wines. I recently visited the winery and was blown away by both their California and Illinois offerings.

This is one of my favorites and is made from another hybrid grape. Think of it as Sauvignon Blanc meets Riesling. The grapes for this were grown in Southern Illinois.

Tasting Note: A rockin’ Sauv Blanc meets Riesling styled white made from a French-American hybrid grape in America’s heartland. Loads of gooseberry, lychee and exotic tropical fruit notes with a slightly sweet finish. If you like Riesling, you are gonna LOVE this one.

Please support your local family-owned wineries. Read more about various American wine regions on appellationamerica.com.

For more information on direct shipping and state laws, please visit freethegrapes.org, a national, grassroots coalition of consumers, wineries and retailers who seek to remove restrictions in states that still prohibit consumers from purchasing wines directly from wineries and retailers.

A Wine Grows in Illinois

Fine wine in Illinois? Absolutely! Wines are being made in each of the 50 states these days and with all the buzz surrounding the concept of EAT LOCAL and DRINK LOCAL, its time to step up and investigate what wines are being produced in your own backyard.

If you live near Chicago, you are blessed with one of Illinois' largest wineries, complete with a luxurious bed and breakfast: Lynfred Winery. Just a short drive Northwest (minus traffic) from the Loop lies Lynfred Winery, in the town of Roselle. Lynfred has been producing award-winning wines since 1979 from both California and Illinois grown fruit.

On a recent visit, I had the pleasure of sampling a wide array of wines from Lynfred's line-up of over 50 selections.

2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Monterey--ripe style, mango, peach, slight herbal notes, hint of sweetness on the finish, medium bodied.

2006 Semillon Reserve, Columbia Valley--smoky, pineapple, mango, peach, luscious and full, smooth texture, medium/full bodied.

2007 Fume Blanc, Monterey--aromatic, grassy, mango, lemon-lime, touch of oak, full and round, slight zest on the finish.

2006 Viognier, Lodi--ripe, tropical, mango, peach, luscious, hint of sweetness, round and smooth.

2007 Seyval Blanc, Illinois--like Riesling meets Sauvignon Blanc--big aromas of white grapefruit, gooseberry, herbal notes, lemon citrus, semi-sweet, refreshing.

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi--jammy, white pepper, plum, black cherry, touch of toasted vanilla spice, medium bodied.

2005 Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi--spicy wild berry, raspberry, silky texture, medium bodied.

2006 Tempranillo, Columbia Valley--ripe and jammy, plum, black cherry, white pepper, vanilla spice, silky, medium bodied.

2005 Petite Sirah Reserve, Lodi--dark and brooding, plum, cassis, raisin, leather, dark chocolate, velvety texture, full bodied.

NV Sparkling Cherry Wine--totally fun--tastes like sparkling cherry pie--tart cherry flavors with a touch of cinnamon spice. A perfect pairing on a holiday table for cherry pie.

Lynfred is located roughly 30 miles Northwest of Downtown Chicago, near Schaumburg.

15 S. Roselle Road
Roselle, IL 60172

Dog Day Wines of Summer

Yesterday, I discussed "Dog Day Wines of Summer" on XM Radio's Broadminded with Jill Zimorski of Cafe Atlantico & Mini Bar. The perfect wines on a hot summer day exude crisp and refreshing acidity and don't tire the palate. Look for high acid wines from grapes like Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Albariño, Pinot Gris/Grigio or blends from Spain's Basque Region. Stay away from oaky Chardonnay as the weight of the wine can tire out the palate, not to mention high alcohol wines can come across "hot".

Here is a recap of wines discussed on yesterday's program. Click the link below to hear the audio clip from the show.

XM RADIO DOG DAY WINES OF SUMMER

Xarmant Txakolina, Basque Region, Spain--fresh white blend from Spain's Basque Region from indigenous grapes. Lemon-limon and citrus notes, mineral, slight bit of spritz. Mouthwatering finish. Great with sushi/seafood.

Morgadio Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain--aromatic with notes of banana, melon, apricot, spring flowers. Little more weighty than the Xarmant but crisp acidity and refreshing finish. Great with seafood.

Ca' Bona Pinot Grigio Rosé, Lombardy, Italy--the coolest Pinot Grigio I have ever seen. As Pinot Grigio grape skins have a slight pinky color, its possible to make a Rosé from macerating the grape skins with the grape juice to extract color. Fresh and light like a white Pinot Grigio with a slight watermelon and strawberry flavor.

Cederberg Chenin Blanc, Cederberg, South Africa--over the top aromatics. Loads of white grapefruit, lemon-lime zest and a touch of peach. Zesty finish.

Lynfred Seyval Blanc, Illinois--Perfect for those looking for a sweeter wine yet is refreshing. Smells similar to Sauvignon Blanc with ripe grapefruit, lychee/floral notes, apricot with just a little sweetness. Refreshing finish.

For those of you who just don't do white, try high acid reds like Beaujolais, Pinot Noirs (from Oregon or Europe) or even the Italian favs Dolcetto or Barbera. Chill the reds for approximately 15 minutes in the fridge for a more refreshing experience.

Tasty Treat from Baja

After a visit to Oyamel last evening, I had a craving to crack open a bottle of Baja California Grenache scored from a recent visit to the Witch Creek Winery tasting room in Historic Julian, California.

The 2006 Guadalupe Valley Grenache opens with alluring red fruit aromas--strawberry, raspberry with a whiff of toasted oak and spice. Fairly light in body, the wine delivers loads of juicy fruit flavors with integrated oak. Finishes off with soft and gentle tannins. Its a fabulous summer-sipper, especially served slightly chilled. A definite far cry from the often green and stemmy examples of Grenache coming out of the Borja region of spain.

The winery only sells direct at its homebase in Carlsbad or the tasting room in Julian.