Drink Local Wine 2013--Maryland Edition

The 5th annual Drink Local Wine Conference will kick off later this week on April 13, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference will shine a light on Maryland wines, one of the fastest growing wine regions in the USA.

The conference is open to the public and culminates with a grand Twitter Taste-off of Maryland Wines. Tickets are available from the Maryland Wine Association.

Here is a peek of the conference agenda:

Session 1
9:00 am – 9:45 am
Creating Maryland’s Wine Identity

The history of Maryland wine from the 1940s to the present, which grapes grow well here and where, and what styles of wine are prospering.

Moderator: Richard Leahy, author, Beyond Jefferson’s Vines.

Panelists: Marguerite Thomas, author, Touring East Coast Wine Country; Robert Deford, owner, Boordy Vineyards; Dr. Joe Fiola, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Maryland.

Session 2
10:00 am – 10:45 am
Drinking Local

Does locavore mean locapour? Do Marylanders appreciate their home-grown wine, and if not, how to get the message out.

Moderator: Dave McIntyre, Washington Post wine columnist, Drink Local Wine co-founder.

Panelists: Jerry Pellegrino, chef, Waterfront Kitchen; Jade Ostner, Director of Events, Maryland Wineries Association; Al Spoler, co-host, Cellar Notes/Radio Kitchen, WYPR Radio.

Session 3
11:00 – 11:45 am
Maryland’s New Guard

Who is setting the quality standard for Maryland wine today?
What new grapes, trends or wine regions will we be following in the years to come?

Moderator: Kevin Atticks, executive director, Maryland Wineries Association.

Panelists: Ed Boyce, founder, Black Ankle Vineyards; Tom Shelton, owner and winemaker, Bordeleau Vineyards & Winery; Dave Collins, co-owner, Big Cork Vineyards.

Grand Tasting and Twitter Taste-Off presented by Bottlenotes
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

The Twitter Taste-Off is the grand finale of the DLW Conference.
Held at The Warehouse at Camden Yards

National Wine Experience Washington, DC at the Newseum

The National Wine Experience kicked off its inaugural show here in Washington, DC on Saturday evening with over 1000 guests and wines from 25 states at the Newseum.






Yours truly presided over an exciting line up of 13 wines from 6 states, including Arizona Stronghold from Arizona, Sawtooth from Idaho and Brooklyn Oenology from New York.

I did manage to sneak away from my Vino50 tasting table while the Wine Diva held down the crowds so I could have a peek around at some of the more interesting wines being featured at the event. I decided to skip the California floor (who needs more Robert Mondavi in their life?) and found myself enjoying tasty treats from Nebraska, Texas and even South Dakota! Here are some highlights:

Prairie Berry Winery, South Dakota
I had never tried any wines from South Dakota and am always skeptical of "fruit" wines but these were really interesting and fun.

La Crescent, a fruity and aromatic off-dry white wine with notes of apricot, lychee and rose petal. Very reminiscent of Gewurztraminer.

Pheasant Reserve, an interesting red blend of Washington state Cabernet Sauvignon and South Dakota chokecherries. Soft and fruity with tart cherry and bright acidity.

Red Ass Rhubarb, an interesting semi-sweet wine from rhubarb with tangy rhubarb and raspberry notes. Would be fabulous with mulling spices on a cold winter's day.

Lawrence Elk, a semi-sweet wine made from black currants. Bright and juicy with loads of black currant flavors. I could totally see this paired with a blackberry tart.

Glacial Till Vineyard & Winery, Nebraska

2009 Chambourcin, a dry red wine full of terroir. Dark fruit and forest floor aromas followed by tart plum and cherry flavors with smoke and spice on the finish. Silky smooth. What a tasty wine!

Chapel Creek Winery, Oklahoma

2009 Norton, a dark and earthy red that would make Jenni McCloud of Virginia's Chrysalis Vineyards proud.

Plum Creek Winery, Colorado

Sauvignon Blanc, warm climate style with lemongrass notes.

Riesling, slightly off-dry with lime zest and apricot notes.

Grand Mesa, a big Bordeaux blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot and Cab Franc with mouth filling texture and load of dark fruit, spice and earth.

St. Clair and DH Lescombes, New Mexico

St. Clair Zinfandel, a classic spicy and fruit-forward style with wild berry and spice notes.

DH Lescombes Cabernet Sauvignon, dark and rich with cassis, plum, graphite and smoky spice.

Thanksgiving Farm, Maryland

2007 Meritage, Merlot based blend that could perhaps fool you into believing it hails from France. Bright with dark fruit notes mixed with pepper, spice and smoke. This wine does need time to open up and from previous experience it tastes much better after a day of breathing.

Fresh for Summer

Two great wines to pick up for summer sipping:

2003 Boordy Vineyards Icons of Maryland Seyval-Vidal-Chardonnay, Hydes, Maryland--intense aromas of melon, lemon peel, pear, green apple, medium body, fresh, clean finish. Serve with Chesapeake Bay seafood specialties, including Maryland Blue Crabs or Rockfish.

NV L. Tramier et Fils 'Roncier' (Pinot Noir), Bugundy, France--notes of cherry, red fruits, spice, flavors of black cherry, mushrooms and forest floor. Very light body, light to medium tannins. A killer bargain at around $10 a bottle. Described by the importer as 'declassified' red Burgundy, hence the non-vintage and vin de table wine classification. Serve slightly chilled for summer. A great every-day red wine.

Roncier label from www.whimports.com

Wine of the Week: Juicy Merlot from the Eastern Shore

Just uncorked a bottle of 2002 Little Ashby Vineyards Merlot from the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I picked up this little gem during a sales meeting over in Easton, Maryland a few months ago. I was a little skeptical of wine produced on the Eastern Shore since as many of us know, once you cross the Bay Bridge over the Chesapeake Bay, the terrain becomes flat for as far as the eye can see.

This thing is tasty, I must admit. Juicy currant and blackberry nose coupled with smokey oak. Smooth tannins and juicy fruit on the palate. This one goes down quickly, so watch out. A good idea to invest in two bottles, instead of one.