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March 2009
Donated 3-liter will benefit Carina Nikolai education fund
Local husband-and-wife wine enthusiasts Jim Cretcher and Judy Robinson and the folks at Dorothy Lane Markets have come up with a creative way to help the family of Todd Nikolai.
Todd, who ran the wine shop at Dorothy Lane Market’s Oakwood store for several years and worked most recently for Mason-based wine distributor Vintner Select, was only 40 when he passed away last June, leaving behind a wife and 3-year-old daughter.
Cretcher and Robinson have donated a three-liter bottle of 1983 Inglenook Charbono that will be available for sampling during the regular Saturday aftenoon tasting on April 18 at DLM’s Washington Square store in Washington Twp., Cretcher said. All proceeds from the Charbono samples will be donated to the education fund set up for Todd’s daughter, Carina.
Cretcher said he and Judy were looking for an opportunity to help, and they hope the donation will inspire others to look for ways to help, too.
The 26-year-old Charbono should be fun to try, given the grape’s aging potential and relative scarcity.
Cretcher said he bought the bottle of wine — which holds the equivalent of four standard-sized bottles — from a Toledo-area retailer about 10 years ago.
I’d say he’s popping the cork at the right time and for a good cause, wouldn’t you agree?
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The Dayton area’s finest wine tastings can be found right here
And for that matter, so can Springboro’s, Centerville’s, Kettering’s, Miamisburg’s, Butler Township’s, Troy’s, Tipp City’s, Bellbrook’s … you get the idea.
This breathtaking list of wine tastings, dinners and other special events comes to Uncorked every Friday courtesy of the fine folks at a Dayton-based wine listserv who compile it with meticulous care, so … enjoy fully, but carefully!
Jay’s Kitchen Door
Friday, Mar 27, 2009 4-8 pm 2005 Beringer Alluvium Blanc 2003 Lisini Brunello 2003 D’Alessandri Syrah 2003 Clos Les Lunelles 2005 Trinchero Napa Valley “Chicken Ranch” Cabernet
Saturday, Mar 28, 2009 1-6 pm 2006 Incognito Viognier 2003 Nambrot 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet, 10%Petit Verdot 2006 Clio 2005 Caymus Cabernet Napa
Antinori Wine Luncheon Saturday, April 25, 2009 12:30 pm $65 with Lisa Sweeney Duck Breast Carpaccio Salad with Frisee, Fried Sweet Potato Strings and a Raspberry-Truffle Vinaigrette Mushroom Ravioli in a Blue Cheese Walnut Sauce Oven Roasted Ribeye with Natural Juice, Potatoes and Fresh Greens Chocolate Flourless Cake with Berry Sauce
Arrow Wine & Spirits Far Hills - Kettering
Saturday, Mar 28, 2009, 11 - 4 pm 2004 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve 2008 Maipe Malbec 2007 Anne Amie Pinot Gris 2007 Definitive Pinot Noir 2005 Conn Valley Eloge
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood
Friday, Mar 27, 2009, 5:00-8:00 pm Bodegas Godeval Godello ‘07 Hanna ’07 Sauvignon Blanc Gerard Raphet ’06 Bourgogne Santa Barbara ’07 ZCS Foxen ’05 Cuvee Markham ’05 Merlot Brown Bag
Saturday, Mar 28, 2009 2-6 pm Moris ‘07 Vermentino Domaine Carneros ’05 Brut D’Alessandro ’03 Il Bosco Tenuta Sette Ponti ’06 Crognolo Essence de Dourthe ’00 Bordeaux Cliff Lede ’06 Cabernet
Thursday, April 16, 2009 5:30-8:30, Angelo Fields, Brew Master, Anheuser Busch will be featuring a number of specialty beers including Goose Island Summertime, Czechvar, Boddington’s, Hoegaarden, Beach Bum Blonde, Longhammer IPA and more.
DLM Washington Square
Thursday, Mar 26, 2009 5-8 pm 2006 Kerpen Bernkasteler Bratenhofchen Riesling Spatlese 2006 Scambia Gualdo di Meana Orvieto Classico 2006 Domaine la Bouussiere Gigondas 2005 Chateau Paveil de Luza Margaux 2002 Scottimano Cotta Barberesco Encore Wine!
Saturday, Mar 28, 2009 12-5 pm Jerry’s “Napa-tastic” Tasting 2006 Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Cuvaison Chardonnay 2006 Cuvaison Pinot Noir 2006 Rombauer Zinfandel 2005 Markham Merlot 2005 Chimney Rock SLD Cabernet Sauvignon Encore Wine!
Dorothy Lane Springboro
Friday, Mar 27, 2009, 3:00-7:00 pm Verget Macon-Vergisson 2006 Pozzan Back Barn Zinfandel 2007 Decero Malbec 2007 Sly Dog Cabernet 2005 Rutherford Grove RSV Cabernet 2005 Mystery Wine
Saturday, Mar 28, 2009 12-6 pm Montes Leyda Vineyard Sauvignon Blaanc 2007 Verget Chablis 2006 Toasted Head Pint Noir 2006 Lealtanza Reserve Rioja 2001 Jocelyn Lonen Napa Cabernet 2005 Barnett Spring Mtn Cabernet 2005 Mystery Wine
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook 848-2161 Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm, Friday 11:30 - 8 pm Saturday 11:30 - 7 pm www.cuveewinebar.net
Wines for Friday, Mar 27 - Apr 2, 2008 Meyer-Fonne 2005 Grand Cru Gewurztrazminer Ed Hardy 2007 Rose Ed Hardy 2007 Chardonnay Showket 2005 Sangiovese Ed Hardy 2007 Cabernet Assorted High End Reds
Food: Venison Sausage Sandwich with Onion Marmalade and Whole Grain Mustard, Pineapple Chicken Salad
Coming: Wednesday Sandwich Nights, starting in May
Arrow Centerville 937-433-6778 615 Lyons Rd Centerville
Friday, Mar 27, 2009 5-8 pm Beer Tasting Avery - The Maharaja Imperial IPA Grimbergen - Blonde Belgian Ale Grimbergen- Dubbel Belgian Ale Dubuisson Brewery - Scaldis Belgian Golden Ale St. Ambroise - Biere Noir L’Avoine - Montreal Oatmeal Stout
Saturday, Mar 28, 2009 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting 2007 Penfolds Koonunga Hills Chardonnay. 2006 Penfolds Koonunga Hills Cabernet Shiraz. 2006 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon. 2005 Penfolds RWT Red Blend. 2006 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz. 2007 Penfolds Thomas Hyland Riesling. NV Penfolds Club Tawny Port.
Rue Dumaine www.ruedumainerestaurant.com
Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 5-7 pm FRANK FAMILY VINEYARDS Chardonnay Napa Valley, 2007 SINEANN Abodante Columbia Valley, 2006 WORTHY Sophia’s Cuvee Napa Valley, 2003
The Wine Gallery and Cafe, Corner of 3rd and Wayne Saturday, Mar 28, 2009 10-2 pm 2006 Aresti Carmenere DO Curico Valley 2005 Robert Foley Charbono 2007 Les Acanthes Vin de Pays d’oc Viognier 2007 Lirac Vin des Cotes du Rhone
Wednesday, Apr 1, 2009 5:30 - 8:30 pm 2007 Arca Nova Vinho Verde 2006 De Bortoli VAT 9 Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 HOBO Rockpile Zinfandel 2005 Kenefick Ranch, Caitlin’s Select Cabernet France NAPA Valley Fiest Tawny Port
Trader Joe’s in Kettering
Tastings Thursday 6:00-8:00 and Sunday 4:00-7:00 Villa Carlotti Prosecco (NV) IGT Marca Trevigiani, Italy. Aquila d’Oro Rosso (2006) IGT Toscana, Italy. La Loggia (2007) DOC Barbera d’Alba. Incanto Riserva (2005) DOCG Chianti Classico, Italy.
A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 www.atasteofwine.org This week’s wines:
Domaine Guindon Muscadet Gnarly Head Pinot Grigio Chateau St Michelle Indian Wells chardonnay Domaine Lafage Cote Sud Octavian Super Tuscan Genesis Cabernet Sauvignon
Bruning’s Wine Cellar, Beavercreek
Saturday, Mar 28, 2008 1-4 PM 2007 Firelands Riesling 2007 Red Mud Chardonnay Chimay Red Chimay White Chimay Blue 2006 Quarterback
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 5-8 PM Saturday, April 4, 2009 1-4 PM McNab Ridge 2007 Sauvignon Blanc 2007 French Colombard 2005 Petite Sirah 2006 Merlot 2006 Cabernet 2005 Coro McNab Ridge
The Culinary Company Cross Pointe Center
Saturday, Mar 28, 2009 12-6 pm Barefoot Merlot Barefoot Moscato Barefoot Chardonnay Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc Rogue Chipotle Ale Rogue Dead Guy Ale Rogue Mocha Porter Rogue American Amber Ale
Fifth St Wine and Deli in Dayton’s Oregon District
Saturday, Mar 28, 2009 Beer: Bier du Bouconier Southern Tier Cuvee Great Divide Yeti Dogfish Head Midas Touch Southern Tier Iniquity
Wine: Sebeka Sauvignon Blanc Dynamite Chardonnay Mouton Cadet Red Wrongo Dongo Sharecropper’s Noir
Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar, Springboro, OH 45066 Thursday 6pm - 8pm and Saturday 12pm - 5pm
WINES From Argentina! Sedinento Chardonnay Torrentos Blend Urano Rosa Sedinento Malbec Bonarda Urano Malbec Eral Bravo “YBS”
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com
Gazela Vinho Verde Portugal J. Moreau Blanc France 007 Lyeth Chardonnay California Villalta Valpolicella Ripasso Italy Midnight Cellars Full Moon Red Paso Robles Paisaje Barrancas Argentina
Jungle Jim’s in Fairfield RSVP 513 674 6008
Saturday, April 4, 2009 1 -3 pm $30 Small Production French Estates:: Connie & Patrick Allen
Kroger Marketplace in Englewood
Thursday, March 26, 2009 2-6pm truck wines by cline featuring the new truck zin
Friday, March 27, 2009 2-6pm wines by the grateful palate
Saturday, March 28, 2009 2-6pm alamos and ghost pines with brandon from gallo wines
Sunday March 29, 2009 2-6pm dancing bull wines
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2nd St. Market’s Ohio Winefest postponed, not yet rescheduled
The Ohio wine festival that has been held at the National City 2nd Street Market on the first weekend in June for the last six years has been postponed until at least the fall, in part because of another Dayton-area wine event that weekend, Debbie Angelos, a spokeswoman for Five River MetroParks, said today, March 25.
Organizers haven’t chosen a weekend in the fall, but Angelos said, “We’re actively planning” for a fall event.
Angelos noted that the Fleurs et Vin, an event that organizers say will be very similar to previous years’ Fleurs de Fete, has been scheduled for Sunday, June 7. The market’s Ohio wine festival is traditionally held the first Friday and Saturday in June, which this year would be June 5-6.
Although the two events would not have conflicted directly, MetroParks officials wanted to “make sure that local agencies get the full support” of fund-raising events such as the Fleurs et Vin and felt that the events would have been “too close together” and may have competed with one another, Angelos said. The Fleurs et Vin benefits Culture Works, an arts fund that supports several Dayton-area arts organizations.
“We want to be good community partners,” Angelos said.
Five River MetroParks oversees the market, located at East Second and Webster streets just east of downtown Dayton.
Donniella Winchell, executive director of the Ohio Wine Producers Association, said the Dayton festival “is a wonderful and dynamic opportunity for our wineries to showcase the progress we’ve made as an industry. I’m pleased they’re looking at postponing the event rather than canceling it.”
Wanda Willis, who serves as vice president of National City Bank and who has been the chief organizer and driving force behind the Ohio wine festival, said Wednesday she is “very hopeful” that the festival will continue.
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Red wine increases female sex drive
Red wine increases the female libido, according to a research study conducted by an Italian hospital and reported today in this daily news update from Decanter.com.
The research study investigated 789 Italian women between 18 and 50, Decanter said. The research showed that women who drank one to two glasses of red wine a day were more sexually active than those who abstained.
The Decanter story says the effect was not just due to alcohol’s ability to release inhibitions, although it’s not clear how that conclusion was reached.
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Have you tasted an Ohio wine?
Wine guy Andrew Hall, who helped organize an Ohio-vs.-Michigan wine smackdown last fall, has come up with a quick, painless survey about your perceptions of Ohio wines. It starts with an obvious question — have you ever tried one — and consists of only 10 questions (there’s also an optional follow-up survey about specific wine varieties and wineries, but it is, indeed, optional).
Help Andrew out and take the quiz, then you can check out his preliminary results.
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Cincy winefest delivers some pleasant surprises
Nine wines scored gold medals in the 2009 Cincinnati International Wine Festival that was held March 13-14 in downtown Cincinnati.
A link to the 2009 medal winners is available from the festival’s home page.
Here are the gold-medal winners, followed by a few highlights from the event:
2009 Cincy Winefest Gold Medal winners
Artesa 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Barefoot Wine NV Pinot Grigio
Fess Parker Winery 2004 Big Easy Syrah
Four Vines Winery 2006 Zinfandel Maverick
Harlow Ridge 2007 Pinot Noir
Michael-David Winery 2004 Rapture
Palo Alto 2007 Reserve Red
The Meeker Vineyard 2005 4 Kings Meritage
Vall Llach 2005 Idus Priorat
Nine golds out of nearly 400 wines entered — this competition certainly sets a high bar, at least for golds. There were about 42 silver medals and roughly 115 bronze medals awarded. One of the golds went to the winery owned by the “Honorary Chairs” of the ‘09 festival, Charles and Molly Meeker.
One impression I came away with from the 2009 wine offerings: There were some excellent wines from obscure or greatly umderappreciated grape varietals, including:
— 2008 Traminette from Ohio’s own Meranda-Nixon winery in Ripley in southern Ohio. The grapes are estate-grown, and the most recent release is the driest yet, Seth Meranda said. It’s also his best, and the winery sells it for $12.
— 2007 Graziano Chenin Blanc: I’m a sucker for this grape and its steely backbone of lime and minerals — at least in those that are made right. And Graziano’s from California is made right.
— 2007 McNab Ridge French Colombard: I’m not sure I’ve had a varietal Columbard since Inglenook days, but winemaker Richard Parducci, who poured his wines at the Wine Gallery & Cafe in Dayton a few days before the festival, makes a very fine lip-smacking, summertime sipper from the grape, for $15.
— 2008 Del Rio Vineyards Rose Jolee: Made in Oregon predominantly from a muscat clone called Early Muscat, this is a spritzy, slightly sweet and thoroughly delightful little wine. Ohio retail is $12.
Plenty of “luminaries” in attendance, but two worthy of note: Bob Foley, who spent part of his childhood in Oakwood and went on to winemaking game first at Markham Vineyards and then at his own Robert Foley Vineyards, came to the event, but not as a winemaker — as a customer. And he looked like he was having more fun than he did back in the years he was on the other side of the pouring table.
Also, Selena Cuffe, the suburban Cincinnati woman who serves as president of Heritage Link Brands and who brings in several South African wines to the U.S. (and now to southwest Ohio), was pouring some of her lineup of wines.
More about Selena and Heritage Link Brands soon …
Did you attend the Cincy event? Any thoughts?
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Here’s the best March Madness wine-tasting list in the history of the world
This list of Dayton-area wine tastings and events — which comes to Uncorked via a tireless and heroic wine listserv that compiles it — just keeps getting better and better and better. We have an important new addition this week: Kroger’s in Englewood, whose wine department is extensive. Note also that Charlie and Molly Meeker of Meeker Vineyards will be at Cork & Vine on York Commons Boulevard in the Miller Lane area for a drop-in tasting of their wines from 5:30 to 8:30 tonight (March 20).
Take a moment and feast your eyes on the incredible plethora of selections available to Miami Valley wine enthusiasts. I believe this list would be the envy of any region in the country. See if you agree.
Jay’s Kitchen Door
Friday, Mar 20, 2009 4-8 pm 2006 Maso Canali Pinot Grigio 2005 La Spinetta Barbera 2001 Marcarini Vendemmia Barolo 2005 Simi Landslide 2001 Chateau La Cousparde
Saturday, Mar 21, 2009 1-6 pm NV Tattinger La Francaise 2002 Domaine Arlaud Les Ruchot Money Saint Denis 2005 Steltzner Claret 2003 Chateau Lascombes
RSVP to all luncheons and dinners - 222-2892 Stoller Wine Dinner Thursday, March 26, 2009 7 pm $65 Grilled Salmon Salad with Baby Spinach, Fresh Strawberries, Red Onion, Feta Cheese and Toasted Almonds with a Balsamic Vinaigrette
Sauteed Shrimp, Scallops and Lobster in a Caramelized Lobster-Ginger Sauce
Rack of Lamb, Basmati Rice and Orzo Blend and Sun Dried Blueberry Sauce with Pinot Reduction
Black and Blueberry Tart
Antinori Wine Luncheon Saturday, April 25, 2009 12:30 pm $65 with Lisa Sweeney Duck Breast Carpaccio Salad with Frisee, Fried Sweet Potato Strings and a Raspberry-Truffle Vinaigrette
Mushroom Ravioli in a Blue Cheese Walnut Sauce
Oven Roasted Ribeye with Natural Juice, Potatoes and Fresh Greens
Chocolate Flourless Cake with Berry Sauce
Arrow Far Hills - Kettering
Saturday, Mar 21, 2009, 11 - 4 pm 2006 Jacuzzi Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Mouton Cadet Reserve Bodegas Godeval 2006 Dante Merlot 2006 Quackenbush Zinfandel 2007 Rutherford Grove Sauvignon Blanc
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood
Friday, Mar 20, 2009, 5:00-8:00 pm Del Rio ‘07 Pinot Gris Louis Jadot ‘06 Pouilly Fuisse Penfold’s ‘07 Bin 2 Shiraz Mourvedre Plungerhead ‘07 Zin JC Cellars ‘05 “The Imposter” Bergevin Lane ‘05 Merlot Brown Bag
Saturday, Mar 21, 2009 2-6 pm Batasiolo ‘06 Gavi Mason ‘06 Sauvignon Blanc Darioush ‘02 Shiraz Pira ‘03 Barolo Chateau D’Issan ‘04 Seps Estate ‘03 Cabernet
DLM Washington Square
Thursday, Mar 19, 2009 5-8 pm 2007 Hanna Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Araucano Pinot Noir 2005 Cardeto Rupestro 2001 Lealtanza Rioja Reserva 2005 Raymond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Encore Wine!
Saturday, Mar 21, 2009 12-5 pm 007 Raymond reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Rutz Maison Grand Cru Chardonnay 2007 Foris Pinot Noir 2002 Abadia Retuerta Seleccion Especial Sardon de Duero 2005 Rutherford Grove Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Encore Wine!
Dorothy Lane Springboro
Friday, Mar 20, 2009, 3:00-7:00 pm Montoya Chardonnay 2006 Andrew Hardy Little Ox Red 2006 Volker Eisele Cabernet 2005 Produttori del Barbaresco Paje 2004 Produttori del Barbaresco Moccagotta 2004 Mystery Wine
Saturday, Mar 21, 2009 12-6 pm Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2005 Montoya Cabernet 2006 Foxen Cuvee Jeanne Marie Red 2003 J Vidal Fleury Crozes Hermitage 2005 Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano 2004 Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello 2004
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook 848-2161 Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm, Friday 11:30 - 8 pm Saturday 11:30 - 7 pm www.cuveewinebar.net
Wines for Friday, Mar 20 - Mar 26, 2008 San Simone NV “Il Concerto” Prosecco Spumante Fire Road 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Sitios de Bodega’s 2005 Assorted Spanish Reds Layer Cake 2008 Shiraz Neal Family Vineyards 2007 Zinfandel
Saturday Food: Cuvee Cubans—Panini Style prepared with love by Chefs Brandice and John (Turkey, Ham, Pickles, Cheese, grilled to perfection)
Wednesday, Mar 25, 2009 4:30 - 7 pm Soup Night Chef Chris is back with Southwestern Corn Chowder (this is not a vegetarian soup)
Arrow Centerville 937-433-6778 615 Lyons Rd Centerville
Friday, Mar 20, 2009 5-8 pm Beer Tasting
9 Pale Ale IPA H.I.P.A. Sierra Nevada - ESB (Early Spring Beer) Red Hook - Double Black Stout w/Coffee
Saturday, Mar 21, 2009 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting 2006 Mossback Russian River Chardonnay… 2007 Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc… 2006 Falesco Vitiano Rosso… 2005 Matchbook Tinto Rey… 2007 Allegrini Valpolicella… 2005 Rombauer Merlot
Rue Dumaine www.ruedumainerestaurant.com
Tuesday, Mar 24, 2009 5-7 pm M. CHAPOUTIER Belleruche Cotes-Du-Rhone, 2007 GRAFF FAMILY VINEYARDS Viognier Chalone Appellation , 2006 DARIOUSH Viognier Napa Valley, 2007
Rue Dumaine’s Mount Eden Wine Dinner March 23, 2009 $120 inclusive RSVP
Mount Eden Chardonnay, Monterey County 2007 Smoked beef with a honey-champagne vinegar gastrique and bright herbs House-smoked ruby red trout tartlet, served with creme fraiche and a relish of fennel, celery and leeks Pork rillette “boulette” with plum jam
Mount Eden Chardonnay, Saratoga Cuvee 2004 Salad of Jumbo lump crab meat, mache, cucumber and charred tomato-caraway vinaigrette
Mount Eden Pinot Noir, Saratoga Cuvee 2006 House made pork-caramelized onion sausage, sweet potato hash, served with moutarde rouge
Mount Eden Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2004 Cold-smoked confit of duck, sour cherry compote, pommes Sarlat and roasted garlic reduction
Mount Eden Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2005 Venison with huckleberries, wild rice croquette and wilted Swiss chard
Mount Eden Chardonnay Estate fruit, Santa Cruz Mountains 2003 Toasted almond-butterscotch tart with local honey infused ice cream
The Wine Gallery and Cafe, Corner of 3rd and Wayne
Saturday, Mar 21, 2009 10-2 pm 2006 Coteaux de Languedoc, Picpoul de Pinet, France 2007 Mirassou Pinot Noir, California 2002 Summit Lake Vineyards, Zinfandel, Howell Mountain, California 2006 HOBO Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, Old Depot Block 2003 Abrazo Crianza, Garnacha Tempranillo, Spain
Wednesday, Mar 25, 2009 5:30 - 8:30 pm 2002 Domaine de la Vougeraie, Vougeot Les Cras, Premier Cru 2002 Domaine de la Vougeraie, Clos de Vougeot, Grand Cru 2005 Louis Bernard Chateauneuf du Pape Grand Reserve 2005 Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone Villages Reserve 2001 Lyeth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Alexander Valley, Ca.
Trader Joe’s in Kettering.
Tastings Thursday 6:00-8:00 and Sunday 4:00-7:00 Dynamic Sauvignon Blanc (2008) AVA Lake County, California. Three Knights Merlot (2006) AVA Russian River Valley-Chalk Hill, California. Mission Point Pinot Noir (2005) AVA Central Coast, California. Trader Joe’s Reserve Meritage (2006) AVA Napa Valley, California.
A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 www.atasteofwine.org This week’s wines: Estancia Riesling Shannon Ridge Sauvignon Blanc Mountain View Chardonnay Harlow Ridge Pinot Noir 6th Sense Syrah Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon
Bruning’s Wine Cellar
Saturday, Mar 21, 2008 1-4 pm
2007 Famega
2007 Novas Chardonnay
2005 Lapis Luna Zinfandel
2003 Villa Puccini Chianti
2004 Montalcino Capanna
The Culinary Company Cross Pointe Center
Saturday, Mar 21, 2009 12-6 pm Firelands Pinot Grigio Firelands Cabernet Sauvignon Firelands Pinot Noir Firelands Riesling
The Winds Cafe and Bakery - Yellow Springs
24 March: Spanish Dinner (5:00 pm) $65 RSVP A multi-course menu of our take on the cuisine of Spain, paired with wines. Reservations required. Spanish Tortilla with Whiskey Sauce Mackeral with Fabada Beans Grilled Sirloin with Cabrales Butter, Lamb Meatballs with Romesco and Cumin Scented Chicken Thigh Shot of Fresh Juice with Chopped Fruit Spanish Cheeses Creme Catalan
Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar, Springboro, OH 45066 Thursday 6pm - 8pm and Saturday 12pm - 5pm
AMANO ITALIAN WINES Pinot Grigio Souve Chianti Primitivo Prima Mano Brunello di Montalcino 2003
Cork&Vine York Commons Blvd
Friday, March 20, 2009 5:30-8:30pmthe Cork&Vine
Charlie and Molly Meeker of Meeker Vineyards will be discussing and tasting their wines including the “Handprint Merlot”.
Cork&Vine Troy
Whites: Clos Du Bois Rose Two Vines White Brancott Sauvignon Blanc St. Clement Chardonnay
Reds: Hogue Cabernet Lugigi Bosca D.O.C. Malbec Layer Cake Shiraz 2008 Rodney Strong Sonoma Cabernet
Miami Valley Wine
Friday March 20, 2009 5:30-9pm. Wine Tasting Lapis Luna Chardonnay Lapis Luna Red Zin9 Clos La Chance Sauv. Blanc Silva Res. Carmenere Accordian Malbec
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com
Friday, March 20, 2009 4:30 - 7:30 pm Saturday, March 21, 2009 3-6 pm Best of the 2009 Fest! Six wines from the Cincinnati Wine Festival
Jungle Jim’s
March 20, 2009 7 - 9pm $25 BEER TASTING - Troegs Craft Brewery with Chris Trogner
March 21, 2009 1 - 3pm $30 WINE TASTING - Zins in Zinzinnati 10 of the best Red Zins
Kroger Marketplace in Englewood
Thursday, March 19, 2009 2-6pm Lost Angels wines
Friday, March 20, 2009 2-6pm Toad Hollow and Calico wines
Saturday, March 21, 2009 2-6pm Midnight Cellars wines
Sunday March 22, 2009 2-6pm Root One chardonnay and carmenere
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Half bottles: overhyped or underappreciated? Or both?
Check out this piece from Restaurants & Institutions headlined “Half bottles, full service” about no less than the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco jumping on the bandwagon and singing the praises of half bottles of wine.
Perhaps I’ve been writing a wine column for too long (ahem, 1989, but I was 12 years old at the time), but I do recall that one of the first columns I published was a “Half Bottles are the Next Big Thing” piece. And I’ve seen about 200 incarnations of the same trend story since then, and have written a couple of them.
Didn’t happen then, won’t happen now. Nothing wrong with the concept, couldn’t agree more with the reasons why half bottles SHOULD be the next big thing, but wine drinkers, with a few exceptions, have simply never embraced the 375 ml size, in restaurants or in their cellars.
But that won’t stop us wine writers from writing the same story every few years, hoping each one will become a self-fulfilling prophecy, then developing amnesia so that when someone spots the trend again a short time later, we’ll hop on that bandwagon, with unbridled enthusiasm.
How many half-bottles do you have in your cellar? And do you order them from restaurant wine lists?
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French winemakers decry their neighbors’ rose shortcut
French winemakers are highly irritated with a European Union proposal that would allow winemakers across Europe to create rose wines by blending reds with whites, according to this story from Decanter.com headlined “Fury at EU Rose Wine Plans”. (For another take on the issue, check out this version of the story from The Guardian.
French winegrowers “fear that the market will be flooded with poor-quality rose,” the Decanter story says. Some good comments have been posted on the Decanter story as well.
Why do I suspect that there’s more going on here than meets the eye?
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Diner’s refusal to tip on wine takes money from server’s pocket
I received an email from a server whom I presume works in a fine-dining restaurant (based on the Cakebread Cabernet) who wanted to both vent and educate. And she did indeed bring up some points I was not aware of, mainly that diners who don’t tip or tip a very small percentage on wines are actually costing their servers money. Here’s the email:
Unfortunately, this happens all too often. Last week, I had two gentlemen sit down for dinner, and after making numerous comments to me about how we have a great selection of wines at wonderful prices, ordered a bottle of Cakebread Cabernet. I preceded to present the wine, open the wine, and poured the wine throughout their dinner. After they were finished dining, one of the gentlemen asked for the bill, but asked for the wine to be on a separate check. Of course, I obliged. When I returned to picked up their signed checks, I thanked them and they told me how wonderful everything was and thanked me for my terrific service. When I went to close out their checks, I was floored to discover that they had not tipped me on the wine. Again, it’s not like this was the first time this has happened, but it doesn’t make it any less infuriating!
What people fail to understand is that servers are taxed on their sales, their total sales, not just on what they are tipped. When we are taxed on out sales, it is assumed that diners have tipped at least 10% at our restaurant. ( I do know that the federal government only assumes 8.5%). We are required to claim all of our tips for tax purposes, and if our tips claimed do not match a percentage of our sales, we are taxed on our sales anyway. Understandable, we are then at a financial loss. I do not think it is fair for me, or any other server, to have to pay for the wine consumption that I did not enjoy myself. I think the general understanding is that we are only taxed on our tips, and that is not the case. This is also why not tipping on carry-out orders is frustrating.
Servers make $3.65 an hour. We live on our tips. We also have to tip out the bartenders and bussers from what we make. Perhaps if you open this topic up for discussion, or even make it a point to be pondered upon, diners may have a better understanding and be more inclined to tip on that next bottle of wine or carry-out order.
We opened up this topic last week on the Taste: Dayton Food and Restaurants blog, and it prompted quite a robust discussion of 60-plus comments, from servers and diners.
Were you aware of these rules? What are your tipping habits regarding bottles of wine?
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A wine-tastings list to envy — and to enjoy
Is it just me, or does this wine tastings and events list just keep getting better and better every week?
Okay, it’s just me. Still, this is great stuff — the envy of cities much larger than ours. And it comes to Uncorked via the generous efforts of a Dayton-based wine listserv that lovingly compiles it and shares it with its members.
It’s all good.
Jay’s Kitchen Door
Friday, Mar 13, 2009 4-8 pm 2006 Drouhin Puligny Montrachet 2002 Chateau D’Armailhac 2004 Hendry Red 2005 Poderi Sapaio 2005 St Clement Oropas
Saturday, Mar 14, 2009 1-6 pm 2007 King Estate Pinot Gris 2006 Clos De L’Oratoire Chateaneuf de Pape 1999 Lisini Brunello 2003 Chateau Ducluzeau
Arrow Far Hills - Kettering
Saturday, Mar 14, 2009, 11 - 4 pm Skol Blosser Meditrina American Red Blend 2006 Santa Carolina Reserve Carmenere 2005 Fleming Jenkins Black Ridge Syrah 2006 Red Heads Studio Yard Dog White 2000 Senorio de P. Pecina Rioja 2005 Bruno Colin Chassagne Montrachet 2007 Gallo Family Reserve Sonoma Chardonnay
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood
Friday, Mar 13, 2009, 5:00-8:00 pm Hofer ‘07 Gruner Veltliner Domaine Drouhin ‘06 Arthur Chardonnay Handley ‘06 Pinot Noir Langmeil ‘06 Valley Floor Shiraz K Syrah ‘05 Cougar Hills Syrah Chateau Lagarosse ‘05 Bordeaux Brown Bag
Saturday, Mar 14, 2009 2-6 pm Pommier ‘06 Chablis Belle Glos ‘07 Meiomi Pinot Noir Haywood ‘05 Rocky Terrace Zinfandel Arte ‘02 Chester-Kidder ‘04 Muller ‘04 Eiswein Bonus Botttle
On Thursday, March 19, 2009 from 5:30 - 8:30, the monthly beer tasting featuring spring seasonals.
DLM Washington Square
Thursday, Mar 12, 2009 5-8 pm Hofer Gruner Veltliner Chorey Les Beaune Michel Guy Fils Cedro do Noval Duoro Clos de Noi Domaine des Corbillieres Encore Wine!
Saturday, Mar 14, 2009 12-5 pm Don’s Shakin’the Shillelagh Taste 08’ Omaka Springs Sauvignon Blanc 07’MacMurry Pinot Gris 07’McManis Petite Sirah 05’Cotes du Roussillon 06’Piazzano Chianti The Lucky Leprechan Owen Roe Abbot’s Table The 4 Leaf Clover Hoope’s Napa Valley Cabernet And an assortment of Irish Beers!!!!
Dorothy Lane Springboro
Friday, Mar 13, 2009, 3:00-7:00 pm 2004 RVTZ Chardonnay 2008 Araucano Pinot Noir 2002 Merryvale Beckstoffer Merlot 2001 Lealtanza Rioja 1998 Quintessa Mystery Wine
Saturday, Mar 14, 2009 12-6 pm 2004 Chateau de Chamminrey 2004 Grgich hills chardonnay 2006 Coho Headwaters 2005 Coho Cabernet 2002 Chateau Monbousquet Grand Cru Mystery Wine
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook 848-2161 Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm, Friday 11:30 - 8 pm Saturday 11:30 - 7 pm www.cuveewinebar.net Cuvee will be closed for retail business on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate the life of Jessica Paringer! They will also be closed on Wednesday, Mar 18.
Wines for Friday, Mar 13 - Mar 19, 2008 Mas de la Dame 2008 Rose Fire Road 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Sitios de Bodega’s 2005 Hewitson Miss Harry GSM Assorted Spanish Reds Neal Family Vineyards 2007
Beer: Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale
Food: Italian sausage sandwich!
Wednesday, Mar 18, 2009 Closed
Arrow Centerville 937-433-6778 615 Lyons Rd Centerville
Friday, Mar 13, 2009 5-8 pm Beer Tasting Black & Tan’s!! Guinness Draught Murphys Irish Stout Bass pale ale Harp Lager Smithwick’s
Saturday, Mar 14, 2009 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting SICSA Donation Tasting
Arrow will be accepting donations (cash and pet-related items) and will also donate the proceeds from the tasting. 2006 Pallazzone Dubini Bianco 2007 Gouggenheim Malbec 2007 Strong Arms Shiraz 2006 Curious Beagle Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve Red Blend 2006 Delectus Napa Valley Argentum 2007 Moselland Zeller Schwarze Katz
Rue Dumaine www.ruedumainerestaurant.com Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 5-7 pm Irish fare and Irish beers Guiness Harp Smithwicks
Rue Dumaine’s Mount Eden Wine Dinner March 23, 2009 $120 inclusive RSVP
Mount Eden Chardonnay, Monterey County 2007 Smoked beef with a honey-champagne vinegar gastrique and bright herbs House-smoked ruby red trout tartlet, served with crème fraîche and a relish of fennel, celery and leeks Pork rillette “boulette” with plum jam
Mount Eden Chardonnay, Saratoga Cuvee 2004 Salad of Jumbo lump crab meat, mache, cucumber and charred tomato-caraway vinaigrette
Mount Eden Pinot Noir, Saratoga Cuvee 2006 House made pork-caramelized onion sausage, sweet potato hash, served with moutarde rouge
Mount Eden Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2004 Cold-smoked confit of duck, sour cherry compote, pommes Sarlat and roasted garlic reduction
Mount Eden Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2005 Venison with huckleberries, wild rice croquette and wilted Swiss chard
Mount Eden Chardonnay Estate fruit, Santa Cruz Mountains 2003 Toasted almond-butterscotch tart with local honey infused ice cream
The Wine Gallery and Cafe, Corner of 3rd and Wayne
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 5:30 - 8:30 pm A representative from Rutherford Grove to talk about their wines. Sauvignon Blanc Merlot Petite Syrah Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Quakenbush Estate Lake County Zinfandel
Wednesday, Mar 18, 2009 5:30pm - 8 pm
Trader Joe’s in Kettering . Tastings Thursday 6:00-8:00 and Sunday 4:00-7:00 Oreana Happy Face Chardonnay (2007) California. Oreana “?” Red - Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon (2006) California. RCTJWF Zinfandel (2006) AVA Paso Robles, California. TJ Growers Reserve Organic Petite Sirah (2007) California. Great Scot Organic Pale Ale
Friday 3:00-6:00 and Saturday 3:00-6:00 Bonus Beer Tastings - the demo kitchen will have Corned Beef and Cabbage and St. Patrick’s Day beers. . Murphy’s Stout. Trinity Red Ale.
A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 www.atasteofwine.org
This week’s wines, Irish style: Bunratty Meade Cline Viognier “green” sustainable wine Hess Chardonnay “green” sustainable wine Lolonis Merlot “green” sustainable wine Cline Zinfandel “green” sustainable wine Maloy O’Neill Cabernet Sauvignon
March 12th - 7 -9pm Sterling Vineyards Wine Tasting RSVPs appreciated March 14th 2pm - 10pm Irish Beer Tasting
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays in the bar. Mar 18, 2009 4-8 pm
EDNA VALLEY Paragon Chardonnay, San Luis County, 2007 SIlverado Sangiovese, Napa Valley 2005 Two hands, Gnarly dudes Shiraz, Barossa Australia, 2006 Genisis Merlot, Columbia Valley, 2005
Winan’s
Saturday, Mar 14, 2009 4-10, Spanish wines 2 reds, 2 whites, and a sherry
Bruning’s Wine Cella
r
Saturday, Mar 14, 2008 1-4 pm
2007 Max Ferd. Richter Riesling 2006 Toad Hollow Pinot Noir 2006 Sonnino Chianti 2003 Fritz Zinfandel 2005 Chateau Mazeris
The Culinary Company Cross Pointe Center
Saturday, Mar 14, 2009 12-6 pm
Wines:
Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay
Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau St. Jean Merlot
Beers: Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold Lager Great Lakes Blackout Stout Imperial Stout
Fifth St Wine and Del i Saturday, Mar 14, 2009 Wine 2008 Espelt Vailet Blanco 2006 Woop Woop Verdelho 2006 Leone Rosso 2006 Care Blend Bonus: Elsa’s Bad Juan Margarita
Beer Rogue Kell’s Irish Lager Lagunitas Hop Stoopid Moylan’s Moylander Double IPA Avery Salvation Beamish Irish Stout
The Winds Cafe and Bakery - Yellow Springs
14 March: Austrian Wine Tasting & Luncheon (12:00 pm) 24 March: Spanish Dinner (5:00 pm)
Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar, Springboro, OH 45066
Thursday 6pm - 8pm and Saturday 12pm - 5pm SHANNON RIDGE WINES Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay Cabernet sauvignon Shannon Ridge Wrangler Red Barbera Reserve
Cork&Vine York Commons Blvd
White Flight Leonard Kreusch Riesling Estancia Pinot Grigio Fortress Sauv. Blanc Hogue Chardonnay
Red Flight Wild Horse Pinot Noir Goose Ridge Red Oberon Merlot Epiphany Petite Syrah
Miami Valley Wine
Friday March 13, 2009 5-9pm. Beer Tasting (wings included) Wexford Irish cream ale, War Bird Irish Shanty, Smithwicks, Curim Irish Wheat, O’Hara’s Red, Harp, Guinness Draught
Saturday March 14, 2009 4pm - 8pm.Wine Tasting Gundlach Bunschu Sauv. Blanc. Gundlach Bunschu Merlot Twisted Chardonnay Punto Nino Cab. Sauvignon Huber Spiced Apple Wine
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com
Friday, March 13, 2009 4:30 to 7:30 pm Saturday, March 14, 2009 3-6 pm If you are not going to the Cincinnati Wine Festival this weekend, try the Best of the ’08 Wine Festival!
Greater Cincinnati International Wine Festival - March 13-14, for details see www.winefestival.com
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Cuvee will stay open: ‘That’s what she wanted me to do’
*IMPORTANT UPDATE: The location of the wake has changed. It will be held at Chris Cavender’s home outside Germantown, and NOT at the wine shop. The entry below has been updated to reflect the change in location.
It always was her favorite holiday.
So on St. Patrick’s Day next week (Tuesday, March 17), Chris Cavender will celebrate the life of his wife Jessica Paringer with a drop-in wake from noon to 7 p.m. at his home at 6929 Little Twin Road outside Germantown.
Jessica, 36, died Sunday, March 8, at the Cleveland Clinic, after receiving a double-lung transplant Feb. 13. She suffered from cystic fibrosis, an inherited, chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system that often causes death in the patients’ 20s or 30s. Share condolences, memories
Jessica was not diagnosed until she was in her teens, and was active in operating the wine shop until recent months, when the disease began taking an increasing toll on her, and she was placed on a lung transplant list.
Jessica’s husband, Chris Cavender, has returned to his Germantown home from Cleveland. He has much to do obviously, and is still grieving the loss of his wife, but he did take a few minutes yesterday to put to rest any rumors or assumptions about the future of Cuvee.
“The store will not close,” Cavender said. “We’re going to keep on going in the tradition that we’ve established here, in the way we’ve been doing for 10 years. That’s what she wanted me to do, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Other Cuvee employees and friends of Paringer’s have been running the wine shop in Cavender’s and Paringer’s absence. Chefs and restaurant owners from the Dayton area have pitched in as well, cooking food to serve on Cuvee’s Wednesday night soup nights and during Saturday tastings.
Cavender has ordered haggis, bangers, Irish meat pies and other specialties for the St. Patrick’s Day memorial event. Cavender inintially announced the wake would be held at the wine shop, but switched the location. The wine bar and wine shop will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Cavender requested that memorials may be made to SICSA, which can be done through the SICSA web site.
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Dayton enjoys some spinoff benefits of Cincy winefest
A reminder that tonight (Wednesday, March 11) and Thursday night, Dayton-area wine enthusiasts can enjoy some spinoff benefits from the Cincinnati International Wine Festival in the form of some winemaker visits.
Tonight, for example, winemaker Rich Parducci from McNab Ridge Winery in Mendocino County, California will be pouring his wines at the Wine Gallery and Cafe at East Third Street and Wayne Avenue in downtown Dayton. Parducci is the great-grandson of Adolph Parducci, who established Mendocino’s first commercial winery under their family’s name in 1933. Parducci will be pouring his winery’s French Colombard, Merlot, Pinotage, Petite Sirah, Zinzilla Zinfandel and Coro.
Then from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Cuvee Wine Shop in Bellbrook, Mark Neal, owner of Neal Family Vineyards, will be pouring his winery’s Napa Valley Cabernet, Napa Valley Zinfandel, and Second Chance Cabernet.
Also from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, at Arrow Wine & Spirits’ Centerville store, Michael Pozzan of the Michael Pozzan Winery will be pouring his wines, including 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Lake County, 2007 Chardonnay Reserve Russian River Valley, 2006 Zinfandel Oakville Cuvee, 2006 Merlot Napa Valley, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, 2006 Cuvee No. 12 Napa Valley, and 2006 Marianna Reserve Napa Valley.
Let’s show ‘em some Gem City hospitality.
Oh, and also, don’t forget the Madison’t Bistro wine dinner featuring Terry Blandon of Oregon’s Del Rio Vineyards.
Now THAT is a mid-week lineup.
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‘I’ll stop on the way home and pick up a barrel of wine for dinner’
Red Truck Wines has come out with a rather offbeat large-format container: a three-liter Mini-Barrel.
The new packaging — which contains the equivalent of four standard-sized (750 ml) bottles — is launching this month in Sam’s Club stores, and will go nationwide at retailers sometime later in 2009, winery officials said in a news release. Its suggested retail price is $29.99.
Here’s how a news release describes the Mini-Barrel:
With an ingenious trademark- and patent-pending barrel design featuring the iconic wine barrel shape complete with rings, staves, a wood-grain look and burned-in imagery and typography, the Mini-Barrel has a fresh-from-the-winery feel … . “It’s time consumers had the option of a premium quality wine in a format larger than 750ml,” said Carol Reber, Vice President of Marketing at 585 Wine Partners which owns Red Truck Wines. “For anyone who’s ever visited a winery or wished they could, the Mini-Barrel by Red Truck makes the experience come alive in their own home.”
Other advantages of the three-liter mini-barrels include freshness — the contents will “stay fresh up to 40 days,” the Red Truck folks say — and they’re greener, too, supposedly. Such large-format packages “are widely considered to be more environmentally friendly than glass bottles due to their comparative lighter weight and lower carbon footprint,” the winery says.
What about the wine, you ask? It’s the 2007 Red Truck Red Wine, a blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.
The first question that comes to my mind is: Will retailers stock this wine? How much of a hassle will it be to find room on the existing shelves that are built for bottles and cardboard boxes? I would expect there would be some resistance — unless, of course, customers start asking for it. Then there might be room.
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Lung transplant patient Jessica Paringer loses her fight against cystic fibrosis
Jessica Paringer, the co-owner of Cuvee Wine Bar & Cellar in Bellbrook who received a double-lung transplant Feb. 13, died Sunday afternoon, March 8, at the Cleveland Clinic. She was 36.
“She died peacefully, her husband was with her, and she was not in any pain,” said Cindy Hill, a close friend who hired Paringer to work in the wine shop Hill founded as Cindy’s Wine Cellar, and later sold it to Paringer and Paringer’s husband, Chris Cavender.
Paringer suffered from cystic fibrosis, an inherited, chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. The disease often causes death in the patients’ 20s or 30s.
Paringer was not diagnosed until she was in her teens, and was active in operating the wine shop until recent months, when the disease began taking an increasing toll on her, and she was placed on a lung transplant list.
On Friday, Feb. 6, she suffered a serious setback and nearly died. She was flown by a care-flight medical helicopter from Dayton to the Cleveland Clinic, where doctors stabilized her. Clinic officials then told her that a pair of donor lungs had become available, and on Feb. 13, in an operation that lasted nine hours, she received a new set of lungs, Cavender said in the days following the surgery.
Doctors initially were pleased with how the surgery went, but Paringer’s progress was slowed by how weak she had become in the weeks and months prior to the surgery, Cavender said. In addition, drugs used to prevent rejection of transplanted lungs can leave patients susceptible to infections and can have other serious side-effects, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Other Cuvee employees and friends of Paringer’s — including Hill — have been pitching in to help run the wine shop in Cavender’s and Paringer’s absence.
Services are pending, but Hill said the wine shop will be open Tuesday for those who wish to stop by and share memories and condolences.
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Dispute prompts wine-festival changes
This is a copy of a story that is tentatively scheduled to run in Sunday’s Dayton Daily News. It follows up on the Jan. 27 entry entitled “Fleurs de Fete controversy may mean big changes in food-and-wine event”
By Mark Fisher
Staff Writer
There will be no Fleurs de Fete this year, but there will be a wine-and-food festival that looks, sounds, and tastes a lot like it, on a different weekend (June 7) and under the revised name of Fleurs et Vin.
Meanwhile, the May weekend (May 17) that traditionally hosts the Fleurs de Fete will instead bring an event celebrating caregivers of cancer patients and their families.
That’s the upshot of a January falling-out among some of the chief organizers of the Fleurs de Fete and the charity that has benefitted from the event since its inception 18 years ago.
Arrow Wine & Spirits co-owner Mif Frank said Jan. 27 that Wellness Connection representatives walked out of an organizational meeting that day after hearing that organizers were concerned about the Wellness Connection’s viability and were considering adding a second beneficiary. “They decided it was 100 percent or nothing, and they got up and left,” Frank said at the time. Wellness Connection officials declined to comment after the meeting.
Since then, Arrow and Heidelberg Distributing, a wine wholesaler that donates much of the wine served at the wine-and-food festival, have moved ahead to organize the Fleurs et Vin, scheduled for 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 7 at Carillon Historical Park. Frank said Thursday, March 5 that the newly named Fleurs et Vin will be “exactly the same as the event previously known as the Fleurs de Fete, with great food, great wine, live music and entertainment.”
At least 25 restaurants and food purveyors have committed to serving at the June event, and more than 300 wines will be available for sampling, Frank said. Advance ticket prices of $60 are identical to last year, though the tickets at the gate will rise by $5 to $70.
Jean Farkas, president of the Wellness Connection, said Thursday that her non-profit organization, formerly known as the Dayton Area Heart and Cancer Association, “will not have time to pull together” a Fleurs de Fete-type wine festival by the third Sunday in May, which has been the date of the Fleurs de Fete for many years, Instead, Wellness Connection will hold an event at that same time — from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. May 17 at Carillon Historical Park — celebrating caregivers and families of cancer patients. Details of the event, which will be open to the public, are still being worked out, Farkas said.
The Wellness Connection is working to introduce a program to the Miami Valley entitled “Wellness Community,” which Farkas said will help local families deal with the emotional and psychological stress of a cancer diagnosis. The organization’s May 17 event will help raise money for that effort, she said.
Farkas declined to discuss in detail the dispute with its former Fleurs de Fete partners, but the Wellness Connection released a statement late Thursday that read in part, “We are deeply disappointed in the series of events that has separated us from certain of our former Fleurs de Fete corporate contributors and has resulted in the cancellation of this year’s event; it is our intention to continue the tradition of Fleurs de Fete in 2010.”
A postcard sent out by organizers of the Fleurs et Vin (French for “flowers and wine”) touts it as the “18th Annual Fleurs et Vin” and displays a logo that appears to be identical to the one previously used for the Fleurs de Fete (“festival of flowers), though with the new festival name.
CultureWorks is the beneficiary of the Fleurs et Vin wine festival. Advance tickets are available from www.fleursetvin.com or by calling CultureWorks at (937) 222-2787. Details about the Wellness Connection event will be forthcoming at www.wellness-connection.org.
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These wine tastings will help usher in spring (or is it summer already?)
As we transition directly from winter into summer. bypassing spring entirely, we at least have the consolation of knowing we live in the most happenin’ wine community in the universe, as evidenced by the following wine tastings and events list that comes to Uncorked via the herculean efforts of a Dayton-based wine listserv (okay, this time I actually added one wine dinner myself. Stop the presses.)
And don’t forget next weekend’s Cincinnati International Wine Festival’s grand tastings … The Dayton area will benefit from some “spillover effect” this coming week as winemakers and winery reps who come to southwest Ohio early sneak up to Dayton to show off their wines before the festival gets going in earnest on Friday.
If the tastings list doesn’t appear directly below, click on “continue reading.” So read, salivate, and enjoy!
Before we get to the listserv’s list, here’s one I added:
Madison’s Bistro at 5531 Far Hills Ave. in Washington Twp. will host a wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, featuring the wines of Del Rio Vineyards in Gold Hill, Oregon. Del Rio representative Terry Blandon will be the guest. The cost is $65, not including tax or tip. For more information or to make reservations, call 937-435-7080.
The menu for the wine dinner includes:
2008 Rose Jolee w/ Thai Fried Bananas
2007 Pinot Gris w/ Spiced Apple Salad, Spring Mix, Goat Cheese, Scallions, Almonds and Honey Pepper Vinaigrette
2007 Chardonnay w/ Crab Martini
2007 Pinot Noir w/ Roasted Duck and Wild Mushroom Orecchiette Pasta, burnt butter, scallions, Reggiano Parmigiano Cheese
2005 Claret w/ Grilled Rack of Lamb chops, Sweet Pea Risotto with Black Cherry reduction
2005 syrah w/Panna Cotta w/ Fresh Raspberries
Jay’s Kitchen Door
Friday, Mar 6, 2009 4-8 pm 2006 Groth Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Chateau Puygueraud 2004 Chateau La Nerthe - Chateauneuf du Pape 2002 Chateau Phelan Segur 2005 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon
Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 1-6 pm 2006 Bethel Heights Pinot Gris 1999 Penfolds 707 Cabernet 2006 Steltzner Merlot 2004 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacostee
Thursday, March 26, 2009 7 PM $65 Wine dinner with Stoller Wines!
Arrow Far Hills - Kettering
Saturday, Mar 7, 2009, 11 - 4 pm 2006 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Cono Sur “Vision” Chardonnay 2007 Plungerhead Old Vine Zinfandel 2006 Solena Grand Cuvee Pinot Noir 2006 Codice 2006 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Meritage 2004 Ruffino Riserva Ducale “Oro” Chianti Classico
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood
Friday, Mar 6, 2009, 5:00-8:00 pm Chapoutier ’07 Blanc La Piece Sous La Bras ‘05 Dancing Bull ’06 Zinfandel Graff Family ’06 Mouvedre La Castella ’01 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Snowden ’02 Napa Cabernet Brown Bag
Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 2-6 pm Coppola ’06 Director’s Cut Cabernet Mondavi ’04 Oakville Cabernet Mount Veeder ’05 Cabernet Caymus ’06 Cabernet Kamen ’03 Cabernet Silver Oak ’03 Cabernet Bonus Bottle
DLM Washington Square
Thursday, Mar 5, 2009 5-8 pm 2008 Chateau Lamothe de Haux Bordeaux Blanc 2006 Gerard Raphet Bourgogne 2007 Rosso Passo 2005 Rock Block Syrah 2007 Mont Gras Quatro Encore Wine!
Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 12-5 pm 2008 Espelt Vailet 2007 Pavilion Chardonnay 2007 Espelt Saulo 2007 Clos de los Siete 2004 Sequel Syrah Encore Wine!
Dorothy Lane Springboro
Friday, Mar 6, 2009, 3:00-7:00 pm Jacquelynn Cuvee Blanc 2006 Ken Wright Cellars Savoya Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007 Burch Hall Cabernet 2006 Syan Shiraz 2005 Burgess Cabernet 2004 Mystery Wine
Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 12-6 pm Montinore Estate Riesling 2006 Ramey Russian River Chardonnay 2006 Ken Wright Cellars Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007 Bleasdale Langhorne Crossing 2006 Paradigm Cabernet 2004 Schild Estate MooRooRooShiraz 2003
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook 848-2161 Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm, Friday 11:30 - 8 pm Saturday 11:30 - 7 pm www.cuveewinebar.net
Wines for Friday, Mar 6 - Mar 12, 2008
Estampa 2007 Viognier/Chard Assorted Italian Whites Laetitia 2007 Estate Pinot Altos 2007 Monastrell Syan 2005 Syrah
Beer: Bluegrass Brewery Bourbon Barrel Beer
Saturday Food: New Orleans style Overstuffed Muffaletta Sandwich with Olive Relish by Steve Pleasant, chef at Amber Rose
Wednesday, Mar 4, 2009 4:30 - 7 pm Soup Night ! Steve Pleasant, chef at Amber Rose is making Rueben Soup! with Rahn’s Artesian Bread
Thursday, March 12, 2009 5-8 pm Neal Family Vineyards and Winery Tasting! Mark Neal will be pouring his Napa cabs and a new zin
Arrow Centerville 937-433-6778 615 Lyons Rd Centerville
Friday, Mar 6, 2009 5-8 pm Beer Tasting
Great Lakes - Conways Irish Ale Great Lakes - Blackout Stout Christian Moerlein - Friend of an Irishman Stout Sam Adams - Irish Red Harpoon - Hibernian - Celtic Style Ale
Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting
2008 Chateau Lamothe White Bordeaux… 2007 Terraces Napa Valley Chardonnay… 2005 La Pupille Morellino di Scansano… 2006 Terraces napa Valley Zinfandel… 2006 Steltzner Napa Valley Malbec… 2004 Robert Craig Napa Valley Affinity
Thursday, March 12, 2009 5-7 pm Michael Pozzan, owner , wine-maker of Michael Pozzan Winery, Napa Valley 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Lake County 2007 Chardonnay Reserve Russian River Valley 2006 Zinfandel Oakville Cuvee 2006 Merlot Napa Valley 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2006 Cuvee No. 12 Napa Valley 2006 Marianna Reserve Napa Valley
Rue Dumaine www.ruedumainerestaurant.com Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 5-7 pm
SEIGNEURS D AIGUILHE Comtes de Neipperg Côtes De Castillon, 2005 CHÂTEAU FONTENIL Grand Vin De Bordeaux Fronsac, 2004 CHÂTEAU LA GRÂCE DIEU Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, 2002
Rue Dumaine’s Mount Eden wine dinner March 23, 2009 $120 inclusive RSVP Mount Eden Chardonnay, Monterey County 2007 Smoked beef with a honey-champagne vinegar gastrique and bright herbs House-smoked ruby red trout tartlet, served with crème fraîche and a relish of fennel, celery and leeks Pork rillette “boulette” with plum jam
Mount Eden Chardonnay, Saratoga Cuvee 2004 Salad of Jumbo lump crab meat, mache, cucumber and charred tomato-caraway vinaigrette
Mount Eden Pinot Noir, Saratoga Cuvee 2006 House made pork-caramelized onion sausage, sweet potato hash, served with moutarde rouge
Mount Eden Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2004 Cold-smoked confit of duck, sour cherry compote, pommes Sarlat and roasted garlic reduction
Mount Eden Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2005 Venison with huckleberries, wild rice croquette and wilted Swiss chard
Mount Eden Chardonnay Estate fruit, Santa Cruz Mountains 2003 Toasted almond-butterscotch tart with local honey infused ice cream
The Wine Gallery and Cafe, Corner of 3rd and Wayne Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 from 10AM to 2PM
Jaci will be pouring Midnight Cellars Zinfandel, midnight Cellars Full Moon and Midnight Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wednesday, March 11, 2008 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm Meet the Winemaker Rich Parducci from McNabe Ridge
Tuesday, March 17, 2008 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm Meet Stephanie Kindler from Rutherford Grove Vineyards
Trader Joe’s in Kettering . Tastings Thursday 6:00-8:00 and Sunday 4:00-7:00 Chalk Creek Sauvignon Blanc (2007) AVA Mendocino County, California. Chalk Creek Gewurztraminer (2007) AVA Alexander Valley, California. Chalk Creek Merlot (2005) AVA Mendocino County, California. Chalk Creek Cabernet Sauvignon (2005) AVA Mendocino County, California.
A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 www.atasteofwine.org
This week’s wines: McNab Ridge French Colombard Isabel Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yering Chardonnay Shotfire Shiraz Midnight Cellars Full Moon Silver Palm Cabernet Sauvignon
March 12th - 7 -9pm Sterling Vineyards Wine Tasting RSVPs appreciated March 14th 2pm - 10pm Irish Beer Tasting
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays in the bar. Mar 11, 2009 4-8 pm
Rolling S sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, Australia 200 Z-52 Zinfandel, Lodi 2006 Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley , 2006 Protos Tempenillio, Ribera Duero , 2006
Savona’s Wine Tasting
Wednesday Mar 11, 2009 5pm to 8pm
Marques de Gelida Cava Brut Exclusive Reserva (Spain) Duval - Leroy Brut NV Champagne (France) Duval - Leroy Cuvee de Paris Champagne (France) Duval - Leroy Brut Rose NV Champagne (France) Elio Perrone Moscato d’Asti Rouge (Piedmont).
Bruning’s Wine Cellar
Saturday, Mar 7, 2008 1-4 pm Westmalle Tripel (100 Points!) Trappistes Rochefort 10 Anchor Porter 2006 Cellar No. 8 Cabernet 2006 337 Cabernet 2006 Folie A Deux Cabernet 2007 Layer Cake Cabernet
The Culinary Company Cross Pointe Center
Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 12-6 pm
Santa Cristina Pinot Grigio Santa Cristina Chianti Centine Red
Beers by the Green Flash Brewing Co: Barleywine Style Ale Double Stout India Pale Ale
The Winds Cafe and Bakery - Yellow Springs
6 March: Open that Bottle Night (7:00 pm)
14 March: Austrian Wine Tasting & Luncheon (12:00 pm)
24 March: Spanish Dinner (5:00 pm)
Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar, Springboro, OH 45066 Thursday, Mar 5, 2009 6-8 pm Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 12-4 pm
Sterling STERLING VINEYARDS WINES Vintner’s Collection Sauvignon Blanc Made with Organic Grapes Vintner’s Collection Chardonnay Vintner’s Collection Shiraz Napa Valley Merlot Sterling Vineyards Diamond Mountain Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 04
Wednesday March 11, 2009 6pm - 8pm Scotch Tasting
Wild Scotsman 15 year Wild Scotsman Black Label John McDougall’s Single Cask 15 year John McDougall’s Single Cask 16 year
Cork&Vine York Commons Blvd
Week’s wines White Flight Estancia Riesling Toasted Head Viognier Souverain Chardonnay Hess Sauvignon Blanc
Red Flight A Mano Primotivo Nita Priorat Fess Parker Epiphany Franciscan Cabernet
Mar 5, 2009 6-9 pm Clarendon Hills wine tasting with special guest Samantha Smith
Miami Valley Wine
Friday, Mar 6, 2009 5-9 pm Stone Levitation Heavy Seas Holy Sheet Anchor Steam Bock Weyerbacher Fireside Abita Bock Tommy Knocker Oaked Butt Mad River Serious Madness Black Ale Sprecher Abbey Trippel
Cork&Vine Troy
Week of 2/27-3/6
WHITES: LEELANAU LATE HARVEST RIESLING EL COTO WHITE RIOJA KIM CRAWFORD SAUVIGNON BLANC SOUVERAIN WINEMAKERS RESERVE CHARDONNAY
REDS: BERINGER CALIFORNIA MERLOT CHATEAU ST. JEAN CABERNET PENFOLDS HYLAND SHIRAZ CASTE’P DI MODANELLO TORRI ANTICHE CHIANTI 56 Degrees Wine Bistro 1045 Central Avenue Middletown, Ohio
Sunday, March 8, 2009 4pm RSVP 513 571-1274 $50 5 course wine dinner with vineyard owner Rick Parducci
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com
Friday, March 6, 2009 4:30 to 7:30 pm Saturday, March 7, 2009 3-6 pm Affordable French Finds
Jungle Jim’s International Market
www.junglejims.com 513-674-6000 to RSVP
Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 1 -3 pm $15 A Walkabout Wine Tasting: Imported Wine Specials
Inn at Versailles
McNab Ridge Wine Dinner, March 6, Michael Anthony’s at The Inn 7 pm $75 The Wines of McNab Ridge with owner Rich Parducci French Columbard Pan Seared George’s Bank Jumbo Scallops with a braised fennel marmalade and Jalapeno Pepper buerre blanc
Chardonnay Roasted Heirloom Beets with sautéed Jonah Crab, baby Arugula, wood fired pears with a fresh citrus & dill vinaigrette & a Corbezzola honey & goat cheese crouton
Pinotage Roasted cauliflower with braised Radicchio & red beans
Petite Sirah Roasted shallot, garlic & wild mushroom bisque with white truffle oil & crème fraiche
Coro Jumbo shrimp, New Brunswick Bay Scallops & crawfish gumbo
Dessert Apple & Toasted Almond Bread Pudding
Greater Cincinnati International Wine Festival - March 13-14, for details see www.winefestival.com
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Ohio wineries to host Icewine festival March 7, March 14
Saturday is supposed to be unseasonably warm (woo hoo!), and some wineries in northeast Ohio would like you to take a road trip that day. But they’re willing to wait a week if you can’t make it this weekend.
The Sixth Annual Ice Wine Festival sponsored by the Winegrowers of the Grand River Valley Wine Region will be held March 7 and March 14. The festival consists of six wineries — all within a 10-minute drive of each other — that will offer a progressive Ice Wine tasting, according to Cindy Lindberg, president of the Grand River Cellars Winery. Participating wineries include Debonne Vineyards, Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant, Laurello Vineyards, and St. Joseph Vineyards.
Here are more details from Lindberg:
Participants will need to determine a starting point at one of the participating wineries in the Grand River Valley. Each winery will then provide a sample of their wines, along with a complimentary appetizer. The event begins at noon and ends at 5 p.m. The cost is $5 per person at each winery. For more information about the Ice Wine Festival call 440-466-3485 or www.wggrv.com for a map.Tweet
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An interview with Sean Thackrey
The best wine-related read on the web coming out of this frigid weekend isn’t a read at all, but in fact, a video interview. The fine folks at CHOW.com have posted an interview with winemaker extraordinaire Sean Thackrey. Some good stuff here.
Speaking of good stuff, does anybody else recall his fine syrah-based Orion wines of many years ago, before prices skyrocketed?
They were celestial.
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Wine event Monday will raise money for WDPR-FM
I should have included this in the introduction to Friday’s wine tastings list, but I failed to do so. But if you’re looking for something to do on a Monday night …
Classical 88.1 WDPR will host a Spring Wine Tasting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 2, at The Wine Gallery & Cafe, located at the corner of Third and Wayne Avenue in downtown Dayton’s Cannery District.
The event will feature a tasting of five or six wines, food and live entertainment by the local Blackbird Quartet. Proceeds benefit Classical 88.1. The cost is $25. To make your reservation, call Jill at (937) 222-9377 or visit www.dpr.org.
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