Wine Everywhere |

Deadwood

September 22, 2010 by admin

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Whenever I plan a cross country trip, I get a list of places that my folks think that I should. When I told them I was heading to Walla Walla, they immediately started forming the list. Wall Drug. Devil’s Tower. Mt. Rushmore. Deadwood. Deadwood was especially high on my folks list as they were lovers of the HBO series, ironic given my mother’s basic prudish nature and sheer volume profane language leaving Al Swearengen (Ian McShane)’s mouth. Nevertheless, I readily assented to that stop.

And why? Well, there is more than just gold in them there hills. There happens to be wine too.

Now, now, now… I know what you are saying… WIne in South Dakota? Well, yes. There was even a winery near the Laura Ingalls Wilder homesite, wine that I didn’t get to…. this time anyway.

Anywho, I was discussing Deadwood. So, I was gleeful as I reached the Black Hills. Wall Drug was stupid and a tourist trap that makes no sense to me. In all truth, I didn’t even stop. I know myself enough to understand that crowds and crap don’t attract me, but if that is how the town gets by? Go with God. You will get no complaints from me. Just don’t ask me to visit.

As it turns out there are five wineries in the Hills and two along my route. Stone Faces Winery, which had only been opened for a couple of months and the winery that I was originally heading for in the region, Prairie Berry. Stone Faces was so new that it had no offical signage. Not that this stops me.

I pulled into the new winery and walked in. The room was largely taken up by the large tasting bar, currently empty. But it was a Tuesday. It seems unlikely that this early in the summer that there would be a full room and during the Sturgis Rally? Well, forget about it. The place was probably packed. The winery is owned by the Nygaard Family of Valiant Winery, South Dakota’s first. In fact, Eldon Nygaard wrote South Dakota’s Farm Winery Act.

Having the winery pretty much to myself, I looked over the list and decided to try four options (my limit when I am on the road)

First up was the up was the Dakota’s Best Chardonnay. This wine had a light oaky flavor, but was generally too bland for me. I find that small wineries often have a harder time producing a full bodied dry white and this was true at Stone Faces. More impressive was the Canyon Lake White. This wine is semi-sweet and more like a Gewurztraminer though it is a predominantly Seyval blend. Still, a nice choice for spicy food or fresh caught Walleye or Catfish as is recommended by the winery.

Next up was the Sturgis Merlot. This wine had the proper body and juice but fell a bit flat at the end for me as there a smokiness that I wasn’t expecting.

The final wine that I tried was also related to Sturgis. The Full Throttle Wine is the Black Hills answer to Port. It is a fortified wine made exclusively for the Full Throttle Saloon. This was the best wine I had at the winery. I brought home a bottle for my Dad which we shared later.

So, yes. There is wine in the Hills. So get out there and start prospecting.

Stone Faces Winery
12670 Robins Roost Road
Hill City, South Dakota, 57745
Phone:605-574-3600
Fax:605-574-9555
Email: wine@stonefaceswinery.com

Comments Off

What A Disappointment

November 13, 2009 by admin

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

I got a notice the other day for a wine club from Nina and Tim Zagat of the Survey fame.

I was initially excited because it seemed that this would be a different spin the growing number of wine clubs that I get notices for (or my father joins… his latest? The NRA wine club)

I had assumed that this club would be built on user generated recommendations that have been the hallmark of the Zagat Surveys. Instead, it appears that this club, like all the others will use the same two or three fulfillment houses in every state. Meaning that this club will pull from the same pool of wines that the others use.

The chance of discovering something new and interesting shrink considerably.

I am not clear on why the Zagat’s were so desperate to get into the wine business that they abandoned their basic uniqueness. But I am very disappointed.

3 Comments

City Wine

November 11, 2009 by admin

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

When you think about going to a winery, inevitably there is a mental image of a bucolic excursion. But what if the winery isn’t in the countryside? What if it is in the suburbs, or even, (gasp!) in the city? Does that mean it is now less a winery? After all, they aren’t claiming to be a vineyard.

It has become one of those throwaway comments. “Oh, you like that wine?, but they don’t grow the grapes…”

Generally speaking, I think that English is a very descriptive language. It is German (language of the people) overlaid with Latin (classical learning) and French (court language). That means for every basic word there are three words to fill that space (think house=abode=manse). But when it comes to wine there are more vocabulary words in French. No doubt because wine is such an essential part of their life.

I think the better word for those wineries that take grapes from else where and make wine from them exists in French: négociant: a merchant who buys grapes and ferments them, buys half-fermented grapes and finishes the wine or buys finished wine and sells it under its own name. Are these urban wineries “REAL”? Absolutely.

So check in your town to see if there is a winery. And tell us about it!

Check out the wineries in these cities:

San Francisco:
Treasure Island Wines
Crush Pad
Harrington Wine

New York City:
Brooklyn Oenology
City Winery
Bridge Urban Vineyards

Los Angeles:
San Antonio Winery
Moraga Vineyards
Malibu Hills Vineyard

Seattle:
Cadence Winery
Fall Line Winery

Cincinnati:
Henke Winery

Chicago:
Lynfred Winery
Wild Blossom Wines
Cooper’s Hawk Winery

Comments Off

Oh, Thank Heaven!

November 5, 2009 by GMN

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

I have been noticing a trend in my neighborhood. My local corner store has started selling wine. Beer, they always had…. and a fine selection of liquor in pints were available behind the counter. But the wine, is relatively new.

So I guess it comes as no surprise that 7-11 wants a piece of the action… It was announced yesterday that the Southland Corporation will start selling wine along with the beer at their stores. And not to be out done, they will sell their own brand of wine to boot! Yosemite Road will be a limited edition wine available in either Chardonnay (described as “fresh and zesty with notes of apricot, peach and honey”) and a “plummy” Cabernet Sauvignon.

It will retail for about $4.00 and is poised to compete against Two Buck Chuck.

It just goes to show that you ALWAYS pay through the nose for convenience!

Now if we could just get them to dispense it into Big Gulp cup….

Comments Off

London Wine

May 9, 2009 by GMN

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

No, this post is not going to be about wine lists or shops in London, but rather about how the Queen can now sip wine produced in her capitol city. I know what you ware thinking. Yes, this seems more like a project that Prince Charles would enjoy and I would bet that he does.

The Prince has long since pushed organic and other green initiatives.

Now?

They are planting a vineyard in London. And by “they” I mean the Forty Hall Organic Farm in Enfield. The farm, a project of the Capel Manor Horticultural College is a demonstration project showing the benefits of local cultivation and comsumption of certified organic and biodynamic products. Initially the vines being planted will be of the Bacchus varietal which is a cross between a Silvaner x Riesling and a Müller-Thurgau and is one of the most common grapes grown in England. Eventually, planners intend to plant Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Auxerrois (grown primarily in Alsace). Wines from the vineyard will be produced by Will Davenport who also produces a Sparkling Wine for Duchy Originals, Prince Charles’ organic brand.

Early supporters of the vineyard can be assured of a bottle from the first vintage.

Comments Off

Wine with a Filthy Mouth and Bad Attitude

February 20, 2009 by GMN

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

What else would you expect from Elwood Blues.

Well, not wine… although I think Jake makes some reference to Thunderbird being a mean wine…

Still….

My memories of Dan Aykroyd and wine are mostly from the scene in the Blues Brothers where the boys are sitting in the old Chez Paul holding out water glasses for champagne and being admonished by PeeWee Herman. “Wrong glass, sir”.

Ironically, it appears to be at that time that Dan learned to love wine. He was apparently introduced to the joys of Premier Cru Bordeaux by guitarist, Steve Cropper (or Steve ‘The Colonel’ Cropper to you).

And now? Well, naturally, Dan has his own wine.

Dan Aykroyd Wines. The wines are produced in partnership with Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits, Ltd., out of Ontario Canada. Plans are even underway for a Dan Aykroyd Winery in the Niagara Peninsula. The wines are in two collections.

The Discovery Series which consist of a Chardonnay, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Cabernet Merlot and a Cabernet Shiraz. From looking over the tasting notes, I was surprised to learn that the grapes for these wines were actually grown in Canada of allegedly snob free grapes (a little anthropomorphism, I presume). Most of these wines are blends with the exception of the Chardonnay) and the Cabernets are combinations of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc the mixed with Shiraz and or Merlot.

The Signature Series includes one wine. The Signature 2005 Reserve Vidal Icewine is barrel fermented and won the 2008 gold medal at the Ontario Wine Awards in the Vidal Icewine as well as Wine of the Year.

I guess he was on a mission from God.

Comments Off

Allez Bouvoir!

January 11, 2009 by admin

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

I love the Iron Chef.

Chairman Kaga, Chefs Sakai, Ishinabe, Morimoto, Michiba, Chen, Nakamura, Kobe, Batali,
Cora, Flay, Symon, Puck, Dacascos, Alton Brown, Kevin Baruch and the Chairman’s nephew.. even the hundreds of giggling Japanese actresses covering their mouths as they eat trout ice cream. I can’t get enough.

But this?

Is odd.

And after years of watching Iron Chef, that is saying something.

Iron Chef wine?

The wines themselves are made in Italy and the Chardonnay is made in the more current style being unoaked. The wines are produced as a partnership between Fuji Television Inc., Mirrotek International and Italian Wine Growers Inc. I am not sure what kind of distribution they have but the Mirrotek
site seems to sell the other IC paraphenalia so maybe they will use that if need be. The price? Under $12.

So, grab your knives, open a bottle and get ready to take a bite out of a green apple or yellow bell pepper and enjoy!

1 Comment

Wine in Hell

October 27, 2008 by admin

I have never liked going to Wal-mart. In fact, I think that is too mild of a description. I loathe going to Wal-mart.

Why? Well besides the crowded disorganized store, packed with hordes of the unwashed masses, I have always found that the place just gives me the creeps.

Unfortunately, when one is on a quest to find certain odd items, for instance, disposable stylo plumes (fountain pens) for your young girls.. you often find yourself entering stores that you would normally avoid like the plague.

That being said, I now find a way to soothe my soul on those shopping trips where you have been forsaken by all that is good and holy. There is cheap wine at Wal-mart.

Probably not my Wal-Mart, mind you, but at least one of them… and the wine, produced by Oak Leaf Vineyards is described as being pretty good. The chardonnay won gold medals at the 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and Florida State International Wine Competition. They are produced by Oak Leaf Vineyards in Ripon, California which is part of the Wine Group family of wines. And at $2.97 a bottle? Well, hopefully I can forget the whole shopping trip!

Wines produced by the vineyard include: