Wine Review

WINE - Ecco Domani - Merlot - 2012

LIGHT * WARM * SPICY

aromas of: cherry, raspberry, spice

tastes of: black cherry, raspberry, plum, coffee

* high acidity, light tannin, spicy finish

price tag: $12

verdict: 3/5

I love Merlot's because they are usually a very balanced and versatile wine. This wine was not that at all! I didn't dislike it, but I wasn't blown away. It was not as full bodied as I'm used to and there was way too much acid present. I feel like it would probably go well with some fatty or spicy food, but for me it was just a late night sipper!

makes me think of: bitter cold nights

Featured Ohio Winery

• Cozy cantina feel
• Wine bar, table seating, and couches by the fireplace 
• Fantastic flight choices
• Phenomenal pizzas and desserts
• Live music and good energy 

RIESLING

tastes of: apple, peach, lemon

* light body, slightly sweet, crisp and refreshing

ILLUMINATA 

tastes of: citrus, peach, floral

* zesty, crisp acidity, blend of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat Blanc

COSMO

tastes of: cherry, raspberry, chocolate

* medium body, soft, Tuscan style

CASK

tastes of: black cherry, oak, pepper

* bold, rich, blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon 

(Visit website for more wine offerings)

WEDS 12PM-4PM

THURS-FRI 12PM-8PM

SAT 12PM-10PM

SUN 12PM-5PM

4573 State Rt. 307 East, Harpersfield Township, Geneva, OH 44041

(440) 415-0661

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photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/calsidyrose/4925267732/">Calsidyrose</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>

Wine Review

WINE - Erath - Pinot Noir - 2012

JUICY * EXOTIC * SMOKEY

aromas of: cherry, strawberry, spice, earth

tastes of: tart cherry, blackberry, plum, spice, smoke

* bright acidity, balanced tannin, long finish

price tag: $18

verdict: 3.5/5

paired:

This was paired with a glorious weeknight fall dinner. I enjoyed the wine even more after tasting the sweet potato and pepper flavors in the salad. I would say this portrays an Oregon Pinot Noir very well. Great acidity, good earth, light and simple.

makes me think of: sweaters

Wine Review

WINE - Honey Moon - Viognier - 2012

SILKY * ELEGANT * FLORAL

aromas of: peach, pear, honey, flowers

tastes of: peach, apricot, citrus, honey 

* well balanced, slightly sweet , long silky finish

price tag: $8

verdict: 4 / 5

paired:

A real treat this past Saturday night! First, I was out of work at 9:30 on a Saturday night. Second, I got to open this delicious bottle and spend some time with the husband!

makes me think of: a royal celebration

Wine Review

WINE - Raven's Glenn - Sangria

OHIO WINE

SMOOTH * TANGY * PUNCHY

aromas of: cherry, raspberry, spice

tastes of: cherry, cranberry, apple, citrus, cinnamon 

* medium body, zingy fruit flavors , long juicy finish

price tag: $9

verdict: 3 / 5

Twas the day before vacation. We all know how those days go. Motivation was lacking. Poured myself a small glass of this Ohio made Sangria with a bowl full of kettle corn ... perfection. Motivation was still lacking... but my little afternoon snack was wonderful. The flavors got me feeling like fall.

makes me think of: autumn sunsets

Wine Review

WINE - Louis Jadot (Macon-Villages) - Chardonnay - 2012

CLEAN * BRIGHT * LIVELY

aromas of: apple, citrus, flowers

tastes of: green apple, melon, lemon

* unoaked, medium body, bright acidity!

price tag: $13

verdict: 3.5 / 5

I took a week off.

This is my reason (I blame her):

This little lady has taken every minute of my time this week. I did not realize how much work a puppy is. I feel like I have a child. I forgot that 5:00 in the morning existed. I never knew how much I appreciated silence. I never knew how much I appreciated WINE.
This was my first bottle of relaxation after my monster's homecoming. ONE WEEK LATER. She's the cutest thing in the world though! I love her just about as much as wine (I might love her more).
Soooo ... This bottle of wine was especially delicious. I have been learning a bit about Burgundy lately, so this 100% Chardonnay from Macon-Villages in Burgundy was very appropriate. I usually like my Chardonnay oaked, but this was unoaked and I thought it was fantastic. It was well balanced and very lively. I downed two glasses before our cook-out even began.

makes me think of: playtime

Wine Review

WINE - Simply Naked - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2011

LIGHT * JUICY * ELEGANT

aromas of: cherry, plum, spice

tastes of: black cherry, raspberry, plum, black pepper, cinnamon 

* medium body, bright acidity , short juicy finish

price tag: $8

verdict: 3.5 / 5

paired:

I was really impressed by this wine. I had a feeling it would be sour ... but it was very balanced (more so than some oaked Cabernet's I've had) 
Also, I was feeling very manly this evening. Actually ... I just wanted some red wine and a hearty dinner. I do think it's more fun to pretend I'm manly though (I'm nowhere close). My husband is manly ... and hard working ... so I also made this for him.

makes me think of: a royal celebration

Orin Swift Wines

About a year ago I heard word of THE PRISONER.

A name so unforgettable ... I had to discover what it was all about.

I normally decide to run away from the things everyone in the world raves about. For example, I've never read 50 Shades and I don't play Candy Crush. Only this is wine ... so really, I don't have to 'follow' the crowd, but I have to know what the crowd is all about. I tried a bottle of The Prisoner with a delicious meal at The Rossi one night. 

Now I'm all about Orin Swift Wines.

I only knew of The Prisoner (which is a blend of mostly Zinfandel grapes) until a few days ago when I was happily introduced to FOUR more of his spectacular, terrific, sensational, and DELICIOUS other bottles.

I love the wine education at my place of work.

Here is what I tasted, and quite honestly what you MUST try for yourself.

WINE #1 - MANNEQUIN
grapes: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Muscat
ELEGANT * SMOOTH * RICH
aromas of: oak, pear, melon
tastes of: lemon, tropical fruit, butter, marshmallow
* perfectly balanced, moderate acidity, long creamy finish!
price tag: $30

WINE #2 - ABSTRACT
grapes: Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah
BIG * VOLUPTUOUS * VELVETY 
aromas of: dark fruit, herbs
tastes of: blackberry, plum, chocolate, tootsie roll
* good oak, balanced acid, soft tannin, long smooth finish!
price tag: $30

WINE #3 - PALERMO
grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc 
BRIGHT * BOLD * COMPLEX
aromas of: cherry, flowers, oak
tastes of: black cherry, blackberry, plum, mocha
* well balanced, big tannins, deliciously strong finish!
price tag: $40

WINE #4 - E-2
grapes: Grenache, Tempranillo, Monastrell, Carignan
EXOTIC * YOUNG * INTENSE
aromas of: dark berries, spice
tastes of: raspberry, cherry, plum, pepper, flowers
* bright acidity, low tannin, silky finish!
price tag: $15



conclusion: Cheers to these incredibly artistic blends! Check out your closest Andersons store to find these and others. Orin Swift wines are limited production ... eventually they will be harder to nab. Get them before the holidays! 

Wine Review

WINE - The Naked Grape - Pinot Grigio - N.V.

SIMPLE * CLEAN * REFRESHING

aromas of: apple, lime, mineral

tastes of: lemon, pear, apple, melon, mineral 

* light body, crisp acidity, slight effervescence!

price tag: $8

verdict: 3.5 / 5

paired:

My collection of Pinot Grigio is rather large. I forget that it can sometimes taste really good. When I think of Pinot Grigio I think SIMPLE WHITE WINE ... and I almost never feel like simple. I like wine that screams at me. I tasted this on a sunny day during lunchtime though, and it was perfect for that! So crisp and clean with a hint of sweetness and effervescence ... wonderful with my roasted veggies.

makes me think of: sparklers on a summer night

Festival Recap and Wine Review

Six tastes, three bottles, and a handful of glasses of wine later...

Sarah's Vineyard Summer Solstice Festival was a success! 

This was a different year for the festival. In previous years, over fifteen Ohio Wineries showed up to share their wine with the Cuyahoga Valley community. Since the winery is part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Parks and located on park property, they were not able to have other wineries sell other wine on their premises (a licensing issue that had been overlooked in previous years)...boo. So it was Sarah's Vineyard wine exclusively this year! We were a bit sad, but cheered up immediately after our first few tastes. Sarah's makes some great wine. ALSO, we were so happy to see such a huge and festive crowd there nonetheless! Everyone seemed to be having a merry good time. 

We explored some art vendors

We ate some incredible goat cheese and crackers from The Ornery Goat

We rested in the sunshine and enjoyed the live music...of the jazzy/blues variety





Such a great day! Thank you Sarah's for welcoming summer like this every year.
         

Now for the (other) bottle of wine I drank last week...

WINE - Bohemian Highway - Merlot - 2011

LIGHT * JUICY * VIBRANT

aromas of: cherry, cranberry, cinnamon

tastes of: cherry, raspberry, coffee, spice 

* lighter body, balanced tannin, easy drinking! 

price tag: $9

verdict:  3 / 5

paired:

This has been hanging around my wine collection for months. I feel like the label screams SUMMER and ADVENTURE. I opened it up last week for dinner. A very affordable and easy drinking summer red. I liked it better than I thought I would.

makes me think of: road trips/adventure

Summer Wine Festivals

Summer is upon us! ...and summer is the best season for wine lovers.

There are so many fun events popping up all over the place. Early tomorrow morning we are headed to one of my favorite Ohio wineries for their annual Summer Solstice Festival. 

Sarah's Vineyard is in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (in the Cleveland area). The festival is a great time and includes a lot of Ohio wine tasting, good food, local art, and live music. 

Last year we enjoyed some local music and had the most delicious peach chardonnay (I always claim not enjoying sweeter wines...but this stuff was incredible)


Here are some other great local wine events to check out this summer... 


NORTH MARKET OHIO WINE FESTIVAL - COLUMBUS

about: over 20 Ohio Wineries, market food, demonstrations, giveaways
dates: Friday, July 11 from 7pm-10pm 
           Saturday, July 12 from 12pm-9pm
           Sunday, July 13 from 12pm-5pm
cost: $25 includes a glass and 10 tasting tickets
go: http://www.northmarket.com/activities-events/wine-festival.aspx


TOAST OF OHIO WINE FESTIVAL - TOLEDO

about: Ohio Wines, gourmet food, live music, local art
dates: Saturday, July 26 from 12pm-8pm
cost: $10 includes a glass and 5 tasting tickets
go: http://www.merrygoroundmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wine-festival-poster.pdf


VINTAGE OHIO WINE FESTIVAL - KIRTLAND

about: over 15 Ohio Wineries, food, live entertainment, demonstrations, exhibits
dates: Friday, August 1 from 1pm-10pm
           Saturday, August 2 from 1pm-10pm
cost: $35 includes wine tastings
go: http://www.visitvintageohio.com/



SIGNATURE WINES' SANGRIA FESTIVAL - COLUMBUS

about: Delicious Sangria, Latin Food, Latin Music
dates: Saturday, August 16 from 6pm-9pm
cost: $15 includes signature glass and a drink ticket
go: http://www.signaturewinesofohio.com/


...see you there!

Wine Review

WINE - Clean Slate - Riesling - 2012

SIMPLE * ELEGANT * CRISP

aromas of: lemon, lime, melon

tastes of: lemon, lime, apple, pear, mineral 

* light body, very bright acidity, semi-sweet!

price tag: $12

verdict: 4 / 5

Since it was beautiful outside and I have a new appreciation for this wonderful grape, I sat on the deck and read a book. This is a good wine for multiple glasses while reading!

makes me think of: a bed of yellow flowers by the side of a creek

Wine Review

WINE - Meiomi - Pinot Noir - 2012

SMOOTH * LUSH * JAMMY

aromas of: cherry, oak, spice

tastes of: dark cherry, strawberry, vanilla, oak, cinnamon

*  medium body, extremely well balanced, smooth finish!

price tag: $20

verdict:  4.5 / 5

paired:

It was mother + daughter night. This is mom's favorite. We decided it was a perfect patio red. So we sat on the patio and drank two bottles. It was perfect ... and so were the brownies.

makes me think of: a starry night

Wine Review + A Wonderful Wine App!

WINE - Charles Shaw - Pinot Grigio - 2012

SOFT * FRESH * LIVELY

aromas of: lemon, peach, pear

tastes of: lemon, pear, apricot, honey

*  medium body, smooth acidity, sweeter than my usual pinot grigio!

price tag: $4

verdict: 3.5 / 5

It was a Netflix and cheap bottle of wine night for this girl. Luckily this cheap bottle never lets me down! Thank you Trader Joe's. This is pretty tasty for the low price you pay for it.

makes me think of: cheesy romantic comedies

Also wanted to share this video review on Charles Shaw Pinot Grigio. It made me happy.

Now it is time to talk about an app on my iPhone that has changed my life...well, at least made my wine shopping a LOT easier!

Although walking through aisles and aisles of wine at a store brings me much happiness, trying to find a single bottle of wine can sometimes be daunting. Fortunately, I have found the greatest app for making my wine shopping adventures a little more timely, and I almost always leave with a bottle I feel good about!

Vivino is an app that is perfect for the average wine drinker.

It allows you to scan pictures of wine labels (yes, just hold your phone up to the label and snap a picture). In seconds it will give you an average rating for that wine from other consumers, a description of the wine, the grapes used in the wine, other vintage ratings, what foods to pair it with, and where else you can buy the same bottle.

The app also allows you to rate the wine you drink and store your favorites so you can remember what you like!

I have scanned and rated over 30 wines and it has been a great place to keep all my wine finds.

Check it out here and then find the app on your smartphone!

Wine Review

WINE - Francis Coppola - Chardonnay - 2012

BRIGHT * AGGRESSIVE * TART

aromas of: citrus, peach, spice

tastes of: lemon, lime, melon, honey 

* medium body, high acidity, fruit forward!

price tag: $15

verdict: 2.5 / 5

paired:

I was really excited about this wine ... and after ... slightly disappointed. Not enough oak for me. Anyways, my other half and I tie-dyed Easter eggs (check out this incredible project) and cooked up some lemon butter tortellini. It sure felt like spring!

makes me think of: lemon trees

... and here's our gorgeous eggies ...