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Cheers 2 Wine News - March 2009 Issue
March 18, 2009
Cheers from Steve and Kathy Howe!


Wine Quote


"There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?"



Old Irish Saying






Wine of the Month

Bogle Vineyards and Winery

Our latest wine of the month is Bogle 2006 Petite Sirah Port. Enjoy this rich and jammy ruby-style Petite Sirah Port from this Clarksburg winery. This outstanding Port recently won Double Gold from the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

The grapes for this wine came from the Merritt Island vineyard located near Bogle Vineyards and Winery in the Sacramento River Delta. The wine was aged for 18 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels. The alcohol content is 20% with 9.0% residual sugar.

Combine a scenic drive into the Delta with a wine tasting trip to Bogle's lovely facility. You can picnic under the trees overlooking the vineyards or on the balcony of the tasting room. They're open Monday through Fridays from 10 AM - 5 PM and weekends 11 AM - 5 PM. The address is 37783 Road 144, Clarksburg, CA 95612



Be sure to check back each month for our wine of the month.







Tasting Challenge Nights
March 28 and April 11

Solune Winery will be hosting Tasting Challenge Nights that are sure to be both fun and educational. The events will be led by winemaker, certified sommelier, and international wine judge, Jacques Mercier.

Jacques will teach participants to identify the various components of a wine which gives the wine its distinct "personality", allowing them to compare and contrast the wine to other wines. A particular wine varietal will be the focus of the evening and the characteristics of that varietal will be explored.

The challenge will be to identify, for each wine, a few distinctive features to differentiate them from each other.

Appetizers will be served to accompany the wine. This is an enjoyable way to enjoy wine, relax, and learn a little more about wine from someone who is eager to share his love of wine.

Space is limited to 24 participants. Solune Winery is located near Grass Valley, California in Nevada County. Make reservations or get more information by calling (530)271-0990.



How to Host a Wine Tasting Party

Hosting A Wine Tasting Party

As your love and knowledge of wine grows, it is inevitable that you will want to share your revelations with friends and family. Hosting a wine tasting party is a great way to do this.

When planning a wine tasting party, some obvious questions about parameters arise. How many people should you invite? What types and how many wines should you pour?

It is my opinion that an informal gathering should be kept to 12 people or less. This ensures that conversation and dialogue will be much more conducive than with a larger group.

Blind tasting is the most fun and informative. Wrapping bottles in bags will negate past preferences and prejudices. You may be surprised what you "like" without access to the wine label.

Focus on a relatively specific style of wine. Within this framework, some variations should be considered. I recently hosted a wine tasting party where we tasted Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons.

To make it more interesting, we tasted two wines from Rutherford, (valley floor) two from Stags Leap, (east hills) and two from Mount Veeder (west hills). This was a pleasant and educational mix: a consistant varietal, but different styles from different regions. Another option is to taste the same varietal from the same region, but in different price ranges.

For the initial tasting, pour a small amount in each guest's glass. Refrain from pouring full glasses until every wine has been tasted to avoid the cloud of inebriation on the senses.

Provide some neutral flavored foods for your guests. Make sure this does not interfere or clash with the wine tasting. Don't serve blue cheese if you are tasting Pinot Blancs. Try bread or crackers and a mild, white cheddar or brie.

Paper and pencils are necessary for your guests to write notes and preferences. If you regularly taste with the same group, you may want to use a designated notebook as well as articulate some additional guidelines and procedures for the tasting notes. This will create and ongoing reference point and perspective as your tastes develop.

By Benjamin Bicais. Benjamin Bicais lives in the Napa Valley and has written many articles about Tasting Wine







Neighborhood Block Party ~ Paso Robles

April 11, 2009

Enjoy a Neighborhood Block Party with the Hwy 46 West Wineries Group. Each winery will be pouring wine while you enjoy entertainment and BBQ. Pier 46 Seafood Market will be serving Seafood appetizers at Castoro Cellars from 6 PM to 8 PM. The cost is $20 per person.

More Details






33rd Annual Columbia Wine Tasting

Sunday April 19

Enjoy wine from over 50 California wineries at historic Columbia State Park located just north of Sonora. This is a fun way to sample lots of wine from a diverse group of wineries. Tickets are $45 per person. The event runs from 1 - 4 PM.
More Details





Rhythm & Vine: Cool Music & Hip Wine

April 25

Head to the Westfield North County Mall in Escondido for a fun day. Cool tunes and hip wines unite this spring to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego in a rockin� tasting event like no other. With over 40 world-class wineries, spirits and breweries; 30 restaurants and gourmet foods; and some seriously hot live music performances.

More Details



April in Carneros ~ Napa and Sonoma

April 18th and 19th

April in Carneros is an exciting winery event featuring nearly 25 wineries. Each will open their doors and invite visitors to join in on a variety of activities. Wineries might feature food and wine pairings, live music, art or craft shows, special tastings, and more.
More Details



Do Your Own Wine Search



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Wine Tasting Coupons

Print Your Own Wine Tasting Coupons...for Free!
As a subscriber to Cheers 2 Wine News you can access our pages of free wine tasting coupons. Some of these coupons allow you to taste for free while others let 2 people sample wine for the price of 1. The password for these pages is:


cheers2wine2006


Check out Cheers 2 Wineto print free wine tasting coupons for a variety of California wineries.





Cooking With Wine Recipe

"I cook with wine; sometimes I even add it to the food."

W.C. Fields



Chicken Parmesan


4 skinless, boneless, cut into strips
2-3eggs, beaten
1/2 - 3/4 cup freshly ground Parmesan cheese
salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
4 tablespoons margarine
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t. dried basil
10 oz. sliced mushrooms

1. After rinsing and drying the chicken, season chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Spread Parmesan cheese onto a plate. Dip chicken in eggs, then coat with Parmesan cheese.
2.Melt margarine over medium high heat. Cook chicken until brown.
3. Reduce heat and add wine, garlic, mushrooms, basil, and oregano. Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
4. Serve with pasta or rice.


Serves 4





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