Category Archives: Wine

Sherlock Holmes? I Think Not

Now if I could pick one talent to have (and comic book superpowers were off the table) it would be a toss-up between being able to play the guitar like a rock god, speaking several languages fluently or being a … Continue reading

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Champagne Claude Baron

Sometimes you get the urge to splurge and for several reasons I found myself looking for such a bubbly.   I selected the Champagne Claude Baron Cuvee Topaze 2006.  Vintage Champagnes are a small subset of Champagne.  The theory is that the wineries make these wines only in their … Continue reading

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Odds and Ends & Validation!

Grocery stores seeking way around alcohol sales ban.  I have mixed feelings about this.  Comments anyone?  I do admit that I stop at the Leesburg Costco from time to time to get wine. Good op-ed piece in the Sun on … Continue reading

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Alexander Valley Vineyards- Dry Rose of Sangiovese 2011

I’m secure enough in my manhood to proclaim my love of a good  rose.  Of course not the blush, white zin type of crap.  And boy did I love the rose I just had.  Alexander Valley Vineyards “Dry Rose of … Continue reading

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Odds and Ends

Channel 9 video on Adam Frey’s new Frederick county farm brewery.  I’d card the reporter though. Brewer’s Alley released a special wedding beer, Wedding Alt, with customizable labels.  How about a divorce one?  Should it be something dark and heavy or … Continue reading

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Shout Out- Marylanders for Better Beer & Wine Laws

This blog got a mention in the Marylander’s for Better Beer & Wine Laws 2012 Alcohol Legislative Roundup for my April 23rd post on some of the changes to Maryland’s alcohol laws.  This is a good time to reaffirm what a … Continue reading

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Odds and Ends

Nice article on Frederick County’s newest winery, Catoctin Breeze Vineyard, in the Frederick News Post.  I can’t think of any other business where so many people go into the business out of sheer love for the product.  Of course talking to Maryland winery owners … Continue reading

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Maryland Law Changes

This past legislative session saw some changes in the laws which will be of interest to readers: Corkage:  The practice of bringing your own bottle of wine to a restaurant to drink is commonly known as corkage.  Up until now … Continue reading

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Frederick Wine Festival

Anyone at the festival?  I’d love some reports.  Post them in the comments.  I’ve never made it as this is always the crazy season for my wife so there’s a period of a week or two when I’m a single … Continue reading

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Upcoming Events

There are all sorts of boozy events coming up: Toast to Frederick wine festival- April 21st and 22nd at the Frederick fairgrounds The Maryland Craft Beer Festival at the Frederick fairgrounds.  May 12th from noon to six. Frederick Beer Week- … Continue reading

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Local Wineries Odds and Ends

Great article about Black Ankle vineyards here.  It’s only part one.  I look forward to the second part and to see how she answers the question a lot of us, including me, have asked:  are Black Ankle wines worth the … Continue reading

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Knob Hall Winery

This past weekend I had an opportunity to visit  Knob Hall Winery.  Located in North Western Washington County, the owner, Dick Seibert, has taken 30 acres of his 200 acre family farm and planted a number of different varieties of … Continue reading

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Third Thursday in November

The third thursday in November is tomorrow and that means beaujolais nouveau.  Loyal reader(s) will know my conflicted feelings on the issue.  As usual I will sample some and let you know.  I am not aware of any special festivities planned for the … Continue reading

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Alcohol To Save The Postal Service?

The Senate’s bipartisan plan to shore up the postal service’s shaky finances includes a provision to allow the USPS to ship wine and beer.  Currently only UPS and FedEx do so.  Sen. Lieberman is quoted as saying  the plan would pull … Continue reading

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The Wine Kitchen

Wherein I break my own rule and review a chain restaurant.  I know this does not really fit my criteria of a chain:  there is one Wine Kitchen in Leesburg and they opened one in Frederick last month.  If you have been … Continue reading

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Mionetto Prosecco

Mionetto prosecco frequently pops up on  lists of value bubblies. I’ve had it a few times over the years and enjoyed it but it hasn’t been in our regular rotation here at home, which was frustrating since  I know its very widely distributed.  It turns out it’s … Continue reading

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Maryland Wine

The Washington Post did a neat article on Maryland Wine in their food section yesterday.  They report a couple of interesting tidbits.  First that Maryland wineries are up from 15 in 2000 to 52 today, with 15 additional applications pending.  … Continue reading

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Direct Shipping Update

Just saw an article that nearly 300 wineries are now signed up or in the process of signing up for direct shipping in Maryland.  Check out the list, as of August 11th,  here.

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Direct Shipping- Crickets Chirping?

Per reports, even though Maryland’s new direct shipping law goes into effect on Friday, only eleven wineries have signed up so far.  Most of them appear to be Maryland wineries.  I wonder if more will sign up as this law … Continue reading

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Maryland Wine Week

Happy Maryland Wine week everybody!  Apparently June 3rd through June 12th has been declared Maryland Wine Week by Governor O’Malley.  Havent really heard of any special events in our area in response to this.  Have you?

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Broadbent Vinho Verde NV

Just had a kick ass new white I’d like to pass along- Broadbent Vinho Verde NV.  This non-vintage Portuguese offering comes from the noted British wine critic Michael Broadbent  along with his son Bartholomew Broadbent.  The Broadbents act as negociants- i.e. they don’t grow … Continue reading

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2006 Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Les Princes Abbes

Drank the 2006 Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Les Princes Abbes with Easter dinner on Sunday.  A good solid wine but didn’t blow me away, especially at $20 a bottle.  Had a typical petrol nose with flavors of pineapple and kiwi.  Very, very dry … Continue reading

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A Toast To Frederick Wine Festival

Was this past weekend.  Anyone go?  I have not heard any feedback about this event.  Didn’t even see a write up of it in the FNP come to think of it.  Let me know.

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Direct Shipping- The Glass is Half Full

     Well it looks like a limited form of direct shipping is going to become law in Maryland. Ultimately a watered down version of the proposed legislation passed and is awaiting the governor’s signature.  If signed the new law will take … Continue reading

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Prosecco

I’ve been banging the prosecco drum on this blog for years but it now appears that I am not really saying anything that Americans don’t already know.   Imports of sparkling wine from Italy to the United States are up 73.1 percent from 2005 to 2010, according … Continue reading

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