At The Traveling Vineyard, we’re passionate about wine!
Our mission to demystify wine, by offering fun and
informative in-home wine tasting events.
Taste wines from boutique wineries from all over the world,
while enjoying a wine tasting lesson.
Email Shannon for more information.
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Read about it today, experience it tonight.
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Toad Hollow 2005 Chardonnay, Mendocino, California
This bottle proves that you don't have to use oak to make a
rich, opulent chardonnay.
Aromas of honey and lime zest carry over to the palate
as hints of melon, starfruit, and pear fill the mouth.
The mid-palate offers creaminess and lemon meringue.
The finish crescendos with tones of marzipan cookies and honey.
This wine greats better and better as it is open.
-BF
$13
County Line, Bonnie Brae, Costco Liquors in Arvada, Joy Wine & Spirits,
and Crossroads Wine & Spirits in Grand Junction carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Rutherford Grove 2005 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley California
This white graced with a Stelvin closure offers
rich aromas of melon and a touch of jalapeno.
The grapes are estate fruit and are some of the best
grapes available to the Rutherford Grove winemakers.
Flavors of peach, white pepper, lemon zest, and mango fill the
palate as notes of honey sweep the mouth on the finish. -BF
$16
Are you a retailer who carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Toad Hollow 2004 Cacophany Zinfandel, Paso Robles, California
The color is deep and the nose wafts of expensive French perfume.
This zinfandel is full bodied with notes or red raspberry and hints of black licorice.
The mid-palate offers blueberries and a touch of cream.
Chambord elegance, in a dry, red wine.
$16
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Amancaya 2005 Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina
A layered and elegant wine offering hints of wild cherry, chocolate and a hint of vanilla.
Densely layered on the palate, it is smooth and balanced.
It is a great value for the money, produced from two of the worlds
most prestigious wine houses, Lafite-Rothchild and Nicholas Catena.
-BF
$15
City Wine carries this wine.
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Tamari 2004 Malbec Reserva, Mendoza, Argentina
Extremely full bodied, dense and sultry.
This red offers distinct notes of graphite, caramel, eucalyptus, and mint
over a black cherry canvas.
The tannins are a compliment to the powerful flavors, which steal the show.
$15
CapuVino Café and Wine Bar sells this wine by the glass.
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Botromagno 2004 Gravina, Italy
This is an elegant refreshing white from southern Italy.
A pretty nose leads to a pretty wine.
Flavors of lemon and lime zest, orange blossoms, tangerine, and pear.
This producer is the only one permitted to use
the name of the village on their wine, Gravina.
This white is a blend of 60% greco and 40% malvasia.
$12
City Wine, Corks, Crossroads Wine & Spirits in Grand Junction,
and Little Raven Vineyards carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Renwood 2004 Viognier, California
This is a very fussy grape variety.
Good versions are rarely under $10.
This version has a lovely, fragrant nose.
An apricot canvas offers splashes of melon, mint, and tangerine.
This viognier has good acidity,
which is something this grape struggles with.
Perfect for lighter food.
$12
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Viognier is an elegant change of pace
Viognier (vee-on-yay) is perfume-like on the nose and palate. Showing notes of pear blossoms and honeysuckle, it's soft, lush mouth-feel comes from lower acidity. Because of its distinct mineral notes, viognier can be very elegant.
Exotic and incredibly fussy, viognier is susceptible to mildew and disease. Because it buds early, its already finicky yields are further threatened by late spring frosts. Viognier needs to ripen fully or it does not develop its rich flavors. This grape brings frustration to growers.
There are only about 8,000 acres of viognier growing in California, compared to chardonnay's 100,000 acres. Even with these lopsided numbers, viognier is a worthy rival for the affection of the chardonnay drinker. Viognier excites the palate with an explosion of refreshing, perfectly ripe late summer fruits. Peaches, apricots, and pears, its floral nuances and flirtatious minerals place it above mainstream white wines.
Viognier's history spans over two thousand years in France. Its lofty reputation was earned in the tiny growing regions of Condrieu and Château Grillet in France's northern Rhône Valley. Wines labeled Condrieu and Château Grillet are exclusively viognier, extremely limited, and pricey.
Read more . . .
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Rippon 2004 Osteiner, Central Otago, New Zealand
This white grape, Osteiner, is a relative of riesling.
Funky, refreshing, unique, it offers many of the flavors of a good riesling.
A petrol nose, leads to green apple flavors and minerally-lanolin tones.
Lemon meringue and lime zest prevail on the long, lingering finish.
$14
Divino carries this wine.
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Sacred Stone Cask 003 Old World Style Masters Red Blend, California
This is a lovely, light bodied red blend.
A blend of syrah, carignan, grenache, sangiovese and zinfandel.
Bright flavors of raspberry and wild cherry marry with spicy tones.
A slight earthy flavor of sassafras fills the mid-palate.
The wine has good acidity and soft tannins.
Old world in style, yet its vibrant fruit flavors offer a hint of cherry liqueur.
$11
Reserve List and Corks carry this wine.
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Vocabulary
Each week we'll include a few wine (or beer or spirits) terms.
To read more terms go to the
vocabulary
page. This page will grow as we add more terms.
vinify:
is the technical word for 'to make wine out of.'
Vinification is the act of making wine out of juice.
The term is almost always used in reference to grapes.
American Viticultural Area:
was created in 1978 and governed by the ATF, American Viticultural Areas were
instituted on January 1, 1983, allowing time for producers
to become compliant with the new rules.
Similar to the French AOC system (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée),
The American system is not as restrictive as European systems.
French, Italian, and Spanish appellation systems specify the geographic area,
type of grapes, allowable blends, production methods,
minimum alcohol levels, and maximum yields for the region specified.
The American system only specifies the boundaries of the geographic regions and
the minimum percentage of wine required from a specified region,
in order to use that regional name on the bottle's label.
At least 85% of the grapes must come from that particular area
in order for the regions name to be listed on the label.
Also, under the AVA system, a bottle can be referred to as a single grape if it
contains 75% or more of that stated grape.
For example a bottle of wine can be called cabernet sauvignon on the front label,
even though it contains 15% merlot and 10% cabernet franc.
Regions specified in all
appellation systems can be extremely large or so small that you can walk
its perimeter in a few hours.
AFT considers the soil, micro-climate, elevation, topography, and history
when establishing AVAs.
A producer within an AVA has the right to use the largest
AVA name that surrounds its designation.
For example, a producer in the Chalk Hill AVA can
use the Chalk Hill AVA on their label,
or they can use the larger Russian River AVA instead.
Even more diluted, the Chalk Hill producer
can use the even larger Sonoma Valley AVA
or the largest AVA it qualifies for, the California AVA.
A producer restricted to use the California AVA cannot use a smaller appellation.
Generally, the smaller and more specific an area is defined,
the better the growing conditions.
Therefore, a producer located in the Chalk Hill
AVA would use that appellation on the label,
rather than any larger designation.
Why would a producer want to use a larger AVA?
There is no reason an American producer would want to use a less
prestigious region on its label.
However, European producers are beginning to use less desirable,
larger appellation designations because they pay less tax when exporting the wine
into the United States.
Since the Euro is stronger than the dollar,
this allows European producers to position their
products at a better price for American consumers.
vigneron (vee-nyeh-rohn):
There are some word in French that do not interpret to English, like terroir.
Conversely, there are some words in English that do not interpret to French, like winemaker.
Europeans belive that wine makes itself.
They also belive that you cannot make qualtiy wine without great grapes,
regardless of the skill of the winemaker.
The European belief that wine is made in the vineyard is driven home by the
fact that they, in particular the French, do not have a word for winemaker.
Vigneron means vine grower or grape grower.
This word is widely used in Europe and now being used more and more in the United States.
terroir (teh-rwahr):
is the subtle component that is often absent in new world wines.
Terroir is the flavor of the land, weather, and environment.
It is often called aspect.
It is the slight flavor of rocks, chalk, autumn leaves, spring rain, dust, baked earth,
ocean breeze or minerals.
Terroir is destroyed by sulfites that are added when the grapes are first crushed.
It is also diminished by the quick ripening that happens in hot growing regions.
A whopping alcohol level is a sign that the delicate flavors of terroir are lost.
Aspect of the land is an old world occurrence.
More and more new world producers try to preserve terroir in their wines.
The best examples of terroir can be found in European wines.
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Brews
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Do you make your own beer?
If you make your own beer we are interested in your thoughts, recipes, and experiences.
If you would like to share with our readers, we will include you on our weekly newsletter and-or
add your contribution to our Do It Yourself section.
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Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter, Idaho Springs, Colorado
Soft sable color with a floral slightly caramel aroma.
On the palate offers bright flavors of lime, apricots and green apples.
The name implys a chocolatly, sultry note, but the cocoa
immerges on the finish as an afterthought.
It is surprisingly fruitly.
It is not not bitter, but rather sweet with a hoppy floral flavor.
Its acidity will make your mouther a little, just before you taste the cocoa.
-BF $8 a six pack.
County Line carries this beer.
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Bristol Laughing Lab Scotish Ale
A mahogany colored beer with a soft caramel and honey nose.
Flavors of sassafrass, honey, and orange liquor.
Malty sweet flavors with a hint of rootbeer.
Honey finish with just a hint of bitterness.
-BF $9 a six pack.
Corks and Crossroads Wine & Spirits in Grand Junction and Bonnie Brae carry this beer.
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Oskar Blues Old Chub Lip Balm
Notes of almond, macadamia nuts, and Scottish Ale?
Yep, this is one tasty lip balm.
It is made from almond and macadamia nut oils with a splash of Old Chub Scottish Ale.
Perfect for skiing with its SPF15 protection.
A great gift for the beer fan in your life.
Order it online
http://www.oskarblues.com
Tasted all day long!
-BF $3 a tube
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Events
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Chimney Park Bistro Celebrates its 3rd Year Anniversary with a Beer Tasting.
To celebrate its third year anniversary, Chef Florian Wehrli,
co-owner of Chimney Park Bistro, is
organizing a Beer Tasting with Avery Brewery of Boulder.
The event is Tuesday January 23rd starting at 6 pm.
Chimney Park Bistro is located at 406 Main Street, in Windsor, Colorado.
Ten of Avery’s specialty brews will be paired with dishes that have
now become staples at Chimney Park. Avery brewing team will be present
to introduce their beers. In addition, the Bistro’s local producers will
be present to introduce their products. Guests will be able to meet Dave
from Spomer Ranch and taste a Carpaccio made from his bison,
sample miniature lamb leg roasts from Nora’s lambs at Hi-Ho Sheep Farm,
meet local cheese makers and more. The cost for the event is
only $35 per person at the door.
Chimney Park Bistro opened its doors January 2003 in an historic
building in old town Windsor. It has since then earned a solid
reputation as one of the finest dining establishment in Northern Colorado.
Chef and co-owner Florian Wehrli and chef de Cuisine Evey Post create
a seasonal menu with high quality ingredients, produced locally whenever possible.
Chimney Park Bistro also offers an award winning wine program with about
400 selections from Colorado and all over the world.
Contact Chimney Park Bistro at 970-686-1477.
Check out their web site at
www.chimneypark.com.
Also check out
www.averybrewing.com.
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12th Annual Red Wine & Seafood :: Club Rouge
Thursday, January 25, 2007, 5:30 – 8:30pm in the Grand Ballroom of the Oxford Hotel.
Red Wine & Seafood's Club Rouge is an evening of unique
red wines provided by Southern Wine and Spirits paired
with extravagant seafood entrees by McCormick's Fish House and
Bar Executive Chef Stephen Vice. Guests will enjoy an evening of
fabulous, unlimited food and drink within a beautiful club setting,
all set to the live, hip club vibe of The Andrew Hudson and Friends Jazz Band.
Ticket proceeds benefit the Volunteers of America Brandon Center and
Theodora houses, shelters for homeless and abused women and children.
Tickets for the event are $50 per person,
and $25 is tax deductible. Reservations are limited, and can be made
by visiting
http://www.voacolorado.org/".
Valet parking will be available. The Oxford Hotel is offering a
discounted room rate of $129 for the night of the event only.
Please mention Red Wine & Seafood Club Rouge when booking.
For rrom reservations, call 303-628-5400.
Volunteers of America is a national,
nonprofit, spiritually based organization providing local human
service programs and opportunities for individual and community involvement.
From rural America to inner-city neighborhoods,
Volunteers of America provides outreach programs that deal with today’s
most pressing social needs. Volunteers of America helps youths at risk,
frail elderly, abused and neglected children, people with disabilities,
homeless individuals and many others.
McCormick’s Fish House & Bar - Oxford Hotel Grand Ballroom
1659 Wazee Street, Denver, CO 80202.
Call 303-329-6229 for tickets to this spectacular event.
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