Winephabet Street: U is for Usakhelauri – A Rare Georgian Treasure!
Uncork Your Mind
Welcome to another episode of Winephabet Street, where we explore the world of wine one letter at a time! This episode features the elusive and extraordinary Usakhelauri – a rare Georgian grape known for its deep color, natural sweetness, and limited production. Join us as we dive into: ✅ The history and origins of Usakhelauri 🍇 ✅ What makes it so rare and highly sought after ✅ Tasting notes and food pairings 🍷🍽 ✅ How it represents the rich winemaking traditions of Georgia 🇬🇪 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more exciting wine explorations! Have...
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Exploring Traminette with Michael Migliore of Whitecliff Vineyard
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If you missed the live episode of Winephabet Street’s this month we talked all about Traminette, Our guest was Michael Migliore, owner and winemaker of Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery. Michael brought 45 years of winemaking expertise to the table, providing invaluable insights into this fascinating grape known for its floral, fruity, and spicy characteristics What is Traminette? Traminette is a hybrid grape, a cross between Gewürztraminer and a French-American hybrid. It boasts the aromatic intensity of Gewürztraminer while offering the hardiness and disease resistance of hybrids....
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Exploring the Rich Legacy of Kopke 1638 Port House with Carla Tiago
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In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of Kopke 1638 Port House with winemaker Carla Tiago. Carla discusses the 400-year history of Kopke, from its German roots to becoming a staple of Portugal’s port wine legacy. She explains the various port styles, including the unique Colheitas, aged solely in barrels and bottled only upon request, preserving their distinct vintages for decades. Carla also shares how Kopke is bringing port into the modern era, with innovative projects like their limited library collection of century-old vermouth and quinine-infused ports. With insights on...
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Discovering Familia Vicente Pearce: A Journey of Passion, Wine, and Connection
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In this episode of Uncork Your Mind, I chat with Shawn Pearce from Familia Vicente Pearce, a winery with roots in both Buffalo, New York, and Mendoza, Argentina. Shawn shares his fascinating journey from studying wine in college to creating a family-run vineyard with his wife, Celia, in Argentina’s renowned wine region. We explore their sustainable vineyard practices, the artistry behind their wine labels, and their delicious range of wines, including a rare Gamay Rosé and a bold Cabernet Sauvignon. Tune in to hear more about how passion for wine shaped Shawn's path and what makes Familia...
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From Italy to New Jersey: The Unique Journey of the San Marco Grape at Bellview Winery
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In this episode of 'Winephabet Street,' co-hosts Lori and Deb welcome guests Jim Quarrella and Larry Coia from Bellview Winery in New Jersey. The discussion revolves around the San Marco grape, a unique variety being cultivated by Bellview Winery in the United States. Jim and Larry share the grape's history, how they imported it from Italy, and its resilience and characteristics that make it promising for New Jersey's climate. The conversation touches on the grape's disease resistance, vibrant acidity, and fruit structure, drawing parallels to well-known varieties like Syrah. As they taste...
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Rediscovering Rkatsiteli: A Journey Through Time with Meaghan Frank and Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
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So excited about this episode of Winephabet Street. We are exploring the letter 'R' with one of the wine world's hidden gems, the Rkatsiteli grape. This ancient varietal, which hails from the storied vineyards of Georgia, offers a captivating blend of history and unique flavors that few other wines can boast. Joining us is a very special guest, Meaghan Frank from Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Meaghan represents the fourth generation of her family's winemaking legacy, bringing both a deep respect for tradition and a fresh perspective to the craft....
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Questions You Always Wanted To Ask About Wine Part 1
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In this episode of Winephabet Street, Debbie and Lori tackle the questions you've been hesitant to ask about wine. Remember, in the world of wine, no questions are considered foolish. Whether you've been pondering about tannins, wine pairings, or curious about corks, now is your opportunity to gain clarity without hesitation. We had such a good show and didn’t get to all the questions, we have a part 2 coming up. I hope you enjoy!
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Petit Manseng: The Rising Star of Virginia Winemaking
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Welcome to another engaging episode of Winephabet Street, where the world of wine becomes more accessible, one letter at a time. In this episode we're delving into the letter "P" with a focus on Petit Manseng, a varietal that may not be on every wine lover's radar but certainly deserves a spotlight for its distinctive qualities and growing popularity, particularly in Virginia. Lori and I are joined by Lee Hartman from Bluestone Vineyards in Virginia, who shares his deep insights into Petit Manseng. Lee's journey in the wine industry, from his initial reluctance to his aha moment realizing the...
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Exploring the Unique Flavors of Orange Muscat
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In December on Winephabet Street we learned about the Orange Muscat grape with our special guest, Andrew Quadi of Quadi Winery. Nestled in Madera, California, Andrew and his wife have been crafting exceptional wines since the late '70s, transitioning from an engineering background to the art of winemaking. Orange Muscat, is a grape variety that boasts a fusion of orange and apricot flavors that fascinate the senses in a surprisingly delightful way. Despite its green skin, the wine reveals a captivating golden orange hue and an irresistible aroma, The winemaking process for Orange Muscat...
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Legacy of Whitecliff's Olana Vineyard in Hudson NY: A Blend of History and Viticulture
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Back in the fall, I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with Michael Migliore, owner of Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery, at their Olana Vineyard in Hudson, NY. This is a 10 acre site just over the Rip Van Winkle Bridge on the Hudson side, in the shadows of the Olana Estate and on the banks of the Hudson River. Michael established and started farming this land in 2015 with Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, and Chardonnay. The vineyard is situated on land that has a long agricultural history dating back to indigenous peoples who inhabited the area over 3,000 years ago....
info_outlineI thought I’d begin the new year with some wine education. So if you missed Winephabet Street in December, here is your chance to catch up and learn about Gruner Veltliner the signature grape of Austria.
Winephabet Street is a series where every month Lori Budd of Dracaena Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions. The show is live the third Monday of the month at 8pm. It’s free but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out with us. If you miss it, you can always catch up here on my blog.
December took us exploring Gruner Veltliner which is the signature grape of Austria. It wasn’t until 1990 through DNA analysis they identified who the mother of Gruner was which is Savagnin and in 2007 the father was identified as St. Georgener-Rebe. Most of the Gruner Veltliner is grown west of Vienna in in the lower hills of the Wachu, Kremstal and Kamptal regions. In the hill of these regions is where they plant the Riesling.
I had a tough choice deciding on what Gruner to open. I had three of them in the house. I opened for this episode was a 2016 Buchegger Gruner Veltliner “Pfarrweingarten” Kremstal Reserve that I purchased for $19.71. Just for your notes the other Buchegger was priced at $13.81 and the Mayr was priced at $9.98. The reason I opened the Pfarrweingarten over the others is Lori was joking on us trying to pronounce it, so I thought, might as well give it a good try. The wine had nice minerality, but I was a little disappointed on the acidity. I thought it would have a bit more zing, but I think that is what I was expecting. A little nectarine, grapefruit and hint of white pepper.
If you like Sauvignon Blanc you will like Gruner Veltliner, I urge you to try it. It has nice zing of acidity, it’s food friendly. Let me know if you pick up a bottle and how you enjoy it.
I hope you enjoy this episode of Winephabet Street. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.
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