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....
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Clinton Vineyards Bought By Milea Vineyards-What It Means for Hudson Valley Wine's Future & Identity
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I wanted to talk to you today about an article that was in the Daily Catch. org. It was written by Scott Davis and full disclosure, I am quoted twice in the article. The article is about Milea Vineyard's plans. with Clinton Vineyards. And if you're not already aware, Clinton Vineyards was purchased by Malaya in 2022. And it was a great article, talks about Phyllis and Ben Feder, how they started Clinton Vineyards, with the Seyval Grapes, because they knew that the Save All Grapes grew well on that property. And they made Meth and Champagnois, still wine. So what they plan on doing with the...
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Nero d'Avola: Sicily's Crown Jewel with VALLE DELL' ACATE's Gaetana Jacono
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I’m taking you on a virtual journey down Winephabet Street, where we dive deep into the world of N for Nero d'Avola, a red wine varietal from Sicily. In this episode of Winephabet Street, our special guest comes from the heart of Sicily, Gaetana Iacono from VALLE DELL' ACATE Winery. Gaetana hails from a family in the wine business for six generations. She has a great affinity for the native wines of Ragusa, Sicily. Determined to continue the legacy, she works hard to promote the value of the native wines of her region. The region is known for it s beautiful...
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Indulge in the Virtual Journey to Argentina's Malbec Magic! with Winephabet Street
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Join us on our journey to South America, where the rich soils of Argentina have produced some of the world's best Malbec wines with guest Veronica Kathuria from Wines of Argentina. Argentina it's located in the southern most corner of South America the South American content And it's about in a better way I have I will speak kilometers and miles because I still go to kilometers but it ranges about 38 kilometers distance from extreme north to extreme south. A Brief History: Malbec's Journey to Argentina Malbec's origins can be traced back to France, especially in regions...
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Lagrein Unleashed: A Journey into Alto Adige's Bold Red with Karoline Walch on Winephabet Street
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In the heart of Alto Adige, a region nestled amidst snow-capped mountains and verdant valleys, thrives a grape as bold and characterful as the landscape itself - Lagrein. Join us on Winephabet Street, as we delve into the fascinating world of this indigenous Italian variety, accompanied by a very special guest - Karoline Walch from the esteemed Elena Walch Winery. The Magic of Lagrein Born from Alto Adige's mineral-rich soils and varying climatic conditions, the Lagrein grape creates an intoxicating wine that commands attention. Its dark fruit flavors, robust tannins, and slight spiciness...
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A Look into the Indigenous Grape Variety from Crete the Kotsifali Grape
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The Kotsifali grape is an indigenous red grape variety from the Greek island of Crete. This grape is an essential component of many Cretan wines and is highly prized for its unique qualities.It is known for producing wines with medium to full body and moderate acidity. The grape is often blended with the Mandilaria grape to create wines with a deep ruby color and notes of dark fruits, herbs, and spices. The Kotsifali grape also produces rosé wines with fresh fruit flavors and floral aromas. The winemaking tradition of Crete dates back to ancient times, and the island has a long...
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The Unique and Rare Jampal Grape: Exploring Portugal's Hidden Gem
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The Jampal grape, also known as Jampel or Malvasia Fina de Jampal, is a unique and rare grape variety native to Portugal. It is believed to have originated in the Douro Valley region. It is predominantly grown in the Terras do Dão region, located in the country's central northern part. The Jampal grape is a white grape known for its high acidity and aromatic qualities. It is said to produce wines with a rich, full-bodied flavor that is often described as having a mineral quality with notes of citrus, green apple, and stone fruits. Jampal grapes are known for their thick skin, which helps...
info_outlineWelcome to Winephabet Street F is for Furmint. Winephabet Street is a series where every month Lori Budd of Dracaena Wines and I work our way through the alphabet in exploring wine and wine regions. We learn about the history of the grape or region, the characteristics, fun facts and suggested wine pairings. 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 to hang out with us, pour yourself a glass and chat with us.
This episode takes us to Hungary where we explore their signature grape Furmint. This grape and country are close to my heart. My grandfather is from Budapest and his family is from Tapolca located near Lake Balaton. It was here where my Great, Great, Great Grandfather and his brothers established himself in the wine trade. The main Lessner house on Main Street is the house my family lived in and they held the keys to the cellar. From the research I’ve done, they were very instrumental in the Hungarian wine trade. Now that I got you all off track, let’s get back to Furmint.
Furmint is a white grape indigenous to the Tokaji region. Many people think of it as a sweet wine like Furmint Aszú but over the last 15 years they have been producing single varietal Furmints made in one of three styles; stainless steel and barrels both old school and new school.
The Furmint in my glass wasPajzos T Furmint 2015.The blend is 90% Furmint, 6% Harslevelu and 4% Yellow Muscat, clocks in at 13% alcohol and was aged in stainless steel for 6 months. It’s a high acid wine that lingers on the finish. Love that acidity! At first the wine was skunky, but as it warmed up the skunkiness went away and white flowers, lemon and minerality came to play. It’s a nice white wine and would hesitate to purchase it again. $11.99 at Viscount Wines & Liquors in Wappingers Falls.
Sit back and enjoy a glass of Furmint and watch or listen to the show. The podcast is just below the video and can be downloaded.