"Cheers" from Vintage Connections
Dean and Lisa Foster, Wine Educators and Consultants

So far, our Wine Tips of the Week have been recommendations about wines that we have liked. This week we are changing things a bit and providing one tip about wine and one tip about a wine-related book we think is outstanding. Periodically, we'll provide some tips about wine-related books, wine trails, and other topics that we think will be interesting to wine lovers.


This Week’s Wine Tips!

St. Supery Moscato 2008

Made from 100% muscat blanc grapes, St. Supery's Moscato is a still wine from the Napa Valley. It is “deliciously floral, yet delicate with wonderful stone fruit aromas and flavors." The acidity balances its slight sweetness and makes it light and crisp with a long lasting floral finish. Great as an aperitif or with desserts. Serve slightly chilled. It is not a "dessert wine" but is a great accompaniment to dessert. We've had it several times and especially liked it with yellow cupcakes this weekend and look forward to having a refreshing glass on the patio this summer.

Currently, St. Supery’s 2008 Moscato and their Virtu 2006 Meritage are Chairman Selects. The Moscato is selling for $11.99 and its PLCB product code 18314. The Meritage is selling for $15.99 and its PLCB product code 17972.

St. Supery Winery and Vineyard is owned and operated by the Skalli family, originally from France. Known mostly for its cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc and its Elu and Virtu blends.

The Moscato is more widely available than the Meritage, sometimes in large quantities at some Specialty Stores. But, not all specialty stores have either so check the PLCB Product Search webpage, and maybe call, before making a special trip.


What to Drink with What you Eat
by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page

Our friend, Frank, loaned this book to us at a recent AWS wine tasting event. He thought we would find it interesting. Interesting? We fell in love and immediately ordered it for ourselves.

This is a great reference book for any kind of dinner or entertaining. For the novice to the expert, it has all sorts of information on what to drink with what you eat and what to eat with what you drink. We had a great time looking up what to drink with what we were having for dinner that night, and then deciding what cheese to have with the wines we were planning to share with some friends on the weekend. It’s not just wines and cheeses. There is an alphabetical listing of all sorts of beverages from tea to vodka, and foods from cheese to rabbit and beyond. It is fun and educational to just sit and read besides being a “must have” reference volume.

Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page are a husband and wife team. Andrew is a former restaurant chef and Karen a Master Sommelier. They have used their expertise to create an invaluable book. What to Drink with What you Eat is the winner of the “Georges Duboeuf Wine Book of the Year” award.


Up-coming Events

March Madness

This extremely popular event at the Lehigh Valley wine trail wineries takes place during the month of March and at most of the wineries is truly madness. “Discover wine’s East Coast valley! The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is home to nine family-owned vineyards and wineries that have brought home the Governor’s Cup for eight out of the last nine years and won countless regional, state, national and international awards, including more than 50 for wines made from Chambourcin, its signature grape.

Designated an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 2008, the Lehigh Valley is Pennsylvania’s fastest growing wine region. The fertile farmlands of the area provide an ideal growing environment, and the area’s close proximity to Philadelphia and New York City make the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail a beautiful and easy escape for wine lovers across the Mid-Atlantic region.”(excerpted from the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail http://www.lehighvalleywinetrail.com/

Each participant must purchase a March Madness passport for $30. This gains you admission to each of the wineries on the trail where they will have special wine and food pairings on each weekend during the month of March.

Many wineries have sold out of passports, so check the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail website for more information and to see if tickets are still available on-line. Just so you know, this event gets extremely busy at all the wineries and you may need to wait for space at the tasting bar.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail website is http://www.lehighvalleywinetrail.com/


We'd really like to get some wine discussion going on about the Wine Tips of the Week.
Did you try them, like them, not like them? What are YOU drinking?


Additional Upcoming Wine Events in the Pottstown Tri-County Area

Thursday, April 22, Wines of the USA, one night wine seminar at Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown, 6:30 - 9:30 PM, $52.

Thursday, April 29, Wines of the World, one night wine seminar at Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown, 6:30 - 9:30 PM, $52.

Wednesday, May 5, Cinco de Mayo, wines from Spain, Chile, and Argentina at the Gallery School of Pottstown.
Begins promptly at 6:30 PM. Cost TBD.

Saturday, October 23, Mom's House Benefit Wine Tasting Dinner. Location, Time and Cost TBD.

Many other events are TBD. Contact us to schedule an event in your home, at your business, or for your organization.

Vintage Connections provide

* Wine Appreciation Classes and Seminars

* Customized Educational Wine Tastings in your home or at your business

* Wine Consulting

* Benefit Educational Wine Tastings for non-profit organizations