The Good Life - Washington Hills wine

To learn more about these award-winning and delicious wines visit their website. http://www.washingtonhills.com/home.php

Chad Schott, of Drumzrguruven, at Corey's Culinary Club

Chad talking about making didgeridoo's, rain sticks and gourd drums. He also talks about harvesting bamboo in Florida.

This was recorded at one of Corey's Culinary Club events. It was the "Taste of Europe" and we enjoyed European cheeses and wines with Brandon from Corrieri's and Mark from Vinea telling us about the pairings of the two.

Visit Chad's website at http://www.drumzrguruven.com/

Corey talks about what is coming up on Webbspun Ideas

Some luxurious things to help you enjoy your beverages

Opulent Items brings us DrinkStation (Icemaker/Refrigerator) for only $10,000 each.
Made by a German company, this drink station includes a built-in refrigerator, ice machine, flute holders, bottle bins and wooden serving shelf. So you don’t need to bother about refilling ice from the kitchen refrigerator repeatedly.


Symposium consists of a thermobottle having an RFID reader (wine reader) and a thermal baseplate for temperature regulation (wine chiller/warmer). Wine readers allow a richer wine tasting experience as they contain a full range of specific data on the selected wine such as features, producer, vineyard, and a number of cultural references to places, traditions, poetry, art, and so on.

Visit Coroflot to learn more about it.

Merlot Brownies recipe from Tennessee Wineries

MERLOT BROWNIES

1 cup Tennessee Merlot
3/4 cup butter
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup White Lily all-purpose flour
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 13x9-inch baking pan. In a small saucepan, simmer wine over medium heat until reduced to 1/4 cup. Pour into a large bowl and set aside. In top of a double boiler, melt butter and chocolate over simmering water. Pour into wine and whisk until smooth.

In top of double boiler, whisk together sugar, eggs and vanilla over simmering water until very light and thick. Pour into chocolate mixture and whisk until smooth. Stir in flour and ½ cup of pecans. Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle with remaining pecans. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool and cut into squares. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.

Tammy Algood
Pick Tennessee Products Spokesperson
~~~
Remember how amazing treats tasted when you were eight? How sweet and perfect every cookie, every cupcake was?

“Well, those days are over,” says Tammy Algood. “Lots of things have changed since way back then, including the number of active taste buds you have and how each taste center in your mouth now experiences food. You’re likely to be a little disappointed when you try sweets from your childhood and they seem a little too much, or just don’t taste the way you remember.”

“But don’t despair,” says Algood, a food expert. “With age, you come to have a deeper, richer understanding of life. You see that things are a lot more complex than when you were young.

“In the same way, adults tend to be able to appreciate tastes that are much more complex. You can still be sent over the moon with a great dessert, just like when you were a kid— it just needs to be as complex and grownup as you.

“Merlot brownies are the perfect remedy for a palate that craves surprise along with sweet.”
~
Read more at Tennessee Wineries.
~
Visit the Pick Tennessee Products website.

Another Wine I Enjoyed While in Germany

A nice place to enjoy some wine

Wine and Art at Vinea

Hey there lovers of wine and ceramics...

On Saturday we have more than wine to show off. Corrieri's Formaggeria is also having an art show featuring Nashville's premiere potter and old friend, David Rhine.

In celebration of David joining us on Saturday, we will be opening several 90 +/-point boutique Australian wines from master importer Dan Phillps of the Grateful Palate. Believe me, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to just drop by and sip great wines!

The tasting will begin at Corrieri's at 2 pm and end at 5 pm. The tasting is FREE. All you need bring is a love of world class wine and a couple of great friends.

Drink Great Wine,
MJ the Sommelier


David Rhine

David developed and perfected a coil/throwing method of construction to create large outdoor and indoor planters. These distinctive andsturdy vessels are made to evoke prestige and integrity for centuries to come.Made with durable high-fired stoneware, they are completely frost proof and will never fade or crack.The planters are embellished with handmade stamps, creating designs and patterns inspired by various forms of nature. The complexity of each unique piece results in a quality which exceeds the usual industrial, mass produced planters. Slight nuances of form, surface design, texture, and glazes make every piece a one of a kind work of art.

David Rhine, an exceptionally talented potter from Nashville, received a bachelors degree in education from Middle Tennessee State University. Hewent on to a residency program at the Appalachian Center For Crafts in Smithville where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts.


Treusner Shiraz $32.99 a Bottle

The 2006 Joshua is an unwooded cuvee composed of 65% Grenache, 25% Mataro, and 10% Shiraz. Dark ruby-colored, it offers expressive, fruity aromas of violets, black cherry, and black raspberry. Supple-textured, layered, and sweetly fruited, the wine has no hard edges straight through to its pure finish. Drink it over the next 6 years.

91 Points R.P.


Troll Creek Shiraz

Usually $87.99 but on Saturday $49.99
The 2005 Shiraz was sourced from 40- to 60-year-old vines. The wine spent 30 months in French and American oak, 30% new. Opaque purple-colored, it exhibits aromas of toasty oak, spice box, saddle leather, licorice, blueberry, and chocolate. Sleek and racy on the palate in spite of its ample size, the flavors reveal succulent blue fruit and chocolate, and a long, savory finish. Give it 3-5 years in the cellar and drink it through 2024.

95 Points R.P.


Loan Semillion $19.99 a Bottle

The dry-grown 2005 Semillon was tank-fermented and spent 8 months in seasoned French oak. Medium straw-colored, it offers an expressive perfume of mineral, melon, spring flowers, and candle wax. This leads to a medium-bodied, ripe, well-balanced Semillon with good depth and length. Enjoy it with shellfish over the next 2-3 years. Loan was the second farm planted in the history of the Barossa. Today the Loan property is the only certified organic vineyard in the Barossa.

89 Points R.P.

The Catania Wine Enhancer; Magic or Hoax?

~~This thought of the Wine Enhancer from Wine Spectator.~~
Yes, it was fun to ridicule the girl down the hall in college who wore black, burned incense and swore by the healing power of crystals. But how would you feel if it turned out she was right about magic and the strange forces of the universe? That's how we felt when the Wine Enhancer--a heavy, funky-looking resin coaster containing about a dozen different metals, crystals and stones--arrived in the mail. Its creator, Robert Catania, a hotel and restaurant owner in Sandwich, Mass., claims that the device helps soften the tannins and lift the aromas of red wine by simply having the bottle placed on it for 10 minutes. "It's energetically bringing in a combination of Orgone energy, zero-point energy and then the frequencies of the crystals and the gemstones. And the enhancers tweak that energy as it comes in," Catania claims. Yes, it sounds crazy--as if putting a cup of coffee on your mouse pad rather than directly on your desk will make it taste different. But



~~This thought of the Wine Enhancer comes from Jim Myers in the Tennessean newspaper.~~

Is it science or magic?

The most fanciful of the lot, a product that conjures images of leaping unicorns and faculty parties at the Hogwarts School, is the Catania Wine Enhancer.

Here's what the PR pitch promised: "[It] creates a harmonically balanced resonate frequency that balances a wine's tannins and boosts the flavor and aroma. Additionally, the Wine Enhancer has been known to reduce or eliminate headaches among wine drinkers, based on many users' testimonials."

What?

"That has highest hooey factor of all of them," says David M. Hercules, the Centennial Professor of Chemistry Emeritus at Vanderbilt University. "Copper or silver wands could conceivably selectively remove tannins, or react with organic sulfur compounds. And magnetic fields can have an effect on molecules, but you need electromagnetic fields like the kind used in an MRI."

Fall Wines courtesy of Vinea Wine

Bottega Vinia Lagrein
$22.99 a bottle

This was hands down everyone's favorite wine of the day. Deep ruby red with a youthful sparkle, aromas of blackberry robed with vanilla, obviously derived from time in large barrels, tannins are subordinate to the fruit. Deliciously smooth on the finish.


El Burro "Kickass" Granacha
$12.99 a bottle

Has Aromas of Kirsch and Garrigue, ripe cherry and jammy red currant flavors and enough structure to last 3 to 5 years.

89 points Robert Parker


Anselmi San Vincenzo
$13.99 a bottle

A well-balanced, round wine with soft citrus fruit. Composed almost entirely of the noble Italian grape, Gargenega, the San Vincenzo is a great alternative for all those white-wine drinkers who are tired of Chardonnay. Clean and crisp with a smooth tropical finish; you really can't beat this value.


Au Boin Climat Hildegard
$36.99 a bottle

I could argue that this is the best White wine in all of California. This is a unique, textural, and complex wine with hints of lavender, marzipan, violets, and white chocolate aromas. A great food wine popular with restaurants. An historical blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Aligote.

Celebrate 10 Years of the Trace

LET'S CELEBRATETHE TRACE RESTAURANT 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Wednesday October 17th & Thursday, October 18th

We want to thank you with a very special menu.The majority of the items in the restaurant will be $10. Yes, I said $10.

All entrees $10.

Two martinis for $10.

Glasses of high end wine for $10.

Two apps for $10.

Come and help us celebrate 10 years of the Trace.

Reservations suggested.

MONDAY NIGHT- SERVICE INDUSTRY NIGHT
All service employees of restaurants, bars, etc. receive the Trace Employee Discount on their whole tab on Monday Night.

Sunday Nights

Buy one Get one Free Entree

Daily Drink Specials

4 - 7 pm
Domestic Beer $2

House Wines $5

Well Drinks $5

Absolut and Stoli Drinks $5

House Martinis $5

Dates of Interest

October 11, 2007

Australian Wine Tasting

6:30-8 pm

$20

Hours

Sunday - Thursday 4pm - 12am

Friday & Saturday 4pm - 2am

Wine Talk with Melanie Armstrong

Great Legs

Visit her website.

See more videos of her on YouTube.

Wine on the River

Saturday,September 15, 2007

3:00pm - 7:00pm

Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge

Wine of the River is now in its 5th year! We are expecting more than 3,000 in attendance!

Vineyards from across the country and around the world will have their wines on hand to be sampled, and even provide some educational insight into the wine-making process.

Enjoy live Jazz music featuring local musicians and the Nashville Symphony Quartet
A portion of the funds generated by the event will go to benefit The DISTRICT, Inc., a non-profit corporation dedicated to the economic and community revitalization of three historic districts and their contiguous areas in downtown Nashville – Broadway, Second Avenue/Riverfront, and Printer’s Alley, collectively known as the District.

A 21 OR OLDER EVENT (Must have valid picture ID with ticket for entry - no one permitted under 21, including children.)

Advance Tickets on sale NOW! (Click the Tickets link to purchase!)HOTEL PACKAGES ARE SOLD OUT!!

Tickets are $45.00 in advance and $55.00 the day of event. Tickets will be sold at the gate ONLY if Advance Tickets are not sold out.

Admission includes all wine samples and a souvenir glass.

Doors open at 3:00 pm.

Food will also be available on-site for purchase.

No outside beverages allowed at the event.

If your business would like to participate in this event or you need more information, call Candace Price at 615-664-2484.

Check the website for more information.

Grand Opening of the Arrington Winery and Vineyard

This past Saturday night we went out to Arrington Winery and Vineyards for the grand opening. They were offering all sorts of tastings and Pat McLaughlin did a concert with Kix Brooks jumping on stage to jam with him towards the end of the concert. It's a beautiful place with a friendly staff and some really good wines. It is located in a nice, rural area outside of Nashville which makes the drive out there beautiful.

It was a really great experience.



Some of the wines we tasted:

Syrah 2004- This was my favorite, it was outstanding and just was a delightful experience for my tastebuds.

Merlot 2005- A really nice delicious wine.

Red Fox Red (non-vintage)- A fun wine that tasted so good.

Sweet Liberty (sweet wine Muscat)- Really nice wine with a nice taste of honeysuckle in it.

Gewurztraminer (semi-sweet)- A white wine with a delicious taste and finish.

Desert Rose (dry rosé non-vintage)- A nice wine.

Raspberry (sweet)- Another good wine.


Arrington Vineyards
6211 Patton Road
Arrington, TN 37014
(615) 395-0102

20 wines at 20% off!

Now through August 4th drop by Vinea and stock up your wine cooler.


Vinea
2410 12th Avenue South
Nashville, Tn
615-269-6880

Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc 2005
Was $14.99-Now $12.99

Valley of the Moon Zinfandel 2004
Was $14.99-Now $12.99

Green Point Chardonnay 2004
Was $17.99-Now $14.99

LinCourt Chardonnay 2005
Was $26.99-Now $16.99

Robert Denogent Saint Veran 2003
Was $32.99-Now $27.99

Ferrari & Perrini Barbara 2005
Was $16.99-Now $13.99

Perrier Jouet Grand Brut M.V.
Was $49.99-Now$43.99

Domaine Zind Humbrecht Vendage Tardive 2004
Was $56.99-Now $47.99

Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir 2005
Was $31.99-Now $27.99

Kenwood Jack London Merlot 2004
Was $26.99-Now $22.99

Castano Solenera 2003
Was $19.99- Now $16.99

Green Point Cabernet/Shiraz 2004
Was $19.99-Now $16.99

Oliver LeFlaive Chassagne Montrachet Rouge 2001
Was $49.99-Now $42.99

Chateau La Louviere 1998
Was $49.99-Now $42.99

Joan D'Anguera "El Bugader" 2002
Was $59.99-Now $36.99

Nozzele "Il Pareto" Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Was $79.99-Now $69.99

Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Was $69.99-Now $59.99

Verasion Synchrony 2003
Was $64.99-Now $55.99

Silver Oak Napa Valley 2001 & 2002
Was $123.99-Now $111.

Tennessee Winery Directory

Apple Barn Wineries
230 Apple Valley Road, Sevierville, TN, 37862

Arrington Vineyards
6211 Patton Road, Arrington, TN, 37014

Beachaven Vineyards & Winery
1100 Dunlop Lane, Clarksville, TN, 37040

Beans Creek Winery
426 Ragsdale Road, Manchester, TN, 37355

Century Farm Winery
1548 Lower Brownsville Road, Jackson, TN, 38301

Chateau Ross Winery, Inc.
5823 Fulton Road, Springfield, TN, 37172

Clinch Mountain Winery
1335 Bullen Valley Road, Thorn Hill, TN, 37881

Countryside Vineyards
658 Henry Harr Road, Blountville, TN, 37617

Highland Manor
2965 South York Highway, Jamestown, TN, 38556

Holly Ridge Winery
486 O'Neil Road, Livingston, TN, 38570

Keg Springs
361 Keg Springs Road, Hampshire, TN, 38461

Long Hollow Winery
665 Long Hollow Pike, Goodlettsville, TN, 37072

Mountain Valley Vineyards
2174 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN, 37863

Old Medina Winery
2894 Old Medina Road, Jackson, TN, 38305

Old Millington Vineyard and Winery
6748 Old Millington Road, Millington, TN, 38053

Red Barn Winery and Vineyard
1805 Tanyard Road, Lafayette, TN, 37083

Savannah Oaks Winery and Gift Shop
1817 Delano Road, Delano, TN, 37325

Smoky Mountain Winery
Winery Square, Suite 2, 450 Cherry Street, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738

Stonehaus Winery, Inc.
2444 Genesis Road, Suite 103, Crossville, TN, 38558

Strikers' Premium Winery
480 County Road 172, Athens, TN, 37303

Sumner Crest Winery and Vineyard
5306 Highway 52, Portland, TN, 37148

Tennessee Mountain View Winery
385 Union Grove Road, Charleston, TN, 37310

Tennessee Valley Winery
15606 Hotchkiss Valley Road East, Loudon, TN, 37774

Tri-Star Vineyards and Winery
168 Scales Road, Shelbyville, TN, 37160

Taste of Europe...the review

We started off outside on the back deck. We enjoyed the evening by looking out over the Threadventures property. It was so nice and we took folks back to see the horses. Conversations were alive as we talked about travels, books and all sorts of things with sometimes everyone involved in one conversation while other times talking just one on one. Some of the conversations were about literature and movies and talked about Pooh, J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan, C.S. Lewis, Willie Wonka, Charley and the Chocolate Factory but we talked about a little bit of everything under the sun.

The wine began to flow while still outside and than we all went inside to listen to Brandon explain the world of cheese to us and then we all tasted and compared tastes, textures and all the fun complexities of cheese.

We soon moved onto the world of wine and enjoyed some wonderful choices from Italy, Spain and France. They all were wonderful wines with great tastes and they were so pleasing in the way they all danced their own little dances with our taste buds. Mark did a great job of making sure we understood and enjoyed the history, the pleasure and more about the wines.

We also had a fantastic Belgian beer called Chimay. It was excellent in taste, texture and had a wonderful finish.

Chad and Carrie Schott from Drumzrguruven attended and Chad begin to played the didgeridoo for us. Afterwards he discussed how he makes his musical instruments, where he goes to sell them (i.e. festivals, art shows, etc), where he finds bamboo and much more.

We had some really nice door prizes to give away before the night was over. Some of the door prizes were:
$85 gift certificate for Mambu,
two $20 gift certificates for Ellendales,
gourd drum from Drumzrguruven
60-minute massage for Seraphim Salon and Spa.

I now look forward to the next which will be coming up soon.

Stay tuned...

Kix Brooks' new winery is now open

Arrington Vineyards, which is owned by country music star Kix Brooks and Brentwood residents Fred Mindermann and Kip Summers, will have its 11 different varieties of wine available for tasting and purchase beginning at noon.

The winery, located in rural Arrington off Patton Road, will be the only place the locally produced wine will be sold. Wine tasting is free, but patrons will only get a half-ounce of each wine. Bottles can be purchased and consumed on the property, and a large deck with a view of the surrounding hills is equipped with tables for this purpose.

The hours will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m

Limited-edition Woodford Reserve whiskey gets wine finish

Super-premium Ky. bourbon goes for broader appeal

By BRUCE SCHREINER
Associated Press

Master distiller Chris Morris and Terry Adams

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
Kentucky bourbon whiskey is commonly mixed with water or soda, but wine?

Brown-Forman Corp. has put a new twist on its premium Woodford Reserve bourbon with a limited edition variation distinct for spending a few months aging in the company's Sonoma-Cutrer wine barrels.

The experiment blends California chardonnay with Kentucky whiskey culture.

The result is called Woodford Reserve's Sonoma-Cutrer Finish, produced at the Woodford Reserve distillery in the heart of bluegrass country near Versailles.

It's the second time Brown-Forman has dabbled in a special whiskey that's an offshoot of its small-batch Woodford Reserve brand. The goal is to build a bigger following for Woodford Reserve in the competitive super-premium bourbon category, and this time perhaps win crossover business from wine drinkers.

"We certainly believe this has a nice connection back to Woodford Reserve, and it would have interest to people who are involved in premium whiskeys," said Wayne Rose, Woodford's global brand director.

He added that it could stir wine drinkers to "think a little differently about bourbon."


Check out the full story in the Tennessean