Archive for Wine

The Boston Wine Expo is an amazing event.  Over two days, you are surrounded by hundreds of wines and dozens of foods.  Even when you reduce those numbers to the amount that you actually sample, there still are many names and faces to remember.  At the end of the weekend, the most memorable are the ones that will stay with you.

One such memorable winery was Aaron Wines based in Paso Robles, California.  I was able to speak with the owner, Aaron Jackson, about his Petite Sirah, his vineyards, and his first trip to the chilly and snowy Northeast.  While speaking, I, of course, sampled some of his 2006 Petite Sirah, which was full-bodied, well balanced, and smooth.  An absolutely lovely wine!

With the numerous attendees at the expo, there simply is not enough time to conduct a full interview.  Since then I have emailed with Aaron to learn more about his wines. (more…)

Nothing like an exciting title to get some attention!  That is exactly what those two words did for me on Saturday.  Attending the Boston Wine Expo, I had spoken with many wineries and distributors and was starting to feel a little overwhelmed with the data.  Even though I love wine, I really was thinking it was time to talk about something else, when I noticed the fuschia and black sign with the title, “Sassy Bitch”.  As I enjoy moments of sassy-ness, I decided I could muster the energy to talk to one more winery before moving onto food.

Being a fan of reds, I sampled their Cabernet Sauvignon and found it to be pleasing to my palate.  Keep in mind that I tried only a sample, maybe an ounce, so to try and explain all of the flavors present would be difficult.  (more…)

A quick checklist for Parched No More readers:

1. Do you live in New England?
2. Do you enjoy wine?
3. Would you like to sample wines from 450 different wineries?
4. In addition, would you like to sample a variety of foods?
5. Would you like to meet famous chefs and watch cooking demonstrations?
6. Would you like to learn more about wines, whether you are a novice or a connoisseur? (more…)

In September, our beer reviewer, John, attended the Wicked Wine & Brew Fest.  While at this festival, he was able to sample many excellent products, including mead from Piscassic Pond Winery.  With little knowledge about mead, except for references to it in literature, such as Beowulf and Harry Potter, an interview with the owners seemed  to be a good idea.  Meeting with Roberta Gerkin, one half of the mead making team, I learned quite a bit about this historical drink.

Piscassic Pond Winery received its license in 2003 and sold its first batch of mead (also known as honey wine) in 2004.  This winery would be deemed small, producing between 500 and 600 cases of mead each year.  Located in Newfields, New Hampshire, their product can be purchased in-state only.

Making mead is a multi-step, yearlong process.  The ingredients for mead are three:  honey, water, and yeast.  These ingredients are combined in a vat, and after approximately six weeks, it has become alcohol.  However, at this point the beverage does not taste very good.  In order to produce mead that is pleasing to the palate, it needs to mature for about a year.  After the initial 6 weeks, it is moved from its initial vat into another vat to continue aging.   Once matured, the mead is filtered, bottled, and labeled.

Like other wines, mead can be dry, semi-sweet, or sweet.  However, being made from honey, mead tends to be sweeter than its grape counterparts.  A dry mead has the sweetness that is similar to a semi-dry wine.  Of course, with 800 pounds of honey needed to make 320 gallons of mead, that shouldn’t be too surprising.

Piscassic Pond Winery also produces different varieties of mead.  They produce both melomels and metheglins.  Melomels are meads that has been infused with fruits, such as elderberry or pumpkins.  Metheglins are meads that have been infused with spices, such as rosehips or winter spice.

I brought a few samples home from my interview.  While I don’t consider myself anywhere near enough qualified to review mead, I do have to admit that I found it to be quite appealing.  From its beautiful golden color to its honey aroma to its rich flavor, I enjoyed my initial foray into mead.

To learn more about mead or Piscassic Pond Winery, please visit their website.

Despite a little rain and some overcast conditions, Mel’s Funway Park was bustling with eager patrons attending the second Wicked Wine & Brew Fest.  The event had been held last year in Hollis, and this year was changed to a more central location near Manchester.  Either way, people were out in droves, and the goodness was flowing.

Aside from the obvious wine and beer, there were vendors from: Cozy Tea Cart (great tea), Tastefully Simple (with beer bread mix), Kettle to Keg (way better than Mr. Beer), The True Nut Company (awesome almonds) and other local vendors getting their names out about local products and services. (more…)