Maryland wineries openings, closings, deliveries, and curbside pick-ups
We have made it to week two of social distancing and self-quarantine. Are you running low in groceries? Most importantly, how is your wine inventory? Don’t worry if your inventory is running low. My team has compiled a list of Maryland vineyards and wineries who are delivering, shipping or have scheduled pick up times. It is not a complete list yet. As we receive updates, we will add them to the list.
Please share with us if you have new information. We will update our list. Be happy, safe, and healthy.
The vineyard openings and deliveries list updated on April 1, 2020
Vino 301 Postponed Wine Tours
Cheers Guests and Friends,
Before every tour, I send a message to our tour ambassadors and drivers. The message always states, “Have a great day and be safe“. Safety is one of Vino 301’s most important values.
In light of all of the closures and the day-by-day changes, we have decided to postpone our tours through the middle of April. Everything will be rescheduled once things are under control.
If you have a tour scheduled, we will contact you to make other arrangements.
We will extend our FREE Lunch promotion through May 31.
This to shall pass and we will be back at the wineries. In the meantime, you can purchase Vino 301 gift certificates for future trips.
We appreciate your thoughtful words, emails, and messages. We miss you already and pray that COVID-19 is contained soon. Stay well and healthy.
Cheers,
Leslie Frelow
Store Your Wines Like Your Luxury Furs
Ok before you call PETA on me, please hear me out. The other day a friend was sharing with me she inherited her grandmother’s fur. She was taking it to have it altered. I asked if she was going to have the furrier store it in the offseason. She replied, no. She has a non-insulated closest she used to house the coat and other furs. As she started to describe the area, the conditions were similar to how you would store wine. Similar to furs, wines should be stored in a dark and cool location.
Wine Storage Tips
Your wine collection is an investment. You may not be ready to convert your spare bedroom to a wine cellar, but you want to safeguard your investment. Here are a few simple tips to ensure every bottle you own is well preserved.
The kitchen is the most popular place to store wine. But, your kitchens may be the worst places to store your wine. Your kitchen has sunlight and heat- two elements that can damage wine. You want your kitchen to be bright and sunny. Who doesn’t? However, the sun rays can damage your wine. UV rays can degrade and prematurely age wine. Your kitchen also can achieve extremely high temperatures. It is a lose-lose combination. Especially when you display wine in those fancy countertop decorative units, you could unknowingly cook your wine. Use temperature-controlled equipment, like a wine cooler, when you want to store your wine in the kitchen.
Placing your wine in your kitchen refrigerator is great for a quick chill. However, it should not be used for extended storage. You prevent cross-contamination from food odors when you do not store wine in your kitchen refrigerator. Also, it is challenging to maintain the kitchen refrigerator between 50-60˚F (10-15˚C) and at the proper humidity.
The ideal temperature is 50 degrees. Your storage area in your basement can reach a similar condition. You want to ensure you have low to moderate humidity in this area: 50 – 70 percent humidity. You want some humidity in the room. The moisture helps to keep the cork moist. Laying the bottles on its side is another method to keep the cork moist.
A closet is the next best thing when a lack of space is an issue. Placing the wine at the bottom of the closet can do the job. Avoid the top shelf; remember heat rises. Ultimately the best method to store your wine is a wine cooler. Consider buying a small wine cooler. Keep your wine fridge in a cool place, it won’t have to work so hard, keeping your energy bill down.
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Enjoying the Health Benefits of Additive-Free Organic Wine
Enjoying the Health Benefits of Additive-Free Organic Wine
Within the next three years, the worldwide consumption of organic wine could reach one billion bottles — a rise of over a third from 2018. Behind its popularity is the growing desire for sustainability in the industry and excellent tasting wine produced without chemical additives. Organic and biodynamic vineyards are certainly better for the environment, and there is some evidence to suggest that organic wine may be healthier to drink. There is currently no requirement for an ingredient list on a bottle of wine, but anyone who has had the chance to experience the wine-making process will be familiar with some of the extra elements that are added to wine. Conventional wine production commonly adds sugars and artificial additives, and many people believe a reduction in their use make organic wines a healthier option.
Higher Levels of Antioxidants
No matter how naturally a wine is produced, its alcohol content may still have a significant effect on health and appearance. Wine causes dehydration of the body, and this process, combined with naturally occurring substances produced during fermentation, will still create a hangover if drunk in excess. One advantage of organic wines is that they tend to have a lower alcohol content but, like any wine, they are still always best drunk in moderation.
In addition, organic farming techniques can lead to healthier grapes that contain higher concentrations of powerful antioxidants and plant compounds such as resveratrol that may reduce inflammation, protect the heart, and lessen oxidative stress. There is some evidence to suggest that organic wine drinkers experience fewer headaches and milder hangovers, indicating that organic wine may be healthier.
No Chemical Residue
Chemical pesticides are potentially toxic to humans, and when left as a residue on crops can cause adverse health effects. Organic wine is made from grapes that have been grown without the use of artificial chemicals found in herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers. Organic wineries work to expand their vineyard’s biodiversity to improve natural pest control and use compost as a natural fertilizer. Biodynamic vineyards take this a step further, treating the vineyard as one solid organism that is capable of self-regulation, therefore eliminating the need for unnatural intervention.
Fewer Artificial Additives
Every bottle of wine does; however, contain some sulfites as they are naturally present in grape skins. Further sulfites are generally added to preserve flavor or stop fermentation. Yet, if a wine is to be recognized as organic by the USDA, no extra sulfites can be added. It is possible to be allergic to sulfites, and for anyone with sulfite-sensitive asthma, they can trigger severe symptoms. If allergens are an issue, natural organic wine may be a safer and healthier choice. More commonly, a diet containing too much sugar can aggravate health conditions such as diabetes, as well as contributing to weight gain. Certified organic wines contain less sugar on average and don’t contain potentially harmful additives such as synthetic flavoring or coloring.
Organic vineyards are undoubtedly better for the environment, and there is some evidence to suggest that organic wines, produced naturally and with fewer artificial additives, can also be beneficial to health.
This blog was written by Ali Jones
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Ultimate Experiences Are The Perfect Holiday Gifts
There is a certain point in your life you don’t want or need another thing. Your closet is filled to the brim with hats, sweaters, scarves, and the like. So, when the one you love looks loving in your eyes and says, “what do you want for Christmas,” you draw a blank stare. You have no idea what you want! In a panic, you say, smokeless grill.
Let’s prevent this unfortunate encounter. Ask for an experience. Experiences create life long memories. Vino 301 found Ultimate Experiences to give to your favorite wine lover. Many of these activities are located in Maryland. The best part of receiving an experience is that you don’t have to find room in your closet to store it. Wait, wait, the truly best part is that you don’t have to go to the mall.
Scenic Helicopter Tour
Take your adventurous wine lover on a helicopter ride over Baltimore’s impressive skyline. It is an aerial tour of Baltimore and views the sites like Inner Harbor, Fort McHenry, and more from a bird’s eye view. Tours flight time can range from 15 minutes to 30 minutes trips. The helicopter tours companies offer package tours, which include dinner, city lights tours, and other seasonal activities. Charm City Helicopters is among the companies in Baltimore. Charm City Helicopters is offering a Groupon deal for a helicopter tour for four people.
Chesapeake Bay Sailing Cruise
Nothing says Maryland like sailing down the Chesapeake Bay. Sail on a Schooner in “America’s Sailing Capital…” Annapolis, MD. Great memories are made on the ship relaxing, helping raise the sails, or steering the boat. Schooner Woodwind (Annapolis, MD) sailing trips are a minimum of two hours. They offer sunset sails and other specialty trips.
Make Your Own Wine
Discover your inner winemaker. Make your own wine at Tin Lizzie Wineworks (Clarksville, MD). Tin Lizzie Wineworks provide everything you need to make your premium wines, from grapes to glass. There are four exciting 1-hour sessions you can craft your own personal vintage that you will enjoy for years to come. Your courses include crushing and ferment, press and barrel, tasting the new wines, and the final session bottle and label. You can purchase by the quarter, half, or full barrel. A quarter barrel makes 5 cases or 60 bottles.
Frederick Culinary Tasting Tour
Embark on a 3-hour guided walking tour and culinary adventure through historic downtown Frederick, Maryland. The Market Street Food Tour takes you through some of Frederick, Maryland’s historical and cultural gems by way of six delicious tastings from local restaurants and specialty food shops. You’ll taste local favorites, including Mediterranean-inspired artisan chocolates and locally brewed beer inspired by colonial Maryland, to name a few.
Wine Cruise
Vino 301 is cruising through old-world Europe wine country. It is a luxury wine cruise in September 2020. For seven days, you sail on Oceania Cruises, Riveria. The cruise theme is Wineries & Wonders. The trip starts in Rome, Italy and traverses along southern France and to Barcelona, Spain. It is the perfect indulgence for any food and wine lover. We will visit glamorous sites like Monaco, and view age-old vineyards in Nice.
Cooking in the City
People always gather in the kitchen. Food brings people together. Cannot think of a better way to bring friends together than taking a cooking class. The Baltimore Chef Shop (Baltimore, MD) offers classes for all ages. Baltimore Chef Shop is a one-of-a-kind teaching kitchen in the heart of vibrant Hampden, a food-lover’s haven in the city of Baltimore.
You can get gift cards from all of the experiences mentioned.
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Fa, la, la Holiday Wine Events… 24 days and more
A friend of mine posted on Facebook she is expecting out of town guests. She was asking for suggestions for activities in and around town. Thus inspiring us to write the 24 days of wine events blog post. There are so many events we could not stop at Christmas Eve. We gathered all sorts of events occurring during the entire month of December. Check out the .pdf calendar at the end of the blog. Each calendar event is linked to vineyards’ website or Facebook page.
Here are a few eye-catching events:
December 7: Legacy Wine Trail, Sip N’ Stuff -Sip your way around the Legacy Wine Trail (Gemey Vineyard, Robin Hill Farm and Vineyard, Romano Winery and Vineyard, and JaneMark Vineyard) while stuffing a holiday stocking with goodies along the way. Start at one of the four wineries, pick up a stocking, get your first stocking stuffer, and enjoy a wine tasting. Then continue to along the trail to the remaining three wineries for tastings and stocking stuffers at each.
December 8: Rivers to Canal Corridor Annual Holiday Sip & Shop – Join Crow Vineyard, Broken Spoke, and Chateau Bu-De Vineyard for the Rivers to Canal Corridor for the Annual Holiday Sip & Shop. Register to join ($19 per person), which includes tastes of wines at each location, a souvenir Rivers to Canal glass, access to the shops at each site & shuttle service between the three wineries.
December 12: Holiday Paint Night – Wine Glass Candle Holder Edition: Wine glasses aren’t just for drinking wine! Back by popular demand at the Olney Winery, we are livening up your holiday table or fireplace mantle with these ADORABLE Wine Glass Candle Holders? Better yet, why not give someone a pair of candleholders for a holiday gift, we’re sure they will put a smile on anyone’s face.
December 13: Ornament Marking Workshop – Create beautiful and unique ornaments for your tree this year at our Ornament Making Workshop! Join Linganore Winecellars on December 13 at any time between 6:00pm to 9:00pm. $35 per person, includes a glass of wine (up to $10), all supplies, and tools to paint up to 4 ornaments. They make a great gift too! Please purchase tickets in advance.
December 17: Wine Flight Night – Explore our amazing selection of wine flights at The Urban Winery by enjoying the FEATURED flight of the night!
December 18: Holiday Wine & Sign Paint Night – If you like to sip and paint, Serpent Ridge Winery has the event for you to create your very own sign! If you can sip, trace, and hold a paintbrush, you can do it! There will be a variety of holiday sign templates and paints as well as some of our other Maryland themed Signs and Wine Lover signs. $25 price includes a piece of wood about 7″x 14″, painting supplies, instruction, and a wine tasting.
December 22: Gunpowder Wine Trail Ugly T-Shirt Event – Purchase Gunpowder Wine Trail Ugly T-Shirt and receive 50% off wine tastings at each winery during the time of event!
Participating Wineries & Businesses:
• Fiore Winery & Distillery
• Mount Felix Vineyard & Winery
• Royal Rabbit Vineyards
• Harford Vineyard & Winery
• Daily Crisis Farms
Here is the calendar .pdf download version. It may take a moment to load. Thank you for your patience.
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Grateful to Witness Diversity in Wine: The Black Wine Experience
Do you remember writing, “What I did during my summer vacation” essay? This blog invokes middle school memories trying to convey an entire summer in 500 words or less. I promise to spare you every detail and only share the highlights of my amazing and transformative experience. The Swirl Suite, a weekly podcast I co-host with three extraordinary women, broadcasted live in New Orleans over the July 4th weekend. We attended the Black Wine Experience. The Black Wine Experience was a weekend of celebrating African-Americans in the wine industry. Winemakers, importers, wine brokers, distributors, and of course, media influencers gathered to recognize diversity in wine. During this season of gratitude, I am grateful to have witness diversity in wine.
Diversity is a hot topic. The craft beverage industry has not escaped this topic. The wine industry has been called out, chastised, placed on “front street” for its lack of diversity in ownership, vineyard managers, winemakers, distribution, virtually all segments. Women and black and brown people are STILL not represented in sizeable numbers. Blogs like Julia Coney, “Your wine glass ceiling is my glass box. An open letter to Karen Macneil and the wine industry” provoked an international discussion. Her blog sheds light on the plain sight disparities.
The Black Wine Experience was a platform to celebrate notable individuals. My Swirl Suite sisters and I had the honor to interview these celebrated individuals. Brenae Royal, the first and only African-American female vineyard manager, and Isiah Thomas, hall of fame basketball icon, entrepreneur, and now Champagne producer, are among individuals we interviewed.
The entire weekend was epic, and we have the audio to prove it! We talked to so many great blacks in wine. I am excited to share with you our interviews. The podcast is a two-part series.
Episode One
The first episode features Gallo Wines vineyard manager Brenae Royal; Gallo Wines diversity and marketing professional Derek Epps and winemaker Jennifer McDonald of Jenny Dawn Cellars. Jenny Dawn Cellars brought California winemaking to the mid-west. It is a new winery in Wichita, KS.
Episode Two
Episode two is so large that we created two segments. The first segment features Chris Wachira, Ph.D., and Chadwick Spell of Wachira Wines. Wachira Wines is a woman-owned winery and a culmination of the extraordinary vision and effort of Dr. Chris Wachira, the first Kenyan-born, Californian winemaker, distributor, importer, and exporter. Winemaker Paula Harrell of Harrell Wines is a California native who was introduced to wine while studying abroad. Isiah Thomas of Cheurlin Champagne known for his business savvy and philanthropic endeavors as much as his storied athletic career. Isiah and his wife Lynn wanted healthier, great-tasting champagne without the added sugar. He is a hands-on owner of Cheurlin Champagne.
The second segment features a wine importer and distributor Larry Boone of Lawrence Boone Selections. Lawrence Boone Selections is dedicated to finding the best biodynamic and natural wines sourced from small family owned wineries. Mohamed Morretta founding partner of LaKool Champagne. Morretta and Robert “Kool” Bell, from legendary Kool and The Gang band, are the inspiration for LaKool Champagne.
Please take a listen to the Swirl Suite shows. I think we captured the excitement and positive energy flowing through the weekend.
If you want to hear more Swirl Suite shows, you can click here.
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Generations Vineyard: Maryland’s newest vineyard
The Vino 301 Team took a day off over the summer. What does a bunch of winos do on their day off? Go wine tasting!!! The team took a trip to Leonardtown, Maryland, to Generations Vineyard, Maryland’s newest vineyard.
Generations Vineyard is truly a family affair. The vineyard is operated and owned by the Norris family. Three sisters from the Norris family started the vineyard in 2012. It is kind of funny to call them Maryland’s newest vineyard when they began in 2012. Generations started planting in 2012. This goes to show you vineyards just do not pop up. Operating a vineyard is a marathon, not a sprint. Generations Vineyard is located on Wheatleys Content Farm. Four generations call the Wheatley Content Farm home, hence the name of the Vineyard.
The Vino 301 team was warmly welcomed by Sarah, one of the Norris sisters, for our wine tasting. It was a typical hot, humid Maryland summer day, so we appreciated sitting under the tent and catching a breeze here and there. Space in the tasting room is limited, so make sure you call before your visit.
Winemakers have a “lead grape.” The lead grape is the predominant grape used in many of their wines. There isn’t a science to picking the lead grape. The lead grape is selected because the winemaker had an abundance of that varietal, the winemaker prefers working with that grape, or the moon was purple, who knows. Chardonel is Generation’s lead grape. No, auto-correct didn’t skip Chardonel. Chardonel is a French American hybrid, a cross of Seyval and Chardonnay grapes. It has clean, crisp characteristics of a Chardonnay. It is robust, like the Seyval grape, and withstands colder temperatures. Chardonel is used to make full-body white wines.
Generations flagship wine is the 2018 Estate Chardonel. Our group’s favorite wine. It is a dry white wine with notes of pears and crisp green apples. Perfect patio sipping wine. We actually shared this wine during our visit. Generations has two white wine blends round out their white wine selections. Both blends are made with Chardonel and Albariño. Albariño is showing up everywhere. 2018 Berkman’s Blend is a sweeter, semi-dry wine. Named after their grandfather. Love how they honor those laid the path for their future endeavors. The other blend is the 2018 Heirloom. Same grapes, but the Heirloom is a dry white wine style with notes of apricots and stone fruits. All of the wines are aged in stainless steel tanks.
2018 Chambourcin and 2018 Wheatleys Content are the red wine selections. Both wines have French Oak contact. They spend time aging in French Oak barrels. If you are a Chambourcin enthusiast, you will enjoy this wine. It is a mild body and rich in traditional Chambourcin flavors. The 2018 Wheatleys Content is a Petit Verdot and Chambourcin blend. Generation selects grapes that thrive in Maryland and will offer authentic favors.
The wines are reasonably priced, ranging to $17 a bottle to the mid- $20s.
The Vino 301 team had a great time and will be back. If you want to make an afternoon of wine tasting, Port of Leonardtown Winery is minutes away. Generation Vineyard is located off Route 4 on Wheatleys Content Farm. 22715 Wheatleys Content Farm Lane Leonardtown, MD Tasting room hours Fridays 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm and Saturdays 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm. More information www.Generationsvineyard.com
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Best Ways to Pair Wine with Cigars
Whether we are talking about a warm autumn afternoon or an elegant socializing evening, wine and cigars are some of the best matches for you to have a fantastic taste experience. We already associate cigars with elegance and class and wine is definitely considered one of the noblest and emblematic drinks in the world. Pairing the two of them is a palate-pleasing experience. Consider some guidelines to follow to ensure you enjoy this amazing taste journey.
White wine vs. Red Wine
Select likes with likes when you pair white wine with a cigar. Try a medium bodied wine, like Torrentés, Chablis or Vinho Verde with light or medium-bodied cigar. The flavors and undertones will brilliantly convey. If you like Chardonnay, select a stainless-steel aged wine. Oak barrel Chardonnay will overwhelm a light or medium bodied cigar.
Red wine, like Cabernet Franc, Meritage, and Tannat, has richer flavors and a more fuller body. Fuller bodied wines goes perfectly with medium and even medium to full-bodied cigars. A perfect match for red wine can be a H.Upmann No.2 thanks to the fact that is has a woody undertone that can complement the wine’s tannic composition and bold flavors.
Pinot Noir can be quite challenging to pair. This wine is full of personality. It often proves incredibly delicious but yet very temperamental. A good pair for this wine has to be of equal power and a full-bodied cigar from Bolivar can be the perfect match in the battle of flavors and taste for this specific wine.
Sweet vs. Dry
It is important to consider the flavor palette of the cigar. If the cigar tends to be more on the leathery or nutty side, it is better to pair it with a dry wine because they can balance each other better.
The evolution of the cigar, while it is smoked, is also significant. A drier wine that has wood, leather, earthy, and nutty undertones can sweeten the flavor of the cigar. These wine flavors will bring forward the personalities of both the cigar and the wine.
Semi-dry and sweet wines go perfectly with fruity and floral cigars. They will balance the taste of each other without displaying major differences in terms of undertones.
Old vs. New
A young wine tends to have a higher acidity, which means that it will be an excellent match for a young cigar. The best way to identify a young cigar is by looking at the wrapper. A light color indicates a short aging time, and a deep brown shows many years of aging.
Aged wine has a more intense personality when it comes to the taste. The bouquet is more diverse and the bursts of flavor are more intense. A matching cigar will have a similar personality and this is why cigars such as Maduro are an excellent match. This way the two powerful personalities will manage to compliment each other in the perfect aroma dance.
Pairing wine and cigars are exciting and delightful tasting experiences one can have thanks to the fantastic diversity of aromas and undertones.
Thank you Swiss Cuban Cigars for sharing your knowledge with us in the creation of this blog. To learn more about cigars, visit Swiss Cuban Cigars
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Moscato Love it or Leave It
National Moscato Day: Moscato Love It or Leave It
If there was ever a divisive wine, it is Moscato. People have extreme opinions about Moscato. You either love it or leave it. There isn’t a middle ground. People strong feelings center around the same issue. SUGAR. Those individuals on Team Moscato love its sweetness. They love the honeysuckle, pear and orange bloom flavors. The grape’s natural aromatics and flavors are so sweet and fruity, which influences the perception of a higher sugar level than it is actually present. Anything but Moscato Team dislikes the higher residual sugar in some Moscato. Residual sugar is grape sugars leftover in a wine after the alcoholic fermentation finishes.
Interestingly, Moscato is more significant than its sweetness. There are multiple styles of Moscato. Sparkling is a popular style in Italy. Moscato d’Asti (semi-sparkling) and Asti Spumante (sparkling) are commonly served with bbq, fish and hearty vegetable dishes.
There are drier styles. In Maryland, Xella Winery and Vineyard (Laurel Grove, MD) makes a drier Moscato. “Almost’cato is a re-imagined take on the popular Moscato style wine. This dry white wine is bold with a hint of sweet-tart and granny smith apple to accentuate the natural”, as described by Xella. It is worth a try.
credit: Xella Winery and Vineyard
Let’s join hands today and celebrate National Moscato Day. May 9 is National Moscato Day was created in 2012 by the Gallo Family Vineyards, according to NationalCalendarDay.com. Here are some facts about Moscato:
- Muscat Blanc is the grape used to make Moscato.
- Muscat Blanc is one of the oldest known variety of grapes grown in the world.
- Moscato is now the fastest growing wine on the American market, growing at a rate of 25 percent a year for the last three years, and it shows no signs of stopping. (Vinepair.com)
- HIP HOP stars like Drake, L’il Kim, has influenced the popularity of Moscato.
In observation of National Moscato Day, try a Moscato new to you. You may become a life long Team Moscato member.
