Maryland Wine Press: June 2009

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The Newsletter of the Maryland Wineries      June 2009      View it online

It's Festival Season!

Great Grapes! Wine, Art & Food Festival

June 13-14 at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville

In the mood for a little relaxation and a lot of Baltimore charm? Then come out to the 7th annual ‘Great Grapes!’ Wine, Art and Food festival June 13 & 14 from 12 to 6pm. Bring your family and friends and pack up the kiddies (they get in free) for Charm City’s only Maryland wine festival at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville in Baltimore County. Sample a variety of Maryland’s delicious wines from 20 different wineries, indulge yourself with great food, and jam out to live music from your favorite local bands. For less than the price of going to a movie on a date night, and a free 6-month subscription to Baltimore Magazine with each ticket purchase, you get a taste of Maryland’s finest wines, food, and fun! Read more and buy tickets online.

GrapeView:
Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc, made popular by the wines of Bordeaux, California and New Zealand, is a wine that more and more Marylanders are discovering. Originally made popular in the Bordeaux region of France, this grape has made its way across Europe and the New World.

Sauvignon Blanc is a grape that produces crisp, dry wine with a decidedly grapefruit-y, citrus-y finish. Sauvignon Blanc makes a great varietal wine and is good for blending, according to Tom Shelton, owner and winemaker of Bordeleau Vineyards & Winery. Shelton is the proud winner of the 2009 Winemasters Choice Awards for “Best in Show” with his Pinot Grigio.

“Where traditional New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wine tends to be more crisp and grassy, California Sauvignon has more body and less acidity,” Shelton says.

Typically dry in style, Sauvignon Blanc is a versatile grape that can produce great wine. Jancis Robinson, author of “Vines, Grapes, & Wines: The Wine Drinker’s Guide to Grape Varieties,” describes Sauvignon Blanc as a very aromatic wine, “white, dry, refreshingly zesty, aggressively recognizable and ready to drink almost before the presses have been hosed down after the vintage.”

Easy to grow in Maryland’s Eastern Shore microclimate, Sauvignon Blanc tends to have a heavy canopy and hangs longer than other grapes, helping to prevent too much acidity in the finish of the wine. Read more online.

Find Farmers' Markets at Marylandsbest.net

Find MD Wine at Farmers' Markets this Summer

As summer approaches, local residents begin to look for the fresh tomatoes and sweet strawberries that Maryland farms are famous for. Not sure what to pair with local produce? You're in luck! This summer, Maryland wineries are headed to select Farmers' Markets throughout the state. Support your local farms and vineyards at a Farmers' Market near you! See a listing of Maryland Farmers' Markets on Marylandsbest.net!

Festival Volunteers Needed!

Wineries need volunteers for the upcoming festivals to help pour wines. Volunteers typically work half a day and gain complementary entry to the festival. Learn more and offer your help!

Winery Design Course

Winery Design & Layout
July 22, 6:30 PM - 9:40 p.m., Bel Air

Building a winery requires more than four walls and a concrete floor. Learn about the basic design and equipment requirements for a new winery. Learn more.

 Wine News

National Wine Day. The National Wine Day Web site is asking people to vote on an official date for wine, one that isn't close to any other holidays and that winemakers will get fully behind. It lists 16 possible dates, one for each month along with the day Prohibition was repealed, Robert Mondavi's birthdate, Mondavi's date of passing and an "other" category.

Wine may help prevent gallstones. A new study has revealed that drinking a moderate amount of alcohol, say a glass of wine daily, protects against the development of gallstones – in fact, it may cut the risk by nearly a third.

MD Wine on DVD. Learn about wine through the expertise of local vintners and experts in "Discovering Maryland Wines," available via Amazon.com.

 Buy Maryland Wine

We appreciate it when a store or restaurant makes the decision to stock and recommend local wines—and the local agriculture it supports.

Retailer of the Month
Vineyards Elite
Pikesville, Baltimore Co.

Restaurant of the Month
Firehouse Tavern
Parkville, Baltimore Co.

See a listing of past honorees —and please support these stores and restaurants!

 Festivals & Events

Our wineries offer a variety of special events—from barrel tastings to concerts, wineries host events each weekend.

See the full list of upcoming events.

Great Grapes! Wine, Arts and Food Festival [details]
June 13-14, 2009
12 - 6 pm
Oregon Ridge Park
Cockeysville, Baltimore Co.

The Maryland Wine Festival®
[details]
September 19-20, 2009
Sat 10-6 pm, Sun 12-6 pm
Carroll County Farm Museum
Westminster, Carroll County

Riverside Winefest at Sotterley [details]
October 3-4, 2009
12-6 pm
Historic Sotterley
Hollywood, St. Mary's County

Eastern's Bayside Blues & Wine Fest [details]
October 10, 2009
12-6 pm
Eastern Yacht Club
Essex, Baltimore County

Autumn Wine Festival [details]
October 17-18, 2009
Pemberton Historical Park
Salisbury, Maryland

See all 2009 festival dates!

 MD Wine Press

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