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GrapeView: Cabernet Sauvignon
Nicknamed the “king of red wine
grapes,” Cabernet Sauvignon is often recognized as the
premier red wine grape in the world.
These small, dark grapes have a thick
skin, making them highly resistant to disease. Cabernet Sauvignon
grapes offer high levels of tannin to create a more complex
wine than other red grapes.
Cabernet Sauvignon earned its reputation
in the Bordeaux region of France, where it may be combined
with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petite Verdot to create
the great wines of the region. While Cabernet Sauvignon can
be grown in almost every climate, the grapes thrive in regions
with warm, sunny days with cool nights. Cabernet Sauvignon
grapes ripen mid to late season.
“It’s all about the flavor,”
says Bert Basignani of Basignani Winery. “We don’t
have the long summers necessary to get the full body that
you’ll get in California, but if your looking for a
medium-bodied red, it’s as good as any in the world,”
says Basignani.
Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard’s Mike
McGarry says the hardest thing about Maryland Cabernet is
getting it fully ripe. The winery, located in Dickerson, Maryland,
was the winner of the 2008 Maryland Winemasters’ Best
Dry Red for its 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon.
“Cabernet Sauvignon is the last
to ripen so we are at the mercy of October and early frosts,”
says McGarry. Still, there are benefits to Cabernet Sauvignon. Read
more.
MD
Wine & Cheese Tasting at the BMI—April 1
Maryland wine and cheese make an amazing
pair, so come to the Baltimore Museum of Industry on April
1 to taste and learn about two of our State's tastiest agricultures.
Learn
more.
Frederick
Wine Trail Offers Trivia Rally
As we turn our lives these days to more
local experiences, this March the Wine Trail presents a “Fine
Wine, Six at a Time, Trivia Rally.” Visit each of the
six Wine Trail wineries this March; learn the answer to the
trivia question about one of the women members of each winery
and be entered to win(e). Read
more.
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The 2009 Maryland Wine photo contest winner—by Matthew
Borkoski
Congrats! to Matthew Borkoski, 2009 Photo Contest Winner
Photographer Matthew Borkoski has been
visiting wineries over the past year looking for ways to capture the beauty of Maryland wine. His
poster will be featured on the soon-to-be-released 2009 Artist Series Poster.
MD Wine Economic Impact Study Released
The Jacob France Institute at the University of Baltimore has released a study of the Maryland wine industry's impact on the state of Maryland, noting that wineries bring more than $50 million in economic activity to the state. Read
more.
Wine News
Direct
Shipping. Maryland's not the only state considering
wine by mail: New
Jersey also hopes for direct wine shipping in the coming
year.
Wine
goes Green. the Bordeaux wine region, among others,
recently announced their green
initiatives for the coming years.
From
Farm to Vine. A historic farming family is turning
to grapes and wine—and forming Layton's Chance Winery.
A
Toast to Health. A glass of wine a day may
be protective against esophageal cancer.
Alcohol
Taxes Raised? Legislators
consider raising alcohol taxes for the first time in 30
years.
MD
Wine Legislation. Carroll County lawmakers endorse
new
license for wineries.
Frederick
Co. Asks for Change. Frederick County has the largest
concentration of wineries in the state—six wineries—and
has asked for a number of changes
to its law.
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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.
Wine
in the Woods [details]
May 16-17, 2009
12 - 6pm
Symphony Woods
Columbia, Howard Co.
Chesapeake
Bay Wine Festival [details]
May 30-31, 2009
12 - 6pm
Stevensville, Queen Anne's Co.
Great
Grapes! Wine, Arts and Food Festival [details]
June 13-14, 2009
12 - 6 pm
Oregon Ridge Park
Cockeysville, Baltimore Co.
See all 2009 festival dates!
Learn More
There's so much more to learn about wine on our site!
• Food & wine pairings
• Guide to MD
grapes
• Know your limits
• History
of MD wine
• Profiles
of MD winemakers
• Wine industry statistics
• Read or submit FAQs
• MD wines winning
awards
There's
so much more information available on www.MarylandWine.com.
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March 2009 