Virginia Does Cab!

Tucked away in Caroline County, Virginia, there is a gem that should be the next winery on your “places to visit” list. The Vine Wine Club had the pleasure of exploring local vineyard, Castle Glen Estate Farm and Winery, found right off of Route 1, nestled between oak trees and not much else. Nature is the gorgeous frame that captures the picturesque beauty of Castle Glen.  But there is one true star…and that is what is in the bottle!  

I have a confession.  Castle Glen Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the best that I’ve ever tasted!  And it makes me proud to know that it is grown and bottled right here in Virginia. 

It is a familiar story that someone falls in love with wine and all of its nuances and decides to try to make it.  Not everyone gets it right.  As Ed Cowdrey, owner of Castle Glen Estate Farm and Winery and winemaker-in-chief, found out, it isn’t an easy process.  After visiting numerous wine shops and tasting thousands of wines, Ed found a love for wine.  He was intrigued with how the beverage was so versatile and how manipulating the process created a difference experience in the bottle.  His first attempt at wine making was with a wine kit and led to him eventually growing Concord grapes.  Unfortunately for Ed, he didn’t enjoy the “sweet” fruit of his labor since he had come to enjoy drier styles.  Fortunately for us, he didn’t give up!   Ed’s passion and commitment only grew. 

Castle Glen Winery’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon was the first wine for retail.  The research and persistence paid off. Cowdrey has perfected the wine’s dark, inky color while finding the perfect balance of fruit and acid.  The wine offers a softness that is not always found in a Cabernet Sauvignon.  Aged 14 months in French oak barrels, it lends a currant quality on the mid-pallet with a nice peppery finish.  The wine pairs very well with dark chocolates, various cheeses, and red meats. 

Ed Cowdrey credits his winemaking expedition to his lovely wife, Pamela, who graciously shared the kitchen with Ed to start his wine growing in their home in Chesterfield, Virginia. The vines quickly outgrew the small space and soon decided to purchase enough land for a house and a vineyard.  Ed plans to extend the vineyard with 6,000 additional vines to be planted in Spring 2017.

Castle Glen Estate Farm and Winery is a private winery where Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot flourish.  Stainless steel tanks and French and American oak barrels throughout the property almost make you forget that you are “home”.  In addition to producing wine that rivals some of the best Bordeaux, the setting takes you to something that must be close to Utopia. 

The Castle Glen Estate Farm and Winery is more than a home for phenomenal wine but also a venue for private wine tasting events, weddings, and private parties. The vineyard is a gorgeous space to hold a special event as well as space for more wine!

To contact Castle Glen Winery for a private tasting or a private event, you can visit www.castleglen.wine or you can send a message to ecowdrey@castleglenfarm.com.   Castle Glen Cabernet Sauvignon is available at www.thevinewineclub.com.  Bring the experience of France directly to your door.

Check out my interview with Ed on the "Off The Vine with Benita and Terricinia" radio show on the May We Help You Radio.  Click here!

The Exclusive Blacklist...A True Story

I want to tell you a true story.  Just a little over a year ago, I called an old friend who had been one of my wine reps when I first got into the industry.  I called him because I was looking for a particular brand of wine that I knew his distribution company carried.  How did I know that they carried it?  Two reasons.  Our ABC board has a website that will list every wine, spirit, and beer that is approved in the Commonwealth.  I also knew because I had reached out to the winery owner to find out which distribution company had it and just how many cases they had in its warehouse.  I called my friend because I was surprised when I was told by another person at the same company that they didn't carry it.  Because I knew that my friend would tell me the truth, I called him.

At first, my friend told me that they didn't have it.  When I explained to him how I knew that they had it, he asked for some time to look into it.  The following day, he called me back to tell me that they had it in a warehouse in Norfolk and no one was interested in getting it here to Richmond.  Because my friend realized that it made no sense and wanted the sale, he made sure that his company transported my order to the Richmond warehouse so that I could pick it up.

I've always wondered had this wine not been owned and produced by an African-American would I have had to jump through such hoops.  I could understand if it didn't sell well.  But it seemed to be selling just fine in Total Wine and other big box stores.  Hmmm.

I do not believe that this story is unique.  So what can we do about it? I know, it's wine.  Doesn't seem that important.  But it is important.  The Exclusive Blacklist is important and events like it are lifelines for those brave souls who dare enter this tough industry.

I've charged myself with hosting an event to celebrate African-Americans in the wine industry.  The purpose is to introduce these wines to my family, friends, and colleagues and passing the assignment on to them.  If we like the wines, we should buy the wines and ask the wine retailers and restaurants that we support to make these wines available.  Just how much Yellow Tail can we drink?  We deserve the best!  And many of the wines that you will taste at The Exclusive Blacklist are rated high and receive critical acclaim by wine aficionados everywhere.  We invite you to be the judge!

This year, cast your vote to decide who goes home with our beautiful People's Choice award.  In order to vote, you must be present.  Here's how:

The Exclusive Blacklist
The Shoppes at The Renaissance
101 W. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220

Call 804-993-4130 for tickets or email me at thevinewineclub@gmail.com for more information.

Meritage: I Thought You Knew

A couple of weeks ago on "Off The Vine with Benita and Terricinia", we were having a conversation all the while tasting some really nice wines from Hayes Valley Vineyards.  Recently, I went back and (bravely) listened to the show.  First let me apologize for the shenanigans and silliness.  We've warned you that if you want to learn anything from the show, you should tune in early because once we start, it goes down from there.  But on the more serious side, I heard myself mention that I was drinking a Meritage.  I said it with confidence and a conviction that everyone listening knew what I was talking about.  I said it with an unintentional arrogance.  So please forgive me for being a snob that one time.

So what is Meritage?  Meritage is a wine that is made of two or more of specific noble grapes of Bordeaux.  It can be either red or white. In making a Meritage, no grapes can comprise more than 90% of the blend.  If these specific qualities are not met, you got yourself some other blend but not a Meritage.  The name itself (rhymes with heritage) is made up of the word "merit" which reflects the quality of the grapes and "heritage" which represents tradition.  A Meritage does not have to be produced in France.  They are made all over the world. The one that I was drinking is from Central Coast (California).

There are a lot of wines and wine terms that are "givens" for what is actually in the bottle.  For instance, Pouilly- Fuisse is Chardonnay, Vouvray is Chenin Blanc, etc.  We know that because we've learned that.  We've learned that there are specific regions that produce wines from very specific grapes.  In most instances, the wines are named after the regions and not the grape.  I don't know about you, but I am starting to see more winemakers "dumb down" the labels to tell us exactly what's in the bottle.  For that, I am grateful.  I don't want every time that I drink wine to turn into a test of my memory of geography.  I'm exhausted just thinking about it!


Want to win a pair of tickets to a wine class?  Email me at thevinewineclub@gmail.com with the "noble" grapes that can be used to make a red Meritage.  The contest ends on September 18, 2015.  We will enter the correct responses in a drawing for two tickets to our "How To Taste Wine Like a Pro" class that takes place on October 1, 2015.

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Wine Pairs Well with Everything!

When I was a child, I would cringe when I saw my grandfather put ketchup on his eggs.  I am not sure if it was due to my bias that ketchup only belonged on cheeseburgers and french fries or my dislike of eggs.  Although I will never try my grandfather's combination, I've learned to appreciate that maybe it is similar to an omelette that features tomatoes.  In my house, ketchup is a staple.  My son likes it on almost everything.  When I commented that to him, he replied that ketchup is to him as wine is to me...I like it with everything.  As much as I hate to admit it, he is right.

Champagne with brunch, something crisp and white in the evening with my fruit salad, and a little Tawny Port as my dessert; wine is so versatile.  We enjoy it with many of our activities such as paint parties, wine and cheese receptions, and book club meetings.  Wine has become a staple at Ladies' Nights and just the simple excuse needed to have a party.  Wine is a great connector.  I have met so many people over wine and many have become my friends.  We've laughed, cried, traveled, and solved problems.  It is a great conversation starter as well as a favorite night cap. In wine bars, I've never seen a bar fight.  It is the beverage of the peacemakers and the elixir of the "cool". Some of us in the industry get caught up in wine pairings but the smartest among us know that wine is best paired with friends.

In honor of summer, enjoy a glass with me today.  Cheers!!!

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