Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences, Wine News, Wine Reviews, Winemakers, Wineries

Walla Walla Wanderings: Downtown

Note: It is common practice for wineries to waive tasting fees for wine writers. Some of the tasting rooms reviewed in this post extended that courtesy.

Washington’s wine regions sprawl widely across this diverse and beautiful state, but when it comes to wineries and tasting rooms, there are a few main centers of gravity.

Walla Walla is one of the biggest.

I just returned from my first trip to this small-town-turned-major-wine-destination. I was there to attend the 2018 Wine Bloggers Conference, but I spent some time checking out a few of the area’s 120 wineries too.

Continue reading “Walla Walla Wanderings: Downtown” →

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences, Winemakers

Chile and Bordeaux, Candy and Lamb: Beautiful Chaos in Next Week’s Event Lineup

Some weeks, Orlando’s wine events seem to magically align around a theme, as though Bacchus himself were guiding the hands of our local wine merchants.

Other weeks, it’s utter chaos. Next week falls into the second category … and it looks like a great time!

Monday, you can test your blind tasting skills with Master Sommelier George Miliotes by day and hobnob with a Chilean winemaker courtesy of Central Florida Women for Winesense by night.

Tuesday, taste and learn about the wines of Bordeaux at Tim’s Avalon or combine blind tasting practice with wine-and-Halloween-candy pairings at Swirlery.

Thursday, learn about the building blocks of wine at Tim’s Lake Mary-Sanford or celebrate with Digress Wine as it mark its first anniversary. (The Digress party continues on Friday, so you really don’t have to choose!)

Saturday, get your Level 1 WSET certification with Master of Wine Jean K. Reilly, and then celebrate with an Orin Swift wine dinner at Norman’s or a deliciously self-explanatory event at Tim’s Lake Mary-Sanford called “A Man, A Lamb, and A Plan.”

Details for these and many, many future events are on the Events Page. Wherever you end up next week, you’re sure to learn something new about the wonderful world of wine.

One more thing: in case you missed it, Orlando Wine Blog is hosting its first-ever tasting event on November 8 at Digress featuring the wines of Missouri, home of America’s first AVA. More information and tickets are at the links above. Seating is extremely limited – hope to see you there.

Cheers, Orlando!

Judith Smelser Beyond Central Florida, Tastings, Wine Experiences, Wine News, Winemakers, Wineries

Orlando Wine Blog tasting to feature wines of Missouri, a piece of America’s wine history

I’ve made little secret of the fact that I’m fascinated by wines that are outside the mainstream. Don’t get me wrong – I dearly love great Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Barolo, and even a few California cabs. But give me a grape I’ve never heard of from an unlikely location, and my eyes light up.

When the Missouri Wine & Grape Board invited me a on a press trip exploring the state’s vineyards and wineries last month, I jumped at the chance. I’ve written about Missouri wines in the past, and readers were intrigued.

This time, I was inspired not only to write about the wines, but also to bring some bottles back to Orlando and give my readers an opportunity to try them. I’m partnering with Digress Wine in College Park to host a tasting two weeks from today, on November 8 at 6:30pm, where we’ll sample and learn about these unique wines that rarely make it out of their home state. They’re not distributed in Florida, so this may be your only chance to experience them. Seating is extremely limited, so reserve your spot today!!

Want to know more about the wines we’ll be tasting? Read on!

Continue reading “Orlando Wine Blog tasting to feature wines of Missouri, a piece of America’s wine history” →

Judith Smelser Tastings

Eclectic Wine Events Coming Up

Central Florida is in for a fun streak of wine events next week – a little serious and a little whimsical, a little Old World and a little New, a little something for everyone.

Sunday, sample big California wines from the Wagner family at Tim’s Windermere.

Tuesday, try unique wines from Southern Italy at Bella Tuscany.

Wednesday, Digress Wine hosts its first “Cellar Series” tasting focusing on the many faces of chenin blanc.

Thursday, join the folks at Tim’s in Lake Mary-Sanford for wine and Halloween candy pairings.

Details and reservation info for all these happenings are on the Events Page, along with a couple of unique dinners and tastings farther out on the calendar.

Cheers to a wine-drenched fall, Orlando!

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Alsace, Napa, Bordeaux & More

If you follow Orlando Wine Blog on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, you’ll know that I’ve been wine-ing in Washington State for the past couple of weeks. As I type, though, I’m high over Alabama, winging my way home to the City Beautiful.

I’ll be regaling you with travel tasting tales over the next few weeks, but for now, rest assured that the Orlando-area Events Page is newly-updated! There are plenty of local tastings next week to satisfy every palate.

A few highlights

Tuesday, taste through all of Alsace’s grand crus at Bella Tuscany.

Wednesday, Tim’s Orlando hosts a cool, geeky Bordeaux class examining how tiny geographical differences can affect terroir.

Thursday, celebrate “Winetoberfest” with a German and Austrian tasting at Luisa’s Cellar.

Saturday, it’s another chance to see Somm 3 with Master Somm George Miliotes at Wine Bar George.

Those are just a few highlights from the week’s many possibilities. Check the Events Page for much more.

Cheers, Orlando!

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Tastings Take Central Floridians to Exotic Locales

20181005_070829Next week’s wine events will take you to France, Italy, and South Africa without ever leaving metro Orlando!

Monday, there’s a complimentary tasting of Ruinart Champagne at Wine Bar George. (Yes, that’s free Champagne, and not the kind that has to be spelled with a small “c.”)

Tuesday, choose between a trip to Burgundy with a five-course pairing dinner at Luma on Park featuring producer Albert Bichot, and a voyage to Tuscany with a Brunello tasting at Bella Tuscany.

Thursday, combine two of the three, as Swirlery hosts a tasting of wines from Glenelly Estate, a project in South Africa by a native of Bordeaux.

To cap it all off, it’s worth checking with Tim’s Sanford-Lake Mary to see if there are any seats left for next Sunday‘s bubbles dinner at K Restaurant, because nothing tops off a trip around the world like bubbles!

Details for these and many more wine happenings are on the Events Page.

Cheers to international wine travel, Orlando!