Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Holidays are Bubbly in Central Florida

A distinct theme jumps out when you look at the Wine Events Calendar for the next couple of weeks – bubbles!

Events at Cavanaugh’s and Hard Rock Universal next Thursday and Friday feature Napa sparkling producer Schramsberg.

Tim’s in Windermere holds a bubbles tasting on Thursday.

BevFly and the Wine Room get into the bubbly spirit the following week.

Several of these events are already sold out, but you could always try your luck with the waiting lists. If all else fails, Central Florida’s many wine purveyors have plenty of bubbly bottles on their shelves to add sparkle to your own festive celebration.

Cheers!

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences, Wine News, Winemakers

Cavanaugh’s new owner plans name change; First tasting next week to feature Schramsberg Vineyards president

Earlier this month, we broke the news that Jay Smith, longtime owner of Cavanaugh’s Wines, had sold his College Park wine shop and bar after nearly twenty years.

We can now tell you that the venue will be getting a new name … and that its first event under new ownership is coming up next week.

Continue reading “Cavanaugh’s new owner plans name change; First tasting next week to feature Schramsberg Vineyards president” →

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Who needs Black Friday when you can have dark chocolate?

It seems Orlando’s wine purveyors think we could all use a little chocolate therapy after yesterday’s turkey, pumpkin pie, and possibly a few family feuds. Next week features, not one, but two chocolate-and-wine themed events:

Get details for these events on the Events Calendar. And if you’re ready to look ahead, you’ll notice the theme becoming decidedly bubbly as December gets underway.

Cheers to the festive season, Central Florida!

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

Successful test run for Jordan Winery’s new caviar & wine tasting

Jordan Vineyard & Winery occupies a rambling French-style “chateau” in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley. Since its founding in 1972, the operation has been almost as much about food and hospitality as it has been about its French-inspired wines. Each tasting experience at Jordan involves wine and food pairings, and the estate even has its own executive chef.

Continue reading “Successful test run for Jordan Winery’s new caviar & wine tasting” →

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Pre Thanksgiving Wine-ing

Central Florida’s wine scene is taking a break next week for Thanksgiving, but there are a couple of fun events this weekend if you feel like a few glasses before the family descends on you for the big day.

Tonight, K Restaurant hosts its monthly “Wine Flight Fridays.” This month’s theme is French wines.

Tomorrow, The Wine Barn celebrates its tenth anniversary with a huge holiday tasting and sale.

Get details on these events, and see what’s coming up after the holiday, on the Events Page!

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Orlando Celebrates the REAL Beaujolais

This coming Thursday is Beaujolais Nouveau Day – the first day the new vintage of light fruity red wine from the Beaujolais region can be released, according to French law.

This young, easy drinking wine made from the gamay grape has enjoyed immense popularity in the U.S.. That would be fine, except that it’s done to the reputation of Beaujolais what white zinfandel did to dry rosé. When people think of Beaujolais, they think of a simple wine to be gulped at holiday parties but not to be taken seriously.

What many people don’t realize is that there are high-quality producers making serious – and seriously good – Beaujolais in ten distinct Cru villages in the region. This is wine that’s meant to be savored and appreciated – and aged more than a few months.

Tim Varan of Central Florida’s Tim’s Wine Market chain says comparing Beaujolais Nouveau to cru Beaujolais is “as fair a comparison as Iberico jamon is to deli ham.”

Cru Beaujolais happens to be one of my favorite types of wine, and it’s been making a resurgence in recent years. It will be an uphill climb, just as it was when dry rosé began its comeback as a respected wine category.

But I think it’s a good sign that no fewer than three Orlando-area wine establishments are using Beaujolais Nouveau Day as an opportunity to showcase serious Beaujolais. Details are on the Events Calendar for November 16.

If you’ve never tried cru Beaujolais, do yourself a favor and swing by Swirlery or Tim’s in Orlando or Lake Mary Thursday. I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences, Winemakers

So much wine, so little time

Next week’s wine calendar is overflowing with dinners, tastings, and classes all over Central Florida.

Kick things off with a bang on Monday in Mount Dora, with a four-course pairing dinner at 1921 by Norman Van Aken, featuring Jean-Nicolas Meo of Burgundy’s Domaine Meo-Camuzet and Jay Boberg of Willamette’s Domaine Nicolas-Jay.

On Thursday, delve into the world of port when Master of Wine Jean K. Reilly leads a class and tasting at Swirlery in Orlando.

Saturday, head to Deland for a mid-day class at Cress focusing on sparkling wines and light reds for the holidays.

Those are just a few highlights from next week’s offerings. Many more new events have been added to the calendar stretching all the way into December, so remember to plan ahead for stress-free sipping!

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Fall in Orlando Brings Two Worthy Wine Dinners … and a Volcano

The chill in the air and the crowded calendar of Orlando wine events can mean only one thing – it’s finally fall in Central Florida!

Highlights for next week include:

Dining to Heal, a four-course wine paired dinner at DoveCote to benefit sexual violence prevention and treatment;

The Many Faces of Pinot Noir with American Seafood at Cress in DeLand, where the seafood is always sustainable and the wine, I’m told, will include the highly allocated Sea Smoke Southing (as of 9:30 this morning, there were eight tickets left);

Billy vs The Volcano at Swirlery, a class & tasting of wines from grapes grown on volcanic soil in places like Mt. Etna and Santorini, led by guest somm Billy Hendricksen;

Wines for Thanksgiving, a free tasting at Tim’s Wine Market in Lake Mary-Sanford, because it’s never too early to start planning for the biggest food holiday of the year!

All the details are on the Events Page, and be sure to look ahead on the calendar – the next few weeks are chock full of events, some of which will most definitely sell out early.

Happy sipping and celebrating!

 

 

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Ready, Set … Holiday Wine!

It seems Orlando’s wine establishments are using the coming week as an opportunity to take a big, deep breath … before the holiday drinking season takes off with a vengeance.

Tim’s Wine Market in Lake Mary-Sanford should get ready for a crowd at Tuesday’s tasting with Lindsey Hoopes of Napa’s Hoopes Winery … because it’s the ONLY thing on the wine Events Calendar next week!

After that, though, it’s off to the races with Halloween, the start of November, and the beginning of the annual holiday wine-ing marathon!

Highlights for the week of October 29 include:

A cavalcade of events follows throughout the holiday season, and they will fill up fast! Check the Events Page early and often so you can fully enjoy the festivities.

Cheers!

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Chile, Cheese & Chocolate – Cheers!

It’s a busy week on Orlando’s wine calendar, and as always, I’m excited to highlight a few upcoming events for you.

But first, I feel the need to acknowledge the sadness wine lovers everywhere are feeling about the devastation in Napa and Sonoma. Many former leading lights in Orlando’s wine scene now call that area home. Our thoughts are with them and with the winemakers and other industry professionals we’ve come to know and love.

If you’re inclined to support relief efforts, several friends in the area have recommended the Napa Valley Community Foundation as a good steward of donated funds.

Moving on … as you’ll see from the Events Page, several of this week’s events are already sold out. Orlando oenophiles are serious about planning! So remember to look ahead on the Events Page and make your reservations early.

That said, if you’re a procrastinator or a last minute kind of wine lover, never fear. There’s still plenty to do next week.

Swirlery is hosting a tasting of wines from the Spanish regions of Ribera del Duero and Rueda on Thursday. (It didn’t fit into my alliterative headline, but it should still be fun!)

The Tasty Trio’s hurricane-disrupted Wine, Cheese, & Chocolate class is rescheduled for next Friday at East End Market. There’s a happy hour beforehand to support efforts to relocate Puerto Rican families displaced by Hurricane Maria.

And next Saturday, it’s part two in WineStyles Baldwin Park’s four-part series of informal but educational tastings of Chilean wines.

Cheers!