Judith Smelser Wine Experiences, Wine News, Wine Reviews

Parkview Pushes Boundaries with New Flights

For the past three years, The Parkview has been pushing the bounds of oenophilic (that’s really a word!) creativity.

In 2014, Matt Coltrin took over the classy Park Ave. wine bar that was once the Winter Park outpost of downtown’s Eola Wine Company. He has since created a wine list that gently but persistently nudges patrons outside their comfort zones – and in a very smart way.

The Parkview continued Eola Wine Co’s popular program of flights, but Coltrin began sneaking a few lesser-known varietals into the lineups. A Uruguayan tannat could appear next to a Chilean cabernet and an Argentinian malbec. A picpoul de pinet might show up alongside a sauvignon blanc and a pinot grigio.

The strategy meant customers could gamble on a new wine without having to commit to a full glass.

After three years of training, The Parkview must now believe its patrons’ palates have significantly matured – because it’s just debuted two whole flights of some seriously unusual wines.

Continue reading “Parkview Pushes Boundaries with New Flights” →

Judith Smelser Tastings, Uncategorized, Wine Experiences

Bubbles, Chocolate, & Master Somms!

Are you seeking a little decadence as we slip into Florida’s sultry summer? You’re in luck!

  • If you act fast (registration ends today), you can still get in on unlimited bubbly and lunch at Cooper’s Hawk this Sunday with Central Florida Women for Winesense Sunday Funday.
  • Later in the week on Thursday, indulge with wine and chocolate pairings at Swirlery.

Also, an early heads-up about a wine dinner at 1921 with not one, not two, but THREE Master Sommeliers. It’s May 11, and I imagine it’ll be worth the trip to Mt. Dora.

Check out our events page for all the details on these and many other Central Florida wine happenings.

Cheers!

Judith Smelser Small Sips, Tastings, Wine Experiences

Small Sips: Opici’s Spring Tasting Hints at New Arrivals for Central Florida Wine Lovers

“Small Sips” is a new, short & sweet feature showcasing wine events around Central Florida.

Opici Family Distributing holds a couple of trade tastings a year to show off its new arrivals and current standouts to somms and wine buyers from across Central Florida.

The spring event on Monday at Cafe de France on Park Avenue provided a sneak peak of wines that may be coming soon to your favorite bar, shop, or restaurant.

Here are a few highlights:

  • Albert Bichot Burgundies
    Great range, from entry level Beaujolais to Premier Crus – hard to pick a favorite

  • Krone rosé cuvee brut, Tulbagh, South Africa
    Champagne method, refreshing without being simple. (Expect to see this by the glass at a Park Ave. establishment yet to be named!)

  • Leeuwenkuil grenache noir 2015, Swartland, South Africa
    Soft, easy-drinking, lots of fruit

  • Groot Constantia pinotage 2014, Western Cape, South Africa
    A good introduction to pinotage, without so much smokiness and tannin

  • Markus Schneider riesling 2015, Pfalz, Germany
    Crisp, tangy, lots of minerality – everything you want from a dry riesling

  • Left Coast Cellars pinot noirs, Willamette Valley, Oregon
    Interesting line of single-vineyard pinots, plus a fun white pinot and a rosé of pinot
Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

NEW WINE EVENTS!

The lovely lineup in the photo above came from The Occasional Grape‘s “Rosé and Summer Sippers” tasting last night. I discovered a few new favorites, including a fun and funky rosé of nebbiolo from Proprieta Sperino!

If you missed that or any of the other great wine events in Central Florida this week, not to worry. There are lots more coming up.

  • BevFly celebrates its third anniversary tomorrow with – what else – a wine tasting.
  • Tim’s Orlando showcases weird and wonderful wines that you don’t know about but should on Wednesday.
  • Swirlery gets festive Thursday with a Spring Fling tasting.

Check out the calendar and start sipping!

Judith Smelser Uncategorized, Wine News

NEW! Central Florida Wine Venue Listing

Central Florida is fortunate to have a growing number of wine-centered shops, bars, and tasting rooms – veritable playgrounds for oenophiles. They offer curated selections of wines by the glass and bottle, as well as offer tastings and classes to help wine lovers educate and expand their knowledge and their palates.

Not sure where to start? I’ve compiled a list of my favorites, organized by location. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but rather a work in progress. Check back for updates as I continue to explore the area’s wine locales. (I’ve got a couple on my list already.) Talk about a labor of love!

Is your favorite sipping spot on this list? If not, let me know where I should visit next. Cheers!

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Spring brings new classes, tastings, & dinners to Orlando’s wine scene

Spring is in the air, and Central Florida’s wine community is getting into the spirit with a plethora of new events.

If you want to refresh your wine knowledge, discover a wine you’ve never heard of, or get serious with a professional wine certification, you’ll find the perfect class among April’s many offerings.

If you want an excuse to strut your fancy new Spring duds, you won’t be out of place at a four-course wine dinner at one of downtown Orlando’s hottest restaurants.

Or, if you just want to kick back with a nice glass of rosé on the porch or by the sea, there’s a tasting coming up where you’re sure to find a new favorite.

Get details about these happenings and many others on our updated wine events calendar. You’re sure to find the perfect event to quench your springtime thirst.

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Judith Smelser Wine News

Two Orlando Wine Leading Ladies to Take Advanced Somm Exam

My journey into the world of wine can be traced back to two women – Jill Davis and Melissa McAvoy.

I met Jill in 2014. She’d just moved to Orlando for a job with an Argentinian importer, and we started chatting when she was pouring for a tasting at The Wine Barn. She was studying for her Certified Sommelier exam at the time, and she asked if I’d like to join her blind tasting group … even though I wasn’t studying for anything and was barely more than a novice.

Continue reading “Two Orlando Wine Leading Ladies to Take Advanced Somm Exam” →

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences, Winemakers

Orlando Hosts 3 Winemakers in 3 Weeks!

If you love wine, there’s nothing quite like talking to winemakers about their work and their creations. They’re as passionate as artists and as meticulous as scientists. When you talk with them, you’re all but guaranteed to come away with insight and perspective you couldn’t have gotten other way.

I can still hear the diminutive Carolina Garcia Viadero talking about the “little pieces of art” she creates for Bodegas Valduero. Or jovial Nik Weis of St. Urbans-Hof likening the “birth” of a wine to the existence of god. Or the elderly Heinrich Grohe weaving the tale of his life’s journey from metalworking in Germany to winemaking at Missouri’s Heinrichshaus Vineyards.

This month, Central Florida wine lovers have three opportunities to meet and talk with winemakers:

  • Robert Rex, owner and winemaker at Sonoma’s Deerfield Ranch Winery will present a tasting at The Wine Room on Park Ave. on March 15.
  • Brian Talley of Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande will host a wine dinner at The Ravenous Pig on March 22.
  • Julie Lumgair, consulting winemaker for J. Moss and former winemaker for Ideology – both in Napa – will be the featured speaker at a Central Florida Women for Winesense wine dinner on March 23.

Don’t miss the chance to connect with the people closest to the wines you love. Get more information about these and many other Orlando-area tastings, classes, and events on our Events Page.

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences, Winemakers

New Orlando Wine Events: Napa winemaker dinner, Italian pairing dinner, and more!

The Upcoming Wine Events page has been updated with lots of new happenings around the region, including:

  • Italian pairing dinner hosted by Jean K. Reilly, Master of Wine
  • Wine dinner with Napa winemaker Julie Lumgair, hosted by Central Florida Women for Winesense
  • Tasting with Sonoma winemaker Ben Papapietro

Don’t miss these great events coming up next week:

  • Fat Tuesday party with high-acid whites at Swirlery
  • Everyday Italian tasting at Tim’s Wine Market Lake Mary
  • Australian wine class and tasting, also at Swirlery

As always, there’s no excuse to go thirsty in the City Beautiful!

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences, Wine Reviews, Winemakers

We’re not Burgundy or Cali, top Oregon winemakers tell Orlando’s wine pros

In Oregon,”you must be the master of your vineyard,” says Eugenia Keegan, General Manager of Gran Moraine Winery.

Speaking to a packed house at the Hilton Orlando on Tuesday, she and four other leading winemakers from Oregon’s Willamette Valley made the case for Oregon as a wine region unlike any other. Her compatriots on the Jackson Family Wines “Oregon: A State of Mind” tour included Lynn Penner-Ash (Penner-Ash), Ryan Zepaltas (Siduri, Zepaltas), Tony Rynders (Zena Crown, Tendril), and Craig McAlister (La Crema).

They have a valid point.

Uniquely Oregon

Oregon has been a major player in the wine game for almost 40 years, but much of the discussion about Oregon wines still takes place in the context of comparison – usually with the state’s giant wine neighbor to the south, or with Burgundy, the standard bearer for cool climate pinot noir.

Continue reading “We’re not Burgundy or Cali, top Oregon winemakers tell Orlando’s wine pros” →