Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Cheers to 2018!

It’s been a great year of wine in Central Florida!

Before the big NYE parties, you’ll have a couple of chances to pre-celebrate tomorrow with tastings that are sure to give 2017 a big send-off.

Cavanaugh’s is popping more than a few corks in the courtyard with a bubbly event starting at 4pm.

Later in the evening, Quantum Leap Winery hosts the “Tasty Trio” for its final Wine, Cheese, & Chocolate event of the year.

Check out details of these events and January’s full schedule of tastings, classes, and dinners on the Events Page.

Then, let’s all raise a glass to another great year of sipping, tasting, and learning about wine.

Cheers!

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Back Vintages, Christmas Cookies, and MORE Holiday Bubbles!

Don’t let your foot off the holiday gas pedal, Central Florida! The coming week has plenty more opportunities to celebrate the festive season through wine.

Tonight, taste and learn about some great Champagnes and sparkling wines when Vintage Vino in Kissimmee hosts local wine power couple Billy and Kelly Hendriksen.

Thursday, don’t miss the opportunity to try some older vintage wines when Cavanaugh’s pulls out some gems from the cellar for a special holiday tasting. They’ll be opening wines ranging in age from nine to 24 years!

Friday, put your baker’s hat on and bring your best holiday cookies to share at Tim’s Wine Market Lake Mary‘s Christmas Cookie Exchange. They’ve picked out some wines to pair with cookies – no easy feat!

Details for these and many other upcoming wine events are on the Events Page. Cheers!

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences

Bubbles & Blending & Swapping (Oh my!)

Orlando’s holiday wine season continues apace in the coming week, with an abundance of eclectic events sure to delight anyone on your holiday “nice” list.

This weekend, there’s BevFly’s Bubbles Bash on Saturday and the annual Women for Winesense holiday bottle swap on Sunday.

Next week, become a winemaker for an evening at a blending seminar with cabernets from Napa’s Quintessa winery at Tim’s in Windermere on Thursday.

Then on Friday, travel to Italy with K Restaurant’s Friday Night Flights.

There’s something for everyone this week! As always, details are on the Events Calendar, so it’s easy to keep enjoying the festive season.

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

THIS WEEK: 2 Chances to learn from a Master; Plus, Wines from Canada & Connecticut

You may have noticed Jean K. Reilly‘s name pop up on the blog a few times. She’s Central Florida’s only Master of Wine – that’s one of the highest certifications you can get in the field of wine knowledge.

She teaches WSET certification classes around town, but those can be a little pricey and time intensive for the purely recreational wine lover.

This week, Central Floridians have not one but two opportunities to soak in a little of Jean’s knowledge for a fraction of the time and money!

  • Monday, Jean will lead a tasting and class on chardonnays and merlots from around the world at the Rosen School of Hospitality Wine Lab, sponsored by Central Florida Women for Winesense.
  • Thursday, she’ll lead an exploration of sparkling wines at Swirlery Wine Bar.

This week, you also have a couple of chances to try wines from little-known (and almost completely unknown) wine regions.

  • Monday’s “Poutine Palooza” celebration of Canada’s Victoria Day at K Wine Bar includes a tasting of wines from north of the border.
  • Thursday, Tim’s Wine Market Lake Mary-Sanford will hold a tasting of wines from Connecticut’s Sharpe Hill Winery.

Get details for these and many other wine happenings on the Events Page. Cheers!

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences, Winemakers

THIS WEEK: More Bubbles! And a Deadline!

Happy Mother’s Day, Central Florida! Have a wonderful time celebrating Mom tomorrow – hopefully with a brilliant brunch and some bubbles.

The celebration doesn’t have to end there, though!

Bubbles will be the name of the game at The Occasional Grape’s monthly tasting, this time dubbed “Bubbly & Bold.” It’s coming up Thursday, and it looks like a fun lineup.

Also, don’t celebrate so much this weekend that you miss the early bird registration deadline for the Women for Winesense chardonnay and merlot class with Master of Wine Jean K. Reilly. The price goes up after Monday!

Find details for these and many more upcoming wine events at our events page. Cheers!

 

Judith Smelser Tastings, Wine Experiences, Wine Reviews

Step Outside the Champagne Box: Six Unexpected Bottles of Bubbles for NYE!

Not much beats Champagne on New Year’s Eve, but if you’re looking for some out-of-the-box (and easier-on-the wallet) alternatives for the big night, you’re in luck! Champagne doesn’t have a lock on quality sparkling wine anymore. All six of these bottles should delight your palate, satisfy your enological curiosity, and enhance your celebratory mood as you welcome 2017. And only one of them is even from France!

Continue reading “Step Outside the Champagne Box: Six Unexpected Bottles of Bubbles for NYE!” →

Judith Smelser Wineries

A Florida Oenophile in California Wine Country: Part 6 – The Last Day

About this series: After years of loving (and semi-seriously studying) wine, I finally took my first trip to Napa and Sonoma this summer. It was a wonderful week of sunny days, cool nights, beautiful views, and beautiful wines. These are the impressions, discoveries, favorites, and surprises from my journey.

Part 1: Chateau Montelena, CADE, Pride
Part 2: Frog’s Leap, Heitz, Mumm Napa
Part 3: Y. Rousseau, Antica, Failla
Part 4: Stony Hill, Domaine Chandon
Part 5: Fort Ross, Gary Farrell

Day 7, Part 2 – Friday, Aug 5

We had no more appointments after Gary Farrell, but it was our last day in Wine Country, so …

Joseph Swan: No Fountains or Gardens, Just Great Wine

I looked on the map and noticed Joseph Swan was just down the road. I’ve enjoyed their pinots in the past, so I gave them a call to see if we could come by.

“Sure!” said the nice male voice on the other end of the line. “We don’t have the views they have up there at Gary Farrell, but we’ll be here!”

Continue reading “A Florida Oenophile in California Wine Country: Part 6 – The Last Day” →