by Richard Leahy | Jun 12, 2020 | Events, Tastings/Evaluations, Winery Review, Winery Visits
Ankida Ridge Vineyards, the “jewel of Amherst County” (my phrasing) has just released their new 2017 vintage Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and 2016 Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine. The 2017 vintage was a fine one in Virginia, for both reds and whites. The...
by Richard Leahy | May 4, 2020 | News/Announcements, Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine, Winery Visits
Looking for a way to boost your home cooking and wine knowledge? Join DuCard Vineyards for a Virtual Tasting & Food Pairing/Demonstration Event – Monday May 11th, 7pm! Three wines will be featured at the DuCard Virtual Tasting and Food Pairing /...
by Richard Leahy | Sep 2, 2019 | Regions & Terroir, Winery Visits
I enjoyed a pre-Labor Day vacation in St. Joseph on the east shore of Lake Michigan last year, so I decided to repeat the experience this year. Millicent Huminsky of the Southwest Michigan Tourism Council helpfully worked to set up winery visits in the Lake Michigan...
by Richard Leahy | Aug 23, 2019 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Winery Visits
The roots of fine (vinifera) winegrowing in the Finger Lakes come from two Europeans, Dr. Konstantin Frank, a Ukrainian of German descent, and Charles Fournier, a French sparkling winemaker, who demonstrated that cool climate vinifera grapes would grow along the...
by Richard Leahy | Aug 11, 2019 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Winery Visits
I recently made my annual summer trip to the Finger Lakes of New York, where I caught up on old favorite wineries, a few new wineries, and a few new releases from the 2018 vintage. I also enjoyed the 30-year old Grass Roots music festival in Trumansburg on west Cayuga...
by Richard Leahy | Apr 7, 2019 | Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine, Winery Visits
On April 6th, Afton Mountain Vineyards owners Tony and Elizabeth Smith celebrated ten years operating the winery under their ownership with an open house that featured a talk by Gabrielle Rausse, one of the Virginia industry’s founders, this writer (author...
