Join the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) in a new walking tour experience, Unwind & Uncork History: The Story of Wine & the Stony Brook Grist Mill on Friday, September 30 at 11 a.m. (3 p.m. tour is sold out!)
The Stony Brook Grist Mill. Photo from WMHO
In this walking tour experience, tour-goers will “uncork” the stories of the Stony Brook Grist Mill (c. 1751), the sight of Long Island’s very first vineyard. This will include a tour of the Stony Brook Grist Mill, the scandalous story of Edward Kane, his Lakeside Wine Company, and a brief lesson on wine.
The tour will begin at Tranquility Park (also known as T. Bayles Minuse Mill Pond Park) across from the Stony Brook Grist Mill, and will end at Lake Side Emotions Wine Boutique at the Stony Brook Village Center, which gained its name from Kane’s Lakeside Wine Company.
Fee for the touris $25 per person and includes a bottle of authentic Catawba wine from Lake Side Emotions Wine Boutique. All participants must be 21 or older. Advance registration is required by calling 631-751-2244. For more information, visit www.wmho.org.
Cocktails come in many colors, flavors, sizes, and smells, and are often decorated with various colorful garnishes, including tiny tiki umbrellas!
Besides the usual rum vodka, gin and tequila-based cocktails, there are many made from whiskey, brandy, and a multitude of liqueurs. And in some books, you might find cocktails (also nonalcoholic) made from wine and even beer.
Cocktails made from wine are perfect for hot weather, regardless of if you’re at the beach, pool, or just relaxing in a shaded area. They contain less alcohol than traditional cocktails and are great for entertaining.
Cocktails made with champagne, Prosecco, or other sparkling wines add a bit of festivity in every sip. I have chosen four Prosecco wines and four cocktail recipes for your enjoyment.
Corvezzo Prosecco “Extra Dry” DOC, Treviso (made from organic & vegan Glera and other grapes). Light yellow color with an aroma of brioche, pears, and celery. Clean with a flavor of honeydew, peaches, and apples.
2020 Corvezzo Prosecco “Rosé Extra Dry” DOC, Treviso (made from organic & vegan Glera and Pinot Noir grapes). Light strawberry color with an aroma and flavor of red fruits, berries, and tropical fruit. A lingering aftertaste of red apples and red licorice.
Gancia Prosecco “Brut” DOC, Veneto (Glera grapes). Straw yellow with green highlights. Delicate aroma and flavor of green apples and pears. Dry with a crisp, citrusy flavor and hints of honeysuckle and orange.
2020 Gancia Prosecco “Rosé Extra Dry” DOC, Veneto (blend of Glera and Pinot Noir grapes). Intense pink color with an aroma of raspberries, strawberries, and tropical fruit. Off-dry, with a clean, crisp flavor of pears and peaches.
Cocktail recipes
Pineapple Mimosa
1 ounce coconut rum
2 ounces pineapple juice
4 ounces Gancia Prosecco “Brut”
Put the first two ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a glass. Top with Prosecco, stir, and top with a pineapple slice and cherry.
Gin & Prosecco
1-1/2 ounces gin
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup (or agave)
3 ounces Corvezzo Prosecco “Rosé”
Put the first three ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a glass. Top with Prosecco, stir, and add a lemon twist.
Italian Cocktail
1-1/2 ounces Campari
5 ounces Corvezzo Prosecco “Extra Dry”
In tall glass, add Campari, then Prosecco and stir.
Rosé Prosecco With Strawberries
Fill a flat saucer champagne glass with sliced and hulled strawberries (about five). Pour 4 ounces of Gancia Prosecco “Rosé” over the strawberries. Top with sour cream and sprinkle with brown sugar.
Bob Lipinski is the author of 10 books, including “101: Everything You Need To Know About Whiskey” and “Italian Wine & Cheese Made Simple” (available on Amazon.com). He consults and conducts training seminars on Wine, Spirits, and Food and is available for speaking engagements. He can be reached at www.boblipinski.com OR [email protected]
‘A glass of wine is a great refreshment after a hard day’s work.’ — Ludwig VanBeethoven, 1770-1827,German composer
Mendoza, a grape-growing province in the Cuyo region in the central-western part of the country, directly west of Buenos Aires, was founded in 1561. It is the country’s most important wine-producing area, and its main subregions include Uco Valley, Tupungato, Luján de Cuyo, and Maipú.
Vineyards are planted at the edge of the Andes Mountains, at some of the highest altitudes in the world, with the average site located 2,000 to 3,600 feet above sea level. The climate is desert-like with a mere 9-inches of rain per year, and irrigation is necessary to grow and ripen the grapes.
Mendoza is the largest and most important grape-growing province in Argentina, accounting for 70 percent of wine production, with over 375,000 acres of grapevines planted.
Red grapes account for over half of the entire province’s acreage. Mendoza’s red grapes include Malbec, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Merlot. Major white grapes include Pedro Giménez, Chardonnay, Torrontés Riojano, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Some red wines from Mendoza to try are…
2011 Don Manuel Villafañe “Gran Malbec.” Intense violet color, complex nose with aromas of black fruit, raspberries, plums, and nuts. Medium-bodied and quite smooth with spices, licorice, and chocolate.
2018 Achával-Ferrer “Finca Altamira” Malbec. (The wine was aged 15 months in French oak barrels.) Inky in color; smells like raspberry jam, with dark fruit and spices. Full-bodied and tannin with flavors of espresso, blackberry, and bittersweet chocolate.
2016 Juan Gregorio Bazán Reserva “Blend Selection.” (Blend of Malbec 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, and Merlot 20%). Dark ruby color with a bouquet of raspberries and hickory smoke-flavored barbecue sauce. Medium-bodied with flavors of red plums and spices. Smooth finish and aftertaste of toasted oak.
2016 Cruz Alta “Grand Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep color, full bouquet of black tea, juicy raspberries, and figs. Complex flavors of cherries, plums, and blackberries. Hints of vanilla and cocoa appear in the aftertaste.
2018 Septima “Cabernet Sauvignon.” Ruby colored with a bouquet of blackberry jam, black olive, black pepper, and toasted oak. Medium-bodied with flavors of plums and roasted coffee, with subtle nuances of licorice and mint.
Other producers to look for are Catena Zapata, Doña Paula, Familia Zuccardi, Norton, Rutini Wines, Salentein, Trapiche, Trivento, Vistalba, and Bodegas Weinert.
Bob Lipinski is the author of 10 books, including “101: Everything You Need To Know About Whiskey” and “Italian Wine & Cheese Made Simple” (available on Amazon.com). He consults and conducts training seminars on Wine, Spirits, and Food and is available for speaking engagements. He can be reached at www.boblipinski.com OR [email protected].
Krupski Farm has been acquired by Del Vino Vineyards.
Northport-based Del Vino Vineyards provides an expanded estate growing footprint in Riverhead, and opportunity for more grape growing and a new tasting room location.
Del Vino Vineyards announced today that they have closed on the purchase of the Krupski Farm, a 30-acre property of pastureland land which is agriculturally preserved that will be converted to vineyards in Riverhead.
The property, nestled between Sound Avenue and Northville Turnpike in Riverhead, has been owned by prominent local farmers since 1966.
Krupski Farm has been acquired by Del Vino Vineyards.
This purchase adds valuable acres to Del Vino Vineyards winegrowing footprint in the Long Island region, which aligns with one of the company’s long-term strategies of becoming more vertically integrated by farming more fruit from their own vineyards. Del Vino Vineyards in Northport, located on 12 acres, is currently home to 7 varieties of grapes. In addition to the farming land, Del Vino Vineyards plans to operate as a new tasting room destination, likely opening sometime in 2024.
“We believe in building a wine company that invests back into the community and the industry that it’s a part of. Bringing the Krupski Family Farm into our portfolio shifts us towards having the majority of our production coming from our own vineyards, which is a huge part of our long-term vision,” said Fred Giachetti, Owner of Del Vino Vineyards. “The vineyard management team at Del Vino Vineyards has done an exceptional job of maintaining an eye on quality, and we’re incredibly excited about our expansion.”
Lisa Giachetti, Del Vino Vineyards owner commented further, “the Krupski Farm presents an opportunity for us to serve our existing fans in a new location, but it will also allow us to attract and engage new customers in the Long Island Wine Country region, which is an exciting proposition. We’re thrilled to be growing our Del Vino vineyard acreage and our staff with this acquisition.”
To learn more about Del Vino Vineyards, please visit www.delvinovineyards.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @delvinovineyards
The Pinot Noir grape is believed to have originated in France over 2,000 years ago.
Pixabay photo
By Bob Lipinski
Bob Lipinski
If there is one wine that lovers of red and white wine can enjoy with equal pleasure, it is Pinot Noir. It’s light- to medium-bodied, with little bitterness (tannin) and loaded with plenty of juicy fruit. Unlike many red wines, Pinot Noir can be enjoyed by itself, perhaps with a cracker and wedge of your favorite cheese. Incidentally, Pinot Noir likes to be lightly chilled (like most white wines).
Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned, medium acid red grape variety believed to have originated in France over 2,000 years ago. It is grown principally in Burgundy and Champagne, France, and is also grown in other regions of France and most wine-producing countries of the world. Pinot Noir is genetically unstable, meaning that it mutates: the parent vine may produce offspring with fruit different in color, size, shape, and flavors.
Some of these mutations are Pinot Blanc (Bianco), Pinot Gris (Grigio), and Pinot Meunier, among others. Pinot Noir is known as Pinot Nero in Italy and Spätburgunder in Austria and Germany.
Most of the Pinot Noir wines are made from 100 percent of the grape. While others are blended with a small amount of Syrah (for color and body). The most famous Pinot Noir blend is champagne; a combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir grapes. The blend is generally 70 percent red grapes and 30 percent white grapes. A lesser-known champagne is called Blanc de Noirs, a white wine made entirely from black (red) grapes.
The Pinot Noir grape is believed to have originated in France over 2,000 years ago. Pixabay photo
Pinot Noir pairs with ahi tuna, broiled or blackened salmon, mushrooms, root vegetables, grilled vegetables (especially zucchini and tomatoes), or even a slice of your favorite pizza.
Pinot Noir is often referred to as feminine, a nebulous term describing wines that are soft, perfumed, charming, seductive, delicate, and elegant.
Some Pinot Noir wines I’ve enjoyed over the past few months are:
2016 Lauca “Reserva” Maule Valley, Chile: Light-bodied with a bouquet dominated by spicy cherry, along with mint, coffee, and mushrooms.
2018 Murphy Goode, California: Spicy black cherry and flavors of cranberry and cola with hints, tea, and cinnamon.
2017 Domaine Anderson “Pinot Noir” Anderson Valley, California: Bouquet of blackberry and mulberry with flavors of red currants, cola, and dried fruits.
2018 La Crema “Sonoma Coast” California: Bouquet and flavor of spicy berries, pomegranate, brown baking spices, and toasted nuts in the aftertaste.
2018 Aquinas, North Coast, California: Deep ruby color; a bouquet and flavor of pomegranate, plum, sandalwood, cherries, and cranberry.
Bob Lipinski is the author of 10 books, including “101: Everything You Need To Know About Whiskey” and “Italian Wine & Cheese Made Simple” (available on Amazon.com). He consults and conducts training seminars on Wine, Spirits, and Food and is available for speaking engagements. He can be reached at www.boblipinski.com OR [email protected].
Goat cheese, known as chèvre in French, is a classification of cheeses made worldwide from goat’s milk, which vary in style, appearance, and flavor. Goat’s milk cheese is made in a variety of shapes, such as cones, cylinders, disks, logs, ovals, pyramids, wheels, and “buttons.” By French law, cheese labeled as pur chèvre must be made entirely from goat’s milk. Cheeses made from a blend of goat and cow’s milk are labeled mi-chèvre.
Goat cheese costs more because of the relative scarcity of the milk: cows produce around six times as much milk as goats do. Hence, there is less cheese at higher prices.
Some goat cheeses are rolled in paprika or chili powder to give it a brick-red, colorful exterior. Others are wrapped in chestnut or grape leaves and dipped in brandy, marc, white wine, red wine, or olive oil. The outer chalk white surface is sometimes coated in ash, black pepper, or herbs.
Although the most common goat cheeses are soft and spreadable, others are semisoft, firm-textured, dry, and crumbly, and occasionally very hard, which can be grated. Some goat cheeses are smoked, while others are flavored with garlic, black pepper, curry powder, fennel, rosemary, and various herbs. Goat cheese varies in flavor from mild to acetic, tangy, sharp, nutty, grassy, earthy, barnyardy, or mushroomy.
Goat cheese. Pixaay photo
Some recommended goat cheeses to try are Alicante, Banon, Bouton-de-Culotte, Bûcheron, Cabécou, Camerano, Capricette, Chabichou, Chevrotin, Crottin de Chavignol, Garrotxa, Ibores, Lormes, Montrachet, Pélardon, Picodon, Pyramide, Sainte-Maure, Valençay, and Ziegenkäse.
There are many red, white, and rosé wines that pair well with goat cheese. Some red wines are Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Zinfandel. Some white wines are Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, Muscadet, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. I especially enjoy goat cheese with a brut or blanc de noirs champagne, brut Prosecco, tawny port, a dry rosé, or a chilled glass of a fino (dry) sherry.
Some suggested wines to try are…
2019 Stephane Aviron Moulin-à-Vent “Vieilles Vignes” Beaujolais, France. Cranberry-colored with an aroma and flavor of blueberry, raspberry, plums, spices, and licorice. Dry and medium-bodied, with hints of roses.
2018 Murphy-Goode Pinot Noir, California. Ruby colored with an aroma of spicy black cherry and flavors of cranberry, plum, and cola with hints of cinnamon, earth, mint, and tea leaves.
2019 Greywacke “Sauvignon Blanc,” Marlborough, New Zealand. Straw-colored with a fresh aroma of citrus and herbs. Dry and medium-bodied with flavors of chamomile, grapefruit, passion fruit, white pepper, and stone fruit.
Bob Lipinski is the author of 10 books, including “101: Everything You Need To Know About Whiskey” and “Italian Wine & Cheese Made Simple” (available on Amazon.com). He consults and conducts training seminars on Wine, Spirits, and Food and is available for speaking engagements. He can be reached at www.boblipinski.com OR [email protected]
Tom Manuel and Steve Salerno. File photo/TBR News Media
Did you hear the news? There’s a new couple in town — Wine & Jazz! Starting May 12, The Jazz Loft will be bringing live jazz music to Madiran The Wine Bar in East Setauket every second Thursday of the month from 7 to 9 p.m.
Titled The Jazz Dispatch Live Music Series at Madiran, the event will feature Steve Salerno on guitar, Tom Manuel on cornet, and a special guest. The monthly series will also feature a rotation of musicians as well as an array of guest artists.
“We are excited about partnering with local business owner Jacqueline Malenda and Madiran to bring live jazz music to this delightful and intimate venue,” said Manuel, the founder of the Jazz Loft.
“Our Jazz Dispatch Series is our community outreach efforts to get what we do inside the walls of the Jazz Loft out into the community at large. Our desire is to meet people where they’re at, be it restaurants, parks, Jazz clubs, museums, historic buildings, and more,” said Manuel. “We’re excited to be announcing soon two additional Jazz Dispatch events — a new series in Harlem, New York as well as one on Shelter Island.”
“As a lifelong jazz enthusiast, I could not be more thrilled to be partnering with Tom and the Jazz Loft for a great experience at the wine bar!” said Malenda. “What better pairing is there than good wine and pure jazz?”
Madiran The Wine Bar is located at 209 Route 25A in East Setauket. For more information visit www.thejazzloft.org.
I must confess … I love bubbly; regardless if it’s in a Mimosa for breakfast, a glass of Prosecco for lunch, Champagne as an apéritif, during dinner, or even a glass of Asti after dinner!
Sparkling wines are superb pairing partners with a multitude of international foods, from appetizers to main courses and finishing with desserts. Although all wine-producing countries make some type of sparkling wines, the most common styles or designations are: Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demisec, Rosé, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, and Vintage.
Some names of sparkling wines produced worldwide include Champagne, Crémant, Cava, Franciacorta, Asti, TrentoDoc, Prosecco, Sekt, and simply “sparkling wine.”
Dry sparkling wines pair with salty foods; fried and deep-fried foods; spicy hot foods; smoked foods; oily seafood such as anchovies, bluefish, herring, mackerel, salmon, sardines, and tuna; chives, garlic, ginger, leeks, onions, scallions, and shallots; citrus and citrus-like ingredients; and fresh herbs such as cilantro, parsley, sage, and tarragon.
— Sparkling wine is an excellent an apéritif because of its refreshing, appetite-stimulating effervescence.
— Sparkling wines add excitement to the meal when served throughout dinner.
— Many Asian foods can be paired with sparkling wines.
— Dry sparkling wines taste thin and unpleasant with sweet desserts
— Avoid serving dry sparkling wines with desserts featuring chocolate or lemon sauces.
— Avoid serving dry sparkling wines with salads featuring tart or acidic dressings.
— Avoid serving dry sparkling wines with tomato-based sauces, whose acid interacts with the high acid of the wine, causing a tart, sometimes biting taste in the mouth.
Recently tasted sparkling wines include:
NV Moser 51,151 “TrentoDoc” Brut, (DOC) Trento, Italy: 100% Chardonnay grapes. Straw-yellow with a fruity aroma of blueberries and raspberries. Medium-bodied, dry, and crispy tasting, with hints of apples and cherries.
NV Codorníu Cuvée Clásico “Cava Brut,” Spain:Blend of Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-Lo grapes; a bouquet of green apples, lemon, and brioche. Dry, clean, and crispy in the mouth with a pleasing aftertaste of almonds.
NV Ca’ del Bosco “Cuvée Prestige,” Franciacorta (DOCG) Lombardy, Italy: A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Bianco grapes; crisp, delicate bouquet with hints of almonds, dried pears, and apples. Soft in the mouth with a crispy aftertaste.
NV Valdo Cuvée di Boj “Prosecco Brut,” (DOC) Veneto, Italy: Medium-bodied with a floral bouquet of stone fruits, apples, and citrus. Dry with hints of fennel and ginger.
NV Ruinart “Blanc de Blancs” (Champagne, France): Clean and crisp with flavors of green apple, pear, brioche, celery, and citrus.
Bob Lipinski is the author of 10 books, including “101: Everything You Need To Know About Whiskey” and “Italian Wine & Cheese Made Simple” (available on Amazon.com). He consults and conducts training seminars on Wine, Spirits, and Food and is available for speaking engagements. He can be reached at www.boblipinski.com OR [email protected]
‘The first taste of a wine is like the first kiss; you look forward to the second.’
— André Tchelistcheff, 1901-1994, Legendary Winemaker
By Bob Lipinski
Bob Lipinski
Tasting is the art of consciously assessing a wine’s quality or identity and the activities or mechanisms involved in receiving the sensory impressions a wine can stimulate.
Just as with food, we have preferences for certain tastes and flavors in wine. Each of us has our own history of tastes and flavors. Much of this is due to where and how we grew up—there may be cultural differences in the experiences we had for certain foods and beverages. We all have personality differences. Some of us are very adventurous and others more averse to risk. Although tastes and flavors are subjective, they are not entirely relative—that is, we often agree on what we taste and smell.
There are ways to taste and evaluate wine that are generally accepted to provide a maximum impact on our palate—I call this the Five S’s: Sight, Swirl, Smell, Sip, Spit (or Swallow).
SIGHT: Wine should be clear in appearance; color and hue tell us a lot about the grape variety, oak treatment, age, and intensity of the wine. For example, a pale-yellow wine most likely did not receive any oak-aging while a golden colored wine probably did. Knowing which grapes benefit from oak-aging narrows the field for each grape variety. Chardonnay benefits from oak aging since it provides balance with bigger flavors and body.
SWIRL: Swirling wine in a glass will release the aroma, so once you stick your nose in the glass, you can smell it better.
SMELL: More than 80 percent of what we taste is actually smell. Smell describes the fruity, floral, earthy, mineral, spicy, herbal, and oak characteristics of some wines.
SIP: Now it’s time to taste the wine. Take a good sip and swirl the wine around in your mouth as if it’s mouthwash (evaluating differs from drinking). Your tongue tastes sweet, sour, salty, and bitter, but together with smelling, you get the complete picture of the wine. Some elements to note are acidity, alcohol, body, dry or sweet, flavor, tannin, and texture.
SPIT/ SWALLOW: the difference between “tasting” and “drinking” is that once you have sipped the wine, you spit it out into a cup or spit bucket (professional tasters do this).
SWALLOW: Allows you to evaluate and describe the finish, length, and aftertaste of the wine.
Well, there you have it. Now open a bottle of wine and start practicing!
Bob Lipinski is the author of 10 books, including “101: Everything You Need To Know About Whiskey” and “Italian Wine & Cheese Made Simple” (available on Amazon.com). He consults and conducts training seminars on Wine, Spirits, and Food and is available for speaking engagements. He can be reached at www.boblipinski.com OR [email protected].
Scotch whisky is a distinctive product of Scotland, made in compliance with the 1909 laws of Great Britain and the Scotch Whisky Act of 2009. The whisky can legally be called Scotch if it is distilled and matured in Scotland and made from water and malted barley (other whole grains may be added) and fermented by adding yeast.
Scotch whisky Regions
There are five classic regions in Scotland. They are the Highlands (which includes the isles of Arran, Mull, Jura, Orkney, and Skye), Lowlands, Speyside, Islay, and Campbeltown. The Highlands are further defined into Central Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Northern Highlands, and Western Highlands.
Aging of Scotch
All Scotch whisky must be produced in Scotland, distilled twice (or more), and aged for at least three years in oak barrels.
Age statement
When there is an age stated on the label of a Scotch whisky (12-, 15-, 21-Year-Old), it identifies the youngest whisky in the blend.
Blended Scotch whisky
A blend of single malt whiskies with grain whiskies. There are no fixed percentages of each, and a distiller can use as little as 1 percent malt whisky in a “Blended Scotch Whisky.” The general proportions are from about 30 to 70 percent grain whisky, with the remainder being malt whisky. Blended Scotch whisky constitutes over 90 percent of the whisky produced in Scotland.
Single malt Scotch whisky
A Scotch whisky distilled in one or more batches in pot stills, at a single distillery from only water and malted barley without adding other cereals. These whiskies are then blended: barrel-to-barrel, to create a consistent signature flavor profile that represents the distillery’s style.
Unique smoky bouquet and flavor
Scotch’s unique flavor and character come from the water used in its production and the type and amount of malt whisky used. Its distinctive smoky taste generally comes from the peat fires over which the barley is dried.
Label terminology
Glen: A Valley (Glenlivet, Glenfarclas, Glen Garioch, and so forth)
Livet: The name of a river.
Spey: The name of a river as in Speyside.
Loch: a lake as in the place where the Loch Ness Monster supposedly lives.
The taste of blended Scotch whisky
It has flavors of black pepper, caramel, dried fruit, heather honey, nuts, pears, and toffee, with hints of spices, herbs, wood, and smoke.
Bob Lipinski is the author of 10 books, including “101: Everything You Need To Know About Whiskey” and “Italian Wine & Cheese Made Simple” (available on Amazon.com). He consults and conducts training seminars on Wine, Spirits, and Food and is available for speaking engagements. He can be reached at www.boblipinski.com OR [email protected].
Cocktail recipes
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