Tag Archives: wine tasting

A Few Pics, A Brief Post

So I am not doing so good at the daily blogging stuff.  I will at least try to make a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post, using a few photos from my cell phone.  This may also serve as a Preview of Coming Attractions, if only I follow through!

Nice local business.

I went to a wine tasting at Ann Street Liquors in Little Falls, NY.  They do not have tastings as often as Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, but I try to attend when they have one.

Great family grouping!

Here are a couple cousins, a sister and a nephew at an art event I recently attended in Liverpool, NY.  Why I did not write a blog post right away about the happening, I do not know.  At least, maybe I could think of a reason, but it would be so unflattering to me, I hesitate to do so.

A very cool place.

This is a picture from Cobblestone Castle, a place I visited with my sister Cheryl recently.  Once again, I blame myself for not blogging about it sooner.

I may as well as admit, my depression and grief keep me from doing the things I like to do.  However, sometimes I manage to post something.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

Oh Yeah, We Tasted Wine

I just realized I neglected to make a blog post about my sister Cheryl’s and my stop at Montezuma Winery in Old Forge two weeks ago.  Me, neglect wine? Say it ain’t so!

Wine? Yes, please!

We have been to the original Montezuma Winery in the Finger Lakes, and I visited their tasting room in Cooperstown with my friend Kim.  I did not realize they were in Old Forge till Cheryl suggested we stop there.

I started with the Duck Duck Lam Goose Co.  It was just too cute a name to resist!  It is a red sparkling wine.  I do love a few bubbles!  I felt it smelled New Yorky, which to me is a great compliment.  Then I foolishly asked what grape it was.  Hello!  Lam Goose Co/Lambrusco?  Silly me!  (I even wrote “silly me” in my tasting notes).

I love a wine with a goose on the label!

I took tasting notes on the other wines I tried, but none of them are very descriptive.  Regular readers know that I rarely taste “notes” of anything, nor can I describe the “finish,” but I do like to come up with something a little more interesting than “good”  and “I like this one.”  My favorite was the V0luer 2023 Pinot Noir.  Cheryl tasted all different ones from me, because she likes sweet wines better. Of course we made the usual jokes about how she is sweet and I am not.

We finished up with Judd’s Grape Pie, a grape liqueur.  It was indeed grapey and very sweet.

I do love tasting wine.  I wonder if I can get anybody to go with me to the Finger Lakes any time soon.

 

Good Apple Stuff!

Last weekend (before all the dog stuff went down), I had the pleasure of tasting the wares of Beak and Skiff at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY.  They were offering only a fraction of their many products, and I am now anxious to try more.

The first thing I tasted was the Honeycrisp Vodka.  Vodka made from apples instead of potatoes?  Interesting!  I liked it.  When I said it was seasonal, because of the apples, Kyle, the pourer, hasted to assure me it was available year round.  I am not a big vodka drinker, but this one could change my mind.

Kyle and I had a fun time tasting. Of course I did most of the tasting.

The same vodka with blueberries added was also good.  I also enjoyed the Pommeau, a French drink combining brandy and apple cider.  There was one wine, Honeycrisp Apple Wine.  I found it a good middle of the road wine: both dry and sweet wine drinkers could enjoy it.  The last thing I tasted was the Bourbon Cream Whiskey, 75% cream, 25% whiskey.  Yummy!  That would be so good in a cup of coffee!

Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards is located in Lafayette, NY.  Of course Mohawk Valley Girl was even more delighted to find she was sampling local products (yes, I talk about myself in the third person sometimes).   Lafayette being closer to Liverpool than Herkimer, I envisioned a visit to my sister Diane in the near future.   I think she would be delighted to visit Beak and Skiff with me and see what else they have to offer.

 

I Take a Taste

I started out my weekend the way I always used to, by stopping in at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY for a tasting.  I no longer make it every weekend, but this past Friday, it was Hazlitt Winery.  I had to support a New York State Winery!

I have been to Hazlitt a number of times, most memorably in (I think) 2003 when my late, beloved husband Steve and I went on our first wine tasting tour in the Finger Lakes.  Wow, that was a long time ago!  I have learned a little bit about wine since then.  Not a lot, of course; my ultimate accolade is still “Yummy.”  One thing I have learned is that you might as well take a taste, because you never know.

I make friends at these tastings!

The gentleman pouring was Connor Hennessy (one of the all time great names).  I have met him before and perhaps included him in the blog (too lazy to go back and check).  I started with White Stag, a sweet table wine. I found it tasty.  I am not a fan of sweet wines, but I do enjoy a taste now and then.  If somebody was serving this at a dinner party, I might take a small glass.

I went on to try the Peach Mango and Strawberry Watermelon.  Yum!  I liked the Peach Mango best.  It was sweet but not too sweet.  We discussed how it would be good on a hot day, perhaps over ice or in a wine slushy.  I know wine slushies are very popular these days, although I have never had one.

I finished up on the Red and White Sangria.  The Red was the sweetest of the day, but I did not think the White was too sweet (it was sweet, it just wasn’t too sweet).  I still prefer a drier wine, but I may pick up one of these when I am entertaining and want a variety of tastes available.

It was an enjoyable interlude.  I enjoyed chatting with Connor and hope to see him again.  Valley Wine and Liquor holds tastings almost every weekend. You can check out the schedule at http://shopvalleywine.com.

 

I Raise a Glass of Farewell!

I like to use my blog to highlight businesses and attractions local readers can decide to go to themselves.  Today, however, I am going to talk about a business we can no longer visit, as I bid a sad farewell to a Prospect Falls Winery and wish its owners a happy, enjoyable retirement, which I am sure they richly deserve.

There’s a classy place to put a bottle of wine!

I first went to Prospect Falls Winery in 2016 and thought it was pretty awesome.  I went back numerous times as well as seeing them at events such as the Cheese Festival in Little Falls, NY.  More recently, I found their wine available at the Raindrops on Roses Wine Tasting Room in Herkimer, NY.

I was very sad to hear that Nick and Margaret Keblish were retiring and closing the winery.  Of course I wish them well; I could hardly expect them to continue to make wine till they dropped dead.  I was happy I made one last trip to see them before they closed shop for good.

A present to the winery from another fan.

Of course I tasted wine while I was there, and chatted with the owners and a few others who were there tasting or drinking.  I took my last opportunity to purchase a few bottles.

Isn’t that beautiful?

In addition to wine I purchased two wine glasses and a t-shirt.  Silly me, why am I not wearing the t-shirt today?

May they have a lovely retirement!

And so, farewell, Prospect Falls Winery!

 

I Wine, I Wuss, I Make a Wednesday Blog Post

So there I was, debating between having a Wuss-out Wednesday or a Waste Not Want Wednesday.  Then I said, oh just make one of the posts you have been putting off making. So I started to do that, then realized I did not have all the relevant information in my head.  I can’t possibly go looking for the right notebook now.  So how about a Preview of Coming Attractions, using a couple of the pictures I hope to use when I finally write those elusive “real posts.”

Who me? Drink wine?

This is me at the Raindrops on Roses Bed and Breakfast in Herkimer, NY, enjoying a flight of wine from their Wine Tasting Room. I sat in their lovely garden and took a picture of my hand and a glass for Facebook posting purposes.  The bracelet, one of my favorites, I got from One Of A Kind Designs Handcrafted Jewelry by Debora Bruce (OOAK).  You can find OOAK on Facebook, and if you like jewelry, I recommend you do.   So now at least I gave shout-outs to two local businesses.

One of my favorite spots!

Here is a picture of the Eckler Building and Suiter House, where the Herkimer County Historical Society resides.  I took this picture for another Post which is not easily condensed into a few words.  However, these buildings are also important in the murder mystery I am currently writing and hope to start rehearsing soon.  It will benefit the historical society and is to be presented at the Herkimer Elks Lodge on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Ah, I see I have gotten over 250 words.  Regular readers (if I still have any) know I consider that respectable.  I thank you for bearing with me as I struggle with my blog and other problems.

 

Too Tired to Post on Scattered Saturday!

Well, I broke my streak of days in a row posting by neglecting to post anything yesterday.  In my defense, I have no defense.  These things happen, and we must make the best of them.  I took a nice long walk yesterday, ending up at the End Zone pub in Herkimer, NY, one of my favorite watering holes.  I confess to enjoying a daytime libation on a Saturday.  Anyways, I wasn’t driving.  I did not take any pictures, but perhaps I have one in my Media Library.

Here’s one!

This, unfortunately, was not the bartender yesterday.  It is Tino, son of the owner and somebody I am always happy to see, though, so I felt free to share the picture again.  My friend Kim joined me at the End Zone.  After she enjoyed a glass of Moscato, we went to a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor.  Ooh, I think I took a picture of the pourer on my phone.

She was nice!

Her name was Leigh, and she was pouring all sweet wines, so Kim was happy.  I personally prefer dry wines.  We were especially taken with some carrots she had as decorations. She laughed and said for things she had picked up at the dollar store, they had gotten more attention than the wines.

I must get to the dollar store, although I have far too many decorations in my house as it is.

After the wine tasting, we went to Heelpath Brewing in Frankfort, NY (was it a Freudian typo that I first put “Hellpath”?  My obsession with Halloween and horror!).  It was such a pretty, sunny day, I wanted to sit in a place with lots of windows to look out.

Cheers, Kim!

This is a picture from a different visit, but we sat in the same seats.  We had a very fun afternoon, and I am only sorry I did not write about it yesterday.  But I think you for tuning in today!

 

It Is Not a Headache to Find Mohawk Valley Adventures

Thursday turned into a real Blogger’s Sick Day as I left work with a dreadful migraine.  And then I had to deal with some stuff I did not want to deal with, with a headache or at all.  Oh dear, that sounded mysterious since I do not intend to explain.  Regular readers know I consider explanations tiresome.  Never mind. Suffice it to say (I love that expression, “suffice it to say”), I dealt with stuff, competently or otherwise, continued to deal with stuff Friday afternoon, and it is now Saturday morning when I hope to make my Lame Post Friday Post.

Full disclosure:  I have another headache.  However, it is not a migraine, and I have reasonable hopes it will go away, if not with coffee, perhaps with food and an OTC pain reliever.  Enough about me; on with the post.  Which may also be about me, but you will have that with a personal blog.

I don’t usually whine when I wine.

This is a shot from a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY.  It was Bully Hill, a New York State wine, obviously something near and dear to my heart.  There is a tasting today of Menage a Trois wines, another favorite.  I thought a picture of local interest and a preview of coming attractions would be a nice change form my beloved monster pictures.

Fun bartender at a fun bar.

Here is Tino, one of my favorite bartenders at the End Zone Pub, also in Herkimer.  I was there last night (not long enough to be the source of this morning’s headache, I don’t think, unless my capacity has gone WAY down in just the last few months) (SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!).  It is easy walking distance from my house, which is nice.  It also tends to get a nice clientele.  I had a great conversation with some folks I just met.  So there is another shout-out to a local business.

They were nice!

Speaking of nice people I just met, this picture was right there when I returned to my Media Library.  This was a couple who sat next to me at the bar on a busy night at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort.  The husband said, “We’ll be your new acquaintances.”  We had a lovely visit.  I gave the wife a piece of my garlic bread with mozzarella.  The husband gave me one of his bucket of beers.  We enjoyed the music of Tom Maneen.

Well, this has turned out to be not such a lame post after all.  I wonder if I ought to bill it as a Scattered Saturday instead.  In any case, over 400 words and three pictures, I call it a post.  Thank you for tuning in.

 

Bully for Bully Hill

A great way for me to start my weekend is with a tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY.  I went there last Friday and sampled wines from Bully Hill Vineyards of Hammondsport, NY. I have known about Bully Hill Wines almost since I first began drinking wine, so long ago the drinking age was 18. I love their fun labels, and the price is nice, too.

Nice pourer nice wines, nice price.

All the wines I tasted were sweet, which is not my favorite.  However, you never know when you might find that one exception.  Additionally, I like chatting with the pourer.   I like hearing about the different wines and the people who make them.  Caitlin was very friendly and knowledgeable.

The Riesling is billed as semi-sweet, but to me it tasted sweet.  The Ravat 51 was more of a citrusy blend.  I felt there was a lot going on there, so I enjoyed that one.  The Sweet Walter Peach was peachy and very sweet.  The Sweet Walter Loganberry was also tasty.

The last one I tasted was the Sweet Walter Midnight Mission Dessert Wine.  It was indeed very desserty.  I thought it would pair well with a rich chocolate dessert, like the Spoon Cake at Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Herkimer.  I am of course no expert at pairings, but it sounded good to me.

I ended up buying a bottle of the Loganberry for my sister Cheryl, because I seemed to remember she liked loganberry wine.  I later thought that maybe it was the Loganberry from a different vineyard she liked, but perhaps she will like this one just as well.

Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer has tastings most weekends.  You can go to their website at shopvalleywine.com for a schedule.

 

Music, Wine, and Scenery, Yes!

Yes, it is another late Saturday blog post, but at least it is prior to whatever time I was posting last Sunday (don’t remember, but it was later than this).  I had a wonderful time yesterday, but it was such a lot of car time to get to it!  Worth every mile, but it wore me out.

Not the best lighting, but you can read it, I think.

My parents, sister Cheryl, and I went to Geneva, NY, to the Inspire Moore Winery, to hear Big Blue House.  What a great band!  What a beautiful setting!

My pictures of the band didn’t come out so great, either.

When we arrived, a guest artist had joined them for a couple of numbers.  I stupidly did not write down his name, but I loved his harmonica and vocals.

At one point, a guy in the band reminded us that the open space in front of the band was there for a reason.  He didn’t have to tell me twice!  I got up and started dancing.  If Steven had been there, he would have gotten up, too, so I guess I was dancing for the both of us.  I was soon joined by three other ladies, and we all four loved it.

After they sat down, another song I couldn’t resist played and I was dancing by myself again.  An older man started crossing the area, and I danced around him, thanking him for dancing with me.  He said he was looking for his wife and did not bust a move, but I think he was amused.  Later I saw him slow dancing with his wife.  When they finished, I went over and said, “Sure, you wouldn’t dance with me!”  We had a nice conversation.

Just to share another picture of the winery.

I had other conversations with other people, including a couple cousins and my sister Vicki, who had driven up from Pennsylvania with her husband.  I also tasted some wine and enjoyed a glass of dry Rose (how embarrassing that I do not know how to put the accent on the e).

Lots of gorgeous scenery.

The afternoon came to an abrupt end with a loud rumble of thunder.  The musicians quickly unplugged their instruments.  The downpour started almost immediately.   One aspect of my personality which I particularly enjoy is that I laugh at bad weather.  When I am getting rained or snowed on, I find myself laughing.  I laughed as Dad and I walked to the car.  We drove back to pick up Cheryl and Mom,

I was happy to finally make it back to Herkimer, although I felt too tired to articulate a blog post.  However, I think I did OK with it this morning.  Or do I flatter myself?