Going Back to My Fraternity Days — Sort Of

Long before I moved to Long Island and discovered an unwavering passion for all things wine, I was a beer-drinking fraternity boy, but not exactly like the rest of my brothers. While they were swilling the cheapest, coldest beer they could find in cans, I was the guy who would buy a different kind of beer almost every weekend, including any import or microbrew I could get my hands on in my college town in rural northwestern Pennsylvania. Back then, if I did drink wine, it was likely a cheap, flabby Chardonnay, most often from Australia, with enough sweetness to…

Merlot Veritcal Tasting, Bedell Cellars, August 20 & 21

On Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.,  Bedell Cellars will host a Merlot Reserve Vertical Tasting featuring vintages from 1988 through 2002.    It’s $50 per person ($40 for wine club members) and includes lunch and a special preview and barrel tasting of the 2004 vintage. Pre-paid reservations are required by August 15th.  For more information call Bedell Cellars at (631) 734-7537. I attended last summer’s version of this event and likely won’t be able to make it this year. But, it’s a great, fun event and one of the most educational experiences…

Tasting Table — Ending 08.7.05

I’m a few days behind in posting my tasting table from last week…but here it is. As you can see, it features four beers/ales for a story I did on Southampton Publick House, the only brewpub in the Hamptons. Southampton Publick House Double White Ale: N/A Southampton Publick House Belgian-Style Grand Cru Strong Ale: N/A Channing Daughters Winery 2004 Cuvee Tropical Chardonnay: -corked- Roanoke Vineyards 2004 De Rosa: B- Wolffer Estate Vineyards 1997 Merlot: B/B+ Channing Daughters Winery 2004 Tocai Friulano: A-/B+ Wolffer Estate Vineyards 2004 Late Harvest Chardonnay: B Brotherhood Winery 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon: C+/B- Southampton Publick House Secret…

We Interrupt WBW to Introduce…

…the newest member of the LENNDEVOURS team, a ten-month old beagle we rescued from a local shelter yesterday. Meet Ben Rothlisbeagle (named for the quarterback of my hometown Pittsburgh Steelers). We’ll just call him Ben or Benny. He’s still very nervous and getting used to our house…but he definitely perked up last night when I opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass for Nena. His fine-tuned nose was working overtime…and that’s when I knew it was meant to be. So welcome aboard Ben…it’s going to be fun!

“Sensation Celebration” @ Castello di Borghese, Sunday, August 14

This Sunday, August 14th, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Castello di Borghese is hosting a "Sensation Celebration." Admission is free and includes a performance by guitarist-vocalist Walter Finley and hors d’ oeuvres by Black Tie Caterers. Wine will be available by the glass, at the regular prices, at the tasting bar. CdB owns and uses some of the region’s oldest vines (the Island’s first commercial vineyard is now part of their holdings)…try the reserve pinot noir.

Wine Blogging Wednesday #12 — Drink Local — Roanoke Vineyards 2000 Merlot

So here we are, the one-year anniversary of Wine Blogging Wednesday, the international blogging juggernaut that encourages bloggers (and some non-bloggers) worldwide to drink/review/post about a wine that falls into a different category each month. This month, as we gather from all over the globe, I’ve asked each of you to look right down the street…to the vineyard/winery nearest your home. Drink Local — Real Local…is the theme, which ties in beautifully with the 2005 Eat Local Challenge this month. It was completely coincidental, but I think it will bring even more WBWers to the fold. Not long after I…

Don’t Forget: Wine Blogging Wednsday is in Just Two Days

Drink Local this Wednesday — Real Local. The response for this month’s WBW theme has been impressive…and I’ve already received a few entries because people are going to be away or thought it was last week. Won’t you join us? It’s simple…go find a bottle (or two or three) of wine from the winery nearest your home, drink it, blog about it…and send me an email letting me know when you’re done. I’ll post the round-up later this week. I think this has the potential to be one of the more interesting vintages of the premier international wine blogging event.…