Previously, I’ve reviewed and written up three wines that Spencer Roloson sent to me: Spencer Roloson 2002 Palaterra Spencer Roloson 2002 Viognier Spencer Roloson 2002 Madder Lake Tempranillo As you can see by clicking on the above links, the results were mixed. My favorite of the three was the Palaterra, a $16 Rhone-style blend. I also have very high hopes for future vintages of the Tempranillo. I liked it, but I expect as their vines age, the wines will improve dramatically and be much more complex. I had been saving the priciest of the samples, the Spencer Roloson 2002 La…

For a few months now, I’ve been trying to schedule a meeting and tasting with Jim Waters, founder of Waters Crest Winery. Sunday, without scheduling a thing…we finally met and I got to taste his wines. Jim is a great story and should be an inspiration to any home winemaker with designs on making it a career. He worked for years as a manager for large trucking companies all the while making wine at home (and winning some awards for it as well). He was, and still is, a volunteer fireman as well and without that, I’m not sure he’d…

The Stony Brook University Center for Wine, Food and Culture has recently announced its Discovering Wine Series, a series of events hosted by local wine experts. The first session, Important White Varietals: Wishing for Springtime will take place Thursday, February 3, 6:30-8:00 p.m. In the Wang Center on Stony Brook’s main campus and is being run by Gary Madden, general manager of Lieb Family Cellars, a LENNDEVOURS favorite Long Island winery. Gary will be pouring a range of distinctive flavors in wines worldwide, demonstrating Pinot Blanc as both a sparkling and a still wine; comparing stainless steel and barrel-fermented Chardonnays…

Our party Saturday night was a huge success. Great food, great game and great friends (even though some are Jets fans). I’ll have some pictures posted here later tonight. It was a stressful game, but the true believers (such as myself) had no doubt that the Steelers would come through. I plan to send a bottle of wine to Doug Brien later this week, thanking him for being a total choke-job of a kicker. Next up…the hated Patriots. The Pats are so hated that even my Jets-fan friends are cheering for the black and gold this week. I’m sure I’ll…

The wine, food and travel blog All Set in Massachusetts is raffling off two pairs of tickets for the 14th Annual Boston Wine Expo. Check out their site for all the details. If I thought I could get there, I’d enter myself. But, Thadd asked me to help promote the contest…so if you’re interested…go for it.

Despite this year’s warmer-than- usual weather (and much less snow than in recent ones), February is traditionally a slow month for the Island’s 30ish wineries. The Long Island Wine Council is out to change all that this year with their Winter Wine Month Passport promotion. For $25 (or $40 per couple) you’ll receive a passport that entitles you to special discounts and promotions at Long Island’s finest wineries, restaurants, B&Bs and attractions. Most of the wineries involved are waiving their tasting fees, offering at least 10% off of all wine purchases (with savings up to 20% depending on the number…

With all that has happened recently in Southeast Asia and East Africa, many of us are thinking about how we can help be it with money, time or a donation of good to help survivors get their lives back together. Even in the wine world, wineries are hosting events to raise money and one of my favorite wineries on Long Island even produced a wine to benefit a 9/11 non-profit organization. Recently, however, I stumbled upon what can only be considered the ultimate in wine world charity, Humanitas Wines. They don’t just donate a portion of profits or host an…