Spring 2009: GCI Restaurant Week

My word, March is a busy month. No sooner do we wrap up the Wine Festival, than the Spring offering of Greater Cincinnati Independents' Restaurant Week happens. March 16 – March 22 you can visit 26 locally owned restaurants for a 3-course, prix-fixe menu for $26.09.

As I've said the last few times we have had Restaurant Week, this is a great opportunity to try some restaurants you haven't experienced for a great price.

We've had both good and bad experiences. I believe that, because they are bringing in so many new customers, restaurants should always put their best foot forward during Restaurant Week. However, we've had a mediocre experience at Tink, a passable experience at Red, and amazing experiences at Bella Luna, The Pub, and Chalk. So it runs the gamut. I still think it's a great deal and the restaurants will, hopefully, take advantage of the chance to show off a little.

Keep in mind that the $26.09 does not include drinks, taxes, or tip. However, we've noticed in the past that a lot of restaurants offer a paired wine flight for a special price as well. According to the GCI web site, some of the casual themed restaurants are offering dinner for 2 for $26.09!

Restaurant Week is such a deal that it's our Recession Deal of the week.

Participating restaurants are after the jump, and you can read full details on the GCI web site.

Read the rest of this entry »

Uncorking a Cure

The Cincinnati International Wine Festival contributes most of its income to charity. But it's not the only way you can experience wine and help a charity this week. Uncorking a Cure launched, in partnership with local vineyard Elk Creek, on Saturday with a wine tasting event. Those events continue throughout the month of March and cost a bit less than the wine festival.

Uncorking a Cure came about after Maria Jung was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer four years ago. Her husband Wayne, Director of Integrated Marketing at local channel 12, started the Uncorking a Cure foundation as a gift for her. Maria and Wayne want to develop a platform to promote awareness, provide
colonoscopies to individuals who cannot afford them and raise funds for a cure for others like Maria, who were not fortunate
enough to have detected colorectal cancer in its early stages.

They developed a love of wine and local wineries as they took short day trips during Maria's recovery. Because they live in Northern Kentucky, there is a strong emphasis on local Kentucky wineries.  You can find a full list of events after the jump.

Visit the Uncorking a Cure web site, or find them on Twitter and Facebook. You can also donate directly to the cause.

Read the rest of this entry »

Featured Cincinnati Wine Events: Mar 7-14 (UPDATED)

This week kicks off with Bockfest and winds up with the Cincinnati International Wine Festival. Never been to CIWF? We recommend you try Saturday afternoon or Friday night. The evening tastings are always crowded, but Saturday night is extra crowded. On Wednesday, we'll publish an updated version of our popular list of tips to survive a wine festival.

If you were thinking of attending any of the Wine Festival-related winery dinners, they are all on Thursday night and do require advance reservations. The Pigall's dinner has been moved to The Summit at the Midwest Culinary Institute.

Next weeks events won't go up until Sunday-ish, due to the wine festival and related activities, so this week's list goes through next Sunday, 3/15.

Remember, these are just one-time events of which I'm aware. Regular (recurring) events are always listed on the calendar. The calendar is up to date.
Any wine-related events I'm currently aware of are on the
calendar. If I missed something – something local to Cincinnati that is
- let me know!

For information on what's going on in Dayton, you can refer to Mark's blog at Uncorked.

Local Wine Tasting Event Calendar

Friday Interactive Wine Tasting Map

Saturday Interactive Wine Tasting Map

Read the rest of this entry »

Southern French Whites: Aromatic Wines

Recently, Kevin & I attended a class on Southern French Whites at The Party Source EQ Center. I'm  a big fan of these whites, which includes my favorites – aromatics – including Viognier, Picpoul, Roussanne, and Marsanne. We brought home several of these bottles.

Photo Credit: Chateau de Lancyre, Pic St. Loup

All prices are per The Party Source.

Cave de Vignerons de Montagnac Picpoul de Pinet 2007, Languedoc/Hérault, $9.99:
The grape on this one is the Picpoul, which is actually fairly hard to come by at stores around here. Tart lemon, zesty, and then mineral-y in the mid-palate. This would be an excellent first course, salad wine. Kevin called it a good patio wine.
Our rating:

Ninet de Pena Viognier 2006, Vin de Pays, $9.99:
This Viognier had a nose of daisies and apricots, which carried through on the palate. I found it a little oily in texture (again, think truffle oil, not gasoline) and Kevin thought it dried out his mouth on the finish. It paired fantastic with apricot preserves on brie.

My rating:   Kevin's rating:

Château de Lancyre Roussanne 2007, Pic St. Loup, $16.99:
This Roussanne could age for another couple of years. It was a very food friendly wine. Acidic and earthy all at once, with a sweet and floral nose. Kevin even found violets on the finish. I probably would have upped it to my top score had I paired it with a meal.
My rating:    Kevin's rating:

Château Beauchêne Côtes-du-Rhône Marsanne 2006, Southern Rhône, $15.99:
This Marsanne was golden in color. The nose had lemon, butter, apricot, and honey – very rich flavors. The taste followed up, rich and full with lemon and butter, very smooth. I got spices on the smooth and easy finish.
Our rating:

Domaine la Fadèze "Quatuor" 2003, Vin de Pays, $11.99:
This one is a blend of Viognier, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. The nose is salty and full of sea air. The taste had a nicely balanced acidity and tartness. It wasn't rich and fat, but it was still very full in the mouth. The finish had lilies; it was mellow and pleasant.
Our rating:

Alain Paret Condrieu 2006, Northern Rhône, $39.99:
Oh goodness. That's the first thing I had written down on this 100% Viognier. If you didn't notice, the price jumped on this one, and for good reason. The nose adhered to what I always think a viognier should smell like – fruit loops. Seriously. Go stick your nose in a box of fruit loops and inhale. It smells vaguely fruity and sweet. Granted, I also love when a viognier smells like flowers, and this one was also floral on the nose. Kevin picked out tulips. It tasted light, yet full on teh tongue, filling your mouth. These was a lot of complexity to this viognier, which continued onto the light and buttery (but not thick) finish.
Our rating: