Unique Gifting: Create Your Own Wine Glasses

Mary Jane Riggi has had a stained glass studio in Cincinnati for over 25 years. She has also been an adjunct professor in various aspects of stained glass at the University of Cincinnati’s Communiversity program for almost as long.

What does that have to do with the wine blog? Well, Mary Jane is hosting a wine glass painting class. Imagine painting your own stained glass wine glasses and giving them as Christmas gifts? I’m sort of in love with this idea.

You have just one opportunity to take this class, on Saturday, December 4, 12-4 pm. Classes are located at Mary Jane’s studio in Mt Airy. Class fee is $35 plus a supply fee of $25, which is payable to Mary Jane at the time of the class.  The supply fee includes up to 4 wine glasses, glass paints, etching cream, jewels and nuggets to make wine charms, and a refreshments after the class. Students will have the opportunity to paint/etch a large glass ornament at no additional charge, if there is time.

For more information, you can contact Mary Jane at 513-633-2788. You can register by calling Mary Jane or through the Communiversity program.

Annual Southern Ohio Barrel Tasting Returns!

It’s Thanksgiving and time to start shopping for gifts and, well, wine – not that we ever stop shopping for wine! If you are somehow mall-ed out (how is that possible?) on Saturday, Nov 27, you can relax in some of our fantastic local wineries.

Each year, a group of southern Ohio’s wineries open up their cellars for barrel samplings of unreleased vintages. I think this is the third year (don’t quote me on that) and I’ve yet to attend. We’re never in town for Thanksgiving weekend. But if you are, and if the weather cooperates, go visit some or all of the participating wineries.

Barrel Sampling at Kinkead Ridge

It’s a great opportunity to visit local wineries that are often closed in the winter and snatch up their latest releases … not to mention trying some of their unreleased samples. For this year’s Annual Ohio River Valley Barrel Tasting Tour, you can visit

• Kinkead Ridge Estate Winery in Ripley
• Meranda-Nixon Estate Winery in Ripley
• Harmony Hill Vineyards & Estate Winery in Bethel
• LaVigna Estate Winery in Higginsport
• Burnet Ridge Winery in Cincinnati
• Henke Winery in Cincinnati
• Woodstone Creek Winery in Cincinnati

Hours and tasting fees vary by winery, so make sure to check the web site for more information.

Enjoy!

More Tino Vino …

First an explanation, then an update.

I had to take down the post with Lindsay’s letter. I know, I know, perhaps I erred on the side of too much caution. I was treading a line I wasn’t personally comfortable with and, well, there were a myriad of other reasons as well. You had only to read the comments to figure some of them out.

I did correspond with Lindsay after I removed her letter and she updated me on some happenings on Tuesday. She let me know that as of October 13, the winery was evicted. Left with no recourse, the landlord dumped all the wine. Unfortunately, if you had wine at Tino Vino, it’s now gone.

My apologies to those of you who are genuinely interested in what is happening with Tino Vino. I wish I hadn’t had to take the letter down. I’m working things out, so maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to re-post it later.

Cheers,

Michelle

Northern Kentucky Wine Festival

I was sitting at the Cock & Bull in Covington last week when I saw the signs for the 2010 Northern Kentucky Wine Festival. Since it has moved to Mainstrasse, it’s been held in October on weekends when I am out of town. So I can’t go, but I hope you can!

This is the 5th annual event and it’s this Saturday, October 16, from 3-10 pm. Admission is only $10, which includes a souvenir wine glass and 4 tastings. Tickets for additional tastings and glasses of wine will also be available at $1 ea or 6 for $5 for additional tastings / $5 for a glass of wine.

This year, twelve wineries are confirmed, making the Northern KY Wine Festival the largest in the Commonwealth! Participating Wineries include the following:

• Lover’s Leap – Lawrenceburg, KY
• Acres of Land – Richmond, KY
• Stonebrook Winery – Camp Springs, KY
• Wight-Meyer – Shepherdsville, KY
• Black Barn Winery – Lexington, KY
• Elk Creek – Owenton, KY
• Baker-Bird Winery – Augusta, KY
• Atwood Hill – Morningview, KY
• Iron Pig – Union KY
• Horseshoe Bend – Willisburg, KY
• RiverBend Winery – Louisville, KY
• Seven Wells Winery – California, KY

In addition to the wine, there are always local artisans with booths. I used to always come home with at least one new piece of unique jewelry.

Take advantage of the autumn weather this weekend and head to Covington!

Not Your Average Grapes: Come Join Me at Dilly Cafe!

This Saturday, I’m playing hostess for a wine tasting at the Dilly Cafe. First the key information: this Saturday, Oct 9, 1-4 pm, 50 cents per pour. If the weather cooperates, we’ll be enjoying a gorgeous fall day on the patio.

Now, the wines. I originally wanted to do a Breast Cancer themed tasting (okay, I walked in and said, “I think my theme is boobs.”) But I ended up with one red, one white, and four rosés. Now, I know people get all strange about rosé, and some people only want red or only want white at tastings, so I was feeling a little uncomfortable with my theme. Then I was staring at a particular wine and realized that I wanted to throw in some “weird” grapes.

Really, these grapes aren’t all that unusual – but my hope is that at least one of these grapes will be new to you. They’re fun to try and come from all across the globe.

1. A nice sparkling Brachetto (Italy)

2. Vinum Cellars White Elephant (Rhone blend, California winery, Chenin Blanc / Roussanne / Viognier blend)

3. Hirsch Gruner #1 (Austria, Grüner Veltliner)

4. Enotria Cortese (California winery, Italian grape – also called Gavi)

5. Turn Me Red (Austria, Zwiegelt)

6. Chandon Pinot Meunier (California winery, originally a French grape) << One of my favorite wines!

Well, that’s what is picked out right now, but keep in mind these are subject to change based on distributor availability.

I hope to see everyone there!

Dilly Cafe
6818 Wooster Pike
Mariemont, OH
1-4 pm – drop by anytime