Saturday, June 5, 2010

Long Island Wine Veteran On The Move






















Long Island Wine Veteran On The Move

Photo and Story by Christopher J. Davies

Richard Olsen-Harbich has been making wine on Long Island for more than 25 years. Just like other LI wine pioneers in the early days he paid his dues over time learning about the terroir of Long Island's East End. And which grapes were best suited for growing in the region.

While some of the industry's early pioneers made strides as well as painful mistakes, Mr.Olsen-Harbich was able to use all of his knowledge and experience to execute one of Long Island's most ambitious projects, Raphael.

John and Joan Petrocelli launched their family owned wine estate that was named after Mr. Petrocelli's father Raphael. After consulting with Paul Pontallier Chateau Margaux, Bordeaux winemaker, Olsen-Harbich and the Petrocelli's announced that Raphael would devote its efforts into exclusively producing Merlot. During recent times they changed their minds after experimenting with Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Winemaking is about learning from the land and grapes. And this is what Mr.Olsen-Harbich knows best.















Raphael Estate, Photo (C) C J Davies


To his credit, Richard Olsen-Harbich was the man who authored the applications for Long Island's three wine appellations; Hamptons, North Fork Of Long Island and Long Island. All Long Island wine producers have benefited from his work that ensures that the grapes that are used to make wine on Long Island are authentic. He was also one of the founders of the Long Island Merlot Alliance.

After fourteen years he has now made a calculated career decision to move to Bedell Cellars, another well-respect wine producer that is owned by former movie-mogul Michael Lynn. I have no doubt that he will have a major impact on the future of Bedell Cellars wine.

Filing Richards shoes at Raphael will not be easy. But knowing the commitment that the Petrocelli's have made to their winery, I am confident that they will find a distinguished and well-experienced winemaker to continue what Richard set out to do.

For those who are fans of Richard's wines at Raphael, there is winemakers dinner being held on Tuesday June 8th at the Woodland's in Woodbury. Richard will be hosting the dinner that benefits the Foundation for Sight and Sound. Tickets are available.

RSVP: The Foundation For Sight & Sound
Tel. 631-366-3461 or 631-366-3462
Email: info@foundationforsightandsound.org
www.foundationforsightandsound.org

Friday, June 4, 2010

Long Island Wine And Food Festival Debuts Friday June 25 to Sunday June 27


Long Island Wine And Food Festival Debuts Friday June 25 to Sunday June 27, 2010.

Story and photos by Christopher J. Davies

It has been a long time coming, but I am happy to see that East End wineries and restaurants have teamed up to showcase their delicious wines and foods. Timing couldn't be more perfect as Summer will be officially in bloom on Long Island's North Fork.

The Long Island Wine and Food Festival is a perfect event for tasting a wide assortment of Long Island wines at one location. Many of the producer's wines are limited production and not found at your local wine store in New York City.

The events take place over three days, making it ideal for staying on the East End at a B&B or hotel. My favorite town for staying the weekend is Greenport. There you can find several hotels and B&B's to fit your budget. Best of all the town is an old whaling village that has a nice selection of quaint shops and restaurants, including America's oldest family owned restaurant, Claudio's on the dock.

2010 Long Island Wine And Food Festival

Friday, June 25, 2010 Roanoke Vineyards, Riverhead VIP Kickoff Reception. 7-10pm

The VIP Kickoff Reception will be your chance to taste Local flavors prepared by aMano Osteria & Wine Bar and over four dozen Local wines. This is an intimate opportunity to meet some of the celebrity chefs preparing remarkable cuisine at Sunday's Grand Tasting. By purchasing a ticket to the VIP Kickoff Reception on Friday, June 25, 2010 you will also be allowed entry to The Grand Tasting on Sunday, June 27, 2010. Please keep your ticket for The Grand Tasting.


Saturday June 26, 2010- Various North Fork Wineries
Separate wine & food events will be held at 10 area wineries and an Art Exhibit at will take place at Mitchell Park, Greenport LI



The Grand Tasting
Sunday, June 27, 2010, 2-6:00pm
Mitchell Park, Greenport LI

Join over 50 Local wineries and restaurants at The Grand Tasting in the beautiful Village of Greenport. Mitchell Park will be the setting for the culmination of the Long Island Wine and Food Festival. You will enjoy unique wine and food tastings in a scenic seaside setting. Take a minute to sniff, sip, and swirl or a moment to learn techniques from some of Long Island's greatest chefs.

For details and tickets visit the official event website:
http://www.longislandwineandfoodfestival.com

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Wine review: Mattebella Vineyards



















Wine Country International® Magazine

Wine Works-Wine Reviews
By Christopher J. Davies
Photo (C) Mattebella Vineyards


Mattebella Vineyards, North Fork, Long Island

Long Island newbie Mattebella stands out at any wine tasting with old-world handcrafted wines. You will enjoy an Italian twist on LI’s best growing Bordeaux varietals. Italian’s live to eat and these wines are made for enjoying with food. Miami super lawyer, turned vintner Mark Tobin kept the retail prices reasonable and affordable for any jury! www.mattebellavineyards.com

Mattebella Famiglia White Table Wine (NV) $13.95, 12.9%. Nice bright fruit, fresh mouth feel, clean Chablis style Chardonnay. Fresh green apple and subtle minerality. Enjoy with ultra fresh seafood and cream sauces. ****

Mattebella Famiglia Red Table Wine (NV) $13.95, 12.9%. Smooth and fruity. Soft tannins and food friendly. A delicious blend of LI’s two best growing red varietals Merlot and Cabernet Franc. ***

Mattebella 2005 Old World Blend $29.95, 12.9%. A well-balanced red blend, aged in French Oak. Hints of coffee and Ghirardelli chocolate make this wine ideal for pairing with lamb chops and chocolate mousse. ****

Long Island Wine Country, Long Island Wine, Wine Country International, Long Island Wine

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Long Island Wine Industry Expands in Recession













Tasting at Clovis Point

Long Island Wine Industry Expands in Recession

I recently read a Newsday article today stating that the Long Island Wine Industry is struggling, yet I find that hard to believe after visiting Long Island last weekend. The wineries were clogged with people and the winery parking lots were full of cars, busses and limos. From what I could see, the wine industry on Long Island is expanding.











The proprietors of Macari Winery and Vineyards are currently enlarging their winery tasting room and decks. They have also purchased Galluccio Estate Vineyards in Cutchogue and have renovated that property and recently reopened the tasting room as Macari 2.




















Delicious New Macari Wine Releases

•2008 Macari Sauvignon Blanc,$22.95, bright with great citrus flavors, gives Marlborough NZ a run for the money. I predict this wine will sell-out soon.
•2008 Sauvignon Blanc One,$26.95 a wooded SB with little hints of fume.
•2008 Rose,$14.95 dry as a bone, made from a blend of 5 red varietals, serve this chilled on your patio with cheese or BBQ meat.
http://www.macariwines.com





Laurel Lake Vineyards in Laurel, expanded their deck by adding an additional level last season. They have just released a Sauvignon Blanc and a Gewurtstraminer for the first time. General Manager Juan Sepulveda plans to beautify the area in the middle of the estate by adding a pond and other landscaping upgrades.
http://www.llwines.com/


Jason's Vineyard in Jamesport was established years ago by Jason Damianos, the highly talented winemaker and enologist. Damianos oversees winemaking at his family's Pindar and Duckwalk vineyards. His award-winning wines have been sold through Pindar and Duckwalk, in addition to being available online.

If you pass his property in Jamesport, you will see a lot of construction underway with several buildings in the final stages of completion. His brother, Alex, tells me that Jason is planning to open his tasting room at the end of this month.

Jason's Vineyard
Main Rd

Jamesport, New York

Tel. 631 928-8486
http://www.jasonsvineyard.com


Clovis Point is conveniently located on the south side of Main Road in Jamesport. The winery operates out of a renovated historic barn with mahogany doors. The folks in the tasting room are quite friendly. Wines include a 2006 Chardonnay fermented in stainless steel at $16.50, a 2005 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay at$24.00, a 2004 Merlot at $21.00,and the2004 Vintners Select Merlot is a knockout at $35.00. Join the wine club for 20% discounts, free tastings and special activities.

Clovis Point
1935 Main Road

P.O. Box 669
Jamesport, NY 11947
Tel. 631-722-4222
http://www.clovispointwines.com


Coming Soon! One Woman Wines in Southold
While they have been growing grapes and making wine in Southold for a number of years, Claudia and Frank Purita will be opening a tasting room on Old North Road in Southold shortly. The Puritas, both successful chefs with strong followings, are retro-fitting a restored barn to be made into their tasting room. Their property is also suitable for large corporate events and functions. Wine releases include Chardonnay, Gewurtstraminer and Rose.

Visit: http://www.onewomanwines.com/
















Touring Long Island Safely

If you do not wish to take a self-guided tour by driving out to the East End, there are several professional tour providers at your service. It is important to note that while many limo companies have jumped on the Long Island Wine Country tour band wagon, that not all companies or tour groups are welcomed by every winery. To be frank, if you arrive drunk because you were given a bottle of whiskey for sipping along the way, you could be refused the opportunity to taste at some wineries.

Most Popular Tour Company:
Long Island Wine Tours
Locally managed, Long Island Wine Tours takes hundreds of people per weekend, and provides a hot casserole meal and a free refrigerator magnet keepsake.
http://www.Longislandwinetours.com


















Famous signed wine barrels at Wolffer Estate, Sagaponack

Highest Quality Education-Focused Tour Company:
LongIslandWineCountry.com
This group offers one public tour monthly with an expert tour guide and departures from NYC, Nassau and Suffolk. They also specialize in corporate groups of 30 plus and provide an exclusive “Wine 101” course, boutique wineries and gourmet level food. Their Best of The Best event will prove that Long Island is a World-Class Wine Region...it is scheduled for September 25th. Their 8th Annual Harvest Fest on September 27th event is not to be missed. You get to pick grapes and take part in many wine related activities, enjoy great food & music.

http://www.longislandwinecountry.com/


Coming Soon! Wine Country International's Insider Guides

The current state of the economy is taking the bite out of everyone's wallet yet the last thing you want to do is stop drinking delicious wine. There are fortunately some great ways to taste smart. Wine Country International ® magazine is now developing a series of Insider's Guides to regional wine tasting. Each guide will include a comprehensive overview of what makes each winery unique and how much it will cost you to taste wine, attend unique wine events and obtain value-added benefits. Our Editors will also include their expert suggestions and wine reviews and will also present ways to save money and recoup a portion of your tasting costs when you make a purchase.

Touring and tasting can be a strenuous job. The Insider Guides will provide valuable tips for taking short cuts, using local roads, accessing other nearby attractions and finding where to eat and where to sleep.

The first WCI Insider Guide to Long Island Wine Country will be released on
September 1, 2009 as a downloadable PDF. Cost: $15

This valuable information will be designed to help you save time and get the best value for your wine-tasting buck!

With wine tasting fees now averaging $12 per winery, your investment should
pay for itself in your first visit.
For details visit www.winecountrynetwork.com

Monday, May 11, 2009

Tribute to a Long Island Wine Veteran


Tribute to a Long Island Wine Veteran- Ben Sisson
On Friday a virtual whose who of the Long Island wine industry, showed their support for the family of Ben Sisson, a talented Long Island grape grower who passed away unexpectedly in January. Approximately 200 guests attended a fundraiser at Bedell Cellars in Cutchogue.

The event & auction raised around $30,000 and guests enjoyed delicious appetizers created by of Wildthyme Restaurant & Bar of Noyak.
http://www.wildthymesouthampton.com/

There was a wide selection of delicious LI wines poured. Raphael, Bedell, Shinn Estate, Jamesport Vineyards and several newbie wineries contributed their wines.

While it had been raining earlier in the day, when the event began at 6:00 pm, the sun was shinning. Richard Olsen-Harbich, Winemaker and General Manager at Raphael, and longtime friend of the Sisson's reminded us that today was "Bud Break" in the Long Island Vineyards, a time that always made Benjamin Sisson smile.

For more info on the fundraising efforts please visit:
www.friendsofsissonfamily.org

Live life for today, for tomorrow may never come!

Christopher Davies

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Long Island's Chilean Wine Connection


Long Island's Chilean Wine Connection
If you visit Laurel Lake Vineyards in the postage stamp sized hamlet of Laurel, you will discover a very unique Long Island winery, Laurel Lake Vineyards. The folks are friendly and accommodating. Their winery is modern and has one of the best outdoor decks for entertaining on the Island. But most noticeably, is that the wines are made in a different style from most of their neighbors. The winery is owned by several Chilean investors with thick roots back in the Chile's wine country.

Several weeks ago Darcy and I had the pleasure of visiting Gillmore Estate in San Javier, Chile. Francisco Gillmore, a yeast manufacturer/vintner and his daughter Daniella are major shareholders of Laurel Lake Vineyards. Their Chilean wine estate is located 3.5 hours south of Santiago in the Maule Valley.













Daniella and Francisco Gillmore

Gillmore Estate is well worth a visit as they have a beautiful 15 room. wine themed hotel with restaurant and nature preserve/mini zoo on 500 hectareas, which is approximately 1000 acres.















When you arrive in your hotel lobby you will discover a 15 foot cement wine bottle in the center of the lobby. Our room overlooked the pool and pond. There was a wood fired hot tub, in wine barrel and miniature golf course nearby.

The Gillmore's have dedicated a portion of their property to help preserve Chile's indigenous wildlife. You will find parrots, geese and mountain lions in cages on the property. Approximately 10% of the property is planted with grapevines.














You can stay in a double room with breakfast and guided tour for $200 per night, considering the exclusive location and privacy it is well worth the cost. They also offer a winemakers crash course program, which is 5 days learning how to make wine, for groups up from 6 people.















The food is delicious and compliments their delicious wines that consist primarily of reds, Rose, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc and Carmenere.

Spa treatments include a wine bath, skin bath, massages (drain,
relax, exfoliating) priced from US$70 to US$100

Gillmore Estate is open from August to April every year. Keep in mind that the seasons are the reverse of the US. For details visit their website: http://www.gillmore.cl/

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Recipe's from Top Chef Hosea Rosenberg



Top Chef Season 5 had it's finale last Wednesday.I am proud to say that my friend Chef Hosea Rosenberg brought home the bacon!

Before he made it to Top Chef Season 5 fame, Chef Hosea Rosenberg of Jax Fishouse in Boulder, was a two time "Best Chef" at the Denver International Wine Festival. In 2007, Chef Rosenberg won the Taste of Elegance Chef's Food and Wine Competition.

As the producer/owner of the Denver International Wine Festival, it made me very proud to see Hosea do his magic. And ironically his winning dishes, were very similar to the dishes he created for the 2007 Denver International Wine Festival.





Here are the recipe's for his winning DIWF dishes:

















Thai Marinated Scallops with Trout Roe and Pineapple Syrup
(serves 4)
4, large, fresh scallops (about 2oz each)
2 oz lime juice
2 oz orange juice
1 large knob ginger
1 stalk lemongrass
4 oz coconut milk
2 oz rice wine
2 C fresh pineapple juice
½ jalapeno, seeded
1 T corn starch
1 oz trout roe
Salt
1 large English cucumber, sliced into think disks

Slice scallops into thin disks. Chop ginger into very small pieces and then squeeze with kitchen towel to extract juices. Combine ginger juice, lime juice, orange juice, lemongrass, coconut milk, rice wine and a little salt. Pour marinade over sliced scallops and set in refrigerator for 3 hours. While scallops are marinating, put pineapple juice in blender with jalapeno and puree. Add juice to a small saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce by ¾. Whisk in cornstarch and strain. To serve, lay cucumber slices on plate. Lay scallops on cucumber and top with caviar. Drizzle a little pineapple syrup over top and serve cold.

Wine Pairing: Brassfield Estate Winery, Serenity 2006, High Valley, CA






















Venison Tenderloin with Celery Root, King Oyster Mushrooms, Foie Gras and Huckleberry Demi
(serves 4)

4, 6oz medallions of venison tenderloin
1 large celery root, peeled and chopped
1 large Yukon, peeled and chopped
2 cloves roasted garlic
4 oz butter
4 oz cream
½ # king oyster mushrooms
1 T chopped garlic
1 T chopped shallots
1 T chopped fresh herbs (thyme, parsley, oregano)
4 oz foie gras, cut into 4 equal portions
8 oz demi glace
4 T fresh huckleberries
Salt and pepper

Season venison with salt and pepper and grill to desired temperature. Boil potatoes and celery root together until soft. Mill mixture and add roast garlic, cream and half the butter. Season with salt. Slice the mushrooms and place in very hot pan with remaining butter, shallots, garlic and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Season foie gras with salt and pepper and sear in very hot pan until just browned on each side. Puree half of the huckleberries and add to demi. To serve, place a mound of celery root puree in center of plate. Slice venison and fan over half of the puree. Place pile of mushrooms next to venison. Pour demi around plate and garnish with remaining huckleberries.

Wine Pairing: Galante Vineyards, Red Rose Hill, Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Carmel Valley, CA