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Kentucky Crafted: The Market
Kentucky crafts on display this weekend were exceptional. Booths displayed hand-crafted jewelry, beautiful pottery, woven fabric, specially designed wood items and many other fine arts and crafts created by Kentucky artists.
Speciality foods such as Grandma Carolyn’s Ketchup, turtle candy covered apples from the Sweet Shoppe, and Browning’s ham and bacon, along with many others, were available to sample and buy.
Only one winery offered speciality foods. Chrisman Mill has packaged Denise Nelson’s famous bread pudding so that you can purchase it to enjoy at home. They also offered a wine infused popcorn that drew many to their booth.
Kentucky authors were there to sign their books. Other Kentucky books were available as well from University of Kentucky Press, Jesse Stuart Foundation, Butler Books, and others.
I have to say I enjoyed The Market as a visitor, as well as experiencing it as an author. I met many wonderful people who wanted to discuss my book. Another Butler Books author, Bobbie Smith Bryant was also signing her exceptional book Passions of the Black Patch, Cooking and Quilting in Western Kentucky.
Start looking for the date of next year’s event. If you missed this years, save the date for next year. I recommend it.
by admin with No CommentsKentucky Crafted: The Market
If you are still looking for something to do this weekend, remember the Kentucky Crafted Market in Lexington.
I’ll be there on Sunday from 10 to 1, signing A Wine Lover’s Odyssey Across Kentucky. I’d love to see you there.
by admin with No CommentsBarboursville Vineyard
As readers of my blog or my book know, Barboursville Vineyard and Winery in Virginia holds a special place in this wine lover’s heart. I wanted to share with you a bit of news from Virginia.
The 2009 Octagon, 12th Edition, won the Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup. This is one of the nation’s premier competitions and this year marks the fourth time Barboursville has won this award for one of their wines.
The wine was already awarded 90 points at Wine Enthusiast, the Gold Medal of the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago and the Platinum Medal of the Sommelier Challenge, in California.
Barboursville’s Octagon is a Meritage-style blend of the best Bordeaux varietals from the winery, made only in top vintage years. The 2009 vintage is comprised of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
We will be visiting this summer and I am looking forward to tasting this award-winning wine. Previous vintages have been amazing.
by admin with No CommentsKentucky Crafted: The Market
Kentucky puts on an excellent show of the state’s crafts. On March 2 and 3, at the Lexington Convention Center, visitors will have the opportunity to experience Kentucky’s fine art, crafts, books, and speciality foods. Over 200 exhibitors will share their handcrafted items with all those interested. The Kentucky Arts Council has lined up more than 30 musicians and musical acts to perform during the two days of the market.
The hours are from 9 to 6 on Saturday, and from 10 to 5 on Sunday. The Market is open to wholesale buyers on Friday March 1. Parking is readily available in the lots at the Convention Center.
Butler Books will be located in Booth (#407), near the other booths featuring books. I will be available to sign A Wine Lover’s Odyssey Across Kentucky, from 10 to 1 (or 2), on Sunday.
I hope to see you there.
by admin with No CommentsSpringhill Winery & Plantation Bed’n Breakfast
Spring is coming at the Springhill Winery, on March 15, at 6:30 PM, with a dinner of five courses paired with four wines. Choose from Stuffed Kentucky Bass Filet or Spring Lamb Medallions with an Herbal Wine Sauce for your entree. Call for reservations for their “Wine & Dine” Spring Dinner.
Springhill Winery, Bloomfield, is one of the state’s oldest wineries with a wide selection of excellent wines. Their “Wine & Dine” sounds like a lot of fun.
by admin with No CommentsGrimes Mill Winery
On a baskeball trip to Lexington, we were able to stop at Grimes Mill Winery, in Lexington, to try their new dry white. As a fan of Sauvignon Blanc, I was excited to find that Philip DeSimone had released a new wine featuring Sauvignon Blanc. Wines made with the Sauvignon Blanc grape are straw colored and have a crisp flavor. Sauvignon Blancs have the aromas of tropical fruits, herbs, and freshly mown hay and exhibit flavors of peach and melon. Grimes Mill’s new wine is an excellent addition to their selection of wines.
A visit to Grimes Mill is always enjoyable. The tasting room is in a lovely, easy to reach location, just off I-75. I recommend a visit if you have time when you’re visiting Lexington.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Whether you are going to a winery event, out to dinner, or staying home with your love, have a wonderful day with your favorite someone and your favorite wine.
We’ll be having a special dinner and enjoying a wonderful bottle of Octagon, from Barboursville Vineyard and Winery, in Virginia.
by admin with No Comments
Prodigy Vineyards and Winery
Basketball season is in full swing and once again we are in the Lexington area on game days. We were able to take some time after a late afternoon ballgame to visit Prodigy’s Tasting Room just off I-64, in Frankfort.
Prodigy Vineyard and Winery is becoming known for some of Kentucky’s best wines. I’ve written before about the excellent red wines at Prodigy, especially the Lemberger. This weekend I enjoyed a white that is exceptional. Chad Peach is making a dry Traminette, with a spicy, fruity taste and aromas of oranges and grapefruit.
As a white wine drinker, I am quite choosy about the wines I enjoy. One of my favorites has always been a dry Gewurztraminer, but that grape has been difficult to grow in climates similar to Kentucky’s. Vintners are finding that a hybrid called Traminette does grow well here. The grape produces a wine similar in aromas and flavors to its famous parent – Gewurztraminer. Most Traminettes are off-dry or even semi-sweet. Prodigy has an off-dry Traminette that has been quite popular with most visitors, but I have to say this new addition of a dry Traminette to the wine list is likely to become a favorite for me.
Our visit was, as always, enjoyable. Christmas gifts are being replaced with a wide variety of lovely items in the gift shop following Lenée’s recent buying trip. A visit to Prodigy is a great way to finish an enjoyable afternoon at the ballgame.
by admin with No Comments
Valentine Events at Kentucky Wineries
People in love looking for a romantic evening think of candles, music, chocolate, and wine. Wine and romance seem to go hand in hand, and the wineries in Kentucky are observing the day with special events and dinners. Wine lovers looking for a romantic wine-filled evening can find them in many regions of the state, here’s a sampling of events.
Lovers Leap Vineyards and Winery are hosting a Leap into Love and Laughter Valentine Dinner on February 14th.
From the 13th to the 17th of February, Chrisman Mill Vineyards and Winery, at Hamburg, are offering dessert and wine pairings.
Elk Creek Vineyards and Winery are hosting a Valentine’s Dinner on both the 9th and 16th of February.
Acres of Land Vineyard and Winery has a special dinner at their restaurant on Valentine’s Day.
Jean Farris Winery and Bistro offer special Valentine’s Dinners from February 14 to February 17.
MillaNova Vineyard and Winery’s special event is a Valentine’s Dinner and Dance, on February 16.
On February 9th, Wildside Vineyard and Winery will host a Valentine’s Dinner.
Equus Run Vineyard and Winery welcomes visitors to their Kisses and Calories Annual Event, on February 9th.
by admin with 1 Comment
French Lick Winery
Buying wines from other states is not always easy and is prohibited by laws in many cases. Kentucky residents are not permitted to have wine shipped to them except for rare occasions. Indiana laws keep most of their wineries from shipping outside their state. When you find wines you love in other states, visiting them and purchasing is your best choice.
Since we haven’t traveled much this year, we’ve really missed our visits to the French Lick Winery in Indiana. At least once and sometimes twice a year, we have enjoyed the winery as well as their vintage cafe. We have also missed their wines. We did go to the Swiss Wine Festival in the summer and bought a few bottles, but they have some new wines since then that we were looking forward to trying.
We have some friends to thank for visiting French Lick Winery for us. Thanks to them, we are able to taste their new wine selections of Dry Traminette, Noreit, and Cabernet Franc, as well as enjoy our old favorites of Norton and Heaven’s View Port (made with Norton).
Buying wines you haven’t tried is sometimes risky, but we know the quality of French Lick wines. I’ll let you know what the Noreit and Dry Traminette are like as soon as I get a taste.
by admin with No Comments