Traveling with MJ
By Mary Jo Manzanares
Our 45-minute virtual wine tasting series introduces you to wines around the world. We make learning about wine fun and encourage you to see the world through a glass of wine.
Traveling with MJOct 09, 2020
Wine with MJ: Virtual Tasting with Wilson Creek Winery, Temecula
This virtual wine tasting features Mick Wilson, co-owner of Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula, California. It’s a continuation of our celebration of the wineries in the Temecula Valley.
What makes a great wine tasting for us, is learning something along with trying wines that are unfamiliar to us. That’s just what wine tasting with Wilson Creek Winery did – Mick Wilson hit it out of the park with his fun discussion style, useful information, and great wine. Plus, the story of how his family decided to change their lifestyle and go all-in on making wine is a feel-good moment at a time when there aren’t a lot of them.
Wine with MJ: Virtual Tasting with Oak Mountain Winery, Temecula
This virtual wine tasting features Kathie Pensinger, wine educator at Oak Mountain Winery Temecula, California. We learn about simple wine etiquette, the wine halo, and a quick tip to help us find our favorite wine. Join us for our continued celebration of Temecula Valley Wine Month and we hope it entices you to discover wines from the region in southern California.
Wine with MJ: Virtual Tasting with Akash Winery, Temecula
This virtual wine tasting features Akash Patel, owner of Akash Winery & Vineyards in Temecula, California. It's our celebration of Temecula Valley Wine Month and we hope it entices you to discover wines from the region in southern California.
Wine with MJ: Virtual Wine Tasting, Valdo Prosecco
We're back with our virtual wine tasting this week we feature Penny Sadler, travel and wine writer, WSET student, and wine tasting host. Our wine selection was Prosecco - my favorite of the sparkling (spumante) options, and we tasted Valdo Marca Oro Prosecco DOC Brut.
Joining us at about the 30 minutes mark was Matteo Bolla, the third generation of the founding family of the Voldo vineyard, named for the town of Valdobbiadene. You might recognize the Bolla name - the family also founded this winery, although sold it and are no longer involved with the label.
Penny started us off with some good background information about Prosecco, where it comes from, the different designations, and some ideas on visiting the area. She's written a helpful article about it (here), so you can use it as a resource as you continue with your discovery of new labels and flavors of Prosecco.
Wine with MJ: Virtual Wine Tasting with The Wine Cafe, Fayetteville, North Carolina
On this virtual wine tasting, we feature Angie Malave from The Wine Cafe in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Angie chose two wines for the tasting from JOLO Winery in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, as she felt that these were representative of the fine wine selections made with the state's grapes. We tasted a 2019 Golden Hallows (white) and a 2018 Jolotage (red). These wines are available at The Wine Cafe.
Wine with MJ: Virtual Tasting with Country Heritage Winery
Guest Jennifer Lutter, proprietor of Country Heritage Winery in Indiana, talks about the heritage of their family farm, how they got into the wine business, and what's happening at the winery. Jennifer shared information about several of the CHW wines and for our tasting selected a 2019 Traminette (a semi-dry white wine made with estate-grown fruit; soft floral notes with melon nuances) and a 2016 Marquette (a silky red with hints of dark fruit and spice ).
Wine with MJ: Virtual Tasting with Eternal Wine & Drink Washington State
Brad Binko, owner and winemaker at Eternal Wine in Walla Walla, Washington. Brad also owns a sister label, Drink Washington State. For this tasting, Brad has selected three wines: 2018 Drink Washington State White Blend, 2016 Eternal Foundation Syrah, and 2018 Eternal Bliss fortified Syrah. If you want to get these wine for the tasting, you'll need to order direct from the winery as they only self-distribute locally.