![]() I had the opportunity to do a tasting over at Page Springs Cellars, and one wine that I thoroughly enjoyed was the 2017 Vermentino Free Run. The grapes are from the Dos Padres Vineyard, which is on a hill, west of their property on the other side of Oak Creek. The color was a lovely pale straw. It was dry, had nice acidity and showcased aromas of kiwi and melon on the nose. This complex wine had an amazing soft mouth feel and smooth finish which lasted for around 30 seconds. On the palate there were notes of lime, kiwi and stone fruit. The alcohol content came in at 13.6% and they produced 155 cases. This delightful Vermentino paired beautifully with my fish and is perfect for our hot summer months. There’s no need to travel to Italy to experience a lovely Vermentino. Since this wine is only for sale in Arizona, it’s time for a visit to Page Springs!
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![]() It’s National Lambrusco day and what better way to celebrate than to pop open a bottle? For my selection, I chose the Sei Amici, Dolce Rosso Lambrusco Dell’Emilia, IGT. Sei Amici is Italian for six friends, for you’re supposed to enjoy this wine with six friends. 😊 Lambrusco is actually a grape variety, grown in a few areas of Italy. This particular wine hales from the Emilia-Romagna area which is in Northern Italy, below Lombardy and Veneto. The nose showcased notes of earth, cherry, and liquorish, while the palate presented flavors of black cherry, tart cherry and a light effervescence. It was off-dry to semi sweet, had a medium body, 8% alcohol and was balanced. The finish was surprising long at 33 seconds. It would pair nicely with pasta and pizza. Though I’m not a big sweet wine fan, I felt that this wine was very drinkable and for under $8 a good buy. Cheers to the Italians on Lambrusco Day. ![]() Like many states, Arizona has been hopping on the Craft Brewery revolution. Many brew masters buy commercial hops for their consistency. It is the hops that adds the bitter flavor to beers which are rated in IBU’s (International Bitterness Units). There are two major categories of hops; aroma hops which add lovely aromas and bitter hops which help increase bitterness. One of our commercial winemakers, Ignacio Mesa from Clear Creek vineyards, is growing hops and intends to brew beer in the future. Currently, he is trying out 3 different types of hops; Cascade, which is the most popular hops grown in North America, Mogollon, which is a wild hops from the Mogollon rim area and Neomexicana hops which is native to the Southwest, and pictured on the far left. As you can see, the Neomexicana seems to be thriving the best in the Clear Creek area. Each variety of hops has a unique taste, so it will be interesting to see which hops he chooses or if he tries a variety of hops when making his beers. Have a hoppy day! ![]() Are you a Whiskey lover? Then you've come to the right place! Sedona Wine and Beer Tours is excited to announce our latest Tour: Whiskey! Whiskey, Wine and Beer Tours are now being offered by Sedona Wine and Beer Tours. Enjoy a variety of Whiskys including a local Arizona Whiskey. Whether it's a Cave Creek Whiskey, The Duke, Bourbon Whiskey, or Rye Whiskey, you can sample it on your tour. My recent guests really enjoyed the Rebel Yell Root Beer Whiskey. Whiskey is an alcoholic beverage made from either a single grain or a variety of grains. Grains may include: rye, wheat, corn or barley. It is made in many countries around the world and in a variety of styles. Styles may be malted or not, and are usually aged in wooden barrels then bottled. Unlike wine, when bottled, the whiskey does not improve with age in the bottle, the aging is done in the barrel. Whiskeys are usually distilled in a copper vessel or copper lined vessel. The ABV (Alcohol by Volume) is quite high in comparison to beer or wine, usually with a minimum of around 40%. So call today to book your Sedona Whiskey Tour! 928-963-1866 ![]() I’m excited to announce our Exclusive, Private, Helicopter Winery Tour with Sun State Helicopter Tours, LLC! Sun State and Sedona Wine and Beer Tours are rated 5 Stars on TripAdvisor! Fly over majestic Sedona with Sun State Helicopters, departing from and returning to Sedona's beautiful airport in the clouds. Then tour by private ground transportation with Sedona Wine and Beer Tours by Sedona Delivers, LLC, visiting a variety of vineyards or remote tasting rooms tailored to your taste preferences. Sample the best wines along the Verde Valley Wine Trail and beyond. Your aerial tour of the Verde Valley is designed to give you a comprehensive perspective for understanding the size & layout of each winery, their grape varieties, and terroir as well. Experienced, professional pilots take you over the Verde Valley’s best wineries & point out the red rock formations along the way. Travel from the Scottsdale Airport, and alternative landing locations can be arranged for an additional fee. This unique wine tour combination is the experience of a lifetime! Visit https://www.sunstateheli.com to learn more or call Sun State Helicopter Tours at (480) 993-3223. To book your private, customized wine tour call Sedona Wine and Beer tours at 928-963-1866 or visit: https://www.sedonadelivers.com/helicopter-tour-combo.html to learn more. |
AuthorSue Schurgin, CSW, (Certified Specialist of Wine) is the manager of Sedona Wine and Beer Tours. She loves education and is also a Level 1 Sommelier. Archives
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