On Aug. 1, 2012, my husband, Steve, and I helped harvest Chardonel grapes at Charleville. The photo above is a glimpse of what about 20 people picked that hot summer morning. Later, we were treated to a delicious lunch and all of the liquid refreshments that have made Charleville famous. Thanks again to Jack and Joal Russell for letting us help, learn about grapes and their wonderful hospitality.
The following is a group email I received today from Jack and Joal Russell of Charleville Vineyard Winery and Brewery in Ste Genevieve, Mo.
Hi Everyone!
We are getting questions re: a Norton Harvest so we thought we needed to send everyone an update! We harvested our Chardonel in August—earliest harvest ever!! Grapes were great quality but due to the drought we lost a huge amount of crop to the wildlife. Birds, deer, coyotes, racoons etc were all hungry and thirsty this year.
Because of the early bud break in March and a later freeze in April our lower vineyards of Chardonel and Norton were totally lost. Our secondary shoots on those two vineyards did not produce many grapes. So because of that we will not be harvesting the Nortons at all this year! Sorry! I know alot of you look forward to the Norton harvest since the weather is ussually a little cooler. We can only hope that things are better next year and that we can get back to a “normal” harvest pattern.
We have had a little rain so things are green and beautiful again here! We are even starting to enjoy some beautiful fall folliage! So please come see us and enjoy the lovely fall weather!!
Thanks so much for all your help and support!!
Local wine columnist Gail Appleson recently wrote an interesting column about St. Louis-area groceries boosting their rosé wine stocks.
She also compared two French rosés:
Both rosés are under $12.99. Gail also told readers about the type of bottle - called a skittle - used with the Aimé Roquesante (pictured above). The shape of the bottle resembles a bowling pin.
Read Gail’s column to see how these two wines fared. And thanks, Gail, for educating us about wine.
Here’s how the new rosé display looked on Sunday, July 29, at the Richmond Center Schnucks.
Compare this to my previous blog entry. It’s much better, isn’t it?
Thanks to Janet Nicoletti, wine and liquor manager at the Richmond Center Schnucks, for putting more than a dozen of the popular rosés where they’re easy to find. And the prices aren’t bad, either.
From time to time, I’ll report to you what I’m finding in the way of rosé wines at area groceries and wine stores. It’s interesting to see how the selection varies from store to store.
For example, the Richmond Center Schnucks at 6600 Clayton Road, has about a dozen rosés scattered according countries, including France, Spain and South America. The photos above show the store’s end-of-the-aisle display with two rosés, Charles & Charles for $12.69 and a sale on Cuvee’ Anna for $9.99. I’m already a fan of Charles & Charles, but I bought the French wine and look forward to trying it this weekend.
Around the corner rounding out the list are Toad Hollow’s rosé and Sofia from Francis Ford Coppola’s winery. But the selection trails off to Pink Truck and jug wines of Paul Masson and Livingston.
The good thing is that the white zinfandel display is far away from these rosés, just so there is no confusion, says Janet Nicoletti, wine and liquor manager at the Richmond Center Schnucks. She also says they are considering putting all the rosés in one area to make it easier for customers to make their rosé selections.
“Our distributors think of rosés as seasonal, but rosés really are a year-round drink,” Nicoletti said. The French varieties from Provence tend to sell well at the Richmond Heights store and she also recommends pairing rosés with quiche, egg dishes as well as spicy barbecued food from the grill.
Here’s what you should be buying to enjoy this weekend - a bottle of 2011 Toad Hollow Rosé. The heat will continue to be stifling and I can’t think of a better way to enjoy a summer afternoon or evening than with a reasonably priced bottle of rosé.
And a 90 point rating from Wine Enthusiast can’t hurt, either.
Toad Hollow’s rosé is made with 100 percent pinot noir grapes. These grapes thrive in Sonoma County with its foggy mornings and sunny days, in turn making for French-inspired, bone dry, crisp rosé that will pair up with any meal.
Crisp and dryness are two hallmarks of a great rosé and this one will not disappoint. There are hints of strawberry, too.
Dr. Toad, the frog in the yellow vest, is winking at you for good reason. Cheers!
Here’s a great way to celebrate Fourth of July Eve.
From 5:30 to 7 p.m. today (July 3), Grapevine Wines will host a free rosé wine tasting. The store is located at 309 S. Kirkwood Road.
(Photo - Diana Gray of Grapevine Wines pours and gives wine information at the the store’s May 11 rosé wine tasting.)
Here’s a Sunday roundup of a few rosé items I’ve spied online. Enjoy!
What: St. Louis Uncorked, a wine and music festival
When: From 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday (June 9) at Soldiers Memorial, downtown 12th & Market streets. (BTW, Saturday’s Indians-Cardinals game will start at 6:15 p.m. at Busch Stadium.)
Wine and beer participants:
Barefoot Wines
St. James Winery
Stone Hill Winery
Bin 36
LOHR Distributing
Major Brands
Golden Barrel
Mary Michelle Winery
St. Louis Spirits - Square One
Facebook page: Search for St. Louis Uncorked Presented by Everbank
Tim Fish, associate editor for Wine Spectator (and an alum of Western Kentucky University), shares his thoughts about the 2011 class of rosés in this blog post.
Fish spotlights winemaker Carol Shelton’s Rendezvous Rosé North Coast as one of his top picks. And for $15, this wine, described on Shelton’s website as having juicy strawberry-watermelon aromas and tasting refreshingly crisp and dry, should be one to be ISO this summer.
"The idea that women are better tasters than men is hardly new. It’s a “truth” I’ve heard repeated over and over again—though, oddly enough, it’s almost always asserted by men."
—
Lettie Teague, wine columnist for the Wall Street Journal
And read more of her “Men Are From Cab, Women Are From Moscato?” column.
