Wine Unwrapped Blog

11/16/2024 0 Comments

Pinot Noir 2024

I was offered a chance to make a small batch of California Pinot Noir this harvest season. It was too hard to say no. After crushing I added yeast nutrients and Anchor Alchemy yeast.

Once fermentation starts the must needs to be punch down so the cap is submerged. The carbon dioxide that is given off as the yeast consume the sugar causes the grapes to rise up above the liquid.

Once fermentation is complete the next step is to press the must to get the young wine separated from the left over solids.

The cake

While this may look like a Rube Goldberg device it is called The All In One Wine Pump. It can rack the wine from one container to another. It also can bottle the wine as well by using different attachments.

The Pinot Noir will age in this 20 liter French oak barrel. It is one of 2 barrels I use. This one is over 20 years old.

Many thanks to my friend Harry. I could not have done this without his help. Cheers!

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7/8/2024 0 Comments

Summertime Treats

Now that we are in the dog days of summer it is time take advantage of the great seafood available to us.

Like wine grapes, oysters vary in taste depending on where they are raised. Tasting them from various locations it is easy to recognize how they are different. Some are more briny, others more meaty while some can be silky. There are many wines that make great pairings when served with oysters. Some of my favorite wines are Sauvignon Blanc or dry Riesling. But to kick it up a notch Champagne can't be beat.

Little neck clams also make a nice partner for bubblies.

We are blessed to have access to fresh, live lobsters here in New England. Many supermarkets will cook them for you to take home. After picking out the cooked meat a short heating with plenty of butter is all you need.

While many people choose the cold version of lobster rolls my preference is for the warm buttery style. Chardonnay is usually my choice for lobsters. This bottling comes from Jones Winery in Shelton CT. I have been working with the Jones family in various capacities since 2008 and have enjoyed many vintages of their wines. So before summer slips away, take advantage of the treats from the waters around Connecticut.

WUNDERWEIN German Wine Dinner At Artisan In Southport

Photo courtesy of Artisan

There has been no shortage of wine dinners lately. It is a good way to showcase wines that are selected to pair with foods that complement them. I came across one sponsored by WUNDERWEIN , an importer of German wines. The focus was on wines from Germany and featured a couple of wines from a grape, Silvaner, that I don't have much experience with. The dinner took place at Artisan in Southport on March 1, 2023.

The opening wine was Sekt, a sparkling wine that has several quality levels and methods of production. Click here for a Wine Enthusiast Magazine article on Sekt. The Gut Hermannsberg Brut is made using the Champagne method and is 100% Riesling. It was delicious- fresh and bright, a great way to begin. Sekt is not well represented in many CT wine shops. I did a search for Sekt online and found very few available. Hopefully that will change as importers like WUNDERWEIN introduce it to the public.

Achim Kirchner, Managing Director of Gut Hermannsberg presented the Sekt and a Riesling that was poured with the first course.

Simon Guiot, Export Manager for Battenfield-Spanier presented his Riesling from the Rheinhessen.

Christopher Catansei was in charge of the wine service. He suggested pouring two wines for each course. The first course included two different Rieslings. In my opinion Riesling is the most under appreciated wine on the market today. Riesling can be made in many styles from bone dry to dessert style. The pair for the first course were both dry and from 2020. As they were from two different producers and regions it was interesting to pick out similarities and differences. They both were fine matches for the first course.

Local sea food crudo with radish, cucumber, vanilla-calamansi elixir. A great match for the wines.

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7/21/2022 0 Comments

Gordon's Wine Bar- The Oldest Wine Bar In London

The underground wine bar

After not travelling due to Covid it was great to finally take one of the trips that had been booked but put on hold. A family trip to London and Paris in early July was just what we needed to get on with our lives.

My daughter had been looking for things to do in London and came across Gordon's Wine Bar. It was just around the corner of our hotel. I checked it out briefly online and put it on my list of places to visit. When we got there one evening after dinner there was a small line to get in. I assumed from the few pics I had seen that the place was small and wondered how long the wait would be. After about 10 minutes we were led to an outdoor seating area.

As glad as I was to be seated I really wanted to see the the underground cellar. After placing our order I went inside and asked if I could take a few pics. It was like going back in time.

After seeing how small it was inside I was glad there was outdoor seating.

Gordon's does not offer beer or spirits, just wine. The list is compact but pretty much has something for everyone. Click here for list. Since we were there after dinner we mainly ordered dessert wines. I had the Tokji and and as I was sipping I wondered what the list might have looked like in 1890. The staff was friendly and the cheese and charcuterie looked really good. Would certainly go back again.

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5/30/2022 0 Comments

Memories of Maltose Express and Veracious Brewing Company

After many years, Maltose Express and Veracious have closed. It is a bittersweet moment, I have known and worked with Mark and Tess many times over the years. They and their staff have supported and nurtured countless wine and beer makers for over 30 years and opened a successful brewery. They will be missed. Here are some images from those years in no particular order.

Wine from our farewell dinner, March 8, 2022

The last canning session on May 18, 2022

These next few pics are from a great Italian tasting we did.

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12/19/2021 0 Comments

A very special tasting

All three are magnums

Getting a group together safely during this time of virus risks has not been easy. For years our wine friends have shared many great bottles and enjoyed each other’s company. We have done several Zoom meets early into it so staying in touch was not a problem. Once everyone in the group was vaccinated it was time for an in person evening. Two of the group had several good things happen and wanted to celebrate. That brought us all back together after for a much needed reunion.

The warm up wines

Our hosts are very generous with the wines they have collected and this became an opportunity for them to share some amazing wines. When the invite says DRC will be poured how can you refuse?

Domaine de la Romanée Conti La Tâche 1990

The wine was glorious! Black raspberries, strawberries along with other fruits, enough acidity to keep it fresh and some tannin to round it off. This is a rare wine, I felt honored to have a chance to taste it.
Some DRC info- click here

Roberto Voerzio Sarmassa di Barolo 1999

Roberto Voerzio is known for extremely low yields. He achieves incredible concentration and intensity. This may have been the most highly colored Barolo I have ever had. A wine at its peak with many more years ahead of it. Info here

Taylor's Vintage Port 1970

What better finale than a nice Port? Maybe a 50 year old one. The wine was a great way to end a very special tasting. Many thanks to our hosts for getting us all together and for the opportunity to to taste history in a bottle. Taylor info

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9/4/2021 0 Comments

A tasting with some fun pairings

I recently did a tasting for tasting for a group of medical professionals. Jeff, the host, contacted me and we worked together to set up an event to celebrate with his team. As we worked on details Jeff mentioned he went to a tasting and the presenter spent some time going over food pairings that can have a negative effect on the way a wine is perceived. So we incorporated some pairings that demonstrated good and bad examples of wine and food matchups.

Photo credit Big Macs and Burgundy

As we got close to the date of the tasting I mentioned some pairings from the book Big Macs and Burgundy by Vanessa Price with Adam Laukhuf. The book matches up many of the everyday foods we eat with a specific type of wine. While some of the reviews of the book I have seen concentrate on the junk food pairings there are quite a few of the classic pairings as well. What I was glad to see is the author makes a point of giving background on the wine suggested and what it is about the pairing that makes it work. When you read about the white-cheddar popcorn pairing with white Burgundy you get a concise but very clear lesson about Burgundy. You also get some suggested wines at various price points with icons that let you know more about the wine mentioned. Besides the pairings there is information on the components of wine, how to taste, the science behind pairings and much more. This is a book I recommend for beginners and experienced wine folks alike.

August 21, 2021

Carpene Malvolti 1868 Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Italy

Thomas Labaille Sancerre L’Authentique 2020 France

Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc 2020 South Africa

Baron De Ley Rioja Reserva 2015 Spain

Substance Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Washington

Castelnau de Suduiraut Sauternes 2016 France

The Sancerre's acidity joined with and washed away the salty cheesy goodness.

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7/10/2021 0 Comments

I Fabbri Chianti Classico Lamole 2018 in Fiasco

Chianti Classico has been one of my favorite wines for quite a while.
There is something about the Sangiovese grape, that makes up most and sometimes all of a Chianti Classico wine, that keeps me coming back to them again and again. When I came across an offering for I Fabbri Chianti Classico Lamole 2018 bottled in fiasco I was intrigued.

A fiasco is the name of the iconic straw covered bottle that has been in use for centuries in Italy. The straw covering helped make the bottle better suited for being transported. During the 1970’s fiaschi were often seen in Italian restaurants and college dorms as a candle holder. The sad fact is that the wine in those bottles was not always very good. More on that later.

Photo credit I Fabbri

Before I placed an order for the I Fabbri I did some research as I had not had any experience with the producer. The more I read about them the more interested I got. The estate has been in the Grassi family since the 1600’s. Wine was produced there along with a blacksmith operation. The blacksmith term would later provide the name for the I Fabbri winery. Over time the vineyard was abandoned. Daughter Susanna Grassi had spent time away from the estate and worked in the fashion business. By the end of the 1990’s Susanna decided to return to the estate and began the rebuilding of the of the family wine business. In 2000 I Fabbri was born.

Photo cedit I Fabbri

There was quite a lot of work needed to bring the property to where it is today. By 2002 the ancient stone terraces were restored. In 2003 integrated pest management began, part of the move to be sure the vineyards are grown using sustainable practices and is now fully organic. They also began using recycled cardboard for packaging.

Photo credit I Fabbri

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10/13/2020 0 Comments

Parkwood Cellars- 33 years of winemaking

The name Parkwood Cellars came from my living on Park Street and Tony living in the Woodmont section of Milford

2020 Cabernet Franc being pressed

Back in the 1980s my friend Tony and I decided to try our hand at making wine. We had both been getting into wine over the years and this seemed like a good way to learn more about it. We had a lot to learn.

Cabernet Franc on left, Malbec on right

For our first vintage we went to the fruit and veggie whole-sellers at Long Wharf in New Haven. Without knowing what to ask for we ended up with grapes we had never heard of. Ruby Cabernet, a cross of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan and Carnelian, a cross of Grenache and the cross of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan. Both were developed to thrive in a warm climate such as California's Central Valley.

When we inquired about getting yeast an old timer told us, "Yeast is for bread, not wine." So off we went to crush the grapes using a $3 fruit crusher I found at a tag sale. Without knowing it, we were making "natural wine." No additives were used at all those first few years. We did not know that most grapes are loaded with natural yeasts and after being crushed fermentation can start by itself.

Yeast being hydrated before adding to the crushed grapes

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5/4/2020 0 Comments

Virtual Wine tasting

Now that we are practicing stay at home routines and social distancing there is only one way to do a safe tasting. Through Zoom and many other platforms we can connect to each other remotely. I have started doing virtual tastings and have enjoyed them, as long as everyone sips along with me. With a little bit of preparation a group can find wines that are part of the theme chosen, even if we may not have the exact same wine we can still taste and discuss what we have in the glass. In this case our theme was South African wines.

Chenin Blanc was one of the types of wines I suggested everyone should try. The group was pleasantly surprised with it. Most had not had a Chenin before this but said they would buy it again. A couple that shopped at the same store as I used was able to get the exact same wine as I did. Thanks Kevin at Kindred Spirits in Shelton! That was the only wine that more than one of us had. The groups' Chenins shared some of the same qualities as the Secateurs so it was easy to see a common thread.

The Sauvignon Blancs were also enjoyable. Somewhere between a Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc and a New Zealand version. They had a similar characteristics but not an overwhelming grapefruit component. One couple tracked down the Southern Right Pinotage that I have yet to find but want to try. They specialize in just Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage.

More of the wines that were included. These were available in Santa Monica. The Cabernets and Cab blends were very well received.

The Stark Condé was the same bottling as the one from Santa Monica but a 2 year vintage difference.

We all had a great time and I'll have to say that even when my part was done I stayed on for a while to chat. I enjoyed meeting such a warm and friendly family. They made it easy for me. Thanks to Eileen and Maura for including me in the event which was done for a recently married couple that was not able to take a honeymoon in South Africa due to the the current conditions. Cheers!

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<<Previous

Jon,

Thank you for the fun & education on Friday evening! It really was a great event.

It's interesting, the wine from the smallest northern region in Italy seemed to carry a strong memory for many.

My wife really appreciated everything - so I would say it was quite a success.
Fairfield 6/7/24

Thank you Jon, everyone enjoyed the wine tasting and we were all elated with your knowledge and insight into wine education. Just a wonderful experience.
3/24
Bristol

Thank you so much for a great night, we had the best time!
Wilton 1/24Jon,

Thank you for the fun & education on Friday evening! It really was a great event.

It's interesting, the wine from the smallest northern region in Italy seemed to carry a strong memory for many.

My wife, Jenn, really appreciated everything - so I would say it was quite a success.

I contacted Jon to arrange a Wines 101-style tasting for myself and a group of friends in order to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday. Jon did a wonderful job of tailoring his teaching to the needs of our novice group. He chose an exciting array of wines from the New World and Old, and took us through relevant aspects of each wine's production before guiding us through the tasting. He gave us handouts and other useful materials that helped us to better describe the aromas and flavors that we were experiencing. By the end of the session, we all felt a new level of comfort with describing and appreciating drastically different types of wines.

What impressed the group most was Jon's highly contagious passion for wine making and tasting. He was friendly, personable, and told humorous anecdotes and behind the scenes facts from his years working in the business. Jon was also flexible with regards to the date of the session, and his fee was reasonable. He is clearly motivated by a desire to share his passion for wine with as many people as possible, and I couldn't have asked for more.

Thank you very much Jon - we are all incredibly excited about continuing to apply our newfound knowledge of wine tasting for years to come!

Nik
New Haven, CT

Thank you so much Jon! Our guest enjoyed the tasting and the wines! They called to tell us today. The party went on to 2 am so needless to say, everyone had a really good time. Thanks again!
Sara

New Haven

Thank you so much for everything! Everyone had a great time and even learned some thing about wine in the process. You put on a very interesting talk and kept everyone's attention throughout the evening . We were really impressed with all of your knowledge.
I hoped you enjoyed yourself as well. Needless to say...we had a lot of leftovers :)
Thank you again. It was a great time!!
Colleen & Gene

Hi Jon,

Thank you so much for all of your hard work and knowledge in helping to put the evening together. Everyone loved having you there... and the wines were fabulous. Mike visited the liquor store yesterday to buy Christmas gifts and came home with 4 bottles of the Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc FOR US!!   Beth

Thank you, Jon - you did an incredible job.  I received so many compliments regarding your presentation and wine selection.  Your expertise and warmth were the perfect combination for an event like this.  You really made the shower!
Several guests requested your contact information and the list of wines we tasted.  We nearly finished the remaining wine at lunch!
I had a lovely glass of the Voignier after the guests left....I loved it and it was perfect way to end a special day.   It was my daughter's and her fiancé’s favorite wine and the cork they chose to put in their collection!

Please keep me on your event list - my husband and I would love to attend another one of your tastings.

Thanks again,
Susan
Shelton

Testimonials

Hey Jon!
We had so much fun, thanks!
I’m passing your info on to a few people that asked. I’m sure we will see you again.
Brookfield 12/23

Thanks so much Jon! Everyone enjoyed it and appreciated your insights. It was perfect. Thank you again!
Cheshire 1/23

We had such a blast!
Thank you for an interesting session with great wines!
We will definitely reach out again.
West Hartford 11/22

Hello Jon, we were thrilled with your tasting & appreciated the unique, fun experience that it added to our party! So many of the guests commented on how much they enjoyed your presentation and all were very impressed with your knowledge. We would absolutely recommend you as a fantastic addition to any party or gathering! Thanks for sharing your pictures. I’ve attached a couple that we took and grant permission to use any or all in your website.
Best wishes,
Darcy & Tim May29, 2021

We found Jon through an internet search when looking for a fun birthday celebration. Jon was fantastic throughout the planning process and went above and beyond in making the evening memorable for our entire family. The wines were great and all paired very well with our menu. We also really enjoyed hearing the history of all the wines. Thank you, Jon!
LW Westport 12/19

Jon,
I can’t thank you enough! Great feedback from our guests, all enjoyed! Very informative, all your wishes were fulfilled and Lynn had a very wonderful party, we all pulled it off! Wines selected were terrific! You opened us up to a new window. Let’s keep in touch and I will certainly recommend you to others.
Cheers! I am having a little Tua Rita right now! PV Cromwell

Hi Jon
Thank you so much for coming. You did a great job and my dad really enjoyed it.
I'm so glad I came across your name- you were a pleasure!
You picked some great wines. My brother is already talking about
having you come again. Everyone really enjoyed it.
Thanks again! M.M . Stamford

Thank you Jon! You did a fantastic job. We will definitely spread the word to our friends about Wine Unwrapped. T.P. Orange

Jon- everyone had a great time- your pitch and delivery were absolutely perfect! Thanks again and we'll be recommending you to everyone... Cheers Dave and Eileen Easton

Hi Jon,
We all had such a wonderful time and learned a lot!! The group
really enjoyed all the wines. Thank you so much for making the night so
wonderful. We are already talking about a Spanish wine tasting in the
future...when I'm able to drink again of course :) G.S.
Ridgefield


Thanks Jon,
We all had a wonderful time!
Everyone really enjoyed themselves & thought you did such a nice relaxed & casual
presentation...just the right amount of information with very nice wine choices.

Don't be surprised if you get some calls from people to whom I'd referred you.

Thanks again!
Faith K.
Stamford CT

Hi Jon, know that all of us greatly appreciated the experience you created last weekend. I have also shared your Sauv Blanc recommendations with Meredith and the rest of the group, for which they were thankful. Thank you again and don’t be a stranger.
Manchester 5/23

Just wanted to say thank you. Everyone enjoyed your presentations and the wines. There is only 1 unopened bottle!
Greenwich 12/22

Jon, thank you so much for an informative and fun presentation! We all loved ALL of the wines!
Thanks a million for being part of a wonderful night!
7/24/21 J.W.
Trumbull

Jon,
Thank you again for everything you did for making my husband's party a wonderful experience. I am especially thankful for the manner in which you handled the size and complexity of the party. The feedback I got was positive and everyone enjoyed the wines. They definitely will be looking out for some of the new favorites.. JV Oxford

For several years the community at Waterview Landing in Shelton has sponsored an annual wine tasting afternoon held at our gazebo.  It’s an informal event; everyone brings one or two bottles of their favorite wines and some munchies.  Our resident wine expert, Jon Haight, moderates the event, and always makes the experience both educational and enjoyable.

Jon is extremely knowledgeable about wines, both domestic and foreign.  Typically Jon will rank the wines by white and red, and by maturity.  Since he does not know beforehand what wines will be available it is impressive to watch his skill in sorting the wines.

As the tasting progresses Jon describes the nuances of each wine and does so in terms that are easily understood.   We learn, we enjoy, and a good time is had by all.

Speaking for the folks at Waterview Landing, we are thankful that Jon is resident, and would hope that others can benefit from Jon’s knowledge and skills.  He is excellent at what he does and has a great sense of humor to boot.
Alan W. Morton
President, Waterview Landing Homeowners Association

Dear Jon,

I wanted to drop you a note to say thank you for providing our Lions Club with a very educational and entertaining evening on October 27, 2010.  The presentation you did on the basics of wine tasting combined with that of a general knowledge of Chilean Wines and Ports provided us with a very informative program that our membership enjoyed.  Maybe we could consider doing this on an annual event.  Thanks again.
           Joe Charbonneau

            President, Manchester
Lions Club

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