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The Swirl Girls are very excited to participate in an online tasting of Virginia wines on October 25th. At 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, bloggers nationwide will taste and chat about Virginia wines on TasteLive.com.
Virginia has a long history of winemaking, beginning more than 400 years ago when Jamestown settlers were required to plant and tend vines. Thomas Jefferson was a passionate wine lover who cultivated European varietals in his Monticello vineyards for more than 30 years. Phylloxera and Prohibition brought Virginia’s budding industry to a standstill, but since the mid-1970s, the region has made great strides toward recovery.
Today, the Commonwealth of Virginia is the fifth-largest wine-producing region in the United States, with more than 140 wineries and six recognized AVA’s (American Viticultural Areas – designated wine-growing regions regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau). It’s “new” in the sense that it’s just now becoming recognized for producing quality wines on any kind of a large scale.
Check out a fun video Sweet and Dry put together to promote the event and follow us @SwirlGirls on Twitter or on TasteLive Monday at 8 p.m. to see what we think about this exciting wine region.
Last week, Fifth Avenue Grill sommelier, Glenn Fiedler, made suggestions on alternative white wines to try. This week, we’ve got his choices for great alternative red wines. So forget what you know about Cabernet and Merlot and get ready to try some unique and exciting wines from lesser known varietals and regions.
Sweet and Dry had the pleasure of sitting down with Fifth Avenue Grill sommelier, Glenn Fiedler, a few months ago at the upscale Delray Beach steakhouse.
Fiedler has been the restaurant’s sommelier for the past 9 years, and been with the company for 20. We quizzed him on his recommendations for great alternative white and red wines. Take a look at the video for some unique white wines to try, and then check back next week for his suggestions on alternative reds. But first, a little bit about Glenn:
In our second video tutorial, Sweet and Dry talk with Tylor Field, VP of Wine & Spirits for Morton’s Steakhouse. Field highlights some of the most popular grape varietals and what food might pair well with each. Check out his suggestions, then read on to learn more about his history in the wine business. Read the full story
Sweet and Dry sat down with the Jenny Benzie, Sommeliére at Café Boulud at the Brazilian Court in Palm Beach recently. She graced us with her presence on a great video and talked to us about her background in wine.
In our first video tutorial ever, we’ll share with you Wine Tasting 101 – the very basics you need to know now. But first, a bit on Jenny Benzie, a Swirl Girls special. Read the full story
JGwen (Dry) What I drink: Old world reds, medium-bodied, dry, earthy. I've been into Spanish Riojas lately, but I recently tried a great Burgundy at a wine tasting in Lake Worth...
Lynn (Bold)
What I drink: I've been a red wine lady (is that like a red hat lady?) for years, though dry white wines woo me well.
Jennifer (Earthy) What I drink: I prefer reds, although I can't deny the delight of a Riesling on a hot summer day.
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