Friday, May 24: Friday night wine tastings have resumed at The Winery, Kent Island, from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. The Winery is located at 116 S. Piney Road, Chester, Maryland. Use Exit 40A going eastbound on Route 50. Going westbound, use Route 18 to S. Piney Road.

Saturday, May 25: You say it’s your birthday? We’re gonna have a good time at the 3rd Birthday Bash at Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery. The Dorchester County winery opened three Memorial Days ago and this bash may be the most grand yet. C’mon out at 1 p.m. as they celebrate three successful years in operation. There will be music all day, ending with a concert by Randy Lee Ashcraft from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. Food will be available for purchase from Famous Dave’s. There will be activities for visitors of all ages. If all of this isn’t enough to get you out to the winery in the country, Layton’s Chance will offer its popular Joe’s Cool Red wine for only $10 a bottle. For more information, visit the winery’s website at www.laytonschance.com

Friday, June 7: First Friday returns to the quaint town of Snow Hill, Maryland, and Bishop’s Stock Fine Art, Crafts & Wine is ready for visitors. Join the art crowd at the gallery from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. to taste French wines. Featured will be Mont Gravet Cotes de Gascogne, 100% Colombard, which would make a lovely summer white for only $10. The red of the night is 2011 Tortoise Creek Pinot Noir, “Les Oliviers” priced at $14. These First Friday gatherings at Bishop’s Stock are a wonderful way to sample (and purchase) wines that are not found in most Delmarva wine shops. They’re also a great way to meet pleasant people from the Land of Pleasant Living.

Weekend, October 19 and October 20: Save the date(s) for this autumn wine tradition on the Shore! The Autumn Wine Festival will be held at the Pemberton Historical Park in Salisbury, Maryland for this two-day event (same location as last year). This event draws thousands of wine sippers each year, so make your plans early. Event activities will be held on Saturday the 19th from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and on Sunday the 20th from 12:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. More information will be posted here as it becomes available.

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The Rhône region of France lies along the Rhône River as is flows between Lyon in the north to Avignon in the south. The Rhône’s primary grapes are Grenache, Viognier and Syrah. Grenache grows easily in France because it is a hardy grape that flourishes in hot weather. Viognier is the predominant white grape and has spread to the Americas, particularly to Virginia and parts of Maryland. Syrah is known for its tannic, full-bodied character. Before finding its way to France, Syrah is thought to have originated in the Middle East, spreading first to Europe and then to California and Australia (where it is called “Shiraz”).

Below I’ve listed the two most popular wines from the AWS meeting. The group voted for their favorite before learning the cost of each bottle. The Michel Gasier “Cercius” is living proof that a good French wine need not be expensive to have broad appeal.

Michel Gasier, red wine blend “Cercius” 2011 $15 – Here’s an affordable way to enjoy a Côtes du Rhône without breaking the bank. A blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah, Michel Gasier aged this in concrete tanks (instead of in oak barrels). The group liked the tight fruit character with the wine’s woody and restrained style. It shows deep ruby color in the glass and potent 14.5% alcohol that did not smother the  strawberry, black cherry and cinnamon flavors. More than 50% of the group voted this to be their favorite of five French reds sampled. At only $15, the price-to-quality ratio makes it an attractive candidate for exploring Côtes du Rhône wines.

Domaine de la Charbonnière, Vacqueyras 2010 $30 – Take a moment to savor the alluring nose before sipping this red blend from the Vacqueras region of the Rhône. The deep purple, almost inky, color gives a hint that you’re about to taste a pretty good French wine. This is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah – the firm tannins and 14% alcohol surround the wine’s spicy, beefy character. I think this wine is fairly priced at $30 and recommend it for pairing with cheese or lamb dishes. Serve slightly chilled to about 60 degrees.

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Lower Shore winery Great Shoals Winery has teamed with family farm T.S. Smith & Sons to produce “Blazing Star Sparkling Peach,” a hard cider made from peaches and apples. Great Shoals owner Matt Cimino reports that the cider is a 50/50 blend of ginger gold apples and peaches grown at the Smith’s farm in Bridgeville, Delaware. The apples give crispness to the blend while the peaches offer sweetness and deep peach flavor. Cimino and Charlie Smith created “Black Twig Hard Apple” cider last year and hope to repeat the success of that cider with their new peach/apple blend. Blazing Star Sparkling Peach sports 8% alcohol and can be purchased at the Wine Rack in Fruitland, Md., Cheers in Salisbury, Md., Bridgeville Discount Liquors and at Liquor Land in Seaford, Del.

Fenwick Wine Cellars in West Fenwick Island, Delaware announces their new “Grab-N-Go Bags,” the winery’s wine packaged in a flexible, unbreakable bag. The bags make packing for picnics or boating easy and when empty, leave a smaller environmental footprint than a traditional glass bottle. The winery’s Katie Connolly says that Fredonia is the only varietal offered now in this packaging (750 ml size), but others will come along later with the most popular sweet varietals packaged in a 1.5 liter bag. This development adds new meaning to the concept of taking a “bag lunch” to work with you! The winery’s summer hours are Sunday through Thursday from noon until 6:00; Fridays from noon until 7:00; and Sundays from 11 a.m. through 7 p.m.

Cold temperatures on April 22 caused some concern at Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery, but the late-in-season cold temperatures did minimal damage to the vines. The recent rains have posed a challenge to local farmers, but the winery is set to go for a long growing season. The vine’s buds and shoots are coming along and the regular care schedule is underway at the Dorchester County winery. With the vines safely along, Layton’s Chance is preparing for another birthday bash to celebrate another year of operations. See DelmarvaWine.com’s “Wine Events” page for more information about this Memorial Day weekend event.

Wicomico County’s Bordeleau Winery wrestled with the same challenges presented by cold springtime temperatures. The damage caused by a late-season frost can lead to production losses during the harvest. Benefitting from last year’s harvest, Bordeleau is bottling a new “Barrel Fermented Chardonnay.” The winery will also roll out its first bottling of Malbec, a deep red varietal often recognized as Argentina’s signature grape. Bordelau used Malbec in blending some of its past wines, but this is the first use of Malbec for a single-varietal bottling. Petit Verdot and Chambourcin are also part of the winery’s new products coming out this year.

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Patz & Hall, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2010 $35  In a blind taste test, seeing this Pinot in a glass would have you guessing it is a Zinfandel or perhaps Merlot…it’s that uncharacteristically dark. On the nose you’d be alerted that it is probably neither of those grapes for the subtle, earthy and perfume aroma. But then on the palate, you’d realize that this is indeed a wonderful Somona County Pinot Noir. I loved this medium-bodied wine for its firm acidity and forward style. This is not a delicate Pinot Noir but let’s appreciate it for the 14.7% alcohol and flavor menu of black cherry, raspberry and spice. Its character earned a 92 rating from Wine Spectator magazine and if the comments from those tasting this wine with me are any indication, it will earn high marks from you too. Available at Beach Liquors, 32967 Coastal Highway (Route 1), Bethany Beach, Del.

Charles Krug, red wine blend “Generations” 2010 $45 – Charles Krug’s red wine blend, “Generations,” has come a long way from the vintages produced 10 to 20 years ago. In those days the label rarely received a rating above the mid-80′s from Wine Spectator magazine. Today this red Bordeaux blend makes an impression with a formula that reminds me of Joseph Phelps “Insignia.” I tasted this wine at a recent wine event in Ocean City, Maryland and couldn’t help notice the interest shown by other folks for the satisfying blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Like them, I was impressed by the deep, mellow flavors presented so well from these grapes. Don’t overlook this label if you’re a California Cab or Meritage fan. At less than three years of age, it is worth its price and would make an interesting candidate for sipping a tucked-away bottle a few years from now.

Caymus Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley “Special Selection” 2010 about $130 – I realize my personal preference for Cabernet Sauvignon may be showing by posting yet another Cab, but I want to post it before too much more time passes. The long Caymus tradition is kept alive for producing top-tier Cabs with this selection that deserves the designation “Special.” You and your fellow Red wine friends will give a cheer as you experience a glass of this wine opening up in the glass before you. The nose shows dark fruit and a mystical scent of herb or eucalyptus. In the mouth the voluptuous dark fruit flavors of plum and blueberry stand firm against the not-too-bashful alcohol of 15%. The concentrated mouth feel is an experience to behold, with a finish that timed well past 60 seconds. This is a special wine that will improve with age, one to be shared with a few discerning friends or as a gift to someone special. Note that the price may vary from place to place, ranging from $125 up. Ten thousand cases of this Napa Valley treasure were produced.

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Delicious food samples, in small plate format, were offered by a dozen local restaurants including Snow Hill’s “The Palette” and of course Harrison’s Harbor Watch. At each food station a wine was also offered. An event like this is a fantastic way to taste many wines across the varietal spectrum. I sampled as many as I could (safely) and talked to other attendees at the event to determine which two wines were the best of the evening. Based on personal tasting and the comments heard from others, I award “Best of the Night” kudos to these two wines – one white, one red. Both are current releases and are available at Town & Country Wine, Liquors, Etc. 28428 St. Michaels Road, Easton, Maryland and at other wine retailers on the Delmarva.

Kunde, Chardonnay, Sonoma Valley 2010 $14 The wines offered at the event were split evenly between whites and reds (there were two sparkling wines, too). The favorite white of the evening was this oaky Chardonnay from central California. Folks just kept going back for this very affordable wine. Oft times I disagree with the tasting notes on a bottle’s back label, but for this one you’ll likely taste the “ripe pears, crisp apples and toasty oak” described. This shows a light crispness and a lot of style for the price. It would be a versatile choice to have around the house since it will pair well with white meat (or fish) dishes, or just sipping it on its own. Serve chilled, just out of the fridge.

Ferrari-Carano, red wine blend, “Siena” Sonoma County 2010 $23 Choosing the best red of the evening was a tough task since there were several choices that were quite good, including a Pinot Noir which tempted me but was overshadowed by a Cabernet Sauvignon. In the end, I chose “Siena” as the winner for its fruity base and rustic character. Ferrari-Carano’s name is well regarded among Chardonnay and Fume Blanc lovers, for it produces impressive wines from these two grapes year after year. So I was intrigued to taste this Sangiovese blend of 74% Sangiovese, 14% Malbec, 8% Syrah and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. On the nose are dark fruit and light floral notes. In the mouth I tasted blackberry, tart cherry and a bit of cola flavor which, combined with the 14.1% alcohol, gives it a zesty finish. Released only 12 months ago, this is ready to drink now and should be enjoyed with your first batch of grilled meats off the grille this spring.

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