Ready For An Evening Of Fun? Page One)
Let The Party Begin!
Come on in... A fun evening awaits you
Did You Know? - Difference between varietals and blends: A standard varietal like Malbec, Chardonnay etc., is made from the same type of grape. Sometimes winemakers will use grapes from different plots of a vineyard or different regions for a varietal, but they are all the same type of grapes.
In the U.S. a varietal needs to be 75 percent of one type of grape, while in Europe it's generally 80 percent and in Argentina it's 85 percent. It's possible for wineries to add other grapes to a varietal to enhance the elements and still call it a single varietal wine.
Blends are what their name suggests. They typically consist of at least 40-50 percent of one type of grape and a smaller mix of two or more other grapes.
Setting up was quite a task. Hundreds of glasses soon to be clinking!
Soon sparkling wine will be greeting new arrivals
Each place setting was ready to go...
Almost too pretty to eat!
Watch out for the mouse... He looks hungry also!
We will get underway at 7:30 sharp... How about some sparkling wine first?
Everybody jumps up and heads for the counter
Sue had a great seat.... Easy exit and entrance
Chafing dishes being set up... The kitchen is getting busy!
Did You Know? - A chafing dish (from the French chauffer, "to make warm") is a kind of portable grate raised on a tripod, originally heated with charcoal in a brazier, and used for foods that require gentle cooking, away from the "fierce" heat of direct flames. The chafing dish could be used at table or provided with a cover for keeping food warm on a buffet. Double dishes that provide a protective water jacket are known as bains-marie and help keep delicate foods, such as fish, warm while preventing overcooking.
Behind the scenes there is a flurry of activity
"Why hello there little lady!"
Donna hits the goodies
Last minute coordination underway
Marlowe makes the rounds assuring all his guests are doing well!
Marlowe's "Never Empty Bottle" at work
Sue and Paul without a camera? (Thank you Bob!)
Sue keeps an eye on Paul... It's a big job but someone has to do it!
Salad anyone?
Magnificent chicken
and steak! A great meal!
Beautiful!
Marlowe explains how this evening is going to work...
We also get some essential information about "blending wines"
Did You Know? - From a commercial standpoint the primary function of blending is to help the winery keep a consistent product from bottle to bottle. Blending among the various storage vessels of a particular vintage cancels out any variation created that year from a number of factors, such as differences in vineyards, fermentation containers, and tannin levels in barrels.
The second most common reason wineries blend is to keep their non-varietals consistent from one year to the next. This is a little more involved than blending across a particular vintage. Maintaining consistency within the same vintage requires a limited amount of skill and is almost routine in nature. Keeping non-varitals consistent from year to year requires an ability to taste and blend in an attempt to recreate what was made the year before.
The four wines this evening will come from their storage vessels located
in the back room and out front in the oak barrels
The plumbing is ready to go!
A moment of silence before the pouring begins?
Kathy and Sue have their first tastes well underway
Salad, Steak, Chicken and Potatoes... Wonderful!
My wine has legs!
"I always hold my wine with both hands.... Don't want it to get away!"
Peggy is looking pretty serious here!
Kathy explains that Ed stayed home... Missing all the fun!
Entirely too much laughing going on here?
A little of this and a little of that...
Marlowe came around several times to answer
questions and make
observations
He is indeed a Winemaker.... When he talks about the vino his eyes close!
David and Peggy, new friends, capture the moment
"OK... I got it!"
A veritable sea of glasses...
"I think I want to do a 50/25/25/15 blend.... I know it's hard to
get 115% into one bottle but we will try!
Fun with friends
The blending is now well underway... Mixologists at work!
The staff is certainly entertained
We have made our choices
Sound: "Red Red Wine"
"Red Red Wine" is a song written, performed and originally recorded by American artist Neil Diamond in 1967, included on Neil's second Bang Records album "Just For You". The lyrics are sung from the perspective of someone who finds drinking red wine the only way to forget his woes.