Happy Labor Day!

This Saturday, September 1st, enjoy a free soft pretzel at our Lawrenceville and Woodbridge stores starting at Noon, while supplies last!

Our stores are open on Labor Day - Monday, September 3rd until 6:00 pm!
We wish you all a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

New Gins Have Arrived!

This week brings the arrival of new gins into our stores! If you're a gin-thusiast, you'll want to stop by and check these out soon!

Aviation
Born in the fresh and pristine environs of the Pacific Northwest, Aviation New Western Dry Gin represents a true departure from traditional gin making ethos, setting a new standard in quality, creativity, passion and flavor.

With its full and weighty mouth feel, regionally inspirted flavors of earth and spice, and a uniquely cool finish, Aviation is a rare expression of gin that shines both on its own and in one of a large number of resurrected and modern culinary cocktails colliding with ice and tin on the insides of Boston Shakers at discerning cocktais bars around the world.

Try Aviation Gin today for only $28.99!

Greylock
Berkshire Mountain Distillers' Greylock Gin is handcrafted in small batches. Our proprietary blend of 7 botanicals, packed in to a gin head suspended over a pot still, infuses the distillate with its unique essence. We use this time honored and labor intensive method to bring you a London dry style gin of exceptional quality.

Try Greylock Gin today for only $27.99!

Uncle Val's
Uncle Val’s is a small-batch botanical gin inspired by Zio Valerio’s love of gardening and native tuscan cuisine. The botanicals are not only Uncle Val’s favorite cooking ingredients, but also happen to make an exceptionally unique and smoothly delicious gin.

Try Uncle Val's Gin today for only $32.99!

Rick's Excellent Adventure in Argentina - Part 2

We are up had a fantastic breakfast at the house and are now in the van heading for the Alma Negra Vineyards in Visit Flores. Alma Negra literally means “Dark Soul” and represents the depths of beauty in the shadows of our souls. Ernesto Catena, Laura’s brother, operates this winery. He was not able to be with us but Matias Fraga, his Export Manager and his brand new winemaker was there also. We walked the vineyard and learned about Ernesto’s passion for Biodynamic wine production.


We were told that last harvest he had llamas with baskets on their backs carrying grapes to the winery. They had a slight problem with the llamas eating half of the grapes, but that was something they would work on.


We saw a new winery on the property that is in the construction phase. We learned that there were no plans for the structure. Ernesto would come out and say we should have a door about here and we want the grapes to flow in this direction. There are only 3 guys working on the construction, no rush it will be finished sometime.


After our walk around the vineyard we came back to the reservoir and had pizza baked over open flame fire pit right next to the beef that was cooking for our lunch. Of course we had the Sparkling Shiraz to wash it down.


I did learn about the water issues here in Argentina, as you drive around the area you see troughs everywhere. These troughs carry the water that is used for the irrigation of the crops. When it is your turn a person from the water commission will come out and watch as you close the dam to this property and open it to yours. If you don’t need the water at that point you channel it to your reservoir for later use. So if you plan to move to Argentina and purchase a vineyard make sure you purchase water rights.


We then went into the winery and learned that they only did the sparkling at this facility. The still wines were across the street at the Alamos facility, owned by the Catena Family. We then tasted the Mystery M Blend, the Mystery and the Alma Negra. Wow, what fantastic wines! Of course we had the Sparkling Malbec with our lunch and snack.


We got back to the property and had a nice evening to relax and did a tasting of some wines that were not exported. They were under the El Enemico label. We had a Chardonnay, Malbec and a Cabernet, there were all excellent. The reds were big and in your face with a finish that just lingered on forever. The Chardonnay was creamy and very nice.


We finished the day with another fantastic dinner with a sneak peek of the family private wine cellar under the house. Boy, would I like to spend some time down there with a cork screw.


After that it was dessert, relaxation and some study time in the Family Room for our upcoming test.

(There really was a test that we all took on Day 4! Everyone that passed was awarded with a certificate as a Master in High Altitude Malbec Ambassador.)

Robin Williams puts Sonoma estate up for sale

As I was perusing the news sites for an interesting industry article to share with you, I kept coming back to this one about comedian Robin Williams putting his incredible Sonoma estate for sale. If you have a moment, flip through the photo galleries, it's astounding! Though I'll have to stay content sipping my Coppola Chard, reminiscing about my Sonoma trip from last fall, and dreaming of winning the lottery, perhaps one of our awesome customers might put a bid in. Don't forget to invite the JC's wine staff over for a visit! -JC's Webmaster

It's no joke: Actor and comedian Robin Williams has put his 650-acre hilltop estate straddling Sonoma and Napa counties on the market for $35 million.

The gated property includes a 20,000-square-foot Italianate manor featuring a home theater, wine and art cellars and three "Kevlar-wrapped safe rooms," according to sales information.

Outside features include a 65-foot infinity-edge swimming pool, European stone decking and multi-tiered sculpture garden. The land includes 24 acres of premium vineyards, 100 olive trees and a spring-fed pond.

The ridgetop property, known as Villa Sorriso or "Villa of Smiles," is perched next to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and sits mostly in Napa County. Two of its six parcels are located in Sonoma County, according to sales materials.

Those who have seen the estate describe it as a "spectacular property" atop the Mayacmas Mountains, said Ross Liscum, a broker associate with Century 21 North Bay Alliance in Santa Rosa.

The home has been marketed privately for sale for at least a year, said Nicki Naylor, an agent with Alain Pinel Realtors in Sonoma.

Williams' property still doesn't appear on the regular multiple listing service, agents said Thursday. But it can be found on its own Villa Sorriso website.

Only a handful of such luxury properties are offered in Wine Country at any time, Naylor said. Two years ago, she represented the seller for the home that former Citigroup chief executive Sanford "Sandy" Weill and his wife, Joan, purchased near Sonoma for about $30 million.

This article was written by Robert Digitale and originally published on pressdemocrat.com.

Bud Light Bash @ JC's Woodbridge!!

Join us tomorrow (Saturday, August 25th) at Joe Canal's in WOODBRIDGE from 2:00 - 4:00pm, when our friends from Bud Light will be here with WDHA radio station! DJ Jim Monaghan will be broadcasting live, with fun giveaways! Bud Light's on sale, so don't miss out on some fun this Saturday afternoon.

Haven't entered yet? There's still time!

Enter for your chance to win two spots on Budweiser's Port Paradise Music Festival Cruise! You and a friend can enjoy four fun-fulled days and three awesome night aboard this legendary party cruise!*

From November 16, 2012 through November 19, 2012, you and thousands of Bud-loving friends will sail on two cruise ships to the Bahamas for an extended weekend adventure that includes live concerts at Atlantis in Nassau and the private island of Coco Cay.

Just print out the entry form at jcanals.com, bring it into Joe Canal's Woodbridge and give it to any cashier or manager to be entered to win!

**Enjoy two tickets for 3 nights/4 days of fun aboard the Bud Light Port Paradise Cruise (11/16/12 – 11/19/12) for only $190.00 per person, including cruise and airfare.

Joe Canal's Presents Domino Wines!

We just got a shipment of four great value wines from Domino! Pick a bottle or two to try at only $8.99 in our Bottle Club for a 1.5L bottle!

Cabernet Sauvignon - Rich flavors with a smooth mouth feel. The wine boasts aromas and flavors of currant, blackberry, and black cherry with notes of sweet vanilla and toast, with a concentrated & plush finish.

Merlot - Aromas and flavord of red and black cherry with a touch of sweet herbs and vanilla, a smooth & juicy treat.

Chardonnay - A soft, supple and refreshing wine, featuring pear and green apple with bright citrus leading to soft vanilla on the long, rich finish.

Pinot Grigio - This bright, approachable wine has aromas and flavors of floral and lime blossom with lemon meringue, stone fruit and mineral notes, and a crisp, refreshing finish.

Rick's Excellent Adventure in Argentina - Part 1

Day #1

I'm sitting at Philadelphia International Airport waiting for the first leg of my trip to Catena Winery in Mendoza, Argentina to start. The travel will be a little long but I am sure that the end result will be well worth it. I fly from here to Dallas, TX then to Santiago, Chile and then into Mendoza Argentina. From start to finish about 22 hours, but before I know it, I will be tasting Tilia Wines at the orientation on Sunday.

After a long, hard, boring flight I made it through my first leg of the trip. We all meet up in the airport in Santiago, Chille. We started the day with I was told is a Malbec Camp tradition, introductions at the Pesoc Sour Bar and a toast to the week ahead.

We boarded our plan for a quick flight over the Andes Mountains, it was straight up and straight down with a lot of up and down, and right and left. I now know what a ping pong ball feels like. I later learned was a form the Dunder Winds from Chile to Argentina.

We arrive at the family estate La Vendimia “Catena Zapata Family Estancia” compound & Vineyard located in the Rivadavia District of Mendoza. Laura Catena was waiting on the front porch for us. After the introductions we started the afternoon with some relaxation, I went horseback riding. My horse was very high strung so I was led around by the nose with a Gaucho holding the rains. It was still very nice because we rode around the vineyard and got the chance to see a lot of the property. After that, we had a lunch of beef and cheese. We also had a 2002 Vintage Catena Zapata Chardonnay. Wow, it was fantastic, golden in color with the flavors of the best Chablis I had even tasted.

Right after lunch a band came out and played Argentine folk music, two young couples demonstrated the traditional folk dances. Laura got out there with one of our team and then they played a song that Laura said we must all get up and dance to, well one of the very pretty young ladies came to me and I am very proud to say I didn’t step on her feet once.




Later we went out in the back yard to a pavilion and tasted the Tilia wines. We had Chardonnay, Malbec, Torrentoes, Bonarda and Malbec/Syrah. Very nice wines, easy drinking and nice to the pocket, my favorite was the Malbec/Syrah and the Torrentoes. Don’t get me wrong, all of the wines were very good and a great value.


Next,a butcher showed up with a side of beef that he hung in the pavilion and proceeded to cut. There was another guy that took the meat and covered with salt and then cooked the meat on an open fire grill. Laura and Pablo Piccolo who is in charge of exports for Catena Wines, joined us for dinner. I have to tell you, the meat was fantastic, as was the entire meal. We then shifted into the Sitting Room for dessert and espresso and talked well into the night.

That ends day one of Malbec Camp. My understanding is that in the morning we will head up to Ernesto’s Catena’s vineyard Alma Negra, where we will learn about organic an biodynamic vineyard concepts. So for now, good night and I will be back soon with my next installment!

Cabernet Shares Napa Rose Limelight

In a recent tasting of the 2011 vintage of Napa Valley rosés, industry panelists chose two Cabernet Sauvignons, two Syrahs, a Pinot Noir and a Sangiovese as the valley’s best examples of rosé wines.

The St Helena Star and Napa Vintner Tasting Panel met at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone this month to taste through 36 different Napa Valley rosé wines from the 2011 vintage. From the wines included, the grape varieties were diverse: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Charbono, Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan as well as blends.

In general, Napa Valley’s Cabernet Sauvignon rosés still display the grape’s up-front blackberry or black cherry flavours and some of the drying sensation from tannins.

Napa Valley Pinot Noir, especially from the cooler Carneros region, can produce very elegant rosés which show some of the grape’s perfume aromas.

Napa Valley’s Syrah rosés can have the grape’s violet, raspberry or blackberry flavours, and some show the variety’s inherent smokiness and meatiness.

The Sangiovese rosés have bright acidity and a tangy, sometimes sour cherry flavour.

A discussion among the panelists found varietal hits and misses. Shannon Kuleto of The Napa Valley Wine Trail was less fond of rosés from Bordeaux varieties, especially when they had a woody profile; and Kay Malaske from Terlato Wine Group preferred rosé made from Rhone varieties like Syrah. Tom Simoneau, of KSRO radio’s wine program, maintained that Grenache, Pinot Noir and Sangiovese were the best varieties for rosé.

For many of the varieties used to make Napa Valley’s rosés, producing large volumes is just not possible. Several winemakers on the panel commented that their wineries produce small amounts of rosé in order to have something refreshing to offer guests, especially if any white wines they make are created in small lots and distributed.

A good number of Napa Valley rosés are offered at tasting rooms only or for sale online by the winery. That is not to say you won’t find a number of them distributed throughout the country.

No matter where it is sold, rosé is continuing to sell in the US, with Nielsen showing a healthy growth of 14.4% in 2011.

Panelist Eric Carpenter of fine wine purveyor Dean and DeLuca in St Helena observed: “Customers are coming in specifically asking for rosé. They are introduced to rosé through a wine club or at a wine tasting event and feel comfortable buying it now that they understand rosé better.”

Of course, it helps that it is summer, and pink wine drinkers come out in droves for rosé when it is hottest. It will take a bit more time to show people how incredible rosé is with Thanksgiving dinner, or as a prelude to the holiday feast.

If you're looking for a refreshing rosé to cool you through these last few weeks of summer, or if you're going to take the plunge later in the year and serve the pink stuff at your holiday table, the staff at Joe Canal's Woodbridge and Lawrenceville will be happy to help you select the perfect bottle!

This article was originally written by Catherine Seda and published on thedrinksbusiness.com. Read more...

Refresh yourself with bubbly cocktails!

Prosecco is a term applied to a crisp sparkling white wine as well as the grape that is used to make it. The Prosecco grape is primarily grown in a region of Italy known as Veneto. It is also grown in the Valdobbiadene and Conegliano wine regions, both north of Venice.

Generally much less expensive than its sparkling French counterpart, Prosecco lends itself wondefully as the main ingredient in a number of refreshing cocktails that are perfect for these sizzling mid-August days.

Check out howbooks.com list of the Top 5 Best Prosecco Cocktails, and let us know your favorite!

Blissini
This recipe is a variation of the popular Bellini cocktail. You will need:
1 ½ cups of chilled Prosecco, 1 ½ cups of chilled orange juice, 1 ½ cups of chilled pomegranate juice and mint leaves for garnish.
Prepare 4 champagne glasses by chilling them. In a pitcher, mix the above ingredients. Pour into each glass and garnish with a mint leaf.

Raspberry-Lemon Prosecco Cocktail
This summery treat mixes the tartness of lemonade, the sweetness of raspberries and the bubbly Prosecco for a drink that is perfect for a warm summer evening. You will need:
¼ cup of sugar, ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon rind, 2 bottles of Prosecco, 1 cup of fresh raspberries.
First you will need to prepare the lemon syrup. Combine sugar and lemon juice in a small pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 1 minute, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Stir in rind. Cover and refrigerate overnight then strain the rinds out before mixing.
You want to combine the lemon syrup with the bottles of Prosecco. A punch bowl or 2 large pitchers will be ideal for this. Add the raspberries to the mixture. Serve immediately.

Due Campari
This recipe not only uses Prosecco, but also uses bitters! You will need:
4 ounces of Prosecco, ¾ ounce of Campari bitters, and ¾ ounce of lemon juice.
Shake lemon juice and Campari bitters well over ice cubes in a shaker. Strain into a chilled champagne flute. Fill to the top with Prosecco. Serve and enjoy!

Bold Chieftain
If you are looking for a great celebratory cocktail with a kick, the Bold Chieftain will be the way to go! You will need:
½ ounce whiskey, ½ ounce orange liqueur (Contreau is an example), your favorite Prosecco and an orange twist for garnish.
In a champagne flute mix the whiskey and orange liqueur. Fill the rest of the glass with Prosecco. Zest an orange into the glass, add an orange twist and drink immediately.

Amore Frizzante
A superb cocktail when made of the finest ingredients, the Amore Frizzante is a fruity delight. You will need:
1 ounce of premium vodka, ½ ounce of high quality orange liqueur, ½ ounce peach nectar, Prosecco. For garnish – sliced peaches and raspberries.
Pour the vodka, orange liqueur, and peach nectar into a chilled shaker filled with ice. Strain into a champagne flute and fill to the top with Prosecco. Garnish with a sliced peach and 2 raspberries.

Bonus: Traditional Bellini Recipe
We couldn’t discuss Prosecco without telling you how to make a Bellini! They are simple and can be made in less than a minute! You need: Prosecco and fresh peach puree.
Mix the drink one part peach puree to 2 parts Prosecco. Serve in a chilled champagne flute.

Grape harvest under way in Napa Valley

As the sun rose over Atlas Peak early Friday, speckling golden light on misty grapevines in Oakville, a crew of 30 pickers hustled ripe clusters of pinot noir grapes off the vine.

The clusters were nimbly cut free and gingerly dropped into bins headed up the Silverado Trail for Mumm Napa, in the first reported grape harvest of the year on California's North Coast.

“The action is on,” said Alex Vyborny, owner of Vyborny Vineyard Management, which manages 1,000 acres of vineyards throughout Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. “The quality should be really good. We've had great weather.”

Vyborny's crews were harvesting grapes for Mumm's Brut Rose. With sweaty brows, harvesters lunged at the grapevines, deftly cutting three or four plump clusters with one swoop of the arm, and running through the stony vineyards with heavy bins laden with fruit. Occasionally, a hummed song or a burst of cheers rose through the air.

“You can hear the excitement,” said Doug Springer, grower relations manager for Mumm Napa. “So far it's an excellent season. The weather's cooperating very well.”

Grapes for sparkling wine are harvested several weeks ahead of those crushed for still wines, because they can be picked at lower sugar levels. Though this year's harvest began several weeks before it did last year, it was right on schedule for a normal harvest, growers said.

“It's been a dream growing season this year,” said Ludovic Dervin, winemaker for Mumm Napa. “It's probably the healthiest growing season I've seen in 20 years in California.”

A few of Joe Canal's staff members visited Mumm Napa last fall. It's a beautiful winery that makes some delicious sparkling wines. What California wine are you most looking forward to in the new vintage?

This article was written by Cathy Bussewitz and was originally published on pressdemocrat.com. Read more...

Whiskey Feature - Pendleton Canadian Whiskey

Pendleton Whisky was specifically created to celebrate the bold spirit of independence and hard-work ethic of the American cowboy and cowgirl. It’s borne of the rich tradition of the 101-year-old Pendleton Round-Up, one of the most prestigious rodeos in the world.

Pendleton Whisky has been a proud sponsor of the Pendleton Round-Up since the brand’s inception and we are honored to be a part of an event that has such a long standing history in Oregon.

Each Pendleton Whisky bottle prominently features the rodeo’s famous bucking horse symbol and Let’er Buck slogan. A portion of proceeds from every bottle sold is donated back to the Pendleton Round-Up.

Pendleton Sagebrush
-3 parts Pendleton Whisky
-1 part triple sec
-1 part fresh squeezed oj
-1 part fresh squeezed lime juice
-Top off with ginger ale
Muddle sage leaf with orange slice in glass; add liquids; pour into old fashioned glass; garnish with an orange slice and a sage leaf. Pick up a bottle to try today, regularly priced at only $22.99!

Debbie's Guide to the Finger Lakes - Part 4

We awoke to bacon and eggs for breakfast with all the trimmings. We had one appointment for the day. This was an actual appointment that one of my distributors arranged for us for a VIP tasting at the one and only Dr. Frank’s on Keuka Lake. Keuka Lake is about an hour from Seneca and we got an early start heading west to the west side of Keuka Lake.


We were met by Susan Eisenhart who is one of Dr. Frank’s extremely knowledgeable sales ambassadors and she guided us through an amazing 22 wines.

Dr. Konstantin Frank founded the winery in 1962, making this year, 2012, their 50th anniversary celebration. Dr. Frank’s flagship wines are the gold labeled wine portfolio with everything from Riesling and Cabernet Franc to Rkatsiteli, Muscat and Gruner Veltliner. Dr. Frank is considered to be the Robert Mondavi of the East Coast. He is the one who jump-started the NY wine regions into the gold medal standard it is today.

Konstantin’s son Willy, continued the family tradition by adding Chateau Frank to the portfolio, a line of sparkling wines that could rival any Champagne house. Willy’s son Fred is the current President and his legacy is the Salmon Run label using grapes sourced locally.

Joe Canal’s is a proud carrier of these wines. Of the Salmon Run wines we carry the Riesling (one of my favorites), Chardonnay and the Coho Red. Of the Dr. Frank flagship wines we carry the Gewurztraminer, Dry Riesling, Semi-Dry Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. All are definitely worth a try to get a real flavor for NY wines. I’d be happy to make a recommendation for you or just put them all in your cart!

After leaving Dr. Frank with a case of delicious wines, we headed into the town of Hammondsport, voted one of the coolest small towns in America by Budget Travel Magazine, and enjoyed lunch in the town square in what looks to be their only restaurant. And yes, it was pretty cool.

Later that night, we ate dinner at the Wildflower Café, the restaurant attached to Rooster Fish Brewing. We enjoyed local scallops, organic burgers and of course, the local brew on tap.

Debbie's Guide to the Finger Lakes - Part 3

I had 3 destinations on the way back to Watkins Glen. First up was Red Tail Ridge, a winery we carry at Joe Canal’s. It doesn’t look like much from the outside.


But, the inside is modern and clean.


Notice the guy in front with the red shirt? He has two leashes for his Greyhounds. We saw them everywhere from dinner, to the streets to the wineries. We finally had to ask. The Finger Lakes hosts a weekend for people to bring their Greyhounds to promote Greyhound adoption. Wineries such as Red Tail Ridge allow the dogs inside, provide them dog treats and their own rest stop outside. Oh and the wines? Superb. We carry their Semi-Dry Riesling 2009 which is light with just a touch of sweetness, but their red winner was their Blaufränkisch.

Check out the view of their vineyards along their driveway.


My next two destination spots were Heron Hill and Hermann J Weimer. Weimer had some of the best domestic Rieslings I have ever tasted. It’s important to note that not all of these wines are available in NJ and most will not ship direct to consumer for you, so if you have the opportunity to buy them while you’re visiting, make sure you do!

That night was our anniversary so we headed to a restaurant called Suzanne’s. This is a Victorian home converted into a restaurant and the cuisine is local, fresh and delicious. Out back is the huge vegetable and herb garden and we dined on the wrap-around porch feasting on crab, onion soup, duck breast, duck sausage, pork tenderloin, cheese and dessert with local wine. As the dinner ended, we watched the sun set over the lake making this one of the most enjoyable days we’ve had in several weeks.

We topped the night off with a 2001 Brunello Reserve on the porch of the Inn from my personal collection.

Debbie's Guide to the Finger Lakes - Part 2

Mike made us the most amazing breakfast. We feasted on pancakes with fresh picked blueberries, organic syrup, sausages, fresh fruit and muffins with orange juice, coffee and tea. We found an amazing, accurate map at the Village Marina and after breakfast we headed out to the west side of the lake.

What you should first know about these wineries is that they charge for a tasting. Some are as little as $2 per person and up to $6 depending on the vineyard. Some will credit you back if you buy any of their wine. And, if you go to taste and not consume, some pourers will allow you more than the 5-6 wines you get for your tasting price. When I say taste, I mean, utilizing the spit bucket. Yes, you sip, swish and then spit. By doing this, you don’t get drunk especially when you’re driving, you can taste more and some people will pour you a few more sampless of other wines in their portfolio.

Our first stop was Lakewood Vineyards, where we were the first people in the door. In fact, we were early and we were waved in before opening time. This was probably one of the most educated group of people we met of the day. Our pourer knew everything about his wines and was able to guide us through 15 wines or so. Remember the spitting part? We should have only had 10 wines between the two of us. It was here that I was introduced to a grape called Lemberger. I had never had it before and it was just my style – big, dry and earthy.

One of the other things you should know about the Finger Lakes is that it is a popular venue for Bachelorette parties. So, if you want to avoid these groups meeting you at every other winery, you may consider tasting during the week instead of the weekend.

After leaving Lakewood, we stopped at Rock Stream Vineyards, Glenora, Hickory Hollow Wine Cellars, Villa Bellangelo, Ashley Lynn, Miles and Anthony Roads. Our goal was to head up to Belhurst Castle for lunch so once our bellies started growling, we passed a few others in search of food. Tasting really can make you hungry, so it is very important to eat before you go and don’t skip meals. If crackers are offered while you are tasting, take them!

Belhurst Castle is beautiful former private residence in Geneva at the north side of Seneca Lake. Of course, it is the destination spot for weddings, so we did get to watch a newly married couple take photos outside while we dined at one of their restaurants called Stonecutters. After lunch, we walked around the beautiful property before heading south to visit the wineries on the other side of the road.

Debbie's Guide to the Finger Lakes - Part 1

So far this year I have not been on any of the company wine tasting trips, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and book a 3 night vacation in Watkins Glen, NY touring Seneca Lake. This was a perfect way for my husband and I to spend our 11 year wedding anniversary. On Friday, July 27th we took the 4 hour drive to Watkins Glen where we booked “The Merlot Room” at the 1892 Seneca Inn Bed & Breakfast. The Inn was a clean, rustic, old Victorian home operated by Susan and Mike Gilbert. We especially enjoyed the large, wrap-around porch where we spent each evening listening to music, drinking wine and watching life pass by.

It’s important to me to find a place that is centrally located to everything. This Inn was 4 blocks from the Lake and walking distance to all nearby restaurants, breweries, beaches, water sports and shops. It’s also a great location to start wine tasting at!

The house was built in 1892 and was a private home for the next 65 years. The house changed hands over the next 40 years converted into a nursing home, state clinic and family home until being purchased by the original owner’s descendants as Hannah's 1892 House, but it was sold again and restored to be the Inn it is now.

After we settled in, we decided to walk around town and see where the wind blew us. We walked a few blocks to the base of the lake taking in the beautiful sights of the water and the sail boats. After walking the pier, we headed out to the jetty. From there I was able to get a good look at the shore line and I found what I was looking for - a bar right on the water. The Village Marina was just what the doctor ordered. We ordered some beers (yes, I drink beer, too!) and headed out to some chairs to watch the water and relax. We then headed over to the local VFW to talk to the locals and enjoyed some more beers to get a lay of the land and see which restaurants were recommended. For dinner we found a restaurant called the Seneca Harbor Grill where we sat outside dining on seafood chowder, lobster and shrimp dip, a lobster tail with grilled shrimp and a lobster pasta. The night was complete with a blues band who serenaded us during dinner and it was a great time!

We made it an early evening and went back to the house to sip some wine I brought from a home a Colin-Morey Les Chenevottes Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2010, listen to music on the porch and prepare for our wine tasting journey the next day.

U-S-A! I-P-A!

India Pale Ales are the quintessential American craft-beer style. Every brewery worth its hops makes an IPA, and it's a measure by which craft breweries can be compared.

Characterized by higher levels of alcohol and hop bitterness, there's wide latitude as to what constitutes an American-style IPA. Brewers utilize a variety of American hops such as Chinook, Cascade and Centennial, which lend a more intense flavor and aroma to the beer than European or noble hops. By adding hop additions at various stages of the brewing process, brewers are able to build a beer that's distinctly unique yet united in its hop-forward flavor profile.

And it seems that there are no limits to how far brewers are willing to push the style in terms of intensity -- or to how far hopheads will go in their appreciation of the style. Founded last year, IPA Day on Aug. 2 is an effort to bring together fans online and in person to celebrate one of craft brewing's most iconic styles with events, tastings, dinners and other IPA Day celebrations. Visit http://ipaday.org or craftbeer.com to learn more.

According to beer lore, the style was developed for transport to British colonies in India, as the higher alcohol levels and hop concentrations helped preserve the beer during the journey. Other beer styles, including porters, also survived the journey, but India Pale Ales had the added benefit of being well suited to the hot, sultry climate, as the earliest examples were light and refreshing.

The style fell out of favor for a long time, until American craft brewers, most notably on the West coast, reinterpreted it and made it their own. They also upped the hop bitterness in an apparent quest to see who could pack the most hops into a beer.

Today American-style India Pale Ales are by far the most entered category during the Great American Beer Festival competition. Last year there were 176 entries in the category and entries continue to grow each year. (Tickets for this year's festival, Oct. 11--13 in Denver, go on sale Aug. 2.)

The official GABF style description defines an American-style India Pale Ale as having "medium-high to intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma with medium-high alcohol content" with "fruity, floral and citrus-like American variety hop character."

Imperial India Pale Ales, a hopped-up version that's gaining in popularity as craft brewers continue to expand the boundaries of the style, are characterized as having "intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma" along with "notably evident" alcohol content that helps balance the "fresh and lively" hop character.

Will you be celebrating IPA Day this weekend? What are your favorite IPAs? We've got plenty to choose from, try something new!

This article was written by Tom Wilmes and published at dailycamera.com. Click here for more.

Two new Chateauneuf du Papes just arrived!

Are you a CDP fan? Check out these great new 2010 vintages that just arrived in both Woodbridge and Lawrenceville!

Clos des Pape Chateauneuf du Pape 2010

The 2009 vintage of this CDP won the #10 spot in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2010! This new vintage a blend of of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah, with the balance made up of Vaccarese, Counoise, and Muscardin.

"The 2010 looks to be extraordinary. A slightly fresher and more elegant version of the 2007, I think it may well be the greatest Clos des Papes since the 1990 and 1978. The 2010 has a dense ruby/purple color, a beautifully precise and pure nose of deep black raspberry, black cherry, boysenberry and blueberry notes with some licorice, garrigue, and bouquet garni. Additionally, there is a meaty richness that probably comes from the Mourvedre and Syrah.

It is an extraordinarily intense, fresh, lively wine with great finesse and elegance, which is somewhat unusual given the richness of fruit and the power of this wine. The color is a dense ruby/purple, perhaps slightly less opaque than the 2007, but very dark. This wine should evolve for 30+ years." -Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

This spectacular new vintage is now featured at only $107.99 in our Bottle Club!

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Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape 2010

In 2007 Wine Spectator awarded this the #3 spot in their top 100 Wines of the Year. The 2010 is 75% Grenache, 10% each of Mourvedre and Syrah and 5% Cinsault, fermented in concrete and aged in foudres.

" A brilliant effort that ranks alongside the 2007, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape boasts abundant notes of black cherry liqueur interwoven with black currant, blueberry, spring flower, roasted herb, licorice, pepper and bouquet garni characteristics. Full-bodied with good acidity, terrific purity, a fleshy mouthfeel and a long finish, it should be even better in 4-5 years and last for two decades or more." -Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

Try this new vintage for only $53.99 in our Bottle Club!

Toni Carver's Trip to Spain - Part 4

Day 4

We are off to Casa Del Valle in Yepes, Toledo. This estate is breathtaking!! It is surrounded by the vineyards, olive trees, and gardens. Also on the grounds were an enormous home and many smaller buildings that house the staff, a church, and a small retail shop. We started by tasting thru their wines, my favorite was the Casa Del Valle Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, rich, red fruits, balanced tannins, anise, and tobacco make this a full bodied wine that can pair with steak and BBQ.

We relaxed that evening, enjoying the tranquil break from the busy travel days.

Day 5

We awoke to a traditional bountiful Spanish breakfast and drove to Madrid, only about an hour away. Madrid is a tourist friendly city. Ancient architecture, friendly people, great shopping, great ice cream, and at last, Starbucks!!! For all those that know me, Starbucks is part of my daily routine.

As thankful as I am to travel, I looked forward to returning to my family, sharing my stories about my travels and wine.