wineries in the order that you choose. There are several Wine Trails occurring that weekend:


Sussex, and Warren-Hunterdon. Visit newjerseywines.com, and click on Wine Trails for maps and estimated drive times. Escape, Dayton l host the first in a seri tastings n Nvember 19, at 4:00 pm. Hosted by winemaker Thomas Nye and noted sommelier George Staikos, this event will explore great Spanish wines. The second in this series --tart and finish wherever you like, and visit the wineries in the order that you choose.


There are several Wine Trails occurring that weekend:


Atlantic County, Cape May, Cumberland, cester-Salem, Shore, Sussex, and Warren-Hunterdon. Visit newjerseywines.com, and click on Wine Trails for maps and eimated drive times. The Grape Escape, Dayton will host the first in a series of tastings n November 19, at 4:00 pm. Hosted by winemaker Thomas Nye and noted sommelier George Staikos, this eveexplore ThJJJanuary 14, 2012 at 4:00 pm -- will explore Great South American wines. This new series, according to the company, allows participants to accom- plish several things, such as learning how to confidently pair wine and food, understand and taste the differences of the main white and red grape varieties, and select wines with more confidence and understanding. Tickets are $85 per person, $160 for a couple. Visit thegrapeescape.net; or call 609-409-WINE.


The 6th Annual Harvest Wine Festival: 100+ Wines selected by the Wine Library will take place November 4 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm at the Hilton Short Hills Hotel, Short Hills. You can try full-bodied and rich red wines and taste many specialty wines. Mix n' mingle with other wine lovers while enjoying the sounds of live jazz. To pair with the wine, the Hilton's AAA Four Diamond award winning culinary experts will provide a first class selec- tion of hors d'oeuvres, antipasto, cheese, breads and pasta.


In addition, the more adventur- ous may take three wine classes that will be held in a special tasting area at 7:15 pm, 8:15 pm and 9:15 pm. The instructor will conduct aside-by-side tasting of five special wines, explaining grape varietal origins and tasting notes for each. Class cost is an additional $20 per person and advance reservationsmust be made online or by phone during ticket purchase.


Res-Q-Pets Foundation Fall Wine Tasting Benefit will be held November 11, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm at the Mercer Oaks Country Club & Golf Course, Princeton Junction. The event will feature more than 200 wines, beers, and spirits from around the world and food catered by Mercer Oaks Country Club. Laurenti's Shop Rite Wines & Spirits of Hamilton is sponsoring its annual wine tasting event for the Res-Q-Pets Foundation. Tickets are $50 per person in advance; $55 at the door; call 609 587 2849.


Finally, the New Jersey Chapter of Women for Winesense is hosting a Palmaz Wine Pairing Dinner, Wed., Nov 39, 6:45 to 9:00 pm at the Clam Broth House in Hoboken. For more information on this event and the organization itself, visit womenforwine- sense.org.


Make Your Own! New Jersey folks are known for their industrious nature – we like to try to make it ourselves! With that in mind, our state has quite a few places where one can master the art of wine making.


Grape Beginnings, Freehold: Grape Beginnings Winemaking Center provides the wine enthusiast with a "hands-on" opportunity to learn the art and science of premi-


November 2011


Atlantic County, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester-Salem, Shore,


um-quality winemaking in a clean, state-of-the-art winemaking facility. The complete winemaking process runs approximately nine months and is basically broken down into four sessions that are about one to two hours each. The process includes crushing and pressing fresh wine grapes (most of which come from select vineyards throughout California, Italy, Chile & Argentina); racking oak barrels and, finally, bottling the wine of your choice with your own person- alized label. Contact: 732-431-3313; end_of_the_skype_high- lightingtime4goodwine.com.


Bacchus Winemaking Club, Toms River: Bacchus offers a unique experience to create your own wine. The courses are bro- ken into four, one-hour sessions. From start to finish you will join with friends and family to participate in these hands-on winemaking sessions. Winemaking starts in September once the grapes are harvested from California wine regions. Four ses- sions are broken down as follows.


Sessions 1 and 2: During your first two visits scheduled between September 1 and November 1, you learn how to crush and de-stem grapes and commence primary fer- mentation. Activities also include adjustment of must, wine-pressing, and preparation and filling of barrels. From the date you crush your grapes you will return exactly one week later to press your wine. Session 3: Usually scheduled between January and February you will learn racking of wine, removal of sediment, and topping off of barrels. Session 4: Now it is time to bottle your wine, paste on your customized labels, between May and August. Contact: bacchusnj.com; 732-505-6930. The Grape Escape, Dayton: According to its website, The Grape Escape is the most advanced custom hands-on winery on the East Coast. With more options than any other custom winery in the region, you personalize your wine by choosing the region, grape type, barrel type, and the amount of aging it will receive. You actively partici- pate in the four key steps of winemaking: crushing the grapes, pressing the must, racking the wine and finally bottling your own premium wine. Each bottle is cus- tomized with your custom label, perfect for enjoying with friends or gifting. Here, there are classes in making your own olive oil, mozzarella, and gourmet ravioli; these classes are quickly sold out. But on the calendar are also some great wine events. Contact: thegrapeescape.net; 609-409-WINE


Other wine-making specialists include Vintner's Circle (Andover, Hackettstown, Middletown, Whippany), The Wine Makers Cellar (Hawthorne), The Educated Grape (Flemington), Wine Making Plus NJ (West Paterson), The Wine Room (Cherry Hill), Wine Makers of Somerset (Bound Brook), Grape Expectations (Bridgewater), and California Wineworks (Ramsey).


For those who want to learn how to develop an appreciation of various wines and how to pair them, Zita Keeley, CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine) is now offering Zita Keeley's Wine School, a three-week basic (but detailed) wine appreciation series. Class One covers white wines, Class Two discusses red wines and Class Three teaches wine and food


pairings. Email info@alli- doiswine.com (this is a fun blog for wine enthusiasts as well).


While all this is adventuring is available and worth experi- encing, the majority of us simply like to visit restaurants in our region and order a fine bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner Or, pick up a couple of bottles of wine and visit a favorite BYO venue. The infor- mation we provide in each issue of Barfly will always point you in the right direction. Cheers!


To Advertise Call 732-995-1714 • www.BarflyNYNJ.com Page 19


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