4 • JUNE 2017 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC.


World of Wine!


Wine Tasting Reunion by Executive Chef Ron Skaar ~ ronskaar@comcast.net


Northfi eld, MN. ~ Wind was Minnesotan wines; one pro- whipping across the freshly duced by former alumnus in plowed fi elds as we got to Oregon and three from Cali- Estensen’s farm. T e door of the cavernous event space slammed shut each time we fetched a case of wine glasses from my niece Karrie’s car. T is wind- swept “Morton” building, out on the prairie, was


about to host a wine tasting event.


T e folks from the Tav-


erns of Northfi eld ( http:// www.tavernofnorthfi eld.


com/about ) were next to ar- rive bringing an assortment of the varietals to be served. Represented were two local


noise


fornia, all Upbeat Times alumni. T e wines are playing catch-up to a de- licious menu de- signed early on by the Executive Chef from Bon Appétit, the amazing col- lege food service. With a rapid


pace, the space is


transformed into a hip tast- ing hall. Occasionally the rains make deafening


against the metal roof. T e torrent ceases when guests arrive. On entering, the St. Olaf Class of ’73 grads grab a souvenir stem glass while


heading towards the bar. T e din becomes notice- able. Hundreds of guests are mingling, drinking fetching wines while enjoying fantas- tic food and re- connecting. T e fi rst Min-


nesotan wine is the Cannon River


Win-


ery 2012 Sogn Blanc craſt ed from the Edel- weiss grape. It has Riesling similarities


with intense peach and tropical aromas plus a delicate sweetness. T is varietal was awarded best Minnesotan wine at the MPLS Food &


This is a re-print from 2013. Ron Skaar is moving back to his hometown in Minnisota, and will continue to contribute in the future. We thank Ron for his many years of writing for the Upbeat Times!


Wine Show and the 2011 International Cold Climate Competition. Pezzi King sent out their stellar 2012 Sauvignon Blanc. T e grapes


Healdsburg got lost in ship- ping and was sorely missed. A second wine from Min- nesota was the Alexis Bailly Vineyard Frontenac


2010.


T is is a grape de- signed by the U of M for cold climate viticulture.


It is loaded with black cherry fruit, full-bodied,


marketed as “tooth stain- ing wine”,


a


true Ragnar red. Alexis Bailly is


the


from cool vineyards in Men- docino and Alexander Valley are full of citrus notes and tropical fl avors. T is wine was a crowd pleaser and tasted fantastic along side the “Bacon Wrapped Shrimp with Maple-Mustard” from the buff et. Devine’s Witness Tree


Vineyard sent out their 2010 Estate Pinot Noir. T e cool nights and warm days of the Willamette Valley in Oregon make for a perfect Pinot. T is wine is a full-bodied fu- sion of red and black fruits balanced by generous struc- ture and acidity. T e Pinot was an amaz-


ing match for the “Grilled Sweet Potato with Romesco and Duck Sausage” from the menu. Shippey Vineyard’s 2008 Rocking Z Zinfandel from


premier winery in Minne- sota having been established in, of course, 1973! T e boldest and biggest


wine was the Field Stone 2010 Staten Family Reserve Petite Sirah. From some of the “best grape land in California” this wine is lay- ered with deep ripe fruits which augment its’ youth- ful dusty tannins. T is wine is anything but “petite”, as it spreads out lavishly on the palate with rich, complex fl a- vors. It was sensational along side of the “Smoked Tri-Tip Sliders with Blackberry Aio- li” or by itself.


Our night


ended with the post storm’s stunning prairie sunset. An art student classmate, Char Torkelson summed it up best about the tasting, “ev- erything was perfect, even the rain”.


• Packaging • Greeting Cards • Locally Owned • Mailbox Rental • Copy Center • Faxing • Passport Photos • Document Shredding • Fast Service!


4 • JUNE 2017 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC.


(707) 526-1130 • Open Mon-Sat 1585 Terrace Way ~ Santa Rosa ~ Off Pacifi c Ave. “The best way to fi nd out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.” ~ Ernest Hemingway


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