Feb 12

February 2009 Wine Tasting

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The February wine tasting will be on Friday 13th from 4 to 7 pm.

Apr 27

Wine Advocate Rating System

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The Wine Advocate Rating System

Robert Parker’s rating system employs a 50-100 point quality scale. It is my belief that the various twenty (20) point rating systems do not provide enough flexibility and often result in compressed and inflated wine ratings. The Wine Advocate takes a hard, very critical look at wine, since I would prefer to underestimate the wine’s quality than to overestimate it. The numerical ratings are utilized only to enhance and complement the thorough tasting notes, which are my primary means of communicating my judgments to you.

                

96-100:
An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this caliber are worth a special effort to find, purchase, and consume.

90 - 95:
An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines.

80 - 89:
A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavor as well as character with no noticeable flaws.

70 - 79:
An average wine with little distinction except that it is a soundly made. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine.

60 - 69:
A below average wine containing noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavor, or possibly dirty aromas or flavors.

50 - 59:
A wine deemed to be unacceptable.
Jun 21

A Taste of Tuscany!

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“A Taste of Tuscany”

“A Taste of Tuscany”

Connie displays a great Italian Red Wine!

The sound of Tuscany, the feel of Tuscany, “A Taste of Tuscany”.

The Athol-Royalston Education Foundation sponsored their second annual gala fund raising event, A Taste of Tuscany, on June 12th 2004 in Athol.  The event raised community awareness of the mission of the Athol Royalston Educational Foundation (AREF) while providing a memorable evening for all who participated.  The funds raised will provide many mini-grants over the coming year which will benefit the local community immensely.  A big thanks to all who came.

A selection of six wines from the Tuscan, and other regions of Italy, was selected for the tasting by wine purveyor Connie Milusich of Stan’s Liquors.  Tuscany, on the rolling hillsides between Siena and FlorenceItaly, the region that caps between Genoa and Rome, is considered the heartland of the nation.

Milusich arranged for John Miller, a wine educator, and Shaun Green, a wine representative of the Boston Wine Company to present the wines and to offer their expertise on wines at the event. Wines presented included two whites -  San Quirico Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Canaletto Pinot Grigio; and four red – Coltibuono Cancelli Sangiovese, Dimajonorante Sangiovese, Lecorti Chianti Classic and Allegrini Palazzo delie Torre.

In addition to enjoying a taste of Italian wines, attendees enjoyed a bountiful array of Italian cheeses and hor d’oeuvres, which were prepared and presented by Currier and Chives Catering. A local classical ensemble provided background music during the event.

Each guest received a free commemorative red wine glass when entering the tent, and a gift basket featuring a bottle of wine brought over from Tuscany was won by one of the guests.

Big thanks to all who participated and particularly the board members: Linda Lee, Cindy Jack, Carla Rabinowitz, Beth Gospoderek, Steve Buxton, Peter Gagliardi, Roy Lake, JoAnn Lake, Debbie Biechele, Linda Cotter, Hutchinson Curtis, Kathy Smith, Jean Shaughnessy, Pat Roix, and Ken Vaidulas.  

WINE TASTING – Connie Milusich, of Stan’s Liquors, displays a bottle of Italian wine which will be among the six varieties to be sampled at the Athol-Royalston Education Foundation’s gala “Taste of Tuscany” event on June 12th. Tickets may be obtained at Stan’s Liquors or from AREF board members.  Proceeds from the event will benefit grants for educations programs for the children in the Athol and Royalston schools,.