Talking about 3 limited produced wines from Donkey and Goat Winery.
Month: August 2012
A visit to 888 Distillery, Cisco Brewers and Nantucket Vineyards
A short bike ride from Nantucket harbor, amongst the farms and fields sits a small complex of unsuspecting barn like building that houses Cisco Brewers CiscoBrewers.com which is a distillery, a brewery and a winery. Not something you would expect on this island with its early American settlements and hub for whaling of centuries gone by, but in 2012 anything is possible, after all early settlers to this part of the country are said to have drunk more beer than water and always made room on ships for barrels of rum and other libations.
On a recent visit I got to meet some of the fine people who have made these business’s thrive dating as far back as 1981.
Nantucket Vineyards was the 1st of these 3 establishments. When owners Dean and Melissa Long tried to grow grapes on the island, they realized this was not going to happen they decided to source grapes for their wines from Washington, California and New York. Using old world wine making techniques and 21st century technology they are make 10 wines, a port and sangria with traditional varieties and some island favorites such as Blueberry Sangria, Cranberry Pinot Gris and Peach Viognier just to name a few. All wine are very drinkable and are refreshing on a summer’s day. Most retail for under $20. The wines are found throughout Massachusetts in restaurants and retailers and can be shipped out-of-state.
Cisco Brewers began to take shape in about 1992 when Randy and Wendy Hudson returned to the island and started home brewing. Listing 13 beers in various styles it looked like there were more available in the tasting room as they do a couple of ciders and seasonal beers as well. A few beers were tasted on this visit including the Moor Porter which has a full-bodied taste as well as some chocolate and coffee nuances. The cider was crisp and clean and went down really well on this August afternoon. Cisco beers can be found up and down the east coast in 14 states and D.C.
In 1997 Dean and Melissa applied for a spirits license in the hopes of making grappa and fruit brandies, but it wasn’t until 2000 when the license was granted making 888 Distillery a reality. Being named after the 888 well where they get their water they are making several different vodkas plus gin, bourbon and rum. Made in small batches and using natural ingredients and both the cranberry and blueberry vodkas use locally grown fruit. Despite all the spirits being above 68% proof none of those tasted came across as “hot” but well-balanced and flavorful and very obvious aromas. The Hurricane Rum, Nor’ Easter Bourbon and Gale Force Gin were all very pleasant and made my mouth water for more. Several of the vodkas have scored well in the World Spirit Championship including the original that outscored Ketel One and the distillery has garnered national press in both print and on TV.
3 of the more interesting spirits I tasted were the Pineapple Jalapeno liqueur which definitely had the kick one would expect from the spicy jalapeno that seemed dominant. To cool my mouth down I was presented with a taste of Blueberry Mint vodka which had cleansing mint taste with a hint of blueberry. What really caught my eye on the back bar was the jar of horseradish, garlic and peppercorn infused vodka which is in the experimental phase and has a dominant garlic flavor. A very popular choice for their Bloody Marys. The 888 spirits are found in most states on the eastern seaboard and D.C. and some have made their way out west to Colorado.
All 3 producers make very worthwhile libations that are worth not only your business but also a visit to their humble alcohol amusement park. Thanks to Tyler, Pete and Frazier for their hospitality and knowledge. Cisco Brewers are at 5 Bartlett Farm Rd. Nantucket, Ma. 02554 (508)325-5929
“In the Bottle” with wines from the Loire & from Slovenia.
Episode #2 with 2 white wines for your drinking pleasure.
Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod
While on a vacation on Cape Cod recently I had the opportunity to taste some wines from Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod and talk with Emerson, a winery cellar rat. The winery has been owned by Dave Roberts and his family since 2007 when he retired from the wine & spirits industry. Aware of their location near a National Seashore they do what they can to preserve the ecosystem and environment around them with their recycling, composting and other sustainable practices in the vineyards and winery.
Co- wine makers David Roberts Jr. and Matyas Vogel make 13 different wines and only 5 acres planted to vines, so they also purchase grapes from Mass., New York and California. The vines were planted in 1991 and today they grow only Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Merlot and are all hand harvested.
I tasted 2 white blends and a Merlot and thought they were all solid wines.
The Right White is a nice blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Vignoles and is a nice crisp and clean blend with good fruit and a light mouth feel. Great for a summer afternoon.
The Diamond White ($17) is a semi sweet blend made for a very aromatic nose and pleasant taste and went well with my clams and a burger later in the day.
The 2009 Merlot ($21) is comparable with Merlots from around the country and has good fruit and medium tannins after being aged for 20 months in American oak.
If you find yourself coming back from whale watching in Provincetown or checking out the nearby lighthouses, Truro Vineyards in just of Rt.6 at 11 Shore Rd. Route 6A Truro Ma. 02652 (508)487-6200. Call for hours as they vary by time of the year. http://trurovineyardsofcapecod.com/index
Lobstah or lobster, know matter how you say it’s all good!
No mater how you say it or prepare it’s usually worth the search

Lobster is the bounty along the New England coast and if you asked 50 people who prepared it the best, you’d get 50 different answers from Maine to Cape Cod. I’ve made my way to my Cape Cod summer retreat where the search always is on for the best seafood taken from the cool waters in the bays from the nearby by the Atlantic. Lobster rolls are king up here, but so is lobster bisque and the Italian Lobster Risotto from the old Italian neighborhood in Boston. Below is some of what I’ve enjoyed in the first few days. I’ve seen lobster rolls priced from $13.99- $20.99 on local menus. Stay tuned for more and follow me @SandyWasserman to see how I’m eating my way thru cape Cod.



Premiere webisode of “In the Bottle”- 3 Italian wines”
My new wine, beer & spirits show “In the Bottle”. Take a look.
Liberty Market’s “Texas Chainsaw Chili” Burger & 31 daze of burgers
As the dog days of summer are still around despite school starting & pre season football kicking off restaurants still have to be creative with ways to bring in the customers. At Liberty Market in downtown Gilbert, partners Joe Johnson & executive chef David Traina have embarked on the 3rd annual “Burger Daze” with a different burger for each of the 31 days in August. With 31 burgers to create they had to be creative and breakout some recipes they’ve had for years such as David’s chili recipe for the Texas Chainsaw Chili burger from last week. This year they’ve added some vegan burgers and seafood too. For a full line up of the burgers for the rest of the month check out http://www.examiner.com/article/liberty-market-gilbert-celebrates-burger-daze-for-31-days-august

2010 Rodney Strong “Chalk Hill” Chardonnay video review.
Love & Tacos…….Get married at a taco festival.
Affordable Food Festivals, LLC, has announced the start of a seven-week contest to win an actual wedding at the upcoming Arizona Taco Festival (Oct. 20-21 at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale). The contest invites couples to create a one-minute video expressing why they deserve a fun “taco wedding” at the Fest, with the winner receiving a full ceremony and 50-person reception on the second day of the Arizona Taco Festival—October 21, 2012.
Sponsored by Arizona Weddings Magazine, the ceremony will take place on the main stage and include all the bells and whistles—officiant, décor, music, vow exchange, photographer, and perhaps the most important element: the ceremonial stomping of the tortilla chips. Also included is reception for 50 people that will include a cake, flowers, catered food, hosted bar, and entertainment. Thousands of event attendees will be there to cheer on the newlyweds.
Founders of the Arizona Taco Festival have long been drawn to the catchphrase: “Love & Tacos,” a popular slogan on t-shirts, bumper stickers, and other taco paraphernalia. While planning the upcoming 3rd Annual Arizona Taco Festival, they decided to take the phrase literally, and add a wedding to the weekend festivities.“We’re calling it ‘Wedding Fantastico,’ and we believe this ceremony will amp up the already festive vibe of the taco fest,” says AFF founder, Rick Phillips.
Arizona Weddings is helping to secure wedding components. “So far, we’ve arranged for photography by Jeff Janke, a prominent wedding photographer who’s looking forward to this colorful affair,” says Kristina Celik, Director of Marketing & Promotions for Arizona Weddings Magazine. “This contest not only gives great exposure for our advertisers, but it’s a fun and fresh idea. Our initial call for entries went out today, and I’m excited to see who enters this contest. The videos should be hilarious!”
Interested contestants simply film a video with anything from a smart phone to a professional camera and link their video to the Festival Facebook page (at www.facebook.com/ArizonaTacoFestival). The deadline for entering is September 20th, 2012. The video with the most “Likes” by September 28th will win the ceremony. A full gallery of videos will also appear on www.aztacofestival.com on September 21. Entry forms, rules, and other details can be found at http://aztacofestival.com/wedding/