Eve's Wine 101

Prospero Winery & Grapes Celebrates 50 Years of Serving the Pleasantville, NY Community

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PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., April 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Prospero Winery & Grapes is very proud and honored to announce that 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of our family owned & operated business. Since our initial start in 1972, Prospero Winery & Grapes has established and relished in the rich tradition of home-based, local winemaking; we believe locals, businesses, and visitors to the Mid-Hudson region deserve to have access to the finest, highest-quality wine and grapes available in the industry. Prospero Winery & Grapes and our Pleasantville, NY winery sources continue to supply expertly-grown grapes and juices for home production, commercial use, and local consumption. As our organization celebrates our 50th anniversary, we’re reaffirming our rooted traditions and sharing an inside look at our generational commitment to quality.

Prospero Winery & Grapes’ origins date back to 1972, when our founder, Tony Prospero, started selling California wine grapes from a fruit stand, in order to help home winemakers produce their own hand crafted wine. From there, he quickly moved into supplying winemaking equipment as well, creating multi-generational relationships with clients and establishing his own reputable branding. Over 25 years later, in 1999, Prospero established his own bonded winery operation, growing his platform and continuing to provide affordable wines to local residents. Our commitment to offering well-known California-sourced grapes, combined with our rich family heritage, has allowed us to launch more community-friendly and environment-conscious projects, including:

  • In 2001, we introduced a yearly Home Winemaker Competition for passionate winemakers and enthusiasts in our local area.
  • In 2018, we installed solar panels at our Pleasantville, NY facility and organized a perpetual “Refill Your Own Wine” program, all in an effort to be more environmentally-friendly.
  • In 2020, we launched a Home Winemaker Competition Dinner fundraiser to support the Blythedale & Maria Fareri Children’s Hospitals. Prospero Winery & Grapes is dedicated to helping these hospitals for years to come. More information about this annual competition dinner can be found at https://www.prosperowinery.com/dinner/ .

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2022, we are proud to share our Prospero family hobby, winemaking, with local home winemakers. At Prospero winery, we strive to create new, expressive wines for everyday enjoyment. We’re proud to welcome more individuals, families, and commercial businesses in the Westchester County and Mid-Hudson region into our family legacy and to share our traditions with you!

Learn more about Prospero Winery at https://www.prosperowinery.com.

About Prospero Winery & Grapes:
Prospero Winery & Grapes is a winery and grape supplier for local winemakers and wine enthusiasts in Pleasantville, NY.  With a rich family tradition in winemaking, its world-class winemakers continue to bring the quality and taste of the Gold Coast to the Mid-Hudson region. Prospero is trusted by wineries throughout the U.S. and Canada as a provider of everything needed to make fine wine. From freshly-harvested grapes and juices to commercial winemaking equipment, Prospero has it all.

Contact: Melissa Prospero
(914)769-6252
335055@email4pr.com

SOURCE Prospero Grapes

New Vintages And Harmonious Melodies Bring Springtime Fun to Walla Walla

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WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Walla Walla’s panoramic Blue Mountains, springtime blooms, and verdant vines are calling.  The valley is abuzz with upcoming activities such as Spring Kick-Off Weekend, Spring Release Weekend, and live music at the newly launched Wine Country Amphitheater.

Spring Kick-Off Weekend, April 1 -3, marks the start of the 2022 wine season as vines emerge from hibernation. It’s the perfect time to taste, savor, and stock up on newly released rosés, whites, and valley reds. For oenophiles who can’t make it to Walla Walla in early April or for those who are looking for an excuse to return, Spring Release Weekend, May 6 – 8, continues the viticultural celebrations when winery and tasting room teams curate memorable experiences with live music, food, and wine pairings to showcase the latest releases. Visit the Walla Walla Valley Wine events page for a complete list of happenings.

“Walla Walla comes alive in spring as the temperatures rise, the vines wake up, and locals and visitors celebrate the changing of the season,” says Robert Hansen, executive director of Visit Walla Walla. “With marquee wine events, accessible outdoor recreation, and all the charms of downtown and the surrounding valley, it’s the perfect time to visit. “

The new Wine Country Amphitheater (capacity 5,000) will launch its first concert series collaborating with Wine Country Concerts in early summer. The amphitheater is located inside the Veterans Memorial Golf Course and within walking distance from downtown. Grammy-nominated ZZ Tops will kick off the season in June, the entire concert series line-up is coming soon but is set to include Grammy award-winning Maren Morris, country music star Aaron Lewis, and blues legend Bonnie Raitt. All tickets will be general admission lawn seating, and food and drinks will be available for purchase through onsite food trucks. For more information, visit  WineCountryConcerts.com.

Combine a wine tasting or concert series with some of Walla Walla’s other offerings for a truly memorable visit. Enjoy a show at the Gesa Power House Theater or experience Walla Walla’s history with a visit to Fort Walla Walla Museum. Explore the Stay & Play Golf packages featuring one of Washington’s top golf courses. And while Walla Walla has no shortage of delectable dining establishments, various Gourmet Grab & Go options are available for an impromptu picnic in the park.

To explore more or begin planning a visit to Walla Walla, visit wallawalla.org.

About Walla Walla:
As the unofficial capital of Washington wine country, Walla Walla is home to more than 120 wineries, a nationally recognized culinary scene, an abundance of easily accessible nearby outdoor recreation, and an arts & entertainment scene that rivals cities many times its size. This community of just over 30,000 residents is known for many things, including its friendliness and hospitality, the quality of its wine, and of course, the famous Walla Walla Sweet Onion. An easy and scenic four-hour drive from Seattle, Portland, or Boise, Walla Walla can also be accessed via Alaska Airlines daily non-stop flights from Seattle. For more information and to begin planning a trip to Walla Walla, visit www.wallawalla.org.

RUSACK Vineyards Unveils Renovated Tasting Room and New Tasting Experiences

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SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — RUSACK Vineyards, the beautiful Ballard Canyon winery dedicated to crafting Rhône, Burgundian and Bordeaux-style wines from Santa Barbara County, is pleased to announce the debut of its renovated tasting room.

The newly named ‘Canyon Terrace’ at RUSACK was set to officially reopen to the public on February 18, 2022.

The Catalina Island Vineyard. Photo from the Rusack Facebook page.

RUSACK Vineyards is the only winery in the noteworthy Ballard Canyon AVA open to visitors and has long been an essential stop in the Santa Ynez Valley for those seeking an idyllic wine country experience, where handcrafted wines are accompanied by picturesque vineyard views and a relaxed atmosphere “away from it all.”

After the pandemic caused Santa Barbara County wineries and tasting rooms to close their doors to visitors, RUSACK decided to use the shutdowns as an opportunity to rethink the entire guest experience, the results of which include the renovation of their hospitality areas as well as the creation of more personalized tastings for guests. Now, the RUSACK team is thrilled to debut their brand-new visitor experience upon the reopening of their doors this weekend.

As part of the new experience, guests will be able to visit RUSACK by advanced appointment only, allowing for more intimate wine tastings that include tableside service. Upon arrival, visitors will walk through a new entryway, where they will be greeted with a splash of a seasonal wine – likely a selection from one of RUSACK’s new experimental projects, featuring wines created during the shutdown which have never been tasted by the public. Once seated, guests will be given a customizable tasting menu, which will include an extended selection of by-the-glass offerings, bottle options and specially curated tasting flights, allowing guests to tailor their RUSACK experience to their specific tastes and preferences. To accompany the wine, cheese and charcuterie boards will be available for purchase with advance notice.

Adding to the overall experience is new landscaping surrounding the renovated Canyon Terrace, as well as a full refresh of the expansive al fresco tasting deck, now featuring all new furniture and a new railing to maximize the serene views of the estate vines and oak-dotted hills of the Santa Ynez Valley.

“While the pandemic has been incredibly challenging for our industry and closing our doors to the public wasn’t easy, we can’t help but feel confident in our decision to use the last year and a half’s ongoing shutdowns in such a productive way,” says Steve Gerbac, General Manager and Winemaker. “Rusack has always been an inviting, off-the-beaten-path destination for locals and visitors, and now, after taking the time to enhance every aspect of our visitor experience, we are thrilled to come back stronger than ever.”

RUSACK Vineyards will celebrate with an official reopening weekend beginning on February 18, 2022, with tasting appointments available by advanced reservation. More information can be found online at www.rusack.com/visit.

RUSACK Vineyards

Nestled amidst oak-studded hills in the picturesque Ballard Canyon AVA is RUSACK Vineyards, a boutique vineyard and winery where a commitment to quality is reflected in everything from the meticulous farming to their hands-on approach to winemaking. RUSACK produces a range of acclaimed wines that showcase the unique terroir of Santa Barbara County, sourcing grapes from their estate vineyards in Ballard Canyon and on Santa Catalina Island, and from select vineyards throughout the Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley AVAs. For more information, please visit www.rusack.com.

Perlises Pick: Exploring the Paso Robles Area

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Much as one might want to, spending 24 hours per day at wineries is not a realistic option. So, here are some non-winery suggestions:

First, you’ll need a place to stay on your visit. Unlike when we first started visiting the area decades ago, Paso Robles offers a wide range of accommodations for every taste and budget. For a place that is right in the middle, both in pricing and proximity to wineries, we really enjoyed staying at the Oxford Suites. It is also just south of the center of town where the nightlife is. This is a fairly new hotel, and we were very pleased with the cleanliness and the amenities, such as the full hot breakfast and the manager’s reception in the evening. The breakfast is complimentary to all guests and the reception, while available to all, is complimentary to those who book their stays directly. There is a very nice fire pit in the back. But the best part for us was the hotel staff. Everyone was extremely helpful and cheerful – not a surly one in this bunch. We’d like to give a particular shout-out to Erin – she was outstanding. An added bonus was the practically private freeway entrance to head south on CA101 to Highway 46 W or Tin City.

Oxford Suites

www.oxfordsuitespasorobles.com

800 4th Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446

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A while back, we reviewed San Luis Obispo County Wine – A World Class History [www.evewine101.com/2021/04/03/perlis-picks-san-luis-obispo-county-wine-a-world-class-history-book-review/]. Since then, we’d been eagerly looking forward to finally meeting up with co-author Libbie Agran, who is the founder of The Wine History Project of San Luis Obispo County (the Project). The Project has exhibits at various locations in the area, but its home is in the Paso Robles History Museum in the middle of Paso Robles City Park, with the showcase Wine History Gallery. We got there just in time for the end of the Celebrating Zinfandel exhibit, which was perfect for these Zinfans – the exhibit really brought back of lot of good memories. Hopefully, we will make it back in time to see the exhibit that replaced it: Celebrating Amphorae, which explores this ancient winemaking practice, including the area winemakers that are still using it. From Libbie: “You will love the Amphora Exhibit. We are near completion of our Documentary Film on the same subject. Patrick McGovern at the University of Pennsylvania, the famous archeologist who analyzes food and wine residues in clay vessels or shards found around the world, will be interviewed for the film which will be released next Spring. We are planning two Symposia in Paso Robles on Amphorae winemaking in 2022 in Paso Robles.

There will be winemakers from other countries including Georgia, Italy, and Armenia attending.” But again, the Wine History Project has exhibits all over town and you should check out the website for more information. Libbie brings an incredible amount of passion to this project and it is well worth your time. Also worth your time is the rest of the Paso Robles History Museum where you can learn even more about the area and its long history. Docents are very knowledgeable and helpful.

The Wine History Project of San Luis Obispo County

www.winehistoryproject.org

Paso Robles History Museum

www.pasorobleshistorymuseum.org

800 12th Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446

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Getting away to Cambria for a respite from wine tasting (that is if you want one!) is always a fun trip. It is just a 25-minute drive on scenic Highway 46 W. Cambria is as quaint and busy as ever. This time, we took a side trip and left downtown Cambria for the beautiful trails of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. They have a wide range of easy-to-moderate experiences with stunning views of the crashing waves. We have been there at sunset a number of times and it takes your breath away. And it’s free – although donations are always welcome.

www.fiscaliniranchpreserve.org

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Finally, you gotta eat, right?

Our favorite restaurant in Paso and one of our favorites anywhere is Il Cortile. Michael hadn’t eaten pasta in months and knew if he was getting it anywhere it would be here. From appetizers of seafood zuppa and poached egg over white polenta to main courses of papparedelle with wild boar ragu and the branzino special, along with the great service and beautiful night sky, we were so glad to be back in Paso.

Il Cortile

www.ilcortileristorante.com

608 12th Street

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We’ve eaten many times at the original Black Cat Bistro in Cambria but this was our first time at its sister restaurant, Black Cat Bistro Too in Paso. It was the same great food and service we’ve come to expect. The pork belly appetizer was incredible and the entrees of duck breast and shrimp scampi were delicious as well. Our server Dancene took great care of us on the sidewalk patio.

The Black Cat Bistro Too

www.blackcatbistro.com

1218 Pine Street

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Roots on Railroad and The Backyard on Thirteenth provide a unique outdoor food (Roots) and drink (Backyard) combination that should not be ignored. Roots was founded by Chef Chris Beckett and his business partner Katie Castillo in early 2020. Chris had been founding chef for local faves Fish Gaucho and The Crooked Kilt. After an extensive career in in the industry, he wanted to open the “biggest-little restaurant in town.” The large Backyard beer garden provides a great complement of mostly local beers and wines to go with the food or just for sipping on their own. There are umbrellas for shade, tables and comfy lounges with ample seating

www.thebackyardpaso.com

1300 Railroad Street

www.rootsonrailroad.com

1304 Railroad Street

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Finally, we also really enjoyed our breakfast at the Hunter Ranch Golf Course on our way into town as well as lunches at Vivant Cheese Shop, Taste Craft Eatery, and Springside Restaurant. All these places provide great service, outdoor seating, and delicious food too.

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.