While visiting my hometown of Lorain, Ohio I came, nay, I stumble across a wine tasting festival of sorts located at the Black River Landing hosted by the Black River Historical Society. They had arts and crafts, paintings and a jazz band playing away to build up an atmosphere I thought not possible in this city of steelmen. But to my delight, at the cost of $10 I received a wine glass and 5 tickets (minus the fact that there were 6 wineries) and off I went to sample an array of wines.

In my quest to learn more about wine I was excited to embark on this inexpensive, yet enlightening experience. This was wine culture, locally produced and delivered to a city whose wine knowledge doesn’t go far beyond Boones Farm or Arbor Mist. Although, to be honest, more intoxicating than the wine was the conversations I had with the owners and other wine enthusiasts. I learned their stories, their goals and their beginnings all of which added flavor to the atmosphere that you can’t get simply buying it from the store.

Photo Property of Paper Moon Vinyards via Facebook

Type: Wine – Lake Erie Cayuga White
Name: Paper Moon – Cayuga White
Price: Free for me, but for you?
Made: Vermillion, OH
Alc/Vol: 11%

I must seem to luck out on local wines because like Matus Winery – American Concord review I did, this lovely bottle came free of charge as well. How did I manage free wine you ask, well just get really upset when someone disposes of the wine  you had. A few weeks back I helped work at a local festival in my hometown of Lorain. After cleanup there were a few bottles of wine left over, I was ready to enjoy these delicious wines when I left them at the festival site. (I know, cardinal sin-esque) I rushed back the next morning only to find they had been pitched, to prevent the high school clean up crew from having at the bottle. I still fail to see why the bottle was punished for this. this left me devastated, truly, alcohol abuse in it’s worse offense. My mother shared my despair at a similar festival with the vineyards, thus the thought of a cute and cuddly little monkey without his wine tore into their hearts. They left a bottle for me, who needs puppy eyes when you have monkey everything?

Pisco Sour By caseywest, May 20, 2010 via Flickr Creative Commons

After watching one of the greatest shows ever, Three Sheets, I became sad to see that the host Zane Lamprey never got around to show casing the Peruvian side of this liquor. Instead we only saw the Chilean side, which seems to be more regulated in its creation of Pisco. The side by side taste test will have to wait till I’m able to locate some pisco from Chile, until then these pompous pisco producers will have to deal with a full Pisco breakdown where both sides get a full review.

Some of you may not be too familiar with pisco, but may be more familiar with its Italian cousin grappa. Grappa is made from wine discards while pisco is made from fresh grapes and in Peru it includes the typical discards. Both drinks were once considered a poor man’s drink but nowadays both can be seen in high class cocktails for man and monkey alike.

Gin and Vodka Martinis ready to do battle in my gullet. I wish I had a tux for this picture.

The martini, a simple yet complex drink that has a multitude of variations that if one’s specifications are altered slightly could end in disaster. Poignantly called “the only American invention as perfect as a sonnet.” by H.L. Mencken, he may have stumbled upon the only correct way to describe this classic cocktail. The history of its birth is clouded through the brine and disheveled clout bruised by hands who did not know how to handle the gift they created. Orders prattled off as if they were speaking in tongues, a language understood and spoken only by true believers in the purity of perfection.

Yet, while one can appreciate the comradery among cocktails it is also grounds for great disputes over who indeed holds the key to unlock the secrets of perfection in what truly defines a martini.

Type: Beer – Rice Lager
Name: Kirin Ichiban
Price: $3.29
Made: California?
Alc/Vol: 5%
“With his gold label and Special Premium Reserve appellation, Ichiban outclasses and outperforms.

In 1990, Ichiban’s debut made a splash in the world of super premium beers. The luxurious single wort (or first press) process yields a unique, complex flavor. With his gold label and “Special Premium Reserve” appellation, Ichiban outclasses and outperforms. But don’t be fooled by a snooty attitude — this is a great beer that goes with anything.

What makes Ichiban great

Prominent wort. Finest barley malt, premium hops, smooth finish, no bitter aftertaste.”