Thursday, August 30, 2012

Avoiding heat, dust and a brutishly long line at the Bernalillo Wine Festival




It’s that time of year again and luckily the Bernalillo Wine Festival has a solution for those ghastly long lines. It is now possible to order tickets online and only pay one dollar extra for the privilege of getting in earlier and tasting the wines of 20 wineries. Check the website for all the details. This is very good news, but the organizers can’t do much for the heat. That would be your concern.

That means drinking lots of water along with your wines. Not to worry, it won’t dilute the wines you are drinking, but it will keep heatstroke from being an issue. A ratio of 3 to 1, water to wine is recommended for hot dry days, which is usually what we get at summer’s last gasp. Proper sun protection and hydration can make the festival a lot more fun, so always keep this in mind.

Personally, I’m planning on heading over to Milagro Vineyards in Corrales instead. There will be plenty of shade, places to sit and relax and have good conversations on wine. That plus some of the best wine New Mexico has to offer makes this my choice for Labor Day weekend.

The Hobsons recently released their 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. Here are their wine notes: “The wine exhibits aromas of red currant, eucalyptus and mint along with flavors of boysenberry and currant all followed with round tangy acidity and fine tannins on a long finish.“ The wine has been in the bottle for two years after aging two years in French oak. At Milagro, they believe in only releasing wines when they are ready, even if it means holding them out longer than other wineries.

The other reason to go to Milagro is the just released 2010 Zinfandel. If you are one of those that think only California can make a great Zinfandel, think again. This one is bound to change your mind. So come celebrate the end of the harvest, which came earlier this year with good yields and that’s good news. I’ll be there enjoying the fruits of the harvest so maybe I’ll see you there.

Or you could be waiting in a long line in Bernalillo and sucking down water to keep hydrated. It’s your choice after all. Salud!

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