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• Popes, Saints, Kings and French Wine: A Journey through Champagne, Burgundy, and the Rhône Valley

  Posted: 2025-09-15 06:00

  

  I recently met Church historian and sommelier Steve Weidenkopf who is leading a curated pilgrimage blending sacred history, daily Mass, and world-class wine tasting across Paris, Reims, Dijon, and Avignon titled Popes, Saints, Kings and French Wine: A Journey through Champagne, Burgundy, and the Rhône Valley.

  Explore Notre Dame, venerate the Crown of Thorns, and walk through medieval monasteries and cathedrals. Along the way, enjoy tastings in Champagne, Burgundy, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape—all enriched by Steve’s deep knowledge of Church history and Catholic wine tradition.  

  The dates are November 5th - November 13th 2026, so anyone interested has a full year to prepare. As for all curated experiences, the price may seem high ($4,399 - Price per person, double occupancy) but includes hotel accommodations, most meals, luxury motor coach, local guides, and more. 

  For those in the Washington D.C. area, there will be an information meeting October 23rd, 7pm, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church and follow Capstone Vineyards for another possible information session.

  ITINERARY

  
  

  Day 1: Thursday, November 5 - Depart USA

  Begin the pilgrimage with independent overnight flights to Paris, France.

  
  

  Day 2: Friday, November 6 - Arrive in Paris

  Arrive in the City of Light and meet the dedicated French Tour Manager. Visit the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral to venerate the Crown of Thorns, then witness the stained glass of Sainte-Chapelle and explore the historic Conciergerie. Gather for a welcome dinner and overnight in Paris.

  
  

  Day 3: Saturday, November 7 - Paris

  Celebrate Mass at the majestic Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Visit the Chartreuse store and enjoy a guided walking tour. Continue to the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal and the nearby St. Vincent de Paul Chapel. The afternoon offers time to explore Paris at leisure—perhaps the Eiffel Tower, Napoleon’s Tomb, or the 

  Arc de Triomphe. Overnight in Paris.

  
  

  Day 4: Sunday, November 8 - Reims | Dijon

  Travel to Reims to celebrate Mass in its grand cathedral. Visit the Basilica of St. Remi and its museum, followed by a champagne tasting at a renowned maison. After a group lunch, continue to 

  Dijon for overnight.

  
  

  Day 5: Monday, November 9 - Dijon

  Begin with Mass at Dijon Cathedral and a tour of the Ducal Palace. Visit the historic Château du Clos de Vougeot and enjoy a wine tasting at Château de Pommard. Evening at leisure and overnight in Dijon.

  
  

  Day 6: Tuesday, November 10 - Cluny | Beaune | Dijon

  Journey to Cluny Abbey, once the spiritual heart of medieval monasticism. In Beaune, celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady and visit the famed Hospice. Conclude with a wine tasting before returning to 

  Dijon for the evening.

  
  

  Day 7: Wednesday, November 11 - Avignon

  Depart for Avignon, stopping en route for wine tastings in Ampuis and Tain l’Hermitage. Celebrate Mass upon arrival. Evening at leisure and overnight in Avignon.

  
  

  Day 8: Thursday, November 12 - Avignon

  Celebrate Mass at the Basilica Sainte-Perrie. Explore the Palais des Papes and the Pont d’Avignon. Visit the historic Châteauneuf-du-Pape and enjoy a tasting at Château La Nerthe. Gather for a special farewell dinner and overnight in Avignon.

  
  

  Day 9: Friday, November 13 - Return to USA

  Depart for Marseille Airport for return flights home.

• Grape Spotlight: Maryland Teroldego

  Posted: 2025-09-12 13:22

  

  Teroldego is an ancient grape and it most likely originated in the Piana Rotaliana -- a large alluvial plain located in northern Trentino, Italy, situated between the Adige River and the Noce River. Written documentation dated to 1300 attests to its use in this region. And the knowledge of this grape spread after the Council of Trent (1545-63) as Bishops and their attendants most likely consumed Teroldego wine during the Council and then returned back to their dioceses with samples of the wine.

  According to wine-searcher.com, DNA testing has revealed that Teroldego is a parent of Lagrein, and a sibling of Dureza, a parent of Syrah, thus making Syrah a "nephew" of Teroldego. The grape is known for producing deeply pigmented red wines with intense black cherry aromas, firm tannins, and refreshing acidity. It is characterized by high anthocyanin content, resulting in a dark color even in warm climates (anthocyanins are water-soluble vacuolar pigments). 

  Teroldego loves soils that are well drained and rich in minerals: in the Piana the soil is made up of limestone, granite and porphyritic stones brought downstream by the Noce river. Growers encounter some other issues – the late-ripening grapes do not always reach full maturity in the cool alpine climate, and are prone to falling off bunches easily, especially in windy sites. In humid years, botrytis bunch rot can cause problems.

  Outside of Vini del Trentino, Teroldego is planted in Tuscany; Sicily; Veneto; Lodi, California (see Peltier Winery and LangeTwins Winery); Clarksburg, California (Silt Wine Co. and Heringer Estates); the Finger Lakes, NY (Red Tail Ridge Winery); and in Maryland at Six Wicket Vineyards and and vinified at Catoctin Breeze Vineyard.

  Six Wicket Vineyards is located in the Middletown Valley at the foothills of Maryland's Catoctin Mountains. They planted Teroldego in 2019 at 975 feet in elevation on weathered greenstone soils. Greenstone belts are ancient geological formations primarily composed of metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary rocks, predominantly altered basalts, which have a characteristic green color due to the presence of minerals like chlorite, epidote, and actinolite formed under heat and pressure. 

  The Catoctin Breeze Vineyard Teroldego 2020 is made from grapes sourced from Six Wicket Vineyards where the 2020 vintage was considered a very good year.  With no September rain, the grapes were able to ripen on the vine into mid-October allowing for optimal phenolic ripeness which the winery suggests "is proven in the delicate tannins and balanced acidity". After fermentation, the wine was aged for nine months in 37% new French oak.  The nose starts with noticeable spice and herbaceousness which is followed by a more delicate body than I had expected, soft tannins, and favorable acidity.  A charming wine. 

• Grape Spotlight: Mljet Mrkuša & Hazdovac Meleda 2022

  Posted: 2025-09-10 14:09

  

  Mljet is the southernmost island in Croatia, located between Dubrovnik and the island of Korčula,  It's nickname, the “Green Island”, is derived from the dense forest of Alepski Bor (Aleppo Pine) that extends from the sea’s bed to the highest point of the island. This Aleppo Pine (also known as the Jerusalem Pine) was brought to Mljet before the time of Christ and is conserved through the Mljet National Park.

  There are also a few autochthonous grape varieties planted in the northern part of the island near the village of Kozarica and courtesy of the Hazdovac family.  Over a century ago Baldo Hazdovac planted  Kuljenača and Mrkuša vines from land acquired from the Church. Viticulture and winemaking skills were passed down through four generations. About five years ago brothers Baldo, Mateo and Martino, along with their parents Marijo and Pavle, transitioned to a commercial entity: Hazdovac Winery.

  I recently tasted their Hazdovac Meleda 2022 ($32) which is available through Croatian Premium Wine Imports.   Online information on the Mrkuša grape is sparse but it can only be found on Mljet - and perhaps only through Hazdovac Winery. Some AI generated searches confuse the grape with Maraštinae, a light-skinned grape variety.  The wine's name Meleda refers to an older name for the island.  The wine shows bright acidity with bright cherry fruit with an herbaceous and lasting finish. 

• Effervescence Unleashed Cocktail of the Month for September 2025: Amaro Spritz

  Posted: 2025-09-03 06:53

  

  The Effervescence Unleashed Cocktail of the Month for September 2025: The Amaro Spritz. Simply add the amaro to a drinking vessel, add sparkling wine, and top with sparkling water -  in this case the Spindrift® sparkling water.

  Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Amaro: Amaro Salento Classico
  • 3 ounces sparkling wine: Iron Horse Vineyards Summer Cuvée 2021
  • Top with Spindrift® sparkling water.

  The Amaro Salento Classico is comprised of 45 herbs, vegetables, roots, peels, seeds, flowers, and rhizomes, including cinchona, gentian, bitter and sweet orange, elderberry, wormwood, chamomile, pigeon pea, and quassia. 

  The Iron Horse Vineyards Summer Cuvée. This Blanc de Blanc is made from selected lots in their Green Valley of Russian River Valley estate known for producing expressive and fruit forward grapes. Interestingly they add a little Pinot Noir along with Chardonnay in the dosage. SRP is $75.

• Effervescence Unleashed Cocktail of the Month for August 2025: Sparkling Wine Whiskey Cocktail

  Posted: 2025-08-15 06:00

  The Effervescence Unleashed Cocktail of the Month for August 2025: The Sparkling Wine Whiskey Cocktail. Simply add the rye whiskey, honey, and lemon juice to a shaker. Shake for 10-20 seconds and top with sparkling wine.

  Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Gin: Catoctin Creek Hot Honey Rye Whiskey
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey if not using the Hot Honey Rye
  • Top with sparkling wine: Russian River Cuvée 2021

  The Catoctin Creek Hot Honey Rye Whiskey is comprised of potstilled 100% rye whisky, three types of local Virginia honey (wildflower, clover, and buckwheat), and an infusion of chile peppers. Catoctin Creek is located in Loudoun County Virginia. SRP is $52.

  The Iron Horse Vineyards Russian River Cuvée has multiple layers of meaning. Originally named for the historic Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meetings in 1985, it also refers to the vineyard’s unique location in the Russian River area, and it is a reference to the 19th century taste of the Tsars for richer bubbly that made Cristal famous. The Russian River is the “richest” in the Iron Horse line up, though still technically brut-level dry.. SRP is $58.

  
  

  
  

  
  

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