Autumn Days of Wine Tasting!

The Maine House is hosting an Autumn Wine Tasting gathering this evening. Estelle's has selected two wines for tonight's event, a Gewurztraminer and a Cabernet Sauvignon. We did a little research on these selections and perhaps this will inspire you to host a small gathering of your own.


Thick and rich wine, which can age, Gewurztraminer is better with sauerkraut, sausages and the Alsatian cheese Munster, curry seasoned dishes, chinese and mexican cooking and other spiced dishes. Smoked salmon is a very good match with this wine. A Gewurztraminer can even be served as a dessert wine.The wine is delicious, fruity and with strong aromas, a very perfumed and flowery bouquet. Gewurztraminer is sweeter than Riesling, which is a dry wine. Gewurztraminer originally comes from the village of Tramin in Italy, and some Italian Gewurztraminer is still produced. The most popular Gewurztraminers, however, come from the Alsace region of France. The main aroma from Gewurztraminer is one of fresh lychee fruit. This scent is very noticeable and pleasant to most people. The grape exhibits other spice as well – the name derives from the German word Gewurz, which means 'spiced'.

Cabernet Sauvignon  is a medium- to full-bodied red wine so choose foods of similar weight. Fish and poultry aren’t your best choices. The flavors of the food will be overwhelmed by the wine. Choose instead, savory foods and those with a higher fat content to stand up to this red wine.
Appetizers: Gouda, Parmesan, Gorgonzola or blue cheese, grapes, peaches or other non-citrus fruit, nuts and smoked meats.
Aromas you may notice are black cherries, raspberry, red bell pepper, cocoa, licorice and tobacco.
Flavors you may notice are blackberries, black currant, plum and raspberries. These will be complemented with flavors of smoke, oak, cocoa, cloves, licorice or coffee.






Sit down and relax with guests over this autumn-inspired drink. Combining apple-cranberry juice, plums, and a fruity white wine, this cocktail not only looks beautiful but it delivers a taste of fall.

Estelle's Autumn Punch
2 teaspoons whole cloves
1/2 of a vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1 64-ounce bottle apple-cranberry juice
4 medium purple and/or green plums, pitted and sliced
1 750-ml bottle Gewurztraminer, or other fruity white wine
Ice cubes


Place cloves and vanilla bean in center of a double-thick 6-inch square of 100-percent-cotton cheesecloth. Bring corners of cloth together; tie closed with clean string. Pour apple-cranberry juice into a large container or pitcher. Add plums and spice bag. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.

Estelle's Bruschetta Gorgonzola Cheese Tastes
36 slices (1/2-inch thick) baguette bread, about 1 loaf
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces Gorgonzola, sliced
3 tablespoons honey


Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Arrange the sliced baguette on a baking sheet. Brush with olive oil. Bake until the bread is pale golden and crisp, about 10 minutes.
Arrange the cheese on the toasts and bake until the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes.
Drizzle the toasts with honey. Place on a serving platter and serve immediately.

"Age appears to be best in four things -

 old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust,

 and old authors to read." L. Bacon