WINE TASTING AND DINNER AT STIFEL FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

WHEELING, W.Va. (January 26, 2012)- -Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart or special friends by attending an elegant evening of fine art and fine wine at the beautiful and historic Stifel Fine Arts Center.

Part of Oglebay Institute’s ongoing wine-tasting series The Art of Wine, this memorable evening takes place at 6:30 p.m. Friday, February 10 and includes a buffet dinner prepared by Ye Olde Alpha, a sampling of five delicious wines and live music.

Featured wines are from Miramonte Winery, one of Southern California’s premier artisan wineries, specializing in adventurous, succulent Rhone-based varietals. Miramonte Winery was founded in 2000 by entrepreneur and oenophile, Cane Vanderhoof.  Since then the winery has gracefully emerged as one of Southern California’s most dynamic and forward thinking wineries.  Today, Wheeling, West Virginia native son Paul Irby is also a part of the winery ownership, helping guide the winery to even higher achievements.  Irby and Vanderhoof will discuss Miramonte wines at this special event.

Selections for the evening include:

2009 Pinot Gris: A medium bodied, crisp, brave and generous wine!  It fairly bursts with citrus and lemon grass aromas and flavors, with a light thread of young stone fruit -- fresh nectarine and peach, most notably.  Zesty mouth feel and nice acidity offer a long finish for tropical fruit notes to unfold.  This is a perfect, sophisticated summer time sipper.

2007 Chardonnay: A wine of refined style, built on nuance.  Well-defined flavors and aromas of spiced pineapple, Meyer lemon, and fresh green apple are accented with the gently sweet influence of toasty French oak.  It has been 60% barrel aged, 40% stainless aged.  This wine is a new release.  Expect it to further develop, integrate and reveal its nuanced elegance -- especially in its zesty, lengthy finish.  A delicious sipping wine, yet flexible and food friendly.

2010 Grenache Rosé: Miramonte has a well established, highly awarded rosé program – they craft these wines as complex, alluring and chic wines in either a dry or off-dry style. This particular wine shows plentiful raspberry, strawberry and tropical fruit notes, and also tastes a little like zesty watermelon candy.  It’s fruity, complex, and vivacious and shows a perky acidity.

2005 Estate Syrah: The '05 displays classic Rhone characteristics packaged in a refined frame — integrated flavors of wild raspberry and cherry with hints of sweet and toasted spice. Excellent structure, modest oak influence and gentle tannins round out its long, earthy, dark berry finish. It was aged roughly 2 years in a combination of French, American and Russian oak.

2007 Bin #33410: Medium bodied, delicately balanced, it shimmers on the tongue with long flavors and complex details.  Classic dusty, brambly dark berry and spiced cherry flavors and aromas are interwoven with complimentary toasty oak and mocha notes.  These flavors linger on a long, sleek finish that reveals modestly assertive tannins.  Aged 24 months in a combination of premium French, American and Russian oak.  The blend is 50% Grenache, and 50% a blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre, and light bits of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Cao.  Pairs beautifully with all manner of elegant, mid-weight meat dishes.

Sponsored by H.E. Neumann Co., the wine tasting season continues through June. Each event has a different theme, and guests always have an opportunity to purchase their favorite vintages and browse the current art exhibition on display in the Hart Galleries.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Stifel Center at 304.242.7700. The Stifel Center is located at 1330 National Road, Wheeling and welcomes the public daily to art, dance and fitness classes, craft activities and ongoing art exhibitions.

These programs are presented with financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.