Gary Vaynerchuk visits a very cool wine bar and selects one of their wines to taste. Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Quicktime version. Comments on this episode(33) Leave a comment › “Just seeing how LITTLE the amount of wine came out for the dollar tell…” by @kraziegolf “Not much selection in Vancouver, Canada. Uva seems to be the sweet spo…” by Robert Howells View all 33 › Wines tasted in this episode: 2005 Rolf Binder Hubris Links mentioned in today’s episode. The “Crush It!” announcement page Clo Wine Bar NYC
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Wine Library TV
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Wine Tasting at CLO – Wine Bar in NYC – Episode #699
2 Jul 2009 | 2:54 pm -
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five – Episode #698
30 Jun 2009 | 12:00 pmAfter recently trying the 2005 vintage, Gary Vaynerchuk tastes the 2004 Shafer One Point Five. Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Quicktime version. Comments on this episode(307) Leave a comment › “Great show Gary V. Makes me want to pony up the hundred or so bucks …” by Ducati AGB “?otd – I often take my family for granted. Having a close family all …” by 750ml View all 307 › Wines tasted in this episode: 2004 One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District Links mentioned in today’s episode. The “Crush… -
Santenay Wines from Burgundy – Episode #697
29 Jun 2009 | 11:15 amGary Vaynerchuk sits down and explores the wines of Santenay including one white wine which only represents 10% of all the production of the region! Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Quicktime version. Comments on this episode(287) Leave a comment › “Gary, good episode. being a beginning wine nerd myself, i’m always…” by Phil A “it wasnt a fumble, that could have been the statue of liberty play, mo…” by chef View all 287 › Wines tasted in this episode: 2006 Domaine Vincent Beaurepaire Santenay BlancBurgundy Santenay 2006 Saint… -
The Cameron Hughes Wine Show – Episode #696
26 Jun 2009 | 12:32 pmAfter many requests to do so, Gary Vaynerchuk reviews 6 offerings from Cameron Hughes Wines. Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Quicktime version. Comments on this episode(364) Leave a comment › “Hi Gary, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for continuousl…” by PSPatrick “I discovered this show recently and was instantly hooked. This was a …” by ProfessorB View all 364 › Wines tasted in this episode: 2007 Cameron Hughes Lot 124 Chardonnay 2007 Cameron Hughes Lot 125 Pinot Noir 2007 The Flying Winemaker Zinfandel 2007 The Flying… -
Film Noir: A Pinot Noir Blanc Tasting – Episode #695
25 Jun 2009 | 12:11 pmGary Vaynerchuk breaks down a white wine made from the Pinot Noir grape. Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Quicktime version. Comments on this episode(132) Leave a comment › “Made my own Limoncello!…” by KyBoy “Sorry I have been away. Great show and greaat information. Not r…” by pawncop View all 132 › Wines tasted in this episode: 2007 Anne Amie Prisme Pinot Noir Blanc Links mentioned in today’s episode. The “Crush It!” announcement page
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WineSpectator.com News & Features RSS
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Federal Court Tells Out-of-State Wine Stores to Stay Out of New York (Wine Spectator)
1 Jul 2009 | 9:00 pmAppellate decision affirms state's right to ban shipments from stores in other states -
Unfiltered: Ex-Miss France 2004 Takes Winemaker Title (Wine Spectator)
1 Jul 2009 | 9:00 pmPlus, UK thieves rob a Champagne truck, "ladybug taint" solution revealed, and dogs invade restaurants for charity -
What Am I Tasting? (Wine Spectator)
1 Jul 2009 | 9:00 pmThis red has thick, full-bodied tannins and a smoky espresso note to the ripe black fruit flavors with fragrant violet, mineral and licorice notes. Rich and dark, with flavors that persist on the finish. -
Smiling Through Gritted Teeth (Wine Spectator)
30 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pmVinexpo draws wine producers and buyers from 48 countries, but attendance is down and business is slow -
Wine Talk: Jonathan Vaughters (Wine Spectator)
30 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pmDirector of professional cycling's Garmin-Slipstream team talks about riding through some of the world's great wine regions, then heading back to enjoy the local bottles
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GrapeRadio
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Alcohol Levels and Wine
29 Jun 2009 | 2:00 amHave the alcohol levels in wine gotten too high? And, just what is too high? It’s a controversial subject, and one with many opinions about its relevance in today’s wines. Some say it doesn’t matter at all - “it’s just a number.” Others counter that it takes away from the wine itself, and hastens inebriation. How and why has this become a factor, and does it really matter, or is this a tempest in a wine glass? Join us as we talk with Bartholomew Broadbent about the steady increase in alcohol levels in wine - its causes and its effects. To find out more… -
Oregon’s Willamette Valley
15 Jun 2009 | 2:00 amPossibly no other grape variety is as subject to the differences of terroir, as is Pinot Noir. And, no discussion or tasting of Pinot Noir would be complete without including Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Located West and South of Portland, the Willamette Valley is 150 miles long and nearly 60 miles wide, with 200 wineries and over 12,000 acres of grapes. Bounded by the Cascade Mountains to the East, the Coast Range mountains to the West, plus a series of lower hill chains to the extreme north of the valley, the Willamette Valley is one of those regions that illustrates the diversity of… -
The Wines of Virginia
8 Jun 2009 | 2:00 amVirginians have grown grapes for wine for four centuries, beginning first with the Jamestown settlers. Unfortunately, early efforts to grow vinifera in Virginia were unsuccessful. In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, Thomas Jefferson cultivated European grapes but his Monticello vineyards never produced wine. George Washington, at Mount Vernon, was also unable to make wine despite a decade of effort. In the late-1950s, experimental plantings of vinifera began to finally show promise and by the 1970’s a handful of wineries were established in the Commonwealth. In 2009,… -
Château Suduiraut - Part II
7 Jun 2009 | 4:21 pmWelcome to our video podcast: Château Suduiraut - Part II - Video Show #70. Right Click Here to Download File iPhone users - Click here to View Video The idea that wine was meant to pair harmoniously with food can sometimes create obvious misconceptions. For instance, in the case of Sauternes, one might automatically assume that because of its inherent sweetness, the wine can only be paired properly with desserts. As it turns out, inventive food and wine pairings can be genuine discoveries, as we were to learn by matching Sichuan Chinese food with Sauternes. Join us as we visit Bordeaux’s… -
Château Suduiraut - Part I
1 Jun 2009 | 8:50 amWelcome to our video podcast: Château Suduiraut - Part I - Video Show #69. Right Click Here to Download File iPhone users - Click here to View Video If you’re a fan of Bordeaux – especially the sweet wines of Sauternes - the name Château Suduiraut will be no stranger to you. This Sauternes Premier Cru is situated at the southern end of the commune of Preignac, sitting almost literally in the shadow of it illustrious neighbor, Château d’Yquem. A part of the AXA Millésimes portfolio since 1992, Suduiraut’s 92-hectare vineyard is 90% Semillion and 10% Sauvignon Blanc, each…
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AlaWine.com
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"Best of Show" San Francisco International Wine Competition
2 Jul 2009 | 4:51 pmThe largest and most prestigious competition in America delivers awards after examining wines from around the world in three days. Forty-five... -
Muscardini Cellars 2008 Rosato di Sangiovese
30 Jun 2009 | 5:59 pmThe Award-Winning Wine:Muscardini Cellars 2008 Rosato di Sangiovese, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley Reason for... -
2009 Riverside International Wine Competition Sweepstakes
10 Jun 2009 | 8:37 amA Canadian Pinot Blanc, a Monterey County red wine blend, and a Washington sparkling wine were the big winners at the... -
2009 Critics Challenge Competition Winners
2 Jun 2009 | 9:49 amHere are the super-award winning wines from the recently completed 2009 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition. Wine of the Year 2006... -
Vina Robles 2006 Suendero
26 May 2009 | 9:12 pmThe Award-Winning Wine:Vina Robles 2006 Suendero Reason for Reviewing:Vina Robles 2006 Suendero earned...
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The Savvy Sommelier
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Champagne For My Real Friends
20 Jun 2009 | 4:15 pm"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends."Tom WaitsAs I prepare my material for the wine class "All About Bubbles" I will teach on Monday June 22nd at Savvy Cellar, I got reflecting on why I love Champagne and Sparkling Wine.Part of my love is based on how Champagne embodies celebration; although I love also how it brings pizzaz to mundane days of the week and simple foods . . . popcorn and bubbles, anyone? (See blog post: It's Tuesday . . . Pass the Bubbly!)Part of my love is based in the richness of history and tradition of Champagne - dating back centuries.Part of… -
Feast on Wine & Movies
12 Jun 2009 | 10:35 amAs part of our Savvy Night Live (SNL) series, we show an interesting movie once a month at Savvy Cellar. While the wine-related move fare is limited (one can see Sideways only so many times!), we do our best to find movies that lend themselves to drinking wine and feasting on scrumptious food pairings.This coming Saturday June 13th at 8pm, we will be showing "Babette's Feast." The movie is billed as a sort of wine/foodie flick - our favorite genre!Here's a brief synopsis (compliments of "Chillin in NM" on Netflix):Yum! To bring the simple but elegant pleasures of a beautifully cooked meal to… -
Food & Wine Pairing Tips
5 Jun 2009 | 4:17 pmThe Savvy Cellar is back with one of our most popular classes: Introduction to Food & Wine Pairing. This 2-night series will run consecutive Mondays - June 8th and June 15th. More information and registration at www.savvycellar.com/classes.Students will run through a wine tasting primer and then learn basic principles of food and wine pairing, such as:Balance flavor intensity. Pair light-bodied wines with lighter food and fuller-bodied wines with heartier, more flavorful, richer and fattier dishes.Match flavors. Match flavors. An earthy Pinot Noir goes well with mushroom soup and the… -
How to Order Wine in a Restaurant
25 Mar 2009 | 9:54 pm"His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy . . . . He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready."I'm pretty confident that Enimem was not referring to his feeling prior to having to place an order for wine at a restaurant. But many mere mortals can be pushed to feel such emotions when thrust into the spotlight that accompanies wine ordering for an important meal.Even for those of us with moderate wine knowledge, taking charge of wine selection can be nerve wracking, particularly if one is trying to impress a date, family members or their boss or work colleagues.There are… -
It's Cool Whip Time, Baby!
26 Nov 2008 | 8:53 pmIt's time for the obligatory blog post about wine to pair with your Thanksgiving feast. But alas it is Thanksgiving eve, the short week has slipped away, you've probably bought your wine already and the real Savvy Sommelier has gone out with the girls.So now that this lowly spouse has grabbed the reigns of this blog, what could I possibly add to the conversation? Check out "What to drink for Thanksgiving dinner" and "Can't-fail guide to Thanksgiving wines" for a more traditional set of Thanksgiving wine recommendations.One of the joys of being married to a Sommelier is that I never have to…
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Vinography: A Wine Blog
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The Joy of Spätlese: Tasting the 2008 German and Austrian Vintage from Terry Theise
2 Jul 2009 | 12:09 amThe wine world needs more people like Terry Theise, the man I call the Shakespeare of Terroir. It's so easy to get caught up in the stuffy, over-intellectualized world of wine geekery, where people endlessly debate the smallest aspects of winemaking or vintage ratings. All of us who spend enough time talking, thinking, and reading about wine get sucked into that world occasionally. But I find myself attracted to those who fall into that trap with the least regularity. As luck would have it, there are several simple cures for me readily at hand whenever I forget that wine is first and… -
The Best Pinot Noir in California?: Tasting Pinot Days 2009
29 Jun 2009 | 11:32 pmThe Pinot Days grand tasting event, which took place yesterday at Fort Mason in San Francisco, brings together one of the largest collections of Pinot Noir producers in North America for the tasting pleasure of the public. I was interested to see whether attendance at this year's event would be noticeably lower, but if it was, I couldn't tell. The place seemed just as packed as ever, which is a good thing -- the California wine industry needs all the help it can get in this recession. So needless to say, I was in good company tasting yesterday with 3500 of my wine loving friends. I use such… -
Do We Have eBay to Thank for All That Counterfeit Wine?
28 Jun 2009 | 10:43 pmIf you aren't yet aware of the fact that fake wine is a big deal, you will be soon. It's coming to a theater near you. Billionaires getting swindled by fake bottles of wine purportedly belonging to Thomas Jefferson aside, as the world's greatest wines continue to climb in price, wine fraud continues to increase in frequency and in value. At this point, the fakery of wines has become a big business. No one knows just how large, but some wine experts say the real figure is probably shudderingly large: millions of dollars worth, to be sure, and perhaps even tens of millions. Wine Critic Allen… -
Giacomo Conterno Barolo and Barbera: Italy's Greatest Wines?
27 Jun 2009 | 11:07 pmBecause of our deep history with wine, the standards by which we judge today's efforts must be placed within the context of tradition. While we can judge California Pinot Noir on its own merits, we cannot understand or evaluate it completely without reference to Burgundy, its ancestral home. Burgundy will always be the benchmark for Pinot Noir, as it has been for centuries. Just as there exist regional benchmarks for grape varieties or wine styles, there also exist some individual wine producers, and even individual wines, that manage to define the uppermost limits of quality or the epitome… -
Vinography Images: Lone Trees
27 Jun 2009 | 12:02 amLone Trees Every week, photographer Andy Katz sends me a new image to post here for your viewing pleasure. I never know what I'm going to get, but I do know that it's going to be good. This week, when I opened his e-mail, something different happened. Everything got quiet, and I smelled freshly cut grass, bee pollen, and felt a warm breeze.... Amazingly, we are not lost, but I wouldn't care if we were. Just as I give up and decide we have no idea where we are, another road sign appears that tells us indeed, we are on our way to Montepulciano. It hardly matters, though, because it is one of…
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Stormhoek.Com
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Alpine, Texas - Home Away from Home
7 Jun 2009 | 8:45 pmOur YouTube Channel has nearly 40 new videos that were filmed in and around town. We’ll be chronicling the exploits of Hugh as he canvasses the Texas Desert Building our brand and hopefully making Stormhoek the biggest selling South Africa[/youtube]Our YouTube Channel has nearly 40 new videos that were filmed in and around town. We’ll be chronicling the exploits of Hugh as he canvasses the Texas Desert Building our brand and hopefully making Stormhoek the biggest selling South African wine in all of West Texas. We’ve already got half a dozen placements around town, and Hugh… -
Our New Friend Guido- Living the Dream
3 May 2009 | 4:03 pmClick here to view the embedded video. Guido is what you’d call a big Macher around Alpine. As he says, he is living The Dream. -
Hard Work Continues
27 Apr 2009 | 4:13 pmWith the desert pretty well staked out, Hugh moves back into town. Canvassing, and bill posting, searching the highest traffic locations to post our fabulous “Dream Big Alpine” signs. People are starting to notice. We just know it. -
Talent Like Nowhere Else
26 Apr 2009 | 4:50 pmWe all need a bit entertainment with our beer wine, and Harry is kind enough to supply it. The thing about Alpine is that music is really big, and there are some extraordinary talents around town. One of our favorite people is Jeffro. Jeffro plays the Ukulele, has the stage presence of David Lee Roth and the voice of Bob Dylan, he make any tune sound amazing- He ain’t no Tiny Tim. We’re trying to save up to sponsor Jeffro to go on tour, and we’re thinking about putting up a Paypay button for you guys to help us get him on the road sooner. Carnegie Hall awaits. Hail… -
Big Dreams, Bigger Challenges
23 Apr 2009 | 4:46 pmHarry’s is ground zero in Alpine. It’s the local watering hole. Alpine has crazy licensing laws, so they can only sell wine and beer, and that means like 99.99% beer. According to Harry, we’re “kinda” crazy for introducing our wine in Alpine and “there are better places around”, but hey, WTF, it’s been a long haul and turning back now just isn’t an option. As Harry says, he’s living his “Big Dream” - hopefully he’ll help us live ours.
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Fermentation: The Daily Wine Blog
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Will Dedicated Wine Lovers Support Quality?
2 Jul 2009 | 9:58 amThe best source of independent, web-only wine writing will no longer be free beginning July 6th.That's right, Appellation America recently and quietly announced it would be transitioning to a subscription format on that date. Though this move will significantly reduce its readership, it undoubtedly will have a much more active and dedicated readership and one that demonstrates real appreciation for outstanding content.And yet the bottom line is that the work of Appellation America, including its features, tastings and database of wineries, will no longer be available to anyone and… -
Corrupting the Wine Market With Spin
30 Jun 2009 | 9:40 amOne of the greatest joys of working in wine public relations has been the remarkably collegial, helpful and generally encouraging attitude of my peers. In the 20 some odd years I've worked in this area of the wine industry I can't recall a single instance in which I was disappointed with my personal interaction with other wine PR folks. And I can't count the number of times other PR people have helped me in significant ways.Still, there is something of a negative connotation associated with the idea of being a Public Relations Professional, PR Guy, Flack, Hired Gun. Honestly, I… -
The State of Wine Blogging—5 Years In.
29 Jun 2009 | 9:15 amI count 2004 as the birth year of wine blogs. Given that only slightly arbitrary date, the wine industry finds itself with only five years under it's belt of dealing with this somewhat chaotic, but impactful form of communication. And on the eve of the second North American Wine Bloggers Conference I have some questions and thoughts about wine blogs.1. HAS OR WILL THE WINE BLOG TAKE DOWN PRINT MEDIA AS THE PRIMARY FORM OF WINE INFORMATION FOR CONSUMERS AND THE INDUSTRY?To this point the traditional wine media is not in jeopardy of being replaced by wine blogs as the go-to source of… -
Truth and Dare and Wine
25 Jun 2009 | 9:08 amI've always enjoyed playing games, partly because of my competitive nature but also because a good, well-designed game can reveal a lot about the players. And I like revelation.The first game (not sport) that I was really good at was "Quarters". For some reason I was coordinated in such a way that I could bounce that quarter into a glass of liquid repeatedly. I was scary-good! In college I was the ringer that would be placed in quarters games where money was at stake. It wasn't quite a living, but I was good at it.Quarters is, of course, a drinking game. I hadn't thought… -
The Three-Tier System and Consumer Access To Wine
24 Jun 2009 | 11:15 amThe three-tier system of having a “distributor” in between the producer of wine and the wine retailer was put into place after prohibition to prevent the abuses associated with “tied houses” prior to prohibition. Unfortunately this system has merely served to duplicate the corruption that it was created to fix.Prior to prohibition, suppliers wielded so much power they could control retailers by threatening not to supply them. Retailers became “tied” to particular alcohol producers. The "tied" retailers were forced to sell a single manufacturer’s product. Producers also…
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Serious About Wine
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Greener Wine At Waitrose
2 Jul 2009 | 4:26 pmCutting both costs and carbon emissions, British supermarket Waitrose shipped its new range of ‘Virtue’ wines from Chile in 24,000 liter flexitanks and bottled them in the UK. One tank equals 32,000 bottles—or 16 tons of glass—that no longer need to be shipped. In addition, the bottles used are lightweight and made of 60% recycled material. Besides reducing carbon emissions, this shipping and distribution method lowers end-to-end production costs by up to 40%. Waitrose claims to be sharing these cost reductions with customers, charging GBP 3.99 per bottle. Currently on offer are a… -
Drinks Well Wine
2 Jul 2009 | 6:56 am“The aim was to create a supermarket friendly label to appeal to the mass market. If a large retail channel or wine supplier wants an own brand with a clear message, offering delicious, good value, ready to drink wine, ‘Drinks Well’ is the ideal solution. The visuals include three very different wines from separate countries and the label descriptions clearly state what the average consumer needs to know. They have uniform characteristics, starting with the grape variety, then a brief summary, followed by the region of origin and wine variety. Lastly is a detailed description that ends… -
Portable Wine Storage
30 Jun 2009 | 6:37 amPlatypus has designed a simple, ingenious way to transport wine without having to deal with bulky glass bottles, or boxes. The PlatyPreserve can hold an entire bottle of wine, is flexible, leak-proof and airtight. Due to the container’s ability to keep out the flavor-killing oxygen, the container can also be used to preserve wine for days or even weeks. Source :: http://www.psfk.com Share This -
Study Shows Plastic Wine Bottles Only Good For Short Term
23 Jun 2009 | 2:24 amWe’ve been seeing more and more wine companies considering plastic wine bottles as a greener alternative to glass. The bottles are lighter and 100 percent recyclable. One Australian producer, Wolf Blass creates a line called "Green Label" that uses these lighter bottles. But a new study which was commissioned by the plastic bottle manufacturer Portavin shows that while the bottles might be better for the environment they are not so good for wine over the long haul. While wine stored in plastic or glass taste similar at first, after eight to 12 months the taste changes. The PET… -
State Of The International Wine Market
20 Jun 2009 | 4:10 pmSopexa, the French marketing agency for wine and other agricultural products, has conducted a big survey called the Wine Trade Monitor. The study is based on 1400 respondents in 16 countries. The survey will be repeated annually. It will be presented at Vinexpo in Bordeaux later in June but courtesy of BKWine Brief we can reveal some of the most interesting conclusions from the study (NB: it only covers still wine, no sparkling, no spirits): The wine market in 2008: 51% of the respondents said they had a growth in wine sales in 2008 and 23% had stable sales. In other words 74% were stable or…
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The Wine Collector
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The definitive explanation of the 3-tier system for U.S. wine distribution
27 Jun 2009 | 7:10 pmTom Wark has created a "must read" summary of what is a complex topic in his recent Fermentation blog post titled "The Three-Tier System and Consumer Access to Wine." Make sure you read the comments too. Why you should read itIf you're a wine collector or enthusiast and have problems buying wine out-of-state because of interstate shipping barriers, Tom's post provides the historical rationale for the 3-tier system and why it evolved the way it has to create such consumer access issues.If you're confused about why a winery can ship to you but a retailer in the… -
Sotheby's wine auction results reveal Asian buying power
26 Jun 2009 | 7:37 pmSotheby's Wine department excellent results for the 1st half of 2009 provide further evidence of Asian buying power (read the press release). The tables below provide more details but here are a few points to highlight:With only a single debut sale in Hong Kong in the first half (out of nine auctions), Hong Kong already surpassed the five sales in London in the same period and almost beat New York.Over 56% of buyers at all nine auctions (measured by value) were Asian.Among the top 100 lots by region, an astounding 88% were purchased by Asians. -
Fine wine prices up 10%-17% in May
22 Jun 2009 | 12:22 pmWinePrices.com's most actively traded fine wine indexes were up from between 10%-17% in May 2009 based on global auction results (the Dow Jones Average was up 4.1%). See full summary results page for all nine indexes. What's going on?As noted in my prior post, Asian wine buying influence continues unabated, I'm sure these prices reflect the impact of higher auction prices being paid in Hong Kong. Of the 11 auctions held in May worldwide that we tracked, four were in Hong Kong and about 25% of the price data points derived from these auctions. I'll be doing a… -
Asian wine buying influence continues unabated
17 Jun 2009 | 10:44 amIf anyone doubts that fine wine prices aren't set based on global demand and supply, read the following two stories:Asia dominates Sotheby's sale - This was a NYC auction but also held live on the Internet. "The top five most-expensive lots were bought from Asia. Nine of the top 10 revenue-grossing lots were claimed by Asians." Counting China's millionaires - A few key points: 825,000 mainland Chinese - or one in 1,700 - have a personal net worth of at least US$1 million. "82% of China's richest have not made any lifestyle changes since the… -
Bloomberg profiles Vinfolio's Marketplace
15 Jun 2009 | 10:12 amBloomberg's Elin McCoy just published her article, Wine 'Spot Market" Puts Collectors, 12 Million Bottles Online, about Vinfolio's Marketplace. I'm not sure there's much to add as she did a great job distilling the Marketplace into a concise story. As of first thing this morning, it was already the #5 most emailed story on Bloomberg in Asia -- and that includes among all financial and political stories.A few important points to clarify:Marketplace goes live on July 7 - Since I started talking to Elin a few weeks ago, we've move the commencement date…
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EveryJoe » Spirits
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The Firecracker
1 Jul 2009 | 5:44 amWho wants to just drink a ho-hum cocktail when you can have a beautiful blue cocktail with a heck of a kick? The Firecracker is sure to set the mood for a great Fourth of July and you’re sure to look cool holding something that looks this good. The Firecracker Ingredients: 2 oz. Three-O Grape Vodka ½ oz. Blue Curacao a splash of Tonic Directions: Shake vodka and blue curacao with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Add tonic and garnish with a cherry. Enjoy! Image and recipe courtesy of Three Olives Vodka Share and Enjoy: Post from: EveryJoe The Firecracker -
Why You Shouldn’t Drink and Play with Fire
30 Jun 2009 | 4:50 pmKids, this video is a good illustration of why you should NOT drink and play with fireworks at the same time. I know you’re going to anyway [especially after I've given you so many yummy drink recipes] but be careful. Please? Image|Dano Share and Enjoy: Post from: EveryJoe Why You Shouldn’t Drink and Play with Fire -
Roman Candle
30 Jun 2009 | 4:18 pmDrink three in at least four [maybe more] Fourth of July themed drinks. This one is named after a classic in the Fourth of July arsenal of fireworks. The Roman Candle Ingredients: 3 oz. Three-O Berry Vodka ½ Oz. Cranberry Juice Dash of Grenadine ½ oz. Blue Curaçao Directions: Shake vodka, cranberry juice and grenadine in a shaker with ice. Strain into martini glass. Pour Blue Curaçao gently down the side of the glass so it comes to settle on the bottom. Garnish with a lemon twist. Image and recipe courtesy of Three Olives Vodka Share and Enjoy: Post from: EveryJoe Roman Candle -
Three Olives Sparkler
30 Jun 2009 | 4:04 pmThree Olives is known for their flavor infused quality vodkas and I was sent four different 4th of July inspired cocktail recipes to share with you guys. The Sparkler Ingredients: 1 oz. Three-O Pomegranate Vodka 2 oz. Sparkling Wine or champagne Splash POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice Directions: Combine vodka and pomegranate juice in the bottom of a champagne flute. Top with sparkling wine or champagne Garnish with a curl of orange peel. Image and recipe courtesy of Three Olives Vodka Share and Enjoy: Post from: EveryJoe Three Olives Sparkler -
Patriot Martini
30 Jun 2009 | 2:55 pmThis post begins a set of Fourth of July inspired drinks. Each is pretty and is sure to pack that punch that you’re looking for in a holiday weekend drink. Patriot Martini Ingredients: A martini glass rimmed with blue sugar (Blue Curacao, Sugar & 2 small plates or bowls) 1.5 oz Grey Goose le Citron Vodka Shaken and strained over 1 Wild Hibiscus Flower in Hibiscus Syrup (from specialty gourmet shops) Chilled Fresh Blueberries Directions: Start with 2 plates or shallow bowls. To one dish, add Blue Curacao, to the other the other with sugar. Dip each martini glass first into the Blue…
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Food & Wine: Articles
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Weekly Meal Planner: July 11-17, 2009
1 Jul 2009 | 11:56 amF&W’s 365-day meal planner provides a great main course recipe (plus fantastic side dishes) for every day of the year, one week at a time. Sign up for the Dish, F&W’s free twice-weekly newsletter, for our 2009 weekly meal planner. E-mail: 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Saturday, July 11 Daily Menu Seared Rib Steak with Arugula (left) Buttery Leeks with Thyme Tomato Gratin Oven-Fried Potatoes Sunday, July 12 Daily Menu Rosemary-Grilled Chicken with Mushroom Sauce (left) Mesclun, … -
Weekly Meal Planner: July 4-10, 2009
1 Jul 2009 | 9:12 amSign up for the Dish, F&W’s free twice-weekly newsletter, for our 2009 weekly meal planner. E-mail: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Saturday, July 4 Daily Menu Super-Crispy Fried Chicken (left) Jalapeño Corn Bread Midsummer Market Salad Double-Chocolate Layer Cake Sunday, July 5 Daily Menu Farfalle with Zucchini and Parsley-Almond Pesto (left) Tomato Salad Arugula with olive oil and balsamic vinegar Monday, July 6 Daily Menu Cheesy Tomato-Bread Strata (left) Caramelized Broccoli with Garlic … -
Recipe of the Day
1 Jul 2009 | 7:51 amSign up for the Dish, F&W’s free twice-weekly newsletter, for our 2009 weekly meal planner. E-mail: July Week: July 11-17, 2008 --> Friday— Pan-Fried Asian-Style Crab Burgers 15724567-22F3-4BA5-A95AD656897B7ADE --> Thursday— Beef Tenderloin Sandwiches with Norton-Shiitake Sauce 11A4F55C-CA98-4857-906401F74AD0DE08 --> Wednesday— Sesame Chicken Salad with Ginger-Lime Dressing FE8D39D4-DA04-43ED-91A917EC260A688A --> Tuesday— Sautéed Salmon with Rhubarb … -
Pairing of the Day
1 Jul 2009 | 7:50 amJuly 2, 2009 — Grilled Flank Steak with Corn, Tomato and Asparagus Salad Pairing: A spicy, fruit-driven red. Try the 2007 BenMarco Malbec or 2006 Greg Norman Paso Robles Petite Sirah. July 1, 2009 — Chicken Shawarma with Green Beans and Zucchini Pairing: A spicy, cherry-rich Garnacha. Try the 2007 Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos. -
Herb Guide
30 Jun 2009 | 8:53 am© Erik Otsea Herb Recipes: Basil Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Mint Rosemary Sage Tarragon Herb Tips: Gardens Without Borders Handling Lemongrass Growing, Cooking with Basil
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Intoxicating Prose
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Bathed in Sauternes at 180m
2 Jul 2009 | 1:01 amWHENEVER I take the lift to one of these high-rise hospitality pens, two images come to mind. They both involve the Twin Towers of ‘9/11’ infamy. As I feel my ears pop, the first is of Philippe Petit, brave lunatic genius who dreamt of walking a wire between the towers even before foundations were sunk. He finally realised his lofty ambition on a breezy August morning in 1974, achieving eight -
A Taste of Personality
29 Jun 2009 | 3:02 amASIDE FROM Bayswater’s graceful ‘Café Anglais’, I rarely get ‘keyed-up’ at the thought of a meal à la mall. Restaurants are havens. Banked between feet, bags bulging with fevered purchases bring commerce into calm. But the prospect of an Australia week showcase of two of its greatest culinarian exports - Shane Osborn of ‘Pied à Terre’ and ‘The Ledbury’s’ Brett Graham - made an in-store eatery -
Il Gran Bollito Misto
26 Jun 2009 | 1:01 amIN PRAISE of Cappelletti di Vitello in Brodo, then specially prepared Bollito Misto by Theo Randall for a table of gluttons. -
Don ‘Cornicione’ of Crusts?
24 Jun 2009 | 2:30 amNOISILY CHATTING in a great many accents, the long queue of hungry customers snaked towards a funk of odours. Amidst the scaly perfume of a fish counter beached in sunshine and the hippy fug of joss-sticks, a waft of heaven prevailed. They came for this: the cosy, welcoming, tempting aromas of sourdough momentarily torched at 500 degrees…Since last April, ‘Franco Manca’ has risen, like and -
Strawberry Carpet
22 Jun 2009 | 12:41 pmAN AFTERNOON spent strawberry picking followed by a soothing pint of Rebellion at The Royal Oak, Marlow.
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NYT > Dining & Wine
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In the Garden: Grow Yourself a Six-Pack
1 Jul 2009 | 10:44 pmBen Granger, an owner of a Brooklyn shop that specializes in beers, planted hop vines so he could make his own home brew. But you don’t have to make beer to enjoy the beauty of those dramatic leaves. -
Street Farmer
1 Jul 2009 | 9:33 pmCan Will Allen make the inner city the next front in the good-food movement? -
Field Report: Home Sweet (Urban) Homestead
1 Jul 2009 | 9:32 pmA new kind of preservation society attends a D.I.Y. dinner party in Oakland. -
Turf War at the Hot Dog Cart
1 Jul 2009 | 9:48 amA new wave of upscale food trucks, offering everything from artisanal ice cream to vegan tacos, has sparked a street vendors’ food fight. -
Paris Journal: As a Meal Tax Shrinks, Restaurants Hope to Gain
1 Jul 2009 | 9:35 amThe tax on restaurant meals in France is finally dropping, but not many restaurant and cafe owners think it will make a big difference to their businesses.
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El Bloggo Torcido - Twisted Oak Winery
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A New Web Site, Twisted Awards, and Customer (Dis)Service
20 Jun 2009 | 11:22 am(Opting for the 1WineDude style of headline writing this time.) We have a new web site! - for which I plan to blog more about presently, but you can of course visit it at www.twistedoak.com. We've got some new features, like customer reviews, and some new wines!And we just got word that our newly released 2006 Calaveras Petite Sirah got another Double Gold, this time from the California State Fair. (Let's all have one big Woo Hoo!)But what I really wanted to talk about today is customer service. This blog post was prompted by a post in another blog and a letter I received recently. First, the… -
A Really Twisted Job Update!
28 May 2009 | 5:06 pmYou can find the previously posted information in the original blog post here. But stay tuned here for updates as they happen!Update: Deadline for making your submission to A Really Twisted Job has been extended to July 31st! Note that this is 10 days past the final announcement date for those other guys. -
Owning Google Suggest
28 May 2009 | 4:34 pmOver on the Winery Web Site Report blog, Mike Duffy writes about Google Suggest. Mike also decided to explore some food and wine pairing suggestions.Needless to say this prompted me to attempt the obvious pairing to see if Google suggested it and to see what were the top search results. 943,000 results, and most were involved with Twisted Oak and our infamous bouncy bantams.But that's not enough. I want to own the Google Suggest results. In fact, I want to pwn the Google Suggest results! All your suggests are belong to us!!If you would like to support this vaguely worthy cause, please add the… -
A Really Twisted Job!
16 May 2009 | 3:24 pmSo much going on over here at El Rancho Torcido that it has become too easy to forget to blog anymore! We'll be remedying that starting now....It may or may not have come to your attention that competitions for high-paying jobs as a social media specialist have become all the rage. First it was Tourism Queensland (Australia) with their "Best Job in the World" competition, and now it has spilled into the wine world with Murphy-Goode Winery (not of Murphys, CA) (what's that about anyway?) and "A Really Goode Job." As I write this there are 94 applicants for the aforementioned Goode Job. (You… -
So, How About Some Nice Spring Pictures?
22 Apr 2009 | 7:35 pmBottling over 5000 cases and sixpacks this week has severely eaten into my goofing off and taking pictures time, but I did manage to slip out and snag a couple. I also managed to shoot some video of the bottling line in action which I hope to post in a few days. Until then, enjoy the poppies, lupines, and Nacha! (photo of Nacha and lupines by A Stai)
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The Pour
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Sketches of Spain
2 Jul 2009 | 12:16 pmYou have to admire people who inaugurate a local festival by dancing - men, women and children -- in the plaza at midnight to a traditional tune with the chorus: "Waiter, bring me the mushrooms.'' -
A Few Spanish Reds, and Then It's Off to Spain
24 Jun 2009 | 3:31 pmI had the privilege recently of having lunch with Pablo Álvarez, the general director, and Xavier Ausás, the technical director, of Vega Sicilia, the great Spanish estate in Ribera del Duero. They were in New York briefly to discuss arrangements for an auction to be held this fall at Sotheby's, and it was a great opportunity to get together to taste a few wines -
The Pubs Are Better. Now What About the Grub?
23 Jun 2009 | 11:01 amGood beer deserves better than fried mozzarella sticks, dried-out burgers, chicken fingers and greasy wings. American beer culture has progressed to the point where it offers wonderful, civilized beverages rather than the infantilizing mass-market brews, yet many beer bars offer grownups these reprehensible kids' foods. I mean, chicken fingers? -
The Wrong Grape Can Make Sparkling Wines Seem Flat
19 Jun 2009 | 9:18 amWhat Spanish cavas are missing that other sparkling wines have. -
Long Island Merlot
16 Jun 2009 | 5:38 pmVisiting Shinn Estate on the North Fork of Long Island.
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Wine Camp Blog: a points-free zone
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Gruner With Envy
27 Jun 2009 | 11:49 pmThe 2006 Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Wachau, Terrassen Weissenkirchen, Trockken, Andreas Lehensteiner is a wine that will indeed make many a winemaker green with envy. This is nothing short of an exceptional wine at an unbeatable price. This green/gold beauty is directly plugged into the socket, with an electric bite of mouthwatering acidity carrying ripe apricot and fresh pear flavors along with a firm mineral highlight on its razor edge. This is one of those wines that you can barely get your nose out of the glass long enough to take a sip. These Austrian wines are the darling of every… -
Worth Reading: Bordeaux Takes Its Lumps at Vinexpo
26 Jun 2009 | 3:50 pm'Bordeaux should be selling everything,' he said. He also criticised the region for being too focused on Parker points and said it was no longer a benchmark for Cabernet Sauvignon.link: Wine pundits label France 'dysfunctional' - decanter.com - the route to all good wine -
Choosing Your Trousseau
24 Jun 2009 | 7:20 pmPale and more brick red in color than ruby and made from the Trousseau grape grown in the Arbois region of France - this is the kind of wine that frequents a wine marketers nightmares. I found it to be wonderful.Graceful, svelte and delicately fragrant it is a most seductive wine and a wine sure to confuse New World palates. The 2006 Arbois, Jacques Puffeney, Cuvee Les Berangeres, Trousseau is a wine that demands a bit of concentration to appreciate its beauty, but the effort is more than rewarding. Mobile Blogging from here.[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone] -
June Spraying in Napa
23 Jun 2009 | 10:25 pmA vineyard is sprayed at dawn during late June in Napa. Vineyards here are sprayed at night or at dawn as most applications require cool temperatures to be effective. -
Super-Tuscan Best Buy
23 Jun 2009 | 7:48 pmMobile Blogging from here. Barco Reale di Carmignano from Capezzana has been a best buy for so many years it’s almost trite. Yet, there is something really special about such a low profile accomplishment. Their 2005 is yet another in a long line of lovely, lively wines at low prices. Structured and fragrant with a nice touch of complexity to boot. Here’s a wine that falls into the buy by the case category. [Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]
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Blisstree » Food & Nutrition
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Raley’s Supermarket Wine Club
2 Jul 2009 | 5:23 pmYou might have guessed by my post about the wine pairing app for your iPhone, that I’m a wine fan. I’m a beginner, no real wine knowledge to speak of, but I’m learning. I joined Raley’s Wine Club a few months back and they send me information about pairings, tips for wine parties, and information on special buys and deals. If you live near a Raley’s, BelAir or Nob Hill, take a look at the company website and check out the wine club. Some of the Raley’s stores here in California offer tastings. My local Raley’s doesn’t offer this, but it… -
Frozen Chocolate ‘Soufflés’
2 Jul 2009 | 4:24 pmIf you are looking for an easy to make and very delicious dessert for your 4th of July celebration, why not try making this Frozen Chocolate Soufflés from Kraft Foods. There’s really nothing to it. You can buy the ingredients today or early tomorrow. Make it tomorrow, put it in the freezer, then take it out when ready to eat on Saturday. Frozen Chocolate Souffles INGREDIENTS: 3 cups milk 1 pkg. (8-serving size) or 2 pkg. (4-serving size each) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding 2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping 16 OREO Cookies, finely chopped (about 2 cups) 8 maraschino cherries… -
In Season Fruits & Veggies~4th of July BBQ
1 Jul 2009 | 9:08 pmThis 4th of July use in season fruits and vegetables to help cut the cost of your Independence Day barbecue. There are quite a few fresh fruits and vegetables just coming into season the first part of July, and some are just getting ready to go out of season, that equals some great produce deals for you. What types of fruits and vegetables should you be able to save money on this time of year? Berries are in right now, and you can find them at rock bottom prices at your local grocer or farmers market. Use strawberries and blueberries to create a red white and blue dessert. Watermelon is just… -
Hush Puppies
1 Jul 2009 | 4:42 pmThe children love hush puppies. We usually get them with the southern take-out dinner from White Schwan’s. Of course I wanted to learn how to make hush puppies myself. I search online for an easy recipe that I could make and I found it at AllRecipes.com called Vicki’s Hush Puppies. Hush Puppies (Image © Dexie Wharton) INGREDIENTS: * 2 eggs, beaten * 1/2 cup white sugar * 1 large onion, diced * 1 cup self-rising flour * 1 cup self-rising cornmeal * 1 quart oil for frying Mix sugar, eggs, and onions in a large bowl. Blend in the flour and cornmeal. Heat the oil. Create a ball using… -
It’s National Hot Dog Month
1 Jul 2009 | 1:11 pmNot surprisingly, July is National Hot Dog Month in the United States. It’s not hard to guess why this is, what with the 4th of July kicking off a whole summer or opportunities for grilling and outdoor cooking! Hot dogs have been part of the national diet since 1870, when German immigrant Charles Feltman began selling sausages in rolls at Coney Island. Though the creation of the hot dog itself is long-disputed, with some claims going back as far as 1480, the summertime favorite was an instant hit in the States. The original Feltman shop even spawned one of the more famous hot dog shops…
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Santa Cruz Wine Examiner
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Friday wine tasting evenings at Los Gatos Michelin Star Trevese restaurant are growing in popularity
28 Jun 2009 | 4:06 pmBuilding a legacy to treasure Many people are talking about Trevese these days. It really is a local treasure. The food, service and wines have already achieved a coveted Michelin Star. Innovative cuisines, fine wines, excellent se... -
Friday evening Wine Tasting events at Michelin Star Trevese in Los Gatos
25 Jun 2009 | 10:53 pmA very familiar Los Gatos landmark! Strolling outdoors on a sultry summer Friday afternoon in downtown Los Gatos is an experience in and of itself. The locals and the touristas are strolling up and down Santa Cruz Avenue – romantic coupl... -
Santa Cruz wineries use recession tactics as economy cools
25 Jun 2009 | 5:13 pmA 2008 bulletin from Wine Institute of San Francisco stated in part, “As budget-conscious consumers shifted more of their purchases to value-priced wines, 2008 California wines sales to the U.S. market edged up 2% in volume over the previ... -
Roudon-Smith Winery offers a delightful wine tasting experience
23 Jun 2009 | 10:29 pmThe estate vineyard and winery Roudon-Smith Winery is nestled in a beautifully peaceful glen not far from the bustle of Highway 17. Close to downtown Scotts Valley, this is a great place to navigate off of the beaten path and enjoy a pleasantly ... -
Bonny Doon Vineyard founder Grahm conducts wine tasting on Oprah show
18 Jun 2009 | 10:54 amMeyer lemon cake with apricots at Bonny Doon Cafe Photo by Jerry Starr Randall Grahm appeared on the popular show via Skype, having a dialogue with Winfrey while each tasted his wines at the same time. Grahm was not the least bit inti...
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Decanter News
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Christian Audigier's Champagne stolen hours before official launch party
2 Jul 2009 | 9:06 amChristian Audigier's new Champagne launch was scuppered last night after cases of the fashion guru's wine were stolen from London's MoVida nightclub just hours before they were to be unveiled. -
Sonoma pioneer Robert Young dies
2 Jul 2009 | 8:43 amRobert Young, the Sonoma County wine pioneer, has died at the age of 90. -
Australian producers aim to boost fortified wine sales
2 Jul 2009 | 8:17 amAustralia's fortified wine producers are planning to re-ignite interest in the languishing category. -
Australia's wine industry hit by series of problems
2 Jul 2009 | 7:41 amAustralia's wine industry is reeling from a series of unwelcome developments. -
40 Things Every Wine Lover Should Do
2 Jul 2009 | 2:11 amHave you ever made love in a vineyard or drunk a first growth from a plastic cup in a dodgy motel?
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JancisRobinson.com
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Fixes fixed (General)
1 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmMajor housekeeping announcement. Thanks to a vast amount of work and patience on the part mainly of Julia, and also some real application recently on behalf of Yuriy Letser of developers Alcuda, we are relieved to be able to announce that, at last, the following fixes have been made to the. -
Old and New Zealand (Tasting articles)
1 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmSTOP PRESS: Just found a whole new cache of 45 tasting notes and have added them in. This collection of tasting notes on 115 significant New Zealand wines is a combination of notes taken at the recent new release tasting shown in Inside a trade tasting (from which recommended retail UK prices were. -
Those AWAC wine faults in full (Inside information)
1 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmOn Tuesday I outlined in Wine faults – delicious! the structure of the Advanced Wine Assessment Course organised by the Australians on Monday. Here is a guide to the faults and taints exhibited by the 22 glasses of wine we were served, 11 of them a basic Australian commercial Chardonnay doctored. -
Champagne bargain – from Fortnum’s! (Inside information)
30 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmThe venerable posh grocer Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly in London is known for many things - smart tins of tea and dainty restaurants - but not for price slashing. However, I am delighted to report that one of the best buys in champagne in the UK is currently to be found in the new basement. -
Vino Nobile to be less Tuscan? (Inside information)
30 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmThe Consorzio in charge of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has proposed controversial changes to the rules for this famous southern Tuscan wine. Currently Vino Nobile, the very first wine ever elevated to the superior status of DOCG in 1980, must consist of a minimum of 70% of Sangiovese, or Prugnolo.
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My Wine Education
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Guest Post: An Italian Wine Primer, Part 1
2 Jul 2009 | 5:30 amWhile Kevin & I are in Alaska, we've asked some friends and colleagues to post on their wine loves, wine experiences and more. For this post we welcome Kevin Keith, who does an excellent job of introducing himself. Thanks Kevin!__ Hi y’all!My name is Kevin Keith, and I am currently the wine buyer for Liquor Direct Wine & Spirits, with two locations in Northern Kentucky, as well as local wine blogger for Under The Grape Tree.Michelle asked me to help keep her blog going with a little post, so I tried to come up with something that would fit with her readers, as well as not repeat… -
Guest Post: A “Meritage” for Zinfandel lovers: Coro Mendocino
1 Jul 2009 | 5:30 amWhile Kevin & I are in Alaska, we've asked some friends and colleagues to post on their wine loves, wine experiences and more. For this post we welcome David Lazarus, another local wine blogger and soon-to-be wine shop owner. Thanks David!__The mission of the Consortium Mendocino is to increase the awareness and value of Mendocino wine and winegrape products through the production of “Coro Mendocino”, a controlled, ultra premium blended wine that reflects the quality and commitment of the Mendocino County wine industry. Coro Mendocino in it’s simplest is a Zinfandel blend made… -
Guest Post: Giacomo Fascio's Rosso Cervo Cocktail
30 Jun 2009 | 5:30 amWhile Kevin & I are in Alaska, we've asked some friends and colleagues to post on their wine loves, wine experiences and more. For this post we welcome Jay Erisman, our favorite instructor from The Party Source EQ Center and quite the wine and spirits expert. He tries to put a positive spin on our dislike of the new Jim Beam Red Stag. Thanks Jay!__Bourbon drinkers have offered mixed reviews of the latest from Jim Beam: Red Stag Black Cherry Infused Bourbon. I tend to lean to the thumb-down end of that spectrum. (Although Red Stag is rather subtler than I expected, and not quite the… -
Posts and Polls: Enter the Guests
29 Jun 2009 | 5:30 amKevin and I get on a plane tomorrow morning, headed to the wilds of Alaska. Okay, not really the wilds. We're visiting one of my girlfriends in Anchorage then meeting up with Kevin's extended family for a 7-day Alaskan cruise. There will be much walking, hiking, and eating. We're finishing up the trip with a couple of days in Vancouver then heading home. We're back for about a week and a half. After that, I head to BlogHer, where I'm speaking on a panel about food and wine blogging. That same few days, Kevin will be heading to Sonoma for the 2nd Annual Wine Bloggers Conference, and luckily… -
All's well that ends well
26 Jun 2009 | 5:33 amMy huge thanks to those of you that stepped forward, either by voting or endorsing me or both, as I tried to land the Really Goode Job. Alas, the dream job in Sonoma, creating social media for a winery, remains just that: a dream job. I did not make the Top 50. And while I really am truly crushed about this, I wish those who succeeded well. In fact, I think it's really cool that 50 folks did make it and I can't wait to find out who gets the Really Goode Job. So a huge congrats to all of you! Meanwhile, I head to Alaska on Tuesday next week for a long and well-deserved vacation. And while I…
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Wilf's Wine Press
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Drink Wine Today ... but use the right glass!
18 Jun 2009 | 4:00 pmJust a follow up on my last post. I have been testing the tasting on the right day theory. I am happy to report I tasted 10 Sauvignon Blancs with my panel on June 15th, a leaf day, without any ill effects. I really tempted the lunar crowd last night, a root day of all things. Tasted a high end Super Tuscan and same thing, nothing but praise for the wine. Now I can relax and return to my normal drinking pattern. That is, enjoy my wines whenever and wherever the occasion arises. I am NOT a wine snob, never have been and never will. Each wine deserves a chance to tell its story. But I have to… -
Do Not Drink Wine Today....!!
28 May 2009 | 10:34 amAccording to the Lunar calendar we are in a 'root' day face of the moon and drinking wine may be a No No. Really now?( Calendar courtesy of Domaine de la Vougeraie--click to enlarge ) According to a recent article in the NewsScotsman there are days you simply should not be tasting wines.Two of the UK's major retailers, Tesco and Marks & Spencer's, who account for at least one-third of all bottles of wine sold in Britain, "now only invite critics to taste their ranges when the moon-related biodynamic calendar dictates that wine will be at their best...Our first choice is a fruit day. We… -
Rosé Wines by any other Name......
18 May 2009 | 10:28 amIs a blush wine a Rosé? Is a white and red wine blend a Rosé or just a blush wine? Is a white Zinfandel a Rosé? Not if the French have any thing to do with it. The continuing battle with the EU has a determined group of French wine makers up in arms about the pending EU Comission's decision to allow a white wine blended with a red to be called a Rosé. Now the Italians have joined the battle. The EU wine reform committee was to have voted on this proposal on April 27. Now,because the World Trade Organisation needed more time to look at the proposals this contentious issue has been delayed… -
Wine and Dine.....at Home!
4 May 2009 | 11:51 amHigher priced wines continue to suffer a slump in sales. This seems particularly true in restaurants. Restaurants need to be imaginative during the current economic downturn. One of my favorite local restaurants is doing just that.They feature a different theme for every day of the week.Thursday is their Thirty for Thirty with 30 bottles of wine each selling for $30.An annual state of the wine industry report just released by the Silicon Valley Bank forecasts that economic conditions will have a lasting impact on the fine wine business. Is this perhaps a time where dining at home will become… -
Summit Needed to Stimulate Slumping Sales in Le Champagne
13 Apr 2009 | 11:06 amThere has been a dramatic decrease in sales of Champagne and calls for drastic cuts in yields may be required. Domestic sales for the first two months of 2009 were down 29.3% and European exports dropped a whopping 47.7%. So perhaps what Le Champagne needs is a great Ambassador. And of course no one was better at it than Napoleon Bonaparte himself. The image portrayed here is of Napoleon and his good friend Jean-Rémy Moët in July of 1807 at Moët et Chandon click on pictures to get the enlarged versions for more detail It was Napoleon who commented "That in Victory you deserve Champagne,in…
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Catavino
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Does a Perfect Wine Glass Exist for an Iberian Wine, Or at Least a Montsant Wine?
2 Jul 2009 | 10:32 amYesterday, I had the very rare opportunity to attend my first wine glass tasting hosted by DO Montsant and George Riedel of the legendary Riedel glass company. And despite the inference that I spent my morning licking a series of wine glasses, the truth, albeit slightly less exotic, was equally as entertaining. As we have discussed with you in our previous article, we have recently learned that Montsant wines are very unique in their style. High in both acidity and tannin, which expresses their beautiful earthy, dark fruit and mineral composition, these wines generally call for a larger… -
Iberian Cheese and Wine Pairing – Our Writer’s Comment
1 Jul 2009 | 10:22 amYesterday, a good friend asked for some suggestions on cheese and Spanish wine selections for a party by email. Specifically, he wanted a handful of wines and cheeses that he could find in and around Minnesota. Not having a clue as to what is currently available in the Minnesota market, I thought it would be interesting to get the responses of a few of our writers and friends on what they thought were good choices. I’m glad I did. The following are a few quotes in response to this email: …What he wants is to go pick up some Spanish wines, and find some cheeses that we would… -
Valencia Land of Wine – Free Chapter: Pago de Tharsys, Requena (DO Utiel-Requena)
30 Jun 2009 | 8:39 amEditors Note: Last year we published a book review for Valencia Land of Wine, who’s plublisher is our own writer, John Maher. After realizing that this book was not most likely recieving the attention it deserved, we decided to ask John if we could publish some of the chapters here for you to read. We hope you enjoy this series which will be going up through the month of August, and that if you like what you are reading you might consider buying a copy with this link:Valencia Land of Wine. The book is composed of translated articles written by Joan C. Martin about the wines of Valencia. -
Assumptions versus Reality: What is DO Montsant
29 Jun 2009 | 12:58 pmThis past weekend was a whirlwind of activity for Catavino, as we shot about the wine region of Montsant for 3 days of intense wine tasting and sightseeing. It was approximately 4 years ago when we first visited Montsant, and having only made handful of trips back to the region over the years, we were both shocked by how much we learned this time around, not to mention how much wine its possible to taste in such a short period of time! Our goal was simply to immerse ourselves, and with the exception of one wine from the Priorat, we drank Montsant, breathed Montsant and nibbled on many… -
Last Day of Catavino’s Stay in D.O. Montsant
27 Jun 2009 | 12:50 amSitting under a 100+ year old pine tree at Mas Figueres Hotel, drinking fresh squeezed orange juice, while nibbling on jamon iberico, lomo, fuet, triangular sliced of manchego cheese, fruit plucked from orchards located not 50 meters away, and a small freshly baked apple pastry – life couldn’t be better. Where we’re located in Montsant, in the south end of the small croissant shaped wine region, is surrounded by forests of pine trees, limestone rock faces, and of course, miles upon miles of vines. Today will conclude the last day of our Montsant stay, having spent 3 days…
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One Wine Per Week
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Hello I'm Here For a Moment!
9 Jun 2009 | 9:23 pmI'm making one of my now infrequent appearances just to wave at you and let you know I am still here and enjoying a glass of wine as always even though I am not writing to tell you about it.But today I am.. I just feel like writing, and luckily it is about an enjoyable bottle I have been drinking over the past four nights. Tonight is the last 6 oz, sigh.The wine is (was) the 2004 Murgatroyd from -
Living Off My Rep'
19 May 2009 | 4:31 pmAs is obvious from a quick scan of my site, I hardly do any sort of updating here. I still have a glass of wine per night (which equates to 7/4 wine per week since each glass is 1/4 of a bottle) but I haven't felt particularly motivated to do any wine-related writing. In fact I have not felt motivated whatsoever to write about things wine-ish.I haven't gone surfing around wine-related sites -
Flu
2 May 2009 | 6:00 amSorry that I haven't posted in a while, but I came down with a case of the Wine Flu.Joe Biden didn't make things any better, flapping his jaws on national television telling everyone not to drink wine in any enclosed area, and that people shouldn't even take wine to school with them. Obama and his cohorts had to move quickly to do their damage control on him before the angry winemaker's lobby -
The MONSTA ® Wine Glass is Here!
6 Apr 2009 | 6:00 amI am very pleased to introduce my new line of MONSTA ® brand wine glasses to my faithful One Wine Per Week readers and allow you first crack at the first ones off the conveyor belt!"There's already so many different wine glasses on the market, so what makes yours even worth looking at?" You might well ask.You hit the nail on the head. My new glasses are worth LOOKING at.Wine is not only a -
Special Edition
4 Apr 2009 | 3:00 pmFolks, today's post has nothing to do with wine, but it is something that makes me so very angry (and while I know this blog has a lot of leg-pulling, this time I am serious) that I had to write about it.Are you familiar with Monster brand cables? They are those overpriced ripoff cables sold by overpriced ripoff places like Best Buy, cables that perform no better than ones that cost 1/10 or even
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News - Harpers.co.uk
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New consumer drinks show for London
2 Jul 2009 | 3:00 pmA new consumer drinks show will take place at Vinopolis in London in November. -
Richard Siddle, Editor's blog June
2 Jul 2009 | 3:53 amAround the world in 80 stands - well 2,400 exhibitors to be exact - but if you really want to get a feel for the global drinks industry then there is no better place than Vinexpo. -
Richard Siddle, Editor's blog June
2 Jul 2009 | 3:53 amAround the world in 80 stands - well 2,400 exhibitors to be exact - but if you really want to get a feel for the global drinks industry then there is no better place than Vinexpo. -
Tradeteam in £12m distribution deal
2 Jul 2009 | 1:06 amUK drinks logistics firm Tradeteam has clinched a £12m eight-year contract with Wales’s largest brewer. -
Weather boosts Greene King
2 Jul 2009 | 12:22 amSizzling summer temperatures and a renewed focus on food has boosted the performance of pub owners Greene King, the company has reported.
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Dr Vino's wine blog
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Gallup: “On Mars, They Drink Beer; on Venus, Wine”
2 Jul 2009 | 11:31 amIf an alien landed in a room full American wine drinkers, it would meet mostly college educated, AARP eligible women, probably not from the midwest. There would be relatively few men aged 18 (!) to 49. So says the polling group, Gallup. Almost. In their annual survey of how and what American drinks, the smokin’ pollsters at Gallup point to a gender gap where men prefer beer and women prefer wine. (For beer-wine-spirits preferences, men are 58-19-18 while women are 21-50-24. Click through for full summary and charts.) How does this square with your experience? In my own, I find a lot of… -
Where in the wine world are we? Picturesque but marginal edition
1 Jul 2009 | 9:40 amWe haven’t done one of these for a while. But a site reader thought he could stump everyone with this shot from his travels (click to enlarge). As a clue, he writes “while this vineyard is in among the more picturesque parts of the region, it’s by no means the part of the region you go to to find the best wine.” Details to follow! But in the meantime, where in the wine world was he? -
Bottles as bricks, jugs, sprawl, Holy wine - sipped and spit
30 Jun 2009 | 8:14 pmSIPPED: reusing wine bottles We like reusing corks. And we previously saw the 13,500 bottle wall house previously. And recently another bottle wall surfaced on reddit (though it may not be wine bottles). If this trend keeps up, a winery may soon make the equivalent of Heineken’s WOBO bottle, a brick masquerading as a bottle! SIPPED: jugs Dottie Gaiter and John Brecher recommend jug wines. But little jugs, really, just magnums. No Carlo Rossi. [WSJ] SIPPED: viticultural sprawl On Friday, the federal authorities that regulate wine gave the thumbs up to a new American Viticultural Area. -
Wine prices - beating the spread online and in-store
29 Jun 2009 | 8:50 amOne of my friends told me that he recently was looking to get three bottles of one Chateauneuf du Pape. He found it online for $47.99 at a store in New Jersey, coincidentally, near where his mother lives. So he called the store and asked them to hold three bottles for his mom to pick up. But when confirming the transaction, the clerk told him that the wine was $58 a bottle. My friend replied that it was actually $48 on their web site. The clerk said that was a web-only price and the price via phone and in-store was actually $57.99. So he hung up and placed the order on the web for in-store… -
Spot the 62 pointer - Viu 1 from Chile - and some Spanish
24 Jun 2009 | 11:39 amWhat does a 62 point wine taste like? Not that I follow scores for wine very much, but a 62 pointer? Man, that had to suck. Or, conversely, if you disagree with the critic giving the score, perhaps it was fantastic? Daniel Posner (above, right), owner of the wine store Grapes The Wine Company, drew this review to my attention. The wine in question was the flagship Viu 1 from Viu Manent, a 75 year old winery in Chile. Writing in the Wine Advocate, Jay Miller had dropped the 62 on the 2006 while previous two vintages of Viu 1 scored 92 and 92+ respectively (about $60; find these wines). So I…
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NAPA VALLEY WINE RADIO
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Wine and Hot Dogs for the Fourth!
2 Jul 2009 | 2:14 pmWhat, you thought you’re stuck with beer??? Noooooooo… indeed I know - it sounds pretty silly – but, why should you be deprived of a great American wine on this quintessentially-American holiday? You know how we feel about pairing wine and food around here: have fun with it! That’s the most important thing, since most wines and foods taste pretty good together. If you like the food and you like the wine, that’s all that really counts. But hot dogs? Honestly, that’s a tricky one to ponder. But, who doesn’t like a challenge!! Just for the… -
Wine Trivia du Jour
19 Jun 2009 | 3:24 pmTrue or false: Harvesting the cork kills the cork-oak tree. What do you say? Find the answer in our Wine Trivia Challenge! Didn’t realize cork comes from an oak tree? And that it comes all the way from Portugal? We’ve got sooooo many ways for you to learn more: Articles and articles! Podcast episodes and episodes! Careful not to OD on cork trivia -
Q: When is harvest?
15 Jun 2009 | 11:17 amQuestion from Beverly: What time of the year is the grape harvest? Reply: Hi, Beverly! Thanks for writing! In the Napa Valley, sparkling wine producers usually begin harvesting around mid-to-late August (they need to pick their grapes a little less ripe than the rest of us). The table-wine harvest usually begins around Labor Day with early-ripening varieties, such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc and continues through most of October, finishing with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The harvest can be relatively early or late, depending upon the weather. If you’re… -
Coming Along Nicely
8 Jun 2009 | 12:51 pmWe’re making progress – or I should say the vines are. A few weeks ago we reported that the vines were in flower. Well, they’re all done now and things are developing nicely! We’ve gone from this: Flowering To this: Early fruitset To this: fruitset The weather has been quite agreeable and it looks like came through without any of the problems that plagued us last year. We had a little bit of heat in early May but, since then, it’s been remarkably mild, even a bit chilly some days. If this sort of weather continues it will slow things up a bit, which… -
Wine Trivia du Jour
29 May 2009 | 12:45 pmWhich wine closure does the best job of protecting the wine from oxidation? a) Natural cork b) Plastic corks c) Screw caps d) They’re all about the same What do you say? Find the answer in our Wine Trivia Challenge! Teaser: This seal does such a superior job of protecting the wine from oxidation that some enologists believe that, over the long term, the wine will go the opposite direction and become reduced – which makes it smell like burnt rubber! Charming There’s just not enough long-term data to be certain at this point. Learn more.
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NAPA VALLEY WINE RADIO BLOG
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NVWR® 87 – Hurley’s Restaurant in Yountville
16 Jun 2009 | 9:13 amOutside of the incredible friendship and cheerful smile that Bob presents to everyone he meets, one of the things we love about Bob Hurley, of Hurley’s restaurant in Yountville, is that he’s always mindful of creating a menu that’s wine friendly.Also, Bob really believes in procuring locally when it comes to both food and wine. In this episode, our good friend Sherry Page, of Culinary Getaways, talks with Bob about his ideas on wine and food pairing, ordering wine at a restaurant and also about some of his very adventurous menu items! Outside of the incredible friendship and… -
NVWR® 86 – Wine Chemistry 101
26 May 2009 | 12:00 amHave you ever wondered about the pipettes, burettes and other equipment you see in a wine lab? We certainly can’t make memorable wine in the lab, but attentive analysis, every step of the way, is vital to the health and stability of the wine. So, today, Jeff Booth, our technical guy, will tell us about the key analyses and how and when they’re done. Cheers! -
NVWR® 85 – The Oxbow Cheese Merchant Talks Cheese and Wine
5 May 2009 | 8:46 amIf you want to know more about cheese in general, or about pairing cheese with wine, this episode is for you! Nancy had the chance to sit down with Lassa Skinner, the General Manager of Oxbow Cheese in Napa and she offers some great information about trying new cheeses, how to select them and pairing cheese with wine. For additional information, visit goosecross.com (see: Education) -
NVWR® 84 – Botrytised and Ice wines
21 Apr 2009 | 1:00 amIn episode 80, Nancy Hawks Miller, our Director of Education, took a broad look at the world of sweet and fortified wines. Since then, we’ve covered port, sherry and Madeira. Today we conclude the series by taking a look at the strange world of botrytised wines and ice wines. Complete text is available at goosecross.com (see: Education) -
NVWR® 83 – Madeira
14 Apr 2009 | 1:00 amIn episode 80, Nancy Hawks Miller, our Director of Education, took a broad look at the world of sweet and fortified wines. The episodes that follow, like this one, break it out by category. Today’s topic is the deliciously odd world of Madeira. Each of these podcasts regarding sweet wines will be released, on a weekly basis, until the series is complete. Complete text is available at goosecross.com (see: Education)
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LENNDEVOURS
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Evan Dawson Becomes LENNDEVOURS' Finger Lakes Editor
2 Jul 2009 | 2:55 pmBy Lenn Thompson, Founder and Editor-in-Chief Long-time readers of this blog will remember the days when there was one lone voice represented here -- mine. When this blog was founded over 5 years ago, that was the intent, the goal really -- somewhere for me to share my passion for wine, particularly New York wine.What once was a solo performance has become a bit of a chorus with new voices bringing texture and layers to my coverage of New York wines. LENNDEVOURS has evolved and grown to become the premier source for real, unbiased news, commentary and reviews of New York wines. That evolution… -
Q&A: Josh Wig, General Manager, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars
2 Jul 2009 | 8:24 amToday's Q&A subject (standing), harvesting cabernet franc This is a Q&A that I've been looking forward to doing for several months now. Why? Well, it's kind of a funny story really. I've been writing about Finger Lakes wines for a few years now, but until maybe a year or so ago, I didn't really know very many of the players. A few winemakers here. A few winery owners there. Maybe some marketing folks. But one day, I was looking on Lamoreaux Landing's website for some information about them and I noticed "Josh Wig - General Manager" and thought to… -
Coming Later Today: Finger Lakes Pinot Tasting
2 Jul 2009 | 7:37 amBy Evan Dawson, Finger Lakes EditorLast night a group of Finger Lakes winemakers brought their own 2007 pinots together to find out how the vintage is showing. Organized by Tom Higgins of Heart & Hands Wine Company and hosted by the Stonecat Cafe on Seneca Lake, the Finger Lakes wines were tasted blind with other Pinots from Burgundy, California and Oregon. It was an enlightening experience and a full story is coming later today. -
Maybe I Could Be a (Part-Time) Vegetarian
1 Jul 2009 | 6:23 pmBy Lenn Thompson, Editor and FounderThis is a quick (phone camera) picture of the dinner Nena cooked tonight. On the bottom is local, organic Swiss chard from our CSA share this week. Topping that chard is a pork chop that was crusted with rosemary, oregano and chives from our own garden, with some balsamic vinegar onions on top. What you can't see is the CSA-sourced baby summer squash sauteed with garlic scapes and a little butter.So what does this all have to do with me mentioning being a vegetarian? Well, as I was devouring (you know, like the name of my blog) this terrific meal, I… -
Storm Chasing in Niagara Wine Country
30 Jun 2009 | 6:44 pmBy Bryan Calandrelli, Niagara CorrespondentAs if grape growing in true cool climate areas wasn’t hard enough with extreme winter temperatures, early and late frost dangers and a constant battle with humidity, time after time severe storms add to the risk with hail outbreaks that can spoil an otherwise great vintage.The vineyard pictured above is owned by Schulze Vineyards & Winery in Burt, NY. These very same vines took a nasty hit from hail last year and left grower Martin Schulze with his share of damaged fruit. Martin, who came over from Germany as a child, has been tending to…
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Chez Ray Winemaking
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Rating: ***+ 2004 Chez Ray Cabernet Sauvignon (CS4, C4, C'4), Lodi, CA
14 Jun 2009 | 11:43 amOriginal review, September, 2007:In this glass, this is ruby red, the color of a medium feminine pinot noir, not a burly cabernet sauvignon. Aroma is powerful, though, of bright aged ripe fruit and oak. On the palate, bright sweet cherry cola flavors encircle the taste buds with a hint of acid, following with a mild, lasting sweet cherry finish. Not classic cabernet, but a friendly, just off-dry wine giving great pleasure.Three plus stars out of five.Updated review, June, 2009: Similar color, now beginning to brick. Aroma is a bit more spongy and sweet now. Sip brings more muted flavors now,… -
Insulating the Chez Ray Wine Cellar
13 Jun 2009 | 2:01 pmChez Ray wines designed to age are kept in my passive, cool basement. As summers have warmed, the temperature in the basement has begun to spike towards 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This year, I have begun a project to enclose and insulate the northeast corner of our basement (in the Northeast U.S.).Two by six studs have been set to cordon off an area bounded by north and east rock and concrete walls. I have begun the work to insulate these walls with R-19 fiberglass batt insulation, as you can see. Vapor barrier has been put towards the outside of the wine cellar, in keeping with the theory of… -
Blending the 2005's: Tough Work but SOMEONE'S got to do it!
7 Jun 2009 | 3:42 pmFurther explore wine blending.Start with eight or ten single varietals from a vintage that is getting ready to be drinkable, line 'em up and figure out the blends that may work. A hundred sips later, you may have a few workable blends.Indeed, for the 2005's, I did manage a couple worth noting.PM5 (Carneros Sonoma Pinot Noir(P5)/Carneros Napa Merlot 2005 (M'5)): First, the Sonoma Pinot Noir (P5) is still taut - but mixing with 1/2 measure of another bright varietal, the Carneros Napa Merlot (M'5) gives it just a bit of fruit and brightness. So this combo, which I'll code as PM5, is probably a… -
Rating: *** 2005 Chez Ray Pinot Noir (P5), Carneros, Sonoma County CA
7 Jun 2009 | 9:58 amOriginal Review, April 2007: This wine is from the Brehm frozen grape series. Early tasting notes from our tasting party are here. Wine is medium brick in color. The nose pushes smoky fruit. On the palate, the tannins are most noticeable, a smoky fruit comes second. But the fruit is very shy. The acidity is bracing and the wine is powerfully dry - kind of like taking raspberries, removing their sugar, then drying them. We're still waiting for the sun to shine on the fruit in this one. I'm not sure that aging will do it. Two and a half stars out of five.--------------Updated Review, Sept 2008:… -
**** Chez Ray Russian River Windsor Vineyards Zinfandel, (Z5) Sonoma, CA - Review and Rating
30 May 2009 | 4:27 pmThe Chez Ray 2005 Russian River Zinfandel is from Windsor Vineyards, delivered as frozen grapes from Brehm Vineyards. Original tasting notes from our post-fermentation blending party are here.Let's see how it's doing with a couple of years of age...In the glass, it is deep magenta with a touch of rust color. Aromas are bold, purple-inky and wildly alcoholic. Keep the lit matches away! Fruit is a bright blackberry.Upon sipping, this zinfandel slides to the middle of your palate, emitting minerally, smooth, liquor-like drapes of sweet, easy fruit. Acids and tannins are hidden entirely, but you…
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Spirit of Wine
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**+ $ Indomita Cantus Melot, 2007, Maipo Valley, Chile - Wine Review and Rating
29 Jun 2009 | 4:05 pmFurther explore ChileReview: Vina Indomita makes an entire line of value-priced Chilean wines, called "Cantus". The Cantus Merlot - like the rest of the Cantus reds except for pinot noir - hails from the well-regarded Maipo Valley region of Chile. I tasted the Cantus Pinot Noir twice, giving it three stars out of five and thus earning it a "best value" tag at its low price point, so I'm reasonably enthusiastic about the merlot. This is especially so given merlot's higher recognition in Chile. But let's see what the wine holds...In the glass, Cantus Merlot is deep, dark ruby red. Aromas are… -
**+ $ Caracol Serrano Tinto Joven, 2005, Jumilla, Spain - Wine Review and Rating
28 Jun 2009 | 4:29 pmFurther explore Jumilla wineReview: The Caracol Serrano Tinto Joven, 2005, from the well-regarded region of Jumilla, Spain, is a meritage of monastrell, cabernet sauvignon, syrah and small amounts of merlot and peit verdot. It is taken from the mountain area, with the vines said to be growing among other aromatic plants like thyme and rosemary.In the glass, Caracol Serrano Jumilla is quite deep red, moving towards opaque right in the center. The nose is truly bold, with spicy, candy apple red predominating.On the palate, it is more earthy than round, with a bright, almost raspberry middle, a… -
Best Wine Values: Second Quarter of 2009
28 Jun 2009 | 10:42 amWhat are the best wine values - and thus the best bargains - for the SECOND quarter of 2009? See how we select best value wines in this earlier article. We can't predict the type of wine you'll enjoy most. But choose one from one of these and you'll know you're getting great value. Number of stars represents quality level; number of dollar signs represents price level.Click here to see the best wine values from the FIRST quarter of 2009.Cheers! *** $ Indomita Cantus Pinot Noir, 2007, Casablanca Valley, Chile - Wine Review and Rating FindCantus Pinot Noir at WineZap. **** $$ Starry Night… -
***+ $$ Kelley Creek Merlot, Winemaker's Reserve, 2005, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, CA - Wine Review and Rating
27 Jun 2009 | 4:17 pmFurther explore Dry Creek ValleyReview: Kelley Creek Merlot, Winemaker's Reserve, 2005, is from the Schneider Vineyard of Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, CA. The Kelley Creek line, in fact, was created from an abundant harvest in 2005, which resulted in grapes becoming available from the vineyards of Sonoma County grape growers, Barbara and Dick Schneider. Kelley Creek is a tributary that runs through the Schneider's property in Western Dry Creek Valley into Dry Creek.In the glass, Kelley Creek Merlot, Winemaker's Reserve, shows as medium dusty red. Aromas are modest and of deep fruit - a bit of… -
What is the Best Way to Preserve Opened Wines?
22 Jun 2009 | 6:57 pmFind Wine Preservation SystemsMy good friend and colleague over at HDL Enhancement did an interesting study recently which looked at various options to preserve wines that had already been opened.I encourage you to click on the study for details; short story was that putting the wine into smaller vessels which eliminated all air seemed to do the best job of preserving opened wines for a week or so, following by vacuum-pump methods. Putting the cork back in an empty bottle served the least purpose.Check out Wine Deals at Amazon.
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The Cork Board
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Cork Bits: ideas for your Napa Valley weekend
2 Jul 2009 | 2:59 pmThis week’s edition of upcoming Napa Valley events is chock-full of fireworks. With the 4th falling on Saturday, there are multiple Independence Day celebrations taking place over the next few days–here are a few that should be a lot of fun… Friday, July 3rd Our friends at Silverado Resort (@SilveradoResort on Twitter) will host their annual fireworks celebration starting at approximately 9:15pm on the South Course. The best part? There is no charge for the firework extravaganza and you can call 800-532-0500 for more information Saturday, July 4th From 11:30am – 10pm… -
New releases and a re-release from St. Helena’s Smith-Madrone Winery
1 Jul 2009 | 8:44 pmThe folks at Smith-Madrone Winery, which is located high atop Spring Mountain overlooking St. Helena, got in touch earlier this week to share some news. The winery recently released new vintages of its Chardonnay (a 2007 for $40 per 750ml bottle) and Riesling (a 2008 for $27 per bottle). The more interesting news, at least from our point of view, is that Smith-Madrone has also just re-released its 2002 Riesling ($60 per bottle). Now, admittedly we’ve generally not thought of laying down a Riesling in the cellar for a decade or better like we’d do with a Cabernet Sauvignon, but… -
A review of the dining experience at downtown Napa’s The Border
30 Jun 2009 | 9:22 amA few weeks back we ate at one of downtown Napa’s newest restaurant installations, The Border. The restaurant is operated by Pablo and Erasto Jacinto, who rose through the ranks working for the likes of local chefs Michael Chiarello, Cindy Pawlcyn and Donna Scala. With that pedigree and the promise of some authentic Mexican food, we were quite excited to give The Border a try. The Dining Room: The restaurant space is very open and on the evening of our visit was brimming with patrons at the bar and in the main dining area. We noted immediately the open kitchen at the back of the restaurant,… -
Photos: late June in Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District
29 Jun 2009 | 6:28 amThis weekend, as temperatures topped 100 degrees in the Napa Valley, we ventured out to take a few photos of the vineyards. The last time we checked in with such photos the vineyards were just entering the flowering stage. As you can see below, the 2009 fruit is now well-established and growing nicely–what a difference a month makes! These shots were taken by our resident photographer in the heart (and heat) of the Oak Knoll District. TechTags Plugin [ Napa | Napa Valley | wine | winery | napa wine grapes ] Share and Enjoy: -
Cork Bits: ideas for your Napa Valley weekend
25 Jun 2009 | 8:22 pmHere were are, Thursday evening and we’re not sure about you, but our minds are already focused on the weekend. With summer in full-swing, there are certainly no shortage of events taking place in the Napa Valley…here are just a couple you may want to check out! Friday, June 26th and Saturday, June 27th Downtown Napa’s Back Room Wines will host the (unique) 7th Annual Hot Dogs & Wine event on Friday (5pm – 8pm) and Saturday (12pm – 5pm). The event features hot dogs 3 ways: classic, chili and kraut and there will be wine served to match each. Cost is $10 per…
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Celebrate Wine
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Chianti Rufina
29 Jun 2009 | 1:53 pm© dottorpeni Tuscany is a place blessed with some of the world's best grapes. Sangiovese grapes. And they make some of the world's best wine, IMHO. Deb Harkness had a post recently on a 2005 ... -
Three White Wines: Gary Vaynerchuk
20 Jun 2009 | 12:08 pm© kastner Wine personality Gary Vaynerchuk had a good program earlier this month on Three White Wines that have been getting a lot of attention: Simone Sauvignon Blanc 2008 from Chile, Nobilio Icon Sa... -
On the Shores of Lake Geneva...
13 Jun 2009 | 4:33 pm© peuplier Jaunted had a piece recently that looks like a great vacation idea - wine tasting in Switzerland, in an area where the vineyards are a UNESCO world heritage site. It's called The Lava... -
Age and the Australian Riesling
6 Jun 2009 | 7:58 pmDr. Vino had an informative piece recently n Australia's Rieslings. They tend to get consumed young and, in his words, can be very refreshing at that age. But Australian Rieslings are almost alway... -
Washington's Best Wine
30 May 2009 | 1:49 pmThe nice people at Vinography had an informative piece this past week on the wine industry in Washington State.The first week of April I got the opportunity to do an "immersion" course in Wa...
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domaine547
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Wine Store Design Continued: More Racks and Lights and Stuff
19 Jun 2009 | 6:00 pmJust a couple of images for the now… Some of the single-depth racks, assembled (thanks again to Tim Krablin of Modern Cellar for the photo)… And the interior of one of the lampshades, of which there will be 48, in three different shades of blue-ish purple. Keep in mind this is 36″ in diameter — as in [...] -
Wine Store Design Part 4: Wine Rack Construction
5 Jun 2009 | 8:21 amThanks to Tim Krablin of Modern Cellar for the linked album, showing the beginnings of the wine rack construction for the shop. Here’s a sneak peek photo attached: -
Wine Store Design Part 3: Urinal Defense Fund
3 Jun 2009 | 5:33 pmI need to make some upgrades to the plumbing in the space formerly known as California Food Mart. Today I got an estimate for a few items that hadn’t been anticipated, like adding a urinal, some other fixtures, and upgrading both the water line and a water heater. Needless to say, the costs are mounting. [...] -
BBQ Wine, Rosé, Summer Sippers and Such
27 May 2009 | 10:34 amI know, I’ve been unusually quiet over here. My attention has been very much focused on the brick and mortar space, so the website has taken sort of a back seat for the time being. I apologize. But I’ll be honest. The brick and mortar isn’t the only reason I’ve been quiet. The other reason [...] -
Thanks Squid Ink!
13 May 2009 | 11:05 amI love it when people make me sound smarter than I am. Read this nice little piece by Jessica at LA Weekly’s Squid Ink blog for a preview of the brick and mortar space. Cheers!
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[Spittoon] Full Postings
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A Selection of Wines from Domaine Paul Zinck, Alsace
28 Jun 2009 | 7:05 amFirst halt in a four day Alsace wine tour, a delightful restaurant Au Vieux Porche in the village of Eguisheim. Seeing as the restaurant manager is the sister of winemaker Paul Zinck, it is understandable that the domaines wines are served here. The winerey is right next door! Lunch opened with a delicious courgette soup, fresh, crisp flavours that ended with a underlying edge of curry, nicely done. No wine with this course but being seated near a window (lending an enchanting diffused light to the table) a delightful photo resulted. So forgive my indulgance for posting here rather than, as… -
The World's Oldest Wine Barrel
27 Jun 2009 | 10:50 amOne of the most recognisable names and also one of the oldest wine families in Alsace is Hugel. Under the winery, improbably positioned in the heart of Riquewihr (just how 'do' they get the grapes into the winery?) is this imposing beast of a barrel. Certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest vat in constant use, it is still utilised to this day. This is to certify that Hugel et Fils, founded 1619 world's oldest vat in constant use from 1715 - date spanning 12 generations of the familybr> February 1990. -
Artisan & Vine : London's Best Wine Bar
20 Jun 2009 | 5:40 amYou can't fault her passion, her drive or her enthusiasm. Kathryn, manager of Artisan & Vine, has also a rather good palate - the wine list is superb. 'Natural' is the philosophy - wines made as naturally as possible (if that means biodynamic, organic or made in the old cow trough then that is good enough for Artisan & Vine) or wines that are locally produced. Our private lunch time tasting - just five wines - lasted way into the afternoon. I can think of worse things than being in good company, drinking a personal selection of stunning wines and regaled with stories on each. If the wine… -
South African Wine : Brief Notes From a Naked Wines Tasting
19 Jun 2009 | 9:45 amA buzzie little tasting at One Alfred Place, London saw Naked Wines open a range of South African wines, some new, some expanding the showing of existing producers. "You'll notice that we have two prices next to each of our wines. When you buy form us, you can either choose to pay our standard RRP prices or our VIP prices. Customers paying our VIP prices are members of our Naked Cash Back scheme. IN other words, they set aside £20 a month into their Naked Wines Account, theirs to spend on ANY of our wines, at ANY time. And the best bit... as we know they're going to be buying form us,… -
Beyerskloof Video Tasting
16 Jun 2009 | 3:21 amFollowing on from the Beyerskloof tasting notes yesterday, a little video on the Beyerskloof Field Blend. Taken at this years London International Wine Fair the vid is hosted by Denise, the Wine Sleuth talking to Francois Norde, who, incidentally I enjoyed lunch with after the cellar tasting at Beyerskloof. I held the camera.
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Snooth Blog
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California Wine Hikes
2 Jul 2009 | 1:52 pmAs some of you may know, I recently was out on the West Coast for about a week. While I was out there, myself and a few other Snooth members planned to experience the countryside of California by pairing wine with hiking. Fortunately, California Wine Hikes wine and hiking guru Russ Beebe (the Winehiker) was right there to help us. The destination was Picchetti Winery, which is nestled towards the bottom of Montebello Rd in Cupertino. Montebello road is a steep and windy, very pretty road that snakes up through the Cupertino mountains, topping out at Ridge Vineyards which I was also able to… -
What’s in a Name?
1 Jul 2009 | 12:36 pm“That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet.” Really? If I introduced you to the rose bushes in my garden and I called them, Skunk, Vomit and Sulfur, would you really take to them with a walk away feeling of delicacy and charm? And in that we find wine’s least charming characteristic – the power of persuasion. Anyone can pull their Pinocchio from the glass and blurt out something rather interesting or silly and, almost immediately, you will pick up on that same character if you are sniffing the same wine. How does this pertain to a name? Well, in… -
Sometimes less is more
30 Jun 2009 | 2:01 pmNow don’t gt me wrong, I love wine, I love overindulging in wine. I gotta a felling that’s gonna come back and bite me! I love intense, complex enveloping experience with wine, but sometimes I just want a glass of wine. Something satisfying yet simple. Case in point, a few weeks ago I had made plans to meet my brother at my father’s house to make some order. We had a real mess on our hands and some major cleanup was called for. Long story short, brother didn’t show. so I was stuck cleaning this mess myself. Now the truth is most of that stuff is my crap. No question… -
From the Cellar - Beaujolais
24 Jun 2009 | 10:22 amWeird title right? Who pulls Beaujolais from the cellar you might ask. Well I do but I can’t say I’m a leader in that field. In fact several of my friends have rather varied assortments of Beaujolais resting in the deep recesses of their cellars and through their generosity I have come to know the wonder of aged Gamay. Wines are strange beasts, they start life as one thing and frequently morph into something completely different with age. Gamay in particular seems to really transform itself in the cellar, which is a bit of a surprise as Beaujolais, what most of us think of when we… -
Bennett Valley & Chalk Hill
19 Jun 2009 | 3:02 pmIt’s been a while since I’ve posted a blog on Snooth. It also has been a while since I’ve done anything with the pages I curate. If you don’t know I curate the Sonoma County and Sonoma Valley webpages. One way to address both of these pages and get a blog in is to talk about two of the smaller, lesser known sub-appellations in the region. I give you Chalk Hill and Bennett Valley. Bennett Valley is a sub-appellation of Sonoma Valley and is located in the Sonoma Mountain chain that leads up towards Santa Rosa. It is almost an extension of the Sonoma Mountain…
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Beyond the Bottle
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Syncline 2007 Subduction White
1 Jul 2009 | 11:38 pmThe Syncline 2007 Subduction White (14.1%) is a blend of 69% viognier and 31% chardonnay. In the glass, this wine was a beautiful golden yellow color, delivering some fruit to the nose, although it was mostly notes of over ripe melon and pineapple. The Subduction White had an overly viscous, cloying mouthfeel, almost to the point of being syrupy. The over ripe tropical fruit notes predominated along with a creaminess that was off putting. It finished with a funk that comes when viognier is not at its best. We paired the Syncline with roasted chicken thighs and onions on steamed... -
Milbrandt Vineyards 2007 Traditions Riesling
29 Jun 2009 | 10:37 pmThe 2007 vintage is an improvement on the Milbrandt Vineyards Traditions Riesling Columbia Valley, having not especially liked their 2006 bottling. Milbrandt's 2007 riesling (12.5%) is a light, golden yellow in the glass, offering tropical fruit notes with a hint of minerality. This Washington riesling provided good fruit and a touch of sweetness balanced with crisp acidity. We paired this wine with spicy Thai beef stir fried with shallots, peanuts, and chilis, served on a bed of green leaf lettuce, carrots, and cucumbers. The Milbrandt riesling (12.5%) was made for spicy food, as the off-dry… -
Grochau Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
29 Jun 2009 | 10:29 pmThe GC 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.5%) was a garnett. slightly cloudy, red in the glass, offering perfumed notes of strawberry and cherry fruit. This was a very bright, very fruity Oregon pinot noir, with bold cherry flaovrs but not much in the finish. The Grochau Cellars pinot was paired with grilled pork loin, fresh Washington asparagus, and a rice pilaf. At $20, it was a decent Oregon pinot, one that didn't blow me away, but didn't turn me off either. As such, I would buy another bottle for another go - it would be interesting to see... -
Oregon pinot noir at $25 and under
22 Jun 2009 | 9:15 pmOver the last few months, I have had a number of friends ask me about a decent, food-friendly wine priced at or below $25. When faced with this question, it is hard not to suggest an Oregon pinot noir from the 2007 vintage. As evidenced by the coverage here at BeyondtheBottle.com, I am finding the 2007 pinot noirs from Oregon to be very drinkable and incredibly enjoyable with any meal. Best of all, there are some really good wines being produced at $25 or less. Here are the wines I recommend in this price range: Arcane Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir... -
H Wines 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
22 Jun 2009 | 8:47 pmA clear ruby red in the glass, the Hamacher "H" 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.5%) offered notes of strawberries, cherries, and raspberries fresh picked in the fields with hints of earth and soil. This Oregon pinot noir delivered fresh fruit flavors with good acidity and a lasting cherry finish. It paired well with Mesquite grilled organic whole chicken, fresh Washington asparagus, and a Caprese salad. At $25, this wine offers a decent quality-price ratio, which would compel me to buy another bottle or two for later in the year. Related Links Hamacher Wine Notes Dr. Vino's Review...
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Good Wine Under $20
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Out of Africa with the Wine Book Club in July: Africa Uncorked
2 Jul 2009 | 11:03 amWhen you think "wine" you may not immediately think "Africa." John and Erica Platter set out on safari to explore African wines in the July Wine Book Club pick, Africa Uncorked: Travels in Extreme Wine Territory. ($24.95, available through Amazon.com)I have to confess I am extremely ignorant about African wine. I don't even know that much about the wines of South Africa, never mind what's going on elsewhere. So I am looking forward to finding out about where grapes are grown on the continent and about wine culture, too. A long time ago (so long ago I can't find the comment now!) a reader… -
Old World/New World: Comparing 2003 Cabernets
1 Jul 2009 | 8:44 amThe summer puts me within arms' reach of my wine cellar--a long windowseat in a house in the woods that that never goes above 60 degrees. (you can see the tell-all pictures here) Every wine bottle I unearth has some history attached to it--where I bought it, when, why--and it feels like greeting an old friend to see them again.While puttering in the windowseat I found two bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines from the 2003 vintage that had entered my cellar the same month--December 2006. One was from France's Haut-Médoc region in the Bordeaux. The other was from California's Alexander… -
Looking at Life through Rosé-Colored Glasses
24 Jun 2009 | 5:30 amIt sounds so idyllic. You love rosé wine. You love France. So you leave your life in London behind, start flogging rosé to skeptical French drinkers in busy market squares, and hope to learn enough to buy a bar that will specialize in the pink stuff.As Jamie Ivey, his wife Tanya, and friend Peter discovered, however, things are never quite as idyllic as we imagine they might be.Welcome to the June edition of the Wine Book Club, hosted this month by Kori from the Wine Peeps blog. Our book selection for this month was Jamie Ivey's La Vie en Rosé, a book that tells the tale of Ivey's… -
Pinot Bianco from the Alto Adige
22 Jun 2009 | 5:30 amThis month I'm getting to know the wines of Italy's Trentino-Alto Adige region. Tucked up in the northernmost part of Italy, the wines from this part of the country are quite different from the lush southern reds and crisp seaside whites that you might be more familiar with.My first wine was a Cabernet Franc from the southern part of the Trentino-Alto Adige. My second wine is an aromatic white from the north: the 2007 Alois Lageder Pinot Bianco from the Dolomites. ($9.39 on sale in my local grocery store; available elsewhere for $13-$17) JPK from The Italian Cellar blog recommended "anything… -
Today on Serious Eats: Drink Pink
19 Jun 2009 | 11:45 amThis weekend it is--by astronomical determination--summer. It's the longest day of the year, and it's the time when I start drinking pink. (photo by Neeta Lind)That's right, this weekend begins the official start of summer rosé season. Rosé wines are indeed perfect for serving with grilled foods, or drinking chilled on your patio, balcony, or back deck. But they're also great with leftover turkey sandwiches the day after Thanksgiving, or anytime you want to serve a fruity wine that's festive and not pretentious.So check out my recommendations for some of the best rosés available right…
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Family, Love, Wine Blog
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Winery Facebook Fan Page: Ceja Vineyards
22 Jun 2009 | 2:00 pmAmelia, Pedro, Armando and Martha Ceja Okay wineries. I bet you have your Facebook fan page up and running. You update it with event details, photos from your winery, photos of your bottles and labels, new release announcements. You’re thinking that you’re on track and ahead of the pack, right? Although these are all great elements for your page, take your strategy one step further. Gather your staff and have a no-holds-barred discussion of what it is about your winery that your customers and wine club members LOVE about you. Make sure that that core of your brand is… -
Follow Up: First Finger Lakes Wine Tweetup
8 Jun 2009 | 1:59 pmDavid Breeden, Me, Amy Cheatle, Morgan and Evan Dawson and Tom Mansell Our first Finger Lakes Wine Tweetup was a success. We had a small, hard-core group of Finger Lakes wine devotees in attendance, the day was beautiful and we were shown a great time by Sheldrake Point Vineyards‘ winemaker David Breeden, wine club manager Antoinette Di Ciaccio and staff. The Past, Present and Future Riesling vertical tasting was set in a bright but intimate room with limited seating. David walked us through the tasting and answered some tough questions. He was interviewed by one of our attendees and my… -
First Finger Lakes Wine (mini) Tweetup
29 May 2009 | 11:21 amTweetup defined: a real world meeting between two or more people who know each other through the online Twitter service (source: WordSpy.com) When: Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 2:30 PM Where: Sheldrake Point Vineyards to attend “Future, Present and Past Rieslings: A Vertical Tasting Experience” in honor of May is Riesling Month Why: for fun, to get together and explore wine with like-minded Finger Lakes wine geeks I’ve had the idea to start a local wine tasting Meet Up or tasting group for some time now. With a few more Finger Lakes wine industry members jumping into… -
Family, Love, Wine Blog: What a Year It’s Been
26 May 2009 | 11:40 amDiane Letulle, Remy Charest, Robbin Gheesling and I at Wine Bloggers Conference As a girl with a dream to bring together my passions for learning about the wine industry, its people and places and social media, I’m celebrating the one-year anniversary of my first blog post. One year ago, I didn’t know a soul in the wine business. I started devouring wine blogs and publications and most-importantly, joined the Open Wine Consortium on the recommendation of blogger and wine PR guru Tom Wark. It has been a year of wine events, tastings, classes, projects, obstacles and friendship. I… -
First Online Wine Blogger Tasting: The Wines of Chile
22 May 2009 | 12:49 pmI had the opportunity to participate in the recent online wine blogger tasting for the Wines of Chile. The tasting included a live webcast moderated by Michael Green, Wine & Spirits consultant at Gourmet magazine. Eight winemakers were available via live webcast from Santiago, Chile…cool. Michael led the tasting and asked each winemaker questions as we swiftly tasted through the eight wines. There was also much activity on Twitter as the bloggers tweeted their impressions live. The hashtag #winesofchile was used and the Twitter conversation was one of the highlights for…
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Enobytes Wine Blog
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‘Nava Valley’: The Fate of American Wines in China
25 Jun 2009 | 1:01 amIn the global wine export industry – which increasingly looks to China as a developing market – it is sometimes remarked that the United States has not made in-roads within the PRC, especially in comparison with the likes of France, Australia and Chile, the main import leaders (in that order). Even with a strengthened yuan (RMB) and weakened US dollar, American wines do not appear particularly affordable here, especially when distribution costs and local taxes are factored in. But, irrespective of currency fluctuation, US wines are often perceived to offer weak QPR (quality-price ratio)… -
Whether we like it or not, Social Media is changing our Wine World
23 Jun 2009 | 1:01 amThe social media paradigm is transforming our media landscape to an unrecognizable form many are not willing to accept. Are you one of them? Then listen up because this paradigm shift is happening whether you like it or not and I have a few tips to help you transition to the new media world. It’s a direction that will affect everyone in the wine industry, from wine writers to wineries, magazines, newspapers and marketing folks. If you don’t jump on the social media bandwagon you might just be left in the dark. If you don’t believe me, then listen to Clay Shirky, a prescient… -
Why I Want to Learn More About Spanish Wines
15 Jun 2009 | 1:01 amPhoto credit: Modern Language Center I’m a wine geek at heart so when I heard about an opportunity to receive a scholarship to attend a 3-day Spanish Wine education coursesponsored by the Wine Academy of Spain and Catavino, I jumped at the opportunity to find out more about the program. I’m well aware of some of the initiatives this well-respected academy has headed up in the past, including the World Conference on Climate Change lead by Pancho Campo. If you have an interest in the impacts of climate change and how to adapt to a new climate, check out some of the audio files I… -
Changing Times Brings Innovation
13 Jun 2009 | 5:46 pmInnovative restaurants are making bold moves to compensate for the lack of regulars -- change is the only path to success when you are not successful with your current business model. Today on Wine Bytes, my wine blog on OregonLive, I talk about how encouraging it is to see that some innovative restaurants have made bold moves quickly to compensate for the lack of regulars, for whom they depended on for years. I applaud any entrepreneur that realizes change is the only path to success when you are not successful with your current business model. Check out my latest post here. -
The Positive Side of a Negative Review
9 Jun 2009 | 1:01 amThe spin among wine journalists, bloggers and winery owners that believe negative wine reviews are of no use to anyone is a concept that I find as hard to swallow as a raisiny Zin with TCA. Photo credit: sfgate Today on Wine Bytes, my wine blog on OregonLive, I talk about The positive side of negative wine reviews. Many believe negative wine reviews are of no use to anyone, which is a concept that I find as hard to swallow as a raisiny Zin with TCA. I buy wine like a consumer. That status will never change no matter how many samples we receive, and the process of our tasting regimen is…
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The Cork Board
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Cork Bits: ideas for your Napa Valley weekend
2 Jul 2009 | 2:59 pmThis week’s edition of upcoming Napa Valley events is chock-full of fireworks. With the 4th falling on Saturday, there are multiple Independence Day celebrations taking place over the next few days–here are a few that should be a lot of fun… Friday, July 3rd Our friends at Silverado Resort (@SilveradoResort on Twitter) will host their annual fireworks celebration starting at approximately 9:15pm on the South Course. The best part? There is no charge for the firework extravaganza and you can call 800-532-0500 for more information Saturday, July 4th From 11:30am – 10pm… -
New releases and a re-release from St. Helena’s Smith-Madrone Winery
1 Jul 2009 | 8:44 pmThe folks at Smith-Madrone Winery, which is located high atop Spring Mountain overlooking St. Helena, got in touch earlier this week to share some news. The winery recently released new vintages of its Chardonnay (a 2007 for $40 per 750ml bottle) and Riesling (a 2008 for $27 per bottle). The more interesting news, at least from our point of view, is that Smith-Madrone has also just re-released its 2002 Riesling ($60 per bottle). Now, admittedly we’ve generally not thought of laying down a Riesling in the cellar for a decade or better like we’d do with a Cabernet Sauvignon, but… -
A review of the dining experience at downtown Napa’s The Border
30 Jun 2009 | 9:22 amA few weeks back we ate at one of downtown Napa’s newest restaurant installations, The Border. The restaurant is operated by Pablo and Erasto Jacinto, who rose through the ranks working for the likes of local chefs Michael Chiarello, Cindy Pawlcyn and Donna Scala. With that pedigree and the promise of some authentic Mexican food, we were quite excited to give The Border a try. The Dining Room: The restaurant space is very open and on the evening of our visit was brimming with patrons at the bar and in the main dining area. We noted immediately the open kitchen at the back of the restaurant,… -
Photos: late June in Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District
29 Jun 2009 | 6:28 amThis weekend, as temperatures topped 100 degrees in the Napa Valley, we ventured out to take a few photos of the vineyards. The last time we checked in with such photos the vineyards were just entering the flowering stage. As you can see below, the 2009 fruit is now well-established and growing nicely–what a difference a month makes! These shots were taken by our resident photographer in the heart (and heat) of the Oak Knoll District. TechTags Plugin [ Napa | Napa Valley | wine | winery | napa wine grapes ] Share and Enjoy: -
Cork Bits: ideas for your Napa Valley weekend
25 Jun 2009 | 8:22 pmHere were are, Thursday evening and we’re not sure about you, but our minds are already focused on the weekend. With summer in full-swing, there are certainly no shortage of events taking place in the Napa Valley…here are just a couple you may want to check out! Friday, June 26th and Saturday, June 27th Downtown Napa’s Back Room Wines will host the (unique) 7th Annual Hot Dogs & Wine event on Friday (5pm – 8pm) and Saturday (12pm – 5pm). The event features hot dogs 3 ways: classic, chili and kraut and there will be wine served to match each. Cost is $10 per…
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Confessions of a Wino
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Guenoc Cabernet Sauvignon Bella Vista Reserve 1994
1 Jul 2009 | 5:25 amMy good mate, Easto, came over for a barbecue at the weekend and brought a bottle he had stored for too many years (or so he thought). Having recently bought into my two fundamental theories of life: a) that wine should be drunk at the right temperature; and b) that your best wine should be drunk and not left in your will, he suggested I give this a quick blast in the fridge and get on with firing up the coals. The wine was produced by Bob and Jackie Hayes, personal friends of the Eastons and Tim had brought this back from California in his suitcase a few years ago. There was no reason to… -
Bellingham 2007 Bernard Chenin Blanc
29 Jun 2009 | 2:38 pmI have a lot of respect for Stuart Pearce. I liked him as manager of Man City although clearly he was not experienced enough at the time. For the last couple of years he has been preparing England Under 21s for the European Cup. We were clearly the best side in the tournament with the possible exception of Germany, who gave us a 4-0 bloody nose in the final. But for 3 key suspensions, England might well have put up a fight, but what do I know? I don’t have Sky Sports in the flat so I have had to suffer Wimbledon instead where sulky Scot/plucky Brit (depending if he loses/if he… -
Les Arbousiers 2008
28 Jun 2009 | 9:14 amThink of a long, lazy, boozy summer lunch in the south of France and you think of rosé. Well I do. Les Arbousiers, Coteaux du Languedoc 2008 arrived from Virgin Wines in exchange for 699 of the 2,899 pennies kindly refunded to me after returning a dodgy bottle to Costco. It is the colour of smoked salmon. The taste is fresh, clean and fruity with a decent kick of spice. Yum. Imagine yourself eating bouillabaisse on the port in Marseilles, or grilled langoustine on the seafront in Nice….with a large glass of rosé of course. -
Italian Freemasons nobble me in Manchester
24 Jun 2009 | 1:43 pmItalian wines are often accused of being over-tannic. I guess that is a matter of opinion but I woke up with a headache this morning. Last night I had the pleasure of attending my first Wine Society event, an informal tasting within the impressive architecture of the Freemason’s Hall on Bridge Street. Such things clearly need a theme and this one was “Italy from top to toe”. Given the country in question one might equally have dreamt up “heel to sole” or “thirst to last”. But that’s enough cobblers. The event had a £25 entry fee which… -
Fung Shing, London Chinatown
19 Jun 2009 | 6:47 amI’ve heard many reports of London Chinatown’s demise. Shame when Manchester’s equivalent is thriving so well. I found myself in The Big Smoke on business with nothing better to do than check out the rumours, so I selected a random place on Lisle Street just behind Leicester Square. I browsed through a surprisingly interesting wine list and spent £19 on a bottle of Muscat-Viognier Vin de Pays des Côtes de Catalanes 2008. By Domaine Cazes and with the grand sounding title of ‘Le Canon du Maréchal’ it reminded me a little of Torrontés but was unmistakeably…
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wineconversation.com
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Wine tasting, the professional way
29 Jun 2009 | 5:01 amI thought you might find this both interesting and amusing. I took part in a tasting of 75 wines with Charles Metcalfe (aka @thewinesinger) last week. During the day I took some video on my new iPhone 3GS (yes, playing around). I’ll publish the serious interviews soon, but this is Charles tasting wine 60 (or more) of over 75. Related articles by Zemanta Having problems scoring? (drinkingoutsidethebox.blogspot.com) Portuguese wines reviewed in WOFW 24 (wineanorak.com) Let Your iPhone Select Wine Pairings With iSommelier (geeksugar.com) Which wine goes with iPhone? (timesunion.com) -
Wine and Tech: Picturing a thousand words
23 Jun 2009 | 2:46 pmWine and Tech will be (I hope) a series of short posts on using some new technology to support the wine conversation I have recently come across a number of innovations that are not directly related to wine, but which got me thinking about how they might be used to do fun, useful and social stuff with wine. I thought I would share some of these with you and see if they sparked ideas for you like the have done for me. How good is your memory? Mine is awful. I’m pretty good with faces, but names are “gone in 60 seconds” (or less). In fact it is the same with wine. Some people… -
Its about wine, naturally
17 Jun 2009 | 3:43 pmI just spent an enjoyable afternoon learning about “Natural” wines with Kathryn O’Mara of Artisan & Vine and in the pleasant company of Denise Medrano (aka The Wine Sleuth) and Andrew Barrow (of Spittoon.biz). Natural wine, according to Kathryn, are ones truly ‘made in the vineyard’. Whilst many winemakers might make this claim, Kathryn has selected wines that take this to the extreme. Kathryn’s challenge was to dedicate her wine bar to selling wine with a truly unique story and a dedication to their source. Artisan & Vine’s wine list is made… -
Wine, Oil & Vinegar
15 Jun 2009 | 2:31 amIs there something intrinsically “Italian” about a website built in Italy like there is something uniquely Italian about the country’s wines (beyond the obvious language issue of course)? I don’t think so. However, there might be something uniquely Italian about how a problem is addressed and solved. For example, I’m attending a “wine” conference in Genoa, and amongst the 20 or so speakers at yesterday’s “unconference” were two olive oil producers and a producer of wonderful balsamic vinegar - all talking about the same issues of… -
Chablis: Chic or Not
12 Jun 2009 | 5:50 amOn Wednesday I was invited to taste through a small range of examples of 2008 vintage Chablis with Arnaud Valour of the Burgundy Wine Board. Naturally I accepted - and it had nothing to do with the branded gifts I took away (although I’m particularly grateful for a copy of Rosemary George’s wonderful book; The Wines of Chablis) I’d say that the wines were great, but they were only a selection of 6 bottles (blind - i.e. without saying which they were) and chosen to be the best of the region in this vintage, so you’d expect them to be. I was particularly impressed by the…
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Vino Sense
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How Fruit, Flower, Leaf And Root Affect Wine
1 Jul 2009 | 1:00 pmDo you believe that your mood influences the taste of a wine? How about the company you are with when you’re drinking it? I do. And I certainly know that the right glassware influences the flavor of the wine as well. -
Bidding On And Collecting Fine Wines
24 Jun 2009 | 1:00 pmOne of the most popular ways to acquire wine these days is via auction. More and more of my friends are looking at auctions in order to obtain wines that are already aged, reaching their apogee and are ready to drink. It’s also a great place to find some of those real treasures and collectibles that you only hear about. -
The Simple Purity Of Unadulterated Wines
17 Jun 2009 | 1:00 pmThere is a soap commercial that claims the soap is 100 percent pure. I always asked myself, 100 percent pure what? -
A Sommelier’s Plea For Wines By The Glass
10 Jun 2009 | 1:00 pmWhy is it so hard to find an interesting wine to drink by the glass? So many of us cannot or should not try to drink a full bottle of wine at dinner. But if you are the only wine drinker in the group or if you don’t want to drink too much, the choices can be pretty slim. -
Dry Rose: Perfect For Summertime Sipping
3 Jun 2009 | 1:00 pmI feel like Sisyphus when I suggest a dry rose for food and wine pairings. He was a king in Greek mythology sentenced to roll a huge boulder up a hill only to watch it roll back down for eternity. But here I go again. I think dry rose wines are some of the best wines to pair with food.
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Woot Wine! - One Week, One Wine
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Helix Pomatia Three - Pack - $44.99
1 Jul 2009 | 10:00 pmBecause Wine Lovers Have Feelings, TooYou’re listening to WTWN-AM, super gold of the ‘70s! Anybody remember this smash hit ballad from the summer of 2009? Wait, that’s not in the ‘70s…Helix Nothing more than Helix Pomatia red wine made by Helix Winery Currants And pencil lead up my nose Then berries and coffee Followed by chocolate Helix For all my life I’ll drink it I wish I’d always known it It’s usually not this cheap Helix Whoa-oh-oh-oh Helix Whoa-oh-oh-oh Helix Again in my glass Helix Nothing more than Helix From Columbia Valley That’s in Washington State Helix For all… -
Helix Aspersa Three - Pack
28 Jun 2009 | 10:00 pmHawaii Met Your PalateSlip on your lei and stick an apple in that pig’s mouth! We’re gonna luau like they do in the Aloha State: Washington!What? You mean Washington isn’t the Aloha State? Well, it’s an easy mistake to make when your hula-ing with the 2007 Helix Aspersa Columbia Valley. Waft its canteloupe, pineapple, and pear aromas through your nostrils, and even the bushiest evergreen will start to look a little like a palm. Splash the citronella, orange zest, and iced tea flavors on your tongue and you just might start juggling those sticks with fire on both ends. Probably only… -
Mia's Kitchen Wine Reduction Sauce Two - Pack
24 Jun 2009 | 10:00 pmMia’s Kitchen Es Su KitchenPut down the Hot Pocket. Step away from the Easy Mac. And stop pretending like that cup of re-hydrated soup isn’t a gritty, unpalatable mess.Would it kill you to slow up and have a real meal for a change? Mia Sebastiani’s mom, Nancy, cooks for her whole family every Sunday. Mia, Nancy, and the rest of the fam sit down together for hearty repasts made with care from flavorful, fresh ingedients. She believes in the power of a well-cooked meal so much, Mia will even save you the time of reducing wine for your sauces. So there’s one less excuse you have. These… -
Scott Harvey on Riesling: Sweet, Dry, Off-Dry?
23 Jun 2009 | 1:35 pmI cut my teeth on Riesling back in 1972 when I was an 18 year old AFS exchange student to Germany. When I got there, the first thing they did was welcome me with a wonderful refreshing glass of Riesling. I looked out the window of the second story farm house and as far as you could see where the beautiful vineyards of the Rheinland Pfalz. I got my German/English dictionary out and the first thing I asked them was “Does this wine come from those vineyards?” They said “Sure it does, do you want to see where it is made?” They took me down into the basement and I’ve been in love with… -
Vino Noceto - Three Pack
23 Jun 2009 | 8:59 amNo Flowers RequiredAnd now, next up on WNWT-FM’s Springtime of Love Spectacular, one of my favorite golden oldies from the early days of Wine.Woot – hope it’s one of your favorites, too!If you’re drinking Sangiovese Be sure it’s the good stuff from Vino Noceto If you’re drinking Sangiovese You’re gonna want to let the Vino Noceto flow For those who love a good Sangiovese There’s the ‘05 Riserva, in Super Tuscan style A rich and jammy full-flavored Sangiovese Drink it now or cellar it for a little while If you prefer Chianti-style Sangiovese Try the ‘06 from gentle Vino…
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1 Wine Dude
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Guess What? You’re White! – American Winemaking’s Diversity Crisis
1 Jul 2009 | 3:00 amWill a lack of diversity hurt the winemaking industry in the future? Hey wine lovers and winemakers – Let me tell you a little about you. Chances are, you’re white. Or, I should say, chances are you’re not black – especially if you’re a winemaker in the U.S. In fact, if you’re an American winery owner, there is a 99.9% chance that you’re not black, because African American winery owners represent roughly 1/1000th of the total number of wineries in the U.S. That’s a staggering misalignment with the diversity of the American population. If American winemakers held a… -
Wine, Words & Love Affairs (A Book Review)
29 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amet·y·mol·o·gy Pronunciation: \-jē\ Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural et·y·mol·o·gies Etymology: Middle English ethimologie, from Anglo-French, from Latin etymologia, from Greek, from etymon + -logia -logy Date: 14th century 1 the history of a linguistic form (as a word) shown by tracing its development since its earliest recorded occurrence in the language where it is found, by tracing its transmission from one language to another, by analyzing it into its component parts, by identifying its cognates in other languages, or by tracing it and its cognates to a common ancestral… -
Weekly Twitter Wine Mini-Reviews Round-up for 2009-06-27
27 Jun 2009 | 1:00 amPlaneta 'Segreta' Nero d'Avola/Merlot (Sicily): 'Warrior needs food, badly!' And so does this wine. Why isn't Nero more popular Stateside?!? # 07 Honoro Vera Merlot (Jumilla): Seasons52 exclusive Monastrell blend. Very approachable red fruit & spice. VERY ymmy with lamb & potatoes. # 06 Retromarcia Sangiovese (Chianti Classico): Good balance btw 'Old' (woody, citrus peel) & 'New' (ripe red fruits) styles. Drink it now (?) # 06 selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese (Mosel): An embryo. Acidic – like, Alien's blood… -
The Real Hidden Danger of Wine Tasting (and THE Essential Tool for Protection)
25 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amSome of you out there reading this who may be in the wine trade will already know some of what I’m about to unfold here on the virtual pages of 1WineDude.com. To those people I say this: chime in with some comments to help those who are soon to step into danger’s path. Some of you, who are new to the trade, or are eager and enthusiastic consumers who are planning to attend a wine tasting event during which you may have the opportunity to taste upwards of 100+ wines in a short amount of time. To those people I say this: read on and pay attention – it just might save you some… -
Cliq It. Cliq It Good! (winecliQ goes into Public Beta)
24 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amFrequent 1WineDude.com readers may have noticed a sharp-looking widget over in the sidebar titled “3 Wine Picks.” This little bugger comes courtesy of winecliQ, the brainchild of AmericanWinery.com, which I helped to test during their private beta. winecliQ has now moved out into public beta, which means that you can jump into the winecliQ fun if you’re so inclined. The idea behind the program can be summed up (in the words of AmericanWinery.com) as “Drink Wine, Get Paid.” A summary / overview from the winecliQ website: Select your favorite wines at AmericanWinery.com. Add…
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Good Grape: A Wine Manifesto
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Wisdom from the Glass: Lessons Wine Has Taught Me
2 Jul 2009 | 6:34 amWine wisdom earned is wine knowledge learned. One of the most valuable aspects of being a wine lover is the lessons wine imparts, mostly with subtlety, sometimes with blunt force, always valuable – a Zen master or Buddhist monk-like giver of insight into the world around us. Being a lifelong learner, something my mother imparted upon me, I don’t ever consider myself a finished product – what’s next is always going to be even better than what just passed. Are we ever done? Perhaps, we’re done only if you’re running a sprint through life and… -
Field Notes from a Wine Life – Famous Last Words Edition
1 Jul 2009 | 8:01 amYour Daily Laugh If you’re not in the habit of reading Decanter.com news, you’re missing some of the best comedy in the world of wine, laugh track not included. Literally, on a daily basis, it’s a treasure trove of folly. Based on a sometimes arched eyebrow approach I take to a lot of wine issues, I looked up the definition of “curmudgeon” just to make sure that at my still spritely age of 36, I wasn’t turning into too much of a “crusty, ill-tempered man, usually old.” I feel safe in now saying that, no, I’m not a curmudgeon… -
Sanford Winery: Averting the Cliché
29 Jun 2009 | 6:17 pmIt’s too bad about a certain movie that had a certain impact on a certain varietal that helped ignite the wine industry (and the Central Coast) to its current heights in the wine consumer renaissance. Unfortunately, It seems almost cliché to make a reference to said movie for fear of being labeled as “That Guy”— the one that drops cultural references to movies that stopped being cultural touchstones four years ago. Doing so would be an indignity in the same realm of egregious faux pas as wearing all white sneakers and pulling out a travel map on the corner… -
Vin de Napkin - Dubious Research Edition
28 Jun 2009 | 7:19 pmMore doodlings on the back of a wine stained napkin ... I don’t mean to pick on university professors or researchers, but I can’t help but notice that the preponderance of research that comes out, specifically wine-related research from universities, is usually pretty lame. Yeah, I get the “publish or perish” notion, but is our academia sector now reduced to studying whether its more important for a winery to build a brand or to focus on high-quality? I suppose these two things can be mutually exclusive of each other, but on the branding front, didn’t… -
Saving “Value” from the Scrap Heap of Meaningless, Bastardized Words
27 Jun 2009 | 8:05 amIn the realm of words that are in danger of becoming utterly meaningless, “value” is right up there next to “strategize” and “authentic.” Every year it seems more and more words take on a subjugated role in our daily lexicon and in the process they get used with mixed meaning to the point where the word loses all relevance as an individual contributor in the English language. That said, the word “value” in wine is on the cusp of becoming utterly meaningless. While true, I do feel like I’m doing a Jerry Seinfeld stand-up routine, all…
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Pinotblogger: the Capozzi Winery blog
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I Find Your Lack Of Pinot Disturbing
15 Jun 2009 | 1:39 pm -
The Business of Birthing Wine
11 Jun 2009 | 4:46 amNote: I started this post way back in October. There are some interesting things I want to say about natural birth and natural wines, and I will, but not today. Today my wife is in labor and will be giving birth to my baby girl Charli. It’ll be a natural childbirth once again (barring an emergency requiring a hospital visit), no drugs and no freakin’ gurneys. The birth center we will be hanging out at is actually just a well outfitted home, complete with couches, a stereo, beds, rocking chair, nice courtyard, birth tub for water births, you name it. From my point of view –… -
Inertia Buys New Vine: Revelations
5 Jun 2009 | 12:28 amIn my previous post on New Vine (formerly New Vine Logistics), I listed 4 questions I had about the abrupt closure. Thanks to the absolutely stellar reporting of Lewis Perdue at Wine Insights (be sure to subscribe if you don’t already), it looks like I’ve gotten some answers. But first, the juicy stuff from Lewis’ latest post: * Amazon has a stealth, password protected version of its amazonwine.com site up and running using New Vine technology. * Employees claim they are searching for a class action attorney to file suit against NV And, perhaps most scandalous of all, given… -
FAIL: I’ve Had My Share
2 Jun 2009 | 11:29 am“The first director I had at Second City said, ‘You have to learn to love the bomb,’ and I didn’t know what he meant for a very long time. …But there’s a buzz to failing and not dying.” - Stephen Colbert So the wine blogger scholarship contest, the one where if enough people submitted applications you could receive $1000, received fewer than 20 submissions. It was, by any accounting, a failure. I’ve been unpacking the reasons why I think the scholarship is full of fail, and thought I’d share. I’m no stranger to failure; many things… -
New Vine Logistics Aftermath: Questions
1 Jun 2009 | 4:47 pmUPDATE: Lewis Perdue at Wine Industry Insight has the best article yet published on the closure. His reporting appears more accurate than mainstream newspapers. He’s a blogger by the way. Highly recommended. Usually I use this blog to express my views and opinions, but today I just have questions regarding the NVL closure. According to reports in the Press Democrat, quoting an unnamed employee, Silicon Valley Bank was responsible for the abrupt closure of NVL either last Friday or on Sunday. It isn’t clear which. What is known is that the situation was first brought to light at…
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Aristide - Blog di viaggio nel vino
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Oliena, Terra di Nepente, in Cantina Gostolai
28 Jun 2009 | 10:27 am“So di non fare vini facili”. Tonino Arcadu, vignaiolo in Oliena (Nuoro), sintetizza così la sua attività di produttore che, dal 1988, porta avanti con il marchio Cantina Gostolai (dal nome della località dove sorgono i vigneti di famiglia). Oltre... -
Ristampe / Ridurre l'alcol nel vino: è un peccato originale?
25 Jun 2009 | 3:56 pmLa nuova riforma del mercato comunitario del vino, nota anche come OCM Vino, dovrebbe deliberare a breve anche sulla legalizzazione delle pratiche di de-alcolizzazione del vino. La misura suscita reazioni controverse, spesso dettate da interessi immediati delle grandi aziende o... -
Flash: Il Mio Vino, carinerie per i wine blogger
17 Jun 2009 | 3:43 pmCome non associarsi allo sbadiglio di questa signorina nella foto qui a fianco? Con regolare cadenza, piove dal cielo lo strale giornalistico pro-domo-corporatione. Con regolare zelo, se la prende, lo strale, con gli irregolari della comunicazione, noi wine blogger, noi... -
Terroir Vino & Vinix Unplugged, a Genova
10 Jun 2009 | 11:37 amConto alla rovescia per l'evento più importante dell'anno. Sto parlando di "Terroir Vino" [sponsor], la quinta edizione del TigullioVino.it Meeting, che si terrà lunedì 15 giugno nella strepitosa cornice di Palazzo Ducale, a Genova. Terroir Vino è un evento di... -
Vulcania a Soave, voglia di terroir
7 Jun 2009 | 3:14 pmSintesi: “la qualità di un vino è sotto i nostri piedi”. Punto. Questo è ciò che serve per conoscere i vini che beviamo. Ipse dixit Attilio Scienza, grande sacerdote della viticoltura italiana (e non solo). In una mattinata estiva, troppo...
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Tempranillo Tango
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TAPAS at Fort Mason
24 Jun 2009 | 6:58 amI am just now recovering from the best TAPAS event ever! I also want to acknowledge the great volunteer team, many whom are bloggers and wine lovers themselves- THANK YOU! A friend and fellow Tempranillo grower shot these pics of the event:TAPAS San FranciscoThe tasting room in Healdsburg has been open for 2.5 weeks, not that I am counting......It has interesting watching the ebb and flow of traffic to the tasting room. Days that you would think would be busy are not, and vise versa. I have been told there is no rhyme or reason and I am starting to believe it. It is so great to be able to… -
The Morning After
15 Jun 2009 | 6:22 amAnother great weekend! Saturday was spent in the new tasting room and Sunday was the TAPAS Grand Tasting event in San Francisco. Today I am back in the winery, a little slower than normal. Almost like having a hangover, though not from alcohol consumption.The tasting room is doing well in Healdsburg-you always wonder if you are located in the right spot, people will actually buy the wines, do you need more gadgets.............definitely a learning process. I expect that the cool weather and the economy are keeping the amount of traffic down somewhat, only time will tell.The TAPAS event at… -
Bloom is Here and Gone
1 Jun 2009 | 5:40 pmTres Palmeras is in full bloom- Frank went out and took these pictures and you can actually see the little flowers! So far the vineyards are looking pretty good- after two not so great years of crop, the vines are ready to go with all that they have. Lots of shoots, lots of clusters = lots of fruit. We are beginning to see what harvest will yield.In Vino Veritas Coop Tasting room is open, though I am still waiting for the final stamp of approval which I am told should happen any minute. Had the ABC website up all day to see if it would happen- much like watching a pot come to… -
Packed Weekend
17 May 2009 | 5:17 pmIt is Sunday evening - Frank and I are finally sitting- on the deck Mojito in hand. Yesterday was CigarBQ and it was hot - damn hot! Even the red wines were in the cooler and it was hot enough to wonder if there was any wine worth drinking without an ice cube.........wish I would have brought my plastic cubes that I keep in the freezer just for days like that.Thank you! to our friend Blaine for taking the photo- a fellow Tempranillo fan that is getting ready to plant some vines in the Russian River that could one day end up in our RRV appellation wines.Today is another scorcher- >100F in some… -
Tasting Room Opening this Month
11 May 2009 | 8:54 pmThis is an exciting time for me- something I really wasn't sure would become reality....my wine in a tasting room!The New tasting Room is on 118 North Street in Healdsburg, California - Vino Veritas. For those of you that know Healdsburg it is across the street from the Raven theatre. There are six of us sharing this space with myself being the only Tempranillo and the only Tempranillo Rose' in the house. There is great artwork on the walls by the man, Ken Schilling, that started this venture by getting the investors needed, getting the permits, and working to make the space 'livable'.The…
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Wine Weekly
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Pinot Noir Review: Lechthaler
29 Jun 2009 | 5:25 amLechthaler Pinot Nero 2006 No, that’s not a mistake — Pinot Noir and Pinot Nero are the same thing, except that in Italy they like to use words with vowels at the end. I like it too, it makes language more colorful and melodic. Similarly, I like this Pinot Noir … er, Nero … which hails from the Trentino region of Italy. Trentino is the northernmost part of Italy, and is the country’s most mountainous region. As a result Trentino tends to be one of the cooler climates — therefore, ideal for even ripening for the Pinot Grigio grape, as well as Pinot Bianco… -
Cabernet Review: Kaiken
5 May 2009 | 2:30 pmKaiken Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Kaiken is a somewhat unknown wine brand from Argentina, which is a good thing and a bad thing. It’s a good thing, because it hasn’t yet been discovered and “taken off” in popularity, so the prices are still affordable (around ten bucks or less). It’s a bad thing, because 1) it can be hard to find on retailer’s shelves; and 2) since people don’t see it at their retailer, restaurants are able to mark it up ridiculously. For example, I paid $9.99 for this bottle at my local wine shop, after tasting it at $11 per glass at a… -
Kosher Wines for Passover (Red and White)
8 Apr 2009 | 9:39 amKosher wines don’t have to taste “funny” any more. Recent developments in kosher winemaking has resulted in high quality, great-tasting wines fit for any occasion. This year, Passover begins at sunset on April 8th, and will continue through Wednesday, April 15th. If you observe Passover and aim to keep kosher during this Jewish holiday, here are two excellent wines — one white, one red — that are both kosher and appropriate for typical Passover feasts. Tasting Notes: Yarden Chardonnay 2006 Wide open, expressive nose of bright ripe pear, peach, honeysuckle,… -
Chardonnay Review: Macari Reserve
10 Mar 2009 | 3:56 pmMacari Chardonnay Reserve 2007North Fork, Long Island, NY, USA When it comes to wines from the United States, North Fork, Long Island, New York, is not exactly mentioned in the same breath as, say, Napa Valley, but nonetheless this small region does produce drinkable and enjoyable wines. Its Northeast geography lends itself to less consistent and predictable summers, with a climate and soil type that is not necessarily ideal for “traditional” grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot. Very generally speaking, Long Island summers are better suited for varietals such… -
Red Wine Review: Penfolds Shiraz-Cab
16 Jan 2009 | 11:04 amPenfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet 2007 Every once in a while I get in the mood for a big, jammy, New World style red wine — something bursting with sweet red and black berry fruits — but at the same time, something that I don’t have to think much about. In other words, a bottle that I can pick up for around ten bucks or less and not feel guilty about drinking with a hamburger or cheap cut of steak. When those moods strike me, I usually go either for a Ravenswood red or an Aussie Shiraz. In this case, I went down under, to Penfolds, which offers a nice range of jammy…
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A Wine Story
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Enjoying Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
22 Jun 2009 | 6:29 amFor a moment, imagine yourself an invited guest at an exclusive dinner at a First Growth Chateau in the Medoc. It is mid-June, and everyone who is “anyone” in the wine world is in Bordeaux to attend VinExpo to make deals or discover the latest trends. You would expect to see familiar figures as Margrit Mondavi, the Swiss born VP of Cultural Events for Robert Mondavi Winery, the publishers and editors of magazines like Wine & Spirits and Wine Spectator, and of course the owners and key team members at several top Chateaux. You would possibly also expect a fairy tale chateau, gorgeous… -
Visiting Winery Cecchi - Castellina in Chianti
16 Jun 2009 | 5:31 pm... very excited to visit Winery Cecchi in Chianti tomorrow on a special study tour arranged by the Wine & Spirits Educational Trust! According to some pre-study of their web site, the winery started up in 1893 with the founder Luigi... and is now operated by his decendents Cessare and Andrew. The winery has 300 hectares of vineyards spread throughout central Italy -- we will be visiting the vineyard in Chianti Classico. We will also visit Fattoria di Petroio, where grapes are produced n fourteen hectares of specialized vineyards, thirteen of which aare D.O.C.G Chianti Classico with the… -
Exploring Chateau La Lagune
16 Jun 2009 | 9:51 am“If only people could imagine the riches!” says a wine connoisseur friend, standing in the gorgeous ballroom of the historic Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan. It is a sunny winter day, and celebrity wine writers have turned out to taste the ’06 vintage at Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux. Each year the finest vignerons of the Chateaux of Bordeaux -- many of them Chateau owners -- showcase their wines for the media, wine store owners, and restaurateurs. I waive to many fellow journalists I know from the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and prestigious magazines. Many of the… -
Exploring Chateau Guiraud
16 Jun 2009 | 9:48 amDidier Galhaud, tall, dark, and slim, meets me at Chateau Guiraud in the Sauternes district of Bordeaux, and escorts me around the First Grand Cru Classe wine property, known for the spectacular sweet wine called Sauternes. Grey mist swirls around us as we crunch our way down the gravel walkway towards the tasting room. Guiraud is your fantasy of the classic French chateau, right down to the turrets and chandeliers. Peacocks even show off their colorful plums in the garden. Dinner or décor, I wonder. From this description, you might think I'm setting the scene for a romance novel or murder… -
Exploring Chateau Tayac
16 Jun 2009 | 9:45 am“Robert Parker spent an entire day here,” says the charming matriarch Annick Saturny, whose husband bought and created Château Tayac many decades ago. So far, this is the first Château I have visited that actually looks like the American ideal of what a Château should look like. First, notice the imposing gates and long driveway that lead up to a spectacular mansion a few centuries old. The vineyard here, overlooking the junction between the Gironde and the Dordogne, dates back to Gallo-Roman times. Château Tayac’s romantic history begs that you pour yourself a glass of the…
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jamie goode's wine blog
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The future of wine publishing: the Gault Millau war
2 Jul 2009 | 4:44 pmInteresting situation developing in Germany. It seems that one of the most influential German wine guides, Gault Millau, has asked producers for a voluntary fee of 195 euros to help the guide survive (see here). I suppose, should the guide be in real trouble, then you can understand the pass the plate approach. Sort of.However, the response of an elite group of producers (see here and here) has been to send an open letter saying that they won't pay, and that because of this perceived 'problem' of not paying, they don't want to be included in future editions of the guide, and they won't be… -
2 Jul 2009 | 10:08 am
2 Jul 2009 | 10:08 amHere's my Pinot Noir, as it looks today. The berries are starting to form, and you can still see the remains of the flowers. It's a bit less advanced than the same variety in Burgundy, but not too far off. [One Alentejo winegrower twittered today that their vines were going through veraison already!] Last night was good fun. I met with the fellow organizers of the sparkling wine symposium for a planning meeting followed by dinner. We went to Fino in Charlotte Street (http://www.finorestaurant.com/), which is a swanky tapas joint that allows corkage for £15. So we brought along some wine, and… -
Burgundy (3): Clos du Tart
2 Jul 2009 | 8:21 amMy final day in Burgundy was a brief one: just time for one appointment before heading back to Dijon for the train. But what an appointment! It was at Burgundy's largest Grand Cru Monopole, Clos du Tart. I'd recently tried a whole bunch of the wines in London, so it was fantastic to be able to visit this famous estate. I was shown round by Sylvain Pitiot himself, which was great. It operates more like a Bordeaux chateau, in the sense that just one Grand Vin is made from this single vineyard (planted in 1141!), together with a second wine in many vintages. Full report will follow very soon. I… -
In Burgundy (2)
30 Jun 2009 | 1:22 pmIncredible day's tasting and visiting today. We began in Meursault, with Jean-Philippe Fichet - really impressive wines, tasting back to 1992. Now I remember why I love white Burgundy. Below is a view over Meursault Tesson towards the village.Staying in Meursault, we visited Domaine Pierre Morey, where we were hosted by his daughter, Anne Morey (below). Really precise wines, with real impact and minerality - using 'good' reduction well. Lunch was at Louis Latour, with a big tasting that included some very smart wines, as well as some more commercial bottles. This was followed by a drive… -
In Burgundy (1)
29 Jun 2009 | 3:30 pmTook the Eurostar to Paris, then headed to Dijon, and now I'm in Beaune. There's something thrilling about Burgundy.Just one visit today - Joseph Drouhin. We met with Jean-Francois Curie and Philippe Drouhin and tasted through a large range of wines, including a wonderful 2007 Clos des Mouches Blanc and the excellent 2007 Montrachet. Then it was off to dinner at Le Benaton (www.lebenaton.com) in Beaune - an excellent, ambitious restaurant, where we dined well, with some fantastic older bottles (2003 Montrachet, 1990 Clos des Mouches and 2000 Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru). On the menu: Les…
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Weincasting™
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Gault Millau und die Winzer. Vive la révolution?!
2 Jul 2009 | 3:13 pmVor kurzem sorgte u.a. eine Meldung bei Werner Elflein für Diskussion, dass sich die deutsche Ausgabe des Gault Millau Weinführers nicht mehr nur mit den unzähligen kostenlosen Probeflaschen begnügen wolle. Vielmehr wäre es jetzt doch nett, wenn sich die Winzer nun auch an den ‘Herstellkosten’ mit einer ‘Teilnahmegebühr’ in Höhe von 195 Euro beteiligen würden. Natürlich wäre dies freiwillig und hätte bestimmt keinen Einfluss auf die Bewertung. Der Grund dieser Aktion liegt offenbar nicht nur darin, dass man die Zeit verschlafen hat, dem Gault Millau nicht… -
Dresdner Elbtal der Ahnungslosen jetzt wieder ohne Erbe
25 Jun 2009 | 9:45 amDer Titel ‘Weltkulturerbe’ für das Dresdner Elbtal, welches die Weinberge u.a. der Dresdner Winzer Lutz Müller und Klaus Zimmerling zumindest tangierte, ist endgültig futsch. Damit erreicht eine mehrjährige Provinzposse ihren Endpunkt… Ach, lassen wir den Sachverstand der lokalen FDP-Politiker Jan Mücke (’Dresden bleibt Weltkulturerbe der Herzen’) und Holger Zastrow (’Zwei Tage Obama haben mehr für das weltweite Image Dresdens gebracht als fünf Jahre Weltkulturerbe’) einfach mal im Raum stehen und freuen uns auf Olaf Schubert und die… -
Ursula, Sabine und der Ärger mit Petitionen
21 Jun 2009 | 2:36 amDie Petition gegen Ursula von der Leyens Gesetzentwurf gegen Kinderpornografie im Netz ist gescheitert. Na, nicht gescheitert, denn immerhin haben 134.014 Menschen diese Petition unterzeichnet. Sie ist im Sande verlaufen. Der Bundestag hat das Gesetz abgesegnet, weil man es für richtig hielt… und weil man sich als Politiker ungern in die Schmuddelecke der Kinderpornografie hinein interpretieren lassen will. Wer ist nicht dafür, wenn es um Bekämpfung von Kinderpornografie geht? Dass dieses Gesetz aber nur die Möglichkeiten eröffnet um alles, außer Kinderpornografie zu bekämpfen… -
Das Plagiat? [Update]
18 Jun 2009 | 6:59 amZurzeit unter weinverkostungen.com zu finden. Und wir beachten auch diesmal bitte besonders die Domainendung. Ja, natürlich, das ist platt, kindisch, albern… entbehrt aber nicht einer gewissen Komik. Vor allem wenn man zwischen den Zeilen… Pardon… Sprechblasen liest. Und ich weiß wovon ich spreche. Da ich trotz dieser Ereignisse nichts damit zu tun habe, bleibt jetzt nur noch die Frage: Wer und was steckt dahinter? Ich hätte da zwar ne Ahnung… (via @Flugtier) [Update] Offenbar tut sich da immer noch was auf der Seite. Es bleibt aber mysteriös. Ich hab zwar immer… -
Michael Broadbents Fahrrad geklaut
13 Jun 2009 | 6:10 amWas wie ‘eine Sackkarre in China umgefallen’ klingt, ist leider Realität. Michael Broadbent, bekannter Weinkritiker und eine der wenigen Personen auf der Welt, die vermutlich alle relevanten Weine der Welt probiert hat, wurde sein Fahrrad gestohlen. Das ist besonders ärgerlich, da er der lebende Beweis dafür ist, dass Weinkritiker im Alter ein hohes Maß an Milde und Weisheit besitzen können. Es handelt sich um ‘a very old white Dutch ladies’ Fahrrad mit ‘a basket on the front and back’, vermutlich aus den 50ern. Bei den Dieben müsste es sich entweder…
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Brooklynguy's Wine and Food Blog
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Wine of the Week - Terrebrune Rosé and Tapenade
2 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmI've lived in New York essentially for my whole life (there were four years of college in the mid-west and a year in Southeast Asia and India). I've never seen a June like the one we just had, with rain almost every day, skies overcast. We had 18 days straight of rain at one stretch.But you know what - it's still summer, and I'm taking every chance I get to treat it as such. For example, the other day while my daughters were both down for their mid-day nap, even though the sky was white, and the air thick and humid, I found myself thinking of rosé and tapenade. Probably because Bert of Wine… -
By the Glass - Top Quality Muscadet Edition
30 Jun 2009 | 5:20 pmI tend to think of Muscadet as a winter white wine, a wine to drink on a cold January night with a plate of raw oysters. I bet I'm not alone in this - Muscadet and oysters are a classic and wonderful pairing. But the best producers in Muscadet are now making wines that, in my opinion, are versatile enough at the table to transcend the oyster stereotype. Perhaps even the seafood stereotype entirely.It's not just any Muscadet that I'm talking about, though. I'm talking about fine wines by a handful of great producers, like Marc Ollivier of Domaine de la Pépière, Pierre Luneau-Papin, Jo… -
Wine of the Week - Bernard Baudry's Rosé
25 Jun 2009 | 4:30 pmBay Area wine blogger Cory Cartwright is celebrating the 1st anniversary of his blog Saignée by hosting an event that he calls "31 Days of Natural Wine." Cory writes passionately about the wines he loves, and about his life in the Bay Area and beyond. His blog is always interesting to read and his writing style is off-beat and truly hilarious. I am honored and happy that Cory asked me to participate, and this post also appears on Saignée as the Day 8 post in "31 Days of Natural Wine."I'll never forget our visit to Domaine Bernard Baudry in Cravant les Coteaux, right outside of the town of… -
"Hold on - Do I Like Châteauneuf du Pape?"
24 Jun 2009 | 2:00 pmThat was the question I asked during a great night with friends, dinner, and lots of wine. I served three courses, each paired with a wine poured blind. I knew the wines - I selected them to pair well with the food I was serving. But my friends didn't. This is lots of fun, especially if it's not competitive, if it's about throwing out preconceived notions based on labels and prices and reputations. If it's about stimulating thoughtful discussion about wine. And it does, every time I do it.My friend Asher drinks a lot of Rhône wine. I'm discovering a taste for the Syrahs of the northern… -
Two Kinds of Ripe
22 Jun 2009 | 8:00 amLars Carlberg recently left another informative and interesting comment on this blog, this time to the post on Domaine Tempier's 1994 Bandol. Lars, Mosel wine exporter, wine lover, and wine thinker extraordinaire, lamented the fact that alcohol levels are consistently higher now in so many wines from Bandol and Châteauneuf du Pape.Alcohol levels are typically at least 14% now in wines from those places, regularly hitting 15%. Until a decade ago, alcohol levels were typically about 13%. That increase of 1-2% represents 10-15% more alcohol in the wine, a significant increase. Why has this…
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~ Through The Walla Walla Grape Vine ™~
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Listen Up Gaming Geeks and Millennials: 8-Bit Vintners is here!
2 Jul 2009 | 7:52 amThe story of Michael James and his wine project in Walla Walla is a great example of what I love about the Internet. You can find stories of interest just as close as your "own back yard." I couldn't wait to get ahold ofMike to find out the scoop of his up-and-coming wine project, named 8-Bit Vintners.W5: Mike, I first heard about your wine project on my daily subscription to Google Alert. However, the website I checked out was not about wine. For me, it seemed a rather obscure website - - a gamer’s board named, Kotaku.com. I have to admit, I am rather clueless about gaming, even though… -
Glencorrie Winery: History Making History
23 Jun 2009 | 6:20 pmGlencorrie is a fitting name for a winery that's tucked away in a small glen. The south facing slope reminds us of the corries that were left behind by the result of the historic Missoula floods which shaped our celebrated area, so many years ago.The timing of my visit to this new winery could not have been any better, as the liquor board had just left a few hours before and leaving their seal of approval. It was official! On June 5th, Glencorrie Winery was open for business and it was just in time for the Vintage Walla Walla weekend!It’s quite picturesque – the winery grounds has yards… -
Righteous! Up Close and Personal with Josh McDaniels of Sweet Valley Wines
17 Jun 2009 | 8:51 amSweet Valley Wines, in Walla Walla, was labeled by the press as Washington State's 500th winery. The winery project was established in 2004 and started out as simply with a father and a uncle wanting to showcase their young winemaker's talent. Their first release in 2007 was 105 cases of their signature Double Barrel Red Blend which completely sold out. Josh McDaniels was that young winemaker and along with his talent, Sweet Valley Wines has seen their winery grow. In fact, a lot is happening at Sweet Valley right now: they have opened a new tasting room downtown Walla Walla at 12 N. Second… -
Wine Blogging Wednesday #58: Wine & Music
10 Jun 2009 | 3:20 pmKatie Pizzuto of Gonzo Gastronomy has challenged us to put forth a little more effort on this month's WBW than just finding a nice wine to write about. Instead Katie wants us to enjoy a wine or two, while playing different types of music, and taking notes on how our experiences changes with each wine and song.(I am going to have to tell the truth here - - as I already had my wine and music notes (excuse the pun) completed a few months ago due to a recent article I wrote for a local wine and food magazine about the exact same topic.)I haven't exactly found that playing different types of music… -
Send Walla Walla Homegrown Thomas Thompson to Healdsburg!
9 Jun 2009 | 4:30 pmThis is one of the many good things I love about the internet. Murphy-Goode Winery in Healdsburg, CA got to thinking about the new age of communications and figured it was a pretty good thing, too!They are looking to hire a “Murphy-Goode Wine Country Lifestyle Correspondent” (a social media whiz) who knows how to use Web 2.0 and the social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, blogs and all sorts of good stuff like that - - to tell the world about their wines, winemaking and the place where their winery is located: the Sonoma County Wine Country. It's a wine country dream job!In exchange, for…
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Box Wines
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Lost Angel Mischief Red Wine 2006
2 Jul 2009 | 6:06 amPrice: $12 Maker: Eos Estate Winery (Sapphire Brands), Paso Robles, California Varietal: Red Blend - 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Petite Sirah, 18% Sangiovese Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork Alcohol: 13.5% Our Rating: 8.9 out of 10 Lost Angel Mischief Red Wine 2006 was a real surprise. A red blend with a funky name costing a little over ten bucks didn’t create much in the way of anticipation. The first surprise was a slightly floral note in the nose, in addition to the expected berry and spice notes. The second surprise was the overall enjoyability of this wine. On the palate,… -
Twin Vines JM Fonseca Vinho Verde 2008
30 Jun 2009 | 7:52 pmPrice: $7 Maker: Jose Maria da Fonseca Vinhos, Azeita-Setubal, Portugal Varietal: Vinho Verde - White Packaging: 750 ml bottle, screw cap Alcohol: 10.0% Our Rating: 8.1 out of 10 Despite its name, which translates as “green wine,” Twin Vines JM Fonseca Vinho Verde 2008 is a very pale straw color. The “green” refers to its youthful nature rather than its color, and the wine does indeed come across as young. In the glass, it appears to be slightly sparkling, although one barely notices the minimal bubbly character when drinking. It has a green apple flavor, and a slight… -
No Two Pound Chuck for UK?
16 Mar 2009 | 3:10 pmVery inexpensive wines could be taxed out of existence in the UK, if proposed changes to alcohol taxation are implemented. Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson wants to cut down on binge drinking in the UK, which he feels has reached epidemic proportions. His report said the new pricing strategy would set a minimum price of 4.50 pounds ($6.30) for a bottle of wine; a minimum of 14 pounds ($19.70) for a bottle of whiskey, and a base price of 6 pounds ($8.50) for a six-pack of beer. From Cheap booze blamed for British binge drinking While no doubt there is some price elasticity for alcohol… -
Illinois Wine Consumers Fight Alcohol Lobby, Bad Laws
17 Jan 2009 | 10:46 amI write from Indiana, which has laws which severely restrict direct shipping of wine. How do these laws get passed? It’s simple - distributors of alcoholic beverages have a vested interest in being the only way for wineries to get to consumers, and they contribute heavily to the politicians that pass such laws. Now, our neighbors in Illinois are picking up the gauntlet and organizing to pressure politicians to act in the interest of the consumer. They have formed the Illinois Wine Consumer Coalition (IWCC). From their press release: Illinois wine consumers were stripped of their right… -
Wine Labels Make Gift Giving Fun
5 Jan 2009 | 11:53 amNeed to take a bottle of wine to a party and want to stand out from the rest of the bottles the host gets? Well, you could show up with a nicely aged bottle of Opus One, which should only set you back a few hundred bucks… or, you could grab a bottle something way more pedestrian and slap a $3.95 Cerebral Itch wine label on the bottle. These labels will cover most original labels entirely, and their humorous designs will demonstrate that you are a guest with a wit. An added bonus is that the labels have a space to write who the bottle is from. As an occasional party-giver, I often find a…
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Wine Reviews at Chateau Petrogasm
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Zacapa Centenario Rum, 23 anjos, Guatemala ($36)
1 Jul 2009 | 2:48 pmWood 1 by Dave McKean Share This -
2008 Bonny Doon Albariño, Ca’ del Solo estate vineyard, Monterey ($20)
30 Jun 2009 | 9:37 amDisclosure: this was a sample from Bonny Doon Vineyards. Share This -
2007, Barton & Guestier, Rose d’Anjou, $7.99
24 Jun 2009 | 1:32 pmShare This -
NV Riondo Pink Prosecco, Brut ($12)
20 Jun 2009 | 4:02 pmShare This -
2006 GIRARDIN ST. AUBIN 1er Cru “Les Murgers de Dents de Chiens”
20 Jun 2009 | 2:32 pmShare This
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Sour Grapes
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Pairing wine with music: win some music
1 Jul 2009 | 1:56 pmThere are some classic wine and food matches and they’re arguably overly discussed online. Some are sublime, others subjective. What about pairing a particular piece of music? David Brubeck’s Take Five with a St. Emilion anyone? Have a listen and suggest what wines you’d put with what music. Winner gets CD and a gift certificate from Americanwinery.com. -
Guest blogger series: Christopher Gifford on wine from the US
26 Jun 2009 | 9:25 am“If anyone orders any Merlot I’m going home!” said the rather fanatical Miles in the influential film from 2004, Sideways. This fanaticism, though comic and for some a little strange, is a common aspect in the production, consumption and critical analysis that surrounds the wines of much of North America. In particular focus, however, is one place and in North America it is the USA and in the USA it is California. California Here, the rest of the world has watched researchers at esteemed universities develop new theories, agricultural programmes, uncover long forgotten vine… -
Riesling, the second coming. Dublin, Friday 19th June
4 Jun 2009 | 7:28 amIf you’re someone who shudders and thinks Blue Nun when you hear “Reisling”, then this could be the event for you. Riesling & Co. brings what will be the biggest ever German wine tasting in Ireland. Auf wiedersehen, Blue Nun. Herzlicken wilkommen, Riesling. What, when and where? 23 winegrowers from Germany will present more than 100 wines at Riesling & Co 2009, the biggest ever German Riesling wine tasting in Ireland on Friday, 19th June. The event will be hosted by Wines of Germany at the Westbury Hotel, Grafton Street, Dublin 2. The tasting for wine lovers and… -
Competition: Win a magnum of Laurent Miquel Viognier
28 May 2009 | 5:22 amLaurent and Neasa Miquel had great success at the London Wine Trade Fair this year with Laurent Miquel’s Viognier Nord-Sud 2007 awarded the 2009 Viognier trophy at the Top 100 tasting. But hey, that was London, what about us in Ireland? Well to celebrate, there’s a prize of a magnum (a double bottle) of delicious Viognier. Just pop a comment below. Competition closes 10th June. What’s Viognier? The white Viognier grape prefers warmer environments and a long growing season, but can grow in cooler areas as well. In France, it’s the single grape permitted the appellations of… -
New Zealand Wine Tasting Cork 5th June
26 May 2009 | 2:04 pmIf moping around the house still wondering how the hell Leinster beat Munster in the European Cup semi, let alone won the damn thing is getting tiring, then you should really consider the Curious wines New Zealand wine tasting event on Friday, 5th of June from 7.30pm. All the details are over on the curious wines website. Worth going to, if you’re in the neighbourhood and want to drink some very decent wine from New Zealand and hear all about it from their New Zealand wine expert, Joyce Austin, from New Zealand Boutique Wines.
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LISSON
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Retour de Bordeaux - Vinexpo OFF - par où commencer?
27 Jun 2009 | 11:56 am3 nuits et deux jours et demi loins de Lisson - dans la grande ville de Bordeaux - retour mercredi soir chez moi - la tête pleine d'images de toutes ces rencontres mais par où commencer? - avec la ville, que je ne connaissais pas, et que j'avais l'impression de découvrir aussi avec ses côtés [...] -
et là, c'est le drame
25 Jun 2009 | 11:24 amTrouvé cela ce matin - qui rejoint une semblable histoire, qu'on venait de me raconter il y a peu sur un domaine du Languedoc - c'est très grave, pour les vignerons concernés, mais peut-être moins inévitable, que le gèle ou la grêle, qui peuvent tous nous frapper un jour ou l'autre - même si [...] -
OFF - Off and away - Jour moins 2 pour la rencontre des vignerons blogueurs à Bordeaux
20 Jun 2009 | 6:24 amJe vais quitter mes vignes demain, pour participer à notre première présentation en commun des vins des vignerons blogueurs. Beau temps fixe sur toute la France, donc mes souches vont pouvoir se passer de mes soins et continuer leur ascension vers le ciel - le Mourvèdre va terminer sa [...] -
Résidus de pesticides dans le raisin - du danger, de publier la vérité
4 Jun 2009 | 11:38 amVous vous souvenez de la discussion, qu'avait déclenché l'année dernière la publication des résultats d'analyse sur le résidus de pesticides dans le vin par le PAN Europe, relayé en France par le MDRGF (Mouvement pour le droit et le respect des générations futures). J'en avais parlé dans [...] -
vigne heureuse et premières fleurs
3 Jun 2009 | 10:15 amAprès une perturbation orageuse pendant la journée de hier, le beau temps est revenu. Une promenade dans la vigne s'imposait ce matin, pour contrôler l'état sanitaire des souches et voir, où en est la fleur, qui a commencé sur les quelques souches de Chenin, timidement sur Cabernet Franc et [...]
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Lyke 2 Drink
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Celebrate Father's Day and Encourage Dad to Get a PSA Test
18 Jun 2009 | 1:44 pmPints for Prostates will use the universal language of beer during Father's Day weekend at eight events -- from Brookline, Mass., to Issaquah, Wash. -- where men will be encouraged to get regular checkups and ask for a PSA blood test the next time they see their doctors.All funds generated by Pints for Prostates benefit the Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network, a 501(c)3 charity that works to support, educate and advocate for men with prostate cancer and their families. Us TOO was founded in 1990 and has a network of more than 300 local chapter support groups… -
Tuesday Tasting: Russian River Valley Chardonnay
16 Jun 2009 | 8:38 pmTuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we try some chardonnay from one of California's best growing regions.Chardonnay is by far the most popular varietal produced in California. According to the Wine Institute, more than 26 percent of the 176 million cases of wine sold by California vineyards in 2007 were chardonnay. And when it comes to California chardonnay one of the regions that consistently ranks among the best is an area settled nearly 200 years ago by Russian trappers looking for furs.Located… -
Tuesday Tasting: A Six Pack of Sour Ales
9 Jun 2009 | 7:35 pmTuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we try some beers that will make you pucker up.After writing a column called "Beyond Beer" for a number of years for All About Beer magazine, I've launched a new column that is, well, all about beer. Your "Next Beer" to be precise. The idea is to look forward and talk about emerging trends; beer styles that are hot; and what beers you should look for on your next visit to a pub.The first installment of "Next Beer" in the current issue of All About Beer covers… -
Drinks & Taxes 2009 v17: United States of America
7 Jun 2009 | 8:03 amPresident Barack Obama wants to fix the health care system and make universal coverage available to all Americans. The issue was a major part of his campaign.The problem is the economy makes paying for the proposal a fairly difficult task. It is estimated that during the next 10 years the federal government could spend up to $1.5 trillion to fund the program.So the number crunchers in Washington are looking for revenue sources. Guess what one of the targets is? If you said "alcohol" you have passed the test.The numbers in the tax proposals are still a little squishy, but some media reports… -
Drinks & Taxes 2009 v16: Massachusetts
7 Jun 2009 | 7:45 amAll eyes are on the Massachusetts House of Representatives to see if they will try to pass a new 6.25 percent tax on alcohol. The state is the latest to see alcohol taxes as a way to dig out from a budget hole.The Massachusetts Package Store Association has launched a petition drive against the tax. They claim to have collected 50,000 customer signatures.A protest against the proposal was held in Boston this week against the measure. The state Senate approved the bill by voice vote. Retailers say the new tax will drive more business to New Hampshire, which has a state store system and no…
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Wannabe Wino Wine Blog
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Richie Rich
2 Jul 2009 | 5:40 am*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from Gallo Family Wines. I felt like a Syrah the other night. So I rummaged around in one of the sample boxes and came up with the 2005 Clarendon Hills Liandra Syrah. I didn’t even look at the associated information until I had already pulled the cork. Then I saw: Suggested Retail Price $85 and my eyes bugged out of my head. First, it was a weeknight and second, I don’t think I’ve ever had an $85 Syrah. Ever. I’m sure the price has something to do with the huge scores this one received from various traditional media… -
Run Cheetah Run
1 Jul 2009 | 4:47 am*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from Gallo Winery. Not too long ago, a giant box of wines arrived at my doorstep. Among them was the 2007 Sebeka Sauvignon Blanc. Now, I’ve seen it on shelves in the grocery store many times. It’s hard to miss with the bright yellow label and the cheetah on the front. Not to mention it’s often accompanied by quite the cheetah display. I don’t tend to go for the wines with critters on the front nor do I often (if ever) buy wine at the grocery store. Anyway. The 2007 Sebeka Sauvignon Blanc had a plastic (yellow with… -
Yummy in My Tum Tum Tummy
30 Jun 2009 | 4:44 am*Disclaimer: I received this as a sample from Lange Twins Winery I love Viognier. LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! I’m always so excited to get Viognier in the mail, something a little bit different than the standard Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio that people tend to send me. I recently reviewed and liked the Lange Twins Petite Verdot/Petite Sirah blend, so I was happy to get a bottle of the limited edition 2008 Lange Twins Viognier in the mail a couple weeks ago. The wine had a screw cap closure (which I actually didn’t realize until I tried to use my foil removed on… -
Duck Duck Duck Zin!
29 Jun 2009 | 4:43 amI recently found a butcher near our house and I am SO excited. I really missed having someone to order meat from and to cut what I want exactly like I want it to be cut. So I stopped by the butcher and picked up a couple fresh duck breasts. YUM! Matt played chef for the evening and made seared duck breast with a Zinfandel fig reduction sauce. We chose the 2004 Foppiano Zinfandel to both make the sauce and drink with out dinner. I purchased this at the winery in 2008 for $15, it had a real cork closure, and clocked in at 14.5% alcohol by volume. This sat out on the table open for about 4… -
Crush It!
28 Jun 2009 | 4:43 am*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from Don Sebastiani & Sons. An entire line of wines name “The Crusher” showed up on my doorstep the other day. The premise behind the wines is a low cost good value line that you can drink every day. I have the whole line… Cabernet Sauvignon, the Viognier, the Petite Sirah, and the Chardonnay to tell you about in the next couple weeks. Tonight I chose the 2007 The Crusher Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine had a plastic cork closure, clocked in at 13.5% alcohol by volume and I see it available online for as little as $12. …
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Wino sapien
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RK by Giaconda Shiraz 2008
2 Jul 2009 | 7:31 amBeechworth, Victoria, Australia. Shiraz. 13.9%. Screwcap. Approx $A40As with the Jack Reidy by Clonakilla, this is only available through one particular national retailer. It's an interesting exercise, tapping some of Australia's leading boutique producers for an exclusive line of wines. I'm a convert, happily picking up some of this, the Reidy and the RK Chardonnay.I liked this. It does remind me (a lot) of the more expensive Giaconda Warner Shiraz, and it does nod to the Northern Rhone with its meatiness, though the note of eucalyptus on the nose is an early give away.Enamel staining purple… -
Domaine Auguste Clape Le Vin des Amis 2007
30 Jun 2009 | 3:00 pmNorthern Rhône, France. Syrah. 12%. Cork. Approx $A50A gorgeous wine. Fragrant, chiseled and chewy. Spice, musk and raw minced meat, but in time this becomes sappy and earthy. It reminds me a little of Burgundy with its suggestion of geosmin and freshly turned earth. Rounded to begin before showing its sinew and teeth. The structure and grip is quite something, a show of virility, with the chalky, meat like tannins giving a pleasing toughness.Very good - excellent.92.Now - 2014.http://feeds.feedburner.com/WinoSapien -
Flametree Chardonnay 2007
29 Jun 2009 | 4:48 pmMargaret River, Western Australia. Chardonnay. 13.5%. Screwcap. Approx $A25Wine trivia - Did you know that an empty bottle of 1982 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild is worth more than 100 euros on ebay. . .Tasting note - This is a pretty impressive wine, though it does conform to the classic Margaret River (white bread) chardonnay mould. Spicy oak and vanilla, with peaches and butterscotch. Bright and lively but also with flesh and an essence like texture. The malo is notable but not overdone and I found the slightly bitter finish quite appealing.Very good.89.Now -… -
Drinking once frozen wine. . .
28 Jun 2009 | 7:06 amI've started reading Philip K Dick's masterpiece Ubik. All the talk of cryo-preservation and half lifers made me think of my unfinished bottle of Ch Bernadotte that I had frozen almost 2 months ago. It was frozen and preserved immediately. I had poured half into an old 375ml bottle and screwed the cap back on.Ella, pretty and light-skinned; her eyes, in the days when they had been open, had been bright and luminous blue. That would not again occur; he could talk to her and hear her answer; he could communicate with her. . . but he would never again see her with her eyes openeded; nor would… -
Marc Brédif Vouvray 1986
26 Jun 2009 | 7:10 pmLoire Valley, France. Chenin blanc. 12.5%. Cork. Source: restaurant wine list.I drank some excellent wine last night, but already my memory is failing. An 05 Rockford Rod and Spur (Shiraz / Cabernet blend from the Barossa) was typically Australian and slightly scruffy and grainy. I was seduced by the 04 Roda I Reserva which was flashy, fleshy and exotic. The wine I remember best was the night's first. The 1986 Bredif.Sealed with a new cork (not unlike the blemish free Bredif cork on the right), this is stunning. Melon, honey and stone, reticent and seemingly bruised and oxidized to begin,…
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On the Wine Trail in Italy
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Lament for an Old Giant
2 Jul 2009 | 4:06 amIt seems like everyday we get another headline announcing the passing of someone who was part of the larger American family. I have been thinking about this iconic Tuscan wine, one that grew up with America. And as America developed, so this wine also expanded in the marketplace and on tables across America. For many people this wine came to symbolize Italian wine. In restaurants, surely, in its day, the top tier had more swagger than Brunello.My earliest memory is in the cellar of an old Italian restaurant, helping the leggy female sommelier open all the wood boxes. It would take 20 or more… -
The Spirit of Wine
28 Jun 2009 | 5:35 amFrom the There I go, there I go, there I go, there I go department:Has this ever happened to you? You are visiting a winery and the guide takes you through the stainless steel tank room, and then a barrel room or two and maybe the bottling room or even the board room. Have you ever been in that situation and someone said,” You’ve seen one stainless steel tank room, you’ve seem them all?” And then as you go into the tasting room as the first wine is poured all those tanks and barrels and executive tables and chairs didn’t seem as important as that tiny little precious liquid that you… -
The Epiphany
24 Jun 2009 | 10:02 pmThere has been discussion in Italy about the future of wine in Calabria. In brief, there are two camps: one to maintain a more traditional use of the native grapes for the wines of Ciro and one which seeks to elaborate the appellation with the use of more international grapes.Calabria is where my mom’s mom came from. She left a poor region, which had just been devastated by a terrible earthquake, early in the 20th century. Calabria has been abused by organized crime and tribal urges. It is a beautiful place. The wines are hard to sell, but when someone tastes a Gaglioppo or a Montonico they… -
The Wine Guise
21 Jun 2009 | 7:35 pmAbout once a month I get together with “the guys.” These fellows are successful, well connected members of the business and political community in my city. I don’t know how I got invited to join their group; I think it was my friend Hank who was trying to load up with another Italian American. And I occasionally have “access” to good wine. But these guys didn’t need me.At first, I wondered about the get-togethers. It usually centered around a wine theme. Bordeaux, Chilean reds, Burgundy, Barolo, Napa Cabs, and so on. And while in any given day I might taste up to 100 wines and the… -
Learn to Forget
18 Jun 2009 | 5:06 amYou have a wine placed before you. You might be a judge in a competition. Or you might simply be ordering a wine in a restaurant. In either case the wine is poured. Then, what do you do?Most people look at the color and then move on to the aroma and the taste. But somewhere inside many of us is this little mental punch list. On it is memories, likes, dislikes, markers, highs and lows. Somewhere along the line many of us have gotten that punch list down to a narrow spectrum of what we like and are looking for in a wine. Just like people and foods and music.With Italian wine, there is a fork in…
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Water into Wino
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Bernard Baudry Chinon "Les Granges" 2006
22 Jun 2009 | 6:17 amBernard Baudry Chinon "Les Granges"Chinon, Loire, France ($20)My wine buying habits can be quite irrational. In my latest example I passed up a few wonderfully extracted 2005 Bourgueils and Chinons just to take home a 2006 Bernard Baudry “Les Granges”. This wine is simply an entry level Chinon from a not so fabulous vintage. They say that anyone can make good wine in a great year. It’s those poor years that reveal the most skilled winemakers, and coming from an area that has clear vintage variations myself, I’m interested in what Chinon reds are like in average to poor… -
Lamoreaux Landing T23 Cabernet Franc 2007
18 Jun 2009 | 6:18 amLamoreaux Landing T23 Cabernet Franc 2007Finger Lakes, New York ($14)My recent foray into winemaking has given me plenty of experience drinking unoaked Cabernet Franc as most of my batches are less than sixty gallons. I’m always looking for comparable wines as a reference so picking up this Lamoreaux Landing T23 Cabernet Franc 2007 was a no brainer. The aspiring vigneron in me wanted to know what this grape, grown in the Finger Lakes, in a hot vintage and left unoaked would taste like. The wine revealed a light ruby color, with aromas of cherries and violets. After a few hours it began to… -
Vineland Estates Cabernet Franc 2007
27 May 2009 | 9:52 amVineland Estates Cabernet Franc 2007Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada ($15)Vineland Estates Winery in Ontario is an impressive winery. It can truly be classified as a destination winery with its restaurant, Carriage House, gorgeous store and tasting room, as well as its spectacular view of the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario. Some of the most respected wines in the Niagara Peninsula have come from this estate winery.The last time I visited Vineland, I was sold on its Elevation Series wines. Meant to be a step above the entry-level labels, these wines are sourced from the Niagara… -
Pellegrini Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
13 May 2009 | 7:19 amPellegrini Cabernet Sauvignon 2000Long Island, New York ($15) The most surprising lesson I learned from Tastecamp 2009 is that Long Island reds have the ability to mature gracefully. My previous visits to wineries like Pellegrini or Raphael offered only a snapshot into their wines. Perhaps just one or two vintages of different varietals may have been available. Friday night’s Library tasting at Raphael was definitely an eye opening experience, one that bolstered my respect for the area’s well-made age-worthy reds.This bottle of 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon from Pellegrini appeared on my local… -
Wild Rock Cupid's Arrow Pinot Noir 2007
11 May 2009 | 7:48 amWild Rock Cupid's Arrow Pinot Noir 2007Central Otago, New Zealand ($20)Pinot Noir is a grape that I’ve had a hard time really warming up to. The hype, the fuss, the price…all of these make me wary of buying a bottle I haven’t already enjoyed. My affinity for searching for those “best buys” doesn’t lend itself well to the “heartbreak grape” either. I have found some success though in the Bio Bio Valley in Chile, Friuli in Italy and Burgenland in Austria though.This Wild Rock Cupid’s Arrow Pinot Noir 2007 found its way into my glass primarily because it recently graced…
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Write for Wine
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Five Courses to Escape Summer
2 Jul 2009 | 7:34 amAre you a true Seattleite? Can you only handle the sun for limited amounts of time and then retreat inside? These are the words from the latest promotion at El Gaucho Seattle: Five Courses to Escape Summer. Available until July 26, this exquisite offering includes “wicked shrimp,” tableside Caesar salad, filet mignon or fresh fish, tableside Bananas Foster, El Gaucho signature fruit and cheese, and one bottle of wine from The Woodhouse Wine Estates(choose from Kennedy Shah Chardonnay, Dussek Cabernet, Kennedy Shah Syrah or Maghee Merlot). We’ve tried them all, and you cannot… -
Zest for Zin?
28 Jun 2009 | 12:10 pmIf you have a zest for Zin, be sure to circle these dates on your calendar — July 26 (Seattle) and July 29 (Portland). That’s when ZAP — Zinfandel Advocates and Producers — brings its popular summer wine tasting event to the northwest from San Francisco. Winemakers and owners from more than 40 California wineries will be pouring 100+ Zinfandels at this fun event, including Cakebread Cellars, Steele Wines, Ravenswood, Cline Cellars and others. In Seattle, 10 future chefs have been chosen from South Seattle College’s Culinary Arts department to compete in a BBQ… -
El Gaucho Seattle and Woodhouse - a Perfect Pairing
27 Jun 2009 | 11:25 amTalk about a fabulous Friday — we had one of our best Friday evenings in months, thanks to Cooper Mills, general manager of El Gaucho Seattle, and Bijal Shah, guest sommelier and owner of The Woodhouse Wine Estates. A delicious meal, robust wine, attentive staff and a fun atmosphere - what more could you want for a night on the town? El Gaucho Seattle was absolutely nothing like we expected. For years, we saw the staff in tuxedos at the door and decided that El Gaucho would be elitist, too grand and too expensive for our Seattle casual tastes. Wrong! Warm, friendly and… -
Hall Wines in Napa Valley
15 Jun 2009 | 6:57 amNext time you’re in Napa Valley, stop by the Hall St. Helena winery, which was just completed last fall. It’s now on our list of must-visits, thanks to my San Francisco colleague Erin, who recommended it when we were there a few weeks ago. The Cabs are amazing, the tasting room is beautiful and our host, Scott Herrmann, was friendly, passionate and knowledgeable. Hall Cabs - there were several labels open when we stopped by - are incredible. But first Scott persuaded us to taste the 2007 T Bar T Sauvignon Blanc. I used the word “persuade” quite deliberately -… -
Frank Family Vineyards in Napa Valley
11 Jun 2009 | 7:51 amIf you’re looking for a friendly atmosphere, colorful stories, a rich history, a taste of Hollywood and some beautiful wines, Frank Family Vineyards should be on your list of stops in Napa Valley. First the wines … according to Wine Enthusiast (March 2009), “Frank Family is one of those wineries that Cab lovers should know more about.” The 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is deep and opulent, the winner of Best of Class 2009 in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and a double gold, plus Best of Class, in the 2009 West Coast Wine Competition. The 2006 Napa…
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Appellation Feiring
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Morgon de Provence
Who knew? So last night I was having a glass of Krug at Freeman's, you know, that pretty sexy restaurant down an alley on the Lower East Side? They are selling Krug BTG at $30, and my friend I was meeting said, what the hell. We ordered two glasses. The news is that the champagne is greatly diminished. Totally unspectacular. The sulfur went directly to the front of my face. The wine, served from 1/2 bottles, had an aggressive bubble, metallic flavor and smelled dirty on the nose. Gone was the cream, bisque and lime-like acidity. Gone was the richness. It could have been Yellow Label. In the… -
Montesquieu? A lulu.
A while back, you know, I can't remember, last month? I get a call from a very, very perky woman in Florida, I think she said that's where she was. She's acting like my new best friend. 'I got your name' .....hell...I can't remember where she got my name, at a cognac dinner? So I'm nice to her. She asks me about the kind of wines I drink and starts to pitch me on a cabernet. I'm a little slow on the uptake and I tell her she should probably read my book before she starts to pitch to me. 'I'll buy your book but you go to the website.' So I do and it's an e-tailer. We're still on the phone and… -
31 Days of Natural Wines
Today, it's my turn up on Cory Cartwright's series, 31 Days of Natural Wines. Oddly enough, he asked me to this right after my rant out about writing for free. But, this was for the cause, and it is an idea that is generous and giving and wish I had thought it up myself. I don't know who else he's up his sleeve as participants, but so far he's contributed as well as Jeremy Parzen and Tracie B. And next up, me. For my readers? Fatigue alert: this is a reconfiguring of my Muscadet post of two weeks ago. What can I say? It is the season, after all. Saignee's site... -
Gemischter Satz mit Schlag
Vienna has more than schlag, it has terroir. In fact the snow covered Alps stops at the Danube. It's almost like the mountain range gave a last burb and out of it emerged three defiant mounds of rock and loess. Kahlenberg, Nussberg and Bisamberg are just outside of city limits. Cool, no? 1400 of acres of vines, a third of the acreage of Long Island, are in pitching distance of the thriving city of Vienna, home of the Sacher Torte, home to Freud's favorite cafe and home to some of the best of Josef Hoffman's designs. It serves to reason that the end of the Alps has got to have something… -
A Quiet Refuge
My friend Lisa Donoughe, a brilliant publicist/strategist and the creator of the Portland Indie Wine Festival wanted to see a natural wine bar in action. So we were off to the Lower East Side. TEN BELLS The mysterious, dark restaurant was particularly bacony and garlicky on Thursday night but after an hour, the noise and the their- elbow- in- the -gut -because -the- louts -in- back- of -us- had -no -spatial- sense got, the better of us. We slurped back some delicious gamay from Christian Venier (Savio Soares, importer) and snuck in a little guerilla questioning to the young woman who asked…
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The Wine Cask Blog
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Umithum St. Laurent 2004 wine review by (PB)
2 Jul 2009 | 3:20 pmThis was another of the Austrian wines (Billy) of this blog, brought back from his trip. This one is a red and St.Laurent is the name of the grape. In the glass the hue looks like it should be a Syrah, deep and intense. The nose reminds me of a Malbec with heavy , dark aromas of berry fruit and sweet dill notes.Palate--well balanced, bready, a bit "hot" with a sweet impression and more berries. Soft tannins round out this rather tasty wine even if finishing rather abruptly. I believe this wine is a bit pricey-- in the $30-$50 range. For the price, I'm not sure I would make the splurge again… -
Chateau De Pommard 2000 wine review by (PB)
1 Jul 2009 | 6:01 amOn opening the sight was not pretty. *Bricking at this young age for a Burgundy was tell tale of bad storage or a bad cork or both.On the nose the wine had a gentle spice core with gentle cherry and licorice emerging.Palate--Cherry and spice up front with minerals, bread, and more minerals on the finish. The wine was austere but I suspect this was a result of its oxidation. It was still very drinkable but quite ordinary when this wine should have been fairly impressive. Not a good representation of the wine.(*Bricking is the appearance of the wine taking the color of bricks which is due to… -
Chasselas 2006 wine review by (PB)
1 Jul 2009 | 5:48 amOn a recent trip to Switzerland, (Billy) of this blog, brought back some indigenous wines. This one, made from the Chasselas grape was a white that is pale gold, with a subtle bouquet of caramel underneath the fruit with a light touch of banana. Unique!In the mouth this wine is loaded with minerals, is bone dry, fruit that I cannot even relate to anything I know, and has a very nutty finish like some champagnes.Take advantage of your business travelings to explore wines you will never see anywhere else and raise a glass. (Sorry no picture of the label available.)--A Review from The Wine Cask… -
St. Francis 2006 Old Vines Zinfandel wine review by Billy
26 Jun 2009 | 5:48 pmNose: Peppery Cedar spice (classic Zin!) and a dark berry cream on the nose.Palate: Good structure, unassuming and uncomplex but sticking to what it knows well and doing it well!Finish: soft and dark berries come back for a small but fine finish.Overall: a nice 2006 california (sonoma) zin. I am eating it with pizza with which it goes perfectly! PB paid about $24 for this.--A Review from The Wine Cask Blog. Creative Commons: Attribution - ShareAlike 2.5 applies -
Ironstone Vineyards Obsession "Symphony" 2007 wine review by (PB)
26 Jun 2009 | 5:09 pmPale straw hue with bubbles rising in the bottle. "Symphony" is actually the grape created in the 60's in Calif. from the Muscat and Grenache Gris.It has a wonderfully, powerfully floral and tropical fruit filled bouquet that is sweet and wowing!In the mouth, this wine is intense with balance and sweetness on a foundation of vibrant acidity loaded with tropical fruit flavors, stone fruit, green apples and is really a super quaffing wine for a hot summer's day. Chill it down and raise a glass of this value. It costs a mere $9 and that from a store with elevated prices so you could probably…
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Ken's Wine Guide RSS Feed
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Benovia "La Pommeraie" 2007 Chardonnay
This Chardonnay from Benovia brought some attention to this little known brand at our recent blind tasting. ... -
Kendall Jackson "Grand Reserve" 2007 Chardonnay
This light yellow colored Chard from KJ recently won our blind tasting and beat out several big names in the Chard world. ... -
EOS "Estate Private Reserve" 2007 Chardonnay
This yellow colored Chard will appeal to readers who enjoy traditional CA styled Chardonnay. ... -
Merryvale "Starmont" 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
This very opaque purple colored Cab opens with a fragrant black currant like bouquet with a hint of licorice. ... -
Laurenz V "Charming" 2006 Gruner Veltliner
This pale yellow colored wine is appropriately named. ...
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Zinfully Delicious
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Why We Garden... The Tomato Edition
14 Jun 2009 | 2:44 pmOkay, the easy answer is…because they taste better. Store bought tomatoes pale in comparison to the truly “homegrown”-“vine-ripened” version. (But if it were that simple, this tiny bit of literary genius would not be necessary.) In truth, there are many reasons why we feel an innate need to have, even just a couple, tomato plants in our yards. Nothing compares to the smell of a tomato plant. You certainly will not get a whiff of that lovely fragrance while walking the aisle of your local produce section. -
Lunch at The Winds Cafe & Bakery
27 Dec 2008 | 1:47 pmThanks to our Server Daniel for fantastic service Linguine-tossed with smoked salmon, lemon cream, spinach and toasted bread crumbs Winds Steak Fritte-Grilled Beef Sirloin w/ maitre d' butter& Spanish Fries Chocolate Nemesis-A deep dark mysterious presencein the form of a flourless cake.Garnished with Crème fraîche &Raspberry sauce. Italian Roasted Pear-Bosc pears are roasted standingw/ vanilla, cinnamon, Marsala &red wine. The Winds Cafe & Bakery -
Whiskey 101... The after party
10 Dec 2008 | 6:30 pmWhat did we learn? Mobile post sent by PreppyDude using Utterli. Replies. -
Whiskey 101
3 Dec 2008 | 2:15 pmAnother online tasting? Who cares, right? You knowDuanewould have something special for you kids.All of the Whiskey that I'll be tasting is available in small *airline* sized bottles so you can taste along with The Dude *on the cheap*. Not enough? What about some pre-tasting Magic from a beautiful girl? I thought you'd like that combination. Whiskey & Magic? What's not to love?The Whiskey that will be tasted is pictured below. Get in your car, scooter, bike or on your horse and scurry to the store before the 10th of DecemberWhiskey 101 Product Photography… -
Friday NIght- Wine & Wild Game
21 Nov 2008 | 8:31 am
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Pour More
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If They Only Knew…
30 Jun 2009 | 10:27 amAbout a month ago, a friend turned me onto this site called Texts from Last Night. I read this text a few minutes ago: (770): If I were a woman I’d fill my water bra with liquor so that I could sip on it throughout the day. Seems like they don’t know about the wine bra. Such a pity. -
Oh, hello!
28 Jun 2009 | 11:08 amWell it’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’m happy to announce that on June 3rd I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, and now that I’m no longer pregnant I’m finally able to start tasting wine again. My husband has been waiting to crack into some of the “good stuff” and I’m very much looking forword to that as well! I also plan to write more about wine gadgets, cocktail recipes, and so on. I hope to start updating this blog regularly again, so be sure to check in on me! -
So Long, Folks!
6 Jan 2009 | 8:04 amBecause I personally can’t stand dead blogs, I’m officially giving my wine blogging notice. Obviously I’ve been terrible at updating here and I think you can understand that it’s difficult to write about wine when you can’t really drink it. Yes, I’ve tasted here and there but it’s just not the same. Plus, my husband has been buying lots of “house wine” mags and saving the interesting stuff for when we can share a bottle again. Perhaps I’ll come back to wine blogging at some point after the baby is born, after I’m done nursing,… -
What The Pregnant Lady Will Be Drinking
26 Nov 2008 | 10:01 amThe holidays can be difficult for someone like me who loves wine or a cocktail and wants to celebrate along with everyone else, but happens to be in a situation where she can’t drink. But being pregnant or having a health issue that prohibits you from drinking doesn’t mean you can’t raise a glass of cheer — you just have to pick something non-alcoholic. A couple weeks ago, we were at The Christmas Tree Shops and I saw a bottle of non-alcoholic Chardonnay (which I have since lovingly nicknamed “Chardon-not”). I joked to Drew that I’d be drinking the… -
Nuts for the Holidays
17 Nov 2008 | 6:47 amMaybe it’s because when I was growing up, a giant bowl of mixed nuts and a nutcracker seemed to magically appear right around Thanksgiving, but I think that nuts and the holidays are inseparable. They’re one of my favorite snacks year-round, but I am sure to have them on hand this time of year. So when I was asked to taste and review the nuts offered by Oh Nuts! I was happy to oblige. I received a bag of Dry Roasted Unsalted Almonds, a bag of Cinnamon Almonds, and a bag of Cranberry Pecans. The nuts themselves were all quite large. Only a couple of the pecan halves had broken…
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Classic Wines Articles
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Gold Medal Wine Club International Series - Portugal
This month???s International Series features an extremely intriguing country in the world of wine ??? Portugal. Portugal is renowned for its ports, but more and more wine lovers are paying attention to its reds and whites. Today we are tasting some of those under-the-radar bottles.How can this article help you? During our tasting, we utilize a wide range of wine drinkers and ask them each to sample the bottles honestly and create their own notes. By gathering both a beginner and expert perspective, you can learn and compare with us no matter what your personal level of experience. -
Gold Medal Wine Club New Years Platinum Series
Welcome to the Platinum Series of the Gold Medal Wine Club. This is a special New Years Edition that we???ve put out so you can enjoy some great new wines with your New Year. We conducted a tasting of the featured wines inside this months??? shipment and are very excited to share our results with you.How can this article benefit you? During our tasting, we utilized a wide range of wine drinkers and asked them each to sample the bottles honestly and create their own notes. By gathering both a beginner and expert perspective, you can learn and compare with us no matter what your personal level… -
Make It A New Years Worth Remembering
New Years is a time to raise a glass, make a resolution, and enjoy the company of those around you. Only a few short days remain???are you prepared to ring in the new?First and foremost, we have to discuss Champagne. The staple of your New Years night, picking a quality Champagne can be critical. First, it is generally accepted that whether you choose Champagne or sparkling white wine, it???s the taste that matters rather than the place of origin. While it???s nice to drink Champagne from the Champagne region, it certainly isn???t necessary. That being said, here are some criteria on which to… -
Top 5 Holiday Must-Haves
The decorations are hung???the food is prepared???the guests are arriving...now the only thing left to do is...doh! There's always something that slips by unnoticed until it's too late. In this hectic holiday season, it can be very easy to forget some common accommodations that your guests might be expecting. In order to help avoid these mishaps, I???ve compiled here a list of household things worth double checking.A Bottle of Red, A Bottle of BubblyWe are a wine website so I would be remiss if I didn???t start off by talking about wine. You???ll likely have guests that range in wine… -
Gold Medal Wine Club Diamond Series
Welcome to the Diamond Series of the Gold Medal Wine Club. We conducted a tasting of the featured wines inside this months??? shipment and are very excited to share our results with you.How can this article benefit you? During our tasting, we utilized a wide range of wine drinkers and asked them each to sample the bottles honestly and create their own notes. By gathering both a beginner and expert perspective, you can learn and compare with us no matter what your personal level of experience. Enjoy!Diamond Series Intro"The Diamond Series provides a unique opportunity for a fortunate few to…
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food, wine, beer, culture
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Beer of the Day: Brasserie Dupont’s Foret Saison
By Greg B. Brasserie Dupont has some interesting beers. While I have not thought every one of them was amazing, I really do appreciate their classic styles, their saison actually is amazing, and their moinette ... -
Grilling a Simple Meal: Grilled Mussels with a thyme butter sauce & Weyerbacher’s Zotten
By Greg B. By now, though you may not have believed me in my earlier posts, you have probably realized that yes, this man does grill almost every meal outside during the summertime. And why not? ... -
Beer of the Day: Gueuze Girardin 1882
By Greg B. Delicious. I could probably leave it at that, and it would be enough of a review. This beer is amazing and you should probably go out and give it a shot (if ... -
Beer of the Day: Brasserie de Blaugies Darbyste
By Greg B. Having tasted the success of Brasserie de Blaugies’s saison d’Epeautre, Gabi and I decided to chill and open another bottle, the Brasserie de Blaugies Darbyste. This was an interesting beer bottle in ... -
Recipe: Grilled Hake Mediterranean Style
Summer 2009 has become a summer of great health for this food and wine writer. I have been focusing on exercise, eating well, and (you might want to grab a seat for this one) haven’t ...
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Santa Cruz Mountains & Santa Clara Valley Wines
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2007 Downhill Winery Pinot Noir, Peter Martin Ray Vineyard
2 Jul 2009 | 4:15 pmFirst off, don't get excited - as far as I know it's still unreleased. I got this as a sample.I'm sure that most people reading this know all about Martin "Rusty" Ray; he's pretty much a legend in these parts. But just in case, here's a brief recap: Martin Ray grew up in Saratoga idolising Paul Masson. He eventually bought the Mountain Winery before selling it to Seagrams and buying the next hilltop over, known as Table Mountain, which he named Mount Eden. He eventually lost the majority of the property in a legal fight with shareholders, but retained his 'chateau' and the 5 acre head-trained… -
Brief notes from Pinot Days
28 Jun 2009 | 10:33 pmJust got back from Pinot Days - a great event as usual. Got to see lots of friends and meet some new people. Tried lots of interesting wines, mostly from outside the area. David Dain Smith is making some great wines out of Crushpad in San Francisco. Loved his American Beauty and Savage Juliet. Peter Cargasacchi had a very interesting rose-ish of Pinot Grigio; traditionally one of my least favourite grapes. Most people treat this as a white grape but the skins do have some colour. Andy Peay had a lovely Rousanne/Marsanne blend and some nice Pinots too. Eric Lundblad's Ladd Cellars had several… -
Naumann Vineyards
28 Jun 2009 | 8:43 amNaumann is a small vineyard located near the top of Monte Bello Road, just down the hill from Ridge. They produce around 700 cases of Merlot and Chardonnay with a reputation for great value. The winery is only open on SCMWA Passport days, but I was invited to join a special tasting organised by the group Friends of the Winemakers.Don Naumann had been thinking of planting a vineyard in Napa when the opportunity arose to purchase a 10 acre property just down the hill from Ridge. In 1994 he planted just over an acre of Merlot on the steep, rocky hillside, adding a second acre in the following… -
2008 Downhill Torrontés
26 Jun 2009 | 9:30 pmTorrontés? A year ago I'd never heard of it either. Apparently it's a white grape that's popular in Argentina and is supposedly the Next Big Thing. DNA research has concluded that it's a cross between Muscat of Alexandria and the old Mission grape, Listan Prieto - also known as Rose of Peru, or Criolla Chica in Argentina. Although the label simply carries the California appellation, the fruit is sourced from a new vineyard called Silvaspoons in Lodi, where the owner is experimenting with various - mostly Iberian - grapes, including Alvarelhão, Verdejo, Tempranillo and Touriga Nacional. I… -
2007 Windy Oaks "Terra Narro" Pinot Noir
23 Jun 2009 | 6:09 pmJim & Judy Schultze make some terrific wines from their property in Corralitos. Their Chardonnay is one of my favourites, and their entire range of critically acclaimed Pinot Noirs is impressive. The latest addition, named "Terra Narro", is designed to be drunk now while you're waiting for their more structured wines to mature.The nose is light, but typical of the Windy Oaks style. On the palate there's loads of cola, with hints of cherry, cranberry and spice. It's balanced, light on the oak with a tasty if fairly quick finish. 88 points. Club members can pick it up for $23, which makes it a…
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Stefania Wine
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Full Moon Rising
2 Jul 2009 | 12:04 pmOk, hang in there with me on this one.....A few years ago we had a really bad problem with Powdery Mildew in a vineyard. I tried everything, and still we had problems (see the previous tree blog). The next winter I asked everyone I talked to in the business for advice. One thing I was told was prune by the moon cycle.I did a little research and found that from Roman times vines were traditionally pruned after the first full moon of the year and before the holiday of Paganalia (Jan 22nd). If pruning wasn't finished by the 22nd, it would stop and resume after the next full moon.Well I figured… -
The Grand Canyon - Trees - Being Organic
29 Jun 2009 | 5:10 pmAt first these three things may not seem to have anything in common, so this is going to take a little bit of time to link together.Every day at work I eat lunch at my desk and work through the lunch hour. I try and use that hours time to get in a morning walk and an afternoon walk instead. Most days I'm able to get in 2-3 miles around the little neighborhood at work. I'm hoping that those walks, with the gym training and our weekend hikes, will have me ready for our Grand Canyon trip next spring.Every day I go by this set of trees. You can't really see this in this picture but I wanted to… -
Restaurant Wine Lists
27 Jun 2009 | 8:00 amAs I listened to a restaurateur talk about her wine list the other day, she said something that made me wonder.She said that she has a hard time selling a Santa Cruz Mountains appellation wine because the guest ordering wine can't be sure of what they will get. Could be awesome, could suck. And she's right. She also said that collectively and generally speaking, 2005 was a great year in Burgundy and so if she has that to offer on her list next to a SCM pinot for example, she'll sell the devil out of the Burg.Why?I mean, really. I'm asking, because here is what I was thinking while I listened… -
Lobsters Everywhere!
26 Jun 2009 | 1:25 pmI've chronicled my Ranch 99 exploits a few times:http://stefaniawine.blogspot.com/search?q=ranch+99This week fresh live lobster was $7.99 a pound. What to do?Party!I picked up seven of the beasts on my way home last night and we had a small group of friends over to feast. These things where huge! The biggest was over 3 pounds, and all were at least 2 pounds.I like this picture because there's just one crawling around randomly in the background. I usually give the lobsters names, but totally forgot to last night.The claws were hand size, biggest I've ever had.We did open a lot of wine, but I… -
Tuck and Thin
24 Jun 2009 | 7:53 amFor the last few weeks Rachel and Jerry have been busy in the vineyards with what I always think of as the last work of Spring. After flowering has finished in the vines they need to be tucked up into the wires and extra shoots thinned out.It's not really hard work, or too technical, but it is critical to get us through the summer. The tucking will allow us to do some logistical things like get the tractor up and down the rows, and hang bird netting. Most important though it allows the sun to start working its way on to the new little grape clusters.The simple way to think about the suns…
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Jancis Robinson
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Fixes fixed (General)
1 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmMajor housekeeping announcement. Thanks to a vast amount of work and patience on the part mainly of Julia, and also some real application recently on behalf of Yuriy Letser of developers Alcuda, we are relieved to be able to announce that, at last, the following fixes have been made to the. -
Old and New Zealand (Tasting articles)
1 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmSTOP PRESS: Just found a whole new cache of 45 tasting notes and have added them in. This collection of tasting notes on 115 significant New Zealand wines is a combination of notes taken at the recent new release tasting shown in Inside a trade tasting (from which recommended retail UK prices were. -
Those AWAC wine faults in full (Inside information)
1 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pmOn Tuesday I outlined in Wine faults – delicious! the structure of the Advanced Wine Assessment Course organised by the Australians on Monday. Here is a guide to the faults and taints exhibited by the 22 glasses of wine we were served, 11 of them a basic Australian commercial Chardonnay doctored. -
Champagne bargain – from Fortnum’s! (Inside information)
30 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmThe venerable posh grocer Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly in London is known for many things - smart tins of tea and dainty restaurants - but not for price slashing. However, I am delighted to report that one of the best buys in champagne in the UK is currently to be found in the new basement. -
Vino Nobile to be less Tuscan? (Inside information)
30 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmThe Consorzio in charge of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has proposed controversial changes to the rules for this famous southern Tuscan wine. Currently Vino Nobile, the very first wine ever elevated to the superior status of DOCG in 1980, must consist of a minimum of 70% of Sangiovese, or Prugnolo.
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Wine Brands
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Vinexpo - Day 4 : New Technologies for the wine business
24 Jun 2009 | 1:15 amToday is devoted to new technologies with the conference of the Bordeaux School of Business (BEM) in the morning and the Great Wine Capitals in the afternoon.The focus of the morning was on Prof. Gregory Bressoles' new study on wine e-commerce. My readers know about Gregory's first study conducted in 2007 and presented at Vinexpo the same year. This e-Performance Barometer showed some improvements in some sites while others are doing poorly. Wine.com is the winner as in 2007 while winehcateau.com becomes second and the French vinatis.com is third. The portrait of the wine buyer on Internet… -
Vinexpo - Day 3: organic wines
23 Jun 2009 | 12:47 amToday was my "organic" day. Organic wines are a growing category in many countries and attract the attention of the wine consumers. I was a little confused about the differences between organic and biodynamic wines. Very basically a wine is considered organically grown when not using any pesticides, chemicals, fungicides or herbicides. Some countries have certification regulations but a wine producer might choose not to get the certification to avoid bureaucratic bothers. Biodynamic wines are made using the biodynamic process created by the German Rudolf Steiner based on understanding the… -
Vinexpo - Day 2 : Malbec Summit and Tutti Quanti
22 Jun 2009 | 8:02 amVinexpo is this year again bubbling with activity and people: 2,400 exhibitors representing 48 countries, some new to Vinexpo (Poland, Sweden, Belarus and Egypt). In the halls you meet a lot of Eastern European professionals as well as people from India, Maghreb or Middle East. A fascinating medley of languages and styles.But a girl has to focus on an activity a day in order to keep a minimal sanity. I went to the Malbec Summit where British and American wine journalists and experts conducted comparative tastings between Cahors and Argentine Malbecs. Dangerous exercise? Not so much since both… -
Vinexpo: Day 1
21 Jun 2009 | 8:33 amToday, June 21st, Vinexpo opened its doors. Thinking naively it would be a very quiet day, I took the tram and the shuttle to the Exhibition Park and... started feeling sorry for myself! In spite of the early hours, a lot of people were walking on the footbridge on the lake linking the Congress Center to the Park. In Hall 1 thousands of people were already tasting, talking, walking and being busy.Anyway I had my first look at what a lot of experts thought would be a poor Vinexpo. In fact all the booths were filled up, new exhibitors were present, like the Chinese Dynasty and a lot of wine… -
Branding a wine region
17 Jun 2009 | 12:28 amWhen a wine is very much connected to a region, should one try to get it more awareness by branding the region first, before branding the wines? This is a pertinent (if difficult) question when reading the last study conducted by Wine Intelligence and presented during the London Wine Fair in May 2009.Wine Intelligence collected their figures from 2,000 wine drinkers in the US and 1,000 in the UK. They show very clearly that most drinkers ignore Malborough (identified as a cigarette brand) and don't know very well Barossa.In Wine Brands, I had two examples of region branding: Cahors, in the…
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McDuff's Food & Wine Trail
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Graves in Chinon
1 Jul 2009 | 2:30 pmI love Chinon. There, I said it. While the wine producing communes of Chinon have hardly been mapped, dissected and defined to the extent of the vineyards of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or or the Mosel in Germany, one thing that makes Chinon so continuously compelling to me is the way its best wines express the area’s diversity of terroir. Clay, sand, limestone and gravel; riverbanks, flatlands, hillsides and plateaus; it’s all there, in various shapes, mixtures and forms.It doesn’t seem coincidental to me that some of my favorite wines for everyday drinking come from the gravel rich soils… -
Châteaumeillant in Focus
29 Jun 2009 | 6:45 amLooking to stump your favorite geek of French wines? Or at least throw him a curveball? The upper, outer reaches of the Loire might not be a bad place to start. Just about any VDQS designated area might do the trick as well. Combine the two and the odds will be stacked in your favor.Châteaumeillant VDQS “Extra-Version,” Domaine Geoffrenet-Morval (Laure and Fabien Geoffrenet) 2006$20. 13% alcohol. Cork. Importer: A Thomas Calder Selection, Potomac Selections, Landover, MD.I went into this one with just enough knowledge to be dangerous. Neither I nor any of my table mates had ever tried a… -
Fleur de Passion
24 Jun 2009 | 8:18 amIt’s what keeps you going, what keeps the passions flamed. Every once in a while, you still run across something that makes your pupils dilate, makes you tingle, makes you say "wow" (or at least think it). When it comes to wine, that “something” is often as simple as an inexpensive bottle from an off the beaten track area or an unknown producer that surprises you, certainly from its quality but also, it sometimes seems, helped along by its very nature as an unknown quantity. It seems far rarer for that “something” to be a special bottle, a top wine from a top producer, as one’s… -
Jamie Goode and Monty Waldin
19 Jun 2009 | 7:35 pmI'm rapidly running out of writing time on this lovely Monday morning. So, rather than rush something to the presses I thought I'd instead send you all to the fine interview Jamie Goode recently conducted with Monty Waldin, who is one of the wine world's leading authorities on biodynamics. Among other things, Jamie and Monty discuss geopolitics, Nicolas Joly and, of course, cows and the moon. Be sure to read through to the end of Jamie's piece, where you'll find links to the previous nine segments of his ongoing series on biodynamics and wine.By the way, Monty's benchmark book, Biodynamic… -
Saignée Bloody Saignée
19 Jun 2009 | 7:30 pmFile this one under "Why didn't I think of that?" I'd hoped to get to this much earlier today, but a long and busy day at the office kept me from it until now.Cory Cartwright is celebrating the first birthday of his blog, Saignée, today. To help the festivities along, a fantastic cast of characters -- Jeremy Parzen, Brooklynguy, Alice Feiring, Peter Liem, Wolfgang Weber... you get the idea -- have signed up as contributors to a month long brouhaha on all things yeast and vine. Cory's calling it "31 Days of Natural Wine." And I suggest you all follow along at Saignée in the month to…
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Vinix: latest wine tastings
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Montefalco Sagrantino
27 Jun 2009 | 3:00 pmMadonna Alta, Montefalco, Italia Come colore è rosso granato molto scuro. I profumi mi sembra viene direttamente dal bosco, mirtillia, foglie e terra bagnata. Per il gusto ha ottima struttura e complessità, una lunghissima persistenza. Il gusto di liquirizia, pepe a tabacco è profondo. Come cibo serve una bistecca con forte spezie, come aglio e peperoncini. -
Rosso Piceno Morellone
27 Jun 2009 | 3:00 pmLe Caniette Azienda Agricola, Ripatransone, Italia Un Rosso Piceno " superiore" di fatto anche se paradossalmente non di nome, e mi spiego: il termine Superiore in etichetta, nella doc Rosso Piceno, sta ad indicare che il vino è stato prodotto in una ristretta zona collinare sulla sponda sinistra del fiume Tronto che dal mare Adriatico va ad Ascoli Piceno delimitata a sud dalla via Salaria e a nord dal fiume Tesino; si tratta cioè di ulteriore affermazione di tipicità territoriale prevista da disciplinare di produzione . Nel caso nostro, lazienda della famigla Vagnoni viene a ritrovarsi… -
Maremmante
25 Jun 2009 | 3:00 pmPoggio Argentiera, Alberese, Italia Il primo punto sul quale mi vorrei soffermare è letichetta: semplice ma accattivante, riporta in bella evidenza il simbolo di Poggio Argentiera, ovvero quella specie di spirale che si trova al centro. Inoltre il nome del vino riporta subito alla mente il territorio di origine di questa bottiglia. Appena versato nel bicchiere il colore è di un rosso bello carico e molto intenso, quasi impentetrabile. Lo definirei un vino double-face: al naso infatti esprime una serie di profumi molto freschi e beverini che ricordano gli odori della svinatura. In… -
Bucce
25 Jun 2009 | 3:00 pmPoggio Argentiera, Alberese, Italia Ero molto curioso di assaggiare questo Bucce 2007, vino non filtrato 100% Ansonica. Già dal colore giallo torbido si avverte di essere di fronte ad un vino diverso. Al naso non presenta alcun sentore tipico dei vini bianchi: forse una nota di salmastro. In bocca conferma la sapidità avvertita allolfatto ed ho avvertito anche una - personalissima - nota di pesca gialla. Credo che in una degustazione bendata, con bicchieri scuri, sarebbe difficile capire se si tratta di un bianco o di un rosso. Sicuramente non va abbinato con piatti troppo delicati,… -
Costa d'Amalfi Furore Fiorduva Bianco
24 Jun 2009 | 3:00 pmMarisa Cuomo, Furore, Italia Acquistare un vino in cantina è sempre il miglior inizio per degustarlo al meglio. Passeggiare nelle grotte tufacee tra le barriques in cui riposa il vino nuovo e sapere che tra qualche anno torneremo a bere proprio un po' di quel vino è sempre una piccola emozione. Etichetta elegante, seria e fortemente legata alla tradizione e al territorio con l'immagine di un'antica Furore marinara. Vino che si presenta giallo paglierino, luminoso e cristallino. Profumi intensi e complessi di frutta esotica, ananas, geranio, albicocca, fiori secchi e sullo sfondo toni…
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CheapWineRatings.com
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Clif Bar - The Climber Red Wine
The headline is not a typo. The folks who create those tasty organic Clif Bars are now in the wine business too via the Clif Family Winery. My reaction to hearing about this was mixed. On one hand I thought it was great, after all, Clif Bars ... -
Sopranos Chianti Lineup
Brand licensing is a big business in some lines of products, such as clothing and toys, but I haven't seen much of it in the wine world. I was curious when I heard about Sopranos wines: Is it pure marketing shtick or is there some substance to the wines? ... -
X Winery X3 Cabernet Sauvignon
Tonight it's a double-header review with two different vintages of the X3 Cabernet Sauvignon from X Winery. One of the things I find as a bargain hunter is that vintage is an important thing to note when you find a gem. And when I do find a producer that consistently ... -
Veramonte Primus Red Blend
I've long been a fan of white wines from Veramonte. Both their Chardonnay and their Sauvignon Blanc have garnered great ratings on this site. I was less thrilled with their Cabernet Sauvignon, but I was glad to have the opportunity to try another red wine from Veramonte. And this one ... -
Haras Character, Chilean Red Blend
Nothing goes better with wine than raising thoroughbred horses. Or wait, I thought it was cheese. Yes, cheese goes great with wine. But entrepreneur Eduardo Matte has made a pairing of wine production and raising thoroughbred horses at his estate, named Haras de Pirque. The estate is named after Chile's ...
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Rockss and Fruit
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Latest Garagiste article on Mystification and De-Mystification of wine
2 Jul 2009 | 10:43 amAn article I wrote completely out of the box. Please read and comment whenever you can. -
Wineepedia entry of the day - Sancerre
2 Jul 2009 | 5:59 amI cannot think of anything more American than Sancerre. -
Wineepedia entry of the day - Chinon
1 Jul 2009 | 6:46 amChinon . . . .Chinon . . . .Chinon . . . .thank goodness for Chinon. -
The Internet has zero to little impact on wine sales say Vinexpo luminary
30 Jun 2009 | 12:23 pmWho are these people kidding? Just another example of the old guard in denial about the impact of the new media, the internet (I was selling tons of wine via the internet in 2000, before all this social media was even a drop in the bucket!) has on wine sales. It is absolutely amazing how many people are still in denial about how will be sold in the future. Plus the guy is completely dismissive about all the interesting side shows at Vinexpo of natural, biodynamic and organic wineries. There's a ways to go before people have a clue. Look at all the wine Gary V moves. Garagiste. PC blow out… -
Wineepedia entry of the day - Pouilly-Fuisse and Pouilly-Vinzelles
29 Jun 2009 | 4:40 pmThought I could give Pouilly-Vinzelles its own day but it's just so small and there is only one producer so I thought I would double dip with Pouilly-Fuisse. Does anybody know of any other decent producers of Pouilly-Vinzelles besides the Bret Brothers?
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Wine Biz Radio
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Socialate!
26 Jun 2009 | 3:30 pmKaz invents another new word! In the meantime, he and Randy have a nice session with Rick Breslin of Hello Vino, talking about their iPhone application, what Vintank thinks of them, and what’s in their pipeline. Then their ears turn to Eric Arnold, deputy lifestyle editor at Forbes and author of First Big Crush, who riffs about the appalling state of the Australian wine industry and the lesson that is being missed by the rest of the worldwide wine industry. Freaky good times, and the podcast is a full ten minutes longer than the radio broadcast! You’re welcome! Hello Vino [link]… -
Covert Without The ‘T’
19 Jun 2009 | 3:30 pmKaz and Randy play host to Cruvee CEO Evan Cover and discuss their business, their service, and some interesting new features in their pipeline. Then it all devolves into the shuck-and-jive that Kaz and Randy are (in)famous for! Cruvee [link] Our previous conversation with Evan [link] Share This -
Academy of Wine Cavemen
12 Jun 2009 | 3:30 pmWhat do you do when a caveman comes calling? Sit him in the chair like everyone else and ask him some questions! Mike Wangbickler, PR professional, wine industry blogger, and executive director of the re-imagined Academy of Wine Communications talks about wine PR, and a little get together at the end of June aimed at getting wine writers some paying gigs! All that, and more current events than you can shake a wet cork at! Academy of Wine Communications [link] AWC Reception, June 30 in St. Helena [link] Caveman Wines [link] Sonoma State Wine Entrepreneurship “boot camp”, June 18-20… -
Logisticus Interruptus
5 Jun 2009 | 3:30 pmWhat happens when a vital wine industry service melts down? Well, it certainly makes for interesting radio! Learn as Kaz and Randy talk with Spencer Kinch from Bacchus Fulfillment regarding the New Vine Logistics shutdown. Then our heroes get on with the show they meant to do! Allan Wright from Zephyr Adventures, one of the co-organizers of the upcoming Wine Bloggers’ Conference talks all about the conference, including key changes from last years agenda. Then our #1 fan Thea tells us about the scholarships that went to deserving “citizen” wine bloggers in order to get them… -
Yo Quiero TAPAS
29 May 2009 | 3:30 pmKaz y Randy hablan con Jeff “El Jefe” Stai de Twisted Oak Winery en Calaveras. ¡Muy bien! (this pretty much sums up my years of Spanish lessons) El Jefe talks about his winery, his tasting room, “A Really Twisted Job” and the TAPAS Grand Tasting coming up in June! Twisted Oak Winery [link] Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society (TAPAS) [link] TAPAS Grand Tasting on June 14 [link] A Really Twisted Job [link] The New Wine Consumer [link] Listen to what El Jefe said the last time he was on the show [link] Share This
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HaKerem: The Israeli Wine Blog
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Ancient land of Israel brings forth new wines
26 Jun 2009 | 5:57 amInside a candlelit room at a west Houston Italian restaurant, the Israeli government sought to change Israel’s international image with help from one of the world’s oldest industries: wine — glasses and glasses of wine. The government recently teamed up with its wine industry and U.S. importers to promote the beverages made from grapes grown on the land immortalized by biblical figures Noah, Samson, and David and Goliath. These days, Israel is known more for conflict and tension than for its wines, local Israeli government officials said. “Israeli wine can help rebrand Israel,” said… -
What’s wrong with this picture?
25 Jun 2009 | 4:53 amLiving in Israel and not having been abroad for two years gave me a warped perspective on Israeli wine. Not bad, of course, but I separate the world of Israel and the world of Jewish and kosher wine. In Israel, you can go in the finest wine shops and see a bottle of the now-kosher Yarden HeightsWine, Domaine du Castel ‘C’, and Tzora Blanc next to to the not-kosher Pelter, Clos du Gat, and Tulip wineries. Go to the finest non-kosher restaurant in Tel Aviv and, along with a full array of shrimp and shellfish, you will see Castel and Yatir and Carmel Single Vineyard on the wine menu. But, as… -
Daniel Rogov in Hadassah Magazine
15 Jun 2009 | 3:20 amIsrael’s premier food and wine critic, Daniel Rogov, is featured in an article in Hadassah Magazine. The Brooklyn-born, European-trained, Israeli-resident discusses his favorite foods, how he got to Israel, his background, and the quality revolution taking place in Israel. The article about this Mediterranean food and wine critic can be found here and the entire contents of this month’s Hadassah Magazine is online here. -
Jerusalem Wine Festival
14 Jun 2009 | 1:09 amThe dates have just been released for the annual Jerusalem Wine Festival, held at the Israel Museum. I’ve previously written about the festival and it is always a joy to attend. This year, the festival is August 4-August 6 (Tuesday to Thursday) at the Israel Museum. -
Washington Post features Israeli wine
10 Jun 2009 | 1:23 amIsraeli wine has finally been covered in my hometown newspaper, The Washington Post. This article in the travel section of the Washington Post, by NPR correspondent Linda Gradstein and fellow Jerusalemite, discusses the wines around Jerusalem. In fact, I think there are more wineries now in the Judean Hills than in Zichron Ya’akov, home of the traditional Israeli wineries. Wineries such as Sea Horse, Castel, Agur, Hans Sterbach, Tzora, Tzuba, Teperberg, and more are in the Jerusalem/Judean Hills area. Information on the specific wineries can be found in the sidebox article, featuring…
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The Tasting Note
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Glenglassaugh and belly buttons
30 Jun 2009 | 4:18 pmIf you are a banker and have managed to hold onto your millions during the credit crunch, but want to join your friends, who were formally minted, in poverty, I can suggest two ways to lose your money. The first plan I have is to blow all your money in Stringfellows, spraying Cristal and drinking Hennessy Paradis from the navel of one of the dancing girls. The second is that you open a whisky distillery and sink all your money into that. To make it “commercially viable” you’ll have to put in a hundred grand a year in casks, plus wages, rates, power, raw materials and a hundred and one… -
Parker & The Retsina Effect
23 Jun 2009 | 2:35 pmI read an interesting article by Tim Atkin in Off Licence News regarding junkets and wine critics, and inadvertently it has led me to having a rant. He asks the question if it is possible for a wine writer to be totally impartial if he is being wined and dined by a producer, and also if it is possible to be a fair judge of a product if you have never seen where it is produced. It is what I have called “The Retsina effect”As you will by now know, I run a wine shop, and every year, from the middle of the summer onwards we get requests for Retsina. This horrific drink, a combination of wine… -
Duncan Murray, 1980 - 2009
21 Jun 2009 | 2:44 pmIt isn’t unusual to admire someone you worked with, but when I joined the wine trade in 2001, my assistant manager at Oddbins was a man I grew to admire, but not because of his work – by his own admission he wasn’t overly brilliant at that! He was given the reins of the Oddbins shop in St Andrews and for two months he and I staffed it on our own, with a grand total of 7 months experience combined, and we did a not too shabby job. I worked hard, he played hard, and on more than one occasion I’d arrive to find him looking a little worse for wear and in yesterday's clothes! For those two… -
Champagne, Day 3: Four champagne houses & a chalk pit. Part 2
13 Jun 2009 | 2:12 amI’ve never really been a fan of Veuve Clicquot for two reasons. Firstly, they always appear to be firmly aimed at a certain demographic of customers; the polo playing fashion conscious young with lots of money to waste and where presentation is everything. The company’s distinctive yellow label is seen anywhere there are trendy people and they appear, to focus on the on trade a lot more than the off. The second is that I've never really liked their non vintage!As a result, I’ve never really given Veuve Clicquot a chance to prove it’s worth to me. If I wanted a vintage champagne I’d… -
Champagne, Day 3: Four champagne houses & a chalk pit. Part 1
7 Jun 2009 | 7:59 amI don’t normally get a lot of time to relax, but for an hour on the morning of day three in Champagne, I did. Eating breakfast in my room, with the windows open, fresh air circulating around my room and views to die for, I started my day in the most wonderful surroundings. After saying our farewells to the wonderful hosts at Chateau Saran, we decided to head for Mesnil. Unfortunately, satellite navigation systems don’t factor in closed roads so we ended up getting lost. Our three car convoy soon became two, when the third car, an Audi R8, went AWOL. Realising that we had to stop and wait…
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Israeli Wine Direct
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I Want this for Wine
28 Jun 2009 | 5:40 pmCan you imagine how different the wine world will be when we can do this for wine? OMG I love finding ways to shrink the time between the Urge to Acquire something we value and the actual Ability to Acquire that something down to, well, nothing. This starts to do that. And you know Amazon is launching an online wine retail shop, right? Hhhhmmmmm… Tweet This Post -
Where in the World is our Israeli Wine?
28 Jun 2009 | 7:41 amGood news! Our next shipment of wine from Israel left the port of Haifa last week bound for California in a refrigerated container! A refrigerated container costs me A LOT more but it’s the only way to ensure the quality of the wine we bring to you. You should be asking other people you buy imported wine from if their wines are shipped in a “reefer”. The shipper tells us the wine should arrive on or around July 26 into Oakland and then take a couple of days to clear Customs and get into the warehouse in Benecia, just south of Napa. We intend to hold a series of New Wine… -
Meet Jim Veal: An Israeli Wine Evangelist in Texas
23 Jun 2009 | 7:34 amI have had for some time now the great pleasure of knowing one of the front-line heroes pushing forward the re-emergence of the Israeli wine world in the US. His name is Jim Veal and he is the Director of Trade and Investment Promotion for the Government of Israel’s Economic Office in Houston. He works tirelessly to re-brand Israeli wines in the minds of everyone he meets. He understands the power of wine to bring people together from different backgrounds and countries. I recently sat with him for an interview so you could get to know him a bit like I have. Here’s how our chat… -
Israeli Wines in Travel + Leisure’s Top 50 Best New Restaurants
20 Jun 2009 | 6:24 pmI am proud to have Israeli wines from our growing premium portfolio on the wine menus of 2 of the Top 50 Best New Restaurants in the US, according to the folks at Travel + Leisure. Zahav in Philadelphia and Terroir in Manhattan Tweet This Post -
Buy Israeli Wine then Take it to Your Favorite BYO Place
19 Jun 2009 | 7:00 amThis new site lets you search for BYO places in your favorite large city and bring your favorite bottle with you. Here’s some basic BYO etiquette though: 1) it’s extremely rude to bring a bottle BYO that’s on the restaurant’s wine menu 2) it’s extremely rude to bring a cheap bottle in – No 2 Buck Chuck, No Yellow Tail 3) it’s proper to bring a decent bottle, something special and then share a taste with your server It’s a good idea to order something unique directly from a special winery or your favorite importer and bring it in along with a…
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CorkSavvy - Where Wine Lovers Get Savvy
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E-Cellar & Wine Journal
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365daysofwine.com
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The Things We Do for Bonhomie: French Cocktail Hour, Realized
4 Jun 2009 | 7:18 pmHere’s how the whole thing started.Back in April I read an article in the Wall Street Journal about a French Cocktail Hour program financed by the French Ministry of Agriculture. The idea was to put a friendly face on the construed-as-pretentious French wine and cheese, and the government – by way of party planners worldwide – was backing what they called Apéritif! or cocktail hour, French-style.June 4 was decreed as French Cocktail Hour Day in some nineteen countries and in the homes of 1000 hosts here in the US. Hosts, myself included, were shipped a Party Pack filled with goodies… -
Photo Essay: Highlights of Nantucket Wine Festival and the WGBH Fine Wine Auction
3 Jun 2009 | 7:38 pmTo view this photo essay, click Photo Essay on the top line of this page and then May Highlights. -
Travessia Urban Winery: Massachusetts Grapes, New Bedford Facility, a Wine All Our Own
2 Jun 2009 | 3:19 amBy Adam CentamoreTravessia Urban Winery sampled their lineup tonight at Bin Ends Wines in Braintree, Massachusetts. While New England will never be confused with Napa Valley or Oregon, Travessia demonstrates the quality possible here when noble grape varietals meet competent winemaking. In downtown New Bedford, of all places. Travessia opened its doors to the public in December, 2008. Owner and winemaker Marco Montez produces wines from 100% Massachusetts-grown grapes. Montez grew up making wines with his family in Portugal. “Grape stomping with one’s feet was not a romantic or cool way… -
Winning -- or At Least Bidding -- at the WGBH Fine Wine Auction
30 May 2009 | 5:50 pmI love when folks get in the spirit of things.Take the WGBH wine auction, say, the last hour of which aired live tonight on Channel 2. Yes, I was one of the auctioneers and yes, I myself tumbled head-first into the get-in-the-spirit barrel. (For this I blame completely my co-auctioneers Michael Meagher of Sommelier on Demand and Marie Keep of Skinner Inc. whose enthusiasms are both irrepressible and contagious…) But the good news is that many of you got in the spirit too!How do I know this?Because when Red White Boston wrote about the auction in an email two days ago, the then-current bids… -
What Do the Whitehall Lane Napa Cab and Ruth Reichl Have in Common? Find out, at Cornerstone Books, Salem
29 May 2009 | 3:38 amOnce a month Cornerstone Books in Salem hosts a reading group dedicated to books on wine, travel and food. And once a month we gather – a mix of regulars and newcomers each time – to catch up, share news, talk about the book, and drink a glass or two of wine.That last bit, about drinking a glass or two of wine, is for some of us the most attractive part of the evening and for some of us it is the least attractive. At tonight’s meeting, each of us managed to find something we liked in the wine the same way we managed to find something we liked also in the book pick of the month.Credit…
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Imbibe New York
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Bar Olivino
20 Jun 2009 | 9:12 pmLast night, Baby Marley made his rounds around the table, his eyes intermittently transfixed by a glass of rosé. It was his first trip–not to a bar, Daddy told me–but to a wine bar: Bar Olivino on Fulton, in Clinton Hill. It’s a tiny spot just a few doors down from Olivino Wines (sister shop to Olivino Bed-Stuy); [...] -
Gottino
13 Jun 2009 | 9:16 pmNarrow with tall tin ceilings, brick and tile, bow-tied waiters, and a long white marble bar, Gottino is an in-part wine bar with an Old World feel. Near the entrance hangs a colorful glass fruit chandelier, an offering for the bountiful list of wines. Bottles line the back of the bar, along with bowls of olives, fresh [...] -
Imbibe New York Wine Club–Riesling
7 Jun 2009 | 7:04 amRiesling–five countries, seven bottles, and three hours. We each brought a bottle, ensuring we had the major regions covered: Mosel and Franken, Germany; Eden Valley, Australia; Alsace, France; and Long Island, NY. But then Brian pulled the cork on all the wines we brought, trumping our selections with a half-bottle of TBA (Trockenbeerenauslese) Riesling produced [...] -
Alphabet City Wine Co.
1 Jun 2009 | 5:16 pmLast Friday, Imbibe NY Wine Club took a field-trip to visit Keith Beavers at Alphabet City Wine Co. on Ave C. Keith, who is also the East Village Wine Geek, opened this boutique with a partner nearly 18 months ago, and every Friday and Saturday, he hosts a party at the shop. Well, not really [...] -
Turks & Frogs
28 May 2009 | 5:03 pmTucked away on West 11th Street, stands Turks & Frogs, a wine bar named for its offerings–a number of Turkish varietals on a French-centric list. Cathy and I were curious. Great wines come from Bulgaria, Greece isn’t far, and Georgia turns a curious eye. Turkey, with an ancient history of making wine, has in [...]
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2 Days per Bottle
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2005 Château de Bellevue
24 Jun 2009 | 9:57 amType Red Producer Château de Bellevue Variety Red Bordeaux Blend Country France Region Bordeaux SubRegion Libournais Appellation St. Émilion Grand Cru Price $15 (375 ml) at The Little Wooden Guy likes the wine, and the smaller bottle makes him feel bigger.The color was incredibly dark, completely opaque but for the very edges, black with a purple tint.The nose opened with blackcurrant and cedar, with a background aroma of vanilla cream, but very light, not overpowering wood-based vanilla.On the palate, blackcurrant is the predominate fruit, along with some blackberry. Peppermint and… -
2003 Deerfield Ranch Pinot Noir Jemrose Vineyard
23 Jun 2009 | 5:19 amType Red Producer Deerfield Ranch Variety Pinot Noir Vineyard Jemrose Vineyard Country USA Region California SubRegion Sonoma County Appellation Bennett Valley Price $34.99 at WineQIt's THIIIIISSSSSS big!Night OneThe nose is rich and sweet, with sweet cherry, vanilla, toasted coconut and meringue. The palate is equally big and sweet, with sweet cherries, blueberries, and loads of vanilla. There is chocolate on the mid-palate. This is very sweet, very woody.The label says "Pinot Noir" and nothing else, but if I were tasting it blind, I would bet there was some Petite Syrah in the mix, thought… -
2007 Domaine C. Ducroux Régnié
22 Jun 2009 | 5:25 pmType: Red Producer: Domaine C. Ducroux Variety: Gamay Country: France Region: Burgundy SubRegion: Beaujolais Appellation: Régnié Price: $14.99 from Chambers Street Wines Night OneMinerals and strawberries, plus a single spray of oil from one twist of key lime rind, blend together beautifully on the nose. On the palate it is surpisingly rich and dark. The palate opens with a quick startling flavor of beef fat and dark berries. Strawberries and plums are on the mid-palate, along with strong minerality that lasts through the finish. This has a velvety richness that would shock so many who… -
1996 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre
21 Jun 2009 | 7:45 pmType Red Producer Paul Jaboulet Aîné Variety Syrah Designation Domaine de Saint Pierre Country France Region Rhône SubRegion Northern Rhône Appellation Cornas The Little Wooden Guy finds this wine is just tired, beyond its prime.Night OneThe color is interesting. It is a little translucent and deep dark red. The nose is very deep and a little raisiny, with dark fruit, marjoram, green olives and bacon fat. There is less fruit on the palate than the nose. The fruits are black, blackberries and plums, but they are subdued. Floral flavors, violets and lavender, join the fruit. Green olives… -
1997 Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Ghemme
19 Jun 2009 | 6:14 pmType Red Producer Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Variety Nebbiolo Country Italy Region Piedmont SubRegion Northern Piedmont Appellation Ghemme The Little Wooden Guy loves a bargain on aged wine.Night OneThe color says "tired and old," a dull red-orange brick with clear edges bordered by orange. The nose is a little closed, but if you really dig you can find roses, chestnuts and a little cherry. The real surprise is on the palate- there's still some life in this bottle. It still has some bright acid and smooth tannins, with the flavors of cherries, violets and leather. Licorice and a touch of…
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Wine Questers Blog
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Winery Quest iPhone app
10 Jun 2009 | 10:39 amWinery Quest is the best winery map yet and we were getting close to releasing a few of our apps to beta testers when Apple announced that the new, much improved, and free iPhone 3.0 operating system is to be released June 17. The software development kit for the new OS has some very nice enhancements [...] -
Amador Cellars
23 May 2009 | 1:49 pmWe’re tasting two Amador Cellars Zins on a sailboat in San Francisco Bay, 2004 and 2006. The 04 is more complex and fruitier. 06 is wonderfully dry! The grapes are from opposite sides of the same estate vineyard and are so different. Amador Cellars has an incredible range of Zinfandels. I wish I had a [...] -
California wine regions spring photography shoot!
28 Apr 2009 | 8:30 pm15 wine regions, 1,500 miles, 7 days. WOW did I see some beauty! This shot of lupines along the Carmel Valley Road is common right now! I started shooting spring scene photography April 11-12 in the Sierra Foothills wine regions of Calaveras, Amador, and El Dorado Counties. I’m shooting for our Discover California Wine Regions video library. High [...] -
Chateau Christina 06 San Benito Cab
28 Apr 2009 | 5:48 pmWhile I’m primarily focused on wine tasting road trips I like to mention special wines that I pick up along the trails. One of those is Chateau Christina Cab from the Pedregal Vineyard in San Benito County near Salinas, CA. This vineyard sits on the famous San Andreas Fault and the soil has been churned for [...] -
Tangley Oaks wines – buy & plant a tree today!
24 Apr 2009 | 11:24 amTerlato Wines International occasionally sends me a few wines from one of their brands to review. As always I’m not going to tell you about berries and such. Your tastes are special to you and your circumstancs. For every bottle sold today, Arbor Day, they will sponsor the planting of a tree. This seems like a [...]
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sandihurst wine
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With a wine in one hand and a computer in the other...
30 Jun 2009 | 2:44 pmMaking wine is the easy part. The hard part is selling it. The times are changing and wineries are going to have to change their methods to keep up. WineBusiness.com recently published an interesting article by Liz Thach entitled Tips to Market Wine to Millenials. It seems that getting through to the young folk of today its all about reaching them ONLINE above anything else. Something that NZ wineries are not very good at doing, at least not yet. Read on....To cut a long story short, the millennial generation is massive, growing and wine loving - but how to attract them to your product ? When… -
New Zealands best unsigned band...
28 Jun 2009 | 7:57 pmThe HustleListen here - http://www.box.net/shared/9vp6cvkufr -
Celebrating a Great Vintage...
28 Jun 2009 | 6:34