Wine

  • Most Topular Stories

  • Wine Quiz: Which Grape Originally Defined the Mokelumne River AVA in Lodi?

    NorCal Wine Blog
    24 Apr 2012 | 8:58 pm
    The Mokelumne River AVA was approved in 1992, along with the other six AVAs nested within the larger Lodi AVA. However, the Mokelumne River growing region’s boundaries were first drawn out  on a... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Harvest Film at Sonoma Film Fest and other Wine News

    The Wine Travelers
    Joe
    5 Apr 2012 | 4:02 pm
    The 15th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival is April 11 to 15. For you wine lovers and wine country enthusiasts, the festival will debut the film “Harvest,” a feature-length documentary that follows five Sonoma County family wineries and their experiences in the harvest of 2011. I have not seen the film but I have watched the trailer. It looks like a terrific documentary. I won’t be at the film festival, but I sure hope I have the opportunity to see this film later in the year at other venues. Check out the trailer. Benziger Family and Earth Day Benziger Family Winery will…

  • Sonoma County Wine Tasting

    Cheers2Wine Blog
    15 May 2012 | 9:27 pm
    Sonoma County is known for its fine wines. Visit Sonoma wineries for a wine tour. Relax, and enjoy a much deserved break. Learn about Sonoma restaurants and accommodations for your getaway.

  • Napa Valley Wine Tour

    Cheers2Wine Blog
    15 May 2012 | 8:27 pm
    Plan your own Napa Valley Wine Tour. Includes napa valley winery information,Napa winery map, and info on Napa wine tasting. Access free Napa Valley wine tasting coupons and enjoy a napa wine tour.

  • 10 California Chardonnays (Wine Spectator)

    WineSpectator.com: Tasting Reports
    6 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    New reviews of outstanding wines from Napa, Sonoma and beyond, plus a great value from Monterey County
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    GrapeRadio – Wine Talk Show

  • From Chile to California

    GrapeRadio Bunch
    19 Apr 2012 | 2:15 pm
    In 1978, a young Alex Guarachi boarded a plane from Chile to California with the goal of becoming a professional soccer player. Sidelined by an injury in college, a soccer career was no longer an option, and Alex had to set his sights elsewhere. Alex hails from Santiago, Chile. One of eight children, wine, some of the best from his homeland, was a staple on the dinner table. When Alex made the pilgrimage from Chile to the U.S., those wines were nowhere to be found. Vowing to change that, he and a business partner formed TGIC – Thank God It’s Chilean. Recognizing a virtually untapped…

  • The Wines of António Mendes Lopes

    GrapeRadio Bunch
    27 Mar 2012 | 9:42 pm
    When someone talks about the wines from Portugal, most of us naturally assume that we are talking about Port, the fortified wine from the Douro Valley region. Well, there are more to the wines of Portugal than merely Port. In fact, there are a whole host of non-fortified wines, made from some 39 varieties of grapes. Join us as we talk with António Mendes Lopes, Owner and Chief Winemaker at Vidigal Wines. There might be more to Portugal then you think. Find out more about Vidigal Wines: vidigal.portugalwines.org Sponsor: Wine Berserkers: On-Line Wine Community: www.wineberserkers.com Click…

  • 2012 Wine Controversies

    GrapeRadio Bunch
    29 Feb 2012 | 9:05 pm
    There is absolutely no way that wine people (aka, wine geeks) all agree on aspects of wine miscellanea. Wine descriptors, cork vs. screw cap, pricing, etc, etc. Join us as we talk with Todd French from WineBerserkers.com, probably the hottest place on the internet to discuss wine. We think you’ll find plenty of controversy, and more than a little trolling in our conversation. Heck, there might even be a little truth, too! Sponsor: Millesima, Fine Wine Merchants: www.millesima-usa.com Click Below to Play the Show: Show #301 (1:08:11 min 65MB)

  • A Day in the Sun at the 2011 World of Pinot Noir

    GrapeRadio Bunch
    9 Feb 2012 | 9:25 pm
    One of the high points for us at World of Pinot Noir, is the time we get to spend with winemakers. Join us as we sit down with some familiar and maybe not so familiar winemaking names in the “World of Pinot Noir,” as we hear about their beginnings, their processes, their passions, and their aspirations. Our interviewees include: Jeff Pisoni (Lucia Vineyards), Eric Lundblad (Ladd Cellars), Byron Kosuge (B. Kosuge Wines, Kingston Family Vineyards), Jacob Fetzer (Masut Vineyard and Winery), Bibiana González Rave (Lynmar Estate), and Alan Baker (Cartograph Wines). Sponsor: World of…

  • Antonio Galloni on Wine

    GrapeRadio Bunch
    1 Feb 2012 | 12:14 am
    When we last spoke with Antonio Galloni, he was happily covering the Italian wine scene for Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate among other projects, and had just contributed to Parker’s new book “Parker’s Wine Bargains: The World’s Best Wine Values Under $25.″ So, what’s new with Antonio since then? Plenty! In early 2011, Parker realigned The Wine Advocate regional coverage. Among the changes, was the responsibility for reviewing and reporting on the wines from California was shifted from Parker to Antonio Galloni, along with Italy, Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte d’Or. The…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Vinography: A Wine Blog

  • Hungarian Wine Judging

    14 May 2012 | 2:09 am
    As some of you know, I've just spent the last few days holed up on top of a hill overlooking the plains of Hungary tasting several hundred Hungarian wines and passing judgement upon them. An 11th Century abbey that also happens to be a world heritage site makes for a pretty impressive spot to be passing judgement, it turns out. I'm participating as a judge for something called the Pannon Wine Challenge. Now in its 13th year, this contest is effectively the main national competition for Hungarian wines. Two years ago the event was taken over by a gentleman named Richard Nemes, the former head…

  • Vinography Images: Russian River Expanse

    11 May 2012 | 7:53 am
    Russian River Expanse HEALDSBURG, CA: An aerial view of some of Sonoma County's Russian River Valley wine region near Healdsburg. Some of California's top Pinot Noir and Chardonnays come from this soil, which ranges from hillsides to old floodplains such as this one. INSTRUCTIONS: Download this image by right-clicking on the image and selecting "save link as" or "save target as" and then select the desired location on your computer to save the image. Mac users can also just click the image to open the full size view and drag that to their desktops. To set the image as your desktop wallpaper,…

  • 2012 Paso Robles Wine Festival: May 18-20, Paso Robles

    9 May 2012 | 3:21 pm
    Anyone who hasn't yet discovered Paso Robles wines is missing some of California's most robust and dynamic red wines. Whether you count yourself among that group looking to learn more, or you consider yourself a die hard fan, you'll not want to miss the 30th annual Paso Robles Wine Festival. Once a sleepy undiscovered little wine town, Paso Robles has become the epicenter of a wine explosion in the last decade with wineries popping up like Spring crocuses every year. The limestone terroir of western Paso Robles in particular is producing some absolutely stunning Rhone-syle wines that every…

  • The Essence of Wine: White Flowers

    9 May 2012 | 2:59 am
    Image © 2012 Leigh Beisch One of life's great, mysterious pleasures can be encountered on a temperate summer evening in certain places in the world, when from out of the darkness, comes the incredible scent of flowers on the night breeze. The universe of fragrant white flowers contains an amazing array of enchanting scents — tuberose, jasmine, acacia, gardenia, orange blossom, and lilly of the valley are just a few sources of these aromas, whose dynamic range spans angelic delicacy and raw, powerful sexuality. Such scents make regular appearances most often in white wines —…

  • Weingut Nikolaihof, Wachau, Austria: Current Releases

    8 May 2012 | 2:59 am
    There are certain places in this world that feel as if they exist outside of time. Or perhaps they exist inside of time but move much slower than the world around them. As I stepped through the doorway into the inner courtyard of Weingut Nikolaihof, a stones throw from the Danube, and saw the morning light filtering down through the century-old linden tree, the world narrowed down to this quiet bounded space. Gravel crunched under my feet, and there was a stillness as I gazed up at the bell tower that spoke of the building's storied past as part of a monastery. That moment of stillness didn't…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Fermentation: The Daily Wine Blog

  • Uncomfortable Truths: The Wine Edition

    Tom Wark
    14 May 2012 | 4:17 pm
    Some truths are uncomfortable. The Experts Are the Best Sources of Wine Info and RecommendationsThe tendancy to disparage "wine experts" or "wine elite" grows as the role of social media and peer reviews grow. Yet the fact remains that the experts are the best and most reliable source of information on wine. Folks like Eric Asimov, Robert Parker, Jim Laube, Jancis Robinson, Steve Heimoff, Charles Olken, Dan Berger, Lettie Teague, Jon Bonne and other well known experts are the one's with the experience to best understand wine and best provide well-founded…

  • Coupling Up in the Wine Industry—Lessons Learned

    Tom Wark
    14 May 2012 | 10:28 am
    I wonder if the percentage of couples where both people work in the same industry is higher in Napa Valley than in other part of the country. I wonder this because my Kathy and I are such a couple and as I mentally survey our list of local friends and acquaintances, I note our condition afflicts many of them. Today is the first anniversary of my marriage to my Kathy. Last year at this time I woke with an air of anticipation, knowing that in a few hours important vows would be exchanged in front of friends and family, public declarations of our commitment to one another would be expressed, our…

  • Minors Don't Buy Alcohol Online

    Tom Wark
    8 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Minors Don't Buy Alcohol On-line. And yet, this fundamental fact has gone unnoticed in the wake of a recently released study that looks at minors access to alcohol conducted by Chapel Hill North Carolina and funded by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation. While this study shows that 8 students attempting to buy wine from 100 unknown on-line vendors demonstrated that 48 out of 100 orders were delivered, the study itself and the media coverage that has followed somehow failed to mentioned that the problem of minors buying alcohol on-line is no problem at all. First the facts. According…

  • Wine Wholesalers Insist You Were Born Yesterday

    Tom Wark
    7 May 2012 | 12:46 pm
    Barry Nolan over at Boston Magazine makes a point that flies in the face of what many politicians will tell us: "The business sector actually desires regulation and corruption." Interestingly, his primary evidence for this seemingly counter-intuitive conclusion is the wine industry, and particularly the Massachusetts regulatory scheme: "Massachusetts is one of the few states where you can’t get a special bottle of wine delivered to your house by FedEx or UPS. Some may try to tell you that this is because people are looking out for your well-being. But unless you were just…

  • How To Buy Wine Online Safely

    Tom Wark
    7 May 2012 | 10:33 am
    The Wall Street Journal makes a good point. When buying wine online—Buyer Beware! Actually, the WSJ Digital Network made a number of good points in a video featuring Tom Geniesse, owner of New York City's wine shop Bottle Rocket Wine & Spirits, in which advice is given on how to buy wine on-line. I haven't seen a good video primer on how to approach on-line wine buying in some time. This particular video hits a lot of the high notes that novice on-line wine buyers ought to keep in mind: 1. Indeed, Buyer Beware 2. It's best to know the wine or the seller before hitting the…
 
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Serious About Wine

  • Enolla Wines

    Mike Carter
    13 May 2012 | 6:13 pm
    Source :: Packaging of the World | Design :: Jordan Jelev Share This

  • Xavier

    Mike Carter
    12 May 2012 | 6:07 pm
    Xavier Vignon is a world-class consultant oenologist who works for many of the leading estates of the southern Rhône. He is known for creating wines of a truly unique character. But somehow that distinctive styling didn’t come across on the labels. Neumeister was contacted… It is that unique character of every bottle that really caught our interest. If the wine has such a personal expression, let us also show that on every “cuvee”. We made the bottles really exceptional, one of a kind, using defining features: without ever losing that high quality wine ambiance.

  • Wines of the World

    Mike Carter
    12 May 2012 | 11:53 am
    This is a range of wines that the Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize offers within its own "365" brand, which includes basic, everyday products at an affordable price. We set as a starting point, communication in the spirit of the "365" brand: simplicity and ‘why not?’ humor, irony, ensuring that the whole range had a visual unity. In addition, we had to ensure that the entire line had a visual unity. This was also a requirement of the brief. It seemed interesting to us to communicate the simplicity of the product, since there were also other ranges of…

  • Martian Ranch & Vineyard Branding

    Mike Carter
    6 May 2012 | 6:43 pm
    Martian Ranch & Vineyard is a young, biodynamically-farmed vineyard on famed Alisos Canyon Road in the Santa Ynez Valley. Proprietor Nan Helgeland named the winery after her two sons, Martin and Ian. The name quickly gave a connotation of the obvious, the extraterrestrial. Martian approached Geyrhalter with nothing but a great name, backed by an exceptional vineyard and wine maker, in the spring of 2009 and was quick to choose them as the agency responsible to handle the brand launch as it was about to dive into an over saturated, and highly critical market place in the midst of a…

  • Miguel Freitas Portfolio

    Mike Carter
    6 May 2012 | 8:35 am
    Wine label for Quinta da Bichinha, a wine producer from Lisbon region, and this is Prima Casta Red wine for China Market. It is an elegant and distinct label and that's why we decided to use the black color and the foiled gold. The text below the brand's name is printed with a soft gray, overprinted with high screen built to reinforce the elegance of he label. Another wine label for a Portuguese wine producer from the Lisbon region, inspired by Barcelo's cock (a traditional legend). This label was developed for Quinta da Bichinha, for the chinese market and is printed using black,…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Food & Wine: Articles

  • The Best Peach Cobbler Recipes

    4 May 2012 | 3:44 pm
    Top Peach Cobbler Recipes Buttermilk-Biscuit Peach Cobbler (left) Unlike most people who make cobblers, Bobby Flay opts to bake the biscuits separately from the fruit so the undersides cook fully; then, just before serving, he sets the biscuits on the fruit and bakes them for a few more minutes, so they can soak up some of the juices without getting soggy. Peach-Lavender Cobbler Nicole Krasinski loves the combination of peaches and lavender because the dried blossoms ...

  • The Best Peach Pie Recipes

    4 May 2012 | 3:29 pm
    Top Peach Pie Recipes Vanilla-Ginger Peach Pie Choose ripe yellow peaches rather than white ones for pie filling; they are juicier and sweet-tart. Cut them into thick wedges, which add texture to the filling and are less likely to lose their shape. Georgia Peach Pie This perfectly classic peach pie has an ultra flaky crust and simple filling. It’s delicious with a topping of bourbon whipped cream. Roasted Peach Pies with Cream (photo) “If I could p...

  • Taste Test: Chips and Salsa

    2 May 2012 | 11:02 am
    White Corn Tortilla Chips Courtesy of Trader Joe’s Top Pick: Trader Joe’s Restaurant-Style White Corn Tortilla Chips, $1.79/ 8.5oz “Great crunch.” “I’d buy these!” “Nice corn flavor.” “These are my new favorite tortilla chip—perfect thickness and crunch.” Xochitl Totopos de Maiz, $5.99/16 oz “Love these. So thin, taste homemade and are salted nicely.” “Light, crisp, mild but good flavor. Too ...

  • FYI, Your Kitchen Is Probably Dirtier than a Toilet Seat

    1 May 2012 | 4:14 pm
    “In most cases, it’s safer to make a salad on a toilet seat than it is to make one on a cutting board,” says Dr. Charles Gerba (a.k.a. Dr. Germ), a microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson.“People disinfect their toilet seats all the time, but they don’t realize that they really need to pay attention in the kitchen too.” Since 1973, he’s been studying the hidden bacteria lurking in American homes, and his findings ...

  • Anna Kendrick

    24 Apr 2012 | 10:12 am
    Anna Kendrick’s High-Stakes Baking “I’ve always loved baking—it feels like the stakes are high. Cooking isn’t precise enough for me; I’m a little OCD, and I like the way baking makes my brain feel. I take on projects that are more hands-on, like crème brûlée, although I burned myself pretty badly the first time I used a blowtorch. My biggest baking disaster was profiteroles. I couldn’t get the pastry to puff up without fa...
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Intoxicating Prose by Douglas Blyde

  • Seeking Vintage

    Douglas Blyde
    11 May 2012 | 5:21 am
    WRITER Douglas Blyde selects his favourite 10 Vintage Seekers finds - including a super-sleek sports car and an anonymous, armoured cocktail owl... Read at Vintage Seekers

  • Behind the scenes in Istria, Croatia at the Piquentum Winery

    Douglas Blyde
    4 May 2012 | 4:56 am
    A FIVE-bolt lock pins the rust-coloured door to the hillside. Trees sprout above, just in leaf, their roots wrapping around, but unable to enter. Beneath, Dimitri Brečević's winery unravels, church-like in its proportions, verdegris mottling concrete walls and blood of Christ soundlessly maturing. Mightily built, this cavern was conceived as a water tank in 1928, converted for war shelter in the early 90s, and, just months ago, recognised as actually here by cartographers and authorities... Read at Harper'sPrevious articlePhotos

  • Talking Toques - Ollie Dabbous

    Douglas Blyde
    3 May 2012 | 4:30 am
    FORMERLY of Texture, Ollie Dabbous co-founded Goodge Street’s eponymous restaurant and cocktail bar with mixologist, Oskar Kinberg after the duo met while working at Piccadily’s Cuckoo Club. Read at Harden's

  • Fenfare

    Douglas Blyde
    1 May 2012 | 7:44 am
    ALTHOUGH home to an ancient university (1209) and high-tech hub known as “Silicon Fen”, Cambridge only recently became known for its quality eating opportunities. Recently, aided by their families, two food writers swapped pens for knives, becoming restaurateurs within one month of eachother... Read at Harper's (p. 24)

  • Stars Under Stars at Jumeirah

    Douglas Blyde
    27 Apr 2012 | 6:08 am
    PLEASURE knows many boundaries. Dubai, a food desert, where water, ingredients and workforce are shipped in, and septic tanks pumped far out, has something of the pyramids about it. Read at The ArbuturianMore photos at Visuals
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Camp Blog: a points-free zone

  • harvest 2011 105 [Flickr]

    craig.camp
    10 May 2012 | 7:08 pm
    craig.camp posted a photo: The picking crew waits for enough light to start the day's work.

  • talcott and garvey picks2011 33 [Flickr]

    craig.camp
    10 May 2012 | 7:08 pm
    craig.camp posted a photo: Night pick as dawn breaks. Garvey Home Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

  • davis block cabernet franc wide - Version 4 [Flickr]

    craig.camp
    10 May 2012 | 7:08 pm
    craig.camp posted a photo: Harvesting our Davis Block Cabernet Franc in Oakville

  • Hard Chard

    Craig Camp
    7 May 2012 | 12:05 am
    Firsts are always hard and hard this one certainly was, which always makes the experience even more delicious. In this case it also makes the wine more delicious. This September we’ll be able to share this experience with you. It was with a surprising sense of satisfaction that I picked up the first bottle off the bottling line. It was, of all things a chardonnay. I confess I have little affection for most renditions of this variety in the New World. However, winemaker Tony Rynders changed my mind and I am sure this chardonnay will change yours. The hard part I was referring to in this…

  • A really beautiful wine. You have to love Oregon Pinot Noir. [Flickr]

    craig.camp
    5 May 2012 | 3:26 pm
    craig.camp posted a photo:
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Blisstree » EAT

  • SLICE Act Would Bring Less Pizza, More Veggies To School Lunches

    Elizabeth Nolan Brown
    15 May 2012 | 2:19 pm
    Gotta love a politician who loves his puns—especially if he also wants to get unhealthy pizza out of school cafeterias. I’m talking about Rep. Jared Polis, a Democrat from Colorado, whose proposed SLICE Act would end school lunch programs’ reliance on tomato paste—i.e. pizza sauce—as a qualified vegetable. “While tomato paste has a small amount of nutrients, pizza is loaded with sugar, salt, bread and cheese, which carry a great deal of fat and carbohydrates that turn into sugar during digestion,” a press release from Polis’s office noted. “Categorizing pizza as a…

  • Unpasteurized Tempeh Recalled For Salmonella–Is It Safe?

    Hanna Brooks Olsen
    15 May 2012 | 11:54 am
    Following the recall of unpasteurized tempeh sold by Asheville, North Carolina company Smiling Hara, FDA officials say they’ve been able to find the source of a strain of Salmonella that has sickened as many as 60 individuals in several states: an online retailer who sells tempeh starter cultures. The company now appears to have disappeared (and the FDA is looking into whether or not they sold any other tainted cultures), but plenty of consumers still have questions–most notably, whether or not unpasteurized tempeh is safe to eat, and, if so, how they should handle it to avoid…

  • Scarlett Johansson Calls Out Tabloids For Claiming She Crash Dieted For The Avengers

    Crushable
    15 May 2012 | 10:26 am
    There’s just something so delightfully refreshing about celebrities speaking directly to their fans. This week Scarlett Johansson bypassed her press rep and wrote a blog for Huffington Post addressing the lies tabloids printed about her “dramatic weight loss” for her role as Black Widow in The Avengers. While she confesses to working out harder than usual to prepare for the movie, she completely denies her alleged crash diet that supposedly resulted in her losing 14 pounds. More »Post from: Blisstree

  • Dunkin Donuts Launches Black Cocoa Creme Iced Coffee…With More Sugar Than A Snickers

    Deborah Dunham
    15 May 2012 | 9:45 am
    In honor of next week’s release of Men In Black 3, Dunkin Donuts has released its own movie-inspired drink: the Black Cocoa Creme Iced Coffee. It’s an iced coffee that tastes like cookies and cream, they say. And it’s served with a special pink and black straw, of course. Which admittedly sounds fun–and kind of good. Until you read the nutritional content. This specialty drink has more sugar than most candy bars! According to their website, a medium serving of the Black Cocoa Creme Iced Coffee has a whopping 34 grams of sugar. And that’s without adding any of…

  • Paleo Recipe: Eggs ‘Benedict’ With Salmon

    Elizabeth Nolan Brown
    14 May 2012 | 12:05 pm
    A few weeks ago, we posted an interview with trainer and nutritionist Nell Stephenson, author of the new paleo diet guide Paleoista. The book packages the paleo diet in a more feminine way—think less caveman, more ‘Skinnygirl’ for paleos (minus the artificial preservatives). The book explains paleo diet principles (no grains, legumes or dairy; lots of veggies, lean meats, fruit and fish) and includes more than 50 recipes, including this paleo twist on eggs benedict with salmon. Eggs “Benedict” with Salmon  Stephenson says: Forget the English muffin, vinegar, and…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Winecast

  • WBW 76: Barossa Boomerang

    Tim Elliott
    25 Apr 2012 | 9:46 pm
    Not too long ago I drank quite a bit of Australian wine, particularly Shiraz. Given that this grape, also known as Syrah, expresses greatness in the Barossa Valley I could not pass an opportunity to revisit this region for this months’ Wine Blogging Wednesday. Our host, Adam from Wine Zag, proposed we look for any wine from Australia’s Barossa Valley but for me only Shiraz would do, much the same way only Cabernet would do for Napa Valley. One other limitation was to choose a wine for $30 USD or less. I’m well aquatinted with great values from Barossa but have not tasted any…

  • The Lifestyle of An A-List Wine Critic

    Tim Elliott
    29 Feb 2012 | 7:41 pm
    A-List wine critics are the celebrities of the wine geek but we don’t get a chance to learn much about them. Just Google for interviews of Robert Parker or James Laube and you will see very little outside of promotional stuff. But Antonio Galloni of The Wine Advocate seems to be more open and has been interviewed by Grape Radio and now Steve Heimoff. Steve is himself a noted critic from The Wine Enthusiast so he knows the questions to ask. And his three part interview with Mr. Galloni goes deeper into the lifestyle of a wine critic than anything else I have seen to date. Everything from…

  • OTBN 13: A Night of Regret & Discovery

    Tim Elliott
    27 Feb 2012 | 7:12 pm
    Although I was an avid and longtime reader of Dottie Gaiter and John Brecher’s weekly Wall Street Journal wine column, I never have participated in Open That Bottle Night (OTBN). Started in 2000, the event was created as an excuse to open a special wine that remains for whatever reason languishing in your cellar. I have had several candidates for such treatment but when the last Saturday in February arrived I never thought to actually open one of these long forgotten bottles. That was until this past weekend when I saw someone mention the event on Twitter and decided to take action. The…

  • TMiW 2 – The Tastes They Are A-Changin’

    Tim Elliott
    26 Feb 2012 | 7:29 pm
    Jeff Lefevere and I return to review the top wine stories of the past month including tongue-twisting wine names, a disturbing wine manifesto, trends in wine marketing, the stellar 2009 Bordeaux vintage and much more. Hosts: Tim Elliott and Jeff Lefevere Topics If the wine is hard to pronounce, is it worth more? Has wine lost it’s romance? The Slow Wine movement 2009 Bordeaux: vintage of the century? Will drinking too much wine give you cancer? Million Dollar Day for WinesTilSoldOut.com Wine’s 2011 Report Card Moet Hennessy aims for super-premium red wine from China Are…

  • Wine & The Connected Consumer

    Tim Elliott
    23 Feb 2012 | 2:55 pm
    Randall Grahm is one of the true characters of the American wine scene. A self-styled terroirist, intuitive branding genius and all around eccentric, Grahm has taken his Bonny Doon Vineyard on quite a ride over nearly the past 30 years. After setting out in 1983 to make great Pinot Noir in California, Grahm was drawn to Rhône varieties — long before it was cool — and blazed an innovative trail. Years past and the winery continued to grow particularly at the entry level with the ubiquitous Big House brand. But being a terroir driven vintner who presides over blending sessions in…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    JancisRobinson.com

  • Jia, South Ken newbie (Free for all)

    15 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    See our new guide to all readers’ restaurant reviews . It's a well-known fact that most top restaurants have a well-priced lunch menu. Some are more cynical than others in what you are being offered for the price, but some give you a really good deal with the opportunity to experience the chef's.

  • Sicily turns a corner (Tasting articles)

    15 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    Sicily, with its many layers of different civilisations such as the Greek one in evidence here at Agrigento, is one of the most thrilling places I have ever visited. My first visit was in 1970 when the wine was virtually undrinkable so it is wonderful to observe the fine wine revolution that is.

  • Bibendum's Bordeaux 2011s (Tasting articles)

    14 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    Thursday is a public holiday in France so it seems likely we will see more releases today and tomorrow after yesterday's flurry, which included dramatic price reductions for Chx Margaux and Lynch Bages. Here's Pierre Lurton pouring Ch d'Yquem 2008 for the hundreds who attended Bibendum's Bordeaux.

  • How Rudy did it (Free for all)

    14 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    15 May - Read a racy 4,000-word account of the story of Rudy to date by Benjamin Wallace, author of The Billionaire's Vinegar , just published in New York magazine, here . I understand that Wallace's friend Michael Steinberger, once wine correspondent of Slate , has been commissioned by Vanity.

  • How (not) to organise a tasting (Don't quote me)

    14 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    Every year the en primeur tasting organised by Assovini Sicilia demands of the attendees a certain strategic approach. Last year, for example, my fellow tasters and I tried to tackle as many of the 200 wines on show as possible in a race against time. The tasting started two hours later than.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Grapes and Grains

  • Going to the Gala with the Gals

    David Flaherty
    12 May 2012 | 9:28 pm
    (From l to r: Jarred Roth, Allison Whittinghill, Rienne Martinez and I). A pic from last night’s soiree at the 2012 Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala with some of my fellow managers from Hearth & Terroir. And yes, that is a black bear behind us standing on his hind legs, fangs and claws bared.  Thankfully, we weren’t harmed, but I did hear the bear was spotted loitering around the Negroni table, and he was being a pushy son of a bitch.

  • A Tidal Wave of Beer is Headed Towards Tribeca!

    David Flaherty
    8 May 2012 | 10:20 pm
    Mark your calendars, people. Rally the homebrew club.  Cancel your weekend gambling trip to Macao.  Request the day off from work…hell, request two days off from work.  Cause it’s about to be ON. Four days from now, it’s time to stand up for the craft beer cause.  Time to declare your independence from the mass-produced swill that clogs our grocery stores and holds the beer industry in a sleeper hold.  As part of the 2012 Manhattan Cocktail Classic, we’re humbled, honored and fucking fired up to bring you: The Declaration of Beer Independence. On Saturday, May…

  • Paul Grieco Wins James Beard Award for ‘Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional’

    David Flaherty
    7 May 2012 | 8:02 pm
    Paul Grieco of Hearth & Terroir (pic from Stuart Pigott's Planet Wine) Stoked to hear, hot off the presses of the Beard Foundations Twitter account, that my boss/colleague/compatriot/rebel-rouser/mentor/fearless maniac, Paul Grieco, just won the 2012 James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional. This is awesome, well-deserved news for me and all the other glorious misfits that call Hearth & Terroir home.  Well done, Paul. In honor of this glorious occasion, Paul will be planting 12 hairs of his devilishly long goatee in slate-filled vineyards all over the…

  • That’s Some Effective Signage

    David Flaherty
    5 May 2012 | 5:42 pm
    On the wall of Stinky Bklyn, the deliciously olfactory-overpowering cheese and beer shop in Cobble Hill.

  • The Pillars of Civilization: Sausage, Beer and Olives

    David Flaherty
    28 Apr 2012 | 3:37 pm
    Recipe to remember you’re alive and the world is a vast, beautiful place: -Oskar Blues, Dales Pale Ale, Colorado -Six Point, The Crisp Lager, New York -Lamb Sudzuk Sausage -Halal Beef Sudzuk Sausage -Kefalograviera Cheese -Almond-Stuffed Olives
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    My Wine Education

  • California Pinot and Chilean Carmenere

    Cresta
    15 May 2012 | 12:57 pm
    By: Cresta Irony 2010 Pinot Noir, Monterey County Medium-bodied wine with a definite sweet cherry aroma. It smells super fruity and tastes like fresh strawberries with hints of vanilla. Firm tannins and crisp acidity, well-balanced with a smooth finish. I have always been a fan of Pinot and this one is quite good. I can’t recall how I stumbled upon this one, but for about $12, I will buy it again. Vina Leyda Carmenere 2010 This Chilean wine from Rapel Valley came from our wine club. It’s an interesting selection. The black pepper on the nose is especially strong. The intense, jammy…

  • Woodford Reserve Commemorative Kentucky Derby Bottle

    Cresta
    4 May 2012 | 6:59 am
    By: Cresta You all know that my husband is into bourbon. The other day he found this really cool limited edition Woodford Reserve bottle that celebrates the  138th Kentucky Derby. Woodford Reserve is the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby. Did you know they’ve been crafting bourbon whiskey at the site of the Woodford Distillery since as early as 1812? The bottle features the artwork of Michael Schwab, one of America’s most recognized illustrators. It is an image of a thorougbred and jockey racing toward the finish line. I think this would make a great gift for someone who…

  • Join Me For Tap ‘N’ Run 4K

    Cresta
    27 Apr 2012 | 6:56 am
    By: Cresta This is probably a little unorthodox, but I’m going to write about it anyway. It DOES have something to do with beer at least. It may seem crazy to combine heart-pumping physical activity with beer drinking – although I know some people that would consider beer drinking a sport. Even the organizers call this event “a ridiculous running race.” I’ve always thought an ice cold beer tastes great after a good run, so I’m in. Tap ‘N’ Run is a 4K (or 2.5 mile) running race that includes four beer chug stations along the race course – plus a full beer at the…

  • Fresh & Fruity Sicilian White Blend

    Cresta
    16 Apr 2012 | 6:50 pm
    By Cresta Another great selection from our wine club. Fondo Antico I Versi Bianco 2010 is a rich white blend – without oak – that combines equal parts Grecanico, Inzolia and Grillo from Sicily. Fresh and fruity, this wine delivers citrus and tropical fruit flavors with a hint of toasted almonds. It is clean and crisp with a bit of zing and nice balanced acidity. It has the rich  fruit flavor of a Chardonnay and the liveliness of a Sauvignon Blanc. I Versi Bianco is from Fondo Antico, a winery located near Trapani in a small town called Frazione Rilievo. Admittedly, I was not very…

  • Mad Men Monday: Gin Fizzes

    Michelle
    9 Apr 2012 | 2:30 pm
    by Michelle *spoilers ahead* That’s right. Stop reading now if you haven’t seen last evening’s episode.   Before I get into the cocktails, was anyone else shocked when Don took a temporary turn for the dark side last night? I hadn’t expected him to sleep with Andrea, let alone strangle her. I was, of course, relieved to discover it was a fever-induced delusion. But perhaps we did take a turn for the darker side of things last night. Don has discovered that it is probably within him to kill someone who might destroy his happiness. Sally has been exposed to the…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wilf's Wine Press

  • Wines, Vines and Tattoos !!

    Wilf G.K
    7 May 2012 | 4:16 pm
    Recent "research" conducted outside bars in France, suggests that tattooed individuals drink more!  How unscientific can you get? And if you have seven or more tattoos you fall into the high risk category and may even be violent. This type of research is not really useful and leaves many questions unanswered. For instance are these beer drinkers or do they have a preference for hard liquor? And were there any wine connoisseurs involved?                       Apparently Amy…

  • Chinese Wine.....Color me Red !!

    Wilf G.K
    22 Apr 2012 | 7:34 pm
    There is not a week that goes by without some news about China's wine consumption or production.The key players are all names that are instantly recognized in the world of wine.  Among them are Lafite and Moet Hennessy. But its not just wine companies moving into China, it is also a Chinese invasion into traditional wine regions and ventures outside of China. Can't afford the rent in Bordeaux anymore? No problem. Just make sure you clean up before you leave. New Chinese merchants are moving in. And of course while you are at it, if you are in the mood for it, why not buy a vineyard in…

  • Red Wine is Good for Your Health..Yes...No...Maybe!

    Wilf G.K
    14 Jan 2012 | 11:12 pm
    It all started when 60 Minutes with Morley Safer aired their "French Paradox" show on November 17, 1991.Over 33 million people watched 60 Minutes that evening. Sales of red wine increased dramatically and were up 44 percent over the same month of the previous year. Sales of red wine for the entire year following the initial broadcast went up 39 percent. The American public embraced red wine as the newest health food. That was over 20 years ago but lets have a look at the show that started it all.Much has been said and written about the subject of wine and health since then. In April of 2009,…

  • Trips to Wine Regions in France....Begin in Paris!!

    Wilf G.K
    5 Jan 2012 | 10:34 pm
    There has been a noticeable absence of posts to my blog for a while. All for good reasons which belong in 2011. But this is 2012 and one New Year's resolution I am going to keep is to post regularly again.Let me begin with wishing every one a Happy and Healthy New year.I think we will see some significant changes in the wonderful world of wine, although I am not quite ready for paper wine bottles.One thing that will not change for me is that I begin and end my trips to French wine regions in Paris.More on that in a moment. But first if you are planning a trip to Paris, I can highly…

  • Wine, Women and a Cardinal Rule of Tasting.....!!

    Wilf G.K
    28 Aug 2011 | 4:53 pm
    It is good to see more and more women involved in the wine industry as writers, wine makers and on the sales side of the industry.There are also some great web pages and blogs written by women.  Women for Wine Sense is an organization that has recently celebrated its 21st birthday.As well on the consumer side, women outnumber men significantly in the purchase of wine.Women  buy 77 percent and consume 60 percent of the wine in the United States.  It is generally known that women can smell and taste wine better than men. In my own experience I have observed this time and…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Dr Vino's wine blog

  • Bachelorettes, locavores and quality wine in America

    Dr. Vino
    15 May 2012 | 11:27 am
    The other day, I was speaking with someone who relayed a conversation that he had with a vintner in Temecula, an area with over 1,000 acres vineyards about an hour and a half from LA and San Diego. The guy asked the vintner why he didn’t try to make better wines. The vintner replied that he had a busload of bachelorettes coming through this weekend and one the weekend after that, implying he was already selling all his wine to locals more interested in quantity rather than quality. It’s a problem that a lot of American wine regions confront: Long Island’s vineyards, Napa and…

  • NY mag on the Rudy K saga

    Dr. Vino
    14 May 2012 | 9:05 am
    New York magazine has a lengthy piece by Benjamin Wallace (author of The Billionaire’s Vinegar) on counterfeiting wine and the saga of Rudy Kurniawan. Grab a magnum of coffee and check it out.

  • Commuter cuvee: vin de soif, American style

    Dr. Vino
    11 May 2012 | 10:26 am
    American wine under $15 is a difficult category. And domestic pinot can be downright dicey. And charity wines often sacrifice quality for the good of the cause. So it was with skepticism that I tried the Grochau Cellars, “Commuter Cuvee” 2010 recently. Sold in Portland at $14.99 with a portion of the proceeds going to a bicycle safety non-profit. It’s actually a gulpable pinot noir with good acidity and the bing cherry note often found in Oregon pinots. It glides in at 12.5% alcohol; if there’s a better pinot noir available in the US under $15, I have yet to try it. I…

  • Rudy Kurniawan, aka “Dr. Conti” indicted on four counts

    Dr. Vino
    10 May 2012 | 9:06 am
    Rudy Kurniawan, aka “Dr. Conti” aka “Mr. 47,” was indicted on four counts of counterfeiting, mail fraud and wire fraud in federal court yesterday. Mike Steinberger posted the 25-page indictment signed by US Attorney Preet Bharara to his blog. The indictment largely covers the same ground as the documents filed when Kurniawan was apprehended in his home in L.A. in March. It fails to name the auction house where Kurniawan was the consignor of wines in 2008 where Laurent Ponsot dramatically stopped the sale in the room even though it has been widely reported. Nor does it…

  • The fallout from the rainmaker in Spain

    Dr. Vino
    8 May 2012 | 11:30 am
    Last week, Pancho Campo resigned from the Institute of Masters of Wine. An email from the Institute’s executive director said that “in light of his move into more sports and music events and away from wine, he has decided to resign his membership of the Institute of Masters of Wine, effective immediately.” The Institute had commissioned an independent investigation–the findings of that report were about to be released. A couple of weeks ago, Robert Parker released his own investigation into the Campo/Miller tours of Spain (For a backgrounder, read “No Jay, no…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    New York Cork Report

  • We've Moved: The NEW New York Cork Report

    Lenn Thompson
    19 Apr 2012 | 11:52 am
    We've moved the New York Cork Report off of TypePad. Please visit us at NewYorkCorkReport.com

  • The New York Cork Report Tasting Table -- April 17, 2012

    Lenn Thompson
    17 Apr 2012 | 8:34 pm
    By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor I keep trying to retire the "Tasting Table" series, but my recently chaotic day job along with the all-consuming reality of an infant and a 5-year old have once again reminded me that no matter how obsessed I am with local wines, beers etc. and this website -- it's still a hobby. Add to that the fact that we'll be cutting over to our new site design and platform soon (maybe even next week) and Tasting Table remains a valuable tool. I'd like to start things off at the new site fresh. Tasting Table will not be a part of the new NYCR, but…

  • Empire State Cellars Wine Club: May 2012 Selections

    Lenn Thompson
    17 Apr 2012 | 9:48 am
    By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor The May shipment of the Empire State Cellars Wine Club won't ship for a few weeks, but from now on, we're going to announce the selecitons at least a few weeks beforehand. That way, if you're not already a member but want the wines, you'll have time to join! If you're not familiar with the club, you can learn more here. "Hello New York" Wines Channing Daughters Winery 2010 Scuttlhole Chardonnay: I prefer my chardonnay unadorned and clean -- usually the less oak the better. Winemaker Chris Tracy makes an array of chardonnays, but…

  • Cabernet Franc "Flat Leaf" at Shinn Estate Vineyards (April 17, 2012)

    Lenn Thompson
    17 Apr 2012 | 9:45 am
    Photo courtesy of Shinn Estate Vineyards

  • TasteCamp 2012 in Northern Virginia is Just Around the Corner

    Lenn Thompson
    16 Apr 2012 | 2:41 pm
    By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor The organizers of TasteCamp are gearing up for an exciting weekend of wine discovery that will bring some 40 bloggers and writers from all over the United States and Canada to Loudoun County and Northern Virginia, May 4-6, 2012. The program for the weekend has steadily taking shape over the past few weeks, with some great additions to the three-day experience now confirmed.A Great Finish at LindenThe weekend’s final vineyard visit, on Sunday morning, will almost be worth the trip in itself: Linden Vineyards. As Jancis Robinson put it in a recent article in…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Spirit of Wine

  • Updated Review: **+ $ Woot Cellars Boss Monster Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, CA, 2007 - Wine Review and Rating

    jorray
    15 May 2012 | 6:22 pm
    Find Dry Creek Zinfandel prices and retail availability.By way of background:This "Boss Monster" offering, with a label straight from the Pac-Man era, hails from Woot Cellars.  It is 2007 zinfandel (with 11% petite sirah) from Dry Creek Valley, California, finished at 14.7% alcohol.  Original Review, December, 2009: In the glass: Medium-deep red, moves towards opaque in the center of the glass.On the nose: Poured without a decant and swirled vigorously,shows a deep, rich, mentholated nose with violet streaks.  On the palate: First note is top-of-mouth tannins, followed by a…

  • Updated Review: ***+ $ Panarroz Jumilla Red, 2006, Spain = BEST VALUE

    jorray
    15 May 2012 | 5:20 pm
    Find Panarroz Jumilla prices and retail availability Original Review, December, 2008: This is a candidate in the "value" category of wines from Spain. A grenache, syrah and mouvedre (GSM) blend, it shows as dark blood red - almost opaque - in the glass, with purple glints at the edge.As I swirl the wine - cellar cool - aromas hurtle from the glass. They are gobby, bloody, and brambly - a rich, deep set of aromas from such a modestly priced bottle!Let's see if the palate holds up to the promise... hmm, a tannic first note coats the roof of the mouth. The fruit flows out from that tannic…

  • Review: ***+ $$ Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia, 2006 = GOOD VALUE

    jorray
    13 May 2012 | 8:31 am
    Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz. By way of background, opening thoughts: Shiraz from Australia is my go-to comfort wine.  This selection is from the hearty Barossa Valley.Original tasting and review : This is Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia, 2006, finished at 14.5% alcohol.In the glass: Deep mahogany, opaque from about 3/4 inch in.On the nose: Poured cool and swirled vigorously, shows sweet, deep fruit and some stinky feet.  From the aroma, seems like this will be more old-world than most Australian…

  • Review: *** $ Backsberg Chardonnay (Kosher), Paarl, South Africa, 2010 = BEST VALUE

    jorray
    12 May 2012 | 12:58 pm
    Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Backsberg Chardonnay.  By way of background, opening thoughts: Backsberg makes a value-priced line of Kosher South African wines.  I tried the Backsberg Merlot before and gave it a best value rating.  Today we are sampling the chardonnay.Original tasting and review : This is Backsberg Chardonnay (Kosher), Paarl, South Africa, 2010, finished at 13.% alcohol.In the glass: Medium light gold. On the nose: Poured cool and swirled vigorously, shows lemony citrus and a mineral sleekness.  From the aroma, seems like this…

  • Updated Review: ***** Bodega Goulart Reserva Malbec / Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina, 2008

    jorray
    11 May 2012 | 4:13 pm
    Find today's prices and retail availability for Goulart Reserva Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon.Initial review, by way of background, December, 2010: This is Bodega Goulart Reserva Malbec / Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina, 2008 , finished at 14.% alcohol.  The blend is 60% malbec and 40% cabernet sauvignon, all from the Lujan de Cuyo region of Mendoza, from specially selected estate barrels and aged for 12 months in French oak.  In the glass: Deep purple, opaque from about a half inch in from the edge.  On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Cork Board

  • Meritage Resort and Spa, Oakville Grocery start anew in Napa Valley

    TrevR
    15 May 2012 | 11:23 pm
    Every year at this time the vineyards explode with new growth–it’s a visual reminder of the passing of time and changing of seasons. This year, there are several other new beginnings happening across the valley. Meritage Resort and Spa Opens $40 Million Expansion Napa’s Meritage Resort and Spa has just completed a 19-month, $40 million expansion that was designed to provide guests with the “complete Napa Valley experience.” Among the new additions to the resort is the Crush Ultra Lounge with luxury bowling lanes, an event piazza, an Italian-style café named…

  • Bud break in the Napa Valley

    TrevR
    22 Apr 2012 | 5:00 pm
    It’s been a while, quite a while in fact, since we’ve shared a visual of what the Napa Valley looks like. This afternoon we were in St. Helena enjoying the amazing weather and we stopped to snap a few photos. As you can see from the image below, the vines have come a long way since January, when they sat dormant. It won’t be long now before the vines enter the flowering stage and soon there will be fruit visible among all the vineyard rows. This is truly a magical time of year!

  • Cork Bits: ideas for your Napa Valley weekend

    Karen
    22 Mar 2012 | 12:13 pm
    Spring has sprung here in the Napa Valley and that can only mean one thing! The weekends are about to get a whole lot busier–in fact, this weekend is shaping up to be a crazy one. If you’ll be in town, here are some can’t miss events to consider. A common Spring-time view along Oakville Cross Road in the Napa Valley Saturday, March 24th From 12pm – 5pm one of our favorite annual events will take place on the streets of downtown Yountville. A Taste of Yountville will, as always, include live entertainment, children’s activities, art in the park, French Laundry…

  • Cork Bits: ideas for your Napa Valley weekend

    Karen
    1 Mar 2012 | 11:11 am
    March is off to a rainy start here in the Napa Valley, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting out there and enjoying the weekend. There’s plenty going on in these parts, here are a few upcoming events worth looking into. Saturday, March 3rd From 6pm – 10pm Charles Krug Winery will host a birthday party for the founder of Napa Valley’s first winery, Charles Krug. For $100 per person, you’ll be able to enjoy appetizers and a seated dinner with Charles Krug wines. You’ll also be able to mingle with guests including Peter Mondavi Jr., Charles Krug winemaker…

  • Leap Year Culinary Crawl in downtown Napa, French Blue to open in St. Helena

    Karen
    28 Feb 2012 | 11:28 am
    As February comes to a close the valley is beginning to show sings of new life–from glorious yellow mustard sprouting up between the vineyard rows to trees beginning to show beautiful white and pink blooms. There are also new culinary happenings and restaurant openings. French Blue to Open in St. Helena A stylish new restaurant will debut in downtown St. Helena come May. French Blue, which is described as a “neighborhood restaurant,” is the latest project from renowned architect Howard Backen, his wife interior designer Lori Backen and vitner Leslie Rudd (who also owns St.
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Spittoon

  • Jubilee Beers

    Andrew Barrow
    14 May 2012 | 6:05 am
    Jubilee BeersIf it is possible to wrap a Union Jack around it someone has branded it a special ‘Jubilee’ product. Good luck if you are a collector for there are hundreds – special edition malts at hundreds of pounds, Jubilee Hampers and Union Jack encased chocolates. Who would have thought a tin of digestives could be so attractive and made ‘Jubilee’ with the addition of a ‘God Save the Queen’ musical box; Fortnums have one in the shape of their Jubilee Musical Biscuit Tin… And it is also ripe for our vibrant beer producers to bring out summer specials – Cornish Brewer…

  • Messina Hof Tripytch

    Andrew Barrow
    13 May 2012 | 4:15 am
    Messina Hof TripytchA rare privilege, a few weeks ago, of a chance to sample some Texan wines here in the UK. You don’t see much, if any, Texan wine over here so to have these samples sent direct from the winery – Messina Hof – was a delight. The tasting, organised by Big Pinots, formed part of a country-spanning Twitter taste-off with bloggers scattered across America and in France in addition to us in the UK. All participants having previously met during the International Wine Tourism Conference earlier in the year. The labels are highly attractive – the summer hats recalling lazy…

  • Drink Me! How to Choose, Taste and Enjoy Wine by Matt Walls

    Andrew Barrow
    8 May 2012 | 5:45 am
    Drink Me! How to Choose, Taste and Enjoy Wine by Matt WallsPage 35 – Blagging It, about sets the tone. “Now say one of the following: If it’s a recent vintage: ‘Quite developed for a young wine.’ If it’s an older bottle: ‘Lovely developed aromas coming through’ If it’s from the New World: ‘Clearly New World,; lovely, vibrant fruit’ And so on. I imagine most in the wine trade have similar ‘stock’ descriptions when tasting an unliked wine just poured with pride by the winemaker for example, or when, after a whole day sipping and spitting you really cant think of…

  • Goretti Wine Corks

    Andrew Barrow
    6 May 2012 | 5:48 am
    Goretti Wine CorksNothing says ‘great time’ quite like a grand collection of corks; and say what you like about screw-caps but they just ain’t as photogenic! Taken during a marvellous stand-up buffet at the Goretti Winery [Adegga / Snooth]this was just one little pile for they treated us grandly. The visit to the Goretti’s was part of the IWinETC post conference tour. For a fuller report head on over to read Marcy Gordon’s blog post and, on the IWinETC website, a take by Melba Allen, that happens to feature a photo of Sara Goretti taken by me. Goretti Wine Corks…

  • René Barbier, Penedes, Spain

    Andrew Barrow
    1 May 2012 | 4:45 am
    René Barbier, Penedes, SpainSadly you cant, as a member of the ‘public’ visit this impressive Moet-built and Moet-soon-sold vineyard-surrounded edifice. This is the winery for the René Barbier range of wines, one of the properties of the Freixenet group. One leaves with the impression that here, the slickly professional Freixenet people, are really not geared up for visitors. We saw just a smidge of the buildings interior, which incidentally has oddly element-exposed open upper floors, bar the reception room. A wander out to the front gates and the vineyards was about as far as a…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Cork Board

  • Meritage Resort and Spa, Oakville Grocery start anew in Napa Valley

    TrevR
    15 May 2012 | 11:23 pm
    Every year at this time the vineyards explode with new growth–it’s a visual reminder of the passing of time and changing of seasons. This year, there are several other new beginnings happening across the valley. Meritage Resort and Spa Opens $40 Million Expansion Napa’s Meritage Resort and Spa has just completed a 19-month, $40 million expansion that was designed to provide guests with the “complete Napa Valley experience.” Among the new additions to the resort is the Crush Ultra Lounge with luxury bowling lanes, an event piazza, an Italian-style café named…

  • Bud break in the Napa Valley

    TrevR
    22 Apr 2012 | 5:00 pm
    It’s been a while, quite a while in fact, since we’ve shared a visual of what the Napa Valley looks like. This afternoon we were in St. Helena enjoying the amazing weather and we stopped to snap a few photos. As you can see from the image below, the vines have come a long way since January, when they sat dormant. It won’t be long now before the vines enter the flowering stage and soon there will be fruit visible among all the vineyard rows. This is truly a magical time of year!

  • Cork Bits: ideas for your Napa Valley weekend

    Karen
    22 Mar 2012 | 12:13 pm
    Spring has sprung here in the Napa Valley and that can only mean one thing! The weekends are about to get a whole lot busier–in fact, this weekend is shaping up to be a crazy one. If you’ll be in town, here are some can’t miss events to consider. A common Spring-time view along Oakville Cross Road in the Napa Valley Saturday, March 24th From 12pm – 5pm one of our favorite annual events will take place on the streets of downtown Yountville. A Taste of Yountville will, as always, include live entertainment, children’s activities, art in the park, French Laundry…

  • Cork Bits: ideas for your Napa Valley weekend

    Karen
    1 Mar 2012 | 11:11 am
    March is off to a rainy start here in the Napa Valley, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting out there and enjoying the weekend. There’s plenty going on in these parts, here are a few upcoming events worth looking into. Saturday, March 3rd From 6pm – 10pm Charles Krug Winery will host a birthday party for the founder of Napa Valley’s first winery, Charles Krug. For $100 per person, you’ll be able to enjoy appetizers and a seated dinner with Charles Krug wines. You’ll also be able to mingle with guests including Peter Mondavi Jr., Charles Krug winemaker…

  • Leap Year Culinary Crawl in downtown Napa, French Blue to open in St. Helena

    Karen
    28 Feb 2012 | 11:28 am
    As February comes to a close the valley is beginning to show sings of new life–from glorious yellow mustard sprouting up between the vineyard rows to trees beginning to show beautiful white and pink blooms. There are also new culinary happenings and restaurant openings. French Blue to Open in St. Helena A stylish new restaurant will debut in downtown St. Helena come May. French Blue, which is described as a “neighborhood restaurant,” is the latest project from renowned architect Howard Backen, his wife interior designer Lori Backen and vitner Leslie Rudd (who also owns St.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Confessions of a Wino

  • Vinsobres Domaine Chaume-Arnaud 2009

    Alastair Bathgate
    11 May 2012 | 5:10 am
    Rhone wines can be easily overlooked, and yet many rival the finest Bordeaux, as anyone who has tried Hermitage La Chapelle will tell you. This Vinsobres comes from the Southern Rhone, is inky in colour and robust, spicy, tannic and plummy in taste. It’s a George Galloway of a wine. Feisty, intelligent, slightly unbalanced and available for purchase. Which you can do at Berry Bros. and Rudd for £14.95. At this price it’s a steal, but, unless you like wines that go with a blue steak, or that make you feel like you are doing a Vito Corleone impression with wet tea bags in your…

  • Niepoort, Redoma, 2006

    Alastair Bathgate
    6 May 2012 | 9:41 am
    Most people think of Portugal and think of Port. But, when it comes to table wine, this is an outdated view. Dirk Niepoort is a pioneer of new Portugal. Fabulous non-fortified wines made from indigenous grapes that I can’t even pronounce, let alone spell. I first discovered his wines in Lisbon in 2009 at EWBC. And stuffed this into my luggage at Lisbon Aiport on the way home for €33.10. Very subtle for a 14% ABV wine, rich yet refined with tawny autumn fruits and spicy tomato. Goes just great with a rich meaty steak like ribeye and sirloin.

  • WART award for the Three Acres

    Alastair Bathgate
    1 May 2012 | 12:13 pm
    The serving temperature of wine is so important to its enjoyment that 267 members joined a Facebook group dedicated to the subject. As the owner of said page, I appoint myself Chief Evangelist and poster boy for raising awareness of the Wine at Right Temperature (WART) campaign. Part of my duties include throwing brickbats at restaurants who serve red wine from the top of the Pizza Oven and white wine from the liquid nitrogen cask. A happier task is to publicise places where thought and care is put into wine service. For example, I recently dined at 44 The Calls in Leeds where they were…

  • Perfect Beans-on-Toast recipe

    Alastair Bathgate
    30 Apr 2012 | 8:50 am
    As any good chef will tell you, good cooking starts with good sourcing. Assuming that you are an adult, the single most important ingredient you need for this dish is Branston Baked Beans. The other essential component is a bottle of Tuella, Douro, 2006 vintage if you can get it, which should be opened and placed in the fridge. Then put a pan on the hob. Find a can opener (yes, Branston do not provide a handy ring-pull) and pour the contents of the can into the pan. Turn up to a fairly high heat and stir regularly. Place four slices of brown wholemeal, or preferably multi-grain bread into the…

  • Chénas, Château Bonnet, 2010

    Alastair Bathgate
    23 Apr 2012 | 8:43 am
    I’ve had a massive, Rowan Gormley style, fallout with Virgin Wines. Having restructured (read less favourable terms) their “Wine Bank” offer, I had the temerity to request the closure of my Wine Bank account. After three emails and two phone calls still no joy. So, no more Virgin Wines. I am storming (or maybe mincing) off in a huff. Luckily, I joined The Wine Society many moons ago and they ruthlessly and relentlessly ship me top quality wines at fair (not cheap) prices. Here is yet another reason to stay a member. Beaujolais 2010 was supposed to be a mere shadow of the…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Conversation

  • As my Riesling gently weeps

    Robert
    4 May 2012 | 6:42 am
    Ready for musical accompaniment Riesling. It’s like the wine world in microcosm. Wine experts love it but cannot understand why consumers don’t go gaga over it, but ultimately this is our fault. Consumers have heard about it, and when it is poured in their glasses really do enjoy it, but feel confused by its many styles, provenances and the ways it is presented. However, it ends up with a depressingly familiar tale, with an elegantly circular argument: 1. Wine experts wax lyrical over the amazing complexities and variety (of Riesling) … 2. Consumers hear too many conflicting…

  • The Art & Craft of Natural Wine

    Robert
    26 Apr 2012 | 6:28 am
    “… if you will make a man of the working creature, you cannot make a tool. Let him but begin to imagine, to think, to try to do anything worth doing: and the engine-turned precision is lost at once. Out comes all his roughness, all dullness, all his incapability; shame upon shame, failure upon failure; pause after pause: but out comes the whole majesty of him also; and we know the height of it only when we see the clouds settling upon him. And whether the clouds be bright or dark, there will be transfiguration behind and within them.” - John Ruskin, The Stones of Venice 1851…

  • What 1% increase in spending will sell you more wine?

    Ryan Opaz
    19 Apr 2012 | 5:53 am
    Ironically, the answer is probably not by increasing the quality of your wine. Will this sell wine? (by @ryanopaz) With the one exception, moving from a Parker (or other pointillistic) rating of 89 to 90, there is very little chance that you can find any benefit to a 1% increase in wine quality leading to a measured increase in wine sales. Yet wineries will spend thousands and thousands of dollars/euros every day to try to make it happen. They spend on things such as: a new bladder press that presses the grapes even more gently, a consulting winemaker to come in and tweak the style of their…

  • The electricity of creativity

    Robert
    12 Apr 2012 | 7:49 am
    “I’m like a great big dark cloud, floating over the land, discharging my creativity in a sudden burst, like a lightning storm. If I were on twitter, facebook, etc. I feel I would waste the energy in lots of small bursts. I do not want to do that. You won’t find me on social networks. … Of course, that’s what I feel today and it could change.” (paraphrased, from sketchy memory) – Iain Banks, 2012 Iain Banks Reads Stonemouth at Foyles, 2012 I attended a book reading & signing for Stonemouth by one of my favourite authors last week at Foyles in London.

  • Wine labels done right, a discovery at VinCE

    Ryan Opaz
    11 Apr 2012 | 6:37 am
    A couple weeks ago I found myself in Budapest for the VinCE wine event – An event that is more consumer focused than trade, but a place to discover new wines and meet new people. I have to admit that I rarely find myself discovering  a wine label, or bottle design, at such events that makes me stop and say, “hey, now that is a great idea!” The wine world is full of copycats and formulaic marketing that usually bores me or fails to reflect the wine that it is supposed to represent. The wine inside a bottle is often either represented by a horrific label with a fancy font and…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Woot Wine! - One Week, One Wine

  • Page Cellars Estate Washington Reds - $47.99

    16 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Selling Page CellarsSomewhere there’s a used bookstore in a basement that wants its name back.Perhaps the bookstore’s proprietor’s name is even Page. Could you imagine? Page selling pages? Page, the page seller working out of a cellar? Could she ever consider doing anything else with her life? What other dream could a woman named Page with an interest in books and a subterranean storefront possibly chase??? Well, that’s something for Page to figure out. Because “Page Cellars” is taken. But don’t worry. It’s not as much a travesty as it seems. After all, the winery’s owner is…

  • Ty Caton Ty's Red

    15 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Hey gang, I’m here!Oh hey, Tyler. What’s up? Why are you taking that bottle?“Sorry, pals. This one’s mine.” “What are you talking about? This is my 3-Pack of 2010 Ty Caton Ty’s Red.” “Well, it’s got my name on it.” “So? I bought it myself because I was all excited about a red made using limited intervention to express the true nature of the vineyard.” “I don’t even know what that means.” “It’s, y’know, eco-groovy or whatever. The winery ferments wild yeasts that naturally grows in the grapes to keep it as natural as possible. And it’s still got a bold,…

  • Ranchero Cellars Paso Sampler

    14 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Is “Suicide” painless?Listen, you COULD combine all these wines into one mega-wine. But don’t. It may have been fun when you were a kid to combine all the sodas at a fountain in one cup. Many call this melting-pot beverage a “Suicide.” Others, apparently, a “Bug Juice” or “Swamp Juice.” But a disgusting drink by any other name would taste as sickly-sweet. And we adults know better, right? Right? So look, we know that we lose control over what happens to this Ranchero Cellars Paso Sampler once we ship it to you. You could drink it, use it to give your sugar glider a bath –…

  • R. Merlo Estate Vineyards Syrah

    Woot
    13 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Mom knows bestIt’s a special day today! The day we sell 2007 R. Merlo Estate Vineyards Syrah on Wine.Woot!Unlike many California wines, R. Merlo Estate Vineyards makes wines that are complex but not overly potent or overripe. Instead, they’re bold, yet refined and beautiful, like a… um… hmm. Drawing a blank here. What else could I possibly say embodies the qualities of being bold, yet refined and beautiful? I know! Mom! I’ll call my mom! She’s good at this stuff. Hey mom, it’s me… You were expecting me to call? Weird. Why? Actually, never mind. I’ve actually got something…

  • Ethan Wines Edna Valley Grenache

    Woot
    12 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    If it works for beer…You could call him AN interesting man, I don’t know about the MOST interesting man.He once had a dinner party, and only about a third of the people he invited showed up. He often spends Friday nights at home, wishing someone would call him to do something fun, but then he doesn’t answer his phone when someone DOES call. He likes to wear cargo shorts. In 2012. He once ordered a 4-Pack of 2008 Ethan Wines Edna Valley Grenache because he read about its flavors of bright red fruit and cherries. He worries that someday his doctor’s going to tell him to cut back on…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    1 Wine Dude

  • When The World’s Greatest Foodie Took On Wine

    1WineDude
    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Mary Frances Kennedy (M.F.K.) Fisher shuffled off the mortal coil twenty years ago this Summer. Twenty years on after her departure, her status has not change a single jot: Fisher’s still the greatest food writer who has ever lived. Don’t believe me? Try out the latest collection of some of her work, Musings On Wine And Other Libations (about $18; I received a review copy), which focuses almost exclusively on Fisher’s wine prose and is edited by Anne Zimmerman (who last year wrote the book on Fisher – literally). What you will find is a writer who had an ability to ingrain context…

  • Monday Mini Wine Reviews Round-Up For May 14, 2012

    1WineDude
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    So, like what is this stuff, anyway? I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine sample tasting notes with you via twitter (limited to 140 characters). They are meant to be quirky, fun, and easily-digestible. Below is a wrap-up of the twitter reviews from the past week (click here for the skinny on how to read them), along with links to help you find them so you can try them for yourself. Cheers! 10 The Winery At Holy Cross Abbey Cabernet Franc (CO): Bigger than the CO mountain skyline & w/ that anise, damn nearly as pretty. $23…

  • Weekly Wine Quiz: State Of (Grape) Affairs

    1WineDude
    11 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Welcome to the Weekly Wine Quiz Based on feedback from ever-so-vocal-and-intelligent peeps like you, I do not supply the quiz answer directly in the post – you will need to tune back in later in the comments section for the answer. I’m still on the road this week in Australia, so once again I ask only for your patience on receiving the answer (which could be delayed a few days, depending on my access to The Global Interwebs while Down Undah). State Of (Grape) Affairs In the 1880s, which U.S. state was producing more than 2,000,000 gallons of wine per year?     A. Virginia…

  • Winners Of The DLW 2012 Colorado Wine Taste-Off (And Why CO Wine Might Already Have World-Class Potential)

    1WineDude
    10 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    The conclusion of the recent 2012 Drink Local Wine Conference in Denver was a “taste-off” competition of sorts in which twenty-plus Colorado wine producers each poured two of their offerings, with the media and attendees voting on which of those offerings were the “best” on hand (technically, one producer wasn’t pouring wine, in terms of grape wine, but showcased their Mead – Redstone Meadery, who took the “people’s choice” award for their intriguing Nectar Of The Hops). As a competition, it was fun but given the levity and structure of the proceedings, it shouldn’t be…

  • Interviewing Winemakers, Old Vines, And… Alpacas

    1WineDude
    9 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    So it’s not just you – I really have been popping up all over the place lately. In what was an odd but fun (there’s a fitting life summary, actually…) stretch for me, I was interviewed several times over the past several days, twice for radio (on WBAL’s The Sipping Point and The Wine Crush with Laura Lawson – embedded below for your listening pleasure, if you consider me rambling about eating insects pleasurable, that is), and my Wined Down column starting running in earnest on Playboy.com. So if you’re not already sick of me, I thought I’d share some of the video…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    BerlinKitchen

  • 2011 Keller Scheurebe Auslese Fassprobe

    3 May 2012 | 4:18 am
    Ein Traum! Und selbst eine 1994 Müller-Catoir " Eselshaut "Rieslaner TbA hatte das Nachsehen, allerdings vermute ich die TbA war nicht perfekt gelagert.Die Scheurebe hingegen war süffig, beschwingend, leichtfüßig, präzise und geradezu moselanisch. 95/100

  • 1996 Geheimrat J. Wegeler Erben Rothenberg Spätlese

    2 May 2012 | 2:31 am
    (am 16.08.2011 neu verkorkt!)Mundfüllende Frucht von Aprikose mit Anklängen von Crème Brûlée. Feine Länge. 92/100

  • 1992 J.B. Becker Walkenberg Spätlese trocken

    1 May 2012 | 12:53 am
    „Lordsiegelbewahrer des klassischen Rheingau-Rieslings“ HaJo Becker und Bernd Philippi gehören sicherlich zu den Pionieren des trockenen Rieslings in Deutschland Anfang der 90er Jahre. Ein Besuch auf dem Weingut incl. gut bestückter Schatzkammer kann ich jedem nur ans Herz legen. WARNUNG: kein Riesling für PrimärfruchtliebhaberGerademal 0,5g RZ und steht immer noch wie eine Eins im Glas. Puristisch bzw. knochentrocken mit einer vegetabilen Aromatik von Trockenblumen, Kräutern und diese Mineralität bis zum Abwinken. Dazu noch leichte Petrol-Noten. Not everybody´s cup of tea, diesen…

  • 1989 Ch. Mouton Rothschild

    30 Apr 2012 | 12:12 am
    Vorneweg, mich kann man mit Mouton nicht sonderlich beeindrucken. Ich hatte schon zuviele enttäuschende bzw. mittelmäßige Flaschen, aber dieser 89er war Mouton-Mythos par excellance. Vor Jahren hab ich mit Jeff Leve in Berlin schon mal einen 89 Mouton getrunken und der war schon großartig (93pts.), aber umgehauen hat er mich nicht. Im direkten Vergleich war der 89 Montrose nochmals eine andere Liga.  noblesse oblige, hier haben wir Aristokratie in Reinkultur......elegant ohne Ende und was für eine Länge. Samtige Textur, faszinierende Balance mit Aromen von Kaffee, Haselnuß, edle…

  • N.V. Selosse Brut Initial

    29 Apr 2012 | 1:08 am
    „Um einen großen Champagner zu machen, braucht man einen großen Wein!” ist die Devise von Anselme Selosse. Also legt er viel Sorgfalt in die Vinifikation. Nach dem Pressen kommt der Most in Barriques (10% davon neu). Regelmäßig wird die Bâtonnage durchgeführt um die Gärung zu fördern. Zwischen Mai und Juli verschneidet Selosse verschiedene Jahrgänge der Weine. Diese altern je ein Jahr im Barrique, Foudre oder Inoxfass. Aus drei nacheinander folgenden Jahrgängen besteht die Cuvée “Brut-Initial”. Bei der Assemblage versucht Selosse, den jeweiligen Charakter zu betonen, so…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Aristide, The Wine Blog

  • Prezzi Amarone, botte da orbi in Valpolicella

    aristideblog@mac.com (Giampiero Nadali alias Aristide)
    10 May 2012 | 12:08 pm
    Botte da orbi in Valpolicella. Il quotidiano digitale "Tre Bicchieri" pubblica ieri (a pagina 2) un'immagine significativa fatta pervenire da Luca Degani, direttore della Cantina Sociale Valpantena, che ritrae bottiglie di Amarone Costasera 2007 di Masi Agricola, l'azienda che con...

  • Antagonisti delle "bollicine"

    aristideblog@mac.com (Giampiero Nadali alias Aristide)
    27 Apr 2012 | 9:04 am
    Aristide, gennaio 2010 "Piantiamola di chiamarle bollicine", la messa al bando su questo wine blog dell'espressione "bollicine": «(...) "Bollicine": sono sia quelle a "occhi di rospo" ("yeux de crapaud" le chiamano i francesi) grosse come quelle di certe bevande di...

  • Microfiche: Pietro Beconcini Ixe Rosso Toscana IGT 2008

    aristideblog@mac.com (Giampiero Nadali alias Aristide)
    13 Apr 2012 | 4:11 pm
    Produttore: Pietro Beconcini Vino: Ixe Rosso Toscana IGT 2008 Uve: Tempranillo 90%, Sangiovese 10% Prodotto a: San Miniato (PI), Loc. Montorzo Vigneto: del 1997, nei pressi della cantina Sito web: www.pietrobeconcini.com Scheda tecnica: scarica qui Bottiglie prodotte: 23.000 Prezzo: €...

  • Enoteche, chi è il cliente?

    aristideblog@mac.com (Giampiero Nadali alias Aristide)
    5 Apr 2012 | 10:20 am
    Cosa ne pensa un normale consumatore, di una filiera produttiva e commerciale che rende pubblica una lettera (qui su WineNews.it) nella quale, con la solita italica noncuranza verso il cliente reale, si discute nell'estrema sostanza della necessità di salvaguardare i...

  • Vinitaly, mini-tour in Puglia, Salento Felix

    aristideblog@mac.com (Giampiero Nadali alias Aristide)
    4 Apr 2012 | 10:33 am
    Colore per i visi pallidi del nord: "...quella tradizione di vini per il nord, vini da taglio ovviamente, poiché allora il vino di queste parti non aveva dignità autonoma, serviva a dare forza alcool e colore ai pallidi fratelli settentrionali"...
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Tempranillo Tango

  • Spring has finally Sprung

    23 Apr 2012 | 9:27 pm
    Check out the video- A little video to show you how Tres Palmeras is looking- Check out the website www.coralmustang.com - the wine club is alive!!!!! I am a partner and Winemaker with Nuestro Vino and will be offering my famous bubbles at a great price. Cheers to Spring, The Mustang Winemaker

  • 2011 Harvest is Finished and Lookin' Good!

    4 Dec 2011 | 9:41 am
    Another crazy year for wine- a year that was so cool that many didn't think that there would be a harvest. But when all is said and done, the wines are coming out very nice in spite of low sugars and lots of mold. I felt that we had a pre-run harvest last year having to deal with many of the same issues, so this year I was prepped with lots of information and methods to work with this years fruit.The one big difference this year was when the rains came, much of the fruit was sound enough to make it through. The Tres Palmeras vineyard was one of them. Last year we had to give up on the fruit.

  • OMG - is the Rain Ever Going to End?

    4 Jun 2011 | 9:17 pm
    I thought last year was a challenge.......it is the first week of June and the vineyard barely has started blooming. That means that we are more than a month behind average- Yikes!! I have been out in the vineyard- when it is not pouring down rain- taking the risk of thinning as I am suckering. Anything looking wimpy goes.Not only has it been raining but it has been cold as well. Feet of snow in the mountains, not inches. I've had to turn the heat on in my house and it is JUNE- I think- maybe this is some kind of time warp. I have Crape Myrtles in my yard that are changing color because it…

  • Is it Winter or Summer or How to Confuse the Vineyard

    27 Feb 2011 | 5:11 pm
    What can I say- it is either 85F in January or now below freezing with snow flurries. The vines started plumping their buds with the warmth, now they don't know whether to sleep or grow! So far lots of water this year, let's hope that continues. Want to see the bizarre weather check it out - Weather at Tres Palmeras/Coral Mustang Wines. Still trying to finish wines off in the cellar even at this late date. With the late grapes came molds and bacteria that tend to stifle fermentations- definitely a challenge. Overall, I wouldn't say a stellar vintage, but certainly not as bad as many…

  • Happy New Year!

    17 Jan 2011 | 1:33 pm
    HAPPY NEW YEAR! Well the new year has started and thoughts of harvest for 2011 have already begun. Focus to the vineyard- pruning, discing, tying- assessing what happened last year to do what is needed to bring the vineyard to it's best potential this year. Last harvest fruit was not taken from the Tres Palmeras vineyard-a hard decision to make for me. But some years warrant that action and from what I saw this year for grapes overall, a few more vineyards might have been better off left behind as well. A tough year.... Assessing the wines and how processes worked to produce those wines is…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Weekly

  • Red Wine Review: Murrieta’s Well The Spur

    vinojoe
    15 May 2012 | 5:37 pm
    Murrieta’s Well The Spur 2008 | Livermore Valley, California Lately I’ve been spending too much time at my very awesome job, commuting, blogging elsewhere, giving baseball lessons, and doing other things in life that take me away from writing here. I took a look at my list of “drafts” and there are now two dozen waiting in the hopper — but, not all are necessarily “ready” by my standards, which is why they’re not yet published. However, I’m going to make an effort to get some of the reviews out — even without much editing —…

  • Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

    vinojoe
    9 May 2012 | 12:05 pm
    Going on 15 years now, Chile has been my “go to” for unearthing great wine values. A long time ago I discovered Casa Lapostolle’s “Cuvee Alexandre” line of wines, finding the Merlot particularly enjoyable — and fairly easy on the wallet. That said, when I happened upon this “Casa” Cabernet Sauvignon, my expectations were high — and I wasn’t disappointed. If you went through Spanish 101 — or at least knew someone who had — then you know “casa” means “house.” My guess, then, is that the…

  • Red Wine Review: Macari Merlot Reserve 2007

    vinojoe
    5 May 2012 | 12:59 pm
    When I pulled this bottle off my rack I realized I also had the same wine in the 2008 vintage — so this is kind of “late”. Though, tasting the ’07 now proved that a.) it is ageable and b.) it might continue to evolve with even more cellaring. The nose is attractive, offering spice (cardamom? allspice?) and chocolate notes as well as red fruit. In the mouth it has nice structure and good balance, with ample acidity and tannins for food matching. Very nice on its own, but also good for the table. Try it with a burger, meatloaf, pot roast, similarly simple fare based on…

  • Lousy Wine at Charity Events

    vinojoe
    9 Jan 2012 | 5:09 pm
    To start off the New Year, Jay McInerney presented his wine resolutions for 2012 in the Wall Street Journal. Among them was resolution number three: Don’t drink the wine at charity benefits. I happen to attend quite a few of these events over the course of the year. The speeches can really drag on and it often seems the only recourse—short of heckling the speakers or hurling the centerpiece at the podium—is to drink copiously. Unfortunately the wine at these affairs is inevitably inexpensive—in the interest of keeping costs down and delivering more of the ticket price to the…

  • Affordable Champagne and Sparkling Wines for New Year’s

    vinojoe
    31 Dec 2011 | 2:39 pm
    It’s time to ring in the New Year, and most likely you’ll do so with bubbles. But does it have to be Champagne? And does it have to be expensive? Not necessarily, as there are many, many other sparkling wines that offer the same dramatic effect of popping a cork and also please your palate — and won’t break the bank. Here are a few of my favorite sparklers, all at economical price points: Champagne: Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Blue Top ($30) This is “real” Champagne, from France, made in a dry style — so if you’re into the sweeter sparklers, stay…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Brooklynguy's Wine and Food Blog

  • Sapidity

    11 May 2012 | 3:08 pm
    You know how when you're drinking a good Sherry, how one of the things that's so good about it is that strong streak of acidity that runs right down the spine of the wine? I've always appreciated that about Sherry, particularly Finos and Manzanillas, the bright acidity that enlivens the oxidized wine. Everything in the above paragraph is factually incorrect, and I refuse to believe that I am the only one who thought those things about Sherry. Doesn't it seem like an acidic wine? And obviously it's an oxidized wine, right? No! And no! I remember the time I was drinking some or other Sherry…

  • Whoa!

    4 May 2012 | 9:41 pm
    Been so busy lately with work that I just haven't had time to write here. But I want to share some recent "Whoa," wine and food that really knocked me out. 1999 Clos Rougeard Saumur Bréze, Louis/Dressner Imports, price unknown. Whoa, this is just amazing wine. Clos Rougeard's rare (and pricey) Chenin Blanc is one of the most intriguing white wines of the Loire Valley. I've had three bottles in my life, including this one, and this was the best of them. Such wonderful freshness and purity on the nose, such well articulated aromas and flavors. Beautifully balanced, deep, complex, so very…

  • A Perfect Spring Lunch

    28 Apr 2012 | 6:08 pm
    It's finally spring in New York. That two weeks in early April when all of the sudden it was 75 degrees and the cherry trees blossomed early and everyone wore shorts, no, that wasn't spring. That was more about the great floods that will surely come my friends, as the weather all over the world gets weirder and weirder. Anyway, now, it's spring. Temperatures are in the high 50's to early 60's and it always feels like it's about to rain, which hopefully it will. It's supposed to rain in April, for goodness sake. My favorite farmer Bill Maxwell is back from hibernation and once again selling…

  • Sherry Dinner at Fu Leen with The Palmas of González Byass

    23 Apr 2012 | 12:00 am
    Not too long ago I had the pleasure of eating dinner at Fu Leen, the seafood restaurant in Manhattan's Chinatown. Peter Liem organized a group of people to drink several special Sherries and to eat things like lightly steamed fresh shrimp, fried dungeness crab, steamed whole fish, and fried rice with salted fish. The wine main course, if you will, was the Palmas of González Byass - all four of them. Peter graced this blog with a guest post discussing these wines a few months back - a beautiful piece of wine writing and you should take a look if you haven't already. The Palmas represent an…

  • Yet Further Adventures in Blind Tasting

    16 Apr 2012 | 11:35 pm
    I love blind tasting. It's fun to drink wine without having any idea what it is, whether or not it's expensive, cult-ish and rare, common, glorified, or unknown. Without knowing whether or not I am intrigued by the producer, whether or not I've had it before, or any of the many other things that influence my expectations about a wine before I actually smell and taste it. I particularly love doing this over a meal with a relaxed group of people who will participate in the conversation and laugh with one another as we swing from kind-of-accurate to wildly wrong in our attempts to identify…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Through The Walla Walla Grape Vine™

  • Spring Fling: Waterbrook Sangiovese Rosé - 2011

    Catie
    11 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Every so often I get hooked on a wine and will refer to it as my "wine of the week and/or wine of the month." No, there are no ribbons, trophies, scores or gifts I send off to the masters who have tickled my palate. There are no ceremonies and no headline news. These wines that I have become enthused with I will enjoy until a new wine comes along - - especially a younger and prettier wine. Yes, cold and heartless - I will empty the bottle, six pack or case, until another wine tickles my fancy.  I have made no commitment or vows to any of them,…

  • Walla Walla Wine For Dummies: Weekly Wine Word Wednesdays

    Catie
    9 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    The Weekly Walla Walla Wine Word for Dummies is: Trockenbeerenauslese I dare you to say it three times really-really fast.  Chances are pretty great that you won't hear this word much in the tasting rooms of Walla Walla, as Trockenbeerenauslese (literal meaning: "dried berries selection") is a Germananic wine term for a medium to full body dessert wine (usually the Riesling grape). It is the highest in sugar content in  Austrian and German wine classifications. Trockenbeerenauslese wines, often called "TBA" for short, are made from individually selected grapes…

  • Spring Release Weekend: Canoe and Chocolate

    Catie
    4 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    What on earth would chocolate and a canoe have in common, especially this Spring Release Weekend in Walla Walla?  Two wineries opening up for business under the same ownership! One winery is a brand new concept and the other has been one of the Walla Walla originals since 1989.  In 2010, Canoe Ridge Winery unfortunately closed the doors under their previous ownership, Diageo, a large international spirits and wine company. In the mean time the building has remained quiet - - until now! Precept Wine Brands has purchased the business and will be opened this weekend to the…

  • Ring Around the Rosé ...

    Catie
    3 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    "Pocket full of Posy. Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!" With apologies to the old 14th century song ... remember the old childhood game of "Ring around the Rosie"? Visions of children holding hands in a circle, rotating slowly while singing this verse, then collapsing in a giggling heap at the end of the song. The song was born in Europe during the years of 1347 - 1350. During this time, rosé wines were evolving in the French vineyards of Provence. The nobility and military leaders acquired and managed these vineyards.  Soon, rosé  became prestigious, and known as…

  • Walla Walla Wine For Dummies: Weekly Wine Word Wednesdays

    Catie
    2 May 2012 | 10:57 am
    The Weekly Walla Walla Wine Word for Dummies is: Linalool Linalool is a colorless, yet fragrant naturally-occurring terpene compound found in wine. It can also be distilled from the oils of rosewood, bergamot, and other plants and trees and is also used in perfume manufacturing. Also known as C10H180, this organic flavor compound is responsible for the floral and peach-like aromas found in wines produced with grape varieties such as Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat and Chenin Blanc. So what does "linalool" smell and taste like and how will you know it is naturally showing…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Sour Grapes

  • En primeur, wine investment & all that kerfuffle

    Lar
    11 May 2012 | 11:17 am
    I don’t think I’ve ever written about en primeur here on sourgrapes.ie, so as it’s starting to get into full swing over in Bordeaux, I thought it was high time. You may have seen the words en primeur, some Irish wine merchants are currently pushing it so let’s step back and see what it all means. En primeur is almost uniquely French, and Bordeaux in particular. It’s called “futures” in the US, and it essentially means buying wine from a merchant at a discount (hopefully) but you don’t get your hands for a while, often 2-3 years. Why? Because the…

  • By George, that’s rather good!

    Lar
    16 Apr 2012 | 4:48 pm
    It’s been a while since I tried a wine from Georgia. Quite a while, infact, and the wine in question was Teliani Valley. I had the chance to try producer Tbilvino’s “Mukuzani” red made from the Saperavi grape varietal. First a brief bit of history, Georgian wine production of some sort or another goes back to between 9000 and 7000 BC. There’s not a lot else I could find of the history apart from a sweet to semi sweet red being Stalin’s favourite wine, not really something you might want to market. Stalin was himself Georgian, something that the…

  • The Côtes de Provence comes to The Twelve, Bearna, Galway

    Lar
    9 Apr 2012 | 4:30 am
    François Matton returns to Ireland a year after I met him here first (see the interview here to find out more about the Château and the wines). Who is he? The proprietor of Château Minuty in Provence and on Thursday 26th April he’ll be presenting a wine dinner in West Restaurant at The Twelve. Beginning with a reception at 7.30 p.m. with canapés, there follows a five-course wine dinner designed by West’s chefs and sommeliers to celebrate and showcase the Château Minuty wines. François Matton will introduce his wines, including some of the reds, whites and famous rosé wines…

  • Rebel county hosts The Riesling Revolution

    Lar
    29 Mar 2012 | 5:41 am
    Riesling presents a conundrum. For some it produces the greatest white wines in the world, yet by others it is often misunderstood and ridiculed. A wine tasting in Cork’s Ballymaloe, aims to resolves these two disparate points of view. I agree with this, despite my best efforts from Germany, Alsace or indeed Australia, I’ve tried to bring over both my wife and mother-in-law over to the virtues of Riesling. Finally, I cracked it. I served the Tim Adams Clare Valley Riesling 2008 (available in Tesco) to them last weekend. “Limes!” called the MIL and for me, it may well…

  • Black Pig, Donnybrook

    Lar
    29 Mar 2012 | 5:04 am
    I get a fair few press releases (still) across my desk. I took notice of the most recent one for a couple of reasons. One, it’s about a shop that is on my list of places to visit. Two, the press release was really well written – it told a really good story. So here it is, unadulterated. Lazy of me? Perhaps, but I really liked the human element of it, so thought it worth preserving. Black Pig, Ireland’s first specialist Spanish wine and authentic Spanish food store has opened in Donnybrook, Dublin 4. The store – which was named after the iconic Iberian Black Pig – was the…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Lisson - infos autour de la vigne et du vin - et d'autres choses

  • Deux belles surprises - deux balades dans la vigne

    15 May 2012 | 1:48 am
    Ce week-end était plein de bonne surprises pour nous. Pas seulement, parce que le soleil était de nouveau au rendez-vous,avec un ciel radiant bleu, qui nous enlevait les craintes de maladies de la vigne, qui auraient obligé de traiter les souches, qui se dressent de nouveau de plus en plus vers[...]

  • Vendredis du Vin #45: de l'art et du ....vin....

    26 Apr 2012 | 11:35 pm
    C'est Véronique Attard, neo-vigneronne à Cabrières en Languedoc, du tout nouveau blog Mas Coris, qui nous a posé le thème de ce mois d'Avril. Elle nous lance: de l'art ou du cochon pour parler de l'art et du vin, selon nos sentiments, nos impressions, notre ressenti… Il y aura d'autres, qui[...]

  • Côt - Côt - Côt ....ou comme certains millésimes se ressemblent

    2 Apr 2012 | 4:52 am
    Hier, en grimpant dans la vigne, pour finir la taille des Pinots du Clos du Curé en plein soleil et sous un ciel toujours aussi bleu, je suis monté par "Les Échelles" et j'ai vitisé au passage ma petite terrase des Côts ou Malbec...cépage assez précoce par ici et taillé il y a quelques[...]

  • Vendredis du Vin #44: sur ma colline avec un vin de Loire

    31 Mar 2012 | 4:14 am
    C'est Anne Graindorge, présidente musico-poético-vino-pétillante de ces Vendredis du Vin #44: rigolades et régalades en Loire du mois de Mars, qui nous avait convié avec beaucoup d'entrain à un pique-nique virtuel au bord de l'eau pour le dernier Vendredis de ce mois printanier. comme consigne,[...]

  • Alexandre Grothendieck et Lisson - quel lien?

    21 Mar 2012 | 7:24 am
    Un hommage à Alexander Grothendieck, mathématicien célèbre, qui va fêter (ou pas fêter du tout...?) ce-mois-ci son 84ème anniversaire quelque part vers les Pyrénés dans le Sud de la France.. Pour ses 80 ans, en 2008, c'est l'auteur Winfried Scharlau, son biographe, qui lui avait consacré un bel[...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Lyke2Drink

  • Tuesday Tasting: Wittekerke Wit Bier

    1 May 2012 | 1:06 pm
    Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we sample "the white church." Belgium has brought the world many beer styles. Hefty abbey ales, dubbels and triples, fruity lambics, and sour geueze usually grab most of the attention. But Wit or white beer is the delicate flower of the Belgian beer scene that fits perfectly when the weather starts to turn warm. Brouwerij Bavik brews Wittekerke Wit Bier in Bavikhove, Belgium. The name means "white church" and it is also a village in Flanders.

  • Tuesday Tasting: Champagne Lanson Brut Rose

    24 Apr 2012 | 4:45 am
    Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we sample a sparkling rose from the Champagne region. Champagne Lanson is a 252-year-old house that is relatively unknown in U.S. markets. Based in Reims, the brand has long been one of the top sellers in the United Kingdom. In addition to the Rose, Lanson Black Label Brut, Ivory Label Demi Sec and Gold Label Brut 2002 are being imported in the U.S. Lanson Brut Rose is a pale pink color that has a flowery aroma. The flavor of this non-vintage Champagne has a…

  • Tuesday Tasting: Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA

    3 Apr 2012 | 6:58 am
    Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we sample a white IPA from Bend, Ore. Deschutes Brewery was founded in 1988 and has built a reputation for making some of the best assertive beers around. Hop Henge, The Abyss and The Diisident leap to mind. So a beer like Chainbreaker White IPA, with its subtle touches and bright flavors is refreshing twist. Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA pours a cloudy light yellow color, with a whispy head of white foam. There is plenty of citrus aroma in this beer. The…

  • Tuesday Tasting: Redbreast 12 Cask Strength

    20 Mar 2012 | 10:11 am
    Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we sample a cask strength Irish whiskey. Midleton Distillery in Cork is part of the Irish Distillers Group, which makes a number of famous Irish whiskeys, including Jameson, Powers and Midleton. They make Redbreast, a brand that was re-introduced in the 1990s. The traditional Redbreast 12 is a single pot still whiskey that has racked up a truckload of awards in recent years, including the Whiskey Adovcate Award as Irish Whiskey of the Year in 2012 and…

  • Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve Sells for Record $94,000 at Benefit for SHFT Initiatives

    19 Mar 2012 | 5:09 am
    Janet Sheed Roberts, at 110 years old, is the oldest person in Scotland. She is also the granddaughter of William Grant, who founded the Glenfiddich Distillery 125 years ago. To celebrate Roberts' longevity the distillery created a special 11 bottle set of a 1955 single malt Scotch, marking each decade of her life. The company is auctioning off the whisky at special fundraisers and breaking records along the way. They have become the most expensive bottles ever sold at auction, according to Glenfiddich. The first sold at Bonhams in Edinburgh in December for a record-breaking…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wannabe Wino Wine Blog

  • Symmetry in a Glass

    Sonadora
    14 May 2012 | 5:18 am
    *Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the winery. Although it’s spring here in the DC area, we are still experiencing (more) than our fair share of cool nights. Which calls, in our house, for a bold red wine.  What fit the bill tonight was the 2008 Rodney Strong Symmetry, a Mertiage blend from Sonoma. The wine has a real cork closure, clocks in at 15% alcohol by volume, and retails for around $40. Four takeaways from this wine: 1.) This Meritage blend really showed the influences of the Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot in the blend. 2.) The Symmetry had the the kind of…

  • Muddy Waters

    Sonadora
    2 May 2012 | 5:40 am
    *Disclaimer: I receive this wine as a sample from the PR firm associated with the brand. I’ve been in a Pinot Noir mood lately.  So I chose the 2008 Muddy Water Pinot Noir from the basement the other night. I’ve been interested in the Pinot Noirs coming out of New Zealand, and this wine proved to be an excellent example. It has a screw cap closure, clocks in at $13% alcohol by volume and I think retails for somewhere around $30. Four takeaways from this wine: 1.) It’s really lovely all around. 2.) In fact, my notes say “lovely” at least 3 times. 3.) New Zealand…

  • Stepping Up to Rose

    Sonadora
    30 Apr 2012 | 5:25 am
    *Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from Cornerstone Cellars. Today turned out to be a gorgeous day in the nation’s capital, so it seemed a perfect time to bust out some Rose. I plucked the 2010 Cornerstone Stepping Stone Corallina Rose from it’s resting place in the basement to join us on the back porch for some afternoon sipping. The Corallina Rose retails for $18, has a real cork closure, clocks in at 13.9% alcohol by volume, and is made from 100% Syrah. 1.) If you like your Rose with acid to spare, this one is for you. 2.) The palate mimicked the nose perfectly in…

  • 2009 Jordan Chardonnay

    Sonadora
    16 Apr 2012 | 5:49 am
    *Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the winery. As a prelude to our recent CA trip, I pulled this bottle of 2009 Jordan Chardonnay from the basement, since we had plans to visit Jordan while in the area.  The wine has a real cork closure, clocks in at 13.5% alcohol by volume, and retails for around $25. I have lots to tell you about our visit to Jordan, but that is (mostly) for another post! Four takeaways from this wine: 1.) Jordan does two things: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. They do them well. 2.) This wine was like an excellent apple pie in a glass. 3.) I don’t…

  • Back to the Ranch

    Sonadora
    11 Apr 2012 | 6:16 am
    Sorry for the radio silence this past week. Mr. Wannabe Wino and I took our annual trek out to Sonoma last week and I tried (as much as possible for someone as addicted as I am) to disconnect from the computer. Helped along by spotty wireless, it wasn’t that difficult! To start back down the Sonoma trail, I thought I’d tell you about a wine I had recently that was just absolutely lovely. Lurking in my basement was the 2008 Bella Ten Acres Pinot Noir Dunah Vineyard. I purchased this wine in club shipment, it clocked in at 14.6% alcohol bu volume, and had a real cork closure. Four…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wino sapien

  • Domaine A & P De Villaine Côte Chalonnaise Les Clous 2007

    Edward
    15 May 2012 | 12:04 pm
    Tastes of a stone and stings like a bee. . .Another bottle where the wine has seeped past the cork and stuck the foil to the glass. Thankfully the contents remain pure and seemingly unperturbed. It's made of stone; there's a lovely mineral like sensation from the acids and a mid palate sting so intense you stop. . . Grilled stonefruit and melon, white flowers and strike of flint and white pepper. An extraordinary buzz of sappy acidity which is partially foiled by an opening note of nuttiness and a savoury slightly salty edge. Superb.  Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy, France. Chardonnay.

  • Mindful

    Edward
    15 May 2012 | 10:14 am
    A mind full of distractionNoticing seeing feeling tastingStopping in the middle of the road to capturethe weather moving and shiftingThe sky bigger and more conflictedI'm feeling small but elevatedhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/WinoSapien Click here for the original context

  • Domaine Christian Moreau Les Clos 2009

    Edward
    13 May 2012 | 3:47 pm
     Restrained, understated and elegant.Chablis, France. Chardonnay. 13%. Diam. Approx $A80.A  wonderful wine that deserves a more attentive palate. . . Flint and white pepper, but also a curious note of orange zest to go along with the river stones. Flesh and essence in the mouth, it gives the impression of softness and sweetness while still being chalk and mineral.http://feeds.feedburner.com/WinoSapien Click here for the original context

  • Jean Foillard Morgon 2010

    Edward
    12 May 2012 | 10:21 am
     A beautiful wine. Fragrant, delicate and true. Tasted blind my Brother in law thought it was a new Rhone red. I can see how he might reach this conclusion - there is a lovely cherry and confection nose and fine drying tannins. With the benefit of information, I find it smells and tastes like a Beaujolais, but there is much more finesse and depth than is usual. The nose is floral with cherries, spice and stems, while in the mouth the notable thing is the ease and grace.  A slippery and effortless wine, fluent and fluid, it's pretty and wonderfully satisfying.Côte de Py, Morgon,…

  • Harvest 2012

    Edward
    12 May 2012 | 12:33 am
    A root day, but the sun was shining and I'm a non believer. Even more fruit than last year; my unchecked olive tree seems to have had a spurt of growth, making it more precarious to hand pick the highest and best fruit.http://feeds.feedburner.com/WinoSapien Click here for the original context
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    On the Wine Trail in Italy

  • A History of Italian Wine in America from 1977-2012

    Alfonso Cevola
    13 May 2012 | 10:51 pm
      I was waiting in a long, slow line on the freeway for the traffic to pass by an accident on the side of the road. As often happens, everyone was slowing down to gaze at the wreck, which only made the collective crawl slower. But there we were, what can you do?  Behind me, though, there was a car with a driver behind the wheel who was going to get through, if they had to make a new lane. Honking and tailgating, screeching on his brakes while talking on the phone and smoking. All this with only two arms and one very overstimulated and under-exercised brain.  There was nothing…

  • Wetness Protection Program

    Alfonso Cevola
    10 May 2012 | 11:17 pm
    The picture above is of a window from a Sicilian winemaker's winery to his home. The little hole in the bottom is room enough for a lupara, should anyone be so rash as to violate said Sicilian’s bottaia, or barrel room. Winemaking in Sicily was fraught with all manner of risks, from nature and from the dark heart of man. And still these people of Sicily persevered. Theirs was not an easy life or a glamorous one, but they showed strength and stamina, like their wines. And that is why I love the Sicilians and their wines so very much.I am currently under the spell of a woman, Tresa. And her…

  • Aglianico Unearthed

    Alfonso Cevola
    6 May 2012 | 10:34 pm
    Interpreted from recently unearthed sealed documents of possible Jesuit origin found in the Biblioteca Nazionale in Naples.In the year 1215, while folks over in England were setting up a pilot for future governments, travelers from another planet arrived on Earth. They came not in flying machines but teleported their molecular makeup though time and space and settled in Basilicata. Basilicata was chosen because these beings studied the planet, their new home, and decided it would be out of the way but close to some civilization. The weather was usually good, but sometimes cold. They didn’t…

  • What’s the ROI on Rosé?

    Alfonso Cevola
    3 May 2012 | 8:13 am
    I’m feeling pretty good about it being May and already we are seeing the new crop of rosé wines rolling into the market. But with that joy there is always a little trepidation. You see, rosé is kind of like an in-law. You love to see them when they first arrive, but after awhile you are trying to figure out ways to skooch them out the door.Hey, for my part I am welcoming as many of them under my columns as will fit. This year already I have sipped rosé in the springtime sun while watching a wicked cricket match in Bordeaux. I’ve had an old-fashioned Tuscan al fresco lunch with Jacopo's…

  • An Eternity of Mondays

    Alfonso Cevola
    29 Apr 2012 | 9:52 pm
    Your job isn’t who you are,” the little monkey voice inside the head kept chattering. Yeah, yeah, heard it all so many times before in a been-there-done-that kind of way. Wave after wave of images roll onto the shores of my short term recall, trying to evoke a response or any sign of life. Only to return back to the abyss of the deep sea of memory. It’s going to be a long night, but when it’s all said and done it’ll be another Monday.How many years, how many white pressed shirts have preceded this moment? How many chicken dinners? How many plates of spaghetti and meatballs? How many…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Write for Wine: It's Wine O'Clock Somewhere!

  • A Look at the Success of Washington State’s Wine Industry

    writeforwine
    12 May 2012 | 6:52 pm
    While I was traveling, a new economic impact study about the Washington state wine industry was released, showcasing impressive statistics about the industry’s incredible growth and its positive effect on the economy. According to the Washington State Wine Commission, which released the study, the state’s wine industry is valued at more than $8.6 billion annually in Washington state and more than $14.9 billion annually in the U.S. — approximately three times higher than a similar study conducted in 2007. In 2010, Washington’s wineries produced 11.2 million cases of wine,…

  • Washington in Washington

    writeforwine
    4 May 2012 | 6:27 pm
    A day of double-takes comprised what I like to call our experience of “Washington in Washington.” Dave and I were in Washington, D.C. at the same time as this state’s Washington Wine Commission held a trade and media tasting there. Ryan Pennington, the Commission’s social-media-savvy PR director, saw my Facebook update that we were headed to D.C., so he kindly invited us to stop by the tasting event at the Rooftop Terrace at The John F. Kennedy Center. Of course we went! The tasting area was packed, and we listened with pride as many D.C.-area wine experts, restaurant…

  • East to the Other Washington

    writeforwine
    29 Apr 2012 | 3:44 pm
    I heart Hyatt hotels. A few weeks ago, I wrote about wine at my go-to hotel in my home town, Hyatt Vancouver. Then last week, we tasted wine in an amazing experience at the Grand Hyatt Washington D.C. In fact, a funny thing happened on the way to the Grand Hyatt D.C. And it demonstrates the potential and the power of social media. Shortly after arriving at the hotel, I received a message from Front Desk Agent Emanuel Lessey. He told me that he recently received an email from his sister with a link to my blog post about wine at the Hyatt Vancouver. Emanuel has a sharp eye, in addition to a…

  • Onward to Oregon

    writeforwine
    22 Apr 2012 | 2:09 pm
    My last post was about wine from the north side of Washington state’s border; now we go south to Oregon. Actually, we’ll be traveling to Oregon wine country in August for the 2012 Wine Bloggers Conference, so this post is a prelude to some of the fine wines we will be writing about in a few months. Cana’s Feast Winery is located in Carlton, Oregon, and to our surprise – and delight – produces an excellent Barbera, one of Dave’s favorite varietals. Although the wine was produced in Oregon, this fourth vintage of Cana’s Feast Barbera 2009 is the first…

  • Back to B.C.

    writeforwine
    15 Apr 2012 | 3:24 pm
    Regular readers of Write for Wine know that I live in Seattle but I’m from Vancouver, and I occasionally write about B.C. wines. This is one of those occasions. On two recent visits to my hometown, I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver and experienced two delightful B.C. reds – to my admitted surprise, considering that B.C. is known mainly for its fine whites. First, 2008 Burrowing Owl Merlot: This rich wine was drinking nicely a couple of months ago, with aromas of dark cherry and cassis particularly noticeable. It was the best B.C. merlot I’ve tasted and equals some of…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Wine Cask Blog

  • Ramey Syrah Sonoma Coast 2007 wine review by (PB)

    14 May 2012 | 4:03 pm
    Dark garnet tomato hue with thick bouquet of rich berry fruit and cigar box goodness with a touch of menthol or eucalyptus. (On opening there was a distinct presence of meat. but that has dissipated on breathing.)Palate--Rich textured, big fruit palate with pleasure filled balance. Mid palate there's a subtle hint of baked wood with a bready undercurrent and a toasty oak and charcoal finish that keeps on going. This is a BIG bold fruit forward quaff with the popular palate that will appeal to the masses of budding oenophiles.It is purely coincidental that(NW)just posted a Ramey Cab. I am…

  • Ramey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Wine Review (NW)

    13 May 2012 | 6:49 pm
    Tasting notes:Black cherry, anise, and earthy notes on the noseFull bodied and moderately firm texture on the palateNicely integrated dried currants, roasted herbs, and smoky cedar on the finishSummary:For Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a very good, refined, classy style.  I don't get too worked up over the style debate surrounding Napa Cab, because with the incredible variety of well made wine there's a place for almost anything.  Big, high alcohol Cabs don't scare me off and the austere, old-world styles are also welcomed at my table.  I mention this because Ramey somehow…

  • Campo Delle Piane Boca 1985 Wine review by (PB)

    9 May 2012 | 7:11 pm
    Brown hue on the rim yet with fresh bouquet of sweet cherry rising on what seemed like a classic Tuscan licorice, fresh grape, and a hint of pipe tobacco. This is however a Piedmont creation of Nebbiolo.Palate--Lively, with a touch of tartness on a cherry foundation, complex layers of whimsical fruit with nuances of all kinds of goodness.This was a special treat opened by the courtesy of our gracious hosts. Again wine is special--and this one will stay in the memory banks! Raise a glass D and R!--A Review from The Wine Cask Blog. Creative Commons: Attribution - ShareAlike 2.5 applies

  • St. Urbans-Hof Bockstein Ockfen Mosel Riesling Kabinett 2009 Wine Review (NW)

    7 May 2012 | 6:48 pm
    Tasting notes:Bright lemon and pear notes on the noseMedium bodied and lively on the palateFlavorful layers of stone fruit, honey, and mineral notes on the finishSummary:This is a beauty!  It combines richness and big flavor while staying light and lively.  That's the magic of a good Riesling Kabinett from Germany.  Known to be extremely versatile with food, this wine has excellent acidity and a low 8% alcohol content.  Expect to pay around $20, and raise a glass!--A Review from The Wine Cask Blog. Creative Commons: Attribution - ShareAlike 2.5 applies

  • Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells 2009 Merlot wine review by Billy

    30 Apr 2012 | 8:01 pm
    Nose: blackberry jam and plums Palate: medium tannins and soft acids give this just enough backbone to stand up.  Mild.Finish: long finish of plums and fruit.  Nice length for this value wine. Overall: I paid about $9 for this wine on sale. Pair with mild sauces and cheeses. Good value Merlot from this Washington State winery.--A Review from The Wine Cask Blog. Creative Commons: Attribution - ShareAlike 2.5 applies
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    food, wine, beer, culture

  • Beer Review: Bailey’s Blonde Ale

    Greg
    9 May 2012 | 7:37 am
    By Greg B.  A few weeks ago, with the sun shining bright, a slight breeze in the air and the humidity rather low, my girlfriend and I sat outside to relax.  We kicked back and took a few hours off and truthfully, I can’t remember the last time we just hung out in the outdoors.  [...]

  • A Wine Glossary for Beginners

    Greg
    8 May 2012 | 8:46 am
    A Wine Glossary for Beginners – By Guest Blogger Leo Parker If you’re new to the world of wine then, firstly, where have you been (?!) and secondly, a brief introduction to the terms you are likely to encounter in the wine world may be in order. By now, you will probably be aware that [...]

  • Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Margaritas! (recipes inside)

    Greg
    4 May 2012 | 6:52 am
    By Greg B.  Truthfully, I wanted to have more time to fully make, sample and compare these recipes with other margarita recipes, but like most people, I feel that May 2012 totally caught me off guard.  So while I may not have a full range of spirit comparisons for which make the best alternative margaritas [...]

  • Book Review: Paris in Love – Eloisa James

    Greg
    2 May 2012 | 12:09 pm
    By Greg B.  I don’t have nearly as much time to read as I would hope, so when the option for a book review comes around, I generally jump at it, forcing myself to take time away from academic work or other work and sit still, be quiet and read.  One of the great benefits [...]

  • Biohof Pratsch Lange Ried Riesling 2009 Review

    Greg
    30 Apr 2012 | 11:26 pm
    By Greg B.  I have a selection of wines to review, and with summer approaching, I better get through them!  Back when the weather was warmer here in Baltimore and we had that early April heat wave, I chilled and cracked open a  bottle of Riesling from Biohof Pratsch Lange Reid 2009, an organic vintner [...]
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley Wines

  • Skov to close

    Dave
    9 May 2012 | 7:22 pm
    In 2003 David and Annette Hunt purchased the Roudon Smith winery in Scotts Valley. They were joined in 2006 by Al and Diane Drewke; the partnership continued until 2011when the Hunts launched their own label, Skov. The launch appeared reasonably successful; the wines were well received and the wine club quickly grew to over 100 membersHowever barely a year later the family announced their intention to cease commercial wine production so as to spend more time with their teenage children. It appears that the label will be mothballed and the equipment sold.Here's wishing the family all the best…

  • Welcome To Paradise

    Dave
    4 Apr 2012 | 4:52 pm
    All smiles at the check-in deskOn the last weekend in March the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association hosts Pinot Paradise, an annual celebration of Pinot Noir, at the Villa Ragusa in Campbell.Around 40 wineries from all over the AVA attend, pouring their latest releases, and are joined by several local restaurants offering examples of their culinary skill designed to pair with Pinot Noir. In other words there was a lot of duck confit on offer. One thing I particularly like about Pinot Paradise is that while it's a large and busy event the attendees generally seem to respect the wines…

  • Ridge Monte Bello 2011 Component Tasting

    Dave
    26 Mar 2012 | 9:35 pm
    The annual Monte Bello futures tastings are the first glimpse that many of us get at the quality of the most recent vintage. 2011 was a tough year in California; a late, wet spring delayed budbreak; rain during flowering impacted the fruit set resulting in low yields; a cool summer increased the pressure of mildew and botrytis, and also meant that many regions struggled to get fruit to ripen. The more experienced producers are used to difficult years, and this year they needed to tap that experience. There are lots of techniques that can be used to help the vines such as green harvesting…

  • Eighteen 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons

    Dave
    22 Mar 2012 | 8:49 pm
    Last weekend a few of us got together to taste through as many of the local 2007 Cabernets as we could lay our hands on. The event was organised by Paul and Stef Romero of Stefania Wine, who were curious how their wines would stand up against similar wines from the region. The answer? Very well.The wines were served in groups of three. Most of the people were not trying to take notes, so Wes Barton and myself soon found ourselves behind the rest of the group. As such the notes are somewhat brief, and are in the order the wines were poured. As far as I'm aware none of the wines were decanted…

  • 2012 San Francisco SCMWA Trade Tasting

    Dave
    21 Mar 2012 | 1:58 am
    The SCMWA holds a couple of annual trade tastings, open to wine buyers, restauranteurs and media. It's a good opportunity to taste the new releases. The most recent event was held last month at the Farallon Restaurant in San Francisco. I deliberately skipped Ridge as I knew I'd get the chance to taste them at the Monte Bello event, and by the time I got to Kathryn Kennedy they had stopped pouring. In all I think I hit most of the tables. Here are some rather brief notes, alphabetically by winery, in the order poured.Bargetto 2009 Chardonnay, Central CoastA fairly typical example of…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Organic Wine Journal

  • Emiliana Organic Vineyards

    Organic Wine Journal
    16 May 2012 | 5:24 am

  • Lyle Fass and Nick Gorevic Talk Natural Wine on Spreecast

    Lyle Fass
    15 May 2012 | 5:23 am

  • Top UK restaurants rally behind natural wines – Decanter

    Organic Wine Journal
    11 May 2012 | 6:01 am
    From Decanter: Over 200 UK restaurants are offering natural wines as part of Real Wine Month. ‘A few years ago natural wines weren’t even a ripple in the collective consciousness of the UK restaurant scene,’ said Doug Wregg of importer Les Caves de Pyrene, organiser of both the Real Wine Fair and Real Wine Month. ‘Now there are wine bars and top class restaurants that specialise in these kind of wines. The Real Wine Month takes this a step further by effectively asking restaurants to go directly to the consumer and allowing them to choose what they like to drink.’

  • Les vins S.A.I.N.S.

    Organic Wine Journal
    11 May 2012 | 5:57 am
    From Alice Feiring: So, welcome a new group: Les Vins S.A.I.N.S. (Les Vins Sans Intrant Ni Sulphites). Those in the group are all French with one Italian. Included in this group are at least 10 vignerons with wines that I like/love. Future members will be admitted only if the board is unanimous. There will be no police, the candidates must pledge honesty. There will be more groups like this coming down in the future. We already have something similar with more forgiving criteria in Association Des Vins Naturels, there are groups in Austria and there are groups that belong to Renaissance as…

  • Organic Wine is like the Olympics?

    Organic Wine Journal
    8 May 2012 | 7:51 am
    So says Business BCN: It has been a long time since wineries like Albert i Noya (now in its fourth generation) introduced organic farming to its vineyards. In the late ‘70’s, when everyone was into other things, this visionary winery was beginning to produce its first wines from their organically grown vineyards. On this long journey every year more Spanish wineries have joined in, placing Spain at the forefront of global organic viticulture, boosting it into 3rd place. As for the remainder of Spanish wineries, virtually all of the DOs have a good number of them, with Catalonia the…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    JancisRobinson.com

  • Jia, South Ken newbie (Free for all)

    15 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    See our new guide to all readers’ restaurant reviews . It's a well-known fact that most top restaurants have a well-priced lunch menu. Some are more cynical than others in what you are being offered for the price, but some give you a really good deal with the opportunity to experience the chef's.

  • Sicily turns a corner (Tasting articles)

    15 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    Sicily, with its many layers of different civilisations such as the Greek one in evidence here at Agrigento, is one of the most thrilling places I have ever visited. My first visit was in 1970 when the wine was virtually undrinkable so it is wonderful to observe the fine wine revolution that is.

  • Bibendum's Bordeaux 2011s (Tasting articles)

    14 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    Thursday is a public holiday in France so it seems likely we will see more releases today and tomorrow after yesterday's flurry, which included dramatic price reductions for Chx Margaux and Lynch Bages. Here's Pierre Lurton pouring Ch d'Yquem 2008 for the hundreds who attended Bibendum's Bordeaux.

  • How Rudy did it (Free for all)

    14 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    15 May - Read a racy 4,000-word account of the story of Rudy to date by Benjamin Wallace, author of The Billionaire's Vinegar , just published in New York magazine, here . I understand that Wallace's friend Michael Steinberger, once wine correspondent of Slate , has been commissioned by Vanity.

  • How (not) to organise a tasting (Don't quote me)

    14 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    Every year the en primeur tasting organised by Assovini Sicilia demands of the attendees a certain strategic approach. Last year, for example, my fellow tasters and I tried to tackle as many of the 200 wines on show as possible in a race against time. The tasting started two hours later than.
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Brands Blog

  • 400 American and Chinese Blogs under scrutiny

    Evelyne Resnick
    24 Apr 2012 | 10:11 am
    In 2011, The Wine Management Institute of Dijon, in Burgundy, France launched a 5-year study on international wine blogs under my direction with the help of our 40 to 50 students coming from all over the world. The first year (2011) was devoted to American and Chinese blogs. We are on our way for the second year (2012) studying South European wine blogs, British, Canadian and Chinese (again) wine blogs. The purpose of the research is to draw a portrait of bloggers all around the world, a typology of blogs and a first approach of digital writing all over the world. The research aimed at…

  • Celebrating Women Wine Producers and Professionals

    Evelyne Resnick
    8 Mar 2012 | 9:52 am
    March 8 is officially our day, Women’s Day.  We should pay more often a tribute to those women, wine producers or professionals, who are often the source of interesting initiatives. This article aims at mentioning just a few of those ideas or different approaches on various wine related topics. This is my way to tell them “Thank you” not only for some of the best wines I tasted but also for being great human beings and friends. A few days ago, I received an email from Laetitia Mauriac, who owns and manages with her brother Arthur Château La Levrette in Blaye near Bordeaux,…

  • Good news for consumers, bad news for producers?

    Evelyne Resnick
    13 Feb 2012 | 9:14 am
    A recent study by Nielsen shows that the 2011 trend of decreasing prices for wine bottles will keep going in 2012. If this is good news for consumers, it is bad news for producers who would like nothing more than reversing the trend.  But it will not be the case in 2012: Source - Nielsen, 2012 According to Wine Market Council President John Gillespie, “One of the reasons the over-$20 segment was strong, was that there was a great deal of price discounting in that category. When people see a wine that they’ve bought before for $45 or $35, and it’s now $22.99, they buy it.” But…

  • Coming back on line with new thoughts

    Evelyne Resnick
    2 Feb 2012 | 4:27 am
    Letting a blog silent for many months after years of writing posts several times a week and sharing thoughts with readers and/or friends was not an easy decision. Of course, I could mention the increasing pressure of work and of two teaching positions, speaking assignments  in the US and Europe or the writing of a new book (in French – don’t get your hopes too high ) but it would not be quite true. In fact for the last few months I was asking myself what I could write about in this blog devoted to new technologies and innovation in the wine business. It seemed that precisely the…

  • Meeting 15 Bordeaux Classed Growths in New York

    Evelyne Resnick
    20 Sep 2011 | 12:49 pm
    If you love wine, running and New York, come applaud 15 Classed Growths of Bordeaux whose managers decided to run the New York Marathon in November 2011 to raise money for a good cause. Under the name “Bordeaux Grands Crus Runners”, those marathon veterans will run the 26.2 miles to celebrate wine and raise money for the organization Lysistrata, which works to defend women’s rights in the world. The famous artist Titouan Lamazou is one of its supporters and will cover the event. Taking advantage of the international coverage of the event, the French Runners will contribute…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Vinix: latest wine tastings

  • Teroldego Rotaliano

    15 May 2012 | 8:32 am
    Azienda Agricola Elisabetta Foradori, Mezzolombardo, Italia IL Teroldego Rotaliano è un vino elegante, strutturato ma equilibrato e morbido. Il colore è rosso rubino con riflessi violacei. All'olfatto rivela viole, frutti di bosco e una piacevole nota balsamica e speziata che sorprende. Al gusto è leggeremente fruttato fresco e e l'elemento che colpisce maggiormente sono i tannini delicati, morbidi che accennano alla loro presenza senza essere invadenti. Nel complesso un ottimo vino, piacevole sia nei periodi più freddi dell'anno ma adatto ad essere gustato anche nelle…

  • Astrea VSG DOCG

    15 May 2012 | 8:30 am
    Podere La Castellaccia , , Italia Ecco un’espressione di Vernaccia che mi piace, e che credo possa far riconciliare con il gusto di chi ha un certo pregiudizio verso questo vitigno-vino antico frutto simbolo di San Gimignano. Personalità più che tipicità. Solare vegetale minerale finezza che scalda. Sottosuolo pietra foglie fiori freschi. Fresco equilibrio saporito. Tempo dalla sua parte. 100% Vernaccia di San Gimignano Note tecniche: “elevazione in serbatoi di acciaio con affinamento sur lies per 6 mesi; affinamento: in bottiglia per 3 mesi”. In retro etichetta: “da una piccola…

  • Vin de Corse Porto-Vecchio Oriu

    15 May 2012 | 2:51 am
    Domaine de Torraccia, , France Semplice, elegante. Equilibrato. Frutti rossi, zucchero di canna, cuoio, animale selvatico. Fresco acido, abbastanza balsamico, tannino carezzevole molto morbido. I riferimenti oscillano dal sangiovese al pinot nero con qualcosa del nebbiolo del nord Piemonte. Bocca rotonda, poche o nulle le asperità; qualche sussurro, ma è la bevibilità e la liscezza. Uno zic buccia d’arancia. Terziari di qualità eccezionale. Old style. Siamo nel sud-est della Corsica nella zona di Porto Vecchio. Il vino non conosce la botte di legno, ma è affinato per diciotto mesi in…

  • Cerasuolo Crognaleto Santoleri

    14 May 2012 | 4:47 am
    Azienda agricola tenuta di crognaleto, Guardiagrele , Italia Decisamente l'assaggio piu' convincente del week-end che mi ha anzi strappatto diversi mugolii di piacere. Uno dei migliori cerasuolo mai assaggiati che metto a livello di quelli di emidio pepe. In comunque con il cerasuolo delle famosa azienda di torano nuovo c'e' un colore piu' pastoso e meno brillate rispetto alla maggioranza dei cerasuolo abruzzesi. Il naso ha toni piu' decisi rispetto ai profumi fliorali ma mai sgraziati. La bocca è una delizia di petali di rosa che lasciano spazio a aromi piu'…

  • Malvasia - Filomusi Guelfi

    14 May 2012 | 4:20 am
    Azienda vinicola FILOMUSI GUELFI, Tocco da Casauria, Italia Ero curioso di assaggiare questa malvasia di Filomusi Guelfi, uno dei pochi (almeno che io sappia) rimasti a produre la malvasia in purezza in abruzzo, dove spopola il Trebbiano e il piu' moderno Pecorino. Devo dire che e' un vino onesto, senza colpi di testa ma comunque di buona bevibilita', pur non essendo uno di quei vini che si ricordano per tutta la vita. Detto cio' ha dalla sua anche l'ottimo rapporto qualita' prezzo (io l'ho comprato in cantina quindi in enoteca, forse, si trova a prezzi piu'…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    CheapWineRatings.com

  • Juvé y Camps Brut Rosé

    Tim Lemke
    15 May 2012 | 7:12 pm
    Yet again, we’re tasting some pink, bubbly wine.  And again it’s a brut rosé Cava. If you love sparkling wine, but haven’t discovered Cava yet, you’re missing out on some awesome bargains.  Cava is Spain’s version of Champagne.  Of course, Champagne being not just a generic name for sparkling wine but being a sparkling wine from a specific region in France.  Similarly, Cava not only represents a style of sparkling wine, but also a region—in this case the region (or regions) are in Spain.  It is regions (plural) because Cava can be made in six different…

  • Segura Viudas Brut Rosé

    Tim Lemke
    14 May 2012 | 7:59 pm
    We’ve been reviewing some rosé wines lately, and more specifically we’ve tasted a number of sparkling rosé wines.  So, let’s continue that theme with another rosé cava that’s an absolute bargain. Segura Viudas Brut Rosé is made from 90% Trepat and 10% Garnacha.  The grapes come from an estate in Torrelavit, Alt Penedès in Spain.  I’d say this would make a nice salad wine, or would go great with fish. The nose is a well-balanced blend of light strawberry and yeast aromas.  The palate is more on the citrus side, with flavors like orange peel and lime…

  • Freixenet Cordon Rosado Brut

    Tim Lemke
    10 May 2012 | 7:27 pm
    It’s time to talk about more pink bubbly stuff.  Wine, that is.  Cava, to be more specific. Yesterday, we highlighted a unique rosé cava from Freixenet, their Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut.  But if you’re looking for an even better bargain, then it may be the Freixenet Cordon Rosado Brut that piques your interest.  It’s a few dollars less expensive and comparable in quality, although the flavor profile is different, so read on. The Cordon Rosado Brut is made from a blend of trepat and garnacha.  One interesting note about trepat is that there are only about 1,000 hectares of…

  • Freixenet Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut

    Tim Lemke
    9 May 2012 | 7:33 pm
    Freixenet is a pretty big name in the bubbly wine aisle as they are a pretty reliable brand for tasty-yet-affordable sparkling wines.  They are known for their cava, which in simple terms is Spanish sparkling wine made in the traditional champenoise method… yes, there are more specifics to cava, but let’s keep it simple for now. While Freixenet is best known for their black bottle sparkling wines, my eye was caught by the elegant bottle design of their Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut.  It’s simple, sleek and stylish with a ribbon connecting the neck to the label.  The color of…

  • Mumm Napa Brut Rosé

    Tim Lemke
    8 May 2012 | 7:26 pm
    Some guys might say it’s not too masculine to drink sparkling wine.  Some might say it’s not too masculine to drink rosé, or “pink” wine.  Well, I’m going to throw all caution to the wind and drink a wine that’s both pink and sparkling… and I’ll admit that I love every sip of it! Mumm Napa has become one of the names that I trust for good, yet surprisingly affordable sparkling wine.  We’ve reviewed their Brut Prestige in the past, so we figured it was about time to check out another of their wines, the Brut Rosé. This wine has a…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Rockss and Fruit

  • My 2nd Spreecast with Nick Gorevic of Jenny & Francois Selections

    Lyle Fass
    12 May 2012 | 4:43 pm

  • My first Spreecast with Matt Cohen

    Lyle Fass
    26 Apr 2012 | 1:36 pm
    Spreecast is a brand new social video website and here is my first one on German wine, etc with my buddy and travel companion, Matt Cohen.

  • Wineepedia > Wikipedia for Wine

    Lyle Fass
    25 Apr 2012 | 11:13 am
    Here are the latest entries in my Wineepedia project. Beaune and Chassagne-Montrachet as I tackle Burgundy. Also a slight redo of the Mosel front page.

  • More Wineepedia entries!

    Lyle Fass
    10 Apr 2012 | 5:38 pm
    Today brings you a slew of entries in Burgundy. Including Auxey-Duresses, Givry, Mercurey, Montagny, Rully and Fixin.

  • Wineepedia is back!

    Lyle Fass
    26 Mar 2012 | 5:47 pm
    As I continue again on my long, never-ending project to create a wikipedia for wine, after a long absence I am back. Today are entries for St. Veran, Auxey-Duresses & Vire-Clesse. To refresh your minds, this is just a project to write a bit about the region, top producers and top vintages, so it can be accessed all at one central point. Of course I am writing this., and there will be omissions of producers but hey, that's what you come her for, anyway. Informed opinions. Of which I have many, but I will try to be as objective as possible. Another advantage, is that it can be updated and…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    HaKerem: The Israeli Wine Blog

  • Return of The Ancient World

    GuestPost
    5 May 2012 | 3:11 pm
    Marks and Spencer, the iconic British food and clothing retailer founded by two Jewish families, has chosen a special selection of wines from the Eastern Mediterranean. Following new interest in Eastern Mediterranean food, M&S has chosen fifteen wines from Croatia, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and Slovenia. These will be available in their wine division, on line and will complement the Eastern Med foods in their deli, bakery and prepared food ranges. The wines will range between GBP 7.99 and GBP 12.49 (pounds.) There are two wines from Israel on the list, from Barkan Winery and…

  • The Benefits of Maturity (Old Vine Wines)

    Yossie Horwitz (www.yossiescorkboard.com)
    1 May 2012 | 10:01 am
    As I have often mentioned, while most wines are meant to be consumed early and don’t benefit from any additional time in the bottle, a few years of cellaring can make magic happen for a small percentage of quality wines (usually the most exciting ones). The additional time in the bottle gives the tannins, acid, fruit and flavors time to come together in the harmonious music the wine maker intended. However, this week I wanted to focus on another oenophilic area in which age can play a paramount role and be a big factor in the quality, flavor and perhaps most relevant, intensity, of the wine…

  • Yom Hatzmaut – Looking Back

    Avi
    25 Apr 2012 | 9:09 am
    This article first appeared on wines-israel.com and is reprinted with permission of the author. On Israel’s 64th Independence Day, it is worthwhile to look back at some of Israel’s most influential wines, which have helped to advance Israel’s image as a wine producing country of international quality. These are some of the wines that charted the progress of Israel in the international court of public opinion. The coming list is a story of Israel through its wines – each one has contributed to the advance of Israel’s image in some way and each individual success was a stepping stone…

  • Easter Wine Tour

    David Rhodes
    10 Apr 2012 | 12:49 pm
    When I moved to California from Massachusetts, I missed the embedded and concentrated layers of culture and history that New England had to offer over the American Southwest. Yet when moving to Israel, those hundreds of years of New England culture were overshadowed by thousands of years of civilizations that can be overwhelming to a resident as much as to a tourist exploring without a guide. I’ve half-kidded that with the right tour guide, you could easily walk every ten paces in Israel and have a history lesson of what happened here or there. Often in such a small country at the…

  • 2012 Blind Israeli Cabernet tasting in Tel Aviv

    David Rhodes
    8 Apr 2012 | 12:51 pm
    Recently, I participated in an unprecedented tasting of Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon wines in Tel Aviv in the garden of Chef Alon Gonen’s home. We had all been invited by wine writer Rani Rogel of Food & Beverage/Israel. Three panels of wine writers, enthusiasts and wine makers sampled 37 wines so each panel averaged about 12 wines with the wines divided into three price categories, under 70 NIS (under $20), 70 to 120 NIS   ( $20 to $35) and over 120 NIS (over $35). The wines were all close in age ranging from four vintages 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 with only one from 2011. We, the…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Tasting Note

  • #474 100 Grapes: Nebbiolo

    Peter Wood
    12 May 2012 | 5:41 pm
    Nebbiolo is a red grape that is most associated with the wines of Piedmonte.  A highly tannic grape, it can require many years to settle down and reveal its more elegant flavours.  Thought to have been originally documented in the first century AD in the Pollenzo region (now in Barolo DOCG) the wines described showed similarities to Nebbiolo.  The thirteenth century was the first documented evidence naming Nebbiolo, and half a millennia later it attracted the attention of the British who were looking to find alternatives to Bordeaux after falling out with the French.   I…

  • #473 100 Grapes: Muller Thurgau

    Peter Wood
    12 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Created by Hermann Müller in 1882, Müller-Thurgau is a grape that, well, nobody really bothers about.  Despite being seen in the cooler areas of the wine making world, including Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Japan and England - to name but a few - plantings of this grape are on the decrease. It used to be Germany's most popular grape due to its flexibility in the climates and soils in which it can be grown, and due to it's low acid and fruity flavour, the wine are supposed to be drunk young and were the backbone (although maybe a bit of a limp backbone) of the exceptionally popular…

  • #472 Ron Jeremy's Rum

    Peter Wood
    11 May 2012 | 1:33 pm
    When it was revealed last week by Johnny Ball that the stars of Playschool (a 1970's BBC pre-school television show for those of you of a different country or younger generation) were stoned when recording the programme, it got me thinking about how well known people have some interesting past times. J Edgar Hoover was famously rumoured to enjoy dressing in ladies clothing, Hitler apparently liked drawing Mickey Mouse cartoons and Alice Cooper is well known for playing golf - all hobbies that would damage their reputation!  Another thing that can destroy a famous person's career is…

  • #471 100 Grapes - Cabernet Franc

    Peter Wood
    8 May 2012 | 4:40 am
    I wrote about Cabernet Franc last year, so I won't go over the whole thing again, but I did try a trio of wines made with the grape to tick off another one in the 100 grapes list.  I tried a trio of wines from the grapes homeland, the Loire. 2009 Chateau de Villeneuve Saumur Champigny Delicious cherry and green peppers coming out, quite sweet on the nose with some floral elements that are very pretty.  The palate has a nice earthy flavour, some liquorice and a little confected cherry coming out, but it is calmed by a burnt beef flavour, and a bitter note all the way to the finish.

  • #470 Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Blind

    Peter Wood
    5 May 2012 | 6:29 am
    Nearly ten years ago, three friends and I decided to start a fine wine dining club where we clubbed together and drank some super old wines with really nice meals.  We tried vertical tastings of Leoville las Cases, ancient bottles of port and buckets of fine burgundy, all when it was cheap enough that we could afford them! Over the years, we all moved on with our lives, but remain close friends and passionate about wine.  Last weekend for the first time in about three years, we were all in the same place at the same time.  The last time the four of us were together, we were at…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    ‫יינות ישראל‬

  • ‫מה המשמעות של אישור העבודה על תנאי העבודה‬

    ‫admin‬
    11 May 2012 | 8:34 pm
    המעסיק החובה להבטיח את אישור העבודה על תנאי העבודה עם ארגון ההסמכה הבאות של הגנה על העבודה מותקן קוד st.212 העבודה. על פי הצו משרד הבריאות של רוסיה ב 31 אוגוסט 2007 N 569 "על תהליך הסמכה של עבודה על תנאי העבודה," לפחות פעם אחת כל 5 שנים, הסמכה חייבת להתבצע על כל מקומות העבודה על תנאי העבודה. סדר ARM על ידי UT מסדיר את פעילותם של המעסיקים…

  • ‫מהו ארגון והפקה‬

    ‫admin‬
    11 May 2012 | 5:05 pm
    "ייצור" מתייחס מדעי כלכלית, יש תפקיד מוביל בקרב במדעי החברה, כפי שהם לחקור את יחסי הייצור, כלומר את היחסים המתפתחים בין אנשים בתהליך הייצור. כמו כל מדע, "ייצור" יש אובייקט של מחקר – אחד או צורה אחרת של חומר הנושא שלה – חוקי התנועה של צורה זו של חומר. לאחרונה מצאתי אצל כאבי גב אוזן קשבת . מטרת משתתפי המחקר – מפעל…

  • ‫מפתחות כדי לקנות בתבונה‬

    ‫admin‬
    10 May 2012 | 12:50 pm
    עכשיו את סימני, כרטיסי אשראי ובנקים החלו את הקרב על ידי שיגור מבצעים שונים לכל יום בשבוע כדרך להתחמק מהמשבר, הוא גם מגביר חרדות שלנו לתפוס אותם. לא להיתפס באמצע הקרב או לטבוע בים של מחירי מוצרי זכוכית, יש כמה הצעות שלנו הוא חווית קנייה מאושר. מאסטר הדחפים שלך. במקרה הזה אני חושב ש טבע צודק במה בהוא אומר. אל תרוצו להיות הראשונים…

  • ‫להגדיל את הרווחים עם תוכניות שותפים‬

    ‫admin‬
    5 May 2012 | 8:19 am
    כידוע כמות הרווח תלויה תוכניות שותפים נוכחות של משאב זה שמקדם תוכנית השותפים. יותר מבקרים, יותר רווח. אבל זה גם תפקיד מיוחד להגדיל הרווח כמה את תוכנית השותפים המתאימה עבור האתר שלך. הבחירה של תוכניות שותפים: 1. תוכנית שותפים צריכים להשלים את התוכן (תוכן) של האתר צריך להיות שימושי המבקרים באתר שלך. לדוגמה: יש לך אתר על החדשות בעולם…

  • ‫ארגון מחדש של מפעלים כדרך לחסל‬

    ‫admin‬
    29 Apr 2012 | 6:45 am
    ארגון מחדש של החברה – במקרים מסוימים הוא מובטח, הוא אמין מאוד יקר לפחות דרך להיפטר מיותר על הפירמה. בנוסף, דרך מהירה יחסית לחסל, ואם מרצון פירוק ופשיטת רגל האחרון מ – 6 חודשים עד מספר שנים, ארגון מחדש יכול להתבצע על 2.5-4 חודשים. נסה להדגיש חלק הכללים, וציין כי החברה יכולה לחסל במהירות ובקלות. כלל 1. פתח – זה תמיד קל יותר לסגור.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    ShipCompliant: Wine Shipping Blog

  • DIRECT Conference Gives Wineries Tools to Succeed in Changing Direct Shipping Environment

    Jamie Jimenez
    15 May 2012 | 9:39 am
    ShipCompliant launched its first Direct Shipping Seminar & Users Conference in 2006, one year after the groundbreaking Granholm v. Heald Supreme Court ruling that put the framework in place for the direct shipping landscape as we know it today. Since the 2005 ruling, 26 new states have opened or adopted a new permit system for direct shipping, which represents a 56% increase in total reports due for wineries that ship to all available states. Today a total of 40 states—89% of the total consumer market—allow direct shipping! Over the past 7 years, there have been some considerable…

  • Formalization of Wine’s ‘Fifth Column’: Third-party Marketers

    Elizabeth Hansen - ShipCompliant Program Manager
    14 May 2012 | 11:42 am
    “A compliant and effective e-commerce sales platform [is] now in place and available. There is a Fifth Column of wine sales now…The evolution and momentum of the Fifth Column of wine sales leads us to believe the genie is finally out of the bottle and there is no putting it back for state-to-state and direct wine e-commerce.” The historical metaphor of the “Fifth Column” is new to the world of wine marketing. As used by Rob McMillan and the authors of Silicon Valley Bank’s recent “State of the Wine Industry” report, it is a reference to the Spanish…

  • The First of May Brings the First of Direct Wine Shipping to the Garden State

    Sarah Werner - ShipCompliant Research Team
    1 May 2012 | 5:35 pm
    Spring brings more than flowers this year for supporters of direct shipping. After three and a half months of anticipation and preparation, the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control posted checklists, forms and applications on their site, making S 3172 a reality for the wine industry. Effective May 1, New Jersey is accepting applications for the Out-of-State Winery License from wineries producing less than 250,000 gallons (roughly 105,000 cases) annually. Annual production dictates the fee for the new license: Less than 1,000 gallons – $63 Between 1,000 and 2,500 gallons…

  • Licensees should have the opportunity to accept or reject each third party wine order

    Jeff Carroll - VP of Compliance, ShipCompliant
    19 Apr 2012 | 10:50 am
    Editor’s Note: The following is the first post in our series on the Third Party Providers In the quickly evolving world of third party wine marketing, it’s important that marketers and licensed sellers work together in such a way that puts the licensed seller in full control of all aspects of each transaction. One of the most important elements of control is the concept of acceptance. Why Acceptance? The fundamental concepts behind third party marketing are quite simple on the surface: A third party provider (TPP) places and merchandises products from licensed wineries on its website,…

  • Third Party Providers are Here…To Stay

    Jeff Carroll - VP of Compliance, ShipCompliant
    1 Apr 2012 | 11:20 am
    Last month I had the privilege of addressing a group of control state regulators, industry attorneys and key industry executives that gathered just outside Washington, DC for the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association’s (NABCA) Annual Legal Symposium. The topic of my panel was one that we have put significant focus on here at ShipCompliant and one that the wine industry has been struggling with for the past few years: Non-traditional wine businesses, otherwise known as Third Party Providers (TPPs). For most small and medium sized wineries, the path to increased sales, increased…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Questers Blog

  • Paoletti Estates Winery in Napa Valley – an Italian mansion

    Jim Preston
    24 Apr 2012 | 3:14 pm
    Driving south on Silverado Trail from Calistoga you’ll notice a large stone facade home and winery set against a redwood forest hill.  The gate is often closed but when it is open drop into Paoletti Estates Winery and enter the … Continue reading →

  • South Coast Winery is more than a tasting room!

    Jim Preston
    24 Apr 2012 | 1:22 pm
    Beautiful mission style South Coast Winery in the Temecula Valley wine region is one of my favorites.  While the wines are good and the tasting room is inviting the restaurant and landscaping make this winery a unique experience.  The gardens … Continue reading →

  • Warm welcome at Aver Family Vineyards near Gilroy – Santa Clara Valley

    Jim Preston
    28 Mar 2012 | 4:33 pm
    Aver Family Vineyards is a tiny operation with their tasting room in the garage of their new Tuscan style home.  The home and surroundings in the Uvas Canyon are beautiful and serene.  The picnic area is in front of the … Continue reading →

  • Maple Creek Winery – A Rustic Artsy Winery In A Forest

    Jim Preston
    9 Dec 2011 | 12:18 pm
    While driving around searching for wineries with tasting rooms regularly open to the public we wander into some wonderful settings.  Maple Creek Winery is one of our favorites for picnicking.  It is located along the mountainous Mendocino County part of … Continue reading →

  • Husch Vineyards in quiet Anderson Valley

    Jim Preston
    27 Nov 2011 | 3:28 pm
    Husch is a small family owned winery in Mendocino’s Anderson Valley.  The winery was founded in 1971 and is the oldest in the Anderson Valley.  The setting is one of our favorites with a tiny rustic tasting room in an … Continue reading →
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Sommelier India - India's only wine magazine

  • Vinous Pleasures on the Increase, Reva K Singh

    22 Apr 2012 | 12:22 am
    The thought that occurs to me as I write this note is how crowded my social calendar has become with wine events. It must be the same for you and other wine enthusiasts, too. Best of all, major hotel chains have become more proactive and serious about their wine programmes and the increase in wine dinners, tastings and promotions is a reflection of this. Continue reading the Editor's Note from the latest issue of Sommelier India and Subscribe to receive your copy. This issue at 84 pages is chockablock full with feature stories, news, tips and more on wine and the culture surrounding it. Some…

  • Bordeaux 2011 En Primeur - a Winetage Perspective

    19 Apr 2012 | 5:50 am
    Earlier this month, we got the chance to taste at least 150 wines of the 2011 vintage from the barrel on our pilgrimage to the major châteaux in Bordeaux. As I wrote last year, wine tasting is not about numbers/ scores/ stars or grades. It is important to widen your palate and experience different flavours, says Meenu Kohli of Maison Winetage reporting from Bordeaux for Sommelier India. The 2011 Bordeaux vintage is not in the same league as 2009 or even 2010 but it reminded us of the role Mother Nature plays to make wine and what made the 1982 and 2009 vintages so special.Left: Jean Michel…

  • Sula opens Mumbai's first wine bar

    18 Apr 2012 | 7:57 pm
    Vinoteca by Sula is finally open for business. Conceptualised by Rajeev Samant of Sula vineyards, Vinoteca in Mumbai has been inspired by Spanish tavernas. Serving tapas and pintxos, this 50-seater bar in Worli has a versatile wine selection from both Sula and international producers at extremely affordable prices.

  • Zapping fat cells - Is red wine the answer?

    17 Apr 2012 | 8:25 pm
    What will they think of next? According to a recent study conducted by Purdue University in Indiana, USA, red wine can help you stop piling on the calories by blocking the insulin that activates our fat cells. Wine seems to be the panacea for all ills! So don't put away that bottle of red wine just yet. Drink in moderation and who knows what health benefits may accrue! Currently being tested on animal obesity, the researchers claim that the magic

  • A Taste of Mezzaluna in Bangalore

    17 Apr 2012 | 9:08 am
    March-end saw the Bangalore Wine Club celebrating the flavours of Italy in an evening entitled, "A Taste of Mezzaluna", after the fine-dining restaurant at the newly opened Movenpick Hotel and Spa in Bangalore, writes Ruma Singh. As a special bonus, BWC members got the chance to re-visit some of their favourite wines from the portfolio of Mumbai-based wine importer, Wine Park.
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Grape Wall of China

  • Cited for speeding: Is China seeing a slowdown in bottled wine imports?

    admin
    13 May 2012 | 6:16 am
    By Jim Boyce Has China’s high-speed growth in bottled wine imports hit a road bump? First-quarter data from China Customs and talks with four industry players suggest we are seeing a slowdown. I just wrote about this for Meininger’s Wine Business International: read the full story here. Here are a few key points: Compared to [...]

  • Raising the glass: Inner Mongolia winery Hansen fights fakes via bottle design

    admin
    7 May 2012 | 6:11 am
    Chateau Hansen is based in Inner Mongolia and is among the nation’s more interesting wineries to watch. I met wine maker Bruno Paumard recently with fellow Grape Wall’er Nicolas Carre and he said Hansen has about 250 hectares of grapes (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Gernischt, 10% Merlot) and is set to multiply that coverage. That [...]

  • Three wine bars for Beijing’s Sanlitun: Everwines, Veloce, California Grapes Int’l

    admin
    2 May 2012 | 8:59 am
    By Jim Boyce Look for plenty of cork popping and screw top twisting in Beijing this summer as at least three wine bars are in the works. The first full Beijing shop by Everwines, a brand of wine importer and distributor Torres, should be fully open in about six weeks. It will be just up [...]

  • Eastern exposure: Bar Neuf, Imperial Horse and eight Ningxia wineries in Nanjing

    admin
    27 Apr 2012 | 7:46 am
    Earlier this week, I helped organize a wine contest in Nanjing that included entries from eight operations in Ningxia. I’ll have more details soon, including the results, but first a quick post about the “after taste” — and about which bottles emptied first — at Bar Neuf. If moved to Beijing, Bar Neuf would rank among [...]

  • Breakage in Beijing: Can Osenton shatter the world record for holding wine glasses?

    admin
    5 Apr 2012 | 7:16 am
    After a wine tasting at Revue du Vin yesterday, Philip Osenton casually mentioned he can hold a lot of glasses in one hand. How many? Ten? Fifteen? Turns out that’s child’s play for Osenton. He claimed a personal record of 29. A half-hour later, in front of a half-dozen witnesses, he managed to break that [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Anything Wine

  • Taste Camp East 2012 – To each their own!

    vcuspoon
    14 May 2012 | 8:28 pm
    This year I attended the 4th annual Taste Camp, which was hosted in Virginia for the first time (Northern Virginia wine country to be specific). This year what really stood out as unique were the marked differences in grape growing and vineyard management techniques between the winemakers with whom we had the pleasure of taking vineyard walks. Each winemaker is so passionate about his/her reasoning for using a particular trellis system, vine spacing, row spacing, etc. that one could easily be convinced that this must be THE WAY to do it in this part of Virginia. That is until a conversation…

  • TasteCamp East Coming to Northern Virginia

    vcuspoon
    11 Jan 2012 | 1:56 pm
    After attending the first two years, last year I wasn’t able to attend TasteCamp in the Niagara region of both Canada and New York. I guess life got in the way or something, where are my priorities right? Well this year TasteCamp is coming to my neck of the woods, to explore the Northern Virginia wine region of the Commonwealth and I’ll be there. Below are the details….   TasteCamp 2012 heads to Northern Virginia Fourth edition of wine bloggers and wine writers’ meeting heads to Loudoun County, May 4-6. The organizers of TasteCamp are proud to announce that after…

  • Wednesday random wine reviews…

    vcuspoon
    27 Oct 2010 | 5:55 pm
    As I was going through some tasting notes to write up for work, I came to the conclusion that I should start posting some of these once a week. Mostly because it is such a random mix of wines, and thought it might be fun…. and I have to type them up anyway!   2006 Château de Pibarnon Bandol les Restanques de Pibarnon Region: Bandol (Provence, France) Grapes: Mourvedre Price: $27 Notes…Aromas of black currant, bit of oak, boysenberry, leather and a hint of chocolate followed by flavors of black and red currant, cherry, eucalyptus and black pepper.  Full bodied with huge…

  • 2009 Macari Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

    vcuspoon
    22 Oct 2010 | 7:12 am
    This time last year I was in Long Island Wine Country with Megan, enjoying some great wine and food, visiting with friends and making new ones. Since we aren’t in Long Island this year I decided to open some wine from the region to help relive the memories from last year. We have lots of red wine in the cellar from that trip, but we were making Indian food last night and I needed a white. I perused around and found the ’09 Macari Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc ($23). (Check out my post “From Poop to Juice” on our visit to Macari Vineyards last year) My Tasting Notes……

  • Revisiting some Kluge Wines

    vcuspoon
    30 Sep 2010 | 5:32 pm
    Being an owner at a wine shop has many advantages, one if which is tasting A LOT of wine. Most of what I taste is from all over the world with a small percentage of it being from here in Virginia. ( I should write a post about that!) Recently a new “rep” for Kluge winery presented myself and my staff with their current lineup. Having not had it in quite a while I was eager to give them a taste.  Over the years I have enjoyed Kluge wines but have had certain concerns in the past. One was their pricing when they got started about 5 years ago – they were crazy! That was…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Anything Wine

  • Taste Camp East 2012 – To each their own!

    vcuspoon
    14 May 2012 | 8:28 pm
    This year I attended the 4th annual Taste Camp, which was hosted in Virginia for the first time (Northern Virginia wine country to be specific). This year what really stood out as unique were the marked differences in grape growing and vineyard management techniques between the winemakers with whom we had the pleasure of taking vineyard walks. Each winemaker is so passionate about his/her reasoning for using a particular trellis system, vine spacing, row spacing, etc. that one could easily be convinced that this must be THE WAY to do it in this part of Virginia. That is until a conversation…

  • TasteCamp East Coming to Northern Virginia

    vcuspoon
    11 Jan 2012 | 1:56 pm
    After attending the first two years, last year I wasn’t able to attend TasteCamp in the Niagara region of both Canada and New York. I guess life got in the way or something, where are my priorities right? Well this year TasteCamp is coming to my neck of the woods, to explore the Northern Virginia wine region of the Commonwealth and I’ll be there. Below are the details….   TasteCamp 2012 heads to Northern Virginia Fourth edition of wine bloggers and wine writers’ meeting heads to Loudoun County, May 4-6. The organizers of TasteCamp are proud to announce that after…

  • Wednesday random wine reviews…

    vcuspoon
    27 Oct 2010 | 5:55 pm
    As I was going through some tasting notes to write up for work, I came to the conclusion that I should start posting some of these once a week. Mostly because it is such a random mix of wines, and thought it might be fun…. and I have to type them up anyway!   2006 Château de Pibarnon Bandol les Restanques de Pibarnon Region: Bandol (Provence, France) Grapes: Mourvedre Price: $27 Notes…Aromas of black currant, bit of oak, boysenberry, leather and a hint of chocolate followed by flavors of black and red currant, cherry, eucalyptus and black pepper.  Full bodied with huge…

  • 2009 Macari Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

    vcuspoon
    22 Oct 2010 | 7:12 am
    This time last year I was in Long Island Wine Country with Megan, enjoying some great wine and food, visiting with friends and making new ones. Since we aren’t in Long Island this year I decided to open some wine from the region to help relive the memories from last year. We have lots of red wine in the cellar from that trip, but we were making Indian food last night and I needed a white. I perused around and found the ’09 Macari Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc ($23). (Check out my post “From Poop to Juice” on our visit to Macari Vineyards last year) My Tasting Notes……

  • Revisiting some Kluge Wines

    vcuspoon
    30 Sep 2010 | 5:32 pm
    Being an owner at a wine shop has many advantages, one if which is tasting A LOT of wine. Most of what I taste is from all over the world with a small percentage of it being from here in Virginia. ( I should write a post about that!) Recently a new “rep” for Kluge winery presented myself and my staff with their current lineup. Having not had it in quite a while I was eager to give them a taste.  Over the years I have enjoyed Kluge wines but have had certain concerns in the past. One was their pricing when they got started about 5 years ago – they were crazy! That was…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Paarl Wine Country

  • Vinitaly Partners With The American Cancer Society For Taste Of Hope Gala

    Other
    23 Apr 2012 | 5:14 am
    Third Event That Sees Vinitaly Supporting Important Mission Vinitaly In The World joins the American Cancer Society for the third year in a row to support the fight against cancer at the annual “Taste of Hope” gala to be held on May 3, 2012 at 82 Mercer. The culinary event will be directed at high-end [...]

  • Delheim’s Jazzy Cheese Fondue The Ultimate Winter Warmer

    Other
    23 Apr 2012 | 4:43 am
    Ward off the winter chills on Sunday afternoons with lashings of piping hot cheese fondue swirled to toe-tapping tunes when Delheim’s Jazz and Cheese Fondue events kick off on 24 June. Every Sunday thereafter up to August 5, guests will be ushered in to the cosy downstairs cellar at the Stellenbosch wine estate, where steaming [...]

  • A Treat For Mom At Durbanville Hills Wines

    Other
    23 Apr 2012 | 4:26 am
    Surrounded by stunning views of Table Mountain, The Eatery at Durbanville Hills Wines offers you the chance to celebrate your amazing mom this Mother’s Day. The refreshing Durbanville Hills Merlot Rosé will be served on arrival, paired to either a Sauvignon blanc mussel pot or delicious caramelized onion and blue cheese quiche. A buffet selection [...]

  • Avondale’s Range Of Nature-Friendly Wines Strikes The Jackpot In Las Vegas

    Other
    23 Apr 2012 | 4:00 am
    Avondale, a family owned and managed estate located near Paarl, has claimed its place as one of the world’s finest wine producers with the winning of a record number of international awards recently. Hot on the heels of its win at the international Drinks Business Green Awards where it received the prestigious Amorim Environmental Award, [...]

  • Le Franschhoek – Just Say Cheese

    Other
    23 Apr 2012 | 3:41 am
    Award-winning Cape Winelands retreat, Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa, is celebrating the SA Cheese Festival with a unique three course menu featuring cheese-inspired cuisine with a modern twist. Having recently evolved the culinary direction of Le Franschhoek, Executive Chef Oliver Cattermole has created a menu for cheese lovers and foodies alike to enjoy with suggested [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    underthegrapetree.com

  • THE DRUNK BACKWARD XVII: DRIVING THE COCAINE HIGHWAY, PR BEMUSEMENTS, MY WIFE’S PRATFALLING SHENANIGANS, AND OTHER ASSORTED SUNDRIES

    Kevin Keith
    15 May 2012 | 3:57 pm
    Driving up to visit my mom for Mother’s Day was a bit surreal.  Driving up the cocaine highway (I-75) from my house in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, to my mom’s house in Kettering, Ohio is a short trip – about an hour if traffic doesn’t suck, and despite the rain, it really didn’t suck.  Taking in the sites, like the Solid Rock Church up in Monroe (home to the late Big Butter Jesus, which burned down due to a lightning strike – by God I am most certain) and the Hustler superstore, it sometimes weirds me out to think I used to live in Dayton.  I always chuckle when I hear Bad…

  • POST-MOTHER’S DAY THOUGHTS: MY MOM IS PRETTY COOL

    Kevin Keith
    14 May 2012 | 3:36 pm
    Sunday was Mother’s Day.  (File this post under the NO SHIT category.)  I wanted to share a bit of my relationship with my mom, because most of the time, my mom doesn’t think she’s worth much.  In retrospect, my mom got a bit of a raw deal out of life.  I am not saying that she’s had it harder than anyone else; we’ve all had problems in our lives at one point or another. Yet my mom didn’t have the answers she feels she should have had when it came to her education, her marriage, her employment, her kids, her life.  Barbara Jean Keith – my mom – was born February 17th,…

  • TRAVELLING BACK IN TIME – TO LAST THURSDAY, PART THREE: BROTHER LOU LETS THE BUBBLES GO TO HIS HEAD: A PRELUDE TO AN INEVITABLY STICKY MESS IN T-JAM’S RIDE

    Kevin Keith
    14 May 2012 | 12:47 pm
    Brother Lou rounded out the Thursday sessions in the studio with three sparklers: Louis Bouillot Rosé Brut Cremant du Bourgogne Perle d’Aurore NV.  Grade=Outstanding.  Stunning sparkling wine made from Pinot Noir and Gamay.  Creamy strawberry and cherry mousse, with hints of vanilla, cinnamon and slight mineral undertones. Berlucchi Cuvee 61 Brut Rosé Metodo Classico NV.  Grade=Outstanding+.  Essentially, this stunning, de-classified Franciocorta sparkling from Italy is 50/50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, displaying gorgeous strawberry and wild raspberry notes, creamy vanilla mousse and…

  • TRAVELLING BACK IN TIME – TO LAST THURSDAY, PART TWO: MY FAVORITE MARTIN UNLEASHES HIS LATEST WEAPON ON THE STUDIO (THE CLEAN VERSION)

    Kevin Keith
    14 May 2012 | 12:36 pm
    My Favorite Martin dropped in on the Whino’s studio with his newest recruit, Diane Knueven, with some new Italian wines: Ilauri Pinot Grigio delle Venezie “Tavo” 2011.  Grade=Very Good.  Nice bit of stone fruit tempering solid minerality.  Clean, refreshing, not a bad wine given my predisposition to disliking PG. Talamonti Trebi Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2011.  Grade=Very Good.  Apples and peaches with a bit of dusty mineral and ginger shavings.  Light-bodied, clean and refreshing. Talamonti Rosé Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo 2011.  Grade=Very Good.  100% Montepulciano, this tasty rosé…

  • TRAVEL BACK IN TIME – TO LAST THURSDAY, PART ONE: OUR OWN JAZZY JEFF DROPS BY THE STUDIO FOR AN UNVEILING OF A NEW BRAND, COURTESY OF CHILE AND PALM BAY IMPORTS

    Kevin Keith
    14 May 2012 | 7:44 am
    DJ Jazzy Jeff dropped in Thursday with a brand new line of Chilean wines from our good friends at Palm Bay Imports: Epica Chardonnay Valle Central 2011.  Grade=Good.  A soft, fruity, light-bodied white wine with hints of tropical fruits Epica Sauvignon Blanc Valle Central 2011.  Grade=Very Good.  Bright, crisp, tart green apple skin, lime zest, guava, quince and grapefruit with loads of sharp minerality.  Finishes clean and refreshing. Epica Cabernet Sauvignon Valle Central 2010.  Grade=Outstanding.  Jammy, juicy red with smooth, medium tannins, red and black currant fruit, spices and…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Bevlog | beer, wine, spirits trends | beverage blog

  • The Triple Sec Lobby

    admin
    8 May 2012 | 8:45 am
    The highly secretive and powerful Triple Sec lobby has struck again — this time to require at least one drop of triple sec in certain alcohol beverages. Google it as much as you wish, and you will find little about this uber-secret institution, rumored to have strong ties leading all the way back to France. That’s because it’s secret. Some even say that Sen. John Kerry, with his thinly disguised sympathies for many things French, is Triple Sec’s man in Washington. On a more serious note, for many years, TTB has required at least some triple sec in products that purport…

  • Dogs + Fishes, Beer + Wine

    admin
    24 Apr 2012 | 8:35 am
    Shanken News Daily recently alerted us to Dogfish Noble Rot. It is: a wine/beer hybrid that combines traditional barley, hops, water and yeast with winegrapes. Named for the grape fungus botrytis, which is associated with Sauternes and Tokaji dessert wines, Noble Rot uses Viognier and Pinot Gris grapes sourced from Washington’s Alexandria Nicole Cellars. The 9%-abv offering will be available in about 27 states this week, priced at $13 a 750-ml. The statement of composition on this product looks a bit redundant, with two references to grape must — but upon closer review it nicely…

  • Label Flexibility

    admin
    2 Apr 2012 | 7:55 am
    TTB has been working on a new COLA form, with new and more flexible rules about what may change without seeking a new label approval. TTB announced this in the January 13, 2012 Newsletter and the Federal Register two weeks prior. The new rules, if/when implemented, could allow a huge variety of big and small changes — without the need to submit, wait, haggle. Here is the draft form. For example, the new rules (at page 3) would allow you to: Move mandatory around. This is at category 2. This would allow you to move VODKA from the bottom of the front label to the top of the front label,…

  • The Five Year Rule

    admin
    20 Mar 2012 | 7:55 am
    Be careful about the five year rule as above and here. The rule says TTB formulas expire five years after approval. Not all formulas. Just the ones for imported products such as vodka, sake, and liqueur for example. This is in substantial contrast with TTB label approvals, permits, and domestic formulas. Generally speaking, they don’t expire unless the applicant changes something. In our experience, TTB tends to explain the expiration date on the relevant formula approvals, but not in the regulations or widely elsewhere. An example is here. It can come as an unpleasant surprise, if you…

  • Streamlining at TTB

    admin
    13 Mar 2012 | 7:55 am
    In recent months TTB has been busy tinkering with the label approval process. TTB announced the culmination of its streamlining efforts here. This is important for all regulated entities because, despite all these streamlining initiatives (plus the advent of computers and online filing), the average processing time for spirits has moved from a few hours to well over a month, during the past 20 years. Most spirits labels are currently taking well over 30 days, and TTB often says you should allow up to about 90 days. Since last summer, things seem a lot better with wine labels (moving from over…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Fermented Thoughts

  • Important changes to CellarTracker RSS feeds

    Fermented Thoughts
    14 May 2012 | 9:59 pm
    In an ongoing effort to defeat the unscrupulous scrapers of the world, we have introduced some changes to the CellarTracker RSS feeds.

  • The Terry Theise Manifesto

    Fermented Thoughts
    1 Feb 2012 | 12:00 pm
    “Beauty is more important than impact. Harmony is more important than intensity. The whole of any wine must always be more than the sum of its parts. Distinctiveness is more important than conventional prettiness. Soul is more important than anything, and soul is expressed as a trinity of family, soil, and artisanality.” – Terry Theise It’s been some time since my last post and while sipping the morning coffee, I read a quote that inspired me by Terry Theise. Taken directly from the Skurnik Wines website… “If it is true that the road of excess leads to the…

  • Tasting Italy…

    Fermented Thoughts
    4 Dec 2011 | 7:00 pm
    No eloquent words, no loquacious lead-in, just good times. This trip to Italy will not be forgotten. I think the video says it best… Photos & film by: Fermented Thoughts Music by: Zucchero Fornaciari Originally posted 2010

  • Caught in the Crossfire – My #PinotMoment

    Fermented Thoughts
    8 Dec 2010 | 11:52 pm
    I wanted to bring this post to the surface in honor of Rick Bakas’ #pinotmoment movement. This, was my Pinot Moment and a very memorable moment (night) it was… (Originally posted August 2009) Recently, amid a night of inspiring company and satisfying food I found myself torn – caught in the crossfire of two developed and mature wines, in what turned out to be a Pinot night to remember. Reflecting on the experience brought this thought. If pressed to identify these two wines by sex, both would indeed be female. Beautiful, elegant, and civilized in their seductive charm. Prior…

  • 2007 Sequana Pinot Noir Sarmento Vineyard

    Fermented Thoughts
    13 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am
    Tasted by fermentedthoughts. Bright. Ruby. Intense. A rich girl for sure... Pulled, poured, and pause ... 10 min ... Sniff, sniff? PIMENTO POW! Up, off the floor - I dive in to find more salty olive brine, wrapped up in blueberry syrup and twiggy fresh, bushy red fruit. I hear a sultry, low, vanilla-infused French accent - as she speaks - decadent notes of coconut add confusion. Pinot Noir ... so feminine, obscure, intriguing ... Now, I sip. Dry and full, she's voluptuous and hot. Off the burner warm, dark Bing cherry juice glides along, spilling open to offer cocoa, fig puree, sweet forest…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Wellesley Wine Press

  • Event Report: 2012 Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas

    14 May 2012 | 6:46 pm
    This is a guest post from my friend Joegish from CellarTracker. Being an avid reader of the WWP and a fan of Robert on Cellar Tracker, I offered up to write a few notes for him on the recent Cinco de Mayo Wine Spectator Grand Tasting event held in Las Vegas at The Mirage.  My wife and I attended the event with 2 other couples (one from Connecticut and one from California) who are all wine enthusiasts.  We approached this event with 2 objectives: Taste wines that are not available or that are too expensive for our budget (I am a big fan of the WWP QPR tool) Taste wines that are…

  • Lot18: Schott Zwiesel Forte Burgundy Wine Glasses

    14 May 2012 | 9:09 am
    Back in 2009, Wine Spectator Senior Editor James Laube wrote a blog post about what he considered the perfect one-size-fits-all everyday wine glass. A Wine Spectator online subscription is required to read the full post, but the glass he highlighted was "the Tritan Burgundy Glass by Schott Zwiesel 'Forte' (model 8465/140)". Even with the model number, it's a little tricky pinning down the exact glasses he was talking about. Kind of like tracking down a recommendation for a German Riesling with all the precise descriptors on the label - it's challenging. Let's try break it down: Schott Zwiesel…

  • Rue La La: $20 for $40 at Wine.com (ends this morning!)

    13 May 2012 | 6:03 am
    UPDATE: This offer has expired. Deal site Rue La La is running a $20 for $40 for Wine.com but you've got to act fast. The sale ends at 11:00 am EDT today (Sunday, May 13th 2012). The usual restrictions apply to this offer - most meaningfully that the voucher can't be applied to the price of shipping. If you're not yet a member of Rue La La sign up and get $10 off your first order, bringing the price down to $10: http://ruelala.com/invite/winepress Then head over to Wine.com to use your voucher. Check out the 2010 Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir- always enjoyable and for my money the best $20…

  • Littorai Visit and Tasting Report

    8 May 2012 | 9:51 pm
     Littorai is a Sonoma based winery focused on the sustainable production of high end Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Founded in 1993 by Heidi and Ted Lemon, they seek out sites with outstanding potential then let those vineyards reveal their unique character in the wines they produce. I visited Littorai a month or so ago and got a chance to see first hand what makes them special. When you talk about "off the beaten path" in Sonoma it has an entirely different meaning than in Napa. If you think a small mailbox with a family name is charming, try visiting Littorai. They take take it to the…

  • Is Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Age Worthy?

    4 May 2012 | 6:58 pm
    Kosta Browne Pinot Noirs are some of the most luscious, rich, ripe and delicious new world Pinot Noirs on the market today. Their mailing list was already hard to crack before their 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (95 points, $52) was named Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year. Now it's harder then ever to get an allocation of their wines or to find them at or near release price at retail. Their wines have a reputation for being big. Perhaps too big for some given the expectation that Pinot Noir should adhere to its Burgundian roots. But there's plenty of new world wine enthusiasts who…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    eRobertParker.com - Wine of the Day

  • 2010 Capiaux Cellars Pinot Noir Chimera Vineyard

    15 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    2010 Capiaux Cellars Pinot Noir Chimera VineyardThe 2010 Pinot Noir Chimera is a beautiful wine that captures the essence of the Sonoma Coast in a fairly rich style for the appellation. Dark red fruit melds into sweet herbs, spices and licorice in this generous, plush Pinot. The wine finds its focus and minerality in the rich, creamy finish. The Chimera is a blend of fruit from nine different vineyards, most of them from the Sonoma Coast and Russian River. This is about as good as California Pinot gets in the $30 price range. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. Sean Capiaux is probably best…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Peeps

  • Wine Word of the Week: Faults

    Kori
    15 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    This week’s Wine Word of the Week is faults. Official definition from Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine: Faults in wines vary, of course, according to the taste of the consumer. …. To winemakers, however, wine faults are specific departures from an acceptable norm, the least quantifiable of which may be a lack of typicality. Faults in a wine’s appearance are generally either hazes, clouds, or precipitates in the bottle. …. Some wines smell so stale and unpleasant that the taster is unwilling even to taste them. …. Most faults are already obvious to the nose and need…

  • Oregon Wine: Beyond Pinot Noir

    Kori
    14 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Oregon ranks third in the number of wineries and fourth in wine production in the United States. In its relatively short 40-year history, the Oregon wine industry has evolved into a world-class wine region. Today, Oregon boasts over 400 wineries and 16 AVA’s (American Viticultural Areas). With those AVA’s found in both warm and cool climates, Oregon winemakers are able to produce wines from over 70 different grape varieties. Pinot Noir is the variety that propelled Oregon onto the worldwide wine stage and is still what many people think of when it comes to Oregon wine. Over 12,000 acres…

  • A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel

    Kori
    10 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? Many of our readers have said this is something they would like, so here is this week’s selection, the 2009 Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel from Northern Sonoma in California. Our selection criteria include: A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5) A price tag of <=$20 Must be widely available Rodney Strong founded Rodney Strong Vineyards, located in Healdsburg, California, in 1959. It was Sonoma County’s 13th bonded winery.

  • Wine Tasting Dinner: 2008 Washington Syrah

    Kori
    9 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Washington Syrah compares favorably with the best in the world. Washington Syrah generally falls somewhere in between the jammy Shiraz of Australia and the more austere Syrah of the northern Rhone. It generally has good acidity and tannins. The common denominators of our favorite Syrahs from Washington have been deep, dark purple color and luscious black fruits, with hints of green bell peppers, black pepper, and spice. Last Friday, we featured Washington Syrah from the 2008 vintage in our wine tasting dinner. All six wines paired perfectly with Mom’s dinner of tomato basil soup, candied…

  • Wine Word of the Week: Bottling

    Kori
    8 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    This week’s Wine Word of the Week is bottling. Official definition from Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine: Bottling is a vital wine-making operation for all wines other than those packaged in containers other than bottles and those few served straight from a cask or tank as bulk wine. Bottling techniques vary greatly according to the size, resources, technical ability, and modernity of the winery, although since the 1960s it has been customary almost everywhere to blend all casks or vats of a given lot of wine together before bottling, and to bottle it all at once. Layman’s…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    girlwithaglass.com

  • PureCru Napa Valley by Mitch Cosentino

    Alana
    14 May 2012 | 5:46 pm
    “I had been reminiscing about a small, hands-on entity where I could do it all myself again, like I did in the beginning.” Mitch Cosentino Hands-on winemakers making small amounts of lovingly-crafted premium wine can be found all over the world.  Some stay small while others grow into big wineries while retaining a personal touch.  Mitch [...]

  • Best (Organic) Wine in America

    Alana
    20 Apr 2012 | 6:23 pm
    Bonterra loosely translates from Italian as good earth.  Bonterra Winery’s good earth seems to bring out the best in their grapes.  I can not remember a time when I was more pleasantly surprised by a group of wines.  Added bonus…they are $13.99 for whites and $15.99 for reds, have a lovely fresh label and are widely available in [...]

  • Insider Tip: Napa Day Trip Without Driving Home

    Alana
    5 Apr 2012 | 6:44 pm
      I adore downtown Napa; it has a lovely urban feel yet it is situated on the beautifully renovated Napa River Waterfront.  There are dozens of tasting rooms, modern classy hotels and historic B&B’s, fabulous restaurants, nightlife (like salsa dancing at Ceja’s or jazz at Silo’s ) and shopping all within walking distance. It’s a wonderful destination for a girls’ getaway, a romantic date [...]

  • Excellent Chilean Red Wine Under $20

    Alana
    2 Apr 2012 | 6:13 pm
    Because I love tasting wines from around the world, I have purchased many  Chilean wines (as well as received samples).  My big news is that I am blown away by how much the quality of Chile’s red wines has risen just in the last year. The first time (2009) I sat through a Carmenére tasting, [...]

  • Move Over Dear a.k.a. Mourvédre

    Alana
    26 Mar 2012 | 4:04 pm
      Mourvédre* and its cousins are a hot commodity in the USA right now.  Mourvédre is one of  22 grapes known as Rhone Varieties.  Fortunately you don’t have to go to France to taste these interesting wines.   American-made wines are featured at tastings sponsored by the Rhone Rangers each year.  The 2012 San Francisco Celebration of Rhone [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Good Wine Guru

  • Montinore Estate Pinot Noir 2010

    George
    14 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    Varietal:  100% Pinot Noir Region:  Willamette Valley – Oregon Cost:  $21 Winemaker’s Notes:  This Pinot Noir was produced from twelve distinct vineyard blocks on our estate. The cooler 2010 vintage produced wines with bright aromatics and pronounced berry character accented with spice and mocha. While it’s a delicious wine now, this cool-climate Pinot Noir will age gracefully and will pair well with a wide variety of dishes. My Review:  On a recent trip to the wine store to pick up a bottle as a present, I noticed the 2010 Montinore Estate Pinot Noir on a rock and…

  • Winery Websites: It’s Not Hard Guys

    George
    4 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    Ok, before I get started on this mild rant let me make a couple of things clear:  I’m not going to single out any wineries as either good or bad examples. Also, as for my qualifications to go on this rant, I’ve worked in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for five years, part of which involved helping companies make their websites user friendly as well as search engine friendly. Ok, now on to the rant. Guys, seriously, quit having bad websites. I know that your focus is on making great wine. That’s awesome, I want you to focus on that, but you have to realize that a part of…

  • Three Fox Vineyards Calabrese Pinot Grigio 2011

    George
    3 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    Varietal:  100% Pinot Grigio Region:  Virginia Cost:  $26 Winemaker’s Notes:  Our estate grown Pinot Grigio is done in the true Northern Italian style that gives loads of lush flavors. It is light, refreshing and fun with lemon zest and citrus notes and a hint of apricot. Pairs great with white pizza, chicken or seafood Caesar, or roast poultry or pork, or just sip and enjoy. My Review:  Over Easter weekend my wife and I took a trip up to Northern Virginia to visit with our families, during which we decided to take a trip out to some vineyards with my parents. One of those we…

  • Graffigna Centenario Malbec 2010

    George
    30 Apr 2012 | 11:00 am
    Varietal:  100% Malbec Region:  San Juan, Argentina Cost:  $13 (SRP) Winemaker’s Notes:  Dark purple and red with violet hues. The aroma is profound and fruit forward, with ripe red berries, sweet spices, and a hint of black pepper backed by toasted notes from its oak aging.  On the palate the wine is structured and balanced, with ripe tannins and fresh acidity that leads to toasted and vanilla hints on the finish. Pairs well with lamb, grilled beef, spicy food, and poultry. My Review:  I’ve been sitting on this wine for a bit, in part because I was holding onto an illusion…

  • Moulin de Lene Alphonse Red Always

    George
    20 Apr 2012 | 11:00 am
    Varietal:  Syrah; Mourvedre; Marselan Region:  France – Cotes de Thongue Cost:  $10 (SRP) Winemaker’s Notes:  Light garnet robe with violet glints. The smell is explosive with aromas of freshly-picked forest fruits. The taste is light, easy to drink, and ends with a sensation of black currant. Drink as an apertif or pair with delicatessen meat, salad, grilled meats, or cheese. My Review:  And so I finally opened up the final bottle of the three samples that Moulin de Lene had been kind enough to send me back in February. I feel bad that it took me this long, but the reds…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Luscious Lushes

  • Cooking with Cava

    winebratsf
    15 May 2012 | 4:44 pm
    On our last day in Barcelona, we were fortunate enough to have a private tour of La Boqueria, the lively market on the town’s busy Las Ramblas boulevard, by Chef Isma Prados, one of Barcelona’s most noted celebuchefs. Isma is something of a phenomenon in Catalonia, and is a mix of Jaime Oliver and Gordon Ramsey.  His focus is on the true expression of the food, and stresses that you should use only the best ingredients to create the best foods.  He also pays particular attention tot he relationship between food and wine, and as we were here to learn about Cava, on…

  • Start those tractors up!

    winebratsf
    14 May 2012 | 10:05 am
    There’s something of a revolution going on in the East Bay’s sleepy corners; a revolution of wine.  The urban winery is alive and well in Oakland, and Cerruti Cellars is brightening up a lonely Jack London Square. Cerruti is part of the Tudal portfolio, which includes some well known Napa names as well as this fun loving Italian style house.  The family has been making wine and growing grapes for four generations, and while the Tudal Winery in St. Helena is going strong, in 2011 another branch of the family was born when Cerruti Cellars opened in a historic building at Jack…

  • Rhône with me!

    winebratsf
    24 Apr 2012 | 11:00 am
    I can’t believe it!  It’s here!  Tomorrow afternoon, I kick off my 2012 Hospiece du Rhône experience with my good friends Amy & Joe Power of Another Wine Blog. This year is a particularly special occassion, in that it is the 20th Anniversary of HdR, and Amy’s bday.  I won’t tell you which one, since I want to live through the weekend but it will be big. This year, Hospice du Rhône, the world’s largest gathering of Rhône variety wines and producers, will celebrate 20 years of all things Rhône.  The events are sold outwhich is hardly surprising given the…

  • Happy Earth Day!

    winebratsf
    21 Apr 2012 | 9:19 am
      It’s Earth Day again, that one day when we’re supposed to stop to smell the roses, and celebrate Gaia.  I try to be kind to my planet every day, by taking care of her and recycling, reducing and reusing – since it’s clear to me that she is one pissed off mama. Today, I’m sipping on some green wines, in partnership with Sip Certified.  Sip Certified has spent the last 15 years working with growers and wineries rethink their strategy about sustainability.  Pretty cool stuff! To become Sip Certified, you msut address the entire farm ecosystem, from…

  • CRM is not a four letter word

    winebratsf
    17 Apr 2012 | 12:20 pm
    Wow!  My recent post on the need for CRM in the wine world has really sparked some inspired conversation.  This is an exciting time, as the more people are talking and thinking about CRM for the wine industry, the more educated they can become. Today, Silicon Valley Bank presented their annual State of the Wine Business webinar, which reinforced the need for an integrated CRM solution at even the smallest wine business; the ability to capture, track, manipulate, and analyze data is capital if you are trying to grow a business in this ultra-competitive market. And still, wrapping your…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Backsberg » Blog

  • Saturdays at Backsberg – something for everyone…

    tanya
    10 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Fill the Winter months with good cheer. Join us every Saturday for a day reminiscent of times gone by….of merriment; eating & drinking….of sharing games & family fun. A book of coupons @ R100 purchased on arrival enables you to purchase goodies from the butcher; the baker; the candlestick maker and many other stalls to enjoy here or take home. Read your paper, play board games or relax with friends while kiddies enjoy activities from “the good old days”.   Every week will have a different attraction.   19 May: PPA “Tread Lightly”…

  • Valentine’s Day at Backsberg – Special offer for Wine Club Members for the Danièle Pascal Dinner and Show

    tanya
    13 Feb 2012 | 3:06 am
      Just a reminder that Backsberg has three spectacular Valentine’s Day offerings for you to choose from; a Romantic breakfast for two with extra special trimmings, a picnic lunch to share under the trees or a Danièle Pascal show and dinner, ending the day off with lyrics in the language of love.   Dinner,  Danièle Pascal Show and Welcoming Drink: Special offer for wine club members, 10% discount on your ticket and wine bought at the event. When booking please inform Lee-Ann that you are a wine club member. Ambassador of the French chanson Danièle Pascal will take you on a…

  • Backsberg Wedding Packages 2012

    tanya
    8 Feb 2012 | 8:04 am
    2012 BACKSBERG WEDDING PACKAGES

  • Valentine’s Day at Backsberg Estate Cellars

    tanya
    3 Feb 2012 | 8:25 am
    Backsberg has three spectacular Valentine’s Day offerings for you to choose from; a Romantic breakfast for two with extra special trimmings, a picnic lunch to share under the trees or a Danièle Pascal show and dinner, ending the day off with lyrics in the language of love. Breakfast: On arrival you will each receive a glass of love potion before embarking on a romantic breakfast experience together. Heart shaped vanilla pannacotta with strawberries, scrambled egg and chives on heart shaped toast with a smoked salmon rosette and a baby tomato skewer. Also includes Croissants, preserves…

  • Two Wine Seminars at Backsberg

    Harry Haddon
    7 Dec 2011 | 2:12 am
    On the 28th and 31st of January we will be hosting two seminars run by  Nancy Gilchrist MW. There are only 299 Masters of Wine in the world currently. Together with  Master Sommelier,  these are the highest wine qualifications one can obtain. We are looking forward to hearing what Nancy can teach us. Seminar 1 – Food and Wine Pairing Date: Saturday the 28th of January at Backsberg Estate Cellars Time: 10:00 for 10h30 (the seminar is an hour and a half) Cost: R200 Food and wine pairing can be tricky, but there are some solid fundamentals you can learn that can make the whole process…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Jason's Wine Blog

  • Quick Takes Vol. II

    jason
    13 May 2012 | 11:42 am
    Hi-Tech Tasting Notes… My 2nd installment of “Quick Takes” as I aim to share some thoughts on wines that have made it across my table recently. Here we have a quick trip around the globe with a nice group of wines. Nothing disappointed here. The Buena Vista still deservingly holds the top spot in my Trader Joe’s Top 10 Wine List and is surprisingly still available. I’ve gone through 8+ bottles and just bought another half case. Though slightly more expensive the Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Spätlese was something else and at $8 the Tintara is certainly worth revisiting.

  • Quick Takes Vol. I

    jason
    11 May 2012 | 1:33 am
    Hi-Tech Tasting Notes… As per usual just because the writing slows doesn’t mean the enjoyment does. To that end I have nearly thirty empties awaiting my attention before disposal. My wife asked nicely that some find there way out of the house very soon and given Mother’s Day is just around the corner I thought it would be wise to oblige. So the first group I grabbed? You guessed it! Those with the easy to find tasting notes. This was a steady and consistent group. If I were to buy one again it would be the Mas Carlot which I picked up on closeout from K&L Wines for…

  • Wines of Germany: Riesling & Co. World Tour 2012

    jason
    9 May 2012 | 2:37 am
    Today I was lucky enough to attend the Riesling & Co World Tour 2012 when they made their pit stop in San Francisco. The folks at Wines of Germany always put on an excellent and enjoyable event which I look forward to year after year. And it was indeed a fun day of tastings. Rieslings across the spectrum, a handful of Sylvaner and Pinot Noir (or Spätburgunder depending on the label) and a few miscellaneous sparklers, reds and whites. So what were the standouts? Well it is fun to catch up with favorites. First up was St. Urbans-Hof from the Mosel (where the picture at the top of this…

  • 5 things I’ve learned in 5 years…

    jason
    2 May 2012 | 7:51 pm
    Or another way of saying happy birthday to me. Jason’s Wine Blog turned 5 today. Started shortly after returning from Australia with a simple post it has been a roller coaster of a ride ever since. I’ve met loads of people (both online and off), made new friends and become part of a community that has helped me grow, learn and explore the world of wine. So a hearty thanks to all of you for participating and helping me along the way! So to celebrate (like only a blogger would) I thought I would share 5 lessons I’ve learned along the way so here they go… There is a lot…

  • 2008 Trader Joes GSM Reserve

    jason
    27 Apr 2012 | 10:13 am
    Price: $9.99 @
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    ampelography

  • Fête d’ Été

    1 May 2012 | 9:10 am
    Anne Amie Vineyards, a small, family owned winery in Willamette Valley, Oregon, will be visiting our region for their annual sales call. This year, will offer a twist on the traditional winemaker dinners. Instead of 5 courses in 1 restaurant, they will host a series of progressive bicycle winemaker dinners. In each city, Anne Amie will travel between 4 or 5 restaurants in general proximity, atop bicycles, with the entire group in tow. This should offer not only a unique and incredibly joyful experience, but a fresh look at the fabric of each city. Kimberly McLeod (National Sales Manager) and…

  • It's Hard out Here for a Pimp

    28 Feb 2012 | 7:10 am
    I was watching the Oscars on Sunday, cheering wildly for "Man or a Muppet". I was considering how Jason Segel made a great Muppet movie, in large part, because of his enthusiasm and passion for the Muppets. You may laugh, but that film is brilliant. I think so, my kids think so, the critics think so, and even rottentomatoes.com thinks so. There are a thousand reasons why he shouldn't have even tried to make this movie, among them, The Muppets haven't been relevant for 20 years, nostalgia rarely hits the right tone, no CGI, and many more. Segel persisted, and made this successful largely…

  • a new approach to competition

    3 Feb 2012 | 9:59 am
    At our most Darwinian, we are competitive. It's natural, we can't escape it, and it's always there deep down. We are often at our ugliest when we are competitive. We aren't great neighbors, we're not great advocates, and we're certainly not a trustworthy resource. There are sales managers that approach this business with a Cobra Kai mentality. they want nothing less than domination. They want to write the wine list, print the wine list and then walk into the restaurant like they own the wine list. Then, they become territorial when the buyer even considers buying from another distributor.

  • Time to Think about Pink

    23 Jan 2012 | 8:06 am
    This is the time of year when importers, distributors and ultimately retailers forecast and commit to their Rosé purchases for the warm months of 2012. We have seen a steady increase in the sales of rosé for as long as I can remember, and we are now at a point where every fine wine shop and restaurant in the country is doing something with this category. The mantra is: Rosé is brought in right after the wine is finished and sold out before it hits 1 year old. Rosé is seemingly held in the same regard as Beaujolais Nouveau, if you don't drink it, it will be dead wine in 2 years. This is…

  • Who's the Boss?

    10 Jan 2012 | 7:49 am
    The customer is always right. Duh. That's like rule number one of business. For some reason, the beverage business blurs this line a little bit (or a lot). Theoretically, each lower tier of the distribution model becomes a customer for the tier directly above it. The distributor is the customer for the supplier, the retailer is the customer for the distributor. These are both true, but the lines can go both ways. The distributor, since they are the single outlet for the supplier, often receives pressure from the supplier. The supplier always has an option to find another customer. That just…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    WineBizNews

  • Finger Lakes Wine Competition Results: Truly International, Truly Top Flight

    28 Apr 2012 | 6:47 pm
    This post was written by guest-blogger Steve Somermeyer, assistant winemaker at Chateau Thomas Winery, Indianapolis, Indiana.Steve Somermeyer, JudgeFinger Lakes Intl Wine CompetitionThe FLIWC (Finger Lakes International Wine Competition) just keeps getting bigger and better.  This year there were almost 3300 commercial entries from 22 countries, 5 Canadian Providences, and all 50 states (for the 3rd year in a row I believe).  This places it in the top 3-4 competitions in the country when commercial entry totals are compared and clearly the largest ice wine competition in the…

  • Trying and Buying: SF Vintners Market performs for Sierra Foothill Wines

    20 Apr 2012 | 12:47 am
    “It’s the only event I will always pour at,” said Larry Aderman, owner and marketing director of Frog’s Tooth Vineyards, Calaveras County.  He’s talking about the San Francisco Vintners Market events held at the Fort Mason center in San Francisco.  Billed as “a farmer’s market approach to wine shopping”, this is one of the rare events where consumers can both taste wines and buy them on the spot at tasting room prices, and without having to make the drive to the tasting room.This was the 5th Vintners Market, and the crowds at the two day event (April 14-15) were…

  • A great group of wines: 10 Hot Small Brands, selected by Wine Business Monthly

    19 Apr 2012 | 2:37 pm
    Writers for major wine business magazines taste thousands of wines a year so their recommendations are pretty good.  Relatively unknown is the annual selection of ten “hot small brands” by Wine Business Monthly.  Wine drinkers rarely see industry magazines, but they are vital to those of us who want to know what’s behind the label. I tasted them all. Yummy. If you can’t find these specific wines, try others from these wineries.Joe Dobbes,Wine by JoeFrom Wine by Joe: Dundee, Oregon.  2010 Joe’s Secco.  This sparkling wine is a blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and…

  • Zinfandel- a Great Variety for the Sierra Foothills

    18 Apr 2012 | 11:38 pm
    “Why Zin?” was the question I asked the 18 Sierra Foothill wineries who were at the yearly ZAP event in San Francisco.  Bill Easton of Terre Rouge and Easton Wines gave a great short answer:  “It has shown itself to be a great variety here in the Sierra Foothills;  it’s been 150 years in the region.  Zinfandel makes great complex wines with aging potential.”   Zinfandel’s history in the Sierra Foothills is long and colorful.  Scott Harvey of Scott Harvey Wines notes,  “Our 1869 Vineyard off Steiner Road in the Shenandoah Valley is probably…

  • Syrah and The Sierra Foothills

    18 Apr 2012 | 10:52 pm
    Syrah from the Sierra Foothills is a treat for anyone who loves this grape.  I had a chance to taste several fine examples at the SyrahDay tasting sponsored by the El Dorado Winery Association recently.  Eight wineries poured:  Boeger Winery, Crystal Basin Cellars, David Girard Vineyards, Grace Patriot Wines, Lava Cap, Mount Aukum Winery, Shadow Ranch Vineyard, and Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery.Syrah is a wine that is not without controversy.  Eric Asimov, wine writer for the New York Times, blogged this:  “The real issue is why Americans don’t buy syrah.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    vinoverve.com

  • May 16th

    admin
    16 May 2012 | 2:01 am
    id=”attachment_7151″ align=”alignleft” width=”300″ caption=”Map of the The Hamptons, Long Island AVA by Gretchen Neuman for VinoVerve.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 unported license”][/caption] ' /> Powered by Bookmarkify™

  • May 15th

    admin
    15 May 2012 | 2:01 am
    Powered by Bookmarkify™

  • May 14th

    admin
    14 May 2012 | 2:01 am
    Low Resolution Poster from Mondovino by Diaphana Films, Goatworks Films, Les Films de la Croisade and Ricardo Preve Films and is used under the principles of fair use Powered by Bookmarkify™

  • May 13th

    admin
    13 May 2012 | 2:01 am
    Map of the Dunnigan Hills AVA by Gretchen Neuman for VinoVerve.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license Powered by Bookmarkify™

  • May 12th

    admin
    12 May 2012 | 2:10 am
    Map of Edna Valley AVA by Gretchen Neuman for VinoVerve.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license Powered by Bookmarkify™
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    JancisRobinson.com

  • Jia, South Ken newbie (Free for all)

    15 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    See our new guide to all readers’ restaurant reviews . It's a well-known fact that most top restaurants have a well-priced lunch menu. Some are more cynical than others in what you are being offered for the price, but some give you a really good deal with the opportunity to experience the chef's.

  • Sicily turns a corner (Tasting articles)

    15 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    Sicily, with its many layers of different civilisations such as the Greek one in evidence here at Agrigento, is one of the most thrilling places I have ever visited. My first visit was in 1970 when the wine was virtually undrinkable so it is wonderful to observe the fine wine revolution that is.

  • Bibendum's Bordeaux 2011s (Tasting articles)

    14 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    Thursday is a public holiday in France so it seems likely we will see more releases today and tomorrow after yesterday's flurry, which included dramatic price reductions for Chx Margaux and Lynch Bages. Here's Pierre Lurton pouring Ch d'Yquem 2008 for the hundreds who attended Bibendum's Bordeaux.

  • How Rudy did it (Free for all)

    14 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    15 May - Read a racy 4,000-word account of the story of Rudy to date by Benjamin Wallace, author of The Billionaire's Vinegar , just published in New York magazine, here . I understand that Wallace's friend Michael Steinberger, once wine correspondent of Slate , has been commissioned by Vanity.

  • How (not) to organise a tasting (Don't quote me)

    14 May 2012 | 7:00 pm
    Every year the en primeur tasting organised by Assovini Sicilia demands of the attendees a certain strategic approach. Last year, for example, my fellow tasters and I tried to tackle as many of the 200 wines on show as possible in a race against time. The tasting started two hours later than.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Drinking Outside The Box

  • Wine Tasting Video: Spanish Reds – Manchuela, Yecla & Priorat

    Simon
    16 May 2012 | 3:06 am
    Cien Y Pico ‘Doble Pasta’ Tintorera 2009, Manchuela (£11.99 Liberty Wines) Really can’t work out whether I like this wine. I can’t fault its richness – it’s full throttle, deep inky wine packed with slightly baked/jammy dark berry fruit, backed up by notes of herbs, cold ash and a stony minerality. But there’s also something [...]

  • Wine Tasting Video: Valpolicella – the perfect summer red?

    Simon
    15 May 2012 | 4:29 am
    Alpha Zeta V Valpolicella 2011 (£8.99 Noel Young Wines, Stainton Wines, Corks Out, Richard Granger Wines, Noble Green Wines, Flourish & Prosper, Dalling & Co, Valvona & Crolla) Crunchy young style, has succulence, bite, notes of raspberries and dark cherries, and alongside the classic Valpol bruised sourness, something like a dusting of cocoa. B+ Allegrini [...]

  • Wine Tasting Video: Oregon Pinot Gris

    Simon
    8 May 2012 | 6:02 am
    A to Z Oregon Pinot Gris 2009 (£12.49 Bibendum) Simple, honest glugger, slightly candied peach and pear flesh and a pumice-like terroir edge to add interest, but just a little bland. B WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Gris 2010, Willamette Valley (£22 The Wine Treasury, Amathus, Slurp, Luvian’s, Harrods, Roberson, D. Byrne) Quite full in body with [...]

  • Wine Tasting Video: Assorted Reds – Marzemino, Mencia, Bonarda & Pinotage

    Simon
    4 May 2012 | 7:16 am
    Taste The Difference Marzemino delle Venezie 2010, Veneto, Italy (£5.99 Sainsbury’s) Pale and very interesting, with joyful red berry and red cherry fruit and a touch of marzipan, classic chillable summer red, and a great price. S- Encanto Mencía Roble 2009, Bierzo, Spain (£6.99 Sainsbury’s) Don’t mind the fragrant red fruit character, nor the breezy, [...]

  • Wine Tasting Video: Assorted Whites – Picpoul, Godello, Weissburgunder, Marsanne

    Simon
    3 May 2012 | 4:22 am
    Tesco Finest* Picpoul de Pinet 2010, Languedoc, France (£7.29 Tesco) Fresh clean style with a bracing marine tang, combines a fleshy peachiness with firmer, tauter apple and citrus flavours, and a leafy finish. B+ Crego e Monaguillo Godello 2011, Monterrei, Spain (£7.95 Saddleworth Wine Vault) Vigorous youngster, initially the pear, peach and custard apple flesh [...]
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    PALATE PRESS

  • Before the Bubbles: the Secrets of Champagne’s Vins Clairs

    Caroline Henry
    15 May 2012 | 10:00 pm
    In my experience, vins clairs tastings are a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the wine before the bubbles, and to imagine their development over time; they are a unique foray into the magical kingdom of champagne.

  • Languedoc Paradox: How a Big French Region is Trying to Show its Identity

    Remy Charest
    13 May 2012 | 10:00 pm
    In the world of marketing and sales, it is always good when you can keep things simple. Of course, this can be quite a challenge for an industry like the wine industry, where realities of place, grapes, vintages, styles, and terroir add up as so many variables to take into account—enough to confuse everyone but the aficionados.

  • Delamain Cognac: An Autumn Visit Where Time Stands Still

    Hoke Harden
    9 May 2012 | 10:00 pm
    Cognac, the village and the AOC, is a quiet pastoral place. The village bustles at times, but primarily as a business hub and central marketplace for a largely rural community and only secondarily, it seems, as the world center for a unique iconic style of spirit.

  • Montalcino and the Hunt for Terroir

    Marisa D'Vari
    8 May 2012 | 10:00 pm
    If you have read recent headlines in the world’s international wine magazines, you might realize that though terroir is a key word in all wine regions, it takes on a heightened meaning in Montalcino.

  • You Just Opened A What? Cooking Tips to Make Food More Wine-Friendly

    Meg Houston Maker
    7 May 2012 | 11:30 am
    In another recent article about wine and food pairing, I worked from the vantage point of trying to select the best wine to pair with any given food. But here the situation is reversed: you’ve got a wine picked out and now need some tricks to prepare the food so it’s more friendly with that wine.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    WordPress.com News

  • Stay In The Conversation

    Beau Lebens
    15 May 2012 | 6:01 pm
    It’s now much easier for you and your commenters to keep track of the conversations you’re involved in across WordPress.com. Some recent tests have shown that by subscribing commenters to new comments by default, they are more likely to stay engaged and come back and comment more on your blog. With that knowledge, we’ve changed the default comment following behavior to help you get more conversations going on your blog. We made the initial changes last week and after great feedback from you we just launched an update. Here’s how it works: By default, posting a comment…

  • Look at These Gorgeous Blogs

    Sheri
    15 May 2012 | 1:05 pm
    We’ve added a user showcase where you can view stunning customizations made by people just like you. From complete redesigns with CSS to adding pizzazz with Custom Fonts to clever use of options like background and header, this showcase will spark your imagination and inspire creativity. Discover details about what each showcase blog is doing with WordPress.com themes and customizations by clicking a thumbnail to see a colophon-style list of credits on the left. We’ve also updated footer links so blog owners can show off the types of customizations they’ve made and visitors can…

  • Photo Blogging 101, Part 1

    Erica V.
    14 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Spring is in the air. With the weather warming up, now is a great time to get started on a photo blog. Creating a photo blog is a wonderful introduction to blogging on WordPress.com or an opportunity to refresh your current site. Ready to get started? You can sign up for a new blog right over here. Getting started Photo blogs, sometimes called phlogs, use pictures instead of words. While many photo bloggers choose a type of photo that they want to focus on, such as portraits, others use their photo blog to document their life’s events. Photo blogs come in a variety of styles, including…

  • New Themes: Just Desserts and Oxygen

    Michelle Langston
    10 May 2012 | 8:11 am
    Happy Thursday! We’ve added some exciting new themes to our ever-growing collection, and we’re happy to tell you all about them. First out of the oven is…Just Desserts. Yep, that’s a theme! Designed by Andy Rutledge, Just Desserts is a deliciously stylish premium theme that’s perfect for blogs centered on food. With its responsive, single-column layout and unique presentation of images and posts on the front page, Just Desserts gives you a delectable canvas on which your mouthwatering photos and text can really shine — even when viewed on smaller mobile devices…

  • Find Friends Who Use WordPress

    Nick Momrik
    1 May 2012 | 2:32 pm
    Are you curious to see how your friends are using WordPress? Give the new and improved Friend Finder a try to connect with your Twitter, Facebook, and Google contacts who have WordPress sites! After authorizing WordPress.com to use your Twitter, Facebook, or Google account to find your friends (don’t worry — none of this account information is saved!) you’ll see a list of people you know who have WordPress sites. Click Follow and each time your friend publishes a new post it will show up in your Reader under Blogs I Follow. If you have multiple blogs, make sure to set the…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Steve Ferree's feed

  • This weekend in wine country around San Francisco Bay

    Steve Ferree, San Jose Wine Examiner
    10 May 2012 | 1:41 pm
    On the upcoming Mother’s Day weekend many wineries throughout the area are planning for special tastings and events for Mother’s Day. Check out your local winery to see what they are planning. Treat your...

  • Downtown Gilroy Wine Stroll coming on May 19

    Steve Ferree, San Jose Wine Examiner
    8 May 2012 | 9:01 pm
    The Gilroy Downtown Business Association is hosting their annual Gilroy Wine Stroll along downtown Gilroy on Saturday, May 19 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tickets are only $25 per person ($35 the day of the...

  • Saratoga Springtime Wine Stroll on May 12

    Steve Ferree, San Jose Wine Examiner
    2 May 2012 | 7:47 am
    The Saratoga Springtime Wine Stroll hits the streets of Saratoga on Saturday, May 12, 2:30 to 6:00 p.m. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the unique shops and restaurants of downtown Saratoga, while sipping wines from many...

  • Bonterra Vineyards at California Café’s 5-Bites Friday in Palo Alto

    Steve Ferree, San Jose Wine Examiner
    2 May 2012 | 6:56 am
    California Café’s 5-Bites Friday in April brought in wines from Bonterra Vineyards, a winery based in Mendocino County. Bonterra has a philosophy of growing grapes that match the location utilizing an organic and sustainable style.&nbsp...

  • Livermore Valley Wine Auction Gala at Wente Vineyards Estate Winery – May 5 2012

    Steve Ferree, San Jose Wine Examiner
    1 May 2012 | 11:40 pm
    Local children in need are the focus of the 18th Annual Livermore Valley Wine Auction to be held Saturday, May 5 at 6 p.m. in the Barrel Room at Wente Vineyards Estate Winery on Tesla Road in Livermore. Funds...
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    OneFortyWines

  • Everything Happens For A Reason

    onefortywines
    26 Apr 2012 | 10:49 am
    Needless to say, I’ve been anxiously awaiting April 25th and the results of the Crushpad Challenge for 2 months now. …Continue reading »

  • Rounding The Corner

    onefortywines
    17 Apr 2012 | 10:51 am
    I’ll be honest…the thought of having the ability to make my own wine, brand it, market it, and hopefully provide …Continue reading »

  • The Crushpad Challenge

    onefortywines
    13 Feb 2012 | 11:40 pm
    As you all know by now, I am asking for your help (relentlessly).  Yes, make your little jokes, ha ha …Continue reading »

  • I’m Not A Wine Elitist. Really.

    onefortywines
    4 Jan 2012 | 11:41 am
    During our trip home over the holidays recently, it was brought to my attention that I don’t really review wines …Continue reading »

  • Tempranillo: Spanish for “Awesomesauce”

    onefortywines
    15 Nov 2011 | 8:59 pm
    Wines are marketed to us in many different ways – by varietal (grape type), by appellation (growing region), or by …Continue reading »
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    ELLOINOS

  • Trends for Greek wine: US versus Europe

    elloinos
    15 May 2012 | 10:32 am
    The US, Germany and the UK are amongst the five largest wine consuming countries and also top the list of the three largest wine importing countries in the world (in reverse order). Greek wine exports to the US are on the rise and the word about their quality and uniqueness seems to be increasing in tandem. Just last week Eric Asimov published a thoughtful and striking article about New Greek red wines from indigenous grapes that represent “a new wave of Greek wines now available in the United States.” In stark contrast to the US, there a few signs of a built up of similar…

  • Wine tasting notes – flipping through time

    elloinos
    3 May 2012 | 11:20 am
    When tasting a wine, we only capture one particular moment in its life, similar to admiring a single photograph of our child. Fine wine, like a child, evolves over time. In some instances, it grows into something that was not apparent in its youth, adding some traits while shedding others. Some indigenous Greek grape varieties like Assyrtiko and Xinomavro are prime examples of this development. It is fascinating and highly educational to taste older vintages of these wines, one begins to understand just how dramatic such an evolution can be. But even if we get the rare chance to do so, we…

  • Unsung heroes: Greek red wines

    elloinos
    24 Apr 2012 | 12:24 pm
    Greek white wines have certainly taken the lion share of the attention received by the wine media. This is a result of the overall consistent quality, the availability (quantity), and the focus on indigenous grape varieties like Assyrtiko, Malagousia, Moschofilero, Robola, Roditis or Savatiano. For the Greek red wines, quantities are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, Agiorgitiko, Merlot, Syrah and Xinomavro. Xinomavro is slowly but surely being recognised as Greece’s most distinguished red variety, and deservedly so. What captures my attention is the potential of a fair number of indigenous…

  • Black of Kalavryta

    elloinos
    10 Apr 2012 | 12:02 pm
    Please watch the video above, this variety can rival fine Pinot Noir from Burgundy. Fact File Black of Kalavryta (Mavro Kalavrytino) Area grown: In the mountainous slopes of Aegialia and Kalavryta , part of the region of Achaia (northwestern Peloponnese). Vines/Grapes: There are three different varieties from the Mavra Kalavrytina family permitted for planting in Achaia: 1.    The Mavro Kalavrytino 2.    The Psilomavro Kalavrytino (psilo means thin, the grapes are small) 3.    The Hontomavro Kalavrytino (hontro means fat, the grapes are large) The grapes have a thin skin with a low…

  • A Pinterest experiment

    elloinos
    3 Apr 2012 | 12:13 pm
    Greek winemakers, I am asking for your help. I would love to share something personal about each and every one of you by combining an image with a few words. Is there a hobby you have, a talent you got, or something that you really treasure? Have you captured a fun or creative personal moment? Topics can vary, as long as a short story can be told. The goal is to share something unique and interesting about you. An example can be found here. I plan on using my “Greek winemakers” board on Pinterest (overview of my pinboards). Wikipedia describes Pinterest as a pinboard-style social…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Uvinum's blog

  • Saint-julien, art in Bordeaux

    16 May 2012 | 3:03 am
    Art in Bordeaux, so are the wines of Saint-Julien: interesting and different, unique pieces which show while getting uncorked that there is no part of their elaboration process that has been taken lightly. Everything has a meaning and, like art, it is not always fully understood, in fact it is sometimes misunderstood, but some others it can make crazy to whoever taste it for the first time. But let's leave the abstract side of Saint Julien for a while to focus on more practical and worldlier data. This region is located in the heart of the Medoc region, comprising 900 hectares which are…

  • Varieties of white grape

    14 May 2012 | 3:10 am
    Today we present some types of white grapes which produce wines with shades ranging from pale yellow to deep gold. We invite you to buy wine from any of the appellations below at Uvinum. Albariño Albariño is a grape variety from Galicia that produces greenish-yellow wines with well marked floral and fruit aromas. At the time of being newly made it is slightly acidic, but over time will acquire hints of ripe apple and honey caramel. Experts describe Albariño with aromas similar to fern, white flowers and fresh hay, and taste similar to ripe peach... Don't you want to try it? Chardonnay…

  • Wines and bubbles from Piedmont

    11 May 2012 | 3:20 am
    No doubt, the Greeks were right to call Italy "Enotria" which means land of wine. The climate, its rich soils and, of course, its wine tradition help us find a wide variety of high quality wines. In fact, Italy is one of the largest exporters of wine in the world, and sparkling wines from Piedmont region are some of these. To the North, by the Alps and divided by the river Po we find the region which has 1/6 of the vineyards across Italy. It is called Piedmont. This region has a unique climate, almost magical, in which warm, humid summers and long and cold winters are usual. It also surprises…

  • Rioja, Rioja and Rioja

    9 May 2012 | 3:17 am
    Rioja wine is the best seller in Spain, the most recognized abroad, the most discussed, but, however, sometimes we do not realize that talking about Rioja in general is a simplification that detracts the wines. So, when we talk about Rioja, we are mixing the 3 sub-zones that draw up the appellation, which do not have much in common with each other: First, in alphabetical order, is Rioja Alavesa. There are 18 wine-producing municipalities in Alava under this appellation, which features are the Atlantic climate and calcareous-clayey soils. The produced wines have a balanced acidity, and it is…

  • History of 3 wines

    7 May 2012 | 3:15 am
    Wines are the perfect companion to our best stories, because they themselves have their own. Now we tell you the story of 3 of the most appreciated wines in Spain, so that when you go to buy wine you'll have a story to tell to start your own: Pago de los Capellanes Crianza 2008 Some trees were the beginning of the successful career of this winery located in Pedrosa de Duero (Burgos). Their concern for tradition and roots and their liking for the eco, drive to the producers to create one of the wines which are honored to be part of this triad of your favorite wines today I want to talk about.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Blog

  • An Impatient Publicist©

    Jo Diaz
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    “An Impatient Publicist” will be the name of my book, when it’s published, because I am she. I’ll have my soap opera Cheesecake in the Vines buried in there somewhere, because it’s too good of a story to be left unwritten, and I’d like to develop these characters of intrigue. I didn’t write about the [...]

  • Pinot & Pizza at J Winery on June 16, 2012

    Jo Diaz
    15 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    I just had a Pinot with pizza the other day, wondering how that would fare… It did really well as a combo. I don’t enjoy a lot of red sauce on my pizza, so I ordered it that way. This seemed to keep all the acid in balance. Mary’s Pizza always gets it right for [...]

  • I wish I could still find that study that cited, “Men read other men, women read men and other women,” seemingly in that order

    Jo Diaz
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    I wonder if it’s because most writers are men, or at least appear to be. It seems to be something we know subliminally; otherwise why would female authors of days gone by (and even some today) take a male pseudonym as a pen name? I was just reminded of this phenomenon as I picked up [...]

  • Confessions of a wine publicist, social media junkie

    Jo Diaz
    11 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    My wine blog has allowed for me to get my “stuff” out there. That’s what writers do, get the stuff from inside of themselves into the outside by communicating. And, now this blog is six years old. As I sit here eating a spring salad that Mother Nature and I’ve just grown, and thinking about [...]

  • SUISUN VALLEY UPDATE: European Grapevine Moth Letter: UC Davis Extension EGVM updates for finds in and around Solano County

    Jo Diaz
    10 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    A day in the life of a wine publicist includes interacting with clients, Suisun Valley – for me – being one of them. I was just asked to get this onto Suisun Valley’s blog, and I thought to myself that this is great public service material. For those of you who read this blog, this [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    4488: A Ridge Blog

  • A Rosé is a Rosé is a Rosé: tasting notes for the new 2011 Lytton Estate Rosé

    Christopher Watkins
    10 May 2012 | 6:35 pm
    As a follow-up to yesterday’s blockbuster announcement, some tasting notes on the new 2011 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Rosé (debuting this weekend, only at our Lytton Springs Estate): I tasted this today with winemaker John Olney (VP of winemaking at Lytton Springs), and Gerald Stone (Director of Quality Control/Chemist at Lytton Springs): And for those [...]

  • And she was fair as is the Rosé in May …

    Christopher Watkins
    9 May 2012 | 11:27 am
    And she was fair as is the rose in May -Samuel Coleridge And she was fair as is a Rosé in May -Christopher Watkins What do you think of when you think of elegance? And what do you think of when you think of beauty? And what do you think of when you think of the [...]

  • I Raise My Paul’s Wine To Your Paul’s Boutique: RIP Adam Yauch, RIP MCA

    Christopher Watkins
    5 May 2012 | 3:32 pm
    Adam “MCA” Yauch. Proof that you can grow up, even in the public eye Proof that you can be humble, even in the public eye. Proof that you can seek forgiveness, even in the public eye. Proof that we all, no matter how big or small our pulpit, can preach a bit of wisdom. Proof that things [...]

  • Classics: The Gospels of Pauls — Part II — THE BIG REVEAL!

    Christopher Watkins
    4 May 2012 | 11:42 am
    For a thorough refresher on Part I, please click here. As to a summary, it was the 3rd anniversary of our blog going live. And it was the birthday of the late, great jazz bassist Paul Chambers. To celebrate, a tasting construct was born: 4 “classic” Ridge wines, 4 “classic” Paul Chambers performances. Paul Draper, [...]

  • Classics: The Gospels of Pauls (3rd Anniversary Wine Bloggers Tasting at Ridge Vineyards!)

    Christopher Watkins
    2 May 2012 | 10:24 pm
    Classics: The Gospels of Pauls The following summary of our recent and very special Wine Bloggers Tasting is broken up into two parts: in Part I, I run down a description of how the tasting was constructed, and in Part II, I reveal my notes and pairings, and how they matched up with our guests. [...]
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Stark Insider

  • Lenovo X1 Carbon or MacBook Pro?

    Clinton Stark
    15 May 2012 | 2:08 pm
    Lenovo claims that, at only 3 pounds, the X1 Carbon will be the lightest 14-inch ultrabook when it goes on sale this summer. Lenovo gave us a peak at it upcoming X1 Carbon. Scheduled to arrive this summer, it’s being touted as the world’s lightest 14-inch ultrabook. And – I’ll be damned – if it doesn’t remind me of the best ThinkPad designs of yesteryear, and question whether the upcoming MacBook Pro will really be king of the hill. Based on what I’ve seen so far the X1 Carbon could very well be a sleeper. Quality is top notch, there’s that…

  • 2012 MacBook Pro: 10 Things We Know

    Clinton Stark
    15 May 2012 | 12:16 pm
    Apple is set to revamp the MacBook Pro, and it’s looking like this upgrade cycle — the first major re-design in 4 years — will be significant. Competitive threats include the emerging “ultrabooks” which we’re seeing from Lenovo, Samsung and HP. The iPad itself is likely already cannibalizing sales from those that are interested primarily in consuming content. Hard luck, but profits do apparently cure all. Although the MacBook Pro is the smallest volume play in terms of units shipped (“only” 4 million Macs shipped last quarter vs. 35 million for…

  • Cricket comes to the Napa Valley

    Monica Turner
    14 May 2012 | 4:45 pm
    The Napa Valley team consists mainly of expatriates mostly brought to The Napa Valley because of the wine industry from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India the UK and Ireland. Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world after soccer and The Napa Valley will now join the global cricketing community as the latest member. The Napa Valley Cricket Club has announced its arrival on the world scene with its ground inauguration game – The Napa Valley World Series of Cricket, America & Australia vs. The Rest of the World – on Sunday 20th May 2012 from 10.30am at…

  • Kronos Quartet: New music at its best

    Cy Ashley Webb
    14 May 2012 | 11:40 am
    The Kronos Quartet never ceases to blow my mind because the work they perform is so widely disparate. Every CD of theirs has pieces I detest, and pieces that remain my go-to music. Tonight’s concert was no different. The only commonality shared by these pieces was they were composed by women – hence the name, women’s voices. Among them were pieces I had to immediately go out and buy, pieces I dug for their performance value (but would never make the transition off the stage), and others that I’ll happily never hear again. No other group delivers such as disparate program – which…

  • Verizon Deal: Motorola Droid Razr Maxx only $199

    Mike Carrall
    14 May 2012 | 11:05 am
    Motorola Droid Razr Maxx: Kevlar on the back and Gorilla Glass on the front give it surprising robustness. A 3300 mAh battery give it endurance (21 hour rated talk time). Arguably the best Android smartphone now available in the U.S. just received a 33% drop in price. Motorola’s hot Droid Razr Maxx, the phone with long battery life (up to 21 hours) and impossibly thin design, is now going for only $199. As always, that requires a two-year contract from Verizon. If you’re in the market for an upgrade, or making the switch from iPhone (there have been many!) the Razr Maxx should be…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    the Blog Wine Cellar

  • 2004 Tinto Pesquera Reserva

    Thomas
    11 May 2012 | 1:42 pm
    On the nose I get a true sense of place and origin. This wine breaths the true essence of Spanish terroit. I get breathtaking aromas of dried black currant, pencil lead, sweet and sensual tobbaco leaf, plum, sage, cedar and leather, ripe black cherries. There is this earthiness and leather aroma that is completely distinct of any other wine in the whole universe. It speaks to the dry and arid vineyards of Ribera del Duero and is completely true to it's place of birth. This wine is a beauty that should be called the essence of Spanish wine and a true expression of Tempranillo. On the palate…

  • The Wine Region of Rioja by Ana Fabiano

    Thomas
    9 May 2012 | 2:00 pm
    THE WINE REGION OF RIOJA By Ana Fabiano  “Finally, Ana Fabiano has given us the definitive book on Rioja, one of the world’s most exciting wine regions. Highly recommended.” --Robert M. Parker, Jr.  For immediate release (New York, NY) – Hailed as the wine region of 2011, Rioja is finally getting the credit itdeserves. Riojan wines, some of the world’s best, are now readily available in the United States and Americans are going crazy for them. In THE WINE REGION OF RIOJA (Sterling Epicure; June 5, 2012; $35.00/Hardcover), the first American-published book devoted…

  • 2010 Loscano Private Reserve Torrontés

    Thomas
    9 May 2012 | 10:35 am
    This nice little Torrontés is made by Piattelli vineyards and is just one of many wines made with this spectacular varietal that I will review over the next few months. I love Torrontés for it's freshness and it's stunning aromatics, which I think totally eclipse the likes of other white grape varietals in the same price categories. It's like Sauvignon Blanc, but is always a bit more tropical and less acidic. Oh....it smoke Pinot Grigio so I won't even make the comparison. On the nose this wine displays a beautiful and tropical fruit aroma profile consisting of lychee nut, blueberry guts,…

  • French Blue To Open in Napa Valley on May 29th

    Thomas
    9 May 2012 | 10:34 am
    FRENCH BLUE RESTAURANT IN ST. HELENA, CA, TO OPEN TUESDAY, MAY 29 New Restaurant from Architect Howard Backen, Interior Designer Lori Backen,Winemaker Leslie Rudd; Stanley Morris to Serve as Managing Partner,Philip Wang to Serve as Executive Chef/Partner For Immediate Release - St. Helena, CA - French Blue, a beautiful and warm neighborhood restaurant located in the heart of Napa Valley from renowned architect Howard Backen, his wife interior designer Lori Backen and vintner Leslie Rudd (also owner of PRESS restaurant), will open on Tuesday, May 29th. Set in the old Vanderbilt building on the…

  • Restaurants to Get Own "LEED Certification"

    Thomas
    9 May 2012 | 10:31 am
    New Organization Launched to Increase Access to Healthful, Affordable Food and Beverage Options While Eating-Out The United States Healthful Food Council Aims to Improve Americans’ Health by Offering Incentives and Assistance to Restaurants and Foodservice Providers WASHINGTON, DC – With Americans now spending 50% of their food dollars, and consuming the majority of their calories, at restaurants and other foodservice establishments, a new non-profit, non-governmental organization called the United States Healthful Food Council (USHFC) was launched this week to help consumers make better…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine News | BoozeMonkey

  • Apple Tree Flat Merlot & Lerida Pinot Grigio

    7 May 2012 | 9:01 am
    In the decade-plus since he released his first Apple Tree Flat wines from the 2001 vintage, Peter Logan has striven to improve upon each vintage while at the same time also maintaining a philosophy of value for money. And he says it's because he's conscious that customers choose to buy his wines ...read more on BoozeMonkey NOW!

  • Cabernet Malbec and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

    23 Apr 2012 | 2:51 am
    Tim Adams isn't a bloke who normally makes spur-of-the-moment decisions, but he did just that in 2008 and now he, and his many fans, are enjoying the rewards with an exceptional just-released 2008 Reserve Cabernet Malbec. Tim says he was standing by the crusher at his Clare Valley winery when ...read more on BoozeMonkey NOW!

  • Tramillon Anyone?

    16 Apr 2012 | 3:20 am
    We don't know if many others make it, and would be interested to hear of any who do, but Lillypilly Estate's Robert Fiumara has an interesting blend that he's trademarked as Tramillon a medium dry white created from Gewurztraminer and Semillon. He's been making it since 1982 at his winery ...read more on BoozeMonkey NOW!

  • Cumulus Estate's Vintage Cloud 2009

    14 Apr 2012 | 2:34 am
    Cumulus Estate Wines has released a really grand 2009 Shiraz made from fruit from its interesting vineyards high on the slopes of Mount Canobolas outside Orange in the NSW Central West. Here, 600-plus metres above sea level on ancient volcanic soils overlaid with deep clay loam, Cumulus produces ...read more on BoozeMonkey NOW!

  • Kim Tyrer Receives Young Business Person Award

    2 Apr 2012 | 6:01 pm
    I used to think people who took a prepared speech to awards nights were a bit up themselves. However I learnt a valuable lesson on Friday night. When the emotion takes over and you're not sure how to deal with all the attention it is good to have a backup plan of a prepared speech. Suddenly ...read more on BoozeMonkey NOW!
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    vintuba.com

  • Suckling on the SAQ teat

    ChrisO
    20 Apr 2012 | 11:19 am
    According to a La Presse  article, brought to my attention by Dr. Vino, James Suckling was paid a total of $24,000 by SAQ  the Quebec state-owned wine monopoly for tasting notes of wines in their inventory.  These tasting notes appeared on both his site and that of the SAQ. Both James and the SAQ have denied any impropriety and exchange of monies, however thanks to the Canadian freedom of information law La Presse got their hands on documents that revealed that Mr. Suckling did indeed receive directly a total of $24,000. This is disappointing but sadly not surprising given the state of the…

  • Move over beer goggles, turns out alcohol sharpens the mind too!

    ChrisO
    12 Apr 2012 | 6:24 pm
      It turns out that Physiologists at the University made the discovery that men who drink two pints of beer where more able to tackle brain teasers than those who were sober, imagine how much sharper their mind would have been had they decided to sip on Grüner Veltliner, not to mention how much cooler they would have looked (justsayin)! FYI- researchers were quick to point out that getting sloshed did not increase the results or increase the test subjects ability to solve the very complicated dating brain teaser.

  • The Stories Behind Wine Episode 1 – Port

    ChrisO
    24 Feb 2012 | 12:51 am
    There is so much information available about wine these days.  Alcohol levels, scores, facts, tasting notes, personal opinions.  It can be overwhelming.  Amidst all this chatter, we have found ourselves going back to the beginning.  Wine materializes from the land, people, climate, history, earth and we are seeking to find those elements that bring wine to life.  The Stories Behind Wine is a series where we look at wine from outside the bottle.   Episode 1 – Port History-Science-Party We talk to Nick Poleto Director of wine education for Kobrand Imports. Get out your smoking…

  • Holiday Wines- sure to awaken you from your mono-varietal zombie state

    ChrisO
    21 Dec 2011 | 1:02 am
    Here are three wines that I think should be on your holiday list, if not on your table.  If you are looking for the old school predictable holiday wine recommendation I suggest you look elsewhere.  However if discovery is more to your liking then keep reading.  I have chosen these wines because they are not only under appreciated but because they are sure to awaken you from your mono-varietal zombie state, after all who wants to be a zombie during the holidays? Wine 1: Sherry – Emilio Lustau Solera Reserva Manzanilla Papirusa $16 There is no wine region in the world, with the…

  • Global #PortDay 2012

    ChrisO
    12 Dec 2011 | 11:26 pm
    I am very excited to announce that The Center for Wine Origins and I have organized the inaugural Port Day celebration for Friday, January 27th, 2012.  Why did we do this you may ask?  Well, I personally feel that Port, which incidentally only comes from Portugal, deserves not only wider recognition as one of the vinous wonders of the world but that there is a lot opportunity to  expose the broader wine drinking public to this beverage.  This day is an opportunity for not only producers, but wine educators, geeks, blogs, mainstream media, and the general public to put down their Cabernet…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Channel TV

  • Pair Your Personality at Be a Wine Diva Night

    JustJess
    11 May 2012 | 8:12 am
    Personality. We’ve all got one and finally, we can drink a wine made for how “You” feel! Did I also mention it can be paired with your “mood”. Be. wines are the first and only wines that cater to your ever-changing world with four stylish offerings to suit your moods. Wine Channel TV, Be Wines and Mariano’s present “Be a Wine Diva Night at 5:00 PM CST on Friday May 11. The “Live Wine Experience” event will feature Celebrity Chef Kari Karch, in-house Chef for Kenmore Live Studios, who will be on hand creating unique food pairings, artist David…

  • Live Wine Lifestyle Event with Boisset Family Estates

    JustJess
    10 May 2012 | 7:49 am
    It’s a first! A live streaming wine lifestyle event from Mariano’s in Chicago featuring Boisset Family Estates and legendary winemaker Jean-Charles Boisset. Jessica Altieri, Wine Lifestyle host of Wine Channel TV will be on hand at Mariano’s in Chicago for the Premiere of “Wine with Mariano’s” and Wine Channel TV. You can register for the FREE event here. The “Live Wine Experience” event will feature Jean-Charles Boisset of Boisset Family Estates and “The Count of Buena Vista”. Celebrity Chef Patrick Justice from Zed451 will be on hand creating unique food…

  • Be a Wine Diva Night with Mariano’s and Wine Channel TV

    JustJess
    7 May 2012 | 6:02 am
    Wine lifestyle events just got a whole new look and feel. How about a wine for your mood? We have all been to an event pairing wine and food. But this Friday May 11 at Mariano’s Fresh Market, “Be a Wine Diva Night” takes place featuring Be. wines. Jessica Altieri, wine lifestyle host of Wine Channel TV, will be on hand with for the event. You can register for the FREE event here. The “Live Wine Experience” event will feature Celebrity Chef Kari Karch, in-house Chef for Kenmore Live Studios, who will be on hand creating unique food pairings, artist David Penna and a live…

  • Wine Lifestyle Premiere Event with Boisset Family Estates and Mariano’s

    JustJess
    6 May 2012 | 8:11 am
    Jessica Altieri, Wine Lifestyle host of Wine Channel TV will be on hand at Mariano’s Fresh Market in Chicago for the Premiere of “Wine with Mariano’s” and Wine Channel TV.  You can register for the FREE event here. The “Live Wine Experience” event will feature Jean-Charles Boisset of Boisset Family Estates and “The Count of Buena Vista”. Celebrity Chef Patrick Justice from Zed451 will be on hand creating unique food pairings. The event will feature wines from Amberhill and Buena Vista and take place at Mariano’s Chicago Lakeshore location…

  • Windy City and Wine Perfect Pairing – Mariano’s and Wine Channel TV

    JustJess
    3 May 2012 | 7:54 am
    What’s a perfect pairing? The “Windy City and Wine” and a new lifestyle event venue. Mariano’s Fresh Market is launching a series of wine lifestyle events in Chicago at its Lakeshore East location. The store features an outdoor patio for wine service on the upper level, and also offers a rotisserie, sushi bar, deli, salad bar, fresh flowers, and gelato. WineChannelTV’s very own Jessica Altieri (Just Jess) will be on hand to launch the store’s wine lifestyle events scheduled for May 10th and 11th from 5:00-7:00 PM. The inaugural events will feature wines from…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    NorCal Wine Blog

  • Wine Quiz: Which Grape Originally Defined the Mokelumne River AVA in Lodi?

    24 Apr 2012 | 8:58 pm
    The Mokelumne River AVA was approved in 1992, along with the other six AVAs nested within the larger Lodi AVA. However, the Mokelumne River growing region’s boundaries were first drawn out  on a... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • News Splash: Quick Thoughts on This and That

    24 Apr 2012 | 8:09 pm
    Throwing Grapes The Oakland A’s have a young pitcher on their AAA team in Sacramento named Andrew Carignan. Carignan! It would be fun to watch him pitch there on my next trip to Lodi. I want to see... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • On Wine, Jazz and Inkblots

    23 Apr 2012 | 6:36 pm
    Great wine, like instrumental jazz, mines the observer for meaning. A bottle can be shared among friends, as can a night at The Blue Note. Everyone gets the same input. But individual perceptions can... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Quiz: Which County Grows the Most Syrah?

    20 Apr 2012 | 10:01 am
    There’s been a lot of focus on California Syrah for the last month or so. There was the Rhone Rangers’ San Francisco event. Hospice du Rhone is just around the corner. Articles such as Jon Bonne’s... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • John Alban Traps Philippe Guigal in an Elevator and other Tales of HdR

    17 Apr 2012 | 6:06 pm
    This is the third installment of my conversation with John Alban regarding Hospice du Rhone and the advancement of Rhone variety wines globally over the past 20 years. Don’t miss part one and part... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine of the Day

  • 2010 Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel Sonoma County

    24 Apr 2012 | 2:26 pm
    There are many excellent single-vineyard Zinfandel bottlings. They are distinct, interesting and reflect both the vintage and the vineyard’s terroir. On the other hand, single-vineyard wines can be pricey, too much so for most people’s every day drinking. And they are produced in low volume, so finding the one you want on the spur of the moment can be difficult. It’s good to have a high-quality regional blend as a “go-to” wine. The blends can still have unique personalities, whether that’s a regional character or house style. They reflect vintage, but more subtly. Less variation…

  • 2010 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Blanc

    16 Apr 2012 | 2:29 pm
    2010 was the first vintage of Tablas Creek’s Patelin de Tablas line. It is intended to offer fresh tasting, ready-to-drink wines of very high quality with a retail prices of just $20. I was impressed by the wines when I first tasted them in November of last year and realized today that I’ve not written about them. The Patelin de Tablas wines differ from Tablas Creek’s other bottlings in that the Patelin are not made exclusively from estate fruit. In the 2010 Patelin de Tablas Blanc for example, a total of five vineyards were used with 16% of the fruit being Tablas Creek estate. The 2011…

  • 2009 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Syrah Napa Valley

    11 Apr 2012 | 6:13 pm
    Cornerstone’s Stepping Stone label is intended to offer wines that are ready to drink upon release but don't compromise regional and varietal typicity. The 2009 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Syrah does exactly that. The wine includes Grenache (10%) from Red Hills but is really a showcase for Carneros AVA Syrah. Those grapes come from a north-facing slope with shallow soils of clay and volcanic rock in the respected Truchard Vineyard. The facing adds emphasis to the already cool-climate of Carneros, Napa Valley’s chilliest AVA. The Carneros AVA is the coolest in Napa Valley. Morning fog…

  • 2009 Fisher Vineyards Syrah Hidden Terrace Vineyard Sonoma County

    10 Apr 2012 | 9:22 pm
    Fisher Vineyards’ Hidden Terrace Vineyard is part of their Sonoma County estate which is located on Spring Mountain benchland off of St. Helena Road. The winery is a good half mile or so from the main road and this particular vineyard is “hidden” even farther back. However, if you visit the winery, you can’t help but see the steep and rounded hill on which Syrah is planted in widely-spaced terraces The dome-shaped Hidden Terrace Vineyard at Fisher Vineyards in Sonoma County. The soil has an unusual volcanic composition. From the side, you can see the steepness that necessitates…

  • 2009 Quivira Mourvedre Wine Creek Ranch Dry Creek Valley

    9 Apr 2012 | 2:45 pm
    Mourvedre is a very late ripening variety. In Dry Creek Valley, with its sun, warmth and relatively dry Autumns, the grapes can ripen fully in most years. It’s Mourvedre wines shows better balance between savory and sweet than is found in wines from many of its French growing regions. The 2009 Quivira Mourvedre is a fine example. This wine is dark ruby in color and opens with aromas of leather, black pepper, savory spices, black cherry and black berry. The palate follows suit but emphasizes the dark fruit and non-pepper spice. With a little time breathing in the glass, and perhaps rising a…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    RJ's Wine Blog

  • Farewell...

    RJ's Wine Blog
    14 May 2012 | 10:16 pm
    The time has come...the time when all good things must end...For those of you who have been loyal followers of this blog over the years, you've probably noticed that as of late, the posts have come very few and far between.  And, even then, posts for the last 12 - 18 months have become nothing more than individual wine reviews.For me personally, that's just not that interesting.  There are plenty of people who write wine reviews, many of whom have better palates than I do.  So, why add to that crowded pool any longer?What originally excited me about writing on wine was the…

  • Gramercy Cellars 2009 - Part II

    RJ's Wine Blog
    3 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pm
    It probably comes as no surprise, but I find myself again gushing over the Gramercy Cellars wines. I try so hard not to like them, to find flaws, to find something - anything - that will allow me to say "well, if they had just done this differently" or "finally, one that doesn't suit my palate." But, again, I come up empty. Greg Harrington and his crew over at Gramercy Cellars are making beautiful wines, plain and simple.In this, Part II of the new releases (you can find Gramercy Cellars Part I here), I review two more of the wines: the 2008 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2009…

  • Gramercy Cellars 2009 - Part I

    RJ's Wine Blog
    29 Dec 2011 | 11:00 pm
    Oh man, it's been a long time. Way too long, in my opinion. But, sometimes life just gets busy and my 2011 was just that - BUSY - and, unfortunately, the thing that suffered the most was this blog. Now, I'm not self absorbed enough to believe that anyone truly cared or I ruined anyone's day (although, shockingly, I gained over 1,500 twitter followers while I was "away") but, it has occurred to me that I personally started missing the fun of it all. I guess beyond just loving wine, there's something inside me that needs to talk about the wines I drink and not just with my nerdy wine geek…

  • Kosta Browne 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

    RJ's Wine Blog
    22 Nov 2011 | 4:02 pm
    For those of you who have followed me pretty regularly in the past, you probably noticed that I've fallen off a cliff this year with only a few blog posts.  Sorry about that - real life took hold and my time has been very limited this year.  I'm hoping to get the time to start back up in full force soon, but, in the meantime, I wanted to re-post one of my few posts this week that just showed up as the #1 wine on Wine Spectator's Top 100 for 2011 - the Kosta Browne 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.  Wine Spectator gave it a 95, I gave it a 93, so it looks like like I'll need to dig…

  • 2007 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Arcus Chêne d'Oregon Arcus Estate

    RJ's Wine Blog
    2 May 2011 | 3:00 pm
    One of the stronger Pinot Noir's I've tasted from Willamette Valley. Strong in substance and structure, but elegant in its weight and mouth feel, this wine truly delivers. Plenty of good red and black fruit, but not overbearing, with nice earth on the palate. There is also a little mushroom and sage on the finish. Paired well with both halibut and wagyu strip loin. Solid Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills.My rating: 91
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Snooth - Articles

  • ZinFest: Wine, Food & Fun at Lodi Lake

    14 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Why did more than 6,000 attend last year’s Lodi ZinFest Wine Festival, a yearly celebration taking place this year on Saturday, May 19, 2012  from 12-5 p.m.?  Where else can you experience over 250 Lodi grown wines, which are by definition lush and juicy (especially Lodi’s Zinfandels), yet also amazingly adventurous? Many of Lodi’s vintners have been forging reputations for cutting-edge varietal wines crafted from grapes like Albariño and Alicante Bouschet, Charbono and Teroldego. They’ve also been working with the totally exotic, unheard varieties…

  • Top 10 Grenache Producers-Value Wines

    Gregory Dal Piaz
    14 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    I started building this list week, when I felt compelled to segment my Top 10 Grenache Producers list because I simply could not trim the list to 10 without eliminating some great producers. Eventually I realized that the easiest course of action available was to split the list by price, leaving me free to include producers who produce some of the greatest values on earth, but might raise more than a few eyebrows if included on a list of the top 10 Grenache producers.  So I give you list number two: the Top 10 Grenache Values, full of wonderful wines at truly affordable prices. The list…

  • Destination: Grenache

    Gregory Dal Piaz
    13 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    When I think of getting up and going somewhere to experience Grenache, France jumps to mind first. Where else but along that arc of La Belle France that shelters Provence from the harsher elements of the Mediterranean would one want to go? We’re talking about Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Tavel and Gigondas, all admittedly somewhat inland but forming part of the sunny South of France where Grenache thrives.Of course not all is Grenache in these parts. Many of the best wines happen to be blends often based on Grenache, sometimes with just a particularly large component, yet always benefiting from…

  • Wines of Chile Tasting

    11 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Join the Wines of Chile USA Tuesday, June 12, for their annual Grand Tasting in the U.S. – the largest presentation of Chilean wines featuring hundreds of wines from over 50 producers! Who: Wines of Chile USAWhat: Trade & consumer tastings hosted by the Wines of Chile – Chile’s largest presentation of premium wines in the U.S. When: Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Time: Trade 2:00-6:00 p.m.Consumer 7:00-9:30 p.m. Where:  Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W 18th Street, New York, NY 10011 To the trade: RSVP at the Wines of Chile event registration page: http://www.winesofchileny.org/ To…

  • Pairing with Grenache

    Eric Guido
    10 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    I often think of Grenache as an easy pleaser. If I’m on the way out the door to go to a party or need to pull that bottle for a friend who has asked for something that’s sure to impress, I almost always go with Grenache. Why? Because the majority of Grenache is fun to drink and easy to understand. Grenache is a late ripening grape that’s very high in sugar, which usually results in a high alcohol levels and a smooth mouth-feel. Yet, it’s also very low in tannin and acid. When you mix that all together, you get a wine that wouldn’t necessarily be the best bet for…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Wine Travelers

  • Wine Adventures in Hopland – Mendocino County

    Joe
    1 May 2012 | 12:00 pm
    Is the Hopland Wine Country on the rise? There are some interesting happenings in this little wine country town about 30 minutes north of Healdsburg. Janelle and I have been visiting Hopland at least once a year since 2000. We have seen the area go through its ups and downs, but on this last visit it looks like things could be jumping in Hopland. The most notable change is the redo of Lawson Station Hotel by husband-wife team Gary Breen and Anna Beuselinck. They have reopened the hotel, which was closed shortly after it opened in 2007. The hotel, including its restaurant, has been given a…

  • Harvest Film at Sonoma Film Fest and other Wine News

    Joe
    5 Apr 2012 | 4:02 pm
    The 15th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival is April 11 to 15. For you wine lovers and wine country enthusiasts, the festival will debut the film “Harvest,” a feature-length documentary that follows five Sonoma County family wineries and their experiences in the harvest of 2011. I have not seen the film but I have watched the trailer. It looks like a terrific documentary. I won’t be at the film festival, but I sure hope I have the opportunity to see this film later in the year at other venues. Check out the trailer. Benziger Family and Earth Day Benziger Family Winery will…

  • Top Restaurants in Wine Country in the S.F. Bay Area

    Joe
    3 Apr 2012 | 2:41 pm
    On Sunday, April 1, the San Francisco Chronicle Food Editor Michael Bauer came out with his annual list of Top 100 Restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you are planning a trip this year to wine country, you probably will want to consider dining at one of these fabulous wine country restaurants on Michael Bauer’s elite list. Thomas Keller has three restaurants on the list all in Yountville. French Laundry, Bouchon, and Ad Hoc Ad Hoc – Yountville Bottega – Yountville Bistro Don Giovanni – Napa Bouchon* – Yountville Cyrus* – Healdsburg French Laundry – Yountville Mateo’s…

  • Wine Adventures in Livermore – A little bit of everything

    Joe
    14 Mar 2012 | 11:35 am
    There are 50 wineries in the Livermore Valley and they offer a little bit of everything for the wine country traveler. Outside of the two big and historic wineries of Wente and Concannon, these Livermore wineries are mostly small and family-run wineries, running the gamut of boutique to outright funky and bizarre in some cases. We spent a few days in the Livermore wine country this past weekend. This is our third trip to Livermore in recent times, visiting the majority of wineries to create a Livermore wine trail for our Wine Country Getaways website. We have been anxious to add the Livermore…

  • Wine Adventures in the Fair Play AVA in El Dorado County

    Joe
    28 Feb 2012 | 6:32 pm
    It was ten years ago that we first began making an annual trip to this wonderful wine country in the Sierra Foothills. Much has changed in that time, with many more wineries having been established in recent years, and very noticeable improvement in the quality of wines from this region. Our base for our visit to the Sierra Foothills is the town of Sutter Creek. We consider it to be the best little town in the Gold Country of the Sierra Foothills. The town is quaint with many small shops, restaurants and other attractions. We make our home at the Hanford House Inn in Sutter Creek where owners…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Napa Valley Wine Blog

  • Kid-Friendly Wineries in the Napa Valley and Grand Opening news

    joe
    9 May 2012 | 11:03 am
    Last week we received an email asking for suggestions for kid-friendly wineries in the Napa Valley. I recommended that they consult the Napa Vintners Association Website. There one can search through the database of all 400 Napa Valley wineries and select wineries by interest, including the criteria of “Family Friendly.” I decided to take a look myself and see which wineries classify themselves as Family Friendly. Seventy five wineries showed up on my sorted list. I am not sure what makes them Family Friendly. Do they have a play area for kids, game room, or just what to keep kids busy…

  • Napa Valley Travel News Update

    joe
    21 Apr 2012 | 2:00 pm
    Robert Mondavi Concert Series back for 43rd Year Mark you calendars and select which of the Robert Mondavi concerts to attend this summer. These are always festive events, especially when you attend with a group of friends. The concert series at Robert Mondavi is one of the highlights of the summer season in the Napa Valley. The concert series brings together wine, food, music and the arts for beautiful evenings in the vineyards. The concerts run on Saturday evenings beginning June 30 and ending on July 21. Ticket prices vary by performance, with proceeds from this year’s series benefitting…

  • Sparkling Wine Adventures in the Napa Valley & Carneros

    joe
    31 Mar 2012 | 4:11 pm
    The season of sun and celebration is arriving soon and with that it is time to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate. It is also the time to return to the beautiful wine country of Carneros and the Napa Valley. Visit one or more of these wineries that specialize in producing magnificent sparkling wines. Domain Carneros – The Best View Domain Carneros is located along the Carneros Highway just west of the Napa Valley. The beautiful landmark Chateau sits atop the hillside and provides a wonderful setting for a tour and tasting of sparkling wine. The view from the Domaine Caneros…

  • Ceja Vineyard – Cute vineyard, great Pinot, inspiring story

    Gabriel
    19 Mar 2012 | 10:26 pm
    This is a guest post by Gabriel Dvoskin, a journalist and wine blogger based in Argentina. I met Gabriel at the European Wine Bloggers Conference held in Brescia, Italy, this past October. Gabriel recently visited the Napa Valley to interview various Latino winery owners. Gabriel’s Website is Vinicast.com Ceja Vineyard – Cute vineyard, great Pinot, inspiring story The light in the Fall of Los Carneros (Napa County) over a waning afternoon is, above all, expressive and mild, and yet elegantly kind. Very much like the Ceja Pinot Noir 2007 I was drinking that late afternoon with…

  • Napa Valley Trip Planner – Plan and Map your trip to the Napa Valley

    joe
    22 Feb 2012 | 4:16 pm
    With over 400 wineries in the Napa Valley, how does one decide which wineries to visit? Well, we have perhaps the best planning tool available on the Internet to help you select which wineries to visit based on your interests. Here is how it works. Go directly to the Trip Planner on Wine Country Getaways and from the Region Window use the pull down menu to select the Napa Valley. Of course you can select other wine regions if you prefer. The Map displays 150 wineries in the Napa Valley. There are some 400 brick and mortar wineries in the Napa Valley and we have whittled that number down to…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Enthusiast Magazine's UnReserved with Wine Enthusiast Editors

  • Announcing, Our Montana Master Grillers Contest Winner! And Some Of Our Favorite Pairings by Erika Strum

    Erika Strum
    30 Apr 2012 | 1:26 pm
    Thank you to everyone who entered our Montana Master Grillers Contest! We received some great responses from all across the country from readers like you. Our grand prize was for one lucky reader to win a three-night stay for two at Montana’s The Resort at Paws Up this Memorial Day weekend and attend, quite possibly, the best wine and barbeque event of the year – Montana Master Grillers. Co-sponsored by Wine Enthusiast and Double Ranch, this event will feature lunches and dinners prepared by some of the world’s top chefs in this premier culinary-filled weekend. Without further ado,…

  • Wine, Samba and Song at Brazilian Carnaval by Susan Kostrzewa

    Susan Kostrzewa
    24 Feb 2012 | 10:33 am
    In the same tradition as Mardi Gras— i.e., one last big celebration before Lent for Catholics—Carnaval in Rio de Janiero is about celebrating life through song, dance, and in my case this last week, great wine. I’ve traveled the world and been lucky enough to see some amazing things, but Carnaval, with its sea of singing spectators, its never-ending procession of unimaginably creative floats, and its pulsating, joyful samba soundtrack, should be on the bucket list for anyone with a brain cell and two feet that can move to a beat. I challenge anyone to show me a people who can revel…

  • My GILTy Holiday Addiction by Lauren Buzzeo

    Lauren Buzzeo
    1 Dec 2011 | 11:46 am
    Many women (and some men) already know about the members-only designer and luxury flash sale site appropriately called Gilt. I confess I was a huge fan of the concept, especially when it was launched in 2007, but my obsession slightly dwindled when I finally came to the realization that my closet was bursting with garments and I couldn’t possibly fit another pair of shoes under my bed. Kinda like my wine cellar… although I always somehow manage to find room for more in that. But then they threw me a curve ball. Gilt Groupe, the crafty parent company for all the Gilt sites as well as…

  • Wine Show Highs and Lows by Joe Czerwinski

    Joe Czerwinski
    29 Nov 2011 | 11:24 am
    That's me, digging into the Pinot Noir class. Senior Judge Cameron Douglas, MS, and Associate Judge Emma Jenkins, MW, are in the background. For years, I’ve resisted commenting on wine shows. I’ve read some of the online bashing, about how medals are given away like candy on Halloween; about how some show judges don’t know much about wine; and about how, since shows typically charge an entry fee, the awards they bestow are essentially worthless. I’m sure there are more complaints, but that’s not the point. The real reason I’ve not written at any length…

  • Travels with Corkscrew by Tim Moriarty

    Tim Moriarty
    16 Nov 2011 | 2:22 pm
    When Jerry Seinfeld created his classic comedy series, he vowed that there would be “no learning, no hugging.” I thought about that when I foolishly volunteered to blog about my summer travels and what I “learned” on the road. I think of travel as a process of discovery; learning is absorbed gradually; connections and insights revealed well after the fact. The best way for that to happen (I’ve discovered) is not to overplan, and not slavishly pursue other travelers’ itineraries of excellence. Read up, sure. Plan some, but really, just dive in. Learning about wine and exploring…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Dirty South Wine

  • Kate and Hardy's Wedding Slideshow

    Hardy Wallace
    14 May 2012 | 8:17 am
    Video Slideshow from our Wedding Kate Graham & Hardy Wallace 4/12/12 Los Olivos, CA

  • Anchovies

    Hardy Wallace
    17 Apr 2012 | 9:58 am
    The unsung heroes of the Monterey Bay Aquarium

  • Kate and Hardy 4/12/12

    Hardy Wallace
    11 Apr 2012 | 10:27 am
    Tomorrow

  • Dirty South Wine: Instagram

    Hardy Wallace
    10 Apr 2012 | 9:43 am
    2011 Chateau D'Yquem With yesterday's big news of Facebook's billion dollar acquisition of Instagram, it made me realize that I've posted way more content on Instagram in the past year vs my blog or twitter.  And that only a fraction of my instagram shots are shared to twitter or facebook.  I won't try to create any theory or breakdown of instagram as a social media tool, with the exception of it being fun, and having a strong international community (where language is less of an issue)-  Perhaps that is enough. If you are on instagram, I am at username…

  • 2011 Petrus Rating

    Hardy Wallace
    9 Apr 2012 | 8:11 am
    102.19 Angry Monkey Riding a Hungry Chicken.  Now that's some goooood shiz! From a distance, it may seem odd to call Petrus "a breath of fresh air", but this year, Petrus was my top spot in terms of both wine and overall experience.  En Primeur is filled with weird vibes.  Chateau tastings are a bit longer than speed dating (30 min or so).  These can be either awkwardly silent, or uncomfortable as you listen to an owner, technical director, or some dude in an uncomfortably tight suit, tell you about "sophistication,elegance and concentration", while you are trying…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    STEVE HEIMOFF| WINE BLOG

  • When does a wine critic cross the line and become a brand advocate?

    steve
    15 May 2012 | 2:10 am
    I’m always faintly amused, but bothered, when someone representing a winery thanks me for being a “supporter.” It happens with some frequency. I’ll give a wine a good review, or mention it favorably in an article, and next thing you know I’m getting a signed “thank you” card in the mail, or an email, or a phone call, telling me how much they appreciate my support, often “over the years.” I say this amuses me, because it suggests a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of the wine critic. We’re not here to “support” anyone, we’re here to say what we think of any…

  • Remembering Mom, over a glass of wine

    steve
    14 May 2012 | 2:10 am
    Like you, I honored my mother yesterday. Gertrude died 6-1/2 years ago, at the age of 90, after a brief bout with cancer. I was with her when she passed, in the hospital. It was just the two of us, at 6:03 a.m. Something very mystical and inexplicable happened to me at the instant of her death, that I will always remember, but which I will not write about here. Gertrude came to enjoy wine as she aged, especially after she moved to California. Her son–me–was, of course, making his living as a wine writer, so there was never any shortage of wine. She preferred Chardonnay, preferably…

  • Alan Kropf and the 4 pillars of wine marketing

    steve
    11 May 2012 | 9:23 am
    My favorite under-30 mover and shaker in the American wine world, Alan Kropf (who’s 29, so he’d better get busy preparing to be one of the most important 30-40 year olds) is the publisher of Mutineer Magazine. He also has this traveling roadshow he calls the Millennial Wine Marketing Circus, a sort of pop-up that features speakers on various aspects of all things marketing. Alan’s a smart, ambitious guy who’s achieving a solid foothold in wine media. I don’t know exactly where he’ll end up, and probably neither does he, because the future of the field he’s chosen to play…

  • Labels, visceral responses and disruptive business models

    steve
    10 May 2012 | 9:17 am
    At dinner the other night a senior executive for a major wine company told me that labels are becoming one of the most important reasons why people make a spontaneous purchase of wine. I’d always known that labels are important, but this executive stressed their importance even beyond what I’d thought. It’s difficult for me to put myself in the shoes of an uneducated shopper as she browses the wine aisle looking for something special to drink with the pesto pasta and fresh garden peas she’s making tonight. I would already have an idea in my head of what type of wine to drink with…

  • The power of social media…sort of

    steve
    9 May 2012 | 2:10 am
    I was sent a bottle to review. It was the Keller Estate 2009 Precioso Pinot Noir, with a Sonoma Coast appellation. As you can see from the picture, the neck is enclosed in black wax, with a bulbous top that hides the rim. As soon as I saw it, my spirits drooped. Uh oh, one of those. I hate these wax tops, but still, it’s my duty to open them. Sometimes, it’s not hard at all. The screw goes right through the wax into the cork, and even though there’s no place to properly rest the claw when you extract, it’s usually doable, although I do use extra caution because I don’t want the claw…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    O'Vineyards Carcassonne Wine Blog

  • What has Ryan been doing in the US for 3 months?

    mroconnell
    11 May 2012 | 4:58 pm
    So a lot of people have asked what I’ve been doing in California for three months.  It’s been tough to be away from the vines for so long (even if the weather here is really beautiful, I miss my vent Cers). Well I can finally announce that Naked Wines is coming to the USA, and we’re beta tasting.  You might have heard of beta testing, when software companies do a partial early release to gauge public reactions before the real launch.  Well if Silicon Valley has beta testers, Napa Valley deserves beta tasters!  We’ve spent months and months and months recruiting…

  • Chateauneuf du Pape – St Marc

    mroconnell
    2 May 2012 | 2:30 am
    Every year the producers of Chateauneuf du Pape have a blind tasting of their new vintage and they vote on who has the best cuvée of the year.  This St Marc competition results in a spectacular gala dinner where people get awards all night long and I could hardly hear all the speeches and thank yous over the clinking of glasses and joyous laughter. The Freeze of February 2012 Despite the gorgeous weather in the final days of April and the warm welcome of the winemakers, the evidence of the coldest February since 1956 were well-displayed in the Chateauneuf vineyards. In 1956, the freeze was…

  • Planting Mediterranean Grape Varieties in the Ampelographic Garden

    mroconnell
    6 Apr 2012 | 2:14 pm
    Just a few miles outside of Carcassonne, you can see a collection of different grape varieties like Syrah, Grenache, Macabeu, Mauzac, Picquepoul, Terret, Vermentino, and more!   Just before budbreak 2012, dad planted the ampelographic garden at O’Vineyards. A big thanks to the Chambre d’Agriculture who helped us find the best grape varieties, choosing the right clones to demonstrate varietal typicity on our terroir at O’Vineyards. What is an Ampelographic Garden? Ampelography is a big word used to describe the visual study and identification of grape vines.   And…

  • Guest Photos of an O’Vineyards Visit

    mroconnell
    18 Mar 2012 | 11:14 pm
    It’s nice to see the almond trees in full bloom and life returning to the vineyard.  The vines are never too far behind the almond trees. It’s tough being away from the vineyard for so long, but I see it’s still in good hands with mom and dad. The tourists are starting to flow through too and they’re still having a lot of fun greeting visitors. Some of our regulars, Michael and Fay, came by to kick off the season and they took lots of nice pictures.  It’s nice to see some of the same faces every season because that’s a sign that O’Vineyards is fun…

  • The Limits of Tasting Notes

    mroconnell
    25 Feb 2012 | 6:49 am
    At Vinisud, I had the pleasure of introducing an alternative wine tasting for the Outsiders. The Alternative Tasting Basically, we just did a fun wine tasting where we encouraged people to describe our wines with images that Louise Hurren had picked out for our tasting booklet.  Forcing people to think about a wine with images instead of words gets them to think outside the box instead of falling back on the oft repeated tasting note vocab like rich, balanced, and a laundry list of fruit. Furthermore, it empowers novice drinkers to review wines without worrying that they’re using the…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Jordan Winery

  • Join us for a virtual tasting and video chat on our 40th birthday

    Lisa
    8 May 2012 | 12:30 pm
      Join us for a live video chat and new release virtual tasting online with Winemaker Rob Davis and John Jordan in honor of our 40th anniversary on Wednesday, May 23. Listen to historical stories,... Get a taste of everyday life at Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley.

  • Los Angeles 40th anniversary parties photos and highlights

    Lisa
    28 Apr 2012 | 12:13 pm
    JORDAN VINEYARD & WINERY CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY IN TRUE HOLLYWOOD STYLE More than 300 LA-area restaurateurs, retailers, sommeliers, press, tastemakers and celebrities turned out to... Get a taste of everyday life at Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley.

  • Dallas 40th anniversary parties photos and highlights

    Lisa
    28 Apr 2012 | 11:54 am
    JORDAN VINEYARD & WINERY CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY IN DALLAS Nearly 250 local tastemakers, wine lovers and art aficionados turned out in downtown Dallas for two days of celebration in honor of... Get a taste of everyday life at Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley.

  • New York 40th anniversary parties photos and highlights

    Lisa
    26 Apr 2012 | 4:52 pm
    JORDAN VINEYARD & WINERY CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY IN MANHATTAN Nearly 300 tastemakers, wine consumers and art aficionados turned out in New York April 4-5 for two days of celebration in honor... Get a taste of everyday life at Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley.

  • Miami 40th anniversary parties photos and highlights

    Lisa
    26 Apr 2012 | 8:36 am
    JORDAN VINEYARD & WINERY CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY IN TRUE MIAMI STYLE Nearly 300 local tastemakers, wine lovers and art aficionados turned out in Miami for two days of celebration in honor of... Get a taste of everyday life at Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Rosa d'Oro Vineyards Blog

  • Friday Night Wine Pairing Menu - Liguria

    15 May 2012 | 10:05 am
    Please come join us as we cook a regionally-focused meal every month with a wine pairing.Friday, May 18, 20125 - 7 pm$20 flight plus food, $15 wine club membersThis week you get a double bonus if you join us - our street will be closed and it will be featuring local businesses and wineries showcasing locally produced goods and wine! It may be busy though so please RSVP.Omaggio a Liguria Muscat (New Release!)Chickpea fritters with bay scallopsSangioveseArtichokes 2 ways (or more)Fingerlings, mushrooms, estate olive oilBarbera (New Release!)Gnocchi with walnut pesto and prawnsMoscato…

  • Tiburon Wine Festival

    10 May 2012 | 11:29 am
    If you are in the Bay Area please visit us at the Tiburon Wine Festival on Saturday from 1 - 4pm - a perfect day to try the new Muscat and new vintage of Sangiovesehttp://tiburonwinefestival.com/Driving DirectionsAfter exiting Highway 101, take Tiburon Boulevard (Highway 131) east until you reach the tip of the peninsula. As you approach Main Street, the downtown hub, you'll find the Boardwalk Shopping Center on the right and Point Tiburon Plaza to the left. Park your car at one of several lots then leave it. Tiburon is a pleasantly walkable destination. For a helpful map, pick up a…

  • (Almost) Wordless Wednesday

    2 May 2012 | 11:42 am
    Mountains of olive prunings to burnNebbiolo 10 days ahead of everything elseHandsome Aglianico (and Mt. Konocti)Barbera plus wind machineMessy messy Dolcetto I hate so muchSF City Hall from last week's Burgundy tasting (i just like it)

  • Friday Night Wine Pairing in our tasting room

    17 Apr 2012 | 10:10 am
    Friday, April 20, 20125 - 7 pm$20 flight plus food, $15 wine club membersArneisOrzo, asparagus, mushrooms, grana padano, lemonRosato"Vitello Tonnato"Veal, tuna, capers, arugula, brushettaNebbioloLamb raviolo in brodoDolcettoChocolate, hazelnut Rosa d'Oro tasting room located at 3915 Main Street, Kelseyville, Ca. 95451to RSVP please email info@rosadorowine.com or call 707-279-0483

  • Vintner's Market this weekend!

    12 Apr 2012 | 4:07 pm
    San Francisco Vintners Market – Spring Time In The CitySan Francisco Vintners Market is back with a spring showcase of top notch wineries selling their wines direct to the consumer. If you’re tired of going to wine tasting events, discovering great new wines and then never being able to find them again, San Francisco Vintners Market is for you. Similar to farmers markets, our event allows consumers to sample the wines on display and buy them on the spot. San Francisco Vintners Market is the first of its kind wine tasting and buying experience where wine enthusiasts can try and buy wines…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Cheers2Wine Blog

  • Sonoma County Wine Tasting

    15 May 2012 | 9:27 pm
    Sonoma County is known for its fine wines. Visit Sonoma wineries for a wine tour. Relax, and enjoy a much deserved break. Learn about Sonoma restaurants and accommodations for your getaway.

  • Plan a California Wine Tour ~ Explore the California Wine Country!

    15 May 2012 | 8:50 pm
    Plan your own California Wine Tour with this guide to the California wineries, restaurants, and accommodations. Print free wine tasting coupons and winery maps for California Wine Tours.

  • Napa Valley Wine Tour

    15 May 2012 | 8:27 pm
    Plan your own Napa Valley Wine Tour. Includes napa valley winery information,Napa winery map, and info on Napa wine tasting. Access free Napa Valley wine tasting coupons and enjoy a napa wine tour.

  • Best Appetizer Recipes

    15 May 2012 | 9:53 am
    Find the best appetizer recipes. These quick and easy appetizers are perfect to serve as a first course or as a special h'orderve at a party.

  • Explore Alexander Valley Wineries

    15 May 2012 | 9:36 am
    Explore Alexander Valley Wineries. These Sonoma Wineries enjoy a beautiful setting in the Alexander Valley and produce world class wines.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Reverse Wine Snob

  • Top 10 Red Wines Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob May 2012 Update

    Jon Thorsen
    15 May 2012 | 9:07 am
    It's time for the next update of The Reverse Wine Snob Top 10 list! Previous lists were a combination of red and white wines, but going forward I've decided to split these into two separate Top 10 lists for double the fun. Look for the list of Top 10 white wines next month. As always this list only includes those wines that are still widely available so be sure to check the full Wine Ranking for all the wines we've reviewed. Without further ado, here are my Top 10 red wines under $20! Highly drinkable. 10) TIE 2009 Banfi Centine Rosso Toscana What's not to like about a wine that contains 60%…

  • Loios Vinho Branco (White Wine) 2010 from J. Portugal Ramos - Fresh and Fruity

    Jon Thorsen
    14 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    50% Rabo de Ovelha and 50% Roupeiro from Alentejo, Portugal. SRP of $10 and available for as low as $8. Sample received courtesy Winebow for review purposes. From the bottle: "Pale yellow in color, lime and mineral aromas show through on the nose. The palate demonstrates great acidity with notes of apples and other citrus fruits. A perfect aperitif wine, easily pairing with all dishes, especially antipasti and other lighter fare. 12.5% Alcohol"Last week we reviewed the Loios Vinho Tinto, or red wine, from J Portugal Ramos and today we come to the Loios Vinho Branco (white wine). Much like the…

  • Andrew Murray Vineyards Terra Bella Syrah 2009 - An Exquisite Saturday Splurge

    Jon Thorsen
    12 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    100% Syrah from Paso Robles, California. SRP of $36 and available for around $31. Sample received courtesy Andrew Murray Vineyards for review purposes. From the winemaker: "The Syrah from this vineyard grows on steep, limestone-rich hillsides and arrives at the winery very ripe yet balanced, yielding a deeply colored wine (darkest in the cellar) with distinctive aromas and flavors of blueberries and raspberries. We aged the wine in mostly new French oak, so there is a nice layer of vanilla, clove, and toasty notes as well. This is a very full-bodied wine that will benefit from more aging in…

  • Napa Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 - A Classy California Cab

    Jon Thorsen
    11 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot from Napa Valley, California. SRP of $26 and available for as low as $16. Sample received courtesy Balzac Communications for review purposes. From the bottle: "This sophisticated, full-bodied Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon combines flavors of ripe blackberry, cherry, clove and cedar while pleasant toasty oak notes linger on the finish. May be enjoyed now or cellared for additional complexity. This opulent wine complements any beef dish and other grilled or roasted red meats. 14.0% Alcohol"Today's wine is another from Napa Cellars, a producer that is…

  • Loios Vinho Tinto (Red Wine) 2010 from J Portugal Ramos - Fruit, Fruit and More Fruit

    Jon Thorsen
    10 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    35% Aragones, 35% Trinicadeira and 30% Castelao from Alentejo, Portugal. SRP of $10 and available for as low as $8. Sample received courtesy Winebow for review purposes. From the winemaker:"Loios is a wine produced in the Alentejo region, located in the south of Portugal. Its name originates from the title given in the 15th century to the members of the ancient Priest Congregation of St. John Evangelist, known simply as Loios. Loios monks have always had a deep connection to the history of Alentejo, especially to its wines. Thus, this wine has been named after them and is made from…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine News | BoozeMonkey

  • Apple Tree Flat Merlot & Lerida Pinot Grigio

    7 May 2012 | 9:01 am
    In the decade-plus since he released his first Apple Tree Flat wines from the 2001 vintage, Peter Logan has striven to improve upon each vintage while at the same time also maintaining a philosophy of value for money. And he says it's because he's conscious that customers choose to buy his wines ...read more on BoozeMonkey NOW!

  • Cabernet Malbec and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

    23 Apr 2012 | 2:51 am
    Tim Adams isn't a bloke who normally makes spur-of-the-moment decisions, but he did just that in 2008 and now he, and his many fans, are enjoying the rewards with an exceptional just-released 2008 Reserve Cabernet Malbec. Tim says he was standing by the crusher at his Clare Valley winery when ...read more on BoozeMonkey NOW!

  • Tramillon Anyone?

    16 Apr 2012 | 3:20 am
    We don't know if many others make it, and would be interested to hear of any who do, but Lillypilly Estate's Robert Fiumara has an interesting blend that he's trademarked as Tramillon a medium dry white created from Gewurztraminer and Semillon. He's been making it since 1982 at his winery ...read more on BoozeMonkey NOW!

  • Cumulus Estate's Vintage Cloud 2009

    14 Apr 2012 | 2:34 am
    Cumulus Estate Wines has released a really grand 2009 Shiraz made from fruit from its interesting vineyards high on the slopes of Mount Canobolas outside Orange in the NSW Central West. Here, 600-plus metres above sea level on ancient volcanic soils overlaid with deep clay loam, Cumulus produces ...read more on BoozeMonkey NOW!

  • Kim Tyrer Receives Young Business Person Award

    2 Apr 2012 | 6:01 pm
    I used to think people who took a prepared speech to awards nights were a bit up themselves. However I learnt a valuable lesson on Friday night. When the emotion takes over and you're not sure how to deal with all the attention it is good to have a backup plan of a prepared speech. Suddenly ...read more on BoozeMonkey NOW!
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    RJonWine.com

  • Spanish Wine: Great Values for Ready Drinking

    Richard Jennings
    16 May 2012 | 1:19 am
    SPANISH WINE CELLAR TRADE SHOW 2012 – Bently Reserve Bldg, San Francisco, California (4/19/2012) A few tastings of current Spanish releases in recent weeks, including the Spanish Wine Cellar trade show last month, have driven home for me two facts: Spanish wines are not only great bargains, they are also ideally suited to the American palate. Spain is the world’s third largest wine producer, after France and Italy. In 2010, Spain produced 13.6% of the world’s wine. By comparison, the U.S., the world’s fourth largest producer, was responsible for 10.6% of world production. Wine…

  • Chave: Great Northern Rhone Dynasty

    Richard Jennings
    12 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    CHAVE TASTING WITH ERIN CANNON CHAVE – Vin Vino Wine, Palo Alto, California (10/28/2011) Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is one of the Northern Rhone’s most important producers, along with Chapoutier and Thierry Allemand. The Chaves are also one of the world’s great winemaking dynasties, like the Antinoris in Tuscany and Hugels in Alsace. Chave produces not only excellent red Hermitage—a blend of grapes from parcels in seven different sections of that summit of Syrah—but also one of the world’s great white wines—Chave Hermitage Blanc. The domaine’s origins go back to 1481 when…

  • The Wonder of Wine

    Richard Jennings
    8 May 2012 | 10:23 pm
    fermenting grapes at Ridge Lytton Springs I’ve been tasting and studying wine seriously for over 10 years now. I take notes, read about it, attend seminars, write about it, and taste over 6,000 wines a year. What still so fascinates me, though, is not the minutiae of a wine’s production or the rich stories that arise as one digs into a particular wine’s origin. What is intriguing to no end for me about the phenomenon of wine is the sheer unknowable wonder of it. I am constantly in awe of the impenetrable mystery at wine’s core. Why does wine evoke so much passion in those driven to…

  • Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot: Challenging Conditions, Occasional Brilliance

    Richard Jennings
    2 May 2012 | 3:32 am
    8TH ANNUAL PINOT PARADISE: SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS AVA PINOT – Villa Ragusa, Campbell, California (4/1/2012) Planting vines in the cool, high altitude Santa Cruz Mountains is a quixotic endeavor. Trying to grow and make great wine out of notoriously fickle Pinot Noir in these climes is particularly challenging. Nonetheless, a few driven producers over the years have made some brilliant, minerally, complex, cool climate Pinot in these parts. Santa Cruz Mountains was recognized as an American Viticultural Area in 1982. It stretches from Half Moon Bay south to Mount Madonna. It was the…

  • America’s Antiquated Wine Distribution System

    Richard Jennings
    26 Apr 2012 | 9:14 pm
    This month’s IntoWineTV episode discusses the byzantine legal restrictions on wines sales in many states in the U.S. that prevent consumers from getting access to many wines, and to getting the best possible prices on wines. These laws also prevent wineries from access to a great many potential markets in this country. These restrictions are a legacy of the end of Prohibition, when control of alcohol was suddenly turned over to the states in the 1930s. Many state legislatures reacted against the pre-Prohibition practice of “tied houses,” which beer and spirits distributors…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Nosso Vinho

  • Lucilla 2007, Castello di Farnetella

    Paulo Queiroz
    29 Apr 2012 | 5:15 pm
    Já escrevi alguns posts sobre a Felsina, produtor Toscano que fui visitar no ano passado. O Castello di Farnetella é a segunda propriedade de Giuseppe Mazzocolin, controlador da Felsina. Lucilla é um corte de Sangiovese, Merlot e Cabernet Sauvignon. O Blend “amansou a fúria tânica da Sangiovese e ofereceu um vinho bem macio e delicado. [...]

  • Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Rose NV

    Paulo Queiroz
    21 Apr 2012 | 6:46 pm
    Para comemorar um momento especial da vida, Katia e eu abrimos essa Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Rosé NV. Ela ganhou esse tom salmão por conta da adição da Pinot Noir, vinda do vinhedo Grand Cru da Veuve Clicquot em Bouzy, França. A bebida é muito elegante, com aromas de framboesa e morango, o sabor também traz [...]

  • Pio Cesare L’Altro 2009

    Paulo Queiroz
    15 Apr 2012 | 5:57 pm
    Pio Cesare produr vinhos desde 1881 no Piemonte, Itália. Reconhecido por seus Barolos, desta vez vamos falar de um branco, o L’Altro, um Chardonnay delicioso, presente do Manuk e indicado pelo José Aurélio. Nosso Chardonnay é um vinho macio, de cor amarelo palha com aroma de pêssego e um toque amanteigado no sabor. Muito delicado [...]

  • Batuta Douro 2000

    Paulo Queiroz
    15 Apr 2012 | 11:33 am
    Batuta Douro 2000 foi um dos vinhos que experimentamos no último jantar da confraria dos amigos. Já escrevi vários posts sobre os vinhos da Niepoort, produtor português do Douro, que era especialista em vinhos do Porto e agora produz vinhos tintos de classe mundial. O Batuta veio pelas mãos do José Aurélio, que acerta todas [...]

  • Flor de Pingus 2006

    Paulo Queiroz
    7 Apr 2012 | 5:58 pm
    Pingus é um dos mais cobiçados vinhos do mundo, produzido por Domínio de Pingus, do estilista produtor dinamarquês Peter Sissek na Ribeira del Duero, Espanha. Pingus é o apelido de infância de Sissek. Não menos cobiçado é o segundo vinho de Peter, o Flor de Pingus, feito com 100% tempranillo de vinhas muito velhas. Este [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Blog - Bacchus & Beery

  • The Unique Voice of Single-Vineyard Wines

    Roger Beery
    14 May 2012 | 4:03 pm
    “A single, great vineyard sight can express itself and be transparent through to a bottle of wine.  You can actually taste the vineyard’s character in the glass.” Jamie Kutch – Kutch Wines Pinot Noir I’ll admit it; I love single-vineyard wines. There is something about the nuance and singularity that speaks volumes me. When drinking a single-vineyard wine, I like to imagine the vineyard, its rows of vibrant vines offering abundant fruit. Sometimes I’ll even go techie and try to find pictures of the vineyard on Google so I can be even more anchored to the very spot that produced…

  • The Unlikely Conversion of a Wine Evangelist (Pt. 5 Final)

    Bacchus & Beery Wine Blog
    26 Apr 2012 | 3:03 pm
    Read :The Unlikely Conversion of a Wine Evangelist (Pt. 1) Read :The Unlikely Conversion of a Wine Evangelist (Pt. 2) Read :The Unlikely Conversion of a Wine Evangelist (Pt. 3) Read :The Unlikely Conversion of a Wine Evangelist (Pt. 4) It was the birth and adolescence of our children that slowed the wine-stained part of our lives and seemed to bring it all into perspective. While my passion for wine and winemaking never died, for the next 20 years it often took a backseat to soccer and volleyball games, golf tournaments and ski races as by then we had relocated to Colorado to find a simpler…

  • A Passion for the Grape – Reboot Your Life in Wine Country

    Bacchus & Beery Wine Blog
    10 Apr 2012 | 5:24 pm
    Would you leave a secure job for a shot at working with a winery? Advice from six who successfully made a wine-stained reboot Each year millions of enthusiasts visit California wine country. In fact, Napa Valley is California’s second most popular tourist destination, behind only Disneyland. While many tikes dream of life in the Magic Kingdom, many like me, dream of a life in wine country. What is so alluring about the wine country lifestyle? Certainly there is the idyllic vineyard landscapes, the sweet aromas of oak barrels and the chance to create liquid art that brings pleasure to so…

  • Napa County Non-Profits Host Third Annual Napa Valley 360 Auction

    Bacchus & Beery Wine Blog
    27 Mar 2012 | 12:27 pm
    Hey B&B Wineauxs… Here is a great chance to bid on some amazing Napa Valley experiences and rare wines that would make any wine lover drool! Even better, you get to help some families in need. Bidding runs from Friday, March 30 at 8:00 am through Monday, April 2nd at 8:00 pm. Press Release Napa County Non-Profits Host Third Annual Napa Valley 360 Online auction to raise funds to benefit local families Napa Valley, CA – The four major nonprofit agencies throughout Napa County are gearing up for Napa Valley 360, an online auction designed to bring one-of-a-kind Napa Valley…

  • Bacchus and Beery Wine Blog – Reviews from March 2012

    Bacchus & Beery Wine Blog
    24 Mar 2012 | 2:53 pm
    Here are some of our favorite wines from March 2012 reviews on Bacchus and Beery Wine Blog. Many of these wines from small producers, so they may not be available in your local wine shop. We encourage you to support small, family and artisanal wineries by ordering directly from their websites, if you live one of the 38 states that believe in wine freedom. If you don’t know if your state allows direct shipping of wine, check this map. Again, these are just a few of the superb wines we reviewed this month. Please check out Bacchus and Beery Wine Blog – Wine Reviews for all the reviews…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Enthusiast Magazine's UnReserved with Wine Enthusiast Editors

  • Announcing, Our Montana Master Grillers Contest Winner! And Some Of Our Favorite Pairings by Erika Strum

    Erika Strum
    30 Apr 2012 | 1:26 pm
    Thank you to everyone who entered our Montana Master Grillers Contest! We received some great responses from all across the country from readers like you. Our grand prize was for one lucky reader to win a three-night stay for two at Montana’s The Resort at Paws Up this Memorial Day weekend and attend, quite possibly, the best wine and barbeque event of the year – Montana Master Grillers. Co-sponsored by Wine Enthusiast and Double Ranch, this event will feature lunches and dinners prepared by some of the world’s top chefs in this premier culinary-filled weekend. Without further ado,…

  • Wine, Samba and Song at Brazilian Carnaval by Susan Kostrzewa

    Susan Kostrzewa
    24 Feb 2012 | 10:33 am
    In the same tradition as Mardi Gras— i.e., one last big celebration before Lent for Catholics—Carnaval in Rio de Janiero is about celebrating life through song, dance, and in my case this last week, great wine. I’ve traveled the world and been lucky enough to see some amazing things, but Carnaval, with its sea of singing spectators, its never-ending procession of unimaginably creative floats, and its pulsating, joyful samba soundtrack, should be on the bucket list for anyone with a brain cell and two feet that can move to a beat. I challenge anyone to show me a people who can revel…

  • My GILTy Holiday Addiction by Lauren Buzzeo

    Lauren Buzzeo
    1 Dec 2011 | 11:46 am
    Many women (and some men) already know about the members-only designer and luxury flash sale site appropriately called Gilt. I confess I was a huge fan of the concept, especially when it was launched in 2007, but my obsession slightly dwindled when I finally came to the realization that my closet was bursting with garments and I couldn’t possibly fit another pair of shoes under my bed. Kinda like my wine cellar… although I always somehow manage to find room for more in that. But then they threw me a curve ball. Gilt Groupe, the crafty parent company for all the Gilt sites as well as…

  • Wine Show Highs and Lows by Joe Czerwinski

    Joe Czerwinski
    29 Nov 2011 | 11:24 am
    That's me, digging into the Pinot Noir class. Senior Judge Cameron Douglas, MS, and Associate Judge Emma Jenkins, MW, are in the background. For years, I’ve resisted commenting on wine shows. I’ve read some of the online bashing, about how medals are given away like candy on Halloween; about how some show judges don’t know much about wine; and about how, since shows typically charge an entry fee, the awards they bestow are essentially worthless. I’m sure there are more complaints, but that’s not the point. The real reason I’ve not written at any length…

  • Travels with Corkscrew by Tim Moriarty

    Tim Moriarty
    16 Nov 2011 | 2:22 pm
    When Jerry Seinfeld created his classic comedy series, he vowed that there would be “no learning, no hugging.” I thought about that when I foolishly volunteered to blog about my summer travels and what I “learned” on the road. I think of travel as a process of discovery; learning is absorbed gradually; connections and insights revealed well after the fact. The best way for that to happen (I’ve discovered) is not to overplan, and not slavishly pursue other travelers’ itineraries of excellence. Read up, sure. Plan some, but really, just dive in. Learning about wine and exploring…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Winston's Wisdoms - A WineEnthusiast.com Blog

  • Meet Our Wine Storage Consultants: Todd LaChance by Erika S.

    Erika S.
    3 May 2012 | 12:04 pm
    Today let’s introduce our Wine Storage Consultant: Todd LaChance. Todd has been at Wine Enthusiast for 8 years now. He has a background in the restaurant business and still finds time to bartend Tuesday evenings at Ruby’s Oyster Bar & Bistro in Rye, NY. When he’s not working, he loves to travel and be outdoors whether it be snow skiing, water skiing or golfing. He is also a big foodie whether dining out or cooking at home and of course, loves wine! What was your “Epiphany” wine? It was a wine called Beauzeaux by BV which is a Napa Valley Red Wine. I don’t…

  • Meet Our Wine Storage Consultants: John Tucci by Erika S.

    Erika S.
    4 Apr 2012 | 12:28 pm
    This week in the “Meet Our Wine Storage Consultants” series, we meet John Tucci. John has been with the Wine Enthusiast for 6 years. Perhaps his love of  home improvement projects and carpentry led him to start building magnificent wine cellars for our customers! In addition, he loves attending sporting events and spending time with his family. What was your “Epiphany” wine? 1999 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley.  I had the chance to enjoy this fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon with family on a special occasion several years ago.  I immediately purchased a…

  • Wine Decorating Ideas: The “Most Pinteresting” Products on WineEnthusiast.com by Erika S.

    Erika S.
    30 Mar 2012 | 3:07 pm
    Ever since the social photo-sharing site, Pinterest, launched, our customers have been feverishly pinning their favorite Wine Enthusiast products. It’s no surprise, as beautiful stemware, cork crafts and wine pairings make the perfect eye candy. To be honest, the level of enthusiasm has been beyond belief! We love seeing customers show-off their wine lifestyle in the fantastic boards they have been creating. A selection of products has been far and away, the most “pinteresting.” Below are the top pinned products on Pinterest. Why do you think these are so popular? Are you on Pinterest?

  • Meet Our Wine Storage Consultants: David Moseler by Erika S.

    Erika S.
    6 Mar 2012 | 9:38 am
    Next in our Wine Storage Consultant series is David Moseler. David has been building wine cellars with Wine Enthusiast for 8 years. His design work has been featured on WNBC 4 New York. He enjoys traveling, cooking, spending time with his family and taking guitar lessons. He learned about wine through his history in the wine import business, taking classes at the WSET and  travels in Argentina to visit family. What was your “Epiphany” wine? I recall enjoying a 1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape in Avignon France and something just clicked inside of me.  While in California, nothing…

  • Meet Our Wine Storage Consultants: Adam Dunefsky by Erika S.

    Erika S.
    23 Feb 2012 | 2:08 pm
    This week in the series, we introduce our Wine Storage Consultant, Adam Dunefesky. Adam grew up in the Bronx just a stones throw from Arthur Ave, the Mecca for Italian Fare. His absolute favorite in the area however, is Roberto’s, for their sublime tubettini with grilled octopus. So it was an honor when Roberto’s decided to build a wine cellar and turned to Adam for his expertise. Adam not only helped design the wine cellar but helped pick out wine glasses, decanters and other accessories giving them the full Wine Enthusiast experience. Adam has been with the Wine Enthusiast for…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Virtuosity

  • Heavenly Hungarians – Part 4; Szent Tamás. By István Szepsy.

    Niklas Jorgensen
    11 May 2012 | 4:11 am
    Great to have you here! You like Hungarian wines? Me to! The coming weeks – heck months – you will find a lot about them on Wine Virtuosity, next to my Portuguese adventures of course. Lots of stuff on Facebook as well; here and here. I also sometimes tweet, like everyone else. Hey, why not follow? I can’t claim it came as a surprise to me; the quality of Tokaj Furmint. After all; the reason why I finally visited the region and now had István Szepsy standing next to me, explaining about the complexity of the Szent Tamás site, were the amazing Tokaj wines I’ve had back…

  • DOC Douro; the new black?

    Niklas Jorgensen
    8 May 2012 | 7:58 am
    Thanks for stopping by. You like Portuguese wine? Me to! I’m on Facebook as well you know, as me, myself and I. More stuff to find there. I also sometimes tweet, like everyone else.Why not follow? No, I am not going to predict that Douro wines will outrival the port wines in the future. Not even indicate there’s a possibility it will happen. Port is safe. Port is great! But it is time more consumers realize where the DOC Douro is heading and what potential greatness it possesses. From impressive entry level wines to the premium stuff. So start exploring one of the world’s…

  • Heavenly Hungarians Part 3; Tokaj!

    Niklas Jorgensen
    1 May 2012 | 7:06 pm
    Great to have you here! You like Hungarian wines? Me to! The coming weeks – heck months – you will find a lot about them on Wine Virtuosity, next to my Portuguese adventures of course. More stuff on Facebook as well; here and here. I also sometimes tweet, like everyone else. Why not follow? “I’m going to name the wine Eszter,” he says. Zoltán Demeter; few has worked so hard to show the real class of Tokaj wine. His single parcel wines are all great expressions of their respective conditions and bottled proof of the huge potential the region possesses. But all…

  • Great Value Wines: 2009 Gróf Buttler Chardonnay

    Niklas Jorgensen
    24 Apr 2012 | 12:53 pm
    Great to have you here! You like Hungarian wines? Me to! I’m on Facebook as well, as me, myself and I. More stuff to find there. I also sometimes tweet, like everyone else. Why not follow? There’s something about Chardonnay. Think you’ve heard me saying that before. No other grape has shown such adaptability around the world with amazing end results. In times when Riesling seems to receive all the accolade, it is easy to forget the grape that for so many of us started the wine passion. Burgundy may still be the region functioning as the prototype, but I don’t think…

  • Quinta do Ameal: Pedro Araújo – the frontman for Loureiro.

    Niklas Jorgensen
    11 Apr 2012 | 3:56 pm
      Great to have you here! You like Portuguese wine? Me to! I’m on Facebook as well, as me, myself and I. More stuff to find there. I also sometimes tweet, like everyone else. Why not follow? Can I be a bit of an ego for a while? Yes, this is a long one, some of you will probably panic, give up and desperately look for scores at the bottom of the post. But if you call yourself a wine lover and care for the producers daring to make a difference, then seven or eight minutes aren’t much. Is it? No one remembers a chicken, yet there are so few who dares and follow their own…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Bargains and Values

  • Kirkland Rutherford Meritage – Our wine recommendation of the week

    Joe
    14 May 2012 | 10:49 am
    These are our bargain wine recommendations for the week of May 14. Kirkland Signature 2010 Rutherford Meritage – $13.99 Costco Meritage (pronounced like heritage) is a blend of two or more of the Bordeaux varietals. In this Kirkland Meritage blend we have 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12.5% Petit Verdot, and 2.5% Cabernet Franc. All of the grapes were obtained from various vineyards in the prestigious Rutherford wine region of the Napa Valley. We very much enjoyed this wine paired with baby back ribs. It has deep black fruit flavors and a terrific mouth feel. What I missed in this…

  • Albariño is our top recommendation for Mother’s Day

    Joe
    7 May 2012 | 2:14 pm
    White wines are good all year around but even more delightful as the days begin to warm, as with our weather this week. Let’s hope it holds through Mother’s Day. With that in mind, I have three value white wines to recommend for this week. Two wines come from BevMo and the third from Cost Plus World Market. Condes De Albarei – $10.71 at BevMo For those of you who read GoodCheapVino on a regular basis, you know that Albariño wine from the Rias Baixas region of Spain is a favorite varietal wine of ours. This is one of the good ones and price at BevMo this week is very good at 10.71.

  • 90 Point Napa Valley Cabernet for under $20

    Joe
    3 May 2012 | 11:19 am
    In the Latest Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Steve Heimoff, who covers the California wine scene, recommended 30 Napa Valley Cabernets under the $30 mark. I found these 90-point plus wines on the W.E. list at my local stores for less than $20 a bottle. Three 90 Point Napa Valley Cabs under $20 93 Points Conn Creek 2007 – $17.99 at BevMo – SRP is $25 92 Points Edge 2009 – $16.99 at KL Wines, The Wine Stop – SRP is $20 B Side 2009 – $19.80 at the Safeway (Burlingame) if you buy six, but it is the 2010 vintage. SRP is $25 91 Points Franciscan 2008 – $18.99 at KL Wines…

  • Vouvray Domain Pichot tops our picks of the week for April 30th

    Joe
    30 Apr 2012 | 4:18 pm
    This is a series of weekly bargain wine picks by the members of the Vintage Wine Tasting Club. We meet every other month for a formal tasting session but in between we communicate with each other whenever we discover a great wine bargain. We love the sport of bargain wine hunting. 2010 Vouvray Domain Pichot $12.99 – Weimax Wines Last week the Vintage Wine Tasters judged six Vouvray wines. In a close vote, the Vouvray Domain Pichot was our third best, but at $12.99 easily the best value of the bunch. This Chenin Blanc really shines in both aroma and flavors. The wine has a medium mouth…

  • Vouvray Blind Taste Off – Vintage Wine Tasters

    Joe
    25 Apr 2012 | 6:56 pm
    When was the last time, if ever, you tasted a Vouvray wine? Vouvray is the appellation in the Loire Valley in France in which the wines are made from the Chenin Blanc grape. The wines are aged in stainless steel or in neutral barrels. The gentle high acidity of this wine, along with its wonderful floral characteristic, makes this a wonderful wine to go with the Spring and Summer months. This past Tuesday, the Vintage Wine Tasters met to blind taste six popular Vouvray wines. Vintage Wine Taster Mike was the host for this wine tasting. After much research Mike settled on six Vouvray wines…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Gonzo Gastronomy

  • “Find me in my field of grass—Mother Nature’s son…”

    Katie Pizzuto
    13 May 2012 | 8:18 am
    The celebration of a mother is a curious thing. As the story goes, the history of every American holiday with good intent winds up in the garbage bins of commercialization and bastardization. Anna Jarvis, the “founder” of Mother’s Day kicked off the tradition by holding a memorial for her hard-working mother…two years after she had passed away. Thus I guess that, all things considered, I’m glad my 14-year old is willing to celebrate me now and not two years after I’ve returned to dust. Jarvis eventually died in poverty, railing against what her brainchild…

  • WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan…”

    Katie Pizzuto
    25 Apr 2012 | 7:38 am

  • “I did it all for the money, Lord, it’s what it seems…”

    Katie Pizzuto
    22 Apr 2012 | 6:39 pm
    I was sitting in the quiet of a few stolen moments before party guests arrived, contemplating this piece, when I received an email from a blogger friend telling me that a fellow soulmate of sorts had suddenly passed away. Those of you that have read this blog for more than a couple of years know that I’ve raved before about Oxford Falls and their amazing bloody mary mixes. Behind that name was a man who, beyond being a mad talent in his R&D kitchen, was a kind, beautiful soul who made a shitload of friends on Twitter that now mourn his passing. None of us ever got the chance to meet…

  • “And I said no, no, no, no, I can’t take it no more…”

    Katie Pizzuto
    8 Apr 2012 | 8:26 am
    DAY 1 – HAPPY HUMP DAY Bob the Coworker: …you mean to tell me you’ve roasted a pig before? Me: Yeah, dude, I’m Cuban. I’ve been roasting pigs since I hit the double digits. Why, you doing one? Bob: My buddy is turning 40. We’re doing one for his birthday. How do you do it? Me: Well, did you get a box or a rotisserie? Bob: What the hell is a box? Me: Caja China. They’re actually pretty inexpensive if you plan on doing more pigs, but you can rent them, too. Or rent the rotisserie. Bob: What about procedure and recipes? Me: Sure. I’ll write it all…

  • “Oh, try and mimic what’s insane…”

    Katie Pizzuto
    28 Feb 2012 | 6:45 pm
    When you start a discussion about the evolution (or perhaps revolution) of craft beer in this country—and the resulting cresting tsunami of microbreweries—that conversation must include Dogfish Head. Regardless of how much you like or dislike its beers, denying its roll in America’s return to craft brewing (and in rescuing it from an ocean of blandness) is foolish. Sam Calagione is equal parts beer geek, brewing historian, maverick and businessman, and those just starting to get a foothold in the market know they are indebted to him for the path he’s carved. But at the end of…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Willamette Valley Vineyards

  • Celebrate Oregon Wine Month! By Mickey Bellman

    Willamette Valley Vineyards
    30 Apr 2012 | 11:16 am
    When not working in the Tasting Room, Mickey is aforester , enjoys freelance writing and tending tohis Christmas tree farm. He's been learning about andtasting wine for over three decades and loves to share hisexperiences with all of our Tasting Room guests.May is Oregon Wine Month and also heralds the start of our 8th annual “Why I Love Oregon Pinot Noir” Contest at Willamette Valley Vineyards!The terroir of Oregon’s Willamette Valley is ideal for the creation of superb Pinot noir.  The varied soils and cool climate nourish the vines to produce a unique flavor in the Pinot…

  • Willamette Valley Vineyards Partners with Cirque Du Soleil

    Willamette Valley Vineyards
    24 Feb 2012 | 1:06 pm
    We're partnering with Cirque Du Soleil to celebrate the April 5th opening of their latest acrobatic achievement, “OVO” in Portland. We'll be giving away tickets through our Facebook fan page and also offering a Pinot Noir, food and show special to Wine Club Members.OVO features a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, play and flutter in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. “Overhead and on-the-ground, OVO is a whimsical infestation” says Chicago Now Radio. Keep an eye on our Facebook fan page each week in March. We’ve got some fun bug and wine related…

  • A Warm Summer Memory for a Cool Winter Day

    Willamette Valley Vineyards
    13 Dec 2011 | 12:15 pm
    I am truly amazed by the fact that so many people visit us from all over the country, the point of their travels being to see Oregon's beautiful wine country! We live in a small world, which makes what I do when I meet people very special and exciting. Beth BeringWinery AmbassadorA particularly memorable experience that I had recently was when I met one of my customers in person for the first time.  Her name is Barbara, she's from Tennessee, and her very favorite WVV wine is our 2010 Whole Cluster Pinot Noir.  I contacted Barbara for the first time in July…

  • Face to Face

    Willamette Valley Vineyards
    16 Nov 2011 | 1:29 pm
     Caitlin Rich, Lead Winery Ambassador During the three years I have been at the winery, I have had the pleasure of working with many of Willamette Valley Vineyards' customers and wine lovers outside of the state of Oregon. It is wonderful hearing stories from those that love our wine that are all across the United States, stories of how our wines were shared at the most recent family gathering, how a glass of WVV Pinot Noir was enjoyed while sitting outside during the summer months (while it is likely still raining here in Oregon), or stories of how our wine simply made a summer dinner…

  • Governors' Gold Awards - Oh What a Night!

    Willamette Valley Vineyards
    10 Nov 2011 | 1:39 pm
    The night of the Governer’s Gold Awards, Portland’s beautiful Convention center was aglow with the smiling faces of the participants of Oregon’s Special Olympics. Participants, citizens, and Governors, of past and present, from the great State of Oregon were there on hand to honor the recipients of the 2011 Governors Gold Awards.  Winery Ambassador Wende BennetteThis wonderful program helps raise money for Oregon’s Special Olympics, whose mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports. For children and adults with…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    MITCHELL'S Guide to Wine, Etc.

  • SommSum: 2012-05-14 Costanti Rosso do Montalcino, 2009

    14 May 2012 | 7:14 pm
    Pretty straight forward, but balanced and lush almost. Great pasta with meat sauce wine.

  • Single Cask Cocktail: Negroni

    3 May 2012 | 11:11 pm
    Here is a shot of one of the four Single Cask Cocktails we have aging at the moment. I tried two of them this ask and I am very pleased with the flavor and style both. Typically not a huge fan of the Negroni, but two months in an oak cask and the bitter edges are rounded, the vanilla is adding extra flavor and the drink is great. Our Blonde Manhattan is the real star. Mellow and smooth as can be. We are going to start serving next week at Max Fish. Also in the works is a tequila and a rum drink aging in casks. Coming soon.

  • Grand Reserve 5 year Plantation Rum from Barbados

    3 May 2012 | 11:01 pm
    Here is a stellar find for rum fans. Relatively cheap and quite tasty; two of my favorite combinations. Always like products that over deliver for the money. Here is a rum, aged 5 years so it picks up a smooth texture and lovely amber, brown sugar flavor profile. Great for sipping or mixing into rum drinks like a painkiller. Produced by Ferrand, the cognac house.

  • Karmeliet Triple is Delicious Ale

    3 May 2012 | 10:56 pm
    Picked this one up at a local shop and was very pleasantly surprised by how tasty it was. Medium weight with crisp acidity and just enough tanginess to satisfy pairing with food. Bit of spice and nice long finish.

  • What I Drank 2 Nights Ago: DIAL M for VESPER

    10 Mar 2012 | 8:43 am
    The Vesper (Gin, Vodka and Lillet Blanc) was created for 007, and was his drink of choice when not shaking his Martinis to death. My version uses a bit different combo - I add some Dolin Dry Vermouth instead of the Lillet Blanc. I like the Dolin very much as it is a Vermouth with delicate floral aromas and a slight herbal feel that is just enticing. You can actually drink this product on its own if you were so inclined, and that is not possible with many Vermouth even though that was really their use long ago. I still use the Vodka and Gin combination. My choices are Cold River Gin from Maine…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Washington State Beer and Wine

  • Sip & Slurp: Beer & Oyster Pairing Competition

    Bean
    14 May 2012 | 9:54 am
    Saturday May 12, 2012 was the first annual Sip & Slurp: Beer & Oyster Pairing Competition. Wine World (blog sponsor) and Taylor Shellfish teamed with breweries to offer this tasty and fun event for Seattle Beer Week. Local beers compete The classic beer pairing with oysters is a stout or porter. On our advice, Wine World sought out a diverse assortment of beers with an emphasis on Washington beers. 17 beers were entered into the competition ranging from light to dark, local to international, nano brewery to larger craft brewery and even a sour beer. The Beer Beer Decisions Every guest…

  • SBW Day 2: Sour and Stout

    Bean
    13 May 2012 | 3:57 pm
    Everything can fade in comparison to the annual Back in Black Stout fest, but there were plenty of opportunities for the non-stout lover to get your fix of beer and fun on Friday in Seattle. Seattle Beer Week boasted 21 different events for Friday. Go ahead and call me a wuss because I only made it to two of them. Peche Mode Peach Sour Ale Noble Fir Noble Fir possessed two things that I really wanted on Friday: a ladies cut Seattle Beer Week t-shirt and the Double Mountain PÊCHE MODE Peach Sour Ale. Noble Fir was featuring two Hood River breweries on Friday: Double Mountain and Terminal…

  • 1,2,3,4 SBW Kick off parties!

    Bean
    12 May 2012 | 3:47 am
    Slip Shot Espresso Stout The 4th annual Seattle Beer Week started off with a bang and FOUR kick off parties! Ed and I started our night out at the Elysian for the Mayor’s proclamation and the tapping of the official 2012 Seattle Beer Week beer, the Elysian Slip Shot Espresso Stout.  We had are unofficial start to Seattle Beer Week with a bottle of Slip Shot with our lunch earlier that day, but I am a sucker for a fresh brew and this Washington stout didn’t disappoint on tap. Pyramid Brewery The second kick off party took place at Pyramid Brewery. Brewers, beer lovers and beer…

  • Seattle Beer Week Royalty – Elysian Split Shot

    Vivian
    10 May 2012 | 6:22 pm
    The official brew for Seattle Beer Week 2012 . . . Split Shot Espresso Milk Stout brewed by Elysian Brewing Co. Elysian Split Shot - The chosen one for Seattle Beer Week What?  A stout – a beer style that is more malty than hoppy.   Has hell frozen over here in the state of Washington?  Up to now the official Seattle Beer Week beers have focused on hops, not malt, reflecting what  seems to be the overwhelming preference for hoppy beers in this part of the country.   I say “thank you!”. Despite the fact that I live in the Pacific Northwest, my palate does not enjoy the…

  • Seattle Beer Week 2012

    Bean
    10 May 2012 | 6:16 am
    Beer lovers from around the country are descending upon Seattle to celebrate the best beer week. Today marks the beginning of the 4th annual Seattle Beer Week. From now until May 20, 2012 you can find all sorts of events celebrating beer. These beer events range from brewer nights to classes to Mother’s Day brunches to competitions to crazy parties. Beer is definitely the star of the week but has a great line up of co-stars like cheese, cider, BBQ, oysters, whiskey and wine! It doesn’t matter what type of beer you like or don’t like, there is a beer event for you. If you are a sour beer…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    I Drink Your Wine

  • 3 May 2012 | 1:35 am

    Dan McCool
    3 May 2012 | 1:35 am
    It is with great pleasure that I announce the revival of idrinkyourwine.com. Tomorrow I will be doing a video interview with rock star Washington winemaker Charlie “The Wine Boss” Hoppes of Fidelitas Wines. Charlie Hoppes I did a tasting with him a few days ago and must say I was very impressed with the wines made from fruit coming out of the Boushey, Champoux and Ciel de Cheval vineyards. This interview will focus on the man behind the wines, his background, preferences and philosophy of wine making… TweetFacebookLinkedInTumblrStumbleDiggDelicious

  • Musings

    Dan McCool
    7 Nov 2011 | 2:04 pm
    A little change is always good. So in the spirit of revitalizing I Drink Your Wine, I am adding this new section called “Musings”. Some would call it a blog,  and I suppose in some ways it is. But blog is such a harsh sounding word, like someone just spewed a bunch of words on the page for the sake of content. “Musings” rolls lovingly off the tongue, conveying a sense of eloquence, an appreciation for the power of words, a personal narrative in which the journey is the destination, with a blatant disregard for run-on sentences. The dictionary defines musing as…

  • Terroirism

    Dan McCool
    12 Aug 2010 | 2:14 am
    Last Saturday I was lucky enough to be invited to a very different sort of wine event. The fine folks at Walla Faces sponsored a lecture/tour/tasting focusing on the four terroirs to be found in the Walla Walla AVA. It began with a very informative and entertaining slideshow/lecture by Dr. Kevin Pogue, head of the geology dept at Whitman College, explaining the Missoula Floods and how it essentially created the Walla Walla Valley and the various terroirs. Then we got on a bus and headed out to four different vineyards (Walla Faces, Leonetti, Cayuse, and Seven Hills), each representative of…

  • Mercer Estates, Prosser, WA

    Dan McCool
    20 Jul 2010 | 10:44 am
    I recently visited Mercer Estates in Prosser, WA and chatted with Jenna Hannan, Director of Hospitality. Relatively new, Mercer Estates is a delightful facility with cool and comfortable barrel stave furniture on the patio (built by the wine maker’s 16 year old son) and a more refined finish on the interior. Definitely check out the vintage black and white photos of the Mercers and the Hogues that adorn the walls. They do things a little differently at Mercer, beginning with the tasting options. You have a choice of either tasting at the bar or doing a sit down tasting flight at the…

  • Aviation Festival Weekend – Walla Walla Regional Airport

    Dan McCool
    21 Jul 2009 | 2:04 am
    Wow, is this cool or what! An actual B-17 bomber, the Sentimental Journey, is coming to Walla Walla, WA the weekend of July 31-August 2. It is coming courtesy of the Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing and is part of a larger event taking place at the airport called the Aviation Festival Weekend. Many of the businesses at the airport are taking part, including the wineries, the brewery, the bakery, the coffee shop and the art galleries. There will also be food vendors, music and other activities for the whole family. Be sure and get your “Passport” stamped to be eligible for the…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Jeff Leve | The Wine Cellar Insider Bordeaux Wine

  • Haut Marbuzet St. Estephe, Henri Duboscq

    Jeff Leve
    15 May 2012 | 1:50 pm
    To read tasting notes on the wines of Chateau Haut Marbuzet . From 1982 to 1990, Haut Marbuzet was on top of their game as they produced outstanding Bordeaux wine. The wines which showed well young were opulent, lush, oaky and filled with soft, ripe fruit. And the best thing was, they were always fairly priced. While their wines remain well priced, the quality seems to have slipped since the 1990 vintage. Haut Marbuzet has a long history in the St. Estephe appellation. The chateau found the inspiration for their name from the sector they reside in, Marbuzet. Haut Marbuzet was established by…

  • Pairing Asian Cuisine with Wine, from the Asian Viewpoint

    Jeff Leve
    15 May 2012 | 12:44 pm
      Asian Cuisine Paired with Wine Can Cantonese Food Really Be Paired With Wine? Written by Wine Times HK – www.winetimeshk.blogspot.com Red wine has always been favoured over white wine in Hong Kong mainly because red wines, especially Bordeaux holds more perceived prestige than white wines. The same thing can be said about Rhone wine, as well red wines from California or other famous regions. Also because, traditionally, that has always been the style of wine local Chinese people have preferred. There is now, however, a trend moving (albeit slowly) toward drinking more white wines,…

  • 2011 Haut Brion, La Mission Haut Brion Classically Styled

    Jeff Leve
    15 May 2012 | 9:26 am
      Haut Brion Jean Philppe Delmas   If you want to read about the white wines from Haut Brion in 2011: 2011 Haut Brion Blanc, Potential Wine of the Vintage   For wealthy wine collectors who found 2009 Haut Brion and 2009 La Mission Haut Brion too much for their taste, the fresher, less concentrated, lower in alcohol 2011 wines will probably be of interest to them. Fortunately, and wisely, the trend of pricing La Mission Haut Brion at the same price as Haut Brion was not followed in 2011.   2011 Haut-Brion From a blend of 46.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34.8% Merlot and 18.9%…

  • 2011 Haut Brion Blanc, Potential Wine of the Vintage

    Jeff Leve
    15 May 2012 | 9:08 am
    2011 Bordeaux has its ups and downs.  The vintage is a classic year.  However, a few wines transcend the vintage.  2011  Haut Brion Blanc is in my view, the best white of the vintage and it could be argued, it’s the best wine of the vintage. It was that special. If you want to read about the red wines from Haut Brion in 2011: 2011 Haut Brion, La Mission Haut Brion Classically Styled 2011 Chateau Haut Brion Blanc  -  Blending 57.9% Semillon and 42.1% Sauvignon Blanc, produced a wine that reached 14.4% alcohol and will be aged in 50% new oak. – Wake up in the morning, grab a…

  • 2011 Valandraud 4 in a row from Jean Luc Thunevin, Murielle

    Jeff Leve
    9 May 2012 | 9:24 am
      2011 Valandraud Since Murielle Andraud became responsible for the wines of Valandraud, they have been a roll with their St. Emilion wines. 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 are all strong efforts. Produced from an assemblage of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the wine will be aged in 100% new oak and reached 14.5% alcohol. From yields that average of 32.5 hectoliters per hectare, the wine is deep in color with licorice, black cherry, smoke and oak scents that open to a finesse style of Valandraud. Lush in texture, the wine ends with an opulent, sweet, ripe black cherry finish. 93-95 Pts…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Passionista

  • Wine Punting Demo

    Wine Passionista
    15 May 2012 | 9:44 am
    On a recent wine trip to the beautiful region of Istria in Croatia, fellow wine blogger Donald Edwards, showed us the art of Wine Punting:  drinking wine out of the punt of an empty wine bottle. Always up for anything, Joe Wadsack joined in and so did winemaker of Roxanich wines, Mladen Rozanic – not [...]

  • The World’s Most Talented Winemaker!

    Wine Passionista
    10 May 2012 | 4:59 am
    Naked Wines is without doubt one of the most innovative retailers in the UK (they’ve won awards to prove it).  They recently introduced their most ambitious competition to date: #ZerotoHero with the goal of “Unearthing the world’s most talented, undiscovered winemakers” – a big task for sure! Over 6 months, 6 tastings, covering 6 winemaking [...]

  • A Wine that’s Got Talent!

    Wine Passionista
    7 May 2012 | 1:43 pm
    You may not know this about me, but I’m a sucker for singing and talent competitions – X Factor, American Idol, the Voice UK, Britain’s Got Talent – I love them all (and thanks, perhaps, to Simon Cowell’s genius, it seems there is one or more of these shows on television in the UK 365 [...]

  • The Art of Non-Vintage Champagne

    Wine Passionista
    15 Apr 2012 | 5:30 am
    “Champagne! In success you deserve it; in defeat you need it” ~ Winston Churchill. There is no doubt in my mind that there’s magic in a glass of Champagne.  My belief was strengthened recently at a dinner hosted by Jacquart Champagne where we delved into the intricacies of creating the ‘house-style’ Non-Vintage blend. Each year [...]

  • Italian Wine from Piedmont: Michele Chiarlo

    Wine Passionista
    5 Apr 2012 | 12:20 pm
    I’m very fortunate to be invited to lots of lovely dinners and fun wine events, but it’s not very often that they come to me! That’s what happened yesterday when a good friend and former colleague brought a visiting wine producer round to the flat for a tasting.  The visit reminded me of some of [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Life of Vines

  • California Wine Club: Month 1

    Marie
    8 May 2012 | 1:28 pm
        I was recently asked to participate in a 3-month Premier Club gift membership (a $150.00 value) from the California Wine Club and write about my experience. Having not previously belonged to any Wine Clubs, I am eager to see what wine surprises the next 3 months will bring!   The wines for Month 1 featured the Fess Parker Winery. Fess was a successful actor back in the day, best known for his roles as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone. The Premier Club shipment came with 2 bottles, the 2010 Parker Station Pinot Noir (retail ~$12) and the 2010 Fess Parker Riesling Santa…

  • A True Expression of Barossa Shiraz?

    Marie
    25 Apr 2012 | 2:42 pm
    This is the kind of red I liked to drink with a hearty meal after a hard day’s work in the wood, but you don’t have to be a woodcutter to enjoy it.  Slàinte mhath,  Winemaker David Powell Given the challenge to find a Barossa for under $30, I trekked out to my local wine shops and found many above this price point. WineStone in Chestnut Hill had this Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz for $23 so I grabbed a bottle.   David Powell has a passionate belief in the Barossa Valley which he mixes with a love of Rhone wines and varietals. Torbreck is named for a Scottish…

  • How to Wine Riot: A simple guide

    Marie
    22 Apr 2012 | 10:38 am
        Prepping for the Wine Riot requires training similar to planning for any endurance event. In order to be in optimal shape for swirling and sipping your way through 4 hours of wine soaked fun, here are the recommended steps to ensure you make your way through the whole event injury free.   Prior to Wine Riot Day:   Download Mobile App. With 250 possible wines to taste, you’ll need to plan your attack well and this app is amazing! I wish all big wine events came with something similar. Booths will corresponding numbers and what wines will be served are laid out for…

  • Earth Day 2012: sustainable, organic, biodynamic, natural … what does it all mean?

    Marie
    16 Apr 2012 | 5:45 pm
        Thanks to wine.com for sending along this infographic in honor of Earth Day! To delve further, I recommend picking up Alice Feiring’s book Naked Wine: Letting Grapes Do What Comes Naturally  
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    WineZag

  • Domaine Serene and Chardonnay Tales

    adamjapko
    15 May 2012 | 6:32 am
    Chardonnay remains a tale of two worlds.  One way to consider that proposition is by pondering the polarized old and new world style profiles.  But even setting continental divides aside, the two tales of Chardonnay remain conflicted inside the US.  I was reminded of this when the folks at Harvest PR & Marketing got in touch with me during their work on the inaugural release of Domaine Serene 2010 Evenstad Reserve Chardonnay. We had a discussion based on, among a few other things, these questions: Are you familiar with Domaine Serene? How often do you drink Chardonnay, and for what…

  • Blind Tasting 2009 Bordeaux Value

    adamjapko
    10 May 2012 | 7:11 am
    The wines hidden inside brown paper bags came from Fronsac, Castillon, and the Haut Medoc. There were two token wines, one from St. Julien and the other St. Emilion.  The most expensive bottle of 2009 Bordeaux in the lineup was $33 retail, insuring that the evening’s foundation would be poured and hardened sans pedigree. Besides a good look at the vintage’s character, our Boston blind tasting group was poised to hunt value outside the boldly priced classified growths of the undisputed stellar 2009 Bordeaux release. Great Bordeaux vintages used to be easy to deal with.  Buy the…

  • Wine Blogging and Parenting

    adamjapko
    6 May 2012 | 6:15 am
    WineZag was conceived three years ago this week. Happy Birthday to it! In a related side fact, my two amazing sons are now 21 and 18 years respectively.  With identical veracity, I anticipate the blog’s birthdays as keenly as the boys’ red letter days. Plowing into WineZag’s fourth year of wine content creation, the connections between parenting and wine blogging unfurled themselves in an endless stream of affinities. How can something as virtual as a blog offer any similarities to the iron clad parent/child relationship?  If you consider 76 million Tamagotchis (that…

  • Wine Blogging Wednesday #76 Wrap Up: Barossa Boomerang

    adamjapko
    27 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    The wines and writers came out from Down Under for Wine Blogging Wednesday 76, celebrating the Barossa Boomerang; a recovery of Australian wine sales in North America.  Ardent Australian juice fans, real time Barossa wine travelers, Aussie wine drinkers on multi-year hiatuses, curiosity seekers, and value chasers all weighed in.  Great insights into the region were shared, and specific wines under $30 have been recommended. It was great fun instigating this up close and personal Barossa (re?)inspection. Hosting and theming #WBW76 had its rewards, especially since I also once turned my back…

  • Rolf Binder’s 1996 Veritas Cabernet Sauvignon

    adamjapko
    25 Apr 2012 | 5:04 am
    How does Barossa cabernet sauvignon age?  Here’s some insight based on only one example; $29.99 Rolf Binder’s 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon from his Veritas Winery.  While the question deserves more exhaustive tasting with full sets of wines, this was a telling experiment using just one cabernet from a top Barossa winery. WINE BLOGGING WEDNESDAY 76: BAROSSA BOOMERANG While admittedly contributing, in my own small way, to the statistical decline of Australian wine retail sales and imports in the US, I simultaneously ignored a small section of mid 1990′s Australian cabernet…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    WINEpiphany

  • Wines of Chile – Tasting of Coastal Whites

    Anthony Burich
    7 May 2012 | 6:25 pm
    I was recently invited by Wines of Chile to take part in a tasting of coastal Chilean white wines.  Provided to sample were eight wines – five Sauvignon Blancs, three Chardonnays, from four distinct valleys in Chile. Casa Silva Cool Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Colchagua Valley Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Casablanca Valley Cono Sur Visión Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Casablanca Valley Viña Casablanca Nimbus Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Casablanca Valley Veramonte Ritual Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Casablanca Valley Santa Rita Medalla Real Chardonnay 2010 Leyda Valley De…

  • Images of 2012 Passport to Dry Creek Valley

    Anthony Burich
    2 May 2012 | 4:09 pm
    Passport to Dry Creek Valley is an annual event of wine, food, and entertainment.  Passport was introduced in 1990, with the purpose of promoting the vineyards and wineries of Dry Creek Valley.  The event has exponentially grown in subsequent years, with 50 wineries participating in this years event.  Many wineries team up with local restaurants and caterers, providing fare that complements the individual wines served. Here is an excellent recap of the history of Dry Creek Valley. This is a fabulous event, especially as attendance is capped, ensuring a terrific time for all.  Here’s…

  • Château Malmaison Baronne Nadine de Rothschild 2005 Moulis-en-Médoc

    Anthony Burich
    9 Apr 2012 | 4:09 pm
    Château Malmaison Baronne Nadine de Rothschild Moulis-en-Médoc 2005 14.0% ABV | Price: $25 Châteu Malmaison is a value play, producing solid Bordeaux at a very attractive price year after year.  With the 2005 vintage in Bordeaux being lauded as classic, I had high hopes for getting some serious quality for my dollar. In 1973 Baron Edmond de Rothschild purchased Châteu Malmaison which at that time consisted of a decaying winery and 24 hectares of neglected vineyard.  Between 1974 and 1978, the winery was renovated and vineyard replanted to approximately 67% Merlot and 33% Cabernet…

  • Review – Four Vines 2010 Naked Chardonnay

    Anthony Burich
    31 Mar 2012 | 6:33 pm
    Four Vines Naked Chardonnay, Santa Barbara 2010 13.9% ABV | Price: $12* Four Vines Winery is primarily known for big, bold Zinfandels – in fact, this is the only white wine on their long roster.  Fruit is sourced from Los Alamos, Loma Verde, and El Camino Vineyards, located in Cat Canyon, Santa Barbara.  Whole cluster pressed then fermented and aged in stainless steel, hence “Naked”.  In addition to no oak, naked also means no malolactic fermentation, preserving the wine’s brightness and zippy acidity. Screw-cap closure.  Pale yellow color.  Fragrant aromas of…

  • Review – Williams Selyem 2007 Sonoma County Pinot Noir

    Anthony Burich
    22 Mar 2012 | 3:48 pm
    Williams Selyem Pinot Noir, Sonoma County 2007 13.8% ABV | Price: $34 Williams Selyem, iconic Healdsburg CA winery, was founded by Burt Williams and Ed Selyem.  They produced limited production Pinot Noir using sourced fruit from equally iconic vineyards.  Most was sold to friends and local restaurants/markets.  After their 1985 vintage won the California State Fair “Sweepstakes”, increased demand resulted in creation of “The List” – basically a list of customers who would be lucky enough to receive an allocation of their wine.  There was a wait-list to get…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Videos | BoozeMonkey

  • Fortified Wine : The Sip Of The Century

    8 May 2012 | 3:46 am
    From the episode "Liquid Gold", Mark Davidson tastes 100 year old port with James Godfrey at Seppeltsfield. Has anyone tried this? Is it as good as Mark says? ...watch the video on BoozeMonkey NOW!

  • d'Arenberg McLaren Vale Stump Jump Shiraz

    7 May 2012 | 9:19 am
    James Melendez in California with a short video about McLaren Vale producer d'Arenberg's Stump Jump Shiraz. Nice job, James! ...watch the video on BoozeMonkey NOW!

  • Grenache and the Grill

    1 May 2012 | 4:12 am
    From the episode The Heartbreaker and the Underdog, Mark Davidson, Wine Educator, talks with Brian Walsh at Yalumba about the century-old roots of grenache, the process by which its made, the description of flavors and aromas and the recommended food pairings. ...watch the video on BoozeMonkey NOW!

  • Wine Trade Needs Non-Industry Experts

    25 Apr 2012 | 3:02 am
    The wine trade will be healthier for listening to experts outside the industry on how to better engage with consumers online, thats according to one expert. Helen McGinn, ex-Tesco buyer turned consultant, blogger and soon-to-be-published author, believes, the more that we can listen to people that ...watch the video on BoozeMonkey NOW!

  • Eagle Vale Estate

    24 Apr 2012 | 2:51 pm
    Eagle Vale - it's what's up the the wines down under.... Driven by a passion, influenced by a dream, Margaret River became the perfect lotion for Steve Jacobs dream to become a reality. Eagle Vale is situated just south of the Margaret River township, in the South Western corner of Western Australia. ...watch the video on BoozeMonkey NOW!
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Enobytes

  • Chill’n with Chilean Whites

    Pamela Heiligenthal
    15 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    The Wines of Chile recently hosted an online tasting to promote Chile’s leading white wine varietals. This was another one of those virtual tastings I’ve talked about in the past and although this one was specifically hosted for bloggers, many events such as this showcase the value of social media to share opinions and tasting [...]

  • The Grand Tour–A Wine Spectator Event of Excellence

    Marc Hinton
    14 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Last week I had the pleasure of attending my very first Wine Spectator event. Having been a fan of the publication for several decades I thought it would be fun to experience an event put on by a group who many wine enthusiasts consider the best at reviewing wines. Their publication not only receives more [...]

  • Zagat Seeks Diners to Vote on Portland Restaurants

    enobytes
    13 May 2012 | 3:01 pm
    Looking to tout that great meal you had last week? Want to warn a fellow foodie about lackluster service? Vote now in Zagat’s Portland Restaurants survey by visiting here for your chance to be quoted in Zagat’s annual reviews. Zagat believes that the combined opinions of thousands of avid consumers are inherently more accurate than [...]

  • Grand Cru Story Shortlisted for the 2012 Born Digital Awards

    Pamela Heiligenthal
    11 May 2012 | 2:01 am
    The shortlist for the 2012 Born Digital Awards was just announced and considering the tough competition across the globe, I am humbled that my story, ‘Has the term ‘California Grand Cru’ Gone too Far?’ was shortlisted in the Best Investigative Wine Story category. The winners will be announced on May 23 at the London International [...]

  • 2009 Mapema Mendoza Argentina Malbec

    Marc Hinton
    9 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    We tasted this wine as part of Malbec Day, a worthwhile promotion that I wholeheartedly support and will look forward to for many years to come. I was excited to taste this wine as I had tried their Tempranillo from 2005 a while back and thought it was really good too. It seems Mapema is [...]
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    50 States of Wine - A Wine Blog

  • Tuesday Tasting: The Long Road Shiraz

    15 May 2012 | 7:09 am
    Eden Road Wines, Australia The Long Road Shiraz 2010 $21.25 (Media Sample) From the screw-top closure to the understated labels, Eden Road Wines appears to want to do things the right way. The wine continues the simple yet good philosophy - definitely not a fruit bomb, this is a well-balanced wine to savor with or without food, showing just enough fruit, with smooth tannins and acidity creating a luscious mouth feel. One to search for. Like 50 States Of Wine on Facebook Follow 50 States Of Wine on Twitter

  • Eden Road Wines, Australia

    14 May 2012 | 7:45 am
    A new wave of Australian wines is erasing decade-old perceptions of wine from Down Under as being “big and fruity” with high alcohol content, and supplanting that stereotype with varietals that are much subtler and more elegant. Leading the way are wines grown in cool climate, high-country regions such as Canberra where vintners like Eden Road Wines are exporting Shiraz brands including their Long Road, Gundagai and Hilltops to restaurants and wine shops. Eden Road is the winemaking team of Nick Spencer and Hamish Young, who have set out to create a unique style of wines from high…

  • The Secret to Enjoying Good Wine

    10 May 2012 | 6:57 am
    The Secret to Enjoying Good Wine: 1. Open the bottle and allow it to breathe.  2. If it looks like it's not breathing,  give it mouth-to-mouth. Like 50 States Of Wine on Facebook Follow 50 States Of Wine on Twitter

  • Wine Cruise

    9 May 2012 | 7:32 am
    A fun press release came my way recently, about a wine cruise happening here in the Midwest this fall: For the first time, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Wine Club Cruises and Buena Vista Winery  have come together to host the Great American Wines Cruise this fall. Cruise participants will have the opportunity to relive the history of wine in America and taste over 50 great wines as they cruise down the Mississippi River from aboard the Great American Steamboat Company’s American Queen. “This is a wonderful opportunity for guests to learn about American Wine history from the experts,”…

  • Tuesday Tasting: Reggiano Lambrusco Rosso Dulce

    8 May 2012 | 7:01 am
    Le Grotte Reggiano Lambrusco Rosso Dulce $4.99 (purchased at Trader Joe’s) This Rosso Dolce (sweet red) is a sparkling wine made with the Lambrusco grape. Mild acidity, plenty of berry flavors, and a light effervescence make this sweet sipper lots of fun to drink. With a low alcohol content of 8.5%, this is a refreshing tipple—I think this would be a perfect Sangria base. Like 50 States Of Wine on Facebook Follow 50 States Of Wine on Twitter
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Vint-ed

  • Sips: Celebrity wines, for better or worse

    Vint-ed
    11 May 2012 | 5:26 pm
    Do celebrities make better wines? Would you be more likely to buy a wine if a celebrity were associated with it? I explore these questions in my column this week on MSNBC.com. The occasion is Drew Barrymore's debut in the wine business and the release of her first wine, a pinot grigio. How does it stack up? I put it to the (taste) test and take a look at some of the actors, athletes and other celebrities who have been bitten by the wine bug. Click here to read.

  • Swirls: The ultimate dumb wine story pitch

    Vint-ed
    24 Apr 2012 | 11:41 am
    Like most wine writers, I often receive dozens of story proposals a day. They range from those that are well-conceived and researched and convey an understanding of the wines being represented and my own interests, to those that are little more than blast emails replete with gushing descriptions and elaborate, company-supplied “tasting notes.” Then there is the pitch I got recently from Savona Communications inviting me to what was billed as “Behind-the-Scenes Media Day” at the Ultimate Wine Challenge. The Challenge is is an annual event here in New York in which a panel of judges,…

  • Sips: Chardonnays that come alive when blended, plus a southern French “classic”

    Vint-ed
    3 Apr 2012 | 11:36 am
    In case you missed my current “Weekend Wines” column on MSNBC.com, I’m linking here to my piece on Domaine du Tariquet and how this winery in southwest France is making some exciting chardonnay-based blends. They’re good examples of what a large, commercial winery can do in the $10-$15 range. After I  wrote about these wines, I also tasted Tariquet’s 2010 Classic, a zippy blend of colombard and ugni blanc, which remains a top under-$10 quaffing white that is a must-have for warm-weather drinking and for fish and shellfish. Rating: VERY GOOD. Imported by Robert Kacher…

  • Quick Sips: 2009 Naked Earth Red, Vin dePays d’Oc

    Vint-ed
    2 Apr 2012 | 7:47 pm
    “Organic” has become a strong marketing tool, and the top of the label on this $12 red blend from Languedoc trumpets the fact that the wine is “made with organically grown grapes.” Desipte a dumbed-down approach – the wine’s origin is described as “South of France” -- this is a decent blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, grenache and carignan. There’s good tannic structure to support the black cherry and blueberry tastes, which lead to a milk-chocolaty finish. I can see it being served in those smaller bottles on flights, in coach, from the U.S. to France. Rating: GOOD.

  • Quick Sips: Picket Fence 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir

    Vint-ed
    2 Apr 2012 | 7:20 pm
    Finding standout California pinot noir under $20 is a real challenge, and this $18 wine proves the point. Oak is heavy handed here and dominates the equation, providing spice, as the back label suggests, but barely permitting a cherry note to come through. Generic. Rating: FAIR. Received as a press sample. del.icio.us Tags: Picket Fence Pinot Noir,Edwad Deitch,Russian River Valley pinot noir,Sonoma pinot noir,Wines under $20,California pinot noir
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Wine'dUp - Wine Blog

  • Where to get free wine storage

    Matthew
    12 May 2012 | 10:24 am
    Let’s face it, most people like it when people like them. We here at The Wine’dUp are no different (especially after a couple glasses of wine). Wine is a passion that has been blissfully blabbed about by wine-o’s of all levels for thousands of years. In the spirit of that dire desire to share what we love, we are giving away free wine swag to those who “like” us on their favorite social networks, including Twitter, Google+, Facebook, Pinterest, and whatever else is out there. This month we have named Twitter and Google+ as the networks choice. Follow us on…

  • Top 100 Wine Websites

    Matthew
    3 May 2012 | 11:08 am
    Wine’d Up readers have spoken & they have selected the “Top 100 Wine Websites” on the web today! We have been surveying our readers, chatting with fellow wine-o’s at our favorite drink spots, and shoulder tapping wine tasters out at the wineries for the past 10 months with thousands of submissions.   While surfing the web and reading about our favorite subject, wine, watch for this seal… When you see this seal you will know that you are at one of the most reputable and well liked wine websites in the world! We are taking new votes every day. Use the…

  • Do You Need Wine Insurance?

    Matthew
    20 Apr 2012 | 4:29 pm
    Guest Post by Rachael at MoneySupermarket.Com (Matthew): I have to be honest, when Rachael first approached us about writing this article, I knew nothing about wine insurance. I assumed that if something were to happen to my home everything in it would be covered under a standard policy. As Rachael explains, that isn’t necessarily true. Which reminded my of a day several years ago when I had thousands of dollars of equipment stolen out of my car only to have my insurance company say, “oh, your trunk isn’t included in your insurance unless you pay extra!” Well, I would…

  • DeLille Cellars Offers a Feast of Sensational Flavors

    Matthew
    15 Apr 2012 | 10:47 am
    Collaboration by Matthew Delaney and Sarah Meadows Samples received courtesy of DeLille Cellars for review purposes While working on a project last year with Ed Leard at WineMatch.Com, who has toured wineries all up and down the West Coast, I had the extraordinary luck of inheriting some of his knowledge about local wines. It’s hard to believe it has been eight months since he first introduced me to DeLille Cellars by praising Chris Upchurch as WineMaker of the Year and Greg Lill as the best person to know in Washington wine. Then came my first taste. I dream of someday making wine of…

  • How Wine is Made – Special Infographic

    Matthew
    13 Apr 2012 | 12:20 pm
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Folly

  • Zero Waste Wineries Appeal to Spirit and Cocktail Lovers

    madelinep
    14 May 2012 | 12:30 pm
    There are many ways a winery can be ‘green’ however, the idea of a zero-waste cellar hasn’t caught on…yet. In a zero-waste winery the excess waste that happens normally is distilled down to brandy, grappa or used in other wine based products(such as vermouth). Distilled spirits like brandy and vermouth are growing in popularity in the cocktail community, and there’s a demand for unique products. Here’s a few wineries that are using the zero-waste winery ideology and making amazing new wine-based drinks.Turning what would be waste into fine spirits and…

  • T.G.I. Wine Haikus

    Chad
    11 May 2012 | 1:14 pm
    We’ve been silly before with Madeline Licking Rocks and Drinking Bad Wine. Here are a few wine haikus to get you through the day and make you look forward to the moment you’ll have your lips smacking on a glass of wine. 1 bottle couple, You will never know true love like 3 box couple Tastes like old socks I say “too Old World to drink” You say not enough foot   Tastes like chainsaw smoke You say interesting finish I pour something else   Hot crowded party Put out grapes, soft cheese, and wine Everybody poops  Nice purple teeth, hot shot why don’t…

  • Wine Courses, Site Update, and Business Goals

    JustinH
    9 May 2012 | 3:44 pm
    Ta’da, Wine Folly has a new look. Pretty slick eh?Last month we had our first big meeting with all the founders. And.. by all the founders, I mean the three troublemakers who keep this boat afloat (Madeline, Justin, Chad). At the meeting we talked about what we were building, what our values were, and how best we can help new wine drinkers discover great wine. (Because seriously, no first time wine drinker should have to run the gauntlet at a supermarket.) We also dug through a bunch of analytics, reviewed our goals and talked about the upcoming wine courses..New Site DesignIn…

  • How Buying Wine Compares To Buying Cars

    JustinH
    7 May 2012 | 12:35 pm
    We decided to create the practical consumers guide to understanding wine pricing in terms of car models. Everyone understands pricing and prestige in terms of rolling hunks of metal(aka cars), but not everyone understands the value of different wines. Let’s face it, buying wine is hard, really hard. With over 7,600 wineries in the USA alone, that make at least 5 different wines a year along with the rest of the world… that’s hundreds of thousands of wines released every year!Wines Are Not Created EqualWe know not all wines are created equal. But does that really mean a $50…

  • The Champagne Spoon Trick Works.. If You Believe in Magic

    madelinep
    4 May 2012 | 12:42 pm
    The question is simple Does a spoon in a bottle of Champagne preserve the bubbles? The technique of the Champagne spoon trick is to put the handle of a spoon (a silver spoon to be exact) into an open bottle to preserve the bubbles. This theory has actually been tested by Stanford, Vins de Champagne and a few other seemingly credible resources, but no one agrees on whether or not the Champagne spoon trick really works.A Champagne spoon by Ruinart looks pretty but even they admit it doesn't workStanford tested this in 1994 and said Yes it’s true.Vins de Champagnes tested it in an…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Pure Luxury Wine Tours

  • Wake Up with Some of Napa’s Best Breakfasts

    Carey Sweet
    14 May 2012 | 12:23 pm
    Perhaps you’re still recovering from a mammoth Mother’s Day breakfast. The kitchen may still be in shambles from the kids doing their best to whip up an eye-opening feast. Now, it’s time to turn to the experts, the restaurant professionals in Napa who know their way around an eggbeater and pastry oven, and have their own staff to clean up the plates when all is done. In fact, one of our favorite ways to spend a day is in Napa, relaxing at one of the many excellent breakfast spots, then taking a leisurely hike in the beautiful mountainside parks before heading out for an afternoon of…

  • Snatch Up Your Savings on Sonoma Wine Country Weekend

    Carey Sweet
    3 May 2012 | 8:26 pm
    There’s a reason that every event at the annual Sonoma Wine Country Weekend sells out so quickly. For the three non-stop days of food, wine and reveling at spectacular venues across Sonoma County, thousands of guests come from around the country and even around the world to celebrate winemaker dinners, lunches, winery barbecues, a grand tasting and an elaborate all-day auction party and feast. Yet here’s a valuable tip. The event organizers have set aside something extra special, exclusively for Sonoma residents. A limited number of tickets have just gone on sale, destined only for Sonoma…

  • Make an Entire Day of Mother’s Day

    Carey Sweet
    24 Apr 2012 | 12:24 pm
    All Moms Love a Limo Ride Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 13, and it will be here before you know it. What are you going to do to celebrate the occasion this year? Mom may tell you “she doesn’t need a thing, don’t go to any fuss,” but of course you know she’s secretly hoping you put on a show. It’s easy to plan something memorable. One favorite idea is to rent a limousine, and stock it with flowers, and sparkling wine or sparkling ciders. You can pick mom up at her door, and continue on to pick up any other family members at their homes, too. Perhaps she wants to visit…

  • ZuZu Restaurant Has Lots to Celebrate in Napa

    Carey Sweet
    15 Apr 2012 | 3:32 pm
    The last thing anyone wants to wonder about when they’re enjoying a great meal in a restaurant is whether an earthquake might rattle the dishes. But this is California, after all, and let’s face it, such things have been known to happen. Thanks to the just completed renovation of ZuZu in Napa, however, we don’t have to wonder whether a tremor will tumble our tapas plates. Not that there were really any worries, but it’s good to know that the building on Main and 2nd streets has completed a seismic retrofit, rendering the historical building completely stable. And just in time for…

  • Ramekins Offers Retreats Including Private Dinner at French Laundry

    Carey Sweet
    5 Apr 2012 | 1:06 pm
    Ramekins Rather than wax poetic about how mouthwatering the new Culinary Retreats are from Ramekins in Sonoma, let’s just let the itinerary do that talking, shall we? Here’s one way your week could line up when you participate in the recently unveiled opportunities for insider access to the heart of California’s culinary Mecca (that’s Sonoma/Napa, of course). Ramekins Culinary School, Events & Inn, near the Sonoma Plaza, has put together packages exploring the area’s farms and gardens, cooking classes, entry to some of the most coveted cult wineries including Opus One and…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine Catz

  • 5 Reasons Why You Should Join a Wine Club

    The Catz
    15 May 2012 | 6:02 pm
    Wine Club? You bet! What could be better than a small army wine professionals traveling the world picking out the best wines in the categories you select? It is a leap of faith to hand over your hard earned money to a stranger for wine selections, sure. But if your experience is anything like ours has been you will be glad you did. Here are five reasons that joining a (good) wine club is worth it. 1. Wine clubs allow you to experience a much larger array of wines than your local store, or even wine shop, may have. If, like us, you live far from any large wine shops a wine club is a godsend. A…

  • Bouquet of Gasoline a Good Thing?

    Judy
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:50 pm
    I just read a review of a highly rated wine that smelled of, and I quote, “petrol and old parchment with a hint of waxiness.” Oh wow. Sign me up for a bottle of that… Not. I know some wine lovers feel that a wine like Riesling’s ability to morph flavors from fruit and flowers to gasoline and floor wax is a positive thing, but don’t count me among them. I like my whites fresh and fruity, and hope that my palate never becomes jaded enough to go pleasure hunting in the garage for new experiences. Nor would you think that touting the fact that the bottle of wine you…

  • 2009 Ex Umbris Syrah

    Craig
    19 Jan 2012 | 8:09 pm
    Christmas is a season for surprises for sure, but not all come from under the tree. The Catz had their traditional prime rib roast for Christmas dinner and the surprise was the wine I took a chance on, Ex Umbris  2009 Syrah. Well… OK… maybe not a big chance as Wine Spectator rated it #25 in their highly regarded top 100 list and gave it a solid 93 points. This is one of those special wines that are equally good with food as they are when accompanied by just you and a glass. This Syrah is a bold wine with rich fruit with smokey under tones. What we found exceptional about this…

  • Wine Time

    The Catz
    4 Jan 2012 | 3:49 pm
    Ok, these are really funny. Once you watch one, you’ll want to know what Marissa Ross thinks of all the wines she swigs.

  • Sofia Rosé 2010 by Francis Ford Coppola Winery

    Judy
    31 Dec 2011 | 6:35 pm
    Craig and Judy (collectively, the Catz) had a fine time this summer exploring rosé wines from all over the globe. We learned that we really, really love rosé, and are a bit miffed at wine distributors, sellers, or whatever powers that be, that, if pinkish wines are to appear on local shelves at all, choose unworthy white zins and the like. Summer waned and our focus wandered to wintery reds. But we weren’t quite ready to stop drinking rosé. In fact, we rather disagree with the common thought that rosé is a summer wine. We think that rosé is a wine to bridge all seasons. Lovely for…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Jacksonville Wine Guide

  • Jacksonville King Street Farmers Market – Every Wednesday.

    Kris
    15 May 2012 | 7:48 am
    The Jacksonville King Street Farmers Market is a great addition to Riverside! Definitely worth checking out!

  • Study Finds that Great Wine Tasters are Born that Way!

    Kris
    14 May 2012 | 11:11 am
        Is an ability to taste wine come from our DNA? A  new study has concluded that certain individuals are born with a heightened sensitivity that gives them the edge when it comes to tasting wine. “Wine Expertise Predicts Taste Phenotype,” by Profs. John Hayes and Gary Pickering separated over 300 participants into two groups—”wine experts,” (professionals in the wine industry), and regular consumers—and gave them a paper disk treated with drops of the chemical 6-n-propylrhioueacil (PROP). They were then asked to taste it. Some people find PROP…

  • Wine On A Plane!

    Kris
    14 May 2012 | 7:50 am
    Thinking about taking wine on a plane? Here’s a few things to consider…

  • The Problem with Wine by the Glass.

    Kris
    12 May 2012 | 1:34 pm
    BTG (or wine By-The-Glass) can be a great way to sample a few different wines in a restaurant or wine bar without committing to the whole bottle. I would like to state, though, there are a number of pitfalls, namely;… The Selection Usually Sucks. I’m mentioning this first, as I think it’s the biggest problem! A solid wine by-the-glass list is hard to come by, for a number of reasons: I don’t know of a single corporately-branded restaurant that hasn’t sold their soul to at least one wine distributor / wine brand. This can happen to different extents, with the outcome being the BTG…

  • The Only Thing Better…

    Kris
    10 May 2012 | 2:25 pm
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Nectar Tasting Room and Wine Blog

  • Spokane Nectar Wine Events May 2012

    drinknectar
    2 May 2012 | 6:31 pm
    May has to be one of my favorite months of the year! I love seeing the trees bloom and even better…most wineries are releasing NEW WINE! So, as the old saying goes, April showers bring new may wine…or something like that. Thank you again for another outstanding month. It’s becoming quite common for the first post of the month to include the phrase, “Thank you for another record breaking month!” Once again, you have outdone yourselves. April was 20% better than 2011. Let’s keep the momentum going in May with First Friday, Spring Release Weekend, a parade,…

  • Spokane Wineries to Host Spring Release Weekend

    drinknectar
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    A Mother’s Day Weekend of Wine Tasting May 11 – 13 • New hours: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. In celebration of Spring and in honor of mothers everywhere, Spokane area wineries will host a special weekend of wine tasting as part of the The Spokane Winery Association’s annual Mother’s Day Spring Release Weekend. The event runs May 11-13 during the new event hours of 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. each day at the local wineries. The event offers great reasons to visit local wineries, including wine tastings at each location and the opportunity to speak with winemakers and those passionate about wine.

  • Four Nectar Wineries Join the Spokane Wine Association

    drinknectar
    16 Apr 2012 | 5:00 pm
    Expand our food options. CHECK. Promote and expand our event space. CHECK. Promote and be known as a winery. Now…CHECK. We set out at the beginning of 2012 with three major goals. Each of these goals hopefully makes us a better destination and continues to help us better serve our amazing members and customers. We are excited to announce that four of our wineries are joining the Spokane Winery Association. With a long history of promoting great wine, the SWA now boasts 24 members including 19 from Spokane, 2 from Walla Walla, and 1 each from Lake Chelan, Benton City, and Kirkland. Wine…

  • Google, SEO, and Social Media – Get Listed

    drinknectar
    4 Apr 2012 | 8:00 am
    Google recently announced the most major transformation ever to their search algorithm and how it displays results to users. The “Search, plus your world” combines data from Google+ networks and the public internet. These changes propel Google+ into the status of major player in the social network wars for our attention. How will these changes effect search engine optimization for web sites? What does this mean from a social search strategy? These questions and more had me curious and stumped, so I turned to the person who I knew could best shine a light into the changes and their…

  • Nectar April 2012 Spokane Wine Events

    drinknectar
    3 Apr 2012 | 10:30 am
    A lion and a lamb. March was to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. April showers are supposed to be in April. Well, instead, March was ferocious from beginning to end and we accumulated a record amount of rain for the month. For Nectar, March was an amazing month, in fact it was a record month and a whole 40% busier than March 2011. The first quarter has seen the expansion of our food menu and the addition of The Barrel Room. In the next few weeks you will see another major announcement that will complete our three major areas of focus for 2012. March may have been full of mayhem but…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Latest Wine Reports - International Wine Report

  • Zepaltas Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2009

    14 May 2012 | 3:15 pm
    The 2009 Zepaltas Pinot Noir Russian River Valley doses out loads of gorgeous pinot fruit flavors like ripe black cherries, plums and mixed berries along with spice, floral, cola and hints of earthy notes. This has a really nice texture backed by firm acidity and a beautiful mouth-watering finish. Excellent! (Drink 2012-2020) - May, 2012. (JD) 92 Points

  • Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni Toscana IGT 2008

    14 May 2012 | 3:12 pm
    The 2008 Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni Toscana IGT is another hit bringing aromas and flavors of rich blackberries, vanilla, spices, cedar and dried tobacco. Full-bodied with fine grained tannins that allow the wines characteristics to carry over to the long chewy finish. This blend is composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Sangiovese. (Drink 2012-2019) - May, 2012. (JD) 90 Points

  • Poderi Aldo Conterno Dolcetto d'Alba Masante 2010

    14 May 2012 | 2:12 pm
    The 2010 Poderi Aldo Conterno Dolcetto d'Alba Masante is an old world dolcetto delivering notes of juicy cherries, licorice and mineral which make of most of this wines character. This is well made and also brings a nice fresh character as well, however it may need to flesh out just a tiny bit more. (Drink 2013-2016) - May, 2012. (JD) 87 Points

  • Puzzole Chianti Classico Banda Sonora 2006

    14 May 2012 | 1:23 pm
    The 2006 Puzzole Banda Sonora is a tasty Chianti Classico made in a modern style delivering notes is black cherries, vanilla and leather. The full body and soft and silky structure combined with the tasty finish make this wine hard not to like. (Drink 2012-2016) - May, 2012. (JD) 90 Points

  • Raventos i blanc Cava de Nit 2009

    14 May 2012 | 12:31 pm
    The 2009 Raventos i blanc Cava de Nit is a gorgeous Rosé with notes of fresh strawberries, mineral, floral, bread and sea breeze. This so so elegant and pure with a lovely crisp finish. This is one of those wines that will make you wonder why you are not drinking more of this style. (Drink 2012-2019) - May, 2012. (JD) 92 Points
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wine News | ThirstyBert

  • Asia's Evolving Taste For Wine

    3 May 2012 | 2:21 pm
    This is a fascinating article by Jeannie Cho Lee MW, one of my favourite wine writers, who offers us an insight into the difficulties presented by wine-pairing for South East Asian cuisine. No-one's suggesting it was ever as simple as the often quoted "red with meat and white with seafood" but ...read more on ThirstyBert NOW!

  • Zeppelin Barossa Valley Shiraz | Lunchtime Tipple

    30 Apr 2012 | 3:03 am
    Kym Teusner and Corey Ryan, the winemaking power behind Zeppelin in Australia's Barossa Valley, choose to use fruit from vines 60 to 80 years old, to pay homage to the Valley's rich German heritage. Kym's 2009 Zeppelin Barossa Valley Shiraz came off a single vineyard he owns in the Angaston ...read more on ThirstyBert NOW!

  • Girls, Guys, Alcohol and Testosterone

    16 Apr 2012 | 4:17 am
    You know how when guys have their first couple of drinks at the bar, they're just winding down? Then later they start to get a bit crazy? And then by 3am, coming out of the night club, they're either horny as hell (and believe they look like Brad Pitt) or they're stupid-drunk and ready to fight with ...read more on ThirstyBert NOW!

  • Wine lovers rally against cross-border sales ban

    4 Apr 2012 | 4:13 am
    Wine aficionados and wine makers came together in Ottawa on Tuesday in hopes of abolishing a decades-old rule that prevents the beverage from flowing freely across provincial lines. Supporters of Bill C-311, which would allow wine to be shipped from province to province, argued their case to ...read more on ThirstyBert NOW!

  • Mitt Romney Endorses US Wine Community?

    22 Mar 2012 | 1:10 pm
    Does Mitt Romney, contender for the US Presidency, really endorse the ThirstyBert wine community? Of course he doesn't, but the traffic this blog entry receives over the next few days and the ensuing emails will be a testament to the value of a good headline. And that is why I wanted ...read more on ThirstyBert NOW!
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    grapefriend.com

  • introducing gobby!

    grapefriend
    15 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    Lots of people will tell you that you have to drink certain wines out of certain glasses. I’ll admit drinking it out of a nice glass is cool, but I’d [...]

  • mad men: wine sold to normal people

    grapefriend
    14 May 2012 | 9:04 am
    Last night on Mad Men, they were trying to land the Manischewitz wine account. Roger explains to Ginsberg, “They make wine for Jews, and now they’re making one they want [...]

  • happy outdoor rose hour!

    grapefriend
    12 May 2012 | 6:57 pm
    2011 Wolffer Estate rose

  • this wine is fergalicious!

    grapefriend
    11 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    Add yet another celebrity who’s entering the wine biz. Fergie just announced that she’s coming out with Ferguson Crest wine, probably sometime this summer. It all came about because her [...]

  • heathers lunchtime polls begin!

    grapefriend
    10 May 2012 | 11:15 am
    If you’re anything like me, and I know you are, you think Heathers is one of the best movies ever. We could sit and quote it for the rest of [...]
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Grapelines

  • Summer Indulgences

    Lou
    10 May 2012 | 8:00 am
        A review of the Domaine du Castel Rosé 2011 and a look at the Mint Julep.   By Joshua E. London and Lou Marmon   Washington Jewish Week  May 10, 2012   There are few better summer indulgences than a glass of chilled rosé. Not the horrific, semi-sweet “white” blush wines from California that remains surprisingly popular. The rosés worth drinking are “dry,” without significant residual sugar, and display bright fruit flavors balanced with crisp acidity. They are usually created by either allowing the pressed juice to have only minimal…

  • Dietary Laws Of Separation No Barrier To Blending Wine

    Lou
    2 May 2012 | 1:13 pm
      A review of the Gvaot Gofna Chardonnay-Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 and Grand Old Parr 12 year old De Luxe Scotch Whisky.   By Joshua E. London and Lou Marmon   Washington Jewish Week  May 2, 2012   Integral to Jewish belief and religious practice is the concept of separation. Many objects, certain behaviors and even time itself are differentiated as either holy or secular and mundane. The dietary laws exclude certain foods, while demanding that some foods first be elevated from mundane to holy before they may be consumed.   Jewish law also separates milk and meat, from…

  • Science, Inspiration Play Roles In Winemaking

    Lou
    25 Apr 2012 | 6:07 pm
        Review of Bravdo Karmei Yosef Shiraz 2009 and a look at 2 Bourbon’s without an age statement, Basel Hayden and Old Grand Dad.   By Joshua E. London and Lou Marmon   Washington Jewish Week  April 25, 2012   Making wine is a marriage of nature and technology. The interaction of yeast and grapes has been investigated for centuries with the results implemented in the vineyards and wineries. But winemaking is not an exact science, and great wines are not a result of formulas or recipes. Inspiration also has its role, especially when based upon a sound scientific…

  • Spring Brings Outdoor Recreation, Rosé Wine Season

    Lou
    25 Apr 2012 | 6:40 am
        Wine recommendations for picnics and outdoor concerts.   By Lou Marmon   Gazette Newspapers  April 25, 2012   Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts is a true national treasure. The almost 5 acres of available picnic space, an extensive and wide-ranging performance schedule and a liberal alcohol policy allowing patrons to bring their own wine and beer assures a wonderful experience without the over-charging for beverages found at other concert locations. It is the ideal venue to enjoy wines suited to picnicking in the warmer weather.   Wolf Trap is the…

  • Tasting Some Incredible Scotch

    Lou
    19 Apr 2012 | 4:59 pm
        Review of the Galil Mountain Viognier 2009 and several Balvinie Single Malt Scotches.   By Joshua E. London and Lou Marmon   Washington Jewish Week  April 19, 2012   The arrival of spring means it is time to kick back on the deck with a chilled glass of white wine. For many, chardonnay is their white wine of choice. But there are many other wine options for warm weather enjoyment. One of our favorites is Viognier, a very aromatic varietal with prominent fruit flavors and floral aromas.   For many years Viognier was a popular grape, especially in…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    JJ Buckley Fine Wines - Blog

  • 2011 Bordeaux Vintage Report

    JJ Buckley Fine Wines
    27 Apr 2012 | 11:09 am
    2011 Bordeaux: The quest for balance In April, we sent 14 of our team to Bordeaux to wade neck-deep into the 2011 vintage en primeur. The result? Our largest report ever—119 pages and in excess of 580 tasting notes, along with a comprehensive vintage assessment, articles, market analysis and more. The region to beat in 2011 is Pomerol, and it gets our nomination for appellation of the vintage. However, among an otherwise irregular crop, there are some exceptional wines to be found in other areas. The most successful wines showed elegance and balance, and can afford mid-term cellaring. Visit…

  • Sweet Relief at Chateau d’Yquem

    JJ Buckley Fine Wines
    15 Apr 2012 | 9:15 am
    Sweet Relief at Chateau d’Yquem Post by Devon Magee | April 6th, 2012 Chateau d'Yquem After seven consecutive days of tasting the 2011 Bordeaux reds from morning to night, nothing was more soothing on my palate than a trip south to Sauternes to taste the vintage’s deliciously sweet (and tannin-free!) whites. Amidst a week of rumblings regarding the patchiness of 2011 reds compared to ’09 and ’10, I found the persistent voice of an extraordinary vintage in Sauternes after visiting eight of the top chateaux. To talk vintages in Sauternes is to talk botrytis, and in 2011, this noble…

  • “Islands of Happiness” at L’Eglise Clinet

    JJ Buckley Fine Wines
    13 Apr 2012 | 5:43 pm
    “Islands of Happiness” at L’Eglise Clinet Post by Cory Gowan | April 4th, 2012 Arriving at L'Eglise-Clinet As we packed our three cars and made our annual migration from the Left Bank over to the Right for our last days in Bordeaux, we put together the mosaic of the 2011 Bordeaux vintage. Although weather patterns can tell part of the story, there is no substitution for one-on-one conversations with vignerons, and, of course, tasting the actual wines. It was at a negociant tasting where Denis Durantou’s wines singlehandedly confirmed our suspicions that Pomerol may be…

  • 2011: The Sauternes Vintage

    JJ Buckley Fine Wines
    12 Apr 2012 | 6:54 pm
    2011: The Sauternes Vintage Post by Alex Shaw | April 6th, 2012 The "Lord of Barsac" The sweet wines of Sauternes are undoubtedly wonderful, but they’ve always remained something of a mystery to me. I certainly knew the basics about botrytis (aka “noble rot”), the grape varieties, (primarily Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, with a bit of Muscadelle at some properties) and of course their great aging potential. They’d always appealed to me, primarily due to the incredible juxtaposition of sweetness and acidity achieved in the greatest Sauternes. But aside from a lone visit to…

  • The Count of Canon La Gaffeliere

    JJ Buckley Fine Wines
    11 Apr 2012 | 6:26 pm
    The Count of Canon La Gaffeliere Post by Eddie Wolowski | April 4th, 2012 Count Stephan von Neipperg at "work" My invitation to a tasting and dinner with Count Stephan von Neipperg at Canon La Gaffeliere was a sort of homecoming for me. For the past decade, I’ve been a huge fan of the Count’s wines, especially Chateau d’Aiguilhe. The success of d’Aiguilhe is credited with putting Cotes de Castillon on the map, and indeed the wine drinks like its St. Emilion neighbors. Its beautiful, distinctive nose alone would give it away in any blind tasting lineup and it always displays…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Vino File - A Wine Blog

  • Cognac is one of my favorite drinks. I used to be ...

    16 May 2012 | 1:51 am
    Cognac is one of my favorite drinks. I used to be a wine addict but I noticed that my teeth are getting yellowish with too much wine. My Las Vegas dentist did a teeth whitening treatment then and I decided to drink wine only on occasions.

  • I used to be a wine addict but when my

    16 May 2012 | 1:12 am
    I used to be a wine addict but when my Orange County dentist noticed that my teeth are getting yellowish, I decided to drink just occasionally. I had teeth whitening treatment and it's expensive that I don't want to ruin it by drinking too much wine.

  • We were able to attend this wine fest because we l...

    15 May 2012 | 10:44 pm
    We were able to attend this wine fest because we love wines. It was a fun event. I got scared though because I noticed that my teeth are having stains because of too much wine. I don't want to have porcelain veneers Beverly Hills so I think I'll just drink moderately.

  • Make sure to take care of your teeth too. This is ...

    9 May 2012 | 1:29 am
    Make sure to take care of your teeth too. This is to get rid of the bacteria.

  • They are amazing. You are lucky to have such neigh...

    23 Apr 2012 | 2:21 am
    They are amazing. You are lucky to have such neighbors like them who visit you and share their wines with you. I must also say that you have a good comments on the Crazy Creek Estate Fidelity Alexander Valley 2006. I got some good insights of yours. Thank you for sharing this.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    drunk.com

  • Coriole Vineyards Vita Reserve Sangiovese 2007

    drunkard
    15 May 2012 | 6:39 pm
    Coriole Vineyards Vita Reserve Sangiovese 2007 I just had a quick look to count how many Sangioveses I’ve tried recently, and was surprised to find none listed.  I have mentioned the variety a few times, and I know I’ve tasted it within the last five months, but clearly have been slacking in terms of writing about it.  For some reason I always clump it together with Tempranillo, another grape I enjoy but rarely pursue because there are so many lesser known varieties in both Italy and Spain that I have yet to explore.  Fortunately, I have the opportunity today to put that right,…

  • Moss Wood Vineyards Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

    drunkard
    14 May 2012 | 7:47 pm
    Moss Wood Vineyards Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 I had a call from Moss Wood Vineyards last week.  I thought they might be asking me to review some wines from Western Australia, as I’ve been woefully negligent, but it turns out they were looking to sell me a case or two of a recent vintage.  I wanted to buy some, but I need to sort out my cellar before I buy anything in six or twelve bottle quantities, so I had to say thank you but no.  However, I greatly enjoy their wines and have a magnum of their wine that I’m sure will be the high point of a party at some point…

  • Quick note on format

    drunkard
    14 May 2012 | 7:42 pm
    Over the next week I’ll be rolling out a new format for this blog.  While there aren’t enough readers who visit more than once that anyone will notice, it’s the first step in making some aspects of the site more organized.  If you see something broken, I’d appreciate a note about it. For those interested in the technical details, I use WordPress to produce this blog and I’m switching from using ‘posts’ for all of my content to a custom content type for wine reviews.  This allows me to attach data to each post through a custom taxonomy in a way…

  • Château Bouscassé Jardins 2008

    drunkard
    10 May 2012 | 8:12 pm
    Chateau Bouscassé Jardins 2008 One of the better wine merchants in my area has a section near their checkout register where they put wines that are moving especially slowly.  I think they may have had a buyer who liked the esoteric, but perhaps their customers didn’t share his tastes.  I, on the other hand, love getting to try something rare and unusual, even if it means I have no idea what to expect.  At least three past posts, the German Silvaner, the Swiss Chasselas and the Burgundian Sauvignon Blanc, all came from that area, and I’m adding another to that list with…

  • Atlántico Sur Single Vineyard Tannat 2007

    drunkard
    9 May 2012 | 8:43 am
    Atlántico Sur Single Vineyard Tannat 2007 In addition to living in close proximity to a number of them, I’ve had the pleasure of travelling overseas to quite a few beautiful wine regions. I managed an overnight excursion to Uruguay as part of a trip that was otherwise spent in Argentina and Chile, and I’m very glad I did.  We visited three wineries, and while each was lovely, the reception we received at Juanico was particularly nice, even if our host seemed a bit more taken with my wife than perhaps I would have preferred.  Alas, the hazards of being married to someone lovely.
Log in