This week, we are going to talk about one of the most understated wine varietals, Pinot Gris. Many of us might have had an introduction to the stuff when we were first getting into wines, when fruity, light and slightly chilled were the only wines our palates could understand. Then our palates developed--became educated, in a way--and it was bye-bye Pinot Gris (aka Pinot Grigio) and off to Pinot Noir (its twin brother), Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay. Now it is time to give Pinot … [Read more...]
If you love wine as more than just a beverage, it makes sense that you’d be interested in reading more about the topic from several angles. We've previously discussed the best books about wine, but here are the most popular magazines about wine. Below are the top ten wine magazines worth subscribing to. 1. Bon Appétit As the name suggests, this magazine is all about your taste buds. From good food to fabulous wine and how to pair them all, you’ll find it all here and more. … [Read more...]
So what are you doing this weekend? Do you have any plans? I am really not trying to delve or poke my nose into your personal life, I just thought I would start out with some small talk and then get on with suggesting what you could do on a late Saturday or Sunday morning once you have finished flopping around and procrastinating your exit from your bed. Before the weekend arrives, I recommend that you get a bottle or two of the Deutz Brut Rose. Yes, this is for the women and men. I have a … [Read more...]
Mother's Day is just around the corner, which means it's time to start thinking about a gift for the woman who raised you. Give her a break from the same boring flowers and a card and give your wine-loving mother something she really wants. Below are our top 10 Mother's Day wine gifts for the wine enthusiast in your life. Click Here to View All Wine Coolers 1. Wine Coolers A superior taste in wine calls for superior storage. If your mom is looking for a new way to … [Read more...]
When I was living in the Napa Valley a few years ago, one of the things I enjoyed was the company of distant friends coming for a visit. Might as well take advantage of a free place to stay, right? That leaves more money for tasting great wines and eating out at the many world-class restaurants! It is unfortunate for those who have the chance to visit Napa but miss out on great wines and amazing winery visits. After all, where does one begin to know what wine is really about than at a … [Read more...]
There are many common practices regarding wine making, preservation and serving that wine connoisseurs swear by. However, do any of these long-held beliefs really hold merit? As it turns out, many of these beliefs are quite false and based more on old wives tales rather than fact. Below are the 8 most commonly believed wine myths. Myth 1: Expensive Wine Is Always Better It makes sense that the best wines are the ones that you have to shell out an arm and a leg for. However, are pricey … [Read more...]
It is time to dust off the grill folks, get out the wire brush and clean off the remnants of the last BBQ of last season and fire it up! Spring is definitely in the air and the evenings are warmer and it is time for some serious patio time. You don’t have to wait until the weekend to treat yourself to some treats on the grill. Why wait? You can manage a BBQ, just keep things light and simple and have that mid-week glass of wine. Picture it now, you are standing in front of your grill, spatula or … [Read more...]
While you may love to sip on a glass of wine after a busy day of work or pair it with your favorite meal, you may be surprised to learn some of the extra ingredients found in your wine and how some can react to these wine allergens. Depending on your dietary restrictions and food allergies, you may want to either switch wines or educate yourself about all of the preservatives and potential wine allergens used in your favorite red or white to determine your allergy risk. 1. Lipid Transfer … [Read more...]
What is this you ask? A Hermitage Blanc? Well, it could be no other than a beautiful Viognier from the Rhone Valley in France. What is a Viognier you ask? And what is it like? My, we have a lot of questions today, don’t we? So I will start by answering your questions and then I will get to the wine and its producer. Viognier is a traditional grape from the warmest region of France, the Rhone Valley. It is located on the eastern side of France and the region begins in Lyon, through … [Read more...]
I realize that spring is here, or at least officially it might be. Some of us are still waiting for the arrival of more spring-like temperatures. This time of year, everyone is going a bit stir-crazy with cabin fever and it is time to shake off the cold. In case you might find yourself still in the midst of some lingering winter weather and still wish to pry the cold from your bones, might I suggest the perfect wine? The DAOU Vineyards 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon might be just the wine to keep … [Read more...]
Cork bark is one of only a few organic commodities pliable enough to hold the contents of a glass bottle. Cork has been the traditional stopper for more than 300 years, along with the introduction of glass bottles for storing wine. A cork plays an integral role in the ceremony of opening a bottle of wine, as well as permitting wine to improve with age. While easy to ignore, the wine cork is an integral part to the quality and richness of any fine wine. Cork bottle stoppers are made from … [Read more...]
Some people have a natural love affair with wine. This extends beyond drinking wine and includes using wine for cooking, frequently visiting wineries, and hoarding vintage unopened bottles. If this fits your description, and you want to be a wine connoisseur who can determine a wine’s ingredients, origin, and approximate alcohol content with a mere sip, then becoming a sommelier may be your calling. Like mastership in any other area of life, this is a field that requires training and direct … [Read more...]
If you’ve ever experienced a wine hangover, you’ll know what I’m talking about. The migraine, the nausea, the regret—it’s enough to contemplate sobriety. Luckily for us, scientists at the University of Illinois have discovered a unique way to remedy this: by redesigning the very yeast in our drinks. Their precise “genome knife” technology offers the prospect of eliminating the part of our wine that upsets our bodies while keeping the taste the same, and may even offer some added health … [Read more...]
You can find ‘Bordeaux Blends’ all over the world, blends of those five lovely grapes of the Medoc; Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. They can be subtle, classic and elegant or they can be robust, rich and nothing short of bold. Some may ask what my favorite wine is. How am I to answer that? A wine is a wine is a wine. Each wine comes from a different place, in a different time. The way I look at it is if the winemaker can make something truly … [Read more...]
Many of you who might have read my wine reviews in the past might be well aware that I am the defender of the great Merlot grape and the lovely wine it can make. Merlot does not get nearly enough credit and it is high-time people stop snubbing their nose up at it. Really, for those of you who do? How many Merlot wines have you tried in your lifetime? I doubt many. This week, I bring you a Merlot that perhaps deserves your attention or at least consideration. It is from the Napa Valley … [Read more...]
Let’s talk Rose. This is one shade of wine which I have not touched on in a while and it deserves some attention. Please do refrain from calling it ‘blush’. This is one term which should be left behind in the eighties along with Lycra pants. Unfortunately, those shiny, spandex pants have found their way back into the fashion scene. Can we not make the mistake of bringing back the other? What is a Rose? Well, it is refreshing, it can be fruity, and they can even be sweet. However, I … [Read more...]
When you are searching for a great wine, a wine of classic style and taste, you do not have to look much further than a good Pinot Noir. Maybe you are giving it as a gift to a special wine-lover you know, maybe that special wine-lover is yourself, you are invited to a dinner party of fellow oenophiles or are just looking to stock your wine cooler, a Pinot Noir is a safe bet that many will become your biggest fan and be impressed. A good Pinot Noir can be fruity yet perfectly balanced … [Read more...]
We are talking big red, bold wines people! I love a good California Zinfandel. This lovely grape with rustic roots from Old World Croatia is what originally put California on the wine-making map and for good reason. In its beginnings following the Depression and later Prohibition, this fruit was easy to plant, easily adapted to the long and hot growing seasons of Northern California and made wines that pleased not only the masses, but even the most seasoned wine drinkers. Today, … [Read more...]
If you love Pinot Noir, you will understand when I say that there is something about it that you cannot get enough of. Sure, it is not a wine to have on a daily basis, as it is a type of wine which deserves a little thought and appreciation and even a nice meal. It is a wine to mark special occasions even if the special occasion is to reward yourself for a hard week’s work. There is something about a good Pinot that leaves room to something you cannot quite wrap your head around; its fruit, … [Read more...]
Bentonite is a common addition to winemaking used to clarify wines and is generally used only for white wines. It removes any protein haze and can also be utilized to fine any ‘off’ aromas. photo credit What is Bentonite & How Does It Help Wine? The use of bentonite is usually needed for white wines first, before the fermentation has been started. You will need to make a ‘slurry’ of bentonite to add it to wine, much like you make a slurry out of flour and water before you add it … [Read more...]
For me, food and wine are a couple of the most amazing things of sustenance. They are just a couple of the things in life in which you can actually take part in from the soil to your table, that is, if you choose. If you do not grow or make it yourself, you can at least educate yourself very easily on where it comes from, how it was raised and how the final product all comes together. Doing so not only ensures that you will feed and nourish your body, but your soul as well. Food and … [Read more...]