This week, I bring you a wine that was not personally chosen by me, but by a guest from a wine tasting. They had left my tasting for a dinner reservation and on their return brought me back a bit of wine in the bottle they had enjoyed for dinner. I thought it was a very sweet gesture that they wanted to share with me a wine they had enjoyed so much that they wanted to pass on the experience to me. The 2011 Punto Corral Vino Tinto de Corte—in short, blend—is a complex wine, yet one you can … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: Saviah Cellars Location: Walla Walla, WA Vintage: 2011 ABV: 14.2% Production: 240 cases Aging: 14 months in French oak Released: April 01, 2014 Appellation: Yakima Valley Vineyard: Elephant Mountain Vineyard Sometimes walking down aisles of wine is often like walking down the aisle of the candy section in your grocery store. … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: àMaurice Cellars Location: Walla Walla, WA Vintage: 2010 ABV: 14.5% Production: 578 cases Aging: 24 months in French oak (40% new) Filtration: Unfiltered/Unfined Harvest Date: 2010 - October Bottling Date: 2012 - August There is something about wine, the world of it, not just the product itself that I cannot get enough of. … [Read more...]
Because of its almost exclusive production within the United States, Zinfandel is one of very few wines that are considered inherently American. With a range of styles from light and fruit-forward to bold and spice-laden, this red wine offers something for everyone. The Complex & Hidden History of Zinfandel The history of the Zinfandel wine is fraught with confusion, as researchers spent decades trying to determine the parentage of the little grape. For many years, it was unclear … [Read more...]
If you're in the market for a cellar cooler or just want to know what they're all about, you've come to the right place. When searching for the perfect cooling system for your cellar, it's normal to have at least a few questions. In the hopes that we can address your concerns before you may even know what to ask, we've compiled all of the frequently asked questions and their answers here: Click Here to View All Wine Cellar Cooling Systems How is a cellar cooler different … [Read more...]
What is it about Cab? Like chocolate or any other favorite snack, it is something you always crave. It’s like a favorite pair of jeans or that old beaten t-shirt that might be well past its time, but it doesn’t matter, ‘cause it is just comfortable. Now, I am not saying by any means that a Cab is a Cab or that all Cabs are alike. If that was the case, I think a lot of us might have rejected it long ago. But, in each of them, there is something familiar, wonderful and satisfying. See if … [Read more...]
Producing Pinot Noir is no easy task. These thin-skinned grapes are fickle, and growers are subject to frustration. When you get a good bottle, though, this fruit-forward red is worth the battle. The Grape Even if all you know about wine is that it comes from grapes, you know enough to be aware of the fact that there is a process that starts from soil. When it comes to Pinot Noir grapes, that process can be a long, arduous task. These grapes want consistent warm days and cool evenings – … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: Gary Farrell Ramal Vineyard Location: Healdsburg, CA Vintage: 2010 ABV: 14.1% Aging: 7 months in 40% French oak (new) pH/T.A.: 3.46/6.60gm/L If you are able to get your hands on this wine, consider yourself lucky. I love Pinot Noir and will be the first of anyone to tell anybody about a great one. What is there not to love? It can be fruity, fresh, lively and earthy. … [Read more...]
Have you been lusting over a wine cooler but just can’t decide where you’d put it? Because of front ventilation, built-in wine coolers can be placed practically anywhere. There are certain things that might restrict where you place a freestanding wine refrigerator since back and side ventilation is required, but there are still plenty of fantastic ways to seamlessly integrate the cooler into your home. Over the years, we’ve seen our wine coolers placed in homes and businesses across the … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: Fattoria Poggerino Location: Italy Vintage: 2010 I often speak to my people of how I love to just get back to the basics, the simpler side of wine. Wines you can just sit, sip on and just enjoy. They just let you relax and be in the moment so you can contemplate on other things. This week, I am not going to go that far off base, but we are going to get back to some classic wine. By tradition, the classics were … [Read more...]
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are two wines that share many similarities but are also extremely different. For less seasoned wine drinkers, selecting the perfect bottle and making the distinction between similar types can be difficult, but if you understand the subtle differences, you will be able to make the right decision. Where Each Is Grown Both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot originated in the Bordeaux region of France in the 15th century; however, the grapes that are used in these two … [Read more...]
Chianti: Drink It In First things first: Chianti is not a grape varietal; it is a term to describe wines produced in a particular region of Italy. Now that we’ve cleared that up... Chianti is made predominantly using Sangiovese grapes. Of all the red wines, Chianti may take the cake as a fan favorite. It goes well with dinner and is a smooth, flavorful wine with rich texture. So grab a bottle and bury your nose in everything you need to know about this delicious wine. The Origins of … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: Montilla Moriles Location: Spain ABV: 17.0% Pairs With: Paella, Sausage Gumbo, Creole Chicken What wines have you tried so far this year? Do you have any favorites yet? What is it about a wine that appeals to you when it does? Me? Personally, I love simplicity, flavor, balance and interesting textures, unique perfumes and lingering personality. It’s just wine and while this can be an overly complex … [Read more...]
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, on the side table, on the dresser… on the wine cooler? Whether it’s an antiqued homage to the Gilded Age or a sleek modern twist on old-world style, mirrored furniture is everywhere. The reflective quality of mirrors opens up a room, making it appear larger, and also adds brightness to any space. Many home decorators use one single mirrored furniture piece to add instant interest to a space, while others pair multiple mirrored pieces for a more stunning effect. … [Read more...]
Of the many different types of wine that are produced in Italy, Barbera is one of the most food-friendly and easy-drinking, making it one of the best weekday mealtime wines in the country. Because it is not the most popular wine to come out of Italy, there is a slight aura of mystery surrounding it in other countries around the world. The deep purple colored vino that is Barbera is high in acidity and low in tannins, giving it a juicy fruit-forward flavor that is best when enjoyed young. … [Read more...]
Ensure every ounce of wine in your cellar is protected with a wine cellar cooling system. Whether your collection is made up of hundreds or thousands of bottles, a proper cooling system is the most important aspect of your cellar. No matter what the external environmental conditions are, a cellar cooling system maintains the precise temperature and humidity levels needed to gently preserve and age your wine. We’ve compiled the most comprehensive information on cellar cooling options, … [Read more...]
Chardonnay is a diverse, universally loved wine cultivated throughout the world. It has long been a part of the French wine making tradition. The Americans turned the world’s perception of wine made from this green-skinned, neutral flavored grape on it heads in 1976, which is when Chardonnay made in California bested famous French Chardonnays at a blind taste test in Paris. History Chardonnay means “place of thistles” in Latin. The origin of the grape has been linked to a medieval … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: Cuvaison Location: Napa Valley, CA Vintage: 2011 One of the things you should keep in mind when out shopping for wine, is to generally stay away from pop culture and what wines are receiving all the hype. Wait, I feel a little of déjà vu. I think I went on a bit of a rant in one of my previous wine reviews about this. But whatever, I’ll do a quick recap. It’s fun. This week, I bring you a Chardonnay. … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: Müller-Catoir Location: Germany Vintage: 2011 Without fail there is not a week that goes by without someone asking me what my favorite wine is. How does one answer that? You would think I could have just figured out a pre-rehearsed response by now. Actually, as I write this, in this very moment, I think that was the first time I thought of doing as such. Maybe I can work on that monologue a bit later today, … [Read more...]
When contemplating the source of a good bottle of red wine most people probably don’t think of South America, but Argentina is the modern day home of marvelous Malbec wines. Although Malbec, like many grape varietals, is native to France, the grapes have been cultivated in Argentina at the feet of the Andes Mountains for close to 150 years now. Malbecs can have a deep fruity yet savory flavor and are considered a fantastic value wine. Geography Malbec grapes are grown in a number of … [Read more...]
Whether you’ve got 5 wine bottles or 500, you probably don’t want your wine to go bad or the taste to be compromised before you get a chance to drink it. Unfortunately, not all of us wine lovers have the luxury of a personal cellar (if you do, please send us a pic!), so it’s important to know how to keep your wine fresh until you’re ready to uncork and enjoy. The easiest way to make sure you’re not doing a disservice to your stash is to follow these 5 Dos and Don’ts of wine … [Read more...]