New Blog Address!

Hello Fellow Readers!

I have FINALLY merged my website and blog site together. You can now view my blog at http://www.acrushedgrape.com/blog/. PLEASE be on the look out for a new post soon using the new format.

Thank you everyone for reading my blog.

:)

A Wonderful Chilean Carmenere

Last night I hosted a wine party featuring wines from the Southern Hemisphere. The biggest hit was a Carmenere, so I thought I would share it with you. 


Santa Carolina, Reserva de Familia, Chile, Carmenere, 2009: $22.99 - Chilean wines are not only fabulous, but also inexpensive. This wine is 100% Carmenere! (http://www.carolinawinebrandsusa.com/sc-reserva_familia_carmenere.html).

This is a full bodied red wine with a blackberry, herb, and spicy bouquet. This wine is fruit forward with tastes of blackberry and blueberry. You will also get hints of vanilla, earth, and tobacco smoke on the finish.

This big wine needs bold flavors to pair with it. Foods with a cream base, and lamb dishes would pair very well with this wine.

Note: I had to special order this wine from the store. If you don't see it on the shelves, I highly recommend placing a special order for it.

A Solid Torrontes

During the Summertime I like to try all different types of white wines. This weekend I tried a really unique wine from the Mendoza region of Argentina.

Pannotia Vineyards, Argentina, Torrontes, 2006, $10: For only $10, this wine is a treat. It has a peach and pineapple bouquet, with tastes of mango, peach, and lemon. It is crisp and acidic, but finishes smooth. I found it to pair very well with soft cheeses, in particular blue cheese.

For those of you unfamiliar with a Torrontes, it's very similar to that of a California Viognier. This wine will drink okay on its own, but the flavors really stood out when I paired it with the cheeses.

Bonacquisti Winery

www.denverwine.net/about-us/our-wines/

Last weekend I did a Denver winery tour with some friends. One winery in particular stood out for its fun atmosphere and wonderful wine. Bonacquisti Winery, located Northwest of Downtown Denver, is owned and operated by Paul Bonacquisti. In addition, Paul is a fellow Executive Sommelier from the International Wine Guild. We met Paul and his wife during our tasting and they were both very welcoming and gracious.

My favorite white we tasted was the Bella Risa ($15). It is a Pinot Gris blend that was crisp, acidic, light, and fresh. It has tastes of melon, mango, and other tropical fruit flavors.

My favorite red was their dRed ($15). This wine is a blend of Sirah, Zinfandel, and Merlot; which happen to be three of my favorite types of grapes! It was fruit forward with a touch of spice and baked berry notes to it.

Both of these wines are ready to drink now!

If you live in the Denver area, I strongly encourage you to go visit this winery. If you don't live in the Denver area, then order a bottle online to try.

To learn more about the winery, visit their website: http://www.denverwine.net/contact-us/

Happy 4th!

Happy Independence Day Everyone! Today is the perfect day to take a moment and thank everyone who has served our country.

It's also the perfect day to open a bottle of your favorite American made wine. Personally, I will be drinking a steel barreled Chardonnay from a Colorado Winery on this hot day. It's not oaky, but rather crisp and acidic. It will go perfect with the outdoor bbq I'll be having with family this evening.

A Merlot That Was Worth the Wait!

Last night I had a wonderful Napa Valley Merlot. Actually, this was the second time I've tried it. The first time was over the holidays last year. Even though I had been told to "let this wine" sit for a little while, I just couldn't wait. After all, I had two bottles; so I didn't see the harm in opening one early. Well that was a mistake! At that time, the wine was still too young and the tannins attacked too quickly.

Well, last night was a completely different story! This wine is more than ready to drink!

Swanson Vineyards, Oakville, Merlot, 2007, $38: This Napa Valley Merlot was a treat, (http://www.swansonvineyards.com/default.aspx). You get dark cherry and vanilla aromas, with only a hint of alcohol on the bouquet. (I attribute the alcohol smell to something the winemaker did to the wine as part of the fermentation process). For a Merlot, it is full bodied with soft tannins. It is also very fruit forward, with tastes of dark cherry and blackberry.

Again, this wine is ready to drink! I recommend you try to get your hands on a 2007 vintage asap! Wine.com has the 2008 vintage. If you are going to get the later vintage, let it sit for at least 6 months before tasting. (http://www.wine.com/V6/Swanson-2007-Oakville-Merlot/wine/108476/detail.aspx).

Food pairing suggestion: Salmon with a dark berry reduction.

Goes to show you... good things are worth the wait!

A Fabulous Greek Wine

Greek wine is very hard to find in Denver. To find any good ones, your best bet is to go to an authentic Greek restaurant. This past weekend I went to Yanni's in South Denver. Yanni himself is a Sommelier, so I knew he was going to have great wines.

Gaia, Agiorgitiko, Red Wine, 2010 $20 (Retail): Fruit forward, medium bodied wine. Even though this wine is only a couple of years old, it was more than ready to drink! This wine went well with everyone's meal; (Lamb, Moussaka, etc).(http://www.gaia-wines.gr/en/products/agiorgitiko-gaia).

If you don't live in Denver, see if your local specialty wine shop has this wine. Or, go to your favorite Greek Restaurant and ask for it!

Did You Know?

Did you know that you have been taking advice from an Executive Sommelier? Well, you are now! Yes, that's right; I've passed my level 2 Certification Exams! 12 weeks of classes and intensive studying have finally paid off!

To celebrate, I have been relaxing this afternoon with sparkling wine. (Of Course!)

Stay tuned for some great future posts. Summer has just begun, and we have plenty of wines and party ideas to discuss!

My New Published Article!

Hello Everyone,

Please check out the article I wrote for Colorado Living:

http://www.ourcoloradonews.com/living/everyday/with-wine-remember-your-serving-order-and-glassware/article_3035cf56-b969-11e1-ae7d-0019bb2963f4.html 

Serving Temperatures

http://chemistry.about.com/

In a previous post, I mentioned the importance of using a digital thermometer to test the temperature of your wine. Serving temperature is very important. If you serve a wine too hot or too cold, it will alter the bouquet and flavors. With this post, I thought I'd take the opportunity to list appropriate temperature ranges for wines. Unless you have a temperature controlled cellar, many of you might be surprised to find that the red wine you are drinking is too hot, and the white wine you are drinking is too cold.

White Wines
Light Body: 48-53°F (i.e Pinot Grigio and Gerwertaminer)
Medium Body: 53-58°F (i.e. Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc)
Medium Full Body: 55-60°F (i.e. Viognier and Oaked Chardonnay)
Sparkling: 45°F

Red Wines
Light Body: 50-55°F (i.e Pinot Noir and Chianti)
Medium Body: 55-60°F (i.e. Merlot and Sangiovese)
Full Body: 60-65°F (i.e. Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel)

Vegan Wine?

This is a topic I love to tell people about as they generally have no idea what it is in their wine. Listen up all of you vegetarians and vegan wine drinkers! The wine you are drinking was made with animal by-products!

A little background for you.... 

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com

During the wine making process, winemakers have to "fine" the wine to get all of the visible products out. (Such as sediment, yeast, grape skins, etc). Since they don't want to alter the flavor or color of the wine, they use animal by-products. For white wines, salmon stomachs are commonly used, For red wines, egg yolks are used to remove particles. Egg yolks and salmon stomachs have no effect on the taste of the wine, (which is why they are used!). Instead, they only act as a vacuum to get all of the unwanted products out of the wine. The sediment will cling to these by-products, and will then be removed all together from the wine.

Have you changed your mind about drinking wine now? WELL DON'T. If you must.... drink "vegan" friendly wine. The difference is instead of "fining", they do a "filtering" process. Filtering is the same thing as fining, except chemicals, (not animal by-products), are used to remove sediment. However, unlike fining, these filtering techniques can alter the flavor and color of the wine. But, if you want to stick to your guns, ask your local wine shop about their "vegan friendly" wines, and they will be happy to point you in the right direction.

https://www.binnys.com/wine/Our_Daily_Red_41356.html

I haven't had too many vegan wines, (that I know of), but try this one to start...

Our Daily Red, Organic Red Wine: $12. For those of you who want to stay vegan friendly, this wine is for you. It is a nice, basic table wine. Fruit forward, and not too dry.

Keep a Wine Journal

While apps for phones and tablets are great for on the go wine lovers, I also like to have a physical wine journal to document great wines I have tried. The photos to the left are that of my own wine journal. I bought it many years ago and still use it today. For those of you starting out on your journey of wine, I highly recommend getting a journal like this. You can document wines you've tasted, and paste the label below.

It's a great tool to find out which wines are your favorites, which wines you want to explore more, and which ones to avoid.

For the wine experts, a journal is also useful for you in regards to building your cellar. You will know which wines you have liked, and which ones you should buy for the future.

An Orange Colored Sparkling Wine

http://domaine-ste-michelle.com/

I'm still on my sparkling wine kick if you haven't noticed. There's just something about drinking sparkling wine in a champagne flute...it makes you feel like royalty!

Domaine St. Michelle - Sparkling Wine - $12: This wine comes from Washington.  What I found interesting was that the winemaker only makes sparkling wines. This wine is a Blanc De Noir, meaning, this is a white sparkling wine but made with red grapes, (Pinot Noir mainly). It has an orange color because they made it a rose sparkling wine. How did they do that? Well, they basically made a red sparking wine, but did not macerate (or blend), the red grape skins all the way during the fermentation stage. Thus, instead of a red color, we get an orange color. CLEVER!

I found this wine to be very dry and light, with berry and tropical fruit notes.

Grilling Calls for Certain Wines - My 3rd Published Article!

Hello Fellow Readers:

Please check out my article below. I will be writing for Our Colorado News every month now!

Grilling Calls for Certain Wines - Our Colorado News: Everyday:: Spring is in full bloom, and summer is just around the corner. It's the perfect time for us to host an outdoor party and fire up the grill.

Have an Outdoor Wine Party Today!

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us.html

Memorial Day is the perfect time to invite your friends and family over for an outdoor party. It's a good opportunity to fire up the grill and pair wines with your grilled foods. It's also a good time for you to start drinking your favorite "warm" weather wines, as well as try new ones. Have your friends each bring over their favorite warm weather or outdoor wine to share. If 10 people come over, that's ten different wines for everyone to try! Go around and talk about which wines work best with the grilled food, or other spring time foods you prepared. (How about a watermelon salad with a crisp Chenin Blanc?)

Happy Memorial Day, and thank you to all who have served this Country!

Stay Classy My Friends

Can anyone guess what the photo is to the right? If you guessed a can of sparkling wine, you would be correct! I happen to be making my "weekly" trip to the wine shop and stumbled upon this little can. As a huge fan of sparking wines, it was a no-brainer that I had to try it.

Infinite Monkey Theorem, Sparkling Muscat $6.99.  (http://theinfinitemonkeytheorem.com/). This local Denver winery makes good wines with unique bottles. (Glass corks!). So, it was no surprise to me that they would make a sparkling wine in a can. It had a slightly sweet bouquet and tasted of tangerine and grapefruit. While it was not on par with most traditional" sparkling wines out of a bottle, I thought that it was a good wine for something that came out of a can. (It was like drinking an adult version of a soda).

This wine would be good for outdoor bbq's, picnics, or sitting on the couch and watching tv. $6.99 per can is pretty expensive, and I do think you can get better sparkling wines for just a few dollars more. However, it is a good conversation starter, and a unique/convenient way to enjoy wine. 

Wine Spectator

http://www.winespectator.com/

I have been a subscriber to the Wine Spectator magazine for over two years. Back then, I knew very little about wine. This magazine was a wonderful introduction into the world of wine. Every month they feature  a wine region from around the world, and give you a list of the best wines for every person's budget. I also enjoy reading articles about today's wine industry trends, and top wine makers.

I have also kept every month of Wine Spectator for the past two years as a reference guide. Many of my ideas and inspirations for this blog and my business have come from this magazine.

This is a great magazine for wine enthusiasts and experts alike!

Another Virginia Winery

http://www.williamsburgwinery.com/

My husband and I took a weekend trip to Williamsburg this past weekend to see his brother Jamie graduate from William and Mary. (Congrats Jamie)! I was told by my in-laws of a winery there, and I just had to try it out!

http://www.williamsburgwinery.com/

The Winery is fittingly called Williamsburg Winery (http://www.williamsburgwinery.com/). It was a beautiful scene. You could tell that someone, or some company, had spent millions of dollars on this winery. I was very impressed as we arrived to the tasting room. Since it was early in the day, we got a tasting in a private room. (I felt famous!)

The tasting guide was very nice and knowledgeable. We tasted 3 of their reds, 3 whites, and 1 dessert wine. As with most Virginia wines, their wines were very young. Their whites were better than their reds because of the type of climate Virginia has. (White wines fair better in warmer climates).

The tasting seemed to take a turn for the worse as I did not have much time to think about the wines.  They "rushed" us out in 10 minutes! Yes, we had to taste 7 wines in 10 minutes! (If the owners of this winery are reading this post, I really hope you take into consideration that most people like to take their time and enjoy the wine!)

All in all, I think their wines have huge potential. The reds need at least 10 more years of aging, and the whites about 3-5 more years. If you happen to be in Williamsburg in the near future, I would recommend visiting the winery.

2 Wines with Spice!

I love wines that are spicy and have a zip to it. Spice can turn an average wine into a very complex wine. I have two great wines to share with you today:

Klinker Brick, Lodi Old Vines, Zinfandel, 2009 ($18): This wine comes from the Lodi region in Northern California; about an hour South of Napa Valley. (http://www.klinkerbrickwinery.com/index.htm). It has smells of baked cherry pie and mixed berry jam, with a hint of smoke and vanilla. It also has a taste of baked cherry pie, with tobacco smoke and spice. This is a very big, bold wine. It is great served alone, or can be paired nicely with steaks, grilled meats, and vegetables.

Marques de Caceres, Rioja, 2008 ($13): This Spanish wine comes from the Northern part of Spain; just North of Madrid. (http://www.marquesdecaceres.com/). It has a sweet bouquet, with smells of blueberry and baked mixed berry pie. It is smooth in your mouth, but full bodied. It tastes of blackberry and spice. Again, this is a big, bold wine that can be served alone, or paired with hearty meals or dark chocolate.

Wines to Pair with Grilled Meats and Veggies

http://www.seriouseats.com/2007/04/grilling-tips.html

Spring is in full bloom, and Summer is just around the corner. It's the perfect time for us to sit outside and fire up the grill. The great thing about grilling is that many fabulous wines pair well with grilled meats and vegetables. For most of us, we like a little bit of char grilled into our meats. That smokey flavor pairs well with smoky and earthy wines. You don't want to pair a very acidic or tannic wine, as that will strip away the flavors of the grilled foods. Instead, pick a wine that will compliment the flavors of the food, while bringing out the characteristics of the wine.

Great Examples Include:

- Sauvignon Blanc: This crisp, acidic wine, has earthy and tropical flavors that pair well with any grilled meal.

- Tempranillo: This wine has soft tannins and flavors of tobacco and leather that will pair well with the charred flavors of the grilled meats and veggies.

- Zinfandel: Like the Tempranillo, this wine has soft tannins, and a nice tobacco flavor. In addition, this wine has big, bold, jammy fruit flavors that compliment the spice and smoke of the grilled meal.

Sparkling Wine on a Budget

I love sparkling wine. Something about the carbonation mixed with the fancy glasses always puts a smile on my face. The only problem is that sparkling wine can get very expensive! And, you don't want to buy the "cheap" stuff, because it tastes awful. I'm constantly on a quest to find affordable, great tasting sparking wines, and I have one to share with you today.

Segura Viudas, Torrelavit, Brut Reserva: $8.99 - (http://www.seguraviudasusa.com/brut-reserva-sparkling-wine.html). This Spanish sparkling wine was made in the Traditional Method, (which is the same method for making Champagne, but outside the Champagne region). This is a wonderful, dry sparkling wine. It has tropical fruit notes, with a nice acidic finish.

Don't be fooled by the price; this is an excellent sparkling wine! Perfect for those of us who have Champagne wishes and caviar dreams!

A Double Dose of French Wine

Most of us have tasted French wines. After all, they are the grandfather of wine making. For the most part, French wines are focused on the terroir, or the growing environment. You can really taste the earth and soil in their wines. I have two picks to share with you today:

Domaine de Mourchon, Seguret, Cote de Rhone, Family Reserve Grenache, 2009: $12 (http://www.domainedemourchon.com/). This wine comes from Rhone, or the the Southern part of France. The main grape is the Grenahce, but it also has 35% of Syrah in it as well. It has a deep, beautiful,  purple color, and smells of earth, cinnamon, and black cherry. It also tastes earthy. It is acidic and very tannic. This wine has huge potential, and the tannins will soften over a couple of years. I would hold this wine for at least 3 more years before trying.

Chateau Vrai Caillou, Bordeaux Superieur, 2009: $13 (http://www.vrai-caillou-darius.com/index2.php). This wine comes from the Bordeaux region of France. It has a ruby red color, and is a bit cloudy. It smells of plum, blackberry, vanilla, and spice. The taste is tangy, with cranberries and blackberries. It is full in body, somewhat acidic, and tannic. Again, I would age this wine for at least 3 years before trying, so the tannins can soften. On another note: this wine does not do well on its own. It needs to be paired with food, (I tried dark chocolate), to bring out its flavors and smooth texture.

Bottle Shock

http://tastespeachy.com/bottle-shock.html

Most of us have probably heard the term "bottle shock," but what does it mean? (And no, I'm not referring to the movie!)

Wine, for the most part, is a living thing. And, like most living things, we like our space. We really don't like enclosed/tight spaces, and neither does our wine! Wine is usually fermented in large barrels. The wine is able to ferment freely in the large space. However, when the fermentation process is finished, wine is then put into its bottle. When you put it in its bottle, it changes completely... this is bottle shock, (or bottle sickness as some people call it).

Conclusion: never drink a wine that is newly bottled because it needs to rest, or "age." The wine is still finding its home in the bottle, and therefore you won't get its ultimate bouquet and flavors when it's first put in the bottle.  For most wines, it takes about a month for it to overcome bottle shock. So, if you just bought a 2010 vintage, you might want to hold on to it for a couple more months, just to be safe.

Pinot Noir wines are the only wines that go into bottle shock for 6-18 months after being put into their bottles. No one is really sure why it takes them such a long time to get over their "sickness," but a good rule of thumb is to let your new Pinot Noir wines sit, or only buy older vintages.

Make Your Own Wine!

www.water2wine.com

I work at a winery in Denver called Water 2 Wine (http://www.water2wine.com/denver/?p=home). It is a unique winery because we get the "must" or juice from grapes that have already been crushed. (No stomping grapes with this job!) We ferment close to 100 wines in house! Our wines range from the very sweet to the very dry. All of our wines are available for tasting; so out of 100 wines, you are bound to find something you like. (Of course, it would be impossible to try all the wines in your first visit; I recommend trying 3-4).

Not only are we a winery, but we also have a "wine bar" atmosphere as well in the front of the house. As a Sommelier, my favorite thing to do is educate our customers on different types of wines we make, and help you find one that best fits your palette.

One of the greatest things about our winery is you, as a customer, get to make your own wine! We will help you mix the wine of your choice, and 45 days later, you get to slap your own label on the bottles you make. (45 days is how long it takes to ferment the wine).

For those of you who live in Denver, stop on by and try our wine. If you don't live in Denver, Water 2 Wine also has other locations in California, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Cooking with Chianti

Chianti is a dry red wine that usually has a cherry, dark fruit taste to it. It is a great wine to cook with because not only can it enhance the flavors of the food you are cooking, you can also pair this wine with most foods.

My husband and I found a recipe with Chianti I had to share with you. We put a little spin on the original recipe and came up with this:

Beef Stew with Chianti:
1. 3 Pounds of rib roast (cubed).
2. Spice to your liking (ground red pepper, oregano, salt, peeper, etc) 

3. Can Beef Broth
4. Bottle of Chianti (Yes a bottle)
5. A couple of vegetables you like. (We used green beans).

Throw all of the ingredients in the Crock-Pot and set it on low for 10 hours. The meal was not only easy, but it tasted great as well. The Chianti blended well with the stew. I would suggest a fuller bodied Chianti that can stand up to the flavor notes of the rib roast.

A Rosé Trio

When most people think of rosé wines, they think of the cheap box or bottles they get in the refrigerated section of the liquor store. However, rosé wines can be quite elegant! Rosé wines are a little bit of red, and a little bit of white. They are made in several different ways; the most common is to have the juice be in contact with the grape skins for only a short period of time. (Whereas red wines are constantly in contact with the skins). Rosé wines can range from very dry to sweet. Since they are served chilled, they are a great springtime and summertime wine. I have three very different rosé wines to share with you.

Côtes de Provence Rosé Saint Roch "Les Vignes" (2008) - $11.99: (http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1046970). This is a Cinsault and Grenache blend from France. The bouquet smells of of Welch's white grape juice and champagne. It is crisp and dry, with tastes of apple, pear, and citrus. It has a touch of sweetness to it at the end. 

Robert Oatley Rosé of Sangiovese (2010) - $15.29: (http://www.wine.com/V6/Robert-Oatley-Rose-of-Sangiovese-2010/wine/109765/detail.aspx). This rosé comes from Mudgee, Australia. The bouquet is very faint, but has a light, sweet fruit smell. It is slightly effervescent, and the taste is very dry. This wine would do well paired with something slightly sweet to bring out its flavors.

Garrett Estate Cellars Rosé (2009) - $11: (http://www.garrettestatecellars.com/page18.php). This Colorado wine is a White Merlot Rosé. You will get a  floral and sweet perfume bouquet. The taste is sweet, light, and oaky, with notes of perfume and melon.

On to Level 2!

This morning was the first class for my Level 2 Sommelier certification. If all goes well, I will be an Executive Sommelier in 12 weeks! This just brings me one step closer to making my dream of opening a wine bar a reality! In the meantime, I continue to develop my wine tasting event planning company, A Crushed Grape, as well as work for a local winery.

http://www.internationalwineguild.com/

I have been taking my classes at the International Wine Guild in Denver,  http://www.internationalwineguild.com/. I chose them over other certification schools because of the one on one attention and expertise I get with my instructors.

Wine with Soup

http://seriouslysoupy.com/soup-and-wine-pairings/

Summer is just ahead, but we still have time to make some of our favorite soups for these last few cold nights. Soup and wine pairings may seem very tricky, but it doesn't have to be. Soup has many elements to it which actually makes it very easy to find wine for a pairing.

What you have to do is think of the soup in terms of it's base ingredients (i.e. the meat or vegetables), and the spices in the soup. If you think of soup in that way, it will be the same wine pairing theory with other foods I've blogged about before. Is it acidic, creamy, or sweet? Does it have red meat or fish in it? All of these elements are your keys to finding the right wine for your soup. Below are some examples to help you:

Clam Chowder with an oaked Chardonnay: The creaminess of the chowder needs a big, bold, buttery Chardonnay to stand up to it.

Short Rib Stew with a Red Zinfandel: The heartiness of the stew needs a wines to cut the fat with tannins and stand up to the spices. A Zinfandel's smoky flavor and medium tannins will be a nice pair with this meal.

Tomato Soup or Gazpacho with a Sauvignon Blanc:  The acidity of these soups will pair nicely with the crisp, earthy, and tropical fruit tastes of a Sauvignon Blanc.

Kansas Wineries... They Do Exist

I visit the wonderful state of Kansas every couple of months to visit my dad. The last time I was there we decided to stop by one of the wineries outside of Wichita. Well, we were in for a very weird experience! The Winery is called Wyldewood Cellars" (http://www.wyldewoodcellars.com/mainhistory.html). They make most of their wines from the Elderberry fruit, and not grapes. Having never tasted an Elderberry wine before, I HAD to try it.

Conclusion.... not so good. All of the wines were very sweet to the point of overly sweet. However, I can now say that I have had Elderberry wine. 

Next time you happen to be in Kansas try it out, just for fun. I do believe that this state can have great wine, they just need better wineries! So, if any of you entrepreneurs out there want to start a new business, I suggest opening up a winery in Kansas!

An App to Help You with Wine and Food Pairings

www.hellovino.com

I'm really big into finding awesome wine apps these days, and I found one that is a perfect tool to help you pair wines with food. It's called "Hello Vino," ( http://www.hellovino.com/).

Say you want to make Tandoori Chicken, but have no idea what wine to pair with the meal. Well, go under the first tab and search for Tandoori Chicken. The app will then list the wines that would pair well with the meal, and will even give you descriptions and prices on each of the wines.

Another thing this app does is help you find the perfect wines for say, Easter Dinner! Or, already have a wine in mind but don't know which foods to pair with it? This app will help you with that desicion as well!

Now, my fellow Sommeliers would probably cringe at the fact that I'm sharing this app because they think it will take away some of our credibility and business. But, my job is to help all of you have the perfect wine experience! So, if that means that occasionally you might go to this app instead of one of us, then that's fine with me. However, I still ask that you seek "expert" advice from someone, (preferably me), for special occasions, parties, or for your personal collection.

Serving Order

http://drinknectar.com/2011/12/27/little-white-lies/red-white-rose-wine/

Most people think that you have to serve white before red. However, I'm here to tell you that you can have reds before whites. When it comes to wine, the color does not matter. What does matter is the style of wine.

Always serve:
- Lighter to fuller body, (example: light bodied Pinot Noir before a fully oaked Chardonnay)
- Dry to sweet, (example: Sauvignon Blanc before a fruit forward Merlot)
- Higher acid to higher tannins, (example: Sparkling white wine before a Cabernet Sauvignon)
- Higher acids to higher tannins and sugar, (example: Steel Barrel Chardonnay before a red Zinfandel).

While white wines tend to be lighter and higher in acid, it won't be the case for every wine out there. A good way to impress your friends to is serve different wines at a dinner party that go against the "norm."

A Fantastic Petite Sirah

www.lineshackwine.com

Line Shack Petite Sirah (2009) $15: This wine comes from the San Antonio Valley near Monterey, California. The San Antonio Valley is a new American Viticulture Area that has been gaining recognition from around the world.(http://www.lineshackwine.com/).

This wine is hands down, one of the best wines I've had in a while. It has a dark purple color, and a sweet blackberry, plum, and cinnamon bouquet. It is rich in flavor with blackberry, cinnamon, and sweet tobacco notes. It is big in body, has soft tannins, and only a touch of sweetness from the berry flavors.

This wine would pair very well with grilled meats and dark chocolate.

Recycle, Reuse...Create!

Front

I usually save my wine bottles and corks because I can always find another use for them. My current project is taking used wine bottles and creating works of art. Now, I'm not the most creative person on the planet, so if I can create wine bottle artwork, so can you. (Just let your imagination flow!) These new pieces of art can be used as a decoration for the house, given away as gifts, or structure the top to use as a candle or a small serving tray.

I buy my art supplies at Michael's since they seem to have the best selection and prices.

Back

Think this is a great idea but don't have the time to make one? No worries, you can always pay me to design one for you! :)

A "Great Wine" Book

www.books.google.com

One of my favorite books/reference guides on wine tasting is Great Wine Made Simple by Master Sommelier, Andrea Immer. She breaks down wine tasting into basic steps that anyone can follow. I use this book on a regular basis to learn about new wines, and to also test my skills on some of my favorites. This book is a great introduction to the world of wine!

You can find it on amazon for $15, (http://www.amazon.com/Great-Wine-Made-Simple-ebook/dp/B00486UEYO). There is also an ebook version available as well for $15.

Cooking with Wine

Photo courtesy of www.smartwomanonline.com

My cousin asked me what dry wines she can cook with, so I thought I would share my answer with all of you.

 

Dry basically means that the wine is not very fruit forward and doesn't have a lot of sugar in it. If you get a wine that is too sweet, buttery, or creamy, it can take a away from the flavors of the food. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, you want the wine to "compliment" the food, not overpower it.

 

For those of us on a strict budget, the best thing to use is the cooking wines from the grocery store. Yes, you do not get the full flavors and alcohol that "regular" wines have, but it gets the job done!

If you are looking for a good dry white wine to cook with, go with a wine that has not been aged in oak such as a Sauvingnon Blanc or a steel barrel aged Chardonnay. For a red, you will want to do a Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec. Those two wines are usually very dry and do not have a lot of sweet fruit flavors in them.

Wine with Sweet Foods

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Desserts, or foods that are very sweet, can only be paired with wines that can stand up to that sweetness. The wine must be sweeter than the food, or else the wine will lose all of its flavors. On the other hand, if the wine overpowers the food, then serve the wine by itself.  (Example, vanilla ice cream would probably be best served alone). My favorite pairing is a bittersweet dark chocolate bar with a Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins from the wine help balance out the bitterness of the chocolate, while the fruit flavors of the wine help bring out the sweetness of the chocolate.

A great tasting activity is to get a piece of white, milk, and dark chocolate, and try a few wines with each. Write down what you love and hate about each pairing. Who knows, maybe your new favorite pairing will be a Ruby Port with milk chocolate covered almonds.

A Fantastic Super Tuscan

My husband is a huge fan of Italian wines, so it was no surprise that I came home to find him pouring a bottle of red from Tuscany yesterday.

Photo Courtesy of www.argonautliquor.com

Marchesi Torrigiani - Torre Di Ciardo (2006) $16: This Estate Bottled wine comes from the Tuscany region of Italy. It can be called a "Super Tuscan" because the informing, or main grape in the wine is a Sangiovese, (75%). The other two grapes in this wine are Canaiolo and Merlot. It has a beautiful dark red color to it, and an earthy and berry bouquet. It tastes of spice and blackberries, with a hint of vanilla. It does have soft tannins, but the finish is smooth. (http://www.marchesitorrigiani.it/torre_di_ciardo.html).

We had this wine with parmesan chicken, and pasta with a robust marinara sauce, (of course!).

A Great App for Taking Notes on Wine

The Wine Spectator App was a big hit, so I thought I would share another app with you. 

Photo Courtesy of http://winenotesapp.com/

Wine Notes is an awesome app that allows you to take notes on wines you find, keep track of the wines, and even share the wines you find with other fellow wine lovers. http://winenotesapp.com/

Wine Notes doesn't let you forget a single fact about the wine. Each note is separated into different categories, allowing you to search for a wine you noted based on one category alone (i.e. flavors, or producers).

Let me know what you think!

Also, I'd love to hear from you on what you want to know more about! Please email me, or hit me up on one of the social networking sites. 

Virginia is for (Wine) Lovers

Photo Courtesy of www.virginiawine.org

Virginia is home to many great wineries. I have had the pleasure of visiting these wineries as my in-laws live right in the heart of Virginia wine county. While I believe that their wines cannot rival  the wines of California, I do think that in a few years time, we will see some fabulous wines coming out of Virginia. If you happen to live in the state or are traveling there sometime soon, a great website to check out is http://www.virginiawine.org/wineries. This website lists all the wineries in Virginia! I've highlighted a couple of my favorite wines from my travels:


Horton Vineyards Stonecastle Red (2008) $12: This is a light bodied and balanced red wine. It has a deep purple red color, and smells of raspberries. It has dark fruit tastes, with a soft, tannic finish. (http://hortonwine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=53). This wine would go great with dark chocolate and red meats.



King Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc (2010) $22.95: Cabernet Francs are a great, earthy wine. This has berry fruit and spice notes on the bouquet. It was aged in oak, so it has that vanilla flavor and tannic feel in the mouth. (http://www.kingfamilyvineyards.com/Admin/ProductDisplay3.php). This wine would go well with grilled meats and vegetables.

A Cool Wine App for the Tech Geeks

Photo courtesy of www.winespectator.com

I absolutely love my wine apps for my phone. Instead of carrying around a notepad all the time or getting on Google to look up a wine fact, I can just go to an app to make a note about a wine.

 One of the apps I want to introduce you to is the Wine Spectator Vintage Chart. Have you ever bought a bottle of wine, opened it, drank it, then realized that it tasted completely wrong? Well, Wine Spectator has compiled a chart of wine vintages to tell you which ones are ready to drink now, and which ones you should hold on to for a while. They also give you a description of the wine based on the year and region. This is a fabulous app!

http://apps.winespectator.com/vintagechart.php

Wine and Salty Foods

Most everyone loves salt. You can't really escape a meal without it! However, it is very difficult to pair a wine with most salty foods. For the most part, wine and salt do not get along. The wrong wine can make the food and wine taste funky, sour, or bitter. But, that's not to say all is lost. In fact, there are a few wines that are a beautiful compliment to your salty foods.

Example 1: Blue Cheese and a sweet but acidic white, (such as Sauternes or a Sauvignon Blanc). The saltiness of the blue cheese compliments the sweet and acidic flavors of a Sauternes or Sauvignon Blanc wine. (Make sure neither of the wines has been aged in oak to get the best acidic flavor).

Example 2: Fried chicken (or fried calamari), with a sparkling white. Yes, we normally do not think of having wine with our fried chicken, but you would be amazed how well the two go together! Sparkling wines (white only), are the perfect pair to a salty, fried food. The carbonation from the wine helps enhance the flavors of the fried chicken, while cutting the salt intensity at the time time.


Example 3: Salty chips or dips with a Riesling. Again, we normally don't think of having wine with chips, but these two are a great combination. The saltiness of the chips and the sweetness of the Riesling help balance each other out. The salt will not be as powerful, and the sweet will be toned down as well. (Think about how well these would go together at a picnic or bbq).

Aerating Wine...Is It Necessary?

What does aerating  your wine do? Well, it basically exposes the wine to the air more rapidly. This causes the wine's "true" aroma and taste to emerge. Most wines need to be aerated. Red wines need aerating because of the tannins in the wine. Sediment build-up in older red wines could also benefit from aeration. Not all whites need to be aerated, but a good rule of thumb is to always aerate older wines.

www.vinturi.com

The Vinturi is what I use to aerate my wines, (https://www.vinturi.com/store/product.php?productid=1&cat=1&page=1). It sells for around $40, (or cheaper at Bed, Bath, and Beyond). It is a simple, yet effective device that will "decant" and aerate your wine by using a filtration system. I have done numerous tests with wines, and I will say that it works! Try a before and after test with your wine. You will be amazed by the difference in aromas and tastes!

However, if you don't feel like investing in the Vinturi, there are a couple of other ways to aerate your wine.

www.littlerockwinetasting.com

The old school way of aerating your wine is by swirling it around in your glass for about 30 seconds to let the oxygen interact with the wine. If it is an older wine, pour it into the glass and let it stand for a few minutes before swirling. This will allow more time for the oxygen to interact with the wine.

www.yourdictionary.com/decanter

 Decanters can also be used to aerate wine. Wine is transferred from its original bottle to the decanter to allow oxygen to reach the wine, and to also leave any sediment leftover in the wine bottle. (Making it a "cleaner" wine). Decanters can range anywhere from $5 all the way to $1000 and beyond.