Sunday, April 22, 2012

Wine Fraud

Hello Wine Lovers!
A dear friend called me this week and after taking care of business he stated he heard on the radio an article relating to wine fraud in restaurants. He suggested I write my weekly blog about this growing phenomenon and after a little thought... here it is!Wikipedia defines wine fraud as a form of fraud in which wines are sold to a customer illicitly, usually having the customer spend more money than the product is worth, or causing sickness due to harmful chemicals being mixed into the wine. As wine is technically defined as the product of fermented grape juice, the term "wine fraud" can be used to describe the adulteration of wine by substances that are not related to grapes. This can refer to the use of coloring agents such as elderberry juice, or flavorings such as cinnamon and ginger. While some varieties of wine can naturally have deep, dark color and flavor notes of spices due to the presence of various phenolic compounds found in the skin of the grapes, the use of additives in order to artificially create these characteristics is generally frowned upon in the wine world. In recent years, much attention has been focused on the label fraud, where counterfeit labels from cult wines and other rare and expensive wines are affixed to bottles of less expensive wine and then resold. Wine fraud can involve less expensive wines if they are sold in large volumes. Wine Spectator noted that some experts suspect that as much as 5% of the wine sold in secondary markets could be counterfeit. There has been a good number of books written on wine fraud and my favorite is Billionaire's Vinegar about the Thomas Jefferson bottles. But most of the so called :wine fraud" is centered around collector wines and not everyday wines you purchase at the store or your local watering hole or restaurant. There has been some talk of certain restaurateurs putting inexpensive wines in more expensive bottles and re-corking them... or adding wine to a 1/2 full bottle. When served a wine, or you open one at home, look at the cork. More and more producers are using corks with labels because it is harder to "fake" a cork. The bottom line is this, as with everything, there seems to always be someone that has to come along and start a revolution of theft and fraud and the wine industry is no exception. I'm quite sure this will grow in the US to more and more everyday wines! Purchase from a reputable shop and buy from the same shop as much as possible so you build a relationship with them. If you do feel you have purchased a fraudulent wine and you have a good relationship with the shop, I'm quite sure they will stand up and do the right thing.
Books on fraud:“The Winemasters” by Nicholas Faith (1978), a terrific history of a Bordeaux wine trade. That was followed by “Wine Scandal” by Fritz Hallgarten (1986), “Wine Snobbery,” by Andrew Barr (1988), and “Is This the Wine You Ordered, Sir?” by Christopher Fielden (1989). Each book refers to various scandals in all areas of the wine trade.
Cheers!
J

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Lagar de Robla Premium 2008





















Hello Wine Lovers!
Let's talk Spain! There are more and more great value wines coming out of Spain than you can shake a stick at! These wines are food friendly, complex, fun, well made, easy to find and easy on the pocket book! Spain has over 2.9 million acres planted—making it the most widely planted wine producing nation, but it is the third largest producer of wine in the world, the largest being France followed by Italy. This is due, in part, to the very low yields and wide spacing of the old vines planted on the dry, infertile soil found in many Spanish wine regions. The country is ninth in worldwide consumptions with Spaniards drinking, on average, 10.06 gallons (38 liters) a year. The country has an abundance of native grape varieties, with over 400 varieties planted throughout Spain though 80 percent of the country's wine production is from only 20 grapes—including Tempranillo, AlbariƱo, Garnacha, Palomino, Airen, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel·lo, CariƱena and Monastrell. In Spain, winemakers often use the Spanish word elaborar (to elaborate) rather than fabricar (to produce/make) when describing the Spanish winemaking philosophy. This relates to the view that the winemaker acts as more of a nurturer of the grapes and wine rather than as a producer.
Now that's out of the way... the wine for today is Lagar de Robla Premium 2008. The first thing you will notice when you pour this into your glass is the beautiful, dark color, almost black. This is a relatively unknown, Mencia is the grape, and it is thought to be a relative of Cabernet Franc. It shows red berry fruits, pepper notes, medium soft tannins and a nice smooth finish. Really a great wine for the $9.99 you will shell out for this beauty at the Wine Discount Center. Buy this and impress your friends!
Cheers!
J

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Segura Viudas Cava













Hello Wine Lovers!







It is a Sunday, and to me that is always a day to have at least one glass of sparkling wine! A day of rest and relaxation, to reflect, to enjoy, to stop and smell the roses! Why champagne you ask? Pour a glass of sparkling wine into a flute and watch the bubbles rise to the top... and if that alone doesn't tell you, then call me crazy. Champagne tickles your tongue and your taste buds. It makes you feel happy just looking at it. Think how many times you lift a glass of champagne to toast or celebrate something special. Birthday, wedding (I have one coming up, my daughter is getting married soon), anniversary, new job, new baby, the list goes on and on! Which brings me back to Sunday, a celebration of the week at end!







Today's choice is a Cava from Spain, Segura Viudas Brut. A classic wine with notes of apple and citrus with a mouthful of complexity for a wine at this price point. It was rated 19 out of 100 "Best Buys". "Segura Viudas’ entry level Cava, the Non-Vintage Brut Reserva offers up a pleasant perfume of yeast notes, biscuit, and green apple. It is a straightforward, lively, slightly off-dry bubbly that is a good value for drinking over the next 12–18 months."- The Wine Advocate Magazine, May 2011. Words of Robert Parker, and he is a tough critic.







Get in your car, head to Binny's pick up a few bottles of this little number, head back home, ice it down... and take it easy! Enjoy life! This will only set you back, are you ready for this, $6.99 a bottle!














Cheers!







J