2011 Is Here!

Hello Wine Lovers!
I can't believe 2011 is here already. It seems just like yesterday 2010 opened up the year with everyone a little on edge. Lets face it, the economy hasn't exactly been stellar, unemployment is at an all time high, and oil prices keep rising and costing us all more at the pump! That being said, lets all look to a brighter 2011 and lots of exciting wine to drink and explore. I am writing about Korbel Sparkling Chardonnay today with New Year's Eve upon us. At $8.99 a bottle and the clean crisp taste of 100% Chardonnay, you can't go wrong with this beauty. You will find this wine, not only a great opening to your party or dinner, but also a nice accompaniment to your dinner. In other words, it will stand up to food. A little history of Korbel for you to sound wine savvy with your friends...

Korbel Winery was established by Bohemia-born Francis Korbel and his brothers, Joseph and Anton, in 1882 and is the oldest continually operating champagne house in North America.During the late 1870s, the Korbels harvested prunes, beets, wheat, corn and alfalfa, and operated a commercial dairy. During this time, they planted their first vineyards and began experimenting with different grape varieties, including Pinot Noir – early evidence of the Korbels’ ambition to become champagne producers. Pinot Noir was an unusual variety for California; it was known primarily as the principal grape of the Champagne region of France. In 1882, the three brothers began a small wine-making operation at their ranch and produced some 20,000 to 30,000 gallons of wine from their vineyard yields. KORBEL wines were so well received that two years later the brothers closed their dairy, converted all of their ranch lands to vineyards, and devoted all of their energy to wine-making. A tradition that was to become a legacy was well under way.The Korbel Winery continued to grow throughout the 1880s. It was during this time that the Korbels sent for winemaker Frank Hasek in Prague to come to the United States to be their champagne master. Employing the time-honored French method of producing champagne, méthode champenoise, the Korbels quietly but aggressively experimented with cuvées. By the mid-1890s, the Korbels shipped their first California champagnes, and by the turn of the century KORBEL was an internationally known, award-winning label.Taking advantage of Sonoma County's ability to produce high-quality pinot noir and chardonnay grapes, Adolf introduced KORBEL Natural', KORBEL Blanc de Blancs (100% chardonnay) and KORBEL Blanc de Noirs (100% pinot noir) – all of which he created using champagne yeasts he had developed himself. KORBEL. It is a name that tells the unique story of two families – their dreams, determination and dedication – and it is a name that stands for over 125 years of fine méthode champenoise California champagnes.
All KORBEL champagnes are made according to the traditional méthode champenoise technique, where the champagne is fermented inside the same bottle from which it is served. This time-honored process takes almost a year to complete. But the results are worth the wait. The taste of the méthode champenoise style is famous for its delicate nuances along with producing the countless streams of dazzling bubbles in every glass of KORBEL California Champagne.
The next time you come across a display in your local wine shop or supermarket, pick one up, you won't be disappointed!
Happy New Year!
Cheers!
J

Paso Robles Cabernet

Hello Wine Lovers!
Happy Holidays!
Lets talk Caberent

Today I am going to talk Cabernet. As I’m quite sure most of you know to find a decent Cabernet at a decent price is no small feat. Today’s entry will surprise the heck out of you… Castle Rock Paso Robles Cabernet for around $10 a bottle. (They also make a Nape Cabernet that is a little more $) You will find this wine full of blackberry, cassis and tobacco flavors with a slightly tannic finish. Very complex and soft for a wine at this cost point!
Let’s talk a little about this wine growing region. The California region of Paso Robles has been producing some wonderful wines as of late and their quality continues to rival Napa Valley but for a lot less money. The cost per acre is more than half the price of Napa and many young upstart wine makers have decided to call this area home. Located about half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco in what California calls “Central Coast” with elevation from 600 feet to 1100 feet above sea level. Grapes were first introduced to this area in 1797 by the Spanish and Franciscan Missionaries. New wineries have sprung up as well as investing in old wineries to bring them up to par with modern techniques and equipment. There are more than 250 wineries planting over 25 different grape varietals in the region. There has been many replanting of vineyards and now the two most prominent grapes planted there is Cabernet and Zinfandel. The region does not get quite as hot as Napa and the nights are cooler and longer which keep the grapes plump and juicy. Generally speaking, the wines are slightly more soft and approachable than wines from Napa… not to take anything away from Napa wines. Some people will say Napa Cabernet is some of the best in the world, and I certainly will not argue this point, but I believe Paso Robles is right on their heels! Look at the labels of the different Cabernets you come across in your favorite wine shop, when you see Paso Robles I don’t think you will be disappointed!
Cheers!
J

Spanish Red

Hello Wine Lovers!

Sorry for the delay in my latest post but the holidays has taken it's toll on my time to write with all the parties and get togethers with family and friends has left little time. As everyone gets their shopping finished, their cards sent out, and their presents wrapped be sure and take the time to lite a fire in the fireplace and relax with this little number. Bodegas de Murcia, Caracol Serrano, from the Jumilla Region of Spain. This wine is deep purple in color with lots of dark berries and a touch of licorice and spices on the long smooth finish. This wine drinks like it is $20 a bottle and will only set you back about $8, which leaves plenty of money to spend on your shopping!

By the way, Bodegas simply is the same as Chateau would be used in French wines. Don't let the name scare you, go into your favorite shop and ask for Caracol Serrano from Spain. If the guy (or gal) looks at you like your crazy... you have the wrong shop!

Have Fun!

Cheers!

J

Champagne for Turkey

Hello Wine Lovers!

After my rant about restaurant wine service last week I thought I better get something in here for you to enjoy with the upcoming holidays! Champagne or Sparkling or Cava in this case.

Lets talk a little about Sparkling wines. Out of respect for the French, you only call Sparkling wines made in the Methode Champenoise from the Champagne Region of France... Champagne. What is this Methode Champenoise you ask? Glad you asked! I'll make it as short as possible. In a nut shell it is the traditional way to make sparkling wines where there is yeast added to the bottle for a second fermentation. The yeast works with the sugars and makes the "Fizz" or bubbles in the bottle. When the wine is ready to go to market, the yeast is collected in the neck of the bottle and taken out. Champagnes are aged in the bottle for anywhere from 1 to 5 years. This will allow the wine to mature and have many layers of flavor and depth. Just so you know, Brut is the dry champagne and Extra Dry is actually sweet. I have included a picture to help you understand how it is made.

Now the wines! Segura Viudas Aria Brut, Spain, for about $8 a bottle will knock your socks off! This wine is clean and crisp with just a note of apple on the nose and a long smooth finish. This will impress any sparkling wine drinker.

The next entry is also from Spain and it is even less expensive! Cristalino Brut, about $7 a bottle! This wine is also more impressive than it's price tag. It has dried flowers on the nose with orange peel and apple in the mouth. It finishes with just a touch of sweetness. Now of course if you would like, you could bring a 2002 Dom Perignon, which was given 96 points, to your next party. It will set you back about $150 a bottle... you decide!

Cheers!

J

Restaurant Wine

Hello Wine Lovers!

Today I am going to vent about one of my pet-peeves... shabby restaurant wine service.

I'm sure I can't be the only person that feels this way, so to all of us out there... strap yourself in and here we go!

I choose a restaurant to visit as much for their wine list as their menu. I refuse to have dinner without good wine, they go hand in hand, in my book you just can't do it. So... the wine list looks good, the menu appears to be good, the decor is inviting, the staff sharp, the music is perfect, the lighting is romantic, we're all set. I choose a bottle of wine and then it happens, it begins to fall apart! The waiter comes back to the table embarrassed to say the restaurant is out of the wine I ordered and please select another. So now that I had my mind set on that particular wine I have to change my thoughts to something different. OK, the next bottle is selected and the waiter brings it to the table with what someone considers to be wine glasses (certainly not me) and shows me the bottle, I approve and it is opened and a taste is poured for me to check. I don't understand how someone goes to all the trouble to put a respectable wine list together and then screws it all up by choosing sub par wine glasses. The glass is as important as the wine! I swirl the wine and put my nose in the glass... and it's corked! Can't drink it, it's bad. The next big mistake is about to happen... I tell the waiter the wine is "corked" and to please bring another one. He looks at me like I have 2 heads with this total dumb founded blank look on his face and says"I don't see any cork in the glass" which at that point I want to leave and go somewhere else to spend my money! Educate your staff! Inform and teach, it is an on going process if you want to have a successful wine program. So at that point usually a manager type will come by the table and also with a blank look on his or her face say something stupid that has nothing to do with a corked wine and then another bottle shows up. (A corked wine is from a fungus that grows in the cork and then destroys the wine... a later blog) We go through the same steps and I approve the wine... next mistake and my least favorite of all, wine is served at the wrong temperature! I really dislike red wine too hot or white wine too cold! Again, you go through all the trouble to put a wine list together and the don't bother to serve it correctly! Red wine should be served at "cellar" temperature, around 54 degrees and white wine should be served at around 44 degrees, unless of course it is champagne and that should be cold! Too cold on whites kills the flavors and too warm on reds disguises the flavors. If you don't have proper wine storage at home use the 20 minute rule. Take a white out of the refrigerator for 20 minutes and put a red in the fridge for 20 minutes before drinking them. This will just about put them at the correct temp! The next big mistake... the waiter pours way too much in the glass! Just a bit, leave room for the bouquet to work it's magic, breath and grow and swirl. Again, educate the staff. All in all most restaurants get most of it correct with one exception, the temp.

That is why I dine at home and if there is anything wrong with the wine service there, I am the one to blame!

I feel better now that I have that of my chest... thanks for listening.

Cheers

J

Zesty New Zealander

Hello Wine Lovers! So what a beautiful fall day in Chicago, we set our clocks back so we all got an extra hour of sleep, the sun is out and the temp is perfect! A perfect day to go for a walk in the park, take the dog(s) work up a good appetite for dinner and go to your local wine shop and buy a bottle of this wine... Cairnbrae Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. It will cost you about $10 but you won't believe what comes out of this bottle!

This wine is produced in the Marlborough Region of New Zealand. Long hot summer days followed by cool nights created another near perfect growing season for this grape varietal. This is typical for a Sauv Blanc from New Zealand, bright tropical fruits in the mouth and fresh cut grass on the nose. This wine has plenty of acidity to handle food and enough structure and complexity to surprise even the wine snob you may have as a friend or neighbor. Your best girl will enjoy this wine as well. Go get it and share!

Cheers!

J

White and Red Wonders

Hello Wine Lovers!

What a beautiful day we had in Chicagoland! Happy Halloween to all of you. Which leads me to my first wine to talk about... Wolftrap from South Africa. The name is so appropriate for this Halloween day. First off many of you may have forgotten this area of the world for wine but South Africa has certainly been holding their own on the wine world lately and this is another example. This is a blend of 68% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre and 2% Viognier, in other words a Rhone blend. (Rhone being a region in Southern France) This wine is full of dark berries, blackberries and cherries with a touch of smoke and a little chocolate on the palate. It has just enough oak to give it character and a nice long finish. A perfect match for grilling or BBQ ribs. At around $9.99 give this wine a try, you will not be disappointed!

My white for today is a Peter Lehmann Selection 2006 Barossa Semillon from Australia. This wine is bright and delicate with a greenish gold color. On the nose you smell lemon zest and in the mouth you taste tropical fruit with a refreshingly clean and crisp finish. This wine is more complex than the $9.99 price tag. It has a lot of punch in the mid range and has a long finish with a lot of dancing on your tongue.

Both of these wines are a little off the "norm" of what many drink, trust me when I say you will enjoy!

Cheers

J

A Pair of Drinkers

Hello Wine Lovers!

Fall is officially here and the leaves are changing to vibrant colors, there is the smell of burning logs in the air, you wake up with frost on your lawn and you anticipate the upcoming holidays and family get togethers.

Here is two wines you can bring to your get togethers that will not force you to take out a second mortgage and will impress your family and friends!

Round Hill Oak Free Chardonnay is my first selection to talk about. You ask "Why is he talking about Chardonnay when I know he doesn't like most Chardonnays?" Well I'll tell ya... this is not like most California Chardonnay due to the fact this wine has not even been close to an oak barrel. It is clean and crisp with bright fruit flavors of green apple, lemon and pear with a soft finish that lingers in your mouth. At $6.99 you will be blown away.

The next wine for today's entry is Tilia Cabernet from Argentina. This bottle will set you back $7.99 and will also floor you! Tilia is the Latin name for Linden, which is a traditional tree in Mendoza whose flowers are used to make a relaxing herbal tea. Many vineyard workers and their families enjoy a cup of this tea after a long day working the vines. This wine is sustainably farmed which is another positive! You will find a dark purple color with a nose of sweet spice, red fruits and a touch of tobacco. The palate will give you cassis fruit, red currant and a touch of cedar. It finishes soft with enough tannin to add structure and length to the finish.

You will not go wrong when you show up at your friend's house or family's house with these bottles in hand!

Cheers

J

Spanish Wonder

Hello Wine Lovers!

What a beautiful weeken d, perfect for the last minute get together with friends on the patio and a casual dinner with a cigar chaser.Which brings to mind my entry for today, 2005 Las Rocas Garnacha from Spain. This wine is perfect for the grille with your favorite cut of the cow. It is made from low production vines that are between 70 and 100 years old. The mouth is full of raspberries, pepper and a touch of fig with a full well rounded finish. It is soft enough for our girls in our lives but has enough backbone for us guys. It is sourced from vineyards high in the mountains which of course puts a strain on the vine which in turn, produces a small berry with intense juice. Now for the kicker... this little number will cost you a whopping $8.99 a bottle! That's right, your eyes are not playing tricks on you... buy this now! You will not be disappointed!

Cheers!

J

Drinking

Hello Wine Lovers!

I was on my way home the other day stuck in Chicago's construction traffic (We have two seasons... winter and construction) and was anticipating dinner and a cocktail and wine when I finally arrived home, and it struck me. Why not talk a little about my favorite cocktail... the martini. I figured this was a blog about wine and how wine fits into our lifestyles so I certainly know for me a cocktail fits into my lifestyle as well.

First let me start by saying you can't just drink a martini to be drinking one, you have to lead up to it. It is similar to making love to a beautiful woman, it takes all day, flirting, teasing sending her texts getting her to anticipate... and then make love to her. The martini is much the same way. You have to think about your day leading you back home to enjoy one! The right music should be playing, the correct lighting and atmosphere, the correct companion to enjoy it with, and most of all, your undivided attention and relaxation.

Oh and by the way, the classic martini is not some "Cosmo" sweet tasting thing that the girls drink on girl's night out. A true "broad" drinks a martini period. (One of the many reasons I married my beautiful bride) There are two stories of the martini here in America. One is the importing of vermouth from Italy named Martini & Rossi and a bartender mixed gin with it and called it the martini, approximately in the late 1800's.

The second is of the bartender's name was Martini and he tended bar at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City in 1911. I don't care which story you follow... just follow one; it makes for fun dinner conversation. The "Classic" martini is always made with gin and is stirred and not shaken. You may know a certain spy with the last name of Bond who liked his shaken and not stirred. (As I do) Some believe when you shake a quality gin or vodka you actually bruise it. A shaken martini is know as a "Bradford" and I will bet you the farm the next time you are in one of your favorite watering holes and order a "Bradford" the tender will not have a clue. The classic garnish is a plain old olive. I know there are plenty of different takes on this classic drink, but I got to tell you the original classic is the best! Remember, take the time to really enjoy one of these little babies and you won't be sorry.

Cheers!

J

A Tastey New Zealander

What's Up Wine Lovers!

Can you believe summer is over? The Labor Day weekend is here and summer will start to wind down and bring fall colors, cool weather, the smell of firewood burning, football and hearty food. Hearty food brings us big tannic wines that make us feel warm inside. Big over the top Cabernets, juicy Zinfandels, big Sangioveses from Tuscany and powerful Syrah's. That is why I am talking about today's entry, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough Region, Arona. Arona is a girl's name meaning "Colorful". This wine is bright and exuberant with a touch of pineapple and passion fruit with the typical intensity of a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and a perfect match for the name. This wine is a perfect wine to celebrate summer winding down, perfect for the patio or as an aperitif before dinner. This will set you back $8.99 a bottle at your favorite wine shop, not a big investment and a pretty good pop for your buck. I would suggest you go buy a few bottles to keep you company for those last days of warm weather.

Have fun this weekend and remember to celebrate Labor Day!

Cheers!

J

Argentina Winner

Hello Winos!

Lets talk Cabernet! One of the most recognizable wine types out there today. They can be big, tannic, up front fruit bombs or they can be elegant, soft with lots of finesse, you choose. This will depend on where the wine comes from and what the wine maker wants to show with the grapes he is given. You take a California Napa Cabernet and it will always have a distinct flavor profile, arguably some of the best in the world. Take one from Bordeaux France, and again it will have a certain characteristic and old world charm to it. Take one from Italy and this one will have Italian written all over it. Take one from Argentina, and so too, this one will have a certain softness and earthiness to it. This brings me to the wine for today's post... Alta Vista Classic Cabernet from Mendoza Argentina.

You will find this wine an incredible value at a whopping $8.99 a bottle! Trust me when I say you cannot get to the wine shop quick enough to buy this nectar of the Gods! You will find this wine a dark red-purplish color with intense dark fruit on the nose with a touch of vanilla and a long finish with sweet tannins. The grapes for this wine are hand picked and placed in stainless steel tanks for fermentation for approximately 7 days. Continued maceration continues for a total of 10 days and then is aged in American oak barrels for 6 months. (This is where the notes of vanilla come from on the nose)

This wine is a perfect match for grilled meats, pasta with heavy sauces and hard cheeses.

Cheers!

J

Odd Couple

Hey Wine Lovers!

Before you read too far into this post, I want you to write down De Bortoli, get in your car, drive to the Wine Discount Center, go inside and ask for this wine. Next fill up your car's back seat, trunk, passenger seat and wherever you can fit this wine and go home and finish reading my blog. It is only $5.79 a bottle!!

It is a Chardonnay from Australia (I know what you're thinking... another Chardonnay!) that drinks light with touches of citrus and melon with a well balanced finish. I usually don't get too excited about Chardonnay, unless of course it is from France, but I can't write about them because they are too expensive for my blog, but this one for the money is a beaut! The De Bortoli family has been making wine since 1928 when Vittorio De Bortoli produced his first wine, a Shiraz from South Eastern Australia. They have a number of labels in their portfolio and some pretty highly rated wines.

The next entry for today is a Shiraz Tempranillo blend from Spain's Bodegas Mercedes Eguren. This wine will set you back $8.99 and has been rated 90 points! Wait until you get your mouth around this juicy little number! It is jam packed with dark fruit with a touch of leather that runs into a long balanced finish with just the right amount of tannin to dance on the back of your throat. This wine drinks much better than the price would indicate, not to mention the high rating. The blend of this wine is 50% for each varietal and it shows in it's complexity.

I'm sure most of you have heard of Shiraz but maybe Tempranillo is a little foreign. This grape is to Spain as Sangiovese is to Italy... one of their most planted and widely used grapes that can make a very ugly tannic wine that you would want to stay away from, or it can make a very elegant wine that could stand up to the world's best offerings. Don't be afraid to try this wine, you will be quite content!

Cheers!

J

Argentine White

Hello Wine Drinkers!

Hope all is well this summer with you all. It seems to be going so fast for me, maybe because it is! Today's entry is a white wine from Argentina, Tercos Torrontes 2009. A beautiful white wine from an ancient grape that is prominent in Argentina. It is equivalent to their signature red grape, Malbec. This little number has citrus flavors with peach and a nose that falls between Muscat and Viognier, lots of floral. At a whopping $10.79 a bottle you can't go wrong!

Lets talk a little about Torrontes and the winery. (Torrontes is the grape varietal) Ricardo Santos was the original owner of Norton Winery before he started a premium label called his namesake, Ricardo Santos Winery. His history goes back three decades and was one of the first to export Malbec from Argentina.

Torrontes is the characteristic white grape of Argentina and some believe it can be traced all the way back to Spanish Missionaries. There is over 33,000 acres of this grape planted in Argentina and it thrives in cold dry conditions. It produces wines with low acid and smooth textures and peach and apricot overtones. A perfect wine for sipping on your patio! DNA testing find it to be a close relative of the Muscat grape varietal, which goes back to my earlier comment.

At any rate... Don't cry for me Argentina...

Cheers!

J

Why We Drink Wine...

Hello Wine Lovers!

Today rather than review a wine I thought I would talk about a few of the reasons people drink wine. Read along and see if you can relate.

Wine can be traced all the way back to 5000B.C. by the Egyptians, so it has been around for a while. How has something survived all this time? We simply cannot stop finding reasons! We drink wine to celebrate and we drink wine when we are having a tough go. To share with friends and family, to close the deal or to celebrate the deal. We drink wine to educate our palates and to broaden our horizons. We drink it to add to our enjoyment of food, to bring out the flavors of food or to enhance food. We drink wine to relax and to reward ourselves for a hard days work or accomplishment. We drink wine to have fun, to embellish a picnic, to share with our neighbors. We drink wine for our health, after all "60 Minutes" showed us all why the French are so happy and healthy. We drink wine to discover, to taste and to remember. Wine is romance, wine is a living breathing thing that changes in the bottle and in our glass. It grows and matures just like we do, it is constantly changing and sharing it's personality with the world.

After it is all said and done, we drink wine for the pure enjoyment of our taste buds.

The next time you open up a bottle of wine I want you to take your time and really discover what is in your glass. Swirl it and look at the color. Smell the bouquet in your glass. Smell again and take a small taste, let it dance on your tongue and cheeks, swirl it in your mouth, close your eyes and think about what it reminds you of. Feel the tannins, taste the fruit and feel the love that went into that bottle of wine.

Don't be intimidated... you either like it or you don't.

Have Fun!

Cheers!

J

Classic Cabernet from Chile

Hello Wine Lovers!

We certainly are in full swing with the hot weather here in beautiful Chicago! So far it has been a pretty summer! Which leads me to the wine for today's entry...Montes "Classic Series" Cabernet Sauvignon. For around $8.99 a bottle this will not break the bank and give you plenty of punch for the money!

This wine is ruby-red in color with a nose of cinnamon and caramel and flavors of dark fruit berries and a touch of oak, but not over the top, just enough. This wine is from the Colchagua Valley in Chile.

This producer makes a number of level of wines from the Alpha M series all the way to a late harvest dessert wine. Prices reflect the same range, anywhere from $8-10 a bottle all the way up to over $100 a bottle. They really got serious in 1987 and started to raise the quality of their wines, which in turn put pressure on all of Chile to raise their levels of quality. Chile has always been know for it's great values but not necessarily for high quality, award winning wines. I realize this is a broad statement, but generally speaking this was the case. Now we all enjoy not only values but quality wines with every bit of finesse that our friends from France produce! Go to your favorite wine shop and pick this up and a few other Chilean wines and I am quite sure you will not be disappointed!

Cheers!

J

Sauvignon Blanc, The Summer Wine

Hello Wine Drinkers!

Here we are in the middle of summer, the weather is nice and hot, the Tour is in full swing (you know the one in France with bicycles) and the World Cup is coming to an end. What better time to open up a summer sipper, a nice crisp, acidic, clean and fresh Sauvignon Blanc. Today's choice is Joel Gott, for around $7.99 a bottle this is another real bargain!

Let's talk a little about Joel Gott and his wines. He started in 1996 when he bought grapes from his longtime neighbor Joe Dillian and made his first wine with then girlfriend Sarah, a Napa Valley winemaker. Their first wine was a Dillain Ranch Zinfandel, which has received great reviews and marked Joel's and Sarah's marriage. They went on to make a beautiful un-oaked Chardonnay, a Cabernet, a Riesling and numerous blends. Their wines are fresh, crisp, elegant and show the regions where they are from well. Whenever you see a Joel Gott wine I feel you will enjoy the wine as well as not break the bank!

Cheers!

J

Summer Rioja

Hello Fellow Winos!

It is that time of the week again, you know what I'm talking about. The day you had plans of grandeur in the garden, pruning, weeding, cutting the grass... and then the rains come! So much for that! So I'll write my blog!

Today's pick is a 2005 LAN Rioja Crianza and for about $9.99 a bottle you will be blown away with the finesse and complexity of this wine. You will find coffee notes and cherry and vanilla tones as well. It has enough tannins to make it interesting but not too much to make it rough. I would highly recommend you buy this wine for the summer, it will go well with grilled meats, chicken, burgers and the summer sun!

You may ask "What is Crianza?" What is Rioja?" Well, I'm just the guy to ask... Lets start with Rioja. This is a prominent wine growing region in Spain located south of the Cantabrian Mountains which help protect the area from the fierce winds that northern Spain are known for. They produce a red and a white wine, Tinto and Blanco. The primary grapes for Tinto (red) are Tempranillo and Garnacha and the primary grape for the Blanco wines is Viura. There are a few more but so obscure not worth confusing any more than you already are. The soil is clay based with high concentrations of iron and chalk. There is so much iron in the soil it is red in color. On to Crianza...

There are four classifications of Rioja wines. Rioja, Crianza, Reserva and Grand Reserva. Rioja is the youngest spending less than a year in oak. Crianza are aged at least two years one of which is in oak. Reserva is aged at least three years one of which is in oak. Grand Reserva is aged two years in oak and three years in the bottle before released. Of course the older the more expensive.

I hope this shed a little light on the subject for you and Spanish wines, but the most important thing I want you to get from this is to buy Spanish wines as they are typically a great value!

Cheers!

J

California Killer Cabernet

Hello Wine Lovers!

I hope all of you Fathers out there had a great day on Sunday! I know I did... a special thanks to my Family and friends who always make things special for me!

I am going to talk about two things today, a great bottle of Cabernet and a wine aerator. First lets talk about the wine! Jade Mountain Cabernet. This beauty is a blend of Cabernet from 3 counties in California, 55% Napa, 41% Sonoma and 4% Lake counties. It is aged in both American and French oak and is an extremely elegant and polished for a wine at this price point... $10.99! You will get a nose full of violets and dark berries with a touch of vanilla with a little chocolate on your palate. It has a long finish with enough structure to handle food. This wine is far better than the price tag!

Next I want to talk about the Vinturi Wine Aerator. I must admit I was not a believer until I experienced it myself. Last week some dear friends had us over for a little dinner party. The gracious host served a couple of really good Zinfandels. I made a comment that one of them was tight and he got up and retrieved his Vinturi Wine Aerator and proceeded to quickly pour the wine through this little device and presto... better wine! I then asked him to pour two glasses, one with the aerator and one without. Much to my surprise, there was a big difference! I suggest any wine drinker out there should purchase one of these little numbers! I found them on Amazon.com for about $20-25. It basically works by exposing more of the volume of the wine to air and oxygen thus opening up the bouquet and pulling more flavors and even smooths out the wine. A small investment to enjoy your wine even more!

Cheers!

J

Hot Weather Wine

Hello Wine Lovers!

Today I am writing about the perfect wine for hot weather on your patio, rose. Specifically today, Domaine du Tariquet Rose for a cool $7.99 a bottle. This wine has enough character to match well with spicy foods and enough finesse to sip alone. You will find fresh raspberries and floral notes in your glass and a slight spice on your palate. Lets talk about rose wine from Southern France.

A rosé (From French: rosé, ‘pinkish’) has some of the color typical of a red wine, but only enough to turn it pink. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grapes and wine making techniques.

Red-skinned grapes are crushed and the skins are allowed to remain in contact with the juice for a short period, typically two or three days. The grapes are then pressed, and the skins are discarded rather than left in contact throughout fermentation (as with red wine making). The skins contain much of the strongly flavored tannin and other compounds, thereby leaving the taste more similar to a white wine. The longer that the skins are left in contact with the juice, the more intense the color of the final wine. It is hot in Southern France and these wines are made to pair with summer food and weather. Many confuse rose with sweet wines, there is nothing sweet about this wine. Ice down a bottle, fire up the grill, sit on your patio and enjoy!

Cheers!
J

Pinot Noir from Chile

Hello Wine Lovers!

You are not going to believe the wine today... a nice little approachable Pinot Noir from Chile for $8.99! Yes you see it correctly, a Pinot Noir for less than $20 that you can actually drink and talk about it!

How may of you saw the movie Sideways? If you haven't and you like wine, (why else would you be reading this blog) you should rent the movie, make a casual dinner, open up a bottle of Pinot Noir and watch Miles take you through wine country. The reason I mention the movie is since the movie came out (it was released in 2004) Pinot Noir prices have gone through the roof! It is amazing how a single movie from Hollywood can impact an entire culture of wine! Prices went through the roof, you couldn't find a room in Santa Barbara to save your life, and the once quiet little wine region became a spectacle!

Back to the wine... Quinaty is the producer and they are located between Casablanca and the Leyda Valleys in Chile. This is the coolest wine region of Chile and is primarily known for its white wines. This is a state of the art winery with exceptional values and true to the region wines. You will find fresh berries on the nose and a touch of cherry in the mouth with a nice elegant finish. The style of this wine reminds me of a Pinot from France, soft, structured, yet very balanced.

This is a classic example of the grape varietal and I highly recommend you go out and buy this today!

Cheers!

J

Two French Winners

Hello Wine Lovers!

Today I am going to treat you to two wines, a red and a white from Southern France... La Vieille Ferme Rouge and Blanc. Both of these little babies will set you back a whopping $6.99, are you kiddin me or what?

La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Luberon Vin Blanc 2008 - Fresh and clean, with nice melon notes and a nice lingering, stony and slightly earthy finish. Wine Spectator gave this wine 87 points and I give it the same rating.
The blend of 30% Grenache Blanc, 30%Bourboulenc, 30% Ugni Blanc and 10% Roussanne grapes (I realize you may not have heard of these grapes but they are the noble grapes of the Rhone Valley in France) has produced a typical Rhone Valley white that is soft, balanced and deliciously aromatic. The most important thing is that it falls in my category of ABC wines. (Anything But Chardonnay)

The Rouge is a blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan and 15% Cinsault. (again, grapes you more than likely have not heard of)
This blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault grapes has produced a typical Rhône Valley style; full of fruit and spice aromas, it has soft tannins and good body and slight minerals on the finish.

Both of these wines will knock your socks off! Go to your favorite wine shop, buy them as much as you can carry, go home, chill and enjoy!

Cheers!

J

Petite Sirah

Hello Wine Lovers!

Today's entry is a beautiful little number from Clarksburg California...PETS Petite Sirah and at $7.99 a bottle you will find this even more appealing!

Juicy fruit up front with blackberry and casis in the middle and a long lingering finish with slight tannins. This wine will stand up to food and will blow you away with its sophisticated structure. It has a lot of finesse for a wine at this price point.

The other really great thing about this wine is the wine maker, Ken Wilson is a pet lover and part of the profits of this wine are donated to the San Francisco SPCA animal shelter! How cool is that? You drink a great wine and you help out animals in San Francisco!

A little history on the grape.

The grape was named after Francois Durif, a botanist at the University of Montpellier in France. (The grape is sometimes referred to as the Durif grape) Syrah was identified as the source of the pollen that originally crossed with Peloursin flowers. The grape's high resistance to mildew encouraged its cultivation in the early 20Th century but today is primarily grown in California and Australia. Depending where you are from depends on the spelling... in France Syrah, in Californina Sirah.

Go impress your friends with your new knowledge!

Cheers!

J

Wine and France

Hello Wine Lovers.

Today I thought I would write about (in as few words as possible because you could easily write a book on the subject) what wine means to the French. I know, I know, who really cares? Well, if you like history at all you may want to read on.

I am not going back to the discovery of France, just back to WW II. Recently the French government commissioned a study of what makes the French "French," or, as one scholar put ti, "to access what makes up French historical memory and identity." It was a vast work, in seven volumes. Part of it was a survey in which people were asked to define the qualities that made them French. Places one thru three were what you would expect: being born in France, defending liberty and speaking French. But right behind number three, wine, specifically knowing and appreciating "good" wine. The authors stated this was no surprise, "Wine is part of our history; it's what defines us."

In 1932 Hubert de Mirepoix, president of the French Winegrowers Association, gave a speech in which he described how wine "contributed to the French race by giving them wit, gaiety and good taste, qualities which set it profoundly apart from people who drink beer."

Well then! Hitler knew the way to defeat France was to take it's pride and "culture" away from them. Not their factories, their trains, their churches, their waterways, but their most prised possession, food and wine! If he took that away from them they would be so morally defeated they would surrender easily and without much of a fight. Well, they did surrender, but not without a fight, and Hitler and his armies took their food and wine away! Countless barbaric invasions of Burgundy, The Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Champagne and many more. Stole millions and millions of the world's greatest wines and stored them in caves. he gave them to his armies when they won and he gave it to them when they did not, the German soldier always had wine.

Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte were believers too. Napoleon even hauled wagon loads of champagne on his campaigns, most of the time anyway. It is said the reason for his defeat at Waterloo was that he did not have time to pick up any champagne and had to fight on Belgian beer alone.

Well we all know our history books, the world defeated Hitler and the French survived. The wine regions that were so badly destroyed are once again producing some of the best wines in the world. So the next time you meet a French person and you feel a tinge of arrogance... it is in their blood!

Ok Ok... the wine already!

2007 Mas Donis Barrica from Spain! It is a blend of 85% Garnacha (from vineyards over 80 years of age) and 15% Syrah. Aged for eight months in French and American oak, it was bottled without fining and filtration. It offers a bouquet of smoke, earth notes, clove, cinnamon, and black cherry. This leads to a wine with remarkable depth and concentration for its humble price, savory flavors, and a fruit-filled finish. This wine will set you back a whopping $9.99! Unbelievable!

Cheers!

J

Enthusiastic Estancia

Hello Wine Drinkers!

Today's entry is a great value from our beloved state of California, Paso Robles Region, Estancia Cabernet. This little beauty will set you back a whopping $8.99 a bottle. I dare you to find a value like this! For this money it could be the value of the year!

Dark in color with rich dark fruits on the mouth with slight tannins and a long lingering finish. This wine is beautiful in your mouth, soft yet velvety and it finishes on the back of your tongue to remind you it is a Cabernet.

In 1999 Estancia planted nearly 700 acres of vines along the Estrella River, of which 400 acres was Cabernet. The Paso Robles Region has the most extreme temperature swings in the state which in turn produces complex rich Cabernet's. Because of this the grapes are small with tiny clusters and a high skin to juice ratio which help make intense wines.

Buy this wine by the cart full.

Cheers!

J

Portugal Prize

Hello Wine Lovers!

Sorry about last week, I missed my entry with Easter and all. We hosted Easter at our home so I was a little busy! It seems like a lifetime since I posted even though it has only been a week. Today I am excited about a white wine from Portugal, Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde 2008. This little number will blow your socks off at $6.99 a bottle it has depth and character. The Vinho Verde is the region located in the northwest of Portugal, the Vinhos Verdes region is unique in both landscape and wine. The region is exposed to the sea in the west and mountains in the east. The climate is particularly different from other wine regions in the country with high levels of precipitation and humidity, and lengthy periods of fog and low temperatures. You will find this wine full of citrus fruit and the sea on the nose with enough acidity to balance the finish. It goes well with food as well as a nice aperitif to kick off your party. At your local wine shop you will find more and more wines from Portugal on the shelves. In the last 5-10 years there has been a lot more wines other than Port imported from this beautiful wine producing country. Primarily due to increased quality and modern wine making techniques to make them competitive in the wine world. Don't get me wrong, this is still "Old World" wine but with a twist.

Impress your friends and serve something different, tell them where the region is located... and poof... you're considered a wine expert!

Cheers!

J

Argentina Winner

Hello Wine Lovers!

Don't cry for me Argentina... sorry I was thinking of the scene in Evita when Madonna sings this song. Argentina is beautiful, it's people proud and hard working, it's food full of flavor and texture. What does all of this have to do with wine you ask. The wine today is High Note Malbec and when you pour it in your glass and close your eyes, you will smell Argentina! It is beautiful, proud to be a Malbec, it works hard and it is full of flavor. This wine has fig, dark fruit, and toast on the palette and a long, lush juicy finish! This wine may very well be the bargain of the year so far at $8.99.

This wine is great with food, hearty fare, meat, heavy braised dishes, steak and lamb on the grille. If you don't find this wine to be outstanding then I'm just nuts!

Cheers!

J

Spanish White Winner

Hello Wine Lovers!

I drink a lot of wine, and I'm sure like many of you, I like variety. I have long been an advocate of the ABC rule... anything but chardonnay, unless of course it is from France. It is this guy's humble opinion that they are the only people that know exactly what to do with this grape. But anyway... that leads me to this week's entry. Bodegas Montecillo Verdemar Albarino 2008. This wine is from Spain's second oldest producer, Montecillo, which was established in 1874. It is 100% Albarino and at $7.99 will just thrill ya to death!

Pale in color with a nose of grapefruit, apple, pear and pineapple with with a long finish with minerals and a touch of acidity. A perfect match to food as well as a nice sipper on the patio.

Let's talk Albarino. This grape has been argued that it is a relative of the Riesling grape from Alsace around the 12 to 15 Century. It is grown in Spain's Rias Baixas DO and significantly in the town of Cambados. It is often blended with other white grapes but more and more producers are turning out wines made up of 100% Albarino. The grape is known for its distinctive aroma and high acidity, which of course makes it a good food wine.

The next time you feel like a white wine give this little number a try, I'm quite sure you won't be disappointed!

Cheers!

J

Zinfandel Winner

Hello Wine Lovers!

Last night I had a wonderful (you won't believe the price) wine with a steak cooked on the grille. Fuego Old Vine Zinfandel at $6.99 a bottle. That's right, $6.99 a bottle and notice I said wonderful. It is bright purple in color and has smoky blackberry and blueberry on the nose,with spice and a long lingering finish. Deep dark berry flavors, supple texture and bright minerals add complexity to this wine. It drinks like wines costing three times the price!

Lets talk a minute about Zinfandel. This varietal can be traced back to the Primativo grape grown in the heel of the boot in Italy and also traced to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski dating back to the 17th Century. It produces a deep red robust wine with a high sugar content which translates to a high alcohol content, in many cases well over 15%. Zinfandel vines are quite vigorous and grow best in climates that are warm but not too hot, because grapes may shrivel in hot weather. Zinfandel's has a thin skin and grow in large, tight bunches that are sometimes prone to rot on the vines. The fruit ripen fairly early and produce juice with high sugar levels. If weather conditions permit, the grapes may be late harvested to make dessert wines. Zinfandel is often praised for its ability to reflect both its terroir and its winemakers style and skill. Grape vines grow for over 120 years and start to produce less fruit after about 20 years. This wine is made from "Old Vine" grapes which simply put, the vines are old which produce smaller grapes, which in turn have more intense flavors. At least that is the plan.

Whatever the case may be... run don't walk to your favorite wine merchant and buy this stuff!

Cheers!

J

Paper or Plastic

Hey Wine Lovers!

It's that time again...time for a new entry. I poured myself a glass of wine the other day and was not happy with my glassware selection so I poured it into another glass, one that made me happy! I sat down in my favorite chair and I started to think why one glass made me happy and one I didn't particularly like?

Forget about all the pretentious wine snobs you know that need 5 different glasses to have dinner. Or the snob that is totally appalled that a Pinot Noir is served in a Cabernet glass. Or the crazy nut that insists on a Chardonnay glass to drink from. It all boils down to this... drink what you want, when you want, with what you want and out of whatever you want! Forget it all! Just enjoy the wine and the moment. I personally like thin glassware to drink from. I like the feel of the stem in my hand and how it puts the wine in my mouth, it doesn't make it right or wrong, it's just what I like. If you like drinking wine from a small juice glass then so be it, that's what you like! If you like drinking wine from a jelly glass, fine. Who cares?

OK lets talk wine! Hahn Pinot Noir Monterey County. Another Pinot bargain you won't believe your taste buds! At $8.99 a bottle you will be blown away! A dynamic and multi-faceted wine with deep ruby hues, aromas of fresh raspberries with a burst of fruit and spice on the palate. Run out and buy this jewel by the case! You'll love it!

Cheers!

J

New Zealand Pinot

Hello Wine Lovers!





It has been a week since my last posting, Valentine's Day 2010... I can't believe how fast time keeps moving! The good news for us folks living in the snow belt, spring is just around the corner, hang in there! Wine always helps!





Speaking of wine, lets talk Pinot Noir! I wrote about the sister to today's entry a while back, Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc and what a great value it was... well this Pinot will blow you away! Oyster Bay Pinot Noir, New Zealand and at $9.99 a bottle you can't pick this up fast enough!





Lots of fruit on the nose, ripe cherries and plums in the mouth and fairly low acidity with just enough structure to make this wine a winner. It has been aged in both stainless steel tanks and oak barrels, both new and old French oak. This wine has a lot of structure and finesse considering it's price tag. As I'm quite sure most of you know, it is nearly impossible to find a decent Pinot worth drinking for under $20, but this little number will keep you coming back for more.



Cheers!
J

Valentine's Day!

Hello Wine Lovers!

Well it’s Valentine’s Day, the day for lovers, the day you tell your sweetie how much you love him or her, whatever the case may be. It’s the day to say “I love you” to say “How much you mean to me”. All of the romance caused me to think about the romance of wine. So that is what I’m writing about today.

The romance of wine… people have been romancing the opposite sex for centuries with wine. Traced all the way back to the Romans! What is it about the magic of the grape? All the care and love that goes into the vineyard, the painstaking energy of the grower to check each row of vines as they awake from their winter slumber to see the first buds appear. The worry of late frost that would kill the new buds, or too much rain, or one of the countless insects that could attack the vines and buds. Keeping the foliage cut just right to allow the sun to hit the grapes, but not too much to turn them into raisins. The early days to watch the sun rise to see which way it kisses the grapes, the afternoons spent watching the sun move across the sky to see how it hugs the vines. The countless hours spent tasting wine as it ages ever so elegantly, to determine what kind of oak to use French or American, toasted or natural, young or old. How long to age, when to bottle, do I blend or don’t I?

There is something about nature too,how it takes the water to nourish, the sun to flourish, the days to heat them up and the nights to cool them off and Mother Nature turns a little bud into a beautiful grape cluster, and then someone turns the grape clusters into nectar of the Gods! Then it arrives at your favorite shop or grocery store, you make a decision to purchase and home it goes!
How does the romance continue? Let’s talk! You take the time to cook a great meal and you want the wine to match perfectly… your thought of the match. You make your choice, cut the foil, screw in your cork screw into the cork, pull slowly and “pop” what a sound! You choose just the right glass, thin, stem, correct shape and then pour an ounce into the glass. You slowly swirl the wine, smell and then taste… how is this not romantic and sexy? The feel of the bottle in your hand, the feel of the glass in your hand, the nose of the wine, the taste, don’t you just feel the love? The flavors paired with food, the conversation with friends and loved ones, the gathering of friends, the universal language to break bread with! This is all so romantic!

Wine to share with your sweetie... what could possibly more fun?

The wine today is Hope Estate Chardonnay from Australia. Some dear friends called me up last week and asked me if I was interested in tasting a bargain wine possibly for my blog. After much arm twisting... I gave in! They arrived with this little Aussie number. At $5 a bottle this is crazy good! It has just a touch oak with fresh pineapple, melon, and peach touches with a crisp finish. This wine is a must buy!

Cheers!

J

A Pair Worth Drinking

Hello Wine Lovers!

Today I will share a couple of crazy value wines one from Ital and one from France. I asked myself "Self, should I write about Italian and French wines in the same entry to my blog?" The answer is yes, so get over it Frenchies!

First the white, Tormaresca (Which means tower by the sea) Chardonnay from Puglia Italy. (The heel of the boot) It is an elegant wine with pear flavors, mineral nuances with enough acidity to go with many foods. This wine is $7.99 and is a complete steal!

The red I want to turn you on to is a nice Pinot Noir, Aigle Noir from Gerard Bertrand in the south of France. This wine shows light berries, slight mineral nuances with raspberry and just enough tannin to make it worthy of food! You need to hurry to your Wine Discount Center to buy this before it sells out, it is $5.99 a bottle and the first day it posted sold over 100 cases at one shop alone. Don't wait on this go buy it by the case!

My recipe for this entry is crazy good... Chile Crusted Lamb Chops! See below and enjoy!

Cheers!

J

Ingredients
Crust:
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
3 large shallots, minced (about 3/4 cup)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons ancho chile powder (see Cook's Note)
1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Lamb:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 well-trimmed racks of lamb (each about 1 1/4 pounds)
4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Directions
For the crust:
In a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat, add the butter. When the butter is melted, add the shallots and thyme and saute until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the chile powder and stir. Add the bread crumbs and saute until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Remove the crumbs to a small bowl and let cool.
For the lamb:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
In the same large skillet over high heat, heat the oil. Working in batches, add the lamb racks to skillet, rounded side down. Sear until brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a clean cutting board, seared side up. Spread 2 teaspoons of the mustard over each rack. Press the crumb topping into mustard on the racks, dividing equally. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Roast in the oven until desired doneness, 25 minutes for medium well. Let the lamb rest 5 to 7 minutes before slicing. Arrange the sliced lamb on a serving platter and serve.
*Cook's Note: The ancho chile is a dried poblano chile. It is also sold as "pasilla" in the US. It is a deep red color, and the flavor ranges from mild to pungent. The rich, slightly fruit flavored ancho is the sweetest of the dried chiles. Anchos are often sold whole and can be stemmed, seeded then ground at home in a coffee or spice grinder. They can also be found at most supermarkets, latin specialty markets or online.
Cook's Note: Heat 1/2 cup beef broth (stock) with a little mint jelly and simmer several minutes, for an easy and tasty sauce to go with your lamb.

Italian and Spanish Mix

Hello Wine Lovers!

I thought I would talk today about ordering wine from a restaurant menu. In a previous post I wrote about how to buy wine from your favorite wine merchant and after a recent visit to a restaurant I feel this may be helpful to some of you.

First and foremost, do not be intimidated by the wine list, server, bartender, or sommelier...they are all there to assist you with your selection! Secondly, don't be intimidated and ask plenty of questions. Last but not least, know what you want to spend and remember what you have been drinking lately at home or elsewhere. This will help them guide you down the path of your tastes and expectations.

I always recommend you widen your horizons when dining out, not only with your wine selections but with your food selections as well. Try something different, trust me, it will be fun!

Tell the person who is taking care of you a few different wines that you enjoy, a range of what you want to spend and ask him/her for their recommendations or favorites.

You may want to ask them what specials the restaurant is featuring.Theses wines are usually a good value and are very approachable. Another one of my favorites is to ask them for the hidden jewel on the list. The wine that is under priced and drinking really well. Ask them for a wine that sells for $30 but drinks like it is $50 or $60, this is always a nice challenge for the person taking care of you!

When you make your selection and the bottle is presented to you be sure it is what your agreed upon. Look at the year, producer and area it is from. After you give your nod of approval you will be presented the cork, DON'T SMELL IT! Place it on the table. You will then be poured a small amount in your glass. DON'T TASTE IT! Swirl and smell, as long as it smells vibrant and not overly "musty" give your nod of approval. After wine has been poured for everyone, sit back and take your first sip and enjoy. If for some reason you do not like the wine, return it and order something different. (The restaurant will pour it off as a "by the glass" or special... don't feel bad it is your money, your fun, your tastes)

Remember the staff is there to help you with your selections and their education on what they are selling and what is value driven and what is really appealing... take advantage of this! Have fun and experiment but most of all enjoy wine with food!

Whew! Too wordy! Sorry about that! Now the wines for today. I chose an Italian White Blend, Casamatta Bianco Toscana. This little number is a blend of 50% Chardonnay, 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Trebbiano. A lush, fruit forward wine with grapefruit and tropical fruit flavors with slight minerals on the finish. A great food wine for fish, light pastas and chicken. $6.99 a bottle will have you laughing as you sip!

My red for today is a Spanish 100% Garnacha, Monte Oton. This wine is beautiful with plenty of fruit nuances from blackberry, plum and raspberry flavors. It is rich with texture from the volcanic soil it grows in on the slopes of an extinct volcano in rugged Spain. This will set you back a whole $6.99 also! (It just kills me...)

Grenache (pronounced gren-ash) (in Spanish, Garnacha) is one of the most widely planted red wine grape varietals in the world. It ripens late, so it needs hot, dry conditions such as those found in Spain and the south of France. It is generally spicy, berry-flavored and soft on the palate with a relatively high alcohol content, but it needs careful control of yields for best results.

Cheers!

J

A Pair of Winners

Hello Wine Lovers!

I got to thinking last week (which is scary) that not only should I write about wines for you to enjoy but why not add some of my favorite food recipes too! So... this is my first entry with a recipe as well. I hope you enjoy!

To me food is not a means to live, but I live to eat good food! Some think it is difficult to eat well, or too difficult to follow a recipe out of Gourmet or some other food magazine or coffee table cook book. I say if you can read you can cook! It takes focus and the ability to follow steps and procedures. In most cases I find that people who say they cannot cook allow too many distractions during their time in the kitchen.

First the wine! I am talking about two today, LaVieille Ferme White and Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet Blend. Both are around $6.99 a bottle, once again I am blown away on how anyone can get wine to the store for that money$$

LaVieille Ferme is a Rhone Valley wine grown in the Luberon Mountains. It is made up of Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Ugni Blanc and Roussanne grapes from the acclaimed Chateau de Beaucastel family of France who have a great reputation. This wine matches well with the recipe as well. Light, fruit forward with tropical fruit flavors with minerals and enough acid to handle food.

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet from South Australia is from one of the most prominent producers of Australia. For this money it is juicy with dark fruit, spice and chocolate wit just enough oak to keep it interesting.

SALMON in LEMON BRODETTO with PEA PUREE

Lemon Brodetto:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 shallot, diced
2 lemons, juiced
1 lemon, zested
2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
Pea Puree:
2 cups frozen peas, thawed (about 10 ounces)
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
1 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Salmon:
1/4 cup olive oil
4 (4 to 6-ounce) pieces salmon
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
To make the Lemon Brodetto, warm the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and saute until tender, about 7 minutes. Add the lemon juice, zest, and broth. Bring to a simmer, and keep warm, covered, over low heat.
To make the Pea Puree, combine the peas, mint, garlic, salt, and pepper in a food processor and puree. With the machine running, add the olive oil in a steady drizzle. Transfer the pea puree to a small bowl and stir in the Parmesan. Set aside.
To make the Salmon, warm the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over high heat. Season the salmon pieces with salt and pepper. Sear the salmon until a golden crust forms, about 4 to 5 minutes on the first side. Flip the fish and continue cooking until medium-rare, about 2 minutes more depending on the thickness of the fish.
To assemble the dish, add the tablespoon chopped mint to the Lemon Brodetto and divide between 4 shallow dishes. Place a large spoonful of Pea Puree into the center of each bowl. Place a salmon piece atop each mound of Pea Puree. Serve immediately.

Have Fun!

Cheers!

J

New Zealand Winner

Hello Wine Lovers!

Today I am offering you for your selection a nice, food friendly, easy drinking Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, Oyster Bay. At around $6.99 a bottle, you can't go wrong, even if you don't like it... at that price give it to your neighbor!

Pale straw green in colour, zesty and aromatic with lots of lively, penetrating fruit characters.

Tropical fruits with grapefruit and a typical New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc nose, slightly grassy but not too much where you think you just cut your grass in the spring!

Lets talk a little bit about New Zealand wines.

The first appearance of wine in New Zealand was during colonial times. However the production of wine really didn't take off because of a number of factors including that wine was not really economical to produce as compared to dairy products and meat. New Zealand took wine making seriously during the latter half of the 1960s. Wine was seen as the only way to save New Zealand's dwindling economy so all prohibitions were lifted and wine production started at full steam.
Marlborough was later identified by many wine making families of the time and wine production including fruit growing began to center around Marlborough.
New Zealand is a country of contrasts with dense, native forest, snow-capped mountains and spectacular coastline. With wine growing regions covering the length of 1000 miles, grapes are grown in a vast range of climates and soil types, producing a diverse array of styles. The northern hemisphere equivalent would run from Bordeaux down to southern Spain.
New Zealand's climate has a strong influence on the country's predominantly coastal vineyards. The vines are warmed by strong, clear sunlight during the day and cooled at night by sea breezes, much like the Sonoma Coast in California.The long, slow ripening period helps to retain the vibrant varietal flavours that make New Zealand wine so distinctive.

In my humble opinion, any Sauvignon Blanc you see at the wine shop from New Zealand is usually worth pouring in your favorite glass and taking a sip!

Until next time...

Cheers!

J