by Lorri | Dec 19, 2012 | UnCorked
Choosing an ideal wine for Christmas festivities can be a hit or miss affair. We usually meticulously plan and prepare our menus, but sometimes the wine pairing is a last-minute thought. Here are some tips for effortlessly pairing Christmas foods and wine.
Christmas starters are the perfect time to pop open a bottle of bubbly. It pairs perfectly with a wide range of flavors and textures, but most importantly can handle anything from light and airy sweets to baked, grilled or even deep-fried appetizers.
THE VALUE
- NV Segura Viudas Brut Cava, Spain (about $11 retail) THE SPLURGE
- NV Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut, California (about $28 retail)
Ham is a staple on many Christmas menus, but the salty meat can be tricky to match with wine. Ingredients such as a honey or sugar glaze can accentuate the bitterness of tannins. The best pairings are light-bodied red wines (pinot noir, merlot, syrah) without over-powering tannins ormedium-bodied whites (chardonnay, Riesling, vermentino or albarino) without searing acidity.
THE VALUE
- 2011 Montes Alpha Chardonnay, Chile (about $12 retail)THE SPLURGE
- 2011 Tenuta Guado Al Tasso Vermentino, Italy (about $29 retail)
With beef, red wine is ideal, but as with other meats, it’s the added sauces or cooking methods that guide a perfect match. If the meat is cooked rare, the tannins are softened and offer a perfect opportunity to serve a high-tannin or youthful wine. If you plan to serve an older, fragile wine, consider preparing the meat medium-rare or medium.
THE VALUE
- 2010 Liberty School Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, California (about $15 retail) THE SPLURGE
- 2010 Bell Vineyards Claret, California (about $36 retail)
Goose offers a unique texture and taste compared to traditional turkey. It is richer and generally has a distinct gamy flavor. When matching with wine, consider rich reds with a touch of spice such as Burgundies, Barolos, syrah or blends. For the adventurous, pairing aged Champagne is spectacular.
THE VALUE
- 2010 Red Bicyclette Syrah, France (about $10 retail) THE SPLURGE
- 2010 Canto de Apalta by Lapostolle Proprietary Blend, Chile (about $22 retail)
Turkey may be the easiest to match with wine. Because of its fairly simple texture and taste, it offers many wines the ability to show off. However, if you are planning to bring out a favorite cellared wine, consider roasting the turkey rather than smoking or grilling. The more delicate flavorwill allow the wine to shine. If your cellar is not overflowing with choices, consider pinot noir, Spanish Riojo or chardonnay.
THE VALUE
- 2011 Underwood Cellars Pinot Noir, Oregon (about $12 retail) THE SPLURGE
- 2011 Franciscan Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay, California (about $20 retail)
Something sweet will most likely be a part of your celebration. Keep it simple and remember the cardinal rule – the wine should be sweeter than the dessert.
THE VALUE
- 2011 Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Moscato, California (about $10 retail) THE SPLURGE
- 2011 Tintero Moscato d’Asti, Italy (about $19 retail)
by Lorri | Dec 12, 2012 | UnCorked
It’s mid-December and for most of us it’s crunch time with the checklist, gift list, party list and of course on my special people list … gifts for the wine lover. For those on this list, gift buying is more of a challenge than just grabbing a bottle of wine. To make tackling the list a little easier, I’ve scoured the gift world and my notes from the past to find some unique gift ideas for values and splurges.
THE VALUES
Wine Enthusiast Double-Wall Iceless Wine Bottle Chiller (about $20) A sweating ice bucket is an eyesore (and safety hazard if the water makes its way to the floor). That’s why I like this iceless chiller. It has thermal-insulated walls that will keep a wine bottle chilled for about 3 hours without the exterior condensation that most chillers create. It has a simple design with acrylic walls and a stainless-steel trim.
Wine Across America, A Photographic Road Trip by Charles O’Rear (about $30) I love giving books as gifts because they are enjoyed throughout the year, and this is one of my favorites. While enjoying a friend’s bottle of out-of–state wine, renowned wine photographer Charles O’Rear and his wife, Daphne, were inspired to photograph America’s wineries. Eighteen months and 50,000 miles later, Wine Across America shows their journey, drinking in the passion and pride of winegrowers, winemakers and wine sippers from New England to California and everywhere in between. It features all the states, providing a spectacular photographic journey and uncovering the unique personality each region offers.
THE SPLURGES
Fusion Wine Glasses ($40 to $70 for a four-glass set) It happens to even the best of us … wine-glass breakage. Maybe it’s from a stumble, a slip, an exuberant toast at a dinner party or a casual meal with family. Crash! Tiny shards of glass are everywhere. But maybe not anymore. Fusion wine glasses are made with European crystal and fused with super-strong magnesium, forming a durable, lightweight, graceful wine glass that is break-resistant. The glasses are made in many sizes and styles. The company claims a 10-year warranty against breakage and that the glass will not cloud or dull.
The Napa Style Venetian Tumbler (about $70 for a set of six) I must admit this is one of my favorite wine presents. We enjoyed them so much we have since given them as gifts and ordered several more sets. Many Old-World wines are best enjoyed not from a fancy wine glass but from a tumbler. The glasses are very delicate to the touch but can still withstand a toast. Each tumbler has a distinct design of raised dots or lines. Champagne flutes are also available.
Le Nez du Vin Aroma Kits ($100-$400) I was given the aroma kit as a gift from my husband and have used it for more than 10 years. The kits help to develop the sense of smell while creating a common language when describing wines. Each vial has a distinct aroma such as orange, strawberry, coffee, lemon and even earth. With the controlled exposure to specific scents, you learn a better range of descriptors common in wines from around the world. The kits range from a master kit to ones geared to red or white wines, wine faults and oak casks.
by Lorri | Dec 5, 2012 | UnCorked
I appreciate any advice that makes holiday shopping easier so I thought I’d offer a list of the best of the best to help kick off your shopping season.
BEST WINE FOR THE HOSTESS
When I give the host or hostess a gift my intention is they will not open it in the stress of a dinner party but savor it at a relaxing moment. The best wine to give is one they normally wouldnt buy themselves but one you encourage them to enjoy and not save. I like to give champagne, sparkling wine or cava and persuade them to open it with pizza or the next casual occasion.
- NV Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Extra Dry, France (about $45 retail)
BEST WINE ON A BUDGET
Quality inexpensive wines, such as those from Cupcake winery, are great for entertaining and giving. Cupcake offers great value (usually less than $15 a bottle) in each of its many varietals, not only those from California but other regions around the world too. With the many occasions coming your way, saving money is always a bonus.
- 2011 Cupcake Cabernet Sauvignon, California (about $12 retail)
BEST WINE GADGET
When you dont know which wine to give, the wine gadget is an ideal gift for any wine lover. One accessory no one should be without is the Vacu Vin. It reduces oxidation in opened bottles of wine. The vacuum style pump pulls out air allowing wine to stay fresh for up to a week.
- The Vacu Vin Wine Saver Pump and Stopper (about $14 retail)
BEST WINE TO IMPRESS
I always enjoy giving a wine with a story and a connection to home and the Murphy family has one of the best with Presquile Winery, a prestigious California winery with Arkansas roots. The winery is in an ideal terroir for pinot noir production nestled in the Santa Maria Valley. An excellent bottle of wine vintage after vintage and an ideal gift to open during the holidays or save for a special occasion.
- 2011 Presquile Pinot Noir, California (about $49 retail)
BEST BOXED WINE
With the many choices of wine in a box the Big House Red brand always offers consistent quality. And when youre entertaining a crowd, its hard to beat the convenience of and price of boxed wine. This wine can easily compete side by side with many $12 bottles.
- 2011 Big House Red, Red Wine, California (about $20 retail)
by Lorri | Nov 28, 2012 | UnCorked
Each year as the hustle and bustle of Christmas arrives, my most important aspiration is to simply enjoy time with family and friends. A few years ago I realized having friends in our home did not require extensive planning and stress or even a complicated menu and seating charts. I found our best and most memorable times were around the living room coffee table sharing conversation while sipping from mismatched wine glasses.
While you can’t plan an impromptu get-together, you can make sure you’re prepared. An easy way to do this is to stock your pantry or refrigerator with the makings for a spread of traditional cheeses and unique wine pairings.
The secret is keeping things casual.
Mix up your cheeses from different milk sources, textures and colors. A simple cheeseboard could include a blue cheese, soft cheese, creamy cheese and hard cheese. Since the cheese and wine will be your showpiece, choose breads with few additional ingredients, like a baguette, breadsticks or crackers. If you want to add a few accompaniments, consider foods that will complement the pairings such as black and green olives, prosciutto di parma, Serrano ham, local sausage blends, tapenades, apricots, pears, apples or figs.
After cutting out this column you have only to make a quick trip to your wine shop and grocer.
Grab the glasses, call a few friends and simply clear a place on your coffee table to delight in a simpler way to entertain for your future gatherings.
Suggested pairings:
Brie and Champagne or quality sparkling wine
- NV J Vineyards and Winery Sparkling Brut, California (about $39 retail)
- NV Moet Chandon Imperial, France (about $60 retail)
Goat cheese and sauvignon blanc
- 2012 Ventisquero Casablanca Valley, Chile (about $13 retail)
- 2011 Honig Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, California (about $20 retail)
Aged cheddar and syrah
- 2009 Frei Brothers Syrah, California (about $19 retail)
- 2008 Bell Winery Sierra Foothills Syrah, California (about $27 retail)
Blue Stilton and tawny port
- Sandeman 10 Year Tawny Port, Portugal (about $44 retail)
- Taylors 20 Year Tawny Port, Portugal (about $74 retail)
by Lorri | Nov 21, 2012 | UnCorked
Even if you’re all set to bake the bird and everybody’s favorite side dishes for Thursday’s Thanksgiving feasts, be sure to remember one of the most important accompaniments to the table working in perfect gastronomy pleasure — the wine.
THE CONGENIAL WINE
To join the turkey at the table you can never go wrong with pinot noir for its ability to pair well with many flavors. The lighter-bodied red wine has a similar taste and character to many white wines — a bonus for pleasing your red and white wine drinkers. Be sure to serve slightly chilled, not room temperature.
THE VALUE
- 2009 Mark West Pinot Noir, California (about $14 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2010 Anne Amie Cuvee A Pinot Noir, Oregon (about $28 retail)
THE UNIQUE WINE
Gewurztraminer’s lightbodied texture and spicy taste is a delightful partner for the range of flavors on any buffet table. A tried and true expression of this grape is produced in France’s Alsace region, with an aromatic, clean, light-bodied style.
THE VALUE
- 2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurztraminer, Washington (about $15 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2009 Hugel Gewurztraminer, France (about $26 retail)
THE SAFE WINE
There are many wines that complement the clashing of food flavors, weights and textures but Rieslings are possibly the wine world’s best option for versatility. Most Thanksgiving menus are a pairing of mishmash flavors, and a dry or off-dry style will work best.
THE VALUE
- 2011 Clean Slate Riesling, Germany (about $13 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2011 Anne Amie Riesling, Oregon (about $22 retail)
THE ULTIMATE WINE
If it ever was the time to dust off the cobwebs and head to your cellar door it’s now. If you have an aging bottle of pinot noir tucked away and have been saving it for a well-deserved moment, this is as ideal a time as any. The aging pinot noir complements the day’s menus as it takes on many earthy flavors and complexities. Burgundy brings incredible depth of character like no other wine in the world.
If your cellar is not home to aged Burgundy there are many options at your local wine shop for impressive bottles well worth the price.
THE VALUE
- 2010 Louis Latour Bourgogne Pinot Noir, France (about $19 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2009 LeRoy Bourgogne Rouge, France (about $68 retail)
by Lorri | Nov 14, 2012 | UnCorked
A much anticipated event will occur across the wine world at one minute past midnight Thursday.
From small villages in France’s Beaujolais region, millions of bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau will begin their journey through the sleepy hillsides of France where the race for distribution commences.
The once-a-year event by French law occurs the third Thursday in November.
This race began as a local phenomenon in the cafes, bistros and bars of Beaujolais. Each fall when the harvest ended, winemakers made a wine that took just a few days to ferment and bottle, a wine much different from the long slumber of most wines.
It was obvious the locals enjoyed the quick release, and eventually Paris got a taste for the wonderful, unique style. What was only a local custom became a worldwide cult.
In the feverish race to the table, Beaujolais Nouveau has been transported by motorcycle, plane, truck, helicopter, private jets, runners, rickshaws and even elephants. An amazing feat if you consider as recently as late September it was only a cluster of grapes in a French vineyard. From field to table, Beaujolais Nouveau takes just weeks to produce and usually costs less than $15 a bottle.
Most are surprised to learn Beaujolais is a region, not a grape. The grape used for this fruity style of wine is the gamay grape. Its production is as unique as its traditions.
Carbonic maceration is used in the fermentation process. Instead of traditional winemaking that begins with crushing the grapes, this method layers the grapes in a sealed container and adds carbon dioxide.
Eventually the grapes are gently crushed under their own weight. The resulting wine is fresh, fruity and very low in tannin.
Be sure to enjoy your Beaujolais Nouveau soon after purchase, because it is a wine to be enjoyed now and not stored in a cellar.
Very few brands make it to Arkansas, but the dependable brand we can expect is the 2012 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau, France (about $12 retail).
