by Lorri | Apr 27, 2016 | UnCorked
I’m asked many times “are you a red or white wine drinker?” My answer is, of course, both, but as the weather warms I admit I veer more to white as an everyday beverage. These are a few of my top picks for refreshing white varietals.
Chardonnay is a love-it-or-leave-it grape variety for most consumers. It’s known as the “King” and also “the Coca-Cola of the wine world.” It didn’t get its reference to “King” in the wine Hall of Fame for nothing. Chardonnay tops the list for the most consumed grape variety, topping even the most popular reds. It comes in all shapes and sizes. In warmer growing conditions it exhibits flavors of ripe, tropical fruits such as pineapple and mango, notes of pear and stone fruit. In cooler climates such as France’s Chablis, the wines are more delicate and citrusy, with a slight honey character.
THE VALUE
- 2014 Bogle Chardonnay, California (about $12 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2014 Force of Nature Chardonnay, California (about $24 retail)
Viognier is another of the underrated white grapes that is beautifully aromatic and can be an ideal blending partner for chardonnay. On its own, it’s much different from the tropical smells of chardonnay and overflows with intoxicating aromas of apricots, fresh flowers and oranges. On the palate it is fuller-bodied than most whites, but with a well-balanced mouth feel and low acidity. France’s Rhone Valley is known for its viognier, but there are many newcomer wine regions in Chile, Australia and South Africa producing exceptional wines.
THE VALUE
- 2014 LaPlaya Estates Viognier/Chardonnay, Chile (about $9 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2013 Calera Mount Harlan Viognier, California (about $38 retail)
Chenin blanc has been referred to as “handier than a Swiss Army knife” by many, simply because it adjusts to almost any production method, be it sweet, dry or even fizzy. It shares many similarities to sauvignon blanc, with its refreshing green apple and fresh herbs. It’s at home in France’s Loire Valley, where the style can be racy, dry, luscious, sweet or with a frothy fizz. You can also find chenin blanc in the vineyards of South Africa, where it once accounted for a staggering quarter of all grapes grown and wine produced.
THE VALUE
- 2014 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc, California (about $12 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2014 Dry Creek Chenin Blanc, California (about $16 retail)
by Lorri | Apr 20, 2016 | UnCorked
What once was a mere bed of lettuce with some vinaigrette drizzled on top is now a centerpiece on the menu and an entree option. When it comes to pairing wine with salad, the approach is much the same as selecting which wine to pair with fish or meat. As we continue to learn the principles of wine and food pairing, there usually is not a single answer.
Salads are complex dishes featuring a range of flavors and textures. All components must be considered. Does the salad include fruit? What is the type of protein? Is the dressing light or heavy? And most importantly, what are the dominant ingredients?
PASTA SALAD
Pasta salad flavors can range from Greek to Asian and include a diverse addition of ingredients, from salmon and anchovies to vegetables and even barbecued pork. The pasta most likely will take backstage while the flavor profile determines the wine pairing. Just as with any pairing, consider the weight and taste of the main ingredients and then consider your wine.
THE VALUE
- 2014 Sean Minor Chardonnay, California (about $12 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2014 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Chardonnay, Washington (about $26 retail)
SALAD NICOISE
This is an easy pairing recommendation. The saltiness of the tuna and olives, the acidity of the tomatoes and the heaviness of the green beans and potatoes make this ideal for a refreshing, light-bodied dry rose.
THE VALUE
- 2014 La Vieille Ferme Rhone Rose, France (about $11 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2014 Hogwash Rose, California (about $18 retail)
SPINACH AND STRAWBERRY SALAD
The sweetness of the strawberry mixed with the bitterness of the spinach calls for a wine with good acidity but also a touch of sweetness, such as moscato or Riesling.
THE VALUE
- 2014 Bella Sera Moscato, Italy (about $9 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- Tintero Moscato, Italy (about $17 retail)
CAESAR SALAD
The Caesar is reasonably easy to pair as long as anchovy does not overwhelm the salad. Because of the creamy texture and taste, it pairs well with a light-bodied white wine such as a pinot grigio, dry rose or sauvignon blanc. If it includes grilled chicken, a lightly oaked chardonnay would shine with the smoky combination.
THE VALUE
- 2014 Montes Classic Chardonnay, Chile (about $11 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2014 Presqu’ile Chardonnay, California (about $33 retail)
GOAT CHEESE SALAD
If you have ever had goat cheese and sauvignon blanc in a tasting, you know this combination is a natural. It is one of my favorite salad pairings. The goat cheese has searing acidity and saltiness that pairs perfectly with the crisp, refreshing high acidity of sauvignon blanc.
THE VALUE
- 2014 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $12 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2014 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $19 retail)
SPINACH AND BACON SALAD
This smoky, salty salad creates a complex pairing opportunity. Often this recipe includes a blue cheese dressing, making it all the more interesting to explore a red wine.
THE VALUE
- 2013 Cline Sonoma Pinot Noir, California (about $14 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2013 Reynolds Winery Carneros Pinot Noir, California (about $43 retail)
by Lorri | Apr 13, 2016 | UnCorked
March marked my 11th anniversary writing Uncorked. I absolutely love sharing my thoughts each week, but more importantly I enjoy your feedback. Much of it turns into Uncorked columns.
Each year as I celebrate this anniversary, I am reminded that my aim for this column has always been to offer honest recommendations of great wine finds in our market. But more than the recommendations, I hope this column makes wine, often a pretentious and confusing subject, fun to explore and more enjoyable to drink.
This next year, as we continue our wine journey together, please keep the questions and feedback coming. You’re the reason I write the column and your thoughts, questions and suggestions help me immensely.
These are some of my favorite wines from the past year.
Enjoy!
THE VALUES
- 2015 A to Z Pinot Gris, Oregon (about $14 retail)
- 2015 Sawbuck Chardonnay, California (about $14 retail)
- 2014 Tercos Torrontes, Argentina (about $12 retail)
- 2014 St. James Winery Cynthiana, Missouri (about $10 retail)
- 2014 Stellar Organics Merlot, South Africa (about $12 retail)
- 2013 Chateau Bonnet Blanc, France (about $15 retail)
- 2012 Mas des Roches Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge, France (about $15 retail)
THE SPLURGES
- 2013 Tooth and Nail “The Stand,” California (about $28 retail)
- 2013 Keenan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California (about $47 retail)
- 2013 Schug Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, California (about $24 retail)
- 2013 Decoy by Duckhorn Pinot Noir, California (about $26 retail)
- 2014 Sean Minor Nicole Maria Red Blend, California (about $24 retail)
- 2012 Chateau Mongravey, France (about $50 retail)
- 2014 Bell Winery Sauvignon Blanc, California (about $18 retail)
- 2013 Mira Cabernet Sauvignon, California (about $52 retail)
by Lorri | Apr 6, 2016 | UnCorked
I recently read an intriguing article published last year at winebusiness.com about the 2015 Survey of American Wine Consumers Preferences by Liz Thach and Kathryn Chang.
The survey, conducted by California’s Sonoma State University and the Wine Business Institute, looks at Americans’ wine-buying habits and preferences.
The American market has not always been the largest in terms of wine consumption, especially compared with countries such as Italy and France, but according to the study, we have been since 2010. So what exactly are we buying, why do we buy it and where do we buy it? These are some of the questions addressed in the survey.
The survey collected data from wine consumers in all 50 states and comprised 1,072 American wine consumers (59 percent women and 41 percent men) and a mix of ages and socioeconomic groups.
The racial breakdown was 65 percent white, 13 percent Hispanic, 11 percent black and 11 percent Asian. The median annual income was $50,000 to $69,999, with 18 percent of participants earning more than $100,000.
The survey respondents were highly educated, with 60 percent with a college degree (compared with roughly 30 percent of the U.S. population). So it is fair to say that while this survey may reflect the tastes and habits of the average wine drinker, it isn’t representative of the average American.
The majority (56 percent) of respondents reported that they consume wine daily or several times per week.
Using a “check all that apply” question format, respondents were asked to rank 12 popular wine varietals. There were no surprises here, with chardonnay (the most popular wine in America) on top, followed closely by merlot. And even though we don’t always want to admit it, we are a white zinfandel drinking nation, as it came in third. Pinot grigio, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and Riesling rounded out the top seven, respectively.
Participants were asked about their preferred styles of wine as well, with a near tie between fruity and semi-sweet. The least favorite style was tannic wines.
Price and brand were the top factors that influence which wines we buy, according to the survey. Thirty-two percent of Americans prefer wines in the $10-$15 price range to drink at home, with only 12 percent reporting they spend more than $46 per bottle. Wine shops and liquor stores are the preferred place to buy wine (30 percent), followed by grocery stores (17 percent), with online sales coming in at the bottom with just 6 percent.
All in all, the study offered interesting statistics on our wine preferences. So, before judging friends and family buying $10 bottles of fruity white zinfandel for not being “real” wine drinkers, you may want to reconsider.
by Lorri | Mar 30, 2016 | UnCorked
The alcohol percentage in wine is a hot topic of discussion for wine drinkers. This conversation is often about the noticeable difference in wines over the past decade, as some wines have crept up from a “norm” of 13.5 percent to as high as 17 percent.
What determines a wine’s alcohol content is straightforward. As grapes ripen they accumulate sugar, which is then converted to alcohol during the fermentation process. Grapes with more sugar produce wines with more alcohol. Grape climate sets a wine’s alcohol level.
Some grapes are naturally higher than others in sugar, but growing conditions as well as terroir have a large impact. If the grape has to struggle to ripen, it may have less natural sugar, resulting in a lower alcohol wine. If the grape is growing in a warm or hot climate, it will most likely have high levels of sugar.
Wine grapes are like any other fruit. If you have ever picked a strawberry before it’s ripe and taken a bite, then enjoyed a berry from the same crop that was left to slowly ripen on the plant with ample sun and ripening power, the sweetness level is dramatically different.
U.S. law permits a 1.5 percent variance from the ABV (alcohol-by-volume content) printed on the wine label.
VERY LOW
Wines with less than 12.5 percent alcohol are considered very low alcohol wines. These include rose, white German riesling, Portugal’s vinho verde, French Vouvray, Italian Asti, Italian Prosecco.
THE VALUE
- 2015 Famega Vinho Verde Blanco, Portugal (about $9 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2015 Zonin Prosecco, Italy (about $17 retail)
LOW
Wines with 12.5 percent to 13.5 percent alcohol fall into the low alcohol category. These include Spanish Cava, California sparkling, Champagne, Italian pinot grigio, Oregon pinot gris, Spanish or California albarino, Beaujolais and Spanish Rioja.
THE VALUE
- 2015 A to Z Pinot Gris, Oregon (about $14 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2015 Stasis Albarino, California (about $45 retail)
HIGH
Wines with 13.5 to 14.5 percent alcohol are high alcohol wines and include California chardonnay, Australian chardonnay, Australia shiraz, Barolo, Chilean merlot, and California cabernet sauvignon.
THE VALUE
- 2015 Matchbook Chardonnay, California (about $15 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2014 Force of Nature Cabernet Sauvignon, California (about $26 retail)
VERY HIGH
Wines exceeding 14.5 percent alcohol are very high alcohol wines. Examples include Spanish sherry, California zinfandel, Amarone and port.
THE VALUE
- NV Osborne Sherry, Spain (about $14 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2014 Earthquake Zinfandel, California (about $26 retail)
by Lorri | Mar 23, 2016 | UnCorked
Easter celebration menus range from morning brunches and lavish buffets to formal sit-down meals and even the casual “just desserts” egg hunts. Regardless of the setting there’s a wine to fit almost any way your family and friends are celebrating Easter together.
BRUNCH
The charm of an Easter brunch lies in its leisurely approach in bridging the festive activities from a late breakfast to well past lunch. If you are serving pastries and fruits, Champagne or a light white wine would be ideal, but egg casseroles, frittatas or tarts will require a more full-bodied white or rose. (Cava, California sparkling, Champagne, pinot grigio, rose, sauvignon blanc, light-bodied chardonnay.)
THE VALUE
- 2013 Sawbuck Chardonnay, California (about $12 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2013 Alta Maria Sauvignon Blanc, California (about $22 retail)
MULTI-COURSE MEALS
Seated lunches or dinners are generally a more intimate setting but also an opportunity to showcase several wines with your menu courses. Many will start with a light salad that could be paired with a light-bodied pinot gris. If the traditional Easter ham will be the showcase of the main course, light reds without overpowering tannins or whites without searing acidity are natural pairings for hams glazed with sweetness, spice and salt. (Pinot noir, merlot, tempranillo, beaujolais, gruner veltliner, chenin blanc, pinot gris.)
THE VALUE
- 2014 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc, California (about $15 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2012 Native 9 Pinot Noir, California (about $75 retail)
BUFFET/FAMILY STYLE
Buffet style dining still offers the least amount of stress and easiest way to serve guests. And, you must admit, there’s something about the table laden with dishes that always creates a feeling of celebration. Serve a wine with the ability to stand up to the assortment of textures and tastes. (Rose, merlot, pinot noir, gewurztraminer, riesling.)
THE VALUE
- 2014 Montes Classic Merlot, Chile (about $13 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2014 Trimbach Gewurztraminer, France (about $30 retail)
JUST DESSERTS
Compared to all entertaining options for Easter, simply having family and friends in your home for just the celebration of the traditional Easter egg hunt is the most personal and casual of options. This menu selection is simple and the focus is mainly on just a few desserts and a versatile wine pairing. Of course, even chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chicks have a wine pairing. But for those looking for a more refined chocolate match, keep in mind lighter chocolates pair best with light-bodied wines while full-bodied wines are best with robust darker chocolates. For example, the delicate moscato d’Asti competes perfectly with the mellow butter flavors in many white chocolates, while cabernet sauvignon blends to perfection with full-bodied dark chocolate. (Moscato d’Asti, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, port.)
THE VALUE
- 2015 Jacobs Creek Moscato, Australia (about $11 retail)
THE SPLURGE
- 2015 Marco Negri Moscato d’Asti, Italy (about $20 retail)
