by Lorri | Sep 23, 2009 | UnCorked
Reading what others have written about wine is a wonderful way to discover new wines and keep up with news in the wine world, such as what other oenophiles are up to.
One of the easiest ways to do this is by reading wine blogs. As long as you have access to the Internet, most blogs are free, and there are hundreds, if not thousands out there.
However, keep in mind, not everything you read is accurate, as anyone with access to the Internet can create a blog. Many blogs are filled with thousands of wine-tasting notes and pages of personal opinions and are simply overwhelming.
The following are some of my favorites and are worth the time spent reading.
Vinography.com
- It was a pleasure meeting Alder Yarrow last year at the Wine Writers Symposium. He is one of the pioneers of serious and professional wine blogging. Vinography has a dedicated following because of its comprehensive approach to the discussion of wine and Yarrow’s astounding dedication to his blog. The site addresses many fascinating wine topics and includes reviews, links to newspaper and magazine articles and other bloggers.
Dr. Vino
- It was also a pleasure spending time with Tyler Coleman, aka Dr. Vino, when he spoke to our symposium on wine blogs. As his blog implies, he really is a doctor (the Ph.D. kind) who studied at Northwestern University. The wine connection began when he chose his doctoral dissertation topic about the economics of the wine industry in France and the United States. His site offers a multitude of categories, such as wine regions, quizzes, media updates and reviews. Dr. Vino’s writing skill, range of topics and expertise make his blog a great place to start in the wide world of wine blogs.
WineAnorak.com
- Jamie Goode is a wellknown British wine writer and the architect of Wineanorak. com. The wine anorak is an online magazine, and Jamie’s blog is linked to the site. Both the magazine and blog feature articles on food and wine, book reviews, tasting notes, wine travels and a portfolio of beautiful wine photographs. I enjoy the blog because it has information relevant to novices and professionals.
GoodWineUnder20.blogspot.com
- Good wine under $20 received the title “Best Single Subject Blog” at the 2008 American Wine Blog Awards. Wine blogger Deb Harkness has a special talent for finding good wines from around the world. Her site has expanded into areas other than wine recommendations and explores food and wine pairings, everyday wine culture and interesting wines to enjoy. A nifty tool on her blog is the “topic index,” which allows the reader to find wines by variety, region and price.
by Lorri | Sep 16, 2009 | UnCorked
Good timing and a touch of luck helped Chile become a world player in the wine industry.
Though Chile’s vineyards were established in the 16th century by Spanish missionaries, it wasn’t until the 19th century that Chile’s winemaking grew to a commercial scale.
This growth coincided with the success of the country’s mining industry. Some of the businessmen’s newly acquired wealth was invested in estates and farmland, including vineyards. Their entrepreneurial spirit soon led them to investigate producing a wider variety of grapes.
For inspiration, producers looked to French styles of winemaking. Along with fields of Chile’s traditional pais grape, they grew cabernet sauvignon, malbec, merlot, chardonnay and pinot noir. The rising sophistication of Chile’s winemaking coincided with the disastrous phylloxera infestation that destroyed most of Europe’s vineyards in the latter half of the 19th century.
Chile’s vineyards, even today, were not much affected by phylloxera, an aphidlike pest native to North America. It’s still a mystery as to why this wine-growing region escaped the devastation, although natural barriers, the method of flooding vineyards for irrigation and the government’s strict control of plant material all likely played roles.
In the 1930s, wine production was at an all-time high for Chilean consumption, but exports were minimal.
In the 1970s, Chilean wine caught the attention of American wine drinkers when export restrictions were lifted by the Chilean government. Vineyards were replanted, new technology embraced and the attention of international investors put Chilean wines on the map.
Today, it’s every wine lover’s good luck that Chile continues to strengthen its reputation for well-made, value-priced wines and fine wines.
THE VALUES
- 2008 Estampa Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, Chile (about $10 retail)
- 2008 Santa Rita Chardonnay, Chile (about $14 retail)
- 2007 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc, Chile (about $16 retail)
THE SPLURGES
- 2005 La Playa Axel Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile (about $27 retail)
- 2007 Montes Alpha Pinot Noir, Chile (about $22 retail)
- 2006 Montes Alpha Syrah, Chile (about $22 retail)
- 2007 Montes Alpha Chardonnay, Chile (about $22 retail)
- 2006 Santa Rita Medalla Real Chardonnay, Chile (about $21 retail)
by Lorri | Sep 9, 2009 | UnCorked
As early as the fifth century, animal horns and sturdy pottery were used as wine glasses. Fortunately, there are no shortages of quality glasses available today.
But for many, selecting the right glass can be as confusing as shopping for wine to pour in it.
The choices — stemmed or stemless, goblets or flutes, wide or narrow bowl, clear glass, frosted or colored glass — can be overwhelming.
But finding the perfect glass is not as complicated as you think. Just as with wine, there are no official rules, but taking the time to consider a few guidelines and learning how to care for glassware may increase your enjoyment of wine.
The type of glass affects wine in several ways.
- If the glass is clear and clean it displays the wine’s color, an important part of the appreciation of wine.
- A stemmed glass is not just for looks but offers a place to hold the glass without warming the bowl or leaving smudge marks.
- The bowl size allows aromas their optimal expression.
Fragile, fragrant and delicate wines such as Champagne need a small bowl and narrow body to enhance the flowing bubbles.
White-wine glasses, though larger than champagne flutes, are smaller to enhance the fragrance and their narrow rims help the wine stay cool longer.
Red-wine glasses with large, round bowls and wide rims allow more contact with air, something usually needed to fully appreciate powerful, robust styles.
Price is an obvious consideration but don’t forget about space. If space and budget are not an issue, there are hundreds of styles and sizes available, even specially designed glasses for specific wines.
But for most of us, a serviceable set would include globe or balloon-shaped glasses for red wines, tulip-shaped glasses for whites and flutes for champagnes.
Although most modern wine glasses are dishwasher safe, washing them in the dishwasher may hurt the wine. Minuscule trappings of detergent mar the aromas and appearance of a wine. Also, “rinse aids” may add to the problem. The best method for cleaning wine glasses is simply a soft cloth and hot water with no detergent.
Of course, in some instances, use of a mild detergent may be desired, such as when there’s lipstick or greasy fingerprints that water alone won’t wash away. Simply use a brush and mild detergent then clean with hot water. To avoid water spots, use a soft, lint-free cloth to hand dry.
THE VALUES AND SPLURGES
by Lorri | Sep 2, 2009 | UnCorked
Over the past 20 years, New Zealand sauvignon blanc has been garnering attention in the wine world and stepping into the spotlight on the world stage. Nearly surrounded by the Tasman Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, the country’s Marlborough region, which produces much of the country’s sauvignon blanc, benefits from a climate that enables a slow ripening period. This slow ripening creates a wine with intense, lively acidity that is matched with vibrant fruit characters of citrus, green apple, grapefruit and lemon.
When Cloudy Bay Winery began exporting wine to the United States in the mid-1980s, the wine was quickly embraced by American wine drinkers — we could pronounce it, afford it and enjoyed the refreshing fruity taste that was quite different from many French-style sauvignon blancs. Other wineries followed suit, and New Zealand continued to produce sauvignon blanc with exceptional quality and consistent style.
By 2000 New Zealand sauvignon blancs coincided perfectly with the world’s demand for fresher and lighter offerings. It was a much needed break from the many over-oaked, heavy whites in many wine regions around the world.
THE VALUES
- 2008 Brancott Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $14 retail)
- 2008 Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $13 retail)
- 2008 Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $16 retail)
THE SPLURGES
- 2008 Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $20 retail)
- 2008 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $22 retail)
- 2007 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $23 retail)
- 2008 Mt. Difficulty Sauvignon Blanc, Central Otago, New Zealand (about $22 retail)
- 2008 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $38 retail)
- 2007 Tohu Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $18 retail)
by Lorri | Aug 19, 2009 | UnCorked
You may wonder whether quality wines can be found that cost less than $10 a bottle. They can indeed. Many well-made wines priced in the single digits offer great taste along with great value.
When buying a wine in this price range, bear in mind that well-made wines have certain characteristics regardless of what they cost.
A well-made wine should offer a balance of the elements from which it is made. For a white wine, it may be its taste and the level of acidity that assures freshness. In red wines, it may be the amount of tannin; too much can leave your mouth dry and exhausted, while too little is much like drinking Kool-Aid.
When considering wines costing less than $10, remember that most are priced based on the cost incurred in their production. Some producers, when bottling $10-and-under wines, substitute less expensive processes to keep the cost down. And some do it better than others.
15 VALUE WINES UNDER $10
- 2007 Cline Cellars Zinfandel, California
- 2007 Rex Goliath Pinot Noir, California
- 2007 Cycles Gladiator Chardonnay, California
- 2008 Snoqualmie Vineyards Riesling, Washington state
- 2008 Conde de Velazquez Sauvignon Blanc, Chile
- 2008 Oroya Tierra de Castilla, Spain
- 2007 Avalon Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, California
- 2007 Trivento Bodega Malbec, Argentina
- 2007 Bogle Vineyards Merlot, California
- 2008 Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay, Australia
- 2007 Gnarly Head Vineyards Zinfandel, California
- 2007 Penfolds Rawsons Retreat Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia
- 2007 Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Carmenere, Chile
- 2008 Yali Winery Sauvignon Blanc, Chile
- 2007 Cline Cellars Merlot, California
15 SPLURGE WINES UNDER $15
- 2007 Cellar No. 8 Cabernet Sauvignon, California
- 2007 Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel, California
- 2007 Jacob’s Creek Winery Shiraz, Australia
- 2007 Concannon Vineyards Syrah, California
- 2007 Bodega Norton Malbec, Argentina
- 2007 Angeline Winery Pinot Noir, California
- 2007 d’Arenberg Stump Jump (Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre), Australia
- 2007 337 Cabernet Sauvignon, California
- 2008 Voga Pinot Grigio, Italy
- 2008 Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc, California
- 2008 Hess Monterey Chardonnay, California
- 2007 Mark West Winery Pinot Noir, California
- 2007 Paul Jaboulet Parallele 45 Cotes du Rhone, France
- 2007 Castello del Poggio Moscato, Italy
- 2007 Il Conte Moscato, Italy
by Lorri | Aug 12, 2009 | UnCorked
Ordering wine in a restaurant can be intimidating to even the most seasoned diners. But it may be encouraging to know that at many quality establishments, almost every wine on the list will match well with the food and price scale of the restaurant. It may sound outlandish, but at many restaurants you could close your eyes, throw a dart for your choice and end up with an excellent wine.
But if you’re not into taking chances, don’t be afraid to ask your waiter for assistance. There are subtle ways to ask questions without feeling intimidated. For instance if cost is a concern, after ordering your food, point to a wine on the list that is the price you want to spend and simply say: “I’m looking for a wine in this price range that will match well with the food we’ve ordered.” This will avoid ending the evening with the surprise that your check is about the size of your mortgage payment. By keeping in mind a few safe and reliable regions and/or wine types, it’s possible to make a fine selection without recognizing specific vineyards or brands.
White Wines
THE VALUES
- Chardonnay (Australia; Chile) Pinot Grigio (Italy) Sauvignon Blanc (Chile)
THE SPLURGES
- Chardonnay (California; Burgundy, France)
Red Wines
THE VALUES
- Zinfandel (California) Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile) Syrah (Australia) Rhone Region (France)
THE SPLURGES
- Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, California) Pinot Noir (Burg undy, France) Bordeaux Region (France)
