Father’s Day

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Candice L.

Father’s Day is still a little way away, so you have time to think carefully and get a thoughtful gift for the man who taught you how to fish, burp in two languages, build a bird box and skip stones. If he likes wine, and his wine rack is empty, wine is always a good gift. Boring on its own when you think about all he has done for you, but good. All you need is a little something to make your gift of a bottle something more eloquent.

For example, how about a wine gift basket? I know, for women this makes sense, but for men? All of those flouncy ribbons and tissue paper? Crinkly see-through paper and pretend straw? Not necessarily. A basket, usually available in very masculine brown, need not be embellished in anything girly if your father carries some sensitivity to anything feminine. In fact, opt for a square box-style container, perhaps even a tool box. Better yet, get an old box and when all of the contents are inside, seal it with duct tape.

Before you tape the box so tightly shut he’ll be opening it until Halloween, fill the container with not only a favorite wine (don’t guess, find out for sure) but also something else he will like. Try a Frances Ford Coppola wine with the Godfather series on DVD. Include a craft kit for using old corks to make a bulletin bord or something equally useful.

Make sure dad has a bottle opener not currently being held together by more of that duct tape he loves. If he needs a new one, go on-line to find something functional yet high-tech, such as a swiss army style opener complete with nail file, tweezers, automatic garage door opener, fly rod and defribillator. After all, if you’re old enough to afford something that fancy chances are he’ll feel better just having one around. Saved James Bond in Casino Royale, didn’t it?

Late Harvest at Winerackstore.com

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Candice L.

Every so often the descriptor ‘Late Harvest’ will emerge on a wine rack, leading me to ask if the wine is just, literally, made from grapes harvested late in the growing year or what? Such is indeed the case and not some kind of test to trip up the ignorant. Having answered the question I wanted to know the significance of wineries making this distinction.
For ‘Late Harvest’ I will now know to think ‘sweet’. Although being harvested late does not gaurantee sweetness, consumers can make the assumption that the wine in question will not be dry. Expect a mildly sweet or even a dessert wine. The reason one will likely enjoy a sweeter wine from late harvest varieties is that grapes left on the vine longer ripen more, developing more sugar. Other factors include the type of grape, growing conditions and winemaking style. Late harvest is not the same thing as ice wine, which is really late harvest; in fact, frozen. Canada provides an ideal location for making these wines as, even in the southern interior, we can experience very low temperatures six months after fighting forest fires caused by excessively dry, hot conditions.
Varieties of late harvest wines available in BC inlcude Ortega, Merlot, Riesling, Pinot Blanc and more. Paradise Ranch in Vancouver makes a Late Harvest Chardonnay Rielsing. They also sell ice wines, just in case you wanted to know.

Reviewing Wine Bottle Types

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Trish P.

Like most wine drinkers I have a standard size wine rack. As I browse the major online wine magazines I keep coming across references to different wine bottle sizes. To be honest I don’t know the names of the different size bottles and it seems prudent to have that knowledge stored in my brain somewhere. And yes, I’m sharing my homework with you. I’m sure it’s just review in your case but there’s no harm in being able to describe both the contents of a wine bottle as well as the wine bottle itself right?

So it seems the smallest “official” wine bottle size is called a “split.” A split holds six ounces of wine and measures approximately seven inches in length. Usually a split wine bottle is used by wine companies to create taster bottles. They are also called a “pony,” a “quarter” bottle and a “Piccolo” in Italian. This is the size you might see on a plane flight or a European cafeteria.

A “half” holds thirteen ounces and measures about 9.5 inches in length. Called a “demi” in French this is a wine bottle sometimes used to bottle ice wine or dessert wine. It’s a great size for gift baskets and often used in Europe for picnics.

The “Bordeaux” bottle is the standard wine bottle size holding 25 ounces of wine and measures 11.5 inches in length. This is the bottle size most commonly seen on wine store shelves. This size is usually referred to as a “standard” bottle.

The “magnum” is the size of about two standard bottles of wine in one container. It holds about 50 ounces of wine. It is perfect for engagements, parties and celebrations.

A “Jeroboam” is a wine bottle that holds 100 ounces of wine. It measures about 18 inches in length. It is the equivalent of four standard bottles of wine. This is usually reserved for big celebrations and often seen at weddings. Sometimes people refer to a Jeroboam as a “double magnum.”

Of course there are more bottle sizes out there but the ones listed here are the very basics. Most of these would fit inside your standard wine rack if not on top. It’s nice to know that you can purchase smaller or larger bottles depending on the occasion such as throwing a tasting party, making a gift basket or celebrating a big occasion.

Aaah wine glorious wine. There is always something else to learn, discover and try.

Chile for another Cabernet

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Trish P.

The 2007 Rayun Cabernet Sauvignon is an inexpensive little number from Chile. I’ve found South American wines offer the same flavor portfolio I get from French wines with a little more dryness and a more enticing price tag for my humble wine rack. This one was calling to me from the back of the wine store and when I saw it was a 2007 I presumed all would be well.

The 2007 Rayun comes from the Rapel Valley which I looked up online and apparently it’s the largest of the Chilean wine producing regions. The range of climates and soils in the area mean the land produces a variety of wines. Merlot is a popular varietal from the region but I’m hopeful about this cheap Cabernet.

On my budget I have to be.

The first sniff of this deep red wine gives me the impression of overripe blackberries and soil. You know when you are in the garden center and you can smell that damp earthiness of the grow bags? There is a slight hint of that with this Cabernet. After a quick swirl around the bowl of the glass, the scent of blackberries deepens accompanied by raspberries and a hint of vanilla.

The first sip is a little less structured than I had anticipated from the bouquet. It’s a little creamy but mostly dry with a light to medium density. It’s really not that bad at all. The second sip was a little more complex than the first with an aftertaste that lingers in a good way. I’m going to finish the glass.

The 2007 Rayun Cabernet will definitely end up on my wine rack in the future. It’s also the perfect economical wine to take to summer get togethers. It would pair well with grilled food and angel hair pasta dishes. Definitely a pleasant surprise. Think I’ll be travelling to South America more often in the future.

Indian Wine

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Candice L.

A recent perusal of Victorian wine led to the discovery that there are Indian wineries out there, which had never occured to me. Many of the world’s hottest countries seem to be absent on a list of major wine-producing countries, yet N.D. Vineyards in Nasik has become a major suppliers for UK grocery giants Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
Just the mention of these stores reminds me that one could more easiliy purchase wine in the old country since it was available on supermarket shelves. On the other hand, I don’t recall much to do with available quality as compared with an off-license. That’s another article, but for now let me just mention a few things noted on the N.D. website.
For a start, one promising feature of the lakeside region where they have planted is that its topography echoes the South of France apparently; hence, one can expect good things for the wine rack from this region if the climate is also similar.
The other is that the region is producing some of the most popular varieties such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. N.D. also bottles a blend of these two plus Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. I miss the exotic Indian resonances but hear more of the French, though what synomyn for cabernet should be arrived at I have no idea. Perhaps this is the point. After all, lots of people, like me, have never heard of Indian wine before now, but all wine drinkers have heard of France and Cabernet. I suppose this makes commercial sense, even if the part of me that likes to wear bright orange at church wishes for a splash of regional difference just to make life interesting.

By the way, their website also asserts that these wines are appropriate to serve with all sorts of Indian food. Now there’s controversy for you. Didn’t I read somewhere that too much spice kills the flavor of everything else? I guess this depends on your idea of what spicy is. When I asked for something not too spicy at a Mexican restaurant once the waiter suggested milk, so what do I know?

White Burgundy

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Trish P.

So I was browsing the shelves of the virtual wine shop looking to stock up the wine rack with another assortment of yummy flavors when I came across a white Burgundy.

White Burgundy? Isn’t Burgundy supposed to be red?

I had stumbled across yet another hole in my Swiss cheese wine education and had to start researching this oxy moron of the grape producing world. Because Burgundy means red right?

Seems a white Burgundy is one way of describing a Chardonnay from the French Burgundy region. It’s also the name given to expensive Chardonnays produced in America, Australia and Chile to name but a few. Also referred to as Bourgogne Blanc.

Okay then so where do I start and what can I expect to pay?

I cam across a New York Times article on the matter that stated there are several types of white wines grown in the Burgundy region.

An expensive but hard to get a hold of on my budget white Burgundy is the stuff produced by the Montrachet vineyard. They only produce around 3,000 cases a year. But it’s right next to the Burgundy village and thus receives the same water. There are a number of producers of white wine in the Burgundy region including the makers of Chablis. It seems Chablis is a balance between white Burgundy and Champagne both geographically and taste wise.

Never being much of a fan of white wine I haven’t tried Chablis but it seems an affordable option. I’m always on the look out for recommendations. It seems the further out from the central Burgundy region the wine comes from the more affordable and thus perhaps inferior it becomes. It’s actually quite confusing to me when I consider the complexities and intricacies of the French grape growing regions.

Seems a vacation to wine country may be in order.

Okay so if I’m reading this article right it seems a white Burgundy at this blog’s price range would come from the town of Macon or thereabouts which is close to the Beaujolais region. Well I know I like the Gamay grapes from that area so that’s a good start. So it seems I need to find a white Burgundy from Macon, Pouilly-Fuissé or St. Véran for the wine rack out here in beautifully desolate rural Wyoming.

Wish me luck fellow vino fans. I think I’m going to need it.

The Enoteca at WRS

Posted on May 27, 2010 by AdminSidney

A freelance writer’s job takes her places without her ever leaving her chair or computer these days. While this may sound a bit depressing, my list of things to do when I retire (or before if I work a little harder) gets longer. In fact, I really like the sound of this ‘enoteca’ in Italy. Though the words sounds a bit racy, and even looks like a tantalizing mis-spelling, it actually refers to wine of course. Why else would the word make its way to this website?
One location, the Enoteca Pontevecchio of Florence, is located close on the north side of the Arno River, near the Basilica of Santa Croce and the Museo dell Opera di Santa Croce. Their aim is to unite wine lovers with wine makers in an informal setting. The word ‘enoteca’ refers to a place where winemakers and/or tourist operators unite to offer a local focus on wine. In Florence this might mean chianti for example. A fee is often charged for tasting with the opportunity to purchase a bottle, while foods sometimes accompany this gathering including special cheeses and meats.

Pontevecchio features certain choices from their wine cellar on a list of favorites to include Arbruzzo and Soave.

Wine Faults and Off Odors

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Trish P.

As I searched for new additions for my wine rack I came across a new wine term. “Off odors” are apparently a “wine fault.” Well I know about wine being corked and all that jazz but not too sure about what can cause bad odors in wine. So yes, I did a little research.

Sometimes bad smells in wine are detected long before the bottle ever reaches the stores. Wine makers have ways of correcting some issues. Some issues occur after bottling or go undetected until they hit your wine glass. Here are a few common off odors in wine.

When white wine smells like nuts, it has probably been over exposed to oxygen at some point. Some sherry smells nutty but white wine should not. It’s from an unwanted chemical reaction. Sometimes a wine will smell moldy or like wet dog (swamp water) if it’s had too much oxygen. The fancy term for smelly wine caused by oxygen is Aldehydic.

If your wine happens to smell like burnt breakfast cereal or “toasted grain” it may be the result of “leesy.” This means the wine has been infected or in contact with dead yeast cells. Yuck is all I can say.

So I think I may have actually experienced this one. A “stemmy” or “stalky” wine is one that has the odor and often the taste of unripe grape leaves and stems. It smells green rather than fresh. Probably an indication that the grapes were picked too early or the stems were left on too long.

When a white wine is a brown color or has a caramel tinge and it isn’t a Madeira wine, it’s probably been over exposed to both heat and oxygen. I wouldn’t drink it would you?

And then I came across a final off odor. If your white wine happens to smell like rubber tires it’s got issues. Namely, the wine has too much sulfur in it or too high of a pH. Probably not something you would want to drink.

Seems to me, except for the stemmy smell, most of these wine faults would be very noticeable and certainly enough to put you off drinking the wine. Certainly if you could somehow prove to your wine seller that they sold you an off wine you could probably get your money back. I’m guessing you would have had to buy a case to stock up your wine rack and have opened only one bottle. You could then open another bottle with the wine store owner to prove your point.

But for us poor folk? Well it’s either deal with it or stick to red wine as often as possible. It certainly seems to have less problems with bad smells than white wine.

And that’s just fine by me.

A Romantic Evening in Seattle

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Candice L.

In honor of my recent wedding anniversary, I have been giving a lot of thought to romance. My husband’s version tends to be more practical than mine, though I can still tell how he feels by what he does. For example, this weekend when I was feeling fat and frumpy and wished I could afford to go to the gym, he cleared out our square basement bedroom so we could play ping pong squash together. This meant moving two beds, a dresser, book shelf, desk and emptying the vacuum cleaner so we wouldn’t compete with dust bunnies. I got a great work out, had a few laughs, and felt like he really knew what I needed. Readers may think I’m crazy, but this really made me feel special and loved.
I understand, however, that romance means something different to many readers. Several restaurants in the Seattle know as much too. One such, Serafina, offers not just intimate dining with fabulous food but also food with exotic sounding Italian names which, when spoken, add to the sensuality of the food itself.
A sample menu may begin with any one of numerous Insalata, or a dish such as Affumicati (mussels). Move on to pasta or Pollo Arriosto (chicken with spinach, herbs and more.) Finish a meal with Fritelli di Meli, fried apple pie ravioli with candied pecans, cinnamon caramel and vanilla gelato from the restaurant’s own pastry chef.
Of course, a very good restaurant possesses a comprehensive wine list. The wine rack at Serafina is dominated by Italian offerings, a smattering of other European and Washington wines finding their way onto the list as well. Surprising to me was the price range per/bottle: from less than $20 to over $100. Something is represented here for everyone, even couples on a budget. Some bottles were only slightly more expensive than certain wines served by the glass.
A new sister restaurant, Cicchetti, hosts wine tastings some Monday nights with views overlooking the water. The house sommelier, Saloman Navaro, will teach guests about some kind of wine or other along with food tastings in this intimate setting for a fee.
I like Italian food, but our game of ping pong squash (invented by Patrick by the way) had an intimate quality of its own. Our children were in another room. Isn’t that enough?

Queen Victoria’s Wine

Posted on May 25, 2010 by AdminSidney

Today was Victoria Day, a public holiday in Canada. She reigned from 1837 until 1901 when she died, still mourning the death of Prince Albert many years earlier. I wanted to know if she drank wine and, if so, what kind.
Queen Victoria was a somber and religious woman, so I expected there to be little alcohol in her life. By the look of most images she could probably have used a glass, especially while raising her large brood of children.
In fact, in the years before Albert’s death, she really enjoyed wine, especially German varieties from Hochheim and the Rhine apparently. The name ‘Hock’ used to refer to wine comes from this association.
I’m disappointed by how little I learned. Queen Vic lived at the Palace in London and also on the Isle of Wight. Surely there were wine cellars, even if she did not partake herself. What a wonderful place either one would offer for exploration.
Some of their wine would probably be older than our Houses of Parliament. We have some pretty old trees though.