tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53014677991044746432024-03-12T20:39:06.355-07:00LoloVinoA laid-back wine blog for anyone who likes the stuffLolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-71310970744635160102011-03-13T12:40:00.000-07:002011-04-17T19:18:36.542-07:00Another visit to wine countryBack in Italy and on the wine trail with Mom! After looking online to do a bit of research on Orvieto wineries, we made an appointment for a quick tour and tasting at the <a href="http://www.cantinacustodi.com/index_eng.htm">Custodi</a> winery, located in the Canale district of Orvieto wine country. With 37 hectares under vineyard, their grape yields provides an ample foundation for the 4 styles of wine they produce: the classic white Orvieto, an unoaked table red, an aged red great for dinner or sipping alone, and a dessert wine. Two young sisters run the place (always a great thing to see) and they were more than attentive and accommodating, allowing me to snap pictures with abandon and answering all our questions during the tour and while tasting their wines. Their pride in their product was touching and well deserved - the wines were extremely enjoyable and a solid example of the Orvieto wines we have come to know and appreciate. <br /><p>White Orvieto wine typically consists of primarily Grechetto and Trebbiano (known here as Procanico), along with a blend of Malvasia, Drupeggio, and Verdello. </p><br /><p>Check out their site and read about my impressions below--and if you find yourself in Orvieto, Custodi is definitely worth a visit. </p><br /><ul><br /><li><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><em>2010 Belloro Orvieto Classico DOC</em> </strong>-- Procanico, Grechetto, Drupeggio, Verdello, Chardonnay</span> </li></ul><br /><p><span style="color:#cc0000;">Lemon yellow color , with very appealing flavors of apple, fresh pear and a touch of lemon juice.</span> <span style="color:#cc0000;"><em></em></span><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><em></em></strong></span></p><br /><ul><br /><li><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><em>Piancoleto Umbria IGT</em> </strong>-- Sangiovese, Merlot</span> </li></ul><br /><p><span style="color:#cc0000;">Medium garnet color, with juicy, ripe red fruit on the nose and palate. Enjoyable dinner wine.</span> <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><em></em></strong></span></p><br /><ul><br /><li><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><em>Austero Umbria IGT</em> </strong>-- Merlot </span></li></ul><br /><p><span style="color:#cc0000;">Deep garnet color, with enticingly intense aromas of red berries and sweet spices. Berry jam flavors and a nice, dusty finish. Yum!</span> </p><br /><ul><br /><li><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><em>2009 Pertusa Orvieto Classico Superiore DOC</em> </strong>-- Procanico, Malvasia, Grechetto, Drupeggio, Sauvignon Blanc</span> </li></ul><br /><p><span style="color:#cc0000;">Fantastic late-harvest dessert wine. Lovely gold tone with an all-over apricot and dried fruit character.</span></p>Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-12684919083387371162009-09-17T07:14:00.000-07:002010-08-31T19:22:23.356-07:00Ciao dall'Italia!Hello from Italy! It's my annual visit to see Mom in Umbria, smack-dab in the center of the country. OH, you weren't aware that she lives in Italy? Allow me to get you up to speed with an excerpt from an article I published in Flavors magazine in early 2005:<br /><br /><p>My mother moved back to her Umbrian homeland in 2003 after many years of living in various places, most recently Alabama. After my father died a few years before, she found that she could be more useful to herself living in Italy full-time. Among her reasons was the open space afforded by the property she had already started “to bring back to life after decades of neglect.” The house on that property, now fully renovated, previously served as a summer villa on whose surrounding land the owners cultivated wheat, sunflowers, olives, and grapes for winemaking. Going back even further, the original structure was built in the early 1700s around a medieval tower. Like so many in Umbria, the tower itself was built to keep an eye on neighboring enemies. At that time, long before Italy became a unified nation, even small villages were, in a sense, on their own as self-contained city-states ruled by a count or duke. </p><p>The land, including the villa, was purchased by an ancestor of my mother’s, a real-estate lawyer by the name of Innocenzo Mariani, who bought the property along with his three brothers in 1774 to increase their land possessions. For the past 30 years, however, the land (now belonging to my mother) has been divided into parcels for residential use; as a result, little is left for agricultural purposes and is limited to those crops for which there is a healthy demand. There’s always a healthy demand for wine grapes, but the vineyard was about 30 years old and needed to be replaced. Mom bought a bit of extra land to enlarge her holdings, then shifted the location of the vineyard itself so that new vines could be planted on virgin ground."</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386901809506088754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJ85iBcJm2j3SnQeN_w8KmoKZSMLOynxlkX-sEQpWIEl_Us62NqRJL0Wxeeg89C68RTZ9nkPeZn-0T9sVIn51tDGNrKL7-hl5op-rsJYwx8i8H9nbksAPl4qHrIoOv7PjLc0nWRC9J7BP/s320/vineyard.jpg" /></p><p>We grow a total of six grape varietals on a little more than 4 hectares of vineyard land (one hectare equals 2.47 acres). Besides Pinot Nero (Noir), Merlot, and Chardonnay--all occupying roughly one hectare each--a healthy share of the space is devoted to Grechetto, a white grape considered native to Umbria and possibly related to the Greco varietal found elsewhere in the country. </p><br /><p></p><br /><p><br /></p>Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-24716658253347601922009-09-14T09:59:00.000-07:002009-10-13T15:02:22.824-07:00"R" is for Roccafiore<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89reDdwaRwdITYMmk6jY-o-Zq0ZnWRpGlpS7rrgPHwBMp_lqZUmbROTIkJpM4lgx61AnU_3Ar6BIDpPJuAQ1qMTY0dObVDctcpIQrai4pBt3sDhEabudJRjVGAYnDZy22YbR5ok7FHLda/s1600-h/IMG_0566.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391920106265595026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89reDdwaRwdITYMmk6jY-o-Zq0ZnWRpGlpS7rrgPHwBMp_lqZUmbROTIkJpM4lgx61AnU_3Ar6BIDpPJuAQ1qMTY0dObVDctcpIQrai4pBt3sDhEabudJRjVGAYnDZy22YbR5ok7FHLda/s200/IMG_0566.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9w8LqS-8UvBW2Y9avw_l3WwkRAV5XzSq4Z_u-YtF4klbdeecO_vEzdmDxEdD5SuXhGqif5zJ-1wYQbTFg5rSq0HsikMvr-A9dnt5mNuvncj1c_dVh-MQJmgP11Ow9yVDUg4mu5dLya7P/s1600-h/IMG_0543.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391920868967748098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9w8LqS-8UvBW2Y9avw_l3WwkRAV5XzSq4Z_u-YtF4klbdeecO_vEzdmDxEdD5SuXhGqif5zJ-1wYQbTFg5rSq0HsikMvr-A9dnt5mNuvncj1c_dVh-MQJmgP11Ow9yVDUg4mu5dLya7P/s200/IMG_0543.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9OQwLNYewUScsivjqLw3yqohN0OQWTJ7OnUaGEd6tXGD1NHW8245PxLuvBp3CZ91TMeqhxT4ajKzZ-9hULa_06ByLxsxiXuJjXVLfNP8QP78GE9kMeiYyA_Jo9WsQ8-DDKqSy1DcZeYH/s1600-h/IMG_0552.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391921311270798786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9OQwLNYewUScsivjqLw3yqohN0OQWTJ7OnUaGEd6tXGD1NHW8245PxLuvBp3CZ91TMeqhxT4ajKzZ-9hULa_06ByLxsxiXuJjXVLfNP8QP78GE9kMeiYyA_Jo9WsQ8-DDKqSy1DcZeYH/s200/IMG_0552.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOPxuO765SsVic7S9EU4BFy-FuGn9Wj38PLyUoIxJTraoaUmbrxrNcaBvdZ9NS3kMu5-8RtPzjMNlvQsjdRoidDNuWWYec7xlQv2sXBeKInIx3ats5D0D55Ri2bRC-H0N970-RBWQQGFG/s1600-h/IMG_0574.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391922699696948722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOPxuO765SsVic7S9EU4BFy-FuGn9Wj38PLyUoIxJTraoaUmbrxrNcaBvdZ9NS3kMu5-8RtPzjMNlvQsjdRoidDNuWWYec7xlQv2sXBeKInIx3ats5D0D55Ri2bRC-H0N970-RBWQQGFG/s200/IMG_0574.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwElW99-Q3bPWQDsSy1aMLg_qQ6XYJuWEbth_hR1AH2QjnFuuPJUj7I5D3GJH8LIWVWKonHETxyTpLgaANQ74q_Eugy3XXAHhEIFtowXFlvueEknpvvhCFw-5X4hNn8yVyWjBxYNyCMrJ/s1600-h/IMG_0539.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391924485109188418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwElW99-Q3bPWQDsSy1aMLg_qQ6XYJuWEbth_hR1AH2QjnFuuPJUj7I5D3GJH8LIWVWKonHETxyTpLgaANQ74q_Eugy3XXAHhEIFtowXFlvueEknpvvhCFw-5X4hNn8yVyWjBxYNyCMrJ/s200/IMG_0539.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1MEpfOVD_fAw-2gM82h4E9x9iwQzUCjSoama6AYw0kM5uURhAF3-20B0rHdqV7zs4LvUAG9jw-ksYXCK2KFnduukZpaSxzy7LYynvMJV3PRyPtIVjI8mNEhiCxUPYbtjgMDIKlLE9KzY/s1600-h/IMG_0562.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391922518910466642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1MEpfOVD_fAw-2gM82h4E9x9iwQzUCjSoama6AYw0kM5uURhAF3-20B0rHdqV7zs4LvUAG9jw-ksYXCK2KFnduukZpaSxzy7LYynvMJV3PRyPtIVjI8mNEhiCxUPYbtjgMDIKlLE9KzY/s200/IMG_0562.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVSUifuVAfxdln02DdhvX3BcWCS_Eqz8xjV2DaY9RzGhuzBX07J5R5NIPuQyGqLJUcoS8f3FDWyTw54px7IYKK2bLk_NW9EC8brQvlU3EPJk38-0bYrP7aA41gUWFrIDNnLU1B7D5xuMt/s1600-h/IMG_0556.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391923032638639650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVSUifuVAfxdln02DdhvX3BcWCS_Eqz8xjV2DaY9RzGhuzBX07J5R5NIPuQyGqLJUcoS8f3FDWyTw54px7IYKK2bLk_NW9EC8brQvlU3EPJk38-0bYrP7aA41gUWFrIDNnLU1B7D5xuMt/s200/IMG_0556.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAlcHl0F7U7BxX5GccninAxyI7NFfuyrdlijfJa9KrZtmNvE2RWn2QlhmUl7tBT3yr-LDwlOPG717IQ-8ogTSXi45p9jc7-FdVIsz7054YtJcl6yr4tktc0ZU9IzgIZQTsHxryADZLyqO/s1600-h/IMG_0541.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391923740104802194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAlcHl0F7U7BxX5GccninAxyI7NFfuyrdlijfJa9KrZtmNvE2RWn2QlhmUl7tBT3yr-LDwlOPG717IQ-8ogTSXi45p9jc7-FdVIsz7054YtJcl6yr4tktc0ZU9IzgIZQTsHxryADZLyqO/s200/IMG_0541.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><br /><div>Looking at the labels on bottles of wine from <a href="http://www.roccafiore.it/rcf/en/cellar.html">Cantina Roccafiore</a>, the first thing that comes to mind is smart marketing. The logo of the estate (a black "R" with a red stylized flower beside it) as a whole is simple, colorful, and identifiable. Anyone searching for their wine in a shop need only look for that flower--not in shops in the U.S. though, as they haven't made it across the pond (yet?).</div><br /><div>Mom and I visited the winery during my trip and spent a couple of hours chatting with the 24-year-old winameker named Cristian. All the while we toured the facility, snapped pictures, asked questions, and finally engaged in a tasting. We tasted only three of their wines--two reds and a dessert wine--due to unavailability of the rest, but to my delight, they were quite enjoyable: </div><div><br /> </div></div><div><p><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em><strong>2007 Rosso Melograno IGT</strong></em> -- Sangiovese, Merlot, and Montepulciano</span></p><p><span style="color:#cc0000;">Lovely ruby red color, with a very fresh nose of lively cherry. Fresh cherry echoed on the palate along with a hint of earth and a crisp, fruity finish. A very pleasant, easy-drinking red.</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em><strong>2006 Rosso Roccafiore IGT</strong></em> -- Sangiovese</span></p><p><span style="color:#cc0000;">Medium garnet color, with a nose of cherry fruit, a bit of earth, and a thread of toastiness. Palate full of dark cherry, earth, and spice from the oak aging. Definitely a food-loving, classic Italian red.</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em><strong>2006 Collina d'Oro Passito IGT</strong></em> -- Moscato</span></p><p><span style="color:#cc0000;">Medium gold color, with a nose of flowers, dried fruit, and honey. Flavors of honey and raisins, delicate and not fully sweet. Good acidity ensured a nice balance--yum!</span><br /><br />The property, the buildings, and the landscaping were all lovely and thoughtfully designed. Check out the site for a more complete view of what I'm talking about!<br /><br /></p></div></div></div></div>Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-8280914544424459582009-08-16T20:19:00.000-07:002009-08-20T20:15:11.132-07:00Who says I have to stick to writing about wine?Wine is my passion, but frankly I would be remiss if I ignored the other members of the adult beverage world. Of late I've noticed a trend towards bringing classic cocktails back to the forefront of the spirits world, manifested by everyone from bartenders to home mixologists who love to entertain (or just drink a lot).<br /><br />Why are these classic cocktails so irresistible? For the same reason we are fascinated by other things "vintage": they evoke a certain glamour from days long gone. Old Hollywood, the Rat Pack, Havana in the 50s...these images are familiar to most of us only from old films, photos, or even postcards, but nevertheless they are extremely powerful in conjuring a mood and a compelling idea of what men and women did back then--and what they drank while doing it.<br /><br />I will be making cocktails, spirits, liqueurs (and beer for that matter) a part of this blog, but do not fear! Wine will always be the main focus. In the meantime, enjoy 2 cocktail recipes that everyone should know by heart...we'll start with the obvious one. Salute!<br /><br />(Recipes courtesy of the book <em>Vintage Cocktails</em> by Susan Waggoner and Robert Markel)<br /><br /><br /><u>Dry Martini</u><br /><br />2 1/2 oz. gin<br />1 tbsp. dry vermouth<br /><br />Place gin and vermouth in a metal shaker along with cracked ice. Shake (or stir gently) and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with olive.<br /><br /><br />You can substitute vodka if you must. As a purist and an admirer of gin, I always stick with the classic version. <br /><p> </p><p><u>Sidecar</u></p>1 1/2 oz. brandy<br />3/4 oz. Cointreau<br />3/4 oz. lemon juice, strained of seeds<br /><br />Combine ingredients in a shaker with cracked ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-67624116275655557792009-08-16T19:58:00.000-07:002009-09-03T19:53:56.124-07:00recommendations, part II<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5N_jGtZW91POALA-KiJC8ahwJDDOtYdi71ZAsVYC5cD5ursC1m3OtOjJAsiycOOF0qhg_gU0es1Axq_S7lgRFXjcOqLRO77T_Mf25qfGIXms1algXisiiHlHPvXC8aGK-t9IhJivnptj/s1600-h/IMG_0494.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 161px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377438823137613362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5N_jGtZW91POALA-KiJC8ahwJDDOtYdi71ZAsVYC5cD5ursC1m3OtOjJAsiycOOF0qhg_gU0es1Axq_S7lgRFXjcOqLRO77T_Mf25qfGIXms1algXisiiHlHPvXC8aGK-t9IhJivnptj/s320/IMG_0494.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And now for some recommendations lots of folks ask me about: <strong>Slap-me-silly-GOOD reds for a mere $10 - $15</strong>.<br /><br />Taurino Salice Salentino Rosso (Italy) - $10<br />Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile) - $10<br />Tittarelli Malbec (Argentina) - $10<br />Cusumano Nero d'Avola (Italy) - $10<br />Casillero del Diablo Carmenere (Chile) - $10<br />2006 Fontanafredda Barbera Piemonte "Briccotondo" (Italy) - $11<br />Christian Moueix Merlot Bordeaux (France) - $11<br />Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone Villages (France) - $12<br />Cecchi Chianti Classico (Italy) - $14<br />Boccadigabbia Rosso Piceno (Italy) - $15</div>Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-72803016926010152972009-07-26T21:07:00.000-07:002009-07-26T21:11:29.683-07:00In/OutI know everyone likes “In/Out” lists, so let’s see if I can come up with something any wine lover might be able to appreciate (in my humble opinion, of course).<br /><br /><strong>IN</strong><br /> <br />“naked” Chardonnay <br />connecting with other wine lovers <br />sampling new grape varieties <br />dry rosés <br />saving bubbly for special occasions <br /><br /><br /><strong>OUT </strong><br /><br />big, oaky butter bombs<br />name-dropping<br />drinking the same few grapes<br />White Zinfandel<br />enjoying bubbly any ol’ dayLolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-36815601615604219012009-06-21T20:06:00.000-07:002009-07-26T21:04:32.232-07:00recommendations, part IA lot of folks ask me for recommendations when it comes to wine, and I don’t blame them because there is nothing short of an <em>ocean</em> of wine out there for us to get our hands on anytime we want. Knowing where to begin—even when most of us can narrow down our preference to red or white, Old World (European) or New World (everything else), etc.—can be a challenge. Except me, of course. I’m devastatingly easy to please when it comes to wine. Now we all lead busy lives and the last thing we have time for is to have to track down that elusive bottle. I plan to make this a recurring post, so that whatever your tastebuds might dictate, you can find a list that applies to you and can help guide you a little. Let’s see…why don’t we start with <strong>Italian whites you might never have heard of but will probably really like</strong>? <br /><br />Lolovino’s recommendations:<br /><br /><u>Moscato d’Asti</u> - okay, you probably have heard of this one but let's revisit for clarity. This is a fizzy (meaning not fully sparkling), slightly sweet wine from the Piedmont region. It is a highly regarded, usually nicely made wine that smells like flowers and fruit candy. A favorite of many.<br /><u>Gavi</u> - Also from Piedmont, this is made with a local grape called Cortese and is crisp, dry, and great with food. <br /><u>Tocai Friulano</u> - Hailing from the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, this one has real personality, fragrant and fruity with a citrusy edge.<br /><u>Vermentino</u> - They make this on the island of Sardinia; its crisp citrus and mineral profile is a perfect match for fresh seafood. <br /><u>Orvieto</u> - Umbria's famous wine made from a blend of local grapes. A useful alternative to your run-of-the-mill Pinot Grigio.<br /><u>Fiano</u> - A lovely wine from the South; the nose hints at toasted hazelnuts, and who doesn't love that?<br /><u>Falanghina</u> - Another lovely white from the South; deliciously round but still zippy.<br /><u>Verdicchio</u> - The white wine that is the pride and joy of the Marche region. <br /><u>Soave</u> - The best examples of this reliable white from the prolific Veneto region possess an attractive minerality. <br /><u>Prosecco</u> - Not obscure, no, but deserving of mention here. This is my go-to bubbly, and that's saying a lot since we all know by now that I have a deep passion for sparkling wines. Delicate and great for every day, every occasion. Try it in your Mimosa.Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-65453356679473443412009-02-01T09:05:00.001-08:002009-02-19T19:14:10.713-08:00wine (and chocolate) is for lovers!Happy February! Even if you're not thinking about Valentine's Day (or perhaps are trying to forget about it), there's no reason not to enjoy two of the most pleasurable things on earth: wine and chocolate. Contrary to what you might be thinking, thankfully you can enjoy both together--at the same time. If you keep a couple of simple guidelines in mind, the two can be as good a match as you and your sweetie.<br /><br />Sweet wine with sweets? Not necessarily when it comes to pure chocolate. If what you have in mind is chocolate cake or other chocolate-based desserts, for instance, you're better off sticking with dessert wines. My suggestions are for chocolate by itself--good-quality pieces or truffles. There's no need to break the bank, but remember that cheap chocolate is mostly fat and sugar. What we're really after is the stuff that has a nice shine, a good cocoa butter content, and is smooth as silk on the tongue. Wine doesn't only favor dark chocolate, mind you. My pairing ideas below include milk chocolate as well.<br /><br />I have found that a good rule of thumb is to match dark chocolate with dark wines, ones that are dark in color, higher in alcohol, intense in flavor, and robust in general. This wouldn't really include Pinot Noir, for example, but rather a Zinfandel or a big Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Even better, a ruby Port. Ruby Port delivers all those attributes, plus the right sweetness for chocolate and a vibrant berry character. This is why the two are a classic match. Don't like Port? Try the Zin or Cab, or an Australian Shiraz. If tawny Port is more your bag, reach for chocolate with nuts in it as it will really bring out the irresistible nuttiness of the tawny.<br /><br /><p>If we consider the same guideline, lighter chocolate would logically go well with lighter wines. This includes sweeter wines made from white grapes, like a French Sauternes. Wine writer Natalie McLean suggests trying that with chocolate that has some cream in it, like ganache-filled truffles. For milk chocolate lovers, you could try a Canadian Ice Wine. (It's called ice wine because the grapes are harvested while still frozen on the vine, which means the water inside the grapes is frozen solid and all that pours out when the grapes are crushed is a concentrated juice of sugars and acids.) If you'd rather enjoy a red wine with milk chocolate, you could reach for that Pinot Noir or a lighter-bodied Merlot. Just remember that because milk chocolate is sweeter than dark, the dry wine might end up tasting a little more bitter than it actually is. But hey, it's all about what tastes good to you. Not all palates are created equal, so what might be a heavenly match for some might be a train wreck for others. Experimentation is the name of the game! </p>(I personally really enjoy Dove chocolates. They're affordable and always satisfying, especially the red foil-wrapped dark chocolate. If you happen to agree, check out their site for <a href="http://www.dovechocolate.com/wine.html">their approach</a> to pairing wine with their products.)<br /><br /><p></p>Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-76908569112033835072009-01-27T19:52:00.000-08:002009-01-27T20:31:08.767-08:00everything's better with bubbles!So new year's eve has come and gone, but why not enjoy sparkling wine during the whole month of January? In fact, why not enjoy it all year long, like I do? For some wine lovers, the bubbly stuff is not their thing. For others, it is a love affair. It's not so much about the luxury or undeniable cache' of fine Champagne, although that certainly adds to the mystique. For me it's that sparkling wine is impressive to look at, from its pale golden color to the stream of tiny bubbles floating purposefully towards the surface. In an elegant Champagne flute, it is nothing short of beautiful. Let's not forget it's also fun to drink. The bubbles dance on my tongue, and how could that not make me happy? All around, sparkling wine just gives me a feel-good feeling. <br /><br />Nothing compares to real Champagne, but we all know there's more to this category than just that. A lucky thing considering our current economic climate. Face it, times is tough! Just in case we have forgotten the bevy of bubbly alternatives out there, let's review.<br /><br />Prosecco -- this is a classic accompaniment to mimosas, bellinis, and any other cocktail you would otherwise use Champagne for. A very refreshing sipper from Italy's Veneto region.<br /><br />Cava -- Spain's answer to Champagne, at a mere fraction of the price. Lots of nice apple and pear and a touch of biscuity aroma. Very versatile and also comes in a lovely rose'. Literally a $10 purchase and you cannot go wrong. <br /><br />Moscato d'Asti -- only faintly sparkling, this is a pleasantly sweet wine from the Piedmont region in Italy. It won't threaten your sobriety with its low alcohol content, and it goes swimmingly with those pretty fruit tarts you find in food store cases. <br /><br />France isn't only in the business of producing the fancy stuff, mind you. Other regions also offer some attractive bubbles at even more attractive prices. Here are two examples:<br /><br />Cremant d'Alsace -- Alsace is a fine white wine-producing region, and these wines are so yummy. How could you not love something with Riesling in the blend? If you run across one at the store, please buy it. If you buy more than one bottle but find you do not like it, please feel free to send one to me.<br /><br />Blanquette de Limoux -- bubbly from a blend of Champagne and Chenin Blanc made in southern France. Those two grapes together = double the pleasure! Also buy if you find it, and also send to me if you have extras you're willing to part with.<br /><br />I don't know about you, but all this talk about the fizzy stuff is making me wish it was Sunday morning with an entire day of very little to do stretching out ahead.Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-16665475192203196082008-10-27T19:12:00.000-07:002008-10-27T19:15:10.278-07:00Vouvray-hey-HEY!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86mppRhNIXiwgkiIq-5h22cFwN4pKPF1iXd7gXphyphenhyphenKiTyHt28rTDP4TLvLbZBt4b90L9N4LjylrxEzogDbMx8bCU_hVhqiT23V7JbZnGEzj4qM7ryi-COuo_7eTg9qd9PcocDCWBPZ6q0/s1600-h/vouvray+label.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262022463496806082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 162px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86mppRhNIXiwgkiIq-5h22cFwN4pKPF1iXd7gXphyphenhyphenKiTyHt28rTDP4TLvLbZBt4b90L9N4LjylrxEzogDbMx8bCU_hVhqiT23V7JbZnGEzj4qM7ryi-COuo_7eTg9qd9PcocDCWBPZ6q0/s320/vouvray+label.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>My friend Kat asked me to let her know immediately whenever I stumbled upon great values while shopping for wine. She told me this after thoroughly enjoying a delicious and very inexpensive Vouvray I brought for a little get-together at her home some time ago. It was the 2006 Michel Picard Vouvray. I paid $8.99 at Cost Plus World Market, and all of us were duly impressed. Floral notes on the nose accompanied roasted hazelnuts on the tongue, with a pleasant, slightly bitter finish. Some background info: Vouvray is a wine from the Loire region of France, made from the white Chenin Blanc grape. It’s one thing for a wine to cost less than 10 bucks and be good, but it’s quite another to cost less than 10 and be really enjoyable. Buy it for yourself or anyone you know who loves white wines. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-74879212939975646312008-10-16T20:19:00.000-07:002008-11-17T18:06:21.298-08:00Back from Italy!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruU_4pCfAg4SLuR0NOwYzTl4J7G_bF0gGT6uOpsczw7RaqOrAsiqQPLetywQ672n7Q5JeY-M4R66Y-l7FKOJJ9zCSk2mpLMSb5P37S_hkExWbSQHymqtQpop4THN5SRpI3i9rB_qo0mU9/s1600-h/ascoli+piceno.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269813076853082514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruU_4pCfAg4SLuR0NOwYzTl4J7G_bF0gGT6uOpsczw7RaqOrAsiqQPLetywQ672n7Q5JeY-M4R66Y-l7FKOJJ9zCSk2mpLMSb5P37S_hkExWbSQHymqtQpop4THN5SRpI3i9rB_qo0mU9/s320/ascoli+piceno.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Okay, I didn't <em>just</em> get back. No matter, read about my travels <a href="http://www.atlantawineschool.com/articles/ldeluca1108.php">here</a>.</div><br /><div></div>Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-1622794748738423792008-10-05T20:00:00.000-07:002008-10-05T20:05:55.078-07:00Book Review: Robert Parker<em>The Emperor of Wine: The Rise of Robert M. Parker, Jr. and the Reign of American Taste</em> by Elin McCoy. HarperCollings, 2005<br /><br />If I didn’t know much about Robert Parker before, I certainly do now. Before reading this fascinating book, I knew he was a controversial figure in the world of wine, sharply criticized just as much as admired for his famous <a href="http://www.erobertparker.com/info/legend.asp">100-point wine scoring system</a> and apparently one-dimensional preference for certain wines.<br /><br />McCoy chronicles Parker’s rise as a wine-loving lawyer from Maryland whose discovery of and passion for wine led him to start a newsletter chock-full of tasting notes called <a href="http://www.erobertparker.com/">The Wine Advocate</a> in 1978.<br /><br />McCoy has known Parker since 1981 and, in my view, portrays him pretty evenly, with evidence of both admirable traits and serious flaws. There was a definite sense of her playing devil’s advocate to his seemingly praiseworthy attributes throughout the book, and indeed in the final chapter, “Scoring Parker,” she outlines her opinions of his approach to wine and his undeniable power and influence, both good and bad. For example: “I find scoring wine with numbers a joke in scientific terms and misleading in thinking about either the quality and pleasure of wine, something that turns wine into a contest instead of an experience.”<br /><br />Repeatedly we see evidence of Parker’s thin skin and inability to ignore criticism, sometimes bristling at it and at other times openly challenging it. That being said, what does he think about McCoy’s book? I wasn’t able to find anything online about it, but I’m rather curious about it, so if you can tell me, please post a comment!Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-18830234468848784822008-08-06T07:25:00.001-07:002008-08-17T11:41:44.746-07:00Cat Pee...What?It seems I've sparked a bit controversy with my "cat pee" descriptor in my last post. I admit it's strange to see that used as anything other than negative, but it's actually a defining characteristic of the Sauvignon Blanc grape.<br /><br />In order to prove that I'm not completely looney tunes, consider this. Linda Murphy, wine editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, describes cat pee in some Sauvignon Blancs as "a pungently 'perfumed' mix of herbs, asparagus, green bean and bell pepper." She also states, "Vintners . . . know that compounds inherent in the grapes, pyrazines, are the source of cat pee notes. Pyrazines dissipate in the sun as fruit ripens; the less ripe the grapes, the more pungent the Sauvignon Blanc."<br /><br />The Italian Sauvignon in my last post was not a product of underripe grapes, however. The wine merely gave the suggestion--a subtle hint--of it. It was just one component of a satisfying, well-made whole!Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-81595057963234466052008-07-22T19:04:00.000-07:002008-10-27T19:24:07.396-07:00A lovely Italian white<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1FBB8HVUsOSncvU0QJSnoH215T1dG3BUCdx7whYgywFcnyE_Qkip1AWEnhyWDzCe-kKf9lKRhQrF97LWhIOKpuOuEluJKiQH-90WagY1KVJY4BKinsQtUKHy770CKbWiYg6N73OQYpMP/s1600-h/sauvignon_langhe_doc.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262024831989164066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1FBB8HVUsOSncvU0QJSnoH215T1dG3BUCdx7whYgywFcnyE_Qkip1AWEnhyWDzCe-kKf9lKRhQrF97LWhIOKpuOuEluJKiQH-90WagY1KVJY4BKinsQtUKHy770CKbWiYg6N73OQYpMP/s320/sauvignon_langhe_doc.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Allow me to tell you super quickly about a wine I recently opened that was quite divine. It is one my mom and I acquired at the Marchesi di Gresy winery in the Piedmont region of Italy, their 2005 Sauvignon. (In Italy they refer to Sauvignon Blanc simply as Sauvignon). Mom and I visited the region in October of 2006 and I left the bottle at her home in Italy. She brought it to me during her last visit and I finally remembered to throw it in the fridge. I opened it one weeknight to sip with dinner and OH MY it was yummy. Aromas of tart lime, cat pee-pee (you won’t mind, I promise!), kiwi and fresh grass delighted my nose, and then I swear the wine danced on my tongue with its vivid palate. It was elegant, with flavors that evolved with each sip. What started out as juicy green olives morphed into a smooth nuttiness about 20 minutes later. A very impressive example of Italian Sauvignon Blanc—and at an average of $16 a bottle—a doggone good deal.</div>Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-65772636463248365912008-06-17T20:07:00.000-07:002008-10-27T19:29:27.677-07:00A Book Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4-xPFZhatQH8tJD6Z85pYCscx5AEDQd2iLjyJeH7KgUhAA6wuteb_5QWJZwAXvMPXpuXpvj_NR56AY9qTcWlRPqkgNwnNT3qvRbOj5iwcMhlMPC7lbbpWLqImfplb4TwB6bvV-taL8c3/s1600-h/all+about+wine+cellars.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262026230537856898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 154px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4-xPFZhatQH8tJD6Z85pYCscx5AEDQd2iLjyJeH7KgUhAA6wuteb_5QWJZwAXvMPXpuXpvj_NR56AY9qTcWlRPqkgNwnNT3qvRbOj5iwcMhlMPC7lbbpWLqImfplb4TwB6bvV-taL8c3/s320/all+about+wine+cellars.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Most of us will never have to worry about the possible pitfalls or experience the exhilaration of owning a vast, expensive fine wine collection. Keeping that in mind, <em>All About Wine Cellars</em> by Howard G. Goldberg is still an interesting read. Perusing the wine book section at Border’s one day and having 10 bucks to spend, I picked up a copy. It’s a short read (112 pages including some photos) but a rather rich glimpse into the world of collecting fine wine, from purchasing it on the secondary market at wine auctions to fastidiously establishing the ideal storing conditions at home. (These ideal storing conditions for wine are, inarguably: constant, cool temperature, darkness, moderate humidity, no vibrations, and bottles resting in a horizontal position.) Included in this reference are chapters on making/designing a home cellar; organizing your cellar (by vintage? by region? by price? perhaps simply alphabetically?); what besides the wine itself you should have in said cellar; critiques on the types of corkscrews one should use for opening delicate, old bottles; and ordering wine in restaurants.<br /><br />Goldberg’s account is informational, punctuated by anecdotal experience, and he lets interviews with wine professionals do some of the instruction for him. For example, for advice to those starting a wine collection (not necessarily a cellar full of wines to put away for a long time) but don’t know where to begin, he interviewed New York wine writer and educator Harriet Lembeck. She proposes that buying wine should be dictated, quite simply, by taste, and by making comparisons among wines that are stylistically similar. Compare a few different crisp, dry, unoaked white wines and the ones you enjoy most are the ones you should invest in. Do the same with oaky whites, lighter-bodied reds, robust reds, dessert wines—you get the idea. Before you know it, you have a nice stock of wine you can work with, some to enjoy sooner and some to enjoy later. Collecting wine and housing a swanky cellar in one’s home is usually the purview of the affluent, but I like that Goldberg eschews snobbery, proclaiming, “A real cellar, in my view, arises primarily from a love of the thing in itself, like a garden, not from a love of showing it off. It’s the difference between having a real wife and an—ugh—trophy wife.” Point taken, Mr. Goldberg. One final jewel: besides the usual bread, cheese, and crackers to cleanse your palate between tastings of wine, imagine olives! Particularly those from California’s C. C. Graber Company (since 1894). Now that’s a tidbit of advice I can begin using tomorrow!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-52464679648713656932008-06-12T19:37:00.000-07:002008-10-27T19:20:27.273-07:00Wine + Technology = Yay!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTPWTKHKHahxqn4T_EKl0va9-msMcKc9DPyc3l9nrXKdAFa_6Kyy7aYRk2fCi80duUiYDCNqbY2GO_U_ouWmdW70-IUgypdeD_-7YBTi_NHnwRxy2cEacuNYhQLYLKUH_I4yviGdSf3-1/s1600-h/tastings.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262023882437616690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTPWTKHKHahxqn4T_EKl0va9-msMcKc9DPyc3l9nrXKdAFa_6Kyy7aYRk2fCi80duUiYDCNqbY2GO_U_ouWmdW70-IUgypdeD_-7YBTi_NHnwRxy2cEacuNYhQLYLKUH_I4yviGdSf3-1/s320/tastings.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>A brand new wine bar opened up in Decatur, GA called <a href="http://www.awineexperience.com/">Tastings</a>. They’re a franchise operation originating in Florida and their big draw is a wine serving technology manufactured by <a href="http://www.enomatic.com/">Enomatic </a>(made in Italy—is there any surprise there?). Bottles stand in neat rows, each with a plastic straw inside it, which dispenses wine in measured pours: tasting, a half-glass, or a full glass. You insert their pre-paid card into the machine and take your pick of how much to sample. It’s a playful, Dave & Buster’s-like approach to wine tasting—and I had a blast. Selections included over 100 wines ranging from budget-friendly ones at $1.70 per tasting to a Barolo priced at a whopping $10 per tasting (and $45 per full glass! Yeah, impress your date with that one!) Tastings brings in new wines every week so you can go often and not get bored with the wines offered. A retail wall of closed bottles means you can take something home with you, and a small bistro menu means you won’t have to record your tasting notes over a rumbling tummy. Does your date love wine but you’d prefer a brewski instead? They have a bar with some lovely nice beers on tap and spirits too, not to mention cigars!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5301467799104474643.post-27417033293697283152008-05-27T20:34:00.000-07:002008-05-27T20:50:46.036-07:00Welcome to my mind!Hello and welcome to my very first blog! I hope this will be a fun and fruitful journey into the vast and beautiful world of wine--one in which we can both learn <em>together</em>. There are lots of very fine wine blogs out there, but in my bottomless naivete (or call it arrogance if you must), I like to think I might just have a little somethin' to say. I thrive on constantly educating myself, however, so as a great listener and an even better reader, I welcome your thoughts on anything pertaining to wine. Salute!Lolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255238036996461743noreply@blogger.com0