Category Archives: wines

May 17, 2013 · 7:36 pm

Women In Wine Fridays: Websites to Follow – Wine Julia

On Fridays I have been trying to write about women in the wine industry. At first this column was only going to be about Italian women in wine but then I discovered the wonderful world of women in the industry right here in the US.

In March I met Julia of the great blog Wine Julia. We met at the Snooth PVA weekend for bloggers in New York during a Peking Duck/Oregon wine pairing. Julia actually hails from Oregon so she was pretty much in the know about all of the different wines from that part of the world. I also discovered after chatting that she used to own a wine bar and then became a writer. I am always interested in how different people get into the wine industry and from which angle. I love the 1/2 day vacation posts that Julia writes. I’m about to take a half day vacation today and go sailing on the Shearwater with a friend. Very excited.

I am pretty much a novice when it comes to Oregon wines. I know, I may be the only person in the US that hasn’t tasted all of the Pinots that are available, noir and gris. I’m hoping to take a trip out that way. I also was thinking of doing a comparison tasting between Tuscan pinot noirs and Oregon ones to see how they measured up.

Oregon is the home state of another of my favorite women in wine my friend, Danica Stitz who works for VOS Selections. Danica and I did diploma together at the International Wine Center and have remained fast friends ever since. She has an amazing palate and was a great tasting group partner.

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May 13, 2013 · 9:44 pm

Mother’s Day, Gruner and Riesling

Mother's Day 2013

A happy Mother’s day to my sister and my mother, both interested in imbibing along with me through the years, one way in which we bond at every occasion.

I spent yesterday with my mother, buying her lilacs and chatting about life. One of our favorite topics over the last 15 years has been wine. She started me down this path when I was still in high school truth to be told. She drank Lancers and Mateus at the time while I drank Riunite in the 1980s before I was legally allowed to drink.

Both of our tastes have evolved and Mom drinks lots of white wines while I tend to favor red wines. In fact, I can credit her with bringing much of the Gruner and Riesling from Austria that I have had in recent years into my purview. I will be blogging about Austrian wines very shortly but today I wanted to send a shout out to my Mamma and thank her for keeping these wines on my radar.

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May 2, 2013 · 11:45 pm

Wine Conundrum – What To Pair With A 15.5% ABV Wine

I participated in the Snooth Virtual Tasting last night of wines from Lodi, Ca. I have never visited Lodi and it was fun to hear how into the wines the two guys from Lodi were. It’s also always great to see Greg Dal Piaz interact with winemakers. I tasted two of the wines which were sent to me as samples by Snooth, the 2010 Klinker Brick Winery Old Vine Zinfandel and the 2011 Uvaggio Vermentino. The Vermentino was a perfectly nice wine although I know that I will always buy an Italian Vermentino over an American one. I just prefer the original source and am quite partial to Italian Vermentino specifically.

Klinker Brick

That said, I was excited to try the old vine Zin from Klinker Brick. I liked it and was impressed that it seemed balanced despite the fact that it was a very big wine. So big in fact that it had a whopping 15.5% ABV. That’s considerable alcohol for someone like me, meaning a woman. I find that I can’t sustain that level of alcohol. My conundrum though, for those who can weather that alcohol is what to pair with it. The Reverse Wine Snob who was also participating in the tasting mentioned that he thought it had port-like aromas. He wasn’t wrong. While I found spice, chocolate, cedar, and plummy notes on the palate, I did also note sweet tones on the finish.

I began to think of it more as a port-like pairing as well, perhaps with chocolate or cheese after a meal. My question though is can you ever pair a 15.5% ABV wine? Barbecue and grilled meats were really the only pairings that came to mind for me. Certainly not an everyday wine but interesting nonetheless.

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April 30, 2013 · 8:12 pm

Ribera Del Duero Tasting During SnoothPVA at Salinas

Ribera

Thanks to Snooth, a group of bloggers and I got to have an incredible lunch paired with wines from Ribera del Duero at an appealing restaurant in New York City called Salinas.

PVA SNOOTH BLOGGERS LUNCH

As you can see from this photo, everyone was taking notes and quite serious. My fellow bloggers included the Eric Guido, Ben Carter from Benito’s Wine Reviews, and Jon Thorsen, the Reverse Wine Snob.

You can’t see numerous other people who were at the tasting but you can read their reviews here: The V.I.P. Table: Ribera del Duero – Thriving through Adversity, Benito’s Wine Reviews: Snooth PVA – Ribera del Duero, Brunello Bob: Ribera del Duero Lunch -Salinas NYC,
Wine Julia: #SnoothPVA – Experiencing Spain in New York City with Ribera del Duero Wines at Salinas, Vindulge: Wine and food are a great match for Ribera del Duero and Vinespot.

I went back and forth with both Jon, Ben and Dezel of My Vinespot about which wines we preferred and why. I think we all agreed however that the quality level was exceptionally high, the price point generally appealing and the food fantastic.

Short Ribs

I was impressed with the minerality that showed through on all of these wines both on the higher and lower end. Some of the wines had more pronounced oak while others an earthier tinge.

My personal favorites were much in line with those that Jon has very eloquently and extensively outlined on his blog, the Legaris 2005, the Bodegas Barco de Piedra 2011 and the Seleccion de Torres,S.L. Celeste, 2009 .

These were some of the more moderately priced wines and were perfect for food pairings. The Tempranillo aromas and flavors of cherry and earth came through like a charm on each one, making me think I might even recognize them in a blind tasting, always difficult.

The more expensive offerings were also very interesting, my favorite being the Condado de Haza, S.L. Alenza 2001 at $100. Many people I know and respect swear by the wines of Ribera and I was glad to have this opportunity to taste through a number of them so thank you Snooth PVA, thank you Ribera del Duero and thank you Wines of Spain. What I also really enjoyed was tasting with this group of very serious bloggers. Listening to how Jon, Ben and Dezel plan out their posts, tweets and articles while maintaining full time positions in other fields, as well as families and such was pretty impressive. I imagine I will be drinking more Ribera as the nice weather rolls around. It seemed to me that the wines from Ribera del Duero are perfect red wines for a Summer barbecue.

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· 1:11 am

Wine of the Week: Quimera 2009 from Achaval Ferrer

Malbec at Met

During the past month I have had the opportunity to taste wonderful Italian wines from the Alto Adige and Chianti but the tasting that most impressed me, certainly in terms elegance and splendor was the Wines of Argentina event for Malbec Day on April 17.

The tasting offered wines from 20 producers as well as gorgeous views of the Charles Engelhard Court in the American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Malbec Day

Oddly enough, two of my former tango teachers were star dancers that evening, Angeles and Michael.

The star of the Wines of Argentina show for me was the Quimera 2009 from Achaval Ferrer. The wine is not 100% Malbec but is a blend of 31% Malbec, 20% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. I am probably a little biased because I know the winemaker, Roberto Cipresso and the first time I tried this wine was with him in Argentina at the winery, tasting from the barrel, using a wine thief. I wrote a very long post about that experience here. Roberto loves blending and this wine is a perfect example of his signature style.

I tried a number of 100% Malbec based wines that evening which I enjoyed, including one from Kaiken and Finca Flichman. Malbec is a great go to wine both at home with a meat dish or to bring to a party. Easy to pronounce and almost always easy to drink, I find it to be a real crowd favorite.

Ambassador + Nora

I am not alone apparently. During the press conference at the event, Ambassador José Luis Pérez-Gabilondo, the Consul General of Argentina in New York, said that Argentina was, for the second consecutive year, the 4th largest exporter of wines to the U.S., both in terms of volume (with more than 61 millions of liters) and in terms of value (with exports reaching $297 million).

Metropolitan Museum

Income from wine exports increased to $741 million in 2012 with Malbec a key contributor to this overall growth. Argentina has 1300 wineries and is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world. Argentina’s signature grape arrived in the country from Cahors in France in 1853 thanks to Michel Aime’ Pouget, an agronomist who was hired by the President to run the Quinta Agronomica de Mendoza.

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April 19, 2013 · 9:54 pm

Spring Fridays: Massachusetts On My Mind

I’ve only been back from Italy for three days but it seems the world has tilted once again because of the horrific attack in Boston on Monday. I have been consumed by the news but have tried to carry on with daily life, like everyone else. Massachusetts is one of my three favorite states in our land. I know that the latest events will not change the state that I love. I look forward to my Summer sipping there this year which will invariably include, as always, at least one bottle from Truro Vineyards.

In other absurd news, Italy still does not have a government and can’t seem to pick a President. The news is quite discouraging and I am disheartened for all of my friends and colleagues whose lives are impacted by their politicians inadequacies. I’m not too happy with our government after the week’s shameful vote. While this is a wine blog and not a political one, I think we can’t ignore what goes on in the countries we love. Also, I am ill and my alcohol intake has been quite limited this past week:).

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April 10, 2013 · 8:17 am

Vinitaly 2013: Press Conferences, Tastings, Blogger Area, Vivit

On day 3 of the fair I finally got to the new blogger area at Vinitaly. I was alone in the room which shows me that people are either writing on the go or not aware of the room in the Palaexpo building. I’m happy for a little time on my own from this crazy world of people,wines and the like but even happier that as soon as I go down the hall, I will find a wealth of wines from Lombardy at my disposition. I like to start the day with bubbles and end with sweet wines.

For the second year in a row, Vinitaly has hosted Vivit, a group of producers who follow certain traditions and are interested in sustainablility, organic and other natural wine practices. The area was packed and somewhat segregated but sustainability is definitely a key word this year at the fair.

I also have noticed an increase in the number of press conferences and exciting tastings taking place, many more than in years past. Many are fascinating but You can’t do everything so I have only gone to one a day. No complaints but I do miss the extra day. Everyone else is happy with the shorter week though and the fair seems much busier to me.

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April 7, 2013 · 7:16 am

Vinitaly 2013: Opera Wine and Focus on Chinese Market

Vinitaly 2013 started with a bang yesterday with the Wine Spectator Opera Wine tasting of Italy’s top 100 wines. Most of Italy’s most well known wineries were represented and the event was packed, a mix of a chic gathering and a wine tasting. I got to taste a number of wines which I normally can’t afford and meet some producers I didn’t know and see old friends at the same time. I will write about the wines later.

Yesterday was also the Vinitaly International press conference where they announced a new eCommerce site for Italian wines as well as an increased focus on the chinese market. These new changes follow those established last year: Internet for those who want it and a different schedule for the fair- Sunday to Wednesday instead of Thursday – Tuesday.

According to a press release from Veronafiere, “Export of Italian wines was up 6% in the USA, 11% in Canada, 15% in China and 28% in Japan.” Clearly the export market is the focus of this year’s Vinitaly as Italian pro capita consumption dropped to below 40 liters a year. The wine industry and those linked to it account for 1.2 million jobs.

At a time when Italy is having both a political and a financial crisis, our industry is a ray of sunlight in an otherwise depressing scene, producers told me, although they all complained about the level of taxation on small and medium sized companies.

The fair is about to begin and I am going in through the press entrance but I wanted to post before the day began. As anyone who has been to Vinitaly knows, once you are inside, the circus begins. The sheer scale of the show is impressive and a bit overwhelming but I really enjoy it and feel lucky to be here. More to follow.

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April 3, 2013 · 5:53 pm

Wine Wednesday: Anima Negra Brings Allegria To My Day

p3-img2

Happy Wine Wednesday. Earlier this week I was reminded of why it’s nice to have your local hangout where people know your name and what you like to drink. My local hangout is a Spanish tapas bar called Buceo 95. I go there often, on different occasions and with various people. Some wine people and some non-wine people. Everyone usually finds something they like on the list, thanks to their very helpful staff and John, their sommelier. On Monday, I was very undecided until I looked up and saw the label above.

I love this wine. It’s both profound and easy to get into, like spending time with someone you really enjoy being with and talking to rather than feeling overwhelmed by words. What does it taste like you might ask? Earthy, chewy, with pepper and spice, silky. I found it on wine-searcher priced between $18-$30.

It comes from the island of Mallorca, off the coast of Spain. It is made from a blend of indigenous and international varieties: 65% Callet, 20% Manto Negre and Fogoneu and 15% Syrah. Mallorca is one of the Balearic Islands. The grapes are bush trained on this windy island, as one might expect. Grape growing has been part of the culture here since the 14th century when Phylloxera destroyed the vineyards in France and many looked to plant vineyards in Spain. Mallorca was an early advocate of the cooperative movement as well and created one in the early 19th century to sell their grapes.

I have never visited these islands but look forward to doing so one day, in the meantime, I will keep my Anima Negra nearby.

In other news, I haven’t written a post of late about women in wine but I have a few that will be upcoming. In the meantime, here are some sites I like and think you will too.

Wine Harlots written by Nannette Eaton is a fabulous combination of things that speak to me. Notes about wines, quotes that matter, comparisons to music, general musings, plugs for good causes and I discovered at the Snooth PVA weekend, we share a love of swag. I am not sure if anyone knows that about me but I will say it loud and clear, I love swag, random objects in goodie bags as the end of an event or objects on a table at a wine tasting that catch my eye.

I’m also a fan of wine sayings and think that Lynne’s business at Glasshalfull is a fun, lighthearted way to express our love of the grape.

People often ask me what Avvinare means. Here’s a guest blog post I did on this theme for the Society of Wine Educators on their blog, Wine Wit and Wisdom.

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March 31, 2013 · 5:58 pm

Happy Easter Peeps & Moscato- Wine Blogging & Sites To Follow

Happy Easter to those celebrating today. I love Easter and was looking to buy Peeps this morning but could only find pink ones. I can’t abide pink food unless it is strawberry ice cream so no peeps for me.

floaterpeep

What to pair with peeps and an Easter brunch? Moscato is actually the only wine that I think will work with this sugary Easter treat. Michele Chiarlo’s Nivole seems like a great fit with its delicate aromas and flavors as well as its price point at around $12.

Nivole

Thanks to last week’s Snooth PVA tastings, I got to meet some of the bloggers behind the sites I have been following.

One such fellow is the Reverse Wine Snob. His impressive blog with its rating system, buying links and premise really got me thinking about positioning and marketing in our digital age. Mostly I found that we shared certain commonalities on the palate which is what this is all about at the end of the day and liked the same wines at the Ribera del Duero tasting I haven’t yet written about. He also is a huge fan of Italian wines, as we know, am I.

That said, his following is in a different league than mine as is his constancy in posting despite a full time job, wife and three kids. Needless to say, I am impressed. Kudos to you Reverse Wine Snob.

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