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9 Shopping Days ’til Christmas

December 16, 2008 – 2:40 pm

With only 9 shopping days until Christmas, here are two more book suggestions.

Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass by Natalie MacLean is delightful. The author’s passion for wine provides a very enjoyable look at wine. Her descriptions, quotes and passion bring the book alive. A wide variety of wine related subjects are covered in a friendly, fun and enthusiastic way. MacLean has  created a lively book that makes “learning” about wine easy as well as fun. Red, White and Drunk All Over won a  2007 Silver award from the University of Guelph Canadian Culinary Book Awards. Amazon price is $10.17

Another book I like is Wine Bar Food: Mediterranean Flavors to Crave with Wines to Match, by Cathy Mantuano and Tony Mantuano. This book provides easy to follow recipes with great photos. According to the authors, “Wine bar food is unpretentious and straightforward, relying on quality ingredients, simply prepared.” The chapters focus on different European cities including Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon and Athens. A page at the end of the book lists resources where special items may be purchased in the U.S. If you enjoy cooking and Mediterranean foods this may be just the book to give or to keep for yourself. Amazon price is $18.15.

By Kathy | Posted in Wine Notes | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

10 Shopping Days ’til Christmas (Wine Stoppers)

December 15, 2008 – 2:25 pm

Wine stoppers are appreciated by anyone who may not want to finish a bottle of wine.  They will enjoy the convenience of having a wine stopper. While wine stoppers will not prevent wine from oxidizing after opening, a good wine stopper will help the wine to be preserved for a day or two.

A large variety of wine stoppers is available for the consumer and at stocking stuffer prices, although some are a bit pricier. When you are looking for a wine stopper or two consider the varieties available. Holiday wine stoppers are available and shoppers will often discover these at a neighboring winery. Looking for an elegant style stopper, consider one with a monogram on it. Does your wine lover have a hobby? You may find hobby related wine stoppers. A favorite for a golfer may be a wine stopper with a golf ball on top.

At our home, we have several wine stoppers many of which we received as a gift. Some of ours include a rooster (from Italy), Mickey Mouse, an ornate glass stopper as well as the traditional geometric wine stopper. 

Wine stoppers with a range of prices are perfect for holiday gift giving.

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Only 13 Shopping Days ’til Christmas and Time for a Break

December 12, 2008 – 2:06 pm

There is a lot more to Christmas than shopping even though there are only 12 shopping days until Christmas. At this time of year, family and friends are all a part of the season. We enjoyed dinner at Luciano’s Restaurant this week with many of our family.

Luciano’s Restaurant, located in Clinton Twp., Michigan is one of Detroit’s areas best kept secrets. The restaurant is located in a small shopping plaza; upon entering the ambience takes one out of the shopper’s world into an old Italian atmosphere. We were a bit early for meeting with others of our extended family but the waiter seated us almost immediately. Reservations are probably a good idea at Luciano’s.

I’m glad we were early as it gave us time to enjoy the décor. The colorful walls with roof tiles and colored lights add atmosphere. Christmas decorations added even more to the dinner experience.

Ice water was poured immediately and delicious trays of breads were the beginning of the dinner. After everyone arrived, we were offered menus. Our dinners included options of soup and salad. The potato soup was thick, creamy and tasty. The minestrone reminded me of homemade soup. The delicious soup was thin but considering the quantities of food provided this was good.

We all chose a different entrée including veal cutlets, lasagna, lobster legs, and tuna steak. I had the traditional lasagna, which according to the menu is made by Luciano’s wife. Served hot, the lasagna made with ricotta cheese and meat sauce was excellent. Everyone with us also enjoyed his or her entrees

Our host asked for Camus Special Select 2005. This wine was delicious and dry with a very fruity taste. Many thanks to our host for providing this opportunity to have this wine.

You can check out the menus on Luciano’s website. If you have the opportunity, enjoy lunch or dinner at Luciano’s.

By Kathy | Posted in Wine/Food/Recipes | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

14 Shopping Days Before Christmas

December 11, 2008 – 2:39 pm

Wineglasses can be problematic to choose for gifts but if you know someone who may enjoy receiving wineglasses consider some of these tips. Riedel, Spiegelau, Stolzle and Schott Zwiesel are renowned wineglass brands. These companies produce different types of wineglasses for different types of wine. These are relatively expensive so if price is no problem consider one of these brands or begin a yearly gift of one or two wineglasses. Consider whether the recipient will be “afraid” to use an expensive wineglass due to possible breakage. When considering other brands of glassware look for glasses with a thin lip and a bowl that allows for easy swirling of the wine. Some wineglasses have a thick rounded rim that creates a barrier between the wine and mouth. However, with careful shopping we have discovered one does not need to pay a premium for a good wineglass. In fact, Target sells Vivant made by Riedel. Many other brands of wineglasses are available that will help create a great wine tasting experience.

Riedel recently produced an Oregon Pinot Noir glass. We were fortunate to visit Oregon last spring and purchased two of these special glasses. Do they make a difference? We were impressed with the difference the wineglasses made when drinking Pinot Noir wines. How much of this is the shape of the glass or the expectation of the taster, we don’t know. If you have the opportunity to taste the difference, give it a try.

While visiting Inniskillin, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, we experienced a Riedel tasting session. Inniskillin calls this the Riedel Stemware Experience. While there is a charge for this tasting, it may well be worth your time. One will learn the difference the right glass can make when drinking wine.

A word of caution though about cleaning wine glasses. Once we cleaned a glass with soap and water and it left a film of soap in the glass. It influenced the taste of the wine; it made it awful. Since that time we wash our glasses in very hot water and dry with a linen cloth.

What type of wineglass do you prefer?

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

15 Shopping Days ’til Christmas

December 10, 2008 – 10:10 am

With 15 shopping days until Christmas, there is still time to consider gifts for your favorite wine enthusiast. Do you know a wine enthusiast who enjoys cooking? There are several books on the market and each vary with what they offer. I came across “The Gourmet’s Guide to Cooking with Wine” by Alison Boteler, published in September 2008.

Boteler’s introduction begins with a discussion of wines and names. One of the best parts is a description of wines that includes flavors, where grown and a relevant comment about the wine. Wines also include some of the more unusual wines such as Retsina, Sake, and Kosher wines. These five or six pages would make a perfect chart for your kitchen. Another aspect I enjoyed discovering in the Introduction is a chart for Alcohol-Burn-off. This is very handy for those who want to limit the effects of alcohol but enjoy the flavors the addition of wine adds to dishes.

Recipes take up much of the book with a number of colorful pictures. Sections are divided into Appetizers and Soups, Salad Dressings and Salads, The Great European Classics, Beef-Veal- Pork- Lamb, Poultry, Seafood, Pasta, Side Dishes, Brunch Dishes and Desserts. There is one recipe per page and at the bottom of each recipe page preparation time, cooking time and yield are noted. This would be a delightful book to have on my shelf.

Of course, you can always check out the wine with recipe section on Wine Trail Traveler.

What are some of your favorite wine related books that a wine enthusiast might enjoy?

By Kathy | Posted in Wine/Food/Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Christmas Shopping for the Wine Enthusiast

December 9, 2008 – 1:52 pm

With only 16 shopping days left until Christmas, have you completed your Christmas shopping? For the next few days, I’ll be taking a look at some gifts that you may want to consider for the wine enthusiast on your Christmas list.

For someone who travels to wineries and vineyards, we have discovered wine bottle totes that provide protection for those memorable bottles of wine you would like to return home with and share. Last year we received our first Built NY product in the form of a Christmas gift. The Built NY two-bottle totes work perfectly for us as they fit easily into a suitcase with the wine bottles. When not in use they are flat and take little room. These totes are made of neoprene. The totes protect and provide insulation for the wine. The bottles don’t clang together and the totes provide a sense of security for the wine enthusiast. From my use with the totes for traveling, I believe these are well made and I’m glad to own two of them. Check out what’s available at Built NY.

At one winery we visited, we obtained a Wine Skin, a bottle-shaped wine bottle protector. Made of bubble wrap material, this is inexpensive but according to the information on it, it is intended for one time use. These may be a good stocking stuffers.

If you have wine-related gift suggestions, reply to this post and let others know about your special gift ideas.

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Update on My Mead

December 8, 2008 – 1:31 pm

Two weeks ago I placed the carboy of mead on top of a freezer in the laundry room. This room keeps a constant temperature in the low sixties. Fermentation has been consistent during those two weeks about three bubbles through the water in the air lock every seven seconds.

Yesterday, I took a reading of the specific gravity. The original reading was 1.090 and yesterday’s reading was 1.020. That puts the present alcohol of the mead around 9 – 10 percent. There is potentially between two and three percent more alcohol that can be made. There is a lot of carbon dioxide in the mead. You can notice the lees at the bottom of the carboy. The mead is too cloudy to degas and bottle at this time. I plan to wait another ten days and then rack it into another carboy. By that time most of the sugar content will have been turned into alcohol.

Making this mead, so far, has been very easy. It was also more enjoyable than making wine from a kit. I basically followed a recipe making some changes to the quantities. The satisfaction is similar to that one may have from making a cake from scratch as opposed to making a cake from a box of cake mix.

By Terry | Posted in Wine Notes | Tagged | Comments (0)

Is Your Holiday Shopping Done?

December 5, 2008 – 10:17 am

It’s only December 5 but is your shopping finished? While there are those who shop all year long, others prefer waiting until the day before Christmas. I love to shop while the stores are decorated for the holidays. If you haven’t finished your shopping yet, consider visiting a winery. You may find a wide range of gifts available as well as special gift packs of wine.

If you have already finished your shopping, consider checking the December activities at your area wineries. Just this week I received a special email from one of our winery partners, Chateau O’Brien at Northpoint Winery and Vineyard, Markham, Virginia that offers a special shopping experience on December 6th at the winery.

Frequently wineries offer newsletters that include upcoming events. Pearmund Cellars in Broad Run, Virginia sends out a monthly newsletter with numerous events listed. The December newsletter lists small and large events. Earlier this evening I received an email from Veritas Vineyard & Winery in Afton, Virginia that announces a special selection of wine packs that may be perfect for some of those friends and family on your Christmas list. These wine sets are also available online.

These are just examples of winery events that may be available at wineries near you. Be sure to check them out. Some winery tasting rooms have a full range of gift items in addition to wine. You may find books, clothes, ceramics, glass wear and wine accessories.  Often there will be work done by local artists. Remember to take time for yourself at this busy hectic time of the year and a visit to a welcoming winery may be just the perfect antidote to the holiday stress. The folks at wineries are a friendly group. They are usually interested in talking about wine. It’s a great time for everyone. Happy shopping!

Cheers!

By Kathy | Posted in Wine Notes | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Yes, They Do Make Wine in England

December 4, 2008 – 11:17 am

A recent LinkedIn group discussion centered on English wine. Some are surprised that wine is made in England. The new wine renaissance began in England in the 1960’s and continues today. During the 60’s many grapes planted were German varieties. Today, there is a change to French varieties. We visited four wineries in England and a vineyard in Wales. Our first winery visit was Ridgeview Estate. Grapes planted include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It’s not surprising that owner and winemaker, Mike Roberts, makes several excellent sparkling wines. He mentioned that, “the English like their fizz.” Our next stop was Breaky Bottom Vineyards. One needs to practice perseverance in finding this winery and maneuvering the 30-minute driveway to the bottom. Once there you will be rewarded with a stunning view. We tasted two more sparkling wines, one made of Seyval. A Visit to Carr Taylor Vineyards and Winery afforded an opportunity to taste several wines made from different German varietal grapes grown on the property. We completed our visits at Wickham Vineyards where more German varieties were planted. Wickham makes the official wine for the House of Commons. The lone vineyard in Wales we visited was Parva Farms. They grow the grapes and take them to a winery to make wine. The wine is then sold at a small tasting room at the vineyard, or if they are closed, you can purchase the wine at the post office.

If you would like to read articles about these wineries and vineyard, go to United Kingdom section of Winery Reviews.

By Terry | Posted in Winery Tasting Rooms and Cellar Doors | Tagged | Comments (0)

Shelton’s Consumer Friendly Back Bottle Labels

December 3, 2008 – 1:06 pm

Yesterday I commented about a Spanish wine’s back label. I thought I’d turn to a domestic wine today. Shelton Vineyards in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley wanted to create a consumer friendly back label.  They created a label that reports the body of a wine and weather it is dry or sweet. This information is conveyed graphically using a scale and a thermometer graphic. A consumer can instantly tell the body of the wine and the dryness or level of sweetness in the wine. Once again, just like the Spanish Granacha written about yesterday, this information is very helpful when you are in a wine shop confronted with hundreds of bottles to choose from. Have you seen any back labels that convey consumer friendly information about the wine?

By Terry | Posted in Wine/Food/Recipes | Comments (1)

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