A favorite recipe from the Executive Chef Patrick Newman at the Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel.

If you're looking for a fresh new recipe for the fall and winter, try this great ravioli.  If you can find fresh baking pumpkins at your local market or farm stand, try using a fresh pumpkin instead of the canned variety.  Pumpkin and squash can be oven roasted quickly, cubed, and pureed in a blender or food processor.  Fresh parmesan cheese will also improve the flavor

What grows together often goes together.  It makes sense, too — the land in any particular place supports only so many crops, which in turn inspires the local cuisine.

Figs originated in western Asia and are now native to the Mediterranean.  They are celebrated in the United States during National Fig Week, which takes place during the first week of November.

Chardonnay is hands down the most grown grape varietal for wine.  It has endless appeal and is grown in every wine growing region on the planet.  Its popularity stems from not only its adaptability to different soils and climates but also from the exceptional ease with which it adapts to different techniques for finishing.

For the more adventurous epicureans, game birds are a welcome delight.  The only problem is their limited availability in restaurants and supermarkets.  Those that have not acquired the taste for our fine feathered friends other than chicken may stumble a little when it comes to choosing the correct wines.  The meats definitely have stronger flavors than that of chicken.

When lamb dishes come to mind for most people it is not merely a delicately arranged rack of lamb that they envision.  Recipes for lamb run the gamut from extremely casual to undeniably elegant.  Those who have had the fortune to travel to Greece and eat in a small local restaurant have hopefully had the luck to try a rustic lamb stew.  It was probably served with freshly baked bread and made with vegetables grown by friends of the restaurant owner.  Very possibly a carafe of a locally made nameless, hearty red wine also made its way to the table.

In the charming town of Temecula, CA at the Temet Grill Restaurant Executive Chef Salvatore Giuliano's shares a summertime favorite, Orange Scented Seared Scallops and Wheat Berry Salad.

The flavors are both bold and intriguing and the Organic Salmon Fillet was just one of the delights we experienced.

Great Oyster recipe to go with your Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio

We enjoyed receiving your favorable comments from last weeks simple melon wrapped in prosciutto recipe. We are inspired to add another favorite, perfect for brunch, or as an appetizer.

Executive Chef Steve Pickell of the Thorton Winery in Temecula, CA has prepared a delicious Roasted Tomato, Artichoke and Prosciutto Tartine while Wine Maker Don Reha explained his choice pairings.

We love spinach  every form and especially enjoy making this simple spinach soup as the days grow cooler and the farmers markets are selling their autumn harvest.  We have been making a version of this recipe since our children were young. It is economic and healthful.

A refreshing way to enjoy salmon with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc

Steak.  Gorgeous, succulent, tender, medium-rare, broiled, grilled marinated, pan-seared.  When the craving comes for a perfectly prepared slab of meaty glory everyone knows to go for red wine.  This is one of the times breaking the red with red and white with white rule is definitely not suggested.

The best chocolate has to be shiny, crunchy, and bitter, with low sugar and fat content and savory in mouth.  Good quality chocolate has 50 to 75% cocoa solids in the contents and no more than 30% sugar. Low quality chocolate has 10 to 15% cocoa solids and a higher percentage of sugar. It may also contain vegetable fat and artificial flavors.

Southern food is known for rich flavors and comforting dishes.  Bring that southern sense of warmth and ease to Thanksgiving with this southern-style menu. 

A traditional Thanksgiving menu may be familiar, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an excellent time to try some exciting wine pairings.  Here is a great traditional menu with recipes and wine pairings for each course.

The best Grenache wines exhibit a full body and plenty of personality so much so that they may forego food altogether and be enjoyed on their own.  The Grenache grape is grown mainly in France’s Rhone valley, Spain, and California.  Considered to be one of the most popularly planted varieties in the world, Grenache is sometimes said to have a raspberry-like aroma and flavor.  The following article details the Grenache grape as well as some top-notch Grenache wines.

Wine lovers are often on the lookout for unique tastes and flavors instead of the common choices.  When it comes to red wines, moving away from the typical Cabernet, Merlot, and Pinot Noir can be a worthwhile experience.

Red wine has become a favorite for most wine drinkers, but it is easy to get bogged down in the same choices over and over.  Wine lovers who are looking to branch out should try some of these excellent red wines.

Chardonnay is the darling of the white wine world. It’s responsible for the world’s greatest white wines and is widely planted worldwide. It makes up around 40% of the entire grape crop in California and makes the most popular white wine in America. But Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from crisp and refreshing to mouthfilling and buttery. These styles relate to two considerations: location and winemaking.

Sauvignon Blanc is one of the oldest winegrape varieties and is a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon (along with Cabernet Franc). Very popular in its homeland France, it has not yet found its rightful place in America. Among white wines it stands far behind Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio in popular acceptance. The upside is that the price of Sauvignon Blanc fruit is low and the resulting wines are among the most reasonably priced.

Chenin Blanc is the distinguished white winegrape of France’s Loire Valley, where it renders a complete spectrum of wines from racy, bone-dry Savennieres to warm, round Vouvray, sparkling Vouvray, and rich, sweet Quart de Chaume that rivals the great Sauternes of Bordeaux.

Sauvignon Blanc is a green grape that was originally cultivated in the Bordeaux region of France.  Indigenous to south western France, the grape is now planted in all of the world’s major wine regions and used to produce a crisp and refreshing white wine that is usually relatively dry.  The grape also contributes flavor to sweet wines like Sauterne and Barsac and to the less well known white Bordeaux.

In the north of Spain, where seafood rules the day, the drink of choice is a crisp, light white wine made from the Albarino grape.  It is also known as Alvarinho in Portugal, where it is equally popular.  It grows in the northwest end of the peninsula, along the Minho river, which forms the border between Spain and Portugal. There's not much difference between the two sides save for language, and yet the wines produced taste remarkably different.

Arneis.  Most people have never heard of the varietal, but that will soon be changing.   The wine has become a darling for Italian aperitivo and the popularity and planting outside of Italy have increased exponentially over the last 30 years.

Greece offers some of the best bargains in the wine world today. Encouraged by the world attention garnered by joining the European Union, as well as the popular interest that came with hosting the Olympics, Greece is becoming a new source of interest for travelers and tourists.  This resurgence in the popularity of Greece is bringing with it a new interest in Greek wines.  The variety of Greek wines is likely to provide an inexpensive alternative for any wine lover.

Cabernet Sauvignon is arguably the world’s most honored red wine grape but it does not enjoy the distinguished ancient lineage of Syrah or Pinot Noir. Those varieties can trace their roots back into the mists of antiquity. Cabernet Sauvignon is a relative newcomer. It is the happy result of a natural crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in an unknown vineyard in southwest France in the 17th century. Hence the name Cabernet Sauvignon.

With the sole exception of Spain’s low-quality Airén grape, Chardonnay is the world’s most widely planted white wine grape variety. It grows almost everywhere, but like Pinot Noir, reaches it’s fullest expression in Burgundy, Chablis, and a few favorable locations in California. 

Chenin Blanc is a complex and often overlooked white grape.  In most places, it is used to produce lackluster white wines, simple sipper at best.  However, once in a while this grape produces rich wines fragrant with the scents of honey, quince, almond blossom, and spice.  A well crafted Chenin Blanc carries a noticeable acidity that can be aged to produce richer, nuttier flavors in the better quality wines.

The Corvina grape is well known by taste, though most wine drinkers are unfamiliar with its name.  It is the main component in Valpolicella, a wine grown not far from Verona in the Veneto.

 The name Gewurztraminer is a combination of Gewurz, meaning spice, and the Traminer family of grapes.  This grape, related to vines grown in a German speaking section of Northern Italy, offers a bold, fruity taste that is difficult to ignore.  Gewurztraminer wines range in color from pale yellow to deep golden and feature flavors including lychee, grapefruit, rose, and spices.  The lychee flavor is most prominent, and is complimented by hints of rose, cinnamon, turmeric, and peppers.

The Garnacha grape is known in France as Grenache and in Italy as Cannonnau.  It is a firmly Mediterranean grape in character, with bright red cherry flavors that can range from dry to very sweet.  Lush, languid, and filled with sunny flavor, it is a favorite for blending with the leaner and more acidic Tempranillo. 

The typical choices in white wine include Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc.  Though each of these options are wonderful in their own right, there are a lot of less well known options when it comes to choosing the perfect white wine for any meal or occasion.

If you are one of the many who enjoy wine, one of the wines worth treating your taste buds to is Malbec wine. If you’re new to this term, you must be wondering what Malbec wine is. Well, to quench your thirst for your information, and maybe even your thirst for excellent wine, read on and discover everything you need to know about Malbec wine. 

Malbec and Cabernet Franc are two of the five varietals that make up the classic balances characteristic of the fantastic wines of France’s Bordeaux region.  Centuries of cultivation, even with the interruption that the phylloxera invasion caused, led to the mastery of knowing the ideal conditions for growth for both of these ancient grapes.  The invasion may have caused the near extinction of their sister varietal, Carménère, but both Malbec and Cabernet Franc were replanted extensively after the insects did their damage.

Merlot is one of the most popular red wines in the United States and abroad.  Native to France, the Merlot grape is one of the top contributors to Bordeaux wines.  Merlot grapes have a smooth, juicy flavor that usually imparts notes of berry, plum, and currant to wines.  The grape is planted widely in France, Italy, and the US.

Merlot has become the world’s most widely planted winegrape. Merlot is believed to have mutated from Cabernet Franc, as did Cabernet Sauvignon. But unlike Cabernet Sauvignon, which developed from deliberate crossing, Merlot mutated naturally, like Pinot Noir. No one is sure of Merlot’s ancestry but its appearance in Bordeaux can be traced back to 1784, where Merlot became a primary component of Bordeaux blend. The name Merlot is believed to be related to the Old French word merle, a thrush.

Wines made from the Muscat grape are common and quite varied, but also immediately recognizable by a distinct floral scent and a delicate similarity to Gewurztraminer with less spice.  This heavily grown grape has several specific varietals including the Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains and Muscat d’Alexandria.  The Muscat Blanc is a finer flavor, while the Muscat d’Alexandria offers a heavier flavor with sweet musky tones.

Italy’s Piedmont region produces the Nebbiolo grape, favored by many wine lovers for its low yield, high quality grapes.  These grapes are grown in the cool hills of the Piedmont, in the northwest of Italy, and the wines produced offer high acidity and tannins paired with light fruit flavors.  Traditional styles should be aged several years to bring forward the best they have to offer.  Look for Nebbiolo labeled as Barolo, Barbaresco, or Langhe Nebbiolo.

Pinot Grigio is one of the most popular white wines in the world, second only to Chardonnay.  It is also grown and sold under the moniker Pinot Gris, which is actually more appropriate given the history of the grape.  According to the research done at UC Davis, Pinot Grigio is actually a mutant of Pinot Noir and began in Burgundy rather than in Italy where it reached its peak popularity.

Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris, is a centuries-old mutation of Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio grows successfully under the same conditions. Pinot Grigio is visually identical to Pinot Noir except for its light blue-gray color. When fermented on the skins like Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio will produce a salmon colored wine known as “orange wine.” Pinot Grigio is almost always made as white wine with little skin contact during fermentation.

Pinot Noir is a red wine grape that is most associated with the Burgundy region of France.  The grape is growing in popularity and is now also planted in various locations worldwide including Australia, Canada, Germany, Hungary, and Macedonia.  The Pinot Noir vines are extremely sensitive, leading to difficult cultivation that places some limits on wine production.  However, the wine that is produced has become one of the most popular wines anywhere.

Pinot Noir may be the world’s most distinguished red grape. For many centuries the Burgundy red wines made from Pinot Noir have been among the most esteemed reds in the world. Pinot Noir has mutated into many of the world’s most admired grapes, both red and white: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Meunier, Aligoté and Gamay Noir, the red grape of Beaujolais.

Friuli, in Italy’s far northeast, offers a unique take on Italian white wines.  The Alpine breezes and altitude keep the vines cool and the grapes full of acidity.  Not only do its Pinot Grigio and Pinot Bianco set the standard for the rest of Italy , but it offers wines from bold grapes like Ribolla Gialla and Tocai Friulano to complete an exciting portfolio of Italian whites.
 

Riesling is a hearty white grape that originated in the Rhine region of Germany and grows best on cooler regions.  Riesling is a heavily aromatic grape variety with floral aromas and high acidity.  Wines made from the Riesling grape range from dry to very sweet and can also be sparkling.  Like most white wines, Riesling wines are rarely oak aged.  The grape is extremely expressive of its terroir, which means there is a wide variation in flavor and intensity from one growing region to another.

Sangiovese is the main component in Chianti, one of the best known Italian wines.  Though it contributes heavily to the cherry red wines of Tuscany’s famous Chiantis, it also contributes its richness to Carmignano, Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Morellino di Scansano.  This vibrant grape lends something specific to each of the wines it takes part in.

Syrah (also called Shiraz) originated in southern France and took root in the northern Rhône Valley. Syrah’s origins are steeped in legend involving ancient Phoenicians, Romans and crusaders. Modern research clearly identifies Syrah as an indigenous French variety.

The grape responsible for the extremely popular Spanish Rioja is Tempranillo.  This grape produces wines with notes of cherry, spice, vanilla, and coconut with hints of oak and high acidity.  The Tempranillo grape grows all over Spain under many different names.  Though some may be familiar, many will be new discoveries.

Trebbiano is one of the largest white grape crops in all of Italy.  Light and vaguely fruity, its most remarkable trait may be that it grows all over the place, but it forms the basis for many of Italy's best-known white wines: Orvieto, Frascati, Galestro, and Est! Est!! Est!!!

Viognier is becoming a popular grape for notes of peaches, cream and honey.  It is used to create rich, soft wines with stone fruit flavors and aromas and is often extra ripened for use in dessert wines.  Extra dry versions of this wine often come with a higher alcohol content: 14% is common.

When grown in the right places Viognier renders highly aromatic white wines redolent of peach, apricot, and orange blossoms. In its homeland of the northern Rhône Valley, it’s dry and crisp, but New World versions of Viognier are often made in an off-dry style.

Many wineries offer two or more lines of product under the same winery label. These second labels can sometimes be great buys.

There is a Guide to Wine and wine courses available at every level of interest.  There are books that serve as introductory guide to wine, guide to wine producing regions, and courses of study for those really serious about learning as much as possible about every aspect of wine.

Even wine makers know how to have a little fun with packaging and marketing.  Appealing to a younger crowd and bringing in new wine lovers is a fantastic way to improve sales and revitalize a product often seen as stuffy or snobbish.  New novelty wines are taking advantage of the latest trends to appeal to a new market of wine drinkers.

California’s Napa Valley has become a world renowned destination for the best wines and wineries.  Among the best Napa Valley wine are these award winners.

 Wine Trends in California—2010

Few would dispute that California has been on the cutting edge of American wine since the 19th century. What happens in California influences the wine scene worldwide—even in France! So it’s informative to take note of what California wineries are doing. Each August the Family Winemakers of California holds its annual tasting in San Francisco. This year 340 wineries participated and poured for thousands of industry professionals and amateur wine lovers. Large-scale events like this reflect what California wineries have been focussing on. Here are some interesting details:

Wine charms are popular decorative pieces that can be added to individual wine glasses.  By using wine charms at dinner parties and events, guests can easily personalize their wine glasses.  These wine charms give people the opportunity to label their glasses and keep track of them despite crowds.

Wine decanters are a great way to dress up a table wine, aerate a wine that needs to breathe, and impress dinner guests with the elegance of wine decanters.  Choosing from the many wine decanters on the market can be difficult, but making the right choice in wine decanters is often about relying on trusted names to guarantee quality items.

Wine glasses are a beautiful melding of form and function.  Choosing wine glasses for an event or wine glasses for everyday wine drinking is all about deciding what style fits your life best.

The perfect wine opener can be as simple as a corkscrew or as elaborate as a gas chambered cork removal system.  A corkscrew, sometimes also called a bar key, is a wine opener that looks something like a Swiss Army knife and can quickly open any wine bottle.  This simple, inexpensive wine opener usually costs less than $10 and is portable.

Wine racks are a great way to store and display several bottles of wine in your home.  Unlike wine cellars, wine racks keep your favorite wines easily accessible.  Wine racks can be made from wood, iron, steel, plastic, and everything in between, and wine racks range in style from basic and simple to modern, bold, and unique.

The new year represents a great opportunity to check out some fantastic wine events in your area.  No matter where you live, there’s somewhere to celebrate wines and check out local offerings.

Wine and cheese parties can be casual or formal events. At casual wine and cheese events guests are invited to sample an assortment of wine and cheese set out on a board, while formal wine and cheese parties are more structured. The focus of casual wine and cheese parties is usually social, since guests’ attention will be divided between the wine and cheese and the conversation.

Entertaining: Valentines Day Party

A Valentines Day party is a great time to enjoy wonderful wines.  Valentines Day party events can range from romantic to silly.  Here are some ideas for decorating, invitations, menus, and wine pairings for a Valentines Day party no matter what your style.

Since its launch in November of 2009, Vinolist has cataloged over 20,000 key word searches from an inventory of 75,000 wines from 9,700 wineries.   Below is a list of the top 100 more frequent search terms.    We invite retailers and wineries to take advantage of this information to make offers based on these key words.  We will work with you on a Cost Per Click basis.  To find out more about your brands, please contact us at support@vinolist.com.

The wine's all bottled and ready to go. What next? You'll need some cases to put it in for easy shipping (about $8 for a cardboard box fitted with a Styrofoam insert to keep the bottles from breaking). And you'll need to publicize it, a task you'd probably rather farm out to a public relations company than attempt to do yourself (after all, you have a winery to run), but either way, it will cost some more money.

What does it really cost a winery to produce a bottle of wine? How are wine prices determined? How can a bottle of current release wine be worth $100? Can I find a good bottle for less than $10? Do certain varieties offer better value than others? Why are wines purchased from restaurant lists so expensive?

Becoming familiar with all of the terms and names associated with wines can be a daunting task.  With so many popular wines coming from France, Italy, and Spain, wine and varietal names can be difficult to pronounce, which can make finding your favorite wine a challenge.  Here is a short guide to making sense of some of the most popular wine and grape names.

Champagne is made in two styles: non-vintage house blend Champagne (which can be Brut, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, or Rosé) and vintage Champagne from a single superior vintage. Vintage Champagne is very expensive and intended for years of cellaring.

Understanding articles and wine reviews can be confusing, especially when writers use industry terminology.  New wine lovers and those who aren’t familiar with all of the wine buzz words can be completely confused by anatomical terms like head or nose.

Boxed wine has long been thought of as super cheap, low quality wine mass produced to offer bland or bad tasting wine.  A new trend in boxed wine is overhauling this image and proving that great wines don’t have to come in glass bottles. 

Today, wines ratings are done on a 100-point scale. This wine ratings system is championed by Robert. M. Parker, the Wine Spectator, and other periodicals and wine experts. The numbers of the wine ratings roughly correspond to the academic grading system commonly used in the United States: 90-100 (A), 80-89 (B), 70-79 (C). Wine ratings lower than 70 are rarely published.

 It’s all about closures and there are many different kinds. 

Cork and Synthetic Cork

Nothing could be simpler or more complex than wine making. The process of wine making was discovered thousands of years ago. Fermentation, necessary for wine making, can take place naturally inside whole grapes. The product of natural fermentation is intoxicating but not especially savory. The history of wine making has been one of refinement.

You may think that any sparkling wine is Champagne, but you would be wrong.  All sparkling wine is not Champagne. There’s sparkling wine from California, New York State, and Washington State; there’s Spain’s Cava and Italy’s Prosecco; and there’s sparkling wine from Alsace, southern France and Germany. But none of these compare with Champagne, even when they’re made in the “mèthode Champenoise” style.

Learning to describe a wine can be complex. Knowing how to describe a wine is a great advantage when buying, recommending or discussing wines.  Here are five simple rules to describe a wine properly.

Wine makes itself. It just doesn’t do a very good job without human intervention. The only ingredients needed to produce wine are fruit juice, natural sugar, and yeast to transform the sugar into alcohol. Yeasts are everywhere, but especially abundant on the skins of grapes. Today’s wines involve three process phases:
 

The increasing popularity of smart phones has made it easier than ever for wine lovers to get the information they need on the go.  Applications for smart phones like the iPhone are becoming more and more wine friendly, and here are the top iPhone apps for wine lovers.

 Aging wine in oak barrels is a traditional part of the wine making process and this long-established method adds a distinctive flavor to the wine.  Newly processed wine often needs time to settle into its best flavors, and oak barrels are a favorite place to let it rest. 

Sometimes the best way to increase wine knowledge is to cozy up to a good book.  There are new wine books being published all the time, guides to buying and choosing wine, memoirs about the life of an industry insider, and books about the history of wine.  These wine related books are a perfect options for wine lovers seeking to increase their depth of knowledge and for curious readers to find a new topic of interest.

Sparkling wine was invented by Dom Perignon, a monk who created the methodè Champenoise by adding sugar to create secondary fermentation in sparkling wine.  This fermentation process allows the sparkling wine to achieve the fresh effervescence that Champagne and sparkling wine are known for.  

How To Serve Wine

The many different kinds of wine require different service procedures. For many hosts, the choice of glassware is a primary consideration. Also serving temperature. Here are some guidelines:

A wine label is a legal document. The wine label provides a guarantee that you are getting what you expect. Almost every wine label will show the Wine Name, the Producer, the Vintage or the year the grapes were harvested, the Appellation or place the grapes originated and the Alcohol content.

Searching for a new wine can be an intimidating process.  Wines labeled with professional ratings can make it harder instead of easier.  Does a good rating automatically guarantee a great wine?  Maybe not.  Wine is a subjective experience, and what makes a wine wonderful depends on the taste of the drinker.  Understanding the ratings process of several of the top reviewers is a great step toward making sense of wine ratings and using them as a tool to choose the best wine for any taste or occasion.

By having some of the best wine Napa Valley has become a tourist destination.  Among the best wine Napa Valley produces are these award winners:

Hagafen Cellars 2005 Wine Napa Valley Estate Merlot ($29)
Franciscan 2005 Wine Napa Valley Magnificat Cab/Merlot/Malbec ($50)
Stonegate Winery 2004 Wappo Vineyard Wine Napa Valley Petit Verdot ($60)
 
Some of the best wine Napa Valley produces is full bodied and fruit forward.  The top varietal wine Napa Valley produces is a Cabernet Sauvignon.
 
Visitors looking to enjoy the wine Napa Valley has to offer need a guide to wine events with course wine tastings.  Such a guide to wine can help navigate the wine Napa Valley showcases.  If you're looking for a comprehensive guide to wine, check out "The Wine Lover's Guide to Wine Country", an excellent source on the wine Napa Valley produces. Those looking for a crash course wine book can try “The Wine Bible” before exploring the wine Napa Valley offers.
 
Hundreds of vineyards feature the best wine Napa Valley can offer and many welcome visitors with tours, shops, and tasting rooms.  You can become an expert guide to wine and create your own multiple course wine tasting.  Here are some course wine resources:
 
Mondavi offers special course wine tastings.  
Culinary Institute of America offers educational programs including course wine classes/tastings.
Meadowood has a course wine tasting of the best red wine Napa Valley can supply
Gourmet Retreats offers a multiple course wine tasting and cooking class
Napa Valley Wine Train offers five course wine dinners
NapaValley.com has multiple course wine dinners listing the best wines Napa Valley can offer
Napa Valley Vintners has an annual auction with special multiple course wine dinner
Napa Valley Wine and Dine offers a course wine tasting and bus tour highlighting the best wines Napa Valley offers
Goosegross Cellars offers a crash course wine tasting
 
The amazing variation of wine Napa Valley offers allows visitors to enjoy hundreds of unique experiences.

Wine Napa Valley, Course Wine, Guide to Win

To start with, Chianti wine is considered as one of the most exotic wines produced in the world today. Chianti wine is aromatic, robust to taste, and has something sensual in it that can exalt your senses. Believe it or not, Chianti wine is something that can either make your evening or totally break it.

Grapes made famous in the Rhone region are now making their way into the wine cultures of the rest of the world as well.  The well known Grenache and Mourvedre grapes were first cultivated in Spain, where they are known as Garnacha and Mataro or Monastrell.  Garnacha grapes are grown in Spain to create the cherry flavored reds of Priorat, while Mataro plays a large part in the wines of Spain’s eastern regions such as Alicante, Jumilla, Valencia, and Yecla.

With more than twenty regions and an estimated 1,000+ grape varieties contributing to the Peidmont’s white wine production, Italy boasts enough options to keep the most dedicated wine lover engaged and satisfied.  This abundance creates an endless emergence of new wines and unique grapes to be enjoyed.

Rhone varietals are most familiar to people in their incarnation as Syrah/Shiraz.  But an amazing 22 varieties of grape are recognized by the French government and plantings of many of these varietals have experienced phenomenal growth recently.  This is true not only for the famous red varietals that blend in the Rhone to yield Cotes du Rhone, Chateauneuf du Pape and their white wine relatives.  This is one of the only regions that permit the blending of small percentages of white varietals into red wines.  The skill this takes is not easily duplicated or imitated, especially when a single wine can contain up to 13 different varietals.
 

Although New World wines are often known for single varietal presses, Old World vineyards often focus on blends created from local vines and showcasing the desired acidity, sweetness, or complexity of their region.  These blended wines offer a layering of flavors and characteristics that also provide winemakers with the stability offered by using several varietals.

Rioja wines are made on the east side of the Sierra Cantabria Mountains in the province of Rioja. The region takes its name from one of the several rivers in the region, the Rio Oja which courses through the center of the region. Grapes grow on both sides of the river, Tempranillo most popularly, but also Mazuelo, Garnacha, and Graciano, some of which are typically blended into red Rioja wines.

If your life is all about discovering the best wines in the world, then you shouldn’t miss the top Santa Barbara wineries on the Santa Ynez Wine Trail. At each of the following five top Santa Barbara wineries, you will experience wine like never before, so, interested in finding what these top Santa Barbara wineries have in store? Read o

Long isolated from the more industrial northern regions and slow to pick up technological advances in the wine world, Southern Italy was largely ignored as a source of good wine until very recently. That means there are great deals available at every turn.  The wide variety in the region means an excellent group of wines to choose from.

The Rhone Valley is a large wine producing region, with some of the best varietals coming from the southern end of the valley.  While the northern Rhone Valley specializes in Syrahs that vary from solid and acidic to warm and smooth, the southern half of the region is known for producing a blended red that allows any combination of thirteen red and white grape varieties. 

Instead of the burly winter whites of the Northern Rhone, the wines south of Valence are lighter, brighter, more summery. A happy fray of obscure white grapes with whimsical-sounding names like Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Picpoul lighten up the familiar Marsanne and Roussanne.

Spain has been a source of superb red wine since the 19th century. Like France, Spanish wine laws control which red wine and white wine varieties may be grown in D.O. (Denominaciòn de Origen) regions. International varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, etc. have been disallowed but plantings pre-dating the D.O. laws are allowed to remain but not expand. That ruling saved Spain’s two great Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, Vega Sicilia in Ribero del Duero and Mas La Plana in Penedes. These restrictions have been relaxed in the newer D.O. regions.

Gary Pisoni, the son of a lettuce farmer, remarked that “there are no black tie lettuce tastings.” He became one of California’s premiere Pinot Noir growers. His tongue-in-cheek quip highlights the uniqueness of a wine tasting.

Wine is food, says Roberto Rogness of Santa Monica’s Wine Expo, railing against snob-ism in wine tasting. Nevertheless, wine tasting is more complex than other foods and beverages. You don’t drink at a wine tasting; you savor.

The Magic of Napa Valley

Wine is successfully produced in a wide variety of locations, from chilly Canada to hot Algeria. There are thousands of winegrape varieties, each preferring its own ideal growing environment. But there are just a few “magic terroirs” worldwide. By that term we refer to special locations that are home to the world’s finest wines and cannot be duplicated elsewhere.

The Spanish really know how to enjoy life to the fullest, thus it is no wonder that the Rioja Wine Region is one of the spots people head to in order to tastes some of the exquisite varieties of Rioja wine. 

Saint Emilion is truly a paradise for wine lovers. Saint Emilion is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is among one of the world’s most popular wine regions. Some of the world’s best terroir are present in Saint Emilion and the wines are ultimately aromatic and ambrosial. 

If you’re planning to head to France to search for amour, then make sure to rediscover your love for wine at Saint Julien. Located at the northwest of Bordeaux, the region is known as one of the four largest wine growing appellations of the Medoc. 

For those uninitiated into the history and composition of French wines and the foods that work best for them, red Bordeaux wines can be a challenge at first.  If you had been raised in France, drinking watered down wine with your dinner from the time you were past using a sippy cup it would be second nature.  For the other 98% of the world it is actually not difficult, but the French and European Union labeling laws offer no clues to the neophyte.

Although white wines are not as popular in Spain and Portugal, there are several white options worth experiencing.  These wines come from a variety of regions and offer a surprising number of unique flavors and characters.

History

Alsace wine has been influenced by countless changes in the demographic of the area, which has changed hands between France and Germany several times.  Alsace wine (or Alsatian wine) has long been known for fully fortified wines that departed from German wine influence, but in recent years has turned focus to lighter, sweeter and dessert wines, bringing this French wine region more inline with current German wine styles. 

History

Mendoza is a large Argentinean city founded in the 1500s.  The Argentinean wine production in the area began more than one hundred years ago, and was likely influenced by Italian immigrants to the area.  Beginning as an area used for the cultivation and production of large quantities of Argentinean wine, Mendoza has become a key area in the new focused production of excellent Argentinean wines crafted for the best possible quality.  Home to more than six hundred commerical Argentinean wineries, Mendoza plays a critical role in the increasing popularity of Argentinean wine both at home and abroad.

History

Hunter Valley was originally settled by the Wonnarua, Worimi, and Awabakal tribes.  The area was later settled by Europeans in the 19th century, devastating the aboriginal population.  Hunter Valley originally served as a lumber and coal source for settlers and workers in the region.  By 1823, vineyards had been planted in the area.  The region had already established a reputation for quality Australian wines by the 1930s.

 History

 History

  History

History

Corsica wine comes from a small Mediterranean off the coasts of Italy and France.  Originally settled in 570BC by Phoceans, who were the first to cultivate Corsica wines, the island later passed to France and saw heavy settlement from Algerians and the Italians who would go on to change the course of Corsica wines.

History

History

The Gascony wine region was originally inhabited by the Basque people.  In 1152, the English crown acquired the area, producing an automatic trade for Gascony wine to England and abroad.  

History

Baden wine has been a part of the German wine regions since the 12th century.  The earliest details of Baden wine production are unknown, but records of German wine list Baden wine production beginning in the 1300s.  Baden wine composes the third largest of German wine regions, housing more than one hundred wine cooperatives and specializing in the production of wines for local and regional consumption.

History

The Veneto wine region is located in northeastern Italy and produces well known Soave white Italian wines in an area known for red Italian wines.  The area is among the most modernized of Italian wine regions. 

History

History

The Loire Valley is considered by locals to be the purest area of France, home to the center of the French language and definitive French home cooking.  It is also home to some of the most sought after French wine.  The valley is the third largest French wine region, the second largest producer of sparkling French wine, and the largest producer of white French wine.  The valley is home to several of France’s famed fairytale castles, making it a prime tourist destination.  The area, boasting abundant forests and wildlife, was used as a country retreat for the French nobility well into the Renaissance before becoming one of the best known cultivation areas for French wine.

 History

New Zealand wine has a history going back to the 1800s when British colonialists began the first cultivation efforts that would lead to the New Zealand wine industry.  Increased travel abroad in the mid-1900s led to a new cultural awareness that would redefine the making of New Zealand wine.  As early as the 1970s, New Zealand wine was making a name for itself with the production of excellent Sauvignon Blanc.  The modern New Zealand wine industry is well known for contracted fruit growers who produce the wine for winemakers, though some do follow the traditional vineyard approach.

History

Originally founded as a rest stop for travelers, Cape Town Winelands has became a destination known for events, festivals, fine dining, resorts, and spas as well as home to several amazing South African wines. 

History

Archaeological evidence suggests that grapes were being cultivated in Spain as early as 4000 BC, and evidence of a vast trading network for Spanish wine is clear in hundreds of sites from the Roman Empire.  Spanish conquistadors and missionaries were likely responsible for the introduction of some European vines to the Americas during the colonial period as well.  Sherry, Malaga, and Rioja gained in popularity in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but the Spanish wine industry saw a fall off in production and popular interest until the development of Cava.  This sparkling Spanish wine became popular in the later nineteenth century, reigniting interest in Spanish wines.  Cava, Rioja, and Sherry remain extremely popular today.

History

History

Made from a blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and Malvasia Bianca, this red Italian wine has been documented as far back as the 13th century in the area surrounding Florence.  Early documentation suggests that this first Chianti wine was actually a white wine and did not become recognized as a red Italian wine until the 18th century.  Modern Chianti wine was created from a recipe in the 19th century and is one of the best known Italian wines. 

History

The Maipo Valley wine region is one of the oldest Chilean wine regions.  This area is the most widely cultivated in the larger Central Valley Chilean wine region and is best known for the cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.  European vines were introduced to Chile in the 1500s by Spanish explorers.  Thanks to Spanish control of the wine market in Chile, the production of wine was severely limited in early years in order to encourage the purchase of Spanish wines.  During the 1700s, Chile began to make a name for itself in sweet and dessert wines from Muscatel grapes.  Though politically controlled by Spain, Chilean wine makers have been influenced by French flavors and techniques, with wine merchants often traveling to France to supplement their knowledge.  The modern Chilean wine market is doing well thanks to exports, mostly to the UK and Japan, while in the US it is losing ground to Australian imports.

Wine can be more than an enjoyable drink with dinner or dessert.  It can also be a destination, a vacation in and of itself.  Planning a vacation around the best wine spots can take a little extra planning, but will result in a unique experience that combines wine, relaxation, and adventure.

First, there was only California, French, Italian, and German wine available to tantalize the U.S. market. Then came the Spanish, the Australians, and New Zealanders. We were surprised by the entrance of Washington State and even more so by cool and rainy Oregon. South Africa would soon follow.  Americans were astonished to discover that world class wines were coming out of Canada. What’s next? Well, take a look at wines from India.

With restaurant markups of 100%-200% over retail price, many diners opt to bring their own wine and pay a fee known as corkage. Corkage charges range from zero to as high as $50 per bottle in upscale restaurants. Corkage charges in moderate restaurants will run $10-15 per bottle.

All wines have a maturation profile.  Most red wines are intended for immediate consumption.  For example, Beaujolais Nouveau should be drunk within months of release. Other wines such as Red Bordeaux and Barolo or Barbaresco come to maturity after 10 to 20 years. Zinfandel wines are a little different.

Many people think of wine as an acquired taste or a drink to be enjoyed only by people who like heavy alcohol.  In truth, wine varies so greatly from one varietal or blend to the next that there is a wine out there for every taste.  Wine is a culture, an alluring habit thought of as sophisticated and mature.  More than that, it is a wonderful way to highlight the best flavors in any dish with the right pairings.

Today’s wines are remarkably dependable. All the fuss surrounding restaurant wine service is a reflection of former days when 5-10% or more bottles were seriously flawed. But defects still exist and we need to know how to identify them. Some defects can be traced back to the winery and its methods. Others stem from mishandling of the wine after bottling. The older the wine is, the more serious these defects will be. There are only a handful of defects that you are likely to encounter:

Cooking is big business. Cookbooks and recipes abound. T.V. chefs entertain and inform us 24 hous a day.

How quickly we forget that our grandmothers probably cooked everything they made without benefit of any of these resources — and in many cases did as well, or even better than today’s harried cooks.
 

Why do some people get to drink their wine out of beautiful glass decanters while the rest of us get it poured straight out of the bottle?

People often think that they’re putting on wine calories if they drink wine. However, wine calories count for nothing because as long as you have it in moderation, wine cannot make you fat. Wine calories are the worry of many females. They don’t want to put on wine calories right before their marriage, or they don’t want to put on wine calories before that day at the beach. Wine calories can be considered as a myth because if anything, wine is the one type of alcohol that doesn’t make you fat. That is why wine calories can be considered a fallacy. 

After working hard all day, nothing can give you as much solace as a nice glass of dry white wine. Just imagine it chilled and waiting to quench your thirst and drench your worries. All this is very likely to tempt you to buy a bottle of dry white wine straight away. However, before heading to the store, take a look at these top dry white wine brands that will heighten your white wine experience

The wine world is full of exciting opportunities to learn about and experience wine in new ways.  One of the best wine jobs around is that of a sommelier, a wine expert paid to taste wines and have the extensive knowledge necessary to recommend and pair those wines.  Most sommeliers work for upscale restaurants and manage the restaurant’s wine cellars.  There are few other jobs that allow such immediate contact with so many wines.  The sommelier often works with the chef to create the restaurant’s wine list, and is also responsible for educating the staff on the best wines for each dish.

It is important to choose the best wine glasses to enjoy your wine to the fullest.  Here are some tips to help you buy wine glasses.

Three Components in Wine

The characteristics of a wine fall into three categories: acid, body, and tannins. Acids (there are many different kinds, but the main one is tartaric acid) give brightness and freshness to all wines. Acid is the backbone on which everything else hangs. The term “body” describes the basic flavor, texture, and viscosity of the wine. It’s the flesh of the wine without skin and bones. Tannins (again, there are different kinds) are chemicals that give a certain desirable astringency to red wines, just as they do in black tea. Tannins leach into the juice during fermentation from the skins and seeds (and stems, if present). Since white wines spend less time in contact with the skins and seeds, the finished white wine will feature little or no tannins. Tannins are a major component of red wines.

A casual get together with friends is the perfect time to have fun with wine and explore new varietals.  Hosting a wine tasting party is the perfect way to introduce people to new wines in a relaxing atmosphere.  The first step is to choose the type of wine tasting.

A red wine sauce can be created with a sweet or dry red wine.  Usually the red wine can be reduced by 50% in about 10-20 minutes, depending on the surface area of the pan used to make a red wine sauce, but certain red wines lend themselves to special applications.

An elegant white wine sauce for poached or sautéed fish and steamed asparagus is the French white wine sauce called Beurre Blanc. This delicious white wine sauce is like Hollandaise lite, and since there are no eggs involved it doesn’t overpower the delicate flavors of the foods it accompanies.

Wine bottles have been traditionally finished with natural cork closures, a renewable resource. Cork has unique advantages over all other types of closure and still remains the closure of choice for wines intended for cellaring.

How To Order and Select a Good Wine

If you already know quite a bit about wine you won’t need further instruction in this matter. But if you’re uncertain about various food and wine pairings, you should keep a few things in mind. Wine is meant to accompany food. There are classic pairings such as duck with Pinot Noir and dark chocolate with Cabernet Sauvignon. You’ll rarely miss by observing tried-and-true traditions. But most of the time you will be at a loss. Prime Rib, for example, pairs well with a light red such as Beaujolais. But add a touch of creamed horseradish sauce and the pairing becomes terrible. A dry Riesling or Gewürztraminer would work much better.

There is no more satisfying food to pair with wine than cheese. But what wine with what cheese? The combinations are endless and “marriages” abound to delight the palate. But there are no easy generalities. Each cheese type is best paired with one or more specific types of wine. First, you’ll need to decide what your goal will be: a good time with friends embellished by an assortment of cheeses and wines? or a formal effort to find those “marriages?”

Wherever red wine lovers gather, and the Pinot Noir is flowing, a red wine stain is sure to follow. Commercially available red wine stain removers can do the trick - but what if you don't have a miracle product on hand?

Confused about how to serve wine properly? Here are some tips to serve wine.

Everything organic has a development profile. We pick our fruits, vegetables, meats, and cheeses at just the right time and happily consume them before their downhill slide to decay begins. Most lifespans of comestibles are measured in weeks, months, or a few years. Wine is the great exception. While most wines are designed for early consumption, those made for the long haul may not reach maturity for 20 years or more. These require proper storage or you will lose them before they begin to mature. When we store wines, we use the term cellaring, even if they are in a temperature-controlled cabinet; the French use their term “cave” even it’s actually a basement.

You've ordered the wine. Whew! One big step out of the way. But here the guy comes with the bottle, a corkscrew, and a little plate. What's all the fuss about? Why doesn't he just pour the wine and let you get on with it?

You've ordered the wine. Whew! One big step out of the way. But here the guy comes with the bottle, a corkscrew, and a little plate. What's all the fuss about? Why doesn't he just pour the wine and let you get on with it?

Ever since the wine glass shape revolution of the 1960s, championed by the Riedel company, we’ve been advised that certain wine glass shapes complement the myriad of wine varieties. Do we really need a different wine glass shape to enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon from that used for red Burgundy or Pinot Noir? Do we need a different wine glass for the Burgundy than that for the New World Pinot Noir? How many wine glasses do we really need?

  Wine and cheese have an exquisite taste when consumed separately. However, when wine and cheese are paired, they can have a tantalizing effect on your taste buds that nothing else can give you that sensation. Wine and cheese might be considered as a pair mainly consumed by the elite, however, if you look into history, wine and cheese lovers existed way before there was any sense of aristocracy or elitism. Wine and cheese was a preferred pair among people in Europe starting from medieval times

 New trends in green wine production are popping up everywhere, leading consumers and wine makers to consider environmental concerns when producing and buying wine.  Organic wines are growing in popularity, but are now being rivaled by the newly popular biodynamic wines.  Organic wines are made with organically grown and harvested grapes, usually without chemical pesticides or fertilizers, and several organic wines even carry an organic certification from the USDA.  These wines are often free of added sulfites, so could be good for wine lovers who often get headaches after drinking wine.  Organics also boast hand harvesting or grapes and the use of indigenous yeasts. 

With most wine varieties you pretty much know what to expect. There will be variations in body and color but the variety is easily identified. When you open a bottle of Pinot Noir you may not know how delicious or aromatic it will be, but there should be few cases of mistaken identity. Everything about the wine tells you it’s Pinot Noir.

Rose wines got a bad rap after the sweet monodimensional pink wines of the 1960s and the white Zinfandel craze of the 1980s. Most rose wines prior to 1990 were uncomplicated sweet wines. Even the rosé wines from France, often from the Anjou region, followed the trend, as did the ubiquitous Portuguese Mateus and Lancers. There were always exceptions. The rosé wines of Tavel were always very dry and were the benchmark pink wine for connoisseurs. Typical French rosé  wines are bone dry with racy acidity. It took a long time for Americans to develop the taste for dry rosé wines. That time has now come. Splendid dry rosé wines made from premium grape varieties are flooding the market.

A restaurant wine tasting can be enjoyed by the glass, carafe, or bottle. Restaurant wine tasting markups range from 100% to 200% over retail price. Some high-end restaurant wine tasting menus mark up offerings by 300%. House wines offer the poorest value. Older wines may offer the best restaurant wine tasting value since markups are set at purchase. A reasonable restaurant wine tasting markup pays for professionals to select the wines and a temperature-controlled environment for storing them.

I've served good wine out of coffee cups, so don't look to me for any lectures about how each wine deserves the perfect glass. Whatever you have on hand will do in a pinch. The only place I put my foot down is with Styrofoam cups: not only are they terrible for the environment, but their chemical smell and funny texture ruin what-ever's put in them.

You have found a wine store that makes you feel welcome. Now how do you find what you want? You ask. Yes, you must open your mouth and admit you need help. You are not alone; not a person in the world knows every wine.

Wine can seem like a daunting subject even for people who have been drinking and enjoying it for years.  How do you choose the best wine?  How do you store it?  What do you need to know about vintages or alcohol content?  Here are answers to the top ten wine questions.

Most people enjoy a glass of wine from time to time, but hardly many know the types of wine they can choose from. In fact, if you ever want to impress a lady, you may avoid taking her to a place which offers a large menu with different types of wine. 

Using decanters for wine is often considered a thing of the past.  In medieval times wines were so thick with sediment that drinkers were advised to filter the wine through their teeth!

Any wine aficionado knows the importance of using a wine aerator to release the full taste of wine. For those who are unaware of what a wine aerator does, it essentially allows the air to interact with the wine which gives it a much nicer taste. The wine aerator lets the drink warm up and releases a beautiful aroma of the wine. The saying “Good wine needs to breathe” is very accurate because once mixed with air, the flavor and scent of wine improve, especially after using a wine aerator. 

You’ve ordered a bottle of wine in a restaurant. It’s not what you expected. Maybe it’s bad. You’re inclined to reject it. Here are some guidelines.

First, you should reject a wine only because it is damaged. Never return a wine because you don’t like it. You ordered it and should have known what it would be like. If you’re not experienced enough to make that choice you should consult a wine steward (and tip accordingly).

White wine is a versatile beverage, offering characteristics that range from very dry, crisp white wine to sweet, syrupy white wine.  For pairing with food, white wine can go with almost any meal.

Sulfites, usually in the form of sulfur dioxide (SO2), are found in all wine since they are present in grape juice. Wines made without added sulfur will contain up to 10 parts per million (PPM). Wine with sulfur levels higher than 10 milligrams per liter must be labelled “Contains Sulfites.” There has been no controlled study that links these low levels of sulfites to headaches or any other deleterious health issue despite widespread belief to the contrary.

In wine classes Boston residents can have fun learning about wine, and you can usually sample wines in the process!  Most major cities have resources for wine classes, and there are several wine classes Boston locals can attend.  Here are some great wine classes Boston has to offer:

Wine storage can be critical for the well being of your wine. How should you store your wines? Do you really need a custom built wine cellar, or can you get away with a wine rack in the study?

Going on a wine tour and want to look like you know what you are doing? Are you just unsure what you should be looking for and savoring while on a wine tasting? Follow these simple steps and not only will you look like an expert, you will be able to enjoy the wine tasting experience a whole lot more. Wine tasting comes down to four basic steps.

Not all wines are made for the cellar.  In fact, more than 95% of all wine purchased in the U.S. is consumed within two weeks of purchase.  Winemakers are well aware of this and make most of their wines in a style that drinks well upon purchase.  But certain wines need some time in the cellar. Among these are mid-priced or luxury-priced Cabernet Sauvignon, all Nebbiolos, white dessert wines such as Sauternes, Tokaji Aszu, late-harvest German Riesling, and vintage Port.  Sweet fortified wines such as Oloroso Sherry and Madeira can be stored in the cellar for decades. All Port wines, other than vintage Port, will not improve over time in the cellar.

For more than 20 years, the Napa Valley Wine Train has been capturing the hearts of everyone who boarded it. If you haven’t ridden the Napa Valley Wine Train yet, then you still haven’t tasted the most delicious regional meals and the unique exquisite wines of the area. 

Located in Saint-Emilion in the Bordeaux region of France, Chateau Cheval Blanc is one of the few wines with a Premier Grand Cru Classe "A" status.

Classified as a first growth vineyard in 1855, the gravelly soil of Chateau Lafite Rothschild continues to produce top quality vintages in Bordeaux

Located in Saint-Estephe in the Bordeaux region of France, Chateau Montrose is classified as a Second Growth under the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

Located in the Margaux appellation in the Bordeaux region of France, Chateau Palmer is a Third Growth in the Bordeaux Classification of 1855.

Quady Winery, located in Madera, California, was founded in 1977 by Andrew and Laurel Quady.  In 1980 they made a name for their small winery by adding a fortified white dessert wine created from a relatively unknown Orange Muscat grape. 

Many people only think of full-bodied, tannic wines when red wines come to mind. Many of the wines they have in mind are commonly paired with strongly flavored dishes.  When a person thinks of a big juicy steak or slice after slice of leg of lamb the Cabernets Bordeauxs and Zinfandels are what naturally spring to mind.

The Sunday morning brunch ritual that so many partake in need not be restricted to the classic “Champagne” brunch.  Two things factor into this greatly.  Primarily the “Champagne” served by the majority of restaurants that offer Sunday brunch is anything but.  Now a well done California sparkling wine can give just about any true French Champagne a solid run for the money.  That is the reason houses such as Moet have counterparts in Napa, it’s not about the origin.  The issue is that the quality tends to be so low that in many cases it is just not as enjoyable as the situation calls for.  The second problem is that there are a huge number of brunch foods that fare better paired with different wines.

Did you know that Dom Perignon was a Benedictine monk? Throughout the history of wine, religion has been an important factor. Wine has been used for religious ceremonies, banned by various religions, grown and produced by various orders, and been used to celebrate both life and death.