Box-o-Wine…1987 Called and They Want Their Wine Back

Due to popular demand from fellow wine drinkers (Toby, this one is for you), I am dedicating this month’s post to boxed wine. However, the boxed Chablis of the 80s is a thing of the past. Boxed wine has made a come back during the past year and has become a hip, new fad amongst wine drinkers. Actually, boxed wine is a good choice if you want to help save the environment. The boxes used are usually recycled (if not,they should be!) and reduce gashouse emissions (and saves money).

Boxed wine will make a great addition to your Super Bowl parties this weekend, so there is no need to bring that jug of Gallo that your grandparents gave you last year for Christmas. The fancy term that the Australians use is “cask” of wine (I guess box sounds too cheap, perhaps?) Boxed wine is slowly losing its “hey, this would make great wine for cheap homemade wine coolers” reputation. I actually sampled some of this new hip boxed wine at a party and I was amazingly surprised.  You can find great deals at BevMo or discounted club stores. If you are feeling adventurous this weekend and want to impress your friends, bring  boxed wine (and leave the jugs at home).

Here are some top brands you might want to sample:

• Henry’s Drive Pillar Box Red Padthaway 2006 (Australia) – Under $10
• Peter Vella Cabernet Sauvignon – Under $12
• Black Box Chardonnay – Under $25

The Ultimate Wine Experience -The Salt Tasting Room, Vancouver, BC

When I was on vacation last month, I experienced the ultimate vino experience at the Salt Tasting Room in Vancouver, BC (Canada). This chic, non-descript tasting room was nestled in a back alley of the Gastown District. Although, there wasn’t anything “back alley” about this amazing wine experience.

I realized I need to trust the wine experts when she threw out the word “rose” (yes, I cringed). However, I was very impressed by the flight of wine that our served perfectly paired with my gourmet cheeses, meats and condiments that I chose. I told my friends that I could die a happy woman after my Salt Tasting Room experience. I was surprised that my favorite wine was a local British Columbia rose called Vie. It tasted like a non-fizzy dry French champagne. It was incredible. My tastebuds were also tantalized with a delicious Australian Pinot Noir and Shiraz. My red wine palate was definitely in vino heaven.

If you ever get the chance to visit Vancouver, BC, add The Salt Tasting Room to your itinerary. It’s an amazing wine experience and for $15 the flights of wine are more than just “samples.” The wait staff definitely know their food and wine pairings

sourcecode language=’css’]

[/sourcecode]

Boutique Wines for the Vino Elite

March 25, 2008

I apologize for my long absence in Blog Land. However, I’m back with a vino vengeance and in my absence, I’ve discovered some amazing wines.

You actually don’t have to be a wine elitist to enjoy boutique wines, but you will have to pay to play with these sumptuous wines. Over the holiday weekend, I had an incredible Malbec from a small winery out of the Lodi area, Pasos. Lodi produces some of the best grapes in northern California. This was, by far, one of the best Malbecs I’ve sipped (ok, I sipped half the bottle). Pasos doesn’t sell their wine commercially but it can be found at their winery and also offers a wine club you can join. That’s the drill with these boutique wines that don’t sell in your local markets. They usually offer wine club membership (pay a pretty penny but you get every penny’s worth of wine shipped to you monthly or every few months).

Back to this marvelous Malbec…first, the bottle is gorgeous (Chris, that dig was for you!) and according to the description: “New French and Hungarian oak barrels were used for the best possible flavor profiles of vanilla and exotic spices to enhance the overall wine-tasting experience. Malbec is one of the six red Bordeaux grape varieties that also do very well in the Lodi region. Try with grilled red meats.” This tasted fabulous with lamb and I cannot sing this Malbec’s praises enough. It was smooth with just enough spice and bite to it. It was a true marriage–one that I will be committed to eternally (when I get my hands on another bottle). For more information on their prices and wine selection, check out www.pasoswines.com (they are located in Lockeford, CA).

I’m not a big fan of white wine, but Tangent Winery out of Paso Robles produces a tasty Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Pinot Gris. These are my top white wine picks. I had the privilege of writing the wine list for my friend’s coffeehouse (Courthouse Coffee located in historic downtown Auburn, CA). She is carrying Tangent and a myriad of incredible boutique wines including Farnese (Italian) Sangiovese, Lagaria (Italian) Pinot Grigio and Justin Wines’ Obtuse (a dessert wine made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon). Steel Wine’s Shooting Star Chardonnay is very representative of the fabulous wine produced out of Santa Barbara County. Wine tasting in Santa Barbara County is on my vino to-do list!

Fortunately, I was “forced” to taste the wine in order to create the coffeehouse’s wine list. It was a tough job but a true wine-o needed to be called in to handle such a wine tasting feat. One of the wines that I declared (after a few glasses) I could drink daily was a French sparkling white wine, Bailly-Lapierre Brut Reserv Blanc (Cremant de Bourgogne). It tasted better than some of the more expensive champagnes I’ve sampled. It has a subtle blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Aligote: “It’s an exemplary sparkling wine with intense fruit and a long finish.” Coupled with a bowl of strawberries and a veranda overlooking the French Riviera, this wine showcases all things French in this juicy sparkling wine.

Since boutique wines produce smaller quantities of wines (thus, why they are called boutique wines), their prices are a bit more expensive but worth the higher cost. You are getting exceptional quality over mass-produced every day wines. It’s definitely worth the $20-50 price range (per bottle) and these wines will definitely taste better with age.

Paired with exceptional food and quality wine drinking partners, you will quickly learn to love and appreciate boutique wines. Boutique wines are as snobby and elitist as I’ll get when drinking “fine wine.”I still love my $6 bottles of Shiraz but I definitely won’t pass up a boutique winery now.

Cheers!

It’s Fall–it’s time for the Wine Chugging Events, I mean Wine Festivals!

It feels like Fall.  We just had a torrential downpour here in Sacramento for the past few days.  There’s a chill in the air and I can smell the grape harvest in the air.  Awww, yes, I can catch a whiff of Merlot.  Oh yes, there’s that Cabernet.  Awww, there’s that sexy Sangiovese calling my name.

 Yes, it’s that time, wine sippers.  It’s time for the glut of Fall wine festivals that have begun.  I planned a wine event so this is the time for the rash of wine chugging events.  Actually, they are officially called wine tasting festivals, but we all know the real reason for these events–to drink fabulous wine, sample incredible eats and to feel that luxurious wine buzz. 

 I am not promoting wine festivals as a reason to get sloshed.  It’s just interesting how those small wine samples sneak up on you after you have sampled oh say, 100 wineries.  Wine drinkers need to pace themselves and make sure you to nibble on some cheese and crackers as you journey through the festival.

 Also, they have those wine tasting plates available for a reason. I’d definitely grab one when you enter the event. Don’t be caught walking around like a novice wine drinker by juggling your sample glass and a plate full of teetering edibles. 

 Here are a few VinoGirls tips for the wine festival goer:

1.  Wear comfortable shoes.  You will be walking around (maybe making a second or third return to that favorite winery who serves the impeccable Cabs). 

 2.  Do not wear white or light colored clothing.  There is always going to be Mr. or Ms. Klutzy Wine Guzzler who will bump into you, spilling the blood-red Cabernet down the front of your shirt.  Even though you might look morbid, I’d suggest wearing all black.  You won’t go wrong if someone dumps an entire case of red wine on you throughout the day!

 3.  Do not get into arguments with the wine maker or server.  They know what they are talking about since obviously, they made the wine and are serving it.  I’ve actually seen wine samplers argue the bouquet and other wine points with the wine maker.  It was very sad and very novice of them.    Don’t be a wine sipping ass!  Just drink and enjoy!

 Remember if you do attend one of these wine chugging events to drink responsibly and have a designated, non-guzzling attendee on hand (or call a taxi or use their shuttle services–a lot of wine festivals now have shuttle services for the wine gluttons who proceed to drink themselves stupid).

 Enjoy the Fall harvest.  I plan to attend at least one wine chugging festival in the foothills in the next few months.  The grapes are calling my name!

Red Wine for the Broke and Not so Wine Savvy: Inexpensive Reds that will woo your woman or man!

 

What happens when you’re on a budget and you just found out that the woman or man you’re dating loves wine and you don’t know anything about wine?  Maybe you’re at a restaurant and your hottie date asks you to make the wine selection when the waiter hands you the wine list.

 

Let me end the myth right now.  You have been under the misconception that a good bottle of wine has to be expensive.  That’s false. I’ve learned that even those who aren’t making the six figure salary (including myself–a poor, struggling writer) can still afford a fabulous wine and youd don’t have to spend a lot of money.  Here are some of my favorite red wines that are under $10.  I tend to shop for my wine at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, Cost Plus Market Place, Beverages and More and sometimes the club membership stores (Costco and Sam’s Club) carry great, inexpensive selections.  I drink wine that tastes good and I don’t sit around sniffing the bouquet (ok, sometimes I do).  Prices vary between stores but they are comparable.

I’m a sucker for a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon and I love my red wine.  “Two Buck Chuck”, as its affectionately dubbed because of its $1.99 price tag, produces decent wines for the low, low price pf $1.99.  My favorite Charles Shaw wines is their Cabernet Sauvignon.  It’s one of my favorite “daily drinking,” post-work day wines.  I always have a bottle of Two Buck Chuck on my person (I mean, in my household).  If you need to buy cases of wine for a party or event and don’t want to spend a lot of money, Charles Shaw (carried exclusively by Trader Joe’s) is a good way to go for inexpensive, good wine in bulk.

I’ve mentioned my obsession with Australian wines.  If you want to impress your man or woman, an Australian Shiraz will win his or her wine-drinking heart.  Australia is one of the top-producing wine regions in the world and is known for its excellent Shiraz.  By far, Rosemount Estate is one of my all time favorite, inexpensive Australian wines.  You can find Rosemount Estate in most stores as it’s become a very popular and well-liked Australian wine here in the U.S  I love their Shiraz/Cabernet blend (I’ve found it ranging from $5.99 to $6.99).  It’s smooth and subtle and for those non-red wine drinkers it’s a good introduction to Shiraz.  I’ve found Rosemount on sale at the grocery stores so keep your eyes on the wine sales in the wine sections of your local supermarket.  I’ve noticed that a lot of the chain stores are carrying a lot of Australian wines.

I’m a huge fan of the Sonoma County wineries.  I’ve been a long time drinker of Ravenswood (a Sonoma County winery).  You can’t go wrong bringing over a bottle of Ravenswood (as it’s been a long-established and popular winery in the Napa Valley/Sonoma County area).  The Ravenswood ”Vintners Blend” Zinfandel is a little less costly compared to the Sonoma Zinfandel.  I’ve seen some of the major chain supermarkets carry the “Vintners Blend” Zinfandel for around $6 to $7.

These are just a few wines that won’t break the bank and will impress the wine connoisseur in your life.  Now if they ask you to swirl and spit, you might want to start reading about wine tasting tips.  Grab that bottle of Shiraz and get ready to woo!