Washington State on the west coast of
the U.S. is a very prolific winegrowing region with over 850 wineries. Only
California makes more wine in America. They do a great job with French
varietals and Bordeaux-style blends are wonderful. However, if I had to pick
one wine or varietal that is their forté, it would have to be Syrah. This
varietal does extremely well and is very reminiscent of France’s northern Rhone
in style. Definitely an “Old World” version! Earthy, peppery, dark fruited,
firm, well-structured and age-worthy samples are delightful. Great with grilled
or roasted red meat, game and aged cheese! So if you’re looking to try one wine
that epitomizes Washington State, make it a Syrah. It’s a real showstopper.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Monday, August 24, 2015
Central Virginia Wine Country
There are around 275 wineries in
Virginia and the central part of the state has some great ones. Here, the Blue
Ridge Mountains play a huge part in this region’s terroir, especially in the
Monticello and Shenandoah Valley viticultural areas. Here, it’s a bit warmer than
further north in the state and it benefits from a longer growing season.
Humidity overall is substantial making grape growing challenging resulting in
an overall shortage of fruit and slightly higher pricing for the wines. If you’re looking for “New World”, California-type vinos here, you’ll be
sadly disappointed. Styles definitely tend to lean to the “Old World” with
great expressions of their terroir and understated oak-treatment. It’s well
worth a visit.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Wine Labels
Many folks buy wine by what the label
looks like, regardless of the contents. Of course labeling laws dictate exactly what
information has to be displayed on a wine bottle. Beyond that, it’s all about
art. Some labels depict floral, rural or animal subjects while others prefer
historical figures, events, venues or acts. Some of my favourite labels are
mystical, fantasy and humour-inspired. These add a touch of whimsy to a package
and can imply many things about what’s inside. The truth of the matter is wine
sales are often affected by label design, so a poor one can negatively affect a
product’s movement. Therefore, creating one that is both eye-catching and
informative is extremely important.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Wine-by-the-Glass
Most restaurants offer
“wine-by-the-glass”. In other words, instead of ordering a bottle you can order
a glass of a specific wine. The concept is a great idea, as it allows consumers
to sample different wines without having to buy a whole bottle. It’s a great
educational tool as well exposing the taster to wines from different countries
and regions at a minimal cost. Certain eateries will highlight a specific,
different wine each week at a special price. You can tell which restaurants are
really wine savy as they generally have a large selection to choose from, while
others have but a token few. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it allows
the patron to enjoy some wine with dinner without feeling they have to drink a
whole bottle.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Corkscrews
Corkscrews come in
many shapes and styles. A good one is easy to use and only the point of the
screw is sharp so it won’t shred the cork. Short of automatic corkscrews that
run on batteries, there are numerous manual options. The “butterfly” has wings
that you pull down on to do the job. The “boxwood reverse” utilizes a handle
you turn to screw the cork out. A better variation on it is the “screwpull”.
The old-fashioned “T-bar” relies on brute strength to extract a cork. Possibly
the best and most reliable is the “lever” or “waiter’s helper” which uses
leverage to get the sucker out. There’s also the “Ah-so” which has two steel
blades, one longer than the other. Inserted down the sides of the cork, it
removes it with a twisting pull.
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