It’s official. The temperature has dropped and summer is over. Without even thinking about it, my preference for wine has changed. I’m veering away from the bright, red cherry fruity wines that would suit warm summer and autumn days. My eyes glaze right past menu selections of crisp, dry whites that offer hints of peach [...]
Archive for the ‘Why not try…’ Category
Preferential treatment
Posted in French wines, Why not try..., Wine journalism, tagged 1994 Bandol “Cuvee Longue Garde”, Bandol, Chateau Pradeaux, Eric Asimov, Mourvedre, New York Times, Provence, rosé on November 3, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Blind Tasting
Posted in Why not try..., tagged Alto Adige, carmenere, merlot, Villa Gresti Tenuta di San Leonardo Vigneti Delle Dolomiti on October 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Sometimes I receive wines to drink that I know nothing about. One of two scenarios play out: I’ll open a bottle alone, love it and regret that no one is here to share it with me or it’s so awful that I must spill the liquid down the drain. On this particular evening, it seemed [...]
The beauty of Bea
Posted in Biodynamic/Natural wines, Italian whites, Umbria, Why not try..., tagged Beaujolais, Chardonnay, Dell'Anima, Garganega, Giampiero Bea, Grechetto, Malvasia, Monastero Vitorchiano Cistercensi, Montefalco, Montefalco Rosso, Montepulciano, oenobium Rusticum, Paolo Bea, Sagrantino di Montefalco Secco Pagliaro, sangiovese, Santa Chiara, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, Verdicchio on August 15, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Like wine, religion is personal. The concept of church often evokes strong opinions and beliefs vary widely. Yet, one thing that is indisputable is the importance the church has played in the history of wine. Various religious orders grew wine, which was believed to be sacred (and let’s face it, still is), because they had [...]
Reds to keep you cool
Posted in Why not try..., tagged Beaujolais Nouveau, Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto D'Alba, Burgundy, Cru, Dolcetto, Emilia-Romagna, Frappato, frizzante, Gamay, Georges Duboeuf, I Trulli, Jean-Paul Brun Terres Dorées "L'Ancien" Beaujolais, Lambrusco, Lambrusco Labrusca Rosso NV Lini, Lambrusco Scuro NV Lini, Piedmont, pinot noir, Sicily, Valle dell-Acate Il Frappato on August 6, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Central Park’s weather station recorded 16 days in July when the temperature topped 90 degrees and 26 when the mercury soared past 85. My tactic for staying cool has been to avoid the hairdryer and the subway, wear lots of tank tops and adjust my drinking preferences. As a self-proclaimed Barolo Girl, even I have [...]
The comfort of familiarity
Posted in Italian whites, Why not try..., tagged Aldo Conterno Chardonnay Bussiador 2006, Bisson Vermentino Vigna Intrigoso 2007, Bruna Pigato Le Russeghine 2007, California, Chardonnay, De Conciliis Falanghina 2008, New World, San Giuliano Roero Arneis 2008 on July 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
For many, change is something to be feared. It’s comforting and secure about maintaining stability and sticking with the familiar. This isn’t specific to our big-picture lifestyles, but also spills into our wine-drinking preferences. Someone came into the store yesterday looking for a “California-style white.” Immediately I cringed, knowing that our selections of Bisson Vermentino [...]
Local wine on menus still far fetched
Posted in Noteworthy wine lists, Why not try..., tagged Burgundy, Finger Lakes, locavore, Malbec, Oregon, sommelier, The Daily Beast, Todd Kliman on July 10, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
A friend sent me an article from The Daily Beast entitled “The Locavore Wine Hypocrisy” (July 8). Author Todd Kliman explores the occurrences of, or lack there of, local wines on menus at restaurants that tout well-sourced local ingredients. His discovery is that many restaurants claiming to use vegetables and meats grown nearby still import [...]
Terredora
Posted in Campania, Uncategorized, Value wines, Why not try..., tagged aglianico, Campania, Terredora Aglianico Irpinia DOC Il Principio, Terredora Greco Di Tufo Loggia Della Serra, Terredora Taurasi DOCG Fatica Contadina on June 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
I received a bottle of 2008 Terredora Greco Di Tufo Loggia Della Serra recently. The producer is from Campania, one of my favorite wine regions and where the Italian side of my family originates from. As I looked at the label I realized this was not my first encounter with Terredora. I’ve previously sampled the [...]
Natural satisfaction
Posted in Why not try..., Wine journalism, Biodynamic/Natural wines, tagged Biodynamic, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Eric Asimov, Italian Wine Merchants, Ales Kristancic, Slavonian oak, The Pour, Pure Food and Wine, sulfites, 2002 Movia Veliko Rosso on June 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The first time I drank a biodynamic wine was about five years ago at Pure Food and Wine in NY. I recall the wine was sealed with a screw cap and that made me skeptical to try the red vino. To my surprise, my dining companion and I really enjoyed it. Over the last couple [...]
Chenin versus Vouvray
Posted in French wines, Why not try..., tagged Chenin Blanc, Huet Vouvray Sec Le Mont, Italian Wine Merchants, Loire Valley on May 25, 2010 | 1 Comment »
The first time I tasted a Chenin Blanc, I was at my sister-in-law’s father’s home in San Diego, in 2006. It was a Californian wine, though I don’t recall the producer or the vintage. Still, I do remember thinking I would never again drink Chenin Blanc. Fast forward to 2010, and on Sunday night I [...]
