Category Archives: wine blog

Top 10 Spooky Halloween Wines

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Halloween has snuck up on alot of people, including myself.  This is a generalization, but sometimes Americans love to find any type of holiday, like a Friday, to drink wine (think #champagne day today, October 28th, 2011).

I went in seach of some spooky Halloween wines – not so much wine to pair with Halloween food, like candy corn or peanut butter cups, but just to darn drink and have some fun with.

The following are the top 10 Halloween wines (in my humble opinion):

  • The Velvet Devil Merlot


A Washington State Merlot brought to us by Charles Smith Wines. Another great winemaker note: “Milk Chocolate, wild blackberry, baking spice, rose oil…beautifully perfumed Washington in a glass.

 

  • Ed Hardy Sangria
    A Spanish Sangria bursting with the sun drenched flavors of hot Spanish summer.
  • Black Cat Riesling
    Great elegance and finesse which have a pronounced and racy fruitiness, with hints of apple and peach.
  • Spanish Demon Tempranillo
    Soft and delicious, offering a mouthful of crisp black fruit and tons if style.
  • Bogle Phantom

To die for!  Bogle releases this wine once a year in the fall.  For me, I stick a straw in it and drink, and I’m done!  Brighter flavors of blackberries and blueberries glance off the palate. From the shadows, toasty cinnamon and nutmeg emerge, subtly embracing the deeply luscious and succulent fruit to create a full-bodied, ruby rich wine.

 

  • Trick or Treat – a World Market Exclusive
    One is red, one is white.  $7.99, what can I say?
  • Seven Deadly Zins

A blend of Zinfandel, Petitie Sirah and Petit Verdot from Lodi, this wine is loaded with berry fruit, pepper, spice, and earth characteristics.

 

  • Poizen Zinfandel
    The nose is fruit driven with fresh plum, bing cherry, spicy peppercorn and zinberry. The mouthfeel is soft with a hint of milk chocolate, sweet oak, and a long vanilla finish.
  • Rabid Red
    A red blend - The lion share of the balance consists of Bordeaux varieties: a stylish, cassis-and-tobacco notes.
  • Vampire Merlot


Smooth and medium-bodied with black cherry aroma, and hints of herbal spices.

 

 

Well, these are some of my “spooky” picks – please share others that I might have missed!  Happy Halloween!

 

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10 Michelin Star Culinary Journey in Spain

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Extraordinary Women of Spain: Chefs and Winemakers

Two good friends of mine are experts on culinary experiences.  I am so excited to fill you in on an outstanding women’s travel series called the Extraordinary Women of Spain:  Chefs and Winemakers. This travel series is co-created  by Epicopia Culinary Journeys and Epicurean Ways (the two good friends of mine).  There will initially be 5 trips to Spain to savor the culinary aspects of many different regions.  The first tour will be in the Catalonia & Barcelona region which includes visiting a total of no less than 10+ Michelin Star women chefs- all in 8 days!  Talk about some expressive, mind-blowing meals (with fabulous wines to match of course).  Speaking of wine, the winemakers you will meet include world-renowned masters of the craft, as well as passionate owners of small wineries .  Departure is set for June 16 – 24, 2012.

Each itinerary is designed for women, about women. Your Experience Director, Gabriella Ranelli de Aguirre is a recognized leading specialist in the food,
wine, art and architecture of Spain. She is the go-to person for the international press on matters gastronomic.

The travel series will continue to include five eight-night itineraries in Spain before braching out to other countries  and will also feature the women chefs & winemakers in The Levant: Alicante & Valencia offered October 20 – 28, 2012. The 2013
itineraries will include women chefs & winemaker in La Rioja and Basque Country, the region of Galicia, and Madrid: Town and countryside.

According to Harold, a 40 year veteran of the travel industry, “Women Chefs & Winemakers in Catalonia brings you deep into an elite wine and food region with plenty of time to linger, savor, reflect, discover and learn from the extraordinary Catalan women creating food and crafting wine in their own unique way.”

So…I ask:

When was the last time you were inspired? Had the chance to hang out with smart like-minded women and explore a region unfettered by your everyday duties and responsibilities? When was the last time you took the time to indulge your interests in food and wine? Have you ever said to yourself?  Someday I‟m going to get away on my own?  Well it‟s time to make it happen.  

My friends mentioned not to delay – the 10 Michelin Star Journey is limited to 15 women.  Contact Harold Partain for Epicopia Culinary Journeys at 972.771.3510 or Toll Free 877.661.3844 or Email: hpartain@epicopia.com.

If you can’t wait to see or hear more before getting in touch with him, here is the link to the fabulous itinerary:  http://tinyurl.com/62bdmcd.  I am salivating as I write!

 

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TexSom – Texas Sommelier Conference – Day 2

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TexSom - Texas Sommelier Conference - Day 2 – was so amazing I almost cried with emotion.  Six formal tastings with fabulous speakers each lasting over an hour.  I don’t know how they pulled it off, but first speaker of the day was none other than Doug Frost, most unassuming, approachable “dude” you would ever meet; probably the only gentleman there without a suit on.  He is one of three people in the world to pass the Master Sommelier exam and become a Master of Wine.  Do you think this guy knows his stuff?  He discussed the “Terroir Focus: Wines of Spain.  Of the 8 wines we tasted, my favorite was the 2010 Avanthia Godello, Valdeorras.  This varietal grows in a maritime climate. This area is known for its dry crisp wines.  It is pale yellow, with a gold rim, with aromas of pear, mineral, honey, quartz, slate, & schist (even though I must admit that I have no idea what slate or schist smells or tastes like!).  As far as a tasting note goes: buy it!  My 2nd favorite was the 2008 Las Rocas Garnacha, Calatayud.  This is very terroir based, not a bad way, and a great value.

Next up:  “Regional Diversity: South Africa”, presented by Wayne Belding, MS; and John Blazon, MS.  Oh dear, South Africa!  I was rather skeptical as the only South African wine I have ever had was pinotage, which frankly I was not a fan.  This wine tasting cleared up my thoughts and feelings about SA wines by a mile.

Next up:  LUNCH! During that time each table of 12 or so each had 5 bottles on the table: all were excellent, and it is hard to pick a favorite, although the 2006 Inniskillin Vidal Ice Wine with the chocolate tart I was very partial to.  Other wines served were:  2008 Franciscan Chardonnay “Cuvee Sauvage”, 2008 Robert Mondavi Winery Fume Blanc “Reserve” “To-Kalon Vineyard”, 2006 Ruffino “Modus”, and the 2005 Mount Veeder “Reserve” – all provided by Constellation Wines.

Next up:  “White Wines:  Benchmark Styles of Modern Classics”.  This was more of a panel speaking arrangement during the tasting:  Laura Williamson, MS: Peter Neptune, MS, DSW, CWE; and Keith Goldston, MS.  Shall we say Keith was the most “colorful” speaker of the lot – I needn’t say more for those attending.  There were wonderful, wonderful wines in this lot.  My favorite was the 2008 Knoll Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau, Austria.  Rich texture, rich, well balanced.  Keith chimed in saying it was hedonistic.  My 2nd favorite was the 2010 Tomero Torrontes, Salta Argentina.  It has a lemon green color, yet is floral – rosehips turning into geraniums.

Next up: “Varietal Focus: Grenache”.  I happenned to be volunteering that day and during this presentation, I was setting up the hospitality suites which opened at 5pm, after the last wine tasting.

Next and last up:  “Terroir Focus: Red Wines of Burgundy’s Cote d’Or”; presenters Fred Dame MS; and Rajat Parr.  Yum, yum, yum.  I can’t say I tasted a single wine I did not like, but here are my top 2 favorites.  My top favorite was the 2006 Drouhin-Laroze, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru “Au Closeau”.  My 2nd favorite was the 2007 Domaine Jacques-Frederic Mugnier, Nuits-St. Georges 1er Cru “Clos de la Marechale”.  Did I spell that correctly?

For anyone in Texas, or in the US, I highly advise attending TexSom – -

Thanks to all the organizers and people behind the scenes to make this conference fantastic.

 

 

 

 

 

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Thoughts of a First Time Attendee of the WBC11 – Day 1

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Wine Bloggers Conference, July 22, 2011

Thomas Jefferson was founder and architect of the University of Virginia.  Conceived by 1800 and established in 1819, it is the only university in the United States to be designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, an honor it shares with nearby Monticello.  Day 1 of the conference started with an optional walking tour of the campus.  I was not able to go due to the weather heating up, which eventually turned into a sweatbath.  We found out later that it was the hottest day in Charlottesville in 11 years!

Indoors however, was the meeting of the sponsors which was a lot of fun.  They were very approachable, charming, and gracious, ready to make us feel welcome, and, of course offering their wine portfolios.  After that was the keynote address with Jancis Robinson.

As we all had thought from the start, Jancis was absolutely entertaining, thought-provoking, very approachable, and full of solid information.  Dead on for the perfect keynote speaker.

One of the things that bothered me throughout the conference was that there was little to no food offered anytime during the day (none that I knew of anyway).  From 9am to 6pm, there was no food anywhere and the schedule did not allow any time to even run out and grab something.   The ironic thing too was that a friend of mine asked that afternoon, “Where can a girl get a glass of wine around here”?  So true, here we were at a conference for wine bloggers and there was no wine to be had between the keynote address at 1:15pm and the live wine blogging at 4:20pm.  No food and no wine???

Being afraid of suffering from heatstroke (I’m hot-blooded – no comments), I had to avoid almost all of the social events that were offered at the WBC11, as they were outside.  Friday night there was a wonderful evening planned at Monticello; however, the event was held outside under an open tent.  I did not go, but I did hear that people were dropping like flies.  After the visit to Monticello was the “Other 46″ tasting at the hotel.  Just as the international grand tasting from the night before, there were far less presenters of wine than you would think.  There may have been about 6? states represented.  So sad.

Oh well…there were social events being held in the hotel during and after Monticello, but they were private, “secret”, invitation only, parties.  I suppose as a first time attendee and beginning blogger I did not personally know enough people for any invites.  So sad.

I have read that some people did most of their networking during these private parties and felt that the conference itself didn’t offer much except for those parties.  So sad.

 

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Thoughts of a First Time Attendee of the WBC11

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Wine Bloggers Conference, Thursday, July 21
International Wine Tasting Night
Let me first say that I was a scholarship recipient, and for that I am quite grateful.  Thank you for all the people who donated to the scholarship fund.  If it hadn’t been for them, I would not have made it to the WBC.  With that being said; however, I was quite disappointed in the reality of the conference, for the most part.  As a first time participant, maybe my expectations did not match that of the organizers.

These are my thoughts on the first event of the conference, an international wine tasting night, which I was quite excited about.  As it turned out there were a total of 6 tables pouring wines, this to me is quite a poor showing. I’m not saying that the wines were not good, some were tasty, but we were an incredible, captured audience wanting to try a variety of wine – we blog about it, tweet about it, FB about it – talk about free press, yet it didn’t seem like very many wineries, distributors, or importers were very interested in showing their portfolios.  Disappointing for us, and bad decision for them.  Many of the pourers were just that, someone who was called in at the last minute who had no idea what they were pouring, where the wines were from, what the tasting notes were, or any type of story behind the wine.  They even confessed that they knew nothing about the wine.  For a WBC, you would think they would be prepared to talk about the wines at length.  Review of day 2 coming up.

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