This is Halloween

Happy Halloween! I have two words to share with you.

Vampire Wine.

Wine, Sopranos Style

I've been coming across this story time and time again this week - apparently HBO has partnered with a New York-based distribution company to bring Sopranos wine to a table near you. I know I know, it seems a little silly, but with an already solid brand name . . . if the wine is even half good it will probably sell like hotcakes. According to the Reuters Article that's been floating around;

"Sopranos Wines are being produced under a licensing agreement between the TV network HBO and New-York based Vesuvio Import Company. The wines will be distributed by Duggan's Distillers Products Corp.

"We feel that these quality Italian wines are the perfect complement to all of our other carefully planned product extensions for "The Sopranos" brand," James Costos, HBO spokesman, said in a statement. A joint statement said the line from various Italian wineries would feature a variety of wines ranging a Chianti DOCG, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir priced up to $11.99 to a higher end Chianti Classico at $23.99 and a Chianti Classico Reserva at $29.99.""

Wine - Cooler

In a Seattle Times Q and A today had a great bit of advice on traveling with wine in tow. Bring a cooler! I know, I know . . . it sound's simple. But it's also something that most people don't think to do. The specific question answered by the Times wine writer deals with transporting a case of wine back from wine country in the middle of summer. Here's the complete answer:

"You are right to be concerned about the potential damage to wine from sitting in a hot car. Even a few hours on a warm summer day can cook the wine if it's left unprotected. And if the temperatures are pushing 100 degrees outside, the interior of your car can be even warmer. If at all possible, I would suggest that you organize your day trips so that you can retrace your steps on the way back to your lodging. That way, you can ask the wineries you visit to hold your purchases until you are on your way home at the end of the day.

If you must take the wine immediately, it would be well worthwhile to purchase an inexpensive cooler and stock it with freezer packs. Keep the wines in it until you get back to the hotel. At the very least I always turn up the air conditioning to cool the car down and leave windows and sunroof cracked to allow for some air circulation while I'm parked. Cover the wines with some sort of insulating blanket to help them stay cool. And don't linger more than a half-hour without firing up the air conditioner!"

Nobody likes a Downer

There's an entertaining and informative post up on Vinography today about the merits (or lack thereof) of the negative wine review. The conclusion drawn - trashing a wine isn't particularly effective or fun. The fact of the matter is, most wines aren't that bad. Even a lot of the one's that are not downright terrible are mediocre at best. That being said, Vinography's wine writer came to the hard fought conclusion that his time would be far better spent directing folks to the really good stuff . . . rather than constantly letting them no what to avoid.

If you're looking for a bit of good insight into the mind of a person writing about wine day in and day, out - this is an article that's for you. Think of it as meta-narrative on how one gets into keeping a wine blog, how things change, and how eventually you have to find things that make continuing your blog worthwhile. I've only been keeping this one since March, so I'll report back in another four and a half years or so with my own thoughts on the subject.

Wal-Mart Wine . . .

The Dallas Morning News ran a story today about, well . . . I don't really know how to put this . . . about how good the $3 wine's at Wal-Mart are. I, for one, feel that this is news that should probably be met with a large amount of skepticism, but the story stands.

According to the author, she'd been getting a number of comments about how good the Oak Leaf Vineyards bottles being sold at Wal-Mart are. She writes, "Just in time for the holidays, we put Oak Leaf wines to the test with Dallas wine drinkers. We assembled a tasting panel in the upper sanctum of Adelmo's that included friends and regular customers of the restaurateur with a range of tasting expertise, from casual drinker to a former wine-and-spirits store owner."

The tasting happened, and everyone loved the wine! "The best ever," they said. "Definitely not American!" And yet . . . they were from Wal-Mart. Whether this says more about the wine or the "experts" remains to be seen, but if you're feeling adventurous, there's a Wal-Mart in just about every city in the country these days.

Funniest. Dog. Ever.

Today while conducting my daily perusal of wine news and blogs, I came across one of the funniest stories I've ever seen. This article features a Labrador from New Zealand who in her owners absence came across two casks of wine holding about 4 liters worth of vino. After tearing the boxes open, Roxy the dog proceeded to drink all the white wine before passing out cold. After a scary night in the hospital, the poor thing had one wicked hangover, but eventually made a full recovery.

The quotes from the owner (who happens to be a liquor merchandiser) are probably the best part of the story. Here's her retelling of arriving at the vet - "By the time I saw her at the clinic, she was comatose. She was lying flat on her side, and if she was a human, you would swear she was singing. I guess she was also telling me she was really, really sorry, I was the best friend she has ever had, and she will never do it again."

You can read the entire story for yourself here. It makes for a great Friday laugh.

Americans Drink More Wine than Ever

According to a recent article in Wine Spectator, the United States has increased it's yearly wine consumption for the 15th year in a row! We're still lagging behind more traditional vino-countries like Spain and France, but the past few years have shown the US market as something to be reckoned with. And, if Amazon ends up changing the game like many people are predicting, you could see wine becoming the drink of choice for a country born and raised on beer and booze.

Granted, this years expected 1.5% increase in consumption is the smallest it's been since 2001, but slow and steady wins the race. Look at it this way, the more Americans drink wine, the more that's sent over. The more that's sent over, the lower the prices. As we gradually slide into a recession, I for one am excited about the prospects of cheaper reds for the Winter.

The Wine Snob's Dictionary

I found a great book on wine that breaks down the complicated lexicon into a simple and easy to understand form. The Wine Snob's Dictionary, written by David Kamp and David Lynch is a must-have for anyone who's getting into the world of vino. I think this chunk of text from Amazon.com's product description tells you everything you need to know:

"A nicely structured, lightly acidic addition to the handy Snob’s Dictionary series, decoding the baffling world of winespeak from A to Z.Wine Snob. The very phrase seems redundant, doesn't it? When faced with this snobbiest of snobberies, the civilian wine enthusiast needs the help of savvy translators like David Kamp and David Lynch. Their Wine Snob’s Dictionary delivers witty explication of both old-school oeno-obsessions (What's claret? Who's Michael Broadbent?) and such new-wave terms as "malolactic fermentation" and "fruit bomb.""

Wine - Online

According to a recent Reuters Article, Amazon.com may change the face of wine in a big, big way. To date Amazon has been playing their cards pretty close to their chest; revealing little about how their wine service will work and what sort of prices to expect. BUT, speculation is reaching a boiling point and a lot of experts seem to think that a huge online retailer getting into the market could change the entire distribution process.

By cutting out the middle man of distributors and going straight to the wineries, Amazon can eliminate a big chunk of the mark-up and sell customers fine wines for a fraction of the price. In addition to that, Amazon is set up to work with vendors large and small - offering people in the middle of nowhere Ohio bottles they could never dream of finding in their local wine shop. What this all boils down to, is that if you're an oenophile with a budget - you could be in for a treat.

Whether any of this speculation will come to fruition remains to be seen. Word on what and how Amazon will actually handle their wine division is still out, but it certainly looks promising.

Today I've discovered a facet of the wine world which I'm endlessly excited by - ice wine. No, it's not what you may be thinking (wine frozen in a bottle), instead, it's a process of making wine where the grapes are naturally frozen on the vine, then picked. There are many varieties - from Pinot Noir to Chardonnay, all of which are served chilled. I was not surprised to learn that the majority of ice wine on the market today comes from regions of Sweden and Canada.

The cold weather lends itself well to the process, because naturally frozen grapes make better, more expensive ice wines than grapes which are frozen by something man-made like a large freezer. I talked to a friend of mine who works at a wine bar that informs me that many ice wines have a dried apricot flavor, and are comparable to the best Riesling you've ever had in your life. You can learn all you ever wanted to know about Ice Wine Here.

Wines for Autumn

It may have been difficult to notice during the past few weeks on the East Coast, but Fall is upon us. Finally, the temperature is dropping, days are growing shorter, the leaves are changing and the food is getting heartier. And with the switch from Summer to Fall, the wines you're bringing home for the weekend should change too.

It's an old adage that white wines go with summer and reds go with winter, but there's some truth to that. As the weather cools off most people don't want to drink a chilled bottle of chardonnay. They're looking for bold, earthy notes and texture and warmth . . . and there's nothing better for that than a big bold glass of red. I came across a great article written for The Statesman which provides a list of great red's for the Autumn. If you're planning a dinner party soon or just want some nice bold wine's to jump start the fall - this is the place to go.

French Gov Puts a Cork on the Wine Industry

Our friend Eric Asimov at The New York Time's wine blog The Pour wrote a brief post last week on the increasingly restrictive rulings the French government has been imposing on the wine industry. From mandating that no Internet ads for beer and wine will be permitted and raising taxes on vino to the most recent decree that wine writings featured in the press must be followed by a health warning, it looks like the French Government is really turning out to be a buzz kill.

To protest the tightening reigns, the wine industry is mounting a series of protests later this month. Beginning on October 30th, the multi-thousand member wine community may go into full-fledged revolt mode, making things very difficult on the rest of the country. They've got the numbers and the influence to really have some pull . . . it will be interesting to see how the whole scenario pans out.

Viva la Vino - The Presidential Edition!

Just stumbled upon an article about a Presidential wine and spirits quiz. The quiz, which covers Presidential wine preferences from the seventeen hundreds to today, takes about two minutes to complete and gives a little insight into the minds of men who ran/run our country and what they liked to consume. Most people know that Jefferson was a big oenophile, but I definitely picked up a few entertaining bits of trivia I'll spout off at a tasting.

Is there Anything Red Wine Can't Fix?

I'm sorry to keep posting about the apparently never-ending health benefits of red wine, but I just can't help myself. It seems everyday that I conduct my standard "wine" news search on google, another article pops up on Red Wine or Resevratrol and how they're just so darned . . . well, good for you. This most recent slew of articles comes thanks to a recent study stating that moderate consumption of red wine can significantly reduce your chances of getting lung cancer. The study is restricted to men, for now, but the results were surprisingly positive.

“An antioxidant component in red wine may be protective of lung cancer, particularly among smokers,” said Chun Chao, Ph.D., a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente Department of Research and Evaluation in Pasadena, California."

What was the magic compound found in red wine? You guessed it - resevratrol.

Water to Wine

There's been a brief feature story floating around the web the past few days that's just too funny not to share. In the town of Marino, south of Rome in the Castelli Romani wine region, residents throw a huge celebration each year for the annual wine harvest. The culmination of this event, the bang they sort-of go out on each year, is a fireworks display packed with liters and liters of the years effervescent white wine being pumped through a fountain called The Fountain of the Four Moors.

Every year, town engineers work out a bit of magic with the plumbing to push the wine through appropriate pipes and out of the fountain for consumption - but this year they saw a snag in the plans. As the fireworks went off and the vino was supposed to flow, none came.

After looking into the matter for about ten minutes, they finally realized that the wine was actually being pumped into homes surrounding the fountain. This was realized after people ended up bathing, drinking and attempting to cook pasta with the fresh white wine. Of course, the problem was remedied soon, but the best part of the story is that many of the lucky folks who were getting wine pumped in scrambled for pots and pans, storing up as much free wine as they could. Only in wine country . . . hilarious.

America's New Love of Wine

U.S. News ran a Q&A today with Tyler Coleman - a oenophile to the tenth degree and a somewhat renowned blogger known as Dr. Vino. The questions were tied into an overall discussion about why wine has had such a tough time in the United States, and how it's gotten progressively better over the past several hundred years.

In the interview, you'll find interesting facts on the difference between grapes indigenous to the states and those found in France, as well as how the economic crisis is effecting wine and which sections of the country that wine is most and least popular.It's an interesting take from a real expert on the subject. If you're looking to cram a few wine-related facts into your head that will impress your friends next weekend - this article is just the ticket.

Wine Storage More Popular than Ever

The NY Times ran a story titled "No Sommelier Required" today on the subject of wine storage. According to the research conducted for the article, more households than ever are holding on to bottles of wine for special occasions. From the article:

"A corollary: Because more homeowners are socking away bottles for special occasions, the wine storage industry has grown, too. In 1997 it generated about $15 million in sales; last year that number was $800 million, according to the Wine Appreciation Guild, another advocacy group."

The author goes on to talk a lot about wine cabinets for your home - but what about New Yorkers who are hurting for space? Thankfully, GWS has a handle on the problem, and offers wine storage solutions for everyone from the largest commercial clients to the smallest independent collection. Check out The Guarantee Wine Storage Website for full details.

A Look at Some Up-and-Coming Wine Regions

USA Today ran a great profile this week on four wine regions that have gotten an increased amount of attention in recent years. The Hudson Valley in New York, Hill Country in Texas, and the Leelanau Penninsula in Michigan don't share a lot geographically - but what they do have in common is the ability to produce some pretty great vino. From the article:

"Brilliantly hued forests and frost-nipped pumpkin patches are the destinations of choice for day-trippers in autumn, but it's time to add a stop to the itinerary: the tempting wine-tasting room. About half of states — and parts of Canada and Mexico — produce noteworthy bottles and showcase them along scenic wine trails."

If you're an oenophile in the mood for something new, this is the perfect place to start. Follow the link at the top of the post for the full rundown of each budding region.

More on Drinking and the Economy

When the US first ran into all this economic trouble a few weeks back, I made a post about how one of the big industries that hasn't been hurt is the booze industry. Well today I came across another article in US News discussing that fine wine and vodka sales have been up in the past twelve months. From the article:

"Wine and spirit maker Constellation Brands may have posted a loss in its fiscal second-quarter profits, but the company also reported swift sales of vodka and premium wines.
Constellation, which holds the crown of world's largest wine producer, said net sales rose 7 percent in the quarter to $1.24 billion, mainly on the strength of its wine brands (including Wild Horse and Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi) and spirits (big gains were had by brands including Svedka Vodka and 99 Schnapps)."

I can't stress it enough. When times get rough, America drinks. End of story.

Crash Course in Cooking with Wine

Ever tried cooking with wine and it turned out really bad? Well, I just came across an article that may give your recipes that call for vino a little boost. The piece, which ran on Post Crescent's website today, gives a number of helpful hints and even a few recipes to get you on your way. Here's a bit of what the chef being interviewed had to say:

"For chef and wine aficionado Thom England, a culinary instructor at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, knowing which wine to use in which dish means considering flavor, acidity and bitterness."

The author interviews a few different people for the article, and mentions that it's often a good idea to serve the wine you use to cook with the first course. If you've been looking for an out-there pork chop recipe that pairs well with wine, you're in for a treat. Follow the link for compete details.