Basic Juice - the wine blog for my generation

Larry & Me

Thanks Larry!  You have been key in introducing a robust, evocative descriptor into the hoity-toity lexicon of wine:

"But Sen. Larry Craig's contention -- made just after his arrest in a restroom sex sting -- has permeated the public consciousness, showing up as more than just the punch line to late-night talk show jokes.

The online Urban Dictionary defines ''wide stance'' as a euphemism for a closeted homosexual. David Kurtz of the blog ''Talking Points Memo'' called Craig's wide stance claim ''The Best Legal Defense of 2007.'' And Beau Jarvis, who writes about wine, travel and food on the blog ''Basic Juice,'' notes that the phrase has become less than innocent and proposes ''cleansing'' it by using it to describe a well-balanced wine."

Do you have a favorite wide stance wine?

Bonus France pic:

Lady Lib's wee sis.

The Bekaa Beckons

Say you're a war correspondent for a major newspaper.  You've been witnessing the chaos of occupation in and around Baghdad for several years.  You need a break.

Where to go?

How about slightly-less-war torn region?  How about one with great wine?  If you wish to stay in the Middle East, one idyllic-yet-occasionally-war-torn spot beckons - Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.

Find out what the LA Times former Baghdad bureau chief and current Middle East bureau chief discovered in this unique wine-producing corner of an extraordinarily complicated part of the world:

"The summer war last year between Israel and Hezbollah didn't directly affect the vineyards. Shipments were turned back before reaching their destinations. The vineyards also could not produce an increasingly popular Beaujolais-type wine. But fortunately, the war ended two days before the harvest began.

The war was nothing compared with the larger challenges of producing wine in the Muslim Middle East, where some grape growers refuse to sell to vineyards for religious regions."

Read the full article here.

OT: bBall

Off Topic: NBA West Conf. Finals

Watching the pregame, I've come to a conclusion.  I would rather drink Beringer White Zin than listen to the braying of Stephen A. Smith.

On the other hand, Michael Wilbon is like a nice glass of Madeira - interesting and enjoyable.

Jon Barry is more Totts than Remy P. (harsh and off-putting; rather than sprightly and inviting)

Gojazz!

Update: Ginobili is the guy you hated playing against, but when he's on your team, he's an immense asset.  Bummer for UTA.

Lafayette Learnin'

Things one learns in Lafayette, La.:

Cajuns are descendants of Acadians who left Nova Scotia, N. Brunswisk & Prince Edward Island during the 1700s..

"In the Great Expulsion of 1755, around 4000 to 5000 Acadians were deported from Acadia by the British; many later settled in Louisiana, where they became known as Cajuns. Later on many Acadians returned to the Maritime provinces of Canada, most specifically New Brunswick. During the British conquest of New France the French colony of Acadia was renamed Nova Scotia (meaning"

Étouffée simply refers to smothering or braising meat or veggies in its own juices.

Blackening fish is very unCajun.

A seafood gumbo with tasso (Cajun smoked pork) is perfect paired to crisp German Riesling.

While not Cajun, the smoked duck quesadillas (w/fresh jalapeno, sour cream and pepper jack cheese) at The Blue Dog Cafe in Lafayette is so good it makes on produce tears of joy.  I already have an ahnvee for this dish.

3 Musts

1. A rosé must not contain more than 13% abv

2. Your Friday audio rotation must contain Motorin' by the Saturday Knights

3. This photo must receive a caption

non sequitur Tuesday

Blonde Redhead
Something of an airy, stripped down, more melodic Portishead (note I am obviously not a music critic).  Listen here

German Pinot Gris
Were I to ask you what countries are known for their Pinot Gris/Grigio, Germany would likely be utterly absent from your list, or perhaps, registering somewhere in the 40s - after Argentina. Heger Pinot Gris 'Sonett' 2004 ($20-ish), imported by Rudi W, brings German PG one step closer to notoriety by not using the German name for this gray mutant Pinot Clone - Grauburgunderwerdenwienerwaldseinworden (sp?).  As with most P.Gris, Heger is more about texture than flavor.  This German offers a nifty viscous mouthfeel accented by light flavors of fresh pineapple and orange.

Great Service in SLC
Salt Lake City is not known to be one of the great dining cities of the world (unless one counts salt water taffy).  However, this reputation is undeservered as there are many restaurants offering very good, innovative dishes.  Unfortunately, service is a concept all too often absent from most establishments.  Example 1: "Can I reserve one of the tables by the fireplace?" "No."....(dead air, and yes this actually happened).  Example 2: "Excuse me, our entrees are cold." "I'm terribly sorry." (takes entrees, returns 5 minutes later with same cold entrees on warm plates! - again, this actually happened).  The one and only restaurant, at which I can guarantee unfailingly good service is SLC's high end, posh spot, The Metropolitan.  Now, if I can only get them to eighty-6 a few of the $18+ by-the-glass wine offerings...

V. Various Vinho Verde Vacts

I.  The Vinho Verde DOC (appellation) is Portugal's largest wine region.

II.  Due to cramped vineyard space and regular rain, VV vines are traditionally co-planted with other crops, and trained above ground on granite pergolas.

III.  With the exception of Alvarhino/Albarino-based (fairly rare) Vinho Verde, these wines may not exceed 11.5% ABV.

IV.  There is actually such a thing as red Vinho Verde.  This isn't typically exported.  Red VV is also quite acidic and low in alcohol.

V.  Vinho Verde's signature petillance is actually the result of CO2-spritz before bottling.

Bonus question:  Although VV is typically drunk without any aging, shouldn't its Xtra-hi acidity enable this wine to be age-worthy?

A VV to try:  Quinta do Ameal 'Loureiro' Vinho Verde 2005 (~$12) - Imported by European Cellars.  This wine, from the VV sub-region of Lima, is made from the Loureiro grape variety.  Q. do Ameal is a bit more kraftig than most V. Verde.  It is also a vintage bottling, whereas other VV's are NV offerings.  While this wine is rather acidic, it feels rather smooth and viscous in the mouth.  In addition to the expected mineral flavors, Quinta do Ameal slides in some ripe red pear flavor.  Give it a try with a side of potato salad and be happy.

Learn everything and anything about the double-V here.

The Brick in The Wood

Does your wine taste like this?

Apparently, the Basic Juice Crew Red does.  But not yet.  Our li'l brick house has been sent to its American Oak zebra barrel for mellowing & developing.  What will our Grenache | Syrah | Petit Sirah blend taste like?  Tune in next Fall...

Dueling Asparagus

A bit of apocryphal history* for you: Cleopatra, of lethal-asp-clutching fame, is purported to have ended it all with a spear of asparagus rather than a venomous serpent. My reaction to asparagus isn’t quite as dramatic as the Nile Queen’s. However, few vegetables, when mismatched to wine, mete out palate punishment like the shoots of Asparagus officinalis. 

My oeno-advice to all brave souls attempting asparagus-wine harmony: Bring a duo to this duel. Allow me to explain. Asparagus commonly appears on your dinner plate in one of two roles. It may headline dinner as the main attraction – as it does with this goat cheese and asparagus pizza. More commonly, it plays the supporting role of vegetable, and leaves the spotlight to a main course, like steak. One wine won’t handle asparagus in both roles.

Shake it off

Shake it off.  Type through it.  Don't let the tendonitis win.  Wuss.

Vertical Tastings

Lustau Los Arcos Amontiallado
Irouleguy
Ribera del Duero
Argiolas Vermentino di Sardegna Costamolino
Corsican Pinot Noir

(more Rhone fun)

How Do You Like It?

Greetings and happy greeting card industry-generated-remember the chocolate hearts-and-roses day.  Hopefully you and your beloved will enjoy an evening of passion in Eros' honor.

The question is, how do you like your lovin'?  Are you a squeaky clean, polite kanoodler, or  nasty, no-holds-barred kind of Don/Maria Juan?

For those who like it clean..

Pascal Jolivet 'Attitude' Sauvignon Blanc 2005 ($15) - Despite using the cred-enhancing term, "Attitude," Jolivet's Sauvi is the epitome of E. Post politeness (and, as an added bonus, the wine is classified as Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France.  Basically this means Mssr. Jolivet can scrawl the grape variety's name on the label, thus making it tres easy for customers to understand what kind of wine they are getting).  This Sauvignon Blanc is pale yellow-gold with hints of meadow green hues.  It pleasantly presents itself with scents of lime, grassy-field-freshness and a titch of gooseberry.  In the mouth, The 'Tude, proves just how even-handed Sauvignon Blanc can be.  It tingles with fresh acidity, then turns slightly smooth and citrusy on the finish.  Put on your blue blazer/cable knit & pearls, and enjoy this wine with a classic Caesar or Cobb salad.  Then close your eyes tightly and smooch your snookums/teddy bear/precious.

For those who like it naughty..

Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2000 ($40 [375ml]) - Pull out your whips, chains, ass-chaps, fishnets, etc. before you enjoy this decidedly 'dirty' wine.  Classico is a, uh, grape-threesome, of Corvina (75%), Rondinella (20%) and Molinara (5%).  The result of some compressed aging in its half-bottle home is a dusty-red wine with scents of ruby Port, dates, violets and cedar-funk (i.e. damp/burned/chopped wood).    In the mouth, this Valpolicella from Italy's Northeast is surprisingly agile - with some cripsness, a mix of dried & fresh berry flavor and slightly chewy finish, courtesy softened up tannins.  Sample it with some nastyfunk playing in the background and git bizee.

Happy St. V.!  Enjoy the convo candy hearts.

Crewd Mix

Read the Winehiker's account of the Juice Crew blending party @ Crushpad.  Looks like we got ourselves an interesting, if not quirky, Rhone blend..

"A rain-soaked Bryant street in San Francisco’s outer Mission district seems a fitting scene for an unassuming concrete warehouse. Its public entrance, no more than a recess in a broad wall abutting a sidewalk, appears to disrupt an only in the City incongruity of spray-paint graffiti and trellised vines. Vindu and I clamber down a short stairwell into the bowels of the building to behold what appears to be a basic, bare-bones winemaking operation.

Welcome to CrushPad!"  Continue reading @ California Wine Hikes.

Aint Nothin' But A Party

Attention Juice Crew:  We'll be sampling different blends for our Shiraz-Grenache-Petit Shiraz Juice Crew Red on Feb. 10th (Sat.) @ 2pm.  Head on over to Crushpad, mix and match some baby vino and then head on out to the Slow Club for some noshing.

And to those who have missed out on the Juice Crew experience, there are still a couple of cases waiting to be adopted.  Visit us at Crushnet, join the crew and grab a case today.

Now California

First there were predictions about the European wine regions vis-a-vis global warming.  Now we have some predictions for California:

"According to the study, published in July in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 60 percent of the best terrain for premium grapes will be lost by the end of the century if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated. And the picture is particularly grim for California, currently responsible for 90 percent of the country’s wine grape production.

Most of the remaining top-quality acreage will shift northward to the Pacific Northwest. California will retain and possibly gain a little bit of territory along the coast, but the inland vineyards, including those in Napa Valley and Sonoma County, will be lost.

"There’s a tremendous amount of culture and value that’s associated with the wine industry where it is," Field said. "It would be a heavy price to pay if we had to move out of there."

It strains the mind to imagine what California wine might look like in 2030.

Red, Magenta, Have I Been Drinking?

Red
Hewitson Ned & Henry’s Barossa Valley Shiraz 2005 ($19, Australia) – All sun-loving Aussie Shiraz isn’t simply big and brawny.  Ned & Henry’s Shiraz is an excellent example of winemaking talent from the super sunny southern hemisphere. 

Magenta
Segura di Viudas Brut Rosé Cava, NV ($10, Spain) – Day-glo, magenta-colored bubbly!  Crab cakes are calling.

Have I Been Drinking?

(click to play @ Youtube)

Or is that the best music video ever?

Baby Wine Notes

The Juice Crew is in the process of making a slamming Rhone blend.  Robin, one of our crewchiefs, got to taste the wines that will make up the blend.  Some notes:

Syrah: I really didn't get much of a lingering impression. Seems like it still needed to finish it's primary fermentation. Kian [the winemaker] said it needed racking off the lees to release the C02s.

Next the petite syrah: much more distinctive, licorice and lavendar, hefty. My hubby found it too perfumey to his taste but I think it will be great. But it's huge.

Last, the grenache. They only have 2 barrels of it, and I am very glad one says "jarvis". It was the most approachable of anything I tasted (except maybe one of Dain's Pinots). I don't know if it's a good thing or not that we liked it as is, right now. Does that mean it has the 'structure'? What do I know - but it was great! And not fruity sweet at all. More like a nice pinot noir.

I'm not sure how theyll blend. Like having Serena Williams (the petite syrah) and Helen Mirren (yes, the grenache) over for dinner - both very interesting, but what would the conversation be like? (oh, maybe I take my metaphors too far..)

Remember if you're a Juice-Crew-er, get to the group tasting on Feb. 10 @ 2pm at Crushpad.

Watch Your Winegut

It appears as if all those jokes about beer bellies and beer guts will have to be rewritten:

"A new study shows that after France and Italy, the United States is the world’s third-largest consumer of table wines. And if that growth stays steady, the U.S. will become the global leader by 2008."

Headlines from 2009
Candidate Insists She's Not a 'Beer-Drinking', Volvo-Driving, Latte-Sipping Liberal

Lose That Winegut in 12 Days!

The New Budweiser Frogs Say, "Gewurz Tra Min Er!"

Introducing The Stadium Goblet

Screaming Eagle To Sponsor NASCAR

Are you prepared for Merlot swilling Packers fans, Riesling pitchers for $6 and Chardonnay in a can (oh wait)?

Know Your Grapes II: More Quiz

More grapey goodness in pop-quiz form (take part I here).

Part II:

Fendant is
a) White grape variety unique to the Jura region of France
b) Swiss name for the Chasselas grape; common in the Valais region
c) Rare Chardonnay clone found in the Champagne region
d) A hanging object, generally attached to a chain.  From the old French, meaning "hanging"

Freisa is
a) Pale-skinned red red grape often comprising a minority of the blend in Valpolicella
b) Red grape of Italy's Piedmont, which produces wine with a distinct raspberry aroma
c) Mutant clone of Merlot widely grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California
d) Raspberry extract used to add color and flavor to many 'wine' beverages (i.e. wine coolers)

Godello is
a) A white grape from western Spain and northern Portugal also known as Verdello or Verdelho or Gouveio
b) Romanian white grape variety, which comprises 1/4 of all wine production in the country
c) A grape variety indigenous to Sardegna.  Used to produce oxidized dessert wine
d) Phylloxera-immune European grape variety.  Its rootstock is used to produce pest-resistant plants

Gutedel is
a) German name for Chasselas.  Progenitor of Mueller-Thurgau
b) German for 'nobly rotten' Riesling grapes
c) Südtiroler moniker for Sylvaner
d) Alsatian white wine blend of noble grape varietals

And the answers are...

Know Your Grapes: A Quiz

Think you're a wine grape genius?  Take the grape varietal quiz and find out how you stack rack up.

Part I:

Albariño is
a) A white grape variety from Portugal
b) Wine growing region in Spain
c) A white grape variety grown in Galicia
d) The meteorological antithesis of El Niño

Burgunder is
a) German suffix for grapes in the Pinot family - e.g. Blauburgunder
b) Austrian moniker for Chardonnay
c) Non-eiswein category of German dessert wine
d) Muscat from the Pfalz - a German wine growing region

Counoise is
a) A red grape used to spice up Bordeaux blends
b) One of the permitted grape varietals used in red Chateauneuf-du-Pape
c) Rare red grape from Alsace
d) Type of wine grape recommended with Niçoise salad

Drupeggio is
a) Grape varietal indigenous to Sicily; used in Sicilian rose wine blends
b) Blasé red grape used in Roman table wine
c) A hybrid scooter developed by Italian company, Vespa
d) Pseudonym for Canaiolo Bianco - one of the grapes blended to produce Orvieto

Continue reading for the answers.

GW + Wine

From the SeattlePI:  Global Warming + Washington =

"Wine grapes in Eastern Washington will be pushed to the upper limit of their temperature tolerance range, meaning they'll have to move uphill or to other regions. Cooler areas, such as Western Washington, may become more suitable for grapes."

Of course those new vines might be just a bit too toasty..

"Increased carbon dioxide will mean bigger trees, while higher temperatures increase the incidence of wildfire. The number of acres burned will increase by 50 percent by 2020 and by 100 percent by 2040, so the annual cost of fighting wildfires may exceed $75 million by 2020 -- 50 percent higher than the current expenditures. That cost will double by 2040"

Meanwhile in Spain..

"Xavier Sort is Technical Director at Miguel Torres SA, the Barcelona-based producer of Sangre de Toro wine. He worries: “Any increase in temperature in Spain may make it impossible to produce wine in lower areas.” Currently, his company is buying fields in the peaks of north eastern Spain, where the weather is cooler. “There may be a move of wineries into the Pyrenees in the future,” said Sort."

A Year in Wine (& Photos): Oct-Nov-Dec '06

De Angelis Lacrima Christi del Vesuvio Rosso 2004 ($17)

"When Archangel Lucifer was cast out of heaven, he grasped a small divine chunk of heaven while falling to earth.  Lucifer placed this chunk in what is now the bay of Naples - Campania's capitol.  Missing this little chunk of heaven, the Lord cried over it and his tears rained down on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.  From these 'Lacrima Christi' sprang vines that later produced the grapes for this fancifully-named DOC wine."

Tasca d'Almerita's Regaleali Bianco Sicilia IGT, 2005 (~$11)

"Regaleali defies expectations with a zesty mouthfeel coupled to scents that can best be described as a vanilla-peach cream soda-pop minus HFCS.  This wine is indeed simple, but also unique and refreshing."

Kermit Lynch Cotes Du Rhone 2004 ($10-$13)

"Kermie's C.d.R. is ruby red in color with scents of tart red cherry, ripe raspberry and pepper.  In the mouth, the wine is dusty (#2 grit tannins) earthy (geriatric Syrah vines) and ever-so-slightly meaty (ahh, Mourvedre)."

Happy Belated Holidays

A Year in Wine (& Photos): September '06

Qupe Marsanne 2004 ($20)

"What do you get when you pull Viognier out of a white Cali-Rhone blend?  Less honeysuckle and more fresh melon tang."

Mahogany

A Year in Wine (& Photos): August '06

Mark West Pinot Noir 2004 ($8-$10)

"Howdy Monsieur, much obliged for the avant-garde.
Even though, you own nary a vine-yard.
Vanilla charred, speakin of which or who,
wine all toasty like you tossed in an oak or two.
A glass of baked fruit cru; bottled in C.A. - who knew?"

Still Life

A Year in Wine (& Photos): July '06

Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 ($~20)

Deep⁽⁵⁾ indigo⁽⁶⁾ in color, fading to an intense pink rim⁽⁷⁾.

(5) Deep, as in the color’s depth. Perhaps I should’ve simply gone with ‘dark’ as the adjective in this instance.

⁽⁶⁾ The word, “indigo,” conjures up two, very different, images in my mind: Indigo Girls and indigo snakes^(f). 

⁽⁷⁾ A pink rim, either of the intense or laid back variety, indicates youth and/or the near absence of oxygenation in red wine. As red wine ages, and/or is exposed to oxygen^(g), the pink rim fades to a less intense garnet/copper/rust color. Think of the rim as your wine’s freshness indicator.

Glacier Polished

 

A Year in Wine (& Photos): June '06

Hirsch Riesling 'Heiligenstein' 2005

"This wine is all about texture with a more subtle, balanced rich & tangy mouthfeel.  Hirsch Riesling also possesses flavors of 'sea salt,' which are slowly revealed throughout the long finish."

Serious Spiral

A Year in Wine (& Photos): May '06

Gross Styria "Nussberg" Muskateller 2004

"Take a sip, nibble on some bread slathered in Verhakert or salami; and sit back and take in the serenity from Styria's rolling green hills."

Austrian Tuscany

A Year in Wine (& Photos): April '06

Pecchenino 'Siri D'Jermu' Dolcetto di Dogliani DOC 2003 (~$20)

"It is indeed soft and fruity (the Dolcetto calling card), but it also possesses depth and balance.  this wine is the perfect foil to the succulence of pork, bitterness of radicchio and earthiness of beans."

 

First Bloom

 

A Year in Wine (& Photos): March '06

Viñedos de Ithaca Odysseus PX 2004 ($25-$28)

"Unfortunately, in addition to apochryphal tales surrounding its origins, the PX grape also suffers from outright character assasination:

"The grape is also grown in the regions of Valencia, Canary Islands and Extremadura, and occasionally also used in making a poorly-rated table wine."

 

Microaeration

A Year in Wine (& Photos): February '06

Viña Alarba Old Vines Grenache 2004 ($6-$8)

"Distorted Voice: "Is this 555-4933?"
"Yes.  Can I help you?"
Distorted Voice: "You are an associate of Mr. Alarba and Sheikh Al Lata Yud."
"Who?"  I don't know any....wait.  Did you say, Mister Alarba?
Distorted Voice: "That's correct.  He is a known Al Qaeda #2 along with Al Lata Yud." 

Arctic Poodle

A Year in Wine (& Photos): January '06

Domaine Pichot Vouvray Moelleux AOC 1995 ($25)

"I recommend planning an entire evening around this bottle, as it will change dramatically once opened.  At first glance, Domaine Pichot looks like liquid gold"

Bottlebubble

[One of the original Vino Voyeur photos]

Yule, Wassail, Figgy Pudding & Jammy Beau

Yule
The term yule has its roots in the winter Solstice festivals of Northern Europe.  Jol (pronounced 'Jule' or 'Yule') was a feast held to honor the Norse god Odin - god of intoxication and ecstasy (sounds like a swingin immortal).  From yule par-tays, sprang the tradition of the yule log.  The Norsefolk, in their over-imbibed state, needed to keep the hearth a-burnin all night long.  The longest burning logs were referred to as yule logs.  In the former Yugoslavia, folks partook in some interesting log-related activities:

"..the Yule Log was cut just before dawn on Christmas Eve and carried into the house at twilight. The wood itself was decorated with flowers, colored silks and gold, and then doused with wine and an offering of grain. In the area of France known as Provence, families would go together to cut the Yule Log, singing as they went along. These songs asked for blessings to be bestowed upon their crops and their flocks."

Wassail
More fun from the Northern Europeans. Wassail crept south and became famous in Olde England.  This winter drink was usually a combo of beer, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger.  Often, it was topped with bread, which served as wassail sops.

Figgy Pudding
How many of us annoyed our neighbors by demanding figgy pudding; without having any idea what the stuff was?  Learn what it is via oral dissection (i.e. try this recipe).

Jammy Beau
Indeed, the adjective 'jammy' is overused.  However, Carquelin, a Beaujolais Cru by Big George, is a bottle-full of fresh blackberry jam just like your mama used to make.  This BeauJoCru is the perfect midweek pick-me-up.  There are also wonderful scents of sweet spice and juicy, chewy tannins.  Try it with pasta and marinara, or even the Christmas ham.  The details: Carquelin Moulin a Vent 2005 ($14-$18; imported by WJ Deutsch & Sons)

What's in your cup/glass/bowl this holiday season?

Wine for the Masses

Religion has been referred to as, "opium of the people."  I'm certain there is much disagreement with that sentiment.  However, one thing all wine lovers can agree on is that religion was crucial in providing wine for the masses.

Justinian I, a 4th century Roman Emperor, was of the mind that his empire was best united under a single faith.  And the lucky faith winner in this imperial showdown was Christianity.  Once Christianity became the state religion, wine became more than just tasty Roman juice, it became  powerful religious accouterment.  Thus, when the Western Roman empire collapsed, winemaking did not.  It was preserved in Western Europe by clergymen in order to celebrate the Eucharist.

However, it's more than simply religion, which preserved viticulture, it was the monks.  At the time of Rome's decline, monks were practically the only literate dwellers in Europe.  Additionally, monks owned large tracts of land and had the time (that's what vows of celibacy, silence, etc. will get you) to experiment in vineyards and record their knowledge for posterity.  That isn't to say that no one else was growing or drinking wine at the time.  The Germanic tribes who enjoyed sacking Roman outposts were certainly fond of wine (Barbarian Riesling, anyone?).  However, the monks appear to have been able to hold onto and consolidate vineyards, as well as build up a body of viticultural knowledge.  Praise the monks!

As time passed, various monastic orders became winemaking experts in certain regions.  For example, the Benedictines had winemaking monasteries in the Loire, Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy.  The less famous Cistercians are believed to be the first to plant Chardonnay in Chablis.  Carthusian monks made wine in Switzerland, Germany and northeastern Spain.

Of course we can all thank the Padres for bringing wine to the Americas.  The Jesuits made wine in Peru, while later, in the 18th century, the Franciscans began pressing grapes in California.  Would there have been winemaking in the west without the monks?  Perhaps, but it would have definitely evolved much differently.  Without the clergy, was there a chance that winemaking would have died out after the fall of Rome?  Who knows.  All I can say is, "Thank Bacchus for winemaking monks!"

Technorati Tags: wine

Hot Topic

1. White wine doesn't necessarily need to be chilled.  In fact, over-chilling is all too common.  Discuss. (the Juice)
2. Great-tasting, value-priced wine-in-a-box is a splendid idea - and those smart Spanish vintners are just the senors/senoras to deliver squared wine.  Discuss. (dr. vino)
3. Wine blogs only write about obscure wines that most wine lovers have no hope of finding.  Thus, they are irrelevant.  Discuss (vinography; fermentation)
4. Grape Radio is the kickassingest podcast around as evidenced by its receipt of the 'Podcast of the Year' award at the Podcast & Portable Media Expo.  Discuss. (hat tip WW)
5. The song Obsession by Animotion is the perfect example of 80s pop music videos.  Discuss. (youtube)

Finally a T/F question:  I can neither dance nor rhyme, can I still make wine with the Juice Crew?  Answer: T, homey, T.

Noir

Noir - French for black.  A common suffix for dark-berried grape varietals (e.g. Pinot Noir, Grenache Noir)

Not to be confused with

Film Noir - A cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas that set their protagonists in a world perceived as inherently corrupt and unsympathetic

Nor to be confused with

Jim Noir - British singer/songwriter described thusly:

"Imagine a Wurlitzer jukebox stacked with the hits of ELO, Super Furry Animals, Pepper-era Beatles, The Beta Band, The Beach Boys, early Pink Floyd and Supertramp. Now imagine blowing that jukebox up with a cartoon-style dynamite stick and making a record from the exploded fragments of vinyl and luminescent tubing. That's a bit like what Tower Of Love [from Jim Noir] sounds like. "

Have a listen to Mr. Noir while sipping a P.Noir and watching The Stranger - a classic film noir.

Technorati Tags: film noir, jim noir, pinot noir, wine

What's in Your Vodka?

This just in: Vodka contains a lot of alcohol.

According to the Beeb, most folks can't tell what's in their vodka.  In a quasi-scientific study, the BBC discovered that only 3 in 20 sippers could correctly guess from what produce (rye, barley, wheat, something else) a vodka was made.  Read the BBC piece here.

In one popular Russian novel, vodka is made from a wooden stool - which is not quite so fantastic as it seems, as the drink was once made commercially from the by-products of wood-pulp processing.

Oh my dear little vodka.

Technorati Tags: vodka

Spanish Sacrifice

You mean I've got to hike 7 miles and climb 4,000' in order to enjoy Sierra?

Some Facts About White Zinfandel

A few facts about the White Zinfandel grape* that I learned while reading the Wine Enpsychlopedia...don't dispute me! 

• White Zinfandel is a hybrid vine created from a crossing of Zinfandel and Frankenberry.
• This grape supplies 55% RDA of Vitamin C.
• White Zinfandel vines only grow in schist-loem-sand-clay soils.
• If you purchase vintage White Zin, make sure it is from an odd year.  Even year vintages tend to be poor.
• Wines made from White Zinfandel pair exceptionally well with cotton candy or salt water taffy or steak tartare.
• White Zinfandel is best served at room temperature.
• Fine restaurants often keep White Zin on hand, but you must specifically ask for it, as Sommeliers are known to serve it only to diners 'in the know.'
• The largest export market for White Zinfandel is, surprisingly, Bordeaux, France. 

*There's no such grape.  White Zin is actually blush wine made primarily from red grapes - Zinfandel among them.  It is often 'sexed' up with aromatic white grapes such as Muscat or Riesling.  Bob Trinchero of Sutter Home winery was the first to produce a wine labeled 'White Zinfandel.'  This pink creation is responsible for Sutter Home going from medium-sized producer (25k cases in 1980) to behemoth (1.5 million cases in 1986).  Nowadays, most White Zinfandel is produced from grapes grown in the vast jug wine pond that is California's Central Valley.

[inspired by Patton O.'s bit, "A few facts about.."]

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