Turkey and Wine Pairing - Part 2

Turkey and Wine Pairing – Part 2

“Some people serve red wine with Thanksgiving dinner. Some people serve white. My preference is ‘lots of’.” – Crabby Road

  

For those of you who still need to purchase a turkey, you’re running out of time! For those of you still needing to buy wine for your Thanksgiving feast, here is part 2 of the turkey and wine pairing series. In the first blog I focused on red wine pairings. For this second blog I am focusing on white wine pairings.

In one of my earlier blogs, I reviewed a Chardonnay by Josh Cellars vineyards that is a great pairing for most any poultry dish. Today’s blog will feature La Crema Chardonnay (www.lacrema.com). La Crema winery produces a wide variety of Chardonnays from various wine growing regions including Monterey, Sonoma and the Russian River valleys. We will focus on La Crema’s Chardonnay from Sonoma Valley.

La Crema Chardonnay

PositiveVines ‘HelpfulTip: Sonoma Valley is known as the birthplace of wine production in California. Just north of San Francisco, the earliest vineyards in Sonoma survived major epidemics and prohibition.

I am a big fan of Chardonnays that have a bold taste and La Crema fits the bill. This Chardonnay has hints of citrus fruits in both the smell and taste. Customers also noted vanilla and plum flavors lingering on the palate. La Crema is aged for 5 months in French and American Oak barrels. The predominance of French Oak imparts a buttery, creamy finish. The slightly fruity sweetness lends itself well with the Turkey and Stuffing spices.  

La Crema Sonoma Chardonnay averages $16 at most stores. Many stores run specials this time of year since it is such a popular partnering with holiday meals. One hidden gem for wine sales is World Market. This surprisingly fun store frequently runs specials on La Crema wines.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your family traditions and don’t be afraid to start new ones. Let me know what you think about the wine! Post to my blog or email me. I’m always thrilled to hear from wine enthusiasts.  

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!

Turkey and Wine Pairing - Part 1

“If food is the body of good living, wine is its soul”– Clifton Fadiman

  

6 days and counting until Turkey Day! Thanksgiving is a feast of food, family, friends and celebration for most Americans. Yes, there is controversy surrounding the day and the original participants but, for the sake of my blog I’d like to focus on the evolution of the holiday to represent the time honored tradition of eating, drinking, playing tag football and a brief rest before the shopping madness for Christmas starts.

One of the most time-honored traditions is “if it grows together, it goes together” should be taken into account when looking at pairings with Turkey and many other traditional Thanksgiving foods. For the red wine lovers in the group my focus today will be on Hahn’s Pinot Noir, an American wine from Monterey county (www.hahnwines.com).

Hahn Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is a lighter varietal that pairs well with poultry and grilled meats. Hahn’s Pinot Noir has hints of cherry, strawberry and spices.

PositiveVines ‘HelpfulTip: Pinot Noir is often compared against Cabernet Sauvignon varietals in terms of body and boldness. Pinot is much lighter and should be enjoyed within 4 to 5 years of bottling versus a Cabernet Sauvignon which can age quite well for 10 to 20 years.

The Hahn family winery Pinot Noir vineyards are located in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County. The Santa Lucia Highlands is known for having rich soil in a cooler mountainside climate.  Customers described this wine as also having a slight hint of tannins that provided a smooth balance to the fruitiness initially experienced.

Hahn’s everyday offering of Pinot Noir’s averages $14 a bottle. This makes it easy to stock up for the holidays. If you’re willing to spend a little more, Hahn has a SLH variety (Santa Lucia Highlands-remember) that starts at $40 bottle with Wine Spectator ratings of 90 and above.

Let me know what you think! Post to my blog or email me. I’m always thrilled to hear from wine enthusiasts.  I’ll be back before Thanksgiving to talk about a good Turkey pairing for the white wine lovers in the group.

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!

The Season of Family and Celebration

“As long as we have Wine, the Holidays will be just Fine.” – Unnamed source

  

Halloween candy is starting to get low in the plastic pumpkins and we are turning our attention to the start of the holiday season with Thanksgiving right around the corner. Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s Eve follow in rapid succession. What’s a Wine Lover to do when hosting family and friends with a wide variety of tastes?

Today’s blog will focus on Moscato, a sweet wine varietal that is a experiencing double digit growth in sales and adoption by wine lovers. I had the privilege of hosting a sampling of Risata’s Moscato d’Asti. This Moscato is produced using varietals from the hilly Asti region of Italy by the Prestige Wine & Spirits Group. The wine is bottled under the group brand of Risati wine (www.risatiwine.com).

The Risata Mosacato is derived 100% from Moscato Bianco di Canelli grapes. These grapes are the fourth largest variety planted in Italy and naturally lend themselves through the fermentation process to produce sparkling wines with a fun fizzy characteristic.

Risata Moscato d’Asti

PositiveVines ‘HelpfulTip: The Muscato Bianco grape produces a wine with a lower alcohol content (5.5%) than the average wine (12-13%).

The Risata Mosacato is derived 100% from Moscato Bianco di Canelli grapes. These grapes are the fourth largest variety planted in Italy and naturally lend themselves through the fermentation process to produce sparkling wines with a fun fizzy characteristic.

The Risata Moscato d’Asti is bright colored with a hint of tangerines and honey on your palate. It is sweet without taking on the heavier qualities of dessert wines. The wine also has a fragrant scent of rose petals and fruit.

The Risata Moscato d’Asti would be well paired with cheese, fruits, traditional holiday meals and spicy dishes such as Biryani or Thai dishes. The bottle itself is a beautiful blue with the design of wine leaves. What a nice centerpiece on any dinner table! At an average price point of $13 per bottle this is an excellent value for the quality.

Let me know what you think! Post to my blog or email me. I’m always thrilled to hear from wine enthusiasts. And remember to enjoy your holidays. Slow down, put family and friends first and embrace every moment!

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!

Smooth and Easy Merlot for Fall

Welcome to the Fall Wine Lovers!

“Celebrate Fall. Put on your Favorite sweater and cozy up with a glass of wine.”

        – Wine Wednesday Rule #66

Wednesdays aren’t the only fall day that I like to enjoy a glass of a good wine. Fall offers us a chance to slow down just a little before the hectic pace of the holiday season. Summer generally calls for lighter wines such as a Sauvignon Blanc and winters favor hearty Cabernet Sauvignons. 

I find that the cooler fall nights as well as my favorite pastime – watching football – are well suited for a lighter red varietal grape in the Merlot. Today’s blog will feature the smooth and well rounded Sandstone Lot Merlot from Wente Vineyards (www.wentevinyards.com). 

Wente Sandstone Lot Merlot 2012

Wente Vineyards is a fifth generation family owned Vineyard and Winery established in 1883 in Livermore Valley (Livermore, California). With over 130 acres Wente produces wine using sustainable farming practices. Karl D. Wente leads the vineyard as the primary winemaker. 

The 2012 Sandstone Lot Merlot that I recently demonstrated exhibits aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry and plum. This Merlot was aged for 16 months in neutral French and American oak to provide a hint of toasted oak flavor as the wine settles on your palate.  The Sandstone lot Merlot doesn’t impart heavy tannins which make it an easy red wine to savor.

PositiveVines ‘HelpfulTip: The Merlot grape originated in the Bordeaux region of France. It is a widely planted and early harvested dark red grape that is hard to categorize. Merlot grapes can be used alone or in a variety of red wine blends.

The Sandstone Lot Merlot would be well paired with a variety of fall foods. Chili blends, pork and chicken are a few that come to mind. At $13USD per bottle the Sandstone Lot Merlot is at a great price point to pick up a couple of bottles today and enjoy for the weekend.

Let me know what you think! Post to my blog or email me. I’m always thrilled to hear from wine enthusiasts.

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!

Summer Heat calls for a light Sauvignon Blanc

Hello PostiveVines followers! I’m back to share more about great wines and spirits. Summer is one of my favorite times of year and I’ve been out and about on short trips sharing new wines at tastings across Texas.

When the temperature climbs above 95º, most of us slow down and find a smooth refreshing drink.  Sauvignon Blanc is a great summer varietal that I enjoy serving. This varietal started in the South West Region of France and is also widely grown in the US and New Zealand. Today I will focus on a Sauvignon Blanc from Bogle Vineyards. This California wine producing family focuses on sustainable farming practices. They produce high quality wines at wallet friendly prices.

PositiveVines’ Helpful Tip:  The Sauvignon Blanc varietal probably got its name from two French words – Sauvage (meaning wild) and Blan (meaning white).This green-skinned grape was considered to be a wild vine versus one of the sought after ancient vines.

Bogel’s winemakers – Eric Aafedt and Dana Stemmler – are masters at producing wines that consistently receive high scores from wine critics. The 2012 Sauvignon Blanc that I hosted received 88 points out of 100. This ranks it as “Very Good” wine in terms of color, clarity and taste. In a future post, I’ll cover the wine scoring system and how this can provide guidance.

Bogel’s Sauvignon Blanc is a light colored wine with hints of citrus in the aroma. During a recent tasting, customers described tasting lemongrass and citrus fruits along with a little spice.

This wine is a lighter version of a dry white wine. Don’t let that scare you away if you generally like sweeter wines. Remember that there is a citrus taste to balance the dry. Bogel’s wine pairs very well with light appetizers, cheeses, salads and seafood. Bogel’s Sauvignon Blanc would be an excellent companion for picnics. Like most Sauvignon Blancs it features a twist cap which makes it portable. At $9 USD per bottle you can grab a couple of bottles of this wine to take with you.

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!

Cheese and Wine Pairings

“Wine and cheese are ageless companions” – M.F.K. Fisher

One of the pleasures of exploring is the thrill in seeking new places to enjoy good company and a great glass of wine. Scardello  (www.scardellocheese.com) on Oak Lawn in Dallas is the perfect place to escape from the summer heat and explore new wines and cheese pairings.

Scardello is a cut-to-order cheese shop boasting almost 150 handmade American and European cheeses including a wide variety produced in Texas.

Your first trip to Scardello can be overwhelming, especially for cheese novices like me. Fortunately, the “Cheese Enthusiasts” were there to guide me. Cheddar is a favorite cheese for my palate so I chose Stag Cheddar from Wisconsin. This variety of cheese pairs well with chardonnay. I chose a chardonnay variety from Le P’Tit Paysan (www.lppwines.com) produced with grapes from the Jack’s Hill vineyard in Monterey Bay California. 

LPP’s winemaker, Ian Brand, has taken the unique characteristics of this vineyard to produce a wine that is reflective of the idiosyncrasies of the rough growing region in Monterey. The labels are designed to catch your eye with Le P’Tit Paysan translating to mean “little peasant or clown in country fashion”.

Le P’Tit Paysan Jack's Hill Chardonnay  has a smooth, bright taste. Unlike the traditional California Chardonnay which is buttery in taste, this chardonnay is part of a new blend of California wines that uses a mix of stainless steel and neutral oak form fermentation to enhance a citrusy taste.

PositiveVines’ Helpful Tip: Most Chardonnays from California have a round, buttery taste. This is due to the use of French Oak barrels in the fermentation process.

Le P’Tit Paysan Jack’s Hill Chardonnay is a budget-friendly $20 USD. To Scardello’s credit they do not add overhead to the price of wines that they offer.  This wine is not found in most local grocery stores with only 730 cases having been produced of the 2013 vintage. You can order it from the LPP website (www.lppwines.com) or ask about it in your local wine store. 

Next Friday (7/10), I will be venturing to Specs in Arlington to share some Chilean reds.

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!

The Legend of Casillero del Diablo!

“When the legends die, the dreams end; there is no more greatness” – Tecumseh

The Carménère variety of grape, grown in abundance in Chile, is today’s focus from the Concha Y Toro winery (www.casillerodeldiablo.com). Winemaker Marcio Ramirez enhances the legend of the “devil in the cellar” by producing a deep, dark purple wine that proved to be the favorite of customers during my latest wine sampling at Market Street in Frisco. The wine steward – Justin – is fantastic to work with and shoppers at this Market Street enjoy this store for the wide variety of wines, beers and spirits. Stop by there the next time you are in Frisco. You’ll love this store and the folks that work there.

Before describing the great flavors in this varietal, let me tell you a little about the legend of the cellar. Casillero del Diablo translates to Cellar of the Devil. The winery’s founder, Don Melchor, discovered that his workers were over-sampling some of his greatest wines. In order to discourage this pilfering Señor Melchor started a rumor that the devil was a permanent resident in his wine cellar. As far-fetched as it sounds, the workers were scared away from the cellar and the legend of Casillero del Diablo (as well as the name of the wine label) was born. Take a look at the insignia at the top of the bottle to see the legend of the devil in play!

The Carménère grape lives up to the legend with unique flavors at a good price point. Prior to drinking, I would recommend that you decent the wine for at least 30 minutes in a cool room to take advantage of the robust flavors.

PositiveVines’ Helpful Definition: Decant – gradually pour the wine from one container to another to let the wine breath.

If you like red wines but, prefer milder tannins this is the wine for you.  What’s interesting is that even with milder tannins the wine has a complex set of flavors. Light spices and dark plum start the tasting journey. Some customers tasted a little chocolate and all found that there was a smooth smoky finish that rounded out the experience.  I would pair this Carménère varietal with a good steak or a Spanish dish of Seafood Paella.

The wine averages $10-$12 USD per bottle and makes an excellent choice for adventurous drinkers who enjoy robust reds. Try it today and post a comment letting me know what you think!

Come see me tomorrow on July 4^th at Market Street in Plano, TX from 3-6pm as I host a sampling with wines from the Francis Ford Coppola winery.

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!