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Wine Gift Baskets For All Occasions Do you have a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion approaching that requires the giving of a gift? Then consider a wine gift basket. They make elegant gifts for anyone who enjoys wine and the frequently include additional treats besides wine. They may also include such delights as fruit, nuts, candy, cheeses and wine accessories like bottle openers and corkscrews, drip stoppers and foil cutters or whatever else you think the recipient may enjoy. You can buy them already assembled
Alcohol Free Zone Alcohol Free Zone A Rectangle weave tray with East Shore specialty pretzels, Brent and Sam's cookies, Bremner wafers, Dill Havarti cheese, Butterfields Peach Buds hard candies, Ghiradelli chocolate macadamia bar, Crunchie Munchie snack mix, Lindt chocolate truffles and a bottle each of Non Alcoholic Ariel Cabernet and Chardonnay. Pricing and More Info
Wine Sales Holiday 2008 Wine Gifts Wine Gift Baskets Wine Gifts Wine Gift baskets Sales Wine Club Memberships Wine Racks Wine Cellars and All Wine Accessories The three best places online for wine gifts, wine club memberships, wine cellars, wine racks and anything related to wine are: The Wine Messenger, The Wine Enthusiast and The California Wine Club. All of these wine resources online have specials, free offers and incredible savings on wine, wine gifts, wine gift baskets, wine cellars and wine racks during the holiday 2008 sho
Wine Gifts Wine Gift Baskets Special Holiday 2008 Offers for Wine Gifts, Wine Gift Baskets Wine Club Memberships, Discounts and Holiday 2008 Wine Specials Online? Here are the Very Best Selections for You from JustWineThanks.com Make this 2008 holiday season special with a wine gift, a wine gift basket or perhaps even a special wine club membership for that special someone who loves wine and wine related products. The Wine Enthusiast, The Wine Messenger and The California Wine Club are offering terrific savings on wine, wi
Grapevine Wine Chest Grapevine Wine Chest A grape design inlay accents this beautiful wood and bamboo chest, accommodating a bottle of selected wine. It truly exudes the rustic spirit of the vineyard, and the sophistication of the fine wine inside. Choose the perfect bottle from our Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Port, Dessert Wine, or Moet & Chandon Champagne options. Gift is approximately 14'' x 5'' x 4''.Now Offering the Grapevine Wine Chest Duo. To order, simply select one of the 2-bottle choices below.
Forget The Eggs ? Get An Easter Basket Instead is the first thing you think of when Easter rolls around? That?s an easy question to answer ? chocolate! But why go for the traditional Easter eggs all the time when you could buy something that is more unusual, more enjoyable and can bring the whole family together as well? An Easter gift basket is one [...]
Gourmet Elegance Gourmet Elegance An elegant rectangle weave tray is filled with everything needed to enjoy any special occasion. 2 Chandon Brut Cuvee ''Champagne'' splitsLindt chocolate Truffle Balls2 chocolate hearts2 gourmet CappuccinosBremner WafersBaby Gouda CheeseEast Shore Specialty PretzelsChoice of Vermont Honey Mustard Pretzel DipBrent and Sam's Gourmet CookiesGhiradelli Chocolate Macadamia Bar Pricing and More Info
Gold Wine Basket Gold Wine Basket A round Cocoa Midrib bowl filled with either Estancia Chardonnay, Glass Mountain Cabernet, Port, Dessert Wine, or Moet & Chandon Champagne alongside delicious East Shore Pretzels, Brent and Sam's cookies, Bremner Wafers, Dill Havarti Cheese, and Butterfields Peach Buds hard candies. A gift worthy of gold and sure to be well received. Now Offering the Gold Wine Basket Duo. To order, simply select one of the 2-bottle choices below. Pricing and More Info
Wine gift baskets anyone? is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world today and wine gift baskets have become ever popular as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, or just the general holidays. With so many wine varieties to name and so many accompanying possibilities, the choices are literally endless. Some people, depending on the recipient [...]
Cheese and Wine Cheese and Wine A ""thank you"" for a gracious host. A treat for a special couple you know. The only thing missing from this basket is a friend and a good conversation.Willow Market BasketForest Glen Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Port, Dessert Wine, or Moet & Chandon ChampagneFrench BrieHavarti with DillBremner WafersApplesCheese BoardCheese Hatchet Pricing and More Info
COMPANIES LIKELY TO CUT BACK ON EMPLOYEE GIFTS LIKELY TO CUT BACK ON EMPLOYEE GIFTS November 17th, 2008 Posted in Valentine Gift | No Comments » Workers shouldn?t intend on consumer acquisition baskets or monogrammed cufflinks from their employers this transfer season. As companies grappling tighter budgets and layoffs in a toughened U.S. economy, analysts and activity accruement tell a retard in employee gift-giving. While activity worries impact some consumers curtailing their spending, companies are composing backwards their
Wine In Winter In Winter posted by Basket-Gifter @ 17:48 PM November 17, 2008 People love getting gift baskets as presents. Gift baskets can include a variety of products that appeal to most people. For example you may want to send a wine lover a wine gift basket, a fruit lover a fruit gift basket, or a food lover a cheese basket. One way to show your gift recipient that you care is to make sure the gift basket is seasonal or regional in theme. Here in the Pacific Northwest we have the benefit of ma
Show Them You Care! Them You Care! November 17th, 2008 Netta Being an employee here at GiftTree, I?m always pleased with the variety of gift baskets and gifts that I am able to send for any occasion, but I get especially excited about birthdays! Everybody cherishes that one day a year when they celebrate how long they?ve been on this earth. It?s not an anniversary where they share it with someone; it?s all about that person. A day where loved ones gather around to celebrate with birthday presents, some for
Cheese and Crackers Plus Cheese and Crackers Plus Displayed in a classic round cocoa midrib bowl basket with Flavored Bottled Tea, Baby Gouda Cheese, Carr's Table Crackers, East Shore Pretzels, Brent & Sam's Gourmet Cookies. Pricing and More Info
Champagne Celebration Champagne Celebration Exquisite two-toned wash basket with handles accents the 2 Chandon Brut Cuvee ''Champagne'' splits, Lindt Chocolate Truffles, Carr's Table Water Crackers, Cream Havarti cheese, Clearbrook Farms Old Fashioned Preserves, Esther's White Chocolate with Lemon candy, Crown Jewell Gourmet popcorn, Nikki's Gourmet Cookies, Pacific Gold Pistachios, 2 Chocolate Hearts, Crunchie Munchie Snack Mix, 2 Gourmet Cappuccinos and Butterfields Lemon Buds hard candy. A great combination, f
Can?t Decide So Order Everything Can?t Decide So Order Everything Burgundy candied cashewsBurgundy candied almondsBurgundy candied walnutsWhite Chocolate with lemon candyChocolate drizzled Rice KrispiesChocolate covered pretzel twistsChocolate covered Oreo cookies Pricing and More Info
Bon Appetit Bon Appetit From appetizer to dessert and everything in between, this gift is sure to please the gastronome's palate. The beginnings of a meal long remembered.Willow Market Basket with HandleSmoked Pacific Sockeye SalmonElena's Pasta SauceElena's Rainbow GemelliCarr's Wheatolo English BiscuitsEsther's Chocolate TurtlesLindt Chocolate BallsLa Tempesta Chocolate Macadamia BiscottiChardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet, Port Wine, Dessert Wine or Moet & Chandon Champagne (see below) Pricing and Mor
How To Select A Wine Gift Basket pubId=9720; var siteId=13297; var kadId=8656; var kadwidth=336; var kadheight=280; Special occasions like anniversaries or birthdays that require the giving of a gift are ideal times to consider a wine gift basket. They are always well-received gifts for wine enthusiasts and often include extra wine-related items. They may also include such delights as fruit, nuts, candy, cheeses and wine [...]
Welcome Welcome A greeting that says more than words ever can. A basket that combines gourmet tastes with downhome, friendly goodness.White Straw Mini Wash BasketPacific Gold Pistachio NutsMacy's Original Cheddar CheesesticksCarr's Table CrackersNikki's Shortbread CookiesLindt Chocolate BarBear Creek Country Kitchen SoupMaille Dijon MustardUsinger's Beef SausageEstancia Pinnacles ChardonnayLa Tempesta BiscottiCheese Board and Knife4 Wooden SpoonsHavarti with Dill Pricing and More Info
My first selection for these troubled times is the second most popular wine reviewed here by pageviews, the Petite Sirah by Crane Lake. This label is made by Bronco Wine Company who also produce the Charles Shaw brand for Trader Joe’s. Crane Lake is offered to independent retailers and typically sells for a couple dollars more than the more famous “2-buck Chuck.” Another difference is that more than just the typical varieties are offered, including this Petite Sirah and even a Sangiovese.
Petite Sirah is a good variety to look for in value wines these days as it flies a bit below the radar of most consumers. Many of the best examples can be found for less than $20 a bottle but I was interested in what you could get for $4. I picked up the 2004 vintage a while back but did not review it was a bad bottle, but I was able to track down the 2005 vintage for this tasting.
Tasting Notes:
Crane Lake, Petite Sirah 2005 ($4) - Dark purple-black color with aromas of blueberry compote and white pepper. Simple and juicy blueberry and plum flavors with some black pepper finishing with plush tannins and good acidity. Clean and surprisingly varietally correct.
Composite cork closure 12.5% ABV Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Nicely packed, with warm fig sauce, currant paste, coffee and bittersweet cocoa powder notes, this is muscular and dense, but has the buried minerality and balance to reward cellaring. Best from 2009 through 2015. 1,200 cases made.
Advertising on the Women Wine Critics Board ABOUT US This blog is compiled and edited by Mary Baker, co-owner of Dover Canyon Winery in Paso Robles, California. Mary has considerable experience in the California wine industry, and the blog is open to all writers who are passionate about wine. It is updated at least three times per month with guest articles and wine news. OUR READERSHIP The Women Wine Critics Board attracts an audience interested in fine wine, wine-related travel and wine appreciation experiences. As of June 2007, the number of unique visitors coming to the site on a monthly...
Chocolate, plum, kirsch and earth flavors mingle in this thick red, with licorice and briar notes adding breadth. Big and brawny, this is a bit rustic, but with lively character and good length. Best after 2009. 4,000 cases made.
This is a %50 percent Garnacha %50 Carinena Right of the bat I got and abnormal amount of chocolate and I have to say I liked it! I also get a bit of Jerky, and lots of cherry and plums( I think more plum) its got a bit of strong alcohol on the nose, it quite yummy, and runs in around $20 a bottle, I would say its is well worth it.
Is it just me, or are we smack-dab in the middle of topsy-turvy times? I gotta tell you, it?s exciting, exhilarating and a jolt of terrificante in my espresso. Really a great time to be engaged in whatever it is that takes you to the top, fires you up, makes you feel the breeze in your face, the cold, biting wind and the last of the setting sun as we head away from summer. And with all this excitement there?s this slightly disorienting facet that has one looking to recalibrate and check for balance. Not.
Like our social and political circuses that surround us, so the world of wine, and Italy, really seem to be in sync with this slightly out of register skew to things. Is this merely lucid dreaming or are the bathing beauties of Tuscany and Alto-Adige and Campania really vying for our attention? Or are they merely engaged in some kind of commercial cat-fight for our hearts and dollars? Happiness is a warm warehouse.
Sitting around some of the smaller corporate campfires lately, discussions have been had about the state of the wine business, and there seems to be a confluenza of notions and trends. I heard from a gent tonight who was the domestic head of an online service that finds buyers for rare and valuable wine. They were cutting his department and he was handed a pink slip. Eighteen months ago, that would have been unthinkable. Less than a month ago the delivery company DHL announced they would no longer be shipping wine domestically. So this little ray of hope, to the folks who think the three tier system is obsolete, is dimming. Money is tight, things get downsized.
In the world in which I live, there isn?t a day that doesn?t go by that I don?t get a note or three from some Italian wine company wanting to get onto the Ark. The smaller companies don?t have the capital, the ability to pay their bills. Everybody is trying to fit their animals on our ship. We are desirable, like this is some kind of beauty pageant. Hey folks, winter is coming, time to put the swimsuits in the drawer. Pass the grappa and cuddle up on a couch somewhere and find something to do. Not the time to plant tomatoes.
There?s something to be said about traveling the road with a camera and a bag of wine. It?s quite the spectacle. Today San Antonio, tomorrow Austin, the next day Dallas, then on to El Paso, McAllen and back to Longview. The Big Amarone Circus is coming to town with the killer B?s, Barolo, Barbaresco and Brunello. An exhibition of rarities so rare the Italian restaurateur doesn't even know about it. And the whole time the ringmaster?s friend, the ace photographer, is snapping away at the parade of models in their finest swimwear.
Will no one tell these bathing beauties, vying for the attention of the Maggiordomo, that Persephone is on the horizon, heralding the approach of the cold winds and winter? After all, they shoot the messenger in an upside-down world, don?t they?
Part of becoming a connoisseur of cheap wines is knowing where to look for them. I’ll share with you one of my little secret places I attempt to seek out cheap wine: the “Reduced for Quick Sale” shelf at your local supermarket. At Meijer, my local super-mega-ultra-store, this shelf is usually located in the bottle return area. Not a very pleasant place to be searching for wines, but just think of it as a treasure hunt! You may find a bounty of cheap wines that you never knew existed.
While picking over the wines yesterday, a cartoon label caught my eye: Big Daddy Vineyards Merlot. I picked up the March 2002 vintage for about 6 dollars.
Why was this reduced for quick sale? Was it worth enduring the stench of the bottle return area to bring home this wine? Yes, yes it was. It’s almost sad that this wine traveled all the way from Argentina to end up in my bottle return area.
Big Daddy knows how to make a good cheap wine. Believe it or not, the first attribute of this wine I picked up on was the light hint of bacon. Mmm bacon. Who doesn’t love bacon? Big Daddy loves it, that’s for sure. Look at that belly! On top of the bacon was a strong berry with a leathery taste.
If you’re looking for a full bodied cheap red wine with a lot of character, give the Big Daddy Merlot a try.
Rating: 8/10 - High score for originality Price: 6.00 Place of purchase: Meijer Vineyard Info: Big Daddy Vineyards Mendoza, Argentina www.bigdaddyvineyards.com
Every year TigullioVino.it, Italy?s foremost wine portal, organizes a wine Meeting, a table-top event bringing together over one hundred winemakers hand picked from Italy and Europe. This year?s edition, with some influence from yours truly, is called Terroir Vino, and was held at the magnificent Palazzo Ducale in Genova. The Palazzo Ducale, photo by Luca Risso Terroir Vino is the brainchild of my friend, web entrepreneur Fil Ronco. Participants are invited after selection in a blind tasting by TigullioVino teams, and so you get a wide spectrum of styles and sizes of winery, from the ?all natural? vigneron with less than 4 hectares, to large quality producers like Lungarotti. Half the day is reserved for wine professionals (press, restaurant owners, importers), and starting mid-afternoon the event is open to the public for a nominal fee. The setting under the gold leaf carved ceilings of the doge?s palace, the perfect organization and the friendly atmosphere made this Terroir Vino day a big success. It was good to see lots of blogging and newsgroup friends, including Joan Gómez Pallarès, Terry Hughes, Luca Risso, Giampiero Nadali, Schigi, Filippo Cintolesi, Franco Solari, Fiorenzo Sartore, Mirco Mariotti, Gianpaolo Paglia, even Slow Food friends Enrico Sala and Maurizio Fava. All in all 1500 people attended.
The wines of Bulgaria have mostly been impressing me with their value but not their complexity, to say the least. This has become so universally true that I have coined the phrase "Bulgarian Soft" to refer to them in my notes. It was time to venture forth to one of the better restaurants in the country to see what throwing money at it would bring.
What follows is a detailed review of the restaurant, but only a generic review of of the wines. As always I save the wine specifics for the readers of my newsletter. It is free and it is emailed so there is no trees to kill, and it comes with a password to unlock the full data base of all of my wine tasting notes. You may sign up for it here.
The restaurant that received our patronage this evening was the Uno Enoteca in Sofia, Bulgaria. This was the first white linen restaurant we have had a chance to visit in Bulgaria, and we had a great time. The staff was attentive and friendly, and everyone did their best to ensure that we enjoyed ourselves.
The food was simple. A little too simple for my taste. We tried ordering more Continental style fare, but even early on a Friday night, the kitchen had run out of our favorites. We opted then to try the more traditional Bulgarian style of dining, which they refer to as BBQ and I put under the heading of: kill it and grill it.
The Muscat from the Thracian region we opened the dinner with was delightful. Aromatic but crisp and dry. I have really been enjoying the many Muscats I have tried in Bulgaria. They all tend towards the drier side, and have been more successful than the other aromatic style whites I have tried.
I started with rabbit stuffed in a nest of potatoes, which I had high hopes for. It was alas, rather bland. There was no sauce at all, just a tiny piece of rabbit in the center of half dollar sized fried shredded potatoes. This was served with warm slices of cucumbers and carrots. There was no hint of herb, spice or apparently even salt in the dish.
My wife settled for a carpaccio of beef when we learned the carpaccio of duck was sold out. It was served in the traditional manner, with shavings of parmesan cheese and arugula, with a drizzle of balsamic and olive oil. This is mostly notable because olive oil is not common in Bulgaria, and it was good to see. The carpaccio was fresh, thin, and pretty much like every other time we have had it. Nothing to rave about, but perfectly nice.
Next up in the wine department we had a relatively pricey Merlot / Cab blend. At 140 Bulgarian Leva (around $115) it was the most expensive wine we have tried, even given the usual restaurant markup. It lived up the the "Bulgarian Soft" moniker, but with delightful fruit and more complexity we had seen in other Bulgarian wines.
I am a fan of the soft style in wines, Zinfandels and Pinot Noir usually being more to my taste than tannic Cabs. If your tastes are similar than you will enjoy a foray into Bulgarian wines. If you expect well defined tannins in your Cabs and Merlots, you are likely to be disappointed. I have only tried a dozen or so examples to date, but this seems to be the pattern I am noticing.
For our main course we had grilled meats. Lamb and a veal steak, ordered by weight. They came unadorned with limp grilled vegetables their only accompaniment. They were cooked perfectly, but they were, to us, rather boring. No complaints, it is just a matter of taste, and the Bulgarian love of grilled meats is not one that we really share.
The house kindly surprised us with a taste of an Austrian dessert wine, but I never got a good look at the bottle, and it happened too quickly to get details. Suffice it to say it was rich and flavorful and one of the highlights of the evening.
We finished with a small chocolate soufflé that was perfectly nice. I prefer to see them served with a bit of creme anglais, but once a saucier.... Not everyone share my penchant for sauce on everything. In this case it was more like sauce on nothing.
The ambiance of Uno Enoteca was delightful. With outdoor seating under an awning making the most of the warm summer night. The fresh air also helped disperse the ever present cigar and cigarette smoke that is a fact of life pretty much everywhere outside of the US.
The service was very good, in fact the only Western European service we have experienced in Eastern Europe to date. Usually the wait staff do their best not to be at all obtrusive, which looks a lot like being ignored to our standards. At Uno they were attentive, knew how to pour wine without over pouring, and did a fine job of making sure that everything was as perfect as it could be.
I definitely recommend Uno Enoteca to anyone dining in Sofia, and if your tastes run close to mine I can only hope that their full menu is available when you visit.
Domaine Richaud ? Cotes du Rhone ?Terres d? Aigues? (2005)
If you?re in the mood for wonderful floral aromas followed by mind altering weirdness on the palate ? try this.
Dried herbs, strong garrigue notes and liquorice on the nose, full bodied initially, becoming seriously fat in the glass with some tobacco and grilled meat flavours which seem to fade but kick in again accompanied by a seriously weird sweaty iodine and dare I say it ? Sauerkraut fizzpop explosion which stopped me dead in my tracks between the kitchen and the lounge.
Top marks for creating something really interesting here, I just wonder if the flavours work for me. After two glasses it left me in a dizzy sweat.
Domaine Richaud produce top quality wines and I look forward to returning to the Cairanne or perhaps the Les Garrigues?decisions, decisions.
I purchased the book and wine on the same day. I think the wine will appeal to most, while the book is likely to have a far narrower audience. Charcuterie (by Michael Ruhlman and Brian Polcyn) is 300 plus pages of meat, salt and smoke. I plan to start with the bacon before moving on to the pancetta. . .
Friendly is the middle of three Grüners (Singing and Charming being the other two) made by Laurenz Five. It's very good. Light, textured and mineral, it smells of flint (sulphur) and river stones coated in honey and lemon juice. Clear and persistent with pear skin and sherbet flavours rimmed by gripping texture and flesh.
In this final part of this series, I would like to introduce readers to an extremely small winery which pays serious attention to their vines. Himmelsfeld vineyard began in 1991 when owner Elizabeth(Beth) Eggars decided to try something else besides nursing. Nestled on a gentle hill in Upper Moutere, the 10.5ha property has about 1.5ha dedicated to growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and SauvignonBlanc (roughly equal split). The rest of the land is still home to an apple orchard and many sheep!
Total production for all wines is roughly about 600+ cases so odds are you will not see this too often overseas. In fact, don't think we saw it in shops while in New Zealand either.
Of the many wineries visited - Beth struck me as one who puts emphasis on the Vineyard first and wine making second. She is adamant that "great wines are made in the vineyard", something which I hear echoed in the most zealous ( and coincidentally top notch) Burgundy producers. Her vineyard is the first one I have seen in New Zealand which does not "irrigate" - yes you heard it right - no irrigation. It was deemed that a deeper vine root system was preferable over "immediate results" and irrigation did not encourage this.
2002 HimmelsfeldMoutere Chardonnay Hints of citrus fruits and what is the beginning of some secondary aromas coming from the oak. Defintely French oak and probably not new oak either. Not as tight in terms of acidity which I suspect means it should be consumed within 3-5 years. 90 points.
2002 HimmelsfeldMoutere Cabernet Already achieving some secondary aromas, black and red fruits, not an inky black monster by any measures & soft smooth tannins. The core of the mid palate however shows some lightness in density indicating perhaps rain - grape bloat? Other than that a very nice wine but do not expect this to get much better and should be consumed within 3 perhaps 5 years. 90 points.
2003 HimmelsfeldMouter Noble Chardonnay Of the wines offered for tasting this is probably the got me excited the most. I am thinking this is comparable to top level Alsace SGN's but it also has that acidity which lifts the whole thing up. Defintely something I would be very curious to try again in 10-15 years - think this will be a knockout. 96+ points
And oh how we wish we were hiking right at this very minute. To be up in the mountains hearing the crackle of the leaves underfoot, the gentle brush of the cold wind across your cheeks, and the awe inspiring vision of the valleys sweeping down below you, while perched on a small outcropping. Sigh, I wish I could teleport us there, feeling my head on the soft, slightly wet ground staring up at the wispy clouds. But alas, we are here, in Terrassa, imagining a beautiful, relaxing day in the mountains, pondering what we would bring.
At first, we considered a light red to pair with our traditional hiking cuisine, consisting of cured Manchego cheese and a freshly baked baguette. But then we thought, “what about a big bold Spanish red that is so tightly wound, it would take hours for that bad boy to open and relax?”.
After much contemplation, we both agreed that this would be a great way to go. Pack in some fuet, a sharp Manchego and a baguette, hike for 3 to 4 hours after double decanting your bottle, and voila, you’ve got a fabulous little lunch. The only problem being, you’ve got to get back down the mountain. And as many of you know, these big ass Spanish reds pack in a fair amount of alcohol. So unless you’ve spend the entire afternoon tossing around a Frisbee, while downing a few bottles a water, you might as well curl up and take a long luxurious nap, because we highly doubt you’ll be going anywhere anytime soon.
Hmmm, anyone for a hike?!
That said, we cracked open both the 2001 Bodegas Bilbainas La Vicalanda Gran Reserva from La Rioja, made with Tempranillo, along with the 2005 Casa de la Ermita Petit Verdot. And alas, the Petit Verdot was as mild and harmless as spring doe, with gorgeous dark fruit and spice aromas. Light, elegant and delicate, we fear that this one just wouldn’t make it for a full on arduous hike. It would however, make a killer pairing for a picnic in the park, but full on backpacking adventures are just not in this wine’s future. The Bilbainas however, is a fabulous choice for a long afternoon hike. Big, bold traditional Rioja wine, it could easily age for another 5 years before we see it in its full glory. However, the caveat being that the weight of the bottle is ridiculously heavy, and would be better used as a door stop than a wine to go backpacking with.
Thanks again to winehiker for a great theme and to Lenn for surviving 50 Wine Blog Wednesdays. Hopefully, we’ll celebrate with a hike in the mountains surrounding Terrassa soon! For now though enjoy a video of our last wine hike!
Founded in 1729, Ruinart is the longest established sparkling wine house in the Champagne region of France. Named after Benedictine monk Dom Thierry Ruinart, the winery is located in the city of Reims, where ancient crayères (chalk pits) serve as cellars that offer constant temperature and humidity, thus allowing the wine to age as long as 12 years. These crayères were hewn from the chalk sub-soil by the Romans, who used the chalk as building materials. Also used during World War I to escape the bombing, these cellars were classified an historic monument in 1931.
Join us as we sit down with Ruinart’s Cellarmaster Frédéric Pana?otis to discuss Ruinart’s history, its vineyard sources, and of course its various cuvées.
After four decades in the wine industry, Harry McWatters, the spirited, fun-loving, and sometimes outspoken president of Sumac Ridge Estate Winery in Summerland, British Columbia, is stepping down.
Harry?s accomplishments are legendary. He helped found the British Columbia Wine Institute, Wines of Canada, VQA Canada, the BC Wine Information Society, and the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society. In 2003, he was a recipient of the Order of British Columbia and is considered instrumental in propelling British Columbia?s wine industry onto the global stage.
But even more important, Harry is known and loved for his tireless commitment and enthusiasm. To be in a room with Harry, is to be instantly caught up in a contagious passion for all things wine-oriented. His wit is razor sharp, his smile impossible to resist, and few can match the sheer depth of his knowledge.
But there?s clearly no slowing down on Harry?s immediate horizon. Effective May 1st, 2008 ? the day after he officially steps down as president of Sumac Ridge ? Harry intends to begin work establishing The Okanagan Wine Academy, an educational program offering in-depth wine educational programs primarily to consumers. In addition to providing consulting services, he will also continue on as president of the Black Sage Vineyard.
And he?s going to finally be able to devote some time to completing his cookbook, Wine Country Cooking, British Columbia, a project he says ?has been talked about and gathering dust for several years.? He smiles with that characteristic twinkle in his eyes. ?This is by no means retirement, but an opportunity to find new reasons to get out of bed in the morning and shift gears, as I plan to remain active in the future growth of this great industry.?
Like everyone who has ever had the privilege of meeting this incredible man, we wish Harry every success and look forward to seeing what shifting gears will bring. We?ll also be first in line to try out some of his Wine Country Cooking recipes.
This is a second review of this wine sent to us by Stilletto Entertainment: Big peary nose with an under layer of vanilla cream and something that I don't have a descriptor for.
Palate is lively with nice acidity and clean flavors of citrus and minerals and a fruity, pear finish. This is a nice, clean wine that will pair well with buttery, rich foods. Raise a glass and thanks Stilletto!
(Consistent notes with first review although I liked this wine even more the second time around. Why? Probably because this time of year sub-clinical colds are ubiquitous and can dull the palate or it could be as simple as the nice catch-all bail out phrase; bottle variation. Either way--raise a glass!)
The other day I casually threw a reference into a post, that we're looking for the name of a new blog to report on our wines, do tasting notes, etc. In other words, no screeds or rants from me. More informational and less, er, quirky. Something Jeff can live with too. The name should be short (1-2 words) and relate somehow to wine. If there's an Italian aspect to it, so much the better. Certainly that's not a requirement.So, I beg you for suggestions. Comment below or send me an...
Fredric Koeppel expressed skepticism (or should I say scepticism) about the first-draft copy for our coming web site, which I posted a week ago. I was stung when he suggested that it was a parody. I reread it and saw where he was coming from. My disquiet was redoubled when I received the sarcastic comment from Gianpaolo Paglia. I'm not a fool. I did not stay the course. I asked the writer to come up with something completely different, perhaps a bit less rapturous and florid this time. See below...
Although the Oregon Pinot Gris Harvest is a little later this year than vineyard managers would like, good weather has ensured that this year's crop should be outstanding. The rule in Oregon has been that the even years (2004, 2006, etc...) are better than the odd years (2005, 2007), and it look as though the grapes will prove that theory right again.
A virtually rain-free summer with warm temperatures has slowly given the vines enough heat units to produce healthy fruit. There has been a lack of extended periods of moisture, or any other destructive types of weather. Last year's harvest was noticeably unfavorable, with several weeks of bad weather in September and October.
Just like John Maverick McCain, I am sort of a shoot-from-the-hip guy. A bit rash and impetuous and all too ready to shoot off my mouth in some backfiring attempt at humor. A feature of this personality type is to be a bit sloppy, and rather disorganized. We need handlers, Johnny Mac and me, but I'd like to hope they'd be more astute and even-handed than Steve Schmidt and the rest of those gorillas. Even Sarah Palin, deplorable as she is, has acquitted herself a good deal more coherently than...
Tecnorati
My 
Is it just me, or are we smack-dab in the middle of topsy-turvy times? I gotta tell you, it?s exciting, exhilarating and a jolt of terrificante in my espresso. Really a great time to be engaged in whatever it is that takes you to the top, fires you up, makes you feel the breeze in your face, the cold, biting wind and the last of the setting sun as we head away from summer. And with all this excitement there?s this slightly disorienting facet that has one looking to recalibrate and check for balance. Not. 
Like our social and political circuses that surround us, so the world of wine, and Italy, really seem to be in sync with this slightly out of register skew to things. Is this merely lucid dreaming or are the bathing beauties of Tuscany and Alto-Adige and Campania really vying for our attention? Or are they merely engaged in some kind of commercial cat-fight for our hearts and dollars? Happiness is a warm warehouse.
In the world in which I live, there isn?t a day that doesn?t go by that I don?t get a note or three from some Italian wine company wanting to get onto the Ark. The smaller companies don?t have the capital, the ability to pay their bills. Everybody is trying to fit their animals on our ship. We are desirable, like this is some kind of beauty pageant. Hey folks, winter is coming, time to put the swimsuits in the drawer. Pass the grappa and cuddle up on a couch somewhere and find something to do. Not the time to plant tomatoes.
Say cheese?
