 Question: I am looking for a few moderately priced wines for everyday use. Could you provide 3 reds and 3 whites? What are your favorite everyday wines? Answer: The simplest wine questions are always the hardest to answer because I don't know what you like! Do you like very robust, heavy reds-or lighter wines and slightly sweet whites? And you do not specify a price range-- everyone's idea of everyday is different. And just a dollar or two increase in price can make a world of difference in the quality and appeal of the taste. But let me give you six wines based on the assumption you like a range of wines and are talking under $10 a bottle. Best Value for Money = Whites = Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc from California/Reds = Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel = NAPA RIDGE, TALUS, FORESTVILLE, VILLA MT. EDEN, WENTE, GEYSER PEAK, FETZER, CHATEAU SOUVERAIN, BUENA VISTA, QUIVIRA, ST. SUPERY, GUENOC. Good Rieslings which are medium-dry whites that are light and fruity, try CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE (Washington State) or GERMAN RIESLING KABINETT. Best Italian Sangiovese (my favorite smooth red)= BOLLA, RUFFINO "FONTE AL SOLE"; Best Australia Shiraz (another favorite smooth red)= PENFOLDS "Koonunga Hill"; Best Chile Wines = ERRAZURIZ and CALITERRA. Best Spanish reds for price are RIOJA or RIBERA DEL DUERO (any brand). Hope this helps. Go to a fine wine store in your area and they will have lots and lots of brands within these types for under $10. Good Luck!
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.comQuestion: Someone told me that Washington's wine country is on the same latitude as Bordeaux, France. Does that mean Washington produces the same type of high quality Cabernet/Merlot blends? Answer: Vineyards in Washington, the state just above Oregon, are at the same 46 degrees north latitude as Bordeaux, France. They cover the entire Columbia River basin in the dry, sagebrush-covered hills of the eastern part of the state. Because it is not rainy like the western side of the state which is on the Pacific Ocean, the vineyards are precisely irrigated, the growing season is extra long and the grapevines get two more hours of sunshine during the day than Napa Valley, California. The ideal of warm, dry days (for ripe fruit qualities) and cool nights (for good acidity) is achieved in almost every vintage. Even the deep, nutrient-poor, sandy loam soils are comparable to important parts of Bordeaux including St. Emilion, which is why the red Bordeaux varietals do as well in Washington. Other microclimates are great for every white grape variety including for the production of Dry Rieslings and Gewurztraminer. Consumers can find virtually every grape they could possibly desire in Washington. But to my mind, and as evidenced by their huge popularity in the marketplace, Washington Merlots are their very best wines-not just best red wine, but best wine, period.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: Are there any American wines that are comparable to the German Spatlese and Auslese wines? I haven't found any yet with the same taste. Answer: The ATF in America does not allow the use of German terms such as Spatlese or Auslese on U.S. wine labels so they are called in English: Late Harvest (Spatlese) and Select Late Harvest (Auslese and above). And of course the famous grape of Germany is the Riesling. So look for Riesling--Late Harvest or Riesling--Select Late Harvest from California wineries such as: KENDALL- JACKSON, BERINGER, JOSEPH PHELPS etc. Even some Washington wineries such as HOGUE or CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE do these dessert style Rieslings. They will be higher in price than drier Rieslings because they can only be made--just as in Germany--in great vintage years when there are weeks of extra sunshine past the normal harvest dates to make the grapes very ripe. Good Luck finding the ones you like. Any fine wine store in your area should have several of these--even if they are locked in their wine vault. Otherwise, buy the German originals, which are widely available in the U.S.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: Since I have become a vegetarian I cannot drink heavy wines. I am making a special polenta main course with a wild mushroom sauce that has port wine in it, what would you recommend as the wine partner? Answer: Your vegetarian meal sounds delicious. I would choose a red since you are using port in the mushroom sauce. However, you do not want to overpower the polenta since it has no heavy meat, so I'd suggest a dry, red with some deep concentration of fruit such as a MERLOT (which is very smooth and the most popular red wine)--you can find many examples in any good wine store, most will be from wineries in California. Choose your price range and they will find one for you!
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: What is Shiraz exactly? I have a bottle-what dish should I prepare? Answer: Shiraz is Australia's name for the Syrah grape, which originates from the Rhone River wine region in France. It is very popular because it's smooth with some black raspberry flavors and lots of spice. A Shiraz is great with any type of barbecue or grilled menu-- from hamburgers to steak, ribs, chicken, pork etc. Prices range from $8-$80+.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com "I have it on the highest medical authority that I will still be alive at the turn of the century! She is thrilled. ''You know what this means?'' she asks. Of course I know what it means. It means we do not have to drink up all our 1985 and 1986 Chateau Latour at supper tonight for fear I might die with several outrageously priced wines undrunk. For the first time in years, we can go to bed sober."" ~~ (From The New York Times, May 12 1990.)
Excerpt from Vintage Humor for Wine Lovers by Malcolm KushnerQuestion: I've heard that wine ages faster in splits than in regular 750ml bottles. Is there a rule of thumb I can use for determining how long after the vintage a split will last? Answer: The saying that wine ages more quickly in smaller size bottles such as splits came about because for French Champagne they decant the wine from larger bottles into smaller bottles and thereby lose some of the fizz and let air get to the wine. That's why many splits of any sparkling wine from any country are usually somewhat flat, and do not age well at all. It is not quite so bad for red wines because reds wines have more natural tannin or preservative from their black grape skins, and the wineries that make half-bottles of red wine usually fill and age them the same as they do the larger bottles without decanting. The same may be true of the better white wines in half-bottles such as Chardonnay or white Burgundy from France-- however white wines age more quickly than reds anyway. So there is no hard rule of thumb as to how long any of the "splits" or "half-bottles" will last--the longest lasting being the fine red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux in half-bottles, then oak-aged white wines in half bottles. By the way, it costs a winery almost as much money for the glass bottle and cork in the half size as it does for their full size bottles, so wineries have to charge a premium price for these smaller bottles. It really is better to buy the regular size 750 ml bottle and then use a vacuvin or stopper to preserve it until you drink the bottle glass by glass.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: I would like to buy a fine wine that my wife and I would enjoy but I don't know how to purchase fine wine. Could you please send me some names? Answer: Here are my suggestions for fine wines to buy for you and your wife: 1. FRENCH CHAMPAGNE--Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, Mumm Cordon Rouge--all are Brut and Vintage (the finest) or Non-Vintage (less expensive); 2. VINTAGE PORTO--Grahams, Warres, Dows, Quinto do Noval, Smith-Woodhouse--all from vintages such as 1994 or if you can find older vintages such as 1977 that would be fantastic--these are all sweet, red dessert wines; 3. CALIFORNIA CABERNET SAUVIGNONS--Chateau St. Jean "Cinq Cepages"; Guenoc "Reserve", Langtry or Beckstoffer Vineyard; St. Supery "Meritage" Red; Mondavi Reserve-all from the 1995, 1996, 1997 or 1998 vintages-and there are lots more collectors items starting at $80 such as Opus One, Dominus, Niebaum- Coppola "Rubicon" etc.; 4. FRENCH RED BORDEAUX--if you can afford the first growths such as Chateau Margaux or Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, then buy. If they are too expensive, buy other "cru classe" from Haut Medoc such as Ch. Dauzac (Margaux), Ch. Ducru-Beaucailou (St. Julien) etc. Get help in a fine wine store. 5. FRENCH RED BURGUNDY--buy them young, recent vintages, because they are all 100% Pinot Noir. The great ones will be in the locked in the wine vault of any good wine store, with plenty of others in more moderate price ranges on the floor. 6. FRENCH RED RHONE-buy young, recent vintages of Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Cote Rotie, Hermitage, St. Joseph, Cornas -these are all based on the Syrah grape and delicious, big, blockbuster reds. Also try the Australia equivalent which are the better Shiraz wines.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: At big family gatherings whether a sit down dinner or picnic we like to serve ham. Can we keep it simple with the wine? Answer: Ham will be wonderful with the perfect wine partners. You don't say what kind of wines you like--white or red, dry or sweet--so I'm going to give you several suggestions: 1. Rosé or blushing pink wines do very well with ham. These are light wines and usually medium-dry. Try any brand "White Zinfandel" for a berry flavor, slightly sweet, low alcohol wine you can serve chilled. For a drier style Rosé, you can find "blanc de noir" sparkling wines and regular wines from California such as Chandon "Blanc de Noir" sparkling or Simi Rose of Cabernet. There are also several French dry Rosés such as Guigal "Tavel Rosé" 1997 $17 or Domaine Sorin Rosé from Cotes du Rhone 1998 $12. 2. If you want a white wine, choose either a German Riesling Kabinett, which will not be too sweet and delicious with ham; or for a drier white wine choose a California Sauvignon Blanc such as St. Supery or Quivira "Fig Tree" or Guenoc. 3. If you prefer a red wine, either a Gamay Beaujolais from California or a Zinfandel (this black grape can make either the blush pink wine or dry red wine) such as Ridge Coast Range II about $13.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: Can you recommend different types of wines--white vs. red varietals and Champagne--for my wedding? The food selection will be buffet. Answer: Congratulations! I have helped many brides to be with their wine wedding plans. First there is usually a bar during reception--and what you need is good, but relatively moderate-priced Chardonnay (dry white), Merlot (smooth dry red), and White Zinfandel (blushing pink slightly sweet wine). There are many California brand names that will do such as NAPA RIDGE or TALUS (inexpensive), or CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE or VILLA MT. EDEN (moderate price just over and under $10 a bottle). At the table, when everyone is seated, you will need the same types of wine, but because everyone can look at the labels on the bottles as they are being served, you can use the last two wineries I named or go up one step in price to wineries such as FREEMARK ABBEY, BERINGER, RAVENSWOOD, ST. FRANCIS, CHATEAU ST. JEAN etc. As for the Champagne, you can have one good French Champagne for a single glass toast- Champagne, you can have one good French Champagne for a single glass toast- BRUT LA FRANCAISE, VEUVE CLICQUOT BRUT N.V., ROEDERER BRUT N.V. etc.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: Thai food is not only exotic; it is so exciting to eat. We love red curry Thai style, but are there wines that can stand up to it? Answer: I myself had Thai Red Curry Chicken for lunch the other day, so I have it firmly in my memory. Some wine experts would say to serve a Gewurztraminer with it, but really it's almost too spicy a wine for the subtle Thai style. Instead I would suggest either a California or New Zealand SAUVIGNON BLANC- Instead I would suggest either a California or New Zealand SAUVIGNON BLANC- citrusy aroma and flavor. My favorite New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are Cloudy Bay and Giesen; and from Calfornia I prefer: St. Supery, Guenoc and Quivira "Fig Tree" Vineyard, and Groth. Your local fine wine store can help you find these. Other good choices are RIESLING in the dry style from Washington or Germany, or Australia SEMILLON-CHARDONNAY which is made to partner Pacific Rim cuisine with Asian influences. And if you are a real French wine connoisseur--then try Alsace "Tokay" which is the Pinot Gris grape--it is the only other spicy grape in the world--but much less spicy than Gewurztraminer--and the Alsace syle will be dry. My favorite brand is Lucien Albrecht Tokay Pinot Gris "Vielles Vignes" old vines.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: What is a good bottle of wine in $10-$50 price range? Answer: When I get a question like yours I want to shout, "help"! You don't tell me what kind of red wine you like? Do you prefer Cabernets or Pinot Noirs, do you prefer French or California, do you really mean wines that are vastly different in quality--because there is a world of difference between a $10 red and a $50 red! Do you want to buy this red to drink now, or do you want to cellar it for a few years? All these will determine what I recommend to you. My suggestion, forget low price wines at the $10 range and aim for wines that are $20-$30. You don't have to go all the way up to $50 to find wines you can both drink now and save for a few years. In the $20-$30 price range there are many, many wonderful California wines that are either called Cabernet Sauvignon by their main grape, or Meritage red. Both are usually blended with a small amount of Merlot and Cabernet Franc etc. like they do in Bordeaux. Wineries in this price range making great Cabernet or Meritage Red include: Chateau St. Jean, Joseph Phelps, St. Supery "Meritage Red", Estancia "Meritage", Beaulieu Vineyard "Tapestry", Beringer Alluvium etc. Go to a fine wine store in your area and ask them to show you these wines and other brands like them.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: Why decant wine? Answer: Wines are decanted to get rid of sediment, the organic matter that naturally precipitates from the wine as it matures. The wines that throw the most sediment are mature, full-bodied red wines and vintage port. The second reason to decant is to let the wine breathe so that it helps to warm up a wine that’s too cold, soften any harsh tannins and open up its aromatics. This is especially true of rough-and-not-ready reds, particularly young, full-bodied ones: cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, brunello, barolo, bordeaux, rioja, shiraz, syrah and Northern Rhone wines.
Natalie MacLean is the author of Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass. She was named the World’s Best Drink Writer for the articles and wine picks in her free wine newsletter available at www.nataliemaclean.com. Question: How does one tell if a bottle of wine is from the Burgundy region or from Bordeaux if it does not tell you on the label? Answer: Ah, there's the rub! They do tell you on French wine labels whether it's a Bordeaux or Burgundy by giving you the "Appellation Controllee" or controlled name of origin which is a place name. But you have to be able to recognize the place names as coming from either Bordeaux or Burgundy. That's why I spend so much time on French wines when I teach Wine School-- you have to familiarize yourself with a lot of place names, i.e. districts, communes, vineyards. But here is a secret shortcut just for you. Look at the shape of the bottles--the Bordeauxs are always in tall, high-shouldered bottles called Bordeaux bottles and that's why even in California or Australia they use the same shape Bordeaux bottle for Bordeaux grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc. And the Burgundy shape bottle in France is always squatter with sloping shoulders--and that again is why all over the world they use Burgundy shape bottles for the Burgundy grapes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Also, at the bottom of the wine labels, you can look for the word "Bordeaux" or "Bourgogne (Burgundy) or Cote d'Or (the best district in Burgundy)" as the location of the producer. This should help you considerably!
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: The best steak restaurants have an overwhelming list of red wines. How do I navigate through the many possibilities? Answer: A good steak pairs best with good red wine. Most of the fine steak restaurants sell much more of the better red wines than white for good reason--the reds help us digest the steak better and keep our arteries clearer! You don't tell me what kinds of wine your like so I'm going to suggest you develop a taste for the great Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blends from California. Many are called "Meritage Red". Some of the best are: ESTANCIA "Meritage", ST. SUPERY "Meritage", CHATEAU ST. JEAN "Cinq Cepages", CAIN Cuvee, BERINGER "Alluvium", and BEAULIEU VINEYARD "Tapestry" etc.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: Can I use my basement to store wines? It is pretty cool. Answer: Your basement could be very good for wine storage. The recommended temperature is in the range of 55-65 degrees F., and the recommended humidity is in the range of 60-75%. What really does damage to wine are bright, fluorescent lights; mold & odors; vibration, and extremes of temperature-if the temperature goes below 40 degrees F. you could cause tartrate crystals to precipitate out of your wines, and above 75 degrees F. you would age (i.e. oxidize) your wines more quickly.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: What are some inexpensive whites and reds under $15? Answer: It would take pages to give you some white and red wines under $15--there are literally dozens and dozens I could recommend. Before I can answer your question I need to know whether you like dry wines or medium dry or slightly sweet? Do you like heavy wines or light? Do you prefer classic French wines or California? Also, I do not know what is available in your area, wherever that is. So let me just assume you like dry white and red wines from any country. In which case, wines just under $15 can include the following types: 1. Australia "Shiraz"--deliciously smooth, dry red and the most famous grape (really the Syrah grape) in Australia--a good one is always the Rosemount, Greg Norman, Hardy's, WaterWheel "Bendigo" etc. 2. California "Sauvignon Blanc" as a change from Chardonnay, this white grape makes a lighter style white, dry wine with a citrusy, grapefruit aroma and taste that is very good with a wide range of foods. Brands I recommend include: St. Supery, Groth, Buena Vista etc. Even New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are world famous, so try one of those too such as Cloudy Bay, or Geisen. Go to a fine wine store in your area and ask them to help you find these types of wine--they'll have many brand names in your price.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: I really enjoy seafood at this time of year-Spring-especially salmon, shrimp, and crab. However, I love red wine (Cabs and Merlots). How can I combine these two items without disrupting the flavor of both? Answer: There are several ways to have red wines with seafood, and lovely Spring weather. First, PINOT NOIR is my favorite red grape variety when eating grilled Salmon, and it pairs very well with other seafood dishes especially if Hong Kong or Hawaiian style steamed seafood with some soy/ginger in the sauce, or mushrooms or cheese. Second, MERLOT (as well as Pinot Noir) pairs well with the thick fish steaks such as Swordfish or Marlin. Very rare Tuna however is a hard match for most wines, but you can experiment (or cook the Tuna more thoroughly on the grill). Third, fried fish dishes such as fried oysters or fried clams or fried shrimp also seem to go well with Pinot Noir and Merlot, as well as the other lighter black grape varieties such as GAMAY BEAUJOLAIS from California or red SANCERRE from Loire region of France which is made with Pinot Noir or even a red ANJOU wine from the Loire which is a light style Cabernet Franc grape wine. In the Loire they have many fresh oysters and shellfish and these lighter wines match them very well.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com "A typical wine writer was once described as someone with a typewriter who was looking for his name in print, a free lunch and a way to write off his wine cellar. It's a dated view. Wine writers now use computers." ~~ Frank Prial, NYTimes, January 21, 1998
Excerpt from Vintage Humor for Wine Lovers by Malcolm KushnerQuestion: I am having a party for 70 people. We will have a punch for non-drinkers. What else should I serve them? We want to have a bottle of each white and red wine at each table. What is a good and reasonably priced option? We are also having a Champagne toast. Any suggestions? Answer: The non-alcohol beverages that I recommend for non-drinkers include iced tea and red grape juice. Both of these have natural tannin which is the anti-oxidant in red grape skins and red wines. The taste of these (except for the sweetness of the red grape juice) will not interfere with the palate if some of these non-drinkers later decide to switch to wine. But sodas and punches do interfere with your ability to appreciate the taste of good wines. The most popular white wine is Chardonnay-inexpensive try NapaRidge, mid-price try Meridian or Wente, expensive try Sonoma-Cutrer, Grgich Hills or any Reserve Chardonnay from California. The most popular red wine is Merlot-inexpensive to mid-priced try Sequoia Ridge or Forest Glen or Columbia Crest; for slightly more expensive try Chateau St. Jean, DeLoach, Kenwood or Whitehall Lane etc. As for the Champagne toast-if you serve just one glass per person, you might be able to afford a good Brut N.V. French Champagne such as Bollinger Special Cuvee, Taittinger Brut La Francaise, Louis Roederer Premier, Laurent Perrier LP, Mumm Cordon Rouge, Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top, Pommery and Pol Roger. All these brands also do top of the line expensive Vintage dated Brut for a spectacular splurge.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: How do I become a wine writer? Answer: There's no standard way to become a wine writer. I think most wine writers come in through the back door, from another field since there aren’t any wine writing schools. Your best bet is to read and taste all you can, and start cold calling editors. Start with your local newspaper or smaller wine publications, such as a neighborhood newspaper, and work your way up. It's a slow but enjoyable process. I’d say when starting out that you get at least nineteen no’s for every yes. I don’t mean this as discouragement but there are many folks wanting to do this so you have to be persistent (and keep your day job for many years). Sometimes, the most effective approach is to find a publication that doesn’t have a wine column but should. Often the big papers and magazines have regular columnists and they don’t need other articles. You should also try to prefect your craft in several ways: by reading all you can about wine, by tasting all the wines you can and by working on writing itself (take some journalism corses). Find someone, if you can, who is a veteran journalist, perhaps someone at the university to review your work—and pay that person if need be. Even if you can’t get published at first, write some pieces on popular topics (food and wine matching or something seasonal such as great wines for the barbecue or something that’s a bit of a scoop like an interview with a visiting winemaker), polish it up and have it ready. Most editors just want one-paragraph ideas but you’ll have these as samples. Keep trying. It’s lonely and hard for the first two to three years. But if you work at it, some day you may find yourself a full-fledged wine hack!
Natalie MacLean is the author of Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass. She was named the World’s Best Drink Writer for the articles and wine picks in her free wine newsletter available at www.nataliemaclean.com.
Question: What Spanish Rioja under $10 would you suggest? Answer: Every city will have different availability, but here are the most popular brands of Spanish Riojas: Bodegas Montecillo-Vina Cumbrero 1995 or 1996 Marques de Cacerers-Riojas "Crianza" 1995 or 1996 Marques de Grinon-Rioja 1995 or 1996 Conde de Valdemar "Crianza"-Bodegas Martinez Bujanda 1995 Marques de Murrieta-"Crianza" 1995 Bodegas Muga-Torre Muga-Rioja 1995 Federico Paternina-Rioja, Banda Azul, 1995 Faustino-Rioja 1995 If you love red Rioja made from Tempranillo grape, may I suggest you try another great Spanish red made from Tempanillo: Ribera de Duero wines-from one of the hottest new regions in Spain.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com "The butler was caught taking a swig from the red wine that was to be served with dinner. He denied having any compulsion to drink. I had opened the bottle to allow it to breathe," he explained. "But it wasn't doing very well, so I tried to give it some artificial respiration."" ~~ K. L. Jones Saturday Evening Post, Nov. 2000, Small Masterpieces
Excerpt from Vintage Humor for Wine Lovers by Malcolm KushnerQuestion: My heritage is Italian and I love pasta, but know nothing about Italian wines. Is there a shortcut to choosing the right wines for pasta? Answer: The sauce on the pasta determines what type of wine to choose. For instance, white clam sauce or pesto sauces are best with white wines such as Pinot Grigio or Gavi or Italian Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc etc. Red clam sauce or marinara sauces with sausage and peppers are best with red wines such as SANGIOVESE which is the famous red grape of Tuscany used in Chianti, Brunello, Rosso di Montalcino etc. Other great Italian red wines with pasta are Montepulciano d'Abruzzi, Barbaresco or Gattinara from the Piedmont, and Taurasi from Campania or Sicilian red wines etc. If you haven't tried a Sangiovese red, you owe it to yourself to buy one--even Bolla has one at $8 a bottle and there are many, many moderate price versions from Italy and lots of good ones slightly higher-priced from California. Best thing to do is visit a fine wine store and ask the wine consultant to give you a lesson on Italian wines as you are looking at the bottles and labels.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: Is there a good, inexpensive wine similar to Chateauneuf du Pape? Answer: That's easy! Chateauneuf du Pape is a famous French Rhone wine, and the red is made from Syrah grapes blended with other grapes such as Grenache, Mourvedre etc. So those in the know buy French COTES DU RHONE red wine because it is always about $10 a bottle and made from the same grapes.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: It is so confusing trying to remember what wines go with what foods. Can you give me some simple rules to follow? Answer: There really are no longer any hard and fast rules about red wine with meat and white wine with fish. In fact, you can have a light red such as Pinot Noir with grilled salmon, or a full-bodied, oak aged white such as Chardonnay with meat if you wanted. The reason behind the old rules is that most dry, red wines have tannin which when paired with seafood makes it taste metallic and unpleasant. And white wines are usually paired with seafood because they are high in citric acid--the same natural acid as in lemons--and are just like squeezing lemon juice on the fish--makes it taste less fishy and is a perfect complement. In fact, some oak aged Chardonnays are both buttery and lemony, both tastes perfect with fish or seafood. As for chilling--white wines should be served at about the temperature of a normal refrigerator--you can chill them for 2 hours in the fridge before serving or no more than half an hour in ice and water. Red wines are normally served at cool room temperature.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: What is ice wine and how and when should it be served? Answer: Eiswein is the German name for "ice wine". This means it is made in vintage years when it actually snows on the grapes and freezes them solid. By law the grapes have to be crushed while they are still frozen and the ice crystals hold the water and allow the sweet natural grape juice alone to go into fermentation. This produces one of the world's greatest dessert wines, and is rare and costly. Most German Eiswein is made from Riesling grapes, and is sold in half-bottles. It should be served chilled in small, clear glasses after dinner as a dessert. If you do serve a dessert along side it, choose simple pound cake with fruit, shortbread cookies, creme caramel or bread pudding. Ice wine is also made in Canada, New York and California. The ATF of the U.S. government does not allow the use of the German word Eiswein on the label, so it will be called "ice wine" in English or "vin glaciere" in French.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: During my last visit to Italy, I was told of a Grappa. It is supposed to be 90-95 proof. Would you know where in Italy it could be purchased? Answer: Grappa is a grape brandy that can be made in two versions in Italy: 1. The clear, colorless, firewater!, inexpensive brandy distilled from left over grape skins etc. from winemaking in all parts of Italy and available everywhere in the U.S. too; or 2. The golden color, richer, smoother, expensive Grappa made from the finest wine grapes used for famous Italian wines and given their names such as Grappa di Barolo, Grappa di Brunello etc. These are aged in oak barrels like fine Cognac and that's how they get to be so golden and smooth. They are expensive and can be high in alcohol (high proof). They can be found in the U.S. or purchased in the regions where made, i.e. Piedmont for Barolo and Tuscany for Brunello. Any great wine store that also sells brandy in Italy will have them--and ditto in the U.S. The brand name you mention is not in my list of brands available where I live in Atlanta. If a friend has a bottle, ask them "who is the importer or producer named on the label"? Then you can ask your favorite wine store to look it up in the Beverage Journal by wholesaler and importer.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: I recently acquired some excellent Spanish wine and noted the term Cosecha on the label of the bottle. Is Cosecha a local name for a grape? I am familiar with the Tempranillo, Garnacha (red) grape varieties. Answer: Your Spanish wine knowledge is really good! You know the pertinent facts. Under the D.O. (Denominacion de Origen) wine laws in Spain, COSECHA means harvest in Spanish, and COSECHA is the Vintage Year of the wine. Vino de Cosecha means wine that is at least 85% from the vintage year on the label- -most are 100% from one vintage year if there is a Cosecha on the label. In other words, a Cosecha 1989 wine is vintage year 1989, the year the grapes were harvested. Good Luck with your further studies! By the way, have you tried the Priorat red wines from Spain? They are delicious Garnacha, very upscale.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: I have been drinking the dry Marsala I use when making Chicken Marsala. It does not taste very good with the dish. What wine would you serve with it? Answer: Dry Marsala is an Italian fortified wine that is great when cooking veal or chicken, but it really isn't very pleasant to drink on its own as a wine. Actually, I prefer red wine with Chicken Marsala--namely the SANGIOVESE--it is the most famous red wine and red grape variety in Tuscany, Italy. You can buy either a "Chianti Classico" or "Chianti Classico Riserva" (the better of the two) which are made from Sangiovese in Tuscany, Italy. My favorite brands of Chianti are: BANFI and ANTINORI's "Aziano". Or you can buy SANGIOVESE by the name on the label such as: BOLLA "Sangiovese" or RUFFINO "Fonte al Sole". These will be very moderately priced at less than $9 per bottle.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: How much wine is wine in "moderation"? Answer: Our own Dept. of Agriculture promotes a diet that includes wine in moderation. They define that to mean one 4-ounce glass per day for women and up to two 4-ounce glasses per day for men. The difference in gender is actually a difference in average body size. However, they limit the total number of glasses of wine per week to about 5 for women and 7 or 8 for men. Even I don't drink wine every single day!
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: I have been interested in wine for about a year and have tried several different varietals and have seemed to plateau at my current level of understanding. Any suggestions? I also manage in the restaurant business so I am curious about new ways to describe wine to my employees as well. Answer: Just when you think you've had all the varietals available-new ones come out! For instance, California now accepts 8 red Bordeaux varieties for Meritage red wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Gros Verdot, St. Macaire and Carmenere. Even I never knew St. Macaire was a separate grape. I did know Carmenere was grown in Chile where it is sometimes mistaken for Merlot, but I never knew it was the oldest of the Bordeaux grapes and has now, after 10 years effort, been brought to the U.S. and successfully grown at Guenoc Winery in Lake County, CA. So, you see there is always something new to learn.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: Does the shape of the wine glass really make a difference? Answer: Absolutely--the taste of the wine does change depending on the glasses you use. Professional tasters, when they are blending great French Champagnes for instance, use several different shape glasses to taste each grape variety and vineyard to decide how to blend them together. Each glass shape accentuates certain components of the aroma/taste in the same wines. This was dramatically demonstrated at a Reidel wine glass tasting. Reidel, Austrian crystal company, makes wine glasses in completely different shapes for each grape variety or type of wine--for example they make a Bordeaux/Cabernet Sauvignon glass, White Burgundy/Chardonnay glass, German/Riesling glass etc. We first tasted Riesling in the Chardonnay glass, Pinot Noir in the Cabernet glass--in other words the wines in the wrong glasses and then compared these aromas and tastes when we had them in the correct glasses, i.e. Chardonnay in the Chardonnay glass, Pinot Noir in the Pinot Noir glass etc. What a difference! The Reidel glasses for the appropriate grape made them taste and smell so much better! More intensely flavored aromas, and more complexity and depth in the taste, character and structure of the wines. We asked the Reidel glass company's owner why the shapes made such a difference and he said technically they do not know why! They just know from decades of glass making experience and experiment that these shapes work best for these grapes. I believe the reason they make a difference is the width of the mouth of each glass and the amount of air mixed with the wine as it enters your palate--but it is physics I can hardly understand--just admire!
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: What does it mean to decant wine and how do you do it? Answer: Pouring wine from its bottle into some other container: a carafe, a decanter, even a water jug. Make sure the decanter and the mouth of the bottle are clean. To decant a bottle with sediment, first leave it upright for about a day to settle the sediment at the bottom. For the actual pouring process, stand a flashlight on the table so that it shines upwards—it gives stronger light than the classic lit candle. Place the decanter beside it and pour the wine so that the light shines through the neck of the bottle. This will allow you to see when the sediment is approaching, so that you can stop pouring then. Discard the dregs left in the bottle. Leave younger wines in the decanter for about an hour or two, and older wines anywhere from fifteen minutes to a half an hour. Taste the wine periodically to see how it’s opening up. If you decide that the wine has peaked, but the guests aren’t due for a while, drape a cloth over the top of the decanter to slow aeration.
Natalie MacLean is the author of Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass. She was named the World’s Best Drink Writer for the articles and wine picks in her free wine newsletter available at www.nataliemaclean.com.
Question: I am not a meat eater, so I usually order fish when we are eating out. What are the best wine choices for fish? Answer: PINOT NOIR is the best choice with grilled Salmon and many other fish steaks such as Swordfish, Blue Marlin, and Sea Bass, etc. This is because Pinot Noir is light enough in body and high enough in acidity to perfectly match most grilled or sautéed fish. The only exception would be if the swordfish or redfish or grouper etc. were served "blackened" Cajun style. Then those heavy Cajun spices of lots I would choose a SYRAH from California or France--called red Rhone wines in France--or a SHIRAZ from Australia (which is the same Syrah grape under another name). Also, when Pinot Noir is not available for something like swordfish or tuna steak, I have substituted a MERLOT and found it to be all right as well. And if it is Italian style seafood such as Cioppino, you can serve the Italian red grape SANGIOVESE. t if you've never tried a Pinot Noir with Grilled Salmon, then you haven't lived! Try it and see.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: Spicy food is never too hot for me. I like jalapeno and chili peppers. Will I be able to find a wine to go with this type of Mexican food? Answer: There is spicy--and then there is spicy! I like Merlot from Chile, or Malbec from Argentina--both fairly smooth dry reds. But when you "crank it up a notch" and add more peppers-as in Thai or Indian food too--then I choose a more peppery red wine such as French Cotes du Rhone, Syrah from CA or Shiraz from Australia. White spicy wines include Pinot Grigio from Italy.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: I'm 26 and don't have much experience with wine aside from a few winery tours. I have a friend from Germany who'll be visiting me next week, and she'll be staying for about a week. With theatre tickets and such, I'm on a tight budget, so I'd like to get a couple bottles of wine, but I'd rather not spend more than $20 apiece. Can you suggest a red and a white that don't taste like a run-of-the-mill bottle and that I would be able to find at a regular wine/liquor store? I'm in D.C., so I should be able to find most brands. Answer: I'm sure you will have a great time with your friend. Since she is from Germany, I can tell you right away--don't serve her German wine since that's what she can gets everyday at home! Germany doesn't produce much red wine--only 10%--so definitely get a couple good red wines to serve her. My suggestion is to go with reds that are not too tannic or astringent, such as the ever-popular MERLOT. My favorite brands from California in the $20 price range include: Lambert Bridge, Markham, St. Supery, and DeLoach. There are many others that your local fine wine stores in D.C. can recommend. Merlot is served at room temperature. Then I would choose a good dry, white wine just in case she likes white wines a lot. Why not a good Chardonnay from California such as Kunde "Kinneybrook" or Guenoc or Chalk Hill? Chill the Chardonnay 2 hrs. in the refrigerator or 30 mins. In ice and water. And always have an extra bottle on hand in case one is bad, or you run out!
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: I have long heard that the best wines in the world are French, and that in the four major classifications they are Romanee-Conti (red burgundy), Chateau Lafite Rothschild (red bordeaux), Le Montrachet (white burgundy), and Chateau d'YQuem (white bordeaux). Would you agree? Answer: The only reason people get away with even discussing the "top" French wines is that unlike our U.S.A. wine laws, the French government wine laws actually have official "rankings" of certain types of French wines. They rank red Bordeaux wines from the Medoc for instance and have 5 chateaux that rate in the highest category: Ch. Lafite-Rothschild, Ch. Mouton- Rothschild, Ch. Latour, Ch. Margaux, Ch. Haut-Brion. All five are of equivalent quality--so no Lafite is not the only top rated red Bordeaux. Same goes for the classification of Sauternes from Bordeaux--Ch. d'Yquem is the only Sauternes rated above the others however, so yes, it is for Sauternes (not for all white Bordeaux because Graves has its own classification). As for Romanee-Conti, yes it is rated a "Grand Cru" single vineyard in Burgundy, but there are 29 other vineyards rated "Grand Cru" in the Cote d'Or best part of Burgundy where it's located. But it is certainly one of the most costly red Burgundies and with great collector's value. And finally, Le Montrachet is also one of the 30 "Grand Cru" single vineyards in the Cote d'Or of Burgundy. But among white Burgundy wines, yes it is considered to be the rarest and most costly collector's item among the great white Burgundies. Go into a fine wine store with a temperature- controlled wine vault to find them.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: Any suggestions for a Valentine's Day sweet sparkling wine? Answer: Yes, I do have some suggestions for you and your fiancé as regards a sparkling wine or Champagne that's slightly sweet for Valentine's Day. Have you ever tried ASTI SPUMANTE? It's the very well known sparkling wine from Italy made from white Muscat grapes which make it slightly sweet. It's very moderately priced. My favorite brand is Martini & Rossi, which sells for about $11 on sale. Other good brands are Cinzano and Banfi. Banfi also does a very romantic red Muscat sparkling wine from Italy called BRACHETTO. May be harder to find, but it's delicious and costs about $19. Or you can get a real French Champagne, but don't buy Brut which means dry, buy those labeled "Extra Dry" which is slightly sweeter than Brut. I know it's the opposite of common sense but that is the traditional terminology. All the French Champagnes like Mumm do an Extra Dry for about $20. And in California they also do some Extra Dry style sparkling wines in about $14 price range. Spain also does Extra Dry sparkling wines in the $9 price range. So you have many choices. Enjoy your sweetie and your sweet bubbly!
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: What does the term "terroir" mean? In plain English please! Is it used exclusively with regard to French wines? Answer: Most Americans are terrified of this word because it is hard to pronounce- tair wahr-and it is a very hard concept to understand. "Terroir" is a French term--meaning differences in geography, soil and climate from one vineyard to the next will produce distinct differences in the taste of the wine even if they grow the same grapes. It is a term that originated in Burgundy, France-but it is important in every wine country. The finest and most expensive wines in the world from any country-whether labeled by grape variety, controlled name of origin or level of quality by sugar content-- are "single vineyard" wines that name the individual vineyard where the grapes were grown. This is much like the difference in terroir that produces Kona Vintage Chocolate from Hawaii or Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. What a difference a place makes. Finally, the reputation of the winery and its winemaker are also an indication of quality-as is the vintage year, the year of harvest, on the label. The vintage year is not the year the wine was made since some wines are in production for 2-3 years. Every year all wineries have to grow an entire new crop of grapes. Some years the weather is good and the harvest of fruit (grapes) is good. Without good grapes you cannot make good wine. If the weather is not good during a growing season, it is not rated a good vintage year.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: What are those "streaks" in my wine? Answer: The "streaks" in your wine are called the "legs". They fall like tears on the inside of your wine glass after you have finished swirling. The legs are a visual measure of the viscosity or thickness of the wine, and they are related to the glycerol content of the wine, which is related to the alcohol content, and sugar content or ripeness of the grapes used to make the wine. Wines that are more viscous, with more slowly forming and thicker legs, are said to be heavier in "body". Light bodied wines have virtually no legs and look like water when you swirl them in your glass. So in wine terms, "legs" are an eyeball measure of the "body" of the wine, whether heavy or full-bodied, medium-bodied, or light-bodied. It's a judgment call, that usually only professional tasters are interested in when they rate a wine on a numerical scale. But now you can act like a wine judge and know what you see when you swirl and wait for the legs!
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: How can I make wine my career? Answer: There are a number of careers in wine: winemakers, viticulturalists (vineyard managers), winery restaurant chefs, marketers, public relations managers (either at a winery or with a firm that specializes in the wine industry), accountants, general managers, winery owners, investors, retailers, importers, buyers, sommeliers, auctioneers, consultants, tour operators, accessory store managers, events organizers, tasting room managers and writers. Think carefully about what skills you have and what type of work you like because these jobs vary dramatically in what they entail. Think too of considerations such as hours, pay and credentials required. I’ve written about winemakers and sommeliers (you can find these in my Articles section). For these and other careers, your best bet is talk to someone already doing that job and to shadow them for a day or two.
Natalie MacLean is the author of Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass. She was named the World’s Best Drink Writer for the articles and wine picks in her free wine newsletter available at www.nataliemaclean.com.
Question: When I went into the store to buy sweet red wines for after dinner, I was told by the clerk that most red wines were dry. Am I clueless or are they? Answer: You're not clueless, they are! Yes, over 90% of red wines are dry, so finding a fruity, slightly sweet one takes some thinking. But PORTO is one of the world's greatest sweet reds, and it is definitely an after dinner dessert wine. Best types are "Vintage" Porto, which is the most expensive, but more reasonably priced is "Ruby Porto" or "Late Bottled Vintage" or other red Portos such as Graham's Six Grapes etc. Porto will be sweet red, high in alcohol at 20%. But if you want a lighter red wine that is only slightly sweet, then may I recommend a couple of other wines: LAMBRUSCO Red wine from Italy is a very high volume selling wine in the U.S. and refreshing from slight fizzy quality and can be served chilled and its inexpensive--try the Riunite red. The same company also does a red sparkling wine from Brachetto grapes called: BRACHETTO d' ACQUI from Italy. It's in the $24 price range. Lambrusco is only $5 per bottle. Most Ruby Porto from Portugal starts at $15 per bottle. Other famous sweet red wines include: Banyuls from France, Mavrodaphne from Greece and Recioto della Valpolicella from Italy.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: I first drank Sangria in a little Italian restaurant in New York City two years ago, and I immediately fell in love with it, but the restaurant could not, of course, give me the recipe. So, I have been searching for a recipe for a really great Sangria, but have only come across a very generic one out of someone's home cookbook. I know that its main component is wine with a bit of fruit and juice but I haven't a clue as to what the proportions should be! Do you know of any recipes for either Red or White Sangria? If not, could you give me any suggestions of where to look? Answer: Love your e-mail nom de plume! Sangria is made like my grandmother from Italy cooked--no recipe, just a bit of this and a bit of that. It's up to individual interpretation in other words. There is a wine still on the market called YAGO Sangria, available in red and white versions. Very inexpensive, in large size bottles too and ready to be served over ice or chilled. My own recipe for Sangria is take a punchbowl or big pitcher, add thin crosswise slices of say two large oranges, pour in one bottle of dry red wine--any will do but originally it was a Spanish red--add a half-pint of brandy--E&J Gallo California will do--but brand is optional, stir, add about 16 oz. of orange juice (necessary if you add the brandy), sugar to taste, give it a good stir and if you want flavors to meld put plastic wrap over the top and put in the refrigerator for a couple hours or overnight, finally add ice cubes just before you're ready to serve. In fact, you can even add the red wine to the orange slices the night before your party, let them soak together overnight in the fridge, and then before your party add all the other ingredients including the ice cubes. P.S. Some recipes add sparkling mineral water--but that can dilute it too much. It should be refreshing without being watery.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: What wine can I cellar so that it will be ready for my daughter's 21st Birthday? Answer: Wine to cellar for that period of time should be special, and capable of living that long without risk of it turning into vinegar. I got my training in London, and there is this wine gift for a newborn child to put away for 21 years is always a Vintage Porto. Vintage Porto is real Portuguese Porto (the original-note the spelling-all other Ports from other countries are not called or labeled Porto) from a single declared great vintage year that receives only 2 years of barrel aging so it throws a heavy sediment in its black bottle as it ages over many years and will need to be decanted when fully mature-in 15-20+ years after the vintage year on the bottle. The greatest names in Vintage Porto are: Dow's, Graham's, Taylor, Warren's-but there are other such as Fonseca, Quinto do Noval, Smith-Woodhouse, etc. What you want to buy is a recent great vontage such as 1994. Prices usually begin at $40 and go up from there to over $100. Choose your price range and go to a fine wine store with a wine vault and you'll find 1994 Vintage Porto easily.
Excerpt from Wine Faqs: Real Questions-Real Answers by Anita L. Laraia- www.anitalaraia.com Question: I would just like to know what is your favorite casual wine? Answer: Well, I love red wines, so I drink them even on casual occasions--though I love the best of every type of wine, i.e. great French Champagne; French White & Red Burgundy; definitely Red Bordeaux; Rhone reds; Italian Sangiovese, Amarone and Barolo; California Cabernet Sauvignons, Meritage reds and Zinfandels; and Australia Shiraz etc. The best values for casual drinking among these are: Australia Shiraz, Italian Sangiovese, California Cabernet and Zinfandel, Spanish reds and French Cotes du Rhone--all good everyday reds. P.S. My Italian parents always had red wine on the table when I was growing up--and made homemade red wine too-and I got my wine training in London where I practiced drinking the great French, Italian, Spanish red wines. Everyone's palate is different, so drink whatever gives you the most pleasure, though that changes over time.
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