Looks as most of us will have great weather this holiday weekend and after a long run of poor weather who couldn't use it. What on the agenda? I am sure plenty of beach and/or pool and soaking in sunshine. But what do we drink and/or cook?
I am personally a big fan of bbq ribs and burgers as well as Bratwurst for Memorial Day and have some nice Micro Brews with that. Micro brews such as the Samuel Adams Summer Ale are a perfect fit for a nice, sunny Memorial Day cookout. For the summer white wine lovers and sippers, have some California Sauvignon Blanc, Washington State Rieslings or Oregon Pinot Gris. Red Wine only? Go Monterey County Pinot for its ripe fruit characteristics or Lodi Zinfandels!
Whatever you do, think about inviting some friends and/or family and celebrate this Summer Kick-off holiday weekend in style.
Got extra time on your hand for the bbq? Make your own BBQ sauce and kick it up a bit by adding some Zinfandel when heating up your sauce.
Grilling burgers? Switch it up and buy some bison, or use some ground lamb meat! It takes grilling burgers to a whole new level!
So to sum it up, get out of your every Memorial Day grove, try something different, be adventurous, be American! Be different! Be with Friends!
Cheers and have a happy and save Memorial Day weekend!
Sangiovese | The Tuscan Sun
What is Sangiovese
Sangiovese is the heartbeat or backbone when it comes to Tuscan wine making. You find it in your everyday Chianti as well as in the famous Brunello di Montalcino. The origin of this grape dates back to the Roman times, but was first documented as Sangiovese in 1590. It has always been home to Tuscany.
Where to find Sangiovese
Sangiovese can be found in many places these days, among them are California, Washington State, Argentina, Chile and even other parts of Europe such as the Languedoc in France and Corsica. It is however home and best known in Tuscany, Italy.
Grape Lessons Riesling | The Elegant One
What is Riesling
Riesling is one of the world's best white wine grape and was first grown in Gemany in the 15th Century. Given where Rielsing thrives best, it is easily understood that the hardy wood enables the vines to be very resistant to frost. Riesling excels is the cooler climates, where it ripen slowly to perfection to either produce dry style Alcasian or German Rieslings all the way to Icewine.
Where to find Riesling
Riesling's home is in Germany along the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Nahe, Pfalz Rheinhessen and Rheingau to name a few. Beyond Germany, the Alsace produces stellar dry forward Rieslings from there famed "Selection de Grains Nobles" and Austria is growing and bottling some nice
Grape Lessons Tempranillo | Spanish Paella or Iberian Pork?
What is Tempranillo
Tempranillo is a native Spaniard and when when yielded properly, this almost black in color grape, produces beautiful and full bodied red wines. Although Tempranillo is used in various Spanish growing regions, it is mostly associated with Rioja. When produced in the traditional style, Tempranillo often has a garnet-hued color to it and its aromas and flavors are tea, brown sugar and vanilla notes while the modern versions display notes of plum, cassis and tobacco with a dark red color and big tannin structure.
Where to Find Tempranillo
Where to Find Tempranillo
Tempranillo can be found in various wine producing regions within Spain, however Rioja and Ribera del Duero are the most mentioned. Both regions display similiar styles and offer a traditional and modern style produced wine as descriped above.
You can also find this grape in Portugal under the name of Tinta Roriz where it is used in the Port (wine) production.
How to Pair
Grape Lessons Zinfandel | The American Grape
What is
Zinfandel
Zinfandel can be an easy
"quaffer" to enjoy by itself or with cheese and other appetizers.
It can also be a beast!
A beast that is big, is a structured
red wine, that needs some red meat to be paired with.
On any and all of the above,
Zinfandel is despite its longevity in the US, the most misunderstood grapes
thanks to white zinfandel. Regardless of his Italian twin, Primitivo
which has its home in the south of Italy, Zinfandel is originally from Croatia and
likely found its way to California during the Gold rush times dating back to
the 1850.
California Zinfandel shows great
fruit aromatics like blackcurrant, plum and raisins. Through the oak
aging it often picks up some cedar, smoke and white pepper notes and depending
Super Bowl | Beer or Wine?
As many beer companies are already warming up for the "Best Commercial" show down, most people have nothing but drinking beer for Super Bowl on their mind for sure. But should they? Should you?
In my point of view, not necessarily as I can have a glass of easy going Zinfandel with my Burger or bbq ribs, just as well as having a craft beer with it. Another example would be having a glass of Riesling with my chips and salsa or even spicy chicken wings.
Or my team is playing and I feel like celebrating and pop open a few bottles of bubbles to watch the game.
Champagne and other bubbles are always a good choice and certainly go a long way with the misses who are likely "stuck" watching the game with you anyways.
So what will it be at your house? All beer? All wine? Or .... ?
In my point of view, not necessarily as I can have a glass of easy going Zinfandel with my Burger or bbq ribs, just as well as having a craft beer with it. Another example would be having a glass of Riesling with my chips and salsa or even spicy chicken wings.
Or my team is playing and I feel like celebrating and pop open a few bottles of bubbles to watch the game.
Champagne and other bubbles are always a good choice and certainly go a long way with the misses who are likely "stuck" watching the game with you anyways.
So what will it be at your house? All beer? All wine? Or .... ?
Grape Lessons Malbec | Ready to Tango?
What is Malbec?
Malbec makes beautiful wines and its grapes are purple in color.
What does Malbec has in common with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,
Carmerere, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot?
Very simple - These are the allowed grapes to use in the
blending of red Bordeaux wine.
French Malbecs tend to show a bit more Terroir, have a stronger
tannic structure and showcase notes of blackberry, mocha, tobacco and at times,
raisin.
Argentinian Malbecs tend to be a bit softer and less tannic then
its French counterpart. It is a bit fruitier, soft, juicy, a bit herbal,
and when oak ages for a bit it show some spice. I love well balanced
Argentinian Malbecs by itself or with a nice Winter Stew to stay warm in the
colder month of the year.
Where
to Find Malbec
Most of us tend to think of Argentina as the home of all the Malbecs, when in fact, they once were
plentiful in France until a frost wiped them out in 1956. Nowadays, Argentina
certainly has plenty of Malbec planted in its vineyards; however you can find
Malbec in other parts of the world, including North America.
How to Pair Malbec
Malbecs, even the lower-acid,
softly-tannined ones, are big and bold enough to stand up to sweet, spicy, and
robust sauces and big flavors. Besides hearty stews, I like bold flavored BBQ
and nicely charred beef briskets with it.
Favorites?
I didn't have lots from France, but
as for Argentinian Malbec's, I like Luigi Bosca Lujan de Cuyo Reserva, Maipe
Reserva amongst others.
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