Yesterday was Ghirardelli's annual wine tasting event called Uncorked. An outdoor wine tasting with music, vendors and cooking demonstrations that is a benefit for La Cocina. Uncorked is always a good time, especially when the weather is nice. Last year it was so hot I only tasted white wine, this year it was windy and a bit cool so I only tasted the red wines.
Within Ghirardelli Square itself there were wineries that are part of the 360 Collective an on site tasting room . On Jefferson Street, below the square with a lovely view of acquatic park were other sponsor wineries and vendors. Sadly missing this year was Cost Plus who usually has yummy samples and coupons for their store (last year they had my favorite English candy bar called Crunchie)
This year, the crowd appeared much younger than in years past. There were lots of people in their twenties and many novice or new wine drinkers. There also was a Sudwerk beer tent which had a line the entire event. The beauty of wine events though is that you typically get a mix of younger and older people and those who know about wine and those who don't.
The wineries that poured were a mix of small production family vineyards and corporate owned wineries and there were wines at all price points from entry level to high end.
A new winery that I discovered was Berryessa Gap in Winters. A family owned winery with lots of varietals at good value. Their Tempranillo and Zinfandel won medals at the SF Chronicle Wine Tasting this year but in my opinion their best wine was the 2006 Petite Syrah at $16 a bottle. Fruity with a hint of earthiness, this wine was full bodied and really delivered.
Benovia was another family owned winery. Benovia is on the Russian River. They are only on their third production of wine and are pretty small making just 2500-3000 cases a year They poured a well balanced Pinot Noir that was $45 a bottle and was in the true Russian River style of Pinot Noir.
Vitus from Napa poured an 06 and an 07 Cabernet Sauvignon. The 06 was $60 a bottle and the 07 $45. I prefered the 07 finding it to have a nice melange of flavors and a good finish which should only get better with age.
Deerfield Ranch from Sonoma uses grapes from organic and sustainable vineyards. They had a large selection of wines and they were poured by a funny and polite southern guy. Although he told me they were best know for their Zinfandel, my favorite of their wines was their 2005 Cabernet at $35 a bottle. They also had a Merlot Cuvee at $26 which was fruity, and earthy with body and an 06 Red Blend called Red Rex at $28 which provided an interesting mix of flavors on the palate.
Overall, it was a lovely afternoon spent outside drinking wine with friends. Last year it was too hot and this year it was too cold, so hopefully next year will be just right?
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Red or White?
When drinking wine the first thing you need to decide is whether you want to drink red wine or white wine.
Generally speaking red wine is heavier and has a stronger flavor then white wine because it has tannins. Tannins are caused by the skins, seeds and stems of grapes that are left in with the juice of the grapes as they ferment. The tannins in red wine generally provide more complexity and result in a heavier taste. Tannins are also what allow red wines to age and last longer in the bottle and they give red wine it’s color.
Red wines are typically made with the juice and skins of red or dark colored grapes while white wines are made with white or green lighter colored grapes. Some white wines are made of darker grapes but the skins are not used so they retain a light color since they are made only with the pulp of the grape.
White wines are generally fruitier, crisper and sweeter than red wines though they can be dry or oaky. Red wines typically have more texture and depth. Usually, when people first start to drink wine they begin with white and then progress to red.
The general rule of thumb is if you are eating fish or chicken or something light and delicate in flavor then you should drink white wine and if you are eating something heavier like beef, lamb strong cheese or something with strong flavor then you should go with red.
If you are drinking wine on it's own then you may also want to take into account the time of day, temperature or even your mood. When it is hot outside, white wine is generally preferable because it is lighter and typically tastes best when chilled. If you are drinking during the day you may prefer white as it is lighter and often has less alcohol. Red wine on the other hand is usually best enjoyed near room temperature. Red wine is heavier and usually has more alcohol than white wine so it may be better on a cold day and in the afternoon or evening.
If you are drinking wine with food you will want the wine to compliment not overpower the food. This can be accomplished not only by deciding whether you will drink red or white wine but also by paying attention to the varietal you select to drink.
Pinot Gris and Savignon Blanc are white wines typically lighter in flavor. Chardonnay on the other hand can have more depth and flavor. Pinot Noir is typically a lighter red wine, Merlot more medium bodied while Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon are heavier reds.
The truth is, you should drink what you like, when you like, with what you want. The most important thing is to just enjoy what you are drinking! Salut
Generally speaking red wine is heavier and has a stronger flavor then white wine because it has tannins. Tannins are caused by the skins, seeds and stems of grapes that are left in with the juice of the grapes as they ferment. The tannins in red wine generally provide more complexity and result in a heavier taste. Tannins are also what allow red wines to age and last longer in the bottle and they give red wine it’s color.
Red wines are typically made with the juice and skins of red or dark colored grapes while white wines are made with white or green lighter colored grapes. Some white wines are made of darker grapes but the skins are not used so they retain a light color since they are made only with the pulp of the grape.
White wines are generally fruitier, crisper and sweeter than red wines though they can be dry or oaky. Red wines typically have more texture and depth. Usually, when people first start to drink wine they begin with white and then progress to red.
The general rule of thumb is if you are eating fish or chicken or something light and delicate in flavor then you should drink white wine and if you are eating something heavier like beef, lamb strong cheese or something with strong flavor then you should go with red.
If you are drinking wine on it's own then you may also want to take into account the time of day, temperature or even your mood. When it is hot outside, white wine is generally preferable because it is lighter and typically tastes best when chilled. If you are drinking during the day you may prefer white as it is lighter and often has less alcohol. Red wine on the other hand is usually best enjoyed near room temperature. Red wine is heavier and usually has more alcohol than white wine so it may be better on a cold day and in the afternoon or evening.
If you are drinking wine with food you will want the wine to compliment not overpower the food. This can be accomplished not only by deciding whether you will drink red or white wine but also by paying attention to the varietal you select to drink.
Pinot Gris and Savignon Blanc are white wines typically lighter in flavor. Chardonnay on the other hand can have more depth and flavor. Pinot Noir is typically a lighter red wine, Merlot more medium bodied while Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon are heavier reds.
The truth is, you should drink what you like, when you like, with what you want. The most important thing is to just enjoy what you are drinking! Salut
Monday, May 3, 2010
Cabernet Tasting at the Bentley Reserve
This afternoon I tasted Cabernet Sauvignon from a variety of CA vineyards at a Cabernet barrel tasting. The annual event is sponsored by the California Cabernet society to showcase barrel samples from the most recent vintage.
All of the wineries had 2009 barrel tastings which were honestly not really drinkable because Cabernet needs to mature and age to taste good but, with a bit of imagination, the barrel tastings provide insight into what the wines may taste like once they develop and age.
In addition to the barrel samples, the wineries all had current releases which were drinkable and in some cases delicious and provided further insight into what the barrel samples would likely become.
Cabernet Sauvignon is generally a fuller bodied wine with tannins and complexity meant to be aged and meant to be enjoyed with food. Cabernet Sauvignon is especially good with a juicy steak or any kind of red meat and they did have some yummy marinated flank steak at the tasting to accompany the wines along with some strong cheeses.
The wines at the tasting varied in price from $45 to $150 a bottle (at least those I tasted) and varied from big corporate to small family owned wineries. These wines are not meant for the entry level consumer but for people who know and can appreciate good wine and who are willing to pay for it.
The best high end wine in my opinion was the Carter 2007 Coliseum Block Cabernet at $125 a bottle. A small production wine that delivers a big powerful and well balanced taste. A close second in the high end category was the Charles Krug 2006 limited edition at $100 a bottle. This wine is a cabernet of 10 different clones it is a limited edition and quite tasty. The third best high end wine in my opinion was Cliff Lede 2006 Staggs Leap Poetry Vineyard Cabernet at $150 a bottle. This wine is made from grapes on a steep hillside which provide nice complexity with a good finish.
Rocca at $75 was far and away the best mid-range wine and gave the high end Cabernets a good run for their money. Made by a young winemaker of Italian origin Paul Colantuuori, the wine is supple and well balanced with nice structure. This wine won a well deserved double gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. I suspect that as Paul gains notoriety, the price of this wine may sadly increase, though I hope I am wrong!
At the lower end in price, Varozza Vineyard's 06 Cabernet was my definite favorite. A family owned vineyard around since 1913, the original owner's grandson Jack and his wife Dianna have again begun to produce wines after a break in production in 1946 with the death of Joseph Varozza. The wine is tasty, well crafted and at $45 a good value. ZD's 2006 Cabernet at $50 a bottle was also tasty and in my opinion tasted like a more expensive wine.
All in all a fun afternoon and a great chance to taste some high end Cabs with an interesting and diverse group of people.
All of the wineries had 2009 barrel tastings which were honestly not really drinkable because Cabernet needs to mature and age to taste good but, with a bit of imagination, the barrel tastings provide insight into what the wines may taste like once they develop and age.
In addition to the barrel samples, the wineries all had current releases which were drinkable and in some cases delicious and provided further insight into what the barrel samples would likely become.
Cabernet Sauvignon is generally a fuller bodied wine with tannins and complexity meant to be aged and meant to be enjoyed with food. Cabernet Sauvignon is especially good with a juicy steak or any kind of red meat and they did have some yummy marinated flank steak at the tasting to accompany the wines along with some strong cheeses.
The wines at the tasting varied in price from $45 to $150 a bottle (at least those I tasted) and varied from big corporate to small family owned wineries. These wines are not meant for the entry level consumer but for people who know and can appreciate good wine and who are willing to pay for it.
The best high end wine in my opinion was the Carter 2007 Coliseum Block Cabernet at $125 a bottle. A small production wine that delivers a big powerful and well balanced taste. A close second in the high end category was the Charles Krug 2006 limited edition at $100 a bottle. This wine is a cabernet of 10 different clones it is a limited edition and quite tasty. The third best high end wine in my opinion was Cliff Lede 2006 Staggs Leap Poetry Vineyard Cabernet at $150 a bottle. This wine is made from grapes on a steep hillside which provide nice complexity with a good finish.
Rocca at $75 was far and away the best mid-range wine and gave the high end Cabernets a good run for their money. Made by a young winemaker of Italian origin Paul Colantuuori, the wine is supple and well balanced with nice structure. This wine won a well deserved double gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. I suspect that as Paul gains notoriety, the price of this wine may sadly increase, though I hope I am wrong!
At the lower end in price, Varozza Vineyard's 06 Cabernet was my definite favorite. A family owned vineyard around since 1913, the original owner's grandson Jack and his wife Dianna have again begun to produce wines after a break in production in 1946 with the death of Joseph Varozza. The wine is tasty, well crafted and at $45 a good value. ZD's 2006 Cabernet at $50 a bottle was also tasty and in my opinion tasted like a more expensive wine.
All in all a fun afternoon and a great chance to taste some high end Cabs with an interesting and diverse group of people.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
How to Pick a Good Inexpensive Wine
I am often asked by friends how to pick a good wine. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for and so you can use price as a basic guide to determine which wines to pick. Usually wines can be divided into price point categories. Under $8, $8-15, $15-20, $20-$30, $30-$50 and $50 and above.
The more you spend typically the better a wine is but sometimes small production wines are more expensive as a result of higher costs and they are not necessarily better wines.
For me, the fun part of being a wine connoisseur is finding a wine that I think is delicious that is also a good value.
Trader Joe's revolutionized the concept of cheap wine selling bottles of Charles Shaw at $1.99 in CA and $2.99 outside of CA. The wine has come to be known as two buck chuck and is a huge seller. Sure the wine is drinkable and it's cheap but everyone knows it's $1.99 so how do you pick a wine that is good but not look like a cheapskate?
First of all, if you go to lesser known places you can get good wine at lower prices. Pinot Noir in CA from the Russian River is tasty but to get anything halfway decent you need to spend at least $25 a bottle. If you buy Oregon Pinot Noir though you can find some great wines in the $15-$20 range. Wines from Australia and New Zealand and South America are a good value because they are considered new comers or New World Wines.
Another way to find a good value is to pick or try a lesser known varietal. Carmenere from Chile, Nero D'avola from Sicily, Malbec from Argentina.
White wines are generally less expensive than red wines and the price range varies for each varietal. Cabernet is usually more expensive than Merlot. Chardonnay more expensive than Pinot Gris.
Often you can find wines from a well known region but a smaller or lesser know winery so they will be less expensive or you can buy wines from a wineries second label. These off label wines are usually made with grapes considered not good enough for a winery's premium label but they are often great wines especially if what you are after is value. Another option for inexpensive but good wine is wine made from sourced grapes. In years when there is a surplus of grapes many winemakers will buy grapes and make their own wines. They have no wineries and so their costs are lower and you can often get some great wines at great values
The other thing to keep in mind is that at the lower end of the price range a few dollars can make a lot of difference in the kind of wine you get. If you pay more than $8 versus less than $8 you will most likely end up with a much much better wine. That's not to say you can't find good wines under $8 but as a general rule if you are just starting out drinking wine try to stick with the $8-$15 range.
The more you spend typically the better a wine is but sometimes small production wines are more expensive as a result of higher costs and they are not necessarily better wines.
For me, the fun part of being a wine connoisseur is finding a wine that I think is delicious that is also a good value.
Trader Joe's revolutionized the concept of cheap wine selling bottles of Charles Shaw at $1.99 in CA and $2.99 outside of CA. The wine has come to be known as two buck chuck and is a huge seller. Sure the wine is drinkable and it's cheap but everyone knows it's $1.99 so how do you pick a wine that is good but not look like a cheapskate?
First of all, if you go to lesser known places you can get good wine at lower prices. Pinot Noir in CA from the Russian River is tasty but to get anything halfway decent you need to spend at least $25 a bottle. If you buy Oregon Pinot Noir though you can find some great wines in the $15-$20 range. Wines from Australia and New Zealand and South America are a good value because they are considered new comers or New World Wines.
Another way to find a good value is to pick or try a lesser known varietal. Carmenere from Chile, Nero D'avola from Sicily, Malbec from Argentina.
White wines are generally less expensive than red wines and the price range varies for each varietal. Cabernet is usually more expensive than Merlot. Chardonnay more expensive than Pinot Gris.
Often you can find wines from a well known region but a smaller or lesser know winery so they will be less expensive or you can buy wines from a wineries second label. These off label wines are usually made with grapes considered not good enough for a winery's premium label but they are often great wines especially if what you are after is value. Another option for inexpensive but good wine is wine made from sourced grapes. In years when there is a surplus of grapes many winemakers will buy grapes and make their own wines. They have no wineries and so their costs are lower and you can often get some great wines at great values
The other thing to keep in mind is that at the lower end of the price range a few dollars can make a lot of difference in the kind of wine you get. If you pay more than $8 versus less than $8 you will most likely end up with a much much better wine. That's not to say you can't find good wines under $8 but as a general rule if you are just starting out drinking wine try to stick with the $8-$15 range.
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