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You are here: Home / Archives for Wine Education

A Vineyard Year

February 15, 2021 by Joe Becerra

We miss the wine country of California. March will mark one year since our last trip to the wine country. We are inching closer to getting back to wine country visits. We will soon have both doses of the COVID vaccine and will feel much safer to travel. Masks will still be most important.

We enjoy watching this slide video that we put together several years ago. These are photos that I shot over many seasons of visiting the wine country. The slide show gives a brief glimpse of the four seasons in wine country. You will see that wine country is beautiful any time of the year. 

Jazz musician Marc Cary provides the background music from his CD “Focus.” The title “Walk With Me” is so appropriate. Watch the video and walk with me through my rendition of the four seasons in the vineyards.

The Four Seasons in the Vineyards

Filed Under: Tasting Rooms, Wine Education

Recipes from Wine County – Sonoma

April 18, 2020 by Joe Becerra

Recipes from Sonoma Wine Country
Recipes from Sonoma Wine Country

Last time we highlighted recipes and wine pairings from the Napa Valley. Now it’s time for recipes from Napa Valley’s neighbor, the great Sonoma Wine Country. The wine towns of Healdsburg and Sonoma are culinary centers, and their respect is worldwide. Sonoma is a big County with wineries in many different wine appellations. From the coast to the Mayacamas Mountains, there are several climate zones. See the difference between Sonoma County, Sonoma, the city, and Sonoma wine country. While we currently cannot go to the wine country, we can create these fabulous recipes and purchase wine from these wineries.

Sonoma Winery Recipes

St Francis Vineyards and Winery

The St. Francis Vineyards and Winery are in the Sonoma Valley, at the northern end of Highway 12. The winery has an executive chef and has a wonderful array of recipes and wines to match. Here are some favorites.

  • Lemongrass, Ginger, and Carrot Soup – Sauvignon Blanc
  • Roasted Beet Salad – Zinfandel
  • Garlic Chicken Wines – Cabernet Sauvignon

Jordan Winery

Jordan Winery is in the Alexander Valley on Highway 128, a few miles from Healdsburg. Jordan is most famous for its Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Their Chardonnay is exquisite as well. Jordan also has a chef and these are a few of their great recipes.

  • Roasted Butternut Squash Soup – Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Grilled Short Ribs – Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Mashed Potatoes with Mushrooms, Shallots, and Herbs – Cabernet Sauvignon

Merry Edwards Winery and Vineyards

Merry Edwards Winery is in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the main grapes of this AVA. Merry Edwards is one of the great winemakers of our time. Last year, Merry Edwards sold her winery to the Roederer Family of Champagne fame.

  • Fabulous Porcini Mushroom Risotto for Two – Pinot Noir
  • Red and White Lasagna for Pinot Noir Lovers
  • Fall-Inspired Butternut Squash and Shiitake Enchiladas – Pinot Noir

Rodney Strong Vineyards

We started visiting the Rodney Strong winery way back in the early 1970’s. There were not that many wineries in the Russian River Valley in that era. The winery produces an extensive amount of wines. The Rodney Strong wines found in supermarket shelves are always a good wine buy. Check out these recipes from Rodney Strong.

  • Oven Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwich – Zinfandel
  • Grilled Shrimp Salad – Sauvignon Blanc
  • Ham and Coleslaw Biscuits – Chardonnay

Kendall Jackson

Kendall Jackson is one of the most recognizable labels at supermarkets and wine shops. The main winery is in Santa Rosa on Fulton Road. The tasting room is lush and the gardens amazing. Kendall Jackson owns several other wineries in California. Here are a few top Kendall Jackson culinary delights.

  • Vegetarian Stuffed Bell Peppers – Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Goat Cheese Enchiladas – Sauvignon Blanc
  • Slow-Cooked Salmon with Fresh Oregano Fennel Salad – Chardonnay

Ferrari Carano Vineyards

The Ferrari Carano winery is one of Dry Creek Valley’s most notable destinations. Tourists love the tasting room and the fabulous gardens. It really is a special place. One of the most popular wines by Ferrari Carano is the Fumé Blanc. It is one of the biggest sellers in fine supermarkets and shops. Here is a sample of recipes from owner Rhonda’s Kitchen.

  • Apple, Fennel, and Blue Cheese with Toasted Walnuts – Chardonnay
  • Capellini with Shrimp and Tomatoes and Arugula – Fume Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc)
  • Flatiron Steak with Blackberry Wine Sauce – Prevail Back Forty (Cabernet Sauvignon)

Mill Creek Vineyards and Winery

Mill Creek Vineyards and Winery are on Westside Road, a five-minute drive from downtown Healdsburg. The winery is in Dry Creek Valley, but a short distance to the west is the Russian River Valley. Mill Creek is a cute little winery with a working watermill. The winery is a great spot for a picnic lunch. The wines are delicious and so are these recipes.

  • Panino Di Manzo – Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Spicy Zinfandel Stew – Zinfandel
  • Brownies with Port Infused Cherries – Port

Kunde Family Winery

Kunde is one of the oldest family-owned wineries in California. Kunde is in the Sonoma Valley region, on Highway 12. There are many activities for the tourist at the winery. A cave tour and hike to the top of a steep vineyard hill are among the highlights.

  • Guacamole with a Kick – Chardonnay
  • Jim’s Famous Caesar Salad – Chardonnay
  • Grilled Rib-Eye with Carmelized Onions and Blue Cheese – Cabernet Sauvignon

Stay safe in your home and cook some of these fantastic meals with your family. Practice your food and wine pairing skills. Let us know what you try!

Filed Under: Food, Sonoma Valley Wine Country, Wine Education

Ten Wine Things to Do at Home

April 5, 2020 by Joe Becerra

We hope this finds you and your family healthy and coping with our gut-wrenching crisis. I am finding wine more enjoyable these days. Maybe these ten wine things to do at home will somehow ease the day.

wine things to do at home
Ten wine things to do at home during the Pandemic

Host a virtual wine happy hour

ten things to do at home with wine

We are doing this with five couples, each in our homes. We are scheduling this for once a week at 5 pm. Each couple has a glass of wine in hand. In just a short order, we have lots of laughs. It is so good to see our friends. We cannot hug, but we feel the vibes. We are using Zoom, but there are several other ways to do this.

Order wine to your door

order wine online

Stock up your wine collection. Support your local wine shop and wine from wineries that you enjoy. Try some wines from different wine regions. Have you tried Oregon Pinot Noir wines? Try some fantastic Syrah and Cabs from Washington. Try wines from abroad. We have ordered wines from Weimax Wines, K&L Wines, and a couple of wineries in Sonoma. There are many wineries offering discounts on wine and shipping costs.

Pair food and wine

Many of us are cooking more home-cooked meals. It is rewarding and therapeutic. It is an excellent sense of accomplishment to get a gourmet meal to the table. Preparing a meal includes pairing it with the proper wine. Choose a wine and see how it works. Here are some tips.

St francis wine and food
Pan Seared Day Boat Scallop paired with St. Francis Sauvignon Blanc

Improve your wine tasting skills

Take a look at the back label of a wine bottle to see if it has tasting notes. If it does have a description of the wine, it probably comes from a PR person. What do you think about the wine? Why do you like it? How do you rate it on a scale of One to Five? Use this easy-scoring method and rate the wine you are having for dinner. Even better, open a couple of bottles of similar wines. Then compare and evaluate them. Don’t worry, the wines will keep for a few days after opening. Keep them in the fridge.

wine score card
Easy wine scorecard for home wine tasting – Download and Print

Watch wine-related movies

Check out our list of the best wine movies to watch. The latest is “Uncorked,” now streaming on Netflix. Our favorite all-time wine movie is “Sideways.” “Sideways” take place in the Santa Barbara wine country. Once the Shelter- in-Place is over, you can relive the “Sideways” movie by following the Sideways Wine Trail.

Read a good wine fiction novel

Curl up with a good novel that has wine as the theme. We have a list of great wine mystery books on this page. We also like the Commissario Brunetti books by Donna Leon. These mysteries take place in Venice, Italy. Wine and food are always in play here.

Take part in a virtual tasting room at a winery

All winery tasting rooms in California, Oregon, and Washington are closed during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Many wineries are taking to a Virtual Wine Tasting. The San Jose Mercury News has a list of wineries offering Virtual Wine Tastings.

Take a free wine course

If you have a library card, you can download the App “Kanopy” and have access to a ton of free movies and educational videos. Great Wine Courses offers several including “The Everyday Guide to Wine,” Becoming a Knowledgeable Wine Buyer,” and “Winemaking from Harvest to Bottle.”

Listen to Wine Podcasts

There are plenty, some great and some not so great, podcasts. We like GrapeRadio and Wine Enthusiast Podcast. We also like to listen to cooking podcasts. Chef Samin Nosrat has a new podcast related to staying at home. Home Cooking gives some excellent tips for cooking during the Shelter-in-Place.

Check your wine geek inventory

How are your wine gadgets? Do you need a great corkscrew, a decanter, a wine cooler, or more wine glasses? Now is a good time to shop online for wine items. Wine Gadgets

Filed Under: Wine Education, Wine Information

First Time to Napa Valley: Must Do Activities

June 20, 2017 by Joe Becerra

Travel tips Napa Valley

First time to Napa: Travel tips Napa Valley

First Time to Napa Valley: Must Do Activities

We often get emails from first-time travelers to the Napa Valley asking advice for where to go or what “must activities” to include in their trip. Here is our list of what we think first-time visitors to the Napa Valley should consider doing. These activities don’t just apply to the first timer, anytime you visit the Napa Valley, these ideas should be considered.

Take a winery tour - Hendry Barrel Room

First time to Napa Valley: Take a winery tour – Hendry Barrel Room

 

Take a Winery Tour
Take a tour that covers the entire process of winemaking from the vineyard to the finished product. Here are two that are among the best winery tours in the Valley. You will need to call ahead to make an appointment. At Hendry Wines, owner and winemaker extraordinaire, George Hendry, will take you on a two-hour tour and tasting. We think this is the best tour of any in the Napa Valley. Another great tour is at Frog’s Leap Winery. This one will last about an hour. Don’t forget to show your appreciation by buying at least a few bottles of wine. When you open one of these wines at home, it will bring back memories of your trip and the wine will taste that much better. Wine always tastes better when there is a story behind it.

vineyard picnci

First time to Napa Valley: The vineyard picnic

 

Picnic in the Vineyards
This is one of our favorite activities, so much so that the weather has to be pretty bad to prevent us from picnicking. Either prepare a deli lunch or buy one at one of the many great delis in the Valley. Here are four wineries where you can sit and view vineyards: Clos du Val, Robert Sinskey, August Briggs, and Folie a Deux. See the Trip Planner for the exact location.

Beringer Brothers

First time to Napa Valley: Visit one Napa Valley’s orginal wineries

 

Visit One of Napa Valley’s Older Wineries
Before 1970 there were fewer than 30 wineries to visit. Today, there are over 300. Take a step back in time and visit Beringer, Charles Krug, Inglenook, or Schramsberg (appointment).

Casa Nuestra

First time to Napa Valley: Casa Nuestra – a very cozy family winery

Visit a Small Family-Run Winery
There is nothing like meeting the owner and winemaker of a small winery. They are always very passionate about their work and their wines. Here are a few small family-run wineries: Tres Sabores , Casa Nuestra, Smith-Madrone, and Elyse. It is always fun to visit a large corporate-owned winery immediately afterward to get a real appreciation of the small family-run winery. See our list of corporate wineries.

Greystone CIA Center

Greystone CIA Center

Visit the Culinary Institute of America
The CIA is housed in the Christian Brothers Winery stone building constructed in 1888. Drop by and visit the store, check out the displays of old winemaking equipment and barrels. If you have time consider lunch at the Wine Spectator Restaurant. The view is very beautiful.

about wine country getaways

Joe and Janelle in St. Helena, September 2015. St Clement winery on the hill.

 

Bring Your Camera — Take Photos
What’s a trip to the Napa Valley without photos? Take your digital camera or Smart Phone and take many shots of every place you go on the trip.

Hire a Driver
Rumor has it that various police agencies are beginning to increase patrols on wine tasting room exits. If you hire a driver, have your plan ready and hand it to the driver. There are several independent limo drivers who do a great job.


Check the Winery Finder/Trip Planner for sorting through wineries and mapping your trip.

Filed Under: Activities, Tasting Rooms, Wine Education Tagged With: Napa Must Activities

Wine and Food pairing at St. Francis Winery

February 17, 2016 by Joe Becerra

In the Sonoma Valley, Great Wine and Food at St. Francis

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards in the Sonoma Valley

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards in the Sonoma Valley

The trendy thing in tasting rooms these days is a wine and food pairing. We decided to try out the wine and food pairing at St. Francis Winery in the Sonoma Valley.  St. Francis Winery and Vineyards is at the northern end of the Sonoma Valley, just off Highway 12. The setting is absolutely stunning, with the two mountain peaks of Sugarloaf and Hood Mountain making a dramatic backdrop for the St. Francis Winery and its lovely vineyards. Visitors to the center can enjoy a regular wine tasting, take a walking tour of the vineyards, or participate in the wine and food pairing.  The chef is Byran Jones. Besides the wine and food pairing event, St. Francis offers private dinners and other food events.

chef bryan jones

Chef Byran Jones answers questions about his small plate concoctions

Right from the start, one thing impressed me.  Most often chefs prepare their meal and go off to find a wine or wines that match with the food. At St. Francis it is done just the opposite, and I think a much smarter strategy when attempting to match food and wine. The staff at St. Francis chooses one of their wines to showcase and then the chef decides to prepare a dish that matches perfectly with that particular wine. I like doing this at home when I have special bottle of wine that I want to drink. I choose the wine and then prepare a feast that will bring out the best in the wine.

We had five small plates paired with different wines. View the slide show below to see the dishes and the wine pairings.  We were instructed to “sip, munch, sip.” This tactic shows how wine can change in character when matched correctly with a certain food.  The effects were quite impressive for all but one of the pairings.  I did not think the Zinfandel, delicious on its own, matched well with the Mocha Pot de Créme.  I would have preferred a Port wine with this particular dish. Every thing else, the wine and the food, was divine!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The tasting is done around a circular table setting. Our tasting event had 16 folks participating. We were the only ones from California and it was nice to meet everyone and find out what brought them to the tasting. On this occasion, it was the week that the Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa released it cult brew, Pliny the Younger. Half the people in our tasting were here to purchase Pliny the Younger. Another nice touch was to have chef Bryan Jones greet us and answer many questions about his delicious small plates. As a testamonial to the wine and food pairing, three couples in the group were here for their third St. Francis food and wine tasting. Visit the St. Francis Website for complete visitor information.

Mount Hood St. Francis winery

Mount Hood and the St. Francis vineyards – beautiful!

Filed Under: Sonoma Valley Wine Country, Wine Education Tagged With: Chef Byran Jones, St. Francis wine and food pairing

Vineyard Voodoo or New Age Breakthrough? The Scoop on Biodynamic Wine

February 9, 2015 by Joe Becerra

Madeline Blasberg is a Certified Wine Consultant who has spent time in Mendoza, Argentina, where she was surrounded by wine, both personally and professionally. Currently, Madeline works as the Official Wine Commentator & Reviewer for Etching Expressions a company specializing in personalized wine bottles.

The Scoop on Biodynamic Wine

By Madeline Blasberg

biodynamic wine horns

The controversial cow horns that many consider voodoo but other say it works.

Have you heard through the grapevine? Wine lovers are abuzz about biodynamic wines and slowly but surely, what began as a fringe moment in agricultural practices has won the attention of mainstream American consumers. With supermarket shelf space more sought after than ever before, biodynamic wines are carving out a place on the rack and in consumers’ shopping carts. But what exactly is a biodynamic wine?

In short, biodynamic farming is a method of organic agriculture, woven together with some astrological claims and homeopathic remedies. Rather than eschewing all industrial chemicals, biodynamic grape growers follow several quasi-religious practices meant to coax out the fullest, most natural expression of the grape itself. They consider moon cycles, positions of zodiacal constellations, and even concoct esoteric homeopathic preparations that are applied to the vines and soil.

Biodynamic farming began in the 1920s with Austrian philosopher, Rudolf Steiner, who was interested in reintroducing spiritual elements into farming – elements that had been all but obliterated during the industrial age of agriculture. Years later Maria Thun, researcher and biodynamic believer, created her first biodynamic calendar in the 1950s. The calendar, and its more recent iterations, are based on the belief that growing conditions are dynamic, linked to the moon’s cycle, and that it is more auspicious to perform certain tasks on certain days. Fruit days, flower days, leaf days, and root days, each are believed to influence how a wine tastes as well as how the grapevine behaves in the vineyard. The calendar dictates when to water, harvest, prune, and pop open a bottle, but it also dictates when farmers should cook up specific biodynamic recipes that are used in the vineyard itself.

These “preparations,” as they are referred to, are introduced to the vineyard at various times throughout the year. Whereas organic farmers are satisfied with compost and manure as fertilizer, biodynamic farmers use time-honored recipes that call for some rather bizarre ingredients. They consist of items such as cow horns filled with manure (Preparation 500), yarrow flowers in a stag’s bladder (preparation 502), chamomile in a cow’s intestine (preparation 503), oak bark in a skull of a domestic animal (preparation 505), and many others that are equally as unappetizing. Preparations may be buried in the vineyard soil, sprayed onto the vines, or placed at strategic locations throughout the farmland. Why all this fuss in the biodynamic kitchen? Preparations are thought to fertilize the soil, protect against pests, and prevent diseases. Nearly every vineyard symptom can be translated into a homeopathic dosage of biodynamic concoctions and practitioners invest a great deal of time and labor in preparing each one.

While biodynamic wines certainly incorporate numerous organic farming practices, the two aren’t considered one and the same. In fact, strangely enough biodynamic principles allow for the use of certain additives that are outlawed by organic winemakers (sulfites, being one of them). Like organic wine, however, biodynamic wine is regulated by certification agencies and the international biodynamics standards group Demeter International.

Numerous studies have been done that pit biodynamic grape farming against standard industrial farming practices, which show that biodynamic farms are superior in terms of soil fertility and biodiversity. However a conclusive comparison of biodynamic and organic agriculture has yet to be done, though biodynamic acolytes insist that the resulting wine should speak for itself. If you’re interested in tasting the impact of the biodynamic calendar and various preparations, visit your local wine shop and seek out a Demeter certified bottle. After all, though biodynamic wine politics and philosophies may be at a standstill – consumer palates will always have the deciding vote.

Additional resources

  • Montemaggiore – an example of wine biodynamics in action
  • A list of Napa Valley wineries practicing biodynamic farming

Filed Under: Wine Education, Wine Information Tagged With: biodynamic wine, cow horns

Blending wines at Castello di Amorosa

November 17, 2013 by Joe Becerra

14 years to complete

14 years to complete

Castello di Amorosa

The last time we had visited Castello di Amorosa was in May of 2007, shortly after it had opened to visitors. The winery was nearly completed except for a few landscaping details. Tours were fun but there were a few kinks to be worked out. Today all looks good as tourists flock to see this amazing castle and winery owned by Dario Sattui. It is a marvel! We were invited to Castello di Amorosa for a media event on Thursday, November 14. It was an event where each member of the wine blogging community tried our hands at blending five wines into a Super Tuscan wine.

The Great Room prepared for the blending event

The Great Room preparing for blending event

We met in the Great Hall and, as you can see in the photo, the Great Hall features fresco paintings with brilliant images and colors that immediately catch your eye. All the important people were present to lead us through our blending exercise. This included the man himself, Dario Sattui, a very tall man dressed Italian in style. Flanking Dario Sattui was winemaker Brooks Painter, associate winemaker Peter Vellano, consulting wine maker Sebastiano Rosa, CEO Georg Salzner, and VP of Marketing Jim Sullivan. What a treat to be surrounded by all these wine gurus.

image of brooks painter

Winemaker Brooks Painter with Dario Sattui

First we learned what constitutes a Super Tuscan wine. In the 1970’s a group of Tuscan winemakers wanted to produce wines outside of the very detailed restrictions of the Chianti area. They felt they could make better wines by using other varietals along with the Sangiovese grape. They made various blends adding Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to make their Super Tuscan varietal. Today these wines made in Tuscany have their own official designation, IGT. This designation denotes wine of high quality and characteristically these wines are big and bold, and they command steep prices. The Castello di Amorosa winery makes a Super Tuscan Reserve they call La Castellana. We tasted the 2007, 2008, and 2009. They were all very delightful and elegant wines. They are pricey wines but deservedly so. It takes the best grapes, barrels, and attention to make a distinctive Super Tuscan.

Blending a Super Tuscan wine

It was our task to take five different barrel samples of the 2012 vintage and make our own Super Tuscan wine. We had a Sangiovese, two different Merlot samples, and two different Cabernet Sauvignon samples. This was my first taste of red wines from the fabulous 2012 harvest. Folks are raving about this harvest as being one of the best in many years. I must say that the barrel samples we tasted were quite delicious and in particular the Sangiovese. I can’t wait to try this wine. This Sangiovese juice will be bottled in June and perhaps released in 2014.

Because I liked the Sangiovese so much I decided to make it the prominent portion of my blending experiments. In the first try I used 50% Sangiovese and equal parts of Merlot (Carneros) and Cabernet (Rutherford). I made a second blend but this time, 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet from the Rutherford AVA. This one was my favorite and quite excellent in my humble opinion. One thing the blending exercise emphasized to me was that winemaking to a large extent is part art. It is a creative activity requiring expertise in taste, experience, and imagination. All in all, the blending exercise was a great educational experience.

The blending session was followed by a gourmet lunch and the chance to continue tasting the fine wines produced by the Castello. As we concluded, each wine blogger was presented with a lovely bottle of the 2010 Sangiovese to enjoy at home.

I was amazed to learn that all the Castello di Amorosa wine is sold online, at the winery, or to the wine club members. That means you will not find the Castello di Amorosa wines in any wine shop. If you want to sample the wines, mostly Italian style of wines, you must visit the winery to get started. The winery at this time of the year is looking spectacular. The fall colors of the vines make the castle look even more brilliant. General admission is $19 per person, free for wine club members, and includes a tasting of five premium wines. Tours are $34 per person, followed by a tasting of five premium wines. The winery is open daily and reservations are recommended. Check the Castello Website for more information.

Brilliant fall colors at the Castle

Brilliant fall colors at the Castle

Filed Under: Tasting Rooms, Wine Education, Winemakers Tagged With: Brooks Painter, Castello di Amorosa, Dario Sattui, Peter Velleno, Super Tuscan

Mike Chelini is Longest tenured winemaker in the Napa Valley at Stony Hill Vineyard

December 21, 2011 by Joe Becerra

Last week we toured three completely different Napa Valley mountain wineries. We visited Stony Hill Vineyard on Spring Mountain, Ladera Winery on Howell Mountain, and Nichelini Winery at the summit of Sage Canyon Road. This will be the first of three posts comparing these Napa Valley mountain wineries.

Stony Hill Vineyard on Spring Mountain is one of the oldest wineries in the Napa Valley and one steeped in tradition. Fred and Eleanor McCrea purchased the land in 1943 and released their first vintage in 1952. In 1972, young Mike Chelini began his stint as winemaker at Stony Hill and he continues in that position to this day. He loves his work, the land, and the owners. As he says “Life is good here at Stony Hill Vineyard.” When we asked Mike Chelini if he is the Valley’s longest-running winemaker, he says: “I think I am tied with Bill Sorenson over at Burgess.” Bill Sorenson began his stint at Burgess in 1972, so who knows who started first. Nevertheless, these are impressive careers for both these winemakers.

Winemaker Mike Chelini Stony Hill Vineyard

Winemaker Mike Chelini

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Filed Under: Hidden Napa Wineries, Tasting Rooms, Wine Education, Winemakers Tagged With: Bale Grist Mill, Mike Chelini, Spring Mountain, Stony Hill Vineyard

Closures again

September 29, 2011 by Joe Becerra

I was watching CNBC News yesterday and they ran a short but informative segment on Portugal’s campaign to revitalize their cork industry. We know Portugal is in dire economic straits and needs a boost in their economy, and perhaps using their corks on bottles of wine will help. The TV segment prompted me to write this post. I’m very old fashioned when it comes to wine closures. Most of my 40-year career of wine drinking has involved opening wines with a real cork. I get a thrill each time I use my waiter’s corkscrew to open my wine. There is nothing like that popping sound when I pull the cork from the bottle. That sound has come to mean something very special to me, one that signifies I am about to embark on very pleasurable adventure.

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Filed Under: Wine Education, Wine News Tagged With: Corks, Portugal, Portuguese Cork, wine closure

First Impressions of Virginia Wine – Wine Bloggers Conference

July 21, 2011 by Joe Becerra

When the venue for the 4th Annual Wine Bloggers Conference was announced, many in the audience gasped. Virginia was chosen over Paso Robles and the Finger Lakes region of New York. How could that be, many cried? I heard one blogger shout out “Virginia wine is not that good.” We attended the wine bloggers pre-conference on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and had the opportunity to visit four wineries in the Loudoun County in Northern Virginia. I have to conclude that after tasting wines at these four wineries, the wine is very good in this part of Virginia, and a few of their varietals are stellar. I’m not about to suggest the wines are overall as good as California wines or those of the Napa Valley, but several I tried certainly measure up to our standards. I know these wineries were hand picked by the local tourist office, but this did gives us an eye opener into the quality and potential for Virginia wines.

We visited Tarara Winery, Breaux Vineyards, Chrysalis Winery, and Boxwood Winery. At each winery the winemaker and owner presented their wines, and much like at any winery in California spoke glowingly about their wines.

We loved all the Viognier we tried, and we can easily see why this wine is so popular in Virginia. I wish I’d had some California Viognier on the spot for comparison. These Viognier wines have excellent floral and tropical characteristics and a great mouth feel. I was less impressed with the Chardonnay wines and maybe that is because I just don’t drink that much Chardonnay to begin with. At Breaux Vineyards I rated their Meritage and the Nebbiolo at 90 points. I had not tasted as delicious a Nebbiolo in some time.

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Filed Under: Wine Education, Wine News Tagged With: Napa Valley Wine Blog, Virginia wines, Wine Bloggers Conference

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