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What's the point? What IS a point?
10 point scales, A-F Grades, 5 star systems. How do we rate wine? Is it right? Is it accurate? Could it be, *gasp* subjective?
Dhonig, our illustrious host of 2 Days Per Bottle, has kicked off the 89 Project, a community blog where wine bloggers everywhere can contribute their notes on 89 point wines.
Are they undervalued? Are they amazing Are they crap?
Head on over and read my first contribution!
Yes, we all know I love my wine. And vodka. And other fermented products. But, do I love my food?
Inspired by the Wannabe Wino's post on this topic, I thought I'd see how well my drinking habits match up to my eating habits.
Have you had these things? Does this make me a foodie?
According to the rules of the game, for this list:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at Very Good Taste linking to your results.
1. Venison BAMBI? NO way!
2. Nettle tea - Surprisingly good when in the Outback and cold.
3. Huevos rancheros - breakfast time!
4. Steak tartare - I just don't eat cow. Sorry.
5. Crocodile EWWW!!!
6. Black pudding - Tried it but did NOT enjoy it.
7. Cheese fondue - yum yum YUM! All day all night. First experience was in Switzerland!
8. Carp - Love fish, so yes.
9. Borscht - DA!
10. Baba ghanoush - I prefer other Mediterranean specialties, but...
11. Calamari - It has to be perfect, otherwise tastes like a rubber band to me.
12. Pho - Delicious! I have Pho at least once a month if not more.
13. PB&J sandwich - Who hasn't! But, what kind of jelly?
14. Aloo gobi - I had to Google this one. I am going to say I've had it since I eat Indian a lot.
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses - another one I had to google so nope. Never had it but not opposed to trying as it is CHEESE!
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream (Yummy in my tummy!)
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese - um ICK!
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet Pepper - I prefer to keep my taste buds in tact, thank you.
27. Dulce de leche - ohh creamy caramel goodness!
28. Oysters - these came to be late in life but OH my god. ORGASMIC if they are right!
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda - umm nope, don't know what that is.
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl - A San Francisco Tradition!
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float - love love love a good float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar - cognac yes, cigar? NO!
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo - but not with shrimp.
40. Oxtail - ick
41. Curried goat - ick
42. Whole insects - DOUBLE ICK
43. Phaal - too spicy for me
44. Goat’s milk - sadly. I was raised on the stuff.
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more - Show me the way, to the next Whiskey Bar!
46. Fugu - no thanks. I like to be alive the next day.
47. Chicken tikka masala - LUNCH!
48. Eel - too squirmy!
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut - mwhhhaffffahhhahff. Oh sorry. My mouth was full.
50. Sea urchin - err don't do sqirmy things.
51. Prickly pear - never have, but I'd be game!
52. Umeboshi - okkkkay
53. Abalone - See entry for snail!
54. Paneer - Cheese!
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal - well I don't eat beef, but if you thrown in a chicken sammy, I'm there.
56. Spaetzle - High on a hill there's a lonely goat herd, yodeelleeaaheeoddleaayyyeeehoooo
57. Dirty gin Vodka martini - I'm a dirty girl
58. Beer above 8% ABV - wheeeeeee
59. Poutine - SOUNDS good, but the pictures are well...less than appetizing.
60. Carob chips - what can I say. My parents thought they were hippies.
61. S’mores - 8 years of summer camp baby!
62. Sweetbreads - why!
63. Kaolin - not really sure why I would but seems innocuous?
64. Currywurst - again. WHY?
65. Durian - P.U.!
66. Frogs’ legs - KERMIE!!!
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake - all of the above are fried food heaven!
68. Haggis - tried really hard to try this, but the smell. Barf
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette - no thanks. Really.
71. Gazpacho - I don't really know why I haven't had this.
72. Caviar and blini - not really interested in the fish eggs thanks.
73. Louche absinthe - The Green Fairy doens't appeal to me, I'm crazy enough as it is.
74. Gjetost, or brunost - Like I said, my parents are strange.
75. Roadkill - you are kidding right?
76. Baijiu - looks like vodka to me!
77. Hostess Fruit Pie - BURP!
78. Snail - no thanks. I don't do slugs.
79. Lapsang souchon - I love tea almost as much as I love coffee, which is not as much as WINE!
80. Bellini - many many many Bellini!
81. Tom yum - yum is right!
82. Eggs Benedict - with really good bacon. Amazing with bottomless mimosas!
83. Pocky - nto yet anyway
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant - i WISH!
85. Kobe beef - no moo! no mooooo!
86. Hare - no fwuffy bunny wabbits! nOOOOO!
87. Goulash - DA!
88. Flowers - if you're goinnnng to eat in San Francisco...be sure to havvvve some flowers on your plate
89. Horse - no f'ing way. That's just nasty. NASTY!
90. Criollo chocolate - chocolate a plenty, so I'll add this one to the list
91. Spam - Ya brodah! Hang ten!
92. Soft shell crab - sigh. Allergic.
93. Rose harissa - sauce is sauce right?
94. Catfish - MEOW
95. Mole poblano - viva Mexico!
96. Bagel and lox - Breakfast of champions!
97. Lobster Thermidor - allergic to shellfish so oh well
98. Polenta - with tons of good Gorgonzola, it's like heaven in a bowl
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee - ohhhh so so very tasty
100. Snake - not on your LIFE unless I was lost in the woods
Heave away, Haul away!
In South Australia 'round Cape Horn,
We're bound for South Australia!
As you might have guessed, this post is about Aussie wines. A week ago, I was able to attend a fantastic tasting presented by South and The Jug Shop in San Francisco.
South is a wine bar in SOMA that specializes in wine & food from Down Under, and I love it. I've picked out my favorites (ok, fine, the wines I purchased) to write about, since there were so many to drink that night and I lost track of my tasting notes at the end! The Traveling Winemakers of the Country Vintner is a road show of Aussie offerings (with one New Zealand host for good measure). This wine event gave us Yanks an opportunity to taste some smaller production and country vintner examples in a fun format, at a small venue.
We tasted a large variety of wines, from five wineries from all over Oz - Pemberton and Denmark, way out Western Australia-way, over east to South Australia's Adelaide Hills, a few clicks north to the Barossa Valley, then across the Tasman to NZ's famed Marlborough district.
- LOOSE END - Barossa Valley, South Australia
Loose End gets my Gold Star winner of the night award. Rob's GSM blend was stunning and RIDICULOUSLY affordable! The 2005 Loose End GSM Blend retails for $16, and is a smooth ripe blend of 43% Grenache, 30% Shiraz, and 27% Merlot. For a full bodied red with dark fruit and spice, you cannot beat this for the money.
The other wine that Loose End poured was a classic Aussie Shiraz. Typically, I am not a huge fan of the Barossa Shiraz that we get here in the states, mainly because I find them over oaked and over manipulated. This was the exception to the rule. The 2005 Loose End Barossa Shiraz Viognier blend is fermented on 4% of Viognier grapes which gives this wine a beautiful aromatic quality and softens the hard edges you can sometimes find in Shiraz, and shows blackberries, chocolate and and earthly backbone. - Vinaceous Wines & West Cape Howe - Denmark, Western Australia
Vinanceous wins for Best Label Design. In addition, the content of those bottles were AMAZING!
The 2006 Vinaceous Red Right Hand blend of Syrah, Grenanche and of all things Tempranillo, was unusual. It showed as a juicy red, with some interesting spice and great body. I also enjoyed the Snake Charmer Shiraz. While more expensive than the Loose End, at only $24, this was an affordable wine as well.
The other label produced by this winemaker, West Cape Howe, had a lovely Unwooded Chardonnay that was really creamy and delicious without having that overpowering oak characteristic. I don't drink very much white, but I really enjoyed this wine with its crisp & juicy flavors, topped with some mineral and citrus. For less than $20, you can drink this at a Barbie, a picnic, or at the beach.
I could go on for days here, but these were my favorites. Thanks so much to South & The Jug Shop for their hospitality and great wines! Please stop by The Jug Shop to pick up your own Down Under in a Box and if you're in San Francisco, check our their tasting events
My what a weekend! With my cold on the wane, I was looking forward to a weekend full of friends, wine, and sunshine. This did not disappoint!
Saturday brought an open house at 4 local urban wineries in Berkeley, which has spoiled me for choice with the East Bay Vintners Alliance. This collection of 13 urban micro-wineries provides people BART-able access to premium wineries, without worrying about driving around. For me, it's a 15 minute buzz across the bridge to some really amazing sips.
I was met by my fellow Wineaux Liza and Xandria of the Brix Chicks
Brittanay & Marshall of Wine Q
Russ from California Wine Hikes
for a day of lovely wines and laughs.
Starting out at A Donkey & Goat, I particularly enjoyed the Three-Thirteen GSM blend. I am a huge fan of the Grenache-Syrah-Mouvedre blend, and always savor a change to taste more. This example showed tons of spice, particularly nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper. I also tasted rich dark fruit, and a tiny bit of cherry cola at the finish.
I also enjoyed the Fenaughty Vineyard Syrah, which is co-fermented with a touch of Vinogner, which gives it a floral aromatic that is simply divine. This syrah is a rich dark purple color, and is full of smoke & leather, like my grandfathers old club chair. The first sip showed blueberries, blackberries, and baking spices.
In the same space, Dept C is another microwinery within a winery. Here, Pinot Noir is the specialty and we tasted a Pinot Gris rose, a barrel sample from Santa Cruz Mountains and a Santa Lucia Highlands example.
After a relaxing hour or so, we headed a few blocks away to Eno Wnies, on Camelia. I ahve been a fan of Eno since my friend David, the Wine Pimp, introduced me to Sasha and his juice a few years ago at a festival in San Franciso. Let's just say I have never been disappointed! At Eno, the Never Say Never Pinot Noir is a rich but light pinot characteristic of it's home in Santa Lucia Highlands. A touch of Russian River Valley mingles the flavors and gives this wine an earthy aroma with spicy cherry and dark red fruit YUM is what I can conclude! I of course, left with 2 bottles.
Continuing at Eno, I also love the Yes Dear Greanche. This Grenache comes from one my new favorite vineyards, Eaglepoint Ranch, which has been providing it's Mendocino fruit to some of the most well known names in Sonoma. This is a juicy strawberry of a wine, and has hints of herbs. I love it because it's so easy to drink.
Housed in the same space, Broc Cellars who was pouring 2 Grenaches and 2 Syrahs. The first Grenache, Dry Stack, was a nice fruity Greanche but wasn't overpowering. I found a lot of strawberry flavors, with subltle oak. The 2nd Grenache was VentanaVineyards, and was also a classic example of Grenache. This was a deep red color, with lots of spice and darker fruit than the Dry Stack. I of course, took home one of each.
The Broc Cellars Cabernet was a steal at $20 and was a great way to start off after a refreshing Rose.
So many wines, so many good times! Stay tuned for a report on Lost Canyon!
Yes yes I'm a day late, and a dollar short. That said, this month, we have a special theme for Wine Blogging Wednesday #49.
In light on the current political climate and the impending election, David Honig of 2 Days Per Bottle has asked us to toast to the end of this madness we call the Bush era.
What will I drink to toast this momentous occasion? It certainly will not be something to honor the President, although I will be celebrating his demise.
If Obama wins the election, as I hope he does, I will be toasting with a lovely bottle of Champagne. The current candidate is Perrier-Jouët NV Brut, which my friend Liza the Brix Chick brought over to my house before an event on Sunday. In this tasty sparkler, I found creamy toast, hazelnuts, and a lemony backnote. Ahhh refreshign!
IF however, my worst nightmare comes true and McLame & Caribou Barbie win this freak show, I will be drowning my sorrows in some good single malt scotch as I drive up to the border to escape. My favorite single malt thse days is Glenmorangie Sherry Cask, but that, is another blog post me thinks!
Happy drinking!
Wow what a busy week this has been! Where have the last two weeks gone? I can't find them. Have you seen them? Hmm might have to look under my chair, or in my stair, over here, over there. In recent happenings, fellow wine bloggers met to taste through several delicious wines. From left to right: 
Marshall & Brittney of WineQ, (@wineq, @wineqt), Ward of WineLog (@drxeno), Farley, late of Behind the Vines and currently of Rosenblum Cellars (@WinePoet), Megan of Wannabe Wino (@sonadora) and Russ of California Wine Hikes (@winehiker). Togeter, we had some great wines and great dinner and talked blogs, politics and wine!
The following day, Brittney, Megan and I headed up to Michel-Schlumberger in Dry Creek Valley, where we were treated to a tour of the vineyard and an amazing tasting afternoon. Judd led us
through the organic garden out back, before taking us up the hill to admire the grapes as well as the view. After scrambling down a few hills (yes I'm a girl, and wasn't wearing hiking shoes), we headed in to the luxe Club Room to taste through their current offerings.
Highlights for me were the Pinot Noir and the Syrah, but the library reserve vertical of Cabernet Sauvingnons was amazing too! I confess, I was being lazy, somewhat induced by a cold, so i didnt' take great notes. Head on over to Wannabe Wino for a complete report shortly!
Amazingly, we spent over 2 hours enjoying our day, and were somewhat remiss in keeping our lunch date with Patrick of Iridesse Wines (@oenophilus) at Bovolo in Healdsburg. Once there however, we were all drooling over the multiple forms of bacon offered. Three of us ordered the decadent Carbonara, which was served with black pig bacon. And of course, we had a side of bacon to go with that!
After lunch, the girls and I headed across the street ot Stephen & Walker, before heading to the south end of town. After Stephen & Walker, we headed south to Longboard Vineyards, where we were fortunate enough to hit a clearance sale on their 2005 Syrah which was only $15. For a daily drinker, I really enjoyed this wine with a rich & earthly character, balanced by dark fruit and spicy cola. I also picked up a bottle of the Dakine Syrah, which is the reserve offering. I especially enjoyed the Dakine for winter sipping in front of the fireplace.
After Longboard, we continued to the south end of town to the Front Street Five, a collection of small wineries. Here we stopped at Huntington and Camelia Cellars.
I have always enjoyed Huntington's Petite Sirah, but this time I purhcased a reserve Merlot for fall sipping. At Camelia, they had a lovely soft Sav Blanc called First Kiss, so I brought some of that home too.
You can find all of these wines by using Vinquire my favorite search tool!
After two full days of tasting and laughing, I was ready for a good rest! After all, I needed to be perky for my next few wine activities!
Stay tuned for reports on those. Happy drinking!
Even though I'm really a red wine girl, the weather has been so sweltering recently, I have been enjoying quite a bit of cold white as well.
Today, I am cracking open the Ceja Bella Rosa Rosé, which is a beautiful clear deep hibiscus color.
This lovely bottle was a sample sent by my friends at WineQ, with no deadlines or strings attached ;-)
Upon opening, I smelled strawberries, as if I were running through a field of wild ones. The first taste reminded me of those strawberry sodas from when I was kid, but in a good way! It also had a ton of tart cranberry and juicy ripe fruit, with a crisp finish touched by raspberries.
Perfect for a still warm summer evening!
Find this wine now on Vinquire or Wine Q!
Gracious what happened to the summer months? I feel like a kid who's summer vacation has been cut short. Fortunately, we get a late summer out here in San Francisco, but it is amazing that it is already September 1st.
Yesterday being the Sunday before an extra day off, I took the opportunity to cruise up to Dry Creek with some wineaux friends. Little did we know that Trentadue was having a 50% off sale, and my friend stocked up! Their La Storia line has always been a favorite of mine.
This being a new month, I thought I'd take the opportunity to tell you about a few evetns coming up:
September 13/14
Spotlight on Zinfandel in Kenwood
Seven Heart of Sonoma Valley wineries are participating. Enjoy wine tastings, verticals, barrel sampling, select discounts, educational seminars, and more!
- Eric Ross Winery
- Family Wineries
- Kenwood
- Kaz Winery & Vineyards
- Loxton Cellars
- Muscardini Cellars & Ty Caton Vineyards
- The Wine Room
- VJB Vineyards & Cellars
September 14
Country Vintner tour at South, brought to you by The Jug Shop
Rob "Gibbo" Gibson with LOOSE END
Nick "Kilo Man" Stacy with WEST CAPE HOWE
Barbara "The Law" Lawson with LAWSON'S DRY HILLS
Peter "The Adelaide Longhorn" Saturno of LONGVIEW VINEYARD
George & Liz "The Country Duo" now on tour with PICARDY
Sept 20th
Release the Spaniard Dinner -at Twisted Oak Winery
Being a recent convert to the Twisted Few wine club, I decided this would be a fine opportunity to visit the Murphy's area to do a little wine reconnaissance. Since I haven't been there since I was prospecting for gold in high school, I am looking forward to a grown up tour of the area.
Some other wineries in the area that we will try to taste at are:
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