U.S. 2010 wine market sales topped out at 330 million cases, just edging out France at about 321 million cases.  The French continue to DRINK far more wine, though, averaging about 12.2 gallons per resident per year compared to just shy of 3 gallons for U.S. residents.  Clearly we need to be hitting up more wine tastings.

Still, this is a huge mark for the U.S. as a global wine leader and shows we’re headed in the right direction.  U.S. wine consumption continued to grow throughout the recession, although many consumers traded down to lower priced wines.  Also, the 2.6 gallons per U.S. resident average indicates a ton of growth potential and a very promising future.

Nice job, America…and keep it up!  Read more on this at USAToday.com.

Recently one of my favorite wine reviewers, the ever entertaining Gary Vaynerchuk, tasted three Willamette Pinots and as always provided some great notes.

Photo by tarotastic

Big Wine Brands Lead Growth in U.S. Market
From Wine Spectator, not surprising that consumers are looking for wine values, which means the big boys are reaping the benefits.  The good news is American consumers spent more than $40 billion on wine last year, an all-time high.  Hopefully we’ll see more trade-up in 2011.

10 Best Hangover Cures That Work
From Enobytes, probably a couple of days late for this to be super helpful, but still great tips for the next time you overindulge.

Your Sommelier’s New Year Predictions
From Vino Sense, some thoughts on the world of wine in 2011.  Good to hear technology advances will hopefully lead to more consistent experiences for the consumer.

Best New Food & Drink Blogs 2010
From Drinks are On Me, a few potentially new-to-you food and wine blogs to follow.  Looking forward to trying these out.

Gary Vaynerchuk’s Thanksgiving Wine Picks
From Food & Wine, Gary V provides his top Thanksgiving wine picks, all under $50. I can personally vouch for the 2006 De Ponte Cellars Dundee Hills Pinot Noir.  Really good.

Thanksgiving Wine Open Thread
Dr. Vino has a nice little Thanksgiving wine conversation happening where everyone can chime in with their thoughts.  Advice ranges from Big Zins to beer-it!

Thanksgiving Wine Tips from The Wine Merchant
An oldie but goodie from right here on Uncorked Cincinnati.  Last Thanksgiving we heard some great tips from the great folks at The Wine Merchant.

Thanksgiving Wine Under $20: 2010 Edition
From Good Wine Under $20 some great wine recommendations that represent overall value.  This is a very comprehensive list that runs the varietal gamut.

Best advice, though, is to not over think it and just get something you love.  Relax, laugh, eat and drink…and remember that spending time with your family and friends is what it’s really all about.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Photo by francesco sgroi

Bill Threatening Wine Direct Shipping Gains New Life in Congress
From Wine Spectator, a revised version of the highly controversial H.R. 5034 was released last week, and looks like it could be headed to the floor of Congress for a vote.  Would this thing please just die already?

Best of Class, Michigan Wine Competition
From AlaWine.com, our neighbor to the north just held the 32nd Annual Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition.  A record 395 wines were entered into competition.

What is Brix?
A nice 2-minute video from the folks at Goosecross Vineyards in the Napa Valley on why “brix” is important and how it’s measured.  Now when you head to the fantastic restaurant, 20 Brix, in Milford you’ll be in the know!

Choosing Good Wine Merchants
From Celebrate Wine, some great tips on choosing a great wine merchant.  We have some great ones right here in Cincinnati.

Why Sulfur Is Used In Making Wine
From Vino Sense, a nice article explaining the role of sulfur in wine making.  Unfortunately for the few people highly allergic to sulfites this also makes wine a forbidden fruit.

Click on the image below to watch the video, or follow this link.  If you like what you see be sure to subscribe.

CellarThief’s mission is to bring great wine to consumers at great prices.  We can all, of course, appreciate that as passionate wine consumers, but what really makes CellarThief unique is what happens after your purchase.  For every bottle of wine purchased, CellarThief donates water…vital water to the thousands of people every day that lack access to clean, safe drinking water.  In their words:

At CellarThief we know how important it is to drink. We are lucky to be able to drink great wines from passionate winemakers. We also are passionate that all people should be able to drink well and enjoy clean water.

There are nearly a billion people in the world that struggle to find enough clean water to simply keep themselves healthy – that is 1 in 8 people. In fact, 42,000 people die every week from a lack of clean, safe water, with 90% of those deaths being children 5 years old or younger.

We decided to walk the talk and do our own small part to make a difference. We have partnered with some wonderful people who are dedicating their lives to providing access to clean water for people worldwide. So, for every bottle of wine we sell we donate water so good folks around the world can have the benefit of clean water. As we sell more, we donate more. And, if we sell out of a wine the Bounty is awarded and we donate even more!

To date CellarThief has donated more than 300,000 days of clean drinking water.  At Uncorked Cincinnati we’re of course huge proponents of our local wine shops, but if you purchase wine online please give CellarThief a look.  What they’re doing should be commended.

Photo by paulaloe

James Suckling Retires from Wine Spectator
James Suckling, a name synonymous with Wine Spectator, has retired from the magazine.  Wine Spectator has already made moves to replace Suckling’s responsibilities, but everyone can pretty much agree he can never truly be replaced.

H.R. 5034: The Lies, The Facts, The Fictions
From Fermentation another great and detailed look at the facts behind H.R. 5034, the bill currently in Congress that if passed would give alcohol wholesalers unprecedented power to regulate shipping rules.  This bill is pretty much universally despised by everyone in the wine biz outside of wholesalers, so let’s all hope 5034 dies a painful death.

When Should You Return Wine?
From WineCast, a quick read on when you should think about returning a bad bottle of wine.  In short, trust your nose and palate in spotting a bad bottle, and feel confident in returning it.

A Plethora of Affordable Chardonnay
A few weeks I posted on how I’m giving Chardonnay a second chance.  With impeccable timing, Tim Lemke over at Cheap Wine Ratings is on a Chardonnay kick with his reviews.

Keg Wine – Oregon Wineries Take Advantage of Innovative Packaging for Wine
From Palate Press, several Oregon wineries are getting innovative with their wine packaging by selling wine kegs to restaurants for by-the-glass pours.  A lot of other advantages as well.

The search for value-oriented wines can be fraught with peril. There are so many appellations and varietals that require more work and manipulation than can be squeezed successfully into a $10 price-tag. However, when a winery does it right, the rewards are astounding.

Take, for example, California Chardonnay: in a recent examiner article that compared Napa and Central Coast bottles, the Central Coast Chardonnay clearly won out because it did not rely, as the Napa did, on the liberal use of secondary malolactic fermentation and oak. Cupcake Vineyards was able to craft an elegant, Chablis-style Chardonnay and sell it an extraordinarily inexpensive price because little was done to the juice after pressing the grapes.

The better-known Napa Valley has too much ridding on the marketing and brand recognition of its appellation; to craft a poor Napa Chardonnay would be tantamount to destroying the Napa wine-manufacturing industry.

California reds are another matter entirely. Pinot Noir requires too much work at every step of the process for a value bottle to be produced that can do the grape justice. Cabernet Sauvignons can be value-oriented but become prosaic. It seems that California is designed to produce great wines with a hefty price, if you want a recognizable appellation. Luckily, though, in this global market age, wines from all over the world are readily available.

Australia continues to lead the pack in the production of tasty wines that speak to the appellation in which they were produced and that are inexpensive and value-oriented. Rosemount Estates Australia Shiraz 2007 ($9.99) remains a perennial favorite: it opens with a jammy, bright raspberry and plum explosion that tapers toward peppery, spicy chocolate notes. It was served with a cheese course consisting of a soft Brie, lightly smoked with hickory, and a Baby Havarti, with pepper water-crackers. The soft tannins of the wine and the chewy fruit notes blended beautifully with the soft cheeses and complimented each other well, while the peppery crackers and spicy notes from the wine worked in harmony at mid- and late-palate point.

The International section of my local grocery store is a treasure-trove of under-appreciated finds that are great for any occasion, especially new-world wines. Pickup an Australian Shiraz, an Argentinean Malbec, or a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon at any price-point, the wines are sure to impress.

The Napa Valley from Silverado Vineyards

America’s Soccer Stars in South Africa’s Wine Country
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa is right around the corner.  Wine Spectator takes a look at a few wine-loving US Soccer Team stars, as well as some great value wines from South Africa.

Fun With Wine Consumption Statistics
A fun article from Vinography takes a look at wine consumption stats around the globe.  Looks like North Korea isn’t all that into wine, and I’m very OK with that.

HR 5034 Kills Consumer Access to Specialty Wine Retailers
A couple of weeks ago an article on Uncorked Cincinnati by Jane Staley Boaz took a look at the CARE bill, otherwise known as HR 5034, and its anti-consumer motives.  Another look at the misguided Bill from Tom Wark’s Fermentation.

Jack Nicklaus Gets Into Wine
I’m a huge golf fan, so this article obviously caught my eye.  Is Jack going to try to take down the Shark?

Bordeaux: Your Ass is on Notice
Bordeaux is becoming irrelevant to younger wine lovers, at least that’s the NY Times take.  Grapes and Grains takes a look at how Bordeaux has isolated itself from the rest of the world.