Photo by Jenny Downing

But, with 4th of July right around the corner, I’ve made the decision to give America’s most popular grape another try.  And with impeccable timing, Snooth just authored a perfect article for those who want to join me.  From the article:

California’s winemakers are just now beginning to understand the terroirs where Chardonnay excels, and they have begun to adapt winemaking techniques to the terroir, and not vice versa. For years many in California were committed to producing Chardonnay via Burgundian methods; let’s face it, white Burgundy was, and continues to be, the benchmark for Chardonnay.

Be sure to check out the complete article by clicking here.  Snooth reviews more than 20 Chardonnays complete with tasting notes.  I’m planning to try at least a few, hoping to identify at least one Chardonnay I’ll be proud to serve and drink.

Enjoy…and be sure to share your Chardonnay faves.

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.

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Winery Insider is a new private sale site that just launched today, where you can get amazing quality wines at up to 80% off retail.  If you’re familiar with Gilt Group it’s basically the same concept…but wine instead of fashion.

Winery Insider will host 65-70 sales per month with the site’s master sommeliers selecting high-quality wines from all over the world.  Here’s how it works:

• New sales events launch regularly with at least three offers happening simultaneously.  You’ll be notified via email for advanced notice of sale events.
• Once the event begins you’ll have 24-72 hours to snatch up the wine.  Quantities are limited.

From Winery Insider’s website:

Winery Insider offers a carefully-edited group of wines at different price points from all over the world. Our wide network of industry contacts garnered through many years in the wine business afford the opportunity to work with producers from Sonoma to Rioja, to source wines from well-known, brand name wineries as well as from small, lesser known producers.

All selections are personally tasted by the Winery Insider panel which includes a diverse group of wine experts. Ultimately we choose only a small percentage of these wines to include as offers to our members.

I’m signed up (completely free) and on alert.  Winery Insider will also provide $$ credits for inviting friends.  Definitely a site worth checking out.

Click here if the video doesn’t appear below.

Fear no more (or at least less!). There are several easy ways to preserve your wine once opened, keeping your wine tasting superb for a week or even longer. Our favorite wine show, In Wine Country, and Master Sommelier, Evan Goldstein visually show us how to get the job done.

If the video doesn’t appear above please click here to view. Thanks!

Magazine Subscriptions
Magazine subscriptions are great gifts that extend well beyond the Holiday season and are perfect for the wine lover looking to learn and explore.  Two of my favorites include:

• Wine Spectator – the quintessential wine magazine for people serious about wine and fine dining.  A bit stuffy at times, but still the best way to keep up on the latest and greatest in wine.
• Food & Wine – the perfect read for the wine lover just as passionate about fine food.  Travel, recipes, culinary trends and an overall energetic take on living.

Wine of the Month Clubs
What better way to let your wine lover explore and learn about new wines then through a Wine of the Month Club.  Locally The Wine Merchant in Oakley has some great options.

Vinturi Wine Aerator
The Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator continues to draw a lot of attention, and rightly so.  The unique and sleek design makes the aeration process fast and easy.  You’ll taste a noticeable difference in your wines.

Rustic Wine Bags
These charming wine bags are each branded with an antique corkscrew design and make a unique gift on their own or as gift wrap to a bottle of wine.  Just $16 for a set of 4 at wisteria.com.

Wine Movies
There aren’t a ton of movies out there with wine as a central part of the plot, but the ones that do exist are pretty darn good.  Two of the best:

• Bottle Shock – This docudrama is loosely based on the famous Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 (Judgement of Paris) which arguably put the Napa Valley on the map.  Stars Bill Pullman (Independence Day) and Chris Pine (Star Trek).
• Sideways – Struggling novelist and wine connoisseur Miles (Paul Giamatti) takes his best friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) on a wine-tasting tour of California vineyards for a kind of extended bachelor party.  An Oscar win and several Oscar nominations for this one.

What else do you love that should be a must-buy for people this Holiday season?

UC: What should people think about when pulling together a wine selection for Thanksgiving?

TWM: There are a lot of flavors and a lot of different side dishes going on for Thanksgiving, so it is a challenge. In the end, though, you have to drink what you like. You can’t just say Sauvignon Blanc is a good choice if you hate Sauvignon Blanc.  It’s usually a family occasion so if Mom likes oaky Chardonnay then Mom should have her oaky Chardonnay!

UC:  What are some tips for Reds?

TWM:  If you’re having traditional turkey, then for Reds lighter, fruitier styles seem to work well. Pinot Noir is a great choice. If you want something with a little more body and complexity then Grenache and Syrah are great varietals to go with. If you like fruitier then Zinfandel is a great choice as it compliments cranberry, fruit and nut flavors in the meal. It’s great for people that want a heavier, fuller body wine.

UC:  What about Whites?

TWM:  For whites, crisp whites with a lot of acidity are good because they cut through all the heavy fats on Thanksgiving! The gravy, the creamy side dishes…lighter, high acidity wines are a nice compliment so that you’re not putting something heavy on top of something heavy.

UC: Could you give me a few high acidity wines that would be perfect?

TWM: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris from Oregon or France, Pinot Blanc.  Gewürztraminer is great because it has a subtle spiciness in the scent and on the palate. It goes great with some of the fall flavors like yam or pumpkin, or other spicy flavors of Thanksgiving. It will really compliment cinnamon and nutmeg well.

UC:  How many different types of wine should someone have on the Thanksgiving table?

TWM: It really just depends on your family.  Some families are very much into wine while other families are more about beer and football and they’ll only have wine when they sit down to the table.

UC:  Can someone get some help on Thanksgiving wines just by stopping into The Wine Merchant?

TWM: We did a feature in our Newsletter suggesting wines for Thanksgiving, but the entire staff at The Wine Merchant has a lot of experience on what goes well with Thanksgiving. One of the simplest rules is to stay away from Cabernet and Merlot because they’re a bit heavy and more of a beef wine. And with whites you just want to stay away from oaky Chardonnays (unless Mom loves it!).

You can visit The Wine Merchant at 3972 Edwards Road in Oakley.  They are open Monday-Friday 10 AM-7 PM, Saturday 10 AM-6 PM, and Sunday 1PM-5PM.

Each week we’ll be bringing featured segments to Uncorked Cincinnati, but we encourage everyone to check out the In Wine Country website as they really do a fantastic job.

In this segment we give a shout out to a P&G’s Dawn liquid soap and the role it plays in getting out wine stains.  This is an especially timely post for me given my unfortunate run-in last night with a glass of Hope Estate “The Ripper” shiraz.   : )