VineSleuth

Malbec World Day

Apr17

April 17, 2013 by VineSleuth 1 Comment

By Amy Gross, the VineSleuth

Yep, today is the day to celebrate Argentine Malbec all over the world. (As if we needed another excuse to drink Malbec!!)

I am definitely a Malbec fan. Last fall when I served as a wine judge for the Houston LiveStock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition, I was thrilled when I found out I would be judging Malbecs on my first panel. I was in sipping heaven!

So, now that today is the day, I’ve got a few ideas for you…

2011 Graffigna Centenario Reserve Malbec

Pick up a bottle of Graffigna Centenario Reserve Malbec for about $8- $10 and enjoy it tonight over a full dinner or tapas. This is a perfect everyday Malbec with full flavor at a super inexpensive price. But don’t just take my word for it, click over and see what the Reverse Wine Snob had to say about 2010 Graffigna Centenario Reserve Malbec last year. Even though a new vintage is being offered, his review still stands for this wine.

Watch a Virtual Tasting of Malbecs

Snooth hosted a virtual tasting of Malbec this past Sunday afternoon, but you can watch the replay anytime. (And I suggest you do!) Gregory Dal Piaz of Snooth and Nora Z. Favelukes, a Wines of Argentina Representative, do a great job of explaining Malbec and Argentine culture in a fun, super approachable way.

You might think an hour is a long time to watch a video but, believe me, the time will fly by. To make it even more fun, pick up a bottle or three (or four) of the wines they explore in the video. (There is a list below the video preview.) If you can’t, though, watching the video is still worth it.

Before you go and click to do that, though, let me tell you about two of the featured wines that I was able to taste while watching. They were a bit more luxurious than the Graffigna, and their prices definitely reflect that. So please read my reviews with that perspective.

Sometimes I’m in the mood for a great $8 bottle of wine that tastes more like a $15 bottle, as the Graffigna most certainly is, and sometimes I’m in the mood for a bit more decadence. These wines are for those more decadent days:

Terrazas de los Andes 2010 Las Compuertas (Single Vineyard) $50
Dedicado, Finca Flichman 2009 Mendoza $30

While I was watching, I confess I texted my husband, who was kind enough to take the kids to a birthday party while I had the house and tasting to myself, to tell him I couldn’t wait for him to get home and taste the wines with me.

Yes, they were that good.

Terrazas de los Andes Malbec

As I said, both of these two Malbecs were quite delicious and luxurious tasting, but the Terrazas de los Andes really took me. I could smell chocolate and vanilla bean on the nose, which was not at all what I was expecting. In the wine, I tasted a hint of carmel at first, and then the glorious fruit.

The long finish presented the wine’s acidity, making me think the wine would not only be fantastic to enjoy alone at the end of the night (as I did with Gary once the kids were in bed) but also with spicy coppa (as I did during the tasting), or with a bold steak (which I need to do sometime). This wine would definitely hold up with substantial foods nicely, and yet it doesn’t need the food, as some wines do.

I thought for sure Gary would prefer this Malbec to the other, but he instead preferred the 2009 Dedicado Finca Flichman, from Mendoza.

Dedicado Finca Flichman Malbec

The Dedicado Finca Flichman Malbec is a blend of 70% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah. Gary often prefers bolder and more tannic wines than I do, and this one, in my opinion, is bolder than the Terrazas de los Andes, but I still definitely enjoyed this one as well. It got my attention at first sip and held it through the long finish. I tried it again two days later, and it was smoother and more delicious. And, bonus, Gary liked it just as much on day three as he did on day one.

New Riedel Malbec Glasses

No matter which Malbec you decide to enjoy, consider picking up the new Riedel Malbec glasses, created through a partnership between Riedel and Graffigna.

(The Riedel glasses are the ones you see in all these photos.)

You might be wondering if the glasses really do make a difference. I think they sure do. No, it is not imperative to use the proper glass every time, but if you want to experience any wine the way it should be experienced, taking in the full aroma and really letting the flavor shine, using the proper glassware does make a huge difference. And when you are celebrating, don’t you want to do it up right?

I hope you are able to find a way to celebrate Malbec World Day today. If you cannot make it happen today, though, consider celebrating this weekend.

Do you know of a Malbec I should try? Please share in the comments so we can all check it out.

Salud!

All three wines and 2 Riedel glasses were provided for my review. Opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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1 Comment Filed Under: Wine Reviews Tagged With: Malbec

How to Make a Mimosa

Apr13

April 13, 2013 by VineSleuth Leave a Comment

by Amy Gross, the Vine Sleuth

After visiting The Tasting Room in Houston for brunch and experimenting with fruit juice mimosa combinations there, I thought it would be a fun idea to share with you how to make a mimosa. Setting up a mimosa bar with lots of options might be just what you need to jazz up your next brunch, whether it be a baby shower, wedding shower, birthday or any occasion to get together and toast.

How to Make a Mimosa

A mimosa is a combination of sparkling wine and fruit juice. If you’re creating a mimosa bar for an event, offer several juices and fruit purees and two different sparkling wines. You could offer one wine, but two is more fun. It lets your guests be their own mixologists.

Sparkling Wine

Select from the following:

Cava from Spain
Prosecco from Italy
sparkling wine from anywhere in the US (You don’t have to limit yourself to California. Gruet from New Mexico has some great bubbles!)
Champagne from France

Fruit Juice or Puree

Next, puree some fruits or buy some juices and set them out in pretty pitchers. Consider these:

White Peach
Raspberry
Blood Orange
Strawberry
Pineapple
Mango
Guava
Blueberry

Garnishes

Gather a few bowls of garnishes to add a finishing touch:

Mint leaves
Raspberries
Blackberries
Strawberries
Pineapple wedges

Instructions

Line up the glass flutes and let your guests unleash their creativity, mixing and matching. Start by combining about 2/3 sparkling wine with 1/3 juice, then adjust to taste. Don’t limit each mimosa to just one juice. Consider combining them, too.

What combinations do you think you might enjoy? Are there any juices I didn’t list that you might want to try?

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Leave a Comment Filed Under: Drinking Wine

Collaboration in Oregon Wines

Apr10

April 10, 2013 by VineSleuth 3 Comments

by Amy Gross, the Vine Sleuth

I love to see people work together. There is something special when people or companies who could be competitors pull together in a constructive, respectful way and help each other out. When potential competitors appreciate each other’s strengths and lend support to each other, typically the industry strengthens as a whole and each entity grows as well.

The second seminar in the Snooth PVA weekend was with wines of Oregon.

Spirit of Collaboration

The spirit of collaboration seems to be alive and well among Oregon wineries and this shone through during our dinner at the Peking Duck House accompanied by Oregon wines.

Earl Jones of Abacela, Jim Bernau of Willamette Valley Vineyards, and Brian O’Donnell of Belle Pente each shared about their own wineries throughout dinner, but each also shared much more about the state’s wine production as a whole. They talked about the variety in weather, topography and soil type, among other things in the different areas of Oregon. They shared about different philosophies in winemaking. And they all talked about a respect for the earth and its resources, and farming in sustainable ways.

As each gentleman spoke, he was exactly that: a gentleman, never boastful of his own winery, but appreciative of the efforts of the state’s wineries, big and small.

Steamboat Pinot Noir Project

One story that was shared really stood out to me.

Jim shared the story of the Steamboat Pinot Noir project, where winemakers bring their wines that have faults to discuss the wines and what might have gone wrong. It’s a time of collaboration and investigation, rather than a time of finger-pointing and judgment. The wines are evaluated blindly and media are not allowed to attend the event so that the winemakers are more comfortable speaking their minds and brainstorming together without worry for how an opinion might be spun.

Through projects such as this, the winemakers are able to discuss strengths and weaknesses in growing practices, as well as the full art and science of winemaking. They analyze techniques and variables and come to conclusions together.

Bloggers Working Together

There was more collaboration going on than with the wineries of Oregon at the Snooth PVA weekend, however.

Being together enabled us, as bloggers, the opportunity to follow that model and work together, too. We were able to meet in person and talk about the things that we felt were working on our sites… and think about the areas where we need improvement.

We have already begun working more closely together, sharing details, photos, and memories of the weekend. It is my hope we’ll see more of this in the future as we grow our blogs better together, yet reaching our own unique audiences that do still set us apart.

Wine

And the wines we were offered? Yes, they were all wines I would buy to enjoy again or would want to share for different reasons.

Two that especially grabbed me were the Soter Brut Rosé, a crisp, bubbly delight with tiny, consistent bubbles.

and Argyle’s Nuthouse Pinot Noir from 2010:

I have enjoyed Argyle’s sparkling wines many times, but this was my first time to try their Pinot Noir. I am embarrassed to admit it, but I didn’t take good notes explaining why I liked it. But I have a big “5″ written by the Nuthouse Pinot Noir on my score sheet, and a 5 is the score I give to wines that wow me the most. (I’m pretty stingy with my 5′s.)

So, in the spirit of collaboration (and because my notes aren’t all that great), don’t take my word for it. Click over and take a look at the posts by some of the bloggers who were there with me: (As more posts go up, I will link to them here, as well.)

Benito’s Wine Reviews: Snooth PVA Oregon Wine Board Dinner
Vindulge: Meeting Abacela Winery– 3,000 miles east of Oregon

Also, click over to the Oregon Wine Board’s site to learn more about Oregon wines. And maybe I’ll see you in Oregon this summer. After a quick trip last summer and this seminar, I’m hooked and ready to explore it some more.

Cheers to collaboration!

Disclosure: I, and the other bloggers on this trip, were guests of Snooth who provided transportation, lodging, meals and, of course, wine. Opinions expressed are my own.

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3 Comments Filed Under: Wine Stories

Wines of Scarpa (Piedmont, Italy)

Apr4

April 4, 2013 by VineSleuth 6 Comments

Earlier this week I told you a little bit about being invited to a weekend of wine seminars with 20 other bloggers in conjunction with the Snooth People’s Voice Wine Awards (Snooth PVA). I was pretty blown away to be invited. And once I arrived, the weekend was filled with opportunities to learn so much about wines from all over the world. We took part in 8 wine seminars from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, and I tasted well over 100 wines. It was all pretty amazing and a bit overwhelming, to be honest.

Over the coming weeks I’ll share with you my impressions of the wines and what I learned, right here on VineSleuth Uncorked.

Wines of Scarpa

I arrived in New York for the Snooth PVA weekend, used Uber for the first time to secure a great ride from the airport to my hotel, checked in, and was able to meet up with a dear friend for a warm-up glass of wine and great conversation at Lulu & Me. (Fantastic roasted shrimp crostini, by the way. The lemon caper cream was a perfect, refreshing touch.)

After that I made my way to the Peking Duck House for our first seminar, where we learned about Scarpa’s Barbera d’Asti and Barolos.

Scarpa’s wines are grown and made in the northern part of Italy as they have been since 1854. The winery is in Nizza Monferrato, in the Piedmont region.

As I took my seat, this is what was before me:

I have been faced with a placemat filled with glasses like that before so that didn’t intimidate me. But then I took a look at the list of wines we would be evaluating:

Scarpa Barbera d’Asti, La Bogliona, 2007, $72
Scarpa Barbera d’Asti, La Bogliona, 2006, $52
Scarpa Barbera d’Asti, La Bogliona, 2005, $68
Scarpa Barbera d’Asti, La Bogliona, 1998, $58
Scarpa Barbera d’Asti, La Bogliona, 1997, $95
Scarpa Barolo, Tettimora, 2005, $74
Scarpa Barolo, Tettimora, 2004, $88
Scarpa Barolo, Tettimora, 2003, $98
Scarpa Barolo, Tettimora, 2001, $130
Scarpa Barolo, Tettimora, 1999, $105
Scarpa Barolo, Tettimora, 1987, $250
Scarpa Barolo, Le Coste di Monforte, 1978, $500

We were jumping right in with some serious wines at our very first seminar. There were some very old wines on that list…and $500? Yikes!

I typically don’t like to know the prices of the wines I taste until after I’ve formed my initial impressions, as I did at the Bordeaux Cru Classe tasting in Houston earlier this year. (And yes, I admit it. I did love the most expensive wine offered at that tasting, but I also loved the least expensive, too.)

I couldn’t help but see those prices, though. They were on my tasting sheet. Looking over the years, even I knew I was in for something very special. I just knew this was going to be one of those things I would look back on in a few years and say, “Wow, if only I knew then what I know now.” But I didn’t know. And I still don’t. And yet I was one of the lucky ones to be in that room, tasting those wines, doing the best I could to make sense of it all.

To be honest, I often feel as though I’m in over my head when it comes to wine. I enjoy drinking it, and I really do enjoy sharing it with friends, and yes that includes those of the online kind like you.

When I taste it, sometimes I’m blown away, sometimes I am intrigued by nuance, and sometimes I wonder what in the world other people are talking about when they describe it. In that room of wine writers, I definitely felt out of my league and decided to just listen to everyone else’s questions rather than pose my own.

I wonder if perhaps others might have felt a little overwhelmed, too. Was I really the only one? I don’t know.

In looking at my notes, I had the most comments on the final two wines.

Scarpa Barolo, Le Coste di Monforte, 1978, $500

I’ll just cut to the chase and jump in with that 1978 Barolo that retails for $500. (I’m not sure how they have these prices listed, though, as we were told these wines are not available for sale in the US just yet.)

My notes say that it was a touch salty and savory and had a hint of bouillon flavor, which does not sound delightful at all, but I remember writing that and thinking that was exactly what I was tasting, and it didn’t sound good, but that it was very good and intriguing. I wanted to drink it all in. It was like no other wine I had tasted in that it wasn’t very fruity at all, but the savory characters were luscious and made me want another sip, and then another, as I thought about how to describe it, and I just enjoyed it.

Scarpa Barolo, Tettimora, 1987, $250

This one also had savory flavors of bouillon, but had a trace of mint I rather enjoyed. (I am very partial to mint anything.) I couldn’t help but wonder if the one from 1978 had the mint at one time but aging took it away. (Anyone with more wine background want to answer that one in the comments? I’d love the input.)

Those are the two that stood out the most, and I promise it’s not just because of their prices. They were so different than any wines I ever remember tasting. That savory taste still intrigues me.

The Other Wines

The Barberas, which we tasted first, were all bright with nice acid that gave the wines structure without being too harsh, and I enjoyed the fruit. But those Barolos called out to me.

Looking back over my notes, I see ‘mint’ written quite a few times, so I cannot help but wonder: Is that a typical characteristic of Barolo? I’m not sure.

I also wrote ‘tannic’ quite a lot, even for a 1999 Barolo. If it is still tannic now, I cannot imagine what it must have been like when it was originally released!

We Take Our Time

Our presenter, Martina Zola, whose mother is the president of the winery, shared that the wines of Scarpa “…are like a Sunday brunch in Piedmont. We take our time.” She went on to explain that a traditional Sunday lunch in the region takes about 4-5 hours, as everyone relaxes and takes their time.

When someone in the group asked about aging, she said, “We work in a human way. When our winemaker says it is ready, we bottle it.”

That really resonated with me, making me think of my own life driven by deadlines and to dos. I loved the idea of making something that wasn’t dictated by a calendar, but explored by a winemaker and moved from one step to the next when he or she deemed it was ready, and not a moment sooner. And, after tasting these wines, taking time certainly made them more intriguing, more interesting, and much more desirable to me.

My husband and I are just starting to buy wines to age. We have several bottles of a trockenbeerenauslese we intend to open each Christmas for many years to see how it changes.

When these wines from Scarpa are available in the US, I’ll probably buy several bottles of a Barolo from a single vintage so I can explore how it changes, perhaps opening one bottle every two years and doing my best to keep good notes to compare. When that happens, I’ll keep you posted.

Until then, my notes will have to suffice.

Next, I’ll share about wines that are much easier to get a hold of in the US: Wines from Oregon. Yes, I’ll tell you about some Pinot Noirs from the Willamette Valley. But there will be much more.

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6 Comments Filed Under: Wine Reviews Tagged With: Italy, Over $50

A Unique Experience, Thanks to Snooth

Apr2

April 2, 2013 by VineSleuth 6 Comments

by Amy Gross, the Vine Sleuth

Blogging has brought many adventures to my life I never expected, and even a few once-in-a-lifetime-type things. This is actually my fourth blog to launch, and each blog has had its moments for inspiration and unique experiences. Some of those experiences, though, are more amazing than the others.

Cinderella’s Castle

In 2010, I was at the Disney Social Media Moms conference at Walt Disney World when my friend’s ticket was drawn for a magical overnight stay in Cinderella’s Castle. (As a side note, it was also at that conference that the idea to launch this blog was born.)

Andrea, who won the spectacular grand prize, was kind enough to invite four other bloggers and ME to join her for the experience, which is something so unique, so special, that you cannot even buy it. That’s right, you can only win a stay in Cinderella’s Castle and all the ultra VIP treatment that goes along with it, and I was so super lucky enough to be along for the ride. (Squeeee!)

The six of us were totally giddy and giggly. I am not sure our guides knew how to handle us. Then, again, they are probably a bit used to it. We were told about one woman who kept fainting because she was so excited. After three times, the team knew to stand behind her when something extra special was about to happen.

If you want to know what happens behind the scenes and how the peeps at Disney tend to every single detail (and what Cinderella’s Castle is really like), click over to my family travel site, MomsTravelTales.com and read all about it. If you click over to read it, be sure to come back, as I’ve got more to share.

Weekend of Wines from around the World

In March, I felt like I won a very similar prize.

Gregory Dal Piaz of Snooth, a great resource for wine information with insightful wine writing and an active wine lovers’ community, and who hosts the Snooth People’s Voice Wine Awards, invited me to join him and 20 other bloggers for a weekend of wine seminars surrounding the People’s Voice Awards Grand Tasting in New York City.

“What??! Me???” I couldn’t help but think. Of course I jumped at the chance and responded to the invitation right away, hoping Gregory wouldn’t re-think the invitation and change his mind.

And then an email with the airline confirmation arrived and it looked like I really was invited and would get to go.

Really?? I didn’t faint, but I did start to feel like I was in a fairy tale. Manhattan? Wine? Amazing bloggers? And someone else was inviting me, flying me out, and hosting me? Are you kidding????

I wiggled a few things on my schedule, cut my attendance at Blissdom short (but made the most of it by planning a pre-Blissdom event with Rodney Strong—I like to bring wine to other bloggers, too), packed some fun dresses and boots, pulled out my wool coat and gloves, and headed for Manhattan. My head was spinning, and I was giddy again.

I checked the wine-packed schedule. There were some seminars planned on wines I knew absolutely nothing about, and some I knew a bit about.

Here’s a glimpse:

Wines of Scarpa (Italy) Master Class
Oregon Wine and Dinner at Peking Duck House
Brazilian Wines Master Class
Lunch with wines from Ribera del Duero (Spain) at Salinas Restaurant
White Wines of Italy Master Class
VIP Access to the People’s Voice Wine Awards Grand Tasting
Wines of Austria Master Class
South African Wine Pairing Lunch at the Institute of Culinary Education
Wines of Rioja (Spain) Master Class

Then I checked out the list of my fellow bloggers and was blown away. Bloggers from each of these sites would also be there:

“Really??! Me??!!” echoed in my head again.

How in the world was I on a list with those amazing bloggers? Those people know their stuff, and I’m most definitely a newbie. Gulp. How in the world would I measure up? I wasn’t sure. But I knew I was still in for a treat. And I most definitely was.

Sharing with You

How Andrea’s ticket was pulled and I got to join her and 5 friends for a VIP experience in Cinderella’s Castle, I’ll never know. It was Disney magic. And how or why Gregory of Snooth decided to invite me to a VIP weekend of wine learning, I don’t know, either. But I’m not questioning either one. I’m just going to accept, be thankful, enjoy and share with you.

Over the next few weeks I’ll fill you in on the wines I tasted, the information I learned, and the people I met. (And yes, I’ll even tell you where we found delicious Champagne at half price one evening when we were exploring Manhattan… and you thought we would have had enough wine with all of those seminars!! Wrong—there’s always room for bubbles!)

First up will be Wines of Scarpa later this week. And just like an overnight stay in Cinderella’s Castle, you cannot buy these wines in the US…at least not yet.

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6 Comments Filed Under: Wine Stories

Rodney Strong Wine Blending Event

Mar26

March 26, 2013 by VineSleuth 2 Comments

Team Synergy took top honors last week when bloggers became winemakers and competed for bragging rights to the best Meritage blend as VineSleuth and Rodney Strong Vineyards hosted #WineTime at the Hotel Zaza in Dallas.

Team Petite Hashtag took second place and shared this response on Instagram:

The competition was fierce with tweets circulating like these:

Listening to @robertlarson and getting ready to dominate the wine blending competition on team @savings #blissdom twitter.com/HappyHousewife…

— Toni Anderson (@HappyHousewife) March 21, 2013

@dallaswinechick oh yeah we are;)

— Jana | Merlot Mommy (@jspd) March 21, 2013

There were some less competitive ones, too like this one:

Mixing it up pre #blissdom #winetime @ Hotel ZaZa instagr.am/p/XGhPzkkuJW/

— Molly Thornberg (@DigitalMolly) March 21, 2013

For those bloggers in town for Blissdom (a blogging conference that began the next day at the Gaylord Texan), the event started on the shuttle bus with J Cuvée 20 Brut NV bubbles from Sonoma County.

At the Hotel Zaza in uptown Dallas, they met with the local bloggers and faced a room of tables covered in what looked like laboratory gear: pipettes, graduated cylinders, lots of glassware, and, of course bottles of single variety wines for blending.

Here’s what one blogger had to say:

Science experiment or wine blending? twitpic.com/cd1go6 #winetime

— dallaswinechick (@dallaswinechick) March 21, 2013

Robert Larsen, Rodney Strong’s Marketing director, shared a bit about the winery’s vineyards and other things that make Rodney Strong’s wines distinctive, and then guided the bloggers through a tasting of each of the varieties they might consider using in their blends.

Next Justin Seidenfeld, winemaker for Rodney Strong, shared how the blends are determined for Rodney Strong’s Meritage blend, Symmetry. He also shared a bit about winemaking in general and how the Rodney Strong team makes the decisions to grow, harvest and blend their acclaimed wines.

After that, the bloggers were instructed to determine a team name and then get to work creating their own blends, tasting as they needed along the way. Justin determined the winner and then, after sashes were passed out and photos taken, the group moved on to the Dragon’s Den at the Zaza to enjoy more Rodney Strong wines and light bites.

The Teams

Cork Dorks

Krista Gray-Donald (Life in the Hutch), Melanie Ofenloch (DallasWineChick.com), Jana Seitzer (Merlot Mommy), Krista House (The Tech Mom), and Anna Epp (Life is Good…At the Beach).

Winey Witches

Betsy Mitchell (The Dallas Socials), Molly Thornberg (Digital Mom Blog), Autumn Reo (Mama Challenge), JJ Gross, and Holly Bator

Petite Hashtag

Diane Eyles, Trista Perot (MommyUpgrade.com), Holly Homer (June Cleaver Nirvana), Lea Ann Stundins (Mommy’s Wish List), and Amy Locurto (Living Locurto).

Synergy

Jason Walker, Sara Dunham, and Nina Semaun from Savings.com and Toni Anderson of the Happy Housewife

Team Synergy’s Winning Blend

50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Malbec

Thanks, Robert, Justin, Kristin Hamlin and Rodney Strong Vineyards, for partnering with VineSleuth on this event! And thanks to all the bloggers who joined us. We had a blast learning, blending, toasting, tasting and just hanging out with all of you!

Cheers!

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2 Comments Filed Under: Wine Events

Mimosa Brunch at The Tasting Room

Mar14

March 14, 2013 by VineSleuth 1 Comment

For those of you lucky enough to live in Houston, all four The Tasting Room locations offer a new take on the traditional mimosa Champagne brunch.

Rather than just offer one orange mimosa, the Tasting Room offers a selection of fresh, house-made juices and purees to go along with their list of sparkling wines.

The experience is totally custom, and a lot of fun, too. I checked it out at the CityCentre location.

First we picked a bottle of bubbles for the table, which are all discounted during brunch, with bottles ranging from $34 – $139, and then we picked a few fruit juices.

We went with the Argam Cava at $34, and white peach, raspberry, strawberry and blood orange juices to start. Then we mixed and matched and tried all the combinations we could concoct. I liked that I could try so many things and didn’t have to commit to one from the start.

My favorite turned out to be the white peach, with the Blood Orange in a close second.

We also indulged in some of their delicious brunch dishes:

Crab Cakes and Eggs

Chicken and Biscuits

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

(Ummm… is it safe to admit there were only two of us and we sampled all of that??)

And yes, they tasted even better than they looked–each and every one.

The crab cakes had a great kick with the jalepeno, yet they were not nearly as spicy as I imagined they would be. They were rich and delicious and a great Texas nod to eggs benedict.

The chicken and biscuits were what I would imagine a southern grandma making back in the day (or do they still do that?), but made modern with a touch of arugula salad and a truffle vinaigrette. The coating on the chicken was perfectly crisp, the gravy was creamy, and the salad made me think that maybe my brunch wasn’t as unhealthy as it was. (Okay, that probably didn’t make up for the rest. But a girl can dream.)

The lemon ricotta pancakes? Those were like dessert…fresh, sweet and perfect. Yummmmmmm.

If you’re in Houston, swing by any Tasting Room location on a Saturday or Sunday for brunch. You’re sure to love it!

The four Tasting Room locations are:

CityCentre
Uptown Park
River Oaks
Kings Harbor in Kingwood

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1 Comment Filed Under: People & Places

Sonoma in the City Dallas Wine Tasting

Mar11

March 11, 2013 by VineSleuth Leave a Comment

Looking for a little (or a lot of) Sonoma wine in Dallas? We’ve got a great event for you.

Event Details

What: Sample more than 70 Sonoma County wines all in one place. See details below.

Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Time: 5:30 – 8:00 pm

Place: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, 2812 Turtle Creek Blvd., Dallas, TX 75219

Cost: $34 for Visa Signature cardholders, $40 for General Admission

Sonoma in the City Dallas

Thirteen American Viticultural Areas will be represented at Sonoma in the City, when some of Sonoma County’s finest winemakers and grape-growers will showcase their wines for you to try. Each winery was selected to highlight the region’s diverse terroir and wine making styles, at the event.

Wineries Attending

Ancient Oak Cellars
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Benovia Winery
Blue Rock Vineyard
Bruliam Wines
Captûre Wines
Davis Family Vineyards
Dry Creek Vineyard
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery
Flowers Vineyard and Winery
Folie à Deux
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards
Hanzell Vineyards
Hartford Court
Hook & Ladder Winery
Huge Bear Wines
Inman Family Wines
J Vineyards & Winery
Keating Wines
Laurel Glen Vineyard
Lost Canyon Winery
MacPhail Family Wines
MacRostie Winery
Mauritson Family Winery
Papapietro Perry
Patz & Hall
Paul Hobbs Winery
Peter Michael Winery
Ramey Wine Cellars
Ravenswood
Rodney Strong Wine Estates
Schug Carneros Estate Winery
Seghesio Family Vineyards
Sequana
Siduri & Novy Family Wines
Taft Street Winery
The Donum Estate
White Oak Vineyards & Winery

For more information or to buy tickets go to Sonoma in the City: Dallas.

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Texas Wineries

Mar5

March 5, 2013 by VineSleuth 1 Comment

Earlier this year I visited a thriving winery, helped prune the vines, and was home just about two hours later. And I live in Houston, Texas, in case you forgot.

Paradox House Vineyards

Did I hop a jet to California? New York’s Finger Lakes? Of course, not! I drove to Industry, Texas to Paradox House Vineyards, which grows grapes for Pleasant Hill Winery and Haak Vineyards and Winery in Santa Fe, Texas.

Before this I had absolutely no pruning experience and no gardening experience of any kind to speak of. But, as I got there, I was handed some clippers and given basic instructions. So off I went, clipping away the extra parts of the vines so that the vineyard team would have an easier job doing the more specific pruning later.

I joined a group of about 30 other volunteers in the vineyards, many of whom had volunteered vintage after vintage. I was definitely the newbie. I’m still not sure how I ended up on Doug and Linda’s invitation list, but I am so thankful I did.

I loved knowing that I was helping to contribute the wines that would come one day, and I also enjoyed chatting with everyone, just listening to their stories. We talked about wine, of course, but we also talked about travel, child rearing, farming, politics–pretty much everything, as we clipped and clipped down each row.

And then, once we were finished with one block, we moved on to another, until all the vines were pruned and we headed to the house for Doug’s delicious Texas chili and wine. The wine was made from the Blanc du Bois grapes from another vintage, and we had a few other wines as well–our reward for a morning of work.

A few of my fellow pruners also brought homemade wines to share, and there was plenty more visiting. They talked about harvest in the heat of summer through the years and Texas vineyards helping each other out. Children laughed and played on the lawn and parents, grandparents and friends enjoyed lunch, wine, good weather and great company.

I might have started out as the lone stranger in the bunch, but I ended up feeling almost like family.

Texas Wineries

You might think you need to be in California, Oregon, Washington, or New York to experience the wine country, or you may also think that you need to be a wine writer.

But living here in Houston puts us so close to some wineries that produce delicious wines and can give anyone who wants it a full winery experience, just a few hours away from home.

Don’t believe me?

Just ask Houston’s own Russ Kane, who has been discovering Texas wines for years and reporting on his impressions through his blog, VintageTexas, and in his book, The Wineslinger Chronicles: Texas on the Vine.

The Wine Slinger Chronicles shares the stories of Texas wineries, winemakers and winery owners in a way that any lover of Texas or wine would enjoy. I promise this book is not just for wine geeks, it’s for anyone who likes to read interesting stories, and we all know that Texas holds a countless number of great stories!

Reading Russ’s blog or his book will open your eyes to so many winery experiences and wines that are very close to home.

(If you’re in Houston, you can get your own copy of The Wine Slinger Chronicles at Brazos Books, Barnes & Noble, and online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble, or an author-signed version at Russ’s website.)

Another great site that reports on Texas wines is Texas Wine Lover, written by Jeff Cope, who, along with his fiance, Gloria, has visited more than 170 Texas wineries. Jeff also maintains a listing of Texas vineyards as well as wineries, so if you’re looking for either a winery or vineyard to visit, Jeff can probably guide you in the right direction.

Both men have inspired me to learn more about my home state’s offering in wine, and I hope you find they do the same for you!

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Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso

Feb26

February 26, 2013 by VineSleuth Leave a Comment

Very soon you’re likely to start seeing the 2008 Brunello di Montalcino wines hitting the wine shops after they made their debut at Benvenuto Brunello in Montaclino, Italy in late February.

One of the Three Greatest Wines in the World

Kevin Zraly, one of the world’s foremost wine educators, names Brunello as one of the three greatest wines in the entire world, and, although I still have a LOT to experience before I could ever come close to making such a statement, I can agree Brunellos, or at least the ones I have tasted, have fantastic character and beauty. And, to top it all off, so many of them are also great values.

I was fortunate enough to be among the first to preview the 2008 Brunellos in late January, when the Consorzio Del Vino Brunello di Montalcino chose to share their wines first in the US with wine writers, beverage directors and sommeliers here in Houston.

Just before the preview, I spoke with Zraly about Brunellos and Rossos and then attended a seminar and tasting of several Brunellos, led by him. Zraly is also the author of the book, Windows on the World Complete Wine Course, which has sold more than 3 million copies since the first edition was released. This guy knows his stuff! Chatting with him first and then attending his seminar really set the stage for me to understand and enjoy the wines I was about to experience.

There were nearly 40 producers in the appellation represented that day, and I took my time visiting nearly each and every one beginning with their Rosso, moving up to their 2008 Brunello and then moving on to their Riserva or 2007 vintage. Tasting those wines back to back helped me to really appreciate and begin to understand the differences between wines at different levels made by the same producers, but also the nuances between different styles used in making wines by the different producers. It was definitely a day of delicious learning!

What is Brunello?

Brunello wines are all made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, a red, zesty little grape that can also be seductive and silky in Brunello di Montalcino, an appellation within Tuscany, which is is just north of Rome.

Brunello wine must be aged in oak for a minimum of two years, which, according to Zraly’s book, makes a fruitier, more accessible wine. Some producers age in smaller French barique to impart more oak flavor, whereas others age in larger oak casks. After that process, the wine is then required to be aged a minimum of 4 months in the bottle, making the wine ready to drink when you buy it. Or, you can still age it longer if you like. In the seminar we explored some Brunellos that were released several years ago, meaning they have been aging longer in the bottle than the current vintage, and several had a richness I particularly enjoyed.

Brunello Riserva is aged a bit longer at a minimum of 3 years in oak and 6 months in the bottle. Brunello Riserva is also ready to drink when you buy it or it can also be aged longer.

What is Rosso?

Rosso wines are typically made from the very same or at least very similar Sangiovese grapes that go into Brunello, making Rosso a great budget-friendly place to start your Brunello education. They are grown in the same place, they just didn’t make the cut for the first label and are not required to be aged as long, and so are called Rosso.

A wonderful thing about Rosso, though, is that it might be second-label grapes, but when you are drinking second-label grapes for what Zraly calls one of the best wines in the world, you know they still must be delicious. And they are.

Budget Friendly and World Class

Aside from being extremely food friendly, easy to pronounce, aromatic and extremely flavorful, another great thing about Brunello wines is their price. They are extremely reasonable and easy on the budget, especially for what you get.

You can expect to pay $15-$18 (retail) for an outstanding Rosso. Zraly suggests you can get an excellent Brunello for no more than $50. I’ve found many Brunellos between those two prices that my husband and I have enjoyed.

Food and Wine Pairing

So what should you eat when enjoying Brunello de Montalcino? Zraly suggests lean beef or lamb. With the Rosso he suggests a bit lighter far such as poultry, risotto, mushrooms or veal. I’d add pizza to both of those lists, perhaps a heavier, meatier pizza for the Brunello and a lighter one for the Rosso. (But, then again, we like to keep things casual at our house.)

Whatever you choose to eat with it, now is the time to head out and try these new Brunellos. If you’re feeling adventurous, pick up a Rosso and a Brunello from the same producer and compare them yourself.