Wine Club Insider back with you…

I’m a day late for my regular Monday post, but this time, it’s truly not my fault!

For those of you who follow weather at all, you may have noticed the famous words “winter storm warning” flashing across much of the PNW this past weekend?

Yeah. I was in Pocatello Idaho for business, and on the drive home Monday night, we were hammered! And I mean seriously! The interstate was closed as two semis were blown off the road… one of our convoy of cars was blown into a concrete divider, and when we realized we couldn’t see the hood ornaments on our rigs because of the white out conditions, we were forced to stop and spend the night (and a fair degree of yesterday) somewhere in south west Montana, that needless to say, lacked a few of life’s essentials, such as wifi, or even cell service. It was like being in a black hole, but they did have wine, so we survived somehow.

That said, I wanted to share one of life’s great joys: taking previously tee-totaling, “on-a-high-horse” non-participators, and turning them in to high quality winos like the rest of us! (that’s wine appreciators, by the way).

Yup, my brother in law, a bit of a picky eater/drinker, I must say, has been swayed over to the dark side (as in RED wine) and is now avidly participating, to the point where he gifted me with a bottle of wine yesterday. No big deal? Maybe, but this was a bottle he tried at a restaurant, and liked it so much he purchased an extra bottle to bring home!

And this wasn’t some phoofy plonk, either… it was actually a 2004 Carmen Reserve Petite Syrah (!) from the Valle del Maipo in Chile! This baby is a monster! Dark, ruby color, tons of berry, this is a big, bad boy. The thing that’s cool is how many of us, while out for diner with friends, would order a Petite Syrah(!) from Chile for the table, untasted? Next thing you know, he’ll be in a few good wine clubs, as well!

Yup… score another one for the “good” guys!

Cheers,

Wine Club Insider out.

Fine Wine, International Wine, Red Wine, Wine Club, Wine Education, Wine Reviews, Wine Tasting Chilean wine, Maipo Valley, new wine lovers, Petite Syrah

Wine Club Insider back with you.

There is spring in the air (finally?) here in the Pacific northwest, and it’s a sunny day. Even if the temp is still around 30, it just has that feel of spring. To top it off, my bi-annual shipment from Isenhower Cellars is supposed to arrive today, with a great selection, including a Horse Heaven Hills Syrah, a Petite Verdot, and one of my favorites, the Bachelor’s Button Cabernet! www.isenhowercellars.com.

I love Isenhower’s wine, and their “FOI” (Friends of Isenhower) wine club let’s me keep current with their top wines, as well as a unique wine made only for wine club members.

I’m also expecting my Pepperbridge Reserve Cab shipment soon as well… one of my favorite wines of the year… ahh… I love spring!

There are also quite a few wine and charity events over the next few weeks, and multiple tastings, as people get out from the winter doldrums, and we are involved in several, donating wine and dinner parties to worthy causes, including the Chamber of Commerce ‘Commodores,” a women and children’s center, and a cancer charity. There are very likely several of these types of events in your area as well, and I encourage you to get out and support them.

It is a great opportunity to try new wines from (often) dozens of wineries, try some neat foot or hors d’ oeuvres, get back in touch with other like-minded folks in your area, and to support some great causes… the coolest thing is that most of these events are very reasonably priced, with tickets in the $15 - 25 range, which, for what you get, is a steal! Seriously! This is less than a movie and popcorn, offers a great evening out, and hey, you might even get a souvenir wine glass out of the deal!

Back atcha soon!

Cheers,

WIne Club Insider out

As I was puttering around my wine cellar

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Wine Club Insider back again…

Maybe spring is finally on it’s way, though the only real clue is that it’s raining a ton, instead of snowing…

One of the neat things about this time of year is that the “young” wine - the fresh whites and fruity wines from the ‘08 vintage are starting to come out, and of course, you can always buy the futures in the Grand Crus for the next few years…

Another cool trend we’re starting to see is an - admittedly slight - shift toward being a greener industry…

For example, Boisset, the second-largest producer of Beaujolais Nouveau, bottled its entire 2008 harvest in plastic bottles.

The lightweight PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles drastically cut shipping costs without affecting the young Gamay wine inside and created packaging that was “absolutely recyclable,” according to a company spokesman.

Now, there are certainly other (myself included) that don’t think the wine industry has developed more than a green tint yet, despite the rise in the number of biodynamic and organic wineries internationally.

PET bottles are only at the very leading edge, but there are huge hurdles still left to climb, including the wineries shipping their wines in wooden crates. The number of wooden crates that are opened at warehouses and stores is incredible. Some of them weigh nine pounds, just for the case!. If they were serious about the green trend, the wineries would forget the wood and ship in recycled corrugated cardboard.

This isn’t even touching the entire cork issue, which is going to come to a head soon as supply and disease (not to mention the improving effectiveness of synthetic cork and screw caps, which are making huge inroads, even in higher end Australian wines).

I’m optimistic that our indusrty will start developing a cure to the serious case of “traditionitis” they are suffering from (mind you, it is brought on by us, the consumers!) and get on the environmentally friendlier bandwagon…

Yes, we may have to get used to our favorite vino coming in a plastic bottle (I can deal with that easily) and using a screw cap (a tougher sell for many, despite the inevitable “corking” that is going to occur in your bottles), and know that we are doing our part… a great excuse to drink more wine, if you ask me!

Cheers,

Wine Club Insider out.

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Wine Club Insider back with you…

I seem to be about 12 hours later than usual today, and I apologize… we have a large event coming up and I was in (unscheduled) meetings all morning, but here we are, so let’s call it Australia time, and we’ll be all square!

Earlier this week, I was thinking of the various wine clubs I either belong to or have belonged to, and began pondering what kinds of people join wine clubs, so I did some asking around, and the results may surprise you.

My first thought was that your regular wine schnobs like me would be the main culprits, and, to be sure, we make up a fair share of the members, but there’s an entire other segment of “wineclubers…”

Wine has kind of evolved into the drink of the hoi poloi, but if you do some research into the history of wine, you find that it was the drink of the people… the real people. It was the beverage that was drank at every meal, that was the water of life at weddings, at communions, at lunch with your falafel… this new “ooohh, wine is fancy” thing is, to a degree, understandable, but also has taken one of God’s greatest gifts out of the reach out of many, whether in price, or just in aura.

Some of our best friends are what you might call “redneck,” having come to the light from our a beer drinking background. “Pete” didn’t now squat about wine, but could speak eloquently about any of fifty kinds of beer. Now, they belong to three wine clubs (including one we gifted to them) and “Pete” enjoys a great red, and a nice glass (or bottle!) of port as much as anyone I know.

Another set of friends, “Keith” and “Sarah,” came from even further from Napa, so to speak, and after a couple of dinner parties, they enjoy a nice Gewurtz, and a spicy Pinot with diner now.

There are truck drivers I know that are on Pepperbridge’s list, a gas station owner who gets his allotment of Harlan, a meat salesman who is a ten year member of Leonetti, and a flower shop owner who is a long time customer of Araujo…

Yup. Turns out your job doesn’t have anything to do with whether you love wine. Turns out that drinking it out back by a fire pit is sometimes just as good as sitting in a chateau, and, if your real friends are with you, it can be even better.

Cheers,

Wine Club Insider out.

California Wine, Fine Wine, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, USA Wine, Vineyards, White Wine, Wine Club, Wine Club Gift, Wine Education, Wine Lovers, Wine Reviews, Wine Tasting Araujo, Friends, Harlan, Leonette, Pepperbridge, who joins wine clubs, wine club gifts, wine clubs

Wine Club Insider back.

In the middle of a 80 mile bike/run training day yesterday, we rode the VERY steep trail up to Arbor Crest Winery, high on the bluff overlooking the river, and took a little lunch picnic break.

Arbor Crest  - www.arborcrest.com- has to be one of the most beautiful wineries I have seen outside of Napa, France or Italy. The original Cliff house is a national historic landmark, and can be rented for special events, weddings, etc.

They have beautiful grounds with waterfalls, gazebos and the like, and a new tasting room to feature their wonderful wines, which segues beautifully into my topic of the day…

One of my favorite items in my cellar is a 3L bottle of Arbor Crest’s flagship wine, Dionysus, a Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc blend that has garnered great reviews, and is one of my top twenty, I would say.

I started collecting large format bottles almost by accident a few years ago when I won one at an auction, and since then, I’ve been hooked.

I now own more than forty, with about sixteen being 3L, 5L and even one prized “Imperial” (6L) of Silver Oak.

Surprisingly, there are even three larger sizes, including a fifteen liter (twenty bottle) “Nebuchadnezzar.”

I also have 3 liters of “Millennium Cuvee” Champagne, a 5 liter Amarone… ah!

There is something about seeing a great large bottle in a cellar, especially when it is still filled with actual wine, and not just being used as decoration!

Besides the decorative value, larger formats also help the wine last much longer. One thing to remember is to store them on their sides to keep the corks moist (except for display, of course! :))

Contrary to most “bulk” products, you might find that larger format bottles are not priced proportionate to their equivalent number of bottles - for example, a 3 liter is often more expensive than 4 regular bottles. This is due to the cost and expense of the actual glass - the bottle itself, which are often custom made, and in my mind, well worth it!

I have received a few large format bottles as gifts, and each of them has and is treasured to this day; there’s just something special about them. If you have a chance, bid on one at an auction, on line, or even just go and invest in a bottle that you will remember for years to come.

Cheers,

Wine Club Insider out.

Fine Wine, International Wine, Red Wine, Sparkling Wine, USA Wine, Uncategorized, Wine Accessories, Wine Cellar, Wine Club, Wine Education, Wine Labels, Wine Lovers, Wine Reviews, Wine Storage Arbor Crest, Dionysus, Imperials, Large formats

Wine Club Insider back with you!

Sorry for the delay today… with the recent “chilly” spell (0 degrees this morning) we had a dish issue, and I have no internet for the morning.

We had spring last week, apparently, skipped summer and fall, and are back to winter, but at least it’s sunny! 

I want to share a little about one of my wife and my favorite wineries today. Maryhill Winery, located a little more than an hour east of Portland along the Columbia Gorge.

www.maryhillwinery.com will take you to their website.

They make some terrific wines, including 5 dry whites, 5 sweeter whites, and over a dozen reds. They have received numerous awards, including the prestigious Governor’s Award of Excellence for their 2004 Cab.

Their Cab Franc, Merlot and Malbec are also excellent, as is their Rose of Sangiovese, a rare creation that I have used several times as a great aperitif for dinners.

One of my favorites of their wines is called Serendipity, a blend of all five of the “Big Five” Bordeaux blends, highlited by 58% Cab Sauv. It’s a knock out! I have several vintages, of which the 2005 really stands out for me, despite its youth… it’s going to be a great wine for years to come.

They also have a terrific little wine club with some different options, and they guarantee several reserve bottles a year. Info is available at wineclub@maryhillwinery.com

All wine aside, Maryhill really sets itself apart for their music and entertainment.

The winery itself is beautiful, perched on the cliff over the Columbia, but as you drive up, you can’t miss the amphitheater.

Now, they might not be the only winery with live music, but I’ve never heard or seen a winery with THIS kind of music!

Some of the acts they have for their “regular” music Saturdays include Willy Nelson, ZZ Top, BB King, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Michael McDonald… the list continues!

They have special “Members Only” events for their wine club members, as well as various release weekends (Spring Release is this weekend, BTW!) and dinners… this is truly an entertaining winery!

Check out Maryhill… you’ll be impressed!

Cheers,

Wine CLub Insider out!

Fine Wine, Merlot, Red Wine, USA Wine, Vineyards, White Wine, Wine Club, Wine Education, Wine Lovers, Wine Making, Wine Reviews, Wine Tasting Bordeaux blends, Columbia Valley, Maryhill, Music

Wine Club Insider back with you!

I hope everyone had a very nice “Daylight Savings TIme Day” today, and weren’t late for anything this morning. Can you imagine if it was Monday morning to switch over? Millions would be late for work!

It will be nice to get that extra hour of daylight in the evening as Spring gets closer… just to get a first taste of Spring, we got almost 8 inches of snow last night and this morning… Ah, golf is just around the corner!

At a recent event we hosted, Master Sommellier Sam Lange suggested a couple of inexpensive wines as gifts for attendees, not because they were cheap, but because they were tasty, and great deals for the dollar.

The first goes by the “interesting” name of “Screwed.” It’s actually a great little Aussie blend from McLaren Vale Premium Wines that is surprisingly smooth. McLaren Vale Premium is also the maker of Hardy’s, Shingleback, and the very highly recommended D’Arenberg Old Vines.

As is becoming the trend in many of the newer wines, this one (fittingly) comes with a screw cap, and a great label.

The second “discount” choice was the Riverside Cab by Foppiano, - www.riversidefabiano.com- one of the Russian River’s premier vintners. The 6000 case 2005 vintage is affordably elegant, with a lot of cherry on the nose. it’s an 80% Cab, 12% Merlot, 8% Cab France blend.

Okay, you ask, so?

The best thing about these two eminently drinkable wines is that they sell for around $7/bottle! Yes, you heard me correctly… $7.

These are wines that compare very favorably with wines two, three or even four times the price.

These are the kind of wine values that are truly recession busters - you can afford to drink a bottle of these beauties everyday if you desire, and wouldn’t regret it for a second!

Until next time,

Cheers,

Wine Club Insider out!

California Wine, Cheap Wine, International Wine, Red Wine, USA Wine, Wine Club, Wine Education, Wine Making, Wine Reviews Foppiano, great wine values, Inexpensive wines, McLaren Vale

Wine Club Insider back with you.

You’ve got to “love” the Inland Northwest Weather…

Yesterday, we had beautiful sunshine, 48 degrees, and Spring looked like it had sprung. Today, it is 26, the snow is literally blowing horizontally, and there are new drifts across our driveway. Perfect. If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes…

In a recent trip to California, I was struck by how much large parts of the Golden State resemble Spain. Actually - gasp - more than it resembles Bordeaux. (I know, I know… heresy)

But seriously, they’re both dry, hot, and somewhat windy, and that’s where Tempranillo rules!

I’ve had a couple of good ones lately, and I’ve got to say that off the cuff, the big ”T” produces balanced, complex wines that are, dare I say, an all around better value than many other, more famous varieties.

Hold on, hold on… before you send me mean comments, give a couple of these a try and see for yourself.

Remember that even though it’s not one of the Big 3 here (yet!) Rioja is a pretty respectable name in wine, world wide… Now, I’m not saying that California Tempranillo is to the level of Spain’s greatest wines (yet…), and some, to be frank, are trying too hard to become instant “classics.”

Here are a couple I recently tried and really enjoyed. Again, I’m not saying these are equivalent to their Spanish cousins - they’re actually quite different, but they both harken to the mystery of an under-appreciated (at least here!) grape that is going nowhere but up!

These choices were recommended by SNOOTH, and I have to say I agree. (BTW, Greg Del Piaz at SNOOTH does a great job… check him out at http://www.snooth.com/talk/. He’s great at answering questions as well. If you get a chance to try some Temp from your wine club, get it right away, and get ready to order more!

2004 Truchard Carneros Napa Valley - Big, deep, plush, really. This is one you can cellar for a few years. Very well balanced.

2006 Garsa Calaveros County - Lighter, fruity, almost like a Beaujolais in depth, I thought.

Okay, here are a couple of Spanish versions as well…

2000 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia - A real Rioja in the grand style! I have a bottle of their 94 which I’m dying to open!

2006 Dehesa Gago Toro - More rustic, but almost jammy it was so rich.

Until next time,

Cheers,

Wine Club Insider out

California Wine, International Wine, Red Wine, Spanish Wine, USA Wine, Wine Education, Wine Reviews, Wine Tasting California Wine, Spanish Wine, Tempranillo

Wine Club Insider back with you.

My dearest friend came to town over the weekend, and though we got together primarily for training for our upcoming race, we never fail to enjoy a glass of vino. Our selection of choice this trip was actually a thank you gift I had received from some friends called “Three Blind Moose,” and I must admit I was a bit nervous before trying it.

I also now freely admit that it wasn’t too bad at all! www.threeblindmoose.com is the home of the Moose family of wines, and it’s a pretty cool site, complete with shirts, hats, gear, and a selection of tasty, inexpensive wines. Our Cab goes for $8.99 per bottle, and was easily twice that good.

Besides the Moose, the other event that is happening soon is the local Oenological (or Enological) society fundraiser banquet/dinner.

Enological Societies are groups of folks who get together to share and learn more about wine.

Yup. Our kind of people!

http://spokaneenologicalsociety.org/ is the home of the Spokane version, and there is also a North Idaho version, a Seattle version, a Portland version, a Des Moines Iowa version… get the picture?

There are hundreds (thousands?) of these groups across the country holding social events, tastings, dinners etc, all with great newsletters, opportunities to taste new wines, meet new friends and do some good for your community as many have charitable arms as well.

Here is a blurb from the Spokane Chapter March newsletter:

“For the March tasting we are going to be sampling a total of SEVEN (7) red and white wines from around the world, and all of them except one will be under $15 retail. In addition, all of the wines have been sourced through one local wholesaler, the newly expanded Odom Corporation, which distributes wines throughout the northwest and Alaska. Specially invited guest representatives John Sportelli from Seattle, and Katie Hutchinson from Spokane, will present the wines.

 The special distinction about these wines is how they illustrate what value there can be in wines that are not “Glamour-Priced.” This is not something new to Enological Society members, however it is always fun to find new and interesting wines from here in the USA and around the globe that satisfy the palate as well as the purse. One surprise, and truly “glamour” red wine that retails at more than $70 will cap the evening, a wine that has been brought into Spokane specifically for this tasting. Happy Tasting!!”

So, sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

I would highly recommend checking out the local chapter of your enological society and getting plugged in to a bunch of neat people who love wine as much (or maybe even more!) than you do!

Cheers,

Wine Club Insider out.

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