I promise I’m not yelling at you in German, this really IS the name of a darling little German wine I recently discovered! First of all, for those of you who don’t think you like Riesling because it is a “sweet wine,” please come off it.  Riesling is a fantastic, versatile varietal that is not even always THAT sweet!  Oh… Schist! is a great example of such a Riesling.  A lighter wine with apple and citrus notes, it would pair well with mild dishes.  No sticky texture,  no super-perfumy nose, this is a simple and pleasant wine.  Basically, if you like the sweetness level of Sprite or Diet Coke, you will most likely enjoy this wine.  Seriously!  I picked it up as part of a 3 for $25 deal so the price was right.  The bottle is really neat, it is designed to look like someone shot a bullet through the middle resulting in a spiderweb of broken glass over the front.  Unfortunately I could not locate a picture of it anywhere and I fear my recycling has already gone out for the week, so instead I leave you with this:

PROST!

(photo credit: slate.com)

I want to take a couple of minutes to talk about one of my favorite French wine regions – the Rhône valley. Although the Rhône has several amazing wines (Chateauneuf du Pape for starters), I feel that it is frequently passed over for its more popular, classic neighbors like Bordeaux and Burgundy.  As the younger sister of the most intelligent and beautiful woman you will ever meet, I feel obligated to stick up for the overlooked region and help people understand that it too is special in its own way.  The main reasons why I love Rhône wine are the principle varietals in the region – Syrah & Viogner in the north and Grenache in the south.

Syrah (also known as Shiraz when grown in other parts of the world) is amazingly complex with a strong flavor profile.  Viogner is a delightful white that has less citrus than a Sauv Blanc and less butter than a Chardonnay.  It’s a versatile, light white that most white wine drinkers will adore.  If you would like to sample a northern Rhône wine, here are some key terms to look for on wine labels:

• Condrieu (white)
• Chateau-Grillet (white)
• Crozne-Hermitage (red)

Grenache grapes produce a fruity, easy drinking wine that offers a lot of body without a lot of tannin.  This means that Grenache wines (which are usually blends) will be flavorful and complex without a strong alcohol flavor.  This also means they will not leave that fuzzy feeling on your tounge like a typical Cabernet.  If you are shopping for a fun wine to try and are interested in sampling a southern Rhône variety, here are some key regions/wine producers in the area that you can look for on a label:

• Chateauneuf-du-Pape
• Gigondas
• Rasteau
• Côtes du Rhône Villages

I hope this little lesson helps you discover some new wines that you will love!  Enjoy!!

(photo credit: www.monasette.com)

At this stage in the game, there are not many varietals I have not tried.  I was at a tasting this weekend when I came across Trivento Pinot Noir from the Mendoza region of Argentina.  I enjoyed the selection and noticed that the winery also boasted a highly-rated Malbec and a 100% Torrontes wine.  Torrontes is very popular in South America and although I had sampled Torrontes in mixed varietal wines I had never tried it all on its own.  How could I pass on a learning opportunity?  I must say, I was very pleased.

The first thing that struck me when I tried the wine was that it was rather sweet.  I would compare it to a drier Riesling but with less of a honey taste.  The citrus notes proved to be a very good balance for the subtle sweetness, and the floral aroma rounded out the experience nicely.  If Riesling or Gewurztraminer are too sugary for you, yet you’d like to experiment with a white beyond your traditional Sauv Blanc or Chardonnay, this wine is for you.  I paired the wine with a steak salad over mixed greens in a homemade dijon, balsamic and minced scallion dressing and a thick slice of brie – Great combination!  Trivento proved to be a good value at 3 for $25 at a local store in Quincy.  Try Trivento and let me know your take!  Salud!

I love the Spanish.  I really do.  I was catching up on one of my favorite blogs, Notes from Spain, when I came across a fantastic article from El Mundo.  The article discussed the idea of imposing a smoking ban in Spanish bars and restaurants.  As you can imagine, the mere mention of such a ban caused more commotion than if Franco rose from the dead and started marching through the Plaza Mayor.  Reading this article put me into full-on homesick mode and I spent the rest of the day reminiscing over my life in Spain and all the shenanigans I got myself into…

After this trip down memory lane, I happened across a phenomenal post written by my friends at Weak Stream about Wizard’s forward Caron Butler and his addiction to Mountain Dew.  Now what, you may ask, could possibly make me link my life in Spain and strange NBA player addictions?  More so, why on earth would I feel the need to write about it on a site dedicated to wine?  Well, I’ll tell you…

During the Feria de Abril, a festival held after Holy Week in Spain, the most popular drink is something called a “rebujito.”  A rebujito is made by mixing local Sherry with a lemon-flavored soda like Sprite or 7-Up.  However, in my attempts to recreate an authentic rebujito upon my return to America, I found that the closest match came when mixing with the Dew!  How often do two worlds collide like THAT?

Seriously though, Spanish Sherry is one of the most underrated wines around!  A good fino is great with seafood, cured meats, manchego and more.  My recommendation is Tio Pepe.   Have you ever tried sherry, either straight or in a rebujito?  Do you have other good sherry recipes to share?  We need to start getting creative, La Feria is only 6 months away!

 

 

(photo credit Tio Pepe)

I am glad to make this my first review because this wine is one of my new favorites – The Spanish Quarter.  This wine comes from the Catalonia region located in northeast Spain.  The Spanish Quarter blends the well-known Cabernet Sauvignon with the lesser-known Tempranillo, a native Spanish varietal.  The result is amazing!  You get the fruity cherry and blackberry notes from the Cabernet and the spicy, earthy flavor of the Tempranillo.  A very complimentary blend.  The Spanish Quarter also produces a white blend with Chardonnay and Albarino – equally as good!  Since the native grapes are easier to grow the production of this wine costs less than a wine that is 100% Cabernet or Chardonnay, so it is a great bargain.  The Spanish Quarter can be found for $10.99 in most wine shops, I just snagged a deal at 3 for $25 at my local grocery store!  I give this wine high marks for its easy, everyday drinkability and excellent value.