The Decanter

Chardonnay: The Cool Grape

2011-04-04T22:39:00.000-06:00

A chardonnay is rich, popular, and interesting...everything we want to be, but in a wine.

This wine is one of the most versatile with tastes including fruit, flowers, oak, or even minerals. Any chardonnay from Sonoma County (2007) is guaranteed to be well-made!

What are you drinking tonight?

2011-03-27T21:36:00.001-06:00

Merryvale Vineyards, Starmont 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

This is a very lemony and citrus-like wine---pretty acidic but light.

Be ready for a long finish, but the wine would be great with any light meal, especially shellfish.

Try it; you’ll like it.

Springtime. . . . .

2011-03-18T22:43:00.006-06:00

Drinking Palliser Estate, which was introduced to me at the Park City Wine Festival 2010. This is my current favorite Sauvignon Blanc. Its bright and crisp nature is perfect for a Friday night at home. At about $16.00, try it; you'll like it.

Whoa....barrels matter.

2011-03-17T21:50:00.009-06:00

So, yeah, they hold and age the wine. But, I had no idea how much work actually goes into the making of wine-barrels.

First of all, the wood is incredibly important. Historically, French Oak is preferred but American Oak has come into it's own. Tons of factors effect the choice of wood, including fiber & grain quality, bend ability, strength, etc...

Then, the logs are hand-split & naturally aged in order to be cleansed.....Remember, all of this is just for the wood! It could take years for this process to complete. Only then, can a maker, or "cooper," finally form the actual staves.

Once the staves are completed. The cooper forms wine-barrels with metal rings and dampens the wood so it can bend more easily. From there, the inside still needs to be charred, or "toasted," in order for rest of the barrel to be trimmed.

Every wine potentially aged within any oak barrel depends on these things. How skilled was the cooper? What was the quality of the wood? How much was the barrel toasted?

Amazing, right?

For Any Wine Enthusiast...

2011-03-15T22:30:00.013-06:00

Red, White, and Snow is an adult Disneyland! Held in Park City, UT, it is annually hosted by the National Abilities Center (NAC), an organization which provides athletic and equestrian opportunities for both kids and adults with disabilities. But, this specific event is heavily centered on wine.

Wine, art, music, amazing cuisine, and helping people; how can you go wrong?

Our Vintner Dinner started with Sean Capiaux introducing O'Shaughnessy Vineyards' 2009 Chardonnay. Then, we moved to the 2008 Pinot Noir and finished with the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and our entrée.

Joseph Phelps Vineyards also made an impression with their 2007 Insignia and an additional 2008 desert wine, Eisrebe.

Check out these photos:

2009 Joseph Phelps Insignia

Joseph Phelps Winemaker, Ashley Hepworth

Sean Capiaux....Introducing (?) his wine.

Gris or Grigio?

2011-03-13T22:49:00.008-06:00

So, you're looking at a bunch of wine-racks, or some list at a restaurant, and you see a Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio. It is easy to assume these two options are disconnected. But, they are actually made from the same grape, just in separate locations. ("Grigio" means "grey" in Italian, and "gris" means the same in French.)

Your choice is in the taste!

The Pinot Gris is not as fruity and has more flavor. If you want a smoother finish--like a chardonnay--this is a better option.

If you want more of a dry, crisp, or tart wine, stick to the Pinot Grigio. The taste will last longer and seem a bit more minerally.

A good, overall option would be the Zenato Pinot Grigio....Try it; you'll like it.

Red Cups. . . .no

2011-03-09T21:59:00.007-07:00

Have you ever drank wine out of a red party cup? I have. And, I have to say, the experience is just...not the same. When you have a clear, stemmed glass, you have the opportunity to actually see the color of the wine and let it aerate or "breathe."

Smell the beautiful aromas. Enjoy its color. Keep it in a glass, and hold it by the stem.

And please...no red cups

Bikes & Wines

2011-03-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Penny Farthing: A type of bicycle popular in the 19th century, with the front wheel far larger than the rear one?

Even with the weird name, PennyFarthing Wines had a stellar year in 2008. Try the Cabernet Sauvignon, maybe with a fillet or even any cut of beef.

Perfect lunch - perfect dinner - you name it!

Cranberries

2011-03-07T19:29:00.001-07:00

De Loach Vineyards

2009 - Pinot Noir

-Priced around $14/bottle.

-Light, Fruity, Tart....great with something like water crackers

and a soft cheese.

Very easy wine!

Try it; you'll like it.

Starting Off...

2011-03-06T22:16:00.003-07:00

Soon, in Park City, UT, Red, White, & Snow will begin. It is one of the National Ability Center's (NAC's) biggest fundraisers. The NAC enables individuals with a variety of disabilities to develop an array of skills through sports and recreational experiences. Their mission is to better "the concept of ability through integration, public awareness, and education."

Red, White, and Snow is 3 days long, and multiple winemakers from California come to provide wine at numerous events. All of this is in order to raise money for the NAC and its programs.

The Decanter

2011-03-05T22:53:00.006-07:00

The Decanter was created to show off the huge world of wine. Frankly, I am bent on the disconnect between the wine elite (vintners, growers, tasters, etc...) and the basic consumer (restaurants, stores, and drinkers). No one wants to read lengthy descriptions of wine. No one wants to read name-dropping overviews of events. But, no one wants to read about cheap wine either. So ultimately, in order for everyone to connect over wine, we want it to revolve around fun, interest, and class--nothing else.

Simple answers and updates, without the high-society or low-class skews.