Archive for September, 2010

Anyone who knows wine is well aware of the name Cabernet Franc.  This little red grape offers up numerous inventions of itself, often mixing together with other grapes to create fine wines.  It is particularly useful when creating different Bordeaux blends.  The inclusion of Cabernet Franc to Bordeaux creates a unique complexity of acidity as well as aroma.  You can also find anywhere from a 10-15% inclusion in other wines.

Researchers interested in the family tree of the Cabernet Franc have concluded through genetics that it is indeed the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon.  But unlike Cabernet Sauvignon, its wines have a distinctly fruitier and lighter flavor and style, making it the ideal wine choice for numerous occasions.  Cabernet Franc grapes can be found in many different countries and used in several ways by the different winemakers in the regions.

Celebrate the Cabernet Franc in your own way the next time you decide to choose a bottle of great wine.

Have a bottle you’d like to enjoy but don’t have any occasion to drink to?  Grab a few friends and talk wine while you watch a movie or two where wine has a big part.  You can’t stroll into the movie theatre with a bottle of wine in your hands, but there are plenty of films out there that will go perfectly with a full glass.

Sideways has, in some ways, become the quintessential wine movie of the last decade.  It’s a quirky mix of comedy that can range from light to dark, as well as plenty of wine tasting along the way.  Examine life, love, and wine while drinking to this movie and its main star, Paul Giamatti.

A Walk in the Clouds is often remembered mostly due to some of the striking landscape shots.  If you’re in the mood for romance, you can sit back with your beloved and watch as a soldier falls in love with the daughter of a California wine family.  Of course, there are a few road blocks to deal with, but what love story doesn’t have some of those?

Bottle Shock is a very recent movie, released in 2009, and focuses on a true story.  Fans of Alan Rickman will have yet another reason to raise a glass due to his appearance here as his character decides to set up a competition between American and French winemakers.  Watch to see who wins!

As you travel through Portugal, eventually you will come to the Alentejo region, where wine is celebrated in a big way.  The region is a wide one, so if you intend to visit it, be sure to make plans early on so you know exactly where to go and what vineyards to visit.  There are two particular reds that this region produces and is well-known for.  Some vineyards take the modern route with their wine, using some of the same techniques as other wineries around the globe.  Others, however, stick with older modes and use clay pots instead of oak barrels to age their wine.  The clay adds a unique flavor to the wine that some describe as spicy or herby.

You can find a little of both as the roads weave through the region through some prominent wineries.  With careful research and a few books about the area, you’re sure to find several wineries that carry unique blends you’ve never tasted before, and are sure to enjoy.

Like most beverages (or anything, for that matter), wine contains a certain amount of calories.  Each wine will vary on the number of calories it contains.  For some it will depend upon the grape and how the winemaker decides to craft the wine.  A number of things can affect how many calories a wine contains, though for the most part you can rest easy because the number is not a high one.  Drinking wine now and then will do nothing to harm your waistline, and moderation is always a fine choice with wine no matter if you’re counting calories or merely careful of your alcohol intake.

There is one myth you can easily put out of your mind.  Some people claim that red wine has more calories than white wine.  It’s unclear what exactly gives them this impression, because it is simply not true.  The calories in the wine actually come from the alcohol, not the color, taste, or anything else.  So choose your wine and enjoy without worry when it comes to calories.

Technology has certainly come a long way.  Wine tasting used to be simply about enjoying the wine and perhaps taking a few notes.  However, you can now take your iPhone along with you on your wine tasting jaunts and forget all about the pen and paper, using just your iPhone to record all those little nuggets of information about each wine you try.

WineTaster is an app developed specifically for wine lovers.  The app guides you through the entire wine tasting experience, allowing you to choose from plenty of options when it comes to recording information about the wine.  This includes the look of the wine, the smell, and of course, the taste.  There are plenty of options to choose from, various descriptions and explanations you can use to express your opinions about the wine.  You can even take pictures of the wine for future reference.

Once you are finished, you can easily have a whole list of different wines that you can always check back on next time you’re in the mood for a delicious Sauvignon Blanc or Merlot.  You can even publish your notes from the app into social media sites like Facebook.

To find the premiere wine region, you need go no farther than the Douro.  Interestingly enough, in the past, the Douro only primarily made table wines that were (as many wine tasters would attest) severely lacking.  A combination of poor quality grapes and less-than-stellar production methods led to bottles that many wine lovers would steer clear of.  However, in recent years there has been a push to change all that.  Success has triumphed, which now means you can visit the Douro and find some very fine wines there that range from reds to whites, although it is primarily known for its whites.

The Douro offers some spectacular views, with vineyards developed all over the hills.  Winemakers must use a terraced format in order to ensure that soil does not wash away during rainy seasons and that the water has somewhere to settle and nourish vines when it does fall.  And it is indeed a place worth visiting, as the wines from this region are only said to get better and better.

The Baga grape variety is particularly popular in Portugal’s Bairrada region, though it does appear in a few other regions within Portugal as well.  If you have never heard of the Baga grape, then you may be familiar with it under one of its other names: Tinta Bairrada or Poeirinha.  It can be difficult to make the Baga into a quality red wine for a variety of reasons.  Typically, these grapes have thicker skins which mean higher tannins and a more acidic wine.  Vineyards that know how to handle the Baga can make good wines from them, whereas others end up with sub par bottles.

Another issue that can add to the creation of a less-than-suitable wine is the fact that Baga grape vines are more susceptible to rot than other grapes.  In order to counter the rot, growers often harvest the grapes before they are fully ripe.  This can easily mean a wine that has a more astringent flavor than wines with ripe berries.  But it’s not a grape that should be discounted.  Despite its thick skin and astringency, well-taught winemakers can transform this little grape into a delectable wine.

Many people swear by certain aphrodisiacs.  Oysters.  Strawberries.  Chocolate.  Champagne.  Every potential aphrodisiac has that something special that gives it that bit of ooh-la-la power.  Champagne has long been touted as a great aphrodisiac and is often served at certain times for this very reason.  Romantic dinners.  Special occasions.  Even paired with other aphrodisiac foods like strawberries and chocolate.  And why turn down such delicious invites?

But is Champagne a real aphrodisiac?  People have argued about the concept for about as long as others have been serving it up.  One of the main beliefs is thanks to Champagne’s delightful bubbly quality.  It is said that because of those bubbles, Champagne is able to get into the blood stream faster than typical wines, offering up that cozy little intoxicated sensation that allows people to relax a little more.  But a happy tipsy smile does not necessarily equate into getting in the mood.

Other studies have been done and some point out that the scents in Champagne can put in mind the more delicate scents of female pheromones, a little something that can get the brain into the right frame of mind for a night of pure passion.

While most wine regions within and outside of Portugal utilize multiple grapes for their particular areas, Bairrada actually relies almost completely upon a single grape variety.  In fact, 80% of the wines in Bairrada are crafted using the Baga grape, ending in a red wine that can be anywhere from highly astringent to quite dazzling.  In the end, it depends upon the maker of the wine and how they decide to handle their grapes in order to transform it into a great bottle.

Bairrada has many small growers in the area; approximately 4,700 with very small plots of land in which to do their growing and bottling.  Many of these vineyards have been in the area for a long time, some for more than 50 years.  There are only a small number of white wines that come out of the Bairrada region, and it is well worth looking for them for a quick taste to see everything that Portugal can provide.

Whether your great love is a plate of fiery Mexican food or deliciously hot Indian cuisine, finding the right wine to match can often be a challenge.  Spicy foods often drown out anything and everything else you hope to eat or drink, which is why making the right choice can often seem impossible.  But there is hope.

A wine with some blush can use its light, fruity flavors to help calm the fire.  Consider Sangria for a moment and its popularity in certain Latin locations.  Suddenly blush wines sound like a fine choice.  With a little bit of sweetness, a little bit of dryness, you can make some wonderful matches with your fiery friends.

If you’re thinking about popping the cork on that red wine, hold off until you have a less spicy food to eat.  Reds tend to be heavier, which is why focusing your choices on young reds like Pinot Noir and Zinfandels are smart moves.  Milder flavors and reds won’t clash, and it’s always a good idea to have the wine chilled first.

Dry white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Soave, and Riesling are all able to tackle spicy foods, particularly chicken and seafoods like fish and shellfish.  Because you want to keep your drink light, aim for young wines.