Archive for September, 2010

Whoever said that you can’t pair wine with fish?  Live fish, that is.  If you ever want to bring together a fine bottle of wine and the great outdoors, there are plenty of ways to do it.  From visiting parks to taking a great fishing trip with fine wine involved, wine never tasted better than when returned to where it began, out in the open in the sun and fresh air.

Outdoor Wine Adventures is just one place that offers fantastic wine trips to various locales.  The most recent being a trip with three popular Napa and Sonoma wineries in Colorado for several days of fly-fishing and wine drinking.  Called “Wine on the Fly,” it includes everything from fishing and wine tasting to riverside lunches and simply drifting down the river enjoying all that nature has to offer.

Other outdoor wine fun can come from simple outdoor affairs hosted by wine bars, wineries, and other people who are interested in bringing wine back outside for people to enjoy.  If you don’t want to head into the mountains or stroll through a vineyard, try looking up an outdoor wine bar where you can kick back, people watch, and sip a lovely glass of your favorite wine.

Portugal lies right next to Spain with the Atlantic Ocean lapping at its shores.  Portugal has several wine regions that all produce unique blends that range from cheap and immediate to expensive and aged well.  When examining the different regions in Portugal, some people tend to split up the country to separate northern regions from the central and southern regions.  The different regions tend to keep their focus on specific wines with different goals.

In the north, high-quality is the word of the day, ensuring that each bottle is of a fine quality that will leave people immensely pleased after a glass.  In the central and southern areas, the focus is more on wine that is available sooner and more affordable.  That means more bottles each year for people to enjoy.  However, it doesn’t mean the wine is any less tasty!  A trip to Portugal means taking a quick peek at the lush rolling vineyards terraced in the sides of steep banks.  Find yourself a spot for a fantastic overlook no matter which region you visit.

White wines are not all created equal.  Certain white wines will remain in the cellar for a long time before they peak and are suitable for drinking.  Others peak rather early, making for a tasty bottle without all of the waiting.  So which bottles are ready to go and which ones need some time alone?

Pinot Grigio needs only a year or so before it’s ready to be poured into your glass.  Though it is important to remember that this does not necessarily mean all Pinot Grigio bottles, it does include a large majority of them.

Chardonnays need only a year or two more than Pinot Grigio.  These tend to include the bottles that don’t cost an arm and a leg; if you spot one of those, it may have remained in the cellar a bit longer.

Grüner Veltliner wine takes things up a notch, needing as much as eight years before its release to the public.

Cru Chablis rolls right off the tongue, however, if you want the wine to roll off your tongue, the wait can be as much as a decade.

At the longest timeframe of twenty or potentially even more years is the Auslese Riesling.  They don’t call Riesling one of the noble grapes for nothing!