The Wine, The Wench, and The Wardrobe

Argh-u-ability

2009-08-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else get tired of seeing famous wine enthusiasts drinking the same stuff over and over? Yes, you eat at big fancy restaurants and drink ridiculously expensive wines that are out of reach of 90% of your readers. You have come far in life. But really? For Pete's sake... Enough already. Dugat, DRC, Williams-Seylem, Pegeau, Frank Family, Pichon-Lalande, Oregon Pinots, American Pinots, Sauternes. Yes, they are gorgeous. I cannot disagree. But isn't the amazing part of wine that there are so many different kinds, flavors, styles, originations? You could drink a different wine every day for the rest of your life and not have to repeat one label. So why are they stuck on the same bottles vintage after vintage?

I understand we are, by nature, creatures of habit. And I get the whole point about if you have access to it, drink it. And I know, it tastes damn good. But there are a whole hell of a lot of things out there that taste good and you don't see me passing them by in lieu of the flavors I'm already passionate about. I recently had a North Carolina Cabernet that I thought was a shocker. Fantastic! I sell Italian wine. There is a whole lot of variety there. But it doesn't mean I only drink Italian wine because I feel like I have to show some sort of allegiance to them. I also love Malbec from Cahors. I haven't had one in months. I fell in love with a little pinot gris from Reilly once. I could still tell you what that pale orange beauty tasted like. I didn't rush out and buy a case of it. I drink Champagne more than anyone I know. But I don't just buy one producer's label because I loved it a few times. Each bottle has their own little subtle nuance that I want to sample and savor. And I love to throw in Tasmanian or Argentinian sparklers that could give some of the best champers a run for their money. Its almost like I am painting my life in a bouquet of the most phenomenal flavors I can track down from across the globe. And, I think it also has to do with the fact that I like monogamy in my men, not in my glass.

So where am I going with this impassioned rant? Straight to the point, I get it, we're all busy these days. Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses, the Parkers, and the spectators in the wine game. Why the heck would you want someone to tell you what you HAVE to drink? If I slapped a sexy label on a bottle of prune juice and got angelina herself to sample it to you from her fine cleft in her collarbone... well, its still just prune juice right? Maybe lucky prune juice, but prune juice all the same. THERE ARE MORE WINES IN THIS WORLD THAN ANYONE COULD EVER HOPE TO HAVE THE TIME TO TELL YOU ABOUT. Stop letting them tell you to drink the same freaking brands day in and day out. There is simply more to life. And I swear to God. I come over and you have two buck Chuck... we're over.

Okay, so you already know I am not your typical girl. I might be a smidgen off and I am not the barbie type. When I was little, I fantasized I was Indiana Jones. If only Laura Croft had been a decade or so before her time, I would have been in heaven. So yeah, I'm all about adventure. I think there is a lot of stuff out there worth exploring. But, no, I am not rich nor am I good with money, so I probably won't ever get to see the mountains of Tibet as I have dreamed. But I can pick up a bottle from pretty much anywhere in the world I want to travel to and attempt to recreate their origins in the fantasyland sprouting from the flavors streaking across my palate. I can smell the rain falling on the sun-warmed pink bricks of the Languedoc when I drink a glass of Minervois. I can imagine the sun-whitened oyster shell soil of Chablis crunching under foot while I savor their presence in the glass I am clutching. I can feel the altitude and extreme climate in a glass of sparkling wine smuggled in from the Italian Alps and enjoyed with dear friends on my 30th birthday. Why in the world would I have drank Cristal when I had something so special and meaningful as a bottle of wine I may never come across again?!

So, here it is. I beg you. Literally throw myself at your feet and plead with you to stop listening to the brand names and start travelling the world one exotic little glass at a time. I'm not saying you cannot revisit your favorites... even I fall into old habits and comfort zones on occasion. But I am saying you need to challenge yourself, pleasure your palate, and treasure hunt the world over for gems you didn't even know existed. I'll give you a few locales to get you started... but I can't even begin to list all the wines in the world you need to experience... and if I tried... I would be a hypocrite and just like the rest of the name droppers in the world. Get out your maps and get exploring:

United States - wines are produced pretty much all over our country. Ask around and try local samplings from small wineries in your area. Taste your own terroir, and see what you think.

France - Reilly Pinot Gris, Loire Valley Vouvray, Minervois, rhone blends from Orange, and Malbec from Cahors.

Italy - Sardinian carmenere (some of the highest antioxidant levels found in any wine in the world), Alto Adige Gewurztraminer, Aglianico from Compania, Gargenega from Veneto, Cortese from Piedmont, Moscato Giallo from Alto Adige.

Portugal - Anything from the Duoro, the Bairrada, Vinho Verde.

Spain - Priorato, Manzanilla, Mencia.

Hungary - ANYTHING YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON. lol.

Greece - Moschofilero from the Pelopennesian Islands, or anything else you find.

Tasmania - Sparkling wines!

New Zealand - wines from the Otago Valley.

Chile - Chardonnay from Casablanca, Carmenere, Syrah, Cab and Merlot. Okay, anything Chilean.

South Africa - Chenin Blanc and Pinotage.

Okay. That's your homework. Don't drink and drive but do drink with the people that you love. It makes everything taste better and glow a little brighter. And thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Ciao bella. xoxo

"Quick" User's Guide to Drinking Italian Wine

2009-07-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, so first of all, there is nothing quick or easy about Italian wines, so pretty much I just applied the bait-and-switch method of getting you to read this article. In fact, Italian Wines are pretty complex, full of history and a bit intimidating when it comes to the Average Joe's comfort level with varietals and production zones and such. Which is why you clicked on my blog to start with. So, sit down, pour a glass, and get comfy, cause we're about to get into the basics of Italy.

Italian wine production was started by the Greeks, who moved into southern Italy and Sicily, and fell in love with the mild climate perfect for wine production. They called Italy "Oenotria", the land of the trained vines. The Etruscans are credited with wine production in central Italy. Yeah, I know, who the heck are the Etruscans, right?

The origins of the Etruscans is pretty much unknown, as no one has found documentation as to their beginnings as a culture. They are basically believed to be potentially indiginous peoples whom developed as a significant culture as a result of the Iron Age. (If you don't know what the Iron Age is, you really need to spend some serious time with Google and maybe a few history books). Long story short (yes, this is a very BRIEF history here) the Etruscans had a civilization that stretched from north of the Apennines and south into Campania. This is a very large area. A lot of the culture of Rome is attributed to the Etruscans, though they were eventually absorbed by the Roman Empire in 500BC. The Etruscans produced wines throughout the land, but their techniques weren't the best and the wines had a lot of improving to do. If this quip of history doesn't do it for you, research Romulus and Remus and you'll get the full history from the Roman Mythology all the way up to the culture and development of their society. I clearly don't have time to highlight their entire existence here.

The Greeks and Etruscans both needed some work on the quality of their wines, the rise of the Roman Empire saw changes and improving of wine production throughout all of Italy. As Rome grew in population, as did the demand for good wines, and this was a great period of development and growth for wine production. Everyone drank wine, even the slaves, and they had it with every meal. Wine styles here were historically much different from current production styles of wine... The Romans liked it high in alcohol, sweet, and generally preferred white. The most highly sought after wines were produced in Falernia near Naples (this was the northern coast of Campania, and today the most well-known white varietal produced here is Falanghina - which is a lovely little grape that makes excellent white wine).

Romans, as a lot, did some super crazy strange stuff to their wines. They added honey to make a drink called mulsum. They put silly things like chalk to into it reduce acidity. They liked to spice, sweeten, and salt their wines. Crazy, yes. But they also dramatically increased quality and production through technological advancements. Romans established classification of varietals, tracked varietal growth success in each region, and created a system for establishing varietals in the climates they in which they would grow best. They started the experimentation with ageing wine, and learned wine kept in sealed containers aged better than open vats. The were the first documented wine producers to use sealed barrels for wine storage. They are also believed (though its debated widely) to have been the first to use glass bottles and corks specifically for the purpose of ageing. They were historically of a mind that wine from ten to twenty-five years old were the best for drinking.

The Roman wine-making techniques were exported to other places around the world, and while during the fall of the Roman Empire and the Dark Ages wine consumption slowed, Roman Catholic Priests continued to make wine. Wine wasn't very popular again until the Renaissance. From then until the 20th century, Italian wines were critisized for poor quality and lack of structure. This resulted in the DOC and DOCG classification zones.

Italy has 20 different regions, and each region has its own laws governing wine production and varietal growth. Here is a quick reference of regions, from north to south, with main varietal production in each region:

Valle d'Osta -

Reds: Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Petit & Gros Rouge
Whites: Blanc de Morgex, Pinot Gris

Alto Adige/Trentino -

Reds: Merlot, Cabernet, Corvina, Rondinella, Marzemino
Whites: Garganega, Trebbiano di Soave, Prosecco, Verduzzo, Gewurztraminer

Friuli -

Reds: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Refosco, Schioppettino
Whites: Tocai Friuliano, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco

Lombardia -

Reds: Barbera, Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo), Pinot Nero
Whites: Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio

Veneto -

Reds: Merlot, Cabernet, Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara
Whites: Garganega, Trebbiano di Soave, Tocai, Prosecco

Piedmont -

Reds: Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Freisa, Brachetto
Whites: Moscato, Arneis, Cortose, Erbaluce

Liguria -

Reds: Dolcetto, Rossese, Sangiovese
White: Albarola, Pigato, Vermentino, Bosco

Emilia-Romagna -

Reds: Lambrusco, Sangiovese di Romagna, Barbarossa
Whites: Albana di Romagna, Trebbiano, Malvasia, Chardonnay

Tuscany -

Reds: Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Canaiolo
Whites: Trebbiano, Malvasia, Moscadello, Vernaccia

Umbria -

Reds: Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Canaiolo, Sagrantino
Whites: Procanico (Trebbiano), Grechetto, Verdelho

Marche -

Reds: Sangiovese, Montepuliciano
Whites: Verdicchio, Trebbiano, Malvasia

Sardenia -

Reds: Cannonau (Grenache), Carignano, Monica
Whites: Vermentino, Torbato, Nuragus, Moscato

Lazio -

Reds: Cesanese, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Merlot
Whites: Malvasia, Trebbiano

Abruzzo/Molise -

Reds: Montepulciano, Barbera, Sangiovese
Whites: Trebbiano d’Abruzzo (Bombino)

Campania -

Reds: Aglianico, Piedirosso
Whites: Fiano, Greco di Tufo, Falanghina, Falerno

Puglia -

Reds: Negroamaro, Primitivo, Malvasia Nera
Whites: Verdeca, Bianco d’Alessano, Bombino Bianco

Basilica -

Reds: Aglianico
Whites: Greco, Malvasia, Moscato

Calabria -

Reds: Gaglioppo
Whites: Greco Bianco, Mantonico

Sicily -

Reds: Nero d’Avola, Frapatto, Nerello Mascalese
Whites: Inzolia, Cattarratto

Okay, so with all this history and blah blah blah I'm doing, I think you might be falling asleep over there in your glass. Okay, wake up, I am about to get way more interesting.

The thing with Italian wine is that its created in this gorgeous old world style that a lot of Americans are not accostomed to... which makes them feel confused when they open a highly rated bottle and they don't like how it tastes. Well, here's what you need to know. Italian wine is pretty much the polar opposite of domestic wine. In America, you get spoon fed super concentrated cabs, lush dark fruity zins, and bright cherry cola pinot noir that pops you in the mouth with some serious flavor. Italian wines are a little bit more subtle and take a little more patience. They need ageing, they require decanting, and they like to show you all sorts of different flavors while they quietly open to you. I like to think of it this way... and no, you may not take any kind of offense to this comparison, you may only take it at face value as a generalization created to make a point. American wines are like American men. They come on strong, you have a fast and quick lusty affair, and then just as quickly they're gone and you're left slightly dazzled, slightly irritated, and fully wondering what just happened. Now, Italian men are much more passionate and they move slowly, savoring the moment, a little rustic, rough, hairy, but sensual and romantic. They win you over completely and make you feel like the most beautiful woman on earth. You never forget an Italian. (Men, the same applies, just fill women into the men blank.)

If you're just starting exploring Italian red wines, I recommend starting farther south in Italy and trying things like inexpensive Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from the Abruzzo region; Primitivo (the Italian zinfandel) from Pulia, or get super adventurous and try Aglianico from Compania (especially if you like big huge complex dry reds). For whites, I know you have all had Pinot Grigio. Please, do me a favor and specifically seek out Pinot Grigio from Fruili. Its not an insipid, watered down, nothing white... in fact its lush and gorgeous and has unoaked Chardonnay characteristics. You must also seek out Grillo from Sicily. Its like grilled pineapple with sparkling citrus. MMM!!!

What I hope you really learn from all of this is that Italian wines aren't scary. They're tasty and approachable. And if you think about it, you were completely a novice at one point with domestic wines, too. You just had to find a starting point and move forward from there. I'll always be here, and I will help guide you through their subtle nuances and fun historic stories. Your homework lesson? Go buy a bottle of Italian wine, drink it, and tell me what you think. We'll grow from there.

An Introduction to the Wine Dominatrix

2009-06-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, the winedominatrix. I get billions of second glances when I give out my email address, and my company restricted the use of it on my business cards. I'm not a perv, just a girl with a thing for anything to do with wine. I have been in the industry for 16 years, starting as a lowly little hostess for one of those (gasp) bad chain restaurants that were really cool in the suburbs of Chicago where I grew up. Everyone always asks where my passion for wine started... and to understand my relationship with this amazing stuff you kind of need an insight into the kind of girl I am...

I grew up on a suburban farm where my family had a huge garden where we grew all our own produce, and we raised rabbits and chickens for food. After second grade we moved closer to the city and my family started traveling to Napa and Sonoma for spring break. Gotta say wine tasting was not my favorite vacation, but I grew up loving Jack London and wishing I lived at his house, and gained appreciation for the farming side of wine long before I cared about how it tasted. Winemakers used to let me sample grapes straight from the vine, and I thought it was amazing that they all tasted kinda different even though they were the same thing. (I also developed a strange love of glycerin soaps scented like different kinds of grapes. I was little, this is excuseable.) I associated family gatherings with huge explorations into food and wine and laughter. I grew up believing that no matter what differences people may have... once they get together around fab food and drinks, well, nothing could keep them from relaxing and having a great time together. I was one of those kids that could order anything they wanted as long as they ate the whole thing, and I started exploring the different flavors and styles of exotic foods and complex wines from a young age. In college I was drinking Malbec and Rhone Blends while my friends were imbibing in White Zin and loving it. Fast forward to the present... I'm a tree-hugging buddhist hippie who also happens to be a vegetarian who recycles and lives life to the fullest.... and firmly believes I can spread happiness through the world one bottle of wine at a time.

So, follow me, and explore the world of a girl selling amazing Italian wines all over the great state of Georgia. I promise one wine review a week if not more :) Have a great day, and remember... always always always drink amazing wine.

xoxo

Kristen