red wine

How to Pair Wine with Food (video)

Filed under: Wine, Video

Pairing red and white wines with food. How to pair wine with food? The old adage that white wine pairs well with fish while red wine works with meat, serves as a good basis to start from, according to wine expert Brandon Walsh, president of Reston, Va.-based Hosted Wine Tasting (see video below).

Wines should always be served at their optimal serving temperatures, as well.

Another consideration, he suggests is the concept of matching weights of the wine with the food.

Lighter-bodied white wines include reisling and pinot grigio. Medium-bodied wines include sauvignon blanc while chardonnay is a fuller, heavier-bodied wine, he says.

Lighter-bodied wines go well with salads, as well as light fish, such as sushi. Medium-bodied wines works well with light and flakey fish as well as poultry. Heavier-bodied whites, such as chardonnay, pair very well with salmon or swordfish.

Red wines also range from light to heavier, fuller-bodied wines. A lighter-bodied red wine is a pinot noir or beaujolais. A medium-bodied red is a merlot, syrah (shiraz). Heavier, fuller-bodied wines include cabernet sauvignon. Pinot noir pairs well with salmon as well as some poultry. Syrah and merlot pairs well beef or pork. A cabernet sauvignon pairs well with beef, lamb and game.

See our review of The Best Wine Clubs offered directly from wineries here.

Tags: awards-main, cabernet sauvignon, food pairings, luxist-awards, main-pedia, pinot grigio, red wine, white wine, wine, wine and food matching, wine and food pairings, wine-pedia

Beaujolais Nouveau 2010 Ripe For Picking

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Like millionaires are known to shop at Target and Costco, so too do the wealthy buy Beaujolais Nouveau when it arrives every November.

The bottles hitting retailers this month usually range from just $7.50 to $10.00, and are most welcome at Thanksgiving tables this week along with the rest of the Fall harvest.

Beaujolais Nouveau, made of the Gamay grape, has a thin skin and is low in tannins. The Nouveau has been fermented for just a few weeks. Beaujolais tends to be a very light red wine, with relatively high amounts of acidity and low alcohol levels.

Many serious wine drinkers do not like, nor do they drink Beaujolais Nouveau, calling it a marketing gimmick to sell bulk wine. Others, though, find it easy, light, agreeable and just the ticket for Thanksgiving tables that are often full of guests who just want a nice easy wine to drink with turkey.

In keeping with tradition, the first BNs were uncorked November 19, the third Thursday of November.

Dominique Capart, the head of Inter Beaujolais, an association promoting the wine, said that this year's wine is a real treat and that the red fruits, the black currant, and the raspberries can even be smelled, it is so crisp and smooth in the mouth.

I sampled two so far: George Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2010 and Rochette Beaujolais Nouveau 2010, and both were just as advertised: easy, warm, agreeable, with lots of raspberry, blackberry and currant.

Tags: Beaujolais Nouveau, George Duboeuf, red wine, Rochette Beaujolais, wine

Masseto, The King of Merlot

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

What makes a wine worth $460 a bottle? It helps to be among the top Merlot in the world and to be one of the much vaunted Super Tuscans. The 2007 vintage of Masseto, Italy's gold standard of Merlot from Ornellaia, will be released in a few months. The grapes for this wine are grown on just more than 16 acres of vineyards in the coastal area of Bolgheri. Masseto was born almost by chance in 1986 when it was decided to vinify the Merlot from the Masseto vineyard. This small cru quickly became a collector's item sold in auctions all over the world. Masseto has received numerous accolades including a perfect 100 points from Wine Spectator's for its 2001 vintage. Suggested retail upon release is $460 but prices could go up from there depending on how quickly this one is snapped up older well-regarded vintages (especially the 2001) often sell for more. The new vintage will be available across the country at select retailers/restaurants, and is distributed by Folio Fine Wine Partners 707-256-2700.

Tags: italian wine, italian wines, merlot, ornellaia, red wine, super tuscan, wine

Chateau Lafite Rothschild Wins the Readers' Choice Award for Best International Red Wine

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Chateau Lafite Rothschild is nominated for Best International Red Wine.

With a history dating back centuries and a claim to the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold, Chateau Lafite Rothschild is a fitting winner for the Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award in the best international red wine category.

In 1787, scarcely ten years after some ambitious colonists declared a new country across the Atlantic, a small French winery called Chateau Lafite produced a very special bottle. Little did the resident oenologist know that nearly 200 years later, the bottle would sell for 105,000 pounds – roughly $160,000 – setting the mark for price that has stood since 1985.

When Baron James de Rothschild, a patriarch of the famous European banking family, purchased Chateau Lafite in 1868, it was perhaps a sign of a good investment recognized. But the Baron never saw his purchase bear fruit – he passed away just three months later, leaving the renamed Chateau Lafite-Rothschild estate to his three sons.

Gallery: Chateau Lafite Rothschild

Over a century later, Chateau Lafite Rothschild remains one of the world's most esteemed wine estates, producing some 35,000 cases per year. Much like the record-setting bottle from 1787, even the most recent vintages continue to rapidly appreciate in value – the 2008 Lafite Rothschild was valued at 1,500 pounds upon its release, but bottle prices more than doubled within two weeks. Baron James would be proud.

Tags: awards-main, bordeaux, bordeaux wine, chateau lafite, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Luxist-Awards, red wine, wine, winner-wine, winners-wine, winners-wines

Chateau Mouton Rothschild: A favorite of the World's Most Well-Heeled Oenophiles

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

For a century and a half, Chateau Mouton Rothschild has been producing wine for the world's most well-heeled oenophiles – reason enough to earn the estate a Luxist nomination in the best international red wine category.

In 1850, European banking magnate Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild was looking for an impressive way to entertain high-profile guests. What could be better, he wondered, than serving them his own wine? In 1853, he purchased the Chateau Brane Mouton in Pauillac and rechristened it Chateau Mouton Rothschild; the estate was included among the fifteen estates are listed as Deuxiemes Crus in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

Gallery: Chateau Mouton Rothschild

After Baron Nathaniel's death in 1970, his sons showed little interest in wine, but grandson Philippe eventually filled the void, taking the estate's reins in 1922. For over half a century, he led the estate to new heights, culminating in the unprecedented decision of the French ministry of agriculture to promote Chateau Mouton Rothschild to Premier Cru status.

Today his daughter, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, continues as chairman of the family business. She has overseen a number of new developments in recent years, including a partnership with a Chilean company to produce the wine Almaviva in 1997, as well as the launch of the Languedoc wine Domaine de Baron'Arques in 2005.

Vote for the winemaker that you think is the best of breed. The voting period ends on June 30th, with winners announced on July 1, 2010.

Tags: awards-main, chateau mouton rothschild, France, luxist-awards, red wine, wineries

Chateau Margaux: Fine White Wine Since the Early 17th Century

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

While Chateau Margaux is nominated for Best International Red Wine for which it is so famous, the chateau is also a well-deserving nominee for a Luxist Award for Best International White Wine. In fact, Chateau Margaux has produced white wines since the early 17th century.

For more than four centuries, Chateau Margaux has been making excellent wines and is credited with making some of the best wines of all time. Some of the winery's most well-known vintages include 1953, 1961, 1982, 1996 and 2000, among many others.

At the end of the 17th century, Chateau Margaux became part of the nascent elite "First Growths"--long before being established officially by the Classification of 1855. Since then, Chateau Margaux has known fame and fortune, seeing by experience how ephemeral both are. Chateau Margaux 1771 was the first Bordeaux vintage to appear in a Christie's catalogue in 1776. It was described as "an excellent claret with a fine flavor from the 1771 vintage." Its 1791 vintage was considered by Christie's wine catalogue (May 23, 1797) as being the best that France has produced in many years, and "is difficult at this moment to find anything comparable."

Gallery: Chateau Margaux

For more than four centuries, Chateau Margaux has been a wine of excellence. At the end of the 17th century, it became part of the nascent elite "First Growths"--long before being established officially by the Classification of 1855.%Gallery-

Tags: awards-main, chateau margaux, France, Grand Cru, luxist-awards, red wine

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Chateau Pichon-Longueville: Over a Century of Illustrious Winemaking

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Only fifteen estates are listed among the Deuxiemes Crus of the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, and Chateau Pichon-Longueville is one of the lucky few. With a product that has stood the test of time, it's an obvious nominee for a Luxist award in the best international red wine category.

The area now known as the Pichon estate was once the site of an unassuming farm called La Baderne, located between the villages of Saint-Julien and Pauillac. In the 17^th Century, Baron Jacques de Pichon, the Baron of Longueville, established the vineyards; in 1851, Raoul de Pichon-Longueville built the chateau that still graces the property.

Gallery: Chateau Pichon-Longueville

The improvements came just before Pichon-Longueville earned a spot on what would become one of the world's most prestigious and steadfast wine lists. Despite numerous attempts to invent a new system, the Official Classification of 1855 remains the gold standard for Bordeaux wine, and with it, Pichon-Longueville's place in history.

llustrious winemaking, the estate was purchased by the French insurance company AXA in 1987. Today, Pichon-Longueville remains celebrated for its strong, tannin-packed wines, which are also known for their aging potential. One of the estate's latest vintages is a 2008 blend of 71% cabernet and 29% merlot, muscular and fruity with scents of blackberry. No doubt the estate's original farmers would have enjoyed it. 　

Vote for the winemaker that you think is the best of breed. The voting period ends on June 30th, with winners announced on July 1, 2010.

Tags: awards-main, Chateau Pichon-Longueville, France, Luxist-Awards, red wine, wine, winery

Gourmet Latino Vino: Sampling Offbeat Wines from (Way) South of the Border

by Amy Cortese (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Events

If your idea of Latin American cuisine is tacos and a frosty Corona, you're missing out, amigo. From Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, Latin America offers up a stunning array of flavors and culinary traditions -- and all were on display recently at the Gourmet Latino Festival, a five-day series of events and tastings in New York City. There was Argentine barbecue, Mexican mole, and cocktails made with Peruvian Pisco, Mexican tequila and Brazilian Cachaca.

Being a wine lover, I was intrigued by an event that promised to pair Latin America specialties with wines from surprising regions like Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico. it was held at at Palo Santo, a Latino restaurant in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, where chef-owner Jacques Gautier serves up unusual but authentic pan-Latin cuisine, often using ingredients from his rooftop garden.

"I like to showcase dishes I've come across in my travels but that are less well known," explained Gautier. The same could be said for the wine served that evening.

Tags: chardonnay, chenin blanc, latin american cuisine, Maria Luz Marin, Palo Santo, patagonia, pinot noir, red wine, riesling, sauvignon blanc, south american wine, uruguay, white wine, wine

Continue reading “Gourmet Latino Vino: Sampling Offbeat Wines from (Way) South of the Border”

How to Make an Educated Guess When Ordering Wine

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

No matter how versed you are in the world of wine there will always be labels and brands that you've never tried, but when faced with ordering from a list of wines that you've never heard of it is possible to make a more educated selection than simply reading what the menu says and then choosing between a cabernet or a merlot. The key is in knowing where the wine was made.

#1 Hot vs Cool Climate Grapes grown in warmer climates tend to be lower in acidity and higher in sugar, which results in fuller-bodied wine. Cooler climates more often yield the opposite with grapes having higher acidity and less sugar, so the end product is lighter-bodied. This climate rule can be derailed, however, by local variances like a south facing vineyard that's warmer than average for the surrounding area, or by certain breeds of grape (some are consistently flavored no matter where they're grown).

#2 Old World vs New World Another good rule of thumb is that generally speaking traditional Old World (European) wines tend to the earthier, spicier side while New World (United States, Argentina, South Africa, anywhere not Europe) varieties are fruitier. Again, this rule does not always apply as the occasional New World winemaker may aspire to Old World techniques, or a European might deliberately create a fruit-forward variety to tap into that market.

So in applying these two rules you could make an educated guess that a cabernet from South Africa is probably fuller bodied than a cabernet from Yarra Valley in Australia, but that neither are likely to be as earthy as a cabernet listed from France.

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Tags: choosing wine, how to choose wine, red wine, terroir, white wine, wine, wine-pedia

Frank Sinatra Wine Launches

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Can the Sinatra name sell wine? The Sinatra Family Estates has announced its first wine offering, Come Fly With Me, a limited-production 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.The winery partnered with the Frank Sinatra Estate and his three children (Tina, Nancy and Frank Jr.) to produce the wine. The wine is being produced from a five-acre vineyard site in Napa Valley, and only 500 cases will be bottled and are selling at a steep price of $570 for six bottles. The website says the wine has notes of cherry with hints of leather and spice and says it has a 92 rating but no indication of where that rating came from. Each vintage will be named after a Sinatra classic and the wine label features a logo of a record.

[via Limewire]

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, frank sinatra, FrankSinatra, red wine, RedWine, wine

Idaho Winery Offers Refills

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Green

Pend d'Oreille Winery in northern Idaho has come up with a unique way to go green, they are selling their Bistro Rouge wines in refillable 1.5L bottles. Local customers can bring their bottle back and receive reduce cost refills as often as they like. Winemaker Steve Meyer told Wines & Vines that the program, which started off with 300 bottles has sold 250 of them and many people have brought back their bottles multiple times. The 1.5 liter bottles contain at least 50 percent recycled glass and have a permanent silk-screened label that you can put your name on with a marker. The first bottle is $25 and is closed with a synthetic stopper from Supreme Corq and a tamper-proof seal. Subsequent refills are $16 and the owner gets a cork stopper for future refills. It's an intriguing concept although it loses its carbon-saving punch if you have to drive far to the winery but for locals it seems like a good idea.

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Tags: drink green, DrinkGreen, green, idaho, red wine, RedWine, refillable wine, RefillableWine, wine

M by Michael Mondavi Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

After reading the ins and outs of the Mondavi clan in The House of Mondavi book, I'm even more intrigued to see what former Mondavi CEO and chairman Michael Mondavi has cooked up with his first wine. The 2005 M by Michael Mondavi is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from his Animo vineyard in Atlas Peak, Napa. The wine was aged for 22 months in French oak and bottle aged for a year.

You can pick up M by Michael Mondavi this fall for a steep $199. In a recent interview with Steve Heimoff, Mondavi explained how he reached this price. He explained that his team bought a bunch of top cult wines and did a blind tasting asking themselves how much they would pay for each wine. Because their wine came out strong they prices it below some of the super-pricey cult wines and above some of the ones it showed better than. Of course the costs of managing the 15-acre vineyard were also a factor.

Heimoff's interview also reveals that Mondavi has learned his lesson about rapid expansion. He says that at his Folio Wine import and production company they have just two rules, only work with those they respect and want to spend time with, and only sell wines they would like to serve to family and friends.

Tags: cabernet sauvignon, michael mondavi, napa valley, NapaValley, red wine, RedWine, wine

Christie's Plans Auction Of 2000 Bordeaux

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Auctions

The turning of the millennium was a great year for wine and Christie's hopes to cash in on the taste for Bordeaux when a major collection of 2000 Bordeaux is auctioned at Christie's London on September 15 and 18. Decanter reports that more than 3000 cases from some 70 chateaux will be auctioned up for auction. The wine belongs to a European collector and has been kept in bond since it was shipped from the chateaux. The range estimates for the auction as a whole are from £1.27 million to £1.6 million with high prices expected for the cases of Lafite, Latour, Mouton and Haut-Brion.

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Tags: bordeaux, christies, france, red wine, wine

Pininfarina Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Pininfarina, the Italian design house, that has designed for Ferrari, Maserati and Rolls-Royce now has a wine label. Pininfarina wine debuted at the Concorso Italiano earlier this month in Monterey, CA. The inaugural release of 2005 Vino Rosso was tasted by throngs of spectators and a three liter bottle was auctioned off for $3,000 to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The 2005 Pininfarina Napa Valley Vino Rosso is a Napa Valley red that is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon,29% Cabernet Franc, 6% Sangiovese and 5% Petit Verdot. The wine has black currant and raspberry aromas with a balance of fruit and ripe, fat tannins. It can be drunk now but the winemaker's notes say that it will start to show its prime between 2010 and 2012, with the ultimate peak for this wine being probably between 2017 and 2021. While the label doesn't use the classic Pininfarina red color there is sleek carbon fiber like detail surrounding the label. There were 1,125 cases produced and bottles sell online for $95 each.

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Tags: napa valley, pininfarina, red wine, wine

Trivium Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Three men, a winemaker, a viticulturalist, and a market have collaborated on a new tiny-production artisanal Napa Cabernet. The 2005 Trivium, named for the Latin term for a three-way crossroad, is made up of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Les Ivrettes, a vineyard in which their daughters played while growing up in St. Helena. Les Ivrettes means 'the little tipsy ones' in French, a reference to the parties which the young women hosted in the vineyard adjoining their homes. The vineyard is located within the The Lewelling Vineyard, which was established in 1864 by viticulturalist Doug Wight's great-great-grandfather, pioneer horticulturist John Lewelling. Doug Wight is the fifth generation of his family to farm grapes in the Napa Valley. Together with esteemed winemaker Jack Stuart and marketer Stuart Harrison, he has created a wine with notes of cherry, cassis and spice and rich blackberry flavors. There were just 318 cases made and it sells for $60 a bottle.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, napa valley, red wine, trivium wine, TriviumWine

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