terroir

How to Make an Educated Guess When Ordering Wine

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

Luxist Holiday Guide: Gifts for the Coffee Lover

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Holiday Guides

Gift giving is a lot easier when your giftee has specific interests. While coffee isn't exactly an interest per-se, a coffee-lover will always appreciate a coffee related gift. And there are a lot of them to choose from, from appliances to beans, and every one on our list of favorites is sure to perk them up this holiday season.

A great gift is a high quality conical burr grinder. Even if your coffee lover who already grinds their own beans - which is the very easiest way to ensure that you're getting all the flavor you can from them - can benefit from the increase precision offered by a machine like the KitchenAid Pro Line Burr Coffee Grinder. $200.

Tags: appliances, cffees, christmas, coffee, cups, espresso, espressos, gift, gifts, holiday, terroir

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Bee Raw Varietal Honey

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

We've seen all sorts of varietals in wine and chocolate and even olive oil, now the varietal idea comes to honey. At Bee Raw they work with artisanal beekeepers to create honey that varies in shade and flavor. The honeys offer a wide variety of tastes from the floral and aromatic orange blossom to the smoky and smooth basswood. A set of the four fruit varietals, orange blossom, raspberry, blueberry and cranberry in single ounce glass vials set in a wooden display box sells for $45.

[via The Cool Hunter]

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Tags: bees, food, honey, sweetener, terroir, varietal

Sauvignon Republic Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

We've seen California wineries that specialize in just Red Zinfandel, now let's take a look at a group of guys who focus only on Sauvignon Blanc. The Sauvignon Republic chose this particular grape because they say it expresses the "terroir" of its growing place. Their goal is to produce a wine in each of the areas that it grows best ( California, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and France). This month they are releasing their first South African Sauvignon. There are 800 cases of this wine, the third Sauvignon Blanc they have created. The 2005 Sauvignon Republic Cellars Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc sells for $18 and has citrus and tropical fruit notes with a hint of nettles. This month they are also releasing the 2005 Sauvignon Republic Cellars Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and the 2005 Sauvignon Republic Cellars Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc which both also sell for $18.

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Tags: grapes, liquor, sauvignon blanc, south african wine, SouthAfricanWine, terroir, wine

Using Technology To Improve Wine Production

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Technology is changing wine production in a variety of ways. The latest idea, an EU-funded project called Bacchus, involves scientists from the European Space Agency who are using satellite images of Italy’s Frascati wine region to improve wine industry management. Satellite and airborne radar images off the harvest in the Frascati region are being examined to help researchers understand terroir. The aerial shots could help with positioning of new fields. The hope is that the technology will help European vinters step up their game in the face of increasing competition from a variety of markets.

[via Beverage Daily]

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Tags: esa, radar, terroir, wine, wine production