July, 2012

Facts July 9, 2012

5 Tips for Pairing Foods with Rose Wines.

There’s no doubt that White Zin has tainted most peoples’ perception of “pink wines,” and if you’re one of those people, I’d like to reassure you that there’s a whole category of wine out there which awaits your discovery….and it’s not all sweet! The other hindrance to the success of roses is that, that whole “masculinity-thing” (if you’re a guy…obviously)! In other words, if you don’t feel comfortable wearing pink clothing, chances are you probably…

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News July 9, 2012

Wine Flash-Deal Websites See Rapid Growth….But At What Cost to Wineries?

  A new group of middlemen is rapidly emerging in the U.S. wine business, using “flash-deal,” Groupon-like tactics to connect wine lovers with wineries and brands at ultra-discounted prices.  They’ve earned the moniker of “flash-deal sites,” a play on their business-model of blasting offers several times a week to their email subscribers. The deals last for 24 to 72 hours, highlighting wines sold at up to a 70% discount. New York-based Lot 18 is seen…

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News July 8, 2012

Hallelujah! Another New Study on the Effectiveness of Wine Sealed with a Screw Cap.

  A thrilling new study is taking place at the University of California at Davis! They have decided to help to close the debate on whether screw cap closures are as effective as corks when it comes to aging wine. The university is working with the PlumpJack Group, a wine and hospitality company, cofounded by billionaire philanthropist Gordon Getty and California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, to assess the quality and aging potential of different closures….

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Reviews July 6, 2012

Primarius Pinot Noir, Oregon, 2010.

  Grapes 97% Pinot Noir 3% Syrah   Facts If it’s good enough for the President of the Philippines and Hillary Clinton, it’s good enough for you! What am I talking about? Well, the Primarius Pinot Noir was recently served at a June luncheon at the Department of State in Washington DC. Check-out the full menu at the bottom of this post. It’s only been in the last 2 years that I’ve started to grow…

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Pairings July 3, 2012

Grilled Chicken and Stuffed Avocados Paired with Washington Hills Riesling.

I hadn’t actually intended for this to be a “true pairing,” at least, not on the scale of the pairings I usually post. This one is short and sweet. I’m a firm believer that food and wine pairings don’t need to be these hugely well thought-out, extravagant and time-consuming affairs. If I’m going to be completely honest, the time it takes to cook the meal for my regular pairings, photograph it (usually taking around 50…

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Giveaway July 2, 2012

Win a Soiree Sport Edition Luxury Wine Aerator!

It’s been a little while since my last giveaway, so I’m going all-out on this one! For those of you that aren’t familiar with my personal favorite wine aerator (that I use almost daily), the Soiree: Is made of Boro-silicate glass (aka Pyrex) watch out for cheap/plastic imitators! Works with all kinds of wines, as well as all shapes and sizes of bottles! Prevents dripping. Aerates your wine as you serve it, therefore no waiting!…

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News July 1, 2012

Precept Wine Brands Views Idaho As The Next Big Thing in Wine.

Seattle-based Precept Wine has made headlines in the last few weeks with its purchase of Idaho’s largest winery, Ste. Chapelle, from the bankrupt Ascentia Wine Estates. The deal adds another 150,000 nine-liter cases to the Precept portfolio, which should be just under a million cases by the end of 2012, according to company founder and CEO Andrew Browne. Founded in 2003, Precept made the transition from being purely a sales and marketing firm, to a…

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News July 1, 2012

Hand Harvesting Grapes: Not Everything It’s Cracked up to Be?

The theory view that hand harvesting of grapes produces the best wine is being challenged by new research from the University of Auckland. It shows that machine harvesting produces higher levels of the aromas characteristic of award-winning New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. “There’s always been the issue that perhaps the best wines need to be made only from hand-picked grapes. But this shows that with sauvignon blanc you really are getting the most intense Marlborough style…

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