When first getting into wine I improved my awareness of one passion by indulging in another- Reading. As I continue to learn about wine I have used the following method.
1 - Purchase 5 good reference books.
The books I list are suggestions for my reading style, you should select books that suit your needs. I have found these were great books to start with:
1xregion (worldwide)'World Atlas of Wine' (H.Johnson & J. Robinson); another great way to get a quick bite of this info is in the annual H. Johnson 'Pocket Wine Book'
1xgrape 'Guide to Wine Grapes' (J. Robinson)
1xhistory 'Vintage: The Story of Wine' (H. Johnson)
1xfood & wine 'Wine with Food' (J. Simon)
1xvintage 'Wine Vintages' (M. Broadbent)
As you can see I have a preference for a couple of authors - remember to find the ones that you like. I like authors that provide reliable information and get to the point. Nothing is worse than bad information or over information to confuse any student. The 'Peg has some great bookstores and a pretty good library system, there is lots of information available, however I don't feel it is necessary to buy every book that hits the market. How many Atlas do you need? How many books on the Wines of Canada? Buy what you need when you need it and always keep your bookshelf moderately up-to-date.
2 - Once you know a bit find books that help you explore more.
This is where you can focus on region, grape, food & wine combos, histories, bios, trends, the list goes on & on & on & on & on...
I like the Mitchell Beazley guides for quick regional focus. Solid information, various authors and inexpensive. For food pairing Andrea Immer Robinson is excellent. Histories, bios and trends I have purchased when a whim takes me in the book store. You can read about wine everyday to stay on top in tasting notes and vintage updates, regional law changes, etc, etc, etc without touching the last 3. I recently indulged my historical curiosity in a used book shop and purchased 'Wine & War' (D.&P. Kladstrup) - a very interesting perspective of French wine during WWII. There are many other books I enjoy in this genre but you should find yours.
3 - The 'zines.
Periodicals a.k.a. magazines - whether they have advertisements or not are usually attached to critics and ratings. I always read these while holding a grain of salt in one hand and counting the advertisements with the other. Usually the information provided is up to date and accurate, harvest reports, focus on regions, grapes, wineries, winemakers, winelists. I am careful about the ratings - you may not taste the same as the person or panel who rated the wine. I have enjoyed many wine that have scored lower than 90 points and not enjoyed wines that have scored close to 100. Newspapers can often be a good source for wines that are available in your market, ours changed yesterday, looks to be interesting. Remember whether the author is local, national or international personal preference, experience and environment play a key role - more on this when I write about the first 'R' - drinking.
4 - Hang Ten
Surf the web. Winery websites are good sources of information that a winery wants you to have. Just remember they normally never tell you that their wine is bad. Magazines and authors also have good websites with good information. I use the web almost every day when it comes to wine, I have made good and bad purchases based on the information that I have come across. I obviously enjoy the blogs & am always looking for more Wpg. bloggers - if you know of any send them this way.
5 - Other Media.
A lot of fictional novels, TV Dramas/Sitcoms & Movies reference wine. Remember this info may not be completely accurate - the author may not be a wine geek. Have some fun with these and research the validity yourself - you never know what you might find.
Thus ends my opinion on reading about Wine. Sorry, now wine review today - commitments beckon.
10 November, 2005
04 November, 2005
cold in winnipeg?
I woke up this morning to the radio announcer discussing snow, and I thought to myself why is it going to get colder just as I am getting over a cold? Yes folks for the last 2 weeks I have suffered through the autumn cold. Other than upping my personal consumption of president's choice tissue it downed my consumption of wine, leaving me little to wine blog about. It did leave me time to appreciate cough syrups, sweet elixirs of relief. Left the swirl, sniff, swallow routine behind for speed gulping off a teaspoon over the bathroom sink(Vancouver 2010 featured event?).
I also did some wine shopping and picked up what will hopefully be some great wines to ease back with. A Mosel Riesling, a Shiraz-Grenache, a Pinot Gris and an Italian Red or 2.
I also did some book shopping. You'll see a post on the 3rd R of wine first.
I also did some wine shopping and picked up what will hopefully be some great wines to ease back with. A Mosel Riesling, a Shiraz-Grenache, a Pinot Gris and an Italian Red or 2.
I also did some book shopping. You'll see a post on the 3rd R of wine first.
15 October, 2005
friday night fixin' s
Saturday morning, enjoying my coffee, listening to CBC, contemplating doing some laundry, procrastinating by posting to blog.
After a mini-long week we decided to stay in last night and relax. Which wine to drink? Popped by one of Wpg.'s private wine merchants and picked up a bottle of Casa Silva's Dona Dominga Single Vineyard La Hijuela Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon 2005. Long name for what I would describe as a great wine with an outstanding price. We also grabbed some avocados, fresh local tomatoes, a purple onion and made some chunky guacamole to snack on while we made dinner.
When poured, the wine glowed with brilliance in the glass. The aroma also jumped out - fresh pear, peach and a hint of honey. All of these flavours followed through on the first taste, the wine was crisp with a delicate acidity. I thought detected a bit of citrus towards the back. The finish was clean. I also enjoyed the feel of this wine - it had a creamy texture without the creamy flavours.
I checked out the website this morning and was impressed by what the winery stated. The website was easy to navigate and had a soothing background music (which I turned off as I was listening to CBC). What did I discover? Well, the tasting note for the 2005 is not up yet so I peeked at the 2004: 50/50 split between Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon; 100% hand harvested; hand sorting of grapes; stainless steel fermentation. There is nothing wrong with machine harvesting, though there is some debate on if it damages the grapes or not (future blog topic?). I also learned a lot about the winery and their commitment to their vineyards and their appellation. One of my favourite parts was the location map, it shows vineyard location within the region.
Casa Silva appears to be a winery with a commitment to making good quality, easy drinking wines. I love the fact that this wine was hand harvested, single vineyard, single appellation and affordable, you can taste the difference care makes, even in wines under $20. It was priced below many of the label-driven-wines I try to avoid (see price of wine post in September 2005). I also discovered Casa Silva makes some interesting wines including Chile's only 100% Sauvignon Gris from vines planted pre-WWI, has a Viognier and a Carmenere. I also liked that it was next to a number of reds on the shelf, I will definitely be checking these out in the near future.
So to sum it up...
Casa Silva's Dona Dominga
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon
Vintage: 2005
Appellation: Single Vineyard - La Hijuela, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Closure: Trad. Cork
Format: Standard bottle
Price: $11 plus taxes
Had With: Homemade Southern Fried Chicken and whipped potatoes; chunky guacamole & tortilla chips; sipped after while reading on the chesterfield.
Recommend: Buy a case, you won't regret it. And don't be one of those ninnys I always end up behind in line and ask for a discount; if you are entitled to one the customer service person will let you know.
The last word...
Day 2 of the Cono Sur Merlot (magnum). Stood tall, the flavours were still there, though the finish softened a smidge, though not a problem. I stand by the assessment of this being a good wine to have on hand. I also think this would be an excellent house wine (hint-hint, nudge-nudge restaurant readers).
After a mini-long week we decided to stay in last night and relax. Which wine to drink? Popped by one of Wpg.'s private wine merchants and picked up a bottle of Casa Silva's Dona Dominga Single Vineyard La Hijuela Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon 2005. Long name for what I would describe as a great wine with an outstanding price. We also grabbed some avocados, fresh local tomatoes, a purple onion and made some chunky guacamole to snack on while we made dinner.
When poured, the wine glowed with brilliance in the glass. The aroma also jumped out - fresh pear, peach and a hint of honey. All of these flavours followed through on the first taste, the wine was crisp with a delicate acidity. I thought detected a bit of citrus towards the back. The finish was clean. I also enjoyed the feel of this wine - it had a creamy texture without the creamy flavours.
I checked out the website this morning and was impressed by what the winery stated. The website was easy to navigate and had a soothing background music (which I turned off as I was listening to CBC). What did I discover? Well, the tasting note for the 2005 is not up yet so I peeked at the 2004: 50/50 split between Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon; 100% hand harvested; hand sorting of grapes; stainless steel fermentation. There is nothing wrong with machine harvesting, though there is some debate on if it damages the grapes or not (future blog topic?). I also learned a lot about the winery and their commitment to their vineyards and their appellation. One of my favourite parts was the location map, it shows vineyard location within the region.
Casa Silva appears to be a winery with a commitment to making good quality, easy drinking wines. I love the fact that this wine was hand harvested, single vineyard, single appellation and affordable, you can taste the difference care makes, even in wines under $20. It was priced below many of the label-driven-wines I try to avoid (see price of wine post in September 2005). I also discovered Casa Silva makes some interesting wines including Chile's only 100% Sauvignon Gris from vines planted pre-WWI, has a Viognier and a Carmenere. I also liked that it was next to a number of reds on the shelf, I will definitely be checking these out in the near future.
So to sum it up...
Casa Silva's Dona Dominga
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon
Vintage: 2005
Appellation: Single Vineyard - La Hijuela, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Closure: Trad. Cork
Format: Standard bottle
Price: $11 plus taxes
Had With: Homemade Southern Fried Chicken and whipped potatoes; chunky guacamole & tortilla chips; sipped after while reading on the chesterfield.
Recommend: Buy a case, you won't regret it. And don't be one of those ninnys I always end up behind in line and ask for a discount; if you are entitled to one the customer service person will let you know.
The last word...
Day 2 of the Cono Sur Merlot (magnum). Stood tall, the flavours were still there, though the finish softened a smidge, though not a problem. I stand by the assessment of this being a good wine to have on hand. I also think this would be an excellent house wine (hint-hint, nudge-nudge restaurant readers).
12 October, 2005
not the day i planned
My plan yesterday was to arrive home and cook a fabulous meal and enjoy a lovely bottle of wine, life is not always what you plan. I arrived home an hour and a half late and tired, dinner turned from sublime to simple, as did the wine.
The dinner turned into grilled ribeye with simple seasoning (S&P) accompanied by mashed parmesan potatoes and a creamy carrot, lettuce and pomegranate salad. Dessert was sliced fruit, cheese and a movie in the DVD. The wine went from a new acquisition on the wine rack to a magnum of Merlot we picked up to try as a vin de maison - Cono Sur's Origen Merlot 2004 (Central Valley, Chile).
Ever wondered where Central Valley is? Central Valley is the big growing region in Chile, it encompasses all the smaller areas (Aconcagua, Maipo, Rapel, Curico, Maule, Casablanca Valleys, to name a few). More on Chile's appellations and their laws in another blog.
The Merlot was simple and predictable. Soft plums, hints of blueberry, sharp spice though not pepper, more clove and nutty-walnut. The finish had an interesting touch and it took a while for us to name it - dried dill. There was something else there, I think a little of Cab. Sauv. may have been there to add depth in colour and aroma. All round a pleasant, easy drink, definitely a crowd pleaser, a house wine. We have over half the bottle left, I will post how it changed after being open for a day.
So to sum it up:
Cono Sur 'Origen' Merlot
Grape(s): bottle says Merlot however, I could not find this exact wine on the website to verify.
Vintage: 2004
Appellation: Central Valley, Chile
Closure: Trad. Cork
Format: Magnum a.k.a. the 1.5L
Price: $16 plus tax
Had with: Ribeye steak, a traditional meat & potaoes meal. Could also be good with fajita or stew. Was very good to sip on its own.
Recommend: Yes. This is an excellent wine to have sitting on the counter for lazy days, to drink or to cook with and to serve when friends and family show up.
The dinner turned into grilled ribeye with simple seasoning (S&P) accompanied by mashed parmesan potatoes and a creamy carrot, lettuce and pomegranate salad. Dessert was sliced fruit, cheese and a movie in the DVD. The wine went from a new acquisition on the wine rack to a magnum of Merlot we picked up to try as a vin de maison - Cono Sur's Origen Merlot 2004 (Central Valley, Chile).
Ever wondered where Central Valley is? Central Valley is the big growing region in Chile, it encompasses all the smaller areas (Aconcagua, Maipo, Rapel, Curico, Maule, Casablanca Valleys, to name a few). More on Chile's appellations and their laws in another blog.
The Merlot was simple and predictable. Soft plums, hints of blueberry, sharp spice though not pepper, more clove and nutty-walnut. The finish had an interesting touch and it took a while for us to name it - dried dill. There was something else there, I think a little of Cab. Sauv. may have been there to add depth in colour and aroma. All round a pleasant, easy drink, definitely a crowd pleaser, a house wine. We have over half the bottle left, I will post how it changed after being open for a day.
So to sum it up:
Cono Sur 'Origen' Merlot
Grape(s): bottle says Merlot however, I could not find this exact wine on the website to verify.
Vintage: 2004
Appellation: Central Valley, Chile
Closure: Trad. Cork
Format: Magnum a.k.a. the 1.5L
Price: $16 plus tax
Had with: Ribeye steak, a traditional meat & potaoes meal. Could also be good with fajita or stew. Was very good to sip on its own.
Recommend: Yes. This is an excellent wine to have sitting on the counter for lazy days, to drink or to cook with and to serve when friends and family show up.
11 October, 2005
the 5R's of wine
You are probaly wondering what the 5R's of wine are.
Simply put my 5R's are:
(d)rinking
(a)rithmetic
(r)eading
(w)riting
(t)ravel.
Over the next few months; in between my wine review posts I plan on fleshing out the 5R's and their importance to growth in personal wine appreciation. Don't worry - I have not missed Food & Wine, it factors into every one of my 5R's.
For dinner tonight we are having organic ribeye steaks with a crumbly blue cheese sauce (yum). We are debating between 2 wines on the rack - a Costieres de Nimes & an Aussie Shiraz, though I may grab a Pinot Noir on the way home. I'll let you know how the debate ends and how the wine paired with the meal.
Simply put my 5R's are:
(d)rinking
(a)rithmetic
(r)eading
(w)riting
(t)ravel.
Over the next few months; in between my wine review posts I plan on fleshing out the 5R's and their importance to growth in personal wine appreciation. Don't worry - I have not missed Food & Wine, it factors into every one of my 5R's.
For dinner tonight we are having organic ribeye steaks with a crumbly blue cheese sauce (yum). We are debating between 2 wines on the rack - a Costieres de Nimes & an Aussie Shiraz, though I may grab a Pinot Noir on the way home. I'll let you know how the debate ends and how the wine paired with the meal.
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