Summer Wine Cocktails

It's currently 93 degrees here in New England with insane humidity, causing us to run for the shade and tempting indoor air conditioning. So what to drink to cool off? While Rose' is my go-to summer "all-purpose" wine to go with everything from salads, to BBQ to local shellfish, sometimes a girl's just gotta have a cocktail to enliven and refresh after a long day of sun worship. My favorite cocktail of the season has been a hit with my wine-loving friends and customers, The St. Germain Cocktail. This deliciously floral, aromatic drink is so complex, made from French Elderflowers. Mix 2 parts Dry sparkling wine or dry white wine with 2 parts club soda, and 1 1/2 parts St. Germain Liqueur. I mix a pitcher of these on the patio and find myself running to the kitchen to make more in short order! When I like a little white-pepper type of spiciness to my cocktails, I like to make the Montparnasse, a blend of 1 1/2 parts apple brandy, like Laird's Applejack, Calvados, or Clear Creek's Apple Brandy, with 3/4 part St Germain, 1/2 part fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 part Sauvignon Blanc. It has all the zestiness of a great dry white with the added spice of the apple and citrus kick. Finally, for fans of the Negroni, or Aperol will rejoice with a great cocktail called the Bois de Rose. 3/4 part St. Germain, 1/4 part Aperol, 1 part Gin, 1/4 part Fresh lemon, topped with Sparkling Rose or Brut Rose Champagne. You get that wonderful bitter component of the Aperol, the floral component of the St Germain, and the aromatic/ savoriness of the Gin. Oh yeah..... Grab a thermos, measure up and head out on the water, to the pool, or the back deck for a celebration that will cost you and your friends less than $50 for an entire day's worth of deliciousness!! Cheers!

Shop Local- Win Big

There are few things more wonderful than having a favorite local wine haunt. A wine buyer who knows you by name, where your kids go to school, what your favorite Friday Night Cocktail is, or saves that last special bottle of your favorite bubbly for your anniversary celebration. They are local people, actively involved in their community. There are few more intimate relationships than your local wine shop. They know all your dirty little secrets! With "big-box" wine stores like Total Wine, Costco, Wine Nation, and BevMax, the intimacy of this all-too-important relationship is completely lost. You'll never see a friendly clerk carry out your purchases to the car in these places. You'll rarely see them offer to artfully gift wrap your purchases for free, and even deliver them that day to your all-important neighbor or best friend. You won't have a house account for daily necessities like cooking wine, beer for the gardener, and that last-minute hostess gift on your way to a dinner party. These big stores will categorically deny you when asked to donate or assist with your local Lion's Club Fundraiser, or annual Dogwood Festival, or Bastille Day parade. Your local wine shop will not only donate, but offer to pour wine at at your event, and knows most of the attendees by name or sight from their shop. When a limited-release special wine comes into the store, your local wine guy will drop you an email, a text, or a phone call to let you in on the secretly stash. You may even get special pricing that the big stores refuse to regular, loyal customers. Big box stores don't host intimate wine dinners with famous winemakers, or have invitation-only VIP Wine Tastings. The big boys sadly put the likes of great wines such as Mouton Rothschild next to Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc, in keeping with their strictly alphabetical arrangement, nearly "cooking" their fine wines in an over-heated retail space. Can you call Costco from your commuter train home and have them chill your favorite Chardonnay? I think not. How about selection? Sure those big box stores have Yellow Tail and Kendall Jackson Chardonnay stacked to the ceiling, but do they have the most fabulous Northern Italian Friulano you've ever tasted for $12? Do the people working in those big stores even know what that is? Do they care? Sadly, the answer is no. Their goal is to sell product with the least amount of physical or mental output from their under-qualified staff to save a few bucks. Your local wine guy has most likely been in the wine trade for decades, and probably has a few distinguished wine certifications under their belt. Lastly, does your big box store give you great restaurant recommendations? Do they know the owner of the hot new Bistro down the street? Can they give them a shout and have a cherry item from their wine list open and ready for you? I think not. Can they set you and your spouse up for a free tasting on your next California trip to Napa? Nope! Do you trust that the wine your just purchased is going to be exactly to YOUR tastes and delicious from the first to the last sip because your wine person KNOWS you? Has your big box clerk even TASTED any of the wines in their store? The answer is probably no. Shop local, win big. Get service, selection, support and a whole host of unexpected pleasures by forming a relationship with your local wine person. You'll be thrilled you did!

Good and Cheap and Easy

Those three words don't always go together sadly when we're talking about a luscious beverage like wine at our table for dinner, but fear not, I've uncovered some real stars in this category that you can find at your local wine store that deliver and then some. It's hard to find decent juice from the United States at a fair price, as most of the "bulk wines" come from the Central Valley in California and taste, well, pretty awful at best. Look to Spain, Argentina, Chile and Southern France for some of the best values on the market today, some even coming in alternative packaging, such as Tetra paks (think soy milk containers), screw tops, and even boxed with an internal bladder system (this is a cool choice that is both eco friendly and economical, keeping the wine fresh for several weeks!)

I know several of you scoffed at the idea of boxed wine, but seriously, most people in South America, Australia, and France drink their wines from these "box casks" as they like to call them- Come 'on and be hip like a European, man!

Check out my favorite bottles for the bucks below:

"The Climber" made by the people who own Veli Velo winery in Napa and make the famous "Clif" bars- these guys are serious cyclists who make great wine that comes in a collapsible pouch which you can easily stash in your backpack and recycle when done. Their Cabernet is super fruity, and silky-smooth and the un-oaked Chardonnay is appley, crisp and refreshing. It comes in a 1.5Liter size and is only $20

Pie de Palo viognier is a stunner from Argentina at only $8 a bottle, it brings out glorious apricot and honeysuckle notes, with a fresh, clean palate. A total no-brainer!

From the same winery comes a super-yumy Malbec at $8 also, that has lots of cocoa notes, and bright black raspberry fruit. serious wine for not so serious dollars!

Genius Winemaker Randall Graham from California makes a red and white table wine from really good juice called "Big House" red and white. These come in a nifty 3 liter box that fits neatly in the fridge or discretely in your cabinet, bring the price per bottle for this traditionally $8/ bottle wine down to $5/ Bottle cost!

A fellow wine lover turned me onto some decent cheap New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in a box called Silver Birch- 3 Liters for $20! Good grapefruity notes, lots of refreshing acid, and a super price. A good everyday quaffer!

So fear not. Save your big bucks for $15 martinis out on a Friday night. Drink good cheap and easy, and rest assured, you don't have to spend a lot to get a lot!
Cheers!

The Wine Lab Restaurant- opening soon!

HI Everyone,

It's been a while since we've "chatted" and I thought I'd share some really incredible news with y'all. I am opening my first Wine Bar/ restaurant/ wine school in Greenwich CT this holiday season! It will be called the Wine Lab (a double Entendre due to my background in Pharmaceuticals, Wine, and my trusty Guiding Eyes Dog, Elvis- Labrador Extraordinaire).

I will be featuring sustainably farmed wines from around the world, and emphasizing local, organic cuisine, meats, and cheeses in a "Tapas" format. The decor will be sustainable too- picture chandeliers made from melted, recycled brown and green glass wine bottles, water glasses made from the bottom of a Bordeaux bottle, recycled cork ceiling to absorb chatter, and a gorgeous 30-seat private dine-in glass wine cellar surrounded by the world's most coveted collector's wines.

I am a believer in education wherever possible, and for that reason, more than 40 wines will be available by the glass, each available as a half glass or taste, full glass, or a "Flight" of 4 different selections customized to your palate and budget. Try "The Scholar Flight" with FOUR wines for $12, or go for gold with the "PhD Flight" for $40, including some of the rarest wines available for your enjoyment.

VIPs will be accomodated in our exclusive private dine-in wine cellar- the perfect place to entertain clients, hold meetings using our flat screen monitors, or host the perfect dinner party for you and your wine-loving friends. Private Wine lockers are available for those who wish for this service. Weekly wine and spirits tasting classes will be held, and open to the public.

Love technology? We've got you covered with our cool IPad menus, with links to all of our featured wineries, farms, and cheesemakers. See videos of our chef preparing each menu item, and forward recipes to yourself and friends at home (make them jealous!) Post pics of you and friends while dining to Facebook! Like the wine you tried? FREE delivery of that wine the following day from one of our preferred wine retailers. We've got you covered. No more fumbling for a napkin to write down the name of that delicious wine you tried!

Lastly, philanthropy is at the heart of the Wine Lab (after all it is named after my very cool Guide Dog). Cool T-shirts and wine accessories with our adorable WINE LAB logo are available for sale, with the net proceeds going to the wonderful dogs and people at Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Westchester, NY. Thanks to the folks at Guiding Eyes, I've been able to pursue my dream of owning a successful, fun business involving my greatest passion- WINE and People!!!

Cheers!
-Amy & Elvis

Getting the most out of your wine retailer

HI Everyone!

Having now worked for the top 4 wine stores in Connecticut over my 16 year career, I have a birds-eye view of what one can reasonably expect in the ways of service and selection for an A+ retail experience and relationship. "Relationship?", you ask, well yes- a relationship of a unique sort is EXACTLY what this is. Really give it some thought. Say you're a 5-night a week wine drinker, as most wine folks are. If you're like most folks, you're probably buying a bottle or bottles on your way home from work at your local store, or spend a leisurely Saturday morning perusing the shelves of your favorite wine hideout while hubby or wifie is at the soccer practice with the kids. Yup- that's you. Maybe you mix a case of wines with your favorites, or stick with a single wine that you know will give you a consistent flavor and style each and every time you open that bottle.

Here's where having that all-important relationship with a retailer really comes in handy. A good retailer will greet you upon your arrival, and if you're new to the store, explain the general layout so you can do a little window shopping on your own. The retailer should be warm, inviting, and knowledgable without snobbishness- somone extremely approachable and not intimidating. This person will give you adequate time to assess the selection without hovering, then circle back with you to see if you have any questions on a specific wine or region. If you're answer is no, this person will go one further, and ask you the most important question he or she should ask- "What do you like to drink? What have you had before that you've enjoyed?" Remember- this experience is not about what he or she wants to sell you- it's all about YOU, and YOUR palate.

A good relationship with this person will entail them recognizing you by name, and paying attention to your likes and dislikes. Many stores now have inventory systems that can track your purchases so you can fine-tune your buying preferences. The best retailers will know you so well, that they can anticipate new wines that will exactly fulfill your palate's deepest desires, and will acquire them for you at aggressive case pricing. This person will be able to find wines from regions and grapes that you may never have ventured to try before, but because they have earned your confidence through a trustworthy relationship, your horizons are forever broadened.

There are few relationships more intimate than the wine retailer and his customer. Huh? Yup- it's true. I've heard about more impending divorces, kids sports successes and losses, deaths in the family, what wild things happened in the hot tub after the Rose' Champagne I sold them was opened (not even slightly joking), and so many "TMI" moments. I, as your retailer know WHAT you eat for dinner most every night, who your friends are, what parties you attend with wine in hand, what day your kid's Bar Mitzvah is, what you drank at your engagement party, and what Champagne your husband bought for your anniversary surprise weekend in Vermont. I've been part of all your celebrations and your tragedies, and helped keep the in-laws happy while they over-stay their welcome. I've set up your dream experience in Napa and Tuscany, tasting wines with winemakers that only take special clients, and helped you choose that special Bordeaux from your daughter's birth year to open on her wedding day (hopefully when she's 30). I am more than your friend or family- I am your wine chick- here to stay.
You will be invited to both public and more private wine tastings, classes, and seminars hosted by the retailer as you develop this relationship with them, regardless of what price range you're in- as long as you're loyal to them. These tastings are great opportunities to try rare and more expensive wines that you may not otherwise get to come by due to your new "insider" status. Wine dinners are a fantastic way to get more intimately familiar with wine and meet some famous winemaking folks from all over the world. Wine is usually enjoyed with food, and in this context it is best judged for what it should be- part of a meal.

When choosing a store in general, sometimes it's not just the people that you're dealing with as it is the environment in which you're shopping. Is the store easily shoppable without help? Is there good signage indicating the wines' category? Is there a tasting area? Are the best wines stored in a temperature-controlled facility? Is the overall store too warm to confidently buy wine? Do they offer services like gift wrapping for that all-important client, or free local delivery if you're having a big party? Convenience is a major player these days. Do they have an easy-to-shop website that shows their latest finds, and is accurate regarding their inventory?

Does the store specialize in one particular area? This can be a huge factor in determining the wines they will recommend to you. If the largest section in the store is Spain, and you're a die-hard California fan, perhaps this is not the store for you.

Pay attention to large signs and displays of wines. This is usually a great indicator of a wine that a retailer is making a very sizable margin on, and therefore would rather sell you that over a comparable wine. Ask to taste it if it's something they're really hot on, as they'll gladly pop a bottle, or stand behind the purchase if you're not happy with it. If the wine turns out to be a home run for you, there's a good chance you can negotiate a deeper case discount if you're buying multiple cases- perfect for that spring time BBQ or summer wedding.

Also, be sure to check out their "end of bin" deals on many wines. What happens all too often for us retailers is that someone special orders a case, then decides that they only want to buy 4 bottles instead of the 12 they committed to. Because those are items not regularly sold by the store, or they are odd lots never to be seen again in the store, you can often get significant deals on them.

Last, but not least, your retailer should be able to assist you in setting up a wine cellar. If they don't deal with a cellar builder, they can make recommendations on how to get started or some local contacts who can assist you in layout and design. They should be able to advise you on long or short-term wine storage, and be able to appraise your collection if you ever need the help for insurance or auction purposes. Some charge for this service, depending upon the size of your collection.

Overall, your retail experience should be as follows- inviting, easy-to-shop, full of great recommendations custom for YOU, with lots of events to choose from to further your palate and education, with a great selection, price, and attention to detail, from the time the wine enters the shop, until it's safely at your dinner table. It's like the neighborhood pub-only better and easier on the wallet and the drive home!

Cheers!

Syrah is the New Pinot

Hey Everyone!

I've been on a serious Lamb kick lately, causing me to grab an excessive amount of Burgundy and Syrah to stand up to this heartier cut of meat and the more serious seasonings of the dishes I prepare. And it reminded me that sadly, Syrah is like the red-headed step-child of California Cabernet. These wines are often half to one quarter the price of their Rhone Valley counterparts, and have more balance than the big Aussie Shiraz, but still seem to slip by unnoticed by everyone but the most "in the know" of oenophiles.

How is this possible? Where did Syrah go wrong? Was it the confusion over Syrah versus Shiraz (yes it's the same darn grape for the hundreth time)? Is it the fact that in order to find a good one, you've got to start at $30 and typically spend about $45 that scared off the novices? Sad, but true on both accounts I'm afraid. So I'm here to DO something about it, darn it!

You owe it to yourself to try these wines if you're a Cabernet drinker looking for some excitement in your life and variety. For those that wish for something full bodied and powerful, Syrah is a mastermind in California. The beauty is that it grows well almost all over the place. In Napa, it ripens to big, spicy levels of alcohol. In Sonoma, you get more fruit-driven wines with silky tannins. Paso Robles brings power. And Santa Barbara brings nuance and elegance due to the cooler climate and breezier conditions.

So really, there's something in Syrah for everyone. The cool thing is that Syrah originated in France's Rhone Valley, where it produces the great wines of Hermitage and Cote Rotie. However, the best wines here will cost you upwards of $700 per bottle, whereas the best California counterparts, that too, have good ageing potential, will run you about $125. So you see, dollar for dollar, you're getting a good deal in CA Syrah.

Need a starting point for decent Syrah from CA without breaking the bank? Try Niner from Paso Robles for $20, Beckman from Santa Ynez for $25, Whetstone Phoenix Ranch from Napa for about $50, and Byron's IO from Santa Barbara for about $75. The nice thing about these wines, is that while they pair beautifully with your lamb, they will work with anything you'd do with Cabernet and THEN some, due to their complexity and structure. Syrah is catching on.....could it be the next Pinot Noir?

The Italian Wine Masters Tasting 2/8/11

Tasting Extravaganza continues this week with another huge trade event- the Italian Masters tasting, featuring the top Brunello, Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile, and Valdobbiadene Prosecco producers with the upcoming spring releases. This was certainly palate overload, and all I can say, is THANK GOD for Prosecco. All those big red wines became pretty painful after the first fifty or so....

I worked the room alphabetically, so I'll present you with my notes as such. The room was filled with hundreds of gorgeous Italian men impeccably dressed in their best suits, and magnificant shoes, pouring the best Brunellos from a great vintage. I was in girl-heaven! Banfi was the start of the day, with an underwhelming Rosso di Montalcino 09 which didn't really have much acidity or freshness. Muddled would be the best way to describe it. The Brunello was "ok", balanced and correct, but definitely not worth buying. Poggio alle Mura '06 had more grip and bigger acidity, and the Very good Poggio all'Oro Riserva '04 had a fat middle with spicy wood.

Much more expressive were the wines from Barbi, which had one of the best 09 Rossos of the tasting- simply beautiful and loaded with fresh strawberry fruit. The ageworthy Brunello 06 had great complexity and chalky tannins with a load of fruit to back it up. Excellent, and a pleasant surprise for me. Their 05 Riserva however, didn't deliver the goods, as it was slightly subdued.

Camigliano was a raging disappointment with notes of seaweed and a maturity that did NOT at all work for the wine. The normally stellar Castelgiocondo from Frescobaldi was much more approachable than I would have expected at this point in its development. It made me wonder if this wine would become backwards at a later date perhaps. The '05 Riserva was sweet with black cherry and front-loaded tannins, and good but not stellar, as one would expect in '05.

Luce was the most tannic and backward wine of the tasting, with a nose of candied toffee and a very linear palate with massive, hard tannins. This will need time, and if the nose is any indication, it should be stellar. The '08 Rosso from Col D'Orcia was a very complete wine, showing even BETTER than the '06 Castelgiocondo Brunello at the tasting. Go figure, right? Money doesn't always buy happiness.... The Brunello '06 was incredibly tannic, and difficult to judge. Patience will be required here.

The beautifully perfumed, raspberry tinged Fuligni was one of the wines of the day for me. Elegant, yet structured, with layers of complexity and a firm spine. Excellent and worth a look. Il Poggione was an estate of ups and downs. Their 09 Rosso was a disappointment, with muddled seaweedy flavors, and a ton of tannin to boot. However, the FABULOUS '06 Brunello more than made up for the shortcomings of the Rosso. It had a beautiful balance of wood, tannin, and fruit with a rich, chewy texture. The Vigna Paganelli Riserva '05 from the estate was VERY classy with linear tannins, and an almost Bordeaux-esque fineness to the wine. Gorgeous.

One of my perennial favorites, Pertimali had the opposite issue of Il Poggione. The Rosso was stellar- elegant and rich, and perfectly ready to drink, while the Brunello had notes of resin, and a nutty, sweet, round character that was "good" but not exciting in any way. The same sadly went for their 04 Riserva- it failed to impress.

A wine I have historically loved has always been Pian delle Vigne from Antinori. They do such at amazing job with the legendary Renzo Cotarella at the healm. It had balanced acid and tannin with vanilla, with an almost Burgundian elegance with a silky, long palate. Excellent again and worth buying. My favorite estate of the day for its unusual nose was Pinnino. So many herbs and spices, it was like stepping into a Moroccan market. I was salivating! Equally complex was the delicious palate, with elegance and finessed tannins. Worth a look if you can find it.

Collosorbo was a definite candidate for top Rosso of the day. Its '09 was fabulous- rich, chewy, loads of both black and red fruits, drinking mature, but with enough tannins for a medium term cellaring as well. A must buy. Their Brunello? A definite pass with a medicinal menthol quality to it that made it very unappealing. Col di Sole may have had the Riserva of the day, which may have had the best balance of any red at the tasting. Get your hands on some.

Silvio Nardi has never blown me away with their Rosso, and '09 is no exception- it is very tight, with chalky tannins and dried cranberry fruit. Not at all a generous wine. Their Brunello '06 and the Manachiara both had WAY too much toast to their barrels, and all one could smell or taste was liquid smoke, making them somewhat unattractive (unless you're having BBQ, then have at it!) Last, but not least was the Ucceliera, which was as tight as a drum, though hinting at some lovely fruit hidden beneath the wall of tannins in both Rosso and Brunello. Worth re-visiting in a year to see what's what.....

For Chianti Classico, the results were scattered, and very hard to come down after all those big young Brunellos. The top wines were- Castello di Ama's '06, Fontodi's Riserva Vigna del Sorbo 2007, with structured, earthy, rich, chewy vanillin cherry fruit. And the highlight of the tasting for me? The Castello di Monastero 2007 Chianti Classico. Not because it is some blockbuster with the stuffing to age forever. But because it's the kind of wine I could open a bottle of every night after work and just sit down and DRINK IT. Simply delicious. Silky, rich, long, easy and smooth, with just enough palate-cleansing fresness to keep you thirsting for more. Gotta love the Italians!

Ciao Baby!