Hitler Wine Leaves a Bad Taste.
August 12, 2012
An investigation in Italy has been launched, after some idiot thought that putting an image of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler on their wines was a good marketing idea.
One of the bottles features “the man with the silly mustache” performing the Nazi salute, another alongside the words Mein Kampf (meaning “my struggle” in German), and a third depicting Hitler posing with the late Pope John Paul II, which has been manipulated (obviously!).
The Italian authorities were alerted to the wines after American lawyer Matthew Hirsch, whilst one vacation in Italy, stumbled across the bottles in a small supermarket in the northern town of Garda. The shopkeeper allegedly told Hirsch that the bottles were part of history, “like Che Guevara.”
The mayor of Verona said the bottles will be removed from the supermarket.
Click here for the full article.
My Thoughts…
I’m just throwing this out there, but I’m fairly certain that this isn’t an actual winery putting out these wines. It’s probably just some Nazi sympathizing douchebag, private labeling the bottle. Needless to say, I don’t think you’ll be reading a “Hitler wine review” on this website any time soon…
Posted in News | Tagged Hitler wine | Leave a comment //Eat Up Downtown 2012 – Jacksonville
August 11, 2012
What
Mark your calendar, and start working up an appetite! Downtown Jacksonville’s premier dining event takes place this year August 13-26, when local Downtown eateries will dish out delicious cuisine at special prices.
New this year is tiered pricing, with participating restaurants offering three-course meals at one of three price points: $15, $25 or $35. No coupon clipping or ticket purchasing required — just view the menus, choose your destination and book reservations directly with the restaurant of your choice.
Where
Participating Restaurants (click each for more info)
Basil Thai & Sushi ($25)
bb’s ($25)
Big Pete’s Pizzeria ($25)
Café Nola @ MOCA ($35)
Casa Dora ($15)
Chart House ($25)
Chicago Pizza Sports Bar & Grille ($25)
Chomp Chomp ($15)
Cinco de Mayo ($15)
Fionn MacCool’s Pub & Restaurant ($25)
Indochine ($25)
Juliette’s Bistro ($25)
KOJA Sushi ($15)
Northstar “The Pizza Bar” ($15)
Olio ($15)
River City Brewing Company. ($25)
Sake House ($35)
The Brew House Lounge at River City Brewing Company ($15)
The Wine Cellar ($35)
Trellises ($25)
Underbelly ($15)
University Club ($35)
Vito’s Italian Café ($25)
Zodiac Bar & Grill ($15)
When
August 13th – 26th 2012
Posted in Events | Tagged Eat Up Downtown | Leave a comment //How Valuable is the “Story” Behind a Wine?
August 10, 2012
It goes without saying that when it comes to wine, the taste is front and center. But what about the story behind a bottle of wine?
It may come as a surprise to you to say that I’ve actually dropped wines from a wine list, in favor of a similar tasting wine with a better story behind it. That will probably seem like a ridiculous notion to most people; but let me explain, I have my reasons.
I truly believe that a great deal of consumers still believe that the wines they are buying come from quaint little Mom and Pop family-owned wineries, who have been tending to the same vines for generation after generation, hand-caring for each individual grape, and making less than 400 cases a year.
Maybe this is a little exaggerated, and I’m not saying that these types of operations don’t exist (apart from the 400 cases part), but don’t expect that type of story to be tied to every bottle you pick up!
As a perfect example of this, I am often asked “Could you tell me a little bit more about this wine?” as said consumer fondles a $8 bottle of Pinot Noir.
Posted in Facts | Tagged California, Pinot Noir | Leave a comment //Le Claux Delorme, Valencay, Loire Valley, France.
August 8, 2012
Grapes
40% Gamay, 30% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Pinot Noir
Facts
- If you were to make a list of the red wines coming out of France, Loire Valley reds would certainly come near the bottom; not because of quality, but for the fact it’s one of the more overlooked wine regions.
Loire reds have a tendency to be overshadowed by the whites from famed Sancerre, Vouvray, Pouilly Fume and Muscadet regions, and certainly don’t enjoy the prestige of reds coming out of Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhone.
- The proprietors of Claux Delorme Albane and Bertrand Michin run an estate called La Tour Saint Martin in Menetou-Salon, neighboring the Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume wine regions. The purchase of this small hillside vineyard in Valençay was quite the gamble for them, as even in France, the region is still fairly obscure.
- The Gamay brings the jammy fruit to the wine, Malbec the structure and grip, Cab Franc the earth and spice and Pinot Noir the acidity, red fruit and elegance.
- Every style of wine imaginable is produced in the Loire: red, white, rose, sweet, and sparkling. The region is 2nd only to the Champagne region in terms of French sparkling wine production.
Wine Dinner at III Forks – Thurs Aug 16th.
August 7, 2012III Forks – Jacksonville
9822 Tapestry Park Circle #111 Jacksonville, FL 32216
(904) 928-9277
Charles Smith to Launch an All-Chardonnay Winery.
August 7, 2012
Renegade Washington winemaker Mr. Charles Smith, has his sights set on Chardonnay and only Chardonnay, with his new winery project.
The move represents a change of pace for Charles, as his usual focus is towards making top-level Syrah.
The once rock band manager, Smith bought the Whitman Cellars facility after it declared bankruptcy in Walla Walla (Washington) earlier this year, and plans to use the 20,000-case winery exclusively for Chardonnay production.
“There are some really good Chardonnays here,” said Smith. “We have the soils. We have the cool climate. Let’s see what can happen if we create a winery that just focuses on Chardonnay.”
To oversee all these wines, Smith has hired former Efeste winemaker and assistant winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle, Brennan Leighton. For the Chardonnay project, Leighton already has his eye on grapes from several high-elevation sites planted with vines more than 30 years old.
“Charles convinced me when he said he wanted to make some of the best wines in the world,” Leighton said. “I’ve been wanting to explore the best sites in the state for Chardonnay for a long time.” .
Click here for the full article from the Wine Speculator
My Thoughts…
We need more guys in the wine biz like Charles Smith! He adds character to an industry that has a tendency to take itself a little too seriously. The Chardonnay world could do with a little shake-up as well. It will be interesting to see what Charles has up his sleeve…
Posted in News | Tagged Charles Smith wines | Leave a comment //← Older posts Newer posts →
