Duel by Darioush, Napa, California.
July 26, 2012
Grapes
60% Cabernet, 40% Shiraz
Facts
- I’d never seen this wine before, so I was over the moon when I received it as a gift on Tuesday! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: “Keep your friends close, and your wine-drinker friends closer!”
- The name Duel comes from the blend of Cabernet and Shiraz, and is illustrated on the front label by the dueling lion and bull. The idea is that the two grapes share a similar reputation for being powerful and aggressive, but embrace each other when brought together. The same is not true for lions and bulls in real-life. Just thought I’d clarify that…
- The Darioush winery was founded by Darioush Khaledi in 1997. He developed a “wine problem” from a young age, occasionally sneaking samples from his father’s wine barrels. Darioush didn’t enter the wine industry in the traditional way of the majority of winery owners in California. He actually grew up in Shiraz, an Iranian city famed for its winemaking. Darioush went in pursuit of the American dream in ‘76, and opened a “Valu Plus” grocery store in Los Angeles with his brother in-law. The chain has since grown to over 20 locations with over 1,400 employees, and is the strongest independent supermarket chain in the U.S. In the 90’s, Darioush decided to combine groceries with grapes and opened the Darioush Estate.
- The Darioush Estate takes a true minimal interventionist approach to their winemaking, something which I was always find refreshing to hear! All their grapes are hand-harvested and hard-sorted. Their wines are also bottled without filtration, a step which although meaning an increase in sediment and an almost hazy appearance to the wine, doesn’t strip the wine of much of its flavor and yields a much more “natural” end product
Make Your Wine Sing With a Musical Wine Glass!
July 26, 2012
A wine glass has been developed in Austria that plays musical notes when a finger is run along the rim.
The crystal glass features gold lines corresponding to different musical notes covering a full 12-note octave from A flat to G.
For a “lush, sonorous note”, the makers recommend running a finger along the rim. The same note will reportedly ring-out with the gentle tap of a teaspoon against the side of the glass.
A set of two musical wine glasses is $65 and available from UncommonGoods.
My Thoughts…
BUYER BEWARE: This has the potential to make family gatherings EXTREMELY irritating, with everyone fancying themselves as a “wine glass musician!”
Posted in News | Tagged musical wine glasses, Wine Glass, wine glass design | Leave a comment //Talking with Master Sommelier Virginia Philip.
July 24, 2012
Virginia Philip became the 10th woman in the world to earn the accreditation of Master Sommelier. Now in her 10th year at The Breakers, Virginia maintains and oversees the beverage department for 9 restaurants and bars and 14 wine lists for the property. Included is the 1,600-selection list at L’Escalier, the resort’s award-winning signature restaurant which has won the Wine Spectator’s Grand Award every year since its inception in 1981.
Virginia’s newest adventure, her Wine Shop & Academy (located in West Palm Beach), opened in November of 2011.
I recently (as-in just this week) had the chance for a quick Q&A with Virginia…
So, what does the role of Master Sommelier, specifically at The Breakers, involve?
My role at The Breakers requires me to wear many hats. I am an Ambassador of the hotel in all that I do and especially when I travel. I am also responsible for 14 wine lists on the property with my team of sommeliers. Financials are critical in a role this large, so managing your beverage costs and inventories is a key component of the job. Training, mentoring and keeping up with new wine information is also critical to stay current in my role. Food and wine pairings, creative wine lists and creative drink menus are also a part of my job responsibilities.
What are the biggest misconceptions about Sommeliers?
I have two: That all we do all day is taste food and drink wine! We do not, and if we, it’s generally not by choice. It is our job and there are definitely days where tasting one more dish with 6 more wines is very challenging to do!
The other, is that sommeliers are purposely trying to over pour or under-pour the guest. Many times, we are at the host’s disposal. If the host tells us he/she wants one bottle of wine for 6-8 guests and refuses to order another one, there is not a lot that we can do about it.
2012 Jacksonville Art & Winefest at the Hyatt Regency
July 21, 2012
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WHAT: 2012 Art & Winefest
WHEN: Thursday, July 26th
WHERE: Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront
225 East Coastline Drive Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 588-1234
DETAILS: Capital Grille’s Master Sommelier George Miliotes, has specially chosen over 40 wines from around the world for this incredible evening! Savor the best cuisine from Seasons 52, Capital Grill, Gumbo Yayas, The Wine Cellar, Blue Bell, Fionn MacCools, The Cake Shop, Mitchell’s Fish Market, and Corner Bistro and Wine Bar.
Posted in Events | Tagged 2012 Jacksonville Art & Winefest | Leave a comment //Krug Champagne Withdrawn After Label Error.
July 20, 2012
Moet Hennessy have been forced to withdraw five batches of its Krug Champagne after they were incorrectly labeled, and do not indicate any mention of their sulfite content, an item required by law in the EU.
The products withdrawn are: all sizes of Krug Grande Cuvee; and 75cl bottles of Krug Rose, Krug Vintage 2000, Krug Clos du Mesnil 2000 and Krug Clos d’Ambonnay 1998.
The most expensive of the affected products is the Krug Clos d’Ambonnay 1998. Only 4,760 individually numbered bottles of the wine were produced, from a tiny walled plot in the village of Ambonnay. The Champagne is selling online for as much as £1,800 ($2080). Most of the withdrawn bottles cost between £120 and £200 ($180-$300).
Click here for the full article from The Grocer.
Painting with Wine: Wine-Stain Artist Amelia Harnas.
July 19, 2012
Has art always been a part of your life?
Yes, absolutely! I live in Corning, New York, which is a very small town, but I read a survey a few months ago that Corning was one of the best small art-towns in the country. We’ve got a really cohesive group of artists out here, and I was raised among them. Art is how I think and breathe.
I never technically went through art school. I was a terrible college attendee! I was too independently read. I went to four different colleges and wasted a bunch of money before I realized college just wasn’t for me.
Classic “artist story” then really…
I think a lot of artists who go through college and do the traditional stuff can do very well from it, and that’s great, but there are the other artists who perpetually have new ideas and do a lot more experimenting.
So your art isn’t your full-time job?
No, art isn’t my full-time job at all! <laughs> No, I make any sort of money from translating.
Oh, really?
It’s a very specific and very narrow type of translating that I do. I do French-to-English written documents that are medical and pharmaceutical-related.
So how long have you been doing your wine-stain paintings?
It’s been almost two years.
Posted in Interview | Tagged amelia harnas, amelia harnas artist, how to paint with wine, painting with wine, wine art, wine paintings, wine stain art | Leave a comment //← Older posts Newer posts →
