The Rule of Thumb
February 1, 2012
Before thermometers were invented, winemakers and brewers would dip a thumb or finger into the liquid to determine the ideal temperature, either too hot or too cold, for adding yeast. That is supposedly where we get the phrase "rule of thumb."
Uncorked: An Evening of Tasting Nearly 200 Wines with the Sawgrass Wine Festival Judges.
February 1, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 5-7 pm
Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa
$20 per person in advance
$25 at the door
Uncorked is the forerunner to the 2nd annual Sawgrass Wine Festival, which includes an evening with friends, and the Sawgrass Wine Festival Judges. Earlier that day two teams of three judges each will take on the task of sampling over 200 different wines in over 35 classifications to determine the award winners you will be tasting that evening. There will also be a silent auction which will pair these award winning wines with gift certificates to some of the finest restaurants in the area. Tickets are just $20 ($25@ the door) and can be purchased online at www.sawgrasswinefestival.com or www.pontevedrachamber.org as well as by calling the Ponte Vedra Chamber at 904-285-2004.
Posted in Events | Tagged Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, Sawgrass Wine Festival | Leave a comment //Romance is Dead: The Demise of the Quarterly Review of Wines Magazine.
January 31, 2012
The Quarterly Review of Wines is calling it quits for its 145,000-circulation magazine after more than thirty years.
“No one really wanted to go, but we all knew it was time,” said publisher/owner Richard Elia.
The QRW has been checking out vintages and profiling winery owners since 1977.
Elia decided it was time for last call because of an aging staff, declining ads and readership and an industry that’s not much fun to cover any more.
In a post on their website, they write:
Chapoutier Calls Natural Winemakers “Hippies from Another World”.
January 31, 2012
Renowned Rhone producer Michel Chapoutier has added his own comments to the natural wine debate by denouncing natural winemakers as out-of-touch hippies making defective wines.
Interviewed in the current issue of Decanter, Chapoutier tells John Livingstone-Learmonth the practice of natural winemaking – that is, using no sulphur dioxide to stabilize the wines – is a con.
‘It is a connerie. It is rubbish. It’s like making vinegar, bad vinegar. How can anyone allow toxic yeasts to develop so that these inhabit the wine?’
The New York Wine Expo: March 2nd–4th.
January 31, 2012
Add a little sunlight to your weekend and treat yourself to a first class trip around the world of wine at the 5th Annual New York Wine Expo, March 2nd – 4th. The Grand Tasting offers attendees a chance to sample wines from nearly 175 wineries from around the globe. The Expo is also a great opportunity to talk directly with winemakers and pick up tips on serving, pricing and selecting the right vintage.
For anyone planning on attending on Friday, make sure you use promo code JWG15 for $15 off your ticket price!
The New York Wine Expo is held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. The latest in wine accessories and specialty foods will also be on hand at the Grand Tasting.
Posted in Events | Tagged Buy New York Wine Expo tickets, New York Wine Expo, New York Wine Expo Promo Code, Wine Spectator | Leave a comment //A to Z Pinot Noir, Oregon.
January 30, 2012
Grape
100% Pinot Noir
Facts
- I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest the problem that people have with Oregon Pinot Noir, is that for the most part it tends to be quite “pricey”. With that out of the way, I’m not exactly setting myself up for success by starting this review with a slur against Oregon, so maybe I should explain myself a little deeper before I start getting angry hate-mail:
It’s well reputed that Pinot Noir is already one of the more expensive and finicky grapes to grow. That’s problem #1, since Pinot is the most prized grape in Oregon.
Problem #2 is the fact that the climate in Oregon doesn’t exactly always co-operate, with vineyard managers constantly being tested to ensure grapes reach the optimum levels of ripeness before picking. All these additional costs obviously add up, which in-turn get passed on to the customer…unfortunately! - A to Z market themselves as having "Aristocratic Wines at Democratic Prices" (which is a slogan I’ve always liked). In that same vein, Oregon has been having a tough few years, bearing in mind the economy, and also going back to my first point about the generally high price-point. For the last few harvests, there’s been a sizeable quantity of fruit being left on the vine unpicked, as wine distributors tighten their belts and focus on more affordable brands/regions.
No doubt it’s a big shame, but I want to see some real attempts at clever marketing by the Oregon wine industry, before I start to feel too bad for them…
- Founded in 2002, A to Z has grown into Oregon’s fastest growing winery.I’m pretty sure I’ve tasted through all the A to Z line, and never found a dud in the bunch. Check them out. The quality is always consistent.
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