Great Wine Source Wine Blog

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Posts Tagged kathy brewer

Wine of the Day – Palomino

Jan 29

Posted by greatWineSource in Spain, Whites, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 29, 2010

Palomino

This is the latest that I’ve posted a blog, BUT the day is not yet over, so it counts!! (smiles) I’ve had a busy couple of days with tastings back to back. Next week busier yet with 3 tastings back to back. Looking forward to all of them.

Palomino grapeToday’s grape is Palomino (isn’t that a horse?). Well, this topic is about the grape, not the horse.

Origin

Palomino origins date to Andalusia where it is rumored that King Alfonso X named the grape after one of his knights.

Style

This grape has long been the dominant grape in the production of Sherry, and is prone to oxidation in still wines, which is why you will be challenged to find a still wine produced with this grape today. It is also grown in Australia, South Africa and California and is used in those regions almost exclusively to make fortified wines.

Characteristics

Very dry as a still wine, is rich and sweet as a Sherry.

Pairing

Pairs with strong cheeses and broiled fish, or cold fruit salad. Sherry will be enjoyed after dinner.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Nero d’Avola

Jan 17

Posted by greatWineSource in Italy, Reds, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 17, 2010

Nero d’Avola

As you may know from reading previous blogs, I drink a lot of California wines. (Research and Development when you’re a wine consultant is “tough” work, but hey, somebody’s gotta do it, right?) In the spirit of research for my blog and business, I have to experience international wines as well (YES I have to!).

Nero d'Avola 

This week will be Italian week. I already wrote about Dolcetto and Sagrantino di Montefalco and last night my husband and I enjoyed a Tola 2005 Sicilian Nero d’Avola.

Origin

Nero d’Avola originates in Sicily and is its most popular red grape, used in the region’s bestselling varietal wine. Nero d’Avola means “Black of Avola” and is named after the city Avola in southern Sicily.

Style

This wine, also known as Calabrese, historically was used almost exclusively for fortifying weaker reds in France and northern Italy, and like other Sicilian reds, has been known to be a bit syrupy with alcohol content reaching 18% (more a dessert wine than a table wine). However, styles have changed and this wine now is quite lovely with moderate alcohol content and flavors and aromas reminiscent of Syrah.

Characteristics

This wine has beautiful ruby colors with aromas of cherry and plum, and hints of spice and earth. The Tola we enjoyed was lacking in the peppery or spice finish, but was enjoyable with its full dark cherry aromas and flavors, firm tannins and the slightest hint of tartness.

Pairing

Nero d’Avola, like Syrah, will pair well with rich, zesty pastas and meat sauces. My husband and I also enjoyed it with Werther’s Dark Chocolate with Caramel.

Producer

I found the Tola at Festival Foods at a reasonable price, and would recommend it if you’re looking for a nice Italian red.

So, my “research” on the Nero d’Avola is finished (for now), on to Trebbiano. Like I said, it’s “tough” work, but somebody’s got to do it. :)

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Sagrantino di Montefalco

Jan 16

Posted by greatWineSource in Italy, Reds, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 16, 2010

Sagrantino di Montefalco

Origin

Sagrantino di Montefalco is a red grape originating in Umbria, Italy.

Style

Today you will find this wine is dry and fully of tannins. For years, it was made into rich sweet wines called passito, which is produced using the method of drying the grapes on straw mats.

Sagrantino di Montefalco grape

Characteristics

I was turned on to it because of its deep color, full body and abundance of blackberry aromas, with hints of violet, spice, chocolate and earth. This combination emits a sense of luxury to me.

This wine has specific aging requirements. It must be aged for 30 months before release of which 12 months must be in Oak barrels (preferably French Oak).

In my research, I discovered that this grape is thought to contain the highest amount of cancer fighting polyphenols of all known grapes. Bonus for those of us who enjoy these full-bodied reds!

Pairing

As I mentioned in my Sauvignon Blanc post, this wine will pair well with your spicier Chilis, and will other excellent complements are asiago cheese, paella and roasted meats.

Leading producer

Arnaldo Caprai is a leading producer of this wine, and while not inexpensive (at $35 and up) is well worth the investment. (FYI, I consider inexpensive wines as less than $20.) If you can find it at a local wine store, let me know where and I will post for others’ benefit.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Sauvignon Blanc

Jan 15

Posted by greatWineSource in California, France, Whites, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 15, 2010

Sauvignon Blanc

White Chicken Chili — that’s what I made for lunch today. At my full-time job at Alternative Solutions in Sheboygan, we had “soup week” where each day someone brought in a different soup. Today, a co-worker and I brought in Chili: she brought in red chili and I brought in White Chicken Chili. So, as I was making it and putting the ingredients together, I was thinking of what wines would pair well with it (I happen to have a few bottles in my overhead bin at work).

Sauvignon Blanc grapesWell, Chenin Blanc will actually pair nicely with White Chicken Chili, and so will a nice light Sauvignon Blanc. Read on for more info on this elegant and adaptable grape and follow through to the end to see what wine will pair well with your red Chilis.

Sauvignon Blanc is an earthy wine, commonly generating aromas of grass, and as mentioned in previous blogs, is used as a blending wine with Sémillon to create a Meritage or Sauterne wine.

Sauvignon Blanc originated in Bordeaux and its name refers to “savage white”, so when you drink a Sauvignon Blanc, you can picture yourself as enjoying a wild white wine, which is one of the reasons I’m going to enjoy it with the White Chicken Chili. Researchers have recently discovered, and this is amazing to me, that Sauvignon Blanc – a white grape – is a parent grape along with Cabernet Franc to Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wines from this widely-planted grape should be fresh and crisp, with grassy aromas and citrus flavors. Other foods you can pair with this bright wine are shellfish, summer salads, Havarti cheese and I like it with green olives.

Alternative Solutions is a fantastic company, developing software solutions for small to medium property and casualty insurance companies. They are so supportive of my wine business and have often had wine tastings in the office. When we have food weeks or festive lunches, we crack open a bottle of wine or beer (wine for me, thank you, even with a last name of ‘Brewer’). I will be enjoying a Sauvignon Blanc with the White Chicken Chili and those who will enjoy the red Chili could pair it with Zinfandel or Sagrantino de Montefalco. What is Sagrantino di Montefalco you ask? You’ll just have to check back on another day.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Malbec

Jan 14

Posted by greatWineSource in France, Reds, Wine of the Day | 1 Comment

Wine of the Day for January 14, 2010

Malbec

I was approached this morning by a member in my networking group who wanted to find a way to learn about wines and know what the right wines are to select with foods. Well, of course, I let her know that my wine tastings are a fabulous way to do that AND have fun at the same time – visit: www.greatWineSource.com\wine_tastings. I also recommended that she visit this blog daily. We are all so busy, but this is a quick way for the new wine enthusiast to learn a little bit about wines, aromas, flavors, and food pairings.

On to the Malbec …

Malbec When you think of Malbec, what region of the world do you think of? I think of Argentina. Well, did you know that it actually originated in Burgundy, France? This dark, inky wine was one of the six grapes blended into the red Bordeaux, and is still grown in France, but in the Cahors region in Southwest France.

I imagine Argentina when enjoying Malbec because Argentinean Malbecs have a certain romance surrounding them, producing such beautiful, robust wines, while remaining lovely and enjoyable for the newer wine enthusiast.

In Argentina, it is generally made in the style of Cabernet Sauvignon (and can be blended with). Malbec is more approachable when young, with somewhat softer tannins than Cabernet, but still retains structure and body.

You may enjoy your Malbec with aromas and flavors of leather, blackberry, chocolate, with subtle hints of flowers and herbs. Interesting foods to pair with this favorite are bread dipped in olive oil with garlic, chile peppers and cilantro (bringing in a bit of sassiness to match this sexy wine); casseroles, anti-pasta and grilled steaks (really steaks and most red wines are a delicious combination).

As a shout-out to Kelly, if you need to furnish your office, hotel, hospital, restaurant, see Kelly Nething, Lakeshore Business Interiors: www.lakeshorebi.com, 800-236-8497 (be sure to ask for Kelly and tell her Kathy Brewer sent you!)

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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