Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com/media/feedlogo.gif Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com en-us Copyright 2009 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/'New York Jew' Winehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/30/new-york-jew-wine/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/30/new-york-jew-wine/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/30/new-york-jew-wine/#commentsFiled under:

new york jew wine label
'New York Jew' wine. Photo: Eric Scheffer
Didja hear the one about the wine called "New York Jew"?

We're not making this up: Although the punchlines practically write themselves -- "this bottle's got three varietals and four opinions, folks" -- the North Carolina restaurateur behind this new vino swears he's serious.

Eric Scheffer, who worked with Pat Roney and Leslie Rudd of the North Coast's Windsor Vineyards to create the new-this-month red blend of Cabernet and Petit Syrah grapes that comprise his New York Jew label, says sales have been tremendous.

"I can't keep cases of it in the restaurant," says Scheffer, a Brooklyn native who opened Savoy in Asheville, N.C., more than a decade ago. "I have people in Detroit and Chicago asking how they can get the wine. I have people driving up from Florida for it."

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]]>blendcabernetnew york jewNewYorkJewpetit syrahPetitSyrahwineHanna Raskin2009-06-30T15:00:00+00:00Seven Great All-American Wines for Fourth of July - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/29/seven-great-all-american-wines-for-4th-of-july-wine-of-the-wee/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/29/seven-great-all-american-wines-for-4th-of-july-wine-of-the-wee/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/29/seven-great-all-american-wines-for-4th-of-july-wine-of-the-wee/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Michael David 6th Sense Syrah
Photo:
Michael David
Gretchen Roberts writes the wine blog Vinobite, has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

With Independence Day just around the corner, we turn our attention to all-American wines for the all-American holiday. I combed through the Slashfood archives to find wines from all around our grand ol' country worthy of an American toast. Here are seven perennial favorites:

7. Before dinner, sip on some New York Riesling like Fox Run Vineyards Dry Riesling.

6. Howdy from Texas: the Becker Vineyards Prairie Rotie is a great barbecue wine, as is the (No. 5) Waterbrook Melange from Washington or (No. 4) Michael David "Sixth Sense" Syrah from California.

Three more grand American vinos and our new poll after the jump.

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]]>4th of july4thOfJulyamericanfourth of julyFourthOfJulyindependence dayJuly 4pollwinewine glasseswine of the weekGretchen Roberts2009-06-29T15:00:00+00:00Five Wine Steals for $15 and Under - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/22/5-wine-steals-for-15-and-under-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/22/5-wine-steals-for-15-and-under-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/22/5-wine-steals-for-15-and-under-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: ,

Gretchen Roberts writes the wine blog Vinobite, has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

At Slashfood we're all about saving you moolah on the best food and drinks around. Here are five more Wine Steals to add to your "must-try" list.

5. Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro "La Planta" 2007 ($13): This Spanish red, made from 100 percent Tempranillo, has dusty plum and strawberry flavors with warm vanilla and allspice. With nice, grippy tannins and a lingering finish, it's a real winner for the price and one of best $13 wines I've had in ages.

4. The Sopranos Red Blend 2007 ($15): Its light, earthy bouquet speaks to Italy's terroir, but like Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri, it's fairly soft and round for an Italian mobster vino.

Three more Wine Steals and an ice cube (for wine, that is) poll after the jump.

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]]>5 wine steals5WineStealscheap wineCheapWineinexpensive wineInexpensiveWinepollwinewine of the weekwine stealswine steals for 15 and underWineStealsFor15AndUnderGretchen Roberts2009-06-22T17:00:00+00:00Ask a Sommelier - Vegetables and Wine with Ubuntu's Daniel Saraohttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/18/ask-a-sommelier-vegetables-and-wine-with-ubuntus-daniel-sarao/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/18/ask-a-sommelier-vegetables-and-wine-with-ubuntus-daniel-sarao/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/18/ask-a-sommelier-vegetables-and-wine-with-ubuntus-daniel-sarao/#commentsFiled under: ,

Daniel Sarao
Ubuntu Sommelier Daniel Sarao
Photo: Michelle Branton
At Ubuntu, Napa Valley's acclaimed vegetarian restaurant slash yoga studio, it falls to wine director and general manager Daniel Sarao to find harmony between the lush bounty of on-site gardens and a vino list sparkling with biodynamic sips.

The son of Italian immigrants who taught him an appreciation for wine, Sarao put himself through college and grad school working at restaurants, cutting short a trajectory towards a liberal arts Ph.D. for the life of a full-time oenophile. We chatted with him about the myths around pairing wine with veggies (yes, you can drink red!), the wonders of caramelizing and five inexpensive summer sippers to pair with grilled veggies.

Are you a vegetarian?
I am not a vegetarian. The chef is not a vegetarian and neither is the owner. But we believe that vegetables can stand on their own. We are breaking the stereotype.

How much of what you serve comes from your garden?
Right now we get about 75 to 80 percent of our ingredients from [our garden]. Our goal is to get almost everything from there. It makes an amazing difference. Squash and peppers are [in season] right now.

Learn more, plus five great wines for under $25 to pair with vegetable dishes, after the jump.

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]]>ask a sommelierAskASommelierDaniel SaraoDanielSaraosommelierubuntuvegetablesvegetarianvegetarian foodVegetarianFoodwinewine pairingsWinePairingswinesPervaiz Shallwani2009-06-18T14:00:00+00:00Four Great Grilling Wines - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/15/four-great-grilling-wines-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/15/four-great-grilling-wines-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/15/four-great-grilling-wines-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Peace Love BBQ
Gretchen Roberts writes the wine blog Vinobite, has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

According to industry research, the majority (58 percent) of grill owners use them year-round (I'm one of them, and have been known to dust a foot or so of snow off the barbie in the middle of January), but summer is really when grilling gets smokin' hot. With Father's Day and the whole "let's grill a big juicy steak for dad and buy him a tie" cliché less than a week away, let's talk a bit more about barbecue-friendly wines. (And be sure to check out our expert grilling tips here).

Wine and grill pairing basics and four recommended vinos after the jump.

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]]>cabernet sauvignoncarmenerefathers dayFathersDaygrillgrillingmalbecred wineRedWinewinewine of the weekzinfandelGretchen Roberts2009-06-15T15:00:00+00:00Summer Pinot Noir - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/08/summer-pinot-noir-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/08/summer-pinot-noir-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/08/summer-pinot-noir-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gretchen Roberts has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

Warm weather is made for whites, rosés and beer to help quench the undying thirst that accompanies the heat. But red wine lovers need not despair: plenty of light reds like Barbera, Beaujolais and Pinot Noir are good summer sippers, too.

Pinot is often relegated to autumnal pairings of mushrooms and duck, but it's also delicious in summer with grilled veggies (think: eggplant with yogurt sauce) and Indian takeout when it's too hot to cook.

Five summery Pinot recommendations after the jump.

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]]>albert bichotbourgognebrancottburgundyclos du boisClosDuBoisgirasolepinot noirponziwinewine of the weekGretchen Roberts2009-06-08T16:00:00+00:00Seven Favorite Rosés for Under $20 - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/01/seven-favorite-roses-for-under-20-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/01/seven-favorite-roses-for-under-20-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/01/seven-favorite-roses-for-under-20-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sofia RoseGretchen Roberts has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

Here we are at the start of the idlest season of the year, when it's so hot you have to relax, when the produce is so bountiful you can't help but gobble it, and when life gets simpler and so should your wine.

Which brings me to rosé, the ultimate summer wine. Why? Because rosés, made from red grapes but drunk chilled and fresh like white wine, are pretty, refreshing and incredibly evocative of some of the best summer fruits -- and the newest releases are hitting the store shelves right now.

Seven inexpensive rosé picks after the jump.

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]]>rosesummerwinewine of the weekGretchen Roberts2009-06-01T15:00:00+00:00Ask a Sommelier - Grilled Salmon and Wine with Le Bernadin's Aldo Sohmhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/29/ask-a-sommelier-grilled-salmon-and-wine-with-le-bernadins-ald/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/29/ask-a-sommelier-grilled-salmon-and-wine-with-le-bernadins-ald/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/29/ask-a-sommelier-grilled-salmon-and-wine-with-le-bernadins-ald/#commentsFiled under:


In just two years as the sommelier and wine director at New York's world-renowned Le Bernardin restaurant, 37-year-old Aldo Sohm has become a wine world heavyweight, having been recognized as "Best Sommelier in the World" in 2008 and earlier this month for "Best Wine Service" at the James Beard Awards. Trained in his native Austria, Sohm came to the United States to improve on his then "dumpy" English so he could better compete at wine competitions. We caught up with Sohm this morning to chat about the unwritten rule of pairing fish with white wine, which vino goes well with grilled salmon and that other reason why he now lives in America.

How did you become a sommelier?

Ever since I was little I had a thing of smelling food and wines. At first I didn't really like wine when I entered the industry. This was [when I was ] 16 or 17. People in the restaurant would ask me what you could recommend and I didn't know and thought this was embarrassing. [Then] I went on a wine trip with my father -- he invited me. I was 20 and I saw it, and it was kind of interesting and just went from there.

You said you moved to the United States to improve your English, but I get the sense there was another reason?

Austrians love to complain. I hate to complain so I figured it is easier to change a country than to change myself.

More about pairing rules -- and how to break them -- after the jump.

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]]>aldo sohmAldoSohmask a sommelierAskASommeliereric ripertEricRipertle bernardinLeBernardinsommelierwinewine pairingsWinePairingsPervaiz Shallwani2009-05-29T17:00:00+00:00Kir Royale - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/26/kir-royale-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/26/kir-royale-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/26/kir-royale-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Kir Royale
Gretchen Roberts has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

I'm opening a lot of sparkling wines these days in preparation for my exam, and a girl can only drink so much bubbly plain.

Enter the classic sparkling wine cocktail, Kir Royale. If you're not familiar with this gem, here's the short history: A guy named Canon Felix Kir, who was mayor of Dijon, France and a hero of the Burgundian resistance movement during World War II, loved to drink his Aligote, a dry, acidic white Burgundian wine, with a splash of crème de cassis, a locally produced liqueur made from blackcurrants. He served the cocktail at official town functions and it caught on.

Kir Royale is simply a Kir made with sparkling rather than still white wine. And did I mention it's gorgeous? After the jump, several versions to try and the basic recipe.

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]]>champagnecocktailcreme de cassiskirkir royalewineGretchen Roberts2009-05-26T13:00:00+00:005 Wine Steals to Buy Right Now - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/18/5-wine-steals-to-buy-right-now-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/18/5-wine-steals-to-buy-right-now-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/18/5-wine-steals-to-buy-right-now-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mirassou Pinot GrigioGretchen Roberts has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

With just a week to go until Memorial Day, here are five more wine steals for party hosts and guests.

5. Mirassou Pinot Grigio 2007 ($9). Ripe with oranges, peaches, nectarines and hints of spring flowers, this deliciously inexpensive Pinot Grigio got a surprise 90 rating from Wine Enthusiast.

4. Barefoot Riesling NV ($7). Slightly sweet and tasting simply of green apples and peaches, Barefoot Riesling is a good choice if you like riper, sweeter wines.

3. Hosmer Cayuga Lake Dry Riesling 2007 ($12). Dry and mineral on the nose, the Hosmer Riesling is tart with lemons, limes, green apples and white peaches -- lovely if you like bracingly dry whites. It made Wine & Spirits magazine's "100 Top Values of the Year" list in the June 2009 issue and is one of my absolute favorite New York State Rieslings.

Two more -- including a $7 vino -- after the jump.

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]]>5 wine stealsmalbecpinot grigiored blendRedBlendrieslingwinewine of the weekGretchen Roberts2009-05-18T11:00:00+00:00Ask a Sommelier - Burgers and Wines with L20's Chantelle Pabroshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/15/burger-and-wine-pairings-with-L20-sommelier-chantelle-pabros/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/15/burger-and-wine-pairings-with-L20-sommelier-chantelle-pabros/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/15/burger-and-wine-pairings-with-L20-sommelier-chantelle-pabros/#commentsFiled under: , ,

chantelleChantelle Pabros, a sommelier at Chicago's L20, is widely considered a rising star of the wine universe. Entrenched among oenophiles since leaving high school, at a mere 26 she has worked alongside world-renowned talent including chef Laurent Gras at his seafood-centric eatery. Though Chantelle has few hard and fast rules about pairing wine with food, she offered a couple tips as we head into prime grilling season. We caught up with her this afternoon to talk burgers and vino.

Do you think burgers and wine go together?
Yes, absolutely. Though we don't have burgers [at L20], I like pairing wine with them. There is this place here called Kuma's Corner. We normally drink beer there, but I am thinking about the possibilities of wines with their burgers.

How does one go about pairing the two?
With pairing, things that you think would go well don't always go. It's trial and error. I start by thinking about the classic burger, cooked medium rare with really fresh lettuce, tomato, onion and a really intense mustard.

Chantelle's five under-$25 burger-friendly wines after the jump.

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]]>ask a sommelierAskASommelierburgerChantelle PabrosChantellePabrosChicagoL20L20 RestaurantL20Restaurantsommelierwinewine pairingWinePairingPervaiz Shallwani2009-05-15T15:00:00+00:00Brooklyn Uncorked Recap - Tipsy Locavores Unitehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/14/brooklyn-uncorked-recap-tipsy-locavores-unite/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/14/brooklyn-uncorked-recap-tipsy-locavores-unite/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/14/brooklyn-uncorked-recap-tipsy-locavores-unite/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

uncorked"Loco for locavorism" might sound like some bizarro play on an old TV ad, but the phrase carries some heft these days, if the crowd at last night's Brooklyn Uncorked was any indication. The sip-and-nibble-fest in honor of local goods was jam-packed with tipsy oenophiles clutching wine glasses and munching on local pickles (garlicky!), rosé sorbet (brilliant!) and buzzed-about turkey meatloaf (by the time we got there, gone!). Dozens of local restaurants, wineries and producers were on the premises: as one sign bragged, no vinos were made more than a two-hour drive from Brooklyn.

Hyperlocalism isn't local to New York City, either. Edible Communities, whose Edible Brooklyn hosted the tasting, boasts more than 50 publications from Missoula, Wash., to Santa Fe, N.M. All feature the same bright, minimalistic food-focused design touting "local foods, season by season." If you believe that New York hearkens nationwide trends, well, like the Brooklyn Food Conference before it, this event was sold-out and about as crowded as could be.

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]]>Brooklyn UncorkedBrooklynUncorkededible brooklynedible communitiesEdibleBrooklynEdibleCommunitieseventlocavorelocavorismAlex Van Buren2009-05-14T17:00:00+00:00South Africa - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/11/south-africa-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/11/south-africa-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/11/south-africa-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: , ,

South African wine country
Gretchen Roberts has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

Taking on an entire country in a single post seems foolhardy at best, but here at Slashfood we're all about showcasing lip-smacking deals, and South African wine falls squarely into that category.

I'm not the only one who thinks so: Wine Spectator featured South Africa in its April 30 issue as one of five countries producing delicious wine for the cost-conscious imbiber. Wine Business Monthly published a two-part report on South African wine, whose exports to the U.S. have gone from next to nothing five years ago to a million cases last year.

More South Africa - Wine of the Week after the jump.


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]]>south africaSouthAfricawinewine of the weekWineOfTheWeekGretchen Roberts2009-05-11T15:00:00+00:00Mezzetta Jarred Pasta Sauceshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/06/mezzetta-jarred-pasta-sauces/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/06/mezzetta-jarred-pasta-sauces/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/06/mezzetta-jarred-pasta-sauces/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

mezzetta saucesJust in time for your next Saturday night pasta party, a new jarred sauce that's worth a first taste and second helping has appeared on store shelves. Mezzetta, the company famous for such glass-jarred wonders as snappy peperoncini and an addictive giardiniera, has launched Napa Valley Bistro, a line of pasta sauces prepared with Napa Valley wines. We were glad to cook up a sample sent our way and toss it with some noodles. Hey, anything for our readers - especially if it involves eating spaghetti.

We tried two versions: basic marinara and the creamy version. The saucy results are after the jump.

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]]>Eric Diesel2009-05-06T17:00:00+00:00Mother's Day Brunch Cocktails - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/04/brunch-cocktails-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/04/brunch-cocktails-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/04/brunch-cocktails-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

mimosa
Gretchen Roberts has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

Attention doting husbands and children: Mother's Day is right around the corner. As the mom of two small children whose energy levels are inversely proportionate to their ages, I'm here to speak up for mothers of the world and give you a hint about proper Mother's Day celebratory etiquette.

It's simple, really. We want to observe Mother's Day by shirking our motherly duties and being bona fide adults.

Preferably with our feet up and a cocktail in hand.

This brings me to some easy sparkling wine recipes, in case you're planning to whip up a nice brunch for your lovely wife or mother. For mix-in drinks, don't bother spending megabucks on real Champagne; go with an inexpensive Prosecco from Italy (such as Fantinel) or Cava from Spain (Friexenet and Segura Viudas are good bets).

Three basic but beloved Mom-friendly elixirs after the jump.

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]]>bellinibrunchcocktailmimosamothers daysparkling winewinewine of the weekGretchen Roberts2009-05-04T11:00:00+00:00Unoaked Chardonnay - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/27/unoaked-chardonnay-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/27/unoaked-chardonnay-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/27/unoaked-chardonnay-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: ,

Clos LaChance ChardonnayGretchen Roberts has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

"Great wine is made in the vineyard, not in the winery." The expression may have derived from top winemakers modestly claiming to be simple helpers taking advantage of Mother Nature's hard work. Still, a winemaker makes plenty of decisions after the harvest that affect the ultimate taste and character of the wine. Chardonnay is a great example of a vino whose character is formed through decisions made in the winery.

Chardonnay-making is rather like a Choose Your Own Adventure book. Start with the fruit; where you go from there can take you to many alternate endings. A couple of decisions that drastically alter the finished product:
  • Stainless steel or oak: Chardonnay fermented in stainless steel will maintain a certain liveliness. Fermented in oak barrels, however, it takes on a lush, ripe character with notes of oak and vanilla spices.
  • Malolactic fermentation: Malolactic fermentation converts harsher malic acid into softer, buttery lactic acid (think milk, cream and butter). Chard that hasn't been put through this process can taste bright, fresh and wildly acidic.
Read more Unoaked Chardonnay - Wine of the Week and vote in the Chardonnay poll after the jump.

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]]>chardonnayclos lachanceunoakedwinewine of the weekGretchen Roberts2009-04-27T16:00:00+00:005 Wine Steals to Buy Right Now - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/20/5-wine-steals-to-buy-right-now-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/20/5-wine-steals-to-buy-right-now-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/20/5-wine-steals-to-buy-right-now-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pacific Rim Sweet RieslingFor those who just did their taxes and are feeling a bit cash-poor, budget wines may be on the brain. Here are five wines that really deliver for the price.

1. Pacific Rim Sweet Riesling 2007 ($9). Normally I'm not a big sweet Riesling fan, but I brought this bottle to Easter dinner at a friend's house, where some of the diners prefer sweet wine. Sweet Riesling is a knockout with ham, and this Pacific Rim (at right) really delivered. My problem with most sweet Rieslings is their flabbiness, but this brand has an underlying backbone of acidity that perfectly balances the sugar. Riesling is a great spring wine with its aromatic bouquet that recalls the apple blossoms blooming in the northeast. At $9, it's a steal.

2. Graffigna Pinot Grigio 2008 ($13). Pinot Grigio has a bad rep as a wine without much character, but this Argentinian version turns that idea on its head. Its nose has a heady fragrance of flowers and peaches and the wine itself is zingy with a peachy taste. It's a dry vino, but so fruity it tastes almost sweet.

3. Korbel Brut Rose ($11): Lots of wine snobs dismiss Korbel, but I happen to think the Brut Rosé is one of the best sparkling values out there. It's a perfect aperitif, the kind of wine you hand your guests when they're walking in the door and dinner isn't quite ready -- it's like giving them a glass of strawberries to sip before dinner is served.

4. Castello Monachi Salice Salentino 2006 ($13): Hailing from Puglia in the heel of Italy's boot, this blend of 80 percent Negroamaro and 20 percent Malvasia Nero is dark, leathery and earthy with a typically slightly bitter Negroamaro finish. It's a very food-friendly red with high acidity and earthiness that seems to vanish into fruitiness when paired it with a red-sauced pasta dish or veal. Oh, and did I mention that Robert Parker gave this wine 90 points?

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]]>budgetwinewine of the weekGretchen Roberts2009-04-20T15:00:00+00:00New York Pinot Noir - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/13/new-york-pinot-noir-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/13/new-york-pinot-noir-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/13/new-york-pinot-noir-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: ,

Pinot Noir grapes
On paper New York looks like a good growing region for Pinot Noir: Its climate and soil type is similar to Burgundy, where the world's best Pinot Noirs are made.

But, as the Cornell study notes, Pinot Noir is a fickle grape -- difficult to grow and especially difficult to grow well. New York winemakers should only get into Pinot Noir if they're committed to producing wines of quality.

Happily enough, some of them seem to be.

One caveat: Fans of big, ripe heavily extracted Pinots with sweet cherry cola flavors and plenty of body and alcohol won't like Pinots from the Finger Lakes, a region upstate.The cool-climate region is similar to Burgundy in that it struggles to produce grapes of optimum ripeness in some years. Vinos of these vintages generally have a low concentration, lower alcohol (12-13 percent rather than upwards of 14 percent), a subtle bouquet and a taste suited to a more sensitive palate. We found two we love.

Read more New York Pinot Noir - Wine of the Week after the jump.

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]]>burgundyfinger lakesnew yorkNewYorkpinot noirwine of the weekWineOfTheWeekGretchen Roberts2009-04-13T11:00:00+00:00Frescobaldi - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/06/frescobaldi-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/06/frescobaldi-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/06/frescobaldi-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: ,

Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva 2005

The name Frescobaldi may immediately evoke both history (the Tuscan family has made wine since the 1300s and once traded wine for Michelangelo's paintings) and quality (they are responsible for some of the top Brunellos in the region).

In these lean economic times, Frescobaldi is trying on an new image -- value. According to industry research, people are still drinking vino, but they're trading down. A $30-per-bottle kind of guy may now be springing for $20 bottles. Folks who snagged $15 bottles in the fat days of 2008 may be hunting for $10 wines in the lean days of 2009.

But no one wants wines as thin as their portfolios. Can we get the same quality at a lower price?

Continue reading Frescobaldi - Wine of the Week

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]]>chiantifrescobaldiitalian winevalue winewineGretchen Roberts2009-04-06T11:00:00+00:00Wine Fit for a Princehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/03/wine-fit-for-a-prince/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/03/wine-fit-for-a-prince/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/03/wine-fit-for-a-prince/#commentsFiled under: ,

Prince Charles

As part of a trip to address climate change and promote environmental sustainability, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (i.e. Charles and Camilla) stopped in at Vinedos Emiliana, a Chilean winery that produces sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines, for a tasting and tour.

I don't know what Charles thought of the wines, but Americans like them. Emiliana's Natura line is the bestselling imported organic wine in the $12-$14 category.

They make a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere, and if you haven't tried them, you should, because they have the coveted trifecta of wines: inexpensive, taste good and good for the environment.

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]]>biodynamic winecamillachilechilean wineemiliana wineEmilianaWinenatura wineorganic wineOrganicWineprince charleswineGretchen Roberts2009-04-03T15:00:00+00:00