"wine tasting" news and stories

California Reds Under $10 - Wine of the Week

by Kristine Hansen, Posted May 18th 2010 @ 12:00PM

Yes, it's true – there are indeed quality wines for under $10. The problem is that you have to unscrew or uncork dozens to find these. Several wine shops we know actually organize those gems in their own retail display or wall, which is a huge help when searching for an inexpensive bottle.

Here, we did some of the trial tasting for you to come up with a list of six red wines from California that cost under $10. Perfect for parties – where said wine will be paired with (gasp!) stuff like chips and dip, veggie platters or chocolate goodies – or for hosting your own fete, when you can't bear to uncork your expensive favorites.

Find six of our favorites after the jump.

Filed under: Drinks

Affordable, Quality Wines -- Demystified

COMMENTS 61

by Kristine Hansen, Posted May 14th 2010 @ 2:00PM

Photo: paul goyette, Flickr

When wine writer and certified sommelier Carolyn Evans Hammond saw a gaping hole in wine coverage, she quickly brainstormed a book idea. Most magazines play up expensive bottles that are difficult to find at your local wine shop, she says, and that intimidates many people. What about mass-produced wines which cost less than $15?

"Good, Better, Best Wines: A No-Nonsense Guide to Popular Wines" (Alpha Books) is her second wine book, a follow-up to "1000 Best Wine Secrets" (Sourcebooks). The book reviews some of the world's biggest wine producers in an attempt to defy the myth that big is not better when it comes to wine. "The market really drops off at $15. The vast majority -- about 90 percent -- of what we drink is under $15," she says.

Consisting only of reviews, each page is devoted to a different wine, organized by varietal, with a dollar-symbol attached ($: $5, $$: $8, $$$: $11 or $$$$: $15). In researching the book she sipped 500 wines and ultimately included her top 250 picks. Another criterion was that the wines had to be available from coast to coast in the United States.

We asked Evans Hammond to reveal her favorite pick in each category, with special attention paid to summer-appropriate vino. Find her favorites after the jump.

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Best Boxed Wines

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by Slashfood Editor, Posted Sep 1st 2009 @ 4:19PM

More people are drinking wine in a box than ever before. Read about the best boxed wines on Slashfood.

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Think Outside the (Wine) Box

by Kat Kinsman
Myths, Truths & Shopping Suggestions

Boxed wines of the past had a deservedly bad rap, but new packaging techniques have enticed makers of excellent vino to get juiced about wine boxes. We sipped and swirled over a dozen of 'em, so keep clicking to get our top picks (and a list of ones to skip) and one heck of a lot of reasons why we think great boxed wine is the wave of the future.

Nicole Goksel

Getty Images North America

Think Outside the (Wine) Box

Nicole Goksel

Delicato Bota Box Chardonnay - 2005 (California)

Verdict: We liked it.
Tasting notes: Great floral smell, easy-drinking, a little bit dry
Tip: Once bottled wine has been opened, it's got a 4 day shelf life before it starts to really oxidize and turn. Because the majority of boxed wines are built with a bag-in-box system that doesn't allow air in, it'll stay fresh for at least 4 weeks.

Nicole Goksel

Three Thieves Bandit Pinot Grigio - 2004 (California)

Verdict: Our favorite of the white wines
Tasting notes: Light, herbal, kiwi
Tip: Because boxed wine stays fresh for a significant amount of time, it's easy to keep a box on hand in the cupboard or fridge so you can pour a single glass whenever you'd like -- without having to go to the fuss of opening a new bottle or worrying about waste. It's perfect for those drinking a glass a day for a healthy heart.

Nicole Goksel

Washington Hills Columbia Valley Chardonnay - 2004 (Washington State)

Verdict: We loved it.
Tasting notes: Citrusy, grassy, fresh, slightly chalky
Tip:While a few wines come in 1 or 5 liter boxes, the box you'll usually find on the shelves is the "3 liter cask," which holds the equivalent of 4 bottles of wine.

Nicole Goksel

Banrock Station Chardonnay - 2006 (South Eastern Austrailia)

Verdict: We loved it.
Tasting notes: Peachy, vanilla, not too oaky
Tip: The 3-liter boxes we sampled cost between $11.99 and $29.99, with the average being around $16.99. While the high end of that range might be a bit more than you might wish to spend on an everyday bottle, remember -- you're actually getting 4 bottles worth. Even at $7.50 a bottle, that's still a steal.

Nicole Goksel

Three Thieves Bandit Cabernet Sauvignon - 2002 (California)

Verdict: Our favorite of the red wines (tie)
Tasting notes: Buttery, blackberries, also comes in a 4-pack of single-serving boxes
Tip: Even if you're short a home wine rack, there's no need to worry, 'cause the flat box packaging makes it as easy to store as cereal.

Nicole Goksel

Cintra Venezie Pinot Noir - Non-Vintage (Italy)

Verdict: We liked it
Tasting notes: A bit astringent, complex
Tip: Not so crafty with a corkscrew? No worries, 'cause the tab or cap is built right in-- eliminating the risk of crumbled cork and the resulting air exposure which taints the taste. Taps and screwcaps might have seemed tacky once upon a time, but more and more great winemakers are sealing the deal.

Nicole Goksel

Chateau de Pena Cuvee de Pena Vin de Pays - 2004 (France)

Verdict: Our favorite of the red wines (tie)
Tasting notes: Spicy, hint of blackberries, complex
Tip: If your friends seem resistant to the idea of boxed wine, try pouring in another room, and bringing in the glasses on a tray. Only after they've ooh-ed and ahh-ed, let 'em in on what it is they've been drinking. Great wines can come in square packages.

Nicole Goksel

French Rabbit Merlot - 2004 (France)

Verdict: We liked it
Tasting notes: Cherries, spicy chocolate
Tip: Because boxed wine has been kept under such tight wraps, aerobically speaking, make sure to give it a big ol' swirl in the glass, let it sit for a minute to fully open up and aerate, or dig out that decanter from the back of the cabinet.

Nicole Goksel

Thirsty Lizard Shiraz - 2005 (South Eastern Australia)

Verdict: We liked it very much
Tasting Notes: Plummy, jammy, easy-drinking
Tip: While this might all seem like a packaging revolution, folks in Europe and Australia have known and enjoyed the benefits of boxed booze for a long time. It's the perfect no-fuss way to enjoy the sorts of wines that are best enjoyed while they're still young and fresh -- no wine cellar required.

Nicole Goksel

Filed under: Taste Test

Bordeaux You Can Afford

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by Gretchen Roberts, Posted Feb 12th 2009 @ 2:00PM

The word "Bordeaux" doesn't exactly conjure up images of value wine--that's what South Africa, Chile, and Australia are for--but a new list of Bordeaux most affordable wines just might change that. The Top 100 list includes 100 wines priced between $8 and $35 and were chosen by an expert panel of judges. In other words, there's more to Bordeaux than fabled first growths and $2,000 sticker prices.

Check out the list here. Have you had any of these?

Filed under: Drink Recipes

Carmenere - Wine of the Week

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by Gretchen Roberts, Posted Feb 2nd 2009 @ 2:00PM

April may be the cruelest month, but January is surely the coldest. It's the perfect time to break out big, robust red wines that warm your body and soul. And what better to eat with a big red wine than a big steaming bowl of chili?

This weekend we had about a dozen people over for a blind tasting of six Carmeneres, all from Chile (the country--don't get Chile and chili confused!). Carmenere is Chile's signature grape, brought over from Bordeaux in the late 19th century. The wine is deeply dark and full-bodied, and in Chile can have a somewhat vegetal flavor, though it can also be quite fruity and spicy.

The six we tried ranged in price from $10 to $47. Chile is known around the world for its value wine, and it definitely delivered in our tasting. When the bags were pulled off, it turned out that several of us put the $10 wine in our top favorites. Surprisingly, everyone from the least- to the most-experienced tasters felt that all of the wines were good, and comparable in their quality, even though the prices were not.

More tasting notes and my "Chili for a Crowd" recipe after the jump.

Filed under: Wine of the Week, Ingredients, Drink Recipes, Drinks, Tastings