"wine grapes" news and stories

The different varieties of grape are not well known to me, despite having spent significant amounts of time in the California wine country, because the grapes offered in stores are most likely to be tagged as either "red grapes" or "green grapes." Occasionally, there will be a variation, when "black" is thrown into the mix. Why all the vagueness when there hundreds of types of grape grown in the world? Perhaps the stores don't want t set the bar too high. Some grapes are definitely better than others.

These grapes are a type of muscat grapes, grown in California. They are known for being exceptionally sweet and are often used to make dessert wines. Despite the fact that they are often considered to be the world's oldest cultivated variety of the fruit, I rarely see them in stores. It's a shame because in addition to being sweet, they are incredibly light and juicy, with a taste and aroma that remind me distinctly of tropical fruits like lychee.

The point of this all is to take a chance on grape varieties that you don't buy that often when you see the in stores or at a farmer's market. You might just be pleasantly surprised!

[Photo by Nicole Weston]

• A recipe for the perfect Chicken Burrito in a Crisp Tortilla. The subheading is "How to keep those burrito-loving teenagers close to home." Which I find hysterical for some reason.
• A guide to some great southern Italian wines for under $10.
• Speaking of Italy, where does the freshest mozzarella come from, Italy or Vermont?
• More wine news, this time from France: it's now legal for winemakers to flavor their wines using wood chips.

Come on then... just what have you got against Chardonnay? All that "Anything but" attitude means you are missing out on a huge number of delicious wines. Even the great wine blogging event Wine Blogging Wednesday seems to avoid the great C; its latest hosts wants anything but!

All that woody influence, that began the backlash, is generally in the past as producers tone its influence down and get on with providing us with much more drinkable versions brimming with fruit and character. The Observer recommends looking at areas such as Marlborough (New Zealand), Russian River (California), Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula (Australia), Constantia and Walker Bay (South Africa), Casablanca and Leyda (Chile), and Agrelo and the Uco Valley (Argentina) where the newer new style are changing the flavours of New World Chardonnay. And of course there is Burgundy the spiritual home of the great white grape.

Then I realived it was ages since I sampled a Chardonnay as well! So perhaps one of the Observers recommendations might cross my path:

• 2004 Saint Véran Les Rochats, Domaine de la Croix Senaillet, Burgundy (£10.75, Montrachet)
• 2004 Bourgogne Chardonnay, Fabrice Lesne, Burgundy (£6.99, Marks & Spencer)
• 2004 Klein Constantia Chardonnay, South Africa (£8.49, or two for £6.99 each, Majestic) 
• 2004 Stonier Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula, Australia (£9.99, Sainsbury's)

(stockists are UK)

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