"winetasting" news and stories

If you're a Vayniac, you already know that Gary Vaynerchuk came out with a book called 101 Wines Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight, and Bring Thunder to Your World. Marisa announced the book here at Slashfood about a month and a half ago, and I just got my hands on a copy a few weeks ago.

I didn't put it down until I had at least looked at every single wine on the list. It's Gary first list of favorite and recommended wines, and it's chock full of enthusiasm, energy, and genuinely great recommendations.

Here are some ways this book can be useful for you:

• Exploring wine if you've never really tried wine before and have no idea where to start.
• Choosing great wines for specific occasions from Gary's very cleverly organized and insightful lists for any event.
• Finding the best wine for that flavor profile you really like (best dry Reisling, best "fruit bomb" red, etc.).
• Learning how you can become better at recognizing what you like about wine and what wines you're passionate about (hint: drink more wine!).
• Understanding that wine can be fun, and that it doesn't have to be serious or snobby.

What I really love about this book is the genuine authenticity that just reverberates from everything that Gary has to say. Each individual wine write-up is like getting to read an episode of Wine Library TV, chock full of enthusiasm, honesty, and insightful wine wisdom. The only thing I would change about the book is that, for a truly ignorant wine novice like myself, it's hard to tell which wines are white or red, etc., which is important for me since I have a hard time really enjoying reds and wanted to go through and pick out all of the wines that I knew I would want to try right off of the bat. A quick cheat sheet or wine primer at the beginning of the book (Petite Sirah is red, Reislings are white, etc.) would have been really helpful for me.

Overall, the book is well written, very straightforward in Gary's typical style, and I think it has potential to really help the everyday wine enthusiast reach a level of immersion in the wine world that many of us don't think we can reach. It can be expensive to start out in wine and buy a bottle of everything, especially if you're back at square one when the wine isn't a quality example of the genre you're trying to explore. This book makes jumping into every corner of the wine world a real possibility for every wine drinker, and that is something really worth sharing. Keep a copy handy for your own trips to the liquor store, and give a copy to a wine-loving (or wine-curious) friend!

With Wine Blogging Wednesday #22 wrapped up by Tim at Wine Cast - who would have thought there were so many red wines still with less than 12.5% alcohol - our thoughts turn to the next theme.

Hosted by Vivi's Wine Journal the theme for round 23 is  Bar-B-Que Wines. What wines do you serve with your burnt sausages, undercooked chicken and wilted salad? OK so I am dissing your culinary endevours, I am sure your BBQs offer an array of delicious specialities cooked to perfection. BUt wine is the thing here. Do you go for a general perpose white, something relativly inocculous or do you go for some full-bodied, mighty red bursting with flavour to match the smoky edge to those hulking slabs of beef?

Whatever your selection would be, Viuv's Wine Journal would like to hear from you by the 5th July.

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Winefest is a charity fund raising event with various activities stretching over two days (12th and 13th of May 2006). WineFest events take place at The Historic Depot in Minneapolis. Space is limited, and tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

You can enhance your wine knowledge at the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association symposium and go on to taste plenty of wines at the grand wine tasting and nibble on an array of appetizers. The Saturday has a meet the wine maker reception before a fine wine dinner. Sounds good. Prices range from $75 for the wine tasting to $500 for the reception and dinner.

Full details on the website.

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Tomorrow is the monthly highlight in the wine bloggers calendar: Wine Blogging Wednesday.

As is the nature of these blog events a new month means a new host and a new theme. For April the theme is Anything But Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or Riesling as selected by podcast wine site Wine For Newbies. While the choice may seem limiting by taking out the three main wine grapes there is certainly plenty to explore. Look to Portugal (Bical or Fernao Pires),  or to Spain (Albarino). Italy of course has plenty of grapes to select from and, if you can find them, Greece is smothered with native varietals all suitable for sampling for this event.

France shouldn't be ignored. There is Chenin Blanc in the Loire, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc in Alsace and down south Viognier, Bourboulenc and the Marsanne/Rousanne duo. This is what I enjoy so much about Wine Blogging Wednesday it forces you to look to more interesting bottles and experiment.

[image Andrew Barrow]

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The website is not quite ready but the 3rd annual WACKY WINE WEEKEND has just been announced. Across the Robertson wine area a mass of events is taking place June 2-4, 2006.

 

For the more healthy, there is a half-marathon, but more up my street is a chauffeur service (to encourage responsible tasting) between vineyards. Special fly-in packages from Johannesburg and Durban will be available.

Meet-the-Winemaker tastings form the hub of the event with special barrel tastings. Food too forms a huge part of the fun too.  Activities include boat cruises; river rafting, live music, cheese & olive tastings, golf, tractor trips, vineyard quad biking and so on. 

Costs: A passport will be purchased for R30 at your first port of call (any participating winery). This includes a tasting glass in addition to a "Friends of the Valley" booklet, listing special offers valid for 6 months after the Wacky Wine Weekend. All other activities are pay-as-you-go with more than a third of the activities free of charge.

 

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