WINE NEWS

Click on the links below to be sent to that news story.

1) Winners of Finger Lakes International Wine Competition announced

2) Wine Drinking in Md. may become easier, costlier

Can't Robert Parker help?? He lives in Maryland.

3) U.S. becomes largest wine-consuming region

I think Charlie Sheen helped us beat the French. So patriotic.

4) How to recycle leftover wine

5) No more double tax on wine for VA

6) Man beats store clerk with wine bottle

Obviously NOT a wine-oh. Of course this happened in FL. All the weird ones live here in FL.

WINE NEWS

Below are links to wine news. Check out some of the latest wine news.

NOTE: Relating to the first news story --> I have known this since I was in 5th grade. This was my 5th grade science project. I played classical music to plants in one room for an entire month and rock music to plants in another room for a month. The plants in the room with classical music grew taller and survived. The plants in the rock room were wilting and died. I should have invented this....damn. lol

1)Is that Mozart in my glass? Austrian claims music 'infusions' make wine better

2) The art of the wine barrel

3) The Parker era in wine, and beyond

4) 8 Walla Walla wineries cited for serving minors

(Tisk Tisk)

5) High-end restaurant owners want corkage law - Baltimore Sun

6) Healdsburg is 'the place to go' in wine country

(I agree, but I don't want it turning into another Napa) (Grrrr)

7) Hong Kong Wine Auction Season Begins

8) Look-Alike Wines Featuring Look-Alike Marsupials Duke it Out

(Do the match the label artwork with the wine name game) I got them all on the first try. I didn't win anything except the ability to post my awesome marsupial label power on facebook. Lame.

9) Judging Napa Cabernet's Class of 2007

I am going to a 2007 Napa Cab tasting tonight. It'll be interesting. I like the Turn 4 2007 Cab....really nice. It is made by Bennett Lane winery. That is what we are taking to the event.

Hi everyone!

I am sorry I have neglected my posting duties for the past few days. I enjoyed the Pahlmeyer dinner the other night. I was a bit disappointed with the pours and attitude of the management/server. I was impressed with the wine...as I knew it was good. The food was also pretty good.

I have even larger news.....I will be leaving to go on a wine cruise with Tobin James Cellars!! I can't WAIT!! I will be posting many pictures from this trip.

So with all this great news....I will leave you with some current wine news. Click on the links below to be sent to that story.

1) How to read a wine bottle

2) Valentine's Day: Wine and chocolate day trips

3) Chile Wine Maker Concha Y Toro Adds Beer To Its Repertoire

4) Best Valentine's Day panic: Where to reserve for the best wine reserves

5) An elite class studies wine

6) Chris de Burgh sells wine collection

7) Regulators push for nutrition label on beer, wine, and spirits

8) Is Zinfandel a serious wine?

9) Super Wine Pairings for the Super Bowl

GOOOOO STEELERS!!!

Wine News

Listed below are news stories relating to wine from the past week. To be sent to that story, click on the link.

1) World's Oldest-Known Winery Discovered

2) Popping the cork on Asheville's new women-only wine club

3) Wine of the week: 2008 Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia

4) Lafite wines become a sales phenom in Asia

5) Red wine to buy when seafood's on the menu

6) Largest wine flute: Ontario icewine makers set world record

Wine-Oh Wine News

Here are some news stories dealing with wine from the past week. Click the story name links to be sent to that news story.

1) Restaurants uploading menus onto iPads for diners

2) Why isn't more wine 'organic'?

3) Wine 101: Aging -- Older isn't always better

4) Where the Bargains Are in Bordeaux

5) Wine, oil prices both driven by economy, study finds

6) On Wine: Wine trends for 2011

WINE-OH WINE NEWS

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday yesterday! I know I did. (I even managed to get chinese food on christmas!!)

Below are some links to interesting news stories:

1) BottomsUp Beer Dispenser - Beer Fills Up From Bottom

2) Don't let labels deter you from celebrating with sparkling wine

3) Intruders break into 50 Cent's home, drink his wine

4) Burns Steakhouse to Offer $30K of Rare Wine

(P.S. I LOVE BURNS STEAKHOUSE!!)

5) It's the Most Wine-derful Time of the Year

6) Britons change taste for South African wine

7) First Family to toast Christmas with wine crafted by John Deere's kin

8) When should wine be decanted?

WINE NEWS

This past week has been CRAZY!! I have been running around buying gifts, mostly wine, and attending holiday parties. I haven't had much time to blog.

Below is the wine news from the past week or so. Click on the links to be sent to that story.

1) In time for the holiday parties, the ice wine cometh...

2) How Green Is Your Glass Of Merlot?

3) Wine with fondue slows digestion, but doesn't hurt

4) Cheers! Red wine, cranberries good for your teeth

5) A New Name in the Napa Valley Wine World

6) Sotheby's wine sales - key facts and figures

7) Holiday Gifts for WIne Lovers: Wine Tours

8) Historic Mansion Now Houses Thousands of Bottles of Wine in Wheeling

WINE NEWS

I was out of town for a couple days and have not posted. Here is wine news from the past week.

I spent this past weekend in St. Augustine and will post pictures from all the different wine shops and bars this week.

Click the links below to be sent to that story.

1) From water -- to wine? Figi Water buys California winery

2) We'll Remember 2007 as Great Year for California Wine

3) Here's a few gift suggestions for your wine-loving friends

4) Lloyd Webber to auction wine collection to affluent Asians

5) Wine matures after 2,000 years of history

6) Take a cork out of it

7) AFP: New wine case possible for US Supreme Court

8) How to make perfect mulled wine

WINE NEWS

Below is a list of news stories from the past week dealing with wine. Click the link to be sent to that story.

1) 26th Annual Galena Nouveau Wine Weekend, "Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivè!"

2) Collectors make tough decisions on when to open wines

3) Top chateaux offer great values as Chinese get a taste for fine wines

4) Store wine kiosks could be short-lived

5) Supermarkets to be banned from selling wine, beer and spirits below a national "minimum price" (UK STORY)

6) Planning the perfect holiday party

7) Burgundy wine prices jump for 2010 vintage

8) Wines for the top 10 tough-to-buy-for people on your holiday list

9) Wine Gadgets for 2010

10) Early cold means sweet harvest for Okanagan vintners

Sunday Wine News

Check out the wine news from the past week. Click the article names to be sent to that story.

Remember you only have four days until Turkey day!! Don't forget to buy some great wine to pair with your meal. I will include some articles suggesting holiday wines. I have to suggest a Sauvignon Blanc or a Rosè to drink with appetizers/salad and then a more robust Pinot Noir or Zinfandel to pair with the Turkey. I am not a huge Pinot Noir fan, but it does pair well with the turkey. I will most likely open a Zinfandel that has some spice to it. I'll put some of my favorites up tomorrow.

1) SEEKING EASY ANSWERS FOR A THANKSGIVING WINE

2) AN ELEGANT PINOT NOIR TO PINE FOR

3) SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART UNCORKS WINE EXHIBIT

4) THANKSGIVING DESSERTS CAN BE IMPROVED WITH WINE

5) 2010 HOLIDAY WINE GUIDE FROM OREGON WINE CRITICS

6) WINE 101: SAUVIGNON BLANC

7) UNCORK, SERVE WINE WITH PANACHE, CONFIDENCE

8) 2 GLASSES OF WINE A DAY STOP MID-LIFE CRISIS

9) CHEVAL BLANC SETS WORLD RECORD AT CHRISTIE'S WINE SALE

10) THANKSGIVING WINES: SIX UNDER $12

Wine Spectator Top 100 2010

Wine Spectator has videos of the top 10 wines on its website. Make sure to check it out.

1) Saxum - James Berry Vineyard

Paso Robles 2007

98 Points $67

I am very excited a winemaker from Paso Robles is being recognized this year. I love this area for wine. It is often overlooked but not this year!!

2) Two Hands Shiraz Bella's Garden

Barossa Valley 2008

94 points $55

No Napa Cabs in the top 3 this year....I kinda like it. Cabs aren't the only great wines being made. Although 4 and 5 are Napa Cabs lol.

7) Schild Shiraz 2008 from Australia for only $20 !!!! I will have to find this.

I like that #9 was from Portugal and #10 was a Chateauneuf-du-Pape White 2009 from France. The picture of the vineyard on the side of this blog is from a vineyard in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape region. :)

This year has a well rounded top 10 with wines from California, Australia, Portugal, France and Italy.

The rest of the top 100 wines will be released this Tuesday.

CLICK HERE to see the videos.

WINE NEWS

Here is some weekly wine news . Click on the story names to be sent to that story.

Wine: Beaujolais – and not a nouveau in sight

Mr. Pinot Noir becomes wine packaging's prince

New home on the Grange for Foster's wine

Does cheese age like a fine wine?

Hong Kong looking to be world's wine storage hub

Retiring wine columnist offers some advice

World Vine Acreage Continues to Decline

Snooth Founder Launches Private Sales Site For Fine Wine, Raises $3 Million

WINE NEWS

Every Sunday I am going to compose a list of weekly wine news. Click the story names below and you will be linked to that story's website.

Lafite Sets Auction Wine Record at $230,000 a Bottle

It’s in Hong Kong: The iPad Wine List

Wine 101: Chardonnay

Substance Found in Red Wine May Help Treat Malaria

More on Starbucks' plans to sell wine, beer

World’s Biggest Wine Glass is in Lebanon

2010 HARVEST NEWS

Check out the article from the Pressdemocrat.com talking about the 2010 Sonoma County Harvest.

CLICK HERE

WIneday Wednesday

I am in the midst of making dinner and am enjoying a nice glass of wine. I just opened the Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Paso Robles.

I am getting a floral/berry nose and the wine has a very fruit forward taste with a few tannins.

You might be asking...what is a Cabernet Sauvignon?

According to Wikipedia (the source for all that is true) Cabernet Sauvignon is as follows:

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates....Cabernet Sauvignon became internationally recognized through its prominence inBordeaux wines where it is often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. From France, the grape spread across Europe and to the New World where it found new homes in places like California's Napa Valley, Australia's Coonawarra region and Chile's Maipo Valley. For most of the 20th century, it was the world's most widely planted premium red wine grape until it was surpassed by Merlot in the 1990s.

What hype has this wine received?

Let me list it for you from Liberty's website:

WINE SPECTATOR MAGAZINE , April 2010
"What We're Drinking now " by Alison Napjus
87 pts. It showed pleasant dark berry and creme de cassis notes, with hints of spice and vanilla. It was medium bodied, with a nice balance to the weight, modest tannins and subtle acidity.
Read this article here

The Sunday Sun, March 7, 2010
Wine of the Week - Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon by Christopher Walters
Produced with fruit from Paso Robles, which is home to the winery operated by Hope Family Wines, and other California appellations, the well-made Liberty School Cabernet reveals ripe casis, black cherry, peppery spice and dark chocolate aromas and flavours. The palate strikes a good balance between fleshy texture and firm tannins, which makes for a versatile wine that works well with or without a meal.

BIGGERTHANYOURHEAD.NET, December 2009
Wine of the Week - by Fredric Koeppel
This is as charming as cabernet gets and is a terrific match with burgers and pizzas and hearty pasta dishes.”

BEVX.com, December 2009
3 STARS - Deep, dark, bright ruby red color. The nose is explosively fruity with waves of raspberry, cherry, and plum leaping from the glass with hints of strawberry, cinnamon, blackberry, and chocolate. The palate is as fruity as the nose had advertised with layers of fresh crushed berries, brown spices, and sweet oak flavors. A nice “everyday” styled Cab.
BEST BUY. by Sam Dependahl

SANTE MAGAZINE, October 2009
Cabernet-based blends from Paso Robles
Bright aromas and flavors of black fruit with notes of anise, cola, and black pepper; full bodied with good acidity and a clean back and red berry finish.

BOOZEHOUND MAGAZINE, March 2009
Cheap Wine That Doesn't Suck by Bill Citara
“The 2007 vintage is rich and full-bodied and has all the luscious blueberry and blackberry fruit I remember, backed by firm tannins and augmented by hints of cloves and allspice and earthy, toasty oak.”

Soooooo....

I just knew this wine had to have lots of hype after tasting it and it lives up to it!!

Go out and find yourself some of this wine. It is an inexpensive red. It was purchased for around $13. LOVE IT !! :)

Wine Spectator Top 100

For those of you very much interested in ranking your wine...you will like this. Wine Spectator recently came out with its top 100 wines of 2009.

HERE IS THE WINE SPECTATOR LIST

I personally think rankings are important for the industry but they don't really mean that much to us fellow wine-ohs. I can enjoy a $15 bottle of wine just as much as a $60 sometimes.

Some expensive wines are worth the money. Some are not. I intend to share these subjective thoughts with you in the future of this blog. I'll point out some good expensive wines and some shabby expensive wines.

I do commend Wine Spectator for being more user friendly this year. The #1 wine is only $27. Even Wine Spectator must take into consideration these poor economic times. It would be pretty snooty of them to have a $100 bottle of wine as #1 wouldn't it?

-M