Archive for the ‘Articles’ Category
Posted on February 22, 2013 - by The Vine Guy
The Wines of Sokol Blosser
When Bill Blosser and Susan Sokol Blosser planted their first vines in 1971 in the Dundee Hills, there was virtually no wine industry in Oregon. With a lot of hard work and determination, the young couple turned an abandoned prune orchard into a thriving vineyard. Their first vintage of Pinot Noir, produced in 1977, was a success.
If you subscribe to the theory that it is always good to know what, exactly, is in your wine, you will be happy to know that in 2002 Sokol Blosser became the first winery in the United States to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification. Last year, the winery became certified by OCSW (Oregon Certified Sustainable Wine). Many of their wines are made with organically grown grapes.
NOTE: According to the Organic Consumers Association, a wine can be labeled “Organic” and bear the USDA organic seal when it is made from organically grown grapes and provides information about who the certifying agency is. In addition to using only organic fruit, wine in this category cannot have any added sulfites. They may contain only naturally occurring sulfites. Even though some of the Sokol Blosser wines are made with organic fruit, additional sulfites may be added which prevents the wines from being labeled “Organic.”
Click here to listen to the wine recommendations on WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week
Posted on February 15, 2013 - by The Vine Guy
What’s In Your Cellar?
Wine collectors tend to gauge each other’s “commitment” to wine by asking two essential questions. First, “what type of wine do you collect?” And second, we always want to know, “how many bottles are in your cellar?”
But lately, given the rapidly increasing prices of collectable wines from around the globe, much of our attention has turned to a different concern; What wines will the next generation of oenophiles find affordable in order to inoculate their collection?
Posted on February 10, 2013 - by The Vine Guy
Wines to Enhance Romance for Valentine’s Day
What’s a modern day, stressed-out couple to do in order to grab that loving feeling this Valentine’s day?
For the answer, I decided to solicit advice from some of the busiest people I know and find out what wine they plan to employ to tip the scales of love in their favor and ensure a successful love connection. Of course, individual results may vary.
Listen in to WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week for the latest wines to enjoy on Valentine’s Day
Posted on February 2, 2013 - by The Vine Guy
Ravens Fans Rave About Ravenswood Wines
The upcoming football finale is finally here, and this year I actually have a proverbial dog in the fight. I grew up in a household that revered the San Francisco 49ers. But alas, the 49ers are definitely not the local favorite, so it appears that my only ticket to overcoming the social stigma of rooting for the other team is to offer up winning wines that will, at the very least, get my foot in the door and hopefully a seat on the couch.
The obvious choice was easy. I am rooting with – and for – Ravenswood Wines.
Click here to listen to this week’s Wine of the Week on WTOP Radio
Go 49ners!
Posted on January 25, 2013 - by The Vine Guy
My Friend David’s Wines
My friend David’s tastes in wine tend to run more toward the mysterious and arcane end of the spectrum. But here’s the thing… David really does know “his” wines. And by “his” wines, I mean interesting, delicious, value-oriented wines that I would not normally include in my routine wine compendium. But, that notwithstanding, I always look forward to being exposed to David’s Wines…
Click here to listen to David’s recommendations on this week’s Wine of the Week on WTOP Radio
Posted on January 17, 2013 - by The Vine Guy
Poker Night Wines
A few years ago, several moms from my son’s third grade class decided to create a monthly “book club.” So I decided to level the playing field and start my own “book club” with some of the dads from the same social circle. Only this monthly man-gathering would not pretend to be as intellectually curious as our feminine counterparts. No, this “book club” would be nothing more cerebral than a bunch of neighborhood “dads” getting together to play a friendly game of Cards. And drink wine. Yes, wine.
Posted on January 11, 2013 - by The Vine Guy
Wines For A South American Cuisine
I recently met 0ne of my more interesting challenges when a neighborhood friend invited me over for a post-holiday holiday party. When a friend Antonio and his lovely wife are originally from Venezuela, so the scrumptious buffet included some delectable-but-difficult pairing challenges from the south – South America.
Posted on January 7, 2013 - by The Vine Guy
An Old Resolution for the New Year
A new year is here again, providing yet another opportunity to pledge allegiance to improving our lives and resolving to vanquish bad habits. My resolution this year is the same as it is every year; I will continue to drink more of the good stuff. After all, life is too short to drink bad wine.
Click here to listen to this week’s Wine of the Week segment on WTOP Radio
Posted on December 27, 2012 - by The Vine Guy
All That Sparkles For New Year’s Eve
Since just about every wine-growing region on the planet produces some version of sparkling wine, there must be something to it. Here are a few sparkling wines from around the world that you should definitely consider making a resolution to enjoy this New Year’s Eve and throughout the year to come.
Click here to listen to this week’s recommendations on WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week
Posted on December 23, 2012 - by The Vine Guy
All I Want For Christmas… A Fun Case Of Wine
Twelve days of Christmas. Twelve bottles of wine in a case. Coincidence? Maybe. But if I could unwrap just one present on Christmas morning, it would be this case of international wines selected for their remarkable value.
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