Make no mistake – I really like beer. And I know that the party beverage of choice for the majority of traditional Super Bowl get-togethers is usually reserved for the realm of finely crafted brews. After all, just look at all of the money mega-brewers spend on advertising during the Big Game and you get a sense that they know the day belongs to them. But this year, you can break out of the routine game plan and pair your Super Bowl treats with super wines for a more upscale affair.
A few weeks ago, I prognosticated that Portugal and Spain were going to be the hot wines for 2015. Both countries have made a genuine effort to increase the quality of their winemaking while maintaining their value-driven pricing. And while Portugal is probably better known more for their sweet, fortified reds, they are producing a variety of powerful-yet-graceful red and white table wines.
The Bodega Numanthia estate lies near the small village of Valdefinjas, in the province of Zamora in the Toro region of Spain.
The estate was founded in 1998 by the Eguren family, who hail from the Rioja region. From the start, the aim of Marcos and Miguel Eguren was to produce the best wine from Toro.
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From time-to-time, some of those friends end up making wine, and some winemakers become good friends. Inevitably, some of those friends will ask me to “review” their wines. Occasionally, it can lead to awkward moments of silence. After all, how do you tell someone you like and respect that their proverbial baby is ugly? However, most of the wines made by my friends are actually pretty good.
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Well, another year has come and gone, and another list of resolutions has passed into my personal history book with mixed success. There were a few personal promises that I kept and more than a few that fell into the “maybe next year” category.
Americans just don’t drink enough Champagne, which is why I love this time of year. It gives me an excuse to shout (or write) all about the wonderful versatility that Champagne has to offer. American humorist and writer put it best when he said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.” Amen!
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The holiday season can put a lot of pressure on friends and loved ones who are trying to find the perfect gift for the wine lover in their life. Buying a bottle or two of wine is always a dicey proposition, particularly since wine tastes are so personal and may be difficult to return or exchange. However, fear not. There is a huge assortment of wine accessories to suit every wine lover’s interest and buyer’s pocketbook. Here is a list of wine gadgets that every wine enthusiast will love – including me!
Last week, we took a quick spin through Napa Valley. This week, we continue our Passport to Wine series with a visit to Napa Valley’s Big Brother to the west, Sonoma County. I say “big” because Sonoma is about 75% larger by land mass than Napa Valley and includes several specifically distinctive appellations, including a dry inland region and a coastal region. So, we’ll tackle Sonoma Valley in two parts, beginning this week with a few of the more notable wineries around the bucolic city of Healdsburg.
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Many wine consumers have turned to Wine-Themed destination travel over the last several years. According to The Wine Institute, a California based government relations association that represents wineries and wine-related businesses, 20.7 million tourists visited California wine regions in 2013, adding $2.1 billion to the economy. Articles with titles such as “Ten Great Places to Hike, Bike and Sip in California Wine Country, and “Five Great California Wine Country Road Trips” are now commonplace in trade and consumer publications.
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Last week, I wrote an online column recommending wine pairings for Thanksgiving. Many of my well-thought out wine recommendations were in the $15 per bottle price range. However, after reading some of the online comments, I came to two conclusions; first, I have a thick skin. Second, many people would like to see recommendations for wines in the $10-or-less range.
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