There is just something about the onset of the Autumnal Equinox that resets my palate, sliding the meter on my taste buds from white wines to reds.
But I don’t want to just jump into the deep end of the red wine pool all at once. I want to acclimate my tongue and ease into my red wine season with something that is charming-yet-sturdy, commanding-yet-elegant. I need Oregon pinot noir.
Check out this week’s Examiner Newspaper column on the lovely pinot noir wines of Oregon
What defines a Champagne may surprise you. This week on Wine of the Week, I talk about three disctict Champagnes from three very different type of Champagne Houses. One relies on blending to maintain a traditional “House” style. One House uses grapes from a paritcular vineyard to produce it’s wines. And a third want to express the unique characteristics of the grapes from each vintage.
Three very different appoaches to producing three very good Champagnes.
Click here to listen in and find out what makes a great House Champagne
Elvis Costello very well could be the best know rocker in horned-rimmed glasses since Buddy Holly – and for good reason… he ROCKS!
Costello blew in to town last night (September 29, 2011) on his Wheel of Songs Tour with his faithful band, The Imposters. With long time keyboardist/friend/collaborator Steve Nieve, original Drummer Pete Thomas and Bassist Davey Faragher, the quartet pumped up the crowd for two and a half hours at the intimate Warner Theater.
I have had the pleasure of seeing Elvis play many concerts throughout the years – most notably two years ago on the summer-kissed slopes of Deer Valley, Utah, where he was accompanied by the Utah Symphony Orchestra – but this is the first time I have seen him genuinely comfortable in his own skin. Clad in a two piece suit, fedora and trademark black-rimmed glasses, he put on a show that included a lot of energy, a few cool surprises and a little touch of kitschy-ness to the performance.
As with his 1988 stop at the Lisner Auditorium, Costello invited fans up on stage to spin a giant Wheel-o-Songs. He faithfully played each song that was selected and even allowed a few lucky fans to name their own tunes. One almost-brilliant instant occurred when a pair of young girls was brought up on stage. When Costello asked their names, the first replied, “Alison” and the crowd, understandably, went wild. But Costello made her spin the wheel and regardless of her song-famous name, he did not relent and play his signature song. But that’s okay – since there was more than enough amazing material he could draw upon from his 35 year career (have I really been listening to him that long???).
Once the lucky fan(s) spun the wheel, they were invited to either sit at the makeshift “Society Lounge” bar and enjoy a cocktail on stage or jump into the Go-Go cage and dance while Costello performed. One inebriated young man jumped into the Go-Go Cage uninvited and had a good ol’ time. Stage security kept a close eye on him, but wisely did not interrupt his performance until the end of the song at which time the two lovely go-go dancers escorted him through the back of the stage and – presumably – out the door. No harm, No foul. Typical Elvis Costello. The show went on.
Highlights included; Watching the Detectives, New Lace Sleeves (one of my favorites of the evening), Pump It Up, Man Out of Time, I Want You, So Like Candy, Chelsea, Sleep of the Just, Next Time Round and Strict Time. He closed with an amazing version of Peace, Love and Understanding – more appropriate now, than ever.
In Champagne region, the Growers own over 90 percent of the 84,000 acres of vineyards in the appellation but it is the Champagne “Houses” that produce the majority of the wine. The Houses need to buy grapes from the growers, and the growers need to sell their grapes to the Houses. This has led to a sort of pas de deux between the two parties where each relies on the other.
But of course, it’s not as simple as that. Nothing ever is.
Check out the Part Four of my four-part series on Champagne in this week’s Examiner Newspaper.
For being such a relatively small agricultural region, Champagne may just be the most regulated wine region on the planet. Overseeing all of the rules and regulations is the Committee for Viticulture of Champagne (CIVC), whose professional staff is directed by a board of governors, consisting of both growers and houses.
Growers may own ninety percent of the 84,000 acres of vineyards in the Champagne appellation, but it is the Champagne “Houses” that produce the majorityof the wine in the region. While some Houses have their own vineyards, most buy additional grapes from the growers. Most growers sell the majority of their grapes to houses, but some growers keep the fruit and produce wines for their own label. Other growers have formed cooperatives that use their grapes under a specific label. This arrangement has set up a working relationship filled with layers of complexity – like Champagne itself.
This week, I’ll review wines of growers and cooperatives and next week I’ll cover houses.
Washington State is often described as combing New World fruit with Old World style where complex structure melds with lush, ripe fuit – sort of France Meets California…
So, when you sit down this weekend to watch the Washington Redskins game, enjoy it with a glass of Red Skin wines from Washington – State, that is.
Click here to listen to this week’s WTOP Radio Wine of the Week
Have you ever wondered how all of those marvelous bubbles actually get into a glass of Champagne? Having just spent five days in the heart of the Champagne region of France, I can assure you it is by very precise design.
Part Two of a four part series discusses the method behind the magic of Champagne
Champagne is so much more than just bubbles in a glass. It is one of the most beautiful wine regions in France as well as one of most tightly regulated and controlled appellations in the winemaking world.
I recently visited the incredible area as a guest of the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), the trade association representing all of the houses and grape growers of Champagne, and have produced a four-part column for the DC Examiner Newspaper about the place, the process and, of course, the wines.
Here is part one which defines Champagne, the place.
Planning on having people over for Labor Day this weekend? Are you wondering if you should serve a white wine to celebrate the last days of summer or a red wine to embrace the coming fall season? Here are my two picks from my recent WUSA Channel 9 appearance with JC Hayward.
I recently had an encounter with a cork-snob… someone who firmly believes that only wines with traditional cork closures are the only ones worth drinking and that wines sealed with a screw cap are less-than-average.
WRONG! Screw caps are not only a legitimate bottle closure alternative to cork, but they are also preferable in certain situations.
Check out this week’s Vine Guy column in the Examiner Newspaper to find out why
