Too Much Wine Too Little Time » Wine Babble

Winding Down Summer

admin — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:01:53 +0000

With another summer sliding to a close I sit here thinking about the coming months. I have much to be excited about. Labor Day weekend is just around the corner and we always have a big picnic for family and friends, this year’s event will be extra special with my niece from Wisconsin visiting. Labor Day weekend here in North America also ushers in the start of September and the beginning of autumn; our Fall Season, which starts on September 21^st. If you keep up with our writings, you know that next to summer, fall is my favorite time of year. I love the weather, cool crisp air, the smells, colors and just being able to sit outside by my fireplace and enjoy it without all the heat and humidity. This is a time for me when the summer chores ending, I have time to relax and reflect back over the past year thinking about all that has transpired. And this year has been a good one starting with a visit to Napa Valley back in March along with some great friends. We then travelled out to Wisconsin in May for the graduation of my nephew from high school, and my niece from college, along with my oldest son and his wife. What a great time both trips were! Then there was the time I spent with my granddaughter who was just a year old in June, watching her grow and change with each passing week. Yes, I would say it has been a great year, and it is not yet over. The excitement is building for another visit we have planned to Napa Valley in October. Our first visit to the valley in the fall, with the 2010 harvest winding down along with the crowds, and I can’t wait. Yes, I am looking forward to the fall as I always do. This season should leave me with some great memories to carry me through those long winter months until spring begins anew.

Winter Games

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:50:36 +0000

Stuck in the house? Looking for something to do? I was just thinking recently about things to do in the winter months that are different, yet fun. A neat idea popped into my head relating to wine. I decided that when I watched the movie Sideways, I felt as though I had to drink Pinot Noir (definitely not Merlot) as that is the wine to drink in that movie. I recall the next time I decided to watch I made sure I cracked a nice Pinot before hitting play on the DVD player. At first I thought I could do that again as I haven’t watched Sideways in a while, but then I remembered that I also own the movie Bottle Shock. As you know Bottle Shock is the story of how California wines made their mark in the famous Paris tastings and one California Chardonnay took top place. That famous wine was the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay. At the time that the Chardonnay took first place in Paris, the wine maker for Chateau Montelena was Mike Grgich; currently owner of his own label for over 30 years; Grgich Hills Estate. The movie does reveal much about Mike Grgich or his identity, but you can easily research details about the Paris tasting and Mike Grgich. My idea is to purchase a bottle of the infamous Chateau Montelena Chardonnay as well as a bottle of Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay. My own little personal Paris tasting…the wine vs. the winemaker! Of course, it is not the infamous 1973 Chardonnay, but I think it will be fun to see how the wine that won evolved current day as well as how the winemaker has evolved. Pick up the DVD Bottle Shock as well as a bottle of each Chardonnay and have your own Paris tasting too! Stop back and see who I decided is my winner.

Welcome 2010

admin — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:18:06 +0000

Another year is passed and a new one has just begun. As much as I love the Christmas season the changing of the calendar year does very little for me. I enjoyed dinner with my family New Years Eve and again on New Year’s Day. It was great and I am always up for a good time and happy for the time spent with my kids, their wives and of course, the newest generation, my granddaughter. But really moving from one year to the next is just another day in my mind. Yes, there are some yearend tasks to perform such as tax preparation and making sure all of the prior year paperwork is in order, changing calendars and so on. There are also many who will make big New Year’s resolutions vowing to be different and all of that, but how often do they really keep those promises? As I look back and reflect on the past year I realize there were good things that happened in my life and also some not so good, all things considered though I am better off than many of those less fortunate. 2009 was not financially strong with the bad economy, but the highlight for me was the birth of my first Grandchild, a beautiful little girl who without a doubt has changed my life for the better! The point in all this is that I pretty much know that 2010 will be much like other years of my life with some good and some bad and I always hope the good outweighs the bad and pray that there are no earth shattering events. When I allow myself to look ahead on the New Year I can look forward to some good things already. It seems that the economy is starting to take a step in the right direction, hopefully some of the troops will make it home and there are no more terror attacks. Those are my global thoughts, but on a personal level we have a Napa Valley trip we are planning in March with a group of friends for my wife’s 40th birthday that I am looking forward to. A visit to the valley in the first quarter of 2010 is certainly something to toast in the New Year, so maybe this year will be a bit different since it is my first time to Napa in March! Maybe it isn’t just another day for me after all. Happy New Year, may you all realize your dreams and goals in 2010 and as always, enjoy a glass or two!

Sediment in Wine

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:42:01 +0000

Have you ever taken a sip of a really outstanding wine that you have thoroughly enjoyed and get a mouthful of sediment? I call them bugs because that is what it reminds me of, but they aren’t really bugs, they are Tartaric Crystals which form over time and are actually not harmful at all. It is just so strange to drink a solid when you are expecting a liquid. It does make you want to spit the wine out; which is just instinct when you think something strange is happening and you are about to swallow a foreign object. I don’t know exactly what causes the crystals to form and have never really researched it much; however, I am no longer grossed out by it. I am starting to find the crystals somewhat fascinating in a strange way as far as the shape they take on. Imagine drinking a really good wine and you are down to the last sip you want to savor and poof, your wine is suddenly crunchy…yuck! That is the part that upsets me, I really wanted that last sip and don’t want to swallow the bugs! I have seen a pattern in some older wines and of course unfiltered wines that tend to have more crystals than other wines and in those cases I make sure to strain the wine so I capture the bugs in my imaginary net (strainer). The fact of the matter is sediment is a natural occurrence in some wines, and generally in the ones that are made for aging. While sediment can be pretty unpleasant to drink it will not harm you. Carefully pouring wine from a bottle can capture the sediment in the rim of the wine bottle prior to the neck or using a strainer and decanter can also capture the sediment. It is just another part of the learning experience for me; sediment is a natural part of wine and should not ruin the experience.
Check out the link below to purchase a wine sediment strainer of your own:

Happy Thanksgiving!

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:16:25 +0000

To all of our loyal visitors we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving! You are what keeps our little site going and we are thankful for that! We also would like to give a heartfelt thank you to all of our soldiers who are away from home and their families this Thanksgiving. We greatly appreciate your sacrifice and pray for your safe return. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The Holiday Season

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:46:55 +0000

The month of November is a big month for me, it signals the wind down of another year and the unofficial start of our holiday season. The hectic pace of getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas seems to make time fly by with shopping, parties and gatherings. It is a time when there is much excitement, fun and of course some stress. During these times wine plays an even bigger part in our everyday life. What Thanksgiving Day dinner would be complete without wine and I find it a lot of fun to pick the wines I will serve. I like to select a pre-dinner wine and take great care in selecting a wine to serve with dinner, something that will complement the flavors of the traditional turkey dinner. Some special Ports and dessert wines are always a part of the after dinner spread as well. Next up after Turkey day is the gift giving of Christmas where I get to shop for some really nice wine I would not normally buy. I give to those special people in my life that appreciate wine as much I do. Some of these special bottles are somewhat pricey and I may not have sampled them previously, so I rely on reviews and recommendations when purchasing them. My local wine store manager can usually point me to something special also. I guess I am a little selfish in thinking I may get to taste some of the wines I have gifted to the special people in my life and it sure makes the selection of the bottles easier!

Thanksgiving Day Wine

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:45:38 +0000

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is almost here? Once Thanksgiving is here more holidays flow quickly behind and the next thing you know, it is New Years Eve. All of these upcoming holidays are a time for celebration, family, friends, and wine. I have started to think about our Thanksgiving Day menu and what food as well as the wine I want to serve. I will most certainly serve some chilled wines in the white and Rose family. I have a few bottles of Raymond Burr Chardonnay set aside for the occasion as Chardonnay is always a safe bet and a favorite of some of our guests. I am also trying to decide if I want to select a Rose in addition to a Sauvignon Blanc, which is a must on the menu. A nice Sauvignon Blanc that is crisp, clean and refreshing is a nice offset to the dry turkey flavors of Thanksgiving. Don’t get me wrong, I love turkey, but between the turkey, stuffing, potatoes and rolls, a nice refreshing cold wine is just the thing to break up the flavors. I am a red wine fan, but when you have a red with a lot of tannins that remind you of cotton balls, you do not want additional dry foods along with it, therefore I prefer a white with dinner. A favorite Sauvignon Blanc of mine is Hanna, but there are so many out there. I also have some St Clement Sauvignon Blanc and some Venge Vineyards Champ des Fleurs Proprietary White from our California trip last year. Actually, now that I think about it, I have a lot of favorites! Decisions, decisions, a word of advice, start deciding what you want to serve now…there are still a few weeks to make up your mind!

Wine Appreciation

admin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:36:18 +0000

Often as I enjoy one of my favorite bottles of wine, I stop and think about everything that goes into the making of that wine. If you think about the complete process, right from the start it is almost mind boggling that so many good wines make it to the market. Starting with the purchase and maintenance of property that will support the growth of grapes, you then need to worry about the growth period from early spring to fall harvest where weather could wreak havoc on the grapes at anytime, especially in the more volatile growing regions. Outside of the weather, there are diseases, funguses, and pests, just to name a few that can also destroy or significantly diminish your crop. This came to mind while watching the news last week about a big storm that hit northern California with heavy rains and high wind. I know that many of the growers may still have their big Cabernet grapes hanging, and as a big fan of Cabs; I worry about the potential loss of some good wine grapes. I remember last year meeting the owner and winemaker for Chadsford winery in Pennsylvania. He related to us how his entire crop of grapes had been destroyed by a freak late summer hail storm. Just imagine what you would do if your entire harvest of grapes that you lovingly cared for from early spring to fall is destroyed in what probably amounted to a 30 minute freak storm? The point I am trying to make here is when you enjoy one of your favorite bottles of wine, take a moment to think about all the effort from start to finish that went into making that wine. We also certainly need to show our appreciation for all those folks who worked so hard to bypass all the potential pitfalls over a growing season to produce that wine in your glass. Yes, we show our appreciation by purchasing the wine, but do remember for most winemakers wine is their passion and life and they love to share that passion with other wine lovers.

The House Of Mondavi

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:33:07 +0000

I am in the process of reading the book; The House of Mondavi, the rise and fall of an American wine Dynasty by Julia Flynn Siler. The book was first published in June 2007 and is a fascinating look deep inside the Napa Valley’s well known Mondavi family. I have not yet finished the book, but already I have learned so much that I did not know. For example, most people know the name Robert Mondavi, hailed by some as the father or founder of Napa Valley as we know it today. While, Robert was clearly the most outspoken Mondavi there is a whole family tree of Mondavi’s dating back to the early 1900’s. It begins with Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, Peter and Robert Mondavi’s parents. Cesare an immigrant that imparted his wise business skills to his sons was the head of the family until his death in 1959 when the fighting between the brothers could no longer be controlled. There were also the daughters of Cesare and Rosa, Helen and Mary Mondavi who were involved in the wine business but much less than their brothers. The book leads you through the early days when the family purchased the Krug winery, the turmoil amongst the family members, the divorces, the deaths, and of course, the winemaking.

As I mentioned, I am in the process of reading the book and will provide a complete review once completed. However, I already recommend the book to anyone with a love of wine and the history of the Valley.

To purchase a copy of this book click here.

Back from Napa

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:16:04 +0000

Getting back to work after a week in Napa Valley is certainly challenging. You go from the serene, beautiful, relaxing wine country back to the hectic pace of everyday life. Not to mention there is no afternoon wine tasting at my office, but I find one of the hardest things to do is not run down stairs into your wine cellar and sample all the treasures you have shipped home. Maybe it is an attempt to recreate vacation, I’m not sure. It may be a bit of recreation on our part, but also because we ship what we cannot buy at home so there is some intrigue to make sure none of our purchases were what you would call an “impulse or moment” purchase. You know you are having a great time, but somehow the wine doesn’t taste nearly as good when you get it home. Luckily, we have pretty much grown out of those type purchases over the years and we have gotten much better at letting our purchases sit so that we can enjoy those special bottles throughout the year.

There is one winery that we visited for the first time this year that I have to say, we haven’t been very good at following our rules with their wine. In fact, we have already decided that we will just have to order another case when we run out as it is damn good wine and we want to drink it now! That winery is Stryker in Sonoma. In particular we love the old Vine Zinfandel and drank our second bottle last evening. It was the 2005 Russian River that offers lots of ripe fruit with just enough spice to offset the fruitiness for a perfect balance. There are hints of oak as the wine spent 15 months in French oak. Stryker makes several different Zinfandel wines, but this Russian River Zin has a case production of only 198 cases.