20
Jul
10

There’s prosecco and then there’s Prosecco

By karwigwines Leave a Comment
Categories: Italy, Prosecco and Wines
Yummy Prosecco

Yummy Prosecco

Ah prosecco. Be it spumante or frizzante, its just so lovely and drinkable. Its delicious and refreshing and works superbly as an aperitif or with food. Chill it and drink it fresh (best within 2 years of bottling) and you will find yourself coming back for more.

Prosecco is also the name of the grape variety from which the sparkling wine is made. Its made in the Veneto region of Italy in the hills north of Treviso. It is also grown in the Valdobbiadene and Conegliano wine regions, north of Venice.

The way its made is different from Champagne. Prosecco is made using the Charmat method. What ? Well its where the secondary fermentation takes place in a stainless steel tank as opposed to in the bottle itself. This reduces the production costs resulting in prosecco being less expensive to purchase.

Prosecco comes in a variety of styles from dry to off dry, full sparkling (Spumante) and semi sparkling (Frizzante).  Its style is typically light, crisp and bubbly.

Our best selling range is from Venegazzu.

Venegazzu

Venegazzu

In 1906 the family Manin started to plant its first Prosecco vines in a sunny valley of the Montello’s hills and founded the AZIENDA AGRICOLA “CASA BIANCA”. The estate takes its name from the wonderful white house situated in the highest hill of the property, an amazing place that overlooks all the vineyards. Looking southwards, it is possible to admire Venice which is only 40 Km far from these vineyards. The great tradition of CASA BIANCA’s sparkling wine takes its origin in this marvellous area. It is a light and delicate sparkling wine and its marked personality is connected with the peculiarity of the Colli Trevigiani’s soil where the AZIENDA AGRICOLA “CASA BIANCA” owns more than 30 hectares.

If you fancy checking out these wonderful wines, we have a Spumante and Frizzante to tempt you

12
Jul
10

Wine notes – start a journal

By karwigwines 4 Comments
Categories: Education, General Musings, Wine Notes and Wine Tasting
Wine Notebook

Wine Notebook

Wine notes. Anyone keep them ?

I’m writing today to make a case for EVERYONE to keep a wine journal. Now it does not matter what form that takes. It can be loose sheets of paper that you keep in a shoebox, your iPhone app, your custom made leather bound notebook. Whatever. Just so long as its something that you will use on a regular basis and is easily found.

Why would you bother ? Well, its a great way of learning because it makes you think about the wine you are drinking. You can go back to your notes and see how an older vintage tasted if you are trying a newer vintage. Best of all it  can remind you of a lovely bottle of wine and maybe even the food you had with it and the people you shared it with.

As a wine buyer, wine notes are essential for me. I attended the London Wine Fair a few months ago. In two days I tasted over 250 wines. Now, my memory needs a bit of help at the best of times but there is no way I am going to remember every wine from every producer along with the price and some of the story behind the wine. However, I can open my notebook and read my brief notes and its almost like being there all over again.

But what do I write I hear you say ? The answer is simple. Write whatever will trigger your memory. Some people like to write pages of notes while others keep it to a line or two. My notes vary depending on where I am and how many wines I am tasting. At a wine trade fair, my notes will be brief. If I’m tasting a wine at home I may write longer notes. If it is a truely excellent wine, I will go on for a while.

Use your own vocabulary to describe the wine. You dont have to stick to the traditional script. I mix it up a bit. My longer wine notes have a system to them (thanks to the WSET) but I also throw in some other non traditional stuff too.

Soon you will find yourself with a collection of notebooks and its always fun to pick one up and flick through some of the notes. Lots of good memories and very often it inspires another wine purchase. I read one the other night and as a result the following day I bought a nice Chianti Classico as it reminded me I had not had one in ages. And it was delicious with my Italian pasta dish I cooked at home.

So go on, give it a go. You’ll enjoy your wine all the more.

02
Jul
10

Pinot Noir – Wine’s Holy Grail

By karwigwines 5 Comments
Categories: Australia, Burgundy, California, Grape Varieties, New Zealand, South Africa and Wines
Domaine De La Romanee Conti

Domaine De La Romanee Conti

They say all wine roads eventually lead to Burgundy and specifically to its Pinot Noir wines. Some of the most respected (and expensive) wines come from here, none more famous or expensive than those of Domaine De La Romanee Conti.

Pinot Noir is a small berry grape with sweet juice and little tannin due to its thin skin. This thin skin and tight bunch formation can lead to problems of rot. Its temperamental for sure but when its good, it’s simply sublime.

Remember the movie “Sideways” and the monologue from Miles on Pinot . . . . . . . . .

“Um, it’s a hard grape to grow … it’s thin-skinned, temperamental, ripens early … it’s not a survivor like Cabernet, which can just grow anywhere and thrive even when it’s neglected. No, Pinot needs constant care and attention … it can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked away corners of the world. And only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot’s potential can then coax it into its fullest expression.”

How could you not rush out and buy a bottle after that

So here are some flavours and aromas to look out for . . . .

  • Cherry
  • Strawberry
  • Pickle
  • Stalky
  • Cranberry
  • Raspberry
  • Blackberry
  • Plum
  • Violet
  • Rose Petals
  • Gamey
  • Barnyard
  • Bacon Fat
  • Earthy
  • Beetroot
  • Forest Floor
  • Truffle
  • Cola
  • Tar
  • Prune
  • Spice

Outside of Burgundy, lovely examples can be found elsewhere in France, Germany (Spatburgunder), New Zealand, Australia, Chile, South Africa and California to name a few. Of course it is also one of the three grape varieties in Champagne.

So head off down that Pinot Noir road and enjoy the journey.

29
Jun
10

Tasting Wine With Your Nose

By karwigwines Leave a Comment
Categories: Education, Smell and Wine Tasting
Starbursts

Starbursts

Do you taste wine with your mouth or with your nose ?

Well, both actually. A lot of people underestimate the importance of the nose in wine tasting. Not convinced ? Here is a little experiment for you to try. We do this a lot with our wine tastings.

Go to your local sweet shop and buy a packet of Starbursts or some other very fruity chewy sweeties.

Unwrap one of those delicious sweets

Hold your nose so that you can’t breathe out of it and more importantly, you can’t smell anything. [by the way, you might want to try this at home ;-) ]

Pop the sweet into your mouth (while still holding your nose completely closed)

Chew the sweet for 5 to 10 seconds and take note of what you are tasting. Not much I bet.

Now, let go of your nose

What happens ?

You will get a sudden massive rush of flavour !!

That’s because the tongue can only detect a limited range of tastes. They are

  • Sweet
  • Sour
  • Salt
  • Bitter
  • Savoury

In contrast to this, the nose can detect hundreds and hundreds of different flavours. You know when you have a cold ? (or worse still man flu !). Nothing tastes good. Everything is flavourless and bland. It’s the same thing here.  It’s all down to the nasal passage linking the nose to the mouth. It allows flavours to be detected when you eat or drink something.

So the next time you are drinking your glass of wine, give it some nose time.

16
Jun
10

Are you afraid to visit to your local wine store ?

By karwigwines 2 Comments
Categories: Friends and General Musings
Do You Sell Wine ?

Do You Sell Wine ?

Let me paint you a scene.

A customer walked into our retail shop the other day. We greeted him with a smile and a good morning.

“I know nothing about wine” was his opener.

No problem we said. That’s what we are here for. He was in to buy a present for a friend. We asked him a few quick, simple questions about wines he liked, what his friend liked, the food they would be having and how much he was looking to spend approximately on a bottle. A few minutes later he left with two beautiful bottles of wine that cost less than he  had planned to spend. As he walked out the door, he turned and said “I really enjoyed that – thanks”. We were chuffed.

It got me thinking about the whole wine buying experience. Here are some of my thoughts on the subject

It should be enjoyable !

This may seem like a silly thing to say. But it is very important. We love it when people come in and buy wine and then we see them calling in over and over again. We really love that. These people enjoy calling and chatting about wine and getting some great value and getting new wines recommended to them that they love.

No Hard Sell

Never. Ever. I HATE the hard sell. It just annoys me intensely. Does not matter what it is. If someone tries the hard sell approach, it completely turns me off.  When people call here, we help them with their choices if they want our help. We give them as much or as little help and information as they want. If the customer wants a quiet browse, that’s grand. If they want to talk wine till the cows come home, that’s grand too.

Passion

We love wine. We are passionate about the wines we sell and about wine in general. Wine is one of the greatest things in the world. We talk to  people about the wine, wine styles, the wine makers. Not too much information though. No one likes a wine bore !

Wine Knowledge

Apart from knowing about the wines we sell and the people who make it, we’ve done professional study. It allows us to make great recommendations and is invaluable with our wine buying selections. When we are buying our wine, we are looking for great price / quality wine value.

A Wide Range of Wines

We also stock non commercial wines. Wines for the wine lover. We may not sell as many of them but it is worth it because it gives our customers tremendous variety and choice.

Recommendations

We ask a number of questions before we recommend any wine. The kind of wines you like, countries, grape varieties, style, that sort of thing. Once we get a handle on this (it only takes a minute literally), we can recommend something that we know you will enjoy and we can also recommend something new to try that will start you off along a new wine road

Managing Expectations

We feel its very important that people know and realise what they are buying. Sometimes people call in to get a slightly more expensive bottle, a fine  Bordeaux or Burgundy, maybe for a birthday or for Christmas. We chat through the options with people. Sometimes they leave with the Bordeaux or Burgundy but many times they leave with something else completely different. The point is they are very happy with the wine they get.

It should be great value

In addition to recommending a wine you will love, more often than not, you will leave with your wine having spent less on the bottle(s) than you thought. We smile every time it happens.

So dont hide in the shadows. Call in and enjoy the wine buying experience from your local independent wine shop. Its relaxed, fun and you leave with cracking wine at an equally great price.

11
Jun
10

Who drinks rose ?

By karwigwines Leave a Comment
Categories: Grenache, Rose and Wines
Bandol Rose

Bandol Rose

I was reading the excellent Kermit Lynch’s blog recently (I am a big fan of the wonderful Mr Lynch – if you have not read his book Adventures On The Wine Route” then you really need to if you love your wine). The blog post had the brilliant title “Real Men Drink Rose” . A lovely piece of writing and it was great reading about my favourite Rose in the whole wide world ever – Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose

It got me thinking about rose. That and the fact that the sun is baking me slowly through the window.

We see a direct correlation between our Rose sales and the sunny weather. When the sun shines, it flies out the door. When its lashing rain, people head for the warming reds. Heres hoping for a great summer !!

Men are slower to buy Rose than women for some reason. Does Rose have a perceived feminine quality ? I believe so. Is it the pinkish colour I wonder ? Is it because people think it will automatically be sweet (you can get rose in dry, off dry, medium and sweet styles). I held a corporate tasting a few weeks back and I asked “who drinks Rose”. Only one male put up his hand. It’s a shame, men of the world, it’s a shame. Rose is there to be discovered. It’s such a versatile style. Great on its own. Drinks well with fish, game and meats. Good examples are delicious.

Houchart Cotes De Provence Rose

Houchart Cotes De Provence Rose

There are three methods of making rose but the most common is the abbreviated red wine method. Here crushed grapes are macerated for between 12 to 72 hours. The clear juice picks up its pinkish colour from contact with the grape skins.

There are lovely rose wines available from France (especially Provence, The Loire, Rhone and Languedoc regions), Spain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand to name a few.

They are such great value and are waiting to be discovered .

09
Jun
10

Chardonnay. A Classic

By karwigwines 2 Comments
Categories: Chardonnay, Education and Grape Varieties
Chateau Maligny Chablis

Chateau Maligny Chablis

Wait ! Dont click away just yet.

But its chardonnay you say. Noone drinks chardonnay.

Chardonnay has got a lot of abuse over the last few years. People have been way too quick to write it off though and its such a pity as there are many wonderful, great value examples around. Now I understand peoples reluctance, especially people who have been burned by the over-oaked cheap Chardonnay that flooded the market in recent years. But as they say, there is Chardonnay and then there is Chardonnay.

Pfeiffer Chardonnay Marsanne

Pfeiffer Chardonnay Marsanne

Try a nice Chablis from Northern Burgundy for a steely, acidic, green apple style or a more tropical fruit, low acidity, full body example from Australia. Very different but both fabulous and delicious when done well. Variety is the spice of life and Chardonnay has it in spades.

Here are some aromas and flavours to look out for

  • Green Apple
  • Grapefruit
  • Citrus
  • Cucumber
  • Celery
  • Minerality
  • Flint
  • Lime
  • Perfumed
  • Honey
  • Nectarine
  • White Peach
  • Pineapple
  • Peach
  • Melon
  • Mamgo
  • Quince
  • Fig
  • Hazelnut
  • Chestnut
  • Tobacco

There are lots of great examples to try from France, California, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and many more. Seriously, its worth checking out again !!

03
Jun
10

Wines For Your Wedding

By karwigwines Leave a Comment
Categories: Special Offers, Wedding and Wine Tasting

Wedding Wines

So you have taken the big step and decided to get married. There are lots of things you need to organise for your big day. The wine selection should be one of the most enjoyable ones. There are a few things that are good to know in advance.

Talk to your hotel about their wine selection and their corkage policy

Lots of hotels have a lovely wine selection. Its good to talk through the options and sample the wines. Maybe you want to bring in your own wines. In that case, its important to agree the corkage rate with the hotel. Thats the rate that they charge for opening and serving your wine on the day. You can really haggle a good bit here !

How much wine do you need ?

A good rule of thumb is to allow a 1/2 a bottle of wine per guest. Some will drink none. Some will drink a vineyard. It balances out in the end. Our wedding offer covers this for you.

Red or White ?

Back to that rule of thumb, generally its 50 : 50 again. The time of year can affect it (summer weddings with a lovely sunny day may start a white wine avalanche while a chunky warming red may be the job in the colder months). The meal will also affect the choice. Matching the wines with the food will make a big difference.

What style of wine should I choose ?

A good start is to choose a wine you like yourself. After all, you are paying for it. A wee bit of caution here however. You need to keep it middle of the road. The wine needs to be all things to all men / women. It needs to match with the food but also needs to be very drinkable on its own. It needs to be good enough for the wine connoisseurs at the wedding but also accessible to the casual wine drinker. Spend a bit of time talking to wine people who will advise you on all of this.

Bubbles anyone ?

Some people want to go for the Oscar and order champagne for the reception and toast. Others prefer a sparkling wine option like Prosecco (Spumante or Frizzante). If the sparkling wine is being served in flutes, you will likely get between 6 and 7 glasses from a bottle.

Make sure you try the wine in advance

This may seem obvious but its amazing how many times people buy on the basis of “getting a deal”. Its so, so important to try the wine before buying it. Otherwise you may be letting yourself in for a major disappointment. Reputable suppliers will allow you try before you buy. It’s the only way to go.

I hope this helps. So if you are thinking of wine for your wedding day, why not call down and try some of our lovely wines at wholesale prices in our comfortable (non stuffy!!) tasting room. There is absolutely no hard sell and no obligation on you to buy. Its good fun really.

Look forward to seeing you soon.

01
Jun
10

Wine Books. Feed Your Imagination.

By karwigwines Leave a Comment
Categories: Education, Wine Books and Wines
wine books
I love books. Our house is full of them. Naturally as I am wine lover too, my shelves hold a number of wine books ranging from general wine reference books to specific country / regions, memoirs from famous wine personalities and works of wine related fiction (The wonders of Gigondas may have passed me by if I had not read about it in one of Peter Mayles excellent books on life in Provence.). They all have the one common thread – they make me try new and interesting wines !!
Here are some that you might consider adding to your bookshelf. Those marked with an * are unmissable.
  • Complete Encyclopedia of Wine – Joseph
  • Wine – Domine
  • Wine Atlas Of New Zealand – Cooper
  • Essential Winetasting – Schuster
  • New Sothebys Wine Encyclopedia – Stevenson
  • Wine – Callec
  • Oxford Companion to Wine – Robinson *
  • Grapes & Wines – Clarke *
  • Complete Wine Course – Jefford
  • What to Drink with What You Eat – Dornenburg
  • Food & Wine – Dowey
  • Larousse Encyclopedia of Wine
  • Wine Atlas – Clarke *
  • Baccus and Me – McInerney
  • A Hedonist In The Wine Cellar – McInerney
  • Wine Pocket Bible – Smith
  • Wild Bunch – Matthews
  • German Wines – Jamieson
  • Burgundy – Hanson
  • Wines of the South of France – George
  • Sherry – Jeffs
  • Barolo to Valpolicella - Belfrage
  • Port & The Douro – Mayson
  • Australias Liquid Gold – Faith
  • Wine Republic – Moran
  • Chateau Monty – Waldin
  • Confessions of a Wine Lover – Robinson
  • Refelections of a Wine Merchant – Rosenthal
  • Families of the Vines – Sanders *
  • Is this Bottle Corked ? – Burke
  • Wines of the World – Eyewitness Guides
  • 101 Wines – Vaynerchuk
  • French Wines – Joseph
  • Juice Jargon – Reiss
  • Bordeaux – Parker
  • Burgundy – Parker
  • Wine Buyers Guide – Parker
  • Wines of the Rhone Valley – Parker
  • The Emperor of Wine – McCoy
  • Red, White and Drunk All Over – MacLean
  • Sommeliers Guide To Wine – Smith
  • Wine Tasting – Broadbent
  • World Encyclopedia of Wine – Walton
  • Secrets of Wine – Kime
  • Pick the Right Wine Every Time – Lush
  • Grape Varieties – Galet
  • Introducing Wine – Clarke
  • Cognac – Faith
  • Story of Wine – Johnson
  • The Wine Book – Pedley
  • Art & Science of Wine – Halliday
  • Wine – Johnson
  • A Life Uncorked – Johnson
  • Big Wine Adventure – Clarke
  • World Atlas of Wine – Robinson *
  • Oxford Companion to the Wines of North America – Cass
  • Wine Atlas of Australia – Halliday
  • Port – Jefford
  • The New France – Jefford *
  • The New Spain – Radford
  • Bordeaux & Its Wine – Joseph
  • Wines of France – Coates
  • Africa Uncorked – Platter
  • Wine Atlas Of Germany – Pigott
  • Vino Italiano – Lynch
  • A Good Nose & Great Legs – Geddes
  • The Complete Bordeaux – Brook
  • Uncorked – Floyd
  • Australian Wine Companion – Clarke
  • The Worlds Greatest Wine Estate – Parker
  • Grand Vins – Coates
  • Complete Idiots Guide to Wine – Seldon
  • Adventures on the Wine Route – Lynch *
  • Inspiring Thirst – Lynch
  • Wine Bible – MacNeil *
  • 1001 Wines – Beckett
  • Curiosities of Wine – Price
  • Exploring the World of Wines & Spirits – Fielden
  • Complete Wine Course – Zraly
  • Encyclopedia of Wine – Clarke
  • Thirsty Work – Skinner
  • Choosing Wine – Jefford
  • Wine Companion – Johnson *
  • Wine Course – Robinson *
  • World of Wine – Jefford
  • Wine Essentials – Cordon Bleu
  • Pocket Wine Book – Clarke
  • Wine Report – Stevenson
  • Australian Wine Companion – Halliday

I hope that you find something interesting here. If you have a favourite wine book not listed here, please leave a comment with the details as I am always on the lookout for my next great wine book.

Happy reading and wine tasting

20
May
10

Sangiovese – the superstar from Tuscany

By karwigwines Leave a Comment
Categories: Education, Grape Varieties, Sangiovese, Tuscany and Wine Food Matching
Sangiovese

Sangiovese

 

Sangiovese is one of the classic Italian grapes. It finds its home in Tuscany where it makes some of the best wines in the world from Chianti Classico to Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano to the incredible Brunello Di Montalcino. Its the primary grape in ”Super Tuscans” too.  Australia, South America, South Africa and the US experiment with the variety with some very interesting results. 

So what should you look out for on the nose and on the palate . . . . 

  • Dark Sour Cherry
  • Rhubarb
  • Raspberry
  • Plum
  • Perfume
  • Spice
  • Gamey
  • Tobacco
  • Farmyard
  • Foresr Fruit
  • Rustic
  • Earthy

Wines made from sangiovese are brilliant food wines as their high tannic character match beautifully with the local cuisine. You can find some lovely examples here 

18
May
10

Domaines Paul Mas. A Touch Of Class From The Languedoc

By karwigwines 2 Comments
Categories: Languedoc, Merlot, Producers and Syrah

Les Domaines Paul Mas are a set of four family vineyards covering 60 hectares of vineyards on the slopes of the valley of the Hérault in Languedoc in southern France. They are situated between Sete and Pezenas, near the Mediterranean Sea and prestigious tourist sites such as the Canal du Midi (built in 1790 by Paul Riquet), Abbey Valmagne, or the “City of Molière” Pezenas.

The vineyard of Domaines Paul Mas is composed primarily of Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carignan, Cinsault for reds and rose. Viognier and Chardonnay is grown for the whites. The land consists of clayey, gravelly, limestone slopes. They produce charming wine with a strong personality, freely expressing their Terroir.

Here is a short video produced by the winemaker, Jean Claude Mas

Their delicious Caude Val Merlot is one of our best selling wines. It offer incredible value for money, punching way above its weight.

Deep purple colour with ruby tints. Complex nose with soft mocha, plum and blackberry. Rich and soft with ripe tannins. Medium to full body with a good length.

Their Clos Des Mures made from Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre is absolutely gorgeous

Intense purple violet with garnet tints. Complex nose with blackcurrants, violet, blackberries, turning to cacao and spices. Well balanced and smooth tannins, full bodied. Strong fruity characters with a long finish evolving towards liquorice and toasted notes. Elegant and refined.

Give the Languedoc a try – its great stuff.

 

13
May
10

Fancy a Wine DVD – check these out wine lovers

By karwigwines 2 Comments
Categories: DVD, Education, General Musings and Wines
Wine DVDs

Wine DVD's

 

I’ve always liked movies. When I was small, there was nothing better than a trip to the cinema. The big screen, the sound, the sweets, the popcorn. All good. I still love going. Over the last few years due to the presence of my little darlings, the opportunities to go to the cinema are few and far between. Instead I tend to watch DVD’s on the home system. This has naturally led on to wine related DVD’s (much to the dismay of my children – “Dad, thats soooo boring”). I thought I’d share some titles with you 

So, in no particular order, here are some worth checking out 

  • Jancis Robinsons Wine Course
  • Wines of Northern Italy
  • Wines of Central & Southern Italy
  • Journey Into Wine : Australia
  • Journey Into Wine : Spain & Portugal
  • Journey Into Wine : South Africa
  • Journey Into Wine : Budapest To The Black Sea
  • Wine For Dummies
  • Mondovino
  • Mondovino – The Series (yep – all 10 hours of it !)
  • Pairing Food & Wine
  • Oz & James Big Wine Adventure : France
  • Oz & James Big Wine Adventure : California
  • Floyd Uncorked
  • Merlove
  • The Wine Route (a fine series often shown on TV)

All of the above are packed full of interesting wine facts and information. 

If you fancy a bit of wine related fiction, you could do worse than checking out the following . . . . . . . 

  • Sideways
  • A Good Year
  • Bottle Shock

And dont forget the popcorn !

28
Apr
10

Malbec : under-rated deliciousness

By karwigwines 6 Comments
Categories: Argentina, Education, Grape Varieties, Malbec, Wine Books and Wine Tasting
Malbec

Malbec

 

Malbec can be seriously delicious. From the inky ”Black Wines” of Cahors to its New World expression, notably in Argentina, its one of those varieties that may have slipped past your radar. Its one to seek out as it can produce some fabulous wines. It origins are in Bordeaux where it blends wonderfully with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The Malbecs from Argentina are more accessable than the tannic versions from Cahors (and are more widely available). I love Cahors wines ever since I read the wonderful book Families Of The Vines. Well worth a read. 

Here are some of the aroma and tasting characteristics of this wonderful grape 

  • Plums
  • Bramble
  • Tobacco
  • Blackcurrant
  • Herbs
  • Spice
  • Chewy
  • Ripe Strawberry
  • Vanilla
  • Fruitcake

I recently has a bottle of Malbec from Argentina with some home cooked roast beef and it was magic. Go to any Argentinian steakhouse and order a bottle of Malbec to go with it. I’m telling you, it’s a match made in heaven.

26
Apr
10

A review of the Burgerspital Wurzberg Silvaner Trocken ’08 by Kevin of Fenns Quay Restaurant

By karwigwines 2 Comments
Categories: Franken, Germany, Grape Varieties, Guest Blogger, Silvaner, Tasting, Wine Tasting and Wines

Not content with changing the food world with his wonderful Fenns Quay Restaurant, Kevin Crowley recently launched his own online video review channel.

Its called “Kevin’s Tried And Tasted”

Kevin is a true wine lover and its brilliant to see him launching his video reviews.

We were honoured when he choose our Burgerspital Wurzburg Silvaner Trocken 2008 to kick off proceedings.

If you missed it, check out his video review below. Enjoy.

And watch out Gary Vaynerchuk !

23
Apr
10

Chateauneuf Du Pape. It changed my wine world.

By karwigwines Leave a Comment
Categories: Chateauneuf Du Pape, Grape Varieties, Grenache and Rhone
Chateauneuf and Galets

Red Chateauneuf and Galets

 

Many moons ago I had just a passing interest in wine. I liked it but it had not captured my full attention (boy has that changed). I tended to buy wines I liked. I played it safe. And sure, how bad. 

I was working with a guy who was seriously into his wine. We got to talking one day and he asked me a series of questions about wines I was buying. It turns out I had a liking for wines from the Rhone, particurally those of the southern Rhone. A couple of days later he walked into my office with a bottle of wine in hand. Try that he said. You will love it. 

Lazaret Castle

Lazaret Castle

 

I looked at the label and it’s name was familiar, though I was sure I had never tried it. It was the Domaine Du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf Du Pape. The bottle was the first thing that grabbed me. A picture of a fortress castle, on a high grade paper label. The bottle had the words CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE in bold raised glass with papal symbols also prominent. All this on a very dark, heavy glass bottle. It looked classy, even before I tasted it. [Châteauneuf-du-Pape loosely translates to "The Pope's New Castle" and this appellation has lots of papal conections. In the 1300's, Pope Clement V moved the papacy to Avignon. Hence the raised glass papal symbols on the bottle to this day.] 

The wine was wonderful. Deep crimson in colour. Ripe dark berries, turning to spices. Very smooth and persistent with aromatic fullness. I was hooked immediately. Though the alcohol was up there at 14.5%, it was beautifully balanced and not noticeable at all. A really lovely wine. 

I started to read a little about the wine and the area. Striking images of the pudding stones (Galets) were amazing. I loved the fact that it was here that the whole system of Appellation Controlee was founded. No machine harvesting allowed and grapes must be sorted by hand. It all seemed to result in a wine of real quality. And then of course, there’s the grapes. Some examples can have 13 different permitted grape varieties. Yep, 13 I kid you not. Grenache is the most dominant in the reds followed by syrah and mourvedre. All grapes I loved. No wonder it was a big hit. 

Grenace Vines and Galets

Grenache Vines and Galets

 

This led me on to other wines from the area. Gigondas, Lirac, Rasteau and Cotes Du Rhone’s all appealed to me and remain some of my favourites to this day. I turned my eyes north where wines from Hermitage, Crozes Hermitage, Cornas, Cote Rotie and St Joseph crept onto my radar. I was amazed at the differences in style and the fascinating stories associated with the Northern Rhone. 

Its this diversity of styles (even within a single grape variety) that so appeals to me. You can start off finding a wine you like and then travel down a road of exploration and it can take you to wonderful places and incredible wines. Thats my kind of exploring.

19
Apr
10

Grenache / Garnacha – its not a shy one

By karwigwines Leave a Comment
Categories: Australia, California, Grape Varieties and Grenache
Chateauneuf Du Pape

Chateauneuf Du Pape

 

This has to be in my top 5 favourite grape varieties. The wonderful Grenache (or Garnacha as the Spanish call it). You’ll find it in France, especially in the Southern Rhone Valley (where it is the main grape in Chateauneuf Du Pape no less), in Spain where it is widely planted, in California and in Australia (especially in the McLaren Vale region) to name a few. 

Grenache / Garnacha produces lovely wines that are high in alcohol, low in tannins and are full bodied and fruity. 

Here are some flavours and aromas to look out for . . . . 

  • Strawberry
  • White Pepper
  • Spice
  • Raspberry
  • Bubblegum
  • Confectionary
  • Cherry
  • Briar
  • Blackberry
  • Plum
  • Orange Peel
  • Gamey
  • Meaty
  • Earthy
  • Prune
  • Leather
  • Tar

If you fancy checking out one to go with your roast beef or selection of cheeses, you can start here

15
Apr
10

Wine and food – a match made in heaven

By karwigwines 4 Comments
Categories: Education, Wine Food Matching, Wine Tasting and Wine Websites
Food and Wine Matching

Food and Wine Matching

 

Wine and food. A match made in heaven when it works. 

A great starting point is of course to match the wine of a region with the cuisine of a region. There are no set rules however. If you want to drink a full on Barossa Shiraz with your lemon sole and it works for you, then good luck to you. Remember, the purpose of wine / food matching is to increase the pleasure of both. So if it works for you, it works for you. 

There are some basic considerations that are worth noting. Here goes . . 

  • Match light body wine with lighter weight food / heavier body wine with heavier food
  • Match the flavour intensity of the wine with the flavour intensity of the food
  • Match the acidity of the wine with the acidity of the food
  • Match the sweetness of the wine with the sweetness of the food.
  • Tannin, Salt and Oils – some pointers

Match light body wine with light weight food / heavier body wine with heavier food 

The heavier the food, the heavier the wine needs to be. So if you have a lovely winter stew or a roast beef joint, a heavier full bodied powerful wine is yer only man. It does not have to be red (though its usually the safer bet). Its the body of the wine that counts here. A full bodied white wine may work better than a light bodied red. More delicate food like fish will generally work better with lighter wines. White wine will generally work best here but some low tannin red wines can also work very well. You also need to keep in mind what the sauce is. A heavier sauce will need a heavy bodied wine.  

Match the flavour intensity of the wine with the flavour intensity of the food. 

Flavour intensity and weight are closely related but are not the same. Food like potatoes are heavy in body but light in flavour. A shaving of raw garlic is light in body but has masses of flavour intensity. Its the same with wines. Some German and Austrian white wines for example are light in body but have masses of flavour intensity. Strong flavour wines and light flavour foods do not match well and vice versa. The method of cooking is also important to keep in mind. Steaming, roasting, etc will affect the flavour intensity of the food. 

Match the acidity of the wine with the acidity of the food 

Acidity is something we take note of in wine (expecially crisp white wines) but it often slips past our radar in food. If the food has higher acidity levels, it will make the wine taste less acidic. You may find the wine less zippy and refreshing as a result. Tomatoes, citric fruits are high in acidity so keep that in mind when chosing your wine. 

Match the sweetness of the wine with the sweetness of the food. 

The rule of thumb here is that the wine must be at least as sweet or sweeter than the food. If the food is sweeter, the wine will appear acidic and tart. Late harvest wines and ports work well.  

Thoughts on Tannin, Salt and Oils 

Oily fish and tannic wine simply do not work. The wine takes on a metallic taste when they are combined. Low tannin red wines can still work fine though. 

Salty foods will make high tannin wines taste very bitter. 

Salty foods and wines with some sweetness work well. Ever try that classic combo of Port and Stilton ? 

Salty foods can also benefit from a little acidity in the wine. Try a crisp Muscadet with shellfish some time. 

Wines that have a good level of acidity can work very well with oily rich foods. Try fois gras with a sweet dessert wine like Sauternes. It works because the acidity cuts through the fat. 

Natalie Maclean

Natalie Maclean

 

We have only touched on the basics here. A lot to remember ? Well you could take the pain out of all of this and head over to http://www.nataliemaclean.com/ where its all done for you. Here you will find wonderful articles on food / wine matching. Better still, there is an online food / wine matching process. Type in the food or wine you are having and suggested matches appears in front of you. You can also add this wonderful service to your blog or website (it has pride of place on iGoogle for me). What really sealed the deal for me was the ability to download an app on my iPhone (other mobile devices are also catered for). Wondering what to have with spicy chicken wings ? Just click on it and the matching wine types are revealed (Beaujolais, Italian Spumante, Riesling, Syrah and New World Sparkling Wines are suggested) Job done. And the best bit, its free ! Great job Natalie 

So I hope this has been interesting. Just remember, its all about what works for YOU. Keep trying new combinations as this will result in some truely spectacular results ! And let us know how you get on.

13
Apr
10

From Cobh to Tulbagh – The Pielows Wine Story

By karwigwines Leave a Comment
Categories: Grape Varieties, Restaurant, Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa, Syrah and Wines
Tulbagh, South Africa

Tulbagh, South Africa

 

Early in 2005 Colin and Teresa Pielow were selling their business in Cork (Robin Hill Restaurant) to return to Dublin. Before returning to the capital, they planned to tour Europe in a camper van for a few months. All this changed however when they decided instead to take a holiday in South Africa when friends offered the use of a holiday home in Tulbagh, an hour and a half north of Cape Town.  

They obviously really loved the place as by the end of the week, they had bought Honeyoaks Cottage, a traditional cape Dutch house on 1.5 hectares. Never ones to hang about, they moved lock, stock and barrel (sorry) to Tulbagh, including their two beautiful labradors. Pielows Restaurant at the De Oude Herberg Guest House opened just across the road from Honeyoaks Cottage in October of that year 

HoneyOaks Vineyard

HoneyOaks Vineyard

 

Perhaps some of you followed their adventure in the documentary, The Great Escape on RTE ?  The documentary was filmed over a 12 month period and showed the restaurant setup, the establishment of the vineyard at Honeyoaks and their winemaking with the very talented David Jordan from Manley’s Private Cellar.  

We are delighted to carry two of thier fabulous wines, the Shiraz and the Sauvignon Blanc. 

 

Pielows Shiraz  

Made from grapes from Tulbagh Valley at Manley’s private cellar. 

Deep intense red colour. Complex smokey, red berry aromas with hints of oak. Palate enters with berry fruits supported by layers of vanilla. Well-rounded tannins have a firm mouthfeel and lends this wine great ageing potential 

 

Pielows Sauvignon Blanc 

Made by Dewaldt Heyns, an elected member of the Cape Wine Makers guild. 

The wine has a translucent colour with a green edge, showing tropical, gooseberry and fruit salad flavours, underscored by grass and hints of green pepper. 

If you fancy trying delicious South African wines with an Irish connection and a lovely story, you should give them a try.

06
Apr
10

The Aromas and Flavours of Zinfandel

By karwigwines Leave a Comment
Categories: California, Education, Grape Varieties, Primitivo, Wine Tasting and Zinfandel
A rather nice bottle of Zinfandel

A rather nice bottle of Zinfandel

 

Zinfandel, a great name and a misunderstood grape variety. Mention “Zin” to a lot of people and they will immediately think of the ever popular “white zinfandel”, the semi sweet blush style rose from California. Its sweetness and easy drinkability have made it incredibly popular. Its not for everyones palate but thats the beauty of wine is it not ? 

The Zinfandel I am writing about is the robust red wine style. In fact, genetically it is linked with Primitivo from southern Italy where gorgeous wines are made in the region of Puglia, the heel of Italy. 

So here are some things to look out for 

  • Raspberry
  • Herbal
  • Blackcurrant
  • Herbal
  • Tomato
  • Pepper
  • Spice
  • Cherry
  • Loganberry
  • Plum
  • Fruitcake
  • Walnut
  • Cola
  • Raisin
  • Earthy
  • Tar

There are some wonderful examples available across the full price spectrum. If you fancy trying a rather serious option, check out a stunning example from one of the most iconic producers in the US, the fabulous Limerick Lane.

30
Mar
10

Online Wine Information Sources Worth Checking Out

By karwigwines 2 Comments
Categories: Education, General Musings, Wine Books and Wine Websites

Where would we be without the Internet ? It seems no matter what I buy these days, its my first port of call to get more information or read a review.  I’m firing up Google quicker than you can say gewurztraminer. I find its a brilliant source of material on wine. Better still, most of it is free !

I was speaking with some customers the other day and they were asking me about different wine websites that I’d recommend for someone looking to learn a little more about this fascinating subject. So here are some to get you started.

If you log on to a wine site that isn’t listed here, please leave a comment below with the details. I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting online sources of wine content !

www.graperadio.com/

http://wine.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Main_Page

www.wineanorak.com/

www.decanter.com

www.thewinedoctor.com/

www.wset.co.uk/default.asp

www.wineeducation.com/basic.html

http://winefornewbies.net/

http://tv.winelibrary.com/archive/

http://winecast.net/

http://wine.about.com/od/winebasic1/u/Winebasics.htm

http://m.youtube.com/profile?desktop_uri=%2Fjancisrobinson&user=jancisrobinson

http://www.wine-pages.com

http://www.andrewjefford.com/

http://www.encyclowine.org/?title=Main_Page

http://www.jeansmullen.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://www.nataliemaclean.com/

http://www.robertfranciswine.ie/wordpress/

http://www.sourgrapes.ie/

http://www.winespectator.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine

I hope this adds to your wine reading, listening and viewing pleasure. Enjoy.

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