In grapefriend’s long-standing tradition (ok, three years – and counting), Rosé Week is back in action! In past summers we’ve gone through how rosé is made, what songs it pairs best with, and which celebrities are making the pink. I’ve tasted over 75 of them since June, so this year we’re getting back to basics and … Continue reading
grape: Trebbiano di Lugana. Trebbiano is one of the most widely planted grapes in the world because it’s used for cognac, but there are lots of subtypes and a crazy amount of confusing information about all their genetics. Anyway, the Lugana type is from that region in Italy. producer: Ottella country: Italy region: Lugana, in the Veneto region. A small … Continue reading
grape: What they call a Bordeaux blend – a mix of grapes that are used in Bordeaux. In this case, you have 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. producer: V Sattui country: USA region: Napa year: 2010. Could definitely have used a few more years, but opened it by accident. (See below.) yum factor: My mom … Continue reading
grape: Pinot Noir, one of the two grapes that Sonoma’s known for (the other is Chardonnay) producer: Gary Farrell, classic Sonoma producer. Gary started his own winery in 1982 but is no longer involved. Now winemaker Theresa Heredia has taken the reins. She’s super smart – got a degree in Biochemistry, but when she saw … Continue reading
grape: Merlot. It gets a bad rap from Sideways, but it’s an excellent grape that just got overdone. Revisit some good ones and you’ll get why it got so popular in the first place. producer: Emmolo. This is a relatively new wine line made by Jenny Wagner, who’s the daughter of the Caymus winemaker. We were at … Continue reading
grape: Nebbiolo. This is the grape that makes up Barolo and Barbaresco, thought of as two of the best wines in Italy. producer: Matteo Correggia. This guy made great wines which helped Roero get international recognition. He unfortunately died in a tractor accident in 2001 when he was only 39, and apparently a lot of the top Roero … Continue reading
grape: Cinsault. Ths guy is usually part of a blend, especially popular in Chateauneuf du Pape and in the Languedoc, but rarely made on its own. Worth seeking out though. producer: Michael David. They also make 7 Deadly Zins, which a ton of people have tagged me while drinking. country: USA region: Lodi, CA. Lodi’s mostly known for Zin … Continue reading
grape: Pinot Noir producer: Talley Vineyards. They started out planted vegetables in 1948 in Arroyo Grande (near Edna Valley), and then (luckily for us) planted vines in 1982. They make great restrained wines, unlike lots of big. fruity California ones. country: USA region: Arroyo Grande Valley, CA year: 2011 yum factors: Had a bunch of their Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs last weekend and … Continue reading
grape: Riesling. I love spicy food, and there is one wine and one wine only that I want with spicy food: Riesling. producer: Chateau Montelena. I didn’t even know they made a Riesling, because they’re incredibly famous for their Chardonnay that beat the French in the Judgment of Paris in 1976. But I loved this Riesling! country: USA region: Potter Valley, CA … Continue reading
The heatwave is technically over but it’s still horribly humid, and for the past few days probably all you’ve been drinking is crisp whites and rosés. Summertime in general doesn’t tend to make people want to drink heavy reds, but summer also means Grill Time! And nothing goes better with some charred grilled red meat … Continue reading
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