It’s full-on fireplace time (or just under-blanket time if you don’t have a fireplace), and that’s prime time for a lush red. Want to be the first to get the monthly newsletter recommendations? Woo hoo, sign up here! Continue reading
Tag Archives: carmenere
get your rosé engines ready
We’ve already had our first Heat Dome, and I immediately started popping frosty rosés. Here are a few favorites to kick off your summer and keep you cool: Want to be the first to get the monthly newsletter recommendations? Woo hoo, sign up here! Continue reading
top 5 house of cards wine moments
So excited for the second season of House of Cards, all of which is now gloriously on Netflix for my viewing pleasure. Being grapefriend, one of my favorite things about the first season was how much good wine they all drank. Let’s take a look back. 1 Zoe gets down to business she pours herself … Continue reading
getting your grape on: october
Fall is in full swing! Harvest, Halloween, and happiness all due to wine. First, I loved all the non-kids who love Halloween for its grapefriendy potential. Who needs candy now that we can all have wine? Even though Halloween’s over, all year long people post pictures of #spookywine – ie, wine bottles that you shoot … Continue reading
a radiohead kind of vineyard
Most winemakers try to figure out what’s the best kind of grape to grow in each particular vineyard. Terra Noble in Casablanca was telling us that’s what they’ve taken pains to do, taking into account the climate, soil, slope and everything else that goes into the concept of terroir. “Everything in its right place,” they … Continue reading
chillin in chile: day 1
I love a good truck ride through a vineyard. Today: Viña Ventisquero in the Apalta Valley. Our rickety truck provided us with insane views and dust in every crevice of our bodies. (I kept singing that Kings of Leon song “dusty, oh dustyyyy” in my head the whole time.) Sergio the winemaker showed us how … Continue reading
drink me: inama carmenere
grape: Carmenere – usually super inky and thick, but this one’s lightened up with 30% Merlot producer: Inama country: Italy region: Colli Berici DOC zone, east of the Soave area year: 2009 yum factors: This has that cocoa and a touch of black pepper that Carmenere usually has, but it’s so much lighter and softer with the dark plum from the … Continue reading
biodynamic basics
Here’s the most important thing you need to know about biodynamic wine: it’s often exceptionally, potentially mind-blowing good. I applaud anyone farming organically, but don’t usually taste a difference. With biodynamics I usually do. OK so what is it? I went to a whole talk with Nicolas Joly, one of biodynamics’ passionate pioneers who makes … Continue reading
happy getting green happy hour!
Earth Day isn’t til April 22, and grapefriend will once again be doing Green Week. But as a little prepper, we’re having a happy hour wine chat with the DeMartino winemaker tonight. They’re in the Maipo Valley in Chile, and they were the continent’s first carbon neutral winery. They have three new organic wines in the … Continue reading
carson: the grapefriend hero of downton
Let’s make one thing clear: Carson is going to be the savior of Downton this season. He already paved the way in the first two seasons with his impeccable butlering skills. He always kept the kitchen running smoothly, Mary happy, and – most importantly – the wine properly chosen, stored, and decanted. After a hard … Continue reading
