When it comes to New Zealand wine, you probably think about the punchy, tropical, zesty Sauvignon Blancs. Fair enough, since that’s 72% of their production. People there sometimes call it Savvy B which I thought was sort of funny, but then a winemaker told me to never cheapen it like that. I’d rather have my … Continue reading
For a winemaker who almost considered being a professional shooter, 25-year-old Mathilde Chapoutier clearly has good aim. Lots of Provençal rosé can be bland and boring, though usually refreshing on a sweltering day. But this one has all the refreshing, light qualities you’re looking for in summer, while still bringing some interesting fruit and minerality. … Continue reading
I’m always surprised when people don’t know that Oregon makes wine. And not only does it just make wine, it makes some of my favorite wine in the US. The Pinot Noirs are a balance between elegant, earthy Burgundies and heavily-fruity ones from Sonoma. But you also have delicious Pinot Noir-based rosés, lush and pear-flavored Pinot … Continue reading
One of my favorite summertime pairings is just rosé and a hot day. But if food does enter the picture, as it usually does at some point, the most royal pairing might be BBQ. They’re basically as perfectly matched as Kate and Wills. First, rosé and anything spicy is just flat out amazing. It balances and … Continue reading
The #RoséWeek day you’ve all been waiting for! I’ve been sampling away since May – over 100 bottles. It’s been ROUGH. But finally we have our top 10 rosés of 2016! I organized them by region based on my previous post about grapes they use to make rosé in different regions. It’s always helpful to … Continue reading
We’ve detailed how rosé is made in past Rosé Weeks (if you need a refresh, it’s right here). But obviously, you need red grapes to make rosé since those varying shades of pink all come from the color in the skin of red grapes. But rosé regions all around the world make rosé from different … Continue reading
IT’S FINALLY BACK!!! Let us re-commence the deviousness, the machinations, the goblets of wine, and the torturous moment every Sunday night when Game of Thrones ends, usually on a can-NOT-wait-a-week cliffhanger. So obsessed with this show and all the wine drinking they do, especially by the show’s biggest grapefriends, Tyrion and Cersei (the Lannisters clearly win … Continue reading
Happy Winter Solstice! The shortest day of the year means the longest night getting your grape on by the fire. Let’s get those heavy reds poppin! Cab, southern Rhones, Sicilian reds like Nero d’Avola, Monastrell from Toro. What’s your winter time fave? Continue reading
It’s the holidays, so of course no one at all is over-indulging. Especially not with drinks or sweets. Yep, me neither. So I went to a dinner for Luberon wines, where we only had 7 wines and 13 desserts. Luberon is a small region in the southern Rhone valley in France. Southern Rhone wines (like … Continue reading
Why mess with the good stuff? Charles & Charles is always one of my go-to rosés. The blend of Syrah (72%), Mourvedre (8%), Cabernet Sauvignon (8%), Grenache (6%), Cinsault (3%), Counoise (3%) gives it vibrant strawberry, light cherry and and easy drinking goodness. Perfectly delicious at the perfect price – $13.99 here. Continue reading
