Try it Tuesday

I found this at Safeway... and yes, bought it because I enjoyed the label and name.  For $8-9 at Safeway, I always appreciate a label that amuses me - as long as the wine inside is tasty.  I'm not sure that I will purchase this one again.  Not that it was bad, just a little too plum-y and raisin-y for my taste.  For an affordable table red, this one wasn't bad.  But, when I can get a decent Cabernet for the same price... well, this wine reminds me why I don't usually purchase red blends unless I know exactly what I'm getting.

I have heard great things about Rosenblum (https://www.rosenblumcellars.com/), and I can't wait to head out to their Alameda tasting room and try some of their other wines.

Just for fun a challenge: Try something new this week and let me know what you find!  I'd love to hear reports of other "new" wines you've tried this week.

Peju Harvest Video

Click here to see a great video of the night pick of Sauvignon Blanc grapes in the Athena block of Persephone Vineyards in the Napa Valley.

2013 wines are going to be fantastic!

Honig

I have coupons...

http://www.honigwine.com/index.cfm

Grifone Sangiovese 2011

Sangiovese, literally the blood of Jupiter, is Italy's most popular grape. I'm not very familiar with italian wines so I've been trying to explore( thanks Josh!). I really liked the Grifone Primitivo, both available at TJ's for $3.99. 

 The Grifone Sangiovese is okay. It seems a bit thin but is very drinkable, certainly at $3.99. It's cheap enough that you should try it. Ill try another bottle with company and find out what they think.

Cabernet Day is 8/29

In celebration of this year's ‪#‎CabernetDay‬ on August 29th, Duckhorn is doing an exclusive offer with a little twist! The 2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc is an amazing wine to enjoy! Buy two or more bottles of 2010 Cabernet Franc from Duckhorn - Get 15% Off!

Stay tuned for more great Cabernet Day Info!

https://www.facebook.com/DuckhornVineyards

Sunday Brunch

One of my first fully formed, coherent thoughts this morning (after..."day = sunday" and "coffee?") was, "we need brunch."  Then I saw the cheesy jalapeno biscuit and bloody mary post on our Facebook page and realized that while I do have CSB's home made bloody mary mix in the fridge, I am out of vodka.  Next I realized that while I do have a bottle of champagne, it wasn't chilled.  What is a girl to do!?!

So, as CSB was concocting an amazing "refrigerator omelet" I went snooping in the wine fridge to see if there was anything brunch flavored waiting for me.  I had completely forgotten about this fantastic bottle of Domaine Chandon Sparkling Red.  Admittedly, when I think champagne, I never think of red wine... even though I've enjoyed this particular sparkling red in the past, it just doesn't occur to me.  This one is 60/40 Pinot Noir & Zinfandel grapes, giving it a bold, hearty (if not slightly sweet) flavor, which stood up well to the bacony, sausagey, tomatoey, cheesy goodness of CSB's omelet.

If you are going to have red wine for breakfast (and hey, why not?), give this one a try.  You can only get this particular wine at the winery, but what a fantastic excuse to get out to Yountville/Napa and spend a day tasting amazing wines.  Now that my bottle is empty, I'll be heading out soon!  See you there! 
-Giddy

Grifone Primitivo

 As I was in the long check out line at Trader Joes, scooting my basket forward with my feet like some kind of soccer player with a red, rectangular ball, I saw the orange label on the Grifone Primitivo 2011. The sign said $3.99!

I’ve been trying to get out of my comfort zone by trying wines from outside the Napas. This fits so I got some. It says on the back label ” Zinfandel in America…Primitivo in Italy… Mali Plavãc in Croatia”. Lot of history there!

The wine is great! When you consider the price it’s even better! I’ll gladly drink this as a first choice any day. As a bottle to keep around as a second or third bottle, it blows most wines in its price range away. I found it to be soft with a long finish.

Bottle Sizes

 

Picolo/Split/Pony = 187.5ml
Demi/Half = 375ml; 1/2 bottle
Bottle = 750ml; 1 bottle
Magnum = 1.5Liters; 2 bottles
Marie Jeanne = 2.25 Liters; 3 bottles
Double Magnum/Jeroboam = 3 Liters; 4 Bottle
Rehoboam = 4.5 to 5 Liters; 6 to 6 1/3 bottles
Imperial/Methuselah = 6 Liters; 8 bottles
Salmanazar/Mordechai = 9 Liters; 12 bottles
Balthazar = 12 Liters; 16 bottles
Nebuchadnezzar = 15 Liters; 20 bottles
Melchior = 18 Liters; 24 bottles
Solomon = 20 Liters; 26.66 bottles
Sovereign = 25 Liters; 33.33 bottles
Goliath/Primat = 27 Liters; 36 bottles
Melchizedek = 30 Liters; 40 bottles

Fun Facts!

• Vines need 3 yrs to start producing and 5 yrs to be mature. They can produce for 30-35 yrs with full quality and quantity, but then quantity decreases even though quality can remain!

• There are about 50-75 grapes in a bunch ( more properly called a cluster).

• A pound of grapes contained 4-5 clusters, and thus there are 8,000-10,000 clusters in a ton.

• A ton usually makes about 2 barrels of wine, or 120 gallons.

• A barrel of wine produces between 23-25 cases or about 288 bottles.

• A bottle usually has within it about 2.75 pounds of grapes ( meaning about 11 clusters, or 550 grapes, give or take 50-100).

• There are somewhere between 500-1300 vines grown per acre. Each vine produces 5 bottles. Each acre produces 13-14 barrels, or about 312 cases, which equals about 3,750 bottles.

Box Wine

I don’t know how you feel about the new wave of box wines but I give them a “DPR says drink now!”. They are environmentally friendly and they keep wine fresh for a long time! Plus, you can’t beat 3 liters of wine for $15 bucks at target! Trader joes has a Syrah for $10! It’s a nice backup for that whole “one more glass” dilemma..