In Vino Veritas

    This question was asked of me a while back, and just for (explicative) and giggles I decided to answer I guess it could be a two parter. One way of thinking would be which varietal is typically vinified with the highest alcohol percentage thereby getting you both drunk enough to overcome social anxieties, or make you forget your initial displeasure of said other person. In that case I would go with…

  I’ve compiled a short list with simple explanations for some facts that can impress people: What are the 5 red varietals allowed by French law in Bordeaux wine? Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and a sixth almost never used varietal.. Carménère What two parent grapes gave way to Cabernet Sauvignon? Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc (its easy to remember too because its in the name) Champagne vs. Sparkling wine Champagne is only from…

This is my second installment of Wines on the cheap tip.

I’ve had my years of affluence and my years of absolute poverty. Strangely enough some of the most relaxing, peaceful, blissed out times I’ve had were when I had only the change in my pocket to my name.

I was asked for the umpteenth time to recommend affordable good wine buys in every department. Or as it was put “Inexpensive tasty wines for the grad student! That can be found anywere?...say Texas :)” I decided to skip my usually playful banter and just go over a ton of wine that can be found for only a modicum of ducats.. Its typically far easier to find an easy drinking inexpensive white than a red because the reds tend to be overblown…

    I was asked to teach a class two Sundays from now, and was trying to decide what I would go over. Where does one begin when just being introduced to wine? I asked myself a few questions that I asked when I first started. I’m going to tease you with answers now, but if you are in San Francisco on the 18th I will go into far more detail at the…

Intrigue isn’t usually a word I would associate with wine tastings. I went to Paris not too long ago. I took a train for a day trip to Epernay, in the heart of Champagne, and then cabbed it to Ay to see Gosset (the oldest wine house in Champagne). I enjoyed the small town and the history there. It had that small village feel with little cobblestone bridges over small rivers…

Drew told me the tasting was at three. I knew I had to get back to the house by at least 2:15 or I’d miss my ride to the tasting. I ended up wearing a gray fleece coat and suede brown pants. The car was screaming through traffic to make it on time. I dodged three strollers and a crosswalk guard. The crazies were out that day, determined to stop me from reaching my house and the tasting.  I…

Imagine if you will a warm summer night. The moon is missing, making the dark thicker then Papa Jones’s molasses barbecue sauce. A gang of fireflies pierce the void with a spattering of the tiniest suns. The breeze brings a mosquito that changes its meal ticket as soon as you blow cigar smoke in her famished little face. The group of friends you are on the front porch with raise a toast of port to your well being and…

I’d like to continue talking about my favorite region in California. Santa Barbara I left off with Longoria. Mosby is another winery that we frequented. At Mosby they produce almost entirely Italian varietals, and do a great job of it.  William ‘Bill’ Mosby is an eccentric ex-dentist who made the switch back in ‘98 to full time wine making. They have a no-frills tasting room, but they make grappa. They have a crappy shitter, but…

When I first started getting into wine I went to Santa Barbara area and tasted wine at many places repeatedly over the course of ten years. Every year we would go to some places religiously. Most of which are still my favorite California wineries to date. I often wonder how much nostalgia plays a part in the longing for these wines. How much the touch of simpler times and family makes my heart glow when I think of these wines. We always…