tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76328642785021322024-02-19T11:33:55.176-05:00WineQ.ca BlogA Passionate Approach to the Culture, History and Knowledge of Wine by Robert Julien BroerseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-15450468912321602292011-05-24T11:56:00.006-04:002011-05-24T12:20:03.873-04:00In-Depth: Deciphering Spanish Wine Labels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wine labels from New World wine countries (i.e. the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa) are fairly easy to read. They offer wine consumers little if no trouble in navigating the script as you'll easily find the name of the producer, where the grapes were grown, the year and the variety right there in front of you. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Clear and simple. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Such is not the case in the Old World. For many producers in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, the region plays a prominent role in wine labeling while the grape (or grapes), often viewed as the vehicle in which the wine expresses itself take a back seat making the buying experience a bit more confusing.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SPAIN - A BIT OLD, A BIT NEW</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSJ9YoR_ahaCIZ7-DX6EN3ZO-IrdsnZtB7XUlmIAG1M2zLs0aMZmv9lBX8AGe6PaxbxA2RWckqV6hDkBLkoZiGD2_Gcjj_zsvcKjE-aAjCGVGm0xCM-Uw2jwgTVLc2uQR4YowYgqaww/s1600/DSCN1266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSJ9YoR_ahaCIZ7-DX6EN3ZO-IrdsnZtB7XUlmIAG1M2zLs0aMZmv9lBX8AGe6PaxbxA2RWckqV6hDkBLkoZiGD2_Gcjj_zsvcKjE-aAjCGVGm0xCM-Uw2jwgTVLc2uQR4YowYgqaww/s320/DSCN1266.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of all the Old World countries, I find Spain (and to a certain extent Southern Italy) the most customer-friendly. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's a label from a premium and popular producer in the Rioja region, <b><a href="http://www.marquesdecaceres.com/">Marqués de Cáceres</a>. </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Cáceres, like many bodegas in the region make a blend of Tempranillo (in this case 85%) with Garnacha Tinta and Graciano (15%). The former is the staple variety of Rioja while the latter two are used to add alcohol and tannins to the wine.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just below the <i>bodega's</i> name we find <i><b>Vendimia Seleccionada</b></i> which translates as <b>'Vintage Selection'</b>.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2005</b> is the Vintage and an excellent one in Rioja. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then we find <b><i>Denominación de Origen Calificada</i></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> or DOC (or DOCa). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spain, like France, Italy and German have what is called an appellation system that ensures quality. The larger controlled appellation system of Spain is called <i>Denominación de Origen</i> (DO) and is governed by a <i>Consejo Regulador</i>. This latter organization is comprised of representatives from the regional government along with vine-growers, winemakers and merchants in the DO's area (i.e. Bierzo, Calatayud, Yecla, etc...) </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">DO regulations stipulate the boundaries of the region, the varieties allowed in wine production, yields and alcohol strength. If a wine doesn't meet these standards it can be either labelled <i><b>Vino de Mesa</b></i> (i.e. Table Wine) or <i><b>Vino de La Tierra</b>.</i> The former often indicates basic if not low quality but the latter can simply mean the grapes making up the wine came from a larger area. For instance, <b><i>Vino de La Tierra de Castilla</i> indicates the wine has been sourced from vineyards throughout New Castile. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just above DO is DOC (<i>Denominación de Origen Calificada</i>) indicating the highest quality region. At this point only Rioja and Priorat have been given such a status. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>ANOTHER GLANCE</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's another label from a Rioja <i>bodega</i>, <b><a href="http://www.bodegaslan.com/">Lan</a>. (In this instance the wine is 100% Tempranillo - one can always check the company website for product details.)</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXrXnrrGyLBXkL77kBqOQ64FNgyNUoedA7aG6GGRw6vLVTZZGyklrgoVHdLqCa1Pfp9Tg8CY3fUb2JqwVGkqqeDSDL9FqlMtoMwk5JI_G6B30WcGrDjL29EsmmDQHBrP2VMRAZ8VcNg/s1600/DSCN1637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXrXnrrGyLBXkL77kBqOQ64FNgyNUoedA7aG6GGRw6vLVTZZGyklrgoVHdLqCa1Pfp9Tg8CY3fUb2JqwVGkqqeDSDL9FqlMtoMwk5JI_G6B30WcGrDjL29EsmmDQHBrP2VMRAZ8VcNg/s200/DSCN1637.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">We know already it is the 2006 vintage<b> but what does <i>Crianza</i> mean?</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In many New World countries, labels will read 'reserve' or 'proprietor's reserve'. <b>These are often empty, blanket statements because in Canada or the USA, there is no law controlling their appearance on a bottle.</b> It is often a marketing tool and the savvy consumer over time will undoubtedly have to learn how to distinguish the plonk dubbed 'reserve' from the more premium wines with the same title.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">However, Spain, like Italy, do use such words and they have a purpose beyond superficial sales rhetoric. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The DO or DOC not only guarantee quality and certify the region of origin but <u>also indicate aging</u>. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>TERMS TO LOOK OUT FOR:</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Vino Joven</i> (or 'young wine')</b> may or may not have spent time in a barrel and wines are typically released a year after vintage.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Crianza</b></i> (sometimes translated as '<i>breeding'</i>) are wines aged for at least two full years after harvest. Of those two years, the wine must have spent a minimum time of six months in oak casks. In Rioja, the time in oak must be one year.(NOTE: You may encounter '<i><b>Semi-crianza</b></i>' or '<b><i>Roble'</i></b> which are not official terms but will give some indication of oak aging). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Reserva</b></i> and <i><b>Gran Reserva</b></i> grant the wines have been aged three years (at least one in oak) for the former and five years (of that time, two in oak) for the latter. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Other phrases you may encounter in the Spanish wine section are <i><b>Noble, Añejo </b></i><b>and</b><i><b> Viejo</b></i>. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Noble</b></i> solely means the wines were stored a year in larger oak vats (no more than 600 litres) which will impart a slight oak character. <b><i>Añejo</i></b> indicates the wine is 'mature' after spending two years in cask or bottle while <i><b>Viejo</b></i>, meaning 'old', the wine is three years old and can very well show oxidative aging. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>MODERN SPAIN</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I mentioned that some Spanish wines have a bit of the New World influence.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbVnyc_StMlNlQBf7dihLzMj803hE9xegvNL2YOjHuhreY5R7mrR6EAwyvPnS3KkBUn3eG7EokVsHrlgqsNGRGIfHPC3aL116IyzkWEjJEY7lz3NytmRDEM6eiBDROJfVzF0hn3X9Kw/s1600/DSCN1635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbVnyc_StMlNlQBf7dihLzMj803hE9xegvNL2YOjHuhreY5R7mrR6EAwyvPnS3KkBUn3eG7EokVsHrlgqsNGRGIfHPC3aL116IyzkWEjJEY7lz3NytmRDEM6eiBDROJfVzF0hn3X9Kw/s320/DSCN1635.JPG" width="235" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's one more label we can look at.</span></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bodegascastano.com/">Bodegas Castaño</a> is the producer and I must say, <b>fairly modern in their approach. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Though Lan and Marqués de Cáceres are popular brands and well-known and lauded amongst critics and connoisseurs, 'La Casona', the wine displayed here is meant to appeal to a younger, more novice wine market. </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Moreover, this is a wine focused on grabbing the attention of consumers already familiar with such branded wines as Yellowtail and Berringer. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The vintage is 2007 and<b> the grape is Monastrell, the leading variety of The Levant or Spanish Mediterranean</b>. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yecla is the DO and like Jumilla and Valencia produce full-bodied reds that can be high in alcohol and rich in black-berry and black licorice flavour. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A FINAL WORD</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">Because Spain belongs to the Old World and is regulated by their appellation system, many labels will adhere to quality guidelines. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">However, Spanish wine is continuing to experience what many industry writers have </span><span style="font-size: small;">called a 'revolution' and their wines are showing a New World influence, both inside and outside of the bottle. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The combination of old and new not only ensure quality but will help consumers buy with confidence. Either way, the label should never halt your curiosity - in fact, it should stimulate it.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bibliography</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost"><span id="fullpost"><span id="fullpost"><span id="fullpost">Jeff, Julian, <i>The Wines of Spain</i>. Mitchell Beazley, London, 2006.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost"><span id="fullpost"><span id="fullpost"><span id="fullpost"> Radford, John, <i>The New Spain</i>. Mitchell Beazley, London, 2007.</span></span></span></span></span><span id="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">Robinson, Jancis (ed.), <span style="font-style: italic;">The Oxford Companion to Wine</span>. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 2006.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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</span></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-69065264420384539122011-05-23T12:31:00.011-04:002011-05-24T12:15:57.583-04:00Getting to Know... Spain<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've been thinking about the wine knowledge I've acquired along the way and how easy it is for me to navigate the Vintages section at the LCBO. The solid foundation I have is a result of appreciation courses as well as numerous hours spent poring over related books, articles and of course <i>educational</i> glasses of wine. <b>(Check out of my <a href="http://wineq.blogspot.com/2009/07/learning-about-wine.html">Wine and Words: Books for Imbibers</a> for great reads.)</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">And so I thought, considering there seems to be few blogs devoted to wine basics I would create a new series entitled <i>'Getting to Know..</i>.' as an introduction with accompanying links to more in-depth posts I've written.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpr9SWzgJXVlG4u-1Bo6_SrbnOtVkGwonWbEUntrYd10d31-MxLG5-mB9Xmp8BZ3cFaUhqG6PvPy_kz6fmCmfYt996QXOsGThQH-rdTbZoNXqDNwdnT7HlK3sgph0XArhr2Hfz70GiA/s1600/DSCN1625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpr9SWzgJXVlG4u-1Bo6_SrbnOtVkGwonWbEUntrYd10d31-MxLG5-mB9Xmp8BZ3cFaUhqG6PvPy_kz6fmCmfYt996QXOsGThQH-rdTbZoNXqDNwdnT7HlK3sgph0XArhr2Hfz70GiA/s320/DSCN1625.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SPAIN: A LITTLE HISTORY</b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Spain has been several countries spanning several centuries.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">From Galicia in the North West to Catalonia in the east to Jerez in the south, <i>Espana</i> has been the harbor for sea-faring Phoenicians and Greeks, the land of loot for Roman legions and the humble birthplace of two Ceasars, Trajan (AD 98-117) and his successor, Hadrian (117-138). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">With the fall of Rome, Spain accommodated the invading Visigoths until newer visitors, some 7000 Berbers, under Arabic military leaders, landed at </span><span style="font-size: small;">its southern tip in 711. Their main commander, Tariq, would give the Rock its name – Gibraltar (<i>Gebel al-Tariq </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> – ‘mount’ of Tariq) and begin a great era of Muslim rule, a kind of Medieval Renaissance.</span></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spanish Moors controlled the Iberian peninsula with a tolerant fist and their domination is romantically considered a period of relative peace, prosperity and innovation. The art, architecture and Castilian language of Spain began to take shape during these formative years. The Moors developed irrigation and introduced Spain to citrus fruits. <br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Following Columbus' discovery of America and the last ousting of Muslim rule, the country became a world power comparable to then rising British Empire. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But the mighty fall and Spain tumbled hard throughout the next three hundred years. For a moment, after numerous royal feuds there seemed to be a period of recovery in the early twentieth century but General Franco would put a halt to that. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>SPAIN IN THE MODERN WORLD</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Wine grapes in ancient times were often fermented in large stone tanks and then further aged in amphorae (i.e. Greek vases). In Spain, there is archeological evidence of these <i>tijanas</i> as well modern ones in more traditional wine making regions. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In the 1950s and 60s, the wine world, after years of antiquated winemaking, discovered new stainless <span style="font-family: inherit;">technology technology and Spain, with some inspiration from France and Australia began to reinvent itself. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today Spain is experiencing a modern wine revolution. Influenced by both New and Old World viticulture and vinification practices, the country has come into the twenty-first century. </span></b><b> </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SPANISH VINES</b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXj7sgp-40t6SagsJU0lSFLnC-883HFNqXxqSv8wSsPiqdqryoO2CWEHfiTJocr-RVEQf2cIqgcMblUngnqM6rISgEHCOIACY__Y0hbuZhIsSb7hOPUz-9Ij3MbTaQSp0jqmad2r7wg/s1600/Fotolia_17019644_XS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXj7sgp-40t6SagsJU0lSFLnC-883HFNqXxqSv8wSsPiqdqryoO2CWEHfiTJocr-RVEQf2cIqgcMblUngnqM6rISgEHCOIACY__Y0hbuZhIsSb7hOPUz-9Ij3MbTaQSp0jqmad2r7wg/s200/Fotolia_17019644_XS.jpg" width="150" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">In terms of wine production, Spain is third behind France and Italy (or Italy and France depending on the year). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>In terms of land under vine, however, Spain has the most with some 1,154, 000 ha/2, 851,600 acres.</b> The reason for this discrepancy between production and parcels of land is that in such inhospitable landscapes such as <a href="http://wineq.blogspot.com/2010/06/other-ribera-ribera-del-jucar-and-lands.html">La Mancha</a>, the vines are planted several meters apart compared to the typical vine training systems of France and Italy. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overall, this means less bunches per acre.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But being third is nothing to be ashamed of. Spanish varieties offer the wine consumer some beautiful alternatives to Chardonnay and Sangiovese. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>S</b><b>PANISH VARIETIES: THE REDS</b><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Tempranillo</u></b> is<b> </b>grown throughout the Iberian peninsula and finds its roots in the majority of regions; it is<b> rightly the flagship variety of Spain. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tempranillo has numerous aliases from <i>Tinto de Pais</i> to <i>Cencibel</i> to <i>Tinta Roriz</i> in Portugal (used in blends and in Port). The wines from the dark-skinned grape can make heady rich wines of black currant and plum in <a href="http://wineq.blogspot.com/2009/07/spain-wines-of-old-castile.html">Ribera del Duero</a> and Toro but <b>finds its foremost expression in the <i>Crianzas, Reservas</i> and <i>Gran Reservas</i> of <a href="http://wineq.blogspot.com/2009/06/rioja-bordeaux-of-spain.html">Rioja</a> where it is made with minor percentages of Manzuelo and Graciano. The wines of Rioja tend to have a spicy-strawberry scent with lovely acidity.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://wineq.blogspot.com/2010/05/spain-catalayud-and-manga-del-brujo.html">Garnacha</a></b>, known as Grenache in France, Australia and the United States is just behind Tempranillo. The variety is often <b>utilized to add alcohol and body to blends. As a varietal, I find Garnacha wines have a certain brown-sugar blackberry character. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Monastrell </u>(known as Mouvedre in southern France) and <a href="http://wineq.blogspot.com/2010/06/bobal-in-your-spanish-blend.html">Bobal</a></b> are the main grapes of the <a href="http://wineq.blogspot.com/2009/11/spanish-mediterranean-levant.html">The Levant</a> on the Mediterranean coast. <b>Both grapes make big, bold, full-bodied wines ideal for summer backyard barbeques. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>SPANISH VARIETIES: THE WHITES</b><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">As for whites, Spain makes a substantial number of quaffable if not high-quality wines (unlike Italy where a large portion of whites are little more than mundane). <b><u> </u></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Viura</u> (or <u>Macabeo</u>) is used to make lemony-light varietals but is also blended with <u>Parellada</u> and <u>Xarel-lo</u> to either make <i>white Rioja</i> or the sparkling wines of <i>Cava</i>. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the north, especially Rueda and <a href="http://wineq.blogspot.com/2009/09/wine-for-rainy-day-rias-baixas-and.html">Rías Baixas</a>, whites dominate. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Verdejo</u> from Rueda in Old Castile is lush and seductive with melon and mango character</b> while <b><u>Albarino</u> of Galicia is the perfect wine to pair with seafood - crisp, mineral-citrus. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE REGIONS OF SPAIN</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The majority of Spanish wines you'll find in the LCBO will come from a specific DO (<i>Denominación de Origen</i>) or DOC (<i>Denominación de Origen Calificada</i>). Like the French AOC or appellation system, these DOs indicate quality and indicate place of origin.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Here's a list of the most popular DOs and DOCs at the LCBO with prominent grape varieties utilized by the region in brackets:</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Rías Baixas</b> (Albariño, Loureira)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bierzo</b> (Mencía - a lighter red)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ribero del Duero</b> (Tempranillo or Tinto de Pais)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Rueda</b> (Verdejo)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Toro and Cigales</b> (Tempranillo)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Rioja</b> (Tempranillo, Viura)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Calatayud</b> (Garnacha)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Priorato</b> and <b>Monsant</b> (Blend of French and Spanish red varieties)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cava</b> (Sparkling and still whites - Parellada, Macabeo and Exarel-lo) </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Valencia, Jumilla, Yecla</b> (Monastrell and/or Bobal)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>La Manch</b>a (Tempranillo)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a great list to begin with and please use the links to discover more about Spanish wine and build your confidence in the Vintages section.</span><br />
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RELATED LINKS: <a href="http://wineq.blogspot.com/2011/05/in-depth-deciphering-spanish-wine.html">In-Depth: Deciphering Spanish Wine Labels</a><br />
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<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bibliography</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost"><span id="fullpost"><span id="fullpost"><span id="fullpost"></span></span></span></span></span><span id="fullpost"><span id="fullpost"><span id="fullpost"><span id="fullpost">Crow, John Armstrong, <i>Spain: The Root and The Flower</i>, Berkley, University of<br />
California Press, 1985.<br />
Jeff, Julian, <i>The Wines of Spain</i>. Mitchell Beazley, London, 2006.<br />
Radford, John, <i>The New Spain</i>. Mitchell Beazley, London, 2007.</span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Robinson, Jancis (ed.), <span style="font-style: italic;">The Oxford Companion to Wine</span>. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 2006.</span></span></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-74799099507030034732011-05-18T09:20:00.004-04:002011-05-18T17:52:40.679-04:00German Tasting at the Top of the CN Tower - Riesling & Company 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN68aIHGRJ0PySJ4KwUbsiybFWvt-ksOSsuaX6k4Lu57ffXAHYv2D_iMTa0cRPgXXO2O5M10NlNYP8uAzpu4XW8Jg5g7IjIduG5J2uuC8M1wE6I6okFLhp66nFmhgpQ6LTL_kiI_d5g/s1600/DSCN1536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN68aIHGRJ0PySJ4KwUbsiybFWvt-ksOSsuaX6k4Lu57ffXAHYv2D_iMTa0cRPgXXO2O5M10NlNYP8uAzpu4XW8Jg5g7IjIduG5J2uuC8M1wE6I6okFLhp66nFmhgpQ6LTL_kiI_d5g/s200/DSCN1536.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Canadian and German wine industry share some common but equally unique elements. Firstly, we are both countries on the fringe of where wine grapes can be grown. Secondly, our love affair with Riesling, a cool climate varietal that can often find its best expression in Mosel slate and Niagara Bench limestone. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beyond that, we Canadian wine imbibers have to recognize and be thankful for Germany's contribution to our industry. It was a German immigrant, Johann Schiller in 1811 who made the first vintage near present day Mississauga. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Though the 'urban legend' is being is disputed by York University Professor, <a href="http://www.mississauga.com/what%27s%20on/article/1004747--filtering-the-myth">Richard Jarret</a>, it's still nice to have something to believe in, a mythical father figure and hey, he's German,and that can't be in bad in consideration of the recent tasting at the top of the CN tower on May 17th. </span></div><b><br />
</b><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>HORIZONS ON A CLOUDY WINE-TASTING DAY</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-0YmcWFFJVhmJ449bohD1CnxUgX9sy_5rUZtsUB_nGcU7mkYfIE_Wfg_yQk2sKtrpBLSn5-D6gYaP55XiWmiA5B_67jzcLZUFm5k7QFGZyae8CGsURjpGXN9TwOyQF4hY0RhKI4zcw/s1600/DSCN1543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-0YmcWFFJVhmJ449bohD1CnxUgX9sy_5rUZtsUB_nGcU7mkYfIE_Wfg_yQk2sKtrpBLSn5-D6gYaP55XiWmiA5B_67jzcLZUFm5k7QFGZyae8CGsURjpGXN9TwOyQF4hY0RhKI4zcw/s200/DSCN1543.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">An impressive showing of German wine to say the least with an outstanding view of downtown Toronto to compliment the tasting.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There were 20+ stations to choose from matched with a wide assortment of traditional German and Indian cuisine to try with the right wine.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I will admit, the aromas from the food stations wafting through the room made it difficult to appreciate the delicate bouquets of several German Rieslings. A minor complaint on my behalf considering where we were tasting but I know some wine lovers in the crowd found it trying to indulge in these sensations.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aside from that, it was less crowded than I expected and thankfully so as the majority of stations were placed in restaurants spaces best reserved for intimate dinners. The tasting often felt confined, sometimes claustrophobic making spitting difficult as wine critics and connoisseurs had to contort themselves to get to spit buckets. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE WINES - THE GUT, THE GREAT</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There was much German conversation and intense discussion. From business cards and appealing deals between wine agents and potential buyer and restaurant representatives, to the casual joking and ever-perennial wine tasting notes, yesterday's offerings were <i>gut</i> to say the least. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Personal favourites included <b><a href="http://www.drloosen.com/index.php">Dr.Loosen</a> </b>wines of the Mosel and Pfalz, especially the <b>Villa Wolf 2009 Gewürztraminer</b> and the <b>Blue Slate 2009 Riesling Kabinett</b>, the latter wine offering <b>a mineral tingle of apples and pear acid</b>. Their <b>2009 Villa Wolf Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder) had the right balance of smoky-ash and red cherry. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another couldn't-miss table featured the wines represented by <b><a href="http://www1.churchillcellars.com/">Churchill Cellars</a></b> of Toronto. I especially loved the <b>Weingut Rappenhof 2009 Grauer Burgunder, a great example of German Pinot Gris from the Rheinhessen.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">And the table just over, <b><a href="http://www.georg-mueller-stiftung.de/">Weingut Georg Müller Stiftung</a></b> with several excellent Rieslings, from dry to sweeter Auselese. Their two Pinot Noirs, however, the <b>2008 Edition PW</b> and <b>2008 'Daniel'</b> were phenomenal (<i>ausgezeichnet</i>!). The latter was outstanding and made the trip to T.O. all the more excellent. I've encountered <i>Spätburgunder</i> from Baden before but its to the Rheingau's credit that these two beautiful offerings have changed my opinion on German Pinot Noir. <b>Both were smoky cassis with brooding spice and silky vanilla. The acidity on both made the wines closer to succulent and would have paired equally well with the ham they were serving two stations over.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Other highlights included <b><a href="http://www.balthasar-ress.de/">Weingut Balthasar Ress</a> 1998 Riesling Spätlese from Hattenheim Nussbrunnen</b> - simply a gorgeous example of how Riesling can age intensely into the <b>liquid gold nectar of orange-peal-apple-honey.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There was also <b><a href="http://www.markusmolitor.com/">Weingut Markus Molitor</a>; their 2002 Riesling Auslese from Zeltlinger Sonnenuhr</b> (i.e. Zeltling's vineyard 'Sonnenuhr'), <b>a caramel candy and apple expression that would have effectively paired with the creamy German dessert - which I was far too full to approach. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.studert-pruem.de/">Weingut Studert Prüm</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.maxferdrichter.com/mfr.htm">Max Ferd Richter</a></b> over-delivered with their selection of Rieslings. <b>I fell in tender love with the 2009 Riesling Kabinett Graacher Himmelreich of the latter producer, that mineral-stone-apple I have come to associate with the best of the green bottle Mosel wines.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>ALLES IN ORDNUNG; ALLES ENDE</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Everything in order but things must end.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD88Gk5bTH3JdgahVKbHAelh2AZ7F-6zShbxJy8XpvRa7qTG936X4usdOxd-ZsfpNd58mR4Wpoo0r3tlGTo2n_xtYv1_Q0ckEy2e0Kvf_-e8MpZQXY7geSiLKf0j14VZEoReVxzSv2Qg/s1600/DSCN1540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD88Gk5bTH3JdgahVKbHAelh2AZ7F-6zShbxJy8XpvRa7qTG936X4usdOxd-ZsfpNd58mR4Wpoo0r3tlGTo2n_xtYv1_Q0ckEy2e0Kvf_-e8MpZQXY7geSiLKf0j14VZEoReVxzSv2Qg/s200/DSCN1540.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I missed several tables for lack of time and lack of energy. A moody, overcast day made for a strange light at the top of the CN tower. A pensive but philosophical light ideal for the German philosophers of old but also to give one a sense of the light in such places as Southern Germany where the best white wine in the world is made.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">White wine made for the top of the world. </span></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-72089543172898045812011-05-15T20:28:00.004-04:002011-05-15T20:43:11.114-04:00Pinot Blanc for a Moody Day<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I don't mind the rain. I prefer the overcast sometimes. The black, slick streets, the green leaves and white sky reflecting off the roads, that damp verdant smell of wet soil and shower-kissed lawns. There is a pensive aura in the atmosphere which can often be balanced not by a boisterous, black-pepper Shiraz or red currant cab but something lovely, lively, and interesting. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Something different... </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the world of Pinot Noir, there have been many mutations. <b>Pinot Gris is an ancient mutation of Noir and in the 19th century the lighter-berried Gris gave birth to a whiter version. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pinot Blanc, hence, was born.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I should emphasize, mutations are not bad things. Not really. It is simply a spontaneous and unforeseen change to the vine's genetic material, occurring during cell division. And when we look at the world of <i>vitis vinifera</i> (the European vine family making up more than 90% of the world's quality wine), there have been numerous mutations. How else to explain the wide range of varieties available today?</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not only Pinot Noir but also popular Spanish Grenache and French Carignan have been prone to mutations. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>BLANC, WEISBURGUNDER and BIANCO</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like Pinot Gris, Blanc find its familial home in Alsace. Though it may be a member of the Noble Pinot Noir clan, Blanc is sadly used and abused as the workhorse grape in northeastern France (often called Clevner) and less popular than Riesling or Silvaner. ('Pinot Blanc' in Alsace is not so much a varietal as a blend of Blanc and Auxerrois)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thankfully the German-speaking nations give it more respect. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">As <b>Weissburgunder, it is Germany's sixth most planted white variety, grown in Baden, the Pfalz, and along the banks of the Nahe as well as the Mosel and its tributaries</b>. From the full and generously rich to the delicate, the variety can take on many different guises. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Across the border, in eastern <b>Austria, Weissburgunder makes up about 6% of the country's total vineyards and can be made into a varietal with a floral-almond scent or botrytized <i>Trockenbeerenauslese</i> (i.e. late-late-late harvested grapes of super-sweet character</b>), either stand alone or blended with Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>In</b> <b>Northern Italy, the grape is well-received as Pinot Bianco in Alto Adige</b>. Though less popular than Pinot Grigio, the variety shows potential when harvested from low-yielding vineyards and oak-aged. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>NEW WORLD PINOT BLANC</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chardonnay is king (or queen) of the hill in the world of white grapes (ironically enough, Pinot Blanc was often mistaken for Chardonnay in French vineyards) and many New World winemakers put their big money behind him (or her). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">But you'll find respectable if not incredible Pinot Blanc in the Pacific Northwest. It is grown in California, </span><span style="font-size: small;">Oregon and British Columbia. <a href="http://www.chalonevineyard.com/">Chalone Vineyards</a> in the Salinas Valley produces oak-aged Pinot Blanc, left on the lees (taking cues from the Northern Italians) while <a href="http://www.willakenzie.com/index.html">Willakenzie Estate</a> of the Willamette Valley opts for the older-neutral-barrel-stainless-steel approach, making a Pinot Blanc closer to Viognier with its honeydew-apricot character. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The same could be said of <a href="http://www.peller.com/okanagan/homepage.php">Peller Estates</a> Okanagan Pinot Blanc. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>ONTARIO PINOT BLANC</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In my Dionysian travels, I rarely see Pinot Blanc here in the Niagara region. But two wineries do spring to mind: Konzelmann in the Lakeshore Sub-Appellation of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Henry of Pelham on the Short Hills Bench in West St.Catharines.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.konzelmann.ca/">Konzelmann</a> Pinot Blanc</b> is typically off-dry (a one on the sweetness code).<b> It is a must for summer decks, docks and other places of sunlit distraction. There is a pear-apple-citrus tango going on in the glass but still, a hint of white flower. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://henryofpelham.com/">Henry of Pelham</a> 2010 Pinot Blanc is another strong offering. </b>I love how it says on the back label "restrained peach" in the description. Nope, I shake my head because the <i>Peach </i>here feels like a focused sucker-punch to the palate. The wine is truly lively and lovely and according to my father, "deadly" because it goes down far too easy. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Ontario wines like these can make it easy for the trendy wine consumer to forget his (typically her) Pinot Grigio.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">And on a damp, moody day, something bright and peach-like can make looking out on rain-drizzled street all the more balanced and pleasurable. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-17116564621476252502011-05-13T22:11:00.005-04:002011-05-15T21:10:54.333-04:00Firriato's Etna Rosso - An Esoteric Sicilian Red<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The beaten path is boring. For every new California Chardonnay or Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon there is an audible yawn amidst true wine lovers. Though we are often deplored as geeks or wine bloggers, like film critics who have seen the same romantic comedy formula tried out again and again, we tire of the same wines. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Certain wines are like moods and there's a time and place for beginners to get their share of the famous, 'noble' varieties. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">But as palates become more intelligent, it's time to indulge in the 'market of the multitudes' as Chris Anderson in his bestselling book, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=The+Long+Tail&x=0&y=0">The Long Tail</a> </i> explains.<b> Though we all begin somewhere the same, we eventually diversify and become acquainted with unique offerings that expand our awareness and knowledge. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is why I love Southern Italian wines - they are somewhere off the radar but remain in range and deliver not only the intensity of stand-by varietals and blends but also tweak one's curiosity. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SICILIAN WINE </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The famous German poet, playwright, naturalist, novelist and statesman <b>Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once wrote in his <i>Italian Journey</i> that without “seeing Sicily one cannot get a clear idea of what Italy is.” </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goethe had escaped to Italy to discover himself, to learn about art, to fall in love and surround himself with an Ancient Culture. He wanted to get beyond the stuffy confines of Weimar and the customs of his Germanic homeland. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For many wine consumers looking for a way to break out from the heaps of everyday Cabs and Aussie Shiraz, <b>Nero d'Avola (also known as Calabrese) has become the first and most famous go-to Sicilian wine, a fun popular choice for those leaving the beaten path.</b> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In terms of white varieties, <b>you can look to traditional Catarratto and Inzolia as well as Grecanico to please your curious summer palate. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">But for those questing out something special, I recommend wines from....</span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>ETNA ROSSO</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the nineteenth century, the Etna wine district - Northeast, just south of Messina - became popular overnight. As phylloxera made its way through the vineyards of France, the Etna region with the help of the modern railway made it possible for grapes to be carried to wineries.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the twentieth century, output fell, the volcano erupted (several times) and vineyards slowly became abandoned. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">But as with many things overlooked, there is a return to greatness. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today, with modern research and the passion and enthusiasm of today's wine makers, the region is enjoying a small, but quiet renaissance. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The soil is obviously volcanic, well-drained and temperatures shift back and forth between hot days and cool nights. Vines are old, sometimes 80 plus years. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>FIRRIATO'S ETNA ROSSO</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmUknfo_Czs4sgwrFQvmPve29XLMIwDQDzbd8fPNkccKVPCW7dnPNAHE0kTBJAGTsYgsvjAeOq78pIL7lfkarcB8YLqIvRnLCUqnJZCZp-6TDAodRPJiCSotySQ_D6u5_W3YB1sEaoA/s1600/DSCN1529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmUknfo_Czs4sgwrFQvmPve29XLMIwDQDzbd8fPNkccKVPCW7dnPNAHE0kTBJAGTsYgsvjAeOq78pIL7lfkarcB8YLqIvRnLCUqnJZCZp-6TDAodRPJiCSotySQ_D6u5_W3YB1sEaoA/s320/DSCN1529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">Salvatore Di Gaetano and his wife Vinzia Novara are the dynamic couple behind <a href="http://www.firriato.it/">Firriato's</a>'s success. Begun in the 1980's, the winery has since acquired several estates throughout Sicily, notably vineyard land south of Trapani (in the west) and on the north eastern slope of Mount Etna in the region of Castiglione di Sicilia. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">In the latter area, one can find the Cavanera vineyards, 11 hectares planted to Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappucio and Carricante. The soils here are rich with minerals making their 2008 Etna Rosso, a blend of 80% Nerello Mescalese and 20% Nerello Cappucio a charismatic choice for savvy wine consumers. </span></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was immediately struck by the licorice aroma of this wine. But I must emphasize, not a typical black licorice but more the Dutch, salted <i>drop</i> kind, the one I had in childhood. There's also a welcome hint of chocolate but also charred stone and candied raspberries. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">My first sip, a fine balance of sinewy acidity and chewy tannins. This wine is absolutely refreshing and delicious (the raspberries carry through with the salted licorice). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An easy, esoteric wine to recommend and available through your LCBO Vintages sections. </span></span></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-88022387488379819112011-05-13T22:09:00.003-04:002011-05-23T15:22:38.974-04:00Greener Days for Grüner Veltliner<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here in Niagara, we are finally beginning to experience the greener, warmer weather. The evenings are longer, the dusky shadows lengthen in front of us on the sidewalks and the verdant trees scent the sky. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Soon we'll be opening wine magazines telling us of the latest trends, what wine to drink during the warmer weather. Soon, more and more wine lovers will be heading to the LCBO coolers to seek out refreshing whites instead of brooding reds (wines that made the harsh winter tolerable, reminding us of the hotter days to come). </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I figure this is the time to offer my recommendation. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>AUSTRIA'S GRAPE: GRÜNER VELTLINER<br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In our Anglo-American culture, certain wines can be difficult to pronounce, especially those from Eastern Europe. The grape varieties of Greece raise eye-brows while German crossings, Scheurebe and <a href="http://wineq.blogspot.com/2010/10/anselmanns-huxelrebe-something.html">Huxelrebe</a> leave wine lovers bewildered as to where to put the accent. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fVADATLyTYoV-l0oB1SmXw2nUMINafcx9W_ySk-FOzJaR6OPk4jlNMSQiOFmT3ypqPgZf8OIXrl6nPEv3zPNJsWHNJBjnI2LW8yn4fPT8QCYOQ1tZTu3d6IEiN7h2rHACEXXG2vm0A/s1600/400px-Gruener_Veltliner_Weinsberg_20060909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fVADATLyTYoV-l0oB1SmXw2nUMINafcx9W_ySk-FOzJaR6OPk4jlNMSQiOFmT3ypqPgZf8OIXrl6nPEv3zPNJsWHNJBjnI2LW8yn4fPT8QCYOQ1tZTu3d6IEiN7h2rHACEXXG2vm0A/s320/400px-Gruener_Veltliner_Weinsberg_20060909.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Grüner Veltliner</b>, like Gewürztraminer, is fortunate enough to garner enough attention that wine buyers can put up with mispronunciation for the sake of a dry, refreshing white of white pepper and stone fruit character. (<i>GROON-er FELT-leaner</i> for those that want to make the attempt. I should emphasize, the 'r' in German has a slight guttural sound so instead of <i>grrrewner</i>, say GRWHOOnair...)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of all of Austria's varieties, it is the most popular worldwide, planted on more than a third of the country's 48, 500 ha/119, 800 acres. <b>In Lower Austria, it represent more than half of total white grape production and in Vienna, a third of all plantings</b>. It can be used to make sparkling Austrian s<i>ekt,</i> simple whites served at wine inns (<i>Heurigen</i>) as well as medium-bodied and opulent, concentrated wines.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Historically, its origins remain obscured, first documented in 1766 as Grüner Muskateller in the then Hapsburg Empire. We find 'Grüner Veltliner' first mentioned in 1855; by the 1930's it became more common. Near the end of the twentieth century, the grape emerged as the premier variety of Austria. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>NOT JUST ANOTHER RIESLING</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unlike Germany's flagship variety, <b>Grüner Veltliner is typically dry and made in a range of styles depending on where it is grown. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> <br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In <b>Lower Austria</b>, the best of Austria's four regions (<i>Weinbauregionen</i>) for Grüner, one can find a wide range of offerings in the many subregions (<i>Weinbaugebeite</i>).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wachau</b> Grüner can age better than Riesling while retaining a complexity similar to white Burgundy. In the loam and loess soils of <b>Kamptal</b> and <b>Kremstal, </b>the wines offer notes reminiscent of Riesling. Here, the vineyards are steep and terraced for maximum exposure to the sun. The autumns are long and the grapes ripen allowing for the highest concentration of flavour compounds in the skin. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In <b>Weinviertel</b>, the wines are cheaper but with often light, fresh, fruity and spicy notes. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1owKdY_rQc-ZEt_qKWk4T6vBU03hMy47-o3FCP2CR7C1HI7ggHXZRCF13hNSO5wv5l7QwsQMSs2gx5ZHzO3HPUSQGHH-1czDMNkEAS2z7_dD7XWp-rRXyJwQfUnNqxVn27OkbcvTuLw/s1600/DSCN1524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1owKdY_rQc-ZEt_qKWk4T6vBU03hMy47-o3FCP2CR7C1HI7ggHXZRCF13hNSO5wv5l7QwsQMSs2gx5ZHzO3HPUSQGHH-1czDMNkEAS2z7_dD7XWp-rRXyJwQfUnNqxVn27OkbcvTuLw/s200/DSCN1524.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>LETH GRÜNER VELTLINER 2009</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This is a rather lush wine for a mild, spring evening. In the bouquet, the wine exudes peaches and apricot with a whiff of vanilla-mineral floating over the stone fruits. On the palate, you will find a comparable character as the wine follows through from the aromas to the flavours. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This is a versatile wine but I wouldn't recommend heavy meat dishes. Cod, sole, and salmon would work with a light cream sauce or a lemon pepper chicken. Either way, it's a nice way to ease into the greener season. </span></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-71634328307082106122010-11-25T15:10:00.002-05:002011-05-15T20:32:59.190-04:00Henry of Pelham... I can't help it....<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have often thought about who I would consider my favourite winery to be in Niagara. I've visited and bought so many wines from so many establishments. It is so much to find such excellent wine just a hop, skip and a jump away from my own front door. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And there are so many great wines. <b>Robyn's Block Chardonnay from Tawse is heart-throbbing delicious. Hillebrand's Trius Sauvignon Blanc is room shaking. Flatrock is fantastic for Riesling and Pinot; Konzelmann's reds are fantastic; Chateau des Charmes makes some of my absolute favourite Cabernet Franc, both estate and St. David's Bench. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But if I have to choose... if I have to choose... well...<b> I pick Henry of Pelham overall.</b></span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>WHY HENRY OF PELHAM?</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are many reasons to love a winery.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">First things first, I've always had a great time visiting Henry of Pelham. <b>My first time, it was a wet, misty July 2009 afternoon. The world had disappeared behind a veil of rain. The windshield wipers wiped away the lightly pattering drops and I felt for a moment I didn't know where I was going. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And there, at the end of foggy end of 5th Street, right on Pelham Road, I found the quaint, rustic buildings of the boutique and restaurant.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">That damp day, I talked with Zack and tried many wines. I was looking for work and mentioned my love of wine and my previous experience working for wine stores in British Columbia. He let me try most of the wines and I was dizzy with goodness (don't worry, I did my share of spitting).</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since that initial visit, I've been back numerous times and on every occasion felt at home and sufficiently welcome. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>WELL, WHAT CAN I SAY, I LOVE THE WINE</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Speck Brothers, Paul, Matthew and Daniel just happen to make excellent wine. Last year I bought some Chardonnay and Riesling. In a previous blog, I drunkenly paired their Gamay with strawberries.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">This year I recently sampled their <b>2008 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay</b> ($19.95) and their <b>2008 Chardonnay Reserve</b> ($14.95). If you're looking for buttery-toffee-apple goodness with a creamy and mineral feel, I'd suggested the former. If you're an unoaked lover of Chard, the latter which has a great pear-pineapple citrus zest, is your best bet. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">As for Riesling, you can't beat them.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nope.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yeah... I know, I know, Tawse, Cave's Spring and Thirty Bench make incredible Riesling. But I wear my heart on my sleeve for Henry of Pelham's approach to the great, Germanic variety.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the top of the list, the <b>Speck Family Reserve 2007 Riesling</b> ($30.00) which turns my knees into dissolute puddles. The best of the best and only made from reduced yields and older vines. This is what Riesling should be year and year out. But that's a dream. And I can settle on this dream when it comes (and this dream can age for a long time).</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you're looking for something for the here and now, for Rieslings that you can open tonight for dinner, I'd suggest the <b>2008 Off-Dry Riesling Reserve</b> to pair with spicy Thai dishes or the <b>2008 Riesling</b> ($12.95) with schnitzel. Then there's the apple-delicious 2008 Riesling Reserve for those that prefer a dry style.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can also recommend the<b> 2009 Pinot Blanc</b> which is very good for a grape variety I often refer to as Pinot 'Bland'.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>NOT JUST WHITES BUT AWESOME REDS</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dji62eRBYSph4JJo_lkm4MitB4OxXz7qlGjyvSylDFshyphenhyphenVUJUir_x8UpkzTMlRnH0G9lVw2XpnSDueCBz31soaznvRFXulV4Q-KQuNqs8SnVhCZngbsdK1jF4gbU9B37Go0IMhLttQ/s1600/DSCN1241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dji62eRBYSph4JJo_lkm4MitB4OxXz7qlGjyvSylDFshyphenhyphenVUJUir_x8UpkzTMlRnH0G9lVw2XpnSDueCBz31soaznvRFXulV4Q-KQuNqs8SnVhCZngbsdK1jF4gbU9B37Go0IMhLttQ/s320/DSCN1241.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you're reading this and there's still time, rush out to Henry of Pelham and buy their <b>2007 Baco Noir Reserve </b>($24.95). It is phenomenal. The website describes it as <i>jammy</i> and I happen to agree. <b>This wine reminds me of strawberry filling coated in butter and raspberries. Simply gorgeous and only a few left. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you like just regular Baco, their <b>2008 Baco Noir </b>($13.95) is the best in terms of delivery. Pelee Island makes a good value Baco but Henry of Pelham's is continually good. <b>Dark fruit compote, mulberry and black berry. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you're looking for an outstanding, if not decimate-your-mind Pinot, try their <b>2007 Speck Family Reserve</b> ($40.00) which will plummet you into cerebral bliss. <b>Heavily praised, this Pinot Noir is rich and nuanced with multiple layers of menthol, dark fruit and holistic herbs. Like the Speck Family Reserve Riesling, it is hard to stand while drinking this one. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But if forty bucks is out of your price range and you're looking to impress your winter guests, I recommend the<b> 2007 Cabernet Merlot Reserve ($24.95).</b> This is a solid, if not exceptional Bordeaux-blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Incredible, delicious, if you love French wine, Bistro-style wine, this is the bottle to grab. Black fruit, cassis, chocolate, and herbal, this has a hint of pencil shavings and just enough tannin to make this go-to for beef and barbeque cuisine.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">(I confess, as I'm writing this blog, the 2007 Cabernet Merlot Reserve has been my attendant muse. An word-inspiring wine...)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>FOR ANYTIME OF THE DAY, WEEK, MONTH or YEAR</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I just really can't help it. From the visits to the wine lineup, Henry of Pelham has yet to disappoint me. <b>Great prices, great selection. It is worth every single, frigging penny. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also, check out their Lifestyle wine selection, Sibling Rivalry.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, I don't regret it. Henry of Pelham is my choice for the best winery. Period.</span></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-3298551185012459912010-10-13T14:48:00.001-04:002010-10-13T14:52:58.631-04:00The Wines of Switzerland (Part I): Dôle du Valais<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The wines of France, Italy, Germany and Austria are all considerably unique and distinct. From Bordeaux to Burgundy, the full-bodied blends of the west are in direct contrast to the single variety wines of Beaune. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Italy, each region has is its own character with Piedmont being very different from Puglia. Germany has Riesling for its star while Austria is fast becoming associated with stellar Grüner Veltliner.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the midst (literally and figuratively) of all these fabulous wine countries is one typically over-looked and rarely appreciated by the wine drinkers of the world: Switzerland.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SWITZERLAND...ASIDE FROM THE CHOCOLATE, WATCHES AND KNIVES</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://fineswisswine.ch/">Switzerland</a> has a wine history similar to other European countries. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Archeological evidence has unearthed grape seeds dating from the Neolithic age (between 3000 and 1800 B.C.) in such regions as St-Blaise and Neutchatel. The Romans too left their mark as did the Cistercian Monks in the Middle Ages, planting the original vineyards of Dézaley in Vaud. <b>In the Medieval Era, the wines were thin and bulked up with the addition of honey. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">During the mid-19th century, Swiss vineyards suffered under the scourge of phylloxera, powdery and downy mildew. While wine regions in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Austria quickly recovered, the Swiss wine industry suffered and lost substantial ground. <b>By 1957, the total vineyard land of the country had been reduced to 12,500 ha, (the original figure: 33,000 ha in the 1800s). </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking past the history, the country is notably mountainous with the majority of vineyard land found in valleys and running along lake shores in cantons (i.e. provinces) bordering France, Italy, German and Austria. <b>The föhn, a local wind also contributes to the ripening process of the wine grapes, warming up various portions of the south. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The slopes here can also be steep and like in Germany, vineyards are hand harvested. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SWISS RED VINE VARIETIES AND VALAIS</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For a cooler wine country, between 45 and 47 degrees north latitude, you can't expect the red wines to be anything like the fruit bombs of California, Australia or Southern Spain. <b>Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder in Germany) is the most widely planted red variety, especially in German Switzerland. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Gamay, the grape best known for making Beaujolais is also a staple. </span></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">In the region of Valais, the two grapes are blended to make Dôle with the Pinot Noir dominating the Gamay. </span></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <b>south western canton produces 40 percent of the wines in the country</b> and has become known as the 'California of Switzerland'. The vineyards here are terraced with some 22,000 smallholders growing the grapes. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>PROVINS 2007 DÔLE DU VALAIS</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.provins.ch/fr/">Provins</a> began as a co-operative in Switzerland in the early twentieth century. Following World War II it evolved into an award-winning firm under the direction of Joseph Michaud with an extensive portfolio of quality reds and whites. The wines range from Syrah to Chardonnay with Dôle playing a part in their product lineup. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In France, Pinot Noir is the grape of the Côte du Nuits. Gamay, as I mentioned, is the variety behind behind Beaujolais.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Switzerland, when the two are blended, the offering is unique. If you're looking for something different (which I'm always looking for, I'm getting tired of the Parkerized-wines of the world), then I can safely recommend Provins 2007 Dôle du Valais. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">First off, expect a floral, red-cherry bouquet with earthy waves of mulch and yes, manure. On the palate, the wine is vibrant, spicy with flirtacious cherry acidity and tasty freshly-picked strawberry notes. </span></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The wine is available in your <a href="http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=160697">LCBO</a> Vintages section for $18.95. A wine worth discovering. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bibliography</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Robinson, Jancis (ed.), <span style="font-style: italic;">The Oxford Companion to Wine</span>. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 2006.</span></span>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-32513365552287727852010-10-07T22:54:00.003-04:002010-10-07T23:16:12.670-04:00Anselmann's Huxelrebe: Something Different for a Dessert Wine<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend and of course wine writers, sommeliers and critics are whipping out their editorials, recommending this or that wine to pair with your turkey, your mashed potatoes, yams and cranberry sauce. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lately, I've begun to notice the number of wine writers who are pushing late harvest wines. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Typically, these Ontario late harvest wines are anywhere between $15 and $25.00 for a 375ml. And it's great to support the local economy (I bought several Ontario wines this afternoon) but it's also nice to find some good value wines. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>HUXELREBE</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lovers of German off-dry and sweet wines can look further than Riesling in their Vintages section. <b>Huxelrebe is a crossing of Chasselas (known as Gutedel in Germany) and Courtillier Musqué. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those exploring the world of wine, <b>a crossing occurs when one variety of grape is fertilized with another variety from the same species (in this instance two vines of the <i>vitis vinifera</i> family)</b>. Many modern grape varieties are a result of spontaneous crossings in nature such as Cabernet Sauvignon which is a cross between Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Germany, there are numerous crossings, many of them man-made such as Kerner (Riesling X Trollinger), Morio-Muskat (Silvaner X Weissburgunder <i>aka</i> Pinot Blanc) and the widely planted Müller-Thurgau (Riesling X Madeleine Royale, a table grape). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Huxelrebe was bred in 1927 by Dr. George Scheu in the Rheinhessen region of Germany.</b> Dr. Scheu, a prolific vine bred and the first director of the viticultural institute in Alzey, gives his name to another crossing, Scheurebe (Silvaner X Riesling) while Huxelrebe is named for nurseryman Fritz Huxel. (And I shouldn't fail to mention, '<i>rebe</i>' is German for vine or vine shoot.)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE PFALZ AND <a href="http://www.weingut-anselmann.de/home.html">WEINGUT ANSELMANN</a></b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Huxelrebe is grown almost exclusively in the Rheinehessen and Pfalz regions (<i>Bereichs</i> auf Deutsche...) of Germany.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Pfalz (or Palatinate) is where you can find the <i>Weingut</i> (winery) Anselmann along the Southern Wine Route in the peaceful village of Edesheim.</b> Here, the Haardt mountain range, a continuation of the Vosges Mountains of Alsace form a backdrop to the sleepy but verdant landscape. Even though the Pfalz is technically part of Germany's Rhineland, the river is several miles east; no significant vineyards (<i>Weinberge</i>) border it. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Pfalz is more southern than the other regions of Germany. Ripeness is rarely, if ever, a problem. Grapes along with figs, apricots, peaches, kiwis and almonds are grown throughout the area.</b> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Anselmann family have been making wine for over 400 years</b> and like the numerous wineries along the <i>Deutsche Weinstrasse</i> (German Wine Route), grow a wide variety of grapes (including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot which can be difficult to grow further north). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqCW7nb2VxqSJ6y4f9pKBUekB_iQyfL52cx0ocf16xG2Fk15Rjca7Zf_9e4pNVb02MmAiByt8_JJmdcNYOarpcGCK2Og-v3-fnZt3x_v3UbZRNCvaRLtRTs4tjaLcn_WpbPu78TwX2Q/s1600/DSCN1156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqCW7nb2VxqSJ6y4f9pKBUekB_iQyfL52cx0ocf16xG2Fk15Rjca7Zf_9e4pNVb02MmAiByt8_JJmdcNYOarpcGCK2Og-v3-fnZt3x_v3UbZRNCvaRLtRTs4tjaLcn_WpbPu78TwX2Q/s200/DSCN1156.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">The <b>Anselmann 2007 Huxelrebe Auslese (AUS-lay-zuh) has won both silver medals at the Vin Agora in Hungary (2009) and Vinovita (2008</b>). At $14.95 in a 750ml bottle it can easily compete and be compared to some of our local late harvest Riesling. But instead of petrol and apple, l<b>ook for pineapple, passion fruit, honey and banana on the palate. This wine is full-bodied and could easily pair with cheese cake, pumpkin pie and many other Thanksgiving treats. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bibliography</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">MacNeil, Karen, <i>The Wine Bible. Workman Publishing Company Inc</i>. New York, 2001</span><span id="fullpost"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Robinson, Jancis (ed.), <span style="font-style: italic;">The Oxford Companion to Wine</span>. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 2006.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost"><a href="http://www.weingut-anselmann.de/home.html">http://www.weingut-anselmann.de/home.html</a> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-2403855390719204132010-09-28T18:25:00.006-04:002010-10-07T23:14:06.015-04:00Vranec, Bovin and the Wines of Macedonia<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">While giving a public tour at the winery I work at, I met three Macedonians. They were friendly and asked me if I knew anything about Macedonian wine. I said I had little if no knowledge of Macedonian wine, admitting to some familiarity with the history of Alexander the Great and Aristotle.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">"Of course," the young woman said. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Thinking for a moment, hoping not to appear too uncultured I said, "I know the language is similar to Greek.... Actually, my step-brother married a Macedonian."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The male in the group rolled his eyes and said sarcastically, "My condolences..."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Well... he's divorced."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">To which he replied, "I'm <i>not</i> surprised." </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Strangely, the two ladies in his company then gave him a solemn, as if knowing glance, seemingly acknowledging some hidden truth in his sardonic response. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBry7TnSGQ04rXRelCmLHmlMMnMOmjvQ7wvjNSDx5LeqOt3MYKTbqN6n8iSOfiQvYDx73G-yf0W0LfriOfShijUDDS3F5IJDs_Els0izUSmFETdOf8ojoY0tAazxVU6Q1k-m1VOobHnw/s1600/800px-LakeMavrovo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBry7TnSGQ04rXRelCmLHmlMMnMOmjvQ7wvjNSDx5LeqOt3MYKTbqN6n8iSOfiQvYDx73G-yf0W0LfriOfShijUDDS3F5IJDs_Els0izUSmFETdOf8ojoY0tAazxVU6Q1k-m1VOobHnw/s400/800px-LakeMavrovo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>MACEDONIA: THEN AND NOW</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aside from male and female relations in Macedonia, let's take a peek at the history.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those who sat through <i>Alexander</i> by famed filmmaker, Oliver Stone, or listened to lectures in Ancient History class in high school, you may remember Macedonia as once being the head of a vast empire. Philip II, Alexander's father took control of the Greek city states in the mid 4th century B.C. After his death, his son Alexander extended the kingdom's borders. Taking his armies eastward, Alexander gained control of Persia, Egypt and lands bordering India. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 32 in 323 B.C. but his legacy continued to influence such military leaders as Ceasar, Marcus Aurelius and Bismarck.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">By 167 BC, Macedonia's political power had substantially waned and like many Greek cities, fell under the sway of the growing Roman Empire. It is said that the members of the Macedonian royal family were heavy wine drinkers (perhaps as a result of their fall from world power. That... or something to do with male-female relations... which might explain why my step-brother loves - needs? - to drink).</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today, <b>there is the Republic of Macedonia</b>, a landlocked country bordered by Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Albania and <b>the region of Macedonia in the country of Greece</b> (where the original royal cities of Alexander's fame lie).</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>MACEDONIA IN TERMS OF WINE </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Republic of Macedonia is hot (a climate ranging from Mediterranean to Continental), mountainous and prone to earthquakes. Overall, the conditions are very favourable for growing both table and wine grapes. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Presently there is an estimated 55,330 acres/22,400 ha of land devoted to growing such popular international varieties as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Laski Rizling (AKA Welschriesling), with some Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc as well as the indigenous grapes of <b>Vranac, Kratosija and Zilavka</b>. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>VRANEC AND BOVIN</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are three main wine-growing regions. The most important is the <b>Povardarie (or Povardarje)</b> region around Skopje</span><span lang="mk" style="font-size: small;"> (Скопје) followed by <b>Pcinja-Osogova</b> region on the Bulgarian border and <b>Pelagonija-Polog</b> surrounding Lake Ohrid on the Albanian border. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span lang="mk" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span lang="mk" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">One can find the <b><a href="http://www.bovin.com.mk/index.asp">Bovin</a> winery in the Tikvesh District of the Povardarie Region in the town of Negotino</b></span><span lang="mk" style="font-size: small;"> (Неготино). </span><br />
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<span lang="mk" style="font-size: small;">Established in 1998, Bovin is regarded as the first privately owned winery in Macedonia. Presently they own 60 hectares of land in Tikvesh. The winery uses environmentally friendly practices in their vineyard along with the most modern of production equipment for fermentation and maturation.</span><br />
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<span lang="mk" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Along with the many international varieties, Bovin grows the <b>Vranec grape, easily the most popular and important in the country. Indigenous to both Montenegro and Macedonia, Vranec produces a rich wine with intense red and black berry fruit.</b> For those who love their Primitivo from Puglia or their California Zinfandel, DNA profiling has recently revealed that Vranec may be related to the Italian variety from across the Adriatic. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKKDvurnhGYHZSAPO2gU9Nsmr91yimZg0tdU9CstmC-kKwSFqHkEi37opQJ2q4t8_1ogGRth-WCe7rb3hN68N2EhGtRU7TaLs3OGGLixDM83EbPSML5BA0_FLIqUp5-x86Uaw1IGAXg/s1600/DSCN1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKKDvurnhGYHZSAPO2gU9Nsmr91yimZg0tdU9CstmC-kKwSFqHkEi37opQJ2q4t8_1ogGRth-WCe7rb3hN68N2EhGtRU7TaLs3OGGLixDM83EbPSML5BA0_FLIqUp5-x86Uaw1IGAXg/s200/DSCN1155.JPG" width="179" /></a></div><span lang="mk" style="font-size: small;">The<b> 2007 Vranec from Bovin is incredibly rich with lush blackberry fruit and a hint of earthy licorice. If you've grown tired of Malbec, this is a nice change.</b> A wonderful value and available at the LCBO for $13.95. </span><br />
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<span lang="mk" style="font-size: small;">Bibliography</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Robinson, Jancis (ed.), <span style="font-style: italic;">The Oxford Companion to Wine</span>. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 2006.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Johnson, Hugh and Jancis Robinson, <i>World Atlas of Wine</i>. Mitchell Beazley, London, 2001.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Links</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost"> <a href="http://www.bovin.com.mk/index.asp">www.bovin.com.mk/index.asp</a></span></span>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-49142330119613158092010-09-10T12:55:00.004-04:002010-09-10T13:07:14.581-04:00Château Moncets and Lalande de Pomerol<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">My father and step-mother recently returned from a trip to Northern-Western Europe. They visited Amsterdam, Bruges and Paris. Before they left, I asked if they could bring back a bottle of nice French wine, something special they found along the way.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last night I dropped by their house with two bottles of fun French wine to celebrate their homecoming. My father pulled out a beer t-shirt from Belgium, a beer calendar, a pencil drawing of Amsterdam and my French wine, <b>a 1999 Bordeaux from Lalande de Pomerol.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>CHÂTEAU MONCETS</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bordeaux is huge, vast and much larger than Burgundy, being greater than the vineyard acreage of Germany. <b>There are about 15,000 wine growers at work and the region easily produces 700 million bottles yearly. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The small bottle apparently cost my parents 20 euros. They bought the wine in Paris at a street-side stand. The man wore a traditional Parisian straw hat and a red-white striped apron. I wanted to open it last night but my father urged me to save it for a special occasion. I took my 375ml bottle home and promptly opened it this morning - around 11:45.... <i>I was trying to be patient. </i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>First off, a lovely bouquet, dusky and dark. Earthy, black cherries with a spicy-damson vanilla touch. On the palate, there is a rich plum-chocolate presence matched by a more than velvety wave of vanilla. Strong tannins guide the wine, the mid-palate is warm but I admit slightly bare. It's the first sip and the finish that are the wine's best features. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sipping the wine I turned to my Hachette Guide to French Wines. It is an older edition (2004) but helpful. Their note on Château Moncets: <b>"<i>This lovely 19th century house has been in the same family for 130 years. It is surrounded by an attractive park and a vineyard planted on clayey soils."</i> For the 2000 vintage, the guide recommended drinking the wine with 2-5 years. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can only surmise from my own experience and the guides' recommendation for the 2000 vintage that my 1999 is at peak if not a little over. (I don't like to admit it but there is a<b> light, ghostly hint of must on the wine,</b> giving me the impression that I'm drinking the wine perhaps a little after the ideal time.) </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>POMEROL and LALANDE-DE-POMEROL</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pomerol, like its famous and much larger neighbour, St-Émilion, is considered part of the Right Bank of Bordeaux. The <b>wines are opulent and Merlot-dominated </b>(as opposed to the Cabernet-Sauvignon-dominated wines of the Left Bank's Médoc). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I find it interesting that in the early 20th century, the wines of this small region (780 ha/1,930 acres) were popular with Belgium wine merchants (my parents fell in love with Bruges and their travels throughout Holland and Belgium brought them in contact with the wine I'm enjoying). <b>The wines of Pomerol often went to markets in Paris, Belgium and Holland while the traditional Left Bank Bordeaux wines continued to provide England with their 'clarets' and sweet wines from Médoc, Graves and Sauternes.</b> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lalande-de-Pomerol is immediately north of Pomerol. Though the wines are often considered 'rustic', their concentration and body is similar to their southern neighbors at a fraction of the price. <b>Lalande-de-Pomerol is also a little bigger in vineyard size at 1,100 ha/2,700 acres. </b>The land is cheaper than in Pomerol with investors coming from St.Émilion and other established properties to make some excellent and affordable wines. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SIPPING ALONE</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's hard to recommend a wine that is difficult to find. I dislike it when wine writers discuss wines that only the select few can uncover, uncork and wax poetic about. As much as I love wine, the exclusivity of the industry can be intolerable and the elitist attitudes of many leading wine critics continually keep the doors shut, as if barring entrance to those looking to find a means into discovering the fascinating nuances of an agricultural product. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is something to be said when philosophers like Pythagoras have cryptically noted that o<i>ne should avoid the common road</i>. The mainstream is a victim of its own success. <i>All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare</i> as the philosopher Spinoza once put. Sipping alone can be lonely and challenging (especially with a Bordeaux) but there is something beautiful about the solitary. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I like to write about wine from the perspective that it is available to all but everyone's tastes are different despite the vast availability of <i>international style</i> wines. We all have our fun finds and discoveries. The best wine writing should both edify and entertain. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">As much as I enjoy this wine, <b>I still have a difficult time with Bordeaux. The region alone suggests tradition and pedigree, failing not to mention it's allure and imposing wall of snobbery and expensiveness. The wines are seductive and never cheap and sadly, at best they remind me of the expensive prostitutes one might find in the Red Light district of Amsterdam. You are drawn in, you are romanced but unless you have the resources, your wallet will only feel lighter. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bordeaux is for the business men who are rich and even though I love to drink, and this is the kind of wine much appreciated by my ancestors in Holland, I somehow feel like a stranger in paradise in its presence.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bibliography</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Hachette Guide to French WInes 2004</i>. Mitchell Beazley, London, 2003. </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Robinson, Jancis (ed.), <span style="font-style: italic;">The Oxford Companion to Wine</span>. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 2006.</span></span>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-39309536552414189502010-09-08T08:44:00.004-04:002011-05-15T20:50:11.236-04:00A Dispersing Joy: Wine, Evening and Desire<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have the most trouble with the passing of time. There is inside me this grievous difficulty, a rebellion but also a petulant child screaming to re-exist in a certain moment and cherish the evolving echo of its passing. . </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I long for the recapture of a given moment. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than the joy of thinking that somewhere in our lives there is a door, an entrance into which we can briefly re-enter the previous places we have seen, been, encountered and experienced.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Don't let time go, don't. </i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">But it does. It runs through our hands like flowing water from a tap, like wine across our palates. We pick up drops here and there but the flow is unkind, it is heavy and we are given only the wherewithal to indulge what we touch. Everything else seems to be meant for something, a somewhere else we can only imagine. Just as the water slips around us, just as the wine escapes into our bodies, all of it ends up in the drain, into the void after the present. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This evening I went to a trade tasting at Ravine winery. I got there shortly after six and slowly more people arrived from different wineries throughout Niagara-on-the-Lake. We stood outside amidst cast iron bar stools surrounding an outside bar. Wine bottles arrived, placed on the bar or in the steel ice cooler. Bottles from Cattail Creek, Marynissen, Josephs, Pillitteri, Konzelman, Coyote's Run. The green vines, the dark sky. The winery owners brought out various foods - pizza, deli meats, different cheeses and artisan breads. The vineyard fell away below us. Wine after wine, the creamy chardonnays traveled over my palates followed by the buxom and hearty red currant reds. My eyes felt softer, my brain and soul kinder in the enveloping spell of wine. (I fell in love with Pillittteri's meritage, <i>Exclamation</i> and Konzelmann's <i>Heritage</i> along with Strewn's and Stonechurch's Chardonnays.)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I chatted with co-workers, I watched the sky. It had been overcast for several hours. Then, throughout the tasting it burst here and there. The sky sobbed, the drops like pebbles. We scurried to one side of the bar to avoid getting wet. I didn't care. I got lost for a moment. Brown eyes blinked. They haunted me and I flirted with their owner the one in the white shirt, a beautiful brunette here and there during the tasting. Oh, her eyes and her high cheeks that infuriated me with longing. I thought of Madalena in <i>La Dolce Vita,</i> how close, how far, the woman lost in the castle. Her lips seemed innocent, unaware of the affect of her eyes and cheeks. Yes, she worked at the winery, yes, she recognized me from before and when she noticed the wind was picking up, she rushed inside to flip a switch and bring the delicate green awnings in.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Why do women do such wondrous things, say what they say and disappear? She asked me about the kind of songs I played. I talked and talked but being drunk, I only knew half of what I was saying. My heart sped after her, to find a way in. That's all I wanted. A doorway to her approval. But it's as if my soul had run out of breath in the pursuit.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">She disappeared, the girl with the brown eyes who rescued the awning. She went away with her white shirt and black cargo pants. I saw her feet in the sandals, I saw her amidst the other heads but little else. Gone. First she left me for the other side of the bar. Then truly gone. In her wake, I spoke in German with a girl from another winery. I understood her words and spoke the best I could. But the brunette with the almond eyes had left and that was that.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">But I know where she works but I don't want to chase her like dreams I can't get back into.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes she left and I went inside the bar area with three co-workers, one an older gentleman and two young ladies I work with. In my secret heart I have a spiritual crush on both of them and desired their nearness. One, yes, another brunette with a gentle face, the sweet, kind expression of someone who wants to listen but you want to put your head on her shoulder. And the other, a red head with a voice that could take you into both the future and the past. We talked and the rain fell, we four and the older gentleman told us about a previous wedding at our winery, restaurants in New York, meeting Mr. Antinori, concerts he drove his daughter to. We listened.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The red sky crept down below the vineyards. The rain chatted with the grass.I wanted more wine and more wine but it was getting closer to going. Someone stoked a fire at the far end of the outside bar, the flames shooting up, the shadows scattering and wandering back along our faces as the fire settled. The rain pelted on the iron roof and the lull of conversation felt like an ocean going back and forth above our words.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The last of the red sky blinked away and the black-blue fade of rain blew wet misted kisses at our skin. A rain that continues and disperses a crowd. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let me go back in time, just once, just once. <i>Let me.</i> There is no one there to caress or hold but the nearness is like a heartbeat outside of my chest. I feel this ongoing burst of dreams, a drunkeness, a melancholy, a wonder, a wistfulness, a tenderness that merges goodbyes with the ensuing gasp of downpour. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">So it goes. I would have liked to kiss the hands of those two girls, and also the brunette. I could have and I couldn't. I can't. But it's not like that. I don't want to give the kiss of taking and having, of chivalry. Not a kiss that signals possession, a boyfriend's gesture but a kiss that speaks about letting go, letting others stay extraordinary, who they are. Like tasting a wine and knowing its beauty but not drinking it. I want to experience a brief bridge to beauty. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes, when I'm a little drunk I want to walk up to strangers in the streets, in the malls and let them know how much magic exists in their skin. How often are we told how wonderful we are? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">These faces, all these faces, I wanted to watch them leave, as if I could be a god and let them go. But the skin, skin haunts me, a human fabric that wafts and waves, the scent, a lavish bouquet conspiring to both lead me on and push me away.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wish I could be detached but the desire that seeped into me this evening cannot be readily dispelled. The lights of cars in the gravel drive flicker through me. The vineyards are behind the darkness, the sky rains and the elaborate past comes back to me, taunting me like a song whose title I cannot recall but the verse is fresh, fiery and filled with another memory I will never access. The past is in the void, a wine we dimly remember but I retain it, my imagination and memory fighting for the truth because not everything we remember is what was. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">And so it goes, here I am, writing and writing and the words I write only insult my longing to have what is eternally gone, retained in the fragments I crush and ferment in my sleepy mind.</span></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-63547108210181903602010-08-02T08:44:00.002-04:002010-08-02T08:53:51.917-04:00Real Men Drink Rosé - Pink Wine From Chile, Spain and Argentina<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Summer. A long weekend. Sunny skies. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wasn't feeling the greatest yesterday morning, a little under the weather. I'm pretty good at keeping tabs on my body so I called in sick, deciding not to risk feeling worse. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had a late breakfast and did some writing. Around three o'clock I headed on foot to the mall to buy groceries and get some fresh air. On the way there my brother called me on my cell, asking me what I was doing. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Walking to the mall."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Can you pick up some groceries for me?"</i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Sure, what?"</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Canned vegetables. Call me when you get there."</i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Sure."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the supermarket, I called him but I already had a feeling which supplies he needed to make his chili. I picked up all the ingredients with a bag of chips (Sea Salt and Vinegar) and headed over to the LCBO. I wanted something refreshing but not heavy. I've been drinking a lot of white wine this summer and I had hit my favourites too many times. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>What then?</i> Well, I decided to go pink and picked a rosé. I'll admit, I didn't feel too manly walking up to the attractive blonde at the till, the one with the dusky voice like Scarlet Johansson, holding my salmon-coloured bottle. I tried to be cool, not needing a bag after she rang it through. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">"No, I'm good," and coolly slipped the chilled rosé into my President's Choice canvas bag. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">At my brother's place, my father and him were tearing apart the kitchen, preparing to open the wall above the oven to make a bar area. Amidst the dust, the exposed steel studs and conversations about electrical work, I opened the wine, a <b>2009 Cono Sur Merlot Rosé from Valle Central, Chile ($9.95) and it was damn tasty and a great pairing with the chips. It's medium-bodied with a nice, dry but round red berry-floral feel. It's no Tavel nor is it a White Zinfandel from Berringer. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of course, amongst three guys on a summer day, a cold 750ml bottle doesn't last very long. So I headed back to the liquor store and picked up two more rosés. By the time I got back, my brother had nearly finished making chili, adding three spicy shots of Frank's Hot Sauce to the mix. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have to say, the rosés were not the ideal companion with this meal but they were wonderfully refreshing. While eating the spicy chili, a lake of sweat pouring off my forehead, <b>I reached for a glass of the 2009 La Casona de Castaño Monastrell Rosé from Yecla, Spain ($8.95). I found this wine had a similar body to the Cono Sur but with more raspberry character. I also got generous waves of red licorice, blackberry and even a hint of earthy fig. Gorgeous wine with a bit of sweet on the palate.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For desert, peppermint chocolate ice cream and more rosé. Again, not the best wine and food pairing. The chili needed a heavier red for it to be perfectly suitable but because of the spice, the off-dry rosé really helped to soften the blows of Frank's Hot Sauce. With the ice cream, ideally, the wine should have been sweeter but hey, it doesn't always have to be harmonious. <b>The 2009 Finca Flichman 'Misterio' Malbec-Shiraz Rosé from Argentina ($7.95). This one had a deeper strawberry, cherry and candied red delicious apple feel with a nice touch of kiwi. Off-dry as well but not 'blush' sweet.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">All in all, I think my favourite was the Spanish rosé but all of them were respectfully cheap and genuinely cheerful. All available from the LCBO for limited summer release. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-90976515213348857622010-07-12T22:55:00.004-04:002010-10-07T23:17:11.638-04:00Celebrating Spain: Torres and Viña Esmeralda<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I watched Sunday's match and though I was cheering for the Dutch (my father is Dutch - hence my name, Broerse) I have to say Spain played a solid game.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm getting over the reeling heartbreak of Roeben's fatal and tragic near-miss, that one beautiful attempt in the second half when he had that one breathtaking breakaway. <i>But how am I recovering?</i> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE SWEET LOSS</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, I'm drinking Torres' Viña Esmeralda, an excellent white Spanish wine from Catalunya. I figure this is the one true, less trying way of embracing the dreariness of defeat. I dearly love Spanish wine and I have to wonder what I might have written had Holland won. They are certainly not the wine-producing country Spain is with Heinekken as their flagship alcoholic beverage producer and distributor. I might be writing about Holland's beer king or the role the Dutch played in producing brandy (for another blog).</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Alas, here I am with my Spanish white, a blend of 85% Moscatel de Alejandra and 15% Gewürztaminer grown in the northeast of Spain. The wine has a bouquet of sun-kissed bananas, peaches, and pineapple. On the palate, you can taste the passion fruit, the kiwi and a minimal whisper of mineral and lime. It is off-dry and would be ideal with a summery fruit salad. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>TORRES: A TORCH AND TOWER FOR SPANISH WINE</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>But why this wine?</i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, if you want to celebrate Spain's victory, you should chose a wine from the greatest bodega in Spain's modern wine history. Torres, for those who don't know the incomparable bodega is what you might call the Mondavi of Iberia. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The story really begins several decades ago with Miguel Torres Carbó who took over the family firm in Vilafranca del Penedès in 1932 at the age of 23. During the Spanish Civil War, Torres Bodega was badly damaged by shelling. Despite the costs of reviving and rebuilding his winery in 1940, Torres knew the key to success existed in exporting.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">So with his wife Doña Margarita, the couple traveled throughout South America, the Far East and the Pacific Rim, Europe and North America in hopes of establishing contacts and gaining support for his dream of reviving the Spanish wine industry. He knew the export market after WWII was in rough shape. Europe and North America weren’t especially keen on importing wine from a country with a dictator holding the reigns. He found friends in Latin America and the Far East, where there was a much warmer reception. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the 1960’s, Torres was credited with the first installation of stainless steel fermenting vessels and holding tanks in Spain. His journeys introduced him to the technologically savvy techniques from both the New and Old Worlds, ultimately choosing oak barriques to age his finest wines and the temperature controlled tanks to produce his quality everyday wines. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">He also imported and incorporated other French and European grape varities into his vineyards. It is because of him we find Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Gewürztraminer growing amongst Spain's Tempranillo, Monastrell, Carignan and Garnacha. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">With the rise of tourism in the 1960’s and 70’s, Torres name stood at the forefront both abroad and in his homeland.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>PASSING ON THE TORCH</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 1991, Torres passed on, leaving the family business to his son and present owner, Miguel A. Torres. Waltraud Maczassek, whom he married in 1962, a German artist lends her name to the Riesling of the Torres line. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Torres has vineyards in both Chile’s Curico Valley and California’s Sonoma.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>TO SPAIN </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is rightly believed that a World Cup victory can mean a boost in morale for a country. Spain's economy is presently shaky. If anything, the win is a glorious, golden gift for the hard working men and women of Spain. I hope the victory celebrations slip on continuously throughout the nights. I pray the country recovers from its economic woes and wins the world over again. To this, I raise a glass and savour the <i>salud</i> before bed. </span></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-14453287298333848272010-06-16T13:15:00.005-04:002010-06-19T09:42:05.390-04:00A Philosophical Passion for Wine<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A finger of grapevine</span></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">and a beam of sunlight</span></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">point to the spot</span></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">where my heart is</span></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;">Federico García Lorca - "<i>Granada 1850</i>"</span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> This morning I went to do some lab work for an upcoming physical. Some blood was taken but I had to fast for at least twelve hours beforehand. Basically, all I could really have was water.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now water is great, don't get me wrong. When you're lacking, when you've been sweating after a workout at the gym or been cooped up in a dry office, cubically contained, drinking too much coffee, water is perfect. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">But I have to say, with a smirk of genuine honesty, wine is always perfect. Last night, I would have had a glass or two but I had to follow my doctor's instructions. And you know, maybe I'm a little grumpy today because I haven't had my wine. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>ADDICTION VS. PASSION</b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I often wonder about the nature of addiction and the idea of a surrogate. The alcoholic is told to treat his or her addiction like a disease. In recovery he or she must reflect on the reasons why they turned to alcohol. I<i>s there a hole inside?</i> Why do they choose whiskey or beer to fulfill them; what is or maybe better yet, <i>who is </i>replaced by the drinking? Is the alcoholic mourning a loss in childhood or the misery of a failed relationship? Instead of getting past the missed opportunity or healing the nameless wound, the drink is the surrogate, misleading the addict, letting them think they are healing their reality by escaping. The drink is the blinding distraction. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Certainly, there are other addictions: gambling, drugs, sex etc... </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm wondering, is wine my addiction? Where is the line between passion and addiction? Can such a line be safely drawn? Is passion a form of dependence? Can wine be a distraction, misleading the imbiber?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I can get through a day without wine. Sure. No problem. But can a musician or music lover get through a day without music and still be in a good mood? Listening to Beethoven's late piano sonatas or the softy, husky melancholy of a Ray Lamontagne song can, depending on your tastes, bring the spirit up after a long, wearied day. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I love wine and music equally. Music is wine, wine is music. Music isn't an addiction, no but it can be a necessity for some of us. And as for wine, a glass of day is fine; great for health apparently. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For myself, I definitely look forward to a glass, probably more than others. I love the bouquet and flavours of different wines, - the teasing richness of a robust Rioja or the verdant but chilled charm of a Chenin from Vouvray. When I treat myself, I move past the Champagnes, past the Bordeaux and Burgundies to the Mosel and Rheinhessen Rieslings: I prefer Prüm to an overpriced bubbly or a mediocre Médoc (because you have to spend a lot to get something good in France's most famous wine regions). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's not an addiction. It is reverence. It's a means of creating beauty, letting it flood the moment. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>SACRED VS. PROFANE </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Even though the wine consumer doesn't produce the wine, doesn't grow the grapes, he or she is a creator of the moment. By taking a glass we are involved in a tradition that has gone on for thousands of years. To borrow from the late Mircea Eliade, famous mythologist and philosopher, we are in some way participating in the <i>hierophany</i>, the sacred space that is the eternal realm of tradition and ritual. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The profane involves linear time and is opposite the sacred. Profane time is daily time, historical, made up of dates continuously succeeding each other, one moment dissolving the next, one event replacing the previous. It is the time of work, bureaucracy, governments, backyards, bars - social, polical and otherwise. By re-enacting the gods, their myths, an individual in an archaic tribe could find himself stepping into the <i>illo tempore</i>, the time before. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is why the Greeks and later the Christians associated the resurrection god with the vine. By drinking Dionysus or Christ, the worshiper took the god within. Both gods were born in unique and miraculous circumstances (Dionysus was sewn into Zeus's calf following his mother's death by lightning; Mary was a virgin) and both performed miracles. Both were sacrificed and experienced equally grueling deaths. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The nature of the vine represents the sacred nature of life. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE FLEETING AND THE DESIRE </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Life is born. It is nothing short of a miracle that in the vastness of the universe, this Earth exists and supports life. Trees are green in the summer, mountains rise, oceans fall against their shore lines, wildlife floods the wilderness, in the air, on the ground and in the sea. </span><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;">But life is not long and death haunts all our horizons. The vine produces beautiful fruit just as we produce children, works of art, accomplishing various daily tasks like gardening, carpentry - even conversation and the relationships founded on them are a production of our hidden divinity. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">When we die the vine is like us and we are like the vine. We have struggled to bring something out of the nothing, bringing purpose to the naked canvas of existence. We have our religions, our myths, our deities, desires, duties, morals and responsibilities but they are all created by us. Our dying is our dormancy. Dionysus and Christ both die but they are resurrected. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We drink this hope that we too won't end with our last breaths. We drink a glass of wine because it is more than just a beverage. Hope is beauty and we desire it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There are so many things we see with our eyes, hear with our ears, touch with our hands, smell with our noises but taste is by far the most intimate. The <i>Mona Lisa </i>smiles at us but we are distant from her. The scent of the flower belongs in the liminal realm of space and petals while the music of Beethoven haunts our ears. Wine flows in us, it meets us. It is intimate like a lover's long awaited kiss. This is the intoxication. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wine is our consolation. At the end of our profane hours, when we need to step back from the parade, the often hopeless journey that is life, wine brings us a comfort. Sipping a wine is either done in silence or with others. Just as we can enjoy our solitude, sitting with a book we can drink wine in whatever company so long as it is kind. When we can't have what we want, when the one we love is not going to love us or the passing face is not going to stop on the street, their beauty leaving the moment broken in two, wine is there to sew up the wake of the unfulfilled. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is what wine represents to me but maybe to others. This is my passion and this is how I feel. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-21833683870183130262010-06-15T19:06:00.007-04:002010-06-15T19:16:58.336-04:00More South Africa: The Story of Delheim<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In my previous blog, I wrote about the history of South Africa touching on soccer and the story of the first vines, the Dutch, the British and apartheid. Today, I'm going to focus on a particular winery with ties to Germany: <b><i>Delheim.</i></b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>TWO LIVES: VAN RIEBEECK AND SPATZ </b><i>Jan van Riebeeck (1619-1677)</i><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCCUlIPuGEdbV88of4p0TIS5LljL-WfDrbdsUy_ReGmKsNGIZugwvP0d_FoSnNupyuMkeU7glmOSc0U7GeU6bG1sLIFHzI9Xis53MI1Tllowxj1wCHIYG2lq291gx6zsFUYnllTU4dg/s1600/458px-Jan_van_Riebeeck.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCCUlIPuGEdbV88of4p0TIS5LljL-WfDrbdsUy_ReGmKsNGIZugwvP0d_FoSnNupyuMkeU7glmOSc0U7GeU6bG1sLIFHzI9Xis53MI1Tllowxj1wCHIYG2lq291gx6zsFUYnllTU4dg/s320/458px-Jan_van_Riebeeck.png" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">Vines have been growing in South Africa since the 17th century. For many, Jan van Riebeeck, a Dutch surgeon is often considered the founding father of the country's wine industry. He was in no way a viticulturist, or a winemaking pioneer, simply a doctor looking for a way to reduce the risk of scurvy for sailors on long sea journeys between Europe and Asia. By planting vines, he hoped to create a cure for the men stopping over in the nearby ports along the Western Cape. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like the Dutch doctor, Michael 'Spatz' Sperling was not a trained winemaker. Born and raised in what is now western Poland, Spatz fled to South Africa in 1951 at the age of 21. He was tired of the starvation years following the war and needed a change of scenery. Working on the communist state-run farms had fortunately kept him close to food and he often stole potatoes to get through the harsh winter months. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In South Africa, he went to work for his aunt and uncle. Hans Otto and Deli Hoheisen owned a 494-acre farm on Simonsberg Mountain just outside of Stellenbosch (both the mountain and city are named after Simon van der Stel, the colony's first 17th century governor). Spatz's relatives produced a variety of products including a bit of wine. The name Delheim is actually named after Spatz's aunt - 'Deli's home'.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SIMONSBERG AND A HUMBLE BEGINNING</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you were to go back in time, back to the late 17th century, you would fine a home on the southwestern slopes of Simonsberg Mountain. Inside the humble dwelling lived a Dutch East India Company servant. When ships were spotted arriving in Table Bay, the servant would fire a cannon, the third in a relay. From there, it was up to locals of Cape Town to welcome the new arrivals and offer their wares or defend their city. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The land passed through different hands, eventually a series of parcels forming the vineyard owned by the Hoheisen family. Before Spatz arrived, his aunt and uncle had a humble and basic set-up for wine making: a basket and continuous press, hand pumps and filter. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, the young emrigrée Spatz knew nothing about wine but as luck would have it, he became a student of traveling German wine experts who came to South Africa to teach the locals. Eager to learn, he absorbed what he could during the 1960s and made many mistakes at Delheim. One story goes that he was trying to impress a group of German tourists with a sweet-wine he had made. One of them remarked, "<i>Spatz er ist noch dreck</i>!" (The wine is really shitty...).</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But Spatz was determined and improved the wine, calling it <i>Spatzendreck</i>. The name has a double meaning. Sperling is <i>sparrow</i> in German and Spatz is the diminutive. So it means both Spatz's 'shit' or 'Little Sparrow's Shit'. (Fondly enough, in 1979 Decanter awarded Sperling the 'worst label of the year' for the winery's label of a bird defecating into a wine barrel.) </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>DELHEIM - THE ROAD TO QUALITY AND TOURISM </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 1959, Spatz entered Delheim's wines into the South African Wine Show in nearby Paar, winning a trophy for his Palomino in the best Dry White Table Wine category.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">During the 1970s fellow wine producers, Franz Malan of Simonsig Estate, Niel Joubert of Spier winery and Spatz came together to work on promoting wine tourism in South Africa. Malan had been to Europe and returned impressed by the wine routes he had seen in France. With little support from both KWV and local road engineers, the three handed out maps showing tourists how to get to the participating wineries. First came the students from Stellenbosch University followed by their parents.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eventually, the Stellenbosch wine route took off (today it is sponsored by American Express) and in 1976 Spatz with the help of his Dutch-born wife, Vera, opened up the Vintner's Cheese Lunch Restaurant to cater to the arriving tourists. Serving home-made food to compliment their wines, the establishment became popular and complimented the available wine and cellar tours.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>DELHEIM TODAY</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Delheim is still operating today with Spatz as vintner and his son, Victor as viticulturist and general farm manager. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91QvLj39X8X6LodttidUJ7JGWlIgtIu9ZII4CmNP_TVc_Sng1J4YQAIEji8Pbc71bHCL9ORh9Q9YwEqWRaCV1QLcZ_wJSaZOnjhSMThnuWhRwvxAnbj3gw2h7inGYeby3qyd4IN9JmA/s1600/DSCN0954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91QvLj39X8X6LodttidUJ7JGWlIgtIu9ZII4CmNP_TVc_Sng1J4YQAIEji8Pbc71bHCL9ORh9Q9YwEqWRaCV1QLcZ_wJSaZOnjhSMThnuWhRwvxAnbj3gw2h7inGYeby3qyd4IN9JmA/s320/DSCN0954.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">For soccer and wine fans, Delheim is featuring a venue to view the World Cup soccer matches.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the LCBO, look out for <b>Delheim 2006 Simonsberg Cabernet Sauvignon (on sale $13.40 in the Vintages section). A bouquet of red currant and green pepper; equally seductive on the palate with a smoky kiss of dark fruit. </b></span><br />
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<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>BIBLIOGRAPHY </b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Robinson, Jancis, <i>The Oxford Companion to Wine</i>. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 2003.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost"></span>Taber, George M. <i>In Search of Bacchus: Wanderings in the Wonderful World of Wine Tourism</i>. Scribner, New York, 2009. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.delheim.com/">www.delheim.com</a> </span></div></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-72433915877880206332010-06-11T18:12:00.006-04:002010-06-15T10:05:52.581-04:00Soccer, Wine and South Africa<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0n_kwXZaJad7SODH82wYY3Uoyy2rszNFavcu1jywPndDWWiCFanmcc5XTs5EqBYoxJXw4V1Eoluj_KlKt7vbJ9CYPifHWeI5czjzQB_oRSYsrpZIHaxcefJIvHfEVc789v7WAbJIEA/s1600/south_african_storm_flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0n_kwXZaJad7SODH82wYY3Uoyy2rszNFavcu1jywPndDWWiCFanmcc5XTs5EqBYoxJXw4V1Eoluj_KlKt7vbJ9CYPifHWeI5czjzQB_oRSYsrpZIHaxcefJIvHfEVc789v7WAbJIEA/s320/south_african_storm_flag.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">Today marks the beginning of FIFA World Cup 2010. In Johannesburg, the competition opened between the host country South Africa and Mexico. It was an exciting match with Mexico favoured to win but the South African footballers had their game together and scored early in the second half. Shortly after Blanco came on the field, Rafael Marquez tied it up for Mexico and the final score sat at 1-1. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I watched the game at my father's place this morning and though I'm not the biggest soccer fan in the world I had the chills when Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the first goal of the game and the crowd in Johannesberg howled with excitement. It wasn't quite noon but I sipped some wine and smiled for the boys, for the country of yellow and green. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>WINE AND SOCCER</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I also realized today how complex and beautiful soccer can be. When I was young, I enjoyed hockey and football but the arts became my favoured past time. I hardly watch North American sports but I found myself captivated by today's game. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Soccer is a continuous game. The pauses are brief, the action is on-going. True, there are some slow points , a few dull turn-arounds, but like any good novel or film, the gradual shift in tempo from the moderate to the fast can be exhilarating. The best plays come off orchestrated, dramatic and timely as if they were composed in the balance of passes, headers and honed strikes. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like a good wine, soccer is about finesse and finish and today's game satisfied me in a way wine typically does. The two are linked in their ability to banish care and unite the world. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SOUTH AFRICA: HISTORY INSPIRED BY WINE</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the first time South Africa has ever held the World Cup. The euphoria there must be intoxicating. The rich and the poor, the black and white, once segregated by apartheid are all celebrating today's game. In the world of soccer, the fans are united by their team and nation. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">It amazes me the link between the sport and the seductive beverage of civilization. Wine first came to the country in the wake of Dutch exploration. Jan van Riebeeck, the first governor of the Cape colony planted the first vines using varieties sourced from France, Germany and Spain. It was Riebeeck's belief that the crews of Portuguese and Spanish vessels had less incidence of scurvy because of wine consumption. After a failed first effort, the governor reported success on February 2, 1659 in a famous diary entry: "Today, praise be to God, wine was made for the first time from Cape grapes."</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 1657 Riebeeck decided that employees of the Dutch East India Company should be freed of their duties and given land in order to get more agricultural output out of the newly discovered land. This decision was ultimately shadowed by the institution of slavery. Dutch ships carried enslaved men, women and children from the coastal areas of eastern African and Mozambique to the colony. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Simon van der Stel replaced van Riebeeck as governor in 1679 and established South Africa's second city, Stellenbosch (named after himself - 'the forest of Stel'). In the 1680s, French Protestants known as Huguenots fled their homeland, escaping religious persecution. Many came from Provence and brought their winemaking skills to a new settlement further inland aptly named Franschhoek (Dutch for 'French Corner'). By the end of the century, with the help of the new settlers, Van der Stel developed Constania, the first major winery just south of Cape Town. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>KWV, APARTHEID AND WINE</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The British took over South Africa in 1795 but slavery didn't end until 1834. The troubles between races continued but on the bright side the British were able to open trade for the country. Vines increased from 13 million to 55 million with 4.5 million liters produced annually. Vin de Constance, a sweet white wine made from Muscast de Frontignan grapes became the prized drink of Jane Austen, Frederich the Great and Napoleon who requested a bottle on his death bed. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There were other troubles fermenting. The climate of South Africa proved to be too ideal for grape growing and overproduction lead many growers and winemakers to bankruptcy. To save the industry, the KWV (<i>Ko-operatiewe Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Africa Beperkt</i>) formed to restrict and regulate the type and quantity of grapes grown and set prices. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The KWV has often been compared to the centralized control of Soviet Russia (it was nicknamed the KGB). Quantity became more important than quality and growers planted and harvest high-yielding varieties.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 1948, the tension between races came to a head and strict rules of racial separation were put in place. Civil Rights were revoked and everyone was put into racial categories - whites, black, mulattoes, Asian and Indians. Afrikaners, descendents of the first Dutch settlers, the men and women who first planted the vines and kept domestic and farm slaves were the criminals behind apartheid policy. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wine amongst other South African products were boycotted around the world. Riled apartheid protesters smashed shop windows in Amsterdam where South African wines were sold. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>MANDELA, SOCCER AND MORE WINE</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nelson Mandela couldn't be at today's game due to the tragic death of his great-grandaughter in a car accident, said to be caused by a drunk driver.<b> </b>For many football fans he was there in spirit, many of whom are crediting him for bringing the World Cup to South Africa. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 1995, it was Mandela who helped ease race relations in the rugby World Cup. Black and white cheered on the Springboks and today, the racial divide was once again blurred following Tshabalala's goal. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">South African wine is no longer boycotted and enjoys a place at many tables around the world. Recently, Shiraz became the latest showstopping varietal. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today I'm going to recommend South African wine. Pick up any bottle you like. History is taking place in South Africa and why not take the spirit of the country in by lifting a glass. Wine, like soccer is for everyone (well... maybe not youngsters... they'll have to wait) but drink responsibly. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">BIBLIOGRAPHY</span></b><br />
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/11/nelson-mandela-grandaughter-drunk-driver</div>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/africa/10297799.stm<br />
<br />
Taber, George M. <i>In Search of Bacchus: Wanderings in the Wonderful World of Wine Tourism</i>. Scribner, New York, 2009.Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-71410570820664122392010-06-08T18:27:00.005-04:002010-06-08T20:48:23.392-04:00Viognier: From Condrieu to California<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The humid weather has passed by in Niagara. There were a few days last week where it felt like I was stepping outside into a pre-heated oven. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thankfully, today the air is cool, the skies are mainly blue with patches of clouds but chances are, the humidity has just gone to sleep for awhile. Like the creature in the horror film and Arnold in his Terminator role, it will most likely '<i>be back</i>'.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Strangely, I found myself drinking a lot of full-bodied red wines on those hot, sickly sticky days (I know, I know...). Now it's a bit cooler and I'm in the mood for a chilled white. (Go figure...)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>STARTING WITH THE NAME AND GOING FROM THERE...</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Having worked in wine retail over the past few years, there are two main white grapes with names that are continuously mispronounced. <b>Gewürztraminer</b> being the first and <b>Viognier </b>the second (Riesling, a sometimes minor third). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've often heard '<i>gewoorz-trainer</i>' or '<i>gewuzz-tra-miner'</i> and '<i>vagner</i>' or '<i>veeyog-near</i>'. It's understandable. For those first stepping into the vast universe that is wine, the European varieties can make you scratch your head and pray your pronunciation is the closest. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>First things first, <i>vee-YON-yay</i>. Viognier</b>. Pretty easy. (And of course - <i>ge-VERZ-tra-meaner</i>.)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>VIOGNIER: A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFO</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1B7qwSI-MMpffQZziF64PSWNqAxm-X34bpH_gvL0cusduE9ha5pYE1FKY2cKUBSDXm7P1qZd8G3v1s6PLn2TZk_2awmpuLZhmMQoxcHP4b8LbdLaj4kD_ihUK-SamKKiKyFXAqEhsQ/s1600/Viognier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1B7qwSI-MMpffQZziF64PSWNqAxm-X34bpH_gvL0cusduE9ha5pYE1FKY2cKUBSDXm7P1qZd8G3v1s6PLn2TZk_2awmpuLZhmMQoxcHP4b8LbdLaj4kD_ihUK-SamKKiKyFXAqEhsQ/s320/Viognier.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Viognier variety is grown in the Rhône Valley, with its famous home in Condrieu, a white-only AOC amongst a river landscape of Syrah soaked slopes. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">According to Roger Scruton in his fresh, philosophical wine treatise, <i>I Drink Therefore I Am </i>(tipping his hat towards Monty Pythone), Viognier was imported to the site from Dalmatia (modern day Croatia) in 281. Emperor Vespasian had first torn out the Rhône vineyards after a local rebellion. Emperor Probus subsequently saw things differently and believed that if good wine could be produced, there would be no need for the people to rebel. The Viognier grape would keep everyone cool, calm and happy (and hopefully intoxicated).</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately, over the years, vinegrowers have learned it is a difficult variety to manage and keep happy. <b>Viognier is prone to disease, especially powdery mildew and apparently buds before early spring frosts. In 1965, there were only 8 hectares of Viognier grown in Condrieu. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Things have picked up. In the 1980s nurserymen saw an increase in demand for cuttings. In the south of the France, especially the Languedoc region, Viognier takes up about 1,540 hectares. Today, <b>Condrieu has about 98 hectares (242 acres) with plantings showing up just outside the designated Rhône AOC at 2,360 ha. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>CONDRIEU, </b><b>CHÂTEAU GRILLET and </b><b>the CÔTE-RÔTIE </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Typically, whites that garner a high price tag can be aged. Think of Riesling from the Mosel-Saar-Ruher and the Chardonnay-based Burgundies of the Côte de Beaune. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not so with Condrieu. The Viognier-based wines are expensive and high in-demand but are meant to be consumed as soon as the new vintage is available. Viognier doesn't go the distance the way Chardonnay or Riesling can. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Within the AOC is France's smallest wine appellations, Château Grillet. The vines here are grown on dangerous steep slopes; the best grapes sourced from low-yielding old vines. The wines are aged in oak barrel for 24 months. Despite all the effort, the region produces little over 10,000 bottles a year. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">North of Condrieu lies the Côte-Rôtie ('Roasted Slope'), the most northern AOC of the Rhône Valley. Only red wines are produced. The Syrahs, however, can be blended with up to 20% Viognier, the white variety adding body, elegance and delicate spice to the burly reds. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beyond the northern Rhône, Viognier blends well with Roussane, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Rolle in the southern stretch of the Valley.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>VIOGNIER ELSEWHERE: AUSTRALIA AND THE UNITED STATES</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the New World, the Aussies have looked to the French for inspiration blending their Shiraz with Viognier in such regions as McLaren Vale and the Barossa. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In California, Viognier's volume is turned up and the stone fruit and flower we find so soft and delicate in France becomes plumper on the palate - the wines are also juicier with ripe apricots, sun-soaked peaches and fat melons. Cline puts out a big pineapple-punchy Viognier while Calera's offering has honeyed notes of honesuckle and white flower - a little more Old World in style. (Also check out Treana's Central Coast White, a blend of Viognier and Marsanne from their Mer Soleil Vineyard.)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Of all the states, Virginia is fast becoming synonymous with world class Viognier</b>. Horton Vineyards of Orange County is leading the pack of up-and-coming wineries. The state first saw vineyards planted in the early 1600s but many succumbed to the numerous pests and diseases of the United States. Today Viognier, amongst Petit Verdot, Petit Manseng and Touriga Nacional are giving the Eastern state a chance to shine. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>VIOGNIER: THE FASHIONABLE AND FUN</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Both Condrieu and California Viognier can be quite pricey. If you're looking for some cheap and fun cool alternatives to the modern classics, c<b>heck out Cono Sur's Viognier at $9.95. Baron-Rothschild's Introductory line Viognier is also easy on the wallet at $10.95.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today at the LCBO I picked up the Domaine de Vedilhan 2008 Viognier from the Vin de Pays D'Oc (on sale at $10.40). The estate is close to Narbonne in the Languedoc where the grape has risen in popularity. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTBxocnKS6QarX_gC2gO6r3xlEEf2XrGT8zADpDeOsjORnwjgJQPbIBklv4ZDA0VjdjmnPkZp8NjnVFyqsq2BBGIyIgTaIv9G-eFTtiRbXU8dzA8E-JBxXBN7ipDuisoIdeLdB4hYXQ/s1600/DSCN0952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTBxocnKS6QarX_gC2gO6r3xlEEf2XrGT8zADpDeOsjORnwjgJQPbIBklv4ZDA0VjdjmnPkZp8NjnVFyqsq2BBGIyIgTaIv9G-eFTtiRbXU8dzA8E-JBxXBN7ipDuisoIdeLdB4hYXQ/s320/DSCN0952.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is signature Viognier with apricot, peach and white flowers with a hint of pear and cucumber. <b>Ideal as an apéritif, something to sip while you're making dinner. Some critics say the variety is hard to pair with food but I think Viognier is perfect with an Hawaiian pizza generously topped with golden pineapples. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>For additional fun, pair the wine with fish and chips and a long summer sunset. </b></span><br />
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<div style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">BIBLIOGRAPHY</span></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lukacs, Paul, <i>The Great Wines of America</i>. W&W Norton Company, New York, 2005. </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">MacNeil, Karen, <i>The Wine Bible. Workman Publishing Company Inc</i>. New York, 2001</span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost"> </span><span id="fullpost">Robinson, Jancis, <i>The Oxford Companion to Wine</i>. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 2003.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Scruton, Roger, <i>I Drink Therefore I Am</i>. Continuum International, New York, 2009.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost"><br />
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<div style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">PHOTO SOURCE</span></b></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">http://www.waihekewine.co.nz/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/images/winemaking/Viognier.jpg</span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-35314078303111904712010-06-07T19:40:00.009-04:002010-06-08T19:32:15.715-04:00Bobal: Big, Beefy and Ideal for BBQ Season<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tempranillo, Garnacha and Monastrell are the three typical red varieties you find in the wines of Rioja, Navarra and Jumilla. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cava is a blend of Macebeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jerez relies on Palomino or Pedro Ximénez to make the fortified wines of Andalusia. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Verdejo is to Rueda what Albariño is to Rias Biaxas - both champion grapes of cooler, northern "Green Spain".</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">But look out, there's another beautiful grape to keep your eye out for. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>BOBAL: THE NEW BIG GUN</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For many years, Bobal was the go-to grape when Spanish winemakers wanted to add body to their hefty reds. It was little more than a workhorse grape, vastly under-appreciated - much like a Hollywood script doctor.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicElYPIMOPmlhoWCmC9gKlQTT8FIq9UrJFVS6agekLfEBzL-WP-AfVP1b734PVQ2SYna_F9FMxoLLSVAFLkG-uPSBcrx4RWLi9HmsPTTeaoZpNPPjD3CDMnN7_Tksi8Df65BOJ7RrqCw/s1600/bobal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicElYPIMOPmlhoWCmC9gKlQTT8FIq9UrJFVS6agekLfEBzL-WP-AfVP1b734PVQ2SYna_F9FMxoLLSVAFLkG-uPSBcrx4RWLi9HmsPTTeaoZpNPPjD3CDMnN7_Tksi8Df65BOJ7RrqCw/s320/bobal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In recent years, the grape has revealed itself to be a stronger blending partner with the likes of Tempranillo and Garnacha. <b>As a varietal wine, it has excellent aging potential especially in such DOs as Utiel-Requena and Valencia in the Levant.</b> And unlike Monastrell, it has better acidity retention making for refreshing reds with structured tannins. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>MUSTIGUILLO: A BODEGA FOR BOBAL</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Established just little over a decade ago, this small family-owned bodega located 100km west of Valencia sits on <b>80 hectares of mostly Bobal grapes</b>. Thus far, the Sarrión clan has refused to join the DO Utiel-Requena and their wines tend to fall under the designation of <i>Vino de la Tierra el Terrerazo. </i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mustiguillo has been highly praised, named one of the top twenty new wineries in <i>Food & Wine Magazine'</i>s annual Wine Issue (Oct. 2004). </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Their 2002 Finca Terrarazo was made from a blend of sixty-five percent Bobal, twenty percent Tempranillo and fifteen percent Cabernet Sauvignon with seventeen months in French oak barrels. The 2005 was rated 92 points by The Wine Advocates' Jay Miller and 91 points by Josh Reynolds of International Wine Cellar. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>MESTIZAJE</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you want value, <b>Mustiguillo's "Mestizaje" is the wine to grab for your BBQ dinners this summer. </b></span>The <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">2005 was given 89 points by Jay Miller but the recent 2007 vintage received 90 points by the same critic. </span><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-U8YUu4sojwk7AtrHi0H1m-mUCoYp4g4c4nzQ3C11ESd7rHBfXdEGb56RKrJCmAi15XHrEVdV5s_u-lClascYbu0B63IRoL9nBJdlo7u3h_n9MSkOnbAYXqDCJhnwMDb-DesQV2lA7g/s1600/DSCN0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-U8YUu4sojwk7AtrHi0H1m-mUCoYp4g4c4nzQ3C11ESd7rHBfXdEGb56RKrJCmAi15XHrEVdV5s_u-lClascYbu0B63IRoL9nBJdlo7u3h_n9MSkOnbAYXqDCJhnwMDb-DesQV2lA7g/s320/DSCN0951.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like the Finca Terrarazo, the wine is primarily Bobal (70% in this case) with Garnacha, Syrah, Tempranillo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon thrown in for good measure and complexity. <b>Oak and barrel-aged (6 months) the wine delivers heady red fruit, licorice, blueberry, brown sugar and a spicy black pepper finish. Ideal with steak and other flame-broiled fair. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>MOVE OVER MALBEC</b> - Last year Malbec was the go-to wine for backyard BBQ season. Let's make Bobal the new beef-friendly buddy.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mustiguillo's "Mestizaje" is available in the Vintages section at your local LCBO for $16.95. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">BIBLIOGRAPHY</span></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Jeffs, Julian, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Wines of Spain</span>. Mitchell Beazley, London, 2006.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Radford, John, <span style="font-style: italic;">The New Spain</span>. Mitchell Beazley, London, 2007. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Robinson, Jancis, The Oxford Companion to Wine. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 2003.</span></span><br />
http://www.lcbo.com<br />
http://www.polanerselections.com/producer.php?pID=751<br />
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<b>PHOTO SOURCE</b><br />
http://www.sibaritia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/bobal.jpgChristijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-42308838948305054222010-06-02T11:58:00.006-04:002010-06-08T19:32:33.186-04:00The Other 'Ribera' - Ribera del Júcar and the Lands of the Meseta<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"In a place in La Mancha... of which I do not remember the name..."</i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Miguel Cervantes, <i>Don Quixote</i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The land of the Meseta, of Madrid and New Castile is the land of high central plains. It is the heart of Spain, decked with flat landscapes of red soil and stubby vines. In the distance, the sunburnt circle of mountains gives one the feeling of immense isolation and wonder.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinujgN510w5nXfGmtUboHfblKJU47CwHXWBw5BugZK0zRZSdenFHKL6EpDmDaxeRcPzKlVftBylCQmFXPnDfsw0tghHCYTN_EOFAcmxnjbEk8PwB5srYvXlh3HRa3yG7Vj5dNDhZl2TA/s1600/windmills400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinujgN510w5nXfGmtUboHfblKJU47CwHXWBw5BugZK0zRZSdenFHKL6EpDmDaxeRcPzKlVftBylCQmFXPnDfsw0tghHCYTN_EOFAcmxnjbEk8PwB5srYvXlh3HRa3yG7Vj5dNDhZl2TA/s400/windmills400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The windmills here aren't giants, no, they are short and their sails fly fast in the winter months when the plain's winds rush with a solemn howl over the landscape, creating Spain's lowest temperatures (-22 degrees Celcius). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Following the <i>Reconquista, </i>Madrid became the capital. The city stood as far away from the coast as possible, central and also out of the greedy reaches of the regal but older kingdoms. Castile, Aragon, Navarre and Catalonia had longed scrapped and <i> </i>squabbled with each other - Madrid would be free but also become the new bureaucracy of the recently liberated 'Spain'. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>LA MANCHA AND ENVIRONS</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hands down, <b>La Mancha</b> makes the most wine in the Meseta. These are the value wines you find on the supermarket shelves of Europe and in the cheap wine section of the LCBO. They are big and fruity and simply fun to drink. Just look for Tempranillos from <i>Vino de la Tierra de Castilla</i>. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Valdepeñas</b>, or 'Valley of the Stones' lies just south of La Mancha and <b>produces some excellent Reservas and Gran Reservas</b>. The area's history goes back to the Romans but many believe it was the <b>monks of 12th century Burgundy who first brought Cencibel (aka Tempranillo) here</b>. In the twentieth century, it was often considered the "Poor Man's Rioja" but as we find in the Twenty-First century, <b>the wines can stand up to the best of North-Central Spain. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Almansa is considered 'the forefinger' of Castilla-La Mancha</b> and could well have been assigned to the DO's (Denominación de Origin) of Valencia and the Levant. But politics is politics and borders fall where men lie but one thing's for sure, culturally, <b>the region is more northern than Mediterranean</b>. If anything, the one great common factor it has with its more eastern neighbors is the vast <b>planting of Monastrell which dominates half the vineyards. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">And there's also <b>Manchuela</b>, second-largest in size after massive La Mancha. <b>The main grape here is Bobal which accounts for around 70% of the vineyard. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOwUsYChKH7aRlFlAgq_BYEGK4KZLzO6P5EOvz1CFKgyjlsuQycg67cWi-MYo-ZtfZ80EuhxDGEaFcsDbSTAt53Mqyp5bglIr4djq43WMvfVO_GOR-8BsBKkziGeBRmRGl6tCI4rLbg/s1600/logo_denominacion_ribera_del_jucar1-300x202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOwUsYChKH7aRlFlAgq_BYEGK4KZLzO6P5EOvz1CFKgyjlsuQycg67cWi-MYo-ZtfZ80EuhxDGEaFcsDbSTAt53Mqyp5bglIr4djq43WMvfVO_GOR-8BsBKkziGeBRmRGl6tCI4rLbg/s320/logo_denominacion_ribera_del_jucar1-300x202.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>RIBERA DEL JÚCAR</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the world of wine, we remember the big names: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Tuscany, Rioja, Jerez, Barossa, Marlborough, Mosel-Saar-Ruher, Napa, etc...etc...</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even in Spain-loving wine circles, the word 'Ribera' is often followed by 'del Duero' and we think of the robust, passionate and heady wines of the north. We think of Vega Sicilia's famous dark wines that can age for decades. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are other Ribera's, however. There's Ribeira Sacra in Galicia; Ribera del Andarax in Andalusia and Ribera del Guadiana in Extremadura in western Spain on the River Guadiana. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>In the Meseta, we find Ribera del Júcar fiendishly sandwiched between La Mancha and Manchuela</b>. The D.O. lies in the province of Cuenca and surrounds seven small villages. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is more of a <b>Mediterranean climate at work</b> and it's not as harsh as the heated plains of La Mancha. It also rains more in Ribera del Júcar than in the land of Don Quixoite's monstrous windmills: 20% percent higher to be exact. This means the vines don't have to dig down so deep to find water. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The soils of La Mancha are red-brown sand and clay while in J<b>úcar you'll notice outcrops of marl and limestone. This makes a difference as well. La Mancha, as I mentioned produces busty, brawny reds but here, although the wines are also big there is a seductive, perfumed quality which makes the reds intoxicating even before you sip them. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The main grape varieties include <b>Cencibel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bobal, Merlot and Syrah. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWct0CWXErN1dVxDuPLbP6by3GDN1AuQdIyWyEr1yZ91DCNHiPAQJEHWoRKbGxoF_pwKYp8St_5J_Vh-xUUaItmMK34HN3ocT-UI5tWcjxJ9s34-51c0o1c3g9L49U_9nYWXRZ5U-uTw/s1600/DSCN0946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWct0CWXErN1dVxDuPLbP6by3GDN1AuQdIyWyEr1yZ91DCNHiPAQJEHWoRKbGxoF_pwKYp8St_5J_Vh-xUUaItmMK34HN3ocT-UI5tWcjxJ9s34-51c0o1c3g9L49U_9nYWXRZ5U-uTw/s320/DSCN0946.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>CASA DE ILLANA</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">La Mancha and Castilla are all about value. The same goes for Ribera del Júcar. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <b>2006 Casa de Illana Bobal/Tempranillo/Syrah</b> blend offers the wine lover a gorgeous red without the hefty price tag. On the nose you'll notice <b>perfumed black pepper and blueberries. An earthy spice seems to float and flower in the glass.</b> Take a sip and the <b>dark fruit will rush over your palate along with hints of smoke and dashes of baking spice. A lovely, delicate wine and only $12.95 at the LCBO in your Vintages section. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">BIBLIOGRAPHY</span></b></div><span id="fullpost"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Radford, John, <span style="font-style: italic;">The New Spain</span>. Mitchell Beazley, London, 2007.</span> <bloggerarchives></bloggerarchives></span><br />
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<b><span id="fullpost"><bloggerarchives>PHOTO SOURCE</bloggerarchives></span></b><br />
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Books/Pix/pictures/2007/09/20/windmills400.jpgChristijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-61552085901567216402010-05-27T11:13:00.008-04:002010-05-27T12:12:04.251-04:00Sauvignon Blanc for Early Summer - Creekside and No.99 Wayne Gretzky Estate<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last summer we complained about the rain and it looks like this summer we're going to be griping about the heat. I suppose that's human nature. One thing's for sure, if the past few days have been an indication of things to come, the sale of white wine is assured. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>NIAGARA: COOL CLIMATE AND WHITE WINES</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">As I mentioned in a previous blog, Ontario is a cool climate viticultural area. The Niagara Region is just above 43 degrees north latitudinal band. We share similar growing conditions to southern Germany. What this means is that we can grown and produce exceptional white grapes that will in turn make lively and refreshing white wines. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">When it comes to whites, <b>Riesling and Chardonnay are the two main varieties that excel here</b>. In their shadows, you can find Gewürztraminer with some great Pinot Gris/Grigio and Pinot Blanc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you're looking for something to chill for these summer days, you can't go wrong with the above-mentioned as most wineries do good if not exceptional varietal or blends. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's also Sauvignon Blanc which I've found typically depends on who you buy from... </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFO ON SAUVIGNON BLANC</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8s1Rd_VHethtEeRRdgcKs164o_-kVtv3ximDS22pyukoc8HsuXMjzY5MZqaSo2sVW_NOf1w7uSAnGZ0shfyk68ZdWV_PeRKQUni4hWpgsKL1aF_45XtkJCwShTs9asJHiKfsn2cyQA/s1600/sauvignon_blanc_white_grape_variety.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8s1Rd_VHethtEeRRdgcKs164o_-kVtv3ximDS22pyukoc8HsuXMjzY5MZqaSo2sVW_NOf1w7uSAnGZ0shfyk68ZdWV_PeRKQUni4hWpgsKL1aF_45XtkJCwShTs9asJHiKfsn2cyQA/s320/sauvignon_blanc_white_grape_variety.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">When Sauvignon Blanc is done right, it is easily distinguished from other whites. <b>Sauvignon Blancs around the world are known for their grassy, herbaceous, green fruit, gooseberry and sometimes 'tomcat' aromas and flavours (the latter often referred to as 'cat's pee'). </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is grown throughout both the Old and New Worlds. I<b>n France look no further than the Loire Valley: Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are the two best place to start learning about Sauvignon Blanc.</b> The whites are definitely herbal but the former's whites have a unique smoky mineral quality while the latter are known for their 'flint'. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In Bordeaux, the grape is typically blended with Sémillon to make white Bordeaux and high-priced sweet Sauternes and affordable Barsac. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Speaking of Bordeaux, it is interesting to note that <b>DNA profiling has revealed Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc to be the noble parents of the great red variety, Cabernet Sauvignon.</b> Apparently back in the 18th century, these two vines spontaneously crossed somewhere in the region to create the most popular red grape in the world. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sauvignon Blanc is also important to New Zealand's wine industry. In the 1970s, Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc sparked a revolution on the international market and the entire country has reaped the benefits since. Today it is the most-widely planted variety in the country with Chardonnay a distant second. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The famous Cloudy Bay label </i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFt1jwG3Y9tuaWtiN4QRI1iJ9Yqu3zkg-J0UIEU6fYqdvIVePcnbjHD5IcpzlpiU1mrWu6Y1XPG3qcdl7TOp6m8t8YYY-9tAdwdxn5BLCp5exnN-xagzOS7YwW2FoPzoQ-T7bjUhx0Ig/s1600/cloudy_bay_sauvignon_blanc_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFt1jwG3Y9tuaWtiN4QRI1iJ9Yqu3zkg-J0UIEU6fYqdvIVePcnbjHD5IcpzlpiU1mrWu6Y1XPG3qcdl7TOp6m8t8YYY-9tAdwdxn5BLCp5exnN-xagzOS7YwW2FoPzoQ-T7bjUhx0Ig/s200/cloudy_bay_sauvignon_blanc_l.jpg" width="169" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the Casablanca Valley along the Pacific coast in central Chile, the white grape does especially well. In South African you can find excellent varietal Sauv Blancs from Stellenbosch. In California, the white wine is lightly oaked giving the herbal component a softy creamy-toast character. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SAUVIGNON BLANC IN NIAGARA: MY EXPERIENCE SO FAR</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last year when I went wandering the wine route, I gravitated towards Riesling and Chardonnay. <b>I tried the occasional Sauvignon Blanc here and there, stopping at wineries in both NOTL and Jordan/Beamsville but found the varietals wanting</b>. The acidity didn't seem as bright as the best of France or New Zealand. The grassiness was quite sad in a few instances and the structures of most were a bit wobbly. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had really given up on Canadian Sauv. Blanc. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then yesterday, while out buying wedding gifts, I happened on a few excellent Sauvignon Blancs from two interesting wineries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>CREEKSIDE AND GRETZKY </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">First, I have to mention Creekside and No.99 are actually sister companies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Creekside came into being in 1998 when Peter Jansen and Laura McCain-Jensen, newly returned from a honeymoon/wine tour in California bought V.P. Cellars, a languishing winery on 4th Avenue.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In June 2007, Monique Beech in the Niagara Falls Blog (she now writes for the St.Catharines Standard) announced the Great One would be opening a winery in Niagara. The location was not disclosed at the time but it turned out to be the former Willow Heights Winery at 3751 King St. in Vineland. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The two wineries are in partnership and share both the land and winemakers.</b> If you're looking for a tour, please call up Creekside as the Gretzky facility is not yet set up to accommodate eager wine students. Both locations have restaurants. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>WINE NOTES</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wouldn't say Sauvignon Blanc has the same potential here in Niagara as Riesling or Chardonnay but with innovation and care, it can be unique. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9yUOMyopVJ8Qqy5yNsn-i15vxvFTzIJMtWEYpHps9X4IwLz0H79_9zyBedZ4Xeo-u7YqEGL9af0BLwfCoWXX9Wsigi5FYcE3w2ktJZAn86igTkzTDSggK3X2xeD4ud2IZclASA_zfg/s1600/DSCN0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9yUOMyopVJ8Qqy5yNsn-i15vxvFTzIJMtWEYpHps9X4IwLz0H79_9zyBedZ4Xeo-u7YqEGL9af0BLwfCoWXX9Wsigi5FYcE3w2ktJZAn86igTkzTDSggK3X2xeD4ud2IZclASA_zfg/s200/DSCN0814.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Take the <b>No.99 Wayne Gretzky Estate Series 2007 Sauvignon Blanc. </b>I mentioned that Sauv. Blanc is lightly oaked in California (they call it Fumé Blanc). This wine has the <b>herbs, the grass but also a lovely gooseberry character. The wine is a combination of both barrel and stainless steel fermentation and you'll find a light, creamy texture to the wine that is no way intrusive but intriguing.</b> $18.95 and available through the winery or on-line wine buying sites. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">For those that want a <b>beautiful, zesty, green fruit gooseberry and grapefruit summer sipper, I highly recommend the Creekside Estate 2008 Sauvignon Blanc at $13.95</b> (winery and LCBO). A wonderful white, it's delicate but lively and a great wine to reach for after being out in the sun. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtehEKIle7OZMHSixIdVInhzPBX1QkYgfv1nzJ_L1KpibSX9gxXTPPqPVpn9qBBI0tg-sIruwZvDxb8qazGxjmy0JC3uGJTyMuKm4Roffs8tp9qsm5cWzKZDIptFIgGgAjknuClTqSqw/s1600/DSCN0815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtehEKIle7OZMHSixIdVInhzPBX1QkYgfv1nzJ_L1KpibSX9gxXTPPqPVpn9qBBI0tg-sIruwZvDxb8qazGxjmy0JC3uGJTyMuKm4Roffs8tp9qsm5cWzKZDIptFIgGgAjknuClTqSqw/s200/DSCN0815.JPG" width="148" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Creekside Estate also offers a <b>Reserve 2007 Sauvignon Blanc</b> ($26.95). Again, if you like the idea of the Gretzky lightly-oaked Sauv., then this one might be for you. The wine was rated 4 1/2 stars out of 5 by Rick VanSickle, wine writer for the St.Catharines Standard and is a Gold Medal winner at both Cuveé 2010 and the Ontario Wine Awards 2009. <b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The wine is bigger with the tropical fruit and gooseberry notes turned up in volume. It isn't as grassy as the Estate series offering but if you can imagine a grapefruit gently dipped in whipped cream, then this is your wine.</b><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overall, these varietal are ideal on their own or with a side salad.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> With the Reserve from Creekside, however, I would pair it with a creamy Alfredo pasta. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Crisp white wines like Sauvignon Blanc are also excellent with fried foods so if you need something to sip with your fish and chips, look no further this summer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>LINKS</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.creeksidewine.com/">http://www.creeksidewine.com/</a> </b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.gretzky.com/wine/">http://www.gretzky.com/wine/</a> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-70859449116670061852010-05-21T22:33:00.008-04:002010-06-08T19:31:32.139-04:00Spain, Calatayud and Manga del Brujo<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Why do strong men fatigue themselves with dumbbells?</span></i></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">To dig a vineyard is a worthier exercise.</span></i></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;">- Marcus Valerius Martialis (Martial) (40 AD - 103 AD)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAS4aYIENUz-vmtrJ35gaSASe83i0N6gdy4tnohOmP2wBG_JqcXFrX-UZqF-XaSoDafrdgXhbuyAuzV7iDM-4SN_8rogCHSAdg09lzq4T55Fwa2nwI6-n8KME6Ttzlvkpw8SZ1vcNsw/s1600/DSCN0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAS4aYIENUz-vmtrJ35gaSASe83i0N6gdy4tnohOmP2wBG_JqcXFrX-UZqF-XaSoDafrdgXhbuyAuzV7iDM-4SN_8rogCHSAdg09lzq4T55Fwa2nwI6-n8KME6Ttzlvkpw8SZ1vcNsw/s320/DSCN0803.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spain is a fascinating country. A 19th century travel writer once described it as a <i>'bundle of units tied together by a rope of sand'</i>. Even if we look at Spain's history, we see how true this statement is. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SPAIN BY DIFFERENT NAMES</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ancient settlers, many of whom came from the continent of Africa to Europe once called the country <i>Iberia</i></span> for its many rivers. </div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Greeks who arrived shortly thereafter named this arid land of solemn deserts, rugged, white mountains and wilderness, <i>Hesperus</i>, or 'the land of the sunsets'. For the many men and women in the centuries of Homer, Hesiod, Pindar and Plato, the country we know as Spain was once the western border of the known world. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Carthaginians saw it differently. While exploring this beautiful country of sunsets, they found it inhabited with numerous rabbits so they called it <i>Espana</i> - their word for our furry, carrot crunching friend. The Romans followed fast - they came, saw and conquered (you know the deal) and took from their defeated enemies this particular name and since then, <i>Espana</i> or Spain has stayed with us. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">So really, after the rivers and the sunsets, the bunny rabbits won out. But not for long...</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>MOORISH SPAIN</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the fall of Rome, the Visigoths had their day in the sun and in the region of Spain, the remaining Roman legions simply could not defend the land against the stronger invading barbarians.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The conquerors, however were conquered themselves. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is a fascinating legend that one Visigoth king ignored a certain ritual of his predecessors. For many years, a tower was routinely locked. Seven kings had successively put seven locks on the tower door. The eighth king, Roderick, decided to satisfy his curiosity. He had the locks broken and the door opened. What he found proved surprising.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the inside walls of the tower were pictures of marauding horseman with strange swords. In the centre of the room, a golden vase with a scroll. The scroll simply read that whosoever broke the locks of the tower would be destroyed by the men depicted on the surroundings walls.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 711 B.C. a man named al-Tariq lead a vast force of 7000 men across the Strait separating Spain from Africa. The man would lend his name to the rock - <i>Gibralatar</i> or mountain (gebel) of Tariq.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Roderick was defeated in 712. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For nearly 800 years, the region of Spain and especially south Spain would be known as <i>al-Andalus</i> or 'Land of the Vandals' (i.e. Visigoths). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>WINES AND AL-ANDALUS</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The majority of southern Spanish architecture was heavily inspired by the Moorish invaders. The Spanish language too was shaped by the Arabic and for us English speakers, the influence trickles down. A<i>lcove, alabaster, alchemy, alcohol</i> - all come from the Arabic. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In terms of wine, the Moors of al-Anadalus were relatively lax. They allowed the conquered Christians to grow grapes. In those days, the Eucharist was a fundamental ritual in the church. Fun-loving Muslims would often visit these houses of God the way modern wine drinkers today visit a wine bar.They didn't so much partake of the Eucharist but joyfully sample the goods grown in the vineyards. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">If that doesn't suggest their easy relationship with wine one can look at the poetry of the time which is laden with wine references. </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>CHRISTIAN SPAIN AND CALATAYUD</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuItOmp0qNDE88L1GvtCV2P5PAGZE0CntGwzhAiQoqwp9jj_mJuExfXWV_3QHtwu2N0Uk4kg-XXguA6dcl-RuwMQtg-Qg5jMPxQuZpDtw6tzmW4tctc96Wwro02AGKQFLdi1S5twJGg/s1600/PapaLuna.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuItOmp0qNDE88L1GvtCV2P5PAGZE0CntGwzhAiQoqwp9jj_mJuExfXWV_3QHtwu2N0Uk4kg-XXguA6dcl-RuwMQtg-Qg5jMPxQuZpDtw6tzmW4tctc96Wwro02AGKQFLdi1S5twJGg/s320/PapaLuna.JPG" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">After the Moors came the Christians or really a disjointed <i>but... </i>unified band of Christians. Between 711 and 1492 we find a lot of internal strife and struggle in Muslim Spain. As I mentioned, there was a laxness with the ruling Moors. Those followers of Islam in Africa that objected to the artistic and sometimes decadent culture of Al-Anadalus tried to rectify the situation by crossing over Gibralatar and taking over. There were numerous conflicts of rule within the different factions and the small but determined Christian tribes of the wet north found ways of taking advantage, gaining strength in numbers and pitting their enemies against each other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">In the 15th century, the last of the Moors were ousted from rule and new Spanish leaders took over. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Speaking of the 15th century, it was apparently the architecture of this time that the winemakers of an excellent Calatayud wine, Manga del Brujo are paying homage to. </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Before I go any further, I have to mention that <b>Calatayud is located in north-eastern Spain.</b> It is approximately 100km south of Rioja and is known for its fairly high terrain (800 metres above sea level). </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The countryside is planted with fruit trees (many of which are peach) and vineyards.</b> Of the wine grapes grown, <b>Garnacha is the mainstay taking up 65% of the vineyard. The vines are low-yielding and old vine. Tempranillo, Syrah and Monastrell are also present but don't command the same space and attention. </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the time of the Romans, the region boasted a thriving population and acted as a staging post for the legions. The sardonic and sarcastic epigramist Martial was born here. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But we actually get the name <b>Calatayud from the Moors. It is a corruption of <i>Qualat Ayub</i> or Castle of Ayub (Job). </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So you see how it all comes together... </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>MANGA DEL BRUJO</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I love history and I love how it can interweave through our drinking experience. It is one thing to appreciate a wine on the sensory level, I find it more thrilling to take the tasting to a new level by looking at the world it hails from. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I also love how the winemaker is honoring the history of the region. The old world, the old buildings, and the old vines all coming together. </b></span><b><span style="font-size: small;">The wine has a weight, a density that may have inspired winemaker Norrel Robertson MW to find a co-relation with the buildings of Papa Luna. </span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4loUhDG6sYazF2DzuRM5pWvhVNYaxdO1L5a9r3vc1cvTBbFjzRb7cj4n46VPtnbDgCrOV2FfCGlu0dXjjHNSEv4OkyO6SfWRpuXKGGKd-icZnNuyR2hbrb7yQ1iaFBnb77c0hiNtfA/s1600/DSCN0811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4loUhDG6sYazF2DzuRM5pWvhVNYaxdO1L5a9r3vc1cvTBbFjzRb7cj4n46VPtnbDgCrOV2FfCGlu0dXjjHNSEv4OkyO6SfWRpuXKGGKd-icZnNuyR2hbrb7yQ1iaFBnb77c0hiNtfA/s320/DSCN0811.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">The Garnacha used for this wine lends a robust, dark fruit component. I also find a lovely brown-sugar, tobacco compote element on the palate with hints of black pepper. </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The wine is definitely rich, lush and seductive and at $15.95 in your Vintages section at the LCBO, it will become a highlight for dinner conversation. </span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And if you can bring up the history and connect it the dark liquid in your glass - well, all the better. </span></div><br />
<b>BIBLIOGRAPHY</b><br />
<span id="fullpost"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Crow, John Armstrong, <span style="font-style: italic;">Spain: The Root and The Flower</span>, Berkley, University of<br />
California Press, 1985.<br />
Johnston, Hugh, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Story of Wine</span>. Mitchell Beazley, London, 2004.<br />
Jeff, Julian, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Wines of Spain</span>. Mitchell Beazley, London, 2006.<br />
Radford, John, <span style="font-style: italic;">The New Spain</span>. Mitchell Beazley, London, 2007.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span id="fullpost"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">PHOTO SOURCE </span></b> <bloggerarchives></bloggerarchives></span><br />
http://www.turismodearagon.com/files/PapaLuna.JPG<m:smallfrac m:val="off"><m:dispdef><m:lmargin m:val="0"><m:rmargin m:val="0"><m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"><m:wrapindent m:val="1440"><m:intlim m:val="subSup"><m:narylim m:val="undOvr"></m:narylim></m:intlim></m:wrapindent><style>
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</style> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-16350593100468426382010-05-19T22:54:00.008-04:002011-05-24T12:23:22.679-04:00A Beautiful Find - "Cautivo" Rioja 2005 Crianza<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Years ago I attended a blind tasting of fine wines put on by a collector. There were wines from all over the world, many of them cellared for ten years and up (I was surprised to find how complex and intriguing a D'Arenberg Shiraz/Grenache blend could be after a decade). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of the reds, there was one special wine that kept evolving in leaps and bounds within my glass. <b>At first, the fruit came forward - lush and lively strawberry. After a few swirls, the cinnamon and nutmeg started to come out. Another swirl and I found myself breathing in tobacco, saddle leather and a seductive herbal note I couldn't quite name but the mystery intrigued me. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I would have sworn the wine was an aged Chianti - the light red fruit, the dusty baking spice and cedar. Throughout the hour I had with the wine, it kept going and going, becoming more complex, more fascinating. At the end, when the bottles were revealed <b>I found out <i>no, it wasn't an Italian wine but a red Rioja from Central-Eastern Spain! </i></b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Rioja Gran Reserve from 1993 to be exact. A wine that had seen over ten years in a bottle. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was blown away. If the wine was a person, I would have stayed up all night and listened to its stories. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>TIME AND WINE</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Trying and tasting fine, aged wines can be a rare and wonderful experience for both the novice and experienced connoisseur alike. <b>Many of us buy a wine and uncork (or un-cap it) within 24 hours of our purchase.</b> It's just the way things go. But when we are given the opportunity to taste a wine that has seen years, if not decades in a bottle, our perception of wine can dramatically change. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>WINE NEEDS TIME THE WAY VINES NEED SUNLIGHT</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">After fermentation, when the new wines are transferred from one vat to another to age, time is the only way to bring everything together. Without the passing of time, the red and whites we consume at our dinner tables, on our patios, with our friends and family would be disjointed, harsh and cloudy. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even after bottling, a wine still needs more time. But once it's supposedly ready (no wine is truly ready because it will be always changing) it's up to the consumer to decide when to pop and pour. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>For whites like Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Viognier, it's usually best to buy and drink as soon as possible.</b> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For some young reds, usually the producer recommends ready consumption; others say hold off but who can?</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For wines in a higher price age, wine drinkers need to consult experts on when to pour. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>WHEN IS ENOUGH TIME?</b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes we'll never know the right moment to open a wine. Most of the wines we buy for parties and for easy going get-togethers are fairly young. Wouldn't it be great to bring something unique to the table?</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">With this in mind, I highly recommend a spectacular if not beautiful find at the LCBO: '<b>Cautivo' 2005 Crianza from Bodegas Heredad De Baroja from Elvillar de Alava.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>ELVILLAR DE ALAVA</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">North of the town of Logrono and the River Ebro and just south of the rugged Cordillera Cantábrica (Cantabrian Mountains) lies the Rioja sub-zone of Alavesa. The climate is comparatively cool compared to the rest of Rioja and sees more rain than Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja to the south. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Within Rioja Alavesa is Elvillar, a wine area protected by the cool, damp winds of the Atlantic by the mountains. The soil is fairly chalky made of calcareous clay.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those that have tried Rioja, the wines of the region are some of the lightest but have the most finesse. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.heredadbaroja.com/">BODEGAS HEREDAD DE BAROJA</a></b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fernando Meruelo started his bodega in 1964. He remains the current owner and is continually determined to select the best grapes for his wine. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhlAGf6_eXnaUJqBvWJSZp54nN0SXGzLFqGcl77d4jm-0AfxO21by-pO6724AIu6xE2-w3et0BUfj18d5RLQw-cGjGPDtjMwgpEwah0FRvcYDik08-Gkylo7osKwrvu5QT4GIB395xg/s1600/DSCN0813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhlAGf6_eXnaUJqBvWJSZp54nN0SXGzLFqGcl77d4jm-0AfxO21by-pO6724AIu6xE2-w3et0BUfj18d5RLQw-cGjGPDtjMwgpEwah0FRvcYDik08-Gkylo7osKwrvu5QT4GIB395xg/s320/DSCN0813.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The wines of "Cautivo" line are the ones ready for everyday consumption beginning with a Blanco (using the Viura grape - a.k.a Macabeo) and ending with a Reserva and Gran Reserva (both using Tempranillo). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Available at the LCBO is the "Cautivo" 2005 Crianza, made from 100% Tempranillo. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A Crianza in Spain is a wine that has been aged for at least two years, typically six months of which has seen time in small American oak casks.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">A <b>Joven is young</b> and may or may not have seen time in oak. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">A <b>Reserva</b> (which is just above Crianza) <b>is aged for three years with a minimum of one year and oak; a Gran Reserva has been aged five years with at least two years in wood and three in bottle. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I highly recommend the Crianza. The grapes were picked in 2005, the wines were aged in oak and then bottled and further aged. 2005 was an exceptional year in Spain (rated 'E' for '<i>Excellente'</i>) and with the 'Cautivo' you can tell. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is a strong strawberry character but with time and age, you will discover another world. Tobacco, leather, barnyard with just a hint of cinnamon from the American oak. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The wine's bouquet, however, continues to evolve and becomes more seductive and fine as the minutes go by. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Again, time is a luxury and if you're pressed to find something unique and rewarding, I highly recommend this beautiful wine. At $13.95 it brings wonderful value to any wine consuming occasion and would pair well with light meat dishes and traditional Spanish<i> paella. </i> </span></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-38704770416448834042010-05-18T19:34:00.008-04:002011-05-15T20:44:24.954-04:00Alsace in Ontario - Jackson Triggs' Gewürztraminer<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In a previous blog I recommended a notable Pinot Blanc from Konzelmann. I also mentioned the grape variety hales from Alsace in North-Eastern France on the German border. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Considering we're on the "border" of summer with spring still dragging its feet, I feel it's time to be prepared for the warmer weather and get to know some of the greater white wines of the Niagara Region. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>ONTARIO AND ALSACE: A COMPARISON</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those beginner wine lovers in southern Ontario, it's essential to note that despite the humid months of July and August, <b>we live in what's considered a cool climate viticultural area</b>. If you look at a map of the world, the majority of wine growing countries fall between 50 degrees and 30 degrees North and 30 degrees and 50 degrees South latitude.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ontario's three main viticultural areas</b> (Lake Erie North Shore, Niagara Peninsula and Prince Edward County - just outside of Toronto) <b>all fall in between 41 and 44 degrees North latitude</b> (the Okanagan Valley in B.C. is just shy of 50 degrees). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Alsace in France is also considered <b>a cooler climate lying between 47 and 49 degrees North latitude</b>. </span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here in the Niagara Peninsula we have the Escarpment acting as a buffer for the on-shore winds from Lake Ontario. This green, southern series of bluffs creates a circular air flow which helps to blow away fog and mist and reduce the threat of damaging frost in the early spring.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Alsace, the Vosges mountain range protects the region from westerly, rain-bearing winds. While <b>Alsace is one of the driest wine regions of France</b>, along with Roussillon (just north of the Pyrennes), Loraine, which lies west of the Vosges is the wettest. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The soil in Ontario's vineyards range from <b>Glacial till (mix of clay, silt, sand, gravel), Clay Loam, Sandy Loam (found near Lake Ontario) to Silty Clay (mostly around the Escarpment benches).</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The vineyards of Alsace have been described as a 'checkerboard of soil types' including chalk (mixed with clay), limestone, granite, schist, volcanic rock sediment and sandston along with <b>Alsace's pinkish-coloured sandstone which has become known as <i>grès de Vosges </i>(often used as a building material for local cathedrals).</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Despite all the technical stuff, the two regions have some nice things in common, namely their easy to read labels and aromatic whites. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>GEWÜRZTRAMINER</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pinot Blanc or Weisburgunder, Pinot Gris or Grauburgunder, Riesling, Muscat and Gewürztraminer are perhaps the most famous white varieties of Alsace </b>(the latter four considered the four 'noble' varieties suitable for making the <i>Grand Cru </i>wines of the region). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of the five mentioned, Gewürztraminer (ge-VURZ-trah-MEAN-er) is the tongue twister, the one the majority of wine lovers have the most trouble pronouncing. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Gewürz</i> is actually a German word (big surprise, right?) for spice. <i>Traminer </i>or Tramin, a town in Alto Adige in Northern Italy and is thought to be the place where the grape first originated. So really, the name means "spicy grape from Tramin". </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In parts of Germany and Austria the variety is known as Clevner (which is easier to pronounce, if you ask me). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Styles of <i>Gewürz</i></b> (the abbreviated form is understood and used quite often) <b>range from light and floral to viscous and rich. Italian Gewurztraminer - mainly known as Traminer - is traditionally closer to Pinot Grigio in body with notes of strawberry and white flowers. In Alsace, you typically find lychee, pink grapefruit and rose water. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Ontario, so far many of the wineries I've seen with Gewürztraminer vines are aiming to produce the French style. Some are successful but I find most fall just a tad short of the mark. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can highly recommend <b>Featherstone out in Vineland for an excellent rosewater/lychee Gewürztraminer</b>.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those looking for the lush Alsatian style, Jackson Trigg's two Gewürztraminer offerings. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>WHAT DO YOU PREFER - PINK OR WHITE GRAPEFRUIT?</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">While visiting the winery today, the young trainee behind the tasting bar, Laura said she really enjoyed the G<b>rand Proprietor's Reserve 2007 Gewürztraminer.</b> I have to say, I first tried the <b>2007 Riesling </b>(a nice apple petrol touch) and <b>2008 Chardonnay</b> (buttery with notes of toffee and apple pie), then went on to try Laura's recommendation. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx7PjcysLX006n3UceIzJxr83yzhSdJGBTwUadRjwGV3Ge3Wub0DCZuR-jdiWs5zQEteZG10cyrb4KukBNlccYokTa6iJaxRHFEjyBaI0itC9uqKH8Mph9gGYbuR0Ze0yMNtXjxyxvw/s1600/DSCN0800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx7PjcysLX006n3UceIzJxr83yzhSdJGBTwUadRjwGV3Ge3Wub0DCZuR-jdiWs5zQEteZG10cyrb4KukBNlccYokTa6iJaxRHFEjyBaI0itC9uqKH8Mph9gGYbuR0Ze0yMNtXjxyxvw/s320/DSCN0800.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was very impressed. For just about nineteen dollars, you can enjoy <b>the lychees, the grapefruit and roses with an additional round, plump honey melon element.</b> The acidity could be a bit brighter but that's just it, Gewürztraminer is not traditionally known for its zesty quality - unlike Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. The viscous body, however, makes the wine so seductive and exotic. An excellent value and comparable to the offerings of Alsace. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can also recommend the <b>Delaine Vineyard 2007 Gewürztraminer</b> which has more of <b>a white grapefruit, orange rind, rose and floral feel</b>. It's also gorgeous but it all comes down to your palate and your preferences. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Both wines would be perfectly paired with spicy dishes</b> - Indian, Thai and Vietnamese. Tonight, I had my Grand Proprietor's Reserve with Pad Thai.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Excellent wines but the only thing is I have a hard time recommending the winery namely because of Jackson Triggs' Cellared in Canada (CIC) wines. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Nonetheless, for a corporate winery, they make some nice higher-end wines. If you love Alsatian <i>Gewürz,</i></span> these are a must-see and drink<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bibliography </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Clark, Oz, <i>2009 Pocket Wine Guide</i>. Harcourt Publishing, Orlando, 2008.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Fielden, Christopher, <i>Exploring the World of Wine and Spirits</i>. WSET: London, 2005.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost"> </span><span id="fullpost">MacNeil, Karen, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Wine Bible</span>. Workman Publishing Company Inc. New York, 2001</span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span id="fullpost">Wine Council of Ontario, <i>The Wine Regions of Ontario: An Introductory Course for Ontario Colleges and Ontario W</i></span><i><span id="fullpost"></span></i></span><span id="fullpost"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>ineries</i>, Second Edition </span></span>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632864278502132.post-3337141717226649452010-05-03T18:38:00.006-04:002011-05-15T20:45:36.642-04:00Alsace in Ontario - Konzelmann's Pinot Blanc<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yesterday, my step-brother, his girlfriend and I wandered out into Niagara-on-the-Lake to do some white wine tasting. We had drank heavily the night before but surprisingly, after six shots of Cognac and three glasses of wine, I didn't feel the hurt (actually, I was at the gym around 10 am so maybe wine is truly 100% good for me). </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We headed to Cattail Creek (highly recommend their Rieslings and Chardonnay), Hillebrand (their Sauvignon Blanc is the closest to a California Fume) and Konzelmann. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For white wines, Konzelmann is a must and with spring here and summer poking its head, they make some of the best patio sippers in Niagara. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I always buy something at Konzelmann. Along with Chateau des Charmes, Inniskillin and Reif, you can't beat the great value these wineries offer. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jeremy served us at Konzelmann and we had a great time mispronouncing all the wine names. Mer-<i>lot</i>,.Pee-<i>not</i> Bl<i>an</i>k. Cab-er-<i>ne</i>t <i>Sav</i>-ig-non. But he knows his wine and he brought out a bottle of their 2008 Pinot Blanc. He mentioned the wine had been getting some excellent press and that a prestigious restaurant in New York City were selling them at $38.00/bottle. I had to try it. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5NLTRnqJILs64_P34QMXBqdBDeQF-suXU1jqmgILD7ZW56lvc6EJCwg0sQv-dSFmA0XtFpfXheDfPoeMNIjCsEUPcx-x6fyjfcET_cwY94h42TBc3yyuPozh9HLx4vPTfKihoMQjSQ/s1600/DSCN0783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5NLTRnqJILs64_P34QMXBqdBDeQF-suXU1jqmgILD7ZW56lvc6EJCwg0sQv-dSFmA0XtFpfXheDfPoeMNIjCsEUPcx-x6fyjfcET_cwY94h42TBc3yyuPozh9HLx4vPTfKihoMQjSQ/s320/DSCN0783.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">For those getting into wine and looking to move beyond Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc is one of the main grapes grown in Alsace and throughout Southern German where it is known as Weisburgunder (pronounced <i>vice-ber-gunder</i>). Whereas Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris can have a metallic and often oily-apple character, I find Pinot Blanc tend to lean towards white flower and stone fruits.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Konzelmann's 2008 Pinot Blanc is perhaps one of the most impressive whites I've had in a long time. The nose is lovely with an apricot-honey aura and on the palate, there are peaches, lemon, pear with just a hint of mineral. The acidity is just right, not too tart, not too flat and the finish is bright and tangy. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I bought a bottle (along with their Shiraz - another must) and early this evening cracked it open after the rain. The sun is out now and I'm still sipping this wine. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> For just over a eleven dollars a bottle, it is well worth the trip to Konzelmann or your local LCBO. You would be hard pressed to find a wine from Alsace with the same character at the same price. An ideal wine with mussels and oysters, seafood dishes and white pizza (especially with Kalamata olives and artichokes).</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I'm sure this wine won't be around once the word gets out. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>Christijan Broersehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03928059123621258398noreply@blogger.com0