Owner: Wine Outlook URL:http://www.wineoutlook.com Join Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:15:47 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Wine made easy and interesting: reviews, food pairings, anecdotes, and poetry by a Southern girl working at a CA winery Site statistics:Click here
Wine Warning:Birthday Hints Ahead 2007-03-16 17:09:09 Hmmm. Suppose you know a wine girl who’s about to hit a milestone birthday and you’re wondering what to get her. Don’t worry about Le Nez du Vin, she knows it’s too expensive and should make her own aroma kit at some point anyway. But how about a wine preservation system so she stops pouring so much wine down the sink? Or a subscription to Food and Wine, where she would love to have a job one day? Then again, there’s always her hero–Jancis Robinson: her Wine Course dvd, The Oxford Companion to Wine or this one.
Ok, my parents say they read this….a girl’s gotta try.
wine gifts, happiness for wine lovers
Read more:Birthday
, Hints
Wine Display 2007-03-18 07:46:05 A fellow 451 blogger–Scott over at Pit Stop Report– wrote me and asked if I’d be interested in reviewing something he’d made: a wine balance, which I just received. It’s made from small sections of barrel staves containing the bung hole, the opening which was once used to pull samples from the wine or to add more, topping it off, and is now used to hold a bottle of wine by its neck, resting nearly horizontally in the air.
This one is covered with pieces of blue, red, and gold colored mirror or glass, neatly grouted in light grey. I like how they catch the light from different angles. And while I’m too nervous to leave a bottle suspended for very long, it’s a fun was to display a bottle for a home winetasting or to spice up a public tasting in one of those sterile warehouse settings.
wine accessories, bottle balance
Read more:Display
How Old is Your Pinot? 2007-03-19 16:49:05 We pulled some older Pinot
Noir from the library this weekend for a vertical tasting, and I have to say I had quite a surprise. Now, normally, this variety should be consumed within 10 years. A more specific generalization would be from 2-8, according to The Oxford Companion to Wine (thanks again, Mr. Kennedy). However, here was this 91 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir–fifteen years old–that’s still drinkable and quite interesting. Cherry, cola, and coffee jumped out at me as I tasted a bit at work. Then later, I took the remainder to some friends’ for a lovely outdoor dinner from the grill. The Pinot went especially well with fettucine cooked with bacon, tomatoes, and mushrooms.
Side note: Also tried a 95, which I found to have too much acidity and a fairly vegetal nose.
91 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir food pairing
BBQ Chicken Pizza, Shiraz, and Jesus 2007-03-21 10:05:58 That’s my lunch yesterday of Trader Joe’s BBQ
chicken salad served with a glass of 2004 Kirkham Shiraz
, although I’d usually pick a Zinfandel for the pairing. And it was going to be today’s lunch, except I watched Jesus
Camp with friends tonight and the teacher had said she was going to make BBQ chicken pizza. While the movie was rather disturbing in the fervor being displayed, the food was super tasty and so was the wine. The pizza had just the right amount of heat to match the pepper in the glass, and the chocolate and plum flavors made for a nice finish.
However, as the wine was gone as we were just beginning to eat, we also opened the 2004 Red Truck Red Wine. The purchaser– big fan of biodegradable wine (and by that, she means biodynamic)–was scared I’d be mad at her for buying a bottle for its label. Red Truck Wines was started by the owners of Cline Cellars and I’ve been meaning to try it myself, so no need for worry. It’ Read more:Chicken
, Pizza
The Rain in Spain 2007-03-20 17:33:31 Two friends are going to Spain
this week for a belated honeymoon. Last week I had a meal that allowed my jealousy a form of release. Iberico cheese went into my cheese risotto as well as my Caesar dressing, replacing the parmesan. Along with the oven-roasted steak (from the freezer, not sure of the cut), the meal was a good pairing with my Tempranillo. Both the wine and cheese were quite affordable as they came from Trader Joe’s, which makes dinner taste that much better.
The 2002 Bodegas Iranzo Tempranillo (100%) proudly bears the stamp “made with organically grown grapes.” My quickly scribbled tasting notes (sometimes that happens when the food looks too good to concentrate on the wine alone) indicate aromas of raspberry and dirt, with more of the same on the palate, along with tobacco. It did go very nicely with the cheese risotto (something I’ve never made before but Wannabe Wino always raves about). I have to say, this wine didn’t hold well—the
Waking Up 30 and Surprisingly Refreshed 2007-03-22 18:02:47 Maybe it’s the mountain air. And the Advil I took before bed. Unlike my best friend, I woke up chipper and ready to go, on this, the morning of my birthday. She says it’s that she’s sick and not all the wine we (she) drank last night. Which I’d like to show you, readers and drinkers, pictures of, but they’re on her camera and she’s back in bed.
We have plans to go to a real, live Montana winery later today. I can only hope that happens…
Red Wine (and Pink and White) at The Red Bird 2007-03-23 16:24:28 The other night, some friends and I decided to hop over to The Red Bird in downtown Missoula, with its newly added wine bar. We all began with the wine specials, so on the table were glasses of Sparkling Shiraz, a Spanish rosato, one French wine of Mourvedre and Grenache (the waitress didn’t tell us which region), and an Austrian blend with Riesling, Muscat, and Sauvignon Blanc. We had appetizers of champagne fondue and crab dip, which didn’t go with my sparkling red, I know, but for once I didn’t insist on a perfect pairing. And though all of our glasses were very empty when the food arrived, we still managed to have quite a good time.
With the meal, the girls ordered a bottle of 2004 Steele Zinfandel from the Catfish Vineyard, rather appropriate for two MS girls, don’t you think? It was pretty tasty, as I tried some before one of the sick girls drank from their glasses. From what I recall, I got vanilla and red fruit. However, I had the Austrian white with Read more:Red Wine
, White
And She Thought She’d Be Sad… 2007-03-26 22:47:38 While I sort through pictures and notes to catch up on my writing, this seems like a good time for some heartfelt gratitude.
I want to thank everybody for such a fantastic birthday that it nipped all that ‘woe is me’ mess in the bud. For the kind comments here on my blog. For my family and friends’ sweet messages from home. For the amazing people and the too-fun-for-our-own-good party in Missoula (not to mention the crawfish and dancing). And lastly, for the party here in CA with its tropical decorations, the leis galore, my own freely flowing Sangria, good food, and well, I could have skipped the embarrassing cake, girls (and there better not be any pictures popping up). Oh yeah, and for the thoughtful presents, many of which will help me in bringing more information to you, readers and drinkers.
Unreleased Wine and Skewered Swine 2007-03-26 01:13:37 That was my birthday dinner, and my, it was a good one. The best friend marinated chunks of New York steak and pork in her special mix (all I can tell you is soy sauce), along with bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms. A few minutes on the grill and a side of balsamic-dressed greens were all we needed to go along with the 2004 Thomas Fogarty Barbera. I insisted on a side of BBQ sauce for dipping to go along with the smokiness and bright red fruit of the wine. The glasses were full (for a while at least), the laughter was loud. And there was that special feeling in the air that comes from drinking wine not available to the public yet. Soon, though.
2004 Thomas Fogarty Barbera, BBQ wine pairing, shish kabobs
Read more:Swine
, Unreleased
Wines By the Taste 2007-03-27 21:22:30 Thanks, Paul, for sending me this link for the Wine Dispenser. I’ve been to the Cafe Rosso & Bianco in Palo Alto (though I think when I went there it was called Cafe Niebaum Coppola) where they have the same kind of system–called enomatic– in place. You purchase a card with $10, 20, or 30 and then can dispense a taste, half glass, or full glass. This allows you to sample some fairly expensive wines you might not otherwise be able to afford. Another one that I haven’t been to yet is750 ml in San Mateo, but it’s definitely on my list of places to go.
wine bar, wine dispenser, enomatic
Read more:Wines
Montana: An Unexpected Wine Destination 2007-03-27 03:20:38 With a couple of phone calls, I set up an appointment to visit Montana
’s only commercial winery. Located in the outskirts of Missoula, on the way to one of my favorite hiking trails, it sits a bit off Rattlesnake Drive, and once bore the name Rattlesnake Creek Vineyards until the threat of one of those pesky lawsuits that plague wineries trying to put the wrong word on a label.
Now named Ten Spoon Winery, the owners–Andy and Connie– are in the process of building a house, since they’ve been residing in the winery for 7 1/2 years. Cases of wine are stacked in their ‘living room’ and we tasted at the kitchen counter, where Freddy and Buya chased each other and tried to sample the Fat Cat organic white. That one comes from St. Pepin grapes grown right outside the door. Those and the other grapes they planted (about 9 years ago) are such that they can weather the harsh MT cold.
We also tried the 2006 Blind Curve Sauvignon Blanc, made from California gr Read more:Destination
, Unexpected
Comfort Food, Southern Style 2007-03-28 19:33:57 Last night we watched the season finale of the L word, which was recheduled due to my party. (What an amazing group, huh?) We usually viewed it the night it airs–Sunday–which meant I always rushed from the tasting room into the city. This time, however, I got a turn at cooking dinner, hopefully backing up my promise of culinary skills.
Deciding to forego fancy and a chance at making a great wine pairing, I opted to go for some down-home cooking. Fried chicken. A combo of collards and mustard greens cooked in what we back home call ‘pot likker.’ Skillet cornbread, which I insisted everyone dip into the pot liquor. And my mama’s potato salad, which because I use a touch of Blue Plate (the best mayonnaise in the world, which sadly is not sold here) is a little better than hers. Oh, and of course, some sweet tea with mint.
Now, I tried to get someone to bring the champagne of beers, Miller High Life, but no one took me up on my suggestion. Although we di Read more:Southern
, Southern Style
, Style
More Use for Undrunk Wine 2007-03-30 23:09:27 Vinegar, as defined by the handy Food Lover’s Companion: from the French for “sour wine,” the result of fermented liquid–such as wine or beer–in contact with bacteria …creating acetic acid. Doesn’t sound so appealing, but it makes wonderful salad dressings and marinades. And in keeping with yesterday’s post, apparently works well as a hair rinse.
From my online searches, there seem to be as many opinions about how to make vinegar as there are reasons to drink wine. How I made mine: Start with a lidded container, such as a glass jar. Fill 1/3-1/2 with wine, and then put in a couple shakes of red wine vinegar. Mine are all red wines separated by grape, including one Port. [Yes, that’s what happens when one works in a tasting room; that picture doesn’t even show half of them.] I haven’t tried yet and have read that it takes longer, but you could do this with whites as well, just use white wine vinegar to get started.
*
Stop Wasting That Wine 2007-03-29 18:06:05 I had a reader/friend ask me what she should do with leftover white wine: something she used for cooking (that previously-mentioned divine wine cake) and wouldn’t normally drink.
My first thought was that she has a brief window to continue cooking with it. Perhaps with butter and shallots to make a sauce for seafood, such as scallops or mussels. Or any one of these recipes, though I think I’d personally try the Southwestern Chicken Chardonnay.
You can also make vinegar from wine remnants, for which I’ll go into more details in my next post.
However, I did a little searching and found this Uncorked gem. Teri Hatcher makes use of leftover wine to bathe in, claiming it softens her skin. Heck, we put salt in our bath and herbs and milk. So why not a little vino?
I’ll try it out and let you know.
leftover wine, bathing in wine
Wine Term: Bud Break 2007-03-31 21:09:57 Bud break (noun) also called budburst: when the vines, no longer dormant, begin to show signs of life. The first indication is bleeding–when water begins to appear at the cuts from pruning. Soon after, the buds will start to make their appearance, with new leaves unfolding more and more. A lovely way to mark the coming of spring…
We had ours a couple weeks ago when the weather was so nice. Of course, there’s always fear of a late frost because once bud break has occurred, the vines are more vulnerable. But so far, so good. The vines seem happy, the apple trees are blossoming and my favorite flowers–wisteria–are starting to cover the awning above our picnic area.
Here’s to a long and productive growing season!
bud break, budburst, bleeding
Read more:Break
Now I’m Asking You for Wine (Country) Advice 2007-04-02 17:48:42 Situation
Would like to go on a mini road trip tomorrow. Would like to keep the drive not much longer than 2 hours (from say, San Mateo)
Issues to consider
Places I’ve been that I don’t want to go this time: Napa or Sonoma
Other places I’ve been: Livermore, Healdsburg (very briefly), most wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains–except the most southern ones, couple of tasting rooms in Monterey
Other requirements
should have other fun activites besides winetasting (including, but not limited to, hiking, affordable shopping, ghost sightings)
It seems the places I really want to go are just a little too far (Paso, Amador, Mendocino….) So come on, readers and drinkers. Help a girl out!
wine suggestions, wine country advice
Read more:Country
Tasting Locally: Vino Locale 2007-04-03 06:07:00 The other night a friend and I went to Vino Locale
in Palo Alto. I’m ashamed to say it was the first time because it appeals to me on several levels. 1) It features local wines (go figure, with that name) by producers 7 to only 70 miles away. 2) Its setting is an old Victorian house, the walls covered with the work of local artists. 3) Vino Locale is a supporter of the Slow Food Movement, focusing on fresh ingredients from nearby sources.
We had a great time sitting at the bar, ordering tastes of Viognier, Marsanne, and two different Rosés. Then we had ‘Randy’s Special,’ a fun combo of sparkling wine with a splash of Syrah, which went very nicely with the crostini sampler (my favorite topping was the spicy tapenade). The finale was a Syrah flight to go with our sandwiches–mine had elk & cranberry sausage. Out of the 4, I really enjoyed the Martin Ranch and Zayante, though I found the Hunter Hill tasting very plastic.
I definitely plan on going
More Tasting Room Tangents: Hours of Operation 2007-04-04 17:50:30 Now, I would venture that most people who come into the tasting room find me friendly and helpful. I answer questions, assist in purchases, provide suggestions, take pictures, make jokes…almost always with that southern charm I can’t seem to shake. Often if there are enough people in the room, I might let someone slip in after closing time, just letting them know the tasting will be at a faster pace.
However. Some days 5 o’clock can’t come fast enough, and turning the sign from ‘Open’ to ‘Closed’ brings far too much joy. Sunday was one such day, as it began trying to complete 3 different inventories before customers came in–unsuccessfully. It being the end of the month, I’d have to finish after everyone left, adjusting numbers accordingly. Not to mention the cleaning and register transactions. So when a group came in after 5, I held my ground, despite their pleas and attempts at making me feel guilty.
Here’s my t Read more:Hours
, Operation
The California Coastline and Wine Make for a Tasty Tuesday 2007-04-06 18:29:56 The other day I was seeking advice for where to go for the day, and my teacher friend was on spring break, so I had a partner in crime. We decided that morning to drive down to Big Sur. I haven’t been along that stretch of Highway 1 before, and it was a glorious day to view it. The greens and blues in the water and in the sky were quite a sight under all that glorious sunshine.
The weather was ideal, as well. Just the right amount of breeze for going on a pleasant hike– no sign of mountain lions–and then a picnic lunch. I was quite pleased with the split of 2004 E.Guigal Côtes du Rhône blanc which was corked the last time I tried. This time it was lightly floral with tons of fruit, mostly apricots and pears. Very nice with the turkey sandwiches and salad.
Then we had to hit at a couple of tasting rooms.
The first stop was Ventana Vineyards, located along the Monterey-Salinas Highway. I was especially curious to try their Gewurztraminer, as we have been making Read more:California
, Tasty
, Tuesday
Last Call for Altar Boyz 2007-04-05 17:14:05 Now, other than the glass of too sweet sparkling I had after the show, Altar
Boyz doesn’t have all much to do with wine. It’s a show about 5 boys in a Christian pop group, who sing and dance The Word, even though one of them is Jewish.
Wait, there was “The Miracle Song.” The first one occurs at a wedding “When all of a sudden, the wine gave out/Mary on the Q.T. gave J.C. a shout,” followed by the possibly familiar story of Jesus turning water into wine that was better than what they were drinking before.
I’d have to say the best part was the fact that we were on the front row, and one member of our group (the biodegradable wine fan) was pulled up onto the stage by the lead singer as he cooed to her “Girl, you make me want to wait.” She was quite the good sport, but also being Jewish, I told her she should have made a beeline for Abraham.
Oh, but it’ll make you laugh, and it’s only playing through Easter day at The O Read more:Last Call
Open a Bottle, Open Your Mind 2007-04-07 21:21:59 I’ve written about this in the past, but it definitely bears repeating. It kills me when I hear people make comments (comments I have made myself, in the past, though I hope I’ve now changed) about how they do not like one type of wine and will. not. try. it.
Obviously, this happens fairly often with Merlot, which is why once on the tasting room menu, I began the notes for the ‘01 vintage “Forget what you know about Merlot.” Though, in actuality, it probably should have said, “what you think you know.”
Like I said, I’ve been there. Until recently, I’d skip past the Chardonnay because I’m not a fan of hugely oaky whites. However, many wineries realize there are hordes of people who feel that way, and they’re laying off the over-the-top buttery richness. And I was never one to choose Merlot when there were other wines available, though now sometimes I’ll get it just to spite those with the anti-Merlot attitude.
Th
Thai-style Halibut and Oak That’s Twisted 2007-04-09 22:07:29 The other night I was feeling rather fancy. That, coupled with the fact I’ve been craving white wine lately and needed to drink the 2005 Twisted
Oak Viognier that El Jefe sent me for review ages ago, led to a damn fine meal. To make use of some of the goodies I bought on my road trip, I steamed the artichoke while preparing the rest of the meal and pouring myself a glass of wine. And what a tasty treat that was. On the nose, I picked up peaches and pears, with delicate floral notes, most notably gardenia. Taste followed through nicely. For a brief moment, I was tricked into thinking it was slightly sweet, until I realized the flavors brought me back to my grandmother’s homemade peach ice cream on a hot summer day. The finish was round and smooth, with an unexpected dash of spice–making it a perfect pairing for fish swimming in cream sauce with its own curry kick.
Recipe for Thai-style halibut with coconut sauce
First step: Remove skin from fish–this partic
Put Some Wine in Your Easter Basket 2007-04-08 18:20:38 Happy Easter
, y’all.
Back before I knew any better, visions of brunch danced in my head. But the tasting room is open today, and I’m the only one who agreed to work. Since I’m there alone, it’s going to be terribly dead or crazy busy.
If you’re rambling around these parts, drive on up and keep me company. We’re (ok– I’m) probably closing around 4, unless it’s a ghost town and then maybe a bit earlier.
Read more:Basket
Wine Blogging Wednesday #32: Regular Vs. Reserve 1970-01-01 08:59:59 I must say, I’ve never had so much fun with a Wine BloggingWednesday
before. (Many thanks to the guys at The Wine Cask for the theme.)
Having already decided I would use wines from the Thomas Fogarty tasting menu– due to budget constraints– it seemed obvious (suddenly, as a light bulb went off on a foggy Saturday afternoon) to enlist the help of customers who came in. Therefore, I made the comparison between the 2003 Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay and the 2003 Thomas Fogarty Reserve
Chardonnay a blind one for myself and my guinea pigs.
I chose those particular Santa Cruz Mountains wines–even though it was the last random bottle of the regular and the reserve’s almost gone–because they were the best controlled comparison. The two wines were both blended from the same four vineyards on our mountaintop estate. Both went through malolactic fermentation and were stirred on the lees regularly.The regular version ($26) was aged for 12 months in American and Read more:Wine Blogging
, Wine Blogging Wednesday
Get This Girl a Wine Map (even if she can’t read it) 2007-04-12 19:36:35 When I went over to a friend’s last night for a little wine, I brought with me a bottle of 2003 Concannon Petite Sirah. I was telling her how it was the first bottle of wine anyone in California gave me. At some random off-site tasting, I had a nice conversation with Jim from Concannon, and when he was leaving, handed me a bottle, much to my delight. (That was one sign I had made the right decision in moving to California.)
I had told him how when I came out to the area in December 2005, trying to find a job, I decided to drive to Concannon. I have always had a special place in my heart for Petite Sirah and they produced the first. Perhaps he felt sorry for me because I mentioned it somehow took me 2 hours to make the drive from Palo Alto to Livermore, which should have taken 1. Actually, it was on that trip that I finally accepted my fate as bad with directions. Maybe it was when I had to call and cancel my appointment at Ridge, after driving back and forth on Highway 9 sever
The Battle of Wine: Truly Old School 2007-04-11 16:38:51 My blog has been light on the poetry, as of late. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t written any in months and haven’t even been reading any. (Shame, shame, I know, letting that M.A. sit on the shelf like that.)
However, a couple weeks ago, Gillian–a fellow 451 Press blogger–fulfilled a promise to me about a Medieval poem: “La bataille des vins”. Check out that link to read about her interpretation.
A fun little snippet:
The wine of Argentueil was as clear as tears of sorrow, and someone proclaimed it best of all. This led to tussles and some name-calling. My favourite insult, wine to wine, was “son of a gluttonous prostitute.”
Meanwhile, I promise to at least think about writing more poetry of my own.
poetry about wine, Medieval poems
Read more:Battle
, School
Martella Wine Promo 2007-04-14 17:53:47 I have what I hope to be an inspiring response to a recent tag floating around in my head, but since I’ve been swamped at work and with writing and rewriting my wine column, it hasn’t actually materialized.
In the meantime, here’s a video promoting Martella wines, direct from the fruitbasket of labor from the best friend’s visit back in December:
Read more:Promo
Why Do We Do the Things We Do? 2007-04-15 21:29:20 When the Winehiker hit me with my first meme, I thought I had kinda answered the question “Why do I blog?” a few months ago with this post. Except that didn’t really explain why I got started initially.
How Wine Outlook began
Mine is not a romantic tale. Destiny for me was searching Craigslist for freelance writing jobs to help make ends meet. When I replied to 451 Press in its offer to “write about what you love,” I mentioned possible topics as WINE, cooking, hiking, poetry, etc. Thankfully, they gave me the wine blog.
I have since come to find the revenue from the ads doesn’t add up to all that much. So while I might have started to make extra money, that is definitely not the reason I continue to do this (almost) every day.
So here are 5 reasons I do:
~With my terrible memory, it is nice to have a record of the wines I’ve consumed, what I ate with them, and what I thought of them. Pictures usually included.
~The kind words from rea
MS Wine Drinkers, Lift Those Glasses 2007-04-17 18:25:34 If you’re in or around Jackson, Mississippi, have I got news for you. This Saturday evening brings the wine event of the year: Sante South Wine Festival. Over 30 wineries will pour over a 100 wines, with a dozen local restaurants providing delectable treats.The center courtyard of Highland Village, a quaint outdoor mall, provides the perfect setting with its cobbled walkways, fountains, benches, flowers & trees, and scattered artwork.
Back story: when I attended the first one two years ago, I had just returned to the Jackson area with plans for finding a wine job. Thinking this festival would be a great opportunity to meet people in the industry, I did a little research on each winery being represented (and even had index cards with notes). However, a combination of my being shy and enjoying the wine a bit too much–this was before I began to spit–didn’t exactly lead to any offers. At the time, it didn’t matter. That was the first time I hung out w Read more:Glasses
A Wine Pairing for Pears 2007-04-16 18:54:13 Last week was almost all about white wine for me. One that I didn’t get to writing about was the 2004 Hiedler Gruner Veltliner. I had the 2005 at The Slanted Door several months ago.) The older vintage definitely seemed rounder than what I recalled the other being, though there were still citrus and herbal notes, along with pepper and apple. I was actually scared the wine might have been cooked, as there appeared to be a bit of leakage and a quick sniff before uncorking was dangerously akin to Madeira. However, those fears were put aside once open.
With two pears (1 Anjou, 1 Bartlett) needing to be used, I decided to make a salad. Without any Gorgonzola in the fridge, I opted for a sherry dijon vinaigrette tossed with romaine lettuce, sliced pears, shaved parmasan, and crumbled walnuts. The pairing was exactly what I wanted. The pepper in the wine stood up to the dressing’s high kick, and the round, fruity flavors made eyes with the juicy pears. The only thing that woul
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