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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Coming up in the Wine World in Lower Alabama.....

Wine Events around Lower Alabama this Fall - come and join me!

October 9 at 6pm at Southern Napa
Join me at Southern Napa for a Champagne and Sparkling Wine tasting with food pairings. Please call Southern Napa at 251-375-2800 to make your reservation or you can comment on this blog and confirm with me. Cost is TBD but will probably be around $25/per person.

0901bb96e24a18766db3cb0702847832October 17 at 5:30pm at The Grand Hotel
Join me at The Grand Hotel for a Wine 201 class where we will learn about tasting and get the chance to try some great new wines. Please call The Grand at 251-928-9201 and ask for the concierge to make a reservation. Cost is $10 per person.

2014 Wine Fest posterNovember 13 at 6:30pm at The Venue in Fairhope
Join me for the FAIRHOPE WINE FESTIVAL and tastings of some great wine and food as we support the Fairhope Rotary. You can buy tickets for $40 each at Tamara's in Fairhope prior to the event or $50 at the door.


Feel free to comment on this post and I can get you set up!

Cheers!
Christina 

Saturday, June 21, 2014

I drank wine from a box....and liked it.....again! Target's Wine Cube!

Calling all Target shoppers. All Target shoppers, good, inexpensive wine on aisle 12!

Wine Cube. In assorted sizes (a whole bottle, 3 5-ounce pours, 2 bottles) and how convenient they make it!


If you are looking to make an inexpensive wine statement at your next party, follow the next steps:

1. Get in car
2. Drive to your nearest Target
3. Walk to the wine aisle
4. Find the cute, brightly colored Wine Cube wine selection
5. Pick a wine
6. Buy it
7. Drive Home
8. Conceal boxed wine in decanter or another serving device
9. Welcome party folks
10. See surprise at the lovely, nice wine on all your guests' faces

Although not kick you in the heels amazing, this wine is perfectly priced for a date night at home or party with friends.

To be perfectly honest, I had these two babies on my wine shelf for quite some time, not really wanting to taste them even though I specifically bought them for the blog. I was "forced" :-) to drink the Pinot Grigio when we were out of cheap whites and all I wanted was a nice, crisp white to end the evening. I got so excited about its taste that the hubbie and I ended up opening the Cab as well just to see if it was decent as well. To say the least, both gone in one night.

Hope you all are able to enjoy as much as we did!

Cheers!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Wine Momma has joined Twitter! Follow me @BamaWineMomma

I have finally joined the Twitter-verse. Expect even more wine-o, life and kids rhetoric coming your way. I plan to use Twitter for many of my quick wine reviews as well!

Follow me @BamaWineMomma for updates on all things wine, life and community.

Cheers!

File Missing.........need more wine.

The lovely AL Gulf Coast experienced an intense amount of rain a few weeks ago. Upon moving to the Gulf Coast, you have to come to terms with rain. Mobile, AL is the No. 1 rainiest city in the country. It rains almost every day between the months of May and September and you pretty much are already wet from sweating anyway, so what's the difference?

The dark side of rain is the forsaken wannabe wi-fi that we are stuck with. For two days, I was without wi-fi and, therefore, going mad.

Re-set router. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Drink?


Can I just always get the above message instead?

When you are having that bad connectivity/internet/weather sucks/need to move now kind of day, just remember - get more wine.

Cheers!

Monday, June 16, 2014

What's so 'crisp' about Sancerre??

For this month's NY Times Wine School, we were tasked with the ever so important role of wine drinker to the French Sancerre wine. Never heard of the grape, huh? That's because it is not a grape. It's a region in France.

Unfortunately, for Americans, the French name their wine based on region, not on the grape varietal as we do in America. So, to know what the grape is, you need to know what is grown in that region.
The region of Sancerre, located mainly on the left bank of the Loire Valley, grows primarily Sauvignon Blanc and just a small amount of Pinot Noir.

We were happy to finally enjoy a white wine tasting through the wine school, and none too soon given the rise of the heat index outside all of our doors these days.


Sauvignon Blanc is certainly my favorite white wine varietal given its layered flavor profile and crisp taste. It is also the "easiest" white, in my opinion, in which to find a great, cheap option at any store you may find in your hometown or on vacation.

However, my lack of love for "old world" vines (those vines from Europe that started this whole, awesome wine thing) kept me from trying and really giving Sancerre a fair fight. I am glad I did. Although it is not as layered with flavors as a New Zealand or CA Sauv Blanc, I still enjoyed its light and crisp notes.

Wine Momma Wine Review
Wine: Hippolyte Reverdy 2012 Sancerre
Color: light, almost transparent, young
Smell: Flowers, a bit of grass
Taste: crisp acidity paired with light melon
Food: Tasted with goat cheese and crackers which happened to intensify the taste of the wine
Scale: A great 3 - perhaps once or twice every few months!

I recommend a try of this French classic to enhance your wine collection!

Cheers!




Friday, June 6, 2014

Your Ultimate Wine and Food Pairing Cheat Sheet

No more worry. No more wondering. No more frustration. Just follow the below rules and you will be good to go. Or ignore them totally. It's all up to your palette and discernment but the below list will get you started.


FOOD: Spicy, Foie Gras, Cheese, Ham
WINE: Riesling, Gewurztraminer

FOOD: Shellfish, Salmon, Swordfish, Chicken, Cream based, Soups and sauces
WINE: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay

FOOD: Turkey, Chicken, Veal, Sausage, Hearty seafood
WINE: Pinot Noir, Zinfandel

FOOD: Duck, Beef, Lamb, Game Meat, Chocolate
WINE: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

FOOD: Duck, Game birds, Lamb, Beef
WINE: Syrah

FOOD: Egg dishes, Smoked Salmon, Caviar, Sushi, Canapes, Chocolates
WINE: Sparkling Wine

FOOD: Sweets
WINE: Dessert Wines

Ultimately, it is not so important what wines goes with what food, as what wine will not overpower what food is being served or vice versa. Each side should complement the other.

 Well, there you have it. Play around with some pairings and have fun!

Cheers!


Tuesday, June 3, 2014

The Grand Marriott's Wine and Cheese Tasting

In South Alabama, we are truly blessed to have an establishment like The Grand Marriott Hotel near us. It is a beautiful setting on Mobile Bay with great food, drinks and accommodations. Plus, their spa is amazing. :-)

I am currently working toward learning more about cooking and have been attending their Culinary Institute classes once a month. This month was all about wine and, what else?, cheese. 

We joined some other great local folks and the Head Chef, Chef Mike, for a great wine and cheese pairing.

 Outside on Mobile Bay

 The Cheese Plate

The wine glass aftermath

Here is a list of wine and cheese pairings - this will help you learn what cheese typically goes well with which varietal/type of wine and how I felt the pairings held up to the hype and how the wine tasted:

1. Quail Creek Sauvignon Blanc (CA) paired with AL Belle Chevre goat cheese
  • GREAT CA Sauv Blanc - it is your classic, grassy CA Sauv
  • The AL goat cheese was phenomenal. In a word, run, don't walk to Elkmont, AL to buy some (or just visit The Grand soon!) :-)
  • I felt the pairing was great and paired down the acidity of the wine and highlighted the cheese
2. Stonewood Pinot Grigio paired with Belgioioso Mozzarella Cheese
  • This wine and cheese pairing was bland, at best. Both tasted watered down and unappealing. 
3.  Coastal Vines Chardonnay (CA) paired with President's Brie
  • Both the Chardonnay and the Brie present a nice, soft, buttery taste that, sadly, did not pair well together. Although both tasted good separately, there was not enough contrast between them. 
4. Columbia Valley Riesling (WA) paired with Great Lakes Swiss Cheese
  • This Riesling is one of my favorite cheap Rieslings and can be found in almost every grocery store, so definitely a go on this wine.
  • This swiss cheese from WI would have paired better with a Gewurztraminer but was OK with the Riesling.
5. Sequin Moscato (Argentina) paired with Jalapeno Havarti
  • Classic pairing of sweet and spicy. The pairing was great but was not a huge fan of the Denmark-made cheese. 
  • The Moscato, for all sweet-toothes, was great.
6. Canyon Road (CA) Pinot Noir paired with Carr Valley Melange
  • The Pinot was actually a nice, CA Pinot - smooth but not quite as heavy as I like
  • The cheese was really interesting - a blending of cow, sheep and goat cheese and then aged in a cave for 6 months. Very smooth but not overly flavorful. 
7. Franciscan Estate Merlot paired with Belgioioso Parmesan cheese from WI
  •  Very nice and spicy merlot paired well with a fantastic parmesan. 
  • This cheese won 1st place - Best of Class in the 2010 World Championship Cheese contest (who knew there was such a thing??!!)
  • Great pairing of spicy to the cheese' sweet and nutty flavor
8.  Stump Jump Shiraz paired with Carr Valley Apple Wood Smoked Cheddar from WI
  • A decent Shiraz (a Shiraz is the same wine, basically, as a Syrah but made in Australia)
  • This cheese is smoked with apple wood and rubbed on the outside with paprika but the flavor was, sadly, barely there for my palette
9.  Massimo Malbec (Argentina) paired with Rogue Creamery Oregon
  • A classic, Argentinian Malbec - very nice, spicy and smooth
  • This cheese was one of the highlights of the day - looks very much like a blue cheese but the taste is without the overbearing hit  - very subtle and paired great with the wine
10. Douglass Hill (CA) Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc paired with milk chocolate
  • You can't go very wrong with red wine and chocolate
  • By this time in the day, chocolate was a great escape and wine was nice and smooth to compliment

Well, there you have it. I hope this offered some new cheese and wine pairing adventures for you!

Cheers!




Friday, May 30, 2014

A surprising and lovely Rose of Pinot Noir

We have some lovely friends that live down the street from us that bless our table one-two times a week with their company and yummy food. One recent evening, they also blessed us with a very nice and light Rose of Pinot Noir. My feelings for Rose are like an on-again/off-again relationship. I believe it deserves more credit than it gets but it has also been the subject of many redneck cliches and recently "trendy."

A Rose wine can be made from a variety of grapes and can be found all over the world. The rose color of the wine is created by leaving the juice in the grape skins for one to three days but then the skins are removed for fermentation, thus only allowing a light pink/rose color to impact the juice. The wine is also, therefore, lighter in taste without the influence of the tannins in the skins during fermentation.

Rose saw a huge rise in popularity in early 2012. I am not against anyone being excited about drinking wine, just against the reason for it, if that reason is only due to a trend. Drink what you love, not what is popular, can I hear an Amen?

Anyhow, Acrobat wines make one of my all time favorite and inexpensive Pinot Gris (MUST buy if you have not tried it) but I am now a fan of their Rose of Pinot Noir. Acrobat is actually the red-headed stepchild of the Kings Estate Winery in Oregon. Kings Estate is their higher level label and Acrobat is the cheaper label. Kings Estate got themselves into a tizzy a few years ago when their Acrobat Pinot Gris was outselling and outranking its Kings Estate equivalent in tastings, etc. Oooops.

Wine Momma Wine Review
Wine: Acrobat 2012 Rose of Pinot Noir
Color: Rose (duh)
Smell: Crisp, fruity
Taste: Light, smooth, strawberries, a slight tang
Where to buy it: This wine can be found locally at World Market but keep an eye out for it at any shop near you
Wine Momma Wine Review Scale: A solid 3. A great wine to pair with a summer evening and pasta, seafood, goat cheese or a light salad.

Cheers and Happy Weekend!







Thursday, May 29, 2014

Grand Cayman West Indies Wine Company - the only wine tasting experience like it in the entire Caribbean

I recently returned from a great trip to Grand Cayman with some family and, of course, the first order of business was to seek out any new and exciting wine experiences. Well, to say the least, I found one.

The West Indies Wine Company. This particular wine shop/bar is owned by a businessman who has done great things for the Island. Although some local Caymanians are not fans of all the business he has started and maintained on the island, I certainly am impressed.

Enter the only wine tasting experience like it in the Caribbean -

This particular tasting room includes EIGHTY tasting experiences, ranging from wines and varietals from all over the world and varying price points. Upon entering this grand Haven, I immediately thought two things - How can I taste every one of them and still be able to get home (sadly not possible - I was a good girl) and how amazing it is that Caymanians and tourists are presented with this rare opportunity that, for $1CI, can taste a wine from half way across the world. And keep going for seventy nine more times, if you like. Think about all the awesome date nights you could have at that ONE location!

Here is what I learned from my night at West Indies Wine Company:

1. I was so excited to taste so many wines that I never sat down. I couldn't. I was too excited and anticipating that next wine. I just progressed through the entire shop reading, tasting and oogling. My poor dad eventually abandoned me for a nearby table.

2. I confirmed, again, my distaste for Italian white wine. Yuck. Someone please bring me a white that does not smell and taste like feet. BUT, atleast I gave it another try! That is key with new wines.

3. My Pinot Noir not-so-much-like-it self found a good one. It was complex, rich and heavy. And its from CA. If you can find it, try it for sure! Miura Pinot Noir from Monterey County.



4. I reached a wine lovers mountaintop. Atleast when it comes to Tempranillo. One of my all time favorite varietals. I was able to taste a wine made by one of Spain's most talented and famous winemakers, Mariano Garcia. Aalto Ps Tempranillo. Just to TASTE this wine was over $9CI (around $14) for one ounce. And I bought two of them. Although I may never be able to afford this wine, it was one of those nights when I knew I was tasting genius. It was rated 95 by Robert Parker - one of the best Palatte's in the business.



5. When I return to Grand Cayman, I will find myself slowly lingering amongst the bottles of wine goodness excited for that next great find and taste.

Cheers!

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

A surprising RED WINE find at your local Grocery Store.......

Inexpensive, decent and accessible red wines are so hard to find. I like my reds complex and rich and heavy....now, that's just me. You may not like your reds that way. But, if you do, we have a new one for you to try out.......


2012 Ghost Pines Zinfandel........

As you will see in the picture above, we have two different glasses out while tasting the Ghost Pines. My hubbie and I do this with almost every red to get a sense of how the bouquet and taste may differ depending on the size of the glass.....I recommend you do this as well - it is, many times, surprisingly different.

Wine Momma Wine Review
Wine: Ghost Pines 2012 Zinfandel
Color: Ruby Red
Smell: Spice, plum, chocolate
Taste: Dark cherry, spice, tannin, complex, nice soft finish
Scale: A solid 3 - but make sure you drink it in one sitting (see below)
Cost: $18 - not bad for a decent red!

Only down side: After a night sitting in the bottle after being correctly stored, the wine did not survive as well as I would have liked. So, if you buy this wine, have some friends over to enjoy it then and there.

Cheers!

Friday, May 16, 2014

Summer is here! Kick it off with this fresh and inexpensive white wine from a fresh varietal..........

I love me some white wine. Especially in the heat of summer. But, have you ever found yourself trudging to the wine fridge and finding your normal Sauv or Chardonnay and you think to yourself.....Self, I would really love some more variety in my white wine life. You have? Well then, by all means, read on.

One of my favorite white wine varietals is Viognier. Viogner is a white wine varietal that mainly grows in the French Rhone region and is typically an aromatic white. Some great CA wineries are growing it as well....and doing a great job.

Enter inexpensive and great wine  -

Pine Ridge 2012/13 Chenin Blanc/Viognier

I first encountered this wine at a great new restaurant in Orange Beach, AL on a beautiful sunny day and with a desire for a different white. This wine, at a fancy restaurant no less, was still well within our price range and delicious.

Wine Momma Wine Review
Wine: Pine Ridge 2012/13 Chenin Blanc/Viognier
Color: Light gold; almost like a beige champagne color
Smell: All green apple!
Taste: Acidic, Tart, green apple, a bit of cantaloupe and mango
Rank: A perfect 3. This wine is fantastic for the table as well as the porch on a hot summer's eve.

Where can you get it? In my neck of the woods, I found it at World Market for under $10. Check your local groceries and markets and stock up on this great wine for the summer!

Cheers!





Friday, May 9, 2014

Step aside coffee maker, make room for the Wine Machine!

The French wine industry is losing its No. 1 fans - the French. In an effort to fight that and make their high-end wine more available, enter the Wine Machine.

Click here to read the Smart Planet article

Do you think it is worth the price to experiment with and enjoy high end wines??

To be honest, I think its a great idea but wrong market at the moment. Bring it to the USA first and see it explode.

Cheers!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Grocery Store Wine Review: Meiomi Pinot Noir

The always fabulous South Alabama Wine Club met again to tackle a very important task - keeping each of you up to date on the best and worst of grocery store wines.

This week, we tried out the Meiomi Pinot Noir. If you have paid any attention while out and about at restaurants and grocery stores, you have most certainly ran across this wine. If you own a wine store, to not have this wine available right now would not make sense. America is buying it. But, is it worth the price?


For my particular palette, Pinot Noir is the toughest wine for me to enjoy. I am very finicky when it comes to Pinot's and for good reason - I believe there are many bad ones out there. It is well-known to be the most difficult grape to grow and harvest and it is, therefore, very tough to do well.

Wine Momma Wine Review
Wine: 2012 Meiomi Pinot Noir
Price: Between $22 - $30 per bottle
Smell: Leather, sweat, cough syrup
Taste: New World grape, smooth, bitter, medicinal, synthetic, a bit of spice
Color: Bright and ruby red
Outcome: A big fat FOUR (see scale on right side of the page) and almost nearly a five, but it was saved by its nice, smooth feel and a tad bit of fruit that can be considered palatable. For me, it mostly tasted like cough medicine.

I have not and never have been a fan of this wine. I am not sure why this rage of interest and love for the wine has happened, but, for me, the price is way too high for the return I receive. I thoroughly enjoyed the company this week much more than the wine.

Cheers!

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Joel Gott Wines.....a new name in the grocery store wine market.....

Once upon a time, there was a great and greasy hamburger, shakes and fries spot in Napa called Taylor's Refresher. It was yummy, it was a hole and it was iconic. One day, a family with the name of Gott, bought that historic spot and changed its name to Gott's. Napa's citizens were sad. Then, their wine started to pop up around the country.

At first, I ignored this market take-over due to their mean takeover of such a well-known place and brand. But, one fateful night while eating sushi, I really wanted a Sauv Blanc and the only one on the menu was......Joel Gott.


Thus, my experience with Joel Gott began. And, to be honest, it was quite refreshing and surprising. Now, a year later, my go-to wine with sushi is the Joel Gott Sauv Blanc. I am typically a New Zealand Sauv Blanc girl (as are many of you, from what you have told me) mainly because I rarely find that crisp and grapefruit taste in a CA Sauv. Joel Gott does a very decent and enjoyable job at a CA Sauv Blanc. You can typically find it for $12-$15 at your local grocery store, along with a few other varietals from Joel Gott.

I have just, today, bought my first Joel Gott Zin and Cab and am very anxious to try them out. As I have mentioned, I am much more impressed with "cheaper" whites that reds but am excited to see what happens. Have any of you had them?

Joel Gott is quickly becoming another great grocery store go-to brand. Try it out and let me know what you think.

Cheers! (while drinking my Joel Gott Sauv)



Wednesday, April 23, 2014

A Blind Tasting triumph.......

Studying wine has many forms but one of the hardest and most rewarding parts is tasting. Now, to become a certified sommelier, you have to blind taste 6 wines (3 white, 3 red) and be able to identify not only the particular wine but the year and where it was grown....and you only have 25 minutes to do it. 

I have had some tough times trying to correctly identify wine in a blind tasting. However, I feel as if I may have found a great learning curve to improve my skills. I won't always be able to use this format, but it is a big start for me........

Last week, myself, my dad and my hubbie visited our awesome local wine shop, Red or White, for a blind tasting of 3 reds and 3 whites. What made this trip different was the format. Instead of not knowing anything about the wines, we DID know the three red and three white varietals, but did not know which was which. This format not only allowed us to use our smell and knowledge skills in identifying the wines, but we were able to learn by tasting them against one another and comparing/contrasting. It made a WORLD of difference.

To be successful in a blind tasting, you do need to know the basic smells and tastes to expect from a certain wine varietal. That said, Kevin Zraly, in his Windows on the World Wine Course, recommends that you "memorize" the taste and smell of the most frequented varietals - Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Merlot, Cab and Pinot Noir. That will give you a basis and a start at learning to blind taste.

So, how did we do? (Note to the reader: no answers were given to each other until we were all done making up our minds)

We will start with the Whites:

First, we examined their color and they were all a very similar transparent yellow. It helps if you have a white sheet of paper to put behind the glass.

Next, we smelled and tried to make a call on what the wine was just from its bouquet (the smell of the wine).

Wine Momma: (L-R) Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Riesling
Hubbie: Riesling, Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay
Dad: Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Riesling

Finally, we took quite some time tasting the wines and comparing them to one another. Another fascinating note to make is how the bouquet and taste can alter based on its temperature. The longer was tasted, some small changes occured.

After tasting, here are our findings -

Wine Momma: Riesling, Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay
Hubbie: Riesling, Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay
Dad: Riesling, Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay

The REVEAL for the Whites:
(L-R) -  Riesling, Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay

To say I was excited was an understatement. We all correctly identified, after tasting, the three varietals. My dad and I had two of them switched from just smell, but changed once we tasted.


The Red's -

The color, L-R, seemed to go lighter to darker.

After smelling, here were our predictions:
Wine Momma: (L-R): Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet
Hubbie: Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet
Dad: Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet

So, we all agreed on the smelling, which was exciting! After tasting, we all felt the same way.

The REVEAL for the Reds:
(L-R): Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet

We were so pumped to have predicted the three reds, both by smell and taste, correctly. Our success, in my opinion, was due to the tasting format. It offered us the ability to cognitively discern what we were tasting in a great educational format. I have decided to stay with this format for, probably,  another year until I feel I have exhausted the format and have matured to full blind tastings. 

We have much to learn, but did some celebrating with some Champagne.





Friends, this was a great and fun way to learn how to taste wines. I truly hope you are able to partner with your local wine shop and do the same. It makes for a great wine date or fun afternoon!

Cheers!




Monday, April 21, 2014

NY Time Wine School Tasting - a very different French story and grape

The South Alabama Wine Club met again for our second month of the NY Times Wine School tasting. This month - the beautiful Beaujolais wine. As you might recall, last month's tasting was Bordeaux, which is most often very "old world" grape, earthy and strong.


We switched gears this month with Beaujolais wine, made mainly from the Gamay grape, which has thin skins and, therefore, low in tannin. It tends to be a very light red wine and fruit forward.

One cool thing about the region is that they ferment through Carbonic Maceration. In normal fermentation, the grapes are crushed and yeast is added to the must (grape skins and juices). However, with carbonic maceration, they allow the natural yeasts to begin fermentation within the grape and, therefore, not crushing it. But, as gravity can tend to do, some of the grapes at the bottom are inevitably crushed, thus creating a nice combo effect.

With that all said, carbonic maceration is supposed to create a stronger fruit taste due to its minimalist approach within the grape.

The outcome?


Wine Momma and South Alabama Wine Club Wine Review
Wine: 2011 Beaujolias
Smell: Fresh baby, strawberry, vinyl/leather, mildew (this can sometimes be associated with earthy and old world grapes)
Taste: spice, coffee, strawberry
Thoughts: medium acidity, very smooth, fruit is more pronounced when eating cheese
Wine Momma Wine Review - a solid 3 for both the price and the fact that it was a smooth, easy to drink table wine with a very cool fermentation story

You can pick up your own for any price between $17 - $75. 

Cheers!

Thursday, April 17, 2014

If you love Zinfandel, you can't go wrong with this wine........

If I had to choose a favorite varietal right here and now, I would say Zinfandel. To me, its the perfect blend of fruit, spice and texture.

One of my current favorites is Saldo. It is a simple bottle with a very unique label.

The word "Saldo" is Spanish and it mainly refers to "balance on hand," and sometimes it can also be interpreted "from here and there."






Although the label may come across as minimal, the wine is anything but. Saldo is made by David Phinney, founder and wine maker of Orin Swift Wine Makers and The Prisoner. Many of you may have heard of The Prisoner wine, currently a "must have" to drink in the wine world. It is a great red as well, but more expensive than many may want to pay.

Then we get to Saldo - where you get the best "cherry-picked" and "legendary"grapes with half the cost. You can find Saldo anywhere from $20-$30 in a local wine shop but most likely not the grocery store.

With its dark fruity aromas and complex taste, be sure to buy and savor this wine for a special night. Wine Momma gives it a solid TWO on the Wine Momma Wine Review Scale, both for its taste and its affordable pricing for the value.

Cheers!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Are you more healthy or educated if you drink wine?

Study: Moms Who Drink Wine While Pregnant Have Better Behaved Kids « CBS Atlanta

A study out of London from January, 2014 poses its finding that women who drink one glass of wine per week while pregnant have better behaved children.

To be honest, I thought the study was a bit odd in that they were seeking information on behavior that is heavily influenced by your environment but what I was actually drawn to in the article was this - that women who drink at least one glass of wine a week tend to make healthier lifestyle decisions and are better educated. 

Why would this be? Is it affluence/ability to buy wine? Is it education about wine and knowing that wine is a healthier choice (in moderation, of course)? Or is wine considered to be an upper or middle class type drink? Is wine influenced on those in certain classes as an "acceptable" alcohol drink? Is it just all about money? 

I see the truth in all the above reasons but I personally like to think that it is because wine in itself is:

1. A healthier choice of alcohol
2. Wine has become so much more accessible and affordable in the last 10 years thanks to the great winemakers in this country and a few others

Great wine + low cost = smart person.

When you are in a great theological, philosophical, scientific, friendly, romantic, etc. conversation with some friends, spouses or colleagues, what is often in your hand? WINE.

Does wine affect what we eat? Does it pair well with fried chicken or baked chicken? Most would say baked. Wine helps me to be a better eater because I want what I eat to enhance what I drink and vice versus. Because of that, I have a healthier food lifestyle.

What other alcohol can you drink and learn about that is as diverse, complicated, complex, sensitive and yummy than WINE?

Answer: None.

Now, no arguing you Bourbon drinkers. Come to me when you develop a soft, fruity bourbon and maybe we can talk.

Personally, I do not buy this whole one glass of wine a week while pregnant makes better behaved children. I think it is much more credit to the environment a child grows up in. And, as all of us wine momma's know, a balanced lifestyle between fun, wine and family, lends itself to great kids......and maybe some future wine makers. (MY fingers are crossed at least!)

Cheers!

Friday, April 11, 2014

What experiences have defined your wine path?

When I met my amazing hubbie in 2007, I already had a general knowledge and love for wine. However, as I made mention in my first post, my palette had not yet had the opportunity to taste and experience a variety of varietals, both costly and not-so costly.

We received the opportunity to move to Southern CA in early 2010 and jumped at the chance. Lucky for us, our wonderful family friends, the Warburton's, lived in beautiful Manhattan Beach and opened up their home to us as our first place of residence in sunny CA. Now, their blending into our family started almost 10 years earlier when Gary and his wife, Terry, met my parents and were left to drink from the vines of France for a week after 9/11 but, for now, we will focus on our story.

Gary was already what he called a "garagiste" wine maker. He would travel to places all over CA for the best grapes, bring them home to Manhattan Beach and bring the wine making process to life in his garage. Gary and Terry were famous for their Paella and bottling parties. 20-30 people would show up to their home, bottle wine all day and end with a fabulous feast and wine-apalooza. Still, to this day, the best parties at which I have ever been.

Our first "be able to drink and know what is truly good wine" came when Gary and Terry left us to watch their home for them for a month. Before he left, Gary took us to his wine cellar and, pointing to a large collection of wine bottles, he said "You can drink these while we are gone."

Um, OK.

And we did. All of them.

It was one of the greatest wine education months of our lives.

Not only did I find out that Gary was, in fact, an amazing wine maker (his Tempranillo to this day is still one of my favorites and a Magnum of it signed by him sits in my home) but we enjoyed those kid-free and worry-free first weeks in CA learning about our palettes and wine.

Now, Gary had a birthday this past week and I miss him and Terry tremendously and I suppose I am a bit sappy today. But, I am so grateful for their hospitality and probably unbeknownst to them, their hand in our love for wine.

                                                                   Phifer-Pavitt Wines

                                                                    Gary and Suzanne

Today, Gary and his wife are a key part of one of my favorite wineries, Phifer-Pavitt. Terry's son, Shane, and his beautiful wife, Suzanne (a fellow Southerner - woo hoo!), own and manage the winery in Calistoga and, as a team, they are helping to preserve a sophisticated level of wine making in Napa and stewarding the wonderful grapes from that region. They make a dynamite Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. If you live in South Alabama, their Cab can be found at Southern Napa in Daphne. Their wines have a great tag line - "Date Night."

Now, Gary has a wonderful interview about a year ago from another wine blog and you can read it here.

Gary and Terry, thank you for your part in growing our love and education of wine.

Now, friends, what experiences in your life have defined your wine path?

Cheers!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

NY Times Wine School - For April, we are drinking from the Beaujolais region of France

Last month's Wine School wine was Bordeaux, which, for me, I was not thrilled with but followed through. As Eric Asimov says, "Bordeaux speaks to the mind".....but, for me, I am looking for wine that "appeals to the soul." I am VERY excited about this month's wine - much more complex and more fruit.


You can read the Wine School article here.

Beaujolais - A French Appellation of wines made generally from the Gamay grape, which has a thinner skin and, therefore, lower in tannins. Beaujolais region is considered to be a Burgundy region but the climate is closer to the Rhone region. It is an individualistic region and is well-known for its use of carbonic maceration. I just recently learned about this technique during my wine studies. Carbonic Maceration is when the grapes are left whole and undergo fermentation inside the berry, without the help from yeast. It gives the wine a brighter color and a distinctive fruity taste. Isn't that amazing? Seriously, who thinks of techniques like that!?

Your three wines options are -

Domaine du Clos du Fief/Michel Tête Juliénas 2011 - $23.
Jean-Paul Brun/Terres Dorées Côte de Brouilly 2011 - $22.
Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages 2011 - $14.

The first two are cru Beaujolais, 10 villages thought to be distinctive enough that their names are appellations. They are: Brouilly, Chénas, Chiroubles, Côte de Brouilly, Fleurie, Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Régnié and St. Amour. The third is a lower classification, Beaujolais-Villages, but is made in greater quantity and may be easier to find.
 
I stink at pronouncing French but I am hopeful that your local wine store owners can help you find what you need.  If you can't find what you need, look for a 2011 from one of these regions. 

The South Alabama wine group will be meeting next week to taste these wines and I will report on our palettes. Let me know what you think! 

Cheers!

Saturday, April 5, 2014

The South Alabama wine club met again over a blind wine tasting....did we get it right?

Wine tasting is all about enjoying and learning. Some people are what is called "master tasters" and they physically have a larger number of taste buds on their tongues than others. For real. 

For others that are not so lucky, we do our best. And we did do our best. Fun was had, learning occurred and the best drink was enjoyed, wine.

My adorable hubbie set up a great blind wine tasting between two red wines. They were placed in decanters and we were not given any information about the wines before tasting.

So, let's cut to the chase - did we get them right? NO.
Did we learn something to help with our future blind wine tastings? Sure did.

Learning is a process and here is what we learned:

Wine #1
What we smelled and tasted - Spice, plum, cherry, tobacco
Texture - very dry, alcohol
Color - dark plum

What we thought it was - a Merlot
What it actually was - Bogle (CA) Petite Sirah

To save some face on this wine tasting, the Bogle is a lighter Petite than normal. With a Petite, you look for lots of spice on the finish and tannins.

Wine # 2
What we smelled and tasted - Strawberry, cherry, blackberry, leather, musty
Texture - medium acidity
Color - dark red

What we thought it was - we were split half and half on a Pinot Noir or a Zinfandel
What it actually was - Cupcake (Central Coast CA) Cabernet Sauvignon

Personally, I was SHOCKED by the outcome of this wine. It was so heavy on the fruit (mainly Strawberry) that I have never tasted in a Cab before. We were all shocked. It just goes to show you how difficult blind tastings can be.

We were so amazed at how different our assumptions were based on what actually was, that we are going to do a side by side tasting of three of the same varietals for our next meeting. It will be so helpful to taste the slight differences in wine that can be due to anything from terroir to weather to the year.

One step at a time in the world of learning, right?

Cheers!
 

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Glass Wine Corks?? Yes.....and I believe they are going to soon be the preeminent method of bottle preservation

Wait?! What? Cork is not the end all, be all of wine bottle closure? Well, to many it still is and to many it always will be. But, about 10 years ago, the Glass Wine Cork started coming out of the European market and some US wine regions, like Oregon, are starting to take notice as well. It's not just better for the life of the wine in the bottle, but it is also reusable.

Have you ever heard of cork taint or when a wine is "corked?" Cork is a product from a living tree and can get quite spongy. In 5-10% of the bottles of wine bottled with cork, the phenols (carbolic acid) present in the cork can react to the wine, causing cork taint. Basically, mold forms and contaminates the wine. Sometimes the wine can smell or taste like mildew, but other times, the wine just might taste a little. “off.” 

Cork is an equal opportunity product and may choose to taint any bottle of wine - those that cost $10 or those that cost $2,000. In my opinion, that is a scary gamble. Think about those wines that are held onto by collectors for 20 years, only to open them and potentially experience "corked" wine.



Since the glass wine cork is made of smooth glass, there is no chance of its interacting with the wine in any way. The seal part of the cork is achieved with a small O-ring under the lip of the stopper.  This creates an air-tight seal. Another plus is that it is reusable - both for the bottle and for the winery or recycling.  If for some reason you don’t finish your bottle of wine, just reinsert the stopper into the bottle.  This again creates the seal, and you can finish your bottle the next day. Secondly, some wineries in Oregon allow you to bring back your glass corks and they sterilize them and re-use them or you can recycle them the old-fashioned way.

Now, I know many of you are sad that you may no longer be able to create all of your cute wine cork wreaths and placements but, never fear, I doubt that corks are on their way out. I just believe we may see much more of our glass wine cork friend in the next 5-10 years.

Cheers!


Tuesday, April 1, 2014

How to: Save money on wine while eating out.......

Date Night. A special occasion. A birthday. A Holiday.

American's eat out. A lot. Some choose to do so often and some do it sparingly. When I became a more serious wine drinker, my monthly play money went to buying wine, not clothes or make up or shoes or movie tickets. I do admit my fashion life has suffered because of it, but it is a sacrifice well worth it.

So, when you love wine, and good wine at that, how can you save money while drinking and eating out?


It's not easy in this day and age where the average mark up of a bottle of wine at a restaurant is 100%. That means that your favorite Pinot Noir just went from $20 to $40 in a flash. All for some table service and a nice (or maybe not so nice) waiter to open it for you.

Here are a few tips for you to follow:

1. Search for local restaurant(s) (most often locally owned) that are BYOB. Many small but great food establishments cannot afford or choose not to buy a liquor license. In those cases, you can bring your own wine that you bought at a decent price at the grocery store or wine shop. Some restaurants may charge a small corkage fee (to cover cleaning the glasses, etc.)

2. Call the restaurant ahead of time and ask if you can bring your own wine. Most often they will allow it. A corkage fee will be included (probably around $5-$10) but it will still save you that 100% mark up cost. I have even done this in chain restaurants. You never know until you ask!

3. Split the wine cost with friends at dinner. Going on a double date? Split the wine cost and still get a couple of great glasses to drink over dinner.

4. If you do choose to pay full price at a restaurant, check local laws and make sure you know if you can take the left-over wine home with you. Many states allow you to take wine home with you after dinner. They will properly package it for you. Don't lose money on wine you bought but did not finish. 

5. Eat at home. This has been my go-to budget saver for almost 4 years now. Cooking and eating at home is key for us. We can still get our wine at normal retail price and enjoy a home-cooked meal. Don't like to cook? You can still order in/pick up at your favorite restaurant and save money.

Cheers!

Monday, March 31, 2014

Wine Momma Wine Review - Oak Leaf Sauv Blanc - ONLY $2.97 AT WAL-MART - But, is it worth it?

From what I understand from wine makers that I know and have read up on, their goal in life is to make the best and most complex wine that they can from what they are handed each year at harvest time.

However, I am starting to believe that there are some in the business trying to out-do one another in wine cost. It is a great thing to have wines at a lower price point but how far is too low?

I think we might have reached that low. Wal-Mart is known for its great prices but poor quality. That is reflected in today's Wine Momma Wine Review.


Wine Momma Wine Review
Oak Leaf Sauv Blanc
$2.97 at Wal-Mart
What does it smell like: Trees, earth
What does it taste like: Dry, watered down, low alcohol level (which means less sugar when it was harvested)
Wine Momma Scale Number: a big fat FIVE. Sorry, Oak Leaf (see scale on right of webpage)

Now, all in all, I support and love cheap wines. But, after only a few sips of this baby, my head was starting to pound with pain. It actually gave me a headache and I could barely get enough in me before I abandoned it.

However, do not lose heart about that awesome $2.97. Use it in your cooking, my friends. We added it to our mushrooms that night and it did a fine job.

If you want to buy and enjoy cheap wine, I suggest moving up a few more bucks and sticking with Cupcake - best bang for your buck in any varietal. It is my go-to day to day wine.

Tell me, what are your favorite cheap wines and how low do those costs go for you?

Cheers! 






Thursday, March 27, 2014

12 Items to Improve Your Wine-o Lifestyle

Boys and girls, ladies and gents, step right up and experience all you need to fulfill a wine-o lifestyle. Whether at the beach, the pool, your home or a party, you are all set.

12 Items to Improve Your Wine-O Lifestyle


Somebody, please buy me #1

I can personally vouch for #8 - amazing and they stack on top of one another!

#12 is a MUST have - get rid of that red wine smile!!!

Cheers!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Why do you drink wine? What about it fascinates you? Instead of getting my PhD, I want to do this......

From the beginning, I was attracted to the taste of wine. It was fruity, it was dry, it was fun to hold a wine glass and socialize. Little by little, as I learned more, I began to be fascinated by the object that is the wine grape(s) and how it lives, even after being harvested, in that wonderful bottle we all love to see and open. Wine is constantly changing, growing and alive.

If you open a wine bottle today, it will taste different than it might tomorrow. If you opened a bottle yesterday, it will taste different today. If you harvest a grape at the wrong time or if the weather has not been ideal, it can affect every grape in that region. That is where we learn about "good" or "bad" vintages. If Napa had really rainy weather one summer that caused build up of mold on the grapes or had to harvest early due to super hot weather, that wine may not be as great as other years. Or, it could have been perfect weather and every wine enthusiast is dying to get their hands on that wine. That said, we still love to see what happens if we leave it alone for years. Will it grow stronger? Will it age poorly? We truly never know until we take that cork and open the bottle days or even years later.

My love for wine and how it is made has led me to this goal: I plan to successfully pass the Level 1 Master of Wine test within the next 10 years to make me an official Sommelier. Now, mind you, I will not be a Master Sommelier. That goes up to Level 4 and is INSANE for what you need to know and the money it takes to get there. 10 YEARS?? Yes, I said 10 years. Why, you ask? Because not only do I have to hone my tasting skills, I also have to memorize the entire wine dictionary and continue learning more and more and more and more (pretty much everything) about wine before I can even drive over to beautiful New Orleans to take the test. Now, you all are my accountability on this now.....so, keep on me!

So, my first step? Our dear friends bought us the below book and course -

I began my lessons today and love it so far. Yes, I have already had to look up a few words but it is all in the name of learning.

Kevin Zraly includes video segments along with his book lessons that encourage you and provide a back ground to what you are about to read and learn. His first lesson - always have a glass of wine as you read! I think I'm gonna like this guy.......

In terms of my tasting chops, I have been generously offered by the wonderful owner of local Red or White wine shop to allow me to do their Saturday wine tastings blind. He is a Level 2 Sommelier and, I am sure, sympathetic for what it will take for me to complete my goal. Check around the areas you live in, friends, I am sure a shop would be happy to do the same for you!

So, I love learning and always wanted to go back to school to get my PhD. But, in the meantime, as I raise a family and take care of our home, I will focus my learning skills on wine. The PhD may have to wait a few years.....

Cheers!


Friday, March 21, 2014

NY Times Wine School - our South Alabama Wine Review on the Haute-Medoc 2009 Bordeaux

My little home became a gathering of some amazing South Alabama ladies, one great mother-in-law and one hot hubbie (that would be mine) who came together for one reason - to taste wine. We are participating in the monthly Wine School tasting with the NY Times wine critic.


Our goal: provide a realistic and informed wine review for the 2009 Haute-Medoc Bordeaux from Chateau Larose-Trintaudon.

We opened the bottle about 20 minutes prior to tasting and "violently" decanted it and let it sit for a bit. Although the NY Times wine critic does not believe the glass you drink from is important, I do. I made sure that each of us had a decent stemmed wine glass to taste from. It does not have to be a fancy wine glass, just a wine glass. You have great and affordable options at Target or Wal-Mart if you need some. If possible, go with the Riedel brand.

We poured about 2-3 ounces in each glass. We then read aloud the three questions we were asked to answer -

What does the wine smell and taste like?
What is its texture?
How does the taste change over time?

Well, here it is friends -


Wine School Wine Review
Wine: 2009 Haute-Medoc 2009 Bordeaux from Chateau Larose-Trintaudon
60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot
What does the wine smell and taste like?: Smell - Oak, Currants, Blackberries, Cherries
Taste - Heavy alcohol taste, Pepper, Heavy Tannins, Earthy, Sediment, Iron
What is its texture?: Grainy, heavy
How does the taste change over time?: Lost its bitterness once paired with food; half believed the second glass was better and half did not
Wine Momma Wine Scale: A solid 4

Comments: Most of us, including me, did not particularly like this wine. Although there were a few fruity tones in the nose, there was only earth and a strong sense of alcohol in the taste. However, it did have a beautiful dark purple color. And, lastly, it had nice legs! (AKA, alcohol content). :-)

We all had such a fun two hours tasting wine and having fun. Next up - we are going to attempt a blind tasting with two whites and two reds. Those results should be interesting - let's see who can get it right!

All that said, friends, this is such a fun and easy thing for you to do at home. Just make some calls and send some emails and get the wine tasting going!

Cheers!


Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Is it OK to breastfeed and drink wine? Let me tell you what I think......

This is a hard topic to write about. One - everyone has a strong opinion and two - everyone has a strong opinion.

Let's cut to the chase. Do I think its OK? YES.

Did I drink wine while breastfeeding? YES.

Am I a doctor? NO. So, consider this my educated opinion. 

I am a huge proponent of breastfeeding and it was the greatest feeling I have felt as a mother. I started 5 minutes after she arrived and only stopped a few weeks ago. My girl was exclusively breastfed for almost 7 months and only then did she get her bottle. I loved it. I couldn't get enough of it. BUT, I also loved my wine. I had to do some digging and soul searching, to be honest, to understand where I came out on the topic.

I am a huge fan of La Leche League. For you fellow breastfeeding mommas, I am sure you know of this amazing resource we have. It is an international organization with local branches for support, to answer questions, to seek help and have a great network of other like-minded mommas.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are some great nuggets of wisdom straight from their website -

Women are often warned to not consume alcohol during pregnancy, as ample evidence has shown that it poses a severe and avoidable risk to her unborn baby. The risks of consuming alcohol while breastfeeding are not as well defined. Breastfeeding mothers receive conflicting advice about whether alcohol consumption can have an effect on their baby, which often leaves mothers feeling like they have more questions than answers. So, what information should a mother who is considering drinking while breastfeeding know?

La Leche League's The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding (p. 328) says:
The effects of alcohol on the breastfeeding baby are directly related to the amount the mother ingests. When the breastfeeding mother drinks occasionally or limits her consumption to one drink or less per day, the amount of alcohol her baby receives has not been proven to be harmful.
La Leche League's The Breastfeeding Answer Book (pp. 597-598) says:
Alcohol passes freely into mother's milk and has been found to peak about 30 to 60 minutes after consumption, 60 to 90 minutes when taken with food. Alcohol also freely passes out of a mother's milk and her system. It takes a 120 pound woman about two to three hours to eliminate from her body the alcohol in one serving of beer or wine...the more alcohol that is consumed, the longer it takes for it to be eliminated. It takes up to 13 hours for a 120 pound woman to eliminate the alcohol from one high-alcohol drink. The effects of alcohol on the breastfeeding baby are directly related to the amount the mother consumes.
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I, personally, chose to stick with only wine. I drank no hard liquor while I was breastfeeding. I would have 1-1/2 glasses at night once I knew she was down for the night or for a longer amount of sleep. That way, I knew the majority of the alcohol would be out of my system before she would eat again. If anything was left, it was a very minimal amount. Occasionally, I would also drink a glass during the day at a special event, etc.

Dr. Jack Newman, member of the LLLI Health Advisory Council, says this in his handout "More Breastfeeding Myths":
Reasonable alcohol intake should not be discouraged at all. As is the case with most drugs, very little alcohol comes out in the milk. The mother can take some alcohol and continue breastfeeding as she normally does. Prohibiting alcohol is another way we make life unnecessarily restrictive for nursing mothers.

BOOM.

What is the key to all this, wine mommas? MODERATION AND LIMITED CONSUMPTION. We can still have our cake and eat it too. Be proud to be a breastfeeding momma and a wine momma. It's OK.

Cheers!








Thursday, March 13, 2014

The Wine School - from critic Eric Asimov of the NY Times - challenges us to join him as we learn more about wine

The wine critic for the NY Times, Eric Asimov, has started what he calls "Wine School." It is not in a building, it is not online, it is all from the comfort of your own home with one of the wines he chooses. I will be following Eric each month as he challenges us to learn more about tasting and discerning wines.

This month is Bordeaux. Bordeaux is the world's major wine industry capital. The wine economy in the metro area takes in 14.5 billion euros each year. Bordeaux wine has been produced in the region since the 8th century.

Below are the three bottles he reccomends. However, keep in mind, if you can't find them, look to buy a wine from 2009 from the Haut-Médoc, the region where these wines originated.

 Here are the first three bottles and what he paid for them (remember prices vary; be sure you find the same wine, not a second label, in the same size bottle):

CHÂTEAU BERNADOTTE HAUT-MÉDOC 2009 $32 (Sherry-Lehmann Selections/Le Reine Importing, New York)
CHÂTEAU CANTEMERLE HAUT-MÉDOC 2009 $53 (Frederick Wildman & Sons, New York)
CHÂTEAU SOCIANDO-MALLET HAUT-MÉDOC 2009 $62 (Frederick Wildman & Sons)


You can find the full article HERE


I hope you will join me!

Cheers!



Wednesday, March 12, 2014

You know that favorite Champagne/Sparkling Wine you love? It will blow your mind what it has to go through before it gets to your favorite wine shop ready for you to drink.......

Now, I know many wine professionals think the way sparkling wine is made is an everyday thing. But, seriously, it is really cool and has to go 5 or 6 more steps along than still (not sparkling) wine to arrive to your hometown store to be purchased.

Firstly - lesson time. NEVER CALL SPARKLING WINE CHAMPAGNE UNLESS IT IS ACTUALLY FROM CHAMPAGNE. If a sparkling wine is labeled Champagne and it is not from that region in France, you are breaking the law. OK, now that we have that settled - we are discussing SPARKLING WINE today.

Why does it sparkle/bubble? Because it has extra CO2 in it. Well, Wine Momma, how does it get there??

The Méthode Champenoise (the traditional method from Champagne, France)
Once the initial fermentation takes place in the wine, sparkling wine goes another step further and undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle in which it will be served/sold. With sparkling wine, this means adding several more grams of yeast and rock sugar. Since the carbon dioxide is contained, it makes the wine "bubbly." It then has to sit in the bottle and age for at least 1-3 years. Crazy!

Now, here's the cool part. The bottle, obviously, has sediment in it from the yeast and sugar. In order to get that contained in the bottle, it goes through a process called riddling.


In this stage the bottles are placed in specially built "A" frame racks, called pupitres. This places the bottles at a 45º with the cork pointed down. Every few days the bottles are given a slight shake and turn and dropped back into the pupritres (eventually the angle is increased). The drop back into the rack causes a slight tap, pushing sediments toward the neck of the bottle. This occurs once every 2-3 days for several weeks until the position of the bottle is pointed straight down with sediment in the neck of the bottle.

This is still done by hand in a few very exclusive sparkling wine and Champagne wineries today. 

One of these wineries is my favorite sparkling wine producer, Schramsberg.

This post was actually inspired by this bottle, a 2004 J. Schram sparkling wine (85% Chardonnay/15% Pinot Noir). To put it in a few words, it was decadent elegance to taste this wine.

However, most producers today use machines to riddle their bottles.

Once the sediment is fully contained in the neck of the bottle, the neck is then frozen, and the cap removed. The pressure in the bottle forces out the sediment, and the bottle is quickly corked to maintain the CO2 in the bottle.

Wam, Bam, Yes Mam.....

I am sure we all have great things to celebrate and I hope you are able to do it with a great bottle of sparkling wine. If you live in the South Alabama area, you can find various varietals of Schramsberg sparkling wine at Southern Napa and Red or White. I highly recommend them.   

Cheers! 



Sunday, March 9, 2014

Yes, I drank Box Wine....and it was pretty good

Hi, my name is Wine Momma......and I drank wine out of a box.

There, I said it.

Blame my friend, Kerry. She made me. But I am glad she did.

Not only was it decent, but it is so fun to pour it out of the awesome-sauce spout. This Chardonnay, a CA 2012 Black Box wine, was totally decent (I rarely drink Chardonnay as it is) AND it is a great option for a informal night or party. I mean, who doesn't like buying wine for $22 and getting 4 bottles in one??AND you can get it at your local grocery store!

Wine Momma Wine Review
Black Box 2012 CA Chardonnay
Bouquet: crisp and fresh flower bouquet
Wine Momma Scale Number: A solid 3 - great wine for a fun night with friends and you didn't have to break the bank! (See my wine review scale on the right side of the blog)

Now, I cannot say I fully condone multiple box wine drinking experiences, but, for this one day, I will give a pass. Just don't put ice in it people! :-)

Cheers!

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

There is Truth in Wine and Children......

Children are an open book. They are as brutal or as sweet as their heart chooses. They can open your mind to new ideas, surprise you with their knowledge and allow you the clarity you need in admitting mistakes.

I believe these qualities can also be attributed to wine. When one sits down with a glass and a friend, not only are we reflecting on its taste and smell qualities, but we are reflecting on life, asking questions and finding a path to take.

Each night, my husband and I choose to drink a glass together. This has become such an important and bonding experience in our marriage. Why? Because of the vulnerable environment it creates to grow closer through conversation. We have made life-changing decisions over a glass of wine.

Let's move to California
Why don't you interview for that new job?
Time to try for a baby!

We have also made life-changing apologies that have brought healing to our marriage as well.

I think it is important for our daughter and future children to learn not only how to drink alcohol in a healthy manner, but to appreciate it for what it can bring about in conversation and life. Wine is NOT necessary to have a healthy conversation or relationship - don't get me wrong on that - but it can help to open vulnerability's door.

And that's what I love about children and wine - vulnerability and truth.

Cheers!

Friday, February 28, 2014

It's Friday. Movie time. Watch a great movie about the TRUE story that brought CA to the forefront of wine making - It's called "Bottle Shock."

It's Friday. The weekend has arrived. It's movie time!



The 2008 movie, Bottle Shock, has been one of my all time favorite movies since it was released. Not only do I love the content, but the actors are amazing, along with the compelling true story that it recounts. Bill Pullman, Chris Pine and Alan Rickman star in the movie.




Have any of you heard of the Judgment of Paris? It was a 1976 blind wine tasting between CA wines and the never-to-be-beat French wines. The catch? The panel was made up of the premier French palates in the wine business. However, the outcome was a game-changer for American wine production.

American historians at the Smithsonian were so amazed by both the fallout and the rise of CA winemaking following this epic 1976 blind wine tasting, that they officially deemed it a major historical event in American history. The two wining bottles are now on display in Washington, D.C.


Bottle Shock beautifully portrays the love and passion that accompanies viticulture (the science, production and study of grapes). The more I drink wine and learn about it, the more it amazes me every day.

All that to say, the plot is compelling, the actors are pro's, the scenery is gorgeous and you will want nothing more than a great glass of chardonnay and some guacamole by the time the movie is over.

Bottle Shock can be found on Netflix or purchased online.

Cheers!