Best Deal Magazines is currently offering "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine" as a downloadable version for free. The guide is currently off of print in bound form, but is loaded with good advice on how to select, taste, and collect wine. Although aimed at the beginning wine lover, there's sure to be something of interest to the experienced sipper also.
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Pairing Sangiovese with Food Data:2008-09-03 17:27:02 Description:Fall is just around the corner and few wines are more enjoyable when the weather turns cool than Italy's Sangiovese wines. In the video below, Iron Chef Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich discuss how best to pair Sangiovese with food. Take a look:
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Fat Bastard wines are doing their part to cure this disease by donating 25 cents for every bottle sold in restaurants and retail stores, up to $75,000. This is the sixth year the company has run this program and to date, they have donated more than $250,000 to breast cancer research.
During October, Fat Bastard wines will be easy to spot on the shelf. They'll have a pink ribbon necker with an attached pin for consumers to wear. Fat Bastard's wine collection includes Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
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Wine Pairings for Labor Day Data:2008-08-23 23:41:18 Description: labor day is next weekend and many of us will be grilling up hot dogs, bratwurst, and other traditional picnic fare that is difficult to pair with wine. In a recent article, Washington Post columnists, Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg offer suggestions on what to serve with "dinner in a long bun." Among their suggestions are an Alsatian Riesling with bratwurst, a Rioja with a chili dog, and Chianti with Italian Sausage.
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Wine Glossary: Veraison Data:2008-08-17 02:17:41 Description:Veraison is the time with wine grapes begin to turn from green to purple. In northern California, this process usually begins in early August. This video from "Adopt-a-grape" explains Veraison and what it means in the overall process of crafting wine.
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A little red wine might actually be good for you, at least according to Dr. Metmet Oz, author and frequent guest on the Oprah Winfrey show. In his bestselling book, "Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending your Warranty" with Dr. Michael Roizen, he cites the benefits of resveratrol, a component in red wine, which is a powerful antioxident and may promote hearth health.
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Do you have trouble keeping a set of wine glasses intact. Are you always breaking one, leaving you with a set of three, five, or seven? These stemless glasses from Columbia might be just for you. They're all but unbreakable-and good for the planet, too. The 18oz. glasses are made from recycled windshield glass. Companion pieces include a pitcher and pilsner beer glasses. They are available from Uncommon Goods for $22/set of two glasses. What a great idea!
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Paso Robles Wine Tour Data:2008-08-16 21:35:15 Description:The Paso Robles Wine Region, located along California's central coast is home to nearly 170 wineries, growing more than 40 different grape varietals. Below is a look at just a few of the area's wineries.
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Ken Forrester on South African Wines Data:2008-08-16 00:30:26 Description:In this video filmed at the Aspen Food + Wine Festival, Ken Forrester of FMC Wines discusses South African wines. Take a look:
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As the world looks to Beijing for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, it's only fitting that we look at China's wine industry. Actually, China has been crafting wines for more than 4600 years, using grapes, rice, Asian plums, and lychees. However, it's only been since the 1980s that China has begun to develop a taste for "western-style" wines. Several European companies, most notably Remy-Martin were early partner with the Chinese and helped to develop their burgeoning wine industry.
Today, China has more than 450 wineries, stretching from Inner Mongolia to the Yellow Sea. Among the most noted of these is Grace Vineyards, founded in 1997 and located in the Shanxi Province.
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Vinarija Ivanovi? - Tamjanika 2005 Data:2008-01-31 23:38:11 Description:This is a dry, slightly sparkling wine, with a pleasent, rich, complex aroma. A pleasure to sniff and taste, there’s a fruity note and there’s quite an undefined spicy note, definitely requires another bottle of researching . The producer specifies it as a wine “with characteristic Muscat taste and smell carrying combination of spicy [...] Content:
This is a dry, slightly sparkling wine, with a pleasent, rich, complex aroma. A pleasure to sniff and taste, there’s a fruity note and there’s quite an undefined spicy note, definitely requires another bottle of researching . The producer specifies it as a wine “with characteristic Muscat taste and smell carrying combination of spicy tones of incense, cinnamon, basil and fruit tones of pine apple and strawberry”.
Although it does have the muscaty taste it’s a dry wine, but still does go well with desserts such as nutty cakes. Also goes well with lighter meat dishes and on it’s own.
The Ivanovi? winery is a winery with a long tradition, one of those where the younger generation has embraced it’s ancestry recipes and combined it with modern trends. Some of the details are available online. It is located in the ?upa region in southern Serbia.
Kopaonik Restaurants Data:2008-01-13 12:36:33 Description:Kopaonik is the largest Serbian ski resort. It is a popular place for domestic skiers and is becoming increasingly popular with foreign visitors. Although “Kopaonik” is actually a large mountain, the term usually refers to the area around the “Grand” hotel and the apartment complex “Sun?ani Vrhovi”. The area is small but contains quite a [...] Content:
Kopaonik is the largest Serbian ski resort. It is a popular place for domestic skiers and is becoming increasingly popular with foreign visitors. Although “Kopaonik” is actually a large mountain, the term usually refers to the area around the “Grand” hotel and the apartment complex “Sun?ani Vrhovi”. The area is small but contains quite a few hotels and private houses. It’s self contained, with shops, banks, a post office, etc. Apart from the restaurants in hotels, there are a few good restaurants around. In this article I’ll write about the restaurants I’ve visited this year, it might help you make the right choice (I didn’t have any tips at all…).
Etno club “Sunce”
This restaurant is located at the end of a quiet cool-de-sac, in the woods, a 5 minute walk from the Grand hotel. It looks very small from the outside, but it’s quite a spacious place. The atmosphere is great, fairly traditional, with two open fire places, a mixture of smaller and larger tables, a nice blend of loudness and privacy. The music wasn’t great, but that’s the easiest thing to change . The food was excellent and so was the service. They offer mainly Serbian dishes, if you’re not sure what to choose from the menu, the waiters will help you with their recommendations, you can trust them. The wine list includes wines from some of the better Serbian cellars, such as Radovanovi? and Aleksandrovi? (Topola). Go for Aleksandrovi?’s red or white Triumph, they are some of the best wines Serbia has to offer. Overall, it’s a great place, I’ll be back.
Food quality 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Service: 5/5 Price 3/5 (moderate, but excellent value) Wine list 3/5 (Radovanovi?, Aleksandrovi?)
Na?a ku?a
This place reminds me of modern pubs-restaurants in Ireland. It has a large bar area in the center, with large tables around, a couple of two seater tables in the corner for some extra privacy and a cosy open fire in the front. Both the interior of the restaurant and the furniture are made of light coloured wood, and there are stripes of small red lights throughout. There’s also a big video beam that mainly shows snow scenes during the day. It is a place frequented by the younger crowd and is open quite late into the nigth (until 3am). They have a small but well-chosen menu (which is also extremely well designed) and it’s obvious they put a lot of effort to make it a bit different from other restaurants in the vicinty. The chef is excellent, and the food is great, so give “Na?a Ku?a” a try if you get tired from the Serbian cousine and are looking for some European tastes. It is one of the more expensive restaurants, with a full dinner for two with a bottle of wine and a dessert producing a bill of around 50 euros. The wine choice is not great, but they do have a few wines apart from the regular choice, we recommend the wines from the Terra Lazarica range.
Food quality 5/5 Atmosphere 4/5 (nice mix of modern and traditional, younger crowd) Service: 4/5 Price 2/5 (expensive) Wine list 2/5
Etno ku?a Studenica
If you’re on a lower budget looking for good quality Serbian food you should visit the etno restaurant Studenica. Pick one of the two tables on the far left to avoid looking at the interior of the kitchen and to avoid the local crowd on the right side. The place is clean, the food was great and the waiter was top-notch, but the problem with this place is that it has too much light, it is visited by the local crowd and generally the level of privacy is quite low.
Food quality 4/5 Atmosphere 2/5 Service: 4/5 Price 4/5 (relatively cheap, good value) Wine list 1/5
Zvrk
This is a very popular restaurant located at the center of ski activities (the “baby slope”, ski lifts Karaman Greben and Pan?i?ev Vrh), just besides the Grand hotel. The restaurant has two levels, the upper one being more packed and colorful, the lower one containing a large center-located open fire place. This fire creates a very tempting smell outside the restaurant, which is the main reason you probably won’t resist getting into it. In general, it’s not a bad place, but there are much better choices around…
Food quality: 2/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Service: 3/5 Price: 3/5 Wine list: 1/5 (just the very basic Serbian wines)
Planta?e Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Data:2007-12-14 20:00:50 Description:This is another dry red wine from the sunny ?emovsko valley near Podgorica, Montenegro. We’ve covered a few wines from the Planta?e winery in the past and this is probably the poorest of their wines, without much character. Enjoyable only with a meal. The difference in perception of this wine and the Dulka Cabernet we just [...] Content:
This is another dry red wine from the sunny ?emovsko valley near Podgorica, Montenegro. We’ve covered a few wines from the Planta?e winery in the past and this is probably the poorest of their wines, without much character. Enjoyable only with a meal.
The difference in perception of this wine and the Dulka Cabernet we just covered is quite huge - the wine makers from Fru?ka Gora do seem to know how to add some magic to their wines and add a special touch to it (OK, it costs twice as much, but is well worth it!).
Score: 5/10 Price: 240 RSD (?3) Retailer: Widely available in Serbia and Montenegro
Dulka Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Data:2007-12-14 19:35:14 Description:Dulka is one of the most famous wine producing families in the town of Sremski Karlovci, near Novi Sad in Vojvodina. They produce wine since 1920 and have won a handful of awards at the Novi Sad agricultural fair throughout the years. Apart from producing wine, this familiy also produces bermet and brandies of highest [...] Content:
Dulka is one of the most famous wine producing families in the town of Sremski Karlovci, near Novi Sad in Vojvodina. They produce wine since 1920 and have won a handful of awards at the Novi Sad agricultural fair throughout the years. Apart from producing wine, this familiy also produces bermet and brandies of highest qualities.
They have just recently started growing Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2005 is their second vintage. However, this wine is quite rich in both aroma and taste, much richer and deeper than other pure Cabernets around. The color is dark ruby red, the nose rich, so reminiscent of forests and the flavours are those of forest fruit and chocolate. It’s a good wine, can be enjoyed on it’s own.
Tags:Wine# Serbian Wine# Vojvodina# Sremski Karlovci# Novi Sad# Bermet
WinEco Biserni Chardonnay Barrique 2006 Data:2007-11-24 20:02:53 Description:This is another great wine from the WinEco winery (Podrum Radenkovi?) from Southern Serbia. It is a not-very-dry Chardonnay, without a strong nose, but with an exceptional balance of fruity and barrique aromas. It is easy going, with a full taste, definitely one of the wines to accompany your lighter meals. It’s barrique traces make [...] Content:
This is another great wine from the WinEco winery (Podrum Radenkovi?) from Southern Serbia. It is a not-very-dry Chardonnay, without a strong nose, but with an exceptional balance of fruity and barrique aromas. It is easy going, with a full taste, definitely one of the wines to accompany your lighter meals. It’s barrique traces make it a great complement to slightly smoked fish or cheeses, but it’s also great on it’s own.
In general, Chardonnay is particularly suited for the barrique (oak aged) treatment. Chardonnay Barrique develops a pronounced cognac aroma and becomes a truly full-bodied wine - all hints of fruity flavours become very subdued.
Score 9/10 Price: 800 RSD (?10) Retailer: Super Vero
Planta?e Vranac Reserve 1998 Data:2007-11-21 22:01:02 Description:This is a premium Montenegrin red wine made from the indigenous Vranac grape. The Reserve is produced from particulary good years, in small quantities, aged in barrels for several years. It is also aged in bottles for one year before being released to the market. This is a dry wine, with a pleasant fruity nose. However, [...] Content:
This is a premium Montenegrin red wine made from the indigenous Vranac grape. The Reserve is produced from particulary good years, in small quantities, aged in barrels for several years. It is also aged in bottles for one year before being released to the market.
This is a dry wine, with a pleasant fruity nose. However, the impressions are far lower than it’s price. If you want to experience the Vranac variety the Montenegrin way, go for a regular Planta?e Vranac or their Vranac Pro Corde. They are much cheaper and the experience is almost the same.
Wines of the Vranac variety are produced throughout the region, apart from Montenegro, you can find them in Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Herzegovina.
Sim?i? Sivi Pinot 2005 Data:2007-11-10 21:06:41 Description:The 2004 vintage of this wine received a bronze medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards last year (2006). I’ve only been able to find the 2005 vintage in Belgrade wine shops. It has an intensive and complex aroma with hints of flowers. Dominant tastes are those of melon and slightly of apricots. However, I [...] Content:
The 2004 vintage of this wine received a bronze medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards last year (2006). I’ve only been able to find the 2005 vintage in Belgrade wine shops. It has an intensive and complex aroma with hints of flowers. Dominant tastes are those of melon and slightly of apricots. However, I wasn’t impressed, perhaps I expected more due to all the hype. Or perhaps there’s a significant difference in the two vintages. We should note that this winery has a good reputation. The Simcic Sivi Pinot 1990 was awarded the Cordon d’Excellence; their Chardonnay has won two gold medals at the Ljubljana Wine Fair and the 1994 vintage was declared Champion by the Knights of the Burgerland-Pannonian Order.
Skovin Syrah Cabernet 2005 Data:2007-11-10 19:59:55 Description:Quite an unusual combination for the Balkans, since Syrah is fairly rare in the region. Skovin is probably trying to follow the world commercial trends with this Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon combination, and it’s not doing a bad job. Syrah brings in the spiciness and the earthy taste, which brings memories of those strong South African [...] Content:
Quite an unusual combination for the Balkans, since Syrah is fairly rare in the region. Skovin is probably trying to follow the world commercial trends with this Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon combination, and it’s not doing a bad job. Syrah brings in the spiciness and the earthy taste, which brings memories of those strong South African tastes of Syrah wines. Cabernet softeness it a bit, so overall it’s a nice wine, but distinctively dryer than the famous Australian Syraz-Cabernet’s.
Rating: 6/10 Price: 400 RSD (5 euro) Retailer: Super Vero
Tikve? Alexandria Riesling Data:2007-11-10 19:36:25 Description:This wine is characterized by a yellow-green colour, a fresh citrusy aroma with hints of honey and a complex flowery aftertaste. It’s a semi-dry riesling, dryer than the Slovenian rieslings (such as Laški Riesling for example), but sweeter than those found in Serbia. It is a nice wine to accompany a lighter meal. This is [...] Content:
This wine is characterized by a yellow-green colour, a fresh citrusy aroma with hints of honey and a complex flowery aftertaste. It’s a semi-dry riesling, dryer than the Slovenian rieslings (such as Laški Riesling for example), but sweeter than those found in Serbia. It is a nice wine to accompany a lighter meal.
This is one of the wines available in Belgrade restaurants in 0.2l bottles, so if you’re a driver among non-wine drinkers (meaning you can’t order a whole bottle of some fine wine) it’s a good chance you’ll be in a position to try it. Do so.
Tikve? Winery - Macedonia Data:2007-11-07 19:41:40 Description:Based in Kavadarci, Macedonia, Tikve? is the largest winery not only in Macedonia but also in the whole of south-eastern Europe. The Tikve? region is a part of Macedonia abounding in natural beauty, with a distinctive habitat and climate, important cultural and historical sites, and a very long tradition of grape growing and wine making. The Tikve? [...] Content:
Based in Kavadarci, Macedonia, Tikve? is the largest winery not only in Macedonia but also in the whole of south-eastern Europe.
The Tikve? region is a part of Macedonia abounding in natural beauty, with a distinctive habitat and climate, important cultural and historical sites, and a very long tradition of grape growing and wine making.
The Tikve? region occupies the central part of the Republic of Macedonia; it is situated about a hundred kilometres south of Skopje, around the middle section of the River Vardar. The sub-Mediterranean climate is prevalent here, characterized by long, hot summers and mild and rainy winters. Spring is shorter and fresher here, and autumn is longer and warmer.
The ratio between produced red and white wines is 50:50. The most widely grown grape varieties are Smederevka (white) and Krato?ija (red).
The range of produced wines depends on the vintage, but the list of wines they produce as quality wines (a step above table wines) could be wrapped up as:
Reds: Krato?ija, T?ga za Jug, Teran, Alexandria, Merlot, Burgundec, Kavadarka, Cabernet Sauvignon, Vranec and Rose
For the ?Special Selection? wines Tikve? has chosen the highest quality grapes and turned them into their best wines. In the red wine range these are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Vranec, while in the white wine range these are Chardonnay, Riesling, Temjanika and Traminec. The Special Selection wines come with a distinctive label.
Il tempo delle Guide ... Data:2008-10-24 01:13:12 Description:Ove si vendemmian Grappoli (meglio se 5!) , Bicchieri (meglio se 3), Bottiglie (meglio se 5), Corone e Superstelle. Quel che penso delle Guide del Vino, che stanno riempiendo gli scaffali delle librerie e le varie "Location" del vino (Aziende,... Content:
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Gianluigi Balestra: vita enoica ed eroica in Franciacorta Data:2008-10-16 17:24:01 Description:Soavemente e gli AmiciDiVini, rispondendo all'invito di Umberto Stefani ch'è caro amico e profondo conoscitore delle Terre di Franciacorta, hanno fatto visita, sabato scorso, all' Azienda di Gianluigi Balestra a Monticelli Brusati. Esperienza indimenticabile raggiungere l 'Azienda "Il Pendio", che... Content:
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Verso il Foscarino...Vendemmia Data:2008-10-13 10:47:45 Description:E' nel periodo di vendemmia, in giornate autunnali piene di luce ancora calda, che metto più a fuoco tutte le ragioni della mia passione per questa terra. Son salita verso il Foscarino, colle ventoso che guarda la pianura (in giornate... Content:
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Autunno... Cantar Bacco Data:2008-10-09 16:48:37 Description:Incede l'autunno, stanno per terminare le fatiche della vendemmia... A Soave si potrà festeggiare tutto ciò ascoltando alcuni "Canti di Bacco" in tre sedi: Venerdì 17 ottobre presso il Duomo di San Lorenzo alle 20.45 Sabato 18 ottobre presso l'Auditoriun... Content:
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Chocolando... Chocoday... e solidarietà Data:2008-10-09 16:17:30 Description:Da venerdì 10 a domenica 12 ottobre ritorna a Soave Chocolando in Tour, Festa del Cioccolato Artigianale, quest'anno arricchita da concerti di musica jazz e blues, degustazioni e abbinamenti tra vino e cioccolato. Apertura degli stands dalle ore 12.00 alle... Content:
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A volte ritornano... i falsari del vino Data:2008-09-29 21:57:45 Description:E così si fa ancora danno all'immagine e alla sostanza della qualità del buon vino italiano. In questo caso si colpisce il nostro veronesissimo Amarone che, da questa estate, a tutela della qualità porta sulle bottiglie la fascetta numerata. Evidentemente... Content:
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Enomuseo all' Azienda Ca' Rugate: storia del "fare" il vino Data:2008-09-17 12:06:05 Description:Riceviamo e volentieri pubblichiamo la bella notizia relativa a una nuova iniziativa dell'Azienda Ca' Rugate: un Enomuseo che raccoglie testimonianze sul percorso produttivo del vino. In dialetto veneto "le arte" definiscono gli arnesi di un mestiere... Qui si verdranno storiche... Content:
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Morgan Pasqual ospite di Soave Versus Data:2008-09-04 17:33:22 Description:Morgan Pasqual, del ristorante 5 Sensi di Malo, porterà la sua scuola di cucina Cookiaio alla manifestazione Soave Versus, durante una serata che avrà luogo sabato 6 settembre alle 20.30 presso il parco Zanella a Soave (VR). ?Una cucina tutta... Content:
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Vinea Tirolensis n. 9 a Bolzano Data:2008-08-29 00:04:16 Description:Il pomeriggio d'assaggi trascorso alla 9^ edizione di Vinea TIrolensis presso il Teatro Comunale di Bolzano ( lunedì 25 agosto 2008) s'è rivelato piacevole e ricco di soddisfazioni. Molto bravi, questi vignaioli dell' Associazione Vignaioli dell' Alto Adige, bravi a... Content:
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Sorsi d'autore 2008 a Monteforte d'Alpone Data:2008-08-24 21:49:36 Description:Formula rinnovata quest'anno per la bella manifestazione "Sorsi d'autore": appuntamenti concentrati in quattro serate - da venerdì 29 agosto a lunedì 1 settembre - percorsi di esplorazione del territorio su due ruote (in collaborazione con agriturismi e con l'associazione Amici... Content:
Il giorno 2/05/08 è mancato a Neive (CN) a 80 anni uno degli ultimi personaggi della Langa: Romano Levi. Un gran lavoratore che ha dedicato tutta la vita nella Sua distilleria a creare le grappe artigianali famose in tutto il mondo. Non basterebbero queste poche righe per descrivere un personaggio di questo taglio. È stata dedicata una biografia che vi invito a leggere. Il libro è scritto da Luigi Sugliano e Bruno Murialdo dal titolo Levi e la donna selvatica, Casa editrice: Sorì Edizioni. (Purtroppo non è facile da trovare!) Si dice che la sua vita si possa contare in fiammiferi. Ne accendeva uno all?anno in autunno. Quella fiammella gli serviva per mettere in funzione l?alambicco a fuoco diretto della Sua vecchia distilleria. Non lo avrebbe spento che in primavera. Fu Luigi Veronelli a scoprirlo e a segnalarlo su Epoca. Da quel giorno, senza mai muoversi dalla sua Neive, Romano Levi si ritrovò al centro di interessi e curiosità che ne hanno fatto un mito vivente. Su internet è pure presente un fans club al sito http://www.grapparomanolevi.ch/home.html. Veronelli lo battezzò il ?Gappaiol?angelico? per la sua aria eternamente sorpresa. Un uomo legato al territorio come lo sono le sue grappe. Seguiva tutta la procedura davanti all?alambicco dove bruciavano le vinacce. Poi andava nella stanzetta delle etichette e disegnava con la sua penna china su rettangoli di carta dai bordi irregolari un sole o una manciata di fiorellini per le signore e infine saliva da Lidia, la sorella che gli preparava le erbe da aggiungere ogni tanto alle grappe. Per tutta la sua vita non smise mai di disegnare e anche quando decise con sua sorella Lidia di ritirarsi nella casa di riposo di Neive, non smetteva mai di recarsi nella Sua distilleria.
Venerdi 28 marzo il bar "Caffetteria del Corso" di Biella ha proposto ai propri clienti l?aperitivo serale con i vini della zona del Roero.
Alla serata era presente Massimo, uno dei collaboratori di Terradeivini, che cogliamo l?occasione di ringraziare per la disponibilità che ci ha offerto nel partecipare a questa degustazione. Dove c?è odore di vino Terradeivini và!
L?aperitivo è stato organizzato in modo da offrire al cliente l?opportunità di scegliere il semplice assaggio gratuito oppure un bicchiere di uno dei vini proposti pagando un piccolo obolo. A disposizione sul bancone erano stati preparati diversi spuntini, salatini e tortini di ogni genere. Dal numero di persone entrate nel locale si può dire che l?iniziativa è stata molto apprezzata. E questo fa ben sperare che presto ci possa essere una replica della serata.
Due i punti vincenti del successo dell?aperitivo. In primo luogo il locale si trova in una delle più importanti vie di commercio cittadino biellese, "Via Italia".
In secondo luogo i titolari del bar, Severino e Orietta, si sono dimostrati molto ospitali e hanno saputo rendere la loro "caffetteria" un ambiente confortevole ed accogliente. Un aspetto, questo, in grado di dare ovviamente una marcia in più alle iniziative di questo genere.
Per chi volesse andare a trovare Severino e Orietta il Bar Caffetteria del Corso si trova in Via Italia 50 a Biella.
Domenica 25 Maggio dalle 0re 11:00 I Quat Gat sono lieti di invitarvi presso la cantina di Paride Jaretti a Gattinara in via Pietro Micca 23/B per degustare i vini delle nostre aziende : - Baldin Matteo LOZZOLO (VC) - Caligaris Luca GATTINARA (VC) - Jaretti Paride GATTINARA (VC) - Patriarca Franco GATTINARA (VC) Per accompagnare i nostri vini saranno presenti i F.lli Bertolino con i loro ottimi formaggi e salumi. VI ASPETTIAMO NUMEROSI !!! Per informazioni: Paride 340-3191157 Luca 347-7007521
Venerdì 30 Maggio DEGUSTAZIONE GUIDATA QUAT GAT & SLOOW FOOD VALSESIA ore 20.00 Cantina CALIGARIS GATTINARA (VC) Via calza, 19
I Quatgat con i loro vini propongono il territorio: Coste della Sesia Rosato D. O. C. 2007 - Az. Caligaris Uve Nere - Vino da Tavola Rosso - Az.Jaretti Coste della Sesia Nebbiolo D.O.C. 2005 - Az. Caligaris Bramaterra D.O.C. 2004 - Az. Baldin Gattinara D.O.C.G. 2004 - Az. Patriarca
I vini saranno abbinati ai formagi e salumi della nostre valli. Posti Limitati n.60 - Costo Degustazione Euro 10.00 Per prenotazioni: Slow Food Valsesia Tel.340/7691682 Per chi volesse proseguire nel clima conviviale, dopo la degustazione, con un supplemento di Euro 10.00, sarà possibile cenare in cantina.
Nell'ambito delle strategie di comunicazione dell'impresa, le pubbliche relazioni risultano uno strumento molto efficace a disposizione del management per raggiungere nello stesso tempo una pluralità di scopi e un pubblico molto ampio e variegato. Col termine di relazioni pubbliche, si intende il lavoro di ?ponte? tra l?azienda e gli interlocutori più qualificati (in particolare giornalisti, ma anche più in generale gli opinion leader del settore) utili alla conoscenza della qualità dei prodotti, dell?azienda stessa e delle persone che la formano. Si prende cura dell'immagine aziendale, ovvero dell'immagine che si vuole trasmettere ma anche e soprattutto dell'immagine percepita dagli interlocutori. Il suo intervento va armonizzato, in primis con gli obiettivi dell?azienda e di conseguenza con i responsabili dei settori commerciale e produttivo perchè gli obiettivi di mercato ed i prodotti per raggiungerli, vanno definiti insieme affinchè il lavoro di responsabile delle relazioni pubbliche, ne sia supporto e complemento. In sintesi, si occupa di promozione, ufficio stampa, pubbliche relazioni, supporto alla scelta di indirizzi qualitativi, supporto alla scelta di mercati, campagne pubblicitarie, etc Le pubbliche relazioni lavorano prevalentemente sulla notorietà , sulla credibilità e sulla reputazione dell'azienda e hanno anche un elevato impatto nella costruzione da parte dell'azienda della Customer Social Responsability (CSR), contribuendo a creare una immagine che risulti duratura nel tempo e che identifica e valorizza la mission o visione dell'azienda.
Le pubbliche relazioni on line
L'obiettivo principale della PR online è massimizzare i commenti positivi sulla propria azienda, marca, prodotto o sito web nei siti web di terzi che possono essere visitati con più probabilità dal proprio target audience. Internet offre la possibilità di fruire di un interazione ?a due vie? (interazione), per comunicare con opinion leader e giornalisti, clienti e di rafforzare la marca o immagine di impresa. Favorendo l'aumento del numero di utenti qualificati ad un determinato sito web, dei contatti;e conseguentemente amplificando le possibilità dell'aumento delle vendite; la ricerca di potenziali nuovi clienti; l'offrire informazioni a persone che stanno completando il loro processo d'acquisto; l'affermazione del brand. E? importante quindi monitorare le varie sfere della rete, con particolare riferimento ai blog, ai forum, ad usenet, per conoscere la reale percezione che il mondo esterno (addetti ai lavori e consumatori ) ha della azienda, quale sia la percezione del marchio e del prodotto e se questa percezione sia o non sia in linea con quella che vorremmo effettivamente trasmettere. Tra le attività delle Pubbliche Relazioni online ricordiamo: Comunicazione con i media (giornalisti), scambio links o ottenimento di links, redazione di materiale editoriale, partecipazione a Comunità e networks, analisi della conversazione in rete sui brand, servizio di monitoraggio e alert. Gli obiettivi, in sintesi, della programmazione di una attività on line: fornire informazioni a opinion leaders e al consumatore: _aumentare _popularity _aumentare sentiment _aumentare fidelizzazione _ottenere feedback dagli utenti finali _consolidare immagine _azienda/prodotto Content:
?Sapori biellesi?, in collaborazione con il sistema ecomuseale della provincia di Biella organizza la settima edizione di ?sapori di primavera? mostra mercato dei prodotti di qualità dell?enogastronomia biellese, con il supporto della Regio Piemonte, della Provincia di Biella, della Comunità Montana Valsessera, della C.C.I.A.A. di Biella, e dell?ATL. Parteciperanno i produttori del territorio selezionati da ?Sapori Biellesi?, che offriranno in vendita e in degustazione i loro prodotti più pregiati, alcuni dei quali difficili da reperire sul mercato in quanto di produzione limitata. La sede è la Fabbrica della Ruota a Pray Biellese (Regione Vallefredda 1 strada provinciale biella- valsesia). Orario: Venerdì ore 20.30 22; Sabato 15-22 / Domenica 10-19. Ingresso 3 euro, ridotti 2,50. Per avere il programma completo della manifestazione si può andare direttamente nel sito www.saporibiellesi.it. Questa è una manifestazione nata per mettere a disposizione del consumatore una selezione dei prodotti biellesi presentati direttamente dai produttori. Le aziende collaboratrici di terradeivini presenti alla manifestazione e di cui vi invitiamo a provare i prodotti sono: Azienda Agricola Pastoris con i prodotti: Erbaluce di Caluso, passito e Rosso Canavese. Azienda Agricola Ca? d?Andrei con i formaggi. Azienda Agricola Aurum con i prodotti: miele, bugella e le nocciole biellesi. Non mancate a questo appuntamento perché il prossimo è stato fissato per il 2010.
Il 24 maggio 2008 si svolge a Gattinara la consueta manifestazione ?sorsi di pace? nell?arte contemporanea la cui realizzazione è stata possibile grazie al contributo delle distillerie Francoli di Ghemme e alla collaborazione di: Franco Patriarca, produttore vitivinicolo di Gattinara, ?Arte ed altro?, di Alberto Creola di Gattinara ?Associazione Artus? di Romagnano Sesia ?Emergency? gruppo di Arona Chiara Pozzoli. Giunta ormai alla sua sesta edizione questa manifestazione si propone di finanziare opere umanitarie attraverso la vendita all?asta di bottiglie rese uniche dalla loro etichetta, frutto dell?opera di artisti contemporanei. Il ricavato dell?asta di quest?anno ha cosi sostenuto il progetto di Emergency per la sierra leone ossia la realizzazione di un centro medico chirurgico e di un ambulatorio Pediatrico. Nel sito www.sorsidipace.it si possono visionare le opere che sono state messe all?asta nel corso di questi anni e prendere visione degli artisti che vi hanno partecipato. ?Terradeivini? metterà a disposizione nel proprio sito tutte le informazioni relative alla prossima manifestazione in programma. Content:
Un evento eccezionale il 7 giugno a Belgirate, sul Lago Maggiore
Cari lettori e appassionati di vino, il 7 giugno, a Belgirate, sul Lago Maggiore, ci sarà una giornata veramente speciale. Il titolo della manifestazione è "gli Asteroidi ci guardano" e ricorderà il quindicesimo anniversario di uno "storico" Congresso astronomico internazionale che vide nel 1993 la presenza di quasi 400 studiosi provenienti da 39 nazioni. Fu un momento memorabile. Per l'occasione si terrà un piccolo congresso, aperto a tutti, sulla colonizzazione della Luna e dello Spazio vicino. Informazioni sul sito : www.astronomia.com/evento-colonizzare-la-luna-e-gli-asteroidi.
Nel pomeriggio, si inizierà a osservare il Sole al telescopio, con le sue macchie e le sue protuberanze. Alla sera grande festa a partire dalle 19 con una breve celebrazione del Congresso del 1993 e degli asteroidi Belgirate, Candelo e Tirso (il vecchio circolo VEGA che ha cambiato nome per entrare nel firmamento in modo indelebile), poi fantastica selezione di baroli, barbaresco, roero,gattinara, ghemme,boca,fara,bramaterra, ecc., ecc. in libera degustazione. In concomitanza a questa parata di vini eccezionali e di assaggi delle prelibatezze della gastronomia locale, inizierà la visione del cielo notturno al telescopio, nella splendida cornice della terrazza dell'Hotel Villa Carlotta. Un evento da non perdere, che Terra dei Vini ed il circolo TIRSO stanno cercando di organizzare al meglio. Vi aspettiamo numerosi...ed è solo l'inizio !!! Content:
Ancora un grande successo per il secondo appuntamento del Circolo ?Vega?. Questa volta il ritrovo è stato venerdì 11 aprile a Mombarone, in provincia di Asti. Siamo stati ospitati dall?Osteria ai Binari e la gentilissima Mara, padrona di casa, ci ha seguito in maniera davvero splendida e di questo la ringraziamo di cuore. Lo spirito del Circolo raccoglie sempre più consensi e a Mombarone eravamo in 40, sempre più numerosi e sempre più con la voglia di divertirsi. Da appassionato per me è entusiasmante vedere così tanti produttori rilassati e allegri. Il piacere di stare insieme si sente nell?aria e così si dà una bella visione di come sono davvero i nostri ?maestri di vino?. E? un segnale forte che rappresenta la vera essenza dell?enologia italiana. Per tutti gli appassionati di vino sono sicuro può rappresentare un punto di riferimento che crea e fa nascere la vera passione per il vino. Senza passione nella vita non si va avanti e senza la conoscenza non si può credere veramente nelle cose. In questo circolo sono presenti tutte queste caratteristiche e in noi c?è la speranza di suscitare il ?vero? interesse per il mondo della cultura che noi abbiamo legato tra il vino e le stelle. Ancora i barolisti in numero maggiore Domenico Clerico, Flavio Saglietti, Cascina Ballarin, Cantine Stroppiana, Silvio Grasso, Mario Gagliasso, ma anche il Barbaresco non si tira indietro con il nostro presidente Ernesto ?Rizzi? Dellapiana e Cà del Baio. Dal Roero massiccia presenza con Deltetto e Taliano. La mia cara terra dell?Alto Piemonte era rappresentata dal Ghemme di Tiziano Mazzoni. Ospiti fuori dal Piemonte per questo raduno: Giordano Fasoli da Soave, Danilo dalla Liguria con il Pigato del produttore Claudio Vio, due professori in medicina americani dall?Oregon cari amici del nostro buon segretario prof. Enzo Zappalà, il suo medico Gilberto con la signora, Pamela Guerra responsabile delle comunicazioni di PR&Press, il metereologo Massimo Volante ed il fisico Galeotti. Tutti accumunati dallo stesso spirito, dalle stesse idee e dallo stesso modo di vedere il mondo del vino. Ringraziamo anche Marco Capitoni di Pienza, il quale ci ha fatto pervenire due bottiglie del suo nuovissimo Sangiovese. Alcune immagini della serata le potete vedere nella Galleria Fotografica del circolo. Ringraziamo il nostro segretario per la spiegazione di quanto veloce noi ci spostiamo anche se pensiamo di essere fermi?.ecco come si può fare il giro del mondo in 40 secondi?meditate gente! Non chiedete niente a me, ma il nostro Enzo è a disposizione di tutti quello che vogliono saperi i dettagli. Un grande abbraccio e un ringraziamento di cuore và a Mara che con la sua magnifica Osteria Vineria ai Binari ci ha accolto in maniera meravigliosa, entrando nel pieno spirito del Circolo?grazie!! Grazie a tutti e vi aspettiamo numerosi per le prossime manifestazioni. Di sicuro ce ne sarà una spettacolare a Belgirate il 7 giugno prossimo. Ma ne parleremo ancora. Viva il Circolo e soprattutto viva lo spirito e la passione dei partecipanti, ricordate che le iniziative fatte con il cuore hanno sempre una marcia in più! Content:
Il marketing è l'insieme degli strumenti e dei mezzi che permettono di vendere un prodotto/servizio in maniera redditizia e duratura ad un cliente, in modo che quest'ultimo possa raccomandarlo ad altri. La mancanza di una strategia di marketing, che racchiuda le strategie di prodotto, comunicazione, distribuzione e prezzo, non permette un reale sviluppo aziendale e conseguentemente un reale sviluppo commerciale. Il marketing è quindi un processo, che pone al centro dell'attenzione non più il prodotto ma il cliente, al fine di creare una relazione stabile e duratura (fidelizzazione). Vendere vino equivale a vendere un piacere, un sogno, un territorio, una storia. La comunicazione è una componente essenziale del marketing mix del mondo del vino. La promozione è un'attività di comunicazione del marketing che ha lo scopo di informare, ricordare e persuadere le persone a comprare, rivendere (se sono intermediari), raccomandare (se sono opinion leader), utilizzare un prodotto. La comunicazione è quindi una delle leve del marketing, ma solo una gestione consapevole e programmata dell'immagine aziendale può dare risultati. Risulta necessario elaborare un piano strategico ed operativo di comunicazione, ovvero elaborare e sviluppare una serie di azioni che riprendo gli obiettivi aziendali; semplicemente bisogna comprendere cosa e a chi comunicare. Contenuti, linguaggi, modalità dovranno essere elaborati in funzione del destinatario; diverso è rivolgersi ad un consumatore, ad un giornalista o ad un operatore, stackholder. Per praticità le attività vengono tradizionalmente divise in macrocategorie: _le attività che utilizzano i media tradizionali (tv, radio, giornali), denominate ATL (above the line); _le attività di direct marketing, pubbliche relazioni, promozione, che non prevedono l'utilizzo dei media, denominate BTL ( Below the line): includono le attività on line, ovvero quelle dedicate al web (web marketing, sito, pubblicità on line, blog, community, etc); Particolare attenzione dobbiamo rivolgere al web e a tutte quelle attività che possono essere sviluppate in rete o 'sfruttare' la rete come veicolo di trasmissione. Lavoriamo e viviamo nell'era del web 2.0, ovvero in un'era internet il cui filo conduttore è una nuova filosofia all'insegna della collaborazione, dell'interazione sociale realizzata grazie alla tecnologia. I servizi e gli strumenti del Web 2.0 trasformano ogni utente da consumatore a partecipante, da utilizzatore passivo ad autore attivo di contenuti, messi a disposizione di chiunque si affacci su Internet, indipendentemente dal dispositivo che utilizza. Sono molti i modi con cui un?azienda può 'essere online': web, forum, newsgroup, mail, pubblicità (online advertising ), ecc. Investire nella rete oggigiorno risulta fondamentale perchè permette di raggiungere un più vasto numero di interlocutori, sia professionisti che consumatori; permette inoltre di ottenere feedback necessari a comprendere la reale percezione che l'esterno ha della nostra azienda. Per quanto riguarda le attività di comunicazione, il Web presenta alcuni aspetti del tutto peculiari: può essere considerato uno strumento di comunicazione, una tecnologia di trasmissione e un mezzo con moltissimi veicoli. Ma l'attenzione va puntata sulla possibilità di interattività comunicativa che si basa su 4 principi fondamentali: _la reciprocità: consente una mutua azione tra fonte (d'informazione) e fruitore. _la significatività, ovvero il grado in cui le risposte in una comunicazione sono percepite come appropriate e soddisfacenti il bisogno informativo; _la velocità di risposta; _l'informazione non verbale, caratterizzazione multimediale e multicanale della comunicazione. Un esempio è il sito web che è comunicazione in sé ed allo stesso tempo portatore di comunicazioni. Un altro esempio è l'utilità di internet come mezzo pubblicitario per mantenere il ricordo della marca nel top of mind del consumatore fino al momento dell'acquisto. La definizione dei tempi di attuazione della campagna di visibilità riveste un ruolo strategico importante per la realizzazione di una campagna promozionale di successo. Attraverso una corretta definizione della tempistica di attuazione si può controllare l'efficacia della campagna, i risultati attesi ed effettuare quelle piccole modifiche in corsa per ottimizzare al meglio le strategie scelte. Definire i tempi di realizzazione significa progettare la campagna in ogni suo dettaglio, pianificare i tempi di realizzazione e la tempistica di pubblicazione, pianificare aggiornamenti, stimare le previsioni di crescita ed eventuali up-grade delle strategie adottate. Una campagna di visibilità rientra tra gli obiettivi a medio/lungo termine delle attività di marketing di una azienda. Content:
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Il ritorno Data:1970-01-01 00:00:00 Description:Quando le cose si mettono male, le vecchie tradizioni ritornano ?
I rapporti dell?uomo con il vino avevano avuto alti e bassi durante la lunga storia della civiltà. Bevanda degli dei concessa anche al popolo con grande magnanimità, era poi diventata alla portata di tutti nel periodo romano: erano sorte taverne e botteghe di mescita dove, ovviamente, la qualità era piuttosto scarsa. Ma tanto bastava per dare ebbrezza e far dimenticare la dura vita di quei tempi. I commerci fiorivano e le navi lo trasportavano in giro per il Mediterraneo e successivamente nei paesi del nord. Il vino aveva superato egregiamente i cosiddetti periodi bui del medioevo, lo splendore del rinascimento, lo sfarzo delle regge barocche ed era giunto senza tentennamenti fino ai tempi moderni. Ovviamente anche la sua qualità era cambiata. Le tecniche di vinificazione avevano permesso di eliminare tutti gli additivi, quali spezie, miele, resine, che avevano cercato di rendere piacevole un liquido piuttosto aspro, il cui solo scopo era quello di inserire alcol nel corpo umano e fargli abbandonare per un poco le miserie quotidiane. Poco alla volta era diventata anche bevanda raffinata, le cui migliori espressioni erano privilegio di nobili e di potenti. Nel ventesimo secolo la base di chi poteva permettersi anche le migliori produzioni s?allargò sensibilmente ed il vino ?buono? divenne alla portata di tutti o quasi. In realtà però restava profondamente diverso l?approccio che i differenti strati sociali davano al nettare degli dei. Ma non vi era una corrispondenza banale tra ricchezza e qualità. Chi se lo poteva permettere a volte beveva vini di dubbio valore, magari solo perché il prezzo era alto e forniva un segno chiaro del livello sociale raggiunto. Spesso non capiva neanche cosa trangugiava e la sua capacità gustativa era veramente misera. Chi riusciva invece a penetrare veramente nelle innumerevoli sfumature di una bevanda estremamente complessa, non aveva i mezzi per procacciarsela ed era costretto ad accettare compromessi più o meno onorevoli. In poche parole, difficilmente chi apprezzava il ?grande? vino poteva berlo, mentre normalmente chi ne aveva abbondantemente le possibilità si trovava a tracannare o a centellinare prodotti molto cari, che poco o nulla riuscivano a trasmettergli. La stragrande maggioranza della gente beveva invece quello che trovava e ben poco si curava della qualità. Vino, sempre e dovunque, ma basta che fosse a basso prezzo. Poi, lentamente, le divisioni sociali diminuirono la forbice tra ricchi e poveri, ed anche il vino più prezioso divenne teoricamente una bevanda che chiunque, con maggiore o minore sacrificio, poteva permettersi almeno qualche volta all?anno. Tuttavia, restava ancora ben difficile da superare l?approccio culturale che durante i secoli ne aveva scandito il rapporto con il consumatore abituale. Il vino buono si poteva trovare anche facilmente, ma ben pochi erano in grado di riconoscerlo. Le vere sensazioni che un prodotto di alto livello sapeva elargire, rimanevano privilegio di pochi, senza alcun diretto rapporto con la loro possibilità economica. In questo caos qualitativo e quantitativo emerse finalmente una delle figure più importanti nella storia enoica del nostro pianeta: l?esperto di vino. Più che un mestiere era un vera missione: egli doveva sacrificarsi a degustare di tutto e di più per definire finalmente in modo oggettivo una scala di qualità per gli innumerevoli prodotti che uscivano sul mercato. Alla fine, la sua titanica opera di ricerca, di confronto, di valutazione, sarebbe stata offerta a tutti i miseri mortali, che finalmente avrebbero potuto conoscere esattamente cosa stavano per bere. Il modo migliore per allargare a tutti le conclusioni di quei pochi illuminati era senz?altro un libro che riassumesse sinteticamente lo sforzo compiuto in mesi e mesi di sacrificio. Nacque così la ?guida dei vini?. Anzi ne nacquero molte, in quanto ogni nuovo benefattore era convinto di essere più oggettivo degli altri e di aver eseguito con maggiore serietà ed attenzione la valutazione finale. A lato di queste vere e proprie ?Bibbie? comparvero innumerevoli discepoli che iniziarono a portare il Verbo enoico in giro per il mondo.
Le degustazioni pubbliche crebbero a dismisura così come le tavole rotonde, le lezioni, i congressi, ecc. Fortunatamente, si allargò anche il numero dei veri esperti, in grado di valutare le migliaia di profumi nascosti ai comuni mortali: non solo frutta, fiori e verdure, ma anche petrolio, animali, liquidi organici e così via. Finalmente chiunque avrebbe saputo cogliere quello splendido sentore di pollaio o di muffa, di radice amara o di pelo bagnato, che gli sarebbe stato precluso per sempre senza la sapiente guida degli eletti. Inoltre, non solo i consumatori avevano ormai degli angeli custodi pronti a guidare le loro scelte, ma anche gli stessi produttori potevano approfittare di chi avrebbe in poche e sintetiche parole osannato o distrutto il loro lavoro di vigna e cantina. Avrebbero capito velocemente se l?annata era stata buona o cattiva, se meritava o no mettere in vendita ciò che avevano costruito in un anno di dura fatica. Bastava seguire le prediche pubbliche dei ?santoni? e tutto sarebbe stato chiaro. E poco importava se ciò accadeva normalmente a vendemmia conclusa. Il consumatore era comunque felice: aspettava con trepidazione spasmodica l?uscita delle ?Guide? e si scatenava nella caccia delle bottiglie più osannate. Il vino, benché spesso prodotto in grandi quantità, finiva quasi subito. Tutto era già venduto ben prima di uscire. Recuperare una sola bottiglia diventava un?opera di persuasione e di preghiera. I più fortunati riuscivano a commuovere il produttore e potevano portarsi a casa il gioiello tanto ambito anche se avevano dovuto pagare una cifra ben più alta del previsto. D?altra parte i prezzi erano per forza destinati a crescere. Gli ?esperti? benefattori dovevano sopravvivere e le guide dovevano essere pubblicate. Malgrado per loro fosse solo una missione culturale, i giornalisti, i curatori, gli esperti, i collaboratori ed i portaborse erano costretti gioco forza a mangiare, dormire, viaggiare, mantenere una famiglia. Dovevano, anche se controvoglia, chiedere una parte dei guadagni ai vignaioli che grazie a loro erano saliti nell?Olimpo della celebrità. La situazione continuò così per molti anni tra la soddisfazioni di tutti: il vino era diventata una realtà ?popolare? e la sua comprensione era saldamente nelle mani di chi lo sapeva analizzare con sapiente lucidità ed oggettività. Ma i sobillatori ed i rivoluzionari sono sempre esistiti nella storia dell?umanità. E così qualcuno, sicuramente in malafede, cominciò ad inserire qualche dubbio: perché lo stesso vino aveva giudizi così diversi da guida a guida? Perché le aziende più facoltose conquistavano sempre le migliori valutazioni? Perché si osannavano i vini più veri e tipici e poi si premiavano quelli più monotoni e ripetitivi? Furono subito accusati di eresia, ma la calunnia iniziò ad infiltrasi e ad ottenere i suoi primi frutti. Alcuni consumatori osarono addirittura degustare da soli, senza alcun appoggio esterno. In altre parole, si vollero sostituire agli esperti, dopo tutto i sacrifici che questi avevano fatto per loro. Qualcuno arrivò perfino a comprare bottiglie non recensite da nessuno dei portatori di verità. Il mondo del vino stava per crollare per colpa di pochi facinorosi. Si sarebbe tornati alla barbarie ed alle scelte individuali. Si sarebbe bevuto un Sauvignon anche senza apprezzare compiutamente e profondamente quello splendido profumo che solo il gatto di casa riusciva così bene e inconsciamente a riprodurre. Ci furono anni di caos e di sgomento, finché non comparve sulla scena enoica la poderosa e illuminata figura del ?Grande Estimatore?. Nessuno seppe mai quale fosse veramente il suo nome né come riuscì ad imporsi su tutto e su tutti. La sua scalata fu imperiosa e senza ostacoli. Cancellò facilmente ogni tipo di guida e ridusse all?anonimato il nutrito gruppo di portatori delle verità vinicole. E pensare che non dava classifiche e nemmeno consigli od ordini da seguire come atti di fede. Tutto ciò che faceva era di mostrarsi in qualche cantina e discorrere allegramente con i produttori davanti ad un bicchiere. Poi ringraziava ed usciva contento, tallonato dai Mass Media che lo seguivano ovunque, ma che non riuscivano mai ad ottenere il benché minimo commento. Le cantine visitate erano sempre più numerose ed i vignaioli facevano di tutto per migliorare i prodotti, sperando di accoglierlo un giorno o l?altro nelle loro abitazioni. Non chiedeva mai niente: assaggiava e parlava, parlava ed assaggiava. Sorrideva sempre, anche quando magari il vino non era stato di suo completo gradimento. Riusciva a non fare trasparire alcuna emozione.
I consumatori iniziarono a seguire il suo esempio ed a decidere con il proprio naso e palato. Costretti a provare in prima persona, iniziarono essi stessi a valutare ed a confrontare, sempre più coinvolti non solo dalle caratteristiche del vino, ma anche dalla simpatia del produttore, dalla bellezza del territorio circostante e da tutte quelle sfumature difficilmente esprimibili con aridi punteggi. Scomparve in una giornata di autunno. Fu visto l?ultima volta su una collina delle Langhe, seminascosta da una fitta ed umida nebbiolina. C?è chi giura che non era solo, ma circondato da un gruppo di giovani festanti e giocosi che suonavano e ballavano. Poi più nulla, ma il vino ormai veniva apprezzato per quello che riusciva a trasmettere: praticamente tutti erano in grado di decidere da soli. Nessuno volle mai credere a quel vecchio ?maestro di vigna? che in mezzo all?umida foschia di quel giorno, con il mozzicone di sigaro in bocca, si stava godendo solitario il languido panorama delle sue vigne di Nebbiolo. Eppure lui era proprio convinto di aver udito il gruppo festante chiamare il ?Grande Estimatore? con quello strano nome mai sentito prima ?Διονύσος, Διονύσος !!? (Dioniso, Dioniso !!)
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Enotheque
More Godello Data:2008-07-17 11:25:00 Description:How could I omit the two intelligent value Godello picks? I chose these two because they convey distinct interpretations of the variety, in spite of the two D.O.?s not being terribly far apart. Taste them together to see the immense differences evident in each Godello within what would amount to a short bus ride from Bierzo to Valdeorras. It?s quite hard to argue that neighboring wine regions cultivating the same variety aren?t little miracles, with this sentiment growing even more potent for the wine lover within single vineyards with many producers, though that?s another topic altogether.
Enjoy this, one of many examples of all new things Spanish that will slowly become more prevalent in the U.S. market over the coming six months or so?Godello.
Before I forget, speaking of the next wave of imports from Spain, if you haven?t been paying attention to Telmo Rodríguez in the past few years, I would try his Godello and watch this video. Aside from being a fascinating Spanish entrepreneur, he exudes passion for well-crafted, regional wines. The video is eight minutes in length, though for some reason, it winds up being 3 and change. Nevertheless, listen to Mr. Rodríguez introducing his wines on a recent visit to Toronto?s Lifford Wine Agency. In essence, he is responsible for affordable little masterpieces from various Spanish D.O.?s. His progressive outlook in terms of production methods is matched by an ability to reinvigorate production of traditional varieties in the regions where he owns vineyards. This in turn, yields intelligent value wines from various Spanish D.O.?s that much like Susana Balbo?s wines in Argentina, seem to be produced in a manner which never sacrifices regional character for novelty or the wrong type of market's tastes. What with how things are going nowadays in the wine business, what a refreshing point of view!
Los vinos: 2007 Pilgrim Godello Bierzo D.O.
This wine is clean, pale straw and unassuming at first sight. The nose is vibrant, driven by wild flowers, citrus, treefruit and stone minerality. Complex mouthfeel, with a crisp, racy shot of acidity (pink grapefruit), alongside rich treefruit and distinctive mineral notes.
This wine is produced by Viñedos Agribergidum in Bierzo, located at the westernmost outpost of León bordering Galicia. The Godello vines are an average of 40 years old, with the variety purposely farmed to very low yields.
Imported by Beacon Wine Company. 2005 Gaba do Xil Godello Valdeorras D.O.
A really nice pale gold in the glass. The nose is clean and pronounced, with perfumey floral element, lush green pear, peaches, honeydew melon and touch of sweet spice. Complex but never overwhelming medium-bodied white with great balance of ripe fruit flavors and medium citrus acidity. Love the soft spice undertones that follow the lovely fruit into the aftertaste.
Imported by Tempranillo, Inc. Content:
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Godello: More Please? Data:2008-07-13 01:30:00 Description:?You haven?t posted much recently?? Really, no way?I could only wish the reason behind this was holiday-making. Life is currently beyond hectic, recently going from consulting job back to teaching and onwards with a complicated move. Sometimes, I find that life (as in working, family events, consulting travel, etc.) can get in the way of reading an overpopulated Google Reader inbox and commenting on every blog and forum across e-creation. In fact and admittedly, I must say that I sort of prefer real life to this whole thing, though at any rate, I love to write, and I?m sort of pining for more precious time to write, whether on wine or a multitude of other subjects.
Pleasure aside, ?you know what time it is, it?s business time.? Who could possibly wait until early 2009 for more FOTC? At any rate, the intention of this post? I would like to see more artisan Godello imported and available in the North American market. This brilliant viño galego white, while being delicious and predominantly planted in the Valdeorras and Bierzo (yes, León) D.O.?s, is capable of conveying that the cool breezes, seascapes and gorgeous greenery of the region are all tangible in more ways than just through Albariño. I truly adore Rias Baixas Albariños, but I feel that little brother Godello needs some love too; and what better a time than now to try it out, since more regional producers than ever are beginning to invest serious attention in crafting these wines, with sights on the export markets in addition to the domestic one. I sort of find the idea of trying them side by side to be fun. Maybe find a nice Albariño (say a solid bottle of Códax or perhaps Pazo) to enjoy and compare alongside a crisp, complex Godello?goes without saying that some fresh seafood is in order here. Recommendations and notes upcoming? Content:
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Working on the Road Data:2008-06-07 22:34:00 Description:As you may have noticed, Enotheque has been missing some updates for some time now. At the moment, I'm on the road at a very challenging but rewarding consulting job. The days are long and the nights seem all too short, resting only in brief moments before it's time to attend to the task at hand again.
I'll bring back some good posts with recommendations, interesting regions, values and interviews soon enough. For the time being, enjoy the other subscriptions of your Google Reader, since nobody is ever truly caught up with it anyway.
- Not really if you consider that Argentina and Japan (Ginjo sake), and to some extent New Zealand, share the same common elements?there are great wines and sake being produced by highly talented winemakers and tojis (master brewers), and they are not getting recognized yet. The quality is already in the bottle?so why should these sell less or get less respect than wine from more obvious regions? We always say that we are really a ?national education company? since we usually explain more than we sell. Our job is to get people to taste these wines and premium sake, and the stuff inside the bottles takes care of the rest. At the heart of this idea is also the notion that in the end, it?s the people you work with who make the difference between mediocre and ?wow!?. We have been lucky, fortunate, and smart (maybe a little of each) to meet and represent some of the top talent in these regions:
Susana Balbo?Crios de Susana Balbo, Susana Balbo signature wines, Nosotros (with Pedro below)
Pedro Marchevsky ? BenMarco
Pepe Galante & Mariano di Paola ? mapema
Luis Reginato ? Luca, Tikal, La Posta
Roberto de la Mota - Mendel
Jose & Pepe Reginato ? Reginato sparkling wines
Guy Davis ? Davis Family Vineyards (Russian River, CA) and Gusto (NZ SB)
13 Master Brewers from all over Japan?each as talented as anyone we have met.
*As someone who deals so closely with Argentine producers, what types of obstacles, limitations and concerns have any of them expressed to you in terms of being able to export and promote their products abroad?
- Well, I want to stay out of trouble here since I travel to Argentina a lot, but let me just say that the Argentine government has historically been more of a hindrance than a help for wine exports. As an example, and hard to believe, they actually tax EXPORTS! Perhaps the bigger obstacle for Argentine wineries is that the economic and political situation is relatively unstable, and when you are in an industry that measures commitment and success over a decade or longer due to capital investment requirements, it is hard to deal with a system that usually looks out only 2-3 years at a time.
*In your eyes, what sets apart these Argentine producers you represent? What do their wines bring to the table of American wine consumers that large-yield, often conglomerate-backed wines simply cannot?
- I alluded to this a bit above when talking about who we represent and why. I think there are three main things that set our producers apart:
1) Our wineries are owned by and have Argentine winemakers who have lived in this unique climate and region for their entire lives. For us, that means that the wines that they make TASTE like Argentine wines, not like some random wine from somewhere in the world. And as talented as some of the flying/foreign winemakers are who are working in Mendoza, I have yet to taste a wine from them that thrills me the way our producers? wines do at the dinner table. And I taste everything from down there.
2) As good as they already are, they are still always trying to learn how to improve their wines, and in today?s wine world, that?s the only way you stay on top. It shows.
3) Obsessive attention to detail seems like an abused phrase, but in winemaking it is crucial and not as common as you would think. Our winemakers are also our close friends and in Argentina that is taken pretty seriously. They make sure that every step is done with the utmost care because they would never want to look their friends in the eye and say, ?uhh..I?m sorry but this wine is just ok because we weren?t really paying close attention when we made it.? Large wineries may be able to solve #1 above, but #2 and #3 are far harder to come by, and that?s probably as true in the US as it is in Argentina.
*Looking ahead?are there any regions Vine Connections is looking to expand its portfolio toward, and why?
- We made a strategic decision a few years ago that we would remain specialists in Argentine wine and Japanese sake. Some importers have gone in the opposite direction and are happy to sell one of everything from anywhere, but we?re just not built that way as people. We started as leaders in both of these categories and we feel the only way to stay out in front is to specialize. That?s why we spend almost a month per year in Mendoza and visit Japan for at least 2 weeks every year. It?s our own ?attention to detail? mantra, and we try to stick to it so that we can look our customers in they eye and say every time, ?This is really great Argentine wine and Ginjo sake?. Every time.
- Fortunately, we won?t be bored since there still plenty of regions and microclimates still left to discover in Argentina.
*Given the nature of the market here in the United States, what advice would you give to consumers who would like be aware of, as well as actually see, a dramatic increase in availability of premium Argentine wines such as those crafted by your producers?
- American consumers have helped their own cause a lot already by being very open to trying wines like Malbec, Bonarda, and Torrontes. I think they will help themselves even further by continuing to experiment with wines at many different prices, not just the ?great values? under $15. Nick and I firmly believe that well-made Argentine wines offer incredible value and over-deliver at all price points. A $12 wine is worth more like $16, and a $30 wine is worth more like $40 when compared to other wine regions of the world. And, of course, you can support quality-focused companies like Vine Connections by paying attention to the importer name or logo (like our compass) that appear on every bottle. As with other wine regions, a good wine importer can be your best friend when you haven?t tried a particular wine yet and would like some assurance that you are going to enjoy it?especially when spending more than $15 or so. Content:
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Interview with Ed Lehrman of Vine Connections: First Installment Data:2008-05-07 14:18:00 Description: Following the theme of my last post about Americans? increasing awareness of the quality wines that many artisan producers of Argentina are exporting, I?m pleased to post the first installment of my interview with Ed Lehrman of Vine Connections. Along with his business partner, Nick Ramkowsky, they formed a company that not only imports the wines of artisan Mendoza producers, but selectively forges meaningful, long term relationships with them. As Ed Lehrman explains in the interview, this type of involvement encompasses much more than shipping and distribution, extending into representation, consulting, label design and many other crucial aspects which in the end, bring American consumers the types of genuine artisan wines that multinationals couldn?t even conceive of delivering.
Based out of Sausalito, CA, Vine Connections has been at the forefront of the changing of the guard, in terms of tastes, that I described in my last post. Their portfolio includes excellent California, New Zealand and Japanese Saké producers, alongside the wines of star Mendoza winemakers Susana Balbo and Pedro Marchevsky, along with others to look out for, such as Mapema, Tikal and La Posta del Viñatero. If you really want to know what Argentines really like to have at the table and moreover, the breadth that Argentine wines are capable of achieving, I encourage you to explore the types of artisan producers that Vine Connections represents and whose work, over the coming years, will ultimately triumph over the characterless, corporate-backed South American wines saturating our shelves.
I would like to thank Ed Lehrman for taking the time to provide his in-depth responses concerning Vine Connections, its vision and inspiration. Our conversation unfolded over e-mail:
*What is the vision behind your company and what were some of the key experiences that led you and your business partner to get started?
- My partner, Nick Ramkowsky, and I have both been in the wine business since 1986 (we started very young), and we could have done any number of things together. Nick was a small California distributor at the time, and I had just sold my direct-to-consumer wine business where he had been one of my suppliers. A fateful trip together in May of 1999 launched us into the importing/national sale & marketing business. We spent about a week in Mendoza on that trip tasting wines from bottle, barrel, tanks?you name it?and we met some incredible winery owners and winemakers. By the end of the week, we were looking at each other and asking, ?How does the 5th largest wine producer in the world hide incredible wines like these from the US?? It seemed like this must be the opportunity of a lifetime for wine guys like us to lead the charge in introducing Argentine wine to the US, and in a way that they would be fully appreciated for their quality and authenticity, and not just their price. As an aside, of the first 12 wines we imported from Argentina, the LEAST EXPENSIVE wine was $22 retail! So in fact, Vine Connections was originally formed in order to be an Argentine wine importer. *Compared to other importers, what is the depth of Vine Connection's involvement with the producers its represents? (in terms of consulting, marketing, other assistance, etc.)
- It is hard to speak about other importers, since some do quite a lot and some just taste and buy. As for us, we take the approach that we are the winery?s own sales & marketing department and they can use us for as little or as much as they need. That may mean writing back label copy, helping with label design, or determining whether a new blended wine is even a good idea to add to their portfolio.
For all of our wineries, we do the copywriting for all printed materials since we can communicate their stories in English more effectively, and along the same lines, we handle most press relations since we are here and readily available. And I guess the most valuable thing we do would be called ?consulting? since we offer our advice on many topics based on our 40 years of working in the U.S. wine biz. *How does your company forge relationships with producers? In this vein, what is the process like for you when considering an addition to your portfolio? Do the producers come towards you in the way of trade events, do you travel to areas to scout, so to speak, or some combination thereof?
- We are very careful in this regard since our objective as an importer is to build brands and not just sell wine. That requires long-term relationships, so besides tasting backwards and forwards through a winery?s production, we spend as much as time as we can with the owners and the winemakers to see whether there is a good fit for working closely together. When we meet people who already think they know it all about winemaking, marketing, etc., we politely walk away no matter the wine quality. Our initial screen is the wines?they have to be particularly good since that is what we are known for importing. Then we start talking about their philosophies, their dreams, their business objectives, and where we should all eat dinner together (a meal with a potential supplier is always a good way to gain more insight).
This process means that while we have run into some wines that we like, we have sometimes been unwilling to take the winery on. The most common stumbling block for us seems to be that the winery lacks a strong winemaking philosophy, and often because they have abdicated this cornerstone to a consulting winemaker (and most often to foreign winemakers). As time has passed, we have pretty much settled into the idea of only representing wineries owned by Argentines and with Argentine winemakers since the winemaking vision is usually clearer and more grounded in expressing what makes Mendoza so special compared to other regions.
From the first moment that we meet a winery team, it usually takes about 18 months before we come to an agreement, do the ground work, and then start selling the wines in the U.S. It seems to work--we have never lost an Argentine winery and every brand that we represent has achieved a significant level of success.
I wish I could say that finding these producers followed a particular recipe, but in truth, all of our brands have come to us via different sources. The key is to have your radar on all the time so that the best ones don?t slip by accidentally.
*You represent Susana Balbo and Pedro Marchevsky's Dominio del Plata Winery?how did that relationship come about and how far back do you go?
- Well, if it weren?t for the ?dynamic duo? of Mendoza, we may never have been Argentine wine importers. We met them on our first trip to Mendoza in 1999, and they were so obviously talented and knowledgeable that they got us thinking a lot about the possibilities. We also formed a trusting relationship so quickly that it became obvious that we would work together, and together push forward a common vision of making Argentine wine part of the daily American fine wine conversation. That seems like an ominous task looking back now?we had no company yet and they were renting a very small winery at the time?but at the time it just seemed like destiny. Content:
Of course, it would be no surprise to assert that Argentina has come a considerably long way over the last decade in terms of the depth that its wine producers are capable of achieving.The manner in which this process has and continues to take place, however, has less to do with the factors that used to be paramount (foreign buyouts) and more with the industry exporting a different image of itself altogether.This phenomenon alongside other compelling developments in recent times have precipitated what I believe to be a pivotal changing of the guard when it comes to the style of Argentine wines that American consumers are welcoming more and more.
Artisan-made Argentine wine producers are no longer lost in the wilderness, playing second fiddle in terms of international exports, to say, the larger, industrial-style producers or Mendoza wine operations funded with foreign money.Argentina?s bout with hyperinflation in the early 1980?s, the kind that made my family sell their business and book it towards the United States, as well as the government?s mismanagement of the World Bank and IMF-instigated crises of the 1990?s were devastating for the export aspirations of Argentine families with a winemaking tradition.Like many American fruit farmers getting undercut and essentially obliterated by Dole, Sunkist and the like, the nature of wine production during times of turbulence in Argentina has made it difficult for these producers to stay afloat; and so, like vultures, the 1980?s and 1990?s saw foreign capital descend upon Mendoza in the form of large multinational drinks corporations and others who scooped up the winemaking patrimony of many financially pressed families.
For quite some time now, these types of wine operations have made drinking the wine of my native country while abroad in the US a sadly confusing affair to say the least.Here I was, drinking these wines which had labels reading ?Mendoza? or ?Cuyo,? so they were certifiably real, but made in styles which weren?t even in the ballpark as far as what I knew I liked to drink.Did Argentine wines change, and thus, Argentine tastes, or was something being kept from those of us who live in North America?Some very successful investors and qualified winemakers from highly prestigious European wineries became involved with their pet projects in Mendoza, but to me, something just did not sit right.I felt a bit heartbroken that as a wine lover, the wines of my native country available for export reflected something I didn?t like?far from it in fact, something I couldn?t even relate to in any meaningful way.
Those darker days, however, seem to be coming to an end as the tide of taste gradually begins to favor Argentine winemakers that provide innovation, quality, exceptional value, and at last, the types of wines that bring a little piece of home back to my dinner table.I feel that a newly found sense of openness and curiosity in the American wine consumer is taking hold.From the wider availability of all sorts of Argentine wines I?ve noticed to the stimulating conversations I?ve had with people here about Argentina?s winemaking heritage and how it is increasingly reflected?things are moving in a direction I am liking more and more.Someone, however, from the point of view of imports to the US, has to be at the forefront of this revolution.For my next post, I?ll be presenting my interview with a major player in building long-term relationships with artisan Mendoza producers and in turn, striving to make authentically Argentine wines more of a staple than an oddity in the US market.
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An Exciting Blend from Mendoza that isn?t Malbec/Cab: 2006 Crios de Susana Balbo Syrah-Bonarda Data:2008-04-25 23:42:00 Description:In terms of export trends, it seem as though higher-end Argentine Malbec/Cab types of blends imported to the North American and UK markets have garnered better consumer reception than single varieties.Don?t get me wrong, I have enjoyed many of these and will continue to do so, though recently I must confess that I?ve been feeling a bit bored.This is precisely when I need to turn to a winemaker who can think outside the box and take me somewhere different than the usual Cab/Malbec blends.Who could I turn to?
Susana helped me think outside the box?Susana Balbo, that is.One of Argentina?s premier winemakers, her Syrah-Bonarda blend is one of various compelling examples of her brilliance.It?s an intelligent value steal and as a bonus, it is meant to be consumed more or less young.Argentine Syrah as a whole doesn?t get all of the credit that it deserves?combined with the second most planted red, Bonarda, you get this beauty, with meaty tannins and lots of dark fruit/red fruit complexity.My favorite aspect of this one revolved around the irresistible, concentrated plum, cherry and black raspberry flavors, with the Bonarda contributing the nice red berry acidity.The oak and warm spices are a great, subtle backbone that won?t overwhelm with one of those cheap death-by-vanilla finishes.As with a great deal of grapes harvested from the Andean foothills (elev. about 2300ft), both components of this 50/50 blend were hand-harvested from vines in Mendoza?s Rivadavia department that are on average, 40 years old.
What a wonderful blend to try with grilled meats now that the weather is improving.Yet another excellent example that shows what finesse Mendoza blends can have without Malbec involvement.
Susana Balbo?s Crios wines are made available by Vine Connections, the premier boutique Argentine wine importer out of San Francisco.If you?re having trouble finding it in your area, try Wine-Searcher or the importers themselves.
It?s been a very busy week, but after my nice catching up session with Google Reader, here are some treasures worth noting from the RSS pileup:
1)Catavino?sRioja Report and EWBC 2008:Gabriella and Ryan over at Catavino have made a labor of love?an ambitious sort of compendium that is all things Rioja.From regional gastronomy to what else? Los vinos!You can find maps, profiles of wineries, beautiful photography and even a comprehensive explanation of Rioja labeling practices.I also found their buying guide particularly valuable and look forward to bringing it along on some shopping trips in the near future.This kind of stuff is a privilege to be able to look at when you consider other ?regional reports? published by people with a sense of entitlement to wine travel and $60+ annual subscription fees.Ryan and Gabriella are accountable for their material, actively and genuinely elicit and value readers? opinions, suggestions and evince passion for this stuff, so go ahead and bookmark them.
3)Remember Mr. Show?s Worthington Law applied to wine?Looks like the research findings from that CalTech/Stanford study published earlier in the year have been further validated.Working Paper No, 16, published by the American Association of Wine Economists details a new study in which people generally preferred less expensive wines, unless told by researchers of course, that a wine was particularly expensive.
4) If you read Spanish and want to stay up on the latest happenings in the Mendoza wine industry, you may want to bookmark El Blog de Vinos de Argentina.I have been reading their blog for some time now and have found it more and more valuable in terms of getting an inside track on what they?re thinking in Mendoza.As an Argentine, I?ve become a bit tired of receiving my Argentine wine industry news solely from the perspective of English-language consumer magazines.In the Argentine wine-sense, I?m approaching the sort of frustration many over here are feeling with news sources like CNN and FOX?it?s unfortunately limited for my needs.I may not be alone in wanting something like this?I really feel that things would get interesting if insiders from many wine regions only generally covered by shiny-cover magazines began communicating their perspectives directly to readers in a couple of other languages.
5) I would like to issue a preliminary warning before checking out this final note...it is cringe-inducing. I caught this on an Argentine website related to wine news. You'll click on the link and notice the article is written in Spanish, but that won't deter you from making the appropriate inference...Madonna will be contracting some local producer to lovingly craft her own label of Malbec. My comments? Oh hell no. Truthfully though, the nausea actually set in when I read that the label will reportedly be named after "Evita." Whether you are a foreigner and think Evita was a great person or an Argentine who may have the courage to speak up and express a more balanced perspective for the legacy of this famous political figure, one thing's for sure, Madonna could have chosen ANY OTHER variety cultivated in ANY OTHER country. Why us, oh God why us?
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Intelligent Value from Argentina?s Cafayate Valley: 2007 Don Rodolfo Torrontés Data:2008-04-16 22:17:00 Description:As the weather gradually warms up, I?m pleased to be encountering more intelligent value Argentine wines from provinces outside of Mendoza.Produced by Viña Cornejo Costas, an estate with established history in the Argentine northwest, here?s another Torrontés beauty from the mineral-rich CafayateValley.This is a great recommendation that can stand up to spicy and Asian dishes, given that Argentina?s native Torrontés variety is intense in acidity and flavor, even if light on body.
This wine reminds me again that Torrontés made in the CafayateValley could well be considered the benchmark for Argentine Torrontés.For being in the $10-$12 range, this Torrontés boasts a great deal more complexity and balance than some French and Italian varieties costing more have sadly failed to exhibit.Although I am a lifetime fan of European wines, I?d like to drink more intelligent value wines made by producers who don?t take me for granted due to some sense of entitlement. I sometimes worry about that and I?m not sure whether it?s that exactly or perhaps the fact that wine prices for Burgundy and Bordeaux are incredibly inflated, but I?m finding it more difficult than ever to put down $15 for a bottle of white wine from prestige regions that won?t underwhelm.
Reflecting more upon possible Argentine wine import trends, I am really looking forward to seeing more wines from Argentina?s provinces outside of Mendoza given that producers are avoiding bulk production like the plague and still very much feel that they have everything to prove.For one, crafting wines in Salta isn?t exactly for the faint of heart?stony, sandy soils on steep Andean inclines and almost 360 days of sunlight.Wines produced in Salta don?t even account for a tenth of Argentine wines, and this especially underscores the fact that bulk producers have stayed away for some time.
I?ve recently noticed lots of new and exciting things which I?ll report on later in terms of Argentine wine imports.Interestingly enough, these wines don?t exactly fit the typical ?Wines of Argentina Awards? formula for success (Bordeaux-style blends with Malbec playing a role to some degree).I am seeing more general Patagonia appellation Pinot Noir, Tempranillo from San Juan and now, more Torrontés producers from Salta stepping up to deliver.I have a feeling that things are looking up for smaller Argentine producers who may want to share their work with export markets such as the U.S., since an open-minded changing of the guard, taste-wise is afoot.For now, here?s my take on the don Rodolfo Torrontés:
In the glass, it is a clear, pale lemon color.The nose is perfumey and stays true to the nature of the aromatic Torrontés variety?clean, pronounced floral aromas (elderflower dominating), stone fruit (apricot and peach), and lemon.The style is dry, with high acidity, light body and an impressive balance of flavors for the price point.The elderflower blossom aspect that dominates from the nose on through to one?s afterbreath really captivated me, as it?s one of my favorite scents/flavors in general.The acidity from the lemon zest is very refreshing and nicely accompanies the stone fruit flavors.
The importer of the don Rodolfo wines is Cabernet Corporation, out of California. Check with them for distribution information if it doesn't seem to be available in your area.
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2004 MAN Vintners Shiraz also solid at less than $10 Data:2008-04-13 03:38:00 Description:Yes, that was basically the point of this quick weekend post.Over the past week I made the best attempt I could at finding all six single-variety wines that the South African producers released, and have only achieved partial success (3/6).Though not so entirely happy with one of the whites (sadly the only one I could track down), I return to the reds to find a very interesting Shiraz.
A small clarification about how I view value wines though.Obviously, the MAN Shiraz is no Crozes-Hermitages, but that simply isn?t the objective with a value selection recommendation.It doesn?t make it better than say, a Northern Rhône Syrah that usually sells for more.Value selections like this one are unusually interesting for the price point.That shortsighted all-or-nothing approach people have the tendency to apply to so many things in life seems absurdly inappropriate even with wine.I thought about that today when I read the latest post over at The Pour, which somewhat deals with a new book on wine reminiscent of that 20/20 segment from 2005 which relegates the value of art and art criticism (good parallel with wine) to that of upper-brow contempt for the masses.How many certifiable idiots have you overheard in a hotel lobby asking trite questions that more or less resemble ?which one?s the best, Flemish art or Florentine art?The inanity of an exchange like this swiftly reveals the poverty of knowledge, or perhaps more crucial to the matter, lack of genuine appreciation which the participants must have for art.
As someone who seriously studies literature and has a couple of degrees to back that up, I have always cringed at those book club type questions where two writers from completely different perspectives and time periods are given the old CNN Crossfire treatment, ?George Sand or Danielle Steele??On a whole, more people would likely prefer Steele, who no doubt is an accomplished writer; her work could thus be considered better, right?No, no and no.As with artists or writers, let?s please leave wine out of that sort of thing.
At any rate, this Coastal Region Shiraz is all about straightforward flavors and food-accompanying functionality.I thought it a bit complex for the price point, with nice plum, berry, spice and smoke.Balance wasn?t too far off, with medium acidity, high body, medium-high tannin and solid fruit which stood up to the vegetal and spice flavors for three days after opening.An added bonus, considering most sub-$10 reds, was that the oak presence was never overwhelming.I?ll certainly consider the MAN Syrah and Pinotage again when looking for value-priced accompaniments to grilled meats and those ostrich burgers I have come to enjoy recently.
This is a dry, slightly sparkling wine, with a pleasent, rich, complex aroma. A pleasure to sniff and taste, there’s a fruity note and there’s quite an undefined spicy note, definitely requires another bottle of researching 
. The producer specifies it as a wine “with characteristic Muscat taste and smell carrying combination of spicy tones of incense, cinnamon, basil and fruit tones of pine apple and strawberry”.
This is another dry red wine from the sunny ?emovsko valley near Podgorica, Montenegro. We’ve covered a few wines from the Planta?e winery in the past and this is probably the poorest of their wines, without much character. Enjoyable only with a meal.
Dulka is one of the most famous wine producing families in the town of Sremski Karlovci, near Novi Sad in Vojvodina. They produce wine since 1920 and have won a handful of awards at the Novi Sad agricultural fair throughout the years. Apart from producing wine, this familiy also produces 
This is another great wine from the 
This is a premium Montenegrin red wine made from the indigenous Vranac grape. The Reserve is produced from particulary good years, in small quantities, aged in barrels for several years. It is also aged in bottles for one year before being released to the market.
The 2004 vintage of this wine received a bronze medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards last year (2006). I’ve only been able to find the 2005 vintage in Belgrade wine shops. It has an intensive and complex aroma with hints of flowers. Dominant tastes are those of melon and slightly of apricots. However, I wasn’t impressed, perhaps I expected more due to all the hype. Or perhaps there’s a significant difference in the two vintages.
Quite an unusual combination for the Balkans, since Syrah is fairly rare in the region. Skovin is probably trying to follow the world commercial trends with this Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon combination, and it’s not doing a bad job. Syrah brings in the spiciness and the earthy taste, which brings memories of those strong South African tastes of Syrah wines. Cabernet softeness it a bit, so overall it’s a nice wine, but distinctively dryer than the famous Australian Syraz-Cabernet’s.
This wine is characterized by a yellow-green colour, a fresh citrusy aroma with hints of honey and a complex flowery aftertaste. It’s a semi-dry riesling, dryer than the Slovenian rieslings (such as Laški Riesling for example), but sweeter than those found in Serbia. It is a nice wine to accompany a lighter meal. 
For the ?Special Selection? wines Tikve? has chosen the highest quality grapes and turned them into their best wines. In the red wine range these are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Vranec, while in the white wine range these are Chardonnay, Riesling, Temjanika and Traminec. The Special Selection wines come with a distinctive label.
