by Sidd Banerji
5th Annual Pune Wine Festival-an indicator to rising wine interest in India, has just been held,Saturday,24th and Sunday, 25th December,2011 at the lavish gardens of Ruhi Villa,7th Lane,Koregaon Park,Pune.“Wines are to be savored at the most relaxed and absolute cordial environment “,the loved statement of B Shankaranarayan,the leading personality behind the whole show of Pune Gourmet Club’s annual event is literally translated into action,those two days. He sees to it that the style statement is carried in all his wine events,Bandra Wine Festival,another of his events, included.If the young face of India,is opening its vast consumer’s market to the wine industry, it is to a large extent due to Yeomen’s task being done,years after years, by few senior wine lovers,committed and pa...
by Brenda Cranmer, Csw
It was while preparing study materials for my first formal wine class that I realized the industry makes learning about wine much more difficult than it should be. Most people who are interested in wine do not care about how it is made or what type of soil makes for the best Merlot. They care about how it tastes, what they like, how to buy it and what to choose from a wine menu. It did not take me long to notice that, even though I had made a conscious decision to take my wine knowledge to greater heights, while in class I found myself watching the clock through lecture waiting for the time when we put the books away and started tasting. While it is certainly important for someone in the trade to know about regions, climate and soil, most people just want to get down to the business of...
by Ron Barker, Cigarvolante Llc
The Potomac Point Winery is a beautiful, Mediterranean style building that has private arbors, sweeping views, and a Tuscan style courtyard where E! and I joined Wine Club Manager and Festival Event Coordinator Michelle Patterson and Tad, Catering Chef and fellow cigar smoker, for an afternoon of wine tasting and cigar pairing last fall. I know this sounds like an arduous task but someone had to do it! Potomac Point offers a wonderful example of the complex flavors of the Panacea Green and White cigars that are full flavored yet delicate in a way that allows them to be paired with white wines.We also have another good example of the differences between ring gauges in the same cigar with our pairings of the Black Label Maduro Classic and Grandes. The Grande, by reason of its bigger ring gau...
by Mary Webb
By Mary WebbOne need only take a visit to Adastra vineyards in the Carneros region of Napa Valley, California to become intoxicated with beautiful views, hospitality and spectacular wine. Having visited Adastra on previous occasions, we were more than thrilled to have the opportunity to stop by again this fall. With pumpkins abounding, the Adastra team was getting ready for the annual “Holiday in Carneros” wine tasting event. We were greeted by owner, Dr. Chris Thorpe, out in the historic Redwood Adastra barn. It is here, sipping the newly released 2009 Syrah, we admired the chronological photos, clippings and artifacts that illuminate the Adastra barn.Dr. Thorpe and his wife, Naomi, purchased the thirty-three acre Carneros property in 1983, and so the farming journey began for the Tho...
by Brenda Cranmer, Csw
Christmas is getting close and, if you haven’t already, it is time to start thinking about the gift shopping. There are many articles out there eager to help you buy the perfect gift. There are even articles out there discussing the conventions of choosing the perfect wine. This year, I say throw convention to the wind and have a good time. The following are my unconventional, or at least non-traditional, ideas for buying wine as a gift:1. Find a great value. A customer recently came into the store looking for a Spanish wine. He was not looking for anything in particular, he just knew it had to be Spanish. I did not ask why. It just so happened that we currently have a great deal on a Priorat normally priced at $34.99 on sale for $26.99. After explaining how the region is trending upward...
by Ron Barker, Cigarvolante Llc
Last week we introduced the Panacea Pairings for the White Wines of Holly Grove including the first pairings for the newly introdued Panacea Azul, our new Cameroon, which showed its versatility and complexity in its abilty to pair with a complex white wine and a slightly dry and flavorful rosé. This week we introduce the Holly Grove Red Wines and another level of complexity as we add the impact of ring gauge on the pairing process.A cigar is made up of three basic parts. The filler or bunch, are the leaves that are in the center of the cigar and make up most of its bulk. Around that, and holding the bunch together is the binder, and all of that is covered by the pretty part, the wrapper. Each part can be made up of different tobaccos, each of which may have a different flavor profile and ...
by Deborah Passin
Does it surprise you that someone who has a good palate for wine also has a good palate for food? I’ve met many great winemakers who are as passionate about food as they are about wine. My conversations with them often stray from the topic of wine to reminiscing about a memorable meal. Many are talented cooks; others delight in dining out or sharing a wonderful meal with friends. Great winemakers understand how flavors work together in balance and harmony, whether they are at the dinner table or among barrels. For this reason, I thought I’d ask some of my favorite winemakers what food I should pair with their wines. These were their answers:Bill Easton, Terre Rouge & Easton Wines, Sierra Foothills2007 Easton Old Vine Zinfandel “Rinaldi-Eschen”Pair with: Spanish Lamb Stew with Chile...
by Carol A. Wilcox
Holiday gatherings and Christmas wines bring excitement to entertaining. With all of the planning that goes into holiday dinners and parties, the wine list should be kept to a small, well chosen selection that will satisfy all guests. Choosing the right wines for Christmas can be a daunting task!Here are guidelines to help navigate through the many wine choices:Wines for Christmas Eve – For many, Christmas Eve is the best part of the holiday. Start the celebration with Champagne or sparkling wine. There are many varieties of bubbly on the market in all price ranges. An alternative to Champagne (which is made in France) is Prosecco which is made in Italy in the Veneto region. There are also many wine varietals that are food-friendly and versatile enough to accompany the variety of foods t...
by Ron Barker, Cigarvolante Llc
Panacea PairingsA cigar is an aesthetic not an addiction. smoked for flavor not the nicotine. As wine enhances the flavors of the food cigars can enhance the flavors of beverages. CigarVolante has partnered with Virginia wineries to introduce Panacea Pairings, the perfect match of a delicious Virginia wine and a premium Old School, Flat Bed Cigar Company Panacea Cigar. The White Wines of Holly Grove VineyardsHolly Grove Winery is a family owned and operated farm Virginia winery located on Holly Grove Cove on the Bayside of Virginia's Eastern Shore in Franktown. Inspired by the natural beauty and resources here, we are committed to producing quality handcrafted wines using locally grown grapes. Capitalizing on our temperate climate moderated by the Atlantic Ocean breezes on this "land betwe...
by Rosie Carbo
You didn’t need to speak French to enjoy Houston’s 28th annual French-American Wine and Food Festival recently. You just had to be aware that tasting Georges Duboeuf’s Beaujolais Nouveau was not the focus. This year’s “Soiree Beaujolais & Beyond” was a signature event, drawing more than 1,000 guests to the JW Marriott. Local French restaurants, bistros and bakeries, together with non-French eateries, handed out savory samples of their best food. A slew of wine samples from the Beaujolais region in France included Beaujolais Villages. Unlike years past, this event featured wines from other French and Americans regions. California shined with generous servings of Cabernet, Merlot and Zinfandel. If you preferred to stay with the Beaujolais array,...
