by Marisa Dvari
“I almost prefer inhaling to actually tasting,“ Johannes Leitz told importer Thierry Thiese in an interview. “I can’t really love a wine regardless of how it tastes if it doesn’t excite me on the nose.” I find this quote represents a very keen insight into a remarkable winemaker who is passionate about his vines. Of course, Riesling is such an aromatic varietal being able to inhale the aroma is usually easy. Johannes specifically used the word “excite” which is something else entirely. With people who already know and love quality Riesling, I sometimes use the expression “like biting into a rock” to describe the rapture of how a wine tastes. The term is used to describe the incredible interplay of minerals and sometimes, volcanic soil, that can be found in quality Ries...
by Marisa Dvari
“The man pictured on this wine bottle’s label looks familiar!” I think to myself, peering at the wine bottle with a picture of a somewhat scary looking gentleman in a stiff white shirt and black jacket on the label. Dracula? Nope. As it turns out, the figure just happens to be an ancient relative of Martin Tesch, the low key, yet passionate leader of a family-owned winery that has been in his family since 1723. Looking from the label to Martin Tesch, indeed I can see a flicker of resemblance, albeit the two gentlemen have been separated by three centuries and are opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of attire. Whereas the ancient Mr. Tesch’s picture appears the height of formality, Martin Tesch is dressed like a surfer from Santa Barbara, California in a faded t-shirt and jeans...
by Marisa Dvari
When most wine aficionados visit Germany to meet their favorite producers, they often find themselves knocking at a rustic looking door, with the winemaker/owner or his wife jumping up from the lunch table to welcome the visitor inside. Things are a bit different at Kendermann, which bills itself as the number one “new generation” wine brand, reaching annual sales of 250,000 cases. Instead of a quaint farmhouse, Kendermann is headquartered in a large, modern-looking building with busy-looking, sharply dressed executives rushing about and the fragrance of fresh brewed espresso in the air. You sense a vibrating energy in the air that is almost palpable – these executives are on a mission. And you can see evidence of it when you learn that in ten years, Kendermann has won more national...
by Marisa Dvari
If you’ve been in the wine world for a while, you have experienced the Chardonnay craze, the Merlot madness, and the Pinot Noir obsession ignited by a certain popular film. Perhaps you have come to love Sauvignon Blanc so intimately you can easily tell a New Zealand SB from its French Loire Valley cousin. If so, let me ask you this: have you tried a Riesling lately? I’m not talking about a California Riesling or an Australian Riesling. I am referring to a Riesling from its native Germany. Here, in the cold climate with its glistening river, steep hills, and soils, you will find a true Riesling. If you are new to Riesling, you may think that all Rieslings are the same – especially if they are from a single country. If so, you will be amazed to discover that Riesling is one of the most...
by Marisa Dvari
If you’ve been in the wine world for a while, you have experienced the Chardonnay craze, the Merlot madness, and the Pinot Noir obsession ignited by a certain popular film. Perhaps you have come to love Sauvignon Blanc so intimately you can easily tell a New Zealand SB from its French Loire Valley cousin. If so, let me ask you this: have you tried a Riesling lately? I’m not talking about a California Riesling or an Australian Riesling. I am referring to a Riesling from its native Germany. Here, in the cold climate with its glistening river, steep hills, and soils, you will find a true Riesling. If you are new to Riesling, you may think that all Rieslings are the same – especially if they are from a single country. If so, you will be amazed to discover that Riesling is one of the mos...
by Michael Bryan
As a business professional you are going to spend money in hopes of getting or keeping relationships that make you money. This is de rigueur for all businesses; however, what has never gone out of style is people doing business with people. Marketing collateral, skybox rentals, ad specialty items, and dinners—all are forms of making and keeping relationships. The professionally conducted wine event falls under “event marketing,” but it’s fresh and unique, which separates you from the pack. Atlanta Wine School is in the business of evangelizing wine as a symbol of good living. We educate thousands of people annually on wine appreciation, but our private wine events are an important tool for our customers to build good will among their important clientele as well as prospective ...
by Marisa Dvari
“This is delicious!” exclaims a friend, tasting a wine and requesting a second glass. “Are you sure it’s Kosher?” If you are celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, this year, you are in for a delicious treat. For much of this century, most families sipped the sweet, grape-y Manishevitz. Today you will find some excellent, affordable, and delicious Kosher wines being produced in regions around the world that quite often outshine non-Kosher wines at a similar price point. If you are hosting a large party, you might take the opportunity to stock up on several different Kosher wines so you can serve a few as an aperitif, and then pair them with different courses. At the end of the evening, you might also ask your guests which wines they liked the best, and make note of you...
by Nisha Brockington
Think wine just has to be made from grapes-think again. Winerys in Florida are bringing the sun kissed taste of fresh fruits to your nearest table in a beautiful wine glass. So lets hit the road and take a tour of Florida Wine Country. Schnebly Redlands\' Winery in Homestead, Florida has made it their mission to turn tropical and exotic fruits in to award winning bottle of wines. I bet you did not know that the nectar from a Mango, Passion Fruit, or Guava can be turned into wine. Or that you can enjoy a nice Sparkling Grand Reserve made from Carambola better known as the Starfruit. And if you never had the chinese fruit Lychee what a better way to introduce your self to this exotic flavour than in a glass of light fruity dessert wine. About an 1 1/2 hour north of Homestead and you\'l...
by Ralph And Lahni Deamicis
Spending a day in Napa and Sonoma is a delight, especially for adults, but even in wine country it’s not just about the wine, there’s shopping too! After all, due to the nature of alcohol, there is a limit to how much wine you can taste. Not only do you want to stop before you have a hard time climbing back into the car but also, the taste buds become saturated after a while so that unless you cleanse them with water and food, all of the wines start to taste the same. Of course, due to differences in physiology, some people will want to keep tasting new wines after others have reached their saturation point. To make sure that the trip is interesting to everybody, pick wineries later in the day that combine good wines and great gift shops. Here are some favorites and why. When you come...
by Roberta Horne
In the late 1850s the idea of travelling to Australia must have been equally daunting as the thought of moving to another planet. But that is exactly what the first William Chambers did when, in 1856, he packed his family and worldly possessions aboard the ‘Blundell’ and set sail for the new world. What was it that prompted this simple gardener to take such a bold step of faith and leave the eastern districts of England and all that was familiar to them? Most likely the driving forces were the possibility of owning his own land and providing more favourable prospects for his children. William was almost 50 when he stepped off the river boat at Wahgunyah on the southern side of the River Murray, just across from the township of Corowa, the home of federation. Armed with a shrewdness...
