by Kulpreet Yadav
The Indians Drinking Wine? Are You Serious? Predicting the future of the wine industry in India without crystal gazing or astrology – based purely on primal beliefs, faiths and the gaps in-between. The economy is in place. The statistics continue to impress. If Finance Minister’s 29 February 2008 budget presented in the Indian parliament is an indication to go by, the Indians will merrily sail through the forthcoming fiscal able to spend even more, and live better. Pay commission for central government employees has also just been declared. States are likely to follow suit soon. And the bonhomie is not restricted, or contained, within the confines of Indian shores alone. Indian’s are fast adapting to a global lifestyle – traveling more, eating different and forging global partne...
by Marisa Dvari
Consider the year 1551. Michelangelo is in Italy, chiseling the finishing touches on his last work, the Rondanini Pietà. In merry old England, Edward VI succeeds Henry VIII as king. And in the Spanish town of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, just west of Barcelona, Jaume Codorníu bequeathes his wine cellars, presses, barrels and vats to his heirs. You’ve heard of Codorniu. It’s the popular sparkling wine with the artistic image. Today the Codorniu family has moved forward into the international still wine scene with the birth of the aptly named Artesa Winery, which owns 400 acres of planted vineyards on both sides of the Mayacamas Mountains (including Napa’s Carneros and Atlas Peak appellations, and in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley). Recently I’ve had a chance to try some of their wine. Ar...
by Christopher J Davies
Surprise Finds from The Finger Lakes By Christopher J. Davies Wine Country International® magazine New York’s largest wine region, The Finger Lakes Wine AVA lies just 6 hours Northwest from Long Island. The wine growing conditions are in most cases more difficult, where vintners face a colder and wetter climate. If Long Island can be best compared to Bordeaux, The Finger Lakes should be compared to Rheingau region of Germany. And just as the Rheingau has been respected for producing noble Rieslings, The Finger Lakes has cut its teeth making Riesling its signature grape. I am a big fan of Finger Lake Rieslings. They are the e-harmony of wines… they come in a kaleidoscope of sugar levels from sweet to bone dry. I love their compatibility with just about any food on the planet. ...
by Christopher J Davies
Happy 35th Birthday Long Island Wine Country! By Christopher J. Davies Editor & Co-Founder Wine Country International® magazine Long Island Wine Country is now 35 years old, which in winespeak, makes it a teenager in the world of wine. The region will always be considered boutique, because all combined Long Island Vineyards add up to just 3,000 acres of planted grapevines (One acre of land is home to between 900 and 1,300 vines). World-Famous Napa Valley, which produces just 4% of all California wine, has 45,275 acres planted in vineyards! With that said, Long Island Wine Country has a micro-climate that is almost an exact replica of Bordeaux, one of the most important wine producing regions in the world! Long Island Wine Country (North Fork & Hamptons) is more like Bordeaux than an...
by Hayley Hamilton
A good friend of mine says when asked how he likes a particular varietal, "it goes well with the cheese." It has become a joke between us, but he is actually correct; wine does go very well with cheese. The creamy richness and pungent flavors of cheese matches deliciously with wine, cutting through the wine's acidity: cheese complements the fruity flavors found in wine. There are some basics to take into consideration when matching wine with cheese. A mild creamy cheese will pair better with a lighter white wine; while a pungent ripe cheese will marry happily with a bold red. This column will outline some basics for finding the perfect pair for your next wine and cheese tasting. A few good general tips to keep in mind: soft, creamy cheeses will coat your palate when you eat them. T...
by Marc Hinton
The driving question going into 2008 about wine, for me, revolves around integrity. Wine producers have surprised me this year in their ability to market wines that happened by mistake or the cellar rat mixed two tanks. Oreana’s Red Table Wine, from Santa Barbara (available at Trader Joe’s), the label reads mistake or fate, and then they launch into a tale of two tanks being mixed. Wasn’t that the story behind the Non-vintage Chardonnay from the Paso Robles Winery "Eos" (Novella)? Regardless of the story behind the wine, the bottom line becomes, is it good wine at a price-point that represents value? The value of integrity continues to be challenged regarding consumers and wine producers. It does not only reflect on the producers. Consumers have their own concept of marketing integ...
by Marc Hinton
As I was wandering the wine isles of a local grocery retailer the other day, I was happy that they were now carrying the Echelon label. When this label first came into existence in the late 90’s it represented above average quality wine from respected growing regions at below average prices and their Pinot Noir and the Merlot were standouts. My first instinct was to grab a bottle and check out the information on the label. Much to my surprise, the Pinot Noir lists French fruit but the wine is blended and bottled in California. Many other American producers seem to be on this ‘source Pinot Noir from anywhere‘ mission. Beringer’s founders reserve Pinot Noir is now made from grapes coming from the Lombardy region of Italy. Pepperwood Grove’s Pinot Noir started this year with French...
by Pamela Heiligenthal
Compagnie de Transport Maritime a la Voile (CTMV), a French shipping company created the world’s first fleet of sail-driven merchant ships to transport Languedoc wines. The initiative is to support a sustainable economic development project. Since CO² emissions from transport are expected to rise by 50% in Europe by 2010, the Treaty of Amsterdam project was introduced to integrate environmental considerations into community policies. Using fleet that support renewable energy and biofuels, CTMV acquired a set of sailing vessels which meets environmental requirements and supports the Treaty of Amsterdam project, with an expectation of saving nearly 5 ounces of carbon per wine bottle compared to traditional shipping methods. Additionally, CTMV uses the Canal du Midi to transport client ...
by Marisa Dvari
Are you curious to learn more about wine but afraid to ask? You are not alone. A few decades ago, many Americans who didn’t know their Burgundy from their Bordeaux felt intimidated by scary, middle-aged, male sommeliers who approached tables at fine dining restaurants with a silver tastevin (a small, very shallow silver cup or saucer traditionally used by sommeliers to taste wine) hanging menacingly from their neck. Today, the situation has reversed itself, with knowledgeable, fresh-faced sommeliers and wine directors, many of them women, assisting guests in a friendly, approachable way with their wine selection. Even so, many Americans remain intimidated by the hundreds of varieties, regions, and producers to be found on restaurant lists. Busy with their own professional and personal l...
by Marisa Dvari
Quick! What is one of the most sensual, aromatic products in the world, right up there with exquisite perfume and exotic flowers? Wine, of course. The ability to describe the aromas and flavors of wine in a way another person can understand is a fine art, a cross between poetry and effective copywriting. So you can imagine how impressed I was to hear the attractive young female sommelier at New York's five-star Le Bernardin restaurant artfully describe the aroma of a few wines we considered ordering. "Well done!" I responded, before asking her secret in teasing out and remembering the flavors specific to each varietal. "Le Nez du Vin," she whispered. What is Le Nez du Vin, you ask? It is a very well organized tool for teaching yourself and others how to identify the signature scents and...