by Nick Tomassi
The Italian Influence on Washington State Wine By Nick Tomassi January, 2008 As a full-blooded Italian (both mother’s and father’s parents immigrated to America in 1890’s), I have always been interested in how the great Italian wines influenced the production of wine in America. My wife and I had the opportunity to travel to Eastern Washington to the city of Walla Walla and interview a number of men in the Washington State wine business whose ancestors also immigrated to America and were among the ones who influenced winemaking in Washington State. As we sat with these men and recorded their thoughts and their memories, we saw the great pride in their eyes for their ancestors' accomplishments, and their stories took on a special flavor. I had only to ask the first question, "What c...
by James Bogaty
The case of the “wine cellar” or “a dozen wines for all times” Living the Good Life by Jim Bogaty owner Veramar Vineyard It’s cheaper by the dozen, for an everyday wine cellar, all you need are strong shelves, a cool spot and 12 bottles (one case) of wine. Always keep a bottle of sparkling wine and a bottle of white ready to drink in the refrig. Between that and the 10 in the rack, you’ll have a case that is ready “just in case”. ½ dozen any time wines - 3 Whites and 3 Reds Three bottles each of Cabernet Franc (Cab-er-nay Fronc) and Chardonnay (Shard-don-a) or Pinot Grigio (Pee-no-Gree-gee-oh). Great all-purpose wines for almost any occasion. These should be simple Virginia wines you'd be just as happy drinking with a weekday dinner. Others- For whites, a Seyval...
by James Bogaty
Washington DC and Northern Virginia All In a days Drive. Jim Bogaty Veramar Vineyard Experience Virginia's spectacular views and a perfect bouquet of Virginia wine in your glass . . . and a hardy Cheers from Virginia wines! The Virginia's wine industry is believed to be the major growth highway to riches for state tourism. It has been called 'Grapes of Gold' for Virginia. Virginia's burgeoning wine industry is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors in the state. Today more than 140 wineries up from six in 1979 are in production, and most of them will be open to the public for tours and tastings during 'Virginia wine month.' The industry contributes millions to the state's economy and continues to expand in both quantity and quality, garnering national and international ...
by James Bogaty
Living the Good Life By Jim Bogaty YES Virginia, Red Wine and Chocolate! Some say it can’t be done, pairing red wine with chocolate, but if you have the right wine to complement the right chocolate it can be a match made in heaven! There are a few pairing tips you must keep in mind. Nonetheless, chocolate is beautifully trendy and red wine handsomely in vogue, so it comes as no surprise that your winemaker should play a role at hoping to displace that cup of coffee with a Virginia glass of red wine. Step one is to consider sweetness. Most chocolate desserts are downright sweet - especially white-and milk-chocolate style desserts. When pairing wines with chocolate, your best bet is to match lighter, more elegant flavored chocolates with lighter-bodied wines; likewise, the stronge...
by James Bogaty
The Great Grape By Jim Bogaty Romancing the grape A Grape Wine AVA is that a WHO or What? (American Viticultural Area) What is a Wine Appellations or American Viticultural Area and what does that mean to the grape? Any grape that will become a great wine must begin and end with the terroir. A " terroir " is a group of vineyards (or even grape vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation, and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions, grapes and wine making savoir-faire, which contribute to give its specific personality to the wine. When you visit a set of wineries you will be in areas that have been designated official wine growing regions called American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). Here are some important ideas that will help you understand what the...
by James Bogaty
The Great Grape By Jim Bogaty Romancing the grape -- ALL ABOUT NORTON America’s True Grape This is a story about Dr. Daniel Norborne Norton and the Virginia Norton grape variety. Although some believe that the Norton is a true native of North America, most experts suspect that it is a hybrid of one or more native varieties. Virginia, whose first vineyard was planted in 1608 (Jamestown) the first in all the NEW WORLD to native grapes and up to very recent years Virginia’s most successful varietals were hybrids such as Seyval Blanc and Vidal Blanc. The Virginia wine industry has blossomed over the past decade to the point where the state ranks 5th among vinifera-growing U. S. states The Norton Grape was introduced by Dr. Daniel Norborne Norton of Richmond, Virginia, who ...
by Kathleen Lisson
By Kathleen Lisson, CSW http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com Step One: Train Yourself to Taste Wine Gary Vaynerchuk is making the rounds of late night TV with bowls full of dirt and tobacco, but you really don’t have to go that far to discover the aromas and flavors in the your favorite wine’s tasting notes. If you’re in the Albany, NY area, attend my wine palate training class at the Honest Weight Coop. Step Two: Learn to Taste Like a Pro Wine tasting can be a sample as enjoying a glass on the deck at sunset or as complicating as judging flights of wines in a wine competition. If you’d like to get more enjoyment out of every glass of wine, do what the professionals do: To full appreciate a wine’s flavor, inhale, take a sip, roll the liquid around in your mouth, coating your ...
by Kathleen Lisson
By Kathleen Lisson, CSW http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com Do you have wines gathering dust on your wine rack? Here are ten great excuses to open your home, and that bottle of wine, to others this season. Invite your coworkers over to a simple but festive meal. Bake a lasagna, toss a salad and open a few bottles of Chianti. Have everyone agree to leave work problems at the front door and talk about hobbies, brag about family and share funny or happy memories. Celebrate a recent success with pizza and a bottle of Pinot Noir or Chianti. Meat Lover Supreme your idea of pizza? Pair your slice with a robust glass of Zinfandel! Invite your boss or your spouse's boss over to dinner. Try a nice roast paired with a bottle of Pinot Noir. Treat your next door neighbors to a casserole and a bottl...
by Kathleen Lisson
By Kathleen Lisson, CSW http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com Last year I attended Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery's Hudson Valley Red Wine & Chocolate Pairing event. Capitalizing on the fact that wine lovers are always looking for the 'holy grail' – a wine and chocolate pairing that actually WORKS, Whitecliff offered a variety of chocolates for tasters to pair with a complete tasting of the winery's red wines. Chocolate Wine Pairings: I chose a piece of Cote d'OR Intense 70% Cacao, a piece of Green and Black's organic milk chocolate and two Chuao Chocolatier Choco Pods – the Modena, which is filled with strawberry and balsamic caramel, and the Picante, which is filled with spicy cabernet caramel. Dark Chocolate and Red Wine The winery's Beaujolais-style Gamay Noir wine was the best ...
by Kathleen Lisson
By Kathleen Lisson, CSW http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com I recently came across a slew of great research on the Wine Spectator website indicating the positive effects of wine, especially red wine, on reducing health risks. The idea I want to share with you is an easy way to start a practice of drinking one glass of wine a day without wasting the rest of your bottle of wine. Its called the Buddy System. The way I get my one glass a day is to plan my meals ahead and use a meal 'buddy system.' Basically, I choose two or three meals that pair well with the same bottle in on my wine rack and serve them for dinner back to back! A great way to brainstorm ideas for meals is by using a wine and food pairing website, like the one at Canadian Sommelier Natalie MacLean's website, but there ar...
