I'm not sure if wine cocktails are a new trend but, raspberries, Chianti, cocoa powder, whipped cream and chocolate shavings doesn't sound too bad.

// posted by Steve @ 8:41 PM 0 comments

 I just really wanted to work "Fat Bastard" into a post title. Pick yourself up a bottle of Fat Bastard in September or October and help fight breast cancer. The producer (Click Wine Group) will donate a portion of the proceeds to help find a cure. So the next time you need an excuse to crack open a bottle on a Tuesday night (like we ever need an excuse), you can tell yourself it's for a good cause.

// posted by Steve @ 7:23 PM 0 comments

As sad as I am to admit it, there aren't very many Midwestern grown wines that I'm crazy about. I'm a Midwesterner born and raised and I just can't bring myself to love the stuff. Maybe I'm a wine snob. I think the concept idea of "locally produced" rather than "locally grown" is a great one. We just don't (in my completely uneducated opinion) have the correct climate to grow the same grapes as they grow in California and Washington. Despite that, I do love the idea of being able to head out on a Saturday and visit a couple wineries within a few hours of home. If those wineries had wines I could swoon over, it would be even better. 

// posted by Steve @ 7:18 PM 2 comments

Husch Vineyards will always hold a special place in my heart. It's one of the first places Sue and I visited in Philo and we fell in love with it. At $25.00, the 2005 Special Reserve Chardonnay is a little more than we'd usually spend on a white wine but it's worth every penny. This is a nice wine to bring out on a special occasion when the kids are at the sitter and its just you and that special someone (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). I'm giving this one a "Hoard It" rating. Don't you dare share it. It's a nice creamy combination of vanilla, oak, and spice that can't be beat. You can still order this wine directly from Husch and I would recommend you seize the opportunity while it's available.

Labels: Hoard It, White

// posted by Steve @ 7:16 PM 0 comments

HB429 has passed both houses in Illinois back on August 8th.  As the article points out, if the governor signs this into law, a store like Dean and Deluca would no longer be able to include a bottle of wine in a gift basket you ordered from the. Laws like this make it clear that our representatives DO NOT CARE about consumers. I know my state rep lost more than one vote.

Visit Free The Grapes to see what sort of madness may be going on in your state.

// posted by Steve @ 7:16 AM 0 comments

Not only can used wine corks be recycled into other useful products, they may be better for the environment. The alternatives such as screw caps are reducing the need for cork and impacting the world's cork forests. Cork is made from the bark of the cork oak and it can be harvested without killing the tree. The forests the trees grow in provide a unique habitat for many animals. Add to this the fact that screw cap manufacturing produces over three times the CO2 of cork production and the humble cork doesn't seem like such a bad idea.  

Labels: News

// posted by Steve @ 11:55 AM 0 comments

If you've been wondering what to do with all those old wine corks stockpiled in the kitchen cabinet and you're not particularly crafty, here's an alternative. Yemm and Hart, a company that makes building materials from recycled products is looking for used wine corks. Just pop them in an envelope for box and mail them (prepaid) to:

Wine Cork Recycling
Yemm & Hart Ltd
610 South Chamber Dr
Fredericktown  MO  63645

For more details on the program, check here. It beats sending them to the landfill.

// posted by Steve @ 12:21 PM 0 comments

This Pinot Gris from Sonoma was excellent. Light and crisp. Perfect for relaxing on a hot summer day. It had a nice citrus not. Great stuff but a little expensive at $23.99. We found it on sale at the grocery store for $13.99 which is much more reasonable. It's good enough to share with the family or neighbors while enjoying a night out on the patio. Share It! 

Labels: Pinot Gris, Share It, Sonoma, White

// posted by Steve @ 9:02 AM 0 comments

This blend from Washington is 77% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, and 100% enormous. Even after decanting, it was tight and huge. We probably should have let this one rest in the bottle for a few more years before drinking it. Lots of tannins to give you that tingly feeling on your tongue. This is definitely a special occasion wine. I'm giving this one a "Hoard It." It's too good to share.

Labels: Blend, Hoard It, Red, Washington

// posted by Steve @ 8:55 AM 0 comments

The 2005 Westside White Rhone Blend is from the Austin Hope Winery in Paso Robles. It's 50% Viogner, 35% Roussanne, and 15% Grenache Blanc. It's certainly interesting but I thought it had an odd flavor. I've had white Rhone blends before that had a nice mineral character to them. This one did not. It was only about $12 at a local wine shop but, I'm rating this one a "Cook with It."   

Labels: Cook with It, White

// posted by Steve @ 10:09 AM 0 comments

If you've always wanted to make your own wine but don't know where to start (or don't want to make a mess in your basement), this might fit the bill. For $185, two people can attend a wine making class and produce 25 to 30 bottles of their own wine. It includes ingredients, fermenting space, bottles, corks, and all the other assorted wine making necessities. The facility linked is in Illinois but I'm sure there are others. Has anyone ever tried something like this? If so, leave a comment and let us know how it worked out.

Labels: DIY, Random Stuff

// posted by Steve @ 7:47 PM 0 comments

Wow - this is a great Cab! Big and bold with soft tannins and a lingering finish. A nice buy for $15-20. Definitely a nice weekend wine to have with a nice steak.

Labels: Caberent Sauvignon, Weekend

// posted by Sue @ 10:16 AM 0 comments

Labels: Caberent Sauvignon, Weeknight

// posted by Sue @ 9:38 AM 0 comments