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Which wine to pick?!

There are so many ways to choose wines. "What are you eating it with", "What would be good for a gift", "What should I serve for an event", etc. It's been my experience, that it's more important "why" you are serving a wine rather than "what" you will be eating for the meal. It is with this in mind that I've come up with the following categories that I am using for myself to help me know "which" wine I would recommend for a specific reason. I firmly believe, if you like the wine you are drinking, you will find it enhances whatever food you are eating, whatever event you are at and all the memories you are making.
Friends	Wine you would bring to intimate gatherings with one or more friends, wine you are sure will please the individuals you are with. Wines you would enjoy with just you and your shadow.
Summer Afternoons	Wines that are enjoyable while you are sitting in the sunshine. Wines that make great spritzers.
Comfort Foods	Wines that are great with home-made rustic everyday meals, i.e., pizza, soups, steak, grilling, fish, and on.
Dinner Events	Wines to enhance an out-of-the ordinary meal. I'd put bigger reds and expensive chardonnays in this group.
Romance	Wines to enhance intimate moments to be remembered between two individuals.
Partae	Wines that can be enjoyed by a wide range of individuals, some who like only white, some who like only red, beginner reds, sweeter wines, etc.
Extra Special	Celebration wines that will be enjoyed by a group, wines that would make great gifts for a special event.



Red Wines

Angove's Red Belly Black Shiraz '04 Australia $11	Strong delicious cherry smell with blackberries, oak and a deep alcohol base. Dark and woodsy and sweet smelling. Deep deep purple, I think this would be called Royal Purple. Very velvety on your tongue. I Like It! Dark chocolate and cherries come to mind. Deeply pleasant flavor. Tastes exactly like it smells. Yummy!!! How I rate it: I would keep this one all for myself or for those special few who are close friends who deserve such a fantabulous wine. Buy it by the case I say.


El Coto Ria Crianza '03 Spain $9.69	Minimal alcohol odor, some slight fruity smell, which I cannot exactly describe but red licorice comes to mind. Maybe a little oak. Very pleasant and clear ruby red color in your wine glass. Still trying to put my finger on the smell. Dry, the taste follows the smell. Nope, nothing here to make me shell out $9.69 again.


Manyana, Tempranillo '06 Spain $6.59	This cherry red wine has bright scents of melon, new strawberries, pomegranite and sweet cherries. Almost a candy smell. It's flavor is all of the above but substantially softer. It has a lovely strawberry finish. It is an excellent value wine, one that will easily satisfy both your palet and pocketbook.


Tiziano Chianti Riserva '03 Italy $14	Just the slightest hint of flowers, perhaps lavender and/or rose. Dark brick red as you pour which becomes a pool of velvety black/red in your glass. I taste cherries and vanilla and if velvet had a flavor, this is it! Velvety smooth with just the teeny tiniest bit of dryness. The flavor stays put for a good long time. Tastes every bit as good as it smells. This is really a wonderful wine which I WILL be purchasing again and again. Bellisimo!!


A-Mano Primitivo '05 Italy $13	Blackberries, with a faint wiff of cinnamon and anise which translates into a light woody, earthy taste. Very dry. Definitely a red lovers wine as it is far too dry for all my white wine friends. I think a dish with a full-bodied sauce (red or white) would be an awesome compliment to this wine and take the dryness down a notch.


Vitiano Umbria Red Wine '04 Italy $12	IMHO... This brick red wine with it's flavors and aroma of black cherry and oak is relatively flat. A dry wine, this one would be best paired with a good red sauce or steak. It definitely needs food to bring out it's best.


Beaujolais Nouveau 2007 France $10 - $16	My maiden voyage into Beaujolais Nouveau was at the Wine Premier in Green Bay on November 15. Bravo for Georges Duboeuf to accomplish such a stupendous marketing effort. Imagine, wanting your product to be acknowledged worldwide on a yearly basis and then pulling it off. Granted it took over 10 years, but he acheived his goal and you've got to give him points for that!! There were three vintners showcased; Georges Duboeuf 2007 Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau Domaine Manoir du Carra 2007 Beaujolias Nouveau Domaine Descroix 2007 Beaujolais Nouveau Each was slightly different with the very delicate scents and flavors that are the hallmark of this new wine. Count on harmonious, zesty and bright flavors with each sip. Cherries, violets, raspberries, strawberries, cherry pie and, most prominent, bananas make up the fresh scents. I found the Domaine Manoir du Carra to be very pleasant to drink and of the three would purchase this one. Infact, I think I will purchase this one and store it for a year to see how the flavors and aromas mature. I can easily see myself enjoying a glass of chilled Beaujolias Nouveau on my patio in the summertime while I'm soaking up the sunshine and watching the clouds go by.


Saint-Esprit Cotes-Du-Rhone Syrah et Grenache '05 France $12	Light taste of berries, strawberry and kiwi (maybe ). A beautiful red, a little dry. I can taste tannins on the finish. Pretty easy to drink this wine. I would get it again, but I'd put it a little lower on the list (behind the Tiziano which is substanitally better for virtually the same price).


September 29 Syrah, '04 France $14	I found this wine at a tasting at Gokey's Wine Market. It was featured by Alpha Dog Importers. I loved this wine from the first taste. Find it, buy it and enjoy it. I concur with the Importer's description of this lovely wine as it is described on the back of the bottle... Imagine a perfectly ripe, juicy, luscious blackberry. Rich, velvety feeling in your mouth ... a measure of peppery, spiciness to add some zest and a little "snap" as you finish.


Ironstone Cabernet Franc '03 California $8	As I was reviewing my notes for this wine, I see that I wrote a surprisingly different number of things ... Lovely floral/fragrant flavor including leather, oak, black cherry, kirsh, strawberries and cedar. Needs to open a bit. It's a very inviting wine and I enjoy it a great deal. Guess that's why I continue to buy it.
Champagne, Sparkling, Semi-Sparkling Wines

De Faveri Semi-sparkling White Italy $16	A magnificently fragrant and opulent semi-sparkling wine from Italy. The color is a very gentle, soft and translucent custard yellow. The flavors of almond, confectioners sugar, melon, butter, pear, rose and the slightest hint of lemon are equally magnificent and never fade. This wine is the perfect blend of fragrance and flavor. Neither overly sweet nor dry, this delicious semi-sparkling wine will please anyone fortunate enough to partake.

The 1st Annual Champagne and Sparkling Wine Tasting Party went off without a hitch yesturday. A beautiful snowy day turned into a warm and jovial evening as one friend after another came to the door, arms filled with wine and delicious appetizers. An intimate group of 8 laughed and shared stories and talked smart and ate and tasted wines.

Pam gifted the party with a beautiful hand-made set of wine glass charms so we could keep track of our glasses, Chris concocted his delicious shrimp and pasta, Laura's bruchetta was (as usual) utterly delicious, Heidi's european cookies were a wonderful compliment and Teri's cheezy bread disappeared without a trace. Blueberry spears with white chocolate, pineapple, light and dark chocolates and Pokie sticks rounded out the treats.

What a perfect event for Ground Hog's day. Harry saw his shadow (in addition to several fat bunnies on the patio) and as tradition dictates ... we are now destined to have another tasting party next year.

Here's the rundown of wines that were brought this year ...

		Fragolino - Vino rosso di lbridi. Light semi-sweet sparkling red wine made in autoclave from hybrid grapes. Ticino, Switzerland. It has a bouquet brimming with strawberries with a strong ripe strawberry flavor with an unusual element of bitterness that is very unfortunate because the strawberry flavor in itself is very pleasing. Although it is suppose to be served chilled, I initially tasted this wine while it was warm and I actually like it better warm because the bitterness is not as pronounced, the strawberry flavors are equally bold and complimented with a hint of confectioners sugar. Not extremely sweet and several people really liked this wine. Imported by www.swisscellars.com
		Angelique A delightful sparkler with a hint of almond...yes, almond. In a Prosecco style. Traditional for a northern Italian aperitif! A teeny bit on the sweet side, a little dry as well. Very bubbly. The almond flavor is very pleasent. www.stonesthrowwinerry.com
		Cook's Brut Champagne A medium-dry wine, somewhat sweet but not overly so with crisp fruit flavors. The aromas of apple and pear are balanced with a bouquet of toasty yeast notes and floral nuances. A tasty champagne and a favorite of several folks in attendance. www.cookschampagne.com
		Prosecco dei colli Trevigiani FRIZZANTE NERA SPAGO A magnificently fragrant and opulent semi-sparkling wine from Italy. The color is a very gentle, soft and translucent custard yellow. The flavors of almond, confectioners sugar, melon, butter, pear, rose and the slightest hint of lemon are equally magnificent and never fade. In the words of one of my guests ... Yummy. I agree completely. De Faveri web site
		Korbel Sweet Rosé Champagne. A very sweet selection for those in the crowd with a sweet tooth. Not a favorite amongst the group. Korbel.com
		Korbel Brut Rosé Champagne. A bright, fresh flavored wine with flavors of strawberry, cherry and melon. Brut Rosé is medium-dry (some said very dry) and has a noticeable blush of color. A more agreeable selection as voiced by the guests.
		Ballatore Rosso Red Spumante Very sweet, yet not too sweet intense raspberry takes lead in a bright red fruit basket closely followed by strawberry and a hint of cherry. This is NOT serious stuff, not complex at all. BUT, it is an instant party; very accessible to even the most ambitious wine hater.