Winter Wine Project: Kung Fu Girl Riesling

This post will definitely put the "winter" in Winter Wine Project! Why? Because of all the snow! As a February baby, I have always loved winter. Sure it's chilly, but I love getting outside and then coming back home to warm up with some hot chocolate or coffee. This time around, however, I decided to warm up with a different drink of choice - wine! More specifically, the next wine from my winter wine project, the 2012 Kung Fu Girl Riesling from Washington State. Check out my review below, along with some fun action shots from my snow day!

My snow day, views from winery (bottom left) and the park near my house!

So fun fact about the Kung Fu Girl label, it was one of the first wine's I picked up early in my wine-drinking career. I had just turned 21 and I was visiting my sister in Boston. We stopped in a random wine store downtown and I saw the Kung Fu girl label and thought, "this is a fun label and I like riseling, so let's try it!" These days I go into the wine shop with a little more direction about what I may buy, but that goes to show that using a fun label that jumps off the shelf is definitely helpful in the U.S. wine market. With that said, I was so excited to see Kung Fu Girl on not only WS 100 Outstanding Values, but it made the cut for Top 100 Wines of 2013. Way to go Kung Fu Girl! I am excited to see if the wine lives up to both this ranking and the delicious wine that I remember. 

But first, let's chat about wine making in Washington State. This state produces the most wine in the U.S., after California of course. The top varietals grown in Washington include: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurtztraminer. But the most notable wines are often made with Merlot or Syrah grapes.

Charles Smith Riesling Columbia Valley Kung Fu Girl Evergreen 2012.

Grapes: 100% Riesling. Classically, Riesling produces white wines with a strong citrus flavor balanced with a complex minerality. Many of the best Rieslings are made in Alsace or Austria. Please don't knock this grape until you try it. Also, if you have a sweet Riesling that you don't like, keep trying them, it is definitely a complex grape that requires patience to appreciate because there are so many styles out there!

Where it's From: Washington State, Columbia Valley AVA (American Viticultural Areas). Columbia Valley is one of the largest AVAs in the United States, approximately 30,000 acres. Kung Fu Girl is grown specifically at Evergreen vineyard.

Alcohol: 11%

Winemaker's Notes: "This wine kicks ass with tons of complexity, showing shoes of white peach and slate. Focused acidity finishing with mandarin orange and lots of minerality." Pairs well with spicy dishes or grilled seafood.

My Thoughts: I have missed this wine!!! First thing you notice off the bat is the strong notes of peach - they were not lying! I can also smell hints of slate or stone (kind of like the smell of a stone beach - weird description I know!). The taste is awesome and definitely deserving of its awards - soft citrus fruit up front with the perfect bite of acidity at the end. You should run, not walk, to your nearest wine store and pick this up ASAP. I'm beginning to wonder if my skepticism against WS has been mistaken for all these years.

So that brings us to the end of today's tasting for the Winter Wine Project. Please be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below. Next time, we will be tasting A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir 2011, from Oregon. 

Happy Holidays and Cheers!

Tis the Season: My Favorite Hot Holiday Drinks

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One of the main reasons I love the holiday season are the festive parties! Whether you are celebrating with co-workers, old friends, or family, holiday parties are just tons of fun. Especially because its time to break out all the fun holiday cocktails that we only see around this time of year. Below are a few of my personal favorites (specifically because they are easy to make with a few ingredients). Feel free to share your favorite twists or recipes in the comments below!

Glühwein.  (pronounced "gloo-vine") This drink is both delicious and very sentimental for me. It's a traditional German drink that my Oma would make during the holidays. I love it because its traditionally served at the outdoor holiday markets (Christmas/Easter) in Germany and Austria. It's a perfect way to bring the community together. 

Ingredients: 1 bottle red wine (Recommended Blaufrankisch, Zweigelt, or fruit forward red); 1 cup water; 1/4 cup sugar; 2 cinnamon sticks; 4 cloves; 1 orange peeled for zest and juiced.

Directions: Heat water, sugar, juice and spices. Once infused, and red wine and heat through, be careful not to boil. (Easier option, warm all ingredients in crock pot for at least an hour).

Traditional Mulled Wine.  While Glühwein is traditionally made with red wine, you can make Mulled Wine (the American version) with other types of wine. A few of my favorites include fruit based wines. Try Apple Spiced wine with cranberry juice. Or Apple Cranberry wine with cinnamon, cloves and orange zest. Don't be afraid to experiment. The only thing you can do wrong is boil the drink.

Mulled Cider.  While fall is over, there is still room for apple cider at the party table. To make a base mulled cider follow these instructions: Heat 2 quarts of apple cider with one apple, 2 teaspons of whole cloves (typically cloves are studded in the apple), 1 orange thinly sliced, and 1 cinnamon stick. Add light brown sugar to taste. Once warmed through, remove from heat and add 1 cup of rum. I would likely substitute the rum for bourbon.

Irish Coffee.  The classic irish coffee is just black coffee, brown sugar and 3 tablespoons of Irish whiskey. Add Bailey's for fun. Given the popularity of Keurig's these days, I would recommend making these individually. 

Hot Toddy.  If you are looking for something on the stronger side (hey, we all have annoying siblings right?) then I recommend the Hot Toddy. Simply put, its hot tea with a shot of whisky (I would prefer bourbon or brandy over rye). But here's the recipe if you need it: combine liquor, 1 tablespoon of honey and the juice of 1/4 of lemon. On the side, prepare a cup of hot black tea, once fully steeped, combine with liquor. 

Happy Holidays and Cheers!

Gifts for the Wine Lover: Gadgets and Gizmos

So what if that special wine lover in your life is not into books or art? No problem! This list is full of great items that every wine drinker should collect during their lifetime (or all at once if necessary)! When it comes to wine accessories for me, I prefer basic functionality over the latest technology. Affordable and functional beats high-tech any day - so check out my suggestions below!

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1. Wine Opener/Corckscrew.  Every wine drinker needs a decent wine opener, period. One of my personal favorites is the Metrokane Vertical Lever style opener. It is by far the easiest opener I have ever used and almost 2 years in it still works great. However, after working in a few tasting rooms, I have come to appreciate the traditional hinged corkscrew. You can buy them at any liquor store for around $3 and they work just fine.

2. Wine Saver.  Now, I haven't had much experience with these wine savers because I don't really understand the concept of leftover wine... But if you really wanted to open that Cabernet on a Tuesday night and still want to be functional at work the next day - you should look for a wine saver. Vacu Vin is one of my favorites because it is simple to use and affordable. Jury is still out on whether it really helps save the wine for an extended period of time, but it definitely helps for a few days.

3. Decanter.  If you enjoy reds, you really should look into buying a decanter. Traditionally, decanters were used to separate the wine from the small amount of sediment that collects at the bottom of the bottle. But more commonly today, they are used to help aerate the wine (or let it "breathe"). In all fairness, some wine experts criticize aeration and don't think it actually helps the wine - so I will leave that up to you. I like decanters because they and to the table decor. My main recommendation, be sure to buy one that is easy to clean.

4. Wine Aerator.  Moving along to something that is more impulsive than essential - aerators. I have one, have yet to use it, but I think it is an interesting idea. I have the Vinturi aerator, which is interesting because you can use it with a decanter or straight to the glass. 

5. Whiskey Stones.  I know, I know, this has nothing to do with wine. But, there are tons of fun accessories out there for beverages other than wine. I actually prefer whiskey on the rocks, but if you (or that whiskey lover in your life) likes their liquor straight up - whiskey stones are great for cooling down without watering down the drink. If you want to cool down your wine in a fun way (or I usually do this for sangria) freeze grapes. They have the same effect of whiskey stones, but are edible at the end!

6. Drink Charms.  Do you have that one family member who always loses their glass at parties or family gatherings and ends up stealing everyone else's? Then you definitely need to get them some wine charms. There are so many wine charms available these days - both online and in your favorite store on main street. Check out these mustache drink markers - hilariously cute!

7. Wine Refrigerator.  For that serious wine enthusiast in your life, you may consider a wine refrigerator. There are thousands of models out there - but I prefer the smaller models (holding approximately 30 bottles) with one temperature setting. This is mostly because I don't really believe in collecting wine to age for decades, but you may have a special bottle or two that you what to hold one for a view years. 

8. Wine Apps (iPhone).  Now if you are looking to save money or pick up something fun for yourself - check out my favorite wine apps!

• First, for tips on pairing wine with food, occasions, etc, check out Hello Vino. It's a simple app that is great when you head to the wine store (or restaurant) without a specific plan and need a quick idea. Plus it's free!
• Second, Drync Wine Pro. This is my favorite app by far, it's a great way to keep track of wines you drink or purchase with it's cellar tracking feature. But, it also allows you to look up wines by taking a picture of the label (so cool!). It costs $4.99, but its totally worth it if you like to keep track of wines you tasted.
• Third, Snooth Wine Pro. It's like a virtual cellar and facebook combined. Plus it's free!
• Two new apps I am looking into: Wine Events and Wine Wherever. Both help put you in touch with local wine events - definitely a fun idea

If you have any favorite wine gadgets, gizmos or apps that I did not give a shout out to, leave a comment! 

Happy Holidays and Cheers!

Winter Wine Project: A.A. Badenhorst Family Chenin Blanc

My winter wine project is officially underway! I decided to start with Chenin Blanc from South Africa - why, you may ask? - mostly because I thought it would go well with my dinner that night. Plus, if my first trip to the wine store is any indicator, it is going to be very difficult to find 10 wines on this list, let alone the 25 I hope to taste. But let's get this show on the road!

First, let's hit some background on the wine region (my personal favorite) - South Africa. I have had several very interesting wines from this region and look forward to the wines of the future. South Africa has 4 main wine regions: Klein Karoo, Breede River Valley, Olifants River Valley and the Coastal Region. The Coastal Region includes the most well-known districts, such as, Darling, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Swartland. This wine comes from Swartland, which is known for it's non-conformist winemakers who like to push the envelope. Perfect - let's get to tasting!

A.A. Badenhorst Family Chenin Blanc Swartland Secatuers 2012

Grapes:  100% Chenin Blanc. This grape is known for its good acidity levels, thin skin and high natural sugar levels. Thus, you will commonly see it in sparkling or sweet wines. Though it is growing in popularity with dry versions.

Where it's from:  There is a lot going on with this label - so much so I had to throw a few words into Google to double check whether they were indicators of the winery or not. The wine was made in the Swartland wine region of South Africa. The term "Secateurs" is a brand name of the A.A. Badenhorst Family winery.

Winemaker's Notes:  Wine was matured for 7 months on it's gross lees.*

Alcohol: 14%

What the label says:  "Flinty with honey, orange blossom and white stone fruit notes."

My thoughts:  First, I am so excited for this project because of how much I am learning already. Specifically, I learned that *gross lees typically refers to the size of debris (grape skins, seeds, stems, yeast, etc) that sits at the bottom of the fermented with the juice. Winemaker's typically filter the juice to remove these debris systematically until you end you with clear fermented grape juice, aka WINE. Maturing wine with gross lees for too long and lead to some issues later on with regard unintended chemical reactions, so I definitely thought this was an interesting winemaker choice. Regardless, the wine was delicious! It had a crisp aroma, clear elements of fresh minerality. The taste was as expected for chenin blanc, biting acidity with fresh fruit flavors. Definitely a great start to the winter wine project!

Up next -- 2012 Kung Fu Girl Riesling from Washington State and A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir from Oregon.

Happy Holidays and Cheers!

Gifts for the Wine Lover: Art and Decor

With the countdown to the end of the year winding down quickly, I have some more gift ideas for the wine lover in your life. Do you know someone who enjoys interior design or picking up fun items to display around the house? Then, this list is full of great ideas for you! Below I have featured some of my favorite wine themed art and decor items, some are DIY, but all make great gifts for the holidays.

1. Wine Cork Cage.  If you are like me, you have tons of extra wine corks lying around. Turn those corks into a piece of art by displaying them in an interesting way. You can buy a simple glass vase or wire basket to display them. But if you are looking for something for interesting, check out this wine cork cage. (Definitely not for those unsure about their passion for wine).

2. Painted Wine Bottles.  This was one of my favorites DIY projects I saw this season. Take an empty wine bottle and your favorite paint (I would suggest chalkboard paint or silver) and fill it with silk flowers or something sparkly to liven up the holiday table. Here are some step by step instructions.

3. Cork Holiday Wreath.  I love this idea because it can be a simple DIY gift or something more complicated and beautiful. The wine cork wreath that I featured to the left can easily be made with some leftover corks, a few items from the craft store and a hot glue gun. However, there are some more complicate versions available online that involve a woven cork pattern. 

4. Unique Painted Wine Goblets.  Any wine lover would love a personalized wine glass. Generally, painted wine glasses are quite easy to find, especially for 21st birthdays. But there are unique painted glasses out there. Some of my favorites can be found online at Etsy, the vendor RealGlassAct sells painted wine glasses with some cinema favorites on there - Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany's, Johnny Depp, and even the main characters from the Wizard of Oz. Be sure to check them out!

5. Fun Wine Prints.  One of my favorite gifts ideas is finding a great quote online, printing it on high quality paper, and framing it. Its simple, affordable and classic. Here are some ideas:

These are just a few ideas and there are many more out there! Get creative!

Happy Holidays and Cheers!

Photo Confessions: Winter Wine Project

Hey there Wine-Nerds! I am excited to announce a new winter wine project - tasting and reviewing Wine Spectator's 100 Outstanding Values.

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Now this month's WS featured "The Top 100: The Most Exciting Wines of 2013." Usually, I don't put much value in these top 100 lists as there are many factors at play beyond the quality of wine, such as politics, personal bias, or the weather that day. But, I figured I would see what made WS's list of favorites anyway. As I read, I was very (and I repeat very) disappointed to see so few wines in the top 100 for a reasonable price (aka below $20). 

However, I was quickly corrected when I discovered another feature for "100 Outstanding Values." Now, this list did not get the 20 page spread that the favorites of 2013 received, but I figured I would give a shout out to these noteworthy wines by reviewing them myself individually.

Here is the game plan: I hope to taste at least a quarter the list within the upcoming months (since some labels may be hard to find). I will let you know if the wine lives up to its "top 100 outstanding value" ranking from my perspective, as your friendly neighborhood wine-nerd. Plus, I will provide some history/general information on the grapes that make up the wine as well. (Because history is the best).

I hope you may be interested in joining the winter wine project and taste some of the wines yourself! I look forward to your comments!

Happy Holidays and Cheers!

Gifts for Wine Lovers: Books

So you have finished up the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers. The radio is playing holiday music 24/7. And Baby, it's officially cold outside. You know what that means - it's the Holiday Season! 

If you are in search of something special for the wine lover in your life, look no further! I will be featuring some of my favorite wine related items, including: art and decor, gadgets and gizmos, or just a few of my favorite things. But first, I have a list of my favorite wine books!

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1. Thomas Jefferson on Wine, By John Hailman.  This was the first book I ever purchased specifically discussing wine. Being the history nerd that I am, it played a huge role in sparking my interest in wine. A great choice for anyone who loves history and wine.

2. Wine and War: The French, The Nazis, and The Battle for France's Greatest Treasure, By Donald Kladstrup & Petie Kladstrup.  Another choice for someone who loves history and wine, but this book focuses on World War II. Just finished reading this book and loved it! I have so many interesting stories to share with friends at holiday parties about how the French would go to great lengths to protect their wine from Nazi seizure. 

3. Wine Wars: The Curse of the Blue Nun, the Miracle of Two Buck Chuck, and the Revenge of the Terroirists, By Mike Veseth.  Finally, a book that combines economics and wine! A great read for the Economist in your life. This book discusses some recent changes in the wine business and how these changes will affect wine production in the future.

4. Wine Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters, and Critics influence the Wine We Drink, By Tyler Colman.  I have yet to read this book, but it is definitely next on my list. A combination of my two favorite things - wine and politics. The world of wine is definitely (if not completely) drive by politics and law. Looking forward to 

5. Wines of the New South Africa, By Tim James.  Finally, a book dedicated to one of my favorite wine regions - South Africa! There are hundreds (if not thousands) of books covering France, Italy and even Germany - down to the individual region - but there are few specifically covering South Africa. This book covers the history of wine making and the trends of what is to come. 

6. The Essential Scratch and Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert: Take a Whiff of That, By Richard Betts.  I saw this book on a list in Wine Spectator and absolutely loved the idea of it! One of the most important things in learning more about wine and the styles you like as an individual is learning how to use your nose! Smelling wine is half the fun. Be warned, don't take this book too seriously when it comes to the actual scents, as some reviewers have described them as off, but definitely an interesting and unique book for the wine lover that is looking for something new!

Looking for something that provides a more straight forward approach to learning about wine (aka wine reference books), anything written by the following authors will definitely be a great resource:

• Jancis Robinson 
• Oz Clarke
• Mark Oldman (A personal favorite, informative an hilarious at the same time!)

Happy Holidays and Cheers!