Bottle Tree

What do you do with those leftover Wine bottles?

As seen in the Daily Sip newsletter...
Make a Bottle Tree of course!
The trees are made of metal rods by a small company in Sunflower, Miss., and are designed solely for displaying empty wine bottles. They're sold as garden decoration, but the idea actually stems from an African tradition of placing shiny objects outside the home to attract evil spirits away from the family. We suggest you modify the tradition, bring it indoors and make your Christmas tree a Bottle Tree.

Enjoy!

What the Doctor Ordered

I think I need to remodel my kitchen to look like this!

How to Chill Wine QUICK with SALT ?

How to Chill Wine QUICK with SALT ?
yes Salt.
wow.
so my dear TWITs...
-
Click here to learn more:
Real Simple's tip to chill Wine with SALT
-

Sparkling Wines - December 1, 2010 - Ms. Abbie

TWITs Holiday Celebration
Wednesday, December 1st - 7pm-10pm
@ Abbie's house

Featuring Sparkling Wine*
Bring a bottle of something bubbly (perhaps that Prosecco you've been holding onto?)
*Spouses are welcome!
*Pregnant/Nursing TWITs also welcome (we will have non-alcoholic options available)
Come Mix and Mingle with us, refreshments and food provided.

Let's end the year with one last CHEERS before 2011! Hope to see you there.

Abbie's Tasting Notes:
1) Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier - Reims France - Maison Fondue en 1776 (gift from friend)
texture is full and generous, fruity and refreshing notes, a "fresh festive finesse" a full complex wine both modern and powerful, matured in oak casks, matured for 3 years in cellar, rested for 6 months after disgorgement to perfect maturity

2) Conde de Caralt - Semi-seco -Cava - Penedes Spain $8.99 at Total Wine
"elegant blend of Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarel-lo. has a brilliant light yellow color and a clean fresh nose with hints of yeast and peach blossoms. The supple palate is off-dry, carrying notes of apple, and creating a fresh, cleansing acidity. Off-dry, apple, peach, med-bodied."

3) Lamarca Prosecco
golden apple, white grape, honeysuckle flavors

4) Prosecco - blue bottle from Trader Joes $5.99
Grassy, flavor is fresh, green,

5) Prosecco - Rioudo Vue - Spago Nero
"is effusively fruity and light-bodied, and offers terrific floral notes, persistent effervescence, and a clean, delicate finish."

6) Rondel Pura Raza Brut - Cava from Spain - $7.99
More fruity than dry, "extreme brut" is filled with soft peach and nut flavors, their fragrances, lifted by white pepper and floral tones of white lilies. Briny, fresh, crisp, peach, light bodied.

7) Wolf Mountain - Dahlonega, GA - Blanc de Blanc Brut 2009
Meaning white from white this dry sparkling chardonnay expresses our signature style; light yet complex. crisp. fruity. and elegant. A light bread flavor was imparted by aging en tirage (on the yeast) for almost a year. This combined with hints of citrus. spice notes and crisp acidity

Free The Grapes!

Protect Consumer Choice! Opposing HR 5034!
"What is H.R. 5034?
HR 5034 is special-interest legislation that pretends to protect the public and reaffirm states’ rights, but is really intended to put more money in the wholesaler middlemen’s pockets by doing an end-run around the U.S. Supreme Court and pre-empting the Constitution. It would give wholesalers unfettered monopoly power to pass discriminatory state laws that would remove your ability to buy wine directly from your favorite winery or merchant. It would harm your state’s wineries, brewers and distillers, as well as businesses, jobs, and state and local economies."

READ MORE at FreeTheGrapes.Org

Parish "UnCorked" Event coming November 5th, 2010

Excerpt from the October Concentrics Restaurants Correspondance:

"PARISH "Uncorked" is Back!

PARISH Foods & Goods welcomes back "Uncorked," newly improved. Reserve your limited seat to our recently revamped "Uncorked," held the first Friday of every month at 7:30 p.m. Each "Uncorked" wine bash will be themed and feature different selections, handpicked by our resident sommelier Justin Amick. Grab your glass and try as many as you like from our tasting bar in the Market at PARISH. The number of bottles will be dependent on the number of reservations, and the juice will flow until it's all gone. Chef Joe Schafer will be supplying family style charcuterie and cheese to keep your tanks full. Limited reservations are available and required. Cost is $25 per person, tell your friends! See you at "Uncorked!" For more information, ask your server or visit parishatl.com. To make your reservation today, call 404.681.4434. PARISH is located at 240 N. Highland, Atlanta, GA 30307. Make your reservations today for Friday, November 5th at 7:30 p.m "

Total Wine's Drink Pink Event!

Total Wine is featuring Wines that support Breast Cancer Research.
-
So read up,
Buy some pink
and
then
DRINK PINK!

Prosecco - SOMEDAY in 2010 - Ms. Kat

Prosecco - hopefully SOMEDAY in 2010 - Ms. Kat (the Sept 15 and Oct 15 mtgs were cancelled due to low attendance)

Speaking of sparkling wines - read this article...

Wikipedia: Prosecco is an Italian wine, usually a sparkling white wine.
Pairings: Gorgonzola, Humboldt Fog, or Robiola due Latti cheeses, oysters, melon wrapped in proscuitto, honey, nuts, apples, citrus fruits, roasted pork, sage gnocchi, apple butter, salmon, horseradish relish, etc.
About: made from Prosecco grapes, primarily grown in Veneto region of Italy. Prosecco grapes can also be used to make spumante or frizzante. Prosecco is often used as a mixer for the Bellini or Poinsettia mixed-drink. Prosecco is similar to the French Champagne, but the name Prosecco can only be applied to wine that is made from Prosecco grapes grown in the Valdobbiadene/Conegliano regions of Italy. Dalmation Prosecco is made from dried grapes not fresh ones and is a sweeter wine akin to sherry.

Tasting Notes:
Coming soon

Stacking Wine Glasses?

Oh yesssssssss!!!

Crate and Barrel has stacking wine glasses. Eddy Stacking Wine Glasses.

Finally, a computer error that offers a solution!

Finally, a computer error that offers a solution I can live with!

Caduceus Cellars

Back in April 2010, we published an entry in the blog about a documentary film, which was then touring the US, called "Blood Into Wine."

I'd missed the Atlanta showing of the film, so I ordered the DVD. It arrived in the mail Friday. The film features Maynard James Keenan (rocker turned Arizona winemaker) and his partner Eric Glomski as they start making wine for Caduceus Cellars. I cannot wait to try some!

Caduceus Cellars was also featured in Mutineer Magazine's December issue.

Of Wine and Boobs (yes Boobs)

I would not have believed this, but yes they DID go there.

Presenting...
The Wine Rack (see also Wine Rack) or Beer Belly.

Unfortunately, one of the reviews says the "rack" leaks pretty badly. Oh gosh darn it! Well you have to give them props for trying!
And the "rack" is apparently sold out until October 2010. WOW!

Rose - August 11th, 2010 - Ms Abbie

Rose - August 11th, 2010 - Ms Abbie

Watch this CBS clip about South African Wines supported by ISAW Foundation
"All from a sip of Rose!"

Wikipedia: Rose is made with red grapes through skin contact, saignee, or blending.
Pairings: Eggs stuffed with smoked salmon and caviar, oven-dried tomato tart with goat cheese and black olives, spinach salad with strawberry vinaigrette, figs with goat cheese, rosemary, honey toast, wild mushrooms.
About: Rose wine is not a varietal, but can be made from various red grapes. It has the color typical of red wine, but only enough to turn it pink. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a vivid near purplish, depending on the varietal(s) and techniques used to make the Rose wine.

We selected this wine for August, as it is served chilled, and August is such a hot month of the year.

Tasting Notes:
0. Honorary wine of the evening: 2009 Seven Sisters Twena Pinotage Rose - $16.99 at Wine Shoe
rosy pink, slight haze but mostly clear in color. medium sweet to off-dry in the mouth, light fruits, strawberry color and berry flavors, someone noted a light raspberry flavor (not tart though). very pleasant!

1. 2009 Nostrada Rose (Tarragona DOC) $7.99 at Total Wine
ruby blush color, light dry, alcohol aroma, Kat says almost like cough syrup - can we say that? acidic, makes me pucker, has legs, full-bodied Rose, floral overtones in the aroma, Marilyn says this would pair well with salmon or fish

2. 2009 Cellier du Rhone (Cotes du Rhone) Rose $5-6 at Trader Joes
no aroma at all, light fruit but evaporates quickly, rose petal aroma, off-dry, tart, like a "pink pinot grigio", pastel/pink/orange color

3. 2009 Cotes De Provence (Domaine Fontanyl) - $15.99 at Total Wine
earned the nickname "peachy keen" due to it's peach color, and peach aroma, no legs (or "Skinny Legs and All" - as we joked), tart, light, lovely bottle (we were told it is often purchased as a gift, due to it's unique and pleasing bottle shape).

4. 2008 Pinot Noir Rose La Crema (Russian River Valley) - $20 direct from winery
musty, mushroom aroma, oaky? has fuller strawberry flavor, light acidity, strawberry finish, and has some sort of herb/spice (Abbie says almost like mustard or tumeric) thing going on. Later when we unveiled the bottles, we found the clue on the back of the bottle, it was Red Licorice and tea leaves. ABBIE's FAVE tonight!

5. 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Nellie's Garden Dry Rose (Columbia Valley) - $11.99 at Total Wine (?)
watermelon/jolly rancher/raspberry color, cranberry juice color, tart, cran/ras/ocean spray flavor, like "chambord in champagne", acidic at first, then lingers like a french kiss.

6. Blason De Bourgogne (Cremant de Bourgogne) Brut Rose $10.99 Trader Joes
funky smell, not pleasant, horrid nose, yeasty smell,
Kat says would be good with Orange Juice
Marilyn says would be refreshing as a spritzer
creamy head flavor, 90% pinot noir, 10% gamay

We dined on:
Made By Hand Products - Bruschetta
Strawberries, Kiwi
Goat Cheese
Gorgonzola Crackers
Marys Gone Crackers - Gluten Free Crackers
Olives - Sevilla and Kalamata
Roasted Red Pepper Spread
French Bread
Sauteed Mushrooms
Carrots/Celery and Peppercorn Ranch Dip

Other fun items to note:
Mimosa recipe
champagne, pink grapefruit juice, splash of St. Germain
Tequila recommendation from Marilyn - De Familia (gold color)
Tequila recommendation from Abbie - Gran Centenario Rosangel
Restaurant Recommendation: Terra Humata

ISAW Stephen on CBS Atlanta!

ISAW on CBS Atlanta

Hi Everyone,
I wanted to share this link from CBS, and am asking you all to do the same. http://www.cbsatlanta.com/positively-georgia/index.html

As always, our funding and awareness efforts are grassroots and depend on you guys pushing this forward. Much love and many thanks for your ongoing support.

*Buy M'hudi*Ask For M'hudi*Buy Seven Sisters* Ask for Seven Sisters*

Drink Well, Do Good,
Stephen Satterfield

ISAW Foundation Media Project Fundraiser

ISAW 1K 4C: 1,000 People for $100
Take the challenge! This spring, thousands of people across the country were introduced to the ISAW Foundation and our mission of using wine to create economic opportunity for Africans through our Drink Well Do Good Campaign. This summer, we spent seven weeks in South Africa on the M’hudi Estate working on research and media development. With the help of our media partner Clear Films, we captured over 100 hours of footage in what is the most comprehensive collection of film that has ever been dedicated to the subject of black vintners, farmers, and black empowerment viticultural projects.

ISAW will use this media to help black entrepreneurs get their product to the US market, and engage Foundations, donors, and corporations for the financial support needed to develop the ISAW Training Center on the M’hudi Estate—South Africa’s first black‐owned vineyard. We need your help to develop the media and the school! As an incentive, if you help our Foundation, we’ll help you start your wine cellar! Here’s how:
1. Raise $100: It’s that simple! Please note that this is not asking you to personally give $100, we just need you to pledge your support to help raise it. Tell your friends, family, and co‐workers
that you have taken the challenge and that you need their help. $10, $20, $50, anything…once
you reach $100 you get a free bottle of delicious South African wine on us! Share it with
those who helped you raise it!
2. Recruit one more; win more wine! Each new donor you get, you will receive a new bottle
How to Donate
• Collect payments from your collaborators
• Submit your contribution via check to ISAW Foundation PO BOX 5502 Atlanta, GA 31107 OR
• Submit your payment online at www.toastafrica.com and clicking the icon that says SUPPORT
• If you are mailing a check, make sure you include your name, address, email, and phone number so we can get you your wine.

To help kickstart the initative, Emory University will match our donations until August 1st.

Also, check out this awesome profile of Mhudi on CBS
Thank you a million times over for all of your support. Thank you thank you thank you! I hope that you can see from all of our progress that we couldn't do it without you!

Also here is the Drink Well Do Good Trailer

Drink Well, Do Good,
Stephen A. Satterfield
ISAW Founder
------------------------

CONGRATULATIONS!

The TWITs and friends raised $200 for ISAW Foundation before August 1st!

Wine Jokes for Today

Water Vs. Wine
To my friends who enjoy a glass of wine...
And those who don't and are always
seen with a bottle of water in their hand.

As Ben Franklin said:
In wine there is wisdom,
In beer there is freedom,
In water there is bacteria.

In a number of carefully controlled trials,
Scientists have demonstrated that if we drink
1 litre of water each day,
At the end of the year we would have absorbed
More than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. Coli) - bacteria
Found in feces.
In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop.

However,
We do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer
(or tequila, rum, whiskey or other liquor)
Because alcohol has to go through a purification process
Of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

Remember:
Water = Poop,
Wine = Health.
Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid,
Than to drink water and be full of sh*t.

There is no need to thank me for this valuable information:
I'm doing it as a public service!
------------------------------------------------
Hymn # 365
A minister was completing a temperance sermon. With great emphasis he said, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."

With even greater emphasis he said, "And if I had
all the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."

And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he
Said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world,
I'd take it and pour it into the river."

Sermon complete, he sat down.

The song leader stood very cautiously and announced
With a smile, nearly laughing, "For our closing song,
Let us sing Hymn #365, 'Shall We Gather at the River.'"

Pinot Grigio - June 30th, 2010 - Ms. Marilyn

Pinot Grigio - June 30th, 2010 - Ms. Marilyn (and Buddy)

Wikipedia: Pinot Grigio is a white wine varietal (also called Pinot Gris).
Pairings: Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio pairs well with light crisp foods - examples, shrimp scampi, oysters or bacon wrapped scallops. Also Creamy Sauces, Turkey, Shrimp, Veal. Avoid tomato or spicy foods.
Notes: The grape grows best in cool climates, and matures relatively early with high sugar levels. This can lead to either a sweeter wine, or, if fermented to dryness, a wine high in alcohol. Clusters of Pinot gris may have a variety of colors in the vine. These clusters can range from bluish grey to light pinkish brown. The grapes grow in small clusters (hence the pinecone shape), and upon ripening, often display a pinkish-gray hue, although the colors can vary from blue-gray to pinkish-brown. Grown in France, Northern Italy, Australia, and on the West coast - US.

Marilyn was a lovely hostess providing us with a veritable feast of pairings including: a shell-shaped mold of crab dip (complete with cream cheese and cocktail sauce), artichoke/parm/Rotelle dip, pesto/cream cheese/sundried tomato dip, baked brie with almonds and honey, chicken/pesto/polenta lasagna (invidual portions) garnished with pinon, olive platter, fresh veggie platter, fresh fruit platter, homemade whipped cream, several cracker/pita chip options for dipping, and I'm sure I probably forgot something on this list, but anyway it was all DELICIOUS!

Tasting Notes:
1) 2009 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio - $17.99 at Total Wine
(depending where you buy this one, it may run you upwards of $30/bottle or as low as $13.99 at Costco)
Light and refreshing taste, pale straw color, crisp but not too tart, dry finish, no scent or nose that we muster, as it warmed the flavor mellowed, also tastes of green pear and banana

2) 2009 Conte Fini Valdadige Pinot Grigio - $11.99 or $12.99 at Total Wine
light and tangy, not as dry, little to no scent, faint scent of apple perhaps? Lingers longer at the back of the mouth, green apple, fresh green grape taste, goes down too easy. very drinkable.

3) 2007 Francis Ford Coppola Bianco Pinot Grigio - $7.35 Kroger closeout
straw yellow color, golden peach flavor with sharp tang at the end.
others said light gentle flavor, does not linger, but is buttery on the frontal tongue, goes VERY well with the Cocktail sauce, memorable! balanced flavor.

4) 2009 Conte Priola Pinot Grigio - $6.99 Total Wine
dryer, mellow flavor, green apple, tart, herbacious, tastes slightly of lemon, reminds me of Sauvignon Blanc, aroma is also lemon, apple, tangerine perhaps, crisp, long refreshing finish.

Pinot Noir - May 26th, 2010 - Ms. Deborah

Pinot Noir - May 26th, 2010 - Ms. Deborah

Wikipedia: Pinot Noir is a red wine varietal.
Pairings: Although Pinot Noir harmonizes well with a wide variety of foods, the best matches are grilled salmon, plain roast beef, any dish featuring mushrooms as the main flavor, braised lamb, pheasant, duck, grilled meaty fish. Classic French cooking has creations based on Pinot Noir such as Coq au Vin, Boeuf Bourginon, and Cassoulet. See more here.
About: Pinot Noir is also featured in the movie Sideways. In this interesting review the characters Miles and Maya have a conversation about why they like wines. Miles says he likes pinot because "it's a hard grape to grow - thin skinned, it ripens early, it's not a survivor. It needs constant care and attention, and can only really grow in these specific tucked away corners of the world." In the end he's talking about himself, really. Maya on the other hand, talks about how a wine is actually alive, constantly growing and evolving, even in the bottle.
Pinot Noir is often found in Burgundy region, Russian River Valley, Oregon, etc. Its thin skins attribute to low tannins, yet the cool region gives it a lively acidity.

Tasting Notes:
1) 2008 Vin Dillon Pinot Noir, Williamette Valley Oregon, $17.99 at Total Wine
12.6% Alcohol
Nose is smokhy, light leather, jasmine
Color is ruby/red, hazy but still see-through.
Palate berry, cranberry, lite granny smith apple flavor, clean short finish.

2) 2006 Mission Point Pinot Noir $8.99 Trader Joes (Produced in Eugene Oregon, Santa Barbara, CA)
13.6% Alcohol
Darker color, almost garnet.
Nose is perfumey, play-dough/must scent, gardenias, rubbing alchohol, vanilla
smooth, fuller, lingering finish, pomegranate/cranberry onthe palate

3) 2007 Kupelweiser Alto Adige Pino Nero $11.99 Total Wine
Italian - 13% Alcohol
Sweet/smoky smell, nose is earthy, darker color - garnet, tastes of candide flowers, musty,
full body, lingering finish also.

4) 2008 De Loach Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $17.99 at Costco
Burgundy techniques used, Produced in Santa Rosa, CA 14.5% alcohol
Darkest color,
nose has dark cherry, pungent must
cola, spice, bing cherry (specifically the Washington State Dark Cherry), jammy
smooth, full bodied,
would be great with lamb or other gamey meat

5) 2009 Pinot Evil Pinot Noir - $4.99 Total Wine
French import, 12.5% alcohol
Dark but hazy, not opaque, nose of chocolate, garden/herb spearmint - palate is tart, very dry, cotton ball finish
almost a salty fruit flavor, like grapefruit, smooth, velvety finish.

Wine 2.0

Found this little tidbit on my Linked In updates this morning.
I thought it was very apt for our generation of Winos.
Check it out here:

Wine 2.0

Drink Well Do Good Tour featured on Food Channel

Stephen Satterfield's Drink Well, Do Good Tour is featured on Food Channel!!!

Go Stephen Go!!!

Three Sheets Atlanta!

Saturday May 22nd, 2010 9pm - Center Stage -Atlanta, GA
Tickets are $24

More Info:
Zane Lamprey Tour Info
Drinking Made Easy Book Tour

You can also watch episodes of Three Sheets on Fine Living Network (FLN) - check your local cable provider for times/channels, or anytime on Hulu.com.

Wine Cork USB Drive

Now you can be a Wino at work too!
Get your Wine Stopper USB Drive Here!
*wine bottle not included

Chilean Wines - April 14th 2010 - Ms. Abbie

Photography by Matthew Lane of Zazen Photo LLC

Chilean Wines - April 14th 2010 - Ms. Abbie

Wikipedia: Chilean Wine - red or white wines from vineyards in Chile.
We do this month's wine choice to support the Chilean Wine Industry which recently survived an earthquake in March of 2010.
Interesting history: The Berlin Tasting, which is to Chilean Wines as the Judgement of France was to California Wines (if you saw the movie Bottle Shock).
Food Pairings: Wines of Chile - pairing advice. We did our best to pair the food with the wine, and we served: sauteed mushrooms, roasted carnitas, roasted red peppers, mixed greek olives, brie, goat cheese, ementhaler cheese, asiago cheese, and manchego cheese, fresh pineapple, ratatouille, and gluten-free crackers (Mary's Gone Crackers brand).

List of Chilean wines we'll be tasting (special thanks to Ralph Taylor at Winedog.com for putting this together for us):

1. Agustinos Carmenere Reserve '05 - retail price $11.99
2. De Martino Legado Reserva Syrah '04 - retail price $14.99
3. Apaltagua Reserva Pinot Noir '09 - retail price $11.99
4. Apaltagua Envero Gran Reserva '07 - retail price $14.99
5. Marquis Lien '06 - retail price $14.99
6. Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay '07 - retail price $19.99
7. Errazuriz Sauvignon Blanc '08 - retail price $15.99
8. Penalolen Cabernet Sauvignon '07 - retail price $19.99

Information and Tasting Notes:
1. Agustinos Carmenere Reserve '05 – The Winery is Gracia De Chile, The Region is Curico Valley. The VC Family Estates was created in 1989 in order to produce fine and top quality wines. VC is not only searching for the best terroir for each strain, but also counts with wineries and vineyards in the different valleys of Chile and Argentina, which have unique characteristics for Wine Production. Agustinos is born in order to promote a new concept in wines, highlighting the importance of nature and its legacy. The Philosophy of Agustinos is to have develop techniques to elaborate the best wine without harming nature, and has therefore aquired a strong commitment towards the environment in all its processes, starting with vineyard development up to the production in its wineries. Grapes from their wines come from their own vineyards, which allow them to control the process and harvesting. They use solar energy, biomass, waste water treatment in the winery, biodynamic viticulture, produce organic wines, and strive to use ecological suppliers. They use recycled glass for bottles, recycled paper for the labels, etc. Agustinos promotes training for the workers and salesmen and as they educate, hope to inspire and inform clients about the incredible benefits of their wines promoting well being and a healthy balanced lifestyle. TASTING NOTES: Dark, both jammy and spicy, not smoky. Dominated by oak until it has a chance to breathe. Nice tannins, especially in the finish.

2. De Martino Legado Reserva Syrah '04 – Vina De Martino is recognized in Latin America as the First Carbon neutral winery, and was the first winery to offer a wine labeled Carmenere. In 2004 bottled the only wine to carry Choapa Valley appellation, and are certified for clean production, and certified organic since 2001. In 2006 they signed an agreement with CODEFF (private institution dedicated to conservation of Chilean flora and fauna). They are now selling carbon credits (generic term referring to value assigned to a reduction or offset of greenhouse gas emisions). TASTING NOTES: A well-balanced blend of 94% Syrah and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon with black cherry flavors and a long and fruity finish. Aged for 12 months in French oak. Produced from estate grapes.

3. Apaltagua Reserva Pinot Noir '09 – TASTING NOTES: Apaltagua’s Pinot Noir has a brilliant ruby color and emphasizes aromas of cherries, raspberries, and soft notes of oak. It boasts smooth and elegant tannins and a sophisticated finish. The grapes come from Apaltagua’s own vineyard in Tricao in the Curico Valley.

4. Apaltagua Envero Gran Reserva '07 - Apaltagua Winery, located in the prestigious Apalta region in Chile's Colchagua Valley, specializes in one distinguished, but lesser known, grape varietal - Carmenère. Carmenère is considered the "lost Bordeaux" variety, as it was originally planted in Bordeaux, but was abandoned there because it was too late ripening for the Bordeaux climate. Thankfully, the Carmenère variety was imported to Chile where it not only survives (because of a longer growing season), but makes exceptionally good wines. Apaltagua, owned by the Edward Tutunjian family, has a missionary-like zeal in its dedication to the Carmenère grape. The winery produces three levels of Carmenère based wines: Apaltagua Estate Carmenère, Apaltagua Envero, and Apaltagua Grial. The resulting wines exhibit a chocolately richness and a peppery edge, combining the best of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in one grape. All of Apaltagua's wines are made under the watchful eye of one of Chile’s leading winemakers, Alvaro Espinoza. TASTING NOTES: Made of 90% Carmenère and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, Envero's dark, rich fruit is complemented by eight months in French oak. All the fruit comes from the Apalta region of Colchagua, with the vines over 50 years old. A complex offering.

5. Maquis Lien '06 - The Hurtado family has owned the Viña Maquis vineyard for more than a century, but it wasn’t until ten years ago that the family decided to make their own wine out of the terrific grapes in their own backyard. They built a gorgeous, state-of-the-art gravity flow winery and set out to make a “Super Chilean” blend using the vineyard’s best red grapes. Located in Valle de Colchagua, the vineyard's terroir is deeply influenced by its geographic position, as it is surrounded by the Tinguiririca River and the Chimbarongo Creek—two large waterways that once brought alluvial sediments from the Andes. Today, they act as pathways for cool coastal breezes that help moderate the warm Colchagua summers, contributing to the intensity and fruitness of the wines. The distinctive 2006 Maquis Lien is made from a finely tuned blend of 42% Syrah, 30% Carmenere, 12% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot, and 7% Malbec. It is a generous red wine that reflects the character of the Hurtado family’s special plot of land. To make this fruity and concentrated blend, winemakers Ricardo Rivadeneira Hurtado and Alejandro Jofré have developed vines that bear no more than 12 bunches of grapes per vine. Only the ripest grapes are picked, then sorted by hand at the winery. The Lien is barrel aged for 12 months in French oak. In Chile's native Mapuche language, lien means “silver metal”—a reference to colonial Spanish coins that were once melted to make fine jewelry, like the lizard on the Maquis label. TASTING NOTES: "Ruby-red. Mellow, smoky aromas of cherry, singed plum, licorice and oak. Packs a solid punch but this is surprisingly light in weight, even graceful, offering sweet dark fruit flavors and good spicy lift. Shows an exotic floral quality on the long, sappy, sharply focused finish. "

6. Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay '07 - Errazuriz was founded in 1870 in the Aconcagua Valley, 65 miles north of the capital, Santiago, and at the foot of Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the seven summits of the world. Today, the tradition lives on with Eduardo Chadwick, the fifth generation of his family to lead this exceptional estate. Eduardo’s work has been colossal, bringing Errazuriz into a new era where it is acknowledged as a producer of world-class wines, and opened eyes around the globe as to Chile’s incredible and diverse sites. Errazuriz ferments its best lots of Chardonnay using natural yeasts. Natural fermentation starts slower than inoculated fermentation because the yeasts must grow to sufficient numbers to transform sugars into alcohol. During this period the yeasts produce by-products which add distinctive flavors and complexity to the wine. Some lots start the fermentation and eventually finish, others ferment slowly and do not finish off the sugars completely, leaving more mouth feel. These natural fermentations take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks to complete while the inoculated lots take less than a week. The winter of 2007 was one of Chile’s coldest and driest in 40 years, and spring soil moisture levels were lower than in previous years, which provoked a uniform but slow budbreak 10–15 days later than in the previous season. The grapes were hand-picked early in the morning, rigorously sorted and then gently wholecluster pressed. Following wild fermentation, approximately 50% of the final blend was further enhanced by malolactic fermentation. The entire blend was aged on its lees for 8 months in French oak barrels, 21% new. TASTING NOTES: Light straw yellow in color, our 2007 Wild Ferment Chardonnay is particularly complex on the nose and palate. With good intensity, it delivers notes that range from toast to nuts to aromas that recall tropical fruits such as pineapple and cherimoya. There’s a light touch of smoke and ash lingering in the background that lead to an outstanding palate that nicely blends crisp acidity with a sweetish sensation. Medium-bodied and creamy on the palate, with flavors that are consistent with the nose. Fresh and elegant, with a delightfully long finish.

7. Errazuriz Sauvignon Blanc '08 - The Sauvignon Blanc Single Vineyard blend is sourced from a specific block at our La Escultura Estate, located in the Casablanca Valley just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, which provides a coastal influence that moderates temperatures during the ripening period. Cool sea breezes enable an easy and gradual ripening period that helps conserve flavor and ensures good acidity levels in the grapes. 2008 Vintage The 2008 growing season began with one of the driest and coldest winters Chile has seen, and the springtime moisture level in the soil was considerably lower than in previous years. The fruit was hand-picked later than average and most of the juice was fermented in stainless-steel tanks, with just 2% barrel-fermented to add complexity to the final blend. The lots were aged on their lees for 3 months to develop texture and mouthfeel. TASTING NOTES: The 2008 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc is a wine that exhibits great elegance, whit a fruit expression particularly complex that develops layers of aromas and flavors, lending it a distinct identity. The nose recalls citrus such as grapefruit mingled with a slightly tropical profile and a note of fresh-cut grass. The palate is lush, ample, and persistent. “The light straw-colored 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Single Vineyard is an elegant rendering of this grape with enticing aromas of citrus and passion fruit, medium body, excellent balance, and a lengthy finish. It is also an excellent value.” 89 Wine Advocate Exclusive US

8. Penalolen Cabernet Sauvignon '07 – Vina Penalolen (Vee-nya Pee-nya-loh-lehn) - Peñalolén winery was founded by vineyard owner Ricardo Peña and his wife Isabel with the objective to produce unique Chilean wines, full of personality and verve. The wines are made by winemaker Jean-Pascal Lacaze, well respected for his deft hand in producing memorable wines. All grapes are grown and hand harvested with meticulous care to guarantee the integrity of the fruit, and picked early in the morning when the weather is coolest. Peñalolén is truly a family-owned, boutique winery committed to making wines of distinction. 2007 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - Low yields and hand harvesting indicate the care given to the superior fruit from this single-vineyard winery located on the gravelly slopes of the Maipo Valley. These standards extend to the wine-making process, with meticulous grape selection and aging in French oak barrels for 12 months. TASTING NOTES: Made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this is a complex and velvety wine with a soft structure, spicy tannins, and a fruity finish. The Wine Spectator gave the prior vintage 90 points

PHOTOS

New Wine Movie?

Blood Into Wine - a documentary on Tool/Puscifer front man Maynard James Keenan and his vineyard (Caduceus Cellars) partner Eric Glomski's mission to bring notoriety and respect to Northern Arizona's burgeoning wine industry.

• Interview here
• IMDB link
• Meaning of the word Caduceus

My fave review on their website: "Wine Review for 2004 Nagual del SENSEI by Filmaker Kris Pothier & some guy named Joe: At the time of this tasting, this wine is tight. At the very beginning we noted fresh stain on a church pew, tar and Flintstones vitamins. But as the wine opened, it began inducing slow pelvic thrusts in at least one, if not two, of your lab rats. At one point, a taster exclaimed: "it makes me want to break my glass and slit my throat so I can pour it down faster." Like the Naga, this complex wine has at least two distinct sides. Someone dubbed it "Asian agent orange." In addition to fig/plum, cocoa, anise, and brown sugar it took us out of the country. Orange-candied ginger, miso, Indian milk cakes, it could go well with red coconut milk curry. It also has something piquant in the mouth. The tannins give this wine an almost silty texture, adding to the milk cake and cocoa powder impression. They'll probably mellow with a little time. It's rich, young, still a little green. Oaky, but not over-bearing. Notable quotes... "It smells like the baking aisle at Bashas." and "This shit gives me the sweats."

ISAW article in The Voyeur Magazine!!!

ISAW published in The Voyeur Magazine!!!!

This article also mentions the Emily Amy Gallery and the TWITs recent wine tasting there.
Link = Green Spotlight on the ISAW Foundation.

Special thanks to ISAW, Emily Amy Gallery, Zazen Photo LLC, and Dreama (editor of The Voyeur Mag, who was kind enough to publish this article as a "sneak peek" of the Green Issue, coming out in full next month on their website).

ONE DAY ONLY - meet Vivian of Seven Sisters Winery

Vivian & Abbie (drinking Seven Sisters Dawn Pinotage/Shiraz and Vivian Sauvignon Blanc respectively)

Vivian (one of the Seven Sisters) from Seven Sister's Winery in South Africa will be here for ONE DAY ONLY this week.

She's going to be at 10 Degrees South from 4p-6p on 3/18 - Thursday. Vivian is one of the Seven Sisters and she helped get them all back together after they had been apart for many years. Each of the Seven Sisters have a wine named after them. Vivian's is the Seven Sisters Sauvignon Blanc.

Hope you can make it! --

EXCITING NEWS: American Airlines recently chose the Seven Sisters Sauvignon Blanc (Vivian) as the firstSouth African wine ever to be served onboard its flights, worldwide.

---- from http://www.isawfoundation.org/OurWines/tabid/63/Default.aspx ----
Seven Sisters: The story of Seven Sisters is so powerful we are compelled to share it at each opportunity. The Brutus family was raised in the small fishing village of Paternoster, on the western coast of South Africa. In 1983, their father lost his job as a fisherman after 20 years. The Brutus sisters were forced to separate and leave the fishing village to move in with other family members. They yearned to return, but were not able to do so given the unfavorable economic circumstances. Over twenty years later, the sisters reunited and set out to establish a family business and started their own wine company in 2005. Each of their seven wines is distinct, carefully selected to match the styles and personalities of each of the seven sisters. ISAW seeks to support these courageous women by sharing their story and wonderful wines.

Red Wine Haiku's

Be sure to check out the Haiku for M'hudi Pinotage!
http://redwinehaiku.blogspot.com/

Awesome!

Help ISAW Foundation

ISAW is an Atlanta-based 501c3 with the mission of building sustainable communities through viticulture. In April 2010, ISAW is preparing for a 14-city food, music, and arts tour called "Drink Well Do Good" spanning from New Orleans to Cape Town. The tour is a series of wine exhibitions and concerts raising money to build a viticultural training center on the M'hudi estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Helpful ISAW Links:
ISAW Foundation
Local Wine Events
Toast Africa - to donate

YouTube Videos:
Drink Well, Do Good Promo Video
Drink Well, Do Good Commercial
Drink Well, Do Good Toast Africa

Press:
Media Release
Cuisine Noir
NY Times

Support ISAW at these Atlanta Retailers:
Tower Wine & Spirits
Ansley Wine Merchants
Wine Shoe (Castleberry Hill)
Wine Styles Cascade

Meditation and Wine

Meditations on Wine

Earthquake impacts Chilean Wines

Earthquake impacts Chilean Wines!
read this article for details.

ISAW Event at Emily Amy Gallery - February 24th, 2010

Join us for an event that will tantalize your taste buds
& satisfy your hunger for social change! ISAW will be
providing us with a selection of wines to taste, and
TWITs will be providing hors de oeuvres and other
snacks. The Emily Amy Gallery has graciously donated
their beautiful space for this special event!

100% of your tax-deductible contribution will benefit ISAW,
an organization dedicated to diminishing poverty &
inequality in South Africa by partnering with black-owned
& socially-progressive vineyards to support the socioeconomic development of African farmers & their communities.

$20 per person suggested donation. To reserve your tasting: Please go to www.toastafrica.com and click on Support. In Step 1 fill in $20 (per person) in the blank field or make an even more generous donation! Once you receive a confirmation for your contribution, please print it out and bring it with you to the tasting.

Thank you! We look forward to Drinking Well and Doing Good with you!

To learn more about your hosts for this event, please visit:

http://www.isawfoundation.org/
http://www.emilyamygallery.com/
TWITs Wine Club (The Winos In Training)

Abbie's Tasting Notes:

1) M'hudi Sauvignon Blanc - light, acidic, multi-layered wine, hints of honeysuckle, pineapple, and to use Stephen's word "herbacious" - pairs well with goat cheese.

2) M'hudi Pinotage - my fave! smoky nose and tastes divine. Perfectly plummy, red wine, purple in color, light yet flavorful. The smokiness would pair well with southern barbeque or smoked/grilled meats.

3) Seven Sisters Odelia - Bukettraube - melon, lychee notes, a light off-dry treat that would be an amazing dessert wine, or perfect for a summer's day.

Photography of this event courtesy of Matthew Lane of Zazen Photo LLC.

Wine and Cheese Pairings - January 20th, 2010 - Ms. Jane

Wine and Cheese Pairings - January 20th, 2010 - Ms. Jane
From Ms. Sarah - This month we are going to do wine and cheese pairings. This is how it's going to work. Each one of you will select a varietal that you want to bring (it can be whatever you like). Then, I'll give that list to Jane and she'll pick some cheeses according to everyone's selections.

We'll then go through the wines, tasting each one with the various cheeses in sequence. Each person will take notes on their thoughts about the different pairings (the good, bad & ugly -- and hair perm!). At the end, we'll see if we draw similar or divergent opinions. I think it will be really cool if we can do a blind tasting of both the wine and cheeses -- Jane, perhaps you and I can come up with a clever way to conceal the wines so that the ladies know nothing about them before they taste them -- not even color! Maybe blindfolds?

Mina - Sancerre
Jane - Cabernet Sauvingnon
Sarah - Petite Syrah
Elizabeth S - Chardonnay
Elizabeth K - Pinot Noir
Abbie - Malbec
Claudia - Cava

Wine & Cheese Pairing Websites:
ABC's of Wine & Cheese
Gourmet Sleuth
Wine Intro

Tasting Notes:
1) Wine = 2007 Tarantas Cava - DOC - purchased at Greenes for approx $15
Cheeses = Brie and Mild Cheddar
Tasting Notes: tastes toasty - Sarah
tastes light, like apples - Elizabeth S
nose of green apple and pear - Mina
Abbie prefers the mild cheddar with this wine as opposed to the Brie. The Brie is a bit "funky" with the Cava. Also tried it with Gruyere Cheese and it seems to cancel out the flavor

2) Wine = Alfio Morrconi Selection Sancerre - Cuvee - Christian Salmon, Total Wine $19.99
Cheese = Double Gloucester
Notes: (grapes are Sauvignon Blanc), nose is honeysuckle, fragrant floral, taste is perfectly balanced, very good with Gouda in my opinion

3) Wine = 2007 Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay, Alexandre, Cuvee - gift from her boss not sure of price
Cheeses = Mild Cheddar and Gruyere
Tasting Notes: nose is woody, oaky, someone said jasmine. tastes of pear, good balance of fruity and buttery.
Abbie says - Surprisingly I like it, and I normally do not really enjoy Chardonnay. Just lovely

4) Wine = 2008 Lucky Star Pinot Noir - Grocton, California - Toco Giant $11.00
Cheeses = Gruyere and Edam
We decided it was very good with the Gruyere and Gouda
nose is lemony, taste is dry, light, fruit or light berry

5) Wine = 2009 La Finca Malbec - Mendoza, Argentina - Trader Joes approx $7.00
Cheeses = Muenster, Manchego, Blue Cheesewe agree it's fabulous with the blue cheese.

6) Wine = 2006 Falcon Ridge Syrah, Central Coast - Trader Joes approx $7.00
Cheeses = Triple Cream and Gouda
very good with the triple cream

7) Wine - 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Cheeses = Blue Cheese, Camembert, and Sharp Cheddar
Abbie thinks it is best with the Sharp Cheddar.

Book recommendation: Great Wine Made Simple by Andrea Immer.

Local Wine Events

Love Wine Club? Need it more often than once a month?
Here's come options for you in Atlanta.

Every Wednesday
London Bistro Lounge - Wine Tastings Every Wednesday - starts at 6pm
You pay only $20 and:
*You get to taste an unlimited selection of wine brands
*You get to enjoy some of London Bistro’s food selection
*Good music, socializing and great ambience!
1950 Howell mill Rd.Atlanta GA 30318

Every 1st Saturday of the Month
PARISH hosts their ever-popular "Uncorked" Saturday night party at 7:30pm in the Market.
Bring a bottle of wine, to share, along with $10 for cover charge that includes cheese and charcuterie plates and wine service, of course! All wine that is brought is placed on the communal table for attendees to enjoy. It is the perfect way to sample a wide variety. Remember, the more people that come, the more wine there will be for tasting, so grab a bottle from your cellar or the store, and come party at PARISH to enjoy samplings from the many bottles guests will be bringing for your enjoyment.
PARISH is located at 240 N. Highland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307 404-681-4434