July 5, 2009
Posted by Deb Harkness, July 3, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Editor's note: On Fridays Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 joins us to talk some Serious Grape. Today, some advice for entertaining this weekend. Take it away, Deb!
"If you can't be bothered washing stemware or are worried about fragile stems breaking outside, get yourself some stemless wine glasses."
This weekend, at cookouts all over America, people will be drinking wine out of plastic cups.
Sometimes, you just have to. Between the breakage issues and the cleanup issues, we can all be forgiven for occasionally serving Chardonnay in plastic tumblers.
But the wine will suffer for it. It will have barely any taste, no discernible aromas, and seem tart and slightly vinegary. At a backyard cookout that may matter less than someone stepping on broken glass or facing a sink full of dishes. But before you pour your cult Cabernet into a plastic cup, here's what I found out about the importance of good stemware at a seminar led by Georg Riedel, the founder of the wineglass company Riedel.
I knew in a vague way that serving wine in proper glasses mattered. But I had no idea how much until Georg Riedel led more than a hundred of us through a tasting this spring at the Hospice du Rhône event in Paso Robles. We tasted some pretty superb wine in everything from plastic cups to handblown lead crystal. The results were convincing: what you put your wine into matters as much as the wine itself.
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Posted by Deb Harkness, June 19, 2009 at 11:00 AM
On Fridays, Deb Harkness (Good Wine Under $20) joins us to talk wine. Take it away, Deb!
This weekend, it's officially summer. How do I celebrate the longest day of the year? I drink pink.
I'm not talking about the White Zinfandels of the 70s. I'm talking about serious rosé wine that is dry or barely off-dry, fruity, and has lots of character. What's more, it is refreshing, pairs well with grilled foods (especially grilled tuna or other meaty fish), and is the perfect partner for hot dogs.
You can get some excellent rosés for under $20, too. They're made from all sorts of grapes, and come from all over the world. If you are a rosé skeptic, cast your doubts aside this summer and check out my recommendations for some of the best bottlings available. Whether from Spain, France, the United States, or some other region, rosé wines will surprise and delight you with their winning taste and affordable prices.
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Posted by Deb Harkness, June 5, 2009 at 11:00 AM
On Fridays, Deb Harkness (Good Wine Under $20) joins us to talk wine. Take it away, Deb!
Gewürztraminer is one of those grapes that’s hard to spell. Because of this, it's often overshadowed by wines like Riesling that are so much easier to pronounce.
Despite its tongue-twisting name, it's easy to fall in love with Gewürztraminer because the grape produces wines that are aromatic, spicy, and pair brilliantly with spicy food—especially Asian food. I love Gewürztraminer with Thai cuisine, seafood (especially oysters), and grilled chicken or fish.
If you're interested in trying a Gewürztraminer, remember that the grape is grown all over the world. The wines made from the grape range from fruit-forward treats to more austere, restrained beauties. It flourishes in cool climates, where the grape's naturally high levels of sugar don't rise to undrinkable levels. In spite of the cool temperatures, most Gewürztraminers are still a bit sweet (or "off-dry" as they are technically called), though it is possible to find dryer bottlings.
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Posted by Deb Harkness, May 22, 2009 at 11:00 AM
On Fridays Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 joins us to talk some Serious Grape. Take it away, Deb! —AK
Summer cookout season starts in earnest this weekend with Memorial Day picnics and entertaining.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started if you are in the market for some wine to go with your chicken, burgers, or barbecue, with an easy-to-remember acronym to help you make selections in the store.
All you need to know when you're looking for cookout wines is this: ZEST. It stands for Zinfandel, Easy on the Oak, South America, and Tempranillo. And in my recommendations below, not a single bottle has a suggested retail price of more than $20.
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Posted by Deb Harkness, May 8, 2009 at 11:00 AM
On Fridays Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 joins us to talk some Serious Grape. Take it away, Deb!
Last weekend, I was a guest at the 2009 Hospice du Rhône event in Paso Robles, California. Each year, organizers draw together some of the finest winemakers in the world who all have one thing in common: They are passionate about Rhône grape varieties such as Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne. These are the grapes that go into famed French red blends (like Chateauneuf du Pape and Cotes du Rhone) and coveted white blends (like Condrieu). During two days of seminars and tastings, they share their passion—and their wine—with participants.
Today, Rhône varieties are grown all around the world, making them easy to find in your local wine shop. I like to think of Rhône varieties as grapes that will appeal to people who like to "adapt" recipes, color outside the lines, and think outside the box. Anybody can drink Cabernet and Chardonnay. After the jump, discover some reasons why you should be adventurous and get to know Rhône varieties better.
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