Entries tagged with 'Serious Grape'
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"If nothing else, get three bottles of sparkling wine into your house or apartment now." [Flickr: bignoseduglyguy] It's that time of year again, when your life is about to get really hectic. Before you hit the panic button, do yourself a favor and go out this weekend and buy a mixed case of wine. With a mixed case of wine in your closet, you'll be prepared for the drop-by visitors, last-minute takeout decisions, and leftovers that can make the most organized person scramble. Most of us remember to buy wine for the family dinners and big celebrations of the months to come—it's the smaller stuff that makes you want to tear your hair out. I'd recommend buying three bottles of...
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On Fridays, Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 drops by with Serious Grape. [Photograph: Deb Harkness] As temperatures dip, leaves turn, and the nights grow longer, many of us are turning to robust red wines. But if you're a white wine fan—and love seasonal offerings like turkey, squash, apples, and pumpkin—then you might want to look to Austria this autumn. Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, and delicious white blends made with several grape varieties are all good options. Austrian white wines deliver elegance, earthiness, and versatile, food-friendly flavors. Plus, they're affordable. Whether you're looking for a special bottle to put aside for Thanksgiving or one to enjoy with your mid-week pot of pumpkin and leek soup, there's a bottle just right...
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On Fridays, Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 drops by with Serious Grape. [Photograph: Deb Harkness] The idea of decanting a wine—pouring the contents of a bottle into another vessel—may strike you as fussy and pretentious act, conjuring up images of white-gloved butlers and wine snobs. People have been decanting wine since at least Roman times because until recently, wine was not filtered and clarified as part of the wine-making process. Even with modern wine-making, there are two excellent reasons to decant wine: it removes the sediment in older wine and it aerates younger wines, which can make a difference in how they taste. In the case of older wine, sediments can form as part of the aging process....
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On Fridays, Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 drops by with Serious Grape. [Flickr: NatalieMaynor] The farmers' market can be one of the most inspirational places for a foodie. At my local Los Angeles market right now the stalls are full of tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, mushrooms, peaches, baby lettuce, and other treasures. We are still wolfing down vegetable-based pasta sauces, heirloom tomato salads with basil and sweet onions, and gorgeous green salads. If you are taking full advantage of the harvest, pick up a bottle of Pinot Grigio on your way home from the farmers' market. Pinot Grigio is a grape that pairs wonderfully with most vegetables because of its fresh flavors and abundant acidity. The grape also adapts...
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"Gewürztraminer is grown in Germany and Alsace, two regions known for fine sausages, so it's no surprise the grape goes well with hot dogs." [Photograph: Robyn Lee] Many hot dogs will be slapped into buns this weekend in honor of Labor Day. Some will anoint them with mustard, others will go for "Chicago style," loading everything but the kitchen sink on top. Even without toppings, hot dogs are tricky because they combine sweet and salty flavors. So what's a wine drinker to do? Of course, you can do what you like—there are no absolute rules when it comes to wine and food pairing. But if hot dogs have stumped you in the past, I've got recommendations for sparkling, Gewürztraminer, rosé,...
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On Fridays, Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 drops by with Serious Grape. Photograph from stephee on Flickr It's back to school time. Even if you aren't going back to school yourself, even if you don't have kids, you may be nostalgically thinking about those days of sharpened pencils, new lunchboxes, and shoes that pinched. If you're longing to learn something new this fall, how about grapes? Most of us gravitate to the same few grapes when we buy wine and prefer to bank on familiar favorites rather than take a risk with something we're not sure we'll like. But these grapes will please most palates and provide you with an opportunity to expand your wine knowledge—and your wine...
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On Fridays, Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 drops by with Serious Grape. Photograph from SLR Jester on Flickr The dog days of summer are upon us, and the heat is on. Many of us reach for beer or mixed drinks when the temperature climbs and we are in search of something icy cold and refreshing. But you don't have to give up on wine. Instead, you need to make summer-savvy choices. Before the cool weather hits, check out some of these recommendations for cool reds, rosés, and whites that will quench your thirst and match beautifully with the simple, fresh foods of August and September....
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Editor's note: On Fridays Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 joins us to talk some Serious Grape. Take it away, Deb! As an inveterate grape-hopper, I love finding new grape varieties to tempt my palate and keep me from falling into wine ruts. The stranger and more off-beat the grape, the happier I am. I love discovering grapes like the Eastern European Rkatsiteli or delving deeper into Albariño. There is a price to pay for this eclecticism, however: you can forget to drink the six grapes that provide the backbone for wine production throughout the world. These six "noble grapes"—Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir—have been cultivated all over the world and been made into...
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Note: Our own Erin Zimmer just returned from ten days eating and drinking her way around Greece and will be sharing her adventures with us all week as Snapshots from Greece. —Ed. The Sigalas Winery is one of Santorini's best. Photograph by Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen. When most people think of Greek wines—that is, if they ever think about Greek wines—they think retsina. Sadly, it's been nicknamed alcoholic Pine-Sol since it was first created with pine resin to help boost the shelf life 2,000 years ago. This hasn't been so great for the rest of Greek wines, especially the non-piney, non-sucky ones. Assyrtiko grapes growing on Santorini. On Santorini, one of the Cyclades islands and a hot tourist magnet,...
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On Fridays, Deb Harkness (Good Wine Under $20) joins us to talk wine. Take it away, Deb! Photograph from Neeta Lind on Flickr 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...
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