Wine Tasting 2.0: The Growing Popularity of Tweet-Ups

The latest phenomena in the vintner community is the growing popularity of Twitter wine tastings.  It's not a radical concept, says Rick Bakas, Director of Social Media for Napa Valley’s St. Supery Winery.

“The digital space is just another place where people talk to each other.” But instead of 20 people talking to each other at a traditional tasting where the winemaker has flown in to host a dinner party for wine collectors and journalists, there are 200 people sitting at home with a bottle of the same wine, tasting it at the same time and twittering back and forth with each other about what they think.  

The winemaker (Michael Scholz, in the case of St. Supery) is sitting at his desk at the winery, available via video to answer their questions.

Other vintners are following St. Supery's lead. More than 50 wineries have experimented with Twitter tastings, says Kendall Johnson with Charles Communications, a PR firm that has helped create Twitter tastings for winery clients including Wente and Deloach Vineyards. “They have become part of the discussion with every marketing plan.”

Check out how Urban Grape located in Boston’s Chestnut Hill participated in a Pinot Tweet-Up.

Meet Ntsiki Biyela: South Africa's First Black Female Winemaker

In 1998 Ntsiki Biyela won a winemaking scholarship that changed her life.  Growing up in a small village in South Africa, Biyela had no idea what was wine.  At the time she boarded a bus to travel across South Africa to the wine country of the Western Cape, she thought of wine as another name for cider.  The only alcholic beverage most people of her village drank was beer.

When Biyela first tried wine, she thought the taste was disgusting.  Eleven years later, Biyela is one of few black South African winemakers and the first black woman.  Her blends of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and pinotage have won gold medals and four-star ratings. She was named South Africa’s Woman Winemaker of the Year in 2009.

Check out a recent New YorkTimes feature on Ntsiki Biyela's fascinating journey and her rise from living in a shack in the hills of Zululand to judging the countries entries to the International Wine and Spirit Competition.

Tip of the Week: Wine and Food Pairings

Wine and food pairings is an individual choice.  Every person's sense of taste is different. In general, each person should decide for him or herself what combinations of wine and food taste good - don't worry about what anyone else says should work.  However, understand this is difficult when you are just starting as a drinker of wine.

Typically, you want to drink light-to-dark, just as when you plan a meal you start with delicate tastes and work towards heavier tastes. For this reason, Champagne tends to go very well with appetizers or opening courses in a meal. White wine is usually a match for salads and lighter dishes, while red wine works perfectly with steaks and heavier meat sauces.  A port is often the perfect end to a meal, sipped with a piece of chocolate cake. 

Remember - trust your own judgement, and eat and drink what you enjoy!  You will figure out quite quickly that your own tongue has its own idea of what goes well with what.

Therapy Wine Bar: Relaxing Oasis in the Heart of Brooklyn

Next time you are in Brooklyn, New York, and you find yourself in need of therapy be sure to check out Therapy Wine Bar.  In the heart of the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood that also produced diverse performance artists such as Lena Horne, Jay-Z and Norah Jones, Therapy Wine Bar is an intimate treasure with an eclectic character and big heart for wine.  Therapy offers a variety of red and white wines from around the world.

Angela Terry, owner and a former educator, began the Therapy Wine Bar in 2009 with a mission of transferring her love of wine into a business where people could enjoy and learn about wine in a non-intimidating atmosphere.  Terry got the idea for the business while participating in a monthly wine club and recognized the need in Brooklyn for a neighborhood venue for people to relax, learn and enjoy quality wines.

Check out an interview with Angela Terry, owner of the Therapy Wine Bar.

Therapy Wine Bar

364 Lewis Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11233
nr. Halsey St.   See Map | Subway Directions
718-513-0686 Send to Phone

 

Sugarleaf Vineyards: A Wine Colors Trip to Remember

This past Saturday, the Wine Colors crew traveled to Sugarleaf Vineyards in North Garden, Virginia, to join in celebration for the fifth anniversary of their tasting room. 

Just 10 minutes outside Charlottesville, Sugarleaf Vineyards is a family-owned and operated boutique winery located on an 126 acre estate. 

This treasure of the Virginia’s Monticello Wine Trail offers wines of superior quality in a breathtaking setting.  Notably, Sugarleaf Vineyards is one of only two African American owned vineyards on the East Coast.

After one taste of several Sugarleaf Vineyard’s signature wines, Wine Colors was smitten.  We strongly recommend you make the trek.  Our entire experience at Sugarleaf Vineyards was outstanding.  From the knowledgeable and welcoming staff who freely answered our questions to pristine views of the vineyard landscape, and of course their well crafted wines, Sugarleaf is more than a must visit place; it is a must visit experience.

Check out a video below about our visit, which includes wine tasting tips from Sugarleaf staff and an interview with owner Jerry Bias.

Sugarleaf Vineyards

3613 Walnut Branch Lane

North Garden, Virginia 22959

tel: (434) 984-4272

email: info@sugarleafvineyards.com

website: www.sugarleafvineyards.com

Lauren Maillian Bias and Jerry Bias, Proprietors

Daniel Neumeister, Winemaker

Wine Colors Visits Sugarleaf VineyardsThis Weekend

Join Wine Colors this weekend (Saturday, August 20th, 11am-6pm) as we tour Sugarleaf Vineyards in North Garden, VA.

Celebrate Sugarleaf's fifth anniversary of winemaking.  Activities include live jazz, presentation of new wine releases, and tours of the vineyard, barrel room and much more.

Cost is $10 per person.  Light fare will be served.  For more information go to  www.sugarleafvineyards.com.

U.S. Surpasses France in Wine Consumption

For the first time the good old U.S.A. in 2010 exceeded France in purchasing wine. Reportedly, it is the millennial generation -- consumers in their 20s and 30s -- that are leading the way in driving upward the overall consumption numbers, much of which is fueled by their interest not only in wine but in pairings with artisan cheeses.

Last year, the French consumed 321 million cases of wine. But the U.S. sipped up 330 million cases. Although the number of American wine consumption has increased, Americans are seeking the most bang for their buck in this era of recession.

• Shoppers flocked to bottles priced at less than $7 during the peak of the recession; sales of $7 to $14 bottles were up 5% last year.
• Domestic wine sales were up 7% over 2009.
• California's vintners saw sales increase 1%, to $18.5 billion.
• Wine exports were particularly rosy: up almost 26% to a record $1.14 billion.

Check out the article in Time.

Quick Tips for Pairing Wine and Cheese

Pairing cheese and wine can be intimidating, but really, it’s all about experimenting. There are no set rules, only guidelines. The five pairings below are a good place to start.

Salty with Sweet:
The salty flavor of blue cheeses, and even some washed rind cheeses, balance out the sweetness of dessert wines, and vice versa. Try Stilton with Port or Epoisses with Sauternes.

Regional:
Try pairing cheese and wine produced in the same region. Spanish Manchego or Zamarano with an Albariño wine, and Beecher’s Flagship Reserve cheddar with a Washington state Syrah are examples of regional pairings that work well.

Creamy with Tannic:
Triple Crème cheese is buttery, smooth and gentle; the perfect foil for the rough tannins found in a young red wine from Bordeaux. Although slightly less creamy, Brie might be another good match.

Acidity with Acidity: 
Repeat after me: Goat cheese and Sauvignon Blanc. You will not be disappointed. Why?
The acidity in goat cheese gives it a tangy zip that matches perfectly with the crisp acidity of most Sauvignon Blancs.  Try French Selles-sur-Cher with Sancerre.

Rich and Creamy with Bubbles:
If the only reason for this pairing is complete decadence, so be it. Champagne or
any sparkling wine paired with a rich, creamy cheese is one of life’s great pleasures.
Try it with St. Andre Triple Crème or a wedge of rich, dense Gruyere.

Wine & Notes: Review of the Ninety Miles Project

Next time you relax and uncork that bottle of Merlot be sure to check out the recently released cd "Ninety Miles." Critically acclaimed jazz musicians vibist Stefon Harris, saxophonist David Sanchez and trumpeter Christian Scott have joined forces to create a distinctly unique collection of songs.  Ninety Miles refers to the distance between Miami and Havana, Cuba. 

Recorded over a week in Cuba, these young lions collaborated with local musicians to create brilliant sounds that shows how good music not only transcends but defies political borders. The music is a splicing of maze-like 21st-century post-bop melodies and sensuous Cuban dance rhythms.

An anticipated documentary with the same name showcases the trio's journey to Cuba. Below is a sneakpeek of the film produced by the Fortess Entertainment Group in association with Concord Records.

Ebony Magazine Talks Wine

The August issue of Ebony magazine features several articles focused on wine.  Topics include great wine gifts, cooking with wine, and an interview with Stephen Sterling, owner of Esterlina Vineyards.

Of particular interest, Sterling was asked about
differences in wine pricing. Sterling responded, "Wine is one of the few commodities where price and quality do not necessarily have a strong correlation.  Generally, the difference between grape pricing has to do with the real estate costs in the area where grapes are grown. Napa and Sonoma area grapes cost more than grapes grown in Texas."

Who knew wine price and real estate were closely connected?

Red Wine & Skin

Can a glass of red wine be that anti-aging miracle?  Several health benefits of moderate wine consumption have been documented such as increasing good cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart disease, and preventing molecules known as “free radicals” from causing cellular damage in the body.  But can wine roll back the hands of time?  

Recently an article on the Nyraju Skin Care website, entitled “Is A Glass of Red Wine Good For African American Skin”, discussed this topic.  According to the article, Resveratrol, a phytochemical in wine, found in the skin of red grapes and in other fruits-may help with anti-aging.  

However, studies have shown only large amounts of Reseveratrol are shown to counter free radicals.  But many scientists agree the anti-aging benefits of wine are inconclusive since wine, and red wine in particular, only contains trace amounts of Reseveratrol - one milligram per glass.

So go ahead eat antioxidant fruits such as blueberries and grapes for your “health” and drink  red wine –responsibly and in moderation of course- for pure “enjoyment”.

Yoga and Wine...Why Not!?!

This video is sure to put a smile on your face.

 

Mastering the Lingo...Terms to Know

Most wine lovers get easily excited about discovering a new wine they enjoy.  And often they want to share the experience.  The only trouble is finding the right words to describe your new wine find.  

Talking about wine does not have to be an intimidating, mysterious, nor pretentious experience. The key is taking the time to learn the language.  Below are a few key terms to help get you started.  Even if you never use the terms, you'll understand what is being said when other people use them.


Dry - This word is the opposite of sweet.  When all the sugar in the grape juice has been converted to alcohol and carbon dioxide, the wine is said to be bone-dry.

Balance - None of the wine components (i.e., acid, alcohol, fruit and tannins) are out-of-whack.  All work well together so that no one component stands apart from the rest.

Finish - A wine's aftertaste, flavor, or aroma that lingers after its swallowed.  The longer the  "Finish" the better wine.

Complex - Layers and nuances of wine flavor.  This quality is achieved with the aging of wine.  A complex wine is also said to have more depth.

Fruity - Fruit flavors you perceive as you taste the wine.  Besides grapes, blackberries, strawberries, and currants are just a few of the other fruity flavors you can detect in wines.  Many people confuse sweetness with fruitiness.  Sweetness deals with the taste of the wine, while fruitiness is more about sensing the aroma of the fruit.

Crisp - A wine with good acidity and taste, and no excessive sweetness.  Think of an apple.