Tag: Wine

A Wine Lover’s Weekly Guide To $10 Wines – A Peloponnesian Greek Wine

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This will be our third Greek wine review. The first was a sweet wine from the island of Samos. Then came a red from the island of Crete also made by today’s producer. Now we continue with a white from the Peloponnesian peninsula. This particular wine comes from pink Rhoditis grapes in the foothills near Patras at an elevation of about 650 to 1500 feet (200 to 450 meters). The producer Kourtaki has the largest wine production facility in all Greece, which is not surprising when you consider that it is the largest producer in the country. What may be surprising is that they are the first in Europe to use the patented “Crystal Flow” wine stabilization method. There is a lot happening in the world of wine, and Greece is no exception. By the way, should you so desire they still bottle and sell that classic standby, Retsina. Don’t look for a review of Retsina here. Ever. And yes, I have tasted it.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Kourtakis Kouros Patras 2008 11.9% alcohol about $ 10 Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials.

“Tasting Note : Straw/lemon yellow color; lanolin, lemon and mineral aroma; crisp apple & lemon flavor; light body; crisp finish. Serving Suggestion : Pasta salad & olive oil dressing; fried seafood” And now for my review.

At the first sips the wine presented refreshing acidity. It was lemony. The initial meal centered on a soy-barbecued chicken breast. The wine showed strong lemon with good acidity. It was tasty. I got the feeling of the Greek seaside. The meal included an old favorite of mine, potatoes roasted in chicken fat. (The Greeks do their roasted potatoes differently.) The wine cut the grease. With a white corn and black bean salsa the wine’s acidity picked up but its fruit descended. With the dessert of fruit juice candy I got the lanolin that I had been promised.

The next meal involved a packaged eggplant rolatini with tomatoes, ricotta and mozzarella cheese that I slathered with grated Parmesan Cheese. This wine presented strong lemon flavor and acidity with a moderate length. Dessert was a high-quality, French lemon pie with a buttery crust. The wine was thin and yet pleasant. The two lemons meshed.

My final meal involved an omelet perked up with garlic powder and crushed chillies. The wine was pleasantly acidic and round with a side of moderately spicy guacamole. The wine became more acidic but remained pleasant and refreshing. This was a summer terrace wine. Before the traditional two cheeses I enjoyed some Matjes herring. The wine became sweet with a delicate lemon flavor. This was a pretty good pairing.

The first cheese was a local Provolone. This relatively flat cheese managed to weaken the wine. With a nutty Swiss, the wine wasn’t very present and not worth wasting on the cheese.

Final verdict. I have no plans to buy this wine again. There is just too much competition out there. But it did come close. Why can’t they do better?

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I Love Italian Regional Cuisine – Pairing Umbria Cuisine With Red Wine

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Umbria lies smack dab in the middle of Italy. Even though it doesn’t border the sea, the Tiber River and Lake Trasimeno provide a fine choice of fish and eels. Local specialties include truffles. You won’t go hungry here.

Lepre alla Cacciatora (Cacciatora Style Hare) is a popular, traditional dish. It calls for white wine, cured ham, capers, and several other ingredients. Enjoy it with a Chianti Classico DOCG or a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, both from the neighboring region of Tuscany.

Another hunter’s style dish is Pollo alla Cacciatora (Cacciatora Style Chicken) whose central ingredient is easier to find and prepare. The classic preparation calls for salted anchovies and capers. Suggested wine pairings include Chianti DOC or Chianti Classico DOCG or a Nebbiolo-based wine from Piedmont.

Truffles are really popular in this part of the woods. Enjoy a Spaghetti all Nursina (Spaghetti Norcia Style) in which a local pasta is accompanied by these delicious fungi are heated in olive oil with a touch of anchovy and garlic. Barbaresco DOCG from Piedmont is the recommended food pairing.

Don’t think about the park when you’re enjoying Piccioni allo Spiedo (Pigeons roasted on the spit) with the rest of that Barbaresco, a Barbera d’Alba DOC, a Barbera d’Asti DOC also from Piedmont, or an Italian Pinot Nero.

Agnello arrosto (Roast Baby Lamb) is traditionally roasted in the dying embers that remain after bread is baked in a wood oven. You may have to make amends but this dish can still be excellent. Especially if you accompany it by a Barolo DOCG from Piedmont or a Brunello di Montalcino DOCG from Tuscany.

Our final dish Anitra Selvatica con pappardelle (Wild Duck with Broad Noodles) highlights what is perhaps the region’s finest red wine, Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG. You may have to substitute a farm-raised duck for the wild duck, other pasta for the Pappardelle, regular ham for the prosciutto, and other wine for this pricey suggestion. It won’t be the same.

I Love Italian Regional Cuisine – Pairing Apulia Cuisine With Red Wine

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Apulia is the heel of the Italian boot. It is located in the southeast corner of Italy on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. As many other regions of Italy, over the centuries Apulia was constantly invaded. The region’s difficult history has given it a varied cuisine that should meet your fancy. Apulia is known as the Italian granary and the vegetable garden of Italy. Believe it or not, some of the local olive trees are said to be one thousand years old, and still produce great olives. Is it any wonder that so many traditional recipes call for olives or olive oil?

For starters or as a light main dish, try Melanzane Ripiene (Stuffed Eggplant) baked eggplant that has been hollowed out and stuffed with a mixture of its chopped pulp, anchovies, breadcrumbs, capers, olives, and tomatoes. Enjoy this delicacy with a Monica di Sardegna DOC from Sardinia or a Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG from Sicily.

Another good starter or light main dish is Lasagnette con Acciughe (Lasagnette with Anchovies). Lasagnette are flat noodles cut from a lasagna sheet. Cook them with salted anchovies, garlic, breadcrumbs, salt, extra virgin olive oil, crushed chili peppers, scallions, ricotta cheese, aged pecorino cheese, and several other ingredients. The recommended wine pairing is a local Primitivo. This is not the place to debate whether or not California Zinfandel is a direct descendant of the Apulia Primitivo grape. And this dish is not made for Zinfandel.

If you like lamb try Agnello al Cartoccio (Lamb Chops in Foil) which are baked in foil or paper with olives and lampasciuoli, wild bitter onions from the mountains of Apulia. Needless to say, look for substitutes at the farmer’s market. Enjoy this dish with a Brunello di Montalcino DOCG from Tuscany, a Barolo DOCG from Piedmont, or a Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG from Umbria.

Involtini di Manzo (Braised Beef Rolls) are made from thin slices of boneless ground round that are pounded, and then rolled around a mixture of Italian bacon (pancetta), red wine, olive oil, and several other ingredients. Wine pairing suggestions include Aglianico del Taburno DOC from the neighboring region of Campania, Rosso di Montalcino DOC from Tuscany, or Barbera d’Asti DOC from Piedmont.

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Whether Wine Cellar or Wine Racks, What Are Your Wine Storage Needs?

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Proper wine storage is the best way to protect your quality wines so that they last for a long time. Wine storage provides the perfect temperatures and maximum storage space so that you can find the wines you want easily and quickly. There are many specialty companies that create storage units in a variety of options. Wood and metal racks are available as well as cooling units, cabinets and fridges. Some are elegant and some are simple, and they come in different shapes and sizes to meet your needs. Your choice will depend on your taste, supply and budget. The most popular choices include racks, cabinets, table top units and rack cubes.

 

Wine Racks

 

Racks come in wood and metal. They are also available for commercial businesses. This is the easiest solution if a person has a small supply of bottles. With regards to the wood racks, there are usually a few different shades to choose from. They also come in many different sizes and shapes. There are table top racks, scalloped racks, display top racks and other styles for wood racks. They are perfect for the decoration of any elegant room. They are elegant and beautiful additions to any collection. If you are not interested in wooden wine racks, then you can choose a metal base. Metal racks come in 36” or 48” sizes. They are also available for decorative bottlers or larger bottles. There are also floor to ceiling frames that can add character to any room. Finally, commercial racks are larger and come in wood or metal, allowing companies to choose which option best suites their place of business.

 

Wine Cabinets

 

Cabinets offer elegance and safe storage for your wine collection. They are a great addition to any living or dining room. There are also built in cooling systems to protect your supply. Cabinets are usually made out of high quality oak but can come in different shades. They come in 220, 330 or 440 bottle storage sizes. Some companies may also have a credenza cabinet with a 216 bottle storage and cooling system. Depending on the company, it might be possible to customize your own style and color to match your home. The cooling units have temperature adjustments and professionally designed storage to protect your investment. They may be considered storage space, but these beautifully handcrafted cabinets are made so that you and your guests will be amazed.

 

Table Top Units

 

Table top units come in different shades of wood. They store anywhere from 24 to 48 bottles safely in a limited space. This option is for people who want to store a limited supply in a small space. The wines can be displayed for guests to see, giving them a variety of options to choose from. Pine and redwood are the most popular wood finishes, and they can complement any home. They are also affordable, practical, sturdy and attractive additions to any kitchen, living or dining room.

 

Wine Rack Cubes

 

Rack cubes are modern and easy storage units for about 24 bottles. They are designed to save space and create a neat look whether in a wine cellar or dining room area. Cubes come in many different sizes and a few wood colors. Two shades of pine and two shades or redwood are available for buyers to choose from. Sometimes two rack cubes can be purchased to be placed side by side or on top of each other. If your selection is larger, then four can be bought to create a large storage cube. There are also bins to store cases and other items and supplies. These may be placed in a wine cellar for storage and organization.

 

WineRacksAmerica has many different options for your wine storage needs. They range in color, size and style. Check out their inventory to find the perfect storage system that meets your taste, budget and supply.

Wine Storage Units

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Wine is one of the more popular alcoholic drinks today because it goes with almost any type of food, can be served at any party and is easy to store. If you are an infrequent wine drinker, one who only has one bottle in the house at a time, then you do not need to purchase a wine cooler or build a wine cellar. Instead, you can store that one bottle of wine in your refrigerator or cabinet, replacing it when it is empty. On the other hand, avid wine collectors need to be able to store their wine when it is open so it does not go bad. You will also need to store the wine before it is opened so you do not have wine bottles in random spots all over the house.

The first option for wine storage is a wine cooler. Wine coolers come in all types of shapes, sizes, colors and prices. Deciding on which wine storage units to purchase depends on how often you enjoy wine. If you have more than five unopened bottles in your house at a time, purchasing a medium sized wine cooler is your best bet. If you have less than five unopened bottles at a time then you should purchase a small cooler. If you have more than 10 unopened bottles of wine in your home then you should purchase a large wine cooler to store all of those bottles and keep them cool at the same time.

Wine is not just for consumption anymore these days. In fact, hobbyists across the country purchase wine bottles as an investment. Some wine collectors have bottles of wine in their cellar that are over 30 years old, some even older than that. These collectors usually do not drink this wine. Instead, they hold onto it until it reaches a certain value, then they turn it around and sell it for a profit to other collectors. When you purchase a wine cooler, no matter its size, the humidity of the cooler should sit at 70 percent. The cooler can be kept at temperatures 10 degrees either above or below the 70 percent mark. If the humidity were to dip below 50 percent, the corks can shrink, allowing air into the bottle and ruining the wine.

If you are an avid wine drinker or collector, and have hundreds of bottles of wine in your home, it might be in your best interest to purchase a wine cooler and have a wine cellar built in your home. The wine cooler will hold ten bottles that you plan to drink soon and the cellar will hold the remainder of your collection. A wine cellar costs thousands of dollars to build but will keep your wine collection safe from harm and fresh. When you store wine in a wine cellar you should keep the temperature between the degrees of 68-73 so the wine stays fresh and does not lose its luster. You should also not move the wine once it is placed in the cellar. Have shelves built that hold bottles of wine in a specific pattern so you do not have to move one bottle to get to another.

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