CHILEAN WINE

Chilean Wines....The Chilean wine industry aims to be the #1 producer of sustainable and diverse premium wines from the New World by the year 2020. Four outstanding Chilean wines made it to the most recent Wine Spectator Top 100 wines of the year 2010.

Concho Y Toro Marqués de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Puente Alto (Maipo Valley)

Veramonte Pinot Noir 2008 from Casablancq

De Martino Legado Syrah 2007 from the Choapa Valley

Agrícola la Viña Polkura Syrah 2008 from the Marchihue sector of the Colchagua Valley

Chile has a wonderful climate for growing grapes. Chile's climate varies from the heat of the arid, rocky, mountainous desert to the north and the icy, cold, Antarctic expanse in the south. Chile's vineyards flourish in the warm, fertile valleys that are positioned between the two areas. Many of the grapes that were believed to be Merlot have recently been determined to be Carmenère, which is a scarcely planted variety of Bordeaux.

WHO IS A WINE SNOB?

Recently one of my friends made reference to me being a "wine snob". Of course this person does not drink at all. (perhaps she is the snob?). Maybe I should not call her my friend. Here is my opinion of a "wine snob" and a "wine enthusiast". I call myself a "wine enthusiast". In my own words a wine snob is someone who goes to a party or to someone's home and expects the wine of their choice to be on hand for the event. When given other options they will drink sparkling water instead. They have tunnel vision as to trying something new. They hold a price tag (high) on a wine. They might even push their wine on their friends until their friends get fed up and do not wish to hang with them any more. A "wine enthusiast" in my opinion is someone who takes an avid interest in how that wonderfully tasting wine got from the vine to the glass. They wish to know the grapes names and the vines. The location and the year. They take their time when purchasing a wine, when pouring and then when drinking. They swirl it in the glass to get the aromas to come alive. They sniff to take in all the wonderful scents and they enjoy the guessing of what they find. We sip to allow that luscious fruit drift in our mouths and bring alive what we have smelled. And we drink and thoroughly enjoy the whole experience. I too can put on my little black dress and red high heels and enjoy a fabulous glass of wine, does that make me a snob? No, it just makes me a wine lover enjoying a glass of wine in fine clothes.But I must say I do most of my wine drinking in my pajamas, in my sweat suit or in my blue jeans and t shirt. With or without friends and snobbery is not a part of it. I must also say I love uncorking a great tasting bottle of wine but most wine I consume at home comes in a box.....but I do use a glass! So if any of you wish to call me a wine snob that is fine, but don't allow yourself to portray being a snob in doing so.
Salute'

VIEWERS THIS MORNING.........

United States 67

Slovenia 12

Denmark 6

United Kingdom 3

Canada 2

Saudi Arabia 2

Singapore 2

Germany 1

France 1

Namibia 1 VIEWERS THIS MORNING !!!

Vine History

I have recently learned that all vines belong to the genus (family line) Vitis. During the Tertiary Period climatic changes caused the genus to change and split into numerous different species. The 2 most important are vinifera and labrusca. 99.9% of today's wines are made from the Vitis vinifera vine, a vine native to Europe and Asia. Chardonnay, Cabernat sauvignon, merlot, riesling, zinfandel and sauvignon blanc are all from this vine. Vitis Labrusca is the native vine of Canada and New England. The concord grape is the best known from this vine genus. Wines are still made from this species in upper New York State.
Old vines.....great wines....good times ! so much depends on the quality of the glass of wine you have with dinner or for relaxing.....we need to appreciate the history of the vine.

7 DEADLY ZINS

Schulenburg's vines, grubby with GREED,
Embrace Lodi's soil, to drink and to feed.
Oh Lord, forgive me my zin.
Secure in it's strength, weathered with PRIDE,
Standing like soldiers, the forest of Snyde.
Oh Lord, forgive me my zin.
Hearts filled with LUST, ole Maley's trees.
Court Lodi's sun, and flirt with it's breeze.
Oh Lord, forgive me my zin.
Good Bishofberger did raise some GLUTTONOUS beast,
Vines fattened like turkeys before Thanksgiving feast.
Oh Lord, forgive me my zin.
With the tilt of the glass, I commit seven zins,
Oh Lord, with your help... I'll do it again.
Indulge!

This is one of my all time favorite wines! Made from the old vines......This Zin was created by 2 brothers who decided to blend together the fruit of Lodi's finest vineyards. In the end 7 vineyards were picked superior to the rest and chosen for this wine....the brothers came up with this unique name relating to their Catholic upbringing and teachings of the 7 deadly sins. 7 old vine zins make up this outstanding wine. Try it you will be very satisfied I am sure. I owe this experience to my friend Paul who introduced me to many fine tasting wines several years ago.
Sweet plums and peppery notes and flavors of peppery, raspberry, blueberry with a touch of cinnamon delight your palate. With soft and silky tannins to make this a most pleasing wine for any occasion.
This is just 1 of the fine wines created by Michael~David Winery
read about more of their wonderful vine at the link provided!
Salute'

Tastingroom.com

I stumbled upon this unique site the other day called Tasting Room. Here you can order tasting sets of 4 or 6 tiny bottles allowing you to sample wines before you purchase the larger bottles. You pick a wine sampler, have it shipped to your home to try and then you can make your mind up about a future purchase. It is your own "wine flight" brought direct to your door so you can have your very own private taste within the walls of your home. Then you can purchase the larger bottles of those you wish to have in your wine collection. Their top six samplers are:

1. Napa Valley Wines I----hand selected reds and whites from Napa
   
2. Six Pinot Noirs---six pinots, six regions, one flight
   
3. Hidden Gems---the best of smaller wineries
   
4. A Tour of The Wine Road---treasures of Sonoma Valley
   
5. Red Essentials---classic California wines
   
6. A Tour of California---six varietals from six wineries

T.A.S.T.E. Technology™ -- which stands for “Total Anaerobic Sample Transfer Environment.”

Using T.A.S.T.E. Technology, the wine in the big bottles is transferred directly into mini bottles in a sealed, zero-oxygen chamber. A state-of-the-art production facility was built in Northern California, in the heart of the wine country, expressly for this purpose. There’s nothing like it anywhere in the world.1 normal size bottle yields 15 samples. 1 gets tasted and if it passes the taste test then the other 14 get packaged for selling.

Visit them today & pick a sampling for your home!