A Post With A Purpose: Free the Grapes!

A year ago, I started this blog. I wasn't happy at work and I started thinking about my "dream job." Which, if I could get paid to do anything, getting paid to drink wine would be pretty cool. I was frustrated in my career, which felt stalled and like a day job. I started looking at just how to make money by drinking wine. Sommelier programs are not everywhere, are expensive, and require quite a bit of wine knowledge prior to starting (if not being required to already BE in the wine industry). I wasn't (and still am not) in a position to be able to quit my job and go to work at my favorite wine store. So I decided to start this blog, writing about wines that I like to drink. I also dared (dare?) to hope that I might eventually make some money, or maybe get some free wines to try out of it. Wine shipping laws were about to change in Montana, which would mean that I could chose to get wine shipped directly to me. And then ... we moved ... to South Dakota which has law prohibiting direct shipment via a "common carrier;" individuals are allowed to bring wine across the state line, but only in quantities of one gallon or less [good thing they didn't check us at the border!] Which means wineries cannot send me wines to sample -- and I have had an offer! However, being a good, law abiding citizen, I declined the offer, even if it might have worked (they do have a tasting room in the Rapid City area ...)

In Virginia, I had really started to enjoy and drink wines. We enjoyed going to the wine festivals and Rocky encouraged my growing interest. I was disappointed when we moved to Montana and I was unable to find any Virginian wine. My favorite wine while we lived in Richmond was Chateau Morrisette "Our Dog Blue," a sweet deck wine [it's probably sweeter than I would really like now, but it brings back memories of hitting the wine festivals and a time when life was a bit simpler for us]. Wine and liquor stores found it too costly to try to work with these small wineries. And state laws prevented me from having the wine shipped directly to me.

So I decided to learn more about these restrictions. Of course, it is not a simple thing. Some of it feels like a holdover from the end of prohibition, when alcohol laws turned from a federal issue to a state issue. Wholesalers control the choice and flow of wine shipments. People in places like South Dakota probably didn't get to places with lots of options for wineries and had to rely on others for selection. Wholesalers still fill this need. I love going into a wine or liquor store and picking out something new -- even if it's just by the label! But as a consumer, I'd like a little more choice.  If I want to try ALL of the Middle Sister varieties, why can't I just sign up for one of their clubs rather than hunt and search for Glamour Girl Bubbly, which may or may not be in stock. Wholesalers and liquor stores also won't always seek out the smaller wineries. It is cost prohibitive for a wholesaler or liquor store to attempt to keep a wine such as Our Dog Blue on the shelves -- a bottle in Virginia would cost around $9, add the wholesaler in and you are up to $15-$20. The winery is simply too small. I'm STILL going to purchase bottles of wine at the liquor or grocery store. That is simply too convenient to give up!

30 years ago, only 4 states allowed the consumer to purchase and ship wine directly from wineries; today that number is up to 41. I've emailed letters to the representatives for my area. If you would like to learn more about this issue, check out Free the Grapes! Their goal is to ensure consumer choice in wines. All I want is to be able to enjoy another bottle of Our Dog Blue without paying for a trip to Richmond, VA.

Stone Hill Vignoles

For Christmas, my boss gave me a bottle of Missouri wine, from Stone Hill Winery. I really enjoyed this bottle. A nice dry, semi-sweet white wine. Pineapple, strawberry and lime aromas greet upon first taste, a bit of sweetness, but vibrant acidity gives it a dry palate and is great on it's own. I enjoyed sipping this over the past weekend  with everything from chicken nuggets to Christmas cookies.

And in the continuing of it's a small world, my good friend Diane is, unsuprisingly, familiar with this winery as she is a native Missourian. The picture took her back.

J Lohr Chardonnay

I've said it before: never say you don't like a certain grape; eventually, you will end up eating, re, drinking those words. For a long time, I would say I don't like Chardonnays. Too oaky, or steel-y. The grape, I think, tends to take on a lot of characteristics of the barrel. But joining the wine club in Billings really helped me expand my palate and now I'm more willing to try those grape I swore I didn't like. And here I am enjoying a beautiful, oaky, buttery Chardonnay.

J Lohr has a Brookings connection (SDSU alum) and it's easy to find a great selection of his wines here in town. 

This Chardonnay has great pear & apple aromas. It has a wonderful lingering smooth oaky finish. This is a bit of a splurge as it is between $14-$20/bottle. But very worth the splurge! 

La Crema Pinot Noir

This was my choice for Thanksgiving. Now, right off the bat, I have to admit that this is definitely, no contest, a splurge, but if you are going to get one wine for Thanksgiving, I think a splurge is in order. La Crema can sometimes be found in grocery stores or Wal-Mart and is typically between $20-25/bottle.

The Pinot Noir is a great match for Thanksgiving. Hints of cranberry and pomegranate with an earthy undertone are subtle enough that the wine does not overpower any part of the traditional Thanskgiving meal. A short finish leaves you wanting more and this is very easy to just sip on all day long (and finish the bottle before you even realize it!)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Gnarly

Like totally awesome wine, dude. I do love Old Vine Zins (thanks Diane!) and this is a great affordable option. Dark berries, wild spices, vanilla and a light toasty oaky finish. Lodi Zins are predictable and lovely. Full of flavor and life.

Gnarly Head wines are fairly easy to find: grocery stores that sell wine, Target, and even Wal-Mart will have these and they are consistently under $10. A definite buy again and again!

Just found out they have a rib recipe contest -- totally entering my rib recipe next year! I think it would be great with this Old Vine Zin!

Flip Flop Malbec

After a terrible cherry wine last night (I actually dumped it out. I NEVER dump out wine.), I picked up a number of bottles of wine while out & about today. Flip Flop wines were on sale at Hy-Vee (and I was pleasantly surprised to find we can buy wine and beer at the grocery stores in Brookings!). As I wanted something nice and easy, I figured a bottle of Flip Flop would fit the bill nicely.

This is a nice Malbec. Dark juicy, fruits, earthy undertones smooth finish, a perfect match for a lazy Saturday evening

Outcast, Steele Wines

This is a beautiful red blend: 51% Syrah,23% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah, 7% Merlot, 5% Malbec 3% Petite Verdot and is brimming with black raspberry, cherry and plummy fruit with hints of mocha, cedar-y perfume and black pepper spice. The final pepper spice gives it a short finish, which of course, begs you to reach for your glass again. I have enjoyed this on it's own and with beef nachos. It was perfect.

 

This was a gift from my wonderful friend Diane (and I wish I could have enjoyed it with her!), so I know it's a splurge. However, it is definitely worth the splurge and I plan to add another bottle to my cellar soon.

 

Steele Winery is located in Lake County California, which is an area of great wines and few tourists! As they do not see as many people as other northern Califonia wine areas, they are the "Outcasts." Pretty sure this would be on my must visit lists!

Sure Thing, a white wine

This was given to me on the occasion of our 10th anniversary, along with a bottle of Fat Basterd Merlot and Mad Housewife Chardonnay. (Awesome theme gift.) I enjoyed both the Merlot and Chardonnay, but we've been so busy with settling in that I forgot to blog or take pictures.

This is a fruity white wine, bright with citrus and a pineapple finish. It is a sweet wine, but not overbearing. This would be a great "deck" wine -- if it were warm enough to enjoy a glass of wine on the deck :)

 

The Naked Winery is located on the Hood River in Oregon and with wine names like Sure Thing, Fore Play and Climax I can only imagine how much fun wine tasting could be!

 

Once Upon a Vine, a Blanc

This is a wine Rocky picked up the day we moved into the house. This is a light bodied Sauvignon  Blanc and a label I've enjoyed before. This is smooth and delicate like a "glass slipper." A taste of pitted fruits like nectarines and peaches makes this a really nice late summer/early fall wine. We've got the windows open and I'm watching the sun set from our new living room.

 

I'm not sure of the cost, but as this is a great "grocery store" wine and I know my husband won't pay more than $10/bottle (unless asked ;) ), I know it's under $10 and a definite purchase again!

Finca Don Cano Cabernet Sauvignon

It's been a long week. Heck, it's been a long couple of months. But our time as transients is coming to a close. We signed the closing documents on our house in Billings today. We close on our Brookings home on Wednesday. This is our last weekend in Watertown. Next weekend we will be in our house, unpacking boxes and cheering on the Jackrabbits at the Hobo Day football game (homecoming). Even better we are just a few short days away from our first pay checks in about 2 months! Which means, I'll be able to get more wine and so why not just drink what I've got?

Last night I opened this Cabernet Sauvignon, a 2010 from Mendoza, Argentina. I am very impressed with this region. I have yet to be disappointed in any of the selections from there. This is a solid, full bodied Cabernet, deep ruby red with purplish hues. Red & black berry aromas and a bit of a peppery taste. The label claims a "wild personality." It's a dry Cab and I think it would be good with some cheesy or spicy appetizers.

I believe this was a wine club, so I'm going to call it a splurge. I don't know that I would seek this out again, bit if I saw it on sale, I'd most likely pick up a bottle or two.

Mestis, Mustiguillo Winery

This wine is one of my last from the Simply Wine Club. And while I will miss Sue's selections, I'm happy I was able to get this last one!

 

A Spanish red blend from Bodega Mustiguillo, it has a strong spicy aroma which greeted me when I opened the bottle. The wine is so smooth and balanced, I enjoyed sipping it throughout the evening. Definite hints of a variety of berries and maybe some lingering coffee flavors.

 

I also love the label -- fun and artsy. I'm sure this is going to be even more enjoyable this evening.

 

As this was part of the wine club, I'm sure it's a splurge, but well worth it. I'm definitely keeping an eye out for this one!

Honey Wine

As my reward at the winery last weekend, I selected a Honey Wine. After tasting, I thought it would be a nice one to share with my mother-in-law [who loves Schade wine].

This is perfect at room temperature which is bringing out the sweetness and smoothness of the wine. The vineyard uses local honey and grapes.

These wines retail around $12. While a bit above my typical price range, as it is a local winery using local produce, I'm keeping this as a buy!

A Wine Stomping Good Time

Maggie & I met Rocky's sister Tammy and some of her girls at a South Dakota vineyard & winery. Yes, you read that correctly, a South Dakota Vineyard. I didn't realize this winery actually grew its own grapes. There is winery in Billings, MT that gets its grapes from other vineyards around the Northwest and I assumed this winery was no different. But I was wrong. Outside Volga SD, not far from Brookings, is Schade Vineyard & Winery. They have a number of rows of grapes, growing near a corn field. They use all locally grown fruits, including Black Chokeberry, Elderberry, Buffaloberry. My mother-in-law enjoys the berry wines, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that they also make "real" [grape] wine as well.

On Saturday, they hosted their annual Grape Stomp. For $5 a car and 2 buckets of harvested grapes, you get to stomp some grapes and take home either a gallon of grape juice or a bottle of wine. We got their early and helped harvest the Valiant grapes. Maggie wasn't quite sure what she thought of this part if the "fun," but she was a trooper! And what a deal for the vineyard! Lots of people paying for the privilege of harvest! People were lined up waiting for their turn as we finished and turned in our buckets & harvest tools.

 

Once we turned in our 2 buckets each, we headed back to the winery to STOMP! This was definitely Maggie's favorite part. They had music, food and later in the afternoon, a wine press demonstration, but we were ready to head back to Watertown around lunch time.

 

At the end of our turn, Tammy and I headed inside to taste some of their wines (Maggie & Taylor stomped some more). Schade has a great selection of grape and berry wines. I'd like to taste their grape wines again, especially not after drinking grape juice! Their juice is a little sweet and a little tart, and not Welches ;) I picked out a bottle of their Honey Wine [a sweet, light bodied wine with a bold finish -- waiting for a cool fall evening open this one; love a nice warm Mead] as my prize and purchased their Goldsmith White, which is a semi-dry white blend. I'm sure I'll be writing about their wines more in the future as I be these are very easy to find in the Brookings area.

 

Check out all the photos on Facebook.

Definitely going to make this an annual event and maybe get some of my wine loving friends to come out for the weekend to check it out!

 

Salut!

Cupcake Chardonnay

We found Cupcake Wines in South Dakota! This really is a great Chardonnay, smooth, buttery, creamy, crisp citrus, hint of vanilla. A little oak and slightly spicy finish complete this great wine.

As always, Cupcake does not disappoint and a definite purchase again!

Oh We Got Trouble!

As a going away present, our good friends gave us 2 bottles of wine. As I'm still trying to save my "good" wine, I debate before opening the bottles I have left (we don't get paid until the end of September, so it's not like I can run out & pick up more!) Yet, last night, the Troublemaker called to me. Perhaps it was because Diane had opened a bottle earlier this week and posted about it on Pinterest. Perhaps it was because I wanted to share with my Mother in Law and her sister. Perhaps it was to celebrate my first week at my new job. Whatever the reason, I certainly enjoyed it!

This is a great red blend from Austin Hope & Hope Family Wines. I've enjoyed wines from them in the past (their Liberty line). This does not disappoint. Fruity, full bodied and a grape-y finish, even my mother in law liked it (she's more of a sweet wine drinker). This is mostly Syrah and Grenache, with Mourvèdre, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah for balance.

The 2nd glass was a little better as the wine had a chance to breathe.

As this was a gift, I'm more than certain it is a splurge. But definitely worth it. I plan to look for this once we are settled!

Santa Alicia Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

I believe this is one of the wines from last months' selections from Simply Wine. I am rather rationing my remaining bottles as money will be tight until payday, which will now be only once a month. It's kind of hard to select now as I have very nice bottles left -- hard to open a nice Cab Sav on a Tuesday :)

This is a deliciously complex, rich wine with plum, blackberry, spice. The label mentions chocolate and vanilla, which comes out in the aroma. 

My on laws wi-do blocks all alcohol related sites (not sure why as my husband set it up -- probably for the grand kids), so I'm unable to check prices. As it is part of wine club, I'm going to assume it is a splurge. It certainly tastes like a splurge!

Redwood Zin

Crappy picture for a GREAT Zinfandel. This is a classic Zin, smooth, fruity and easy. Enjoying this while at my in-laws in South Dakota to celebrate an offer on our house in Billings.

I believe this was part of my last wine club at Simply Wine. I will definitely miss Sue & her selections! I am hopeful I'll be able to find a club in the Brookings area or depend on my friend Diane to share Sue's selections so I can try to find them myself!

It's My Birthday

Having a quiet birthday this year, but we did hit the Yellowstone Farmers' Market this morning to pick up some fresh berries. So yummy!! And to celebrate my birthday, being done with work AND having sparkling wine in the fridge, I added some fresh, juicy blackberries to my Pink Moscato Barefoot Bubbly.

This is a nice lighter Moscato, perhaps because it's bubbly. It is sweet, but nice this Saturday afternoon. A nice way to celebrate a new year and adventure!

Old Vine Malbec, Mendoza Argentina

Another Mendoza Argentina Malbec. Okay, I have to admit, this is probably my new favorite wine (see here and here). I may even start seeking it out as after August, I will not be able to have Sue from Simply Wine hand pick these for me any longer! There is character in these wines -- rich, full, inviting. Great for that Tuesday  evening after work or for sharing with friends.

These vines have been around for a long long time. From this bottle:

Malbec has thrived in Argentina since the 1800s when cuttings were transplanted from their original home in France. Now considered amongst the world's most distinguished red wines, Malbec flourishes in Mendoza.  Argentina's most lightly respected vignerons supply Diseno Malbec from old growth vineyards in Mendoza. Vines grown in fertile soil rich with old mineral deposits, irrigated by heavy winter snow melts from the Andes glaciers. Diseno Malbec is a rich wine with an inviting bouquet of stone fruit. A hint of coffee complements the blueberry, spice and chocolate flavors.

I can't remember if this was part of wine club or one that Diane got for me, but a quick online search shows a bottle right around $10, give or take. And because I'm such a fan, I'm not going to call this a splurge!

Saturday Evening Wines

Saturday evening, we went out with our friends Tim & Diane to celebrate our upcoming move to SD. We met them through our church and Diane & I became friends because of our mutual love of wine (I'm sure there are other reasons, but most of our get together a do involve wine!). We enjoyed 3 bottles -- LaCrema Chardonnay, Peirano Estate The Other Red (a blend), and Candor Merlot. 

I'm not typically a fan of Chardonnays, but I really enjoyed this one. It was buttery and not too oaky.

The Other Red is a long time favorite of mine, even if I don't have it often: Cabernet, Merlot & Syrah blend. Smooth and full bodied. It went really well with my dinner choice of bacon wrapped scallops and mozzarella salad. (and there's Tim with the photo bomb!)

A nice Merlot. I have to admit that at this point, I don't really remember much about this wine. I do remember it was a nice smooth wine.

These were great wines and went well with our celebration. All are splurge wines, but as this was a celebration, it is all good.

Riebeek Cellars, Pinotage

Beautiful ruby red Pinotage. This is a South African grape, much better the 2nd day (or probably with a good decanter). A fruity aroma, great plum flavor and oaky finish. 

Pinotage is a fairly new grape to me, one I've learned of since being a part of the wine club. I like it as it is an easy drinking wine and pairs well with many choices. Tonight it was a great match with steak & mashed potatoes!

Cono Sur Bicicleta Sauvignon Blanc

A beautiful, light Sauvignon Blanc from Santiago, Chile. Crisp, with citrus, peach and green apple. It really went well with pizza!

This wine is named for the way the workers at the vineyard travel to care for the grapes.

I really like this Blanc and would definitely purchase again. This was part of July Wine Club so it is most likely a splurge.

Santa Julia Malbec

Almost half way through the month and I FINALLY pick up wine club. As we also picked up steaks, I had two pretty good wines to choose from. The first I was tempted to open was a Pinot Noir from Murphy Goode. I, however, opted for the Santa Julia + Malbec as I thought it would go better with the steak. I think it was the right choice. Full bodied, fruity with a spicy finish, complimented the Wildtree Rancher Rub I used on the steaks.

This is part of their Eco-Friendly line; the family has long been a part of working towards sustainability and land preservation.

Of course this is another great choice from Argentina. The online price is under $10 every where I look and the 2010 vintage was a "Bulk Buy" recommendation by Reverse Wine Snob in 2011. I think I would have to agree!

Murphy-Goode Cabernet Sauvignon

A very nice Cab. Rocky pulled this from the cellar last week and I had a glass or two with some burgers, which it went very well with! I believe this was part of wine club, but I'm not sure when and I think the tasting notes are packed & probably in South Dakota now. Correction! Going through photos on Facebook, this was actually picked out by my wonderful husband as a Mother's Day gift. Way to go Rocky! And as he did not spend more than $10 on any of the wines, I'm no longer calling this a splurge.

Murphy-Goode Winery is located North of San Francisco and I think would be worth a stop, when I finally take my Napa tour! This wine retails at their establishment for $15 ($12 if you are part of their wine club), so I would call this a splurge, but one that is worth it! but is available in grocery stores for under $10!

This Cab is dark and full bodied, strong aromas and tastes. Short finish with a slight cherry linger. I've always thought cabs should sit for a while and this one might have benefitted from another year or so, but I'm not going to complain too much. I've definitely enjoyed it and after all isn't that the point?

Koonunga Hill

A Shiraz Cabernet blend from Penfolds that really has me saying "Yes please!" Wow, great blend. Balanced, full bodied, a nice spicy finish. I taste both the Shiraz and Cabernet, both great representations of each grape.

I do love Australian wines, and this is no exception. It was part of the wine club and online searches show it at around $12/bottle. It's above my threshold, but definitely worth the splurge. I think it would be one worth letting sit for a couple if years. G'day!

El Cortijillo Tempranillo La Mancha

"Dark ruby. Red berry and cherry aromas are complemented by subtle pepper and spice. Juicy and seamless, offering plum, raspberry and cherry flavors and good, straightforward appeal. Finishes smooth and spicy, leaving a bitter cherry note behind." From Sue's notes.

La Mancha is a Spanish wine (probably a DUH from anyone who read Don Quixote in high school) and is one of the largest wine making areas in the world!

This is a June wine club selection and one I may have saved, if my wine cellar wasn't hidden by boxes as we try to sell the house. I'm still learning about Tempranillos and rather enjoy them. This one is very cherry, especially day 2. I am enjoying it, but I'm not sure I'd seek it out again.

Frascati

Cantina Villafranca Frascati: a traditional, Italian white wine. Light bodied, a bit of almond in the aroma and first taste. A tiny spice in the finish. 

As I'm watching Master Chef right now and the challenge is agnolotti, a ravioli kind of pasta from the Piedmont region of Italy. Perhaps if I get ambitious in my new role as a stay at home mom, I'll attempt it. But then again, maybe not.

NoteBook WA|3NV, Columbia Valley

Another red blend. These are definitely my favorite. Complex, tasty and fun. The Notebook is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc and Malbec. This winery utilizes centuries old process of blending wine lots from multiple vintages with multiple varieties. The artistry is in the blending and relies on the winemaker's skill & experience.

The grapes are all from Columbia Valley. I  think that a trip to Columbia Valley will be necessary in the future!

Angel Food Cupcake Wine

A creamy, white blend. I picked this up on sale at World Market for $8.99 and I believe this is the only Cupcake wine that wasn't at my party. 

This obviously doesn't taste like Angel Food cake. It is light bodied, apple-y and a bit spicy. Great lingering finish. It is an interesting combination of flavors that is growing on me. I'll pick this up again as I do enjoy the creamy whites.

Grenache Syrah Blend, Little Canyon

A blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah this wine is very fresh with forward, full-bodied plum, tobacco and herb notes. All of the Domaine de Couron wines are made by the husband wife team of Jean Luc and Marie - a family owned and worked vineyard and winery in Southern France.
[taken from Wines by Wednesday website]

 

This was part of the May wine club and is a great little red. It has a wonderful fragrance. It's showing at around $10 online. I would definitely pick this one up again.

Argentina Malbec

Another great Mother's Day selection by my husband [seriously, selecting a wine based in the label can produce winners]. And 2 of my favorites: Malbec & Argentina!! The Alamos winery in Mendoza Argentina is off the foothills of the Andes. These vineyards have been cultivated by the same family for over 100 years and are among the highest in the world. I think that is a trip for my bucket list.

This is a full bodied Malbec, fruity, with a nice long finish. Rocky told me he didn't spend more than $10 on any of the wines, so I will definitely pick up more of this one.

Barefoot Pinot Noir

When it comes to cheap wines, many experts turn up their noses at wines like those with the Barefoot labels. They are cheap, mass produced, and available pretty much anywhere. But at $5.97 a bottle, I find these are great every day wines. I never feel bad about opening one on a Tuesday or forgetting a bottle at a friend's house. The Pinot Noir is one of my favorites, especially to cook with. This is a medium bodied silky Pinot. I try to keep a bottle on hand all the time as I have found it adds a lot to my cooking (and not just because I'm drinking while cooking). It's my favorite to make Beef Burgundy. The beef, bacon, butter (and onions & peppers) meld beautifully with this wine and the juices make the BEST gravy.

Riebeek Cellars Rose

So, what wine goes best with homemade chicken nuggets? Not sure this is the exact best match, but rose goes with just about everything in my opinion. 

This is a South African Pinotage Rose. It's a bit dry, but has a nice fruitiness that makes me think this will be a nice deck wine, and who doesn't like a nice deck wine?

This was part of wine club, which almost automatically makes it a splurge. I saw online prices ranging from $8-$14. If I saw this for under $10, I'd definitely pick up a couple of bottles.

Once Upon a Vine

For Mother's Day, when Rocky asked me what I wanted and, well, did he really have to ask? Mother's Day morning, I awoke to 3 new bottles of reds he picked out at Albertson's.

 

I love this label. So much fun! This is really a great Tuesday evening Pinot Noir.Medium bodied, fruity, this went down easy and I had to cut myself off before I drank the entire bottle.

 

The Once Upon a Vine label has 4 other wines (a red Blend, a Chard and a Sauvignon Blanc), which I think would be fun to theme a party around.

 

This is, obviously, a grocery store find, so definitely affordable. As it was a gift, I'm not sure of the exact costs, but online searches put this between $8.99 - $14.99. I don't think I'm going to call this a splurge, though I reserve the right to change my mind should I start to see it consistently at a higher price.

Wicked White - More Middle Sister

Yes yes yes more Middle Sister. This is the one we were unable to locate for our wine tasting. I like it and think it will be a great summer, deck wine. Clean, crisp, fruity: a mix of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, and Other Whites. 100% California fruit with 23% from cool climate Monterey, CA. Great melon smells and flavor highlight this wine. I love whites fermented in steel as it seems to give them an added crispness.

I picked this up at CVS for $9.99 and of course, Middle Sister is on my must purchase again list.

Liberty School Chardonnay

A bottle from the Simply Wine April club and produced by Hope Family Wines. A nice Chard, medium bodied, a pretty yellow. Crisp with a slightly oaky undertone, I read on their website that they age in partial oak barrels. A bit of sour apple bite as well. I really enjoyed drinking this Sunday afternoon while enjoying the first beautiful day of spring!

This is a bit of a splurge as this retails at Simply Wine for $15.99, but I do believe I would seek this out again, especially for a spring or summer get together.

Red Velvet

One of my favorite, go to wines. I enjoy Cupcake wines so much that I made my 40th birthday party Cupcake Wine themed! This is a red blend, very smooth, velvety like an Elvis print.  Red Velvet combines Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. I actually hadn't pick it up in some time, but it was in sale at Albertson's for $7.77 so I had to pick up a bottle. This wine is consistently under $10, so is a list purchase when I can. I really need to stock up again as it is the perfect Tuesday night-watching "Cougar Town" wine.

 

 

Check out my other posts about my love affair with Cupcake Wines here and here.

SledgeHammer!

I picked up my latest wine club last week and as today is Malbec Day (really, it is), I opened up the SledgeHammer El Gaucho Malbec. It's Argentinean and a nice Malbec. A cherry flavor, with a smokey finish.  El Gaucho refers to the Argentinean cowboy and appropriately, they recommend this with beef.

This is a great deal as part of the wine club as it retails at Simply Wine for $18.99. A definite splurge, but very worth it.

So, be sure to sing through the Peter Gabriel song and let the "El Gaucho" bring back memories of "The Three Amigos" as I most certainly did [though to be fair, that was El Gaupo] and enjoy this Malbec!

Sir Paz Parker Road Bin 8

This is a Shiraz-Merlot blend from Australia. I LOVE Australian Shiraz, probably because the first Shiraz I had was in Hunter Valley. Rocky picked out this one the other night when I asked him to grab a bottle out of my cellar (I'll have to write about that later). This is one that probably could have been saved, but it was a great wine! Medium-bodied with a great peppery finish, I may have to find this one again.

Cost: I'm not exactly sure what the local retail for this wine is. This was part of the March wine club and I did not write down the costs. An online search show this averaging over $20. While I may pick up another bottle should I find it, this would not be one to just enjoy on a Tuesday. This would be a great one to share.

More Middle Sister

Ahh Wild One, Malbec! Full, spicy. A bit of blackberry flavor and very velvety smooth. This wine is made with Argentinian grapes -- which I love. I really love the South American reds. They seem to be a bit fuller, spicier. This is a nice Malbec. I'm really enjoying continuing my Middle Sister tasting and plan to pick up more bottles as I see them, especially if Target continues to have them on sale.

Pink Sparkling Wine

To celebrate Easter & our friend Dave's 40 birthday, we traveled to Denver. Easter morning Michelle & I enjoyed mimosas made with this sparkling wine. It is a Pinot Noir/Chardonnay blend. While I did not try it without orange juice, it did taste nice as I enjoyed 4 glasses!

Cameron Hughes Zin

A 2010 Lodi Zin. Lovely sweet cherries, a bit of spicy black pepper. Juicy, bold and full.

I really enjoy the Cameron Hughes wines. Simply Wine had a Cameron Hughes tasting about a year ago. The Lot series is interesting and I try to pick up a bottle whenever I see one. Bottles are typically around $10.99, so slightly above my comfort range but very worthwhile.

Middle Sister Pinot Noir

I found this at Target the other afternoon. Middle Sister is still on sale for $9.99. And as today is pay day I will probably pick up a few more. This was not part of our wine tasting, but I typically like Noirs so I wanted to try it (and the other Middle Sisters we did not taste). This is a nice Pinot. A little fruity and a bit if spice at the finish. Not too dry. This is definitely on my purchase again list.

Apothic White Blend

A beautiful white blend! Part smooth Chardonnay, aromatic Reisling and luscious moscato, come together in a great Tuesday (or Monday) evening wine. I found it at CVS for $9.99. I've had the red blend before so I thought I'd enjoy the white. I was not disappointed. The 3 grapes blend well together. A bit of honey & vanilla bring it together with a slightly spicy finish.

 

 

Visit Apothic's website for more information.