Nizza? Gavi? Are these nicknames for winemakers or grapes or places or what? If you’re really into Italian wines, you may already know that just like Barolo is a high quality Nebbiolo grape made into wine from certain areas of Piemonte, Nizza is a high quality Barbera grape grown in certain areas of Piemonte and made into Nizza wine, while Gavi is a high quality wine made from the Cortese grape grown in certain areas of Piemonte. Simply put, a a Nizza Barbera is a guarantee that is is possibly the best Barbera you’ll find and taste!
1979 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin La Grande Dame and 2005 Nicolas Feuillatte
When I saw a bottle of 1979 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin La Grande Dame at a neighborhood garage sale, I noticed right away that the level of liquid on the bottle was well below the cork– NOT a good sign! You want to see the the bottle is pretty full so that the liquid touches the cork. But I figured for the right price it would make a good story. When he said Continue reading →
On Saturday, October 12, Château Dauzac in Margaux France hosted the 12th World Wine Tasting Championship sponsored by French wine magazine, La Revue du Vin de France. Italy made a surprising win by a huge margin of 28 points over Switzerland and Taiwan who tied for second place with 140 points. Japan came close with 138 points.
4 Biodynamic Oregon Wines with pairings: duck breast with blueberry sauce, fall salad, squash and mushroom risotto
We’re falling for biodynamic wines from Oregon this autumn paired with a fall menu of favorites. We have four very different but all stellar wines from four wineries that have been leading the United States in biodynamic and organic practices. Bonus: Continue reading →
Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! Wines with light bites
Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! founder Hardy Wallace says that wine is like a spaceship that takes you beyond the known universe to places you can’t wait to talk about. So as the sunsets on California Wine Month, I’m getting extra dimensional — what better way but to celebrate with truly out of this world wines from Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! wines aim to supply pure California Energy to those who wish to imbibe beyond the known universe. Continue reading →
I discovered super small Sonoma County Staysail at the silent auction for the Garagiste Festival in Sonoma…or Glendale! I bid on the lot of six wines– two Grenache Blanc plus two of two vintages of Grenache Noir thinking even then that it would make a great Grenache Day post if I won the lot– which I did! Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to stop at his table to meet winemaker Matt McDermaid — or taste his wines– until I got home, and Sue and I tasted the wines for Grenache Day paired with oysters, a grilled Peach Burrata Salad, and Butter Lamb Curry with turban squash chickpeas. yum! Scroll down for all the details! And happy Grenache Day!
While Grenache is one of the top wine grapes grown around the world, there’s less than 4,500 acres of it grown in California– down from 20,000 acres in the 1970s when it was grown in the Central Valley and used for bulk wine. Compare that number to Cabernet Sauvignon in California which has 95,000 acres right now in the Golden State according to 2021 USDA data and which made up 15% of the 2022 crush.Continue reading →
Grenache from Dave Phinney Orin Swift D66 with lamb chops
With Grenache Day next Friday Sept. 20. the French Winophiles are going with Grenache; scroll down for links. So how I could say no? I love Grenache whether it’s blanc or noir or rose!
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 