Today @ Chateau St. Jean

I won't be able to be there but maybe you will.

"Today and Tomorrow we are pouring all your summer favorites at the Chateau. Come on over and if you can't make it in, give us a call. We wouldn't want you to miss out!" (Philippe Thibault)

Wine is bottled poetry. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Here are some wine quotes I really like. Feel free to share yours, too.

"I'm like old wine. They don't bring me out very often, but I'm well preserved."
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (b. 1890)Family matriarch,
mother of John F. and Robert F. Kennedy

“Wine is light, held together by water.”– Galileo Galilei

In vino veritas [In wine is truth].Proverb quoted by PLATO,Symposium 217 (also attributed to Pliny the Elder)

"Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" -Robert Fripp

"Reality is an illusion that occurs due to a lack of wine." -Anonymous

"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance."
-Benjamin Franklin

"Whenever a man is tired, wine is a great restorer of strength." -Homer, The Iliad

Wine News Bytes

I took out my WRB (Wine Reporter's Book), today and found some interesting news.

Reuters India is reporting on some new apps that will help wine lovers with pairing.

"More than a dozen apps claiming to be the equivalent of a sommelier in your pocket are available for iPhones and iPods. And there are others for the BlackBerry and other mobile devices." (Comes via Reuters India Apps, tweets and websites for wine drinkers)

There were two links mentioned from the article which will help you to get your taste buds started --> Natalie Maclean & Tastelive

And in health-related wine news, ABC Newsman, Ed Sussman, reports that "a glass or two of wine a day – but no more -- appears to protect older adults from developing dementia, researchers reported here at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease."

I have a question for Ed, since so much emphasis is placed on --> but no more than two <---

*sigh*

What would happen if these same adults had THREE glasses?

Buying Wine During Tough Times

The Wall Street Journal is reporting how the recession is making it tough for customers who are accustomed to buying high-end wines, even tougher for those who are not. --->NOT good news <---

My trip to Napa and Sonoma last month taught me the same lesson, "good wine" has a unique price tag.

Jim Carlton and David Kesmodel wrote in their article, Luxury Wine Market Reels from Downturn, "The slump comes as Americans continue to drink more wine overall. Recession-weary consumers, however, are buying more mid- and low-priced wines, causing a sharp falloff in sales of wines priced at $25 a bottle and higher."

And....

"But such price cuts are taking a heavy toll on wineries' cash flows, and could make it difficult for them to raise prices in the future. "If you're a $90 wine and all of a sudden you're on the Internet at $50, how do you ever become a $90 wine again?" says Elliot Stern, chief operating officer of the Sorting Table, a Napa Valley-based wine distributor."

Once I read this article, I immediately thought about Chad's blogs. He has brand names listed at low prices AND he reports regularly on these great deals - and - where to find them.

Chad's definitely worth checking out and what I like best is that he ALWAYS keeps it honest.

Learning and the Love of Wine

The fact that I am a teacher does not make me a lover of wine. What makes me a lover of wine is the history behind the vine. And interestingly enough, my mother introduced me to the Carthusian Monks who make their own wine with a secret recipe. I have not yet found the recipe, or that much information about them, but I have, however, found an interesting article. The Legacy of the Carthusian Monks: Learning and the Love of Wine **Boy, do I have a lot to learn!**

"The Carthusian monastery of Escaladei, founded in the 12th century, is the reference point and compulsory visit to see the Priorat region. The Carthusian monks made a decisive contribution to the cultivation of the vine and nowadays, their former land makes up a large part of the DOQ Priorat (QDO in English). "

(photo is via - The Legacy of the Carthusian Monks: Learning and the Love of Wine)

Up next, St. Bertrand...

Wineries in the Adirondacks

Checking out the wineries in the Adirondacks. My first tasting is this evening. 

Like me, HE liked the VINE: Tribute Pairing

If you are downtown tonight, in NYC, here's an event that will help you to celebrate Michael Jackson's life. 

25 Songs, 5 Wines, One King.

This Friday from 7-9 p.m., City Winery will celebrate Michael Jackson's career with a mix of music and wine by paying homage with a wine pairing—listening to 25 of his classic songs with wines paired with 5 eras in his music.

Children's Books About Grapes

Chateau St. Jean's Hospitality Operations Manager, Philippe Thibault, politely and very matter-of-factly, told me, "Don't wait too long before introducing your children to wine."

I thought to myself. Huh!? Kids and wine!? Isn't that a sin? My mother would NOT approve. :)

Then when I returned home from Sonoma/Napa, I started to read more and found that Europeans are far more comfortable than Americans when it comes to their children drinking wine. I kind of already knew that, but up until now, hadn't given it much thought.

So why are we, "across the pond-ers," so worried about this taboo issue, when it comes to wine. I'm not saying that children should be dining with martinis, but why not educate them so they have a healthy understanding, and an appreciation for the VINE. Hence, I brought my son a wine glass from Silver Oak in Napa, and have YET to pour him any wine. I'm still nervous about that. I did, however, notice two children's books about grapes, on a stand at Sequoia Grove in Napa, and asked Chad to snap a few pictures.

Anyway, since I review books, I may as well begin my education with these sweet, little books of grapes.

Songs and Wine --> A Perfect Combination

Amy's Journey To Napa continues

Visit The Wineries of California  blog to view more from our wine adventures. Chad has far more details, and goodies recorded, than I could ever write, or remember for that matter. Kudos, Chad!

Chad writes, "4) 2003 Armstrong Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (Diamond Mountain): This was Amy’s favorite."

Wine Twitterer: Gary Vaynerchuk

Follow "Gary Vaynerchuk's powerhouse wine business was largely engineered by his Twitter alter ego: @garyvee." (Comes via Companies take time to Twitter by Venuri Siriwardane/The Star-Ledger) 

2005 Black Ridge Vineyards CA Shiraz

When I arrived home from my Sonoma/Napa, wine tasting tours, I promised myself to NEVER again say what "I LIKE," again. For years I put myself in a wine "pigeon hole." And as a native New Yorker, pigeons are not something I want to be in the same hole with. But all too often, we stymie our palettes with the following adages: "I only like reds." Or, "Whites are my only choice."

DON'T DO IT!!!

Pre-Napa, I did the same thing, and post Napa - like Patti LaBelle - "I got a new attitude!"

That said, let me point your attentions to 2005 Black Ridge Vineyards CA Shiraz. I hunted the internet for ANYTHING about this wine, to no avail. It's a blend of an oaky, bold, with a hint of fruit and rust. It's also quite subtle, with an after taste of dry flavors.  And if you tend to lean towards dry wines, this is well within anyone's budget - I'll speak for myself, valued @$8.99. 

Wine Taster's Glossary

<-- Better...but I still like it. Thanks, CEM!

Before I set out on my journey to visit Sonoma and Napa, it would have been prudent of me to have taken a look at this Wine Taster's Glossary. It has all of the verbiage that I was trying to find during my tastings, but couldn't. And take it from me, it pays to know the language of the vine.

For red wines, and from what I learned, Wine Taster's Glossary says: 

Oak, oaky 

Aroma and flavor that derive from aging in oak casks or barrels. 

Characterized by smokiness, vanilla, clove or other spices. Should not be overly pronounced.

Full-bodied 

Full proportion of flavor and alcohol; big, fat.

Big 

Powerful in aroma and flavor; full-bodied.

Smoky 

Aroma and flavor sometimes associated with oak aging.

Hence my journey continues...

Wine, Oprah, and Randall Grahm - ALL on Skype - Cool!

The Examiner.com is reporting that Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyards recently appeared (via Skype, how cool!) on The Oprah Winfrey Show to talk, and taste -> WINE, of all things. Yes, Oprah appreciates fine wines too!

"It has taken him 20 years to write Been Doon So Long (University of California Press, October 2009), which isn’t surprising, as Randall Grahm is not a man of a few words. He describes the 360 page book as “a highly entertaining journey to find the truth of all things that may be found in the unlikely medium of a wine glass." (By June Smith - Bonny Doon Vineyard founder Grahm conducts wine tasting on Oprah show)

(You'll notice, like the vineyards, my tours will take many different directions, but I will get there.) 

Why the VINE?

Just take ONE look and then ->YOU<- tell me.
And what I will say is that there was something very spiritual...an awakening, or an ephiphany - if you will - when I was in the vineyards. There was a quiet, peace that came over me and all I could think about was God, and the stillness of the light that radiated atop the grapes.

Chateau St. Jean: "Every wine has a reason to exist." -Philippe Thibault

These next few postings about my trip to Sonoma and Napa will be a little scattered, since I just arrived home and my internal clock is trying to readjust itself. That said I must point you to the wonderful world of Chateau St. Jean, where Philippe Thibault, the hospitality operations manager, took us for the wine tour of a lifetime - without even leaving the exquisite, Chateau St. Jean patio.

While overlooking the glorious vineyards, Philippe not only shared the history and authenticity of the wines we were tasting, he also provided me - a newbie - with best practices, and an overall introduction into the world of the vineyards.

This experience, and listening to Philippe, taught me that you really need to love what you do, because once you do, your job no longer becomes work. And it was clear that Philippe LOVES his job.

Walking into Chateau St.Jean was like walking into paradise. It set the stage for me as to what "real" wine tasting should include: #1) Ambiance #2) Good Company #3) And NEWS you could use about the history of wine...my personal fetish, of course.

For new wines tasters, Philippe is your best choice because while he sets a high standard for what one should know, he explains the "whys" behind the wine...which is what the vine is expecting of any taster. Make sense? "Know what you are talking about when it comes to wine, don't short change it with what you think you know."

<----The gorgeous view

(Flag photo comes courtesy of Philippe Thibault)

Amy's faves from Chateau St. Jean --->2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages, Sonoma County 1.5L and 2005 Late Harvest Riesling, Belle Terre Vineyard, Alexander Valley

(Featured in photo: seated -->Mark Vogler (Wine Marketer) -->Philippe and -->Moi

Wine Tasting Tips

As with anything, there are always "tips" and "best practices" to follow. Such is the same for wine tasting. Which is why, even before I take you through my Napa/Sonoma journey, I wanted to share with you some innocent mistakes that I made, so YOU don't do the same.

Drum roll...

1) NO perfume, NO! NO! NO! Don't do it. Before you venture out to any vineyard, don't wear it and don't think about it. It KILLS the scent of the wine, before tasting. It's also pure -> courtesy for other tasters. "The majority of the taste is smell, and have you ever tried tasting anything when you've had a cold?" CEM

2) No smoking! Obvious, right?

3) No lipstick! It messes up the clean, and clear glasses. I made that boo boo yesterday at the St. Clement winery. (icky looky on the glassy)

4) With wine tasting, another good tip is to know that it's about the legs. Not YOUR legs, silly.

And if you look closely, --->

you can see how the wine drips down the interior of the glass, forming the look of legs, or TEARS, as I referred to them as - WRONG.

5) Philippe Thibault is hospitality operations manager at Chateau StJean in Sonoma. He provided me with my first wine tasting ,which for me was life changing (I'm not being dramatic!). He also spoke about the smell. [When tasting] "Close your eyes when smelling the wine. Swirl it around in the glass to let it breathe...It's satisfaction in the mouth."

More later...

Oh, and don't forget to pronounce the wine or winery correctly. Do your homework, or ask someone. For example, Chateau St.Jean is pronounced "StGENE," not "John."

(Glass photo with "legs" comes courtesy of Chad)

Amy's Journey To Napa begins...

...with an expert wine taster, who just moments ago, provided me with a piece of friendly advice: You do know NOT to wear perfume in the vineyards, right? I almost choked. What? How in the world would I have known that! I am a newbie, and a wannabe, wine taster, from Queens! Can you imagine!? No perfume in the vineyards?  

Anyway, my flight to Napa leaves in 5 1/2 hours and as with any new venture, and if perfume is an indicator, NOW I am nervous.  

*A side note* My goal is to go from "newbie" to "expert" wine taster in four days. By the way, it all started here...

Stay tuned, for my journey to Napa with the expert taster.