Archive for February, 2009
Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel
Varietal: Zinfandel
Region: United States – California
Cost: $9 – $12
Aromas of cherry and black pepper lead into a taste of sour cherry, chocolate, and raspberry. A nice peppery finish with just a hint of alcohol at the end. Pairs well with red meat and pasta.
Recommendation: This is, admitedly, one of the first red zinfandels that I’ve ever had. I had always been wary of zinfandels because of the white variety, something that I have no taste for. Because of the Ravenswood Zinfandel, my wife and I are both converts the red zinfandel train of thought. The great dark berry flavors are a great lead into the peppery finish, something that I’m a huge fan of. While it is a bit fruity on the front end (as many California wines tend to be), it wasn’t enough to ruin the wine for me. If you’re new to red zinfandel, this is a good one to start with, and if you’re looking for an affordable zinfandel to keep around the house, you really can’t miss with this one. Definitely worth a try.
This weekend I’ll be attending the second annual Virgina Wine Expo in Richmond, Virginia (stay tuned for numerous reviews of wines, vineyards, and the event as a whole), and it got me to thinking about first time wine festival attendees. Many of them are overwhelmed by the experience and don’t get to really enjoy their time with all that wine. With that in mind, I’ve come up with a list of things to keep in mind so that you have an enjoyable wine festival experience.
Eat Before You Go to the Festival
You’re going to be drinking wine all day, and take it from my own personal experience, that mixing differing wines is bad enough, but doing it on an empty stomach is just asking for trouble. Eat something before you leave that will help to counter the effects of the alcohol on you so that you can spend more time enjoying yourself at the festival.
Eat During the Festival
Most wine festivals I’ve attended have some kind of food available. It may be little more than snacks to help clear the palate, or it may be vendors offering everything from burgers and fries to more elaborate food. Whatever it is, make a point of having some food during the event, especially if you’re going to be there for a while.
Go With Friends
Not only does this give you somebody to compare thoughts on wine with, it also gives you a person to let you know if you’re maybe enjoying the festival too much. We all think we know our limits, but having somebody there to let yo know it’s time to head home is always helpful. Also, carpooling to the festival together is a great way to save on gas and parking.
If Possible, Avoid Driving to the Event
Get a cab, take public transportation, have somebody drop you off and pick you up later, anything to avoid having to drive back home after you’ve spent hours drinking wine at the festival. Spending some money on a hotel room near the festival is far preferable to getting a DUI. If the festival is in a larger city, spend some time walking around the city, get some dinner, whatever you need to do until it’s safe to drive your car. Better to waste the rest of your day than spend a night in jail.
Don’t Attempt to Try All the Wine
If the event is more than one day, this should be self-explanatory. However, if the festival is only one day (or if you’re only attending one day of a multi-day festival), keep in mind that you do not in fact have to try them all. Just because a vendor offers you a sample doesn’t mean you have to take it. I’ve seen people take samples of wine that they know they don’t enjoy just because it was free. Why bother? Most festivals will list which vineyards will be attending ahead of time, so take your time and pick out which ones you know you want to hit, try the wines you really want to, and then pick a few more that either look interesting or are clearly popular (or unpopular if you don’t want to wait in line).
Pace Yourself
If the event is five hours long, you don’t have to leave until those five hours are up. Take your time, try some wines, then walk around. Try some more wines, get some lunch. Try some wines, take some purchases out to your car. You don’t have to constantly have a glass of wine in your hand. Pacing yourself helps to prevent you from overindulging and from just exhausting yourself. Wine festivals are all about enjoying yourself, and nobody has fun when they’re stressed out.
Have Fun
Enjoy yourself! You’re drinking wine, mingling with people, eating food, and hopefully spending time with friends or family. This should be a great time, and so long as you take some of the above advice, there’s no reason you can’t have a great and memorable time. So drink up and have some fun.
When it comes to the movies, we very rarely think of wine. Our villains are usually into some kind of illegal substance, and our heroes either don’t drink because they’re heroes, or they’re anti-heroes and drink scotch, bourbon, whiskey, or some other liquor straight. However, I’ve managed to compile a list of movies that do bring wine into the equation.
10 – The Silence of the Lambs
Coming in at number 10 is The Silence of the Lambs. While we never actually see Hannibal Lecter drinking (he’s only on screen for about 16 1/2 minutes of the film, and in prison for all but 3 minutes of those), there are few people that haven’t at one point or another thought of pairing fava beans with a nice chianti. This quote is actually rated number 25 on the American Film Institute’s list of 400 greatest movie quotes.
9 – The Godfather
It’s hard to have a movie about the Italian mafia without wine. Between the Don’t daughter getting married and the party that ensued, and or to the Don speaking of his increased love of wine towards the end of the movie, The Godfather makes wine enjoyable and fun, not pretentious. The only thing that’s more red than the wine in this movie is the blood shed.
8 – James Bond
While it’s true that James Bond is best known for his love of the martini, there are numerous times throughout the series where wine has made its presence felt. In Dr. No, Bond shows off his knowledge of champagne, saying that he prefers the ’53 Dom Perignon to the ’55 that they are about to be served. In Goldfinger, Bond shows off his knowledge of Brandy to M by picking on the brand that is served to him. While it’s true that nobody is ever going ton confuse James Bond as being a wine connoisseur, it’s clear that he does appreciate more than a martini.
7 – French Kiss
While I don’t usually watch a lot of romantic comedies, this movie does make it on the list because of Kevin Kline’s character’s desire to own his own vineyard. Having gambled away his share of the family plot to a vineyard, Kline spends his time with Meg Ryan talking about wine, introducing her to love, and even shows off his own homemade aroma sampling kit.
6 – Cleopatra
What would a movie set in Ancient Rome be without wine? The main characters are often seen drinking wine, and poison is served to Cleopatra in a cup of wine (which she makes her servant drink instead). In fact, Marc Anthony has a glass of wine in his hand in nearly ever scene he’s in during the movie. That’s commitment. Read the rest of this entry »
Last week, my wife and I went to Si Tapas in Richmond, Virginia for a belated Valentine’s Day dinner. This wasn’t our first visit to the restaurant, but it had been a while, and as a result, the menu selection had change slightly.
We had mad reservations, but upon arriving (on a Wednesday evening), it was clear that we probably wouldn’t have needed them. We were quickly seated in the small dining room (it seats probably 20-30 people at most), and joined by our waiter who asked us if we’d ever been before. We already knew what wine we wanted (a 2007 Gouguenheim Malbec), so he soon returned with the wine and two glasses of water.
As the name implies, Si Tapas specializes in tapas, an appetizer style meal where you order multiple small offerings to create an entire meal. None of their tapas are made ahead of time, which means that you’re food is always hot and made to order.
My wife and I ordered their Polenta Fries, Pork Empanadas (a choice we had enjoyed before), Cheese Fondue (a selection they had offered before, but had changed slightly since our last visit), and Cumin Dusted Scallops (another selection offered before, but with a new twist).
The entire meal was delicious. Everything was hot and perfectly cooked and plated. When we ran out of bread for the fondue, we didn’t have to ask for any, our waiter just made sure we did in fact want some more and then brought some to us an no extra charge, and the wine was a perfect compliment to everything.
Our final bill for four tapas and a bottle of wine was around $63, not something I’d want to pay every night for a meal, but certainly something that’s worth indulging in for special occasions. The homey atmosphere makes going there even more enjoyable, and is perfect for visiting with friends, family, or with a special someone. Their wine selection isn’t huge and does lean towards the Spanish in selection, but there should be something there for every taste, and it pairs well with the food that they offer.
Whether you live in Richmond or you’re just visiting, Si Tapas is definitely worth a visit. You’ll enjoy the food, you’ll enjoy the wine, and you’ll enjoy the atmostphere for what is sure to be a delicious meal.
About Si Tapas
Si Tapas features two floors, with a dining room downstairs and a bar/lounge area upstairs that offers beer, wine, and liquor. Their tapas selection is great for every type of taste, and the atmosphere is acceptable for dates, family gatheries, or a meeting with friends. Dress is casual to business casual. To make reservations or view their menu, visit Si Tapas online at: http://www.sitapas.com/richmond
Varietal: Malbec
Region: South America – Argentina
Cost: $7.99 – $9.99
A spicy nose with aromas of white pepper and anise, a fairly fruity taste that features flavors of berry and plum. A very mild red, with a very light finish.
Recommendation: I’m a big fan of Malbecs, and the Gouguenheim was no excpetion. I’ve had this wine a couple of times now, and both times it was enjoyable to drink by itself or to pair with food. This wine is light enough that you can enjoy it with food that has a bit of spice to it without wishing for something more refreshing. Whether you’ve been drinking Malbec for a while or you’re just looking to experiment with it, I really do recommend this wine.
Voga Italia Quattro
Varietal: Pinot Noir/Merlot/Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Italy – Sicily
Cost: $9.99 – $11.99
A blend of 4 varietals (hence the name), this medium-bodied wine has the natural tannins of the pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon offset by the merlot and shiraz. This Italian red pairs well with food, but can be enjoyed by itself.
Recommendations: I think I would have liked this wine better had they left out the merlot to let the dryness of the pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon shine through. Drinkable by itself, this wine pairs well with food, particularly red meat. For a wine under $10, it’s hard to not recommend that anybody give this wine a try, and it’s certainly a great way to ease your way into red wines if you’re new to them, but if you drink a lot of red wine already, this wine probably won’t suit your needs. I say give it a shot, but don’t get your hopes up too high, as this may lead to disappointment.
