Wine:
Posted by Greg Schroeder on February 7, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Yes, it’s that sappy time of the year again – Valentine’s Day. If this is your first year at it, just know that it can go really well or it can be a total disaster. Somewhere in between works, but who wants to achieve mediocre?
My own personal advice is this: Do some level of planning before the big day because your significant other will know if you didn’t and that is the key to avoiding a disaster.
For the clueless guys, and some ladies too, who don’t know where to start planning for this day, I’m going to give you some suggestions in order to avoid a disaster:
First, think of your significant other’s expectations. Is she the easy-to-please type who expects nothing more than flowers? Or, is she the kind of girl who wants a thoroughly-planned, thrilling Valentine’s Day to remember forever? Keep in mind – whatever you do this year has to get progressively better next year! Or, does she want nothing more than one full night of your undivided attention, which brings to mind that TV commercial with the guy checking his phone for sports updates while out to dinner with his girl – uh, don’t do that! What’s most important with any of these scenarios is to consider his or her ‘maintenance level,’ determine what you can afford, and then start planning. Of course, plan sooner rather than later.
Wine & Dine
Pick the right restaurant! Do you have a Wendy’s date or a Morton’s date? I’m sure that 100 percent of Orange County’s restaurants are offering a special for the night, so here are a few selections I’ve found to get your wheels turning:
Amazing Grapes – Come on, this is our blog! Of course we’ll be pitching our place . . . and for good reason! Not only do we have you covered with a large selection of Rose’ Champagnes, we have just about any still wine you could think of. If you’re planning on cooking a special dinner at home, swing by for lots of pairing suggestions to compliment whatever it is your making.
The Grape - Amazing Grapes Wine Bar also has a special evening planned. Click here to sign up for a special notification.
Hanna’s Steak House – South Orange County’s and Rancho Santa Margarita’s nicest restaurant has a special A La Carte menu planned for the evening with three seating’s available at 5, 7 and 9 pm. I strongly suggest calling early for reservations.
Piccolino Ristorante – For pure romance, Italian dining is where it’s at. Sal, the owner, is a marvelous host who will make the evening special for you both. Picoolino has a great Italian wine list or drop by our store and pick up a bottle to enjoy there. A modest corking fee of $18 will apply. Click here to see their special Valentine’s Day menu.
Pina’s Bistro – My favorite Italian restaurant is having a Valentines Special meal. You can read my review of this restaurant in Greg’s Food and Wine Reviews or go to the restaurant website here. Strongly urge you to make reservations at this gem!
Get Away. Way Away!
Here’s a great idea – Escape the home to get the romance and privacy you crave, especially if you have children. There are a number of options just a quick drive away where you and your Valentine can cozy up. And you don’t have to go far either; bet you didn’t know we have a cozy new hotel with a great spa right in our back yard! Check in to Ayre’s Suites in Mission Viejo, just off the 241 Toll Road.
Flowers That Will Blow Her Mind
My wife will kill me for sharing my florist with you, but hey . . . that’s what blogging is all about. If you absolutely want to blow your wife’s mind, you have to get an arrangement for her from White Lilac. Guaranty you’ll make her day!
Outside the Box . . . of Chocolates . . . Duh
If dinner is too boring for you, or you can’t afford a weekend getaway, try something a little different to impress your Valentine. Try writing your loved one a love letter. I have never met one woman who wouldn’t prefer a love letter over dinner, a trip or flowers. And for heaven’s sake – skip the box of chocolates from the grocery store. Nothing will kill the mood faster than a box of Russel Stovers – ugh. If she has to have chocolate, find a See’s Candy store or order something online from the plethora of chocolatiers who make gourmet treats.
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Posted by Jeffrey Hall on January 25, 2012 at 7:39 pm
Or maybe it’s better asked this way: Is wine elitist?
I have heard this a lot from blogs and wine writers as of late. I am very confused!?! I work in the Wine Industry and have for over 12 years now, Elitist? Hmm, not how I would describe it. The great majority of us are middle class working folks, hardly elitists. Yes, I have some friends who work as Sommeliers for some very exclusive establishments, but none of them are elitist. The group of people that own this store are certainly not elitists.
So, where does this “elitist” stigma come from? Is it the wine itself?
And it’s not from the customers I have had in the store as they range from some of the worlds wealthiest to everyday people that just want a nice $10 wine for dinner. To further debunk the elitist tag, I can tell you with authority that the more money people have does not make them a wine elitist. In fact they tend to like to find the same good value wines that the rest of us do.
So, why the disconnect? Why do some want to see wine as elitist? Does anyone who listened to President Obama’s state of the union address last night remember hearing anything about wine being a culprit?
To my knowledge, wine is an agricultural product picked by people in fields off of plants. This would seem to put wine in the same category as apples or cabbage; at least up to this point. It is after the grapes are picked that the transformation into wine takes place. Have you ever visited a winery’s cellar room when they are making wine? That’s hardly an elitist hangout. How about the bottling line . . . , nope, none there either. I got it, it must be in the Tasting Rooms right? Well occasionally, but for the most part they are a really fun bunch of people too.
So, is wine elitist? Absolutely not! If it is at all intimidating to you, please stop by and ask me all the questions you want. I often marvel at the people I see in the grocery stores staring at labels and guessing which wine will be good as there is NO help for you in these stores at all. That’s why you should shop for wine in a wine store that specializes in helping you make a good decision. That . . . is what I am here for!
There are no “stupid” questions – I have probably asked all of them at one time or another myself – so, never feel that you are being dumb or showing that you don’t know much. Trust me, some of the best information I get comes not from industry people, but our customers who have learned about wine in their travels, asking questions. You would be amazed what I have learned.
So go ahead, ask away. You’ll be happy you did!
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Posted by Greg Schroeder on December 13, 2011 at 11:33 pm
I don’t know if this is world breaking news, but it did catch my eye. Starbucks is adding wine and beer to their menu at a few locations, in order to test the waters. I seriously think they should have done this from the get go! What were they waiting for, it’s a total no brainer! Coffee Shops do most of their business in the early part of the day, the obvious add on to the menu is booze and a Happy Hour. Cafes across France and most of southern Europe have been doing this successfully for years, not to mention they sell tobacco to boot. It comes as no surprise to me that they were victorious, and that the guinea pig locations have doubled their afternoon traffic since adding beer and wine.
I work at Amazing Grapes Wine Store and we have one of the most over the top selections of Craft Beers ever to be seen. I also have a mind that never stops and this whole Starbucks deal got me thinking, why doesn’t Starbucks come up with their own line of Craft Beers. They could do cool flavored beers similar to the coffee drinks they’re so famous for. I tried the Young’s Double Chocolate Stout during my research for this story. This was the real deal, I tasted the dark chocolate, but it wasn’t so sweet that I forgot I was drinking a beer. Just look at the frothy foamy glass of beer and how can you not envision the same thing but with a Starbucks logo? I for one will be the first in line at my local Starbucks should they start doing their own beers!
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Posted by Greg Schroeder on December 7, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Shopping by the label is nothing new, but I’ve been paying more attention to who buys what as it relates to labels. I’ve noticed that most of our younger clientele, people between the ages of 21-25, are steering clear of the wine and are pulled towards our killer selections of beer instead. My only conclusion for this is price but also very hip labeling on the beers.
It got me thinking, maybe these wine labels aren’t that cheesy afterall – maybe they’re smart! Perhaps pictures of Chateaus on bottles and prices out of range are responsible for the younger set staying away. Wineries are alienating a large group of potential customers by not promoting to them in a way that they find appealing. Marketing 101 folks!
In my humble opinion, the demographics of people ages 21-25 think of wine as being for people their parents age. Misfits Wine Co. get’s it by putting cool comic strip style sexy women on their bottles of wine. What’s wrong with a little pandering to promote wine as being sexy and fun instead of serious and stuffy. People in that demographic may be easily lured by the promise of sex, but they do have other thoughts in their head. I think whatever it takes to get their attention is fine. Once you have it, I believe they will be captivated by the wine industry and become interested in learning more. Bottom line here, wineries should take a lesson from the hot craft beer business.
There are plenty of great wines out there that are in young peoples price range. I decided to do a write up on Misfits Wine Co, Cycle Buff Beauty. The label is pretty hot. The wine is an Australian blend of 80% Malbec and 20% Shiraz with the flavor of dark cherry and exotic kitchen spices, sweet black berries with more spice in the mouth, and it’s all held together by fine grained tannins. This wine was given an 87 by International Wine Cellar and sells for $15.98 at Amazing Grapes Wine Store. I give it high marks for a pretty good wine in really good packaging and being easy on the wallet!
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Posted by Greg Schroeder on November 15, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Thanksgiving is coming up next week, so I thought I’d pass along some Burgundian suggestions for you to enjoy with your Turkey next week.
Chardonnays for me fall into one of two categories for me; crisp, clean almost Sauvignon Blanc-like and the creamy buttery style. The Schug 2009 Chardonnay Carneros falls into that later style and is one that I recommend to people looking for a good, buttery Chardonnay for this Thanksgiving, or anytime for that matter.
The Schug Chardonnay grapes are grown in the cool-climate Carneros Estate vineyard, and the Schug 2009 Chardonnay Carneros underwent the traditional European winemaking practices of barrel fermentation and aging on the lees (“sur-lie”). Additional complexity was contributed by Chardonnay grown on the Sangiacomo, Ricci, Iund and Cornerstones vineyards. The resulting wine has a ripe, spicy tropical bouquet with flavors that suggest citrus, pear and apple-butter. Well-balanced acidity gives it a crisp, clean finish, making it an excellent wine with food. Your Price $21.98
I love a good Pinot Noir with my turkey or ham. An excellent , fruit-driven Pinot Noir that is ready for prime-time this Thanksgiving is the Todd Hollow 2006 Pinot Noir ‘Rods Pride’. The result of the amazing fruit from Goldie’s Vineyard coupled with the finest French cooperage, a world-class winemaking facility and the expertise of Toad Hollow’s award-winning consulting winemaker, Ray Coursen of Elyse Winery is the “best of the best” of Toad Hollow’s Russian River Pinot Noir. Rich, Thick, well-balanced, smoky, earthy, cherry, cassis, vanilla, black cherry, and raspberry, this wine is ready-to-drink and one heck of a deal! Your Price $13.98 for one, $11.98 for six!
If you need help with your wine selections this holiday season, give me a call. Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
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Posted by Greg Schroeder on November 8, 2011 at 8:49 pm
Just a quick note – today and tomorrow all Italian wines are 10% as we travel around the world on our custom Amazing Grapes Beach Cruiser, which can be had in our 7th Anniversary Raffle! Since we were in Italy and there was pizza, free pizza, on the bar, I thought I’d taste a little of the Argiano Non Confunditur ’09 Toscano.
If you like Cabernets, I think you will love this “Super” Tuscan blend of Cab, Merlot and of course Sangiovese. Wine Spectator gave it 92 points, and I agree. Stop by and pick up a couple bottles at just $19.98 + 10% off today and tomorrow!
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Posted by Greg Schroeder on July 14, 2011 at 6:44 pm
There are various ways to waste time on your computer… while at work, home or for that matter while you are pretending to work. Facebook, The Chive, TFLN and the list goes on. Well, luckily for you readers today I have just provided you with a great time killer that you can convince anyone its’ ‘research!’
Okay, humor aside TED talks are eye-opening forums created by a non-profit organization that does provide extremely insightful facets into Industry and the opinions of those that should be heard more often than not. TED = Technology, Education, Design and they let influential industry members rant and rave about various aspects of life. I suggest checking to see if any of your industry idols have spoken. You will not regret wasting a couple minutes (or hours, like I tend to do) hearing great minds share their thoughts.
In this blog we are featuring an influential wine Industry member, Gary Vaynerchuk. You may disagree with his take on the wine industry, you may not. Regardless of your personal feelings on him, he does provide some thoughts on taking your passion to the next level. Take the time to follow this link and watch his TED talk Do What You Love – NO EXCUSES!
Once you have done that come back to the blog.
After watching this and taking some time to think about my own career course, I took away a few key aspects…
1) Hustle.
Your life will come at you, whether you were an active participant or not. I decided to be an active participant by joining the Wine Industry. You have never met more people that hustle in this industry. If you weren’t interested in wine, you would quickly find an escape path.
2) What do you Love? vs. What are you Passionate about?
I know in his title he throws the word love around, I think passionate needs to be the word tossed around more. For example; I love bicycles, in fact I have a collection of bicycles. I could ride a different one every day of the week if I wanted to. That does not mean I will ever open a bike shop and get giddy over a Bianchi, Cafe Racer and their coveted Celeste green with every customer that walks through the door. I would hate that, actually. Love is not necessarily Passion.
I am passionate about wine. When a wine comes into the store that is begging to be tried for any number of reasons; such as, it is grown on its’ own rootstock, it is blended so uniquely or it comes from 100 year old vines – you can’t help but stop and appreciate the craftsmanship that flows into each bottle.
I believe that this is what Vaynerchuk is trying to make clear to his audience. When you do something that you are passionate about you are providing yet another way for you to express yourself. I believe Wine is an expression; whether you make it, sell it or just consume it. It doesn’t hurt that consuming this beverage is far more fun than almost any other beverage, either!
Author: Erica Davis, Sommelier
Feel free to share your comments and thoughts!
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Posted by Jeffrey Hall on July 11, 2011 at 9:53 pm
It has been said of Australian Wine that it is too big, overly alcoholic, too jammy, a fruit bomb, massed produced critter wines, and the list goes on. While some of these accusations may have been valid (at least for some producers) in the recent past, I defy anyone to look through the breadth and depth that is Australian wine and level those same accusations.
Too big, jammy and overly alcoholic? Well, there are still a few that might meet that standard (about 10%), but the vast majority of wineries are pumping out really fantastic wines of great diversity.
Take Western Australia (yeah, didn’t even know about them, huh?). The area around Margaret River is producing some really great Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, among many other varietals. You will find they make really well made medium to full bodied reds and some really sumptuous whites. They rival some of the best of Bordeaux and even (are you sitting down) Napa. Plus, I have heard that Western Australia is one of Mick Jaggers favorite wine appellations in the world (that just rocks on so many levels).
Look to Victoria for some exceptional Shiraz and even Pinot Noir. The reds of Victoria rival those of any place in Australia and also in the rest of the world. Some great cool climate shiraz from the Grampian Ranges (north of Melbourne) will challenge even the most Rhône loving purists not to like them.
Tasmania isn’t just the home of the Tasmanian Devil! Tasmania is also home to many Pinot Noir, and Sparkling Wine producers that rival New Zealand, Oregon and even (wait for it) King Burgundy himself. There are some Sparklers that could easily slip into a Champagne tasting with no one being any wiser for it.
These are just a few of the area’s that are making great wine in Australia – and that’s without mentioning the big guys, Barossa and McLaren Vale (where many of the Big Wines have come from). I would like to paraphrase Lisa Perotti-Brown of The Wine Advocate – Global consumers who claim they are bored with Australian wines should taste the diversity of the high quality wines coming out of Australia and if they are still underwhelmed with these fruits of stiff competition then I would have to conclude that they are tired not with Australia but with wine.
Jeffrey Hall
Aussie Wine Buyer, Amazing Grapes
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Posted by Greg Schroeder on July 7, 2011 at 6:48 pm
I was passed along an interesting article that provides an argument for all us lifetime wine drinkers…Are there any flaws in wine?(Gasp, someone faints in the background)
NOW, before you think to yourself, of course there are! There is scientific proof! VA, Oxidization, Brett are awful characteristics of wine… Hear me out.
Today’s wine market is filled to the metaphorical brim with Wines that tout their naturalistic wine-making ways, those that believe hospital clean is the only way to get around natures follies and many in the middle. The 1970′s prompted a new movement to accept sterility as the ‘social norm’ in wine-making. What did they do before the 1970′s? Heck, wine has been around for roughly the last 500 years. Ya, 500 years. Do you think they had labs 500 years ago checking VA and brix levels to track their fermentation’s? That would be a negative.
What this article argues is that the accepted norm of sterility in wine-making is a relatively new concept for the long history of wine. Winemakers had no choice, but to leave their fate in the hands of nature. All of this in hopes that mother earth would glean a little of her golden liquid for future generation to enjoy. Possibly hundreds of years later. An 1870 Lafite was not subjected to lab tests, double duty punch downs and artificial additives. It was a gift from the Gods.
Mind you, not every vintage was an accomplishment of the Gods. More often than not they were catastrophically bad. This spectrum of results may have flawed components that naturally occurred, but became the signature of their vintage and more importantly of the wine itself. Neither I or this article suggest that intentionally letting flaws into wine is a good idea. That would be lazy wine-making and probably result in a poor product. As my old boss claimed daily during harvest, “cutting corners on this wine is a sin that you will have to own up to when its released!” He had a point there.
However, it is about keeping an open mind and an adventurous palate. Try that old world wine that has a little Brett, you may like it. Try that crystal clear wine, it probably has great acidity. Point is to keep trying. Otherwise, what fun is wine?
Author: Erica Davis – B.S. Wine & Viticulture Cal Poly SLO / Sommelier
Contact Info: erica@amazinggrapeswinestore.com
Want a suggestion for wine? Want to send me an interesting article to Blog about? Want to be updated with new wines? Shoot me an email and I am happy to help!
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Posted by Greg Schroeder on July 2, 2011 at 12:59 am
I have been on Paul’s mailing list for a couple of years now as this was the only way you could obtain these coveted, high scoring gems. During these years, I’ve been begging Paul for an allotment at my store so that I could share these with you because I think his list is closed and there is a long wait now.
My patience, and begging, has been rewarded. Our first allotment has arrived. I know they’re pricey but we’re no more than what you’d pay for them on the mailing list. We don’t have many, so get them while we have them!
Paul Lato 2009 Chardonnay Le Souvenir
Rating: Robert Parker 95 Points
Fresh scents of acacia blossoms with notes of lemon zest and spring mountain flowers on the nose. A touch of vanilla and wet stone. This wine is dry, zesty and vibrant with plenty of refreshing acidity and a long pleasant finish.
Buy It Now: $54.98/bottle
Paul Lato 2009 Pinot Noir Suerte
Rating: Robert Parker 94 Points
Winemakers Notes: This vineyard is going from strength to strength. As the vines mature, I was also able to obtain the lease of the best parcels. It is a new expression of Santa Maria Pinot. Elegant and fine with velvety texture, full body and a long finish with assertive tannins
Buy It Now: $68.98/bottle
Paul Lato 2009 Pinot Noir Hillliard-Bruce Vineyard Alegria
Demure aromatics showing darker well-spiced cherry, berry and currant fruits with an underpinning of forest floor and underbrush. Earthy and mysterious on the palate with firm ripe tannins, a silky mouth feel, and some persistence on the aromatic finish. A lot to like in this young vines offering.
Buy it Now: $74.98/bottle
Want more proof that these are wines you need to have in your cellar? Consider this prestigious list of restaurants that serve his wines and what they must charge for them:
- Bouchon, Santa BarbaraBoulevard, San Francisco
- Campanile, Los Angeles
- Craft, Los Angeles
- Farallon, San Francisco
- Frascati, San Francisco
- The French Laundry, Yountville
- Grace, Los Angeles
- Michael Mina, San Francisco
- Per Se, New York
- Napa Rose, Anaheim
- Roys, Honolulu, Kapolei, Kihei, Lahaina
- Sona, Los Angeles
So ask around, ask any wine geek who knows who is the hot ticket in Paso Robles these days and they’ll all tell you . . . Paul Lato!
Cheers,
Greg
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Yes, it’s that sappy time of the year again – Valentine’s Day. If this is your first year at it, just know that it can go really well or it can be a total disaster. Somewhere in between works, but who wants to achieve mediocre?
