Make Your Own Wine
I just discovered this website. www.crushpadwine.comGreat idea for making your own wine. One of those things to add to the list of life. You create your own wine without the responsibility and financial obligations of running a vineyard. You can help out in the process of making the wine as much as you would like.
Discovered From:
http://winecase.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/make-your-own-wine-its-not-what-you-think/
First Napa Valley Wine Trip
I had an amazing time in Napa Valley this last weekend as it was my first wine-tasting trip to the northern California wine country. I moved away from the Bay Area when I started college and never had the opportunity to visit this beautiful countryside after I turned 21.
So this last weekend was my sister-in-law’s bridal shower which was hosted at a family members house situated on a small vineyard in Napa. Their specialty is Syrah and its a beautiful location with vineyards as far as the eye could see.
Thanks to my husband’s family who work in the industry we had a private tasting at the Cliff Lede. A very beautiful and unique vineyard, each of the vineyard blocks is named after a classic rock n’ roll song. We sipped on wine in their rustic tasting room as well as out on their sunny outside seating area as we listened to some classic rock n’ roll music. I think Cliff Lede is a model vineyard for what my blog is all about. Enjoying wine and bringing out what you love in life like Rock n’ Roll music.
Even though the grapes hadn’t begun to grow their vines for the season, the countryside was beautiful. The mustard plant was in full bloom and the hills of Napa were seas of green. A nice break from the snow in Utah!
That was just the beginning of our day. We stopped at a family favorite, Flora Springs Winery. A very hip, modern setting we grabbed a bite to eat across the street at Dean and Deluca and sat out on the flora springs patio as we indulged in a wine tasting. I can say that I know if I like a wine just after the initial sniff. Either it hits me and the sip unfolds another layer of life or it just tastes like another wine. I really enjoyed the Trinity and NV Cabernet at Flora Springs, it tasted like what a plumaria flower smells like.
Then we took a chance and stopped at the Alpha Omega Winery on the “strip” which was founded by Robin Baggett who also developed Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo, California, a winery I enjoyed during a visit in the Summer of 2008. The wine pourer specialist, Steve was very nice. At this winery, I familiarized myself with the thief and tried wine out from the barrel that would be eventually bottled in September.
The last stop was the Hess Collection, a favorite to many, this vineyard is spectacular and well worth the drive. Situated a few miles up a beautiful canyon, I felt like I was in the South of France. Their 3 story Art Gallery is unique, maybe not my type of art but fun to explore. The wine tasting room is rustic and a glass wall exposes the barrels for viewing. Their wine is affordable and very universal. You can never go wrong showing up for a party with a bottle of Hess.
So my first wine-tasting trip to Napa was a success and I’m looking forward to getting back there very soon. There is no experience like wine-tasting. I mean people aren’t lining up to try different types of anything like they do for wine.
Plungerhead
Over the weekend, my friends and I made home-made pizzas and enjoyed this bottle of wine. Great for this occasion. Love the label and plunger cork.
Plungerhead Wine
Can you judge a bottle by its label?
So, the question is can you judge a bottle by its label? If you are a novice at selecting wine, can you make a good decision about what to buy? I think by educating yourself on a few things, you can reduce your chances of purchasing a wine you absolutely don’t like. Here are a few things that help me decide on a wine.
1. Stick with what you like which means stay with a genre of wine you really enjoy. This will make it easier to select a wine and less room for error.
2. Region is important. If not knowing anything about what parts of the world produce the best types of wine then this may help. If you’ve purchased a wine in the past from a particular region most likely a different wine from the same region will be of a similar distinction. Also, follow the lead of the wine store you’re in. If it doesn’t look like they stock a lot of that type of wine from one region steer clear.
3. Check out the vibe of the label. Is it something that interests you? Catches your attention. Wineries spend a lot of money on marketing so take a risk and go for it.
4. A different wine for a different occasion. The stakes are a lot higher when the bottle of wine is upward of $50-$100 so in this case stick with a wine you already like but try a more expensive vintage.
5. Tune in to other people’s selections at the store. Recommendations are good way to go. Don’t hesitate to ask other customers about what’s in their basket.
6. Most wine stores, even in Utah, display point awards with tasting notes from various publishers which is always helpful when deciding between wines.
So next time you’re in the wine store, no need to panic that you didn’t bring your wine spectator with you, just use your best instincts and by the process of elimination you can better choose a wine you will enjoy. Of course, I’m just a novice myself so if you have any other wine selection do’s and don’ts, please share.
Utah Wine Selection
Living in Utah, I am forced to shop the state liquor stores. The selection is mediocre and the sales are never good. And when I check out, even though I’m 28, they make me feel like I’m an under-age teen breaking the law by constantly, giving me the third degree.
On top of that, its nearly impossible and super expensive to get wine shipped in from online stores. I subscribe to the Wine Spectator but it is always a disappointment when I can’t get a hold of some of the great wines they recommend.
Any suggestions on a good reasonably priced shipping company?
November 21, 2009 – It had been a few years since I had been out of the state. LOL. I was visiting my husband’s family in Reno for Thanksgiving and my mother-in-law and I were grocery shopping for the holiday feast.
As I crossed the threshold into the store I was instantly attracted to the tower of wine at the entrance of the store. But it didn’t stop there, I would spend time at the end of each aisle where the store had their best wine deals displayed, staring in awe. Every time I met up with my mother-in-law in the store I would be standing in front of a different display. She was getting the idea that I was possibly an alcoholic but that was all put to rest when as we were leaving, I explained, “It is just so great that they sell liquor in the grocery store”.
I was literally a kid in a candy store.
Blow Your Mind Wine – ‘Are You Experienced’
I start of this blog by referring to legendary Jim Hendrix, “Are You Experienced”, which many think is about experiencing LSD. But maybe this song’s meaning goes beyond a single synthetic high and asks people if they have taken a moment from the routine of every day life to relax and enjoy the simpler things in life. Break through even though, “you’ll probably scream n’ cry. That your little world won’t let go.” Its not easy to let go, which I seem to experience at the beginning of every vacation…always takes a few days and a few glasses of wine to release the stress and get into vacation mode.
So is there a memory to which you shared with friends and family a nice bottle of wine that helped you become ‘Experienced’ – helped you enjoy life a little bit more?
Blow Your Mind Wine 