Popping for Bubbles

With 2011 drawing to a close, (how did that happen so quickly?!), I can't but help about some of my favorite bubbles for ringing in a fresh slate. Whether you will be saboring a bottle at midnight or slowing sipping your way through many bottles on New Year's Eve, I have put together a short list of some of my favorites.

Before I dive into the list, this time of year all is a very reflective time for me as with many others I'm sure. I once read that life is lived in stages and phases. I couldn't agree with this more especially as a stage of my life is drawing to a close while many phases are also beginning. As many commit to going to the gym everyday next year, while a good goal, I know if I go twice and that will be an accomplishment, I will be focusing on living in the moment while pushing towards goals such as becoming a better wine writer for example. I'm looking forward to both my personal and profession worlds undergoing some major revamping this year and would like to thank all my readers and supporters - you're the best! I wish you all the happiness and health New Year!

Alright, with the mushy stuff out of the way, here are my recommended bottles to pop:

Gruet Sauvage Brut - The most amazing wines to come out of New Mexico - seriously. This sparkling is full of green apple, citrus and flowers. Dry and crisp and retailing for around $17 it doesn't get much better than this outside of the Champagne region of France. And while you are at it, check out their Chenin Blanc - it rocks!

Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc - Rachel Zoe would either love or hate me for saying this but "I die" for this sparkling. If there is only one bottle to open as the new year approaches, this is it.

Cristalino Cava Brut - The best "cheap" bubbles out there if you ask me. Add a scope of your favorite sorbet for a fruity dessert or pre-party aperitif.

Anything Mumm - cause she knows best ;)

Gratien and Meyer Saumur Rose: Who says you can't drink summer in the dead of winter?! This unique sparkling is made from Cabernet France and Grolleau grapes. Crisp and delicious any time of year.

Have a great time celebrating and see you next year!

Santé!
Charlotte :)

Wine for Whisk(e)y

No, don't worry, I'm not abandoning wine for whisk(e)y...well not yet anyways. But let me ask you, what generally comes to mind when you think Japan? Cherry blossoms? Sushi? Memoirs of a Geisha? (even though that wasn't very accurate). Perhaps even sake comes to mind but how about single malt whisky? Yeah, that's right, the Scots may not be too thrilled, but I am!

After surviving a fairly debilitating cold last week, I managed to feel better just in time for the Women and Whiskies event. (Good timing right ;)) Finding myself smashed among too many people in the a small yet sleek sushi joint I was thrilled to start tasting some whiskies.

http://www.suntory.com/yamazaki/main.html

The highlight of the night was the Japanese whisky made by Suntory. Having set up shop in 1923 making them  the oldest Japanese distillery, they really know what they are doing. The 12-year old Yamazaki single malt whisky was subtle, smooth and almost evaporated from your tongue.  Having been matured in three different kinds of oak; American, Spanish, Japanese, the roundness of flavors were evident. Tasting of dried fruits, honey and toast. If you love peat this may not be the whisky for you, however, the subtly of this whiskey made for some easy sippin'.

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The 17 year old Suntory Hibiki blended whisky was also a must try. Sitting at higher price point around $90, this sleek bottle looking like a large perfume bottle was by no means lacking scents. With more baking spice aromas than the Yamazaki and also a fuller mouthfeel, this whisky would be the perfect gift for any whisk(e)y lover.

Other noteworthy whiskies were Russell's Reserve 10 year old Bourbon and the Glen Grant Speyside 10 year old single malt scotch. I have to admit I skipped right over the Wild Turkey, even if it was the 18 year old "classier" version than the corner store special we drank in college, I'm not sure if it was memory lane I didn't want to visit or rather the unpleasant hangover-ville, either way, the turkey stayed out of my glass.

To check out Women and Whiskies events happening in your neck of the woods, find them on Facebook for more information.  http://www.facebook.com/WomenAndWhiskies

In the meantime, let me know if you plan to drink any whiskies this holiday season.

Santé!
Charlotte :)

Yup....It Has Been Two Years

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Today I am popping champagne and celebrating a new year, (early, I know). But today marks the two year anniversary of The Wine Key. (Happy Birthday!) They say as you get older, time starts to fly. Well if that is true, I'm starting to feel like I'm approaching 100 years old, and quickly. It feels like only a few months ago that I starting writing about wine. After two years, I honestly feel like I have said anything yet!

On this day, two years ago, I set out to write about a passion of mine with no expectations that anyone else would care to read about my wine experiences. As it turns out, I am fortunate enough to have developed relationships with loyal readers and met amazing co-conspirators that are just as crazy about wine as I am. This also being the week of Thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude for both my loyal readers and everyone I have met along the way. Connecting to my "tribe" has been inspiring to say the least. I have found a thriving online community that shares a wealth of information each and every day about their wines experiences and it was an honor to have met many of you at The Wine Bloggers Conference this year.

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As I celebrate this little milestone today, I am very focused on the future and excited about my plans to develop The Wine Key into much more than just a blog. Stay tuned for big announcements over the next few months. I find I am feeling similar to the Beaujolais Nouveau, which were released last Thursday; young, fresh, fruity, just a preview of what is to come. With additional aging and maturing, I hope to be celebrating even bigger achievements next year. (I apologize for the cheesy analogy but I'm clearly wrapped up in the moment - let me have it.)

So today, please join me is taking a moment to appreciate lives little accomplishments and cheers to new beginnings! Here is to finishing 2011 on a strong note and Happy Thanksgiving.

Santé!
Charlotte :)

Croatian Grape Juice

Somewhere nestled in the hills of San Francisco, I found myself in a chilly wine cellar of my unassuming host. As the recognition of wine labels started to register on my face, my host realized he was in good wine company, resulting in a stellar line-up of open bottles. This lead to the discovery of one delicious and exotic wine from Croatia.

Being a stones throw away from France and just across the Adriatic waters from Italy, I'm pretty sure if you were to squint hard enough from the shoreline of Croatia, you can see Italians sunbathing and eating spaghetti across the wavy seas. (Stereotyping, I am not.)

Croatia is shaped much like a seahorse and vintners have somehow mastered planting neat and tidy square vineyards within this oddly shaped country. Croatian wines joined the international wine stage in 2004 when the press got their hands on some wines and were pleasantly surprised. Like many parts of the Mediterranean, winemaking actually dates back to Antiquity and having recently gained in popularity due to amiable prices and exceptional quality.

Along the tail of the seahorse, lie Dalmatia. A well known wine growing region where both indigenous and international grape varieties are planted. In the northern part of Damatia, (similar latitude to Tuscany), among the limestone, red, and rocky soils, near Skradin, lies Bibich Winery. (If you know where this is without the use of Google Maps, I'm impressed). With a family history of winemaking, but with little interest from other family members, Alen Bibic revitalized the family business in 1995 at the ripe age of 22. Pun intended.

When Alen's bottle of 2007 Bibich Reserva was pulled from my host's cellar, I immediately poured out the previous wine from my glass in anticipation, (well poured it straight into my mouth that is, don't want to be rude at a dinner party now do I?!) The Reserva is a blend of Babic, Palvina and Lasin, all native varietals rumored to be cousins with the Californian Zinfandel. Aged 12 months in American oak barriques. This wine is both recognizable and unique. Being rustic much like its Italian counterparts but completely different with elements of raisinated dark fruits, musty cellar, cranberry, pepper spice with a solid tannin structure. Being relatively light to medium bodied, there is a resemblance to Zinfandel. Overall, an exotic blend sure to excite your palate.

When I ventured to K&L's website, they are selling this wine for $17.99. A wine worth much more and absolutely worth all the conversation that will be had while tasting.

My casual Sunday dinner with friends has now sparked a strong interest to learn more about Croatian wines putting them front and center on my wine stage.

Santé!
Charlotte :)

Halloween and the Headless Horseman

A lot of changes tend to happen for me around November 1st. This year is no exception. On this crisp and chilly evening of all Hallow's Eve, I find myself feeling sentimental as I celebrate my 4 year anniversary of living in San Francisco, packing to move into a new apartment, starting a new job and preparing for my first photography show, among other projects. As last minute alterations are happening to costumes, candy being handed out and pumpkins being lit, I find myself putting my feet up and popping the cork on a spooky wine.

www.ashhollow.com

Ash Hollow Winery from Walla Walla, Washington produces the Headless Red. With a label decorated by a Headless Horseman on what appears to be a creepy, foggy evening, I wasn't sure what to think. After watching their promotional video, I couldn't help but feel a little chill down my spine. A Bordeaux style blend made of 58% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Syrah and 3% Malbec aged 30 months in 15% new French Oak and 85% neutral (which I love to hear!); I was amazed at the depth, subtleties and structure.

With the estate vineyard sitting at 45 degrees north in latitude, same as Bordeaux, it is no wonder this wine presents the complexity that it does. The 2008 had only 500 cases produced and smells of coffee, cranberries, dark plum, cherries and a hint of violet. The palate experiences plums, tart cherries, blackberries, cranberries and chocolate. The acid structure is right on point, making this a great food pairing wine.

As I sit back and relax, (enjoying my adult Halloween treat, if you will), preparing for the big transitions ahead, I hope, by the end of this bottle and week, to at least still have my head. ;)

Happy Halloween!

Santé!
Charlotte :)

Modern Day Box Wine

Lets face it, boxed wine conjures up the image of Grandma's afternoon rose in what appeared to just be a larger "juice box" than mine. Or similarly, memories of college friends preparing for Friday night by stocking Franzia next to the PBR and jugs of Carlo Rossi. Remaining naive to the contents in the box was bliss, discovering the bladder was terrifying. Why would I drink out of something that resembles hospital use only?!

I will never forget being at a restaurant, not so long ago, when the patrons next to me ordered the house wine only then to see the bartender removing the nearly empty bladder from a box, and squeezing the remains into a glass like it were the end of the toothpaste tube. It took all my restrained to not slide down the bar on my belly and intercept the horrific event I was witnessing.

So how did Franzia become "The World's Most Popular Wine," and is Box Wine making a comeback? Lets start with the Australians and the 70's.

Thomas Angove from South Australia was the first to patent the the bladder in a box format. This allowed producers to cut costs on bottles and corks particularly for those who were not making fine wine. The 1970s were also a time when Americans were not drinking that much wine. The industry was starting to gain traction but overall, wine was not a part of American culture. Therefore, families were not coming together over a bottle of wine at dinner. An inexpensive format that would allow wine to stay "fresh until the last glass," (as Franzia advertises), was needed.

Since the wine industry has really taken off and produced award winning wines at all price points, why do box wines still exist and can high end, fine wines, be packaged in this method recover from the stereotypes that have come to surround wine in boxes? Are we compromising the quality of wine for convenience?

I recently had the opportunity to try what I am calling "Modern Day Box Wines." From The Black Box, the Clif Family Winery's "Climber Pouch", CalNaturale, Vendange, among others. The best part, I am happy to report, there are no bladders involved!

http://calnaturalewine.com

Most recently I tried CalNaturale's Chardonnay and have to say, this is not a corrugated box becoming soggy by its contents but rather a fairly complex package made by Tetra Pak. The Tetra Pak cartons are made from paper with a twist off top, boasting half the carbon footprint of a glass bottle. What makes this wine a Modern Day Box Wine, is that the winemaking is traditional. A vintage can be found on the packaging in addition to single vineyard designation. The Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the French Camp Vineyard in Paso Robles. The Chardonnay comes from Menecino, Ca. and is crisp, full of apples, pears, citrus, vanilla and holds a solid structure. Both wines are organic and retail at $12.99 for 1 liter and $6.99 for 500 milliliters.

Clif Family Winery markets directly to those who are outdoor adventurers through their Climber Pouch. Producing both an unoaked Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, their wines provide "all-terrain wine transport" and consider "Life [to be] a journey and every day we are inspired to travel lighter and appreciate more." In other words, if you lead a very active lifestyle, you can still have you wine and drink it too. Both, CalNaturale and Clif Family make wines in eco-friendly packages that are easy to reseal, stays fresh longer all the while providing convenience.

https://www.cliffamilywinery.com

In a society that is so consumed by convenience, these wines are the snickers bars for the wine industry. Yes, we would all love to sit down and eat a chocolate cake but sometimes, we need a quick fix for the craving, a snickers bar does the trick. If you are going on a hike, who wants to carry the extra weight of a bottle? Grab a Tetra Pak or Climber Pouch. If I were into outdoor activities such as camping and hiking, these wines would be accompanying me. Will they be joining me at my next dinner party, no. With that being said, they are good, solid, wines showcasing modern winemaking. I would bring these wines to a picnic, unlike Franzia, which I wouldn't be caught dead with.

To answer some of my own questions from above, after tasting these wines, I don't feel we are compromising fine wine for sustainable packaging. (Not that I think bottles are bad, especially when recycled.) With that being said, these wines are not as good as they could be, but on the right track to becoming something outstanding. I like seeing vintage and vineyard designations on the packaging. I trust this product because there is a connection to place.

And to answer my other question, yes, I do think boxed wines are making a comeback. These Modern Day Box Wines are changing the stereotypes of its predecessors and redefining "box-wine" by addressing the need for on-the-go, convenient, eco-friendly wines. These wines are not your Grandmother's juice box but rather wines designed to be as active as we are while being environmental conscience.

Santé!
Charlotte :)

Touriga - More Than Just Port

Sometimes as a writer, I get caught up in drafting a wish list of subjects I am determined to research and write about. Like a lot of good intentions in life, we don't always get to the things on our "to-do" lists in a timely manor. In this case, I am acknowledge my newest obsession and had to stop all other projects to share it with you. Touriga Nacional is a grape varietal primarily grown in Portugal in low yielding crops producing a highly desirable flavour profile. Traditionally used in Port production, I have recently come across this grape being produced as a single variety in a dry wine. I was instantly hooked.

Imagine sitting atop haystacks in an aged brick coloured barn on a steep hillside on a summer's afternoon in Portugal overlooking rolling hills while lunching on hand crafted sandwiches getting ready to saddle the horses up for a trail ride through the vineyards and blackberry bushes. This is Touriga Nacional. A rustic, peaceful yet complex experience. Don't be fooled though, a slight astringency will follow the earthiness that may sneak up on you if you are not prepared.

With wishful illustrations aside, I have tasted a couple of producers lately and have been very impressed not only by the well-rounded product but the price retailing right around $15. Drinking a wine that creates an experience is powerful and in my book, the sign of a great wine. Being the most desirable grape for port production, the high skin to pulp ratio produces not only a rustic countryside aroma but is rich in raisinated fruits such as plums, blackberries and dark cherries.

With very small amounts of Touriga planted in the United States, it is not readily available. However, one producer based in Napa near my beloved Spring Mountain has vines planted in Sonoma County. York Creek Vineyards is growing Touriga for a port project they also produce this variety in a dry red wine style and a rose. They had my attention at first sip. Having selected their mountainous site to produce rich, bold and tannic wines I can only imagine my summer afternoon horse riding fantasy coming true.

With that being said, there are plenty of producers from Portugal being imported to the United States. One in particular I tasted at a local restaurant was a 2007 T. Roriz "Tradicional" Tega, Alqueve, priced at a very reasonable $8/glass.

If you happen to come across Touriga during your next dining experience, I highly recommend you give it a taste. You may not experience a rustic countryside fantasy in Portgual but it will give you something to talk about nontheless.

Santé!
Charlotte :)

Too Many Fake Fendis - Trusting your Palate when Purchasing Wine

I'm not sure if I am out of tasting practice (much like my muscles are out of swimming practice), or perhaps, dare I say it, my taste buds are bored. The majority of wines I have tasted lately have left me wanting more and wondering if wine consumers are settling in our wine preferences, or is one mass palate continually being catered to?

Like the fashion industry, the wine industry, unfortunately, is subject to fads. Certain varietals and styles become in season. Look at, for example, the success of overly oaked chardonnay or Pinot Noir after the movie Sideways. I am not saying these wines do not have their place and, in fact, have played a significant role to increase the number of Americans who are drinking wine on a regular basis. But has the American palate become comfortable and undemanding resulting in mediocre wines being production?

Courtesy of Yapp Brothers

Now I'm sure you are asking, "where is she buying her wine from?!" I will admit, I have been exploring more of what the grocery stores in my area have to offer. But when you look at who makes the majority of wine purchasing discussions in this country, it is women. And where do women shop? The grocery store, a one stop market for all their families' needs. Looking closer at the trend of wines on the shelf priced between $10-$15 they tend to be mediocre at best. If this is where the majority of wine buying decisions are happening, why is mediocre acceptable? Why does one trend such as, heavily oaked chardonnay, dominate the shelves catering to one particular palate?

Perhaps purchasing decisions are made based on fear. Fear of looking like a wine novice and wanting to drink whats "in." Gravitating to a certain style or brand because so and so said, "its good!" Much the like the point system drives sales of 92 award winning wines, a trend begins to dominate the market resulting in plunk producers trying to copy the style to make a quick buck much like buying a knock-off Fendi purse. These wines get marked at a reasonable price in order to increase sales and the bottom line, forget about the quality of product.

As much as I praise the point system for coming into play when consumers needed help to demystify wines, making them measurable and a way to categorize, it has also created a culture dictating what we should be drinking and doesn't really educate consumers. Consumers should untimely trust their own palates and use additional resources such as Sommeliers, local wine shops, blogs, books, social media, apps etc. to learn.

Wine is about an experience, it is something to be shared, it should evoke emotion. So maybe I have been buying too many fake Fendis lately and hoping to get the real deal, its obviously not working. My palate is bored and awaiting the next trend. With that being said, I really hope the next trend is to follow what you like but to also have high quality from around the world available at the local grocery store. Why can't the local grocery store be a local wine store that sells Vouray, Bugurndies and Chenin Blanc?

So I ask my readers, what resources do you use when making wine purchasing decisions? How do you educate yourself on wine? What trends/fads do you see in the wine industry both good and bad? Do you feel influenced by these trends?

Santé!
Charlotte :)

The Bottle Brolly

The independent kitchen supply store down the street from my house is exactly the china shop a bull should never enter. Think antique store meets Sur La Table. With mountains of strategically stacked china, glassware, cookbooks and an impressive collection of cheese graters, one swift turn will result in shattered goods. If you break it you will be buying it! As usual, I find myself sucking in to pass the old auger oven at the same time as strategically twisting to my right to avoid a stack of iron skillets to reach, but of course, the bar section. Upon reaching the wooden hutch jammed full of corkscrews, wine glasses, martini shakers and finally, I see it: The Bottle Brolly. I did a triple take on this one! Was I reading and seeing this correctly?! This is a joke, right?! Where is the TV crew?!

With no 15 minutes of fame in sight, I decided for the sweet price of $5 I couldn't resist, I had to have this wine gadget! Made by Vinicool, which was based out of Surrey, England and for you non British speakers, a Brolly is what we call an umbrella. In other words, an umbrella for your bottle of wine. As the back label perfectly describes; "Open air parties are such fun but chilled wine and other drinks need to be shaded from the sun. Use the Bottle Brolly with its multi-position swivel/clip to give maximum shade and protection." I very much enjoy a picnic or "open air party" when the San Francisco weather permits, but I'm pretty sure this is the worst wine gadget ever invented. As the company has since dissolved (according to my research), I'm thinking they agree.

Understandably, lugging ice around to keep your whites chilled can be a nuisance and no one wants overly heated reds, but would you really be the person to show up with a bottle size umbrella at your next picnic? As much as this may have been a very proactive product for its time, I'm guessing it is not the most effective way to keep wines at the appropriate temperature. It is however, a great conversation piece and why not give your tasty bottle of wine its own personalized cabana?!

Due to the lack of availability, I am not going to recommend this product but I do recommend you invite me to your next picnic as a good giggle will be had! With all of this being said, if this product was still available, would you use it?

Happy Picnics!
Santé
Charlotte :)

Wine Bloggers' Conference 2011

First, let me apologize for falling short of my commitment to write every day while attending the Wine Bloggers’ Conference. With a jammed packed schedule, hundreds of people to meet, rich Virginia history to learn and copious amounts of wine tasting, there just wasn’t enough time!

The side effects of continually wine tasting for three days is slowly starting to wear off as I find myself still aerating both water and coffee in my mouth. It was a true delight to have attended such a magnificent event in Charlottesville, Virginia. Thank you again to the Sponsors for making it possible. I feel re-energized and inspired to not only keep writing but to be challenged by the content I produce.

Being a bloggers’ conference, it is no surprise that social media tools such as Twitter played a significant roll in documenting all the fun. With Twitter feeds running throughout the main conference room driven by the largest amount of Blackberries, iPhones, and laptops, I have even seen in one room at a time. At first, I felt at a disadvantage due to the recent theft of my laptop and not to mention my anti-smart phone which, however, does glow pink when flipped shut. (Jealous?!) Then I realized, perhaps I am not at a disadvantage but witnessing a social media backfire.

Don’t get me wrong, social media and technology makes anything and everything more accessible any time we want access to information. According to the conference committee, 10,000,000 impressions were made by conference attendees and viewed by 1.2 million people via Twitter alone. That is a huge audience of wine consumers leaving an undoubtedly large impact on purchasing decisions, not to mention the shout-outs regarding Virginia’s wine industry (Yum! More on that to come). Additional, I am convinced this conference and others like it, would not exist if it wasn’t for such online communities. But my issue lies within here, if face-to-face interactions are being constantly interrupted by retweets, DMs and status updates, blog posts, etc., where is the balance with actually engaging with the person next to you verses crafting 140 character opinions addressed to the person across the room with whom you Tweet daily? Wasn't that the point of the conference, to meet each other?

This was increasingly evident during my idol’s keynote speech. When Jancis Robinson, a mentor from afar, took to the podium she must have seen a room full of hunchbacks dialed into an online community talking quietly amongst themselves. A presenters worst nightmare if you ask me! Understandably, everyone wanted to share their experience immediately and were excited to be there to hear her wise words. But why can’t we just be present and listen instead of turning and burning information so quickly?

One of Janicis’ main points can be summed up by saying: the written word is not dead, just the forum with which we share it has changed. So why is there a sentiment to regurgitate all information we are being told right away, why don’t we write it down, think about it and question information more often? Bloggers, are but self published authors so why as wine writers don’t we question our sources of information more often? Why aren’t we investigating our stories instead of just spouting opinions and tasting notes off immediately into various forums?

When it comes down to it, asking more of the right questions and being investigative journalists will makes us all better writers. Perhaps there wasn't a social media backfire but instead we need to practice and establish some social media etiquette.

With all of my questioning and theories of backfires aside, I must congratulate my fellow bloggers on attending this conference from a place of passion. I was very impressed with the lack of competition. I never once felt there was a sentiment of “my blog is better than your blog.” Even the wine blogger’s awards were not the center of the conference but rather received as a pat on the back for a job well done.

Now, I’m sure you are asking, “but what about the wine?!” It was an outstanding showcase. Ultimately, I hope that as an active writing community we were able to highlight the excellence of the Virginia Wine Industry and bring attention to the fact that they are the 5th largest wine producing state in the United States, making some damn fine wines if I do say so myself! With that being said, there were a number of producers that really stood out for me and I want to give them the attention they deserve by following up with more individualized posts.

So as a wine tasting Millennial moving through this information age I am happy to take on a new challenges as a writer and hope that my fellow writers continue to take responsibility for all content produced and ask questions before feeding it through various platforms.

I hope to attend the conference again next year in Portland, Oregon, perhaps with smart phone in hand, but then again, that could distract me from some quality people watching. ;)

Now if I could only stop swirling this beer in my glass...