Blog Archives
Maybe I Should Be Less Judge-y About Alcohol Levels in Wine
A while ago I was having a phone conversation with a winemaker. I remarked on a Chardonnay (made by said winemaker) I enjoyed with a listed ABV of 14.5%*. The dialog about wine alcohol levels went something like this: Me: “I really dug that Chard, was surprised it was so good with the alcohol that [More]
Chilean Wine Podcast
My recent conversation with Rodrigo Soto got me thinking about Chile. So it was quite serendipitous that not long after I wrote about it, I got to speak with Michael (“Schach”) Schachner. He reviews the wines of Chile for The Thuse and we had a lively discussion about the state of the country’s wine industry and what’s [More]
Thoughts on Chile Inspired by Winemaker Rodrigo Soto
I met Rodrigo Soto back in 2012 when I was visiting the Veramonte winery in Chile. (Sidebar: they have a really cool antique corkscrew collection there.) He’s been at the forefront of converting vineyards to organic farming for the Ritual, Neyen, Primus, and Veramonte labels. Recently I had a chance to reconnect with him for [More]
I Have Feelings About Carmenère, Chile’s Signature Red Wine Grape
What’s a wine turtle? Well, one approached me to share my feelings on Carmenère and I didn’t really think to ask any questions before saying “Yes.” That’s how strongly I feel about sharing my wine knowledge; I leap at the opportunity to educate with no regard for what consequences may arise. OK, I jest. Wine Turtle is [More]
Pairing Wine With French Onion Salisbury Steak
Pleasure to know my pal Peabody. She’s the creator of Sweet ReciPEAs, and we have an informal food and wine pairing collaboration going. Our most recent? It involves her recipe for French Onion Salisbury Steak. For those of you old enough to remember Salisbury steak in the form of TV dinners, you will undoubtedly give [More]
Sauvignon Blanc from Chile: With or Without Oak?
Sometimes I can be a little manic when it comes to wine. Normally with Sauvignon Blanc from Chile I want it racy, light, and lively. Like the 2013 Viu Manent Estate Collection Reserva. Of all the wines I purchase, this is the one I buy the most. Why? It’s cheap and cheerful. So fun to [More]
Hipsters, Horses, Skin Contact, and the Wines of Chile
While on a recent blogger trip to sample the wines of Chile, I had the added bonus of seeing a city that really impressed me on my previous visit: Valparaiso. Above the city you can wander the streets and come across all kinds of fascinating graffiti and street art. (Check out my slide show for [More]
Post-Horseback Ride Chilean Sauvignon Blanc at J. Bouchon
Greetings from South America! I’ve always been a fan of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, but never appreciated a glass of it so much until I had one after riding a horse through the vineyards of J. Bouchon while on a trip sponsored by Wines of Chile. You see, I am terrified of horses. But more on [More]
