Carolyne Wine-glasses

 

High end wine glass handmade and handcut of cased lead crystal. Great gift idea.

A wine glass has three parts: a bowl, the upper part where the wine is filled, a stem, to be held at, and a foot to place it on the table. 
There are many types of wine glasses in different sizes, ranging from sherry glasses to big goblets for heavy Burgundy red wines offering a generous volume
The following are the most popular wine glass shapes:
Flat - like champagne saucers (Handle them with care as the champagne may be spilled out easily.)
Round and narrow bottomed (The classic shape)
Closed at the top of the bowl (To concentrate the aroma (or bouquet) of the wine to be sensed by the nose)
The Römer goblet, is a typical German glass, having a thick wall and faceted stem. 
Wine glasses should not be filled by more than 50%. Instead of serving wine in a wine glass, one should rather use a stylish jug or wine decanter. The bouquet of the wine can only develop in a glass which offers enough airspace above the liquid. 
The wine glass is leaned in the hand and budged with small circular movements in order to bring the wine in the bowl into movement. The drink should cover the inside walls of the glass. As the fine liquid evaporates from the walls it allows the human nose to experience the bouquet. A glass that is filled to a high level will not offer enough odor to be recognized by the nose. It is recommended to leave enough room in the glass to be able to tilt it at a forty-five degree angle to analyze the color of the wine.
Also the mouth of the glass will influence the taste experience of wine. It should be thin and perfectly polished. The rim of the wine glass should make it possible for the wine to flow quickly and spread evenly on the right parts of the tongue in the mouth. A small sip of wine should be enough to experience the different dimensions of the taste
If the wine glasses are stored in a cupboard for longer time periods it is advisable to wash the glasses first with cold water to remove the marks of the resulting for the evaporation of the wooden cupboard. After that it is recommended to rinse the glasses with wine. 
Wine glasses should by no means stored in muffy rooms where smoking is allowed. If a wine enthusiast is served wine in a unclean wine glass smelling of tobacco or washing detergent the tasting experience will be disappointing.

The Wine Rack Store

Christmas is a fabulous time to give the gift of Ice Wine. For one thing, if you live in the north, you’re already in the mood. If you live well below the snow-line, the very idea of frozen grapes is novel.

Hosts and hostesses often serve cakes and pies, which ice wine was made for. With this beverage on your wine rack, pairing drinks and desserts is no problem.
Vendors have found many fun ways to sell the stuff, whether in bottles or other forms. For example, ice wine jam would make a unique topping on toast or pancakes. Chocolates have also been filled with this beverage. That sounds like a match made in Heaven.
Many wine and beer stores sell bottles in pretty presentation boxes. They might even gift-wrap them for you. Products are available in various sizes, too, so if a full bottle is out of your price range, opt for a miniature which contains enough to make someone you love (or just like a lot) feel warm on a cold night.

There are a number of Gamay varieties but drinkers may know it best as the famous French Beaujolais.
Wine Lovers Page indicates that Gamay is similar to Pinot Noir, but has the advantage of earlier fruit, meaning it is ideal for places like Niagara and areas of BC too. While the grape becomes Beaujolais across the Atlantic, it is called ‘Gamay Noir’ when Sandhill makes it. Taste Magazine credits their $20 bottle with a ruby red color, notes of ‘sweet smoke, cedar, black cherry, Damson’ and more. The sommeliers at Taste also pair it with a dish consisting of Haricots Vert, Dijon Vinaigrette, and Toasted Hazelnuts. Reif Estate Winery of Niagara makes a beautiful, deep-pink Gamay Rose.

At Cellar Notes, the writer points out that this is not a drink meant to sit on your wine rack for many months. Drink it young. The tannins are soft, acidity is high, and so is the fruitiness. A Crus Beaujolais, says the writer, might last as many as ten years in your cellar, but probably no more than that.

BC Liquor Stores are getting ready for Christmas while our friends in the U.S. are still preparing for Thanksgiving.
Many items on a holiday menu could grace either the December or the November table, such as turkey and cranberry sauce; mulled wine and trifle. Many consumers, however, eschew traditional treats for modern ideas suitable to servea at parties snacks or as family meals.
On November 17th from 6-8:00, the 39th and Cambie Street location will host ‘Cooking for the Holidays’ with chefs Lawren Monetat and Celine Turner. Learn to pair appetizers with particular cocktails that will bring a splash of color to your festive table.
On the 19th, find out which Township 7 wines offer the best complement to a festive feast from 4-7:00 pm.
November 25th is just 4 weeks and 2 days away from Christmas. Bring new life to party platters after Stephen Wong shows you how. This popular chef and author will pair healthy Asian appetizers with items from the Wolf Blass wine rack.
If you like snow, it has already started to fall at higher elevations in BC (i.e. our house). BC is the place to be!

Kens Wine Guide’s 2011 Pinot Noir Recommendations

　　
This year I have tried many Pinot Noirs. One consistent theme you will find is the best Pinots are not inexpensive. I am sure that fact does not surprise many Pinot lovers. However, there is a little good news from this list. At least the high prices of these recommendations are not as crazy as the best Burgundies or cult Cabernets that I recommend in the fall. Lovers of the Pinot Noir grape will have to spend between $30 and $70 to drink the best Pinots that I covered. But compare that to the top Cabs and it will seem inexpensive. For those looking for real bargains, I will also highlight some Pinots that are Very Good and cost less than $20. But none of these options crossed over into the 90 point range. 　　
So let’s start with my favorite Pinot that scored Excellent and received 95 points. The 2008 Donum “West Slope” Pinot Noir from Carneros is fantastic! That is the good news. The bad news is that it costs $80 and only 170 cases were made, so finding a bottle will likely be a challenge. It was medium-bodied, very well-balanced, and smooth as silk. I loved its delicious mild red-raspberry flavors with notes of red currant with hints of red beet and cola. It finishes dry and its fine tannins fade away nicely. It was a great Pinot and one that is worth the search. 　　
Our next Pinot is from J Vineyards. It was my favorite from their portfolio this year and perhaps since I have been covering their wines. The 2008 “Nicole’s Vineyard” Pinot Noir for $50 is Excellent. I scored it 94 points. There were also 720 cases made so it should be easier to find than the Donum. This offering is full-bodied, extremely smooth and elegant. It displays delicious mild black cherry flavors with hints of black-raspberry and just a kiss of licorice. I loved its very refined finish. It would be perfect with filet mignon. 　　
The 2009 Siduri “Russian River Valley” Pinot Noir for $30 is the best deal amongst the highly rated Pinots. It scored 93 points and is even more plentiful with 1,350 cases made. It won our blind tasting of mid-tier priced Pinot Noirs. The panel described this Pinot as medium-bodied and lip smacking with very tasty black-raspberry flavors. They also detected hints of cherry, oak, pepper, and spice. They concluded that its well managed moderate tannins are food-friendly and would allow it to pair well with grilled salmon or roasted pheasant with sage. 　　This next wine was my favorite from the 2009 vintage releases from Dutton Goldfield. Their 2009 “Devil’s Gulch Vineyard” Pinot Noir from the not-so-famous AVA of Marin County will make a lasting impression on you. I awarded this Pinot 93 points. It is balanced, savory, and fruit-forward. I really enjoyed its complex blend of very tasty black cherry and cola flavors with additional notes of black-raspberry, oak, and milk chocolate mixed in as well. It’s a very flavorful and special Pinot that would pair well with cherry amaretto chicken.

The next two 93-pointers come from Merry Edwards. You will find most of Merry’s Pinots in this report and consistently near the top of the list. The Coopersmith offering seems to consistently top my list of Merry’s wines each year and the 2008 is no exception. This Pinot costs $57 and is worth every penny. It opens with an attractive boysenberry bouquet with hints of musty oak and blueberry. I really liked its very tasty mild black-raspberry flavors with some gently integrated smoky oak. Its mild fine tannins make it food-friendly and a perfect companion for pork tenderloin. Merry’s other 93-pointer is the 2008 “Klopp Ranch” Pinot for $57. This offering is full-bodied, very well balanced and smooth. It displays delicious black currant flavors with notes of black-raspberry, black licorice, and a touch of oak towards the end. Its well managed tannins are pleasantly prolonged and make it a very good fit to pair with filet mignon. 　　
The 92-pointers are all pretty pricey. But the first one I am going to cover is a steal for $38. The 2009 Benovia “Sonoma Coast” Pinot Noir is a very impressive offering. It opens with an attractive strawberry and black raspberry bouquet. On the palate, it is very well balanced and smooth. I really liked its very tasty black cherry flavors with notes of beautifully integrated oak and black-raspberry. Its fine tannins make this a rather elegant Pinot to consider for many meals and occasions. 　　The next group of Pinots was my favorites from Oregon. We will start with the 2009 Elk Cove “Five Mountain” Pinot Noir for $48. It originates from the Willamette Valley. It is medium-bodied, smooth, and quite savory. Its flavor profile is a very tasty black-raspberry with hints of oak, black-cherry, and black pepper. It paired perfectly with my fresh sweet potato ravioli smothered in a brown butter sage sauce.

The next 3 Pinots are all 92-pointers from Cristom. They all cost $50 and come from Eola-Amity Hills in Oregon. We will start with the 2007 “Louise Vineyard” Pinot Noir. It was clearly one of the top Pinots that I have covered from the 2007 Oregon vintage. It was medium to full-bodied and smooth. I was impressed by its delicious black-raspberry flavors with notes of very pleasant and nicely integrated oak. This yummy Pinot would be a perfect match with a seasoned pork tenderloin. Next up is the 2008 “Eileen Vineyard” Pinot Noir. This Pinot is a little different in that it is medium-bodied, very well balanced, and a little more fruit-forward. Its flavor profile is a tasty mild black currant with hints of gentle black-raspberry, smoky oak and some minerals. Its very refined tannins allow it to finish smooth and leave an elegant impression. It would be good match for filet mignon. The final Cristom offering is the 2008 “Jessie Vineyard” Pinot Noir. It is medium-bodied, slightly acidic, and juicy. I really enjoyed its very tasty plum and mild black-raspberry flavors blended with a hint of blueberry and gentle oak. It would be very nice with a thick cut of prime rib. These three Cristoms are all quite different and really show what a difference terroir and vintage can make. 　　The next 92-pointer is from J Vineyards. Their varietal program is taking off and you should definitely check out their Pinots and Chards. I would start with the sensuous 2008 “Barrel 16″ Pinot Noir for $50. There were only 300 cases made so I would start looking soon. This offering is rather refined and displays tasty and gentle black cherry flavors with a hint of black-raspberry. This Pinot is delicate, feminine, and elegant. You could easily drink a bottle with a companion and enjoy a memorable romantic evening.

Tom Eddy tells a great story about this vineyard. You should ask him next time you see him. Better than the story is the wine that is produced from this wonderful vineyard. The 2009 “Manchester Ridge Vineyard” Pinot Noir from Mendocino County is a fantastic Pinot. It opens with an attractive mild raspberry bouquet that leads to a very well balanced and elegant palate presence. Its flavor profile is a delicious gentle black cherry with a hint of black-raspberry and cola. This terrific Pinot Noir is very food-friendly and would be a perfect companion with grilled salmon. 　　
Our final 92-pointer is from Alysian. Alysian is Gary Farrell’s new project. His 2008 “Rochioli Vineyard River Block” Pinot Noir for $65 is medium-bodied, well-balanced, juicy, and suave. It displays a blend of tasty mild red-raspberry and strawberry flavors with hints of cinnamon, plum and oak. Like the two above, it is refined and elegant. It would pair perfectly with Colorado rack of lamb. 　　
At the 91-point level we have five Pinots to tell you about. The first two are bargains in terms of price to quality. We will start with the 2009 Paul Hobbs “CrossBarn” for $35. This Pinot is from the Sonoma Coast. It is full-bodied, balanced, and fruit-forward. It shows off its tasty red-raspberry jam flavors right away. It also has notes of black cherry and cranberry mixed in. It finishes with fine tannins are elegant and allow it to be very food-friendly. We would recommend good value Pinot with sliced pork tenderloin with a wild mushroom risotto. 　　Our next deal is from Merry Edwards. Her 2008 “Sonoma Coast” Pinot Noir for $36 is a lot of wine for the money. The other good news is she made 4,450 cases of it, so you should be able to find it. It is medium-bodied and savory with tasty oak infused tart black plum flavors with notes of chocolate and black cherry mixed in. Our panel suggested pairing this gem with a veal chop.

Our next Pinot comes from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The 2009 Elk Cove “Mount Richmon” Pinot Noir is a perfect match for grilled salmon. It is elegant in style, medium-bodied, and shows mild fruit forward flavors. I really enjoyed is very tasty mild red currant flavors with notes of black-raspberry and a hint of oak. This Pinot finishes gently because of its fine tannins. Enjoy it with the salmon. It costs $48 per bottle. 　　
The next 91-pointPinot is my second favorite Pinot offering from Dutton Goldfield. Their 2009 “McDougall Vineyard” Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast opens with fragrant black currant bouquet with notes of black-raspberry and beets. Yes, beets. It is slightly acidic, rather juicy and fruit forward. It displays tasty mild raspberry flavors with hints of oak and strawberry. It would go well with veal scallopini.

Sherry-Lehmann’s Adams Optimistic About High-End Wine Business

　　Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits, the 77-year-old retailing powerhouse in New York City, has enjoyed steady growth in the wake of the recession and continued success of its Bordeaux business after Diageo pulled out in 2010. Led by CEO Chris Adams, who was also named chairman in November 2010, the Manhattan institution totaled $44.5 million last year, and Adams says sales were up 13% in the first half of 2011. Shanken News Daily recently spoke with Adams to discuss current retail trends and Sherry-Lehmann’s outlook for the future.

　　SND: What changes have you seen in sales this year?
Adams: There has been a perceptible trade-up happening for us. In 2008 and 2009, we saw customers trading down: buying sparkling wines instead of Champagne, buying petite chateau Bordeaux instead of cru classé. And the 2009 Bordeaux futures campaign in the summer of ’10 sort of marked a point at which the customers felt like they could spend more money. And then that was brought home even more so in the fall of 2010 and into the holidays when we saw great Champagne sales. So there’s reason to be optimistic. For a long time it was cautious optimism, but we’re feeling much better this year than we have for the last few.
SND: How do you feel about Bordeaux’s 2010 vintage?
Adams: I’m concerned with 2010 on two fronts. One is that there is higher international demand than there’s ever been. And then we’ve lost quite a bit on currency. Having said that, we’re seeing that there’s less wine being made available to the market, so that increases the demand for what is available. At many points it becomes for the consumer a chance at access. Price becomes not completely secondary but it’s two functions: 1) Can I even get the wine? And 2) If I am getting it, where is that price relative to the market? And our position is that we’ve been doing Bordeaux futures since the 1959 vintage so we have a track record of being able to offer these wines. We feel that America should still be an attractive market and that Sherry-Lehmann should be the place that customers go to get these wines.
SND: What other trends are you seeing in lower-tier wines or in general?
Adams: We’re seeing strength in New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. Argentine Malbec for us is still a growth category. Our private label there is Miguel Mendoza Malbec made by Enrique Foster. And we’re still seeing a lot of people following these wines at the $15-to-$20 price point, especially in the warmer weather. We’ve had great success in the past year with the 2009 Beaujolais. There are some benchmark wines made there, and as soon as I bring a container in, I find myself ordering another a few weeks later. So it’s nice to see the focus on affordable fresh wines still there.
SND: What regions do you sell the most of?
Adams: Most of our sales are from France—Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne. Obviously, we follow the Rhône, Loire and Alsace as well. And then after that we sell a lot of wines from California. Even in the down economy, we were able to position our offerings from California to meet the right price points. And then of course Italy, Spain, Germany, Chile, plus South Africa is coming back a little bit.
SND: Spirits account for roughly 5% of your sales. Where are you seeing growth in that category?

　　Adams: We’re seeing a trade-up there as well. People are spending a little bit more on their vodkas and whiskies. When we moved into our current location (in 2007), spirits became a growth category for us but it’s leveled off. There’s still a little bit of growth, but it’s not astronomical like it was when we first moved here.
SND: How do you feel about wine being sold in grocery stores?
Adams: We don’t believe that it’s the right thing. And for me it’s a matter of, you can’t just suddenly change the rules and tell people that all the business models they’ve built for decades or years are no longer applicable. It just doesn’t seem that any proposal I’ve seen for wine in grocery stores deals effectively with the people who have existing businesses. Is it impossible? I’m not going to say that, but they haven’t shown anything (that seems fair).
SND: What are your plans for the future? Are you still considering opening new stores?
Adams: Now that the economy is getting brighter, there are a few things I’ve been thinking about. I can’t disclose too much, but yes, we’re interested in positioning this store outside of New York state the way it should be positioned. I’m taking it quite seriously. I hope that we can do something in the next 12 to 18 months. I’m optimistic that it can be fulfilled.

Australian vineyards such as Ferngrove, facing a wine glut

The high end of China’s wine market may still be the domain of French (particularly Bordeaux and, increasingly, Burgundy) wineries, but as Chinese drinkers become more savvy and gradually less label-focused, New World winemakers and those from lesser-known regions in France and Italy stand to gain. According to the London-based fine wine merchants Bordeaux Index, fine wine prices retreated 7.5 percent in the third quarter of 2011, with Chinese demand for the highest of high-end bottles, particularly Chateau Lafite, showing signs of slowing after a nearly three-year-long tear. Chinese wine buyers were instrumental in the recovery at the top end of the market following the dip seen in the wake of the global economic crisis in 2008, with well-heeled drinkers and investors homing in on Lafite and other First Growths.

But now, due partly to the ubiquity, rampant counterfeiting and unsustainably high prices of Lafite and other high-profile wines, as well as interest in wine for drinking rather than hoarding, demand for mid-range wines looks set to hit new highs in China. Earlier this year, Euromonitor International estimated that wine consumption surged some 75 percent between 2005-2010, and indeed over the past several years dozens, if not hundreds, of international wineries have poured into the country, fighting to position their products in the “sweet spot” above more inexpensive domestic wines and astronomically priced top-tier bottles. Yet, of the countries currently turning to the China market as a key wine export destination, few have been as motivated as Australia.

According to WineBiz, China is currently Australia’s fourth-largest wine export market, with Aussie winemakers shipping some 55 million liters of wine to thirsty Chinese drinkers in 2010, a 36 percent rise over 2009. As the Wall Street Journal adds, Australia already has 20% market share of the Chinese imported wine market, only trailing France at 40%. And China is Australia’s largest market for wines that are sold at more than US$10.

Though China has become an increasingly reliable export market for major Aussie wineries, Australian vineyards — much like the country’s coal and iron mines — are increasingly catching the eyes of cash-rich Chinese investors. As BusinessWeek notes, despite a much-cited “wine glut” in Australia brought on by the swelling number of new wineries in the country, declining sales and increasing competition is translating to tough times for many Australian winemakers. And when these tough times hit, it seems that China is becoming the default emergency lifeline. From BusinessWeek:

    Australian vineyards such as Ferngrove, facing a wine glut, slumping exports and rising competition from countries including Chile and Argentina, are turning to China for salvation. Chinese buyers are proving receptive as they seek to meet surging demand among the nation’s rich, who are developing a taste for grape wine and the expression of wealth it conveys.

    In the Hunter Valley, where grapes were first planted in the 1820s, Chinese investors have bought six wineries in the past three months and three more sales are in the works, said Cain Beckett, director of the region’s biggest winery broker Jurd’s Real Estate. The Chinese influx is helping revive values of the Semillon and Shiraz-growing region’s 126 vineyards, which had slumped as much as 20 percent since May 2008, he said.

    “Some vendors have been on the market for four years, and expansions haven’t happened since the 1980s,” Beckett, 28, said in an interview. “Now, things are looking much more positive with Chinese investors interested and actually able to invest. We’ve even achieved sales above the asking price.”

While much of the motivation driving Chinese investors to get involved with the Australian wine market remains purely pragmatic — distressed wineries in Australia (and even in Bordeaux) need cash, and many Chinese investors want to get in while prices are low — many are betting that growing demand in China for mid-range bottles will really pay off in the long run. As Stephen Strachan, chief executive officer of the Winemakers’ Federation, said, “The Australian wine industry is going through a period of adjustment…Some assets are worth a lot more in the long term than what they’re being traded for and that’s being recognized by a number of Chinese investors.”

While Australian wines may never reach the same status or prestige as their French counterparts, their aggressive pricing, relative fruitiness and accessibility makes them, and will continue to make them, great entry-level imported wines for Chinese drinkers. As Jack Xu, a 35-year-old Shanghai-based shipping broker, put it to BusinessWeek, “Sometimes you can buy a bottle of mid-level Australian wine at 100 yuan. But I couldn’t hope to taste French wine at the same price. And Australian wine is sweeter with a richer flavor compared with wines from other countries.”