Im in a NY State of Wine

Happy Easter Wine!

2008-03-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

Knowing if I don't bring wines to my Dad's he will try to give me some horrid jug wine I was pleasantly surprised yesterday! I guess I've got him hooked on Riesling after a recent visit to an Asian place. We had a Relax Riesling with some scallops in puff pastry au gratin that was quite decent! I like the funky blue bottle and always think of Franky goes to Hollywood when I drink this wine. It has lots of apple, honey, and a nice round mouth feel but it isn't overly complex just fun.

We also tried a St. Amour Beaujolias Cru from Dubouef that I actually liked. This style of wine is like the one night stand of wine. Once is definitely enough, because of all the ridicule you may be ashamed to admit you liked it, and some people think it is cheap and sleazy even if it is French. It went really good with our Ham, helped take the edge off my dis functional holiday and had lots of raspberry, walnut, and strawberry jam on the palate. Overall I would probably buy this again for a BBQ or something because it's just fruity fresh and good with a little chill.

WSET Tasting Feedback

2008-03-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

In addition to the tasting notes the diploma program demands you give to your home base school they also require that you send notes on specific wines to London. Then the Simon Cowell's of the UK wine world send you the results. For anyone not familiar with the program you get to sit and sweat it out for for 3 wks. till you get results.

It is unfortunate that I am an hour away from NYC and not able to taste with a group very often. Sure I can find people here that will taste with me but they aren't familiar with the style of notes that I have to take and don't really care! Don't you wish one of your friends asked you over to try 5 different sparkling wines? Or maybe a Burgundy or 2? Hell yeah I'll be right over!

Hopefully I will get some of this moo la back in the long run. Things are looking up in the work department with some interesting things on the horizon. So if I can pass this unit 3 I'm confident with the rest of the curriculum and won't end up drinking with Ralphie our vineyard dog because I've spent all my money on fine wine. I will admit my choice for the 5 yr old red was a Nuits St George 1er Cru Burgundy so I can't lay all the blame on the WSET.

Take Courage Woman!

2008-03-01T21:05:00.001-08:00

OK I know I promised to blog from the road! Well I just became sooooooo overwhelmed with facts it didn't happen....
Wine shit happens!!!!!
I promise I'll add some feeds from Bordeaux even if they are written post trip but I just had to add this image that stopped me in my tracks in London.
Hitting a presuppose in the year that I've had to just travel around figuring what the hell I want to be when I grow up this building just hit me in the face. Take courage woman! You can conquer what ever you set out to do.

What's been going on lately in my wine world

2008-01-06T16:48:00.001-08:00

It seems I only get the chance to blog while on the road. I've been busy since my last trip to France. School is geting progressively harder with much independent study & alot of tasting. I'm on my way back to France & England in 2 wks for a study tour that will probably be my last trip abroad for at least a year unless I get someone to sponsor me!

I've found a couple of new wine bars in NY my favorite one being Solex in the East Village. Frenchy was working next door at a organic place that didn't look so exciting to me so I visited with Alajandro the barman at this sassy new French wine bar owned by the same guys that brought you Bar Veloce. Very interesting little bites menu with cheeses, pates, tarts, etc.... I opted for the quiche with a Burgundy by the glass. If you happen on this place try the quiche! It was the best I've had since Strasbourgh. The wine list had some good finds for 10.00 and up along with a pretty fair bottle list covering many regions at decent prices.

My winery job has been busy since our GM left & her job has been split up between a few of us.
We have come out with a few new releases that are really interesting including Frontanac which was made from young grapes from a local farm. It's a med+ across the board with notes of stewed stone fruits, cherry pie, a touch of forest floor and a little earthy quality on the nose & palate. Hat's off to Kristop on this one it's Delicious.

I've been teaching a series of classes that are starting to get some good press including a fellow blogger Kathleen Lisson that wrote me up on blogspot. Also the Times Herald is really helping with mention in the Sunday wine column. I'll write more on happenings soon!

Great find by the arch in Dijon! Caveau De La Porte Guillaume

2007-10-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

Sometimes while traveling you just are so tired you end up parking yourself in the most decent looking place just to sit down and relax! This happened to me the other day after touring vineyards in & around Beaune. Hungry, tired and thirsty I ended up with a real find that I wish was closer to home.

In addition to a never ending by the glass Burgundy list, Scotch tasting, a kick ass diner menu this wine cave offers Burgundy flights with meats and local cheese. This has become more and more prevalent in US wine bars but the first I've seen in the EU, in NYC it is usually not offered with food of any kind for the same price either!

For the measly price of 20 US I feasted on Chablis, Pommard & Givry all 2002 1er cru with a variety of local meats and Epoisses, L'ami du chambertin and a soft mustard seed covered cheese that is served on every cheese plate in this region. Truly this hedonistic pig was in heaven.

The surroundings are very cave like with plaques of awards, tastevins and wine related items sprinkled tastefully throughout the room. Also the staff was very helpful as well as friendly.

That evening I ate in my hotels Michelin star wine dining room. It was very good, very gourmet, sort of pretentious with a wine list worth drooling over prices to match. I have to say that as much as I enjoyed it I wished I had went back to little cave down the street!

Down for the count in Dijon

2007-09-28T01:27:00.000-07:00

This trip is proving to be very wierd. First of all my friend I am traveling with is sort of a real old fart wanting to be back to the hotel by dark. And on top of that is not comfortable trying to comunicate so I feel rather guilty just leaving him & taking off.

I 'm fighting a bit of a cold so laying low today just planning on going out for a bite & little walking around today.

Yesterday was really nice a wine tour in Burgundy with a little history thrown in. I would like to go back to the Hospice in Beaune but don't know if I'll make it. The wines where pretty amazing , I bought a few bottles including a Pommard 1983 that I plan to bring to the winery to drink. Also hit the chevaliers castle, 2 vintners, & ate a old rooster stewed in Burgundy from the bottom of the cask. Now I know what to do with the old Syrah we have!

Public Observations behind the stick on a Tasting Bar

2007-08-31T19:54:00.000-07:00

When I started out tending bar the old Irish guys called it behind the stick. I never asked but I guessed it was because the bar was made of wood?
I've come to realise that a tasting room isn't that much different than a real bar. You do meet some really nice people that are into wine but the same dumb-ass public thing rears it's ugly head from time to time. Here are some favorite quotes good & bad from the season so far.

> I'd rather have this bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy....
> Do you have any ice for this?
>No I didn't like it, it was merely tolerably!
>I'm sorry I can't I simply can't taste this! Biggest pretentious Ass award!
>This wine is so good we must get dressed up to taste it! It demands respect!
>This is so good it leaves a signature on my tonque!
>Do you have any alcohol free wine for my child to try?

I actually have come to really like the winery life. It is just enough public interaction along with the chance to be a bit creative. It makes me really happy to teach people how to taste & work with a great group of people.

Working for Wine

2007-08-27T19:10:00.000-07:00

Last week I revisited one of my part time gigs working for wine critics. Basically I just set up & pour checking labels along the way dreading washing shit loads of glasses. I do it to get the chance to taste many things that I simply can't afford or don't enjoy enough to pay huge money for! Also I get to take home the not recommended bottles which are also sometimes insanely expensive.
Frenchie Girl met me at 5:30 so we could taste the 2 things I thought we would like from the not rated list. Walking up 5th one of these bottles exploded in my bag! Looking like very well dressed NYC girls we contemplated drinking it out of the bottle on the street as it was a 250 dollar bottle we could never afford, thankfully it made it to the hotel!
I was staying at The Algonquin courtesy of price line for 125.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love old NY culture & this was the perfect place to taste even thought we had to do it out of water glasses. I have to admit neither one was very good or what we expected. Both where from Laurent Perrier one a vintage 1996 rose , the other a non vintage also rose . They where really copper in color with not much nose very closed, and not overly complex for the 96 just very unexciting. I have always liked the yeasty funky smells of baked bread, complex apple, biscuit, butter & necco wafers that for me spell out vintage Champagne that this just didn't have.
We ended up in a really great place after on 51st with a kicking wine by the glass list, pate, fromage & a hot French barman.
The next day slightly hungover I got to taste a flight of Krug which made the 2 days all worth it!
1 critic described these wines as Dominatrix wines, they hurt you & beat you down but you still love it & pay dearly. Gotta love it never could I put this on a school tasting note even thought I would like to send that one over to the WSET.

Currently tasting: Mount Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Great nose of dill, tropical fruit, parsley
medium+ finish with same notes of fresh dill, balance of flavors & alcohol
I give it a 89 if anyone gives a shit!

Borat- Wine tasting

2007-08-07T20:42:00.001-07:00

this dude is fucked up! He makes wine tasting fun! Only I don't think I'd want him around on a trade tasting!

If wine is alive does it have a personality? Princes & Frogs Pairing

2007-08-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

If wine is alive does it have a personality? I believe so! In looking back on past relationships and past loves I've decided to pair the men that have passed through my life with wines. Some are truly noble varietals from the old world, others defiantly fall into the new world of unusual wines that surprise you with good and bad things on the nose and palate.

Nose is one of the most important things for me, it can evoke memories ranging from my Dad's pipe tobacco to the funky smelling bum on the F train. Aromatic white being my favorite Gewurts always proves to be the start of something spicy, racy with a hint of playfullness that can be last for quite a while! Reisling's tend to be like great old friendships pleasant, sweet, unpredictable, fun, highly acidic, something I've come to rely on for a little peace, love & understanding in an otherwise unpredictable existance.

Just as important is the finish. Some are long & enjoyable leaving wonderful memories, medium finish is akin to short & fleeting relationships nice while it lasts but not a forever kind of thing. Others just seem to disappoint you leaving horrible tastes or just disappearing without notice after what would seem to be a good experience.

Some wines when you re taste them after a long period of drinking other things just don't seem to be to your taste anymore. You've moved on to more interesting things & what you once thought was enjoyable about this has become boring & predictable. While on the other hand there may be something you drink that has become like family. You love it no matter what, it's not always appropriate, fashionable or in balance but it's always there when you need some consistency & don't want to think so much about your choices.

My longest most loving relationship I compare to a nice old Bordeaux. At first it smelled a little like dog shit, but when I drank it I was hooked. Complex, warming, thoughtful while still being exciting enough to stay around for whatever was in store. The finish went on forever & will always fill me enough memories to remember all the good times.

A little white lie or a big heap off shit?

2007-07-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

Last night someone gave me a bottle of "White Lie" early season Chardonnay. Supposedly this crap was made by women for women, low in calories, alcohol and carbs not to mention flavor. With a little research on the marketing behind this wine leads me to believe it was created by a bunch of Barbie's that weight 90 lbs. and spend their days with personal trainers.
The label has a background of catch phrases like "it's not you it's me"," My hair is really this color" and the cork has equally lame phrases. The marketing claims it is aimed at the professional woman who likes a glass or 2 during the week but not a big fat ass or a hangover. Please! Give me a Gewurzt, a Viognier, anything with a little more going on and let some salad eater drink this crap.
Call me a big hedonistic pig! I'm damn proud of it even. When I want a little less alcohol I go German. Rieslings that are full of flavor and you can have a few more glasses .......

recent random wine photos

2007-07-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

Just some random photos of my favorite wine adventures in the past 8 months or so! More to come.......................................

Wines of Cyprus Tasting/ NYC

2007-07-12T06:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I ventured into the unknown territory of varietals with names like Ofthamalmo,Vamvakada, Maratheftiko & Spourtiko. I like to try things I've never tasted or heard of when at a event like this, why try yet another Cabernet or Chardonnay if you have the chance to catch a buzz on something you can't even pronounce stone cold sober.

The whites for the most part where pretty standard highly acidic, stony, very lemony & fresh.
Nothing really stood out from the group I sampled made from the local variety Xinisteri although a few had slight floral notes. Most aged in steel, very short finish and on the whole just simple quaffers.

The reds had a very strange nose that was unfamiliar to me. Most where highly aromatic exhibiting some vegetal characteristics cutting to strong gamey or cured red meat aromas. One even reminded me of roasting lamb.

The blends stood out in the crowd. I especially liked Saint Timon 2003 made with a blend of Mataro/Cabernet Sauvignon. This strongly structured wine aged 6 months in French oak was very well balanced. The nose & palate had profiles of leather, forest floor and the same funky gamey meat that didn't work for me in the Mataro as a single varietal wine. Not yet available in US markets it was produced by Vasa Winery located in the Laona region, one of the 4 viticuluture regions bearing the right to use the designation WCAO or Wines of Controlled Appellation of Origin.

One other that stood out was Agios Onoufrios 2005. This red blended from Ofthalmo, Lefkada, Mouverde & Cabernet Sauvignon was outstanding! The play of local Cyprian grapes against Cabernet & Mouverde was earthy & sophisticated at the same time. Produced at the K & K Vasilikon Winery in Kathikas Village it is available from Nestor Imports in NYC.

By far the best value wine retailing around $15.00 was a dessert wine called Commandaria. This is something I've seen on the backbars in the Greek sections of NYC but never tryed. What the hell was I waiting for? Slightly fortified and made in a system similar to the Soleras of Spain this wine kicked ass for the price! Luscious fig, honey, nuts, coffee, cinnamon, hints of orange peel & dates made this the clear find of this exotic wine region.

It was really a most informative tasting with lots of info available. I look forward to trying more wines from this little part of the world. I may need a interpreter to order them but it will surely be worth it! Anyone up for a glass of Maretheftiko?

Could Champagne be a magic elixir? Casellula wine bar

2007-06-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

Last night I took a break from studying & went to see the fabulous Miss Kitt at Carnegie hall.

This down right sexy 80 yr old woman rocked the house. With all of her songs about Champagne and the fact that she had a young man with her on stage drinking it made me wonder if it is some magic youth elixir?

Also went to Casellula a great new Wine & Cheese place on the West side located at 401 w. 52.

Nice small place with friendly staff, nice by the glass list, & 40 different small production cheeses.

We had a bottle of Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne blend from Australia called The Black Chook that was complex, nuts & fruit on the palate as well as the nose. It went really well with the vast selection of cheese as well as standing up to some of the exotic dried meats we ordered.

It even stood up to an incredible version of mac & cheese that was just pure cheese hedonism.

Check out their website http://www.casellula.com/

Don't get a package on while waiting for your package

2007-06-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

I guess in the world of big brother or whatever FedEx drivers are expected to be bartenders as well as delivery people.
My package was cleary marked Wine Chateaux.com. Slapped on this box was a label stating CONTAINS ALCOHOL/PROOF OF AGE REQUIRED/ DO NOT DELIVER TO AN INTOXICATED PERSON.
I guess you can't sit in the privacy of your own home and enjoy a tasty beverage if your expecting a fine wine shipment. What are you going to do open up this box and go driving around showing off your good taste in wine? Not that I sit home in the daytime buttwasted but I found this labeling pretty ironic!

French Bubble Connection 2007

2007-06-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled to attend the bubble connection 2007 held in NYC at the Bubble Lounge on West Broadway.

I'm a big fan of sparkling wines produced in the traditional method. Having spent time recently touring producers in Rheims & Epernay I was eager to find some other houses to visit on my next adventure to the EU in September.

This was the first time 14 different vintners & negociants gathered together to showcase not only Champagne but also Cremant, Sparkling Vouvray & Saumur, Limoux to name a few.

I made some great connections & most vintners where more than happy to offer advice on cellar & vineyard visits. Laurent Mingaud was in particular very charming as well as having some Delicious Limoux produced from Mauzac based blends. Limoux is famous for sparkling production dating back further than Champagne (or so they claim). Thomas Jefferson was the first to import this tasty wine to the US. I tasted 6 from Sier d'Arques, all where very well balanced with medium acidity,mousse, & nice light fruit profiles.

Another standout producer was a small grower from Brouillet "Champagne Aspasie". For 5 generations this family has produced artison wine. Paul -Vincent Ariston the current vintner was on hand to discuss at length his fabulous wines! The Brut prestige NV made from 50% Chard, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier was definitely my favorite find for the day. This wine had a stoney minerality, granny smith apple on the palate with a finish that went on forever!

All in all a great tasting with the Frenchie's along with discovering another wine bar to put on the list of must go backs. They even saber bottles here! And not that this matters but the eye candy at this tasting wasn't bad either! I noticed one taster rating the men instead of the wine!

Frolicking in France!

2007-05-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

Plans change and shit happens. The current deal is traveling around France during harvest time.

I'm starting in Paris then Beaune, Strasbourg, Colmar, Tours, Chinon, Brest with a few wine stops along the way. I hope to scoot over to Mainz to check on a couple of connections I made with a wine princess.

The weird thing is this time I won't be traveling alone but with a very old friend who no longer drinks. I pose a question. Can a former wino travel with a wine geek?

Yes it's Rose & no it's not the crap your Dad drank in the 70's!

2007-05-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

So many Americans think of Rose as the sweet cloying wines of the seventies that once were so popular! If it were up to me I'd give it away for free just to make some converts. Maybe I could switch some people over from White Zin or that horrid Arbor Mist?

If your lucky enough to have a decent wine store in your neighborhood there are some great examples of what true Rose really is. Fresh, nose of strawberry, raspberry, fresh juicy cherry balanced by crisp acidity. Some have much more fruit than others, in this category Grenache based ones shine!

I have heard some can benefit from some bottle age though most are meant to drink fresh. In a recent side by side I compared Solo Rosa 05 to 06. Big difference! The 06 had much more going on fruit wise compared to 05 which had started to close up already. I'm on the lookout for a Vina Tondonia from Rioja which are released with quite a bit of bottle age. I suspect some of the heartier Italian varietals may do good with a little age so I've bought a few to experiment on!

Let's hope summer never ends in the Big City because after September these great wines just seem to disappear from lists everywhere!

My favorite this year so far? Verget Du Sud Rose De Syrah from Vin De Pay Vaucluse in the Southern Rhone comes in at around 11 dollars in NYC a steal for this summer time refresher filled with strawberry, a weird touch of mint, nice acidity with a clean medium finish.

I've hunted the globe for these Giant Steps!!!!!!!!!

2007-05-21T07:09:00.000-07:00

Since my visit to the Aussie Days Tasting in London I have been hunting for a wine called Giant Steps. This wine produced by vintner Phil Sexton & named after jazz saxophonist John Coltrane's first solo album rocked!

Single vineyard wines produced under gravity flow principle and hand made small batches are not something most people think of when considering an Aussie wine. Sante recently published an article on higher end wines from Australia siting the harm that the huge cheap wine lake has done in consumers eyes.

From my tasting notes on the Pinot Noir this wine was beautifully balanced with raspberry, plum, cedar box, and velvety tannins. I can't wait to try it again! I also ordered the Pinot rose produced by their Sister vineyard Innocent Bystander who also work with grapes sourced from single vineyards.

I think I may just open one of these bottles with some Coltrane & see how they pair together!

Benmarl The oldest vineyard in America

2007-05-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

This is the fabulous view of one of my new part time jobs!

Benmarl winery was started in 1966 by Mark Miller a noted Illustration artist. The incredible views alone make this vineyard worth visiting, but there are many more reasons the most important one being the great wine.

After you stop being awestruck by the surroundings step inside and become mesmerized by the wine label collection covering the walls in the foyer. These labels (some dating back to the thirties) range from Chateaux D'Yquem 1947 to simple fruity Boone's Farm, with everthing & anything you can imagine inbetween. Some have dates and names written on them, other special occasions that they where served at. Being a big wine geek you can only imagine my facination with this space! I could just stare at this for days & wonder about what each wine tasted like, how probably most of the people that made them have passed on, how different & beautifull each vineyard must be, & about the people that drank these wines.

The cellar is also very interesting with a barrel room as well as steel tanks. There is also a treasure room where the older wines are stored.

Currently I'm working in the tasting room & have got to help out with bottling which was a pretty cool experience. One of the tasting rooms has Mr. Miller's prints and some of his wine related artwork on display.

This place is rich in history, great Baco Noir as well as a nice Traminet, & the staff are great to work with. I was lucky to find such a great part time gig.

What the hell does this mean?

2007-05-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

It is hard to see this but spelled in the sky above Roosevelt Island today was UNCROWDED something I feel is a little out of place in a city with thousands of people. Guess it was just a strange kind of magical day! I also saw 7 freaks in a 1 block tunnel ranging from a dude dressed in revolutionary war garb playing a electric guitar to a Moulin Rouge looking Indian guy babbling about Bush! I think I'd pair this with some anejo tequila mind blowing & mellow at the same time....

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Wine Couch or Lifestyles of The poor & fabulous!

2007-05-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

This week has taken me from the lifestyles of the poor & fabulous to cellar rat & back.

I spent Monday night in NYC at a Women & Wine event. This no cost event was really great! Held at Gaby's in The Sofitel Hotel on 44th it was basically a networking event to introduce women to the wine flights and the great little spot that this space is! They offer cheeses from Artisanal, a nice selection of wines by the glass or flight, & other small dishes in a relaxed sophisticated atmosphere. I especially liked the Bordeaux flight featuring 2001's from Haute-Medoc, Medoc & even a Grand Cru from Saint-Emilion.

The featured speaker at this event was a spunky woman vintner named Kathleen Inman who makes Pinot Noir & Pinot Gris in the Russian River Valley. Her Pinot Noir was quite nice, smooth with silky tannins and a hint of pommegranate,tart cherry,& violet on the palate.

The next day took me to the cellar job I am currently doing for the season in the Hudson Valley. I spent the day plugged into my ipod labeling bottles all day. For me the funky smell at the cellar door is like home! The weird yeasty aromas are just comforting for some strange reason!After work I took a few bottles to my sister-in-laws house for our usual weekly wine thing & crashed on her couch! Check out view on this vineyard,AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday back to school in NYC at The IWC & after back to Roosevelt Island to crash on my nieces couch! I've heard this is where all the crazy people in the city used to be housed so it's fitting for me........

Had lunch today with my "Sister from another Mother" Anna at Boqueria on 19th street. This tapas & Spanish wine bar was really exceptional! We started with 2 cava's 1 brut, 1 rose both tasty, fresh & the rose had a beautiful ruby color with light mousse. A must try at this place are the dates wrapped in bacon stuffed with a Spanish blue cheese. We ended up getting 3 cheeses, 3 tapas, a few glasses of wine each, & ended with Pedro Ximenez Sherry over vanilla ice cream. All this for around 100 dollars courtesy of my Amex NYC points so basically free! What a way to spend the afternoon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paris, Anger, & My twisted version of Cinderella

2007-04-29T16:07:00.000-07:00

After dragging my hung over ass to Victoria Station I took the Chunnel train to Paris. I really liked my new hotel which was to be my home base while in France. Very reasonable kind of funky boutique place called Saint-Louis Bastille, everyone spoke English, also it was centrally located & had a good selection of restaurants near by.

After exploring the city a bit I went back to the 11th arrondissement. My block had some really cool wine shops, a fromager that also carried fois gras, & one incredible bakery! Le Grand Mericourt was my choice for dinner that evening. This was a very chic little place with a great wine list, I chose a 2004 Bourgueil from Domaine Castlot Pontonnier. This wine had a bit of poo smell with hints of leather and dark fruit with a long finish, garnet color with a ruby rim. It paired well with a chestnut pie as well as my duck breast in fois gras sauce. The cheeses at this place ROCKED but with my limited french I couldn't get the correct names for them!

The next day I was off to Anger for a Earth,Wind, Fire, Water tasting of Sancerre and Muscadet in the Chateaux Plessis du Mace. The beauty of this Chateaux was amazing! Four different rooms where set up with several wines each paired separately with a wide variety of tastes. Most pairings involved seafood and the wines had racy acidity and a crispness that is typical of this region.

I heard 2 men speaking English and wandered over to join them! Turns out one man grew up very close to my hometown in Garrison, NY. He claimed to remember thunder rolling on the Hudson sounding like Thor bowling or some such thing? Whatever! They seemed very disappointed with this event as in previous years it was a sit down dinner. These 2 crazy ex patriots where really over the top! One looked and spoke like Andy Warhol , the other was definitely old money with a bad toupee and wearing a cravat. As I was enjoying playing the society dame on my best behavior Mr. Warhol tells me "Darling your frock is enchanting" probably a line I will always remember. I ran into them later in town at The Hotel De Paris, a very chic place where I had a nightcap.

As I walked home in my cocktail dress, up doo, heels in tow back to the dump I was staying in that night I felt like some type of new age Cinderella! How on earth did this little curly haired girl end up here?

I just applied for slave camp in Bordeaux

2007-04-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

OK I know I'm a bit out there but I really want the experience of working a harvest in the EU before I'm to old and decrepit. I've been networking like crazy, came up with a few things some of which sounded pretty interesting. After reading "report of a cellar rat/or surviving slave camp" published on one vintners site I decided to go for it.

This vineyard is in Bordeaux, Chateaux Carson and welcomes foreigners to come work harvest. Looks like fun and a real challenge, my kind of thing. Leave that blow-dryer and Jimmy Choo's at home girlie you won't be needing them for a while! I'll let you know more about this as it develops.

Big shout out to Britt & Per Karlsson for the hook up! Check out their site BK Wine!

Borough Market/ Tate Modern

2007-04-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

I saw a episode that featured Borough Market on Food Network that intrigued me, then John told me more about it. This was my last day in London and I wanted to fit it in , plus it was very close to Neil's Yard Dairy that was a must see for me so I went for it.

I have to say maybe I could live there , foodie heaven! Everything was available , 4 booths devoted to wines from Bordeaux, truffles, pastries, meat pies, Briton salts, sausages from all over the world, jambon , organic veggies, meats, cheeses, fruits, spices, juices, small meat producers ( fresh killed so kind of freaky for Americans! Fur still on !) and prepared tastes from 1 pound to around 5. This translates to around 2 to 10 dollars.

There was also a wine bar that allows you to open a bottle and enjoy with the vast food selections. It is located between the large tents and the main market. Having been to food and wine markets throughout the world I can truly tell you this is the most diverse, clean and pleasant one I have ever visited by far. A must visit for food & wine nuts!

After all this gluttony I walked over to The Tate Modern Museum. I have a great appreciation for London Museums, most are free or just a small donation required. Considering how bad the dollar is there this is a great way to spend time if you happen to be into art.

One of the best views of the city can be found in the restaurant in The Tate Modern. They also have a nice selection of wines by the glass. I chose a champagne from one of my favorite producers Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve NV, full sparkling with pear, apple, & buttered biscuit notes. From my seat at the bar I could look out on this beautiful city and rest my tired feet!

Since this was my last night in London I also decided to try the venison carpaccio with white truffle oil, aged Parmesan and rocket greens. This paired awesomely with a Chilean Pinot Noir ,Vina Layda Las Brisas nose of smoke, ham, and gunpowder. The palate on this wine was also nice a little leathery, blackberry and stewed cherry. Although the view isn't as exciting as The London Eye I would definitely recommend this as it's a great place to relax with views, art, wine, and a nice eclectic menu. You can also get tea service, lunch, or a full dinner with English cheese service. Really what more could you ask for! Also very unstuffy atmosphere, kind of hipster without being too trendy as far as clientele goes.

Tomorrow the Chunnel train to Paris! I will miss London, the people are sooooooooo friendly and helpful and I wish I had more time to enjoy this city.

Bieler Pere et Fils/Just a random note

2007-04-20T19:32:00.000-07:00

I love rose but why do some have to smell of banana & taste like some cheap Halloween Bazooka Joe! I guess it is a fair BBQ wine but not much else. SORRY! I hate to diss anyone's wine but I'm preferring the Italian and Spanish roses these days. Used to be a hard core Tavel & Loire rose fan.
Some of the Italian ones are being made out of some interesting varieties like Aglianico.

Canary Wharf or Fine Dining in a Deparment Store?

2007-04-20T18:11:00.000-07:00

After planning on meeting my mate at The Aussie Days tasting in The Horticulture Hall I started out for my next adventure leaving the hobbit room behind me for the day!

I signed up for a Pinot Tasting & seminar with 4 vintners that turned out to be really informative. The most interesting thing about this was all the talk of climate change, micro climates, the dedication , heart, & just the overall passion of these 4 guys! Maybe it's me but this was the friendliest bunch of vintners I have ever come across. They remembered me once I got back on the tasting floor& had me try different wines that where not included in the tasting. One vintner has the greatest website site! Check it out, Innocent Bystander Wines in Victoria. I especially liked his wines the Pinot Noir was my favorite ,smooth velvet tannins, raspberry & smoke on the palate with a nice long finish. He not only has a vineyard but also a cheese cave, bakery, wine bar, & more on premise at his property.

After this I met up with my friend John & some of his colleagues to take the light rail to Canary Wharf. This is a area right outside of the city of London that reminded me a bit of South Street Seaport! Big buildings, skyscrapers & dinner in the middle of a department store.

After explaining to me that this was the best deal in London we sat down in a very crowded area that looked like a tapas bar. It turned out to be a wine shop in the middle of this store where you can buy a bottle & enjoy it with some great apps. No corkage fee & they had a great treasure cellar with some rare bottles. We chose a Spanish Rose Muga 2005 with fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers & salmon cakes. This was a good pairing, the wines fruity acidity complemented the mozzarella , & kicked up the salmon cakes.

After apps. we ventured across the store to check out the other food counters. You have much to choose from! Oysters, Lobster, Steak, Sushi, Regional English, & many other things. We chose the steak & seafood counter. John got the stuffed lobster & the rest of us the opted for the steak & chips. I also got to try Chapel Down Sparkling English Wine! Really crisp, high acidity, citrus and it went well with a crab cocktail appetizer we all shared. This was really a good dinner choice if you don't mind eating in the middle of a department store. There seemed to be a lot of locals chowing down at this bargain place, dinner for 3 with this 2 glasses of wine came to around 150.00 dollars a very reasonable price for London .

Vinopolis & Things for wine geeks in the UK

2007-04-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

English wine is hard to find even in London. So why go there on a wine adventure? One reason for starters, the home offices of both The WSET & The Court of Master Sommeliers are located in the UK.

I was planning my trip France & learned about the Chunnel Train that travels from London to Paris in as little as 2.5 hrs. I thought I'd go to check out some British cheese contacts & the wine library at the WSET before heading to Paris.

One of my fellow students from The DWI works for the wine standards board in England. After contacting him for some tips I began to wish I had planned to spend a few more days there!

After settling in to the worst room I have ever stayed in (Best Western Paddington Court / steer clear of this dump) I tried to map out a plan while cramped like a sardine. This place had only 1 redeeming quality free Internet! The fire alarm went off at least once a day, had to jump into bed from the end of the room, no place large enough to even open luggage, elevators that just opened on random floors. It just sucked!

First on my list was a walk down Marylebone Highstreet. This little strip of foodie heaven is filled with wine shops, gourmet stores, organic butchers & La Fromagerie one of the best cheese mongers in London.

La Fromagerie offers many wines by the glass along with daily specials at the in store cafe. There was no question where I was eating lunch! I settled on a glass of Chateau Bouscasse a well structured 100 percent Petit Corbu with fresh zesty citrus notes, lots of rich tropical fruits, & a hint of honey. This paired perfectly with my organic Irish smoked salmon, crusty bread and baked Vacherin du Monte d'or. I couldn't have asked for a better first meal in London.

After walking down the rest of Marylebone Highstreet I hopped the tube to Vinopolis. This is a sort of wine Disney, kind of hokey but very cool. It covers many countries wine regions, has interactive exhibits, Imax vespa rides through Italian vineyards, and your choice of tastings.

Depending on what you want to spend like any theme park your choices of tasting vary from table wine to Grand Cru.

Also Beefeater has a very nice martini tasting room with a botanical herb set-up to teach you about all the different elements contained in their gin. Just steps from the martini bar is a chance to try Absinthe legally for all of us from the US. The last part of my tour was a Single Malt Scotch tasting. In all areas are informed young people to explain and guide you in your tasting experience.

There is also a beer wharf where you can grab a bite or a rather nice wine bar serving tapas if you want to take a break between tastings. The Wine and Spirits shop at the exit sells most everything that is available to taste and more! Beware it's a really great shop but unless it's a extremely rare bottle just too expensive when you do the currency conversion.

I have to say it wasn't a bad experience and I learned about the floating vineyards of Thailand . Something I will have to do more research on. And they had a bitchin wine tree that I wanted to take home!

The start of it all & Germany

2007-04-16T16:01:00.000-07:00

I've always loved escaping to some seminar or class. While taking a master class in Affinage at The Artisanal Cheese Center in NYC something just clicked. I became fascinated with pairings. The possibilities are endless.

Never liking sweets surprisingly I started trying all types of dessert wines with cheeses. With this I discovered German wines. The TBA's, BA's & Eiswien are in my opinion very under appreciated in the US. I have been eagerly awaiting some kind of "Riesling Renaissance " that all the wine books predict. At least we know have a little more variety imported. How often did you see anything from the Nahe on a shelf 2 yrs. ago?

After studying independently for a while I started taking classes. Someone told me about Kevin Zralys class that you can get for free if you pour & set up. I would drag my tired ass down to the city every Wednesday after setting up the line for the day at work. Then get home at 1am. Was it worth it? Yes, I got to taste some rare vintages and network like crazy!!!!

Starting studying the WSET program over a year ago while still dragging myself back & forth. Every free minute I spent studying, I'm still going strong with 2 more years to go!

I decided I'd had enough of slinging hash to country folk & sold my place to a woman that renamed it after a cow!

Since then I've gone to study in Germany at the Deutsche Wine Institute (yeah that right the DWI institute). A really great program! Very intense tasting with tons of regional food. Also you get into cellars that others will only dream of.

The cellars of Juliusspital alone are worth the trip. Set up in 1576 to fund medical care for the poor it is still a working hospital with patients getting a glass of wine a day! Also it is the second largest wine estate in Germany with 415 cultivated acres. There are actually 3 wine hospitals in the city of Wurzburgh. But only Juliusspital is still operating as a medical facility with on the average having 4oo beds filled. It was really weird to walk past a lab with nurses & patients one minute then find yourself in this beautiful cellar with intricately carved barrels the next. Also each hospital has a weinstube where you can get reasonably priced Franconian specialties along with their wines. We had our farewell dinner at Burgerspital. It was a meal that I won't soon forget. From the starter of soup made with new wine to the roast duck stuffed with sausage, & apple it was wonderful! The potato pancakes they make are smothered with cheese, forest mushrooms, & a light creamy gravy. Seriously if I ever decide to just give up on the figure I just might move there to stuff a few of these away every day! Every course was paired perfectly with a variety of Riesling, Silvaner, & Muller-Thurgau. For dessert we had a rare 2003 Wurzburger Abtsleite Riesling Eiswein a rich luscious wine with high acidity, notes of peach, apricots, & almonds.

I would highly recommend this program to anyone with interest in German wine. They have different programs yearly & it is very reasonably priced. Just stay away from the bacon fat with salt on bread that they give you when tasting! This is deadly stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!