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Good Grapes Archive
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24 Good American Wines That Won’t Drain Your Wallet
Posted on September 1, 2010 | No CommentsThese are wines that don’t sacrifice quality for affordability ($20 or less retail), and you should be able to one appropriate for any occasion. -
J.L. Chave Seminar Demonstrates Greatness in Wine
Posted on August 6, 2010 | 2 CommentsOne of the most common, thought-provoking, and debated questions in wine is “What makes a wine great?” In my experience writing about wine and attending countless seminars and tastings over the past fifteen years, this question is almost always looming. Sometimes it is the specific topic of discussion; other times it is the basic question underlying the stated topic. -
An Introduction to Some of France’s Great Dessert Wines
Posted on March 29, 2010 | 1 CommentIt seems when most people think of French wine, it’s usually one of the great table wines like Bordeaux or Burgundy, or Champagne. But France also is home to some of the greatest dessert wines in the world. And my experience has been that a person just needs to be exposed to their wonders once to become an instant fan. Several of these sweeties originate in the country’s southwest. -
Winemaker Visits Offer Benefits of First Hand Access
Posted on February 28, 2010 | 1 CommentFor a wine devotee, Denver is a blessed place. We have always had good distribution of even the most renowned and rare wines. Similarly, we are graced with countless visits from wineries eager to tap into our sophisticated market. Certainly one of the more enjoyable... -
Wine Trends
Posted on January 4, 2010 | No CommentsWith the downturn in the economy, 2009 was a challenging year for wine producers and sellers, even while sales figures show that consumers still are drinking plenty of wine. -
How About Dessert and a Good Book for the Holidays?
Posted on December 9, 2009 | 1 CommentSomething about the cold weather and holidays always gets me in the mood for dessert wines and thinking about which wine books I want to give or get for Christmas. In this posting, I share a few ideas for this year’s season. Americans love to drink, alcoholic beverages that is. -
California Pinot Noir Hits Its Stride
Posted on November 9, 2009 | 1 CommentIt was not all that long ago that most California Pinot Noir was just pleasant at best, while much of it didn’t even rise to that level. Thankfully, that is no longer true. With producers identifying more appropriate growing sites (mostly cooler climates), there are countless good to outstanding wines now available for consumers. -
Understanding Hunter Valley Semillon
Posted on September 20, 2009 | 1 CommentSemillon “is one of the unsung heroes of white wine production.” So it says in the definitive Oxford Companion to Wine. Unsung presumably because although the grape is widely cultivated, there are very few places where it produces wines of distinction. But where it does those wines can be glorious. -
Dry Creek Valley Dominates Zinfandel Tastings
Posted on August 24, 2009 | 3 CommentsAs my favorite wine, I naturally drink a lot of Zinfandel. One reason is it’s quite versatile with food. The more elegant styles are great with red meat, especially lamb. The more assertive styles easily compliment spicy foods like Italian and Indian. But I really like it with barbecue and grilled meats like burgers, sausage and barbecued chicken. And even chocolate! I mostly love Zinfandel because it captures the essence of exuberance and zest in a glass. -
A Red, White and Rose Summer
Posted on July 19, 2009 | 2 CommentsHotter weather means lighter reds means its time to rediscover Beaujolais. In the heat of the summer, a light, refreshing aromatic white hits the spot much better than a big, buttery Chardonnay. There are many good candidates—Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Viognier, and Chenin Blanc. Right now I’m drinking a lot of Pinot Gris (and Pinot Grigio). Pinot Gris. Ironically pink wines are under appreciated in this country while the popularity of blush wines has reinforced the perception that these aren't real wines. Europeans, on the other hand, have known for a long time the joy of drinking a good pink wine. In the heat of the summer, a light, refreshing aromatic white hits the spot much better than a big, buttery Chardonnay. There are many good candidates—Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Viognier, and Chenin Blanc. Right now I’m drinking a lot of Pinot Gris (and Pinot Grigio).
