VIOGNIER, A RARE WHITE GRAPE

Following up on my summer posts of perfect wines for hot weather, let me introduce a rare white grape known as Viognier. Though its name is French, this ancient grape originated in Dalmatia, and was later brought to the Rhone region in France by the Romans. Legend has it the name Viognier came from the ancient words “Via Gehennae” meaning “Road to Hell”, as it was a very difficult grape to grow.

Winemakers agree Viognier can be very difficult to grow as it is prone to getting infected with powdery mildew in damp conditions and humid climates. It is important to harvest this grape at its peak of maturity, and if picked too late the wine would lack its perfume, and if too early the grape will not develop the full extent of its aroma.

Viognier has a fantastic, deep yellow color, and produces a wine high in alcohol content especially when grown in warmer environments. Its rich and complex aroma resembles overripe apricots mixed with orange blossoms and acacia and it usually appeals to the Chardonnay drinker. In California, Viognier can also be used as a blend, where winemakers experiment with combinations like Viognier-Chardonnay or Viognier-Chenin Blanc. I prefer the original Viognier as in its aroma; I find a strong personality and individuality, something hard to find in other white wines.

For the first time last year, I tasted a Viognier, at Acacia Winery in Carneros, California (www.acaciavineyard.com). Each year Acacia makes only a small quantity of Viognier, and to my delight the 2008 Acacia Viognier showed a silky richness with tastes of white peach, pineapple, cinnamon and vanilla. I totally fell in love with it!

                                                        Acacia Winery - Carneros, CA.

Earlier this year, I attended the Sandestin Wine Festival in Florida, and had the chance to meet Jamie McManis, the owner of the McManis Family Vineyard, in Ripon, California (http://www.mcmanisfamilyvineyards.com/).

                                                          McManis Family Vineyards, CA.

She offered me a glass of their fantastic 2008 McManis Viognier, and she described it as having a nice acid balance and a clean finish where you can taste the pear, apple and melon flavors with hints of flinty citrus. This is a great wine to enjoy with your girlfriends!

So, for all of you that are mainly red wine lovers, this summer explore the wonderfully complex tastes of the white wines.

BEAUJOLAIS, THE FRENCH TWIST

I must confess I’m in love with rose wines!

I know we have reviewed these wines in the past, as they are the perfect option for spring and summer, but let me go beyond that and tell you something about my new “French lover”, the Beaujolais!

This type of light bodied red wine is generally made from the French Gamay grape, as it has a thin skin and is low in tannins.

The Beaujolais name comes from the Beaujolais Province in France, located north of Lyon, where the Romans were the first ones to cultivate this grape. For many years, this wine could only be found in the Lyon region, but later in the 19th Century with the expansion of the French railroad system, they started transporting it to markets in Paris, and eventually it spread throughout Europe.

The original grape “Gamay Noir” is a type of grape that ripens almost two weeks earlier than Pinot Noir, and is much less difficult to cultivate. It produces a strong and fruity wine, and should be consumed within two years of its harvest.

Many wine experts consider the Beaujolais a “fun” wine, as it is fruity, not too heavy, and inexpensive making it perfect for any party. Speaking about parties, there is an old tradition which takes place every year in Beaujolais, France in November. Wine makers from that region are ready to release the newest vintage so when midnight comes, they race off to see who can get the wine to Paris first. On that night, most of the restaurants in Paris celebrate the arrival of the new wine, and everybody gets to taste new Beaujolais!

This classic Parisian bistro wine is a fruity, easy-drinking, and offers aromas of cherries, raspberries, currants, and the best way to drink is to slightly chill it in a bucket of ice water.

Next time you invite your neighbors over for a glass of wine in your backyard, light some candles and create your own buffet table with a crispy French baguette, some Brie and a tray of romaine hearts with lemon-honey vinaigrette.

Summer nights are perfect for a French Beaujolais!

I WAS TOO SHY TO ASK

Over the past years I found out that most of the women I met that were not in the wine industry were always too shy to ask questions regarding wines. I too, have been one of those women, until I decided to get over my shyness by asking questions no matter what.

So I wanted to share with you a couple of things I learned by asking questions that people are usually too shy to ask. I hope that this information could help you too.

One of the most important aspects of serving wine is getting the correct temperature. Red wines like: Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel should be served at 56-65°F. Investing in a decanter is a good option, as it allows the red wines to breathe and enhance their aroma.

If you prefer white wines they should be served at 46-55°F. The best way to chill a white wine like a Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, is to place it in a bucket of iced water for about twenty (20) minutes. If you are lucky enough to have your own cellar, then the ideal cellar temperature should be 50°F.

When you need to select a wine for your menu, you should remember white wines are always served before red wines and light bodied before full bodied, good wine before great wine, and young before old wine. Last but not least, dry before sweet wines, and sparkling wines could be enjoyed throughout the meal.

Always remember that the food that you choose, should pair well with your wines. The easiest way to pick the right wine is based on a few simple rules:

- Cabernet-based wines, Red Bordeaux, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Shiraz, Cote de Rhone, Sangiovese, Grenache, Malbec and Pinotage pair well with lamb, steaks, duck, goose, venison, pizza, pastas, chicken and risotto.

- White wines like Chardonnay, White Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Sparkling wines pair well with whitefish, halibut, cod, swordfish, salmon, scallops, lobster, calamari, pasta with seafood, sushi, caviar and oysters.

Choosing the right wine glass is as important as choosing the right wine. I learned from the experts that when you drink wine in the proper glass you could enjoy its color, bouquet and taste much better. The perfect wine glass is always crystal clear, and one of the most well known wine glass maker is Riedel (Austrian).

The best way to overcome your shyness is to attend wine tastings, where you have the experts eager to answer your questions.

Cheers! Next round it’s on me.

THE GOOD GRAPES OF LIFE

My great grandmother used to say drink one glass of red wine a day, as it was important in keeping you healthy, and although she was not a doctor, all the women in our family have believed in that since then. But how true are the health benefits of red wine?

I did a bit of a research, and found out some medical studies proved that a glass of red wine is good for your health as it helps improve your good cholesterol (HDL), and red grapes naturally have antioxidant, and anti-clotting properties where the polyphenols in grapes act as multiple anti-agers.

After researching this, I decided to contact a winery in St. Helena, California owned by a Cardiologist and checked with them about the health benefits of red grapes.

The Revana Family Vineyard is located in the heart of Napa Valley and produces world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. Its founder, Dr. Madaiah Revana was born in a farm in India, and until his early twenties he never consumed alcohol. He is a practicing cardiologist in Houston, Texas and he devotes his time at his vineyard pursuing his love for the rich tradition and culture of winemaking.

As Dr. Revana explains at his website “… he came to believe that moderate wine consumption, in the proper setting, can be a healthful and medically defensible daily pleasure. Louis Pasteur, the eminent scientist, also said that wine is the most hygienic of drinks. Dr. Revana’s own habit is to drink wine daily, with dinner and almost always in the company of family and friends. From his perspective as a cardiologist, wine is one of nature’s most welcome and wholesome of gifts when enjoyed in moderation…”

Therefore, incorporate more red grapes into your diet and drink responsibly. The good grapes of life are there for you!

NOTE: Although the American Heart Association admits there may exist some beneficial elements in red wine, which they believe are as now unproven, they do not prescribe drinking wine (or any other alcoholic beverage) in lieu of the known negative effects

THE MAJESTY OF THE TERROIR

I just came back from Destin, Florida, where I attended the 2010 Sandestin Wine Festival. It was a great weekend by the sea at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, and I had the chance to try hundreds of wines from all over the world. The venue was paradise like, the wines were superb, and to tell you the truth, the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort’s service was amazing.

The Sandestin Wine Festival was extremely educational, where every winery was helpful, with wonderful professionals, who were always trying to educate on new varietals from all over the world.

I learned from this trip, that the “terroir” is a key element to wine making, and it defines the personality of a wine.

Terroir is the French word for “terre”, and in English “land”. It means the special characteristics that geography determines upon a particular varietal. Experts describe the terroir as “a sense of place”, as it refers to the similar soil qualities, weather conditions, and the farming techniques of a determined piece of land.

If you go back to the history of Burgundy in France, the first vineyards were cultivated by the Benedictine and Cistercian monks who were the only ones that were literate. Those monks were the first to start observing and really study the different lands (or “terroirs”), as they realized the same type of soil would produce a certain type of wine under the same climate conditions. Therefore, the altitude of the land, the topography, location (mountain or valley), annual rainfall, and the drainage of soil, are all elements that define or determine a “terroir”.

Typically, wine makers will capture the essence of the terrior, and will then make decisions on growing, pruning, harvest, length of maceration, and whether they will or not use oak barrels. All these things combined will eventually define the “terroir” as well.

That means that if you pick a Chablis from Burgundy, France or a Chardonnay from Napa Valley, California you will now know that though both wines are made from the same grapes, the flavors are totally different, as they come from different terroirs. The cooler climate from Europe versus the warmer climate from California will certainly make the difference.

So, next time you go to your local wine store think out of the box. Make your choice based on the terroir!

Who knows…that passionate red bold Italian wine from the romantic land of Tuscany might magically bring you a new love to your life!