If you're going to go wine tasting, it's best to make a plan.
Identify a Primary Winery
I usually start with one winery that I want to visit for whatever reason. A wine from there may have won a blind tasting, or made a good showing. Perhaps a friend recommended it, or I read something about it. Maybe I've just never been there before. Something usually drives me to want to visit the place.
If you can't find a reason to go anywhere, shoot me an email and I'll give you one.
Search for Nearby Wineries
Sure there's one winery you want to make certain you hit, but to make a trip you typically want to visit 2 or 3 wineries. I use my winery web site, http://www.xperiencewine.com/, but google maps can work as well to search for wineries nearby.
Make an Itinerary
Start Early
Always arrive at the first winery when it opens. You'll get the most attention and the best service if you are the only ones there. Later in the day you will have to contend with crowds. This will also maximize the amount of time you have while the wineries are open. Wineries are typically open 11 - 5. If you have to travel an hour to the first one, you'd rather have this travel time not take away from the 6 hours of possible winery time.
Plan on an Hour per Winery
When laying out the schedule, plan on at least an hour for each winery.
Include Travel Time
It's easy to forgot about travel time if you don't include it. Don't make this mistake. Use Google maps, or whatever you prefer, to compute the travel time.
Plan Lunch
After your first or second stop, work in a lunch. Just like skipping breakfast is a bad idea, so too is skipping lunch.
Add an Audible or Two
Add one or two audibles to the list, just in case people are in the mood for more.
Verify the Wineries are Open, Make Reservations, if Necessary
Winery websites are notorious for containing out of date information. Call or email the wineries ahead of time to verify your plan works.
Some wineries require reservations or a heads up, depending on the amount of people in your party. When you call or email them, let them know how many are coming.
Be Aware of Event Days
Wine regions have all sorts of special occasions to try and get as many people as they can out tasting. These occasions can be really fun or really annoying depending on what you are looking for. Be aware of what is going on, and participate or avoid them depending on your liking.
Enjoy!
Yes you made a plan, but don't get all uptight about it. If you spend longer than an hour at some great winery, then so be it. Enjoy the tasting!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
SuperBowl Pinot Tasting
Earlier this year we had some friends over for the Super Bowl. I put out a blind tasting of Pinots from highly rated bottles I had selected from K&L. The wines were tasted and discussed at everyone's leisure. At half time we tallied the ratings and ripped open the bags.
Results
A - 2010 Failla, Sonoma Coast came in first place with an average of 3.60. It cost $35.
D - 2007 Marimar Estate, Don Miguel Vineyard, Russian River Valley came in second place with an average of 2.84. It cost $43.
C - 2008 Dierberg, Sta. Rita Hills, Drum Canyon Vineyard came in third place with an average of 2.80, so close to second place. It cost $40.
B - 2009 melville, Estate - Sta. Rita Hills came in last place with an average of 2.55. It cost $28.
There was some discussion about all of Carolyn's 1s. The thought was that this affected the outcome, but I ran the numbers and while it lowered the average ratings, it did not change the order.
Results
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| Top to Bottom from Left to Right |
A - 2010 Failla, Sonoma Coast came in first place with an average of 3.60. It cost $35.
D - 2007 Marimar Estate, Don Miguel Vineyard, Russian River Valley came in second place with an average of 2.84. It cost $43.
C - 2008 Dierberg, Sta. Rita Hills, Drum Canyon Vineyard came in third place with an average of 2.80, so close to second place. It cost $40.
B - 2009 melville, Estate - Sta. Rita Hills came in last place with an average of 2.55. It cost $28.
There was some discussion about all of Carolyn's 1s. The thought was that this affected the outcome, but I ran the numbers and while it lowered the average ratings, it did not change the order.
 |
| Ratings Minus Carolyn |
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Gifts for a Wine Snob : The Wine Breather
Sangmok and Kyonghee gave me the Wine Breather for my last birthday. It's a unique decanter that I had never heard of before.
It's pretty interesting the way it works.
You start by placing the wine breather, minus the lid, in the decanter.
Open the bottle and place it on a table. Press the decanter into it; the wine breather piece will insert into the opening.
Using both hands flip the bottle and decanter.
The wine will decoratively pour into the decanter along its sides. It looks pretty cool.
One downside to this method is that you cannot avoid transferring the sediment from the bottle into the decanter, since the entire bottle is poured in. Also, I've used this decanter twice, and unfortunately, both times a little wine spilled out while the wine was transferring either way. It wasn't a large amount, but enough to make me wary of where I'm using it.
It has has a lid you can place on the decanter, which is a nice touch. Fruit flies always seem to find a way to decanted wine, and I usually place a wad of paper towel at the top. This is much more aesthetically pleasing.
Alternatively and uniquely, you can also poor the wine back into a bottle.
Overall a fun gift. It's a little pricey at $50, but is unique, and more interactive than other decanters.
It's pretty interesting the way it works.
You start by placing the wine breather, minus the lid, in the decanter.
Open the bottle and place it on a table. Press the decanter into it; the wine breather piece will insert into the opening.
Using both hands flip the bottle and decanter.
The wine will decoratively pour into the decanter along its sides. It looks pretty cool.
One downside to this method is that you cannot avoid transferring the sediment from the bottle into the decanter, since the entire bottle is poured in. Also, I've used this decanter twice, and unfortunately, both times a little wine spilled out while the wine was transferring either way. It wasn't a large amount, but enough to make me wary of where I'm using it.
It has has a lid you can place on the decanter, which is a nice touch. Fruit flies always seem to find a way to decanted wine, and I usually place a wad of paper towel at the top. This is much more aesthetically pleasing.
Alternatively and uniquely, you can also poor the wine back into a bottle.
Overall a fun gift. It's a little pricey at $50, but is unique, and more interactive than other decanters.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Gifts for a Wine Snob : A Slate Cheese Tray
When enjoying wine with others, we typically have some cheese. For serving the cheese, I have fallen in love with a J.K. Adams slate cheese board my wife gave me last Christmas. It's a reasonable gift, costing $20 to $30, depending on where you get it (BevMo was cheaper than Amazon when I looked).
It looks really cool, has an interesting texture, and is hefty, but not too hefty. The back is covered in felt, so there are no worries about scratching things.
To top it off, you can write on it with chalk, indicating what cheese is where, and easily erase it to correct mistakes.
Add some cool cheese knives and you have a powerful presentation of your cheese, enhancing your wine drinking experience.
If you're looking for the perfect gift for a wine snob that enjoys cheese, check this out. Of all the wine accessories I have received in the last couple of years, this ranks near the top.
It looks really cool, has an interesting texture, and is hefty, but not too hefty. The back is covered in felt, so there are no worries about scratching things.
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| 16 x 12 Slate Cheese Tray |
To top it off, you can write on it with chalk, indicating what cheese is where, and easily erase it to correct mistakes.
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| Slate Cheese Tray in Action |
Add some cool cheese knives and you have a powerful presentation of your cheese, enhancing your wine drinking experience.
If you're looking for the perfect gift for a wine snob that enjoys cheese, check this out. Of all the wine accessories I have received in the last couple of years, this ranks near the top.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Would you like some Wine with your Coffee?
Sangmok and his wife Kyonghee joined us for an intimate Pinot blind tasting back in January. Sangmok had heard the talk about blind tastings at lunch and had been dying to give it a try. I asked Bob and Carolyn to join us. Carlos was looking for something to do, given his family was out of town, so he joined us as well.
Cheese plate and 4 glasses of Pinot, what more could one need?
We tasted, discussed, and enjoyed each other's company.
Results
D - 2009 Flowers, Somona Coast came in first place with an average of 3.73. Sangmok and Kyonghee brought this. It cost $43.
C - 2008 L'Attitude 39 Degrees, Sonoma Coast came in second place with an average of 2.89. Carlos brought this. It cost $20.
A - 2008 Skov Winery, Santa Cruz Mountains came in first place with an average of 2.80. Sue and I brought this. It cost $26 from the winery.
B - 2008 Nicholson, Split Rail Vineyards came in first place with an average of 2.79. Sue and I also brought this. It cost $39 from the winery.
Sangmok and Kyonghee's first time out and they knocked it out of the park. The Flowers was a great choice!
Coffee Time
After tasting, Kyonghee, our resident coffee expert, made a scrumptious pot of coffee using Rwanda coffee from Wracking Ball Roasters and the "pour-over" method. Everyone that partook loved it and was impressed with her knowledge of coffee.
Cheese plate and 4 glasses of Pinot, what more could one need?
We tasted, discussed, and enjoyed each other's company.
Results
 |
| Top to Bottom from Left to Right |
D - 2009 Flowers, Somona Coast came in first place with an average of 3.73. Sangmok and Kyonghee brought this. It cost $43.
C - 2008 L'Attitude 39 Degrees, Sonoma Coast came in second place with an average of 2.89. Carlos brought this. It cost $20.
A - 2008 Skov Winery, Santa Cruz Mountains came in first place with an average of 2.80. Sue and I brought this. It cost $26 from the winery.
B - 2008 Nicholson, Split Rail Vineyards came in first place with an average of 2.79. Sue and I also brought this. It cost $39 from the winery.
Sangmok and Kyonghee's first time out and they knocked it out of the park. The Flowers was a great choice!
Coffee Time
After tasting, Kyonghee, our resident coffee expert, made a scrumptious pot of coffee using Rwanda coffee from Wracking Ball Roasters and the "pour-over" method. Everyone that partook loved it and was impressed with her knowledge of coffee.
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| Kyonghee makes some coffee after dinner |
 |
| The pour-over |
 |
| You lookin at me? |
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| After dinner coffee really hit the spot |
Thursday, July 5, 2012
An Explosion of Pinots
We had a wonderful wine filled BBQ for the fourth joined by Jose, Carlos, and Craig.
We started with an inexpensive bottle of white Paul had been recommending: 2011 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier. I found it at KnL for $10.99. The first taste was unfamiliar, but I quickly warmed up to it. Everyone agreed it was quite nice.
Continuing my Reverse Wine Snob inspired inexpensive tasting spree, we moved to an intimate blind tasting of Pinots that included the Kirkland brand and two unknowns that I had picked up at Santa Cruz Mountains wineries. I pulled out more glasses. We tried each of them, comparing notes, and talking about this and that.
Results
C - 2009 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, Branciforte Creek Vineyard came in first place with an average of 3.35. Sue and I picked this up at the winery the last time we were there. It cost $39.
This wine was darker than the others and had an aroma of cured meats. Yum! Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the taste. I thought it was very rough, but it was everyone else's favorite. Jose thought this wine reminded him of the Picchetti.
B - 2007 Regale, O'Neal Vineyward, Russion River Valley came in second place with an average of 3.18. Sue and I also picked this up at the winery the last time we were there . It cost $50.
Jose claimed this wine had the Pinot aftertaste, whatever that is.
A - 2010 Kirkland, Carneros came in last place with an average of 3.13. I picked this up at Costco. It cost $9.99. When I picked it up a friendly Costco patron told me she thought that it was pretty expensive for a Kirkland brand and I should try the ménage à trois.
This wine had a very light aroma and tasted like medicine. The others disagreed, giving it a likable rating. As it opened up, I settled on rating this a 3 too, giving it the nod over C.
This is the second blind tasting the Branciforte Creek Vineyard has won (see other tasting). There must be something there, but it doesn't work for me.
Dinner
Sue served us huge New York strip steaks, accompanied by shrimp, corn bread, corn on the cob, and my mother's cheesy potatoes. Does life get any better?
To finish the evening, I brought out the 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape I had also pickup at Costco. It cost $19.99; one can only image what the friendly patron would have thought of this price. I couldn't believe there was a Kirkland French wine. I wonder what the French think? I found the bottle mediocre, though no obvious flaws; decent, but nothing special. Were I Robert Parker, I would have rated it high 80s.
At 8:30 we headed off to enjoy the fireworks from the mall garage roof.
 |
| 2011 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier |
We started with an inexpensive bottle of white Paul had been recommending: 2011 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier. I found it at KnL for $10.99. The first taste was unfamiliar, but I quickly warmed up to it. Everyone agreed it was quite nice.
Continuing my Reverse Wine Snob inspired inexpensive tasting spree, we moved to an intimate blind tasting of Pinots that included the Kirkland brand and two unknowns that I had picked up at Santa Cruz Mountains wineries. I pulled out more glasses. We tried each of them, comparing notes, and talking about this and that.
 |
| Top to Bottom from Left to Right |
This wine was darker than the others and had an aroma of cured meats. Yum! Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the taste. I thought it was very rough, but it was everyone else's favorite. Jose thought this wine reminded him of the Picchetti.
B - 2007 Regale, O'Neal Vineyward, Russion River Valley came in second place with an average of 3.18. Sue and I also picked this up at the winery the last time we were there . It cost $50.
Jose claimed this wine had the Pinot aftertaste, whatever that is.
A - 2010 Kirkland, Carneros came in last place with an average of 3.13. I picked this up at Costco. It cost $9.99. When I picked it up a friendly Costco patron told me she thought that it was pretty expensive for a Kirkland brand and I should try the ménage à trois.
This wine had a very light aroma and tasted like medicine. The others disagreed, giving it a likable rating. As it opened up, I settled on rating this a 3 too, giving it the nod over C.
This is the second blind tasting the Branciforte Creek Vineyard has won (see other tasting). There must be something there, but it doesn't work for me.
Dinner
Sue served us huge New York strip steaks, accompanied by shrimp, corn bread, corn on the cob, and my mother's cheesy potatoes. Does life get any better?
To finish the evening, I brought out the 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape I had also pickup at Costco. It cost $19.99; one can only image what the friendly patron would have thought of this price. I couldn't believe there was a Kirkland French wine. I wonder what the French think? I found the bottle mediocre, though no obvious flaws; decent, but nothing special. Were I Robert Parker, I would have rated it high 80s.
At 8:30 we headed off to enjoy the fireworks from the mall garage roof.
Monday, July 2, 2012
The Glass Tank
John B pointed me to this interesting wine glass designed by Kyouei Design.
Looks magnificent to me! Should it even work? You'd think the wine would all flow out of the tank, but the description says it doesn't overflow due to air and water pressure; the glass maintains a constant amount of liquid. I would love to see one of these in action, though I don't think I'll be owning one any time soon, as they cost 29,800 Japanese Yen, which is roughly $375. Perhaps when I'm enjoying my $168,000 Ampoule of Penfolds.
Ted brings up a good point though: It may be hard to smell the wine, let alone swirl it.
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| The Glass Tank |
Looks magnificent to me! Should it even work? You'd think the wine would all flow out of the tank, but the description says it doesn't overflow due to air and water pressure; the glass maintains a constant amount of liquid. I would love to see one of these in action, though I don't think I'll be owning one any time soon, as they cost 29,800 Japanese Yen, which is roughly $375. Perhaps when I'm enjoying my $168,000 Ampoule of Penfolds.
 |
| The Glass Tank in Action (Illustration) |
Ted brings up a good point though: It may be hard to smell the wine, let alone swirl it.
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