Eve's Wine 101

Wine Tasting with Dogs by Kathleen Camplin

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We’d been dying to take a wine tour through Paso Robles and decided Memorial Day weekend would afford the time to do so. My darling dogs were not so keen to be dumped in a kennel so I endeavored to find dog friendly wineries that they could visit. The result was a wonderful and tasty getaway which the dogs also enjoyed.

Dog Friendly Wineries: Chumeia Vineyardshttp://www.chumeiavineyards.com/(Bought the Barbera. Dogs liked the arbor walk.)

Grey Wolf Cellarshttp://www.greywolfcellars.com/(Bought the Lone Wolf blend. Dogs liked the shaded garden.)

Peachy Canyon Wineryhttp://www.peachycanyon.com/(Bought tons of Old School House Zinfandel. Dogs liked he grassy picnic area.)

Tablas Creek Vineyardhttp://tablascreek.com/Le Cuvier Winery

Other wineries were okay with the dogs in the parking lot: EOS, Meridian, Martin & Weyrich.

The most difficult part of the trip was finding shaded areas to park while we went in to taste. In cases where shade wasn’t available (Chumeia and Meridian) we split up so one of us could stay with the dogs.

Lunch breaks were pretty easy at restaurants with outdoor seating.

A few tips:

Remember to ask first before letting dogs romp around, even at locations listed here. Most owners thanked us for asking and then gave us leave to let the dogs out. Keep your dogs leashed. Remember many people have a fear of dogs and some wineries have very nice gardens. Tread carefully. Be a courteous and responsible dog owner and hopefully the “dog friendly” list will grow!

Tanya Green of Wine 661 on Blush Wines

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Yes it’s hot! Let me tell you what my customers drink to cool off…
BLUSH WINES!

Blush wines have been making a comeback for some time and they’re better than ever! Gone are the days of super-sweet pink wines that we remember from the “white zin” days. Now blush wines are off-dry and are being made from some really interesting grapes. Ever seen a blush Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Malbec or Pinot Noir? They DO exist and they’re great Summer wines! They’re light and crisp, go with lots of different foods and even manage to satisfy the most discriminating wine drinkers.

Since all blush wines come from red grapes, you might be wondering how wine-makers achieve that gorgeous rose color. The answer lies in the maceration process. Much of a wine’s character comes from the grape skins, not the juice as many people believe. To lighten things up, wine-makers simply remove the grape skins earlier than they would if they were making a full-bodied, red wine. Removing the skins after a few hours [or days] creates a wine that’s light, refreshing and perfect for Summer!

At Wine 661, I serve a blush Tempranillo by the glass and it’s a huge hit! I also carry an inexpensive blush Grenache from Spain (or Garnacha as they call it in Spain) and I can hardly keep it on the shelves. At a mere $19.99 per bottle, it’s a steal! I have a blush Pinot Noir from the Coppola family of wines and it’s absolutely gorgeous! Pale pink, fruity but not sweet, lots of character and it comes in a stunning bottle!

If you haven’t tried any blush or rose wines in the past few years, give them another shot! They have a long way to go to repair the damage that “white zin” did to blush wines but if you’re adventurous enough to revisit them, you’ll be rewarded with an amazing wine experience!

Cheers!

Tanya Green
Wine 661
24268 Valencia Blvd.
Valencia, CA 91355
661.288.2980
www.wine661.com

Kudos to whoever pulled off this one making the airways

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From Steve Lemley, Pulchella Winery co-owner and member of SCV Vintners and Growers Association:
Twelve men and women compete for a chance to create and launch their own wine label nationwide. In each episode they will face challenges on every aspect of wine making from viticulture and enology to sales and marketing, but in the end only one contestant will win the title of Wine Maker.

The Wine Makers will begin airing nationwide on PBS in September 2009 during California Wine Month.

Follow this link for over 30 minutes of video showing the highlights of whats to come:

Not about wine, or car racing, from my Facebook friend, Crash Gladys

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Tribute to The King of Pop http://www.speedfreaks.tv/articles1-1278/TributetoTheKingofPop

My childhood favorite is gone. Pop singer Michael Jackson died earlier today due to cardiac arrest.

What girl my age didn’t swoon over his sexy Thriller album cover? Who didn’t love his badass-ness in the “Beat It” video? And who my age also didn’t understand why “Billie Jean” wasn’t his lover… how could that be? Well, I learned later.

All this after other members of my family watched him grow up as the lead singer of the Jackson Five. “ABC” was one of the first songs I liked from the family group… to sing it was… Easy as 123!

As a 9 yr. old, I pretty much demanded that my Mom find a way to get me to an MJ concert. Even though we in Indiana just couldn’t figure out why his Thriller tour wouldn’t visit his home state, not even in the capital of Indianapolis, I continued to hound members of my family until finally my Mom’s sister, my Aunt Sue, gave in a couple of years later and bought us tickets to the Victory Tour at Comisky Park in Chicago. Even though I was a bit older and not as much into the King of Pop (you know, trying to be ‘cool’ with my friends), I still wore my red zipper jacket, my glitter glove and glitter socks (actually those were my Mom’s ski socks at the time), my penny loafers and big sunglasses. I screamed and screamed and screamed when he walked on the stage, and according to my Aunt, I didn’t stop screaming until the concert was over… I think she is still deaf in one ear.

At family gatherings on my Dad’s side, I would force my cousins (I was the oldest of 7) to each be one of the Jackson siblings as I would portray the role of Michael. We then would perform for our parents, you know, by doing the moonwalk, shaking our right leg in the air and singing Jackson songs.

Yeah, we have it on video.

No, you can not watch it!

Seriously?!! Remember those Grammy Awards & American Music Awards where he cleaned house? I begged my Mom to let me stay up late just to see him grab another trophy… maybe that is why I wear contacts… I was glued to the TV, just inches from the screen.

Later in middle school, after the Victory Tour, I got a group together and taught each of them the ENTIRE choreography for the Thriller video. And yes I STILL have it all memorized! Someone posted a pic on Facebook of one of our ‘dance rehearsals’ that makes me laugh… thank goodness we weren’t decked out in costume. Then even later that year, a group of us gathered to watch one of Michael’s dreams come true as “We Are the World” was brought to life. How amazing!! Remember that phenomenon??

And even WAY later, in college, I was a song leader for my sorority in the large IU Sing event. When I heard the theme song would be “Can You Feel It” for my Senior performance, I was stunned. That was a Jackson Five song that I grew to love when watching Michael Jackson videos of his storybook life. In fact, my Aunt Sue actually pressed RECORD on her VCR to tape hours worth of MTV about MJ for me to have (since we didn’t have cable at my house at the time). On that very tape was “Can You Feel It” played in the background of “The Making of Thriller.”

Michael Jackson inspired me to dance. He inspired me to sing. He (along with my family) inspired me to do good for others. And believe it or not, throughout all of his trial crap in the last decade, of which we may never know if any of the accusations were true or just money driven, he inspired me to just keep believing in myself. He went through a lot, and he suffered a lot as well. But he kept trudging on… and, well, seeing him do it made me realize that I could handle all hard times as well.

Some may never get over the accused side of Michael Jackson, but at a time like this we need to, even if just for a day or so, because what the man did stand for in his heart was nothing but good.

You can tell when someone really means something to others, today, via Twitter. Yeah, it’s not scientific, but for the first time in my existence on Twitter, I noticed that ALL 10 Twitter trending topics were about Michael Jackson. ALL TEN!!

Michael Jackson, you will be massively missed, loved and will continue to be admired and appreciated by billions.

It’s been a hard week in Hollywood, losing first Ed McMahon, then Farrah Fawcett and now Michael Jackson – all three of whom are icons in their own trade! But also from Twitter, I felt that this was a nice way to sum it up:

From @AtomicShroom: Johnny & Ed will b doing The Tonight Show in heaven & 2nite Michael Jackson & Farrah Fawcett will b their guests! God Bless!
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OK, so this article had NOTHING to do with motorsports, or the fact that, believe it or not, SpeedFreaks is celebrating our 9th Anniversary today… but it has been therapeutic to say the least, for me to say goodbye to someone who meant a lot to me, my lifestyle, my foray onto the stage and more. Thank you Michael Jackson… may you rest in peace!
Email me: CrashG@SpeedFreaks.TV
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BTW, some of you have Twittered and emailed me asking about my favorite Michael Jackson songs… well, here you go:
1. Man in the Mirror – just listen to the message – there isn’t much better – and CLICK HERE for a great performance from the 1988 Grammys that you will enjoy

2. We Are the World – again, the message, and how Michael put it all together with so many talented people, for such an amazing cause

3. Thriller – I still love that video (well, at least the dancing portion)

4. Smooth Criminal – the dancing in this video is off the hook, too… and I incorporated it into one of my IU Sing performances as well

5. Can You Feel It – inspired as a youngin’, then later by IU Sing as well

6. Say, Say, Say – loved the comedy in this video and loved him paired up with Paul McCartney

7. Wanna be Startin’ Something – another song I incorporated into my IU Sing performance – just makes me wanna get up and go!!

8. Black or White – another good message song

9. Rock with You – just a feel good MJ song

10. Beat It – come on now, with Eddie Van Halen, this song revolutionized the music industry!!!

Others on my iPod:- Remember the Time- Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough- The Way You Make Me Feel- Working Day and Night- Human Nature- P.Y.T.- The Girl is Mine (also with Paul McCartney)- Billie Jean- State of Shock – reminds me of that Victory Tour! Ha, ha!

Cheese Making in the SCV

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At a recent Santa Clarita Vintners and Growers Association blind Zinfandel tasting (separate post) we were in for a unique treat – and one that didn’t involve wine.

Corry De Robertis, seemingly plucked from the dairies of his ancestor’s home in Italy, walked in to a room of wine makers with: Goat Balls.

Corry happens to be a home cheese maker. Not satisfied with kits, he found them as a jump – start to an interest not unlike the winemakers surrounding him in palatable interest. Corry had found a way to express his need to make something with his hands in a way wine makers, and non-wine makers, could appreciate.

Like having wine with winemakers or beer in a beer garden, having fresh homemade cheese was a treat no one was prepared for. Surprising, delicate, attractive and incredibly flavorful.

“I brought Sauvignon Blanc because it pairs well with goat cheese and it also would cleanse our palate so we could accurately taste the Zin later. My goat cheeses tend to lay on the palate for several minutes or more. The high acidity breaks through and cleanses away the “goaty” flavor.”

Corry is considering a cheese making party as one of his cheeses, the mozzarella, takes only 30 minutes to set up. But for the purists, that know they can’t buy these cheeses anywhere and don’t know Corry’s address, here is a sampling of the talent Corry shared with us:

Cheese making is my passion (I absolutely love wine too!). Similar to wine, cheese is an expression of the land and climate (terrior). For me, the terrior changes week by week. I am at the mercy of the ever-changing local milk supply at the market.

In the last couple years, the milk supply in the U.S. has been over pasteurized (heated to extreme temperatures so it lasts longer), making home cheese making a bit of a challenge.

I might have a “connection” to some farm fresh milk! Senior Hernandez, where are you? In the meantime, I use the milk available to me. (editor’s note: To learn more about Senior Hernandez’s cheese connection try starting here: http://www.dairygoatjournal.com/issues/86/86-1/Tim_King.html)

I love spending time in my kitchen creating new cheeses. Each one with its own personality. Sometimes refreshing, delicate and young like a white wine and other times complex, robust and aged like a full bodied red.

At the SCV Vintner’s dinner, I showcased a few cheeses. Two got the most attention. The first was a fresh cow’s milk Mozzarella filled with Jalapeno cream. Similar to a cheese from Pulia Italy where my mother was born called “Burrata” except I kick it up a notch with jalapeno peppers. Light and delicate on the outside, but packed with “heat” on the inside.

The other cheese was a mold ripened goat cheese. I brought 2 styles. One was ripened with white Penicillin mold. (The same mold that forms the rind on Brie.) The mold softens the cheese and imparts earthy flavors. I formed some into small “goatballs” and the others into 3 inch wheels. The second style I used white mold and then brushed vegetable ash on them before the mold developed. This adds another flavor component and looks kind of cool like a geode stone when sliced. They are similar to a cheese from Indiana called the “Wabash Cannonball”.

Like with all cheeses the aging process AKA “afinage” is where it gets tricky. This requires daily flipping and monitoring humidity to ensure mold growth. This year I am focusing on rind development. There are so many possibilities. I might even try a wine soaked cheese.
Fresh bread, a piece of cheese and a glass of wine with my wife and friends …. Is there anything better? I don’t think so.

Cor.

Link sent in by reader Larry E and SAUVIGNORAMA

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I’m thinking of ditching my daughter, husband, part time job and Santa Clarita – and the husband is good with this. Which is more worrisome? Me going for this job (listed below) or my husband planning my good-bye party and tossing me the car keys?

May 26, 2009

Must love wine, social media

Sonoma County, California winery Murphy-Goode is seeking a blogger/tweeter to hang with winemaker David Ready for six months. The Murphy-Goode lifestyle correspondent will write about wine making and promote the company on social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Wanna-be wine bloggers are submitting 60-second videos to promote their candidacies.

Applications for the job close June 19th. It pays $10,000 per month for six months, and includes housing.

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Then, after I stopped laughing at the idea I got an even better joke via Alex Nussbaum’s

“SAUVIGNORAMA”

I was listening to the radio in my car when this came on, I laughed so hard – at myself, my fellow wine 101ers and wine aficionados everywhere – that I came home and immediately searched the Internet to find it. But I couldn’t.

Then, being the anal retentive Facebook junkie that I am I searched there next. Lo and behold, Alex Nussbaum had a page! Within a day he accepted by hand in typical Facebook friendship and then…posted the link on my friggin’ page to share with you readers:

Hi Eve,

I added the clip to youtube for you…do I get any free wine out of the deal??!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EobfftnNWPI

Cheers,
Alex

And yes, I did send him a message back that I’m the one that gets paid in wine but, as he’s based in LA, to meet me at the LA Wine Fest today!

Guest Post from Mark Stenner, Tulsa Wine Club

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In planning a trip to Italy this summer, and my husband threatening limited Internet access to wean me off of Facebook, I was also concerned that readers may be getting used to seeing 3 blog posts a week on this site and will grow bored and lonesome without it.
So I’ve entrusted my blogger brother Dr Mike with my password and he will post for me. But, as Dr Mike is a wine 101er limited to the intensive study of Shiraz only, I decided to open up guest posting to readers as well. In short, I need 300 words or more, on a wine 101 subject of your choice and a photo. Please send to me at ebushman@earthlink.net before 6-15-09.
This one today is my favorite topic: Your Wine Story

I came to America for several reasons, but primarily to work for a publishing company called Blackwell Science. After I moved there I met my future ex-wife who was from Tulsa, hence me living here now and for the foreseeable future because of my son. He is four. I could move to Tulsa with my job and so I did. Unfortunately there was a regime change at Blackwell and they laid off the sales and marketing force in 2001. And so now I work for a steel company. So not my thing but it pays the bills.

My wine epiphany came in 1994. I came from a very poor background and wine or good food was never in the picture. Perhaps my grandmother would open a cheap sweet German Liebframilch. Blech! That was all we knew. One day I just woke up thinking I needed to educate myself about wine. I had my first job, a bit of money, I was looking for a house, had purchased my first new car, and so on…..I had educated myself on music, literature, some fine arts, and this seemed like the next step.

I was also learning about food. I didn’t eat in a restaurant until I was 17! So at 23 it was time. So I bought a few books and started that way. My first wine was a Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc. SB seemed like a good place to start so I basically just bought a couple of bottles a week and would sit and study them. Good wines, reasonably priced. I did a few NZs and then moved onto France, and so on………

When I moved to the U.S. I actually stopped drinking wine for five years. In the UK there are lots of good guides in book form, and the papers and reviewers point you in the right direction. And then the good stores would have regular tastings so it was easy to keep abreast. The US was totally different.

Most wines in the Spec (Wine Spectator) etc weren’t available and where I lived, outside Boston itself in the end, lacked a good store. Lastly, no one I worked with really liked wine and I couldn’t find a local tasting group (Internet was still fairly young) so it just became something I gradually slipped out of….my evenings were consumed with Red Sox games, and good beer, etc!

My return to wine, and my current passion, began at a food show which featured a Riedel seminar. I was skeptical but my ex dragged me along. I was like Paul on the road to Damascus. I realized glassware made all the difference! And a light went off.

We were trying a wine and the presenter asked if anyone could hazard a guess. I jokingly told my ex that it tasted like a Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz that I used to enjoy in England. I was too chicken to say anything but she boldly said “I think it’s a Barossa Shiraz”. And of course it was. The Lehmann!

We purchased a set of Riedels and then I figured, well, we have the stems, now what? So I tentatively started buying and drinking wine again. I ran into the same issue, buying poor and unsatisfying wine, so I decided to start my tasting group. And six years on still going strong……

Wine Locker Stored Wines from Chef Mike

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2000 Opus One (Wine Locker Stored) – Normally priced at $175 or more a bottle. The price I have for this super premier is $120 a bottle (discount for all 6) (At press time Chef Mike has 10 bottles.)

I have access to 1 six pack each of the following top shelf wines:

The 1997 Kenwood Artist Series Cabernet – One of Kenwood’s premier wines this is a beautiful ready to drink wine and showing well years after release. Rated 93 Points Collector’s Choice by Wine Enthusiast. The 1997 Vintage has was proclaimed the best vintage of the last 25 years. Not all the wines from that vintage have aged as well as this beauty. Notes of Chocolate and oak have merged with the big black fruit that typified the wines from this vintage year. Normally a deal at $70-80 a bottle I have 6 bottles still in the case (wine locker stored) at $55 a bottle (Discount For entire 6 pack).

The 1999 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cab – This was a 94 point Cellar Selection wine from the Wine Spectator. Later named the #12 wine in their 2002/03 Top 100 List. A huge complex & layered wine combining great flavors & finesse. Dark, sleek, rich and polished, with a delicious core of concentrated cola, currant, plum and blackberry. One of the best Cabs from a great 1999 vintage it will age well into 2014. Normally the RM Reserve Cab is $130 a bottle – I have 6 bottles still in their case (Wine Locker Stored) at $85 a bottle (Discount For entire 6 pack) (At press time he is down this 6 pack as I BOUGHT IT BEFORE TELLING YOU WINOS ABOUT IT FIRST.)

The 1994 Flora Springs Hillside Reserve Cabernet – This wine received a 96 point “Highly Recommended” Wine Spectator rating (94 Points From Parker). A Cab with all the ingredients for excellence – Massive dark color and thick impressive meaty, smoky, oaky flavors blending into leathery currant and dried cherry fruit. In addition to notes of chocolate and vanilla. A dense and tight wine, that will benefit from time in the proper cellar, but the flavors build to a wonderful long finish and aftertaste. 800 cases made. Normally a steal at $120-130 a bottle; I have an unopened (Wine Locker Stored) 6 pack at $85 each.

Call me if you or anyone you may know might be interested, Chef Mike: 805-217-4518