You know you’ve experimented. It’s a way to discover what you like. And what you don’t. What makes you happy. What satisfies your soul. It’s how you know when you’ve found the one. The one that makes you say, “Sorry, I’m with Cabernet.” When you’ve met the love of your lie, is there really any reason to keep looking? (Back label of Monogamy Cabernet Sauvignon)

Monogamy or promiscuity…at some point we are all faced with the question of which way we should go. Now with wine the question comes up again.  Recently while shopping at my local market I came across an interesting bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Many of you know that I haven’t really been a big fan of Cabs but my heart is starting to soften for them as of late because I have been introduced to some really delicious ones Monogamy Cabernet Sauvignon, I must admit, has found it’s way into my heart and onto my wine rack.

The name was the first thing that caught my eye but I must admit it was the back label (seen above) that made me purchase this delightful vino. This wine is an arranged marriage of 88% Mendocino County Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. Although the marriage is arranged the couple honeymoons last longer than most Hollywood marriages. You see French and American oak barrels are the honeymoon destination for this couple and it last for 14 months.

After honeymooning for over a year this couple produces a wonderfully smooth texture of plums and herbs. A warm toasty finish also awaits you. Truly, madly, deeply…whether you are a Cabernet lover or not you will fall in love with this wine and perhaps the idea of monogamy as well.

However, if you are content of not settling dow  maybe promisQous is more your speed. Although I have not yet tried any of these wines yet I am told that they are also extremely good. PromisQuous are red and white blends and at this time they offer  a Pinot Grigio, a white table wine (blend of Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Gewurztraminer and other white varietals) and a red table wine (blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and a mixture of other red varietals).

If any of you have tried the promisQuous brand please comment here on the blog and let me know what you think. Also click on the Monogamy link in the first paragraph and take the quiz to see which wine will be suit your personality. Are you into monogamy or promiscuity?

Finally, below is a video from fellow wine blogger, The Wine Whore, with some comments on Monogamy. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these wines as well.

Rancho Sisquoc Tasting Room

Celebrating 20 years of winemaking Rancho Sisquoc was one of the first wineries in the Santa Barbara County wine region. Rancho Sisquoc is located on the Sisquoc River and was a part of an 1852 Spanish land grant. The Chumash Indian called the area “Sisquoc” which meant the “gathering place” and ever since the winery opened people have been gathering there to indulge in exquisite wines.

For my birthday last year a friend of mine gave me a bottle of the 2007 Sisquoc River Red. This delicious red table wine is a blend of cabernet sauvignon/franc, merlot, syrah/petite syrah, and malbec. It’s aged for 15 months in New American and Hungarian Oak barrels. With that comes the fragrant aromas of carmel, toffee and blackberries as well as the delicious taste of dark fruit including black cherries. There is a smooth bit of clove on the end which allows the wine to warm the palate while gently caressing the back of the throat.  The Sisquoc River Red is just one of the many awesome wines available through the ranch. At $16.00 it is also a true deal. Thanks Deb for turning me on to this delicious red.Rancho Sisquoc Winery has won many awards and achieved various accolades including Gold for the 2007 Chardonnay in the 2009 West Coast Wine Competition and Chairman’s Unanimous God for the 2006 Syrah in the Riverside International Wine Competition.

To find out more about the winery and the wines please click here and watch the video.

The Riesling grape varietal originates in the Rhine region of Germany and is considered one of the top three white grape varietals. It is an aromatic grape, high in acidity and is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Germany’s flagship grape, Riesling produces elegant wines which are the most long-lived of white grape varieties.

Riesling Grape

Moselland (in the Mosel region of Germany) is a cooperative of wine growers that got it start many years ago. Today they produce a variety of exceptional Rieslings including everything from dry Rieslings to organic Riesling. My first introduction to Moselland was the Landmark Series (Hollywood). It was one of the most refreshing white wines I’d tasted in a long time. On the nose was the fragrance of a ripe green apple along with a hint of peach and a slight bit of honey. The taste of sweet pear and a hint of pineapple consumes your tongue while the slightly acidic finish caresses your throat. This is definitely a delightful wine to have on a warm summer day.

I was given the Landmark Series as a gift and when it was gone I went in search of finding more. However, the day I was looking for it I couldn’t find it but what I did find was another Rielsing by the same producer. It was the Moselland ArsVitis Riesling. I purchased a couple of bottles and couldn’t wait to get them chilled and ready for tasting. After getting the bottle nice and chilled I opened it hoping to recapture the elegance I’d found with the Landmark Series. Again, the bouquet was of fresh fruit. However, on the palate lemon and peach flavors were experienced. Now I must say I found ArsVitis refreshing as well but I am more partial to the Landmark Series.

One other spectacular thing you should know about these Rieslings is that the bottles are absolutely beautiful. You see the winegrower Heinz Ames is also an artist who actually paints watercolors with wine. He uses Riesling to paint beautiful scenes of the Mosel Valley that are found in the wine bottles themselves. The bottles are so beautiful that you almost don’t want to drink the wine. In the ArsVitis collection there are 15 editions to choose from.

So if you are looking for a nice Riesling think Moselland and give it a try.

What is in a name???? A whole lot if you share it with Biblical kings. Glass wine bottles come in a variety of sizes but did you know that many of those bottles have names of Biblical kings? That is right…famous kings like Jeroboam, Rehoboam, Methuselah, Salmanazar, Balthazar and Nebuchadnezzar share their names with glass bottles which contain fine wines and Champagnes. Standard wine bottles usually are 750 milliliters in size. The information below, however, explains the sizes of the bottles that carry the name of the Biblical kings.

• Jeroboam (first king of the northern kingdom of Israel) = 3 litters or 4 standard bottles
• Rehobam (first king of Judea) = 4.5 liters or 6 standard bottles
• Methuselah (the oldest man in the Bible) = 6 liters or 8 standard bottles
• Salmanazar (king of Assyria) – 9 liters or 12 standard bottles
• Balthazar (one of the Three Wise Men) = 12 liters or 16 standard bottles
• Nebuchadnezzr (king of Babylon) = 15 liters or 20 standard bottles

A mneumonic to help you remember the names in order is….“My Judy Really Makes Splendid Belching Noises.” The M in My is for Magnum.

Wine bottles also carry other Biblical names like Solomon and Mordechai. How bottles started to get these Biblical names is really not clear today. The earliest use of biblical names for large bottles comes from 1725 where winemakers in Bordeaux were using the name Jeroboam for the four-bottle size. It is believed that they chose Jeroboam because he is referred to as “a man of great worth,” as were the larger size bottles.

In doing some research I’ve read  that it is no longer legal to use the Biblical names on the bottles of large wine. I cannot confirm or deny this. It states that the only name that is still okay to use (which isn’t Biblical) is Magnum which is a bottle that holds two standard bottles of wine. What I can say is that if you are lucky enough to find one of the Biblically named bottles I say snap it up. I would think that one day it may be worth a pretty penny.

Below please find a picture of the world’s largest bottle which is said to contain six and a half Nebuchadnezzars (130 bottles). This sherry bottle measures 1.5 meters and holds 220 pounds of wine.

A subset of the Quivira Vineyards in the world-renowned Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma, California, Steelhead Wines are a tribute to the restoration of the Steelhead domain in Wine Creek, a tributary of Dry Creek River that runs through the estate. Steelhead Wines along with Quivira Vineyards have partnered with Trouts Unlimited as well as other organization to restore the spawning ground of the Steelhead trout. Through their efforts the trout have returned to the creek bed every spring.

Through this effort Steelhead Wines were born.  Steelhead Wine is the first wine dedicated to the conservation of fisheries. Currently when you  purchase  either Steelhead Vineyards Zinfandel or Sauvignon Blanc a portion of the proceeds go to Trout Unlimited restoration projects. I have not tried the Sauvignon Blanc but have tasted the Zinfandel. I loved it so much that I went online to find out where I could buy it locally. I was shocked but quite pleased to find it at my local Beverages & More store.

The Steelhead Zinfandel is a great wine. Filled with great flavors this wine is made of 84% Zinfandel and 16% Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, & Carignane. It’s earthy blackberry and black pepper flavor leaves you with a feeling of bliss in your mouth and gives you a great hint of a Dry Creek wine in its finish.

This wine is a must do not just because of the taste but because of the wonderful cause it supports.  Please watch the video below courtesy of YouTube to see the trout returning in the spring.

Find out where you can purchase this wine in your area. Not only will you be getting a good bottle of wine but you will also be helping to maintain much needed fisheries in Sonoma.

And remember as always…drink responsibly.

How many of you out there remember the episode of “The Brady Bunch” (if not click on Brady Bunch title) where Jan was frustrated about being the middle sister. In that episode she decided to start to wear a hideous black wig to differentiate herself from her popular older sister Marcia and her sweet, cute baby sister, Cindy. According to Jan, she felt as if she were invisible because she was the blond middle sister. It seems that a lot of middle sisters across the world often feel as if they are invisible when compared to their older and younger siblings.

Middle sisters, fret no more for you have been recognized and immortalized in one of the most special ways possible. You now have your own catalogue of wines named especially for you. I discovered these little gems this past weekend. They are tasty and reasonably priced and you will get two treats for the price of one in this blog as I introduce you to Smarty Pants and Forever Cool.

Middle Sister Wine are produced and bottled by Middle Sister in Santa Rosa, California. There are six exciting flavors, all with distinct personalities. Middle Sister wines have fun names like Drama Queen Pinot Grigio, Smarty Pants Chardonnay, and Forever Cool Merlot.  There is also Rebel Red, Wicked White and Mischief Maker Cabernet Sauvignon. Click on the link at the beginning of this paragraph to experience their exciting website. I had so much fun checking it out. There is a quiz you can take to determine which Middle Sister wine personality fits yours. I took it and wasn’t surprised at all with my results. See my results posted below…

“You’re a Drama Queen. Nobody does quite like you do. You like to make an entrance. You know the best color/cut/face/eyebrow/ wax lady. You are friends with the bartender, the chef, the kid who started Face Book and the mayor. You’re a social butterfly. When it’s time to land, it’s poolside in South Beach with a glass of Middle Sister Drama Queen Pinot Grigio. And a cabana boy.”

It’s funny because when I was in the store trying to decide which ones of theses wines to purchase I immediately pick up the Drama Queen but  decided to put it back to try the Smarty Pants Chard and the Forever Cool Merlot first. I was pleasantly surprised at both. The Smarty Pants Chardonnay is a blend of Chardonnay (76%) and a mixture of other white grapes(24%). You won’t find the woodsy taste in this bottle as you do with many chards. However, there is crisp smells of lemon and honeysuckle as well as the taste of refreshing citrus and pear on the tongue. Each of the Middle Sister wines has a story on the back label and chard story is below…

Middle Sister Smarty Pants Chardonnay

“Some girls are born beautiful. Some girls are born rich.  And some girls are born smart. The smart girls grow up and use their brains to make money to buy great clothes and travel abroad and throw dinner parties…where they serve chardonnay that they didn’t spend a fortune on…in wine glasses brought home from their last trip to Paris. Some girls are born smart. And we think they’re the luckiest girls of all.”

The other wine we tasted was the Forever Cool Merlot. This is a successful blend of Merlot (94%) and Malbec (4%). Smells of fresh raspberries, blackberries and vanilla give way to the taste of luscious berries with a finish of dark chocolate. Forever Cool’s back label story is found below…

Middle Sister Forever Cool Merlot

“The Age of Aquarius has come and gone, but some things never go out of style. Like flowers, peace and a nice glass of Merlot. Let’s take a moment to toast the sisters who march on to the beat of a different drummer. Nobody stays forever young. But you will always be forever cool. And for that, we salute you. Sip on!”

Now that I’ve tried the chard and merlot I must go back and pick up the Drama Queen Pinot Grigio. By the way did I tell you I find this hidden gems at Target??? That is right Target and the cost was only $10.99 a bottle.

Whether you are a middle sister or not you really should give these wines a try. They are just perfect for informal gatherings with friends and family. They go well with a variety of foods including Portobello mushroom burgers, grilled chicken caesar and corn chowder.

Go to their website and browse around. Don’t forget to take the quiz to see which middle sister you are most like. Finally as always please remember to drink responsibly.

Okay…I know I’ve blogged about full-bodied wines with smooth finishes in the past but tonight I must tell you about a new discovery I’ve made. This wine tops most blends that I’ve come across in body, flavor, aroma and smoothness. Recently, I was visiting one my favorite wine shops, “The Green Jug” when I asked one of the guys there what was new and exciting. He showed me a few upscale bottles of wine before taking me to the shelf that housed the “Apothic Red” which retailed for a lot less. He stated that if I really liked a good Zinfandel, I’d find this particular blend of wine intriguing. So I purchased it.

A couple of days later (before trying the wine) I was in a local supermarket (Ralph’s to be exact) when I spotted the wine again. Because it was on sale I decided to purchase one more bottle. At first I was a little skeptical because I hadn’t tried the first bottle. What if I didn’t like it? What if it tasted like shoe polish? I didn’t let any of my doubts stop me. Instead, I purchased the bottle, which was on sale.

When I got home I started making dinner and decided to open the bottle I’d picked up at “The Green Jug”. I must say, at first taste, I was captivated. This was the smoothest blend I’d ever tasted. According to their website and the bottle, this wine was inspired by “Apotheca,” a mysterious place where wine was blended and stored in 13th century Europe. I don’t know about that but I know that the blend of lush syrah, spicy zinfandel and smooth merlot gives you a wine that is more elegant than some of the finest wines you’ve ever tasted.

The alcohol content of this wine is 13.1%. On the nose you will experience the wonderful smells of dark cherries, blackberries, mocha and a hint of spice. The intense flavor of dark fruit with hints of vanilla will caress your tongue. Finally a silky/velvety texture lingers at the back of your throat making way for a smooooooooth finish.

If you live in the San Fernando Valley you can purchase this delectable treat at “The Green Jug” or the Ralph’s in Woodland Hills. If you don’t live in an area where you can find this wine in a local shop you can purchase it online at The Barrel Room.

This wine is definitely a jackpot and can be consumed on a casual basis or can be served at any elegant affair. Pick up a bottle of Apothic Red today! You won’t be disappointed.

Please remember drink responsibly.

Rideau 2006 Chateau Duplantier Cuvee

As I am writing this I am finishing a delicious glass of one of Rideau’s finest wines…2006 Chateau Duplantier Cuvee. I am almost speechless when it comes to this wine because it is like drinking a glass of liquid heaven. It is not only exquisite but sexy as well. Lets start with the sexy name…Duplantier, which is the owner’s (Iris Rideau) maiden name. The name immediately transports you to the romantic countryside of France.

Next is the aromatic fragrance of warm spice that lingers in this California Rhone-style wine. It wafts over your nose causing your salivary glands to go into overdrive.  Finally after taking your first sip of this elixir, you will be delighted to taste the soft, dark cherries and ripe raspberry flavors that take control of your tongue while the smooth velvety texture caresses the back of your throat. The finish on this wine is one of pure silk. A blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache & Petite Sirah, this wine is elegant enough to be served at the grandest of functions.

The unfortunate thing about this wine is that you can only get it from the Rideau Vineyards in Solvang, CA. However, you can visit their website and order it online. The cost of this wine is about $50.00 a bottle but is worth every penny. If you are in California and feel like taking a drive you should definitely stop by and visit the Rideau Vineyards. The landscape is lush and the ambience reminds you of the jazzy New Orleans French Quarter. Besides delicious wines you can also indulge in the fantastic gourmet cuisine while listening to great live music.

To get a peek at the gem that is Rideau please check out the video below:

Syrah or as it is know in some part of the world, Shiraz is a dark skinned grape predominantly used for red wine. It is the offspring of two obscure grapes from France.

• Dureza (the father of Syrah): which is a dark skinned grape varietal from the Ardeche region in France
• Mondeuse Blanche (the mother of Syrah): a white grape found exclusively in and around Savoy (Savoie) wine region in France

In the Rhone region of France Syrah has a long documented history. Wines from this grape varietal are very full-bodied and  flavorful. Aromas consuming wines made with this varietal include dark berries, chocolate, and espresso. Syrahs are substantial wines that have incredibly bold flavors

You may have seen wines that have the word Shiraz on the label instead of Syrah. Be aware that it is the same grape varietal. However, in France and the rest of Europe as well as Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & the U.S. the label will read Syrah. In countries like Australia, however, you will see labels reflecting the name Shiraz.

Gainey Vineyards

One of my favorite Syrahs, is the Gainey Vineyard Limited Selection Syrah. The aroma of this fine Syrah is of dark raspberries and blackberries with hints of peppery spice. Lavender and sage are noted slightly. On the tongue the elegant taste of dark berries linger into a smooth finish. This wine which retails for about $40.00 a bottle is excellent with grilled meats or barbecues. Check out the Gainey Vineyard website for more information on this delicious wine or contact your local fine wine shop to see if they carry it or can order it for you.

Until next time, remember to drink responsibly.

Back in June I posted a piece on Orin Swift’s “Saldo”, one of the best Zinfandels I’ve ever tasted. Since then I have had the pleasure of being introduced to the winery’s flagship wine “The Prisoner” and I much say it also blew me away. This complex blend of Zinfandel (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (24%), Syrah (14%), Petite Sirah (9%), Charbono (2%) and Grenache (1%) is incredibly decadent. With an intensely deep red color, this wine presents a bouquet of chocolate and dark berries. The aromatic smell is accompanied by the smooth but lush flavors of plums, blackberries, and chocolate with just a bit of spice on the end. This wine is a pleasure on the tongue and finishes very nicely.

Another cool thing about the wine is the image on the front label. The picture was inspired by a gift, an etching of a prisoner in chains, that was given to winemaker Dave Phinney by his mother and father (Orin & Swift). If you are a fan of Zinfandels or Cabernet Sauvignons I strongly suggest picking up a bottle of “The Prisoner”. It is a very elegant wine that would definitely impress your friends and family.