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.

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.

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.

Gainey Limited Selection Chardonnay Label

This past Saturday, after running numerous errands in the summer heat of the San Fernando Valley, I decided a nice refreshing glass of chilled white wine would be the way to relax and coast into my evening. As most of you know, I prefer red wine to white, but I love being introduced to a delicious chardonnay, sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio. In May we took a little trip to the Gainey Winery and while there we bought a few bottles of Gainey’s 2006 Limited Selection Chardonnay. As members of their wine club, we also just recently received 2 bottles of their 2007 Limited Selection Chardonnay. Nonetheless, I decided to chill the 2006 bottle and was extremely I happy I did.

In February 2009 “The Wine Enthusiast” gave Gainey’s 2006 Limited Selection Chardonnay 90 points and I can really see why. This has got to be one of the best tasting chardonnays I’ve ever had. From the Gainey Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley, the chardonnay grapes for this wine were grown on the Evan’s Ranch, which is located on the western end of Santa Ynez, the cooler side of the valley.  The 2006 grapes took their time ripening because the weather was cooler than usual. Because of this the grapes had a much more intense or concentrated flavor.

Chilled Glass Chardonnay

The first pour of this wine is fragrant with smells of peach, pineapple, mango and Golden Delicious apples. Although this is a full-bodied chardonnay with crisp acidity, the texture is buttery and creamy smooth. The taste…awww the taste, reminds me of tropical paradise with strong hints of pineapple and peach. Finally the wine lingers with a soft, smooth finish. Chilled, this wine is definitely one to be poured on a hot summer day. It will make you forget about the heat in no time.

Gainey Winery should definitely be on your list of to dos if you are traveling to Santa Ynez Valley’s wine country. If you don’t have plans to travel there soon  you can  certainly order wine via their website or check your local wine shop. The 2006 Limited Selection Chardonnay retails for about $38.00 a bottle and is worth every penny. Please check it out.

As always, please remember to drink responsibly.

Dolomites Alps - Italy

The Italian Dolomites, a section of the Alps, is well-known for skiing in the winter and hand gliding in the summer. It is also recognized for great wine that is produced there. Although the Dolomites spans three Italian provinces  (Belluno, Bolzano-Bozen and Trento), it is the Trentino region that is home to Mezzacorona, makers of a fabulous Pinot Grigio. If you truly want a refreshing glass of wine on a hot day this is one to try. 

Trentino Region

The Trentino region is known for it’s Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio and Mezzacorona is the largest Italian producer of these varietals. Using only the grapes they grow, Mezzacorona produces a very high quality, straw-colored Pinot Grigio. Its light, crisp, fruity taste makes it great choice with white meats or fish. However for optimal flavor this wine needs to be served extremely chilled. When that is done you will have a refreshing experience.

Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio

My first experience with this wine was a few years ago at a restaurant in the Valley called Toast. The restaurant has since gone out of business but this delicious wine has remained a constant with me. As you may remember, I am more of a red wine lover than a white wine lover. However, this  wine meets my definition of a jackpot, not just for the elegant taste and aroma but because of it’s availability and price. Imported by the Prestige Wine Imports (PWI), you can actually find this delight in your local supermarkets (in California) and it retails for around $10.00 a bottle. A true steal. Pick up a bottle tonight and feel that touch of mountain freshness in every sip.

Most people who know me know that I favor red wines over white. I love great zinfandels, syrahs, and even merlots. That is not to say that I don’t enjoy white wines. I do like them but there has to be something extra special about them.

A couple of years ago a co-worker of mine gave me a bottle of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc for my birthday. I thanked her graciously as any co-worker would and took the bottle home. Because it was a white wine I put it in the fridge when I get home so that it would get a nice chill. However, I didn’t drink it for several weeks because it was, of course, a white wine. More than that it was a sauvignon blanc and I really hadn’t found one of those that I was crazy about.

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At the end of August, we decided to go to Vegas. as we do most years. When we returned I realized that we were running low on red wines and remember that I had this bottle of sauvignon blanc in the fridge. I decided to open it and serve it with the dinner I was making that evening. I was quite surprised with this wine. Its intense, vibrant flavor was quite refreshing. For those of you who don’t know it is usually quite hot in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles in September. This crisp, chilled wine actually hit the spot and  made you forget about the heat, as well as any other stresses of the day. The taste is of citrus (i.e. grapefruit & lime) as well as a bit of herb makes it extremely refreshing.

  The aroma is very bright and cheerful. For some reason when I drink it reminds me of Hawaii, even though it is a New Zealand wine. I have definitely found this wine to be a jackpot and have bought it for numerous friends. The flavor is unbelievable and it retails for a mere $12.99 to about $19.99. This wine is delicious all year long but in the heat of Southern California summers it is absolutely a must have. Go out and pick up this gem…summer is on the way!

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As a young adult I remember being told by a slightly older lady that a woman should always keep a little black dress in her closet for that “special” occasion. To this day I still follow that advice and have that special little black dress that has come in handy for many types of events 

About a month ago, the term “little black dress” took on a different meaning for me. You see, it was then that I discovered Little Black Dress Pinot Grigio. Although light, this wine makes a lasting impression on you with its clean citrus flavor. Chilled, this wine goes well with a variety of foods or stands alone as a refreshing drink on a hot summer day.  Like that little black dress in your closet, this wine with its floral aroma and hints of tangerine and orange goes well with any special (or not so special) occasion.

Little Black Dress Pinot Grigio is fermented in 100% stainless steel which brings out it fruity flavor.  This wine is primarily made up of the pinot grigio grape. However, two other grapes give it special character…the muscat and the viognier.

The muscat grape is one that even when fermented still gives off the smell of fresh grape. It can also smell of roses. Muscat in the LBD gives it a spicy kick.

Muscat Grape

 The viognier grape gives this wine its floral component. This is a difficult grape to get right as it doesn’t age well. The original home for this grape is in northern Rhone.

Viognier Grape

The combination of these grapes with the pinot grigio grape make a fabulous wine that you can enjoy for a relatively cheap price.

Pinot Grigio

 This wine retails from about $8.00 to $10.00 in your local supermarket. Pick some up today. And for the guys out there, remember women aren’t the only ones who should have this Little Black Dress in their closets (wine closet that is). You’ll enjoy it too!

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