Wine Blog » Wines

Ice Wine – Cork Jester’s Wine Teasers Wine Game

Wineguy — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:00:10 +0000

Cork Jester’s Wine Teasers Wine Game
Wine Teasers is a fun, lighthearted activity for people who enjoy wine! Teams of players answer questions, discuss topics, loot virtual wines from each other, and more.

Wine Teasers is perfect for wine-tastings, informal get-togethers, staff training, and even personal reference for learning or when shopping for wines.

Customer Review: Loads of laughs. A great group game!
Four of us played it last weekend and it was a blast. It’s a bargain.
Buy it!

Wine gift – Biodynamic Wine, Demystified

Wineguy — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:00:16 +0000

Biodynamic Wine, Demystified
Wine is made in the Vineyard. It s the mantra of many a winemaker. But what does it mean, really?

Esteemed winemaker and biodynamic pioneer Nicholas Joly believes a wine that is well-made in the vineyard must express its unique terroir: the character imbued by a vine s particular plot of well-tended earth.

In Biodynamic Wine, Demystified, Joly shares the core philosophy behind biodynamic viticulture and why such practices result in wines of regional distinction. This process treats the vineyard as a self-perpetuating ecological whole influenced not only by terrestrial forces but those of the sun, moon and cosmos. He explains why the use of foreign substances like pesticides and fertilizers in the vineyard, and aromatic yeasts and enzymes in the cellar, as well as mechanisms like electric motors and pumps, disrupt this synergy and are ultimately counterproductive to a wine s best, consistent expression.

Fine Wine – Dinner at Mr. Jefferson’s: Three Men, Five Great Wines, and the Evening that Changed America

Wineguy — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:00:47 +0000

Dinner at Mr. Jefferson’s: Three Men, Five Great Wines, and the Evening that Changed America
The Constitution was two years old and the United States was in serious danger. Bitter political rivalry between former allies and two surging issues that inflamed the nation led to grim talk of breaking up the union. Then a single great evening achieved compromises that led to America’s great expansion. This book celebrates Thomas Jefferson and his two guests, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, and the meal that saved the republic. In Dinner at Mr. Jefferson’s, you’ll discover the little-known story behind this pivotal evening in American history, complete with wine lists, recipes, and more.

Customer Review: Disappointing
After reading Joseph Ellis’ devotion to the subject in “Founding Brother’s” I was looking forward to reading Cerami’s book devoted to the subject of the famous dinner of Jefferson, Madison, and Hamilton. However after reading this book I was extremely disappointed. The book is a rehash of events with little space actually devoted to the dinner. Cerami has not broken new ground here (maybe with his in depth and drawn out discussion of Jefferson’s dinner habits and menu), devotes little to the actually dinner, and spends the rest of the book rehashing the old story of the Hamilton/Jefferson/Madison fued.

On top of that the scholarship is terrible. Readers would be best served going to Cerami’s bibliography and reading the materials, especially since Cerami seems to believe that footnoting is a waste of time (none at all in the book). Furthermore the book is filled with assumptions that Cerami doesn’t back up with evidence. On top of all this, he constently repaeats himself over and over again as if doing so makes his points better. By doing all of this Cerami seems to be attempting to capture a broader audience, but instead he has turned his book into questionable scholarship at best.

There are other issues with this book. His constant references to Jefferson’s last letter to Washington being “friendly.” Yet where Cerami fails here is any discussion of the fact that Washington had learned Jefferon had stabbed him in the back with his “Sampson” Letter,” and Jefferson’s final letter was more of an attempt to make a mends than a friend writing to another friend (especially when more evidence shows that Washinton no longer considered Jefferson a friend…a fact that Cerami leaves out of his book). Cerami devotes 4-5 pages to Hamilton’s affair with a married woman, yet off handedly mentions Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemings. Cerami paints a picture of President Jefferson holding on to Federalist in his admistration as if it were some move out of the kindness of his heart, failing to even address (and more and more facts have surfaced) the deal Jefferson made with Federalists to get break the dead-lock between him and Burr.

Do yourselves a favor, buy Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation read Ellis’ chapter devoted to the subject and avoid this book.

Customer Review: Did you ever wonder……….
….how our Nation’s Capital ended up in a malarial swamp? It’s a heck of a story, and, as with much else, Thomas Jefferson is central to it….

Several serious problems faced our nation in its early days, one of which was a massive debt burden, and declining confidence in our credit on the part of European bankers. What to do? Alexander Hamilton, a thoroughly brilliant but unpleasant little man had a plan, and he had the ear, and full confidence, of George Washington. As Secretary of the Treasury, he pretty much could do as he liked. His personality made enemies, even among his own faction, like John Adams. [Parties weren't fully developed]. But, his main opposition came from Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Congressman James Madison. Hamilton wanted the new federal government to assume state debts from the Revolution; Madison and Jefferson feared centralization of federal power [and Virginia had paid its debts, anyway].

Alongside this, there was the problem of where to put the new Capital city, and whether to build one from scratch, or use an existing city. New York, and Philadelphia, each had partisans, and various sites were under consideration. A site on the Potomac [which eventually won] had many friends, but there were those who said that George Washington would personally profit [he did].

Jefferson became worried about our credit problem, and decided to give Hamilton what he wanted. He had to make Hamilton think he was “putting one over”, and thus had to make him give up something. On June 19, 1790, Jefferson invited Hamilton and Madison to dine with him the next day. Jefferson always spent too much; he had spent way too much remodling a temporary rental in New York, and lavished on food. But, he gave a fine dinner, at which Hamilton pledged to get his New York friends to support the Potomac site, and Madison agreed to quit fighting assumption. The rest is history……

Hamilton was eventually to ruin himself in an illicit affair [with Maria Reynolds], and Jefferson went from glory to glory [broke, however]. Madison, for all his greatness, remains a shadow to us. This fine book will give you a good glimpse of the time they all worked together. The parts about Senator William Maclay are enlightening; we owe this largely forgotten man much. The recipes from Jefferson’s kitchen are a nice touch; my chef son says they’re all doable with a minimum of effort, and cost. Despite an astounding ability to tolerate contradictions, Thomas Jefferson regretted his part in this whole matter for the rest of his life; still, this volume tells a fascinating story, and tells it well.

Chardonnay: A Complete Guide to the Grape and the Wines it Produces (Mitchell Beazley Wine Made Easy)

Wineguy — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:00:22 +0000

Chardonnay: A Complete Guide to the Grape and the Wines it Produces (Mitchell Beazley Wine Made Easy)

How did Chardonnay become the most popular white grape variety in the world? Award-winning author Dave Broom—honored as the Glenfiddich Drinks Writer of the Year—charts its evolution, covering where the grape grows and why; who the top winemakers are; how to buy, serve, and store the wine; and what food goes well with it. He provides an international perspective, looking not only at the traditional producing countries in Europe (France, Italy, and Spain), but also at Australia, New Zealand, North and South America, South Africa, and wherever else in the world the wine is found.

Merlot: A Complete Guide to the Grape and the Wines it Produces (Mitchell Beazley Wine Made Easy)

Wineguy — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 02:01:12 +0000

No fan rally planned for Texas Rangers this year – Boston Herald
ARLINGTON, Texas — There’s no celebration this year for the Texas Rangers. Last year, a fan rally followed the Texas Rangers’ first appearance in a World Series. This time, having lost the Fall Classic for the second straight year, there won’t be one. The Rangers lost to the St. Louis

Occupy Oakland sees rapid growth and changes – San Jose Mercury News
On the surface, little has changed at the Occupy Oakland camp on Frank Ogawa Plaza four days after defiant protesters returned after Tuesday’s early-morning raid. Tents again transform the lawn into a patchwork of blue, red, yellow, beige and army green. The first aid station and children’s corner

Merlot: A Complete Guide to the Grape and the Wines it Produces (Mitchell Beazley Wine Made Easy)

Currently considered one of the world’s trendiest wines, Merlot has long been a staple from the vineyards of Bordeaux, used in blends with Cabernet Sauvignon to add soft, supple fruit to the final product. Susy Atkins, author of Girls’ Guide to Wine, demystifies everything about this popular variety in an eye-opening and practical guide that’s great for buying a bottle at home or taking on a wine-tasting trip.

Fine Wine – Adventures on the Wine Route

Wineguy — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 04:00:09 +0000

Adventures on the Wine Route

Kermit Lynch’s recounting of his experiences on the wine route and in the wine cellars of France takes the reader through the Loire, Bordeaux, the Languedoc, Provence, Northern and Southern Rhone, and the Cote d’Or.

Customer Review: Awesome!
Kermit Lynch is knowledge and very passionate about wine and the craft behind it. Reading the book, you are overwhelmed with how passionate he is, all the while being entertained by his stories. A must read.

Customer Review: Adventures on the Wine Route
I bought this book for my daughter as a Xmas present,
and she loves it as it is so well written. I must add
that she takes a keen interest in wines and viticulture.

Fear of Wine: An Introductory Guide to the Grape

Wineguy — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:00:16 +0000

Fear of Wine: An Introductory Guide to the Grape
In this friendly introductory guide, food and wine writer Leslie Brenner tells how to:
Pour and taste wine
Develop a taste memory
Order from a wine list
Select a wine at the store
Match food with wine

In addition, helpful sidebars illuminate such subjects as:
How–and why–to swirl without sloshing
Disarming a snotty waiter
Ten great wines to bring to a dinner party
Going beyond California Chardonnay
Starting your own cellar for under $100

Along the way, Lettie Teague’s funny and informative cartoons enhance the text and make great devices for remembering the most important facts. Before long,
your old standby, Chateau Screwtop, will be a distant memory. Accessible and concise, Fear of Wine will appeal to anyone who wants to know a little bit about a subject that can bring great pleasure.

At last, a guide that is as fun to read as wine is to drink!

Customer Review: GREAT BOOK
A friend of mine gave this book about 9 years ago, I enjoyed it then and I still go back and read it now, it has been one the best wine books I have, easy to read and very helpful, it sure gave the information I needed to star my wine cellar.

Customer Review: Great for those who wish to learn and not get overwhelmed!
This is a wonderful book. It’s accurate and EASY to READ. You will not get overwhelmed or confused while reading this material. The illustrations help a LOT. Best introductory wine book out there. A must buy for beginners!

Best Wine – The Wine Journal: Label Collection Album & Label Remover Kit

Wineguy — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:00:16 +0000

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The Wine Journal: Label Collection Album & Label Remover Kit
Collect your favorite wine labels to recall the memory of the wines characteristics, vintage, the occasion, the food served and those who enjoyed the wine. The Wine Journal contains 24 Wine Appeal Label Removers to remove and laminate the label and adhere it to one of 24 Label Collection pages found in the journal. Each label collection page offers a space to write about the wine and a wine rating system on the reverse side of each page. There are tab sections for Reds, Whites and the Cellar Inventory. The Wine Journal also contains a glossary of terms, cellar inventory pages to track your wine purchases and some amusing wine quotes. All featured in a black linen cover with a wine themed illustration on the front cover. This illustration can be removed to add your own illustration of photo from your own wine tasting adventures. Refill Label Remover Kits 24 and refill Wine Label Collector Pages exclusive from Wine Appeal Products are available through Amazon. The Wine Journal is a fantastic gift for the wine lover!

Customer Review: Great Wine Journal!
I bought my first wine journal last year. We have shared it with friends and taken it to restaurants to help in wine selections. We’ve not had any problems using the label covers except when we were removing them after the 2nd bottle of wine! It’s become a tradition with friends to include their comments and ratings. We’ve just ordered a second journal to give as a gift.

Customer Review: Wines Appeal to me
I chose the Wine Appeal wine journal because it had the Wine Appeal brand of label removers included in the journal. I’ve been using the Wine Appeal label removers for years and love them and thought I can’t go wrong. I was thrilled when the journal arrived! It is great quality and you can add more pages to it if you want. The pages are sold on Amazon and I just found the label removers on Amazon too. I loved the front cover picture but have taken it out and put in a picture of my husband and I from our recent trip to Napa. I love this journal! It’s what my sister and special wine loving friends will be getting for Christmes.

Purchase Wine – The American Wine Society Presents: Growing Wine Grapes

Wineguy — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 06:00:32 +0000

The American Wine Society Presents: Growing Wine Grapes

Containing advice from the experts, this guide offers helpful tips for growing wine grapes in any climate.

Customer Review: Important questiones unansewred.
Very basic information at best. Not really much help if you are seriously thinking of growing your own grapes. Many questions, like what variety should I grow, in not addressed properly as far as a Merlot or Cabernet etc. In fact the word “Merlot” is not even in the book! How far apart should the vines be planted? Beats me! I guess I’ll have to look in another book.

Customer Review: Probably a helpful read if starting a home vineyard
I thought this book was mediocre at best. I was surprised when got it because it is a small book. I have read others on grape growing and wine making and this didnt hit the top of the list. I was a little surprised because some of the important info of this book contradicted other books which makes me think that there are different methods to do certain things. The book has some very good ideas, but it can sometimes be hard to understand. I found many of the illustrations and tables hard to understand. Being an amateur grape grower, I guess i just had more questions than the illustrations and explanations could answer. Some chapters are very good. For example there is one that talks about specific diseases; this would be a good reference for the amateur grape grower.

I would say to gain more knowledge if you are new to the subject, read this book because it will allow you to see things in a different perspective and it will reinforce certain ideas, but if you had to pick one book, dont pick this one. I really liked Jeff Cox’s From Vines to Wines because it had good info on grape growing and wine making.

Bar Wine – Winemaking: Recipes, Equipment, and Techniques for Making Wine at Home

Wineguy — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:00:09 +0000

Drink Only the Wines You Like: WinoBot Launches a New Way to Select Wine – msnbc.com
WinoBot’s current wine recommendations are based on food pairing, price, and variety. The user can rate the wine tasted and check personal tasting history at any time. The next version will go even further and give personalized recommendations

Winemaking: Recipes, Equipment, and Techniques for Making Wine at Home

The definitive guide for both the beginner and the accomplished home winemaker, with more than eighty recipes for everything from fresh grape wines to liqueurs. Spiral bound. Photographs and line drawings.

Customer Review: Not for Brand-New Beginners
For beginners, I would rate the book 2 stars. For more experienced winemakers, this would be a fantastic reference book.

After reading the reviews here, I purchased this book, to be our very first book to tell us how to make wine. At the same time, I was trying to purchase winemaking equipment as a Christmas gift for my husband and was hoping this book would help me know what to buy. The book has a lot of recipes and great details, but not a really simple step-by-step “how-to” for the person who knows nothing at all about winemaking. The 10 minute free video that came with the equipment I bought showed more step-by-step than this book.

There is no index.

I think my husband would take one look at this book and say “Wow, I don’t have the time to read this and figure it all out!” It leaves me with the impression that winemaking is difficult, tricky, and time-consuming.

Example: When I was trying to figure out what corks to buy, it does tell to use 1 1/3 inch corks for wines you intend to drink within 12-18 months and 1 3/4 inch ones for those to be aged longer. But that’s all it tells. It doesn’t tell me whether to buy straight ones or tapered ones, #7, #8, #9, etc.

I am now going to buy First Steps in Winemaking, hoping that will have some simpler answers.

Customer Review: New to Winemaking? So am I.
A friend over seas, living in a country where one must make their own, recommended this gem to me last year. Since then, although possessed of no previous knowledge or experience, I succeeded rather easily in making good wines. I also compared the wine from the recipes in Anderson book with highly recommended kits from Vino Del Vida. Although much easier and quicker, the kit product, while very satisfactory according to those who have tasted it, did not measure up to the superior wine made from Anderson’s recipes.

Practical suggestions for equipment, where to purchase it and techniques are explained in a straightforward fashion. With a relative small cash outlay and this book, you can be well on your way to an interesting hobby.