The Wine Cellar Blog» Cabernet Sauvignon

Valentine’s Day – If Only They Made Chocolate Wine

admin — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 00:27:52 +0000

'Cause if someone made chocolate wine you wouldn't have to bother pairing it for Valentine's Day! The problem with both chocolate and wine is there are so many different kinds and so many unique and complex flavorings. How can you possibly anticipate what that box of chocolate truffles from CVS will taste like when paired with Two Buck Chuck? Well, first I hope you can do a little bit better than convenience store chocolate and Two Buck Chuck for your Valentine, and second, they actually do make chocolate wine, or at least wine covered in chocolate. Third, why try to pair what's already been paired for you? Most wine gift / basket sellers put a considerable amount of time into selecting products that pair perfectly with each other, for example: For sharing with or simply indulging your favorite Valentine, the gift of premium chocolate truffles and red wine is a classic gift that always pleases. At the link above, your beloved can receive a bottle of Beringer Founders' Estate Cabernet Sauvignon in a gift-wrapped wine box. Rich and smooth, this California Cabernet is the perfect accompaniment to a dozen fruit ganache (a smooth mixture of chocolate and cream, not to be confused with Grenache the grape) truffles made with exotic fruit and cream purees encased in hand-painted milk and dark chocolates. Combined, the truffles and wine make the perfect gift to say "I love you." And no, this wine gift will not help you or your beloved keep your New Years resolutions to lose 50 lbs. Besides, statistics say that 30% of all resolutions are broken within the first week, and the rest are toast in less than a month, so you're golden. But, if you must torture yourself with the damage you're doing to your health before your go ahead and eat it anyway, check out this article on the calories in wine.

This is a post from: The Wine Cellar Blog

Winemaking Facility Offers Wine Buyers “Bailout”

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 03:18:17 +0000

A San Francisco cooperative is selling futures in a new wine called "Bailout," inspired by the economic crisis. Crushpad, a custom crush facility, will sell the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at $39 per bottle. But there's a twist, for every 100-point drop in the Dow Jones from the date of purchase to the projected bottling date of 14 August 2009, the final price will be discounted $2 per bottle. If the Dow is higher on the bottling date, the price is still $39 a bottle, making Bailout futures a minor hedge on the economy. Only 500 cases will be produced. Crushpad is doing this for fun and exposure, but it may be instructive for high-end Bordeaux winemakers who refuse to lower their exorbitant 2008 futures prices given the current environment. According to those in the wine trade, Bordeaux must lower it's prices by 50% or the 2008 en primeur campaign could be a disaster. Crushpad is an urban winemaking facility that enables budding entrepreneurs to make their own wine with the expert help of the staff.

This is a post from: The Wine Cellar Blog

It’s Not Easy Being Green

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:59:39 +0000

The recent Climate Change and Wine conference in Barcelona helped to shine a light on the effects of global warming on the world wine map. For example, traditional wine-growing regions like Bordeaux may soon be too warm to grow Cabernet Sauvignon, the mainstay of the Medoc. However, in what may turn out to be another case of French winegrowers with rose-colored glasses, many feel this warming trend presents an opportunity. According to Bruno Prats, former owner of Cos d'Estournel a 2nd growth chateau, the last 10 vintages have been the best ever. One of the advantages of warmer weather is higher sugar levels in the grapes and thus no need to chaptalize (add sugar to) the wine. However, this assumes that climate conditions will stay the same. Hopefully, the French don't mind producing California wine in Bordeaux. Click here for more information on the effects of global warming on the wine industry.

This is a post from: The Wine Cellar Blog