VINOGRAPHY: a wine blog

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~ Recently in Sparkling Wine Category ~

Iron Horse Vineyards, Green Valley, Sonoma: Current Releases

Spending my summers in Sonoma County starting at about the age of five, I have soft-focus memories of wine tasting with my grandparents from an early age. Driving around Sonoma in my Grandfather's Buick was always a treat for me, mostly because of the automatic windows and the particular spot on the glove box that would magically make the horn beep if I hit it just right. I didn't have much of an eye for the scenery at that age. Neither did I pay much attention to the wine tasting. The adults would disappear into some big building and I... continue reading

Posted by: Alder on November 7, 2007 11:21 PM

Filed under: Sparkling Wine , Wine Reviews

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Masters of Wine Champagne Tasting: September 17th, San Francisco

There was a time, I am not ashamed to admit, that I wasn't really a fan of Champagne or sparkling wine. Frankly I didn't see what all the fuss was about. People I knew, wine lovers especially, would rave about how amazing Champagne was. I would read quotes from famous epicures, chefs, and even wine critics, suggesting in not so many words that given the opportunity they'd drink Champagne every day with every meal without ever tiring of it. "Man," I thought to myself, "what is the big deal, here? It doesn't taste that good!" And then I found out... continue reading

Posted by: Alder on September 4, 2007 11:36 PM

Filed under: Sparkling Wine , Wine Activities

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IPNC 2007: Grower Champagnes

DAY TWO (continued): The second morning's sparkling wine seminar was followed by another that focused specifically on "grower Champagnes", this time moderated by Eric Asimov of the New York Times and Pete Wasserman, an consultant and importer with Le Serbet / Selection Becky Wasserman, and an expert on both the wines of Burgundy and on Champagne. Grower Champagnes are those wines that are made by small producers who also grow their own grapes (as opposed to the large champagne houses like Bollinger who purchase grapes from sources far and wide). This second session consisted mostly of winemakers and importers telling... continue reading

Posted by: Alder on July 29, 2007 10:17 PM

Filed under: Sparkling Wine , Wine Activities , Wine Reviews

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IPNC 2007: The Secret Life of Pinot Noir

DAY TWO: Hello again from McMinnville, Oregon, where I am attending the 2007 International Pinot Noir Celebration, a conference and celebration of Pinot Noir in all it's incarnations. The morning of the second day began with the repeat of a session that had been given to half of the attendees the day before. Dubbed "The Secret Life of Pinot Noir" this was pair seminars about Pinot Noir and the role it plays in Champagne. The first hour and a half was one of the most remarkable and educational sessions I have had the pleasure of attending at any wine related... continue reading

Posted by: Alder on July 29, 2007 8:55 PM

Filed under: Ramblings and Rants , Sparkling Wine , Wine Activities , Wine Reviews

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The World's Best Prosecco: Tasting Conegliano Valdobbiadene

We Americans aren't deprived of much in the world when it comes to wine, but if there's one segment of the wine universe that remains highly unexplored by the average American wine drinker it's the world of non-Champagne sparkling wine. And I'm obviously not not talking about California wine. I'm talking about the hundreds of different types of sparkling wine made in dozens of countries around the world. Thankfully, as more people begin to appreciate the pleasures of bubbly but can't always spring for the price tag of Champagne, there is an increasing demand for alternatives, such as Prosecco. Prosecco... continue reading

Posted by: Alder on July 14, 2007 11:58 PM

Filed under: Sparkling Wine , White Wine , Wine Reviews , Wines under $20

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Where do Those Bubbles Come From?

I've always been a bit bemused when confronted with the phrase "food science." There's just something....hokey about it. I can't help suppressing a chuckle when I read it. It calls to mind men wearing thick rimmed glasses, white lab coats, and very serious expressions as they measure the elasticity of peanut butter between two cracker crusts. But food science is a real discipline, and there are lots of people out there who are doing some pretty bizarre interesting research. I've done a lot of Champagne reviews recently, so one of their latest studies caught my eye as I browsed through... continue reading

Posted by: Alder on October 25, 2006 10:25 PM

Filed under: Ramblings and Rants , Sparkling Wine , Wine News

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Tasting The Terry Theise Champagne Portfolio

The average wine consumer can name the number of champagne brands they know on the fingers of one hand. Many might not be able to blurt out more than "Cristal" or "Dom Perignon." Like in many industries, the world of Champagne (and at this point I'm not talking about sparkling wine in general, but literally the stuff from the Champagne region of France) is represented in the minds of many and the world media by a few mega-brands. By some estimates, however, there are more than 3500 producers within the bounds of the (relatively small) Champagne appellation. For those willing... continue reading

Posted by: Alder on October 24, 2006 11:41 PM

Filed under: Boutique Wines , Sparkling Wine , White Wine , Wine Activities , Wine Reviews

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Tasting Notes For Some of The Best Champagnes in The World

In addition to the side benefit of providing you, my readers, with information about a large number of wines, I go to public tastings primarily to learn. There is absolutely no better way to educate your palate than to deliberately and comparatively taste through a large number (however many you can handle) of similar wines with the goal of taking mental or actual notes. You will never get around to tasting enough of any single kind of wine just by ordering it at restaurants or picking up a bottle on your way home to ever learn anything substantial about a... continue reading

Posted by: Alder on September 24, 2006 10:42 AM

Filed under: Sparkling Wine , Wine Reviews

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Which Champagne Should I Buy?: WBW#25 Roundup Posted

All I have to say is that I'm glad as hell I never have to run for class president against my friend Sam Breach, of Becks and Posh. Her popularity, charm, and sheer force of blogging personality resulted in the highest ever turnout for this month's virtual wine tasting event, Wine Blogging Wednesday. She has posted the roundup of forty-one Champagne reviews on her site for your pleasure. Yes, you heard right. Forty-one. No more excuses about how you're not so familiar with Champagnes.... One of the benefits of Sam's massive readership is that this month's tasting event included dozen's... continue reading

Posted by: Alder on September 18, 2006 9:44 PM

Filed under: Sparkling Wine , Wine Activities

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NV Henri Billiot Fils "Cuvee Laetitia" Tete de Cuvee Champagne, Ambonnay, France

I'm not a huge sparkling wine drinker, but many of the wine lovers I know are Champagne nuts. They literally rave about the stuff as if it's the nectar of the gods. Usually the bigger the wine nut, the greater the ravings. I used to detest the stuff, but like many things often go in the wine world, I eventually discovered I had just been drinking the wrong stuff. Champagne is indeed a wonderful beverage, and the best of them can be transcendent. I've learned to love them with sushi and as the last drink of the evening, something to... continue reading

Posted by: Alder on September 13, 2006 10:27 PM

Filed under: Sparkling Wine , Wine Activities , Wine Reviews

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