100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days

I decided to write 100 Wine Blogs in 100 Days. I started writing on January 18,2010 at http://www.OpenWineConsortium.org and am into my 84th Blog post. You can view all of my blogs once I post them on this Blogspot or go to my twitter account at: http://www.twitter.com/100WineBlogs. You can also go to my Facebook page: 100 Wine Blogs and Become a Fan. You can view my Web site at http://www.100WineBlogs.com.

Wish me luck and post a comment!
Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 83 Are you a petite wine taster or a big wine drinker?

Blog 83 Are you a petite wine taster or a big wine drinker?

A petite wine taster likes to try different wines.
A big wine drinker likes to drink more of one wine.

A petite wine taster can spit when trying a great wine.
A big wine drinker will swallow when trying a great wine.

A petite wine taster likes to match up their wines with what they are eating and may not finish a bottle.
A big wine drinker wants to drink more, and more, and more wine with their meal and finishes several bottles at dinner.

A petite wine taster will leave some wine in their glass.
A big wine drinker will never leave wine in their glass.

A petite wine taster will be sober after a full day of tasting.
A big wine drinker will be sloshed after a full day of tasting.

A petite wine taster will take their time trying a wine.
A big wine drinker will have their glass finished and ask for more before anyone else gets a chance.

A petite wine taster will not want to drink a bad wine.
A big wine drinker will drink any wine if they are out of the wine that they like.

A petite wine taster is the one that is still standing at the end of the day.
A big wine drinker is the one that you will find asleep in their glass.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 82 What makes one wine better than another?

Blog 82 What makes one wine better than another?

When looking at what makes one wine better than another, you need to look in all directions. You need to look at the quality of the grapes, the terroir and region the grapes are grown in, the winemaker’s background and the consistency at which a great wine is made.



You can also look at the type of wine you are making, what additives you are using, if any, the way the grapes are grown including pesticides, watering, or are you a green certified winery? Are you pruning the vines? How are you storing your wine and for how long? When do you release the wine? Are you using new oak, old oak, a combination or no oak?



The passion that is put into making wine is the most important component that makes one wine better than another. You have to care more about the wine’s quality than the quantity. You have to care more about the taste than the value.

You should not have to make fancy labels in order to sell your wine, but your label can’t be cheap either. You should talk about the wine that is in the bottle on the label as well as the terroir, and list the percentage of each grape varietal on the label if your wine is from California. You should let the wine buyer know what they are buying by looking at the label.

What influences me into liking one wine over the other is the temperature of the wine, where I am drinking the wine, and who I am drinking the wine with.
And, the wine just has to taste great!

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 81 Do you buy your wine by the case, the bottle, the local store, or from a wine club?

Blog 81 Do you buy your wine by the case, the bottle, the local store, or from a wine club?

How do you normally buy your wine? Do you drink only what people have given to you as a gift? Do you drink your favorites and buy them by the case? Do you purchase wine at the store to compliment whatever meal you are having prior to your dinner? Do you belong to wine clubs and choose from the clubs to decide what you will have to compliment your meal?

There are so many ways to pick up wine these days. I have even purchased online directly from the wineries. I have also purchased from auctions online or specials such as www.Wine.Woot.com. I purchase extra bottles from my wine clubs and from wineries that I have visited. I like to taste the wine prior to purchasing it. I know what I am getting when I have tasted the wine.

I don’t like to get caught up in marketing tactics that make the wine sound better than it really is. We have already seen what happens when marketing gets in the way of quality, with the “Gallo” issue that has recently been in the news. I purchased the Red Bicyclette wine once and threw it out. It was hideous. I was not aware that the grapes were not Pinot Noir. It just tasted horrible. The least they can do is put their name on the label. You can Google the company and find out who owns it, but it is hard when making a choice in a store. If you want to try something different, there can be false hope when a wine looks great but is not.

Make sure you know what you are buying. Ask friends what they like if their taste is like yours. Try new things once you have knowledge of the background of the winery. Look at the label for grapes that come from single vineyards, or that come from certain appellations with a reputation, as opposed to reading, for instance, “California” on the label. Those grapes can be from anywhere in California.

If you find something that you like that is affordable, buy it by the case and drink it up!

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 80 St. Supery Vineyards & Winery, Napa Valley, California

Blog 80 St. Supery Vineyards & Winery, Napa Valley, California

What do I like about St. Supery? Their wines and their hospitality! Their wines are always solid and dependable. No matter where you are across the United States, if there is a St. Supery wine on the menu, at any price, it will live up to its reputation. From their whites to their reds, you can’t go wrong. It was hard for me to find one I did not like and there are many to choose from.

I have belonged to the St. Supery wine club for years. The prices are affordable and for what you are getting, they are outstanding. After all of the years that I have tasted their wines both in their winery and at home, I have not had a complaint. They contact you if they find some wines that were previously sold out. They will give you the chance of purchasing wines that are selling out and they also will answer any questions that you have. Call them anytime and see how friendly they are.

In California, I often host tours and have taken my guests for barrel tastings at St. Supery several times. On each occasion, they have given us a tour and a private barrel tasting as well as a private wine and food pairing. They also have a sensory tour that helps you to know what aromas you may smell in the wine.



If you are in the area of Napa Valley, stop by for a tasting and be sure to go to their gift shop, the sensory area, and enjoy the artwork displayed on the walls.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 79 Robert Mondavi Winery, Napa, California

Blog 79 Robert Mondavi Winery, Napa, California

One of the best places to visit when you head into California wine country is the Robery Mondavi Winery. The Signature tour takes you into the vineyard showing you the path of the grape from vineyard, to cellar, to the finished product in the bottle. Enjoy a sit-down cellar tasting with the wine educator who gives you tips on how to taste wine and drink wine at its best.

Stroll the property and enjoy two great tasting rooms as well as the large gift shop with a vast array of wine gadgets and gifts. The Mondavi Winery is one of the most beautiful open-air properties combining art and wine in the Napa area. The art gallery contains sculptures, artifacts and paintings. There are concerts held on their property and they have even had performers from Ella Fitzgerald to Etta James.



Although Robert Mondavi is no longer with us, his family tradition of making good wine and combining it with food and art has been passed down to his children and grandchildren. Be sure to check out Continuum Estate, Tim and Marcia Mondavi and their children, uphold the family name by making one style of red wine, Continuum, with the highest quality of artistic expression.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 78 Why do you like wine?

Blog 78 Why do you like wine?

Do you drink wine on a daily basis? What makes you like wine? Is it the defining characteristics of one particular type or style of wine or do you like to have a variety of choices that coincide with what you are doing or what you are eating? I thought about all of these questions and wondered how wine became a part of life. What makes wine drinkers think that someone cannot be a beer drinker too?

I do not drink wine on a daily basis or beer. I love wine but I also like beer and have partaken in beer tastings and even beer making. I do not drink any other spirits. It seems that because there are many varieties to choose from among beer and wine, I enjoy both. I feel that wine can be formal and informal and at the same time, I think that beer can also go well with many meals and it is great to have at sporting events.

Wine to me, does not work well at sporting events, unless they let me drink out of a glass. I do not like drinking out of plastic cups when I drink my wine. I also do not like “cheap” wine. “I will take the house Chardonnay” does not work for me. What is the house Chardonnay? Is it good? I want a quality wine. It doesn’t have to be expensive to be good. It just has to be good. However, with beer, you can have a Budweiser anytime, as long as it is cold, or you can drink a Chamay out of a glass and wonder if anything can taste better than that.

With wine, I want to choose what I like and match it up with the temperature, the occasion, the food, and even the friends that I am sharing the wine with. It is like picking the clothes that I am going to wear that day, it just has to match. But, at the same time, I also might feel like wearing clothes around the house that do not match. That works for me too. If I just want to feel comfortable with my choice, I might pick a heavy Cabernet Sauvignon and just drink it without pairing it up with food. I was just in the mood to drink Cab.



So, when you are matching and pairing your beer or your wine, keep in mind, your mood determines what you really feel like drinking. Don’t just go with the sure thing. Change it up. Drink what you want to drink. It just tastes better that way.
What do I like? I like whites, reds, sparkling and dessert wines and I also like many types of beer. It’s all good!

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 77 Clos Du Bois Geyserville, California

Blog 77 Clos Du Bois Geyserville, California

Clos Du Bois is located in Geyserville, California on a luscious property with a great gift shop and picnic grounds. The tasting room is large and has plenty of room to feel comfortable. I suggest bringing some food and having a picnic outside to take in the beauty of the vineyards and mountains. Geyserville is off the beaten path but has many wineries worth visiting.





What did I like? The 2006 Old Vine Carignane from Alexander Valley. The grapes come from 85 year old vines with a varietal composition of 81% Carignane and 19% Zinfandel. Only 400 cases were made. The Carignane comes from the Pastori Vineyard with fruity aromas of blueberry and strawberry with peppery nuances. I found the wine to be full, tight, and juicy with chocolaty and boysenberry flavors. It retailed for $30.00.



I was running out of room in my suitcase and after my shopping spree in the Clos Du Bois gift shop, I had to purchase a separate box to send my stuff back in.



Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 76 Stephen & Walker, Healdsburg, California

Blog 76 Stephen & Walker, Healdsburg, California

A small artisanal family owned winery located in Healdsburg, California. Limited production wines with grapes harvested from Dry Creek Valley, Howell Mountain, and Russian River Valley.

My favorite was the 2005 Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley with 650 cases produced at a price of $36.00. This wine has won 7 Gold Medals and received 90 points from Wine Enthusiast.



I also liked the 2004 Portentous with only 100 cases produced at $65.00. Portentous is a late bottled vintage “port”. The grapes are from mountain vineyards in Mendocino and Napa Counties. Portentous was aged for four years in barrels prior to bottling. Flavors of blackberry, cassis and blueberries with chocolaty notes. I had to take some of this home!



Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 75 Kendall-Jackson Healdsburg, California

Blog 75 Kendall-Jackson Healdsburg, California

Kendall-Jackson can be found in Sonoma County with two locations to choose from. Whether you want to go directly to the Wine Center at the Chateau in Fulton or whether you want to go to the Tasting Room located in Healdsburg, you will enjoy your experience. Kendall-Jackson makes sure that you have fun when you are tasting.
The Chateau experience takes place with 120 acres of gardens and vines. Kendall-Jackson offers food pairings, demonstration vineyard tours and tastings as well as educational and sensory experiences in their endless gardens.



There are many varieties to choose from when it comes to wine selection. You can either purchase a classic tasting for $5 or a reserve tasting for $15. If you purchase a bottle, the tasting fee is reimbursed.



I enjoyed the 2006 Highland Estates Seco Highlands Pinot Noir. It received 92 points from Wine Access and earned Four Star Gold at the 2008 Orange County Fair Wine Competition. Black cherry and ripe strawberry fruit with velvety tannins and toasty smoke. It sells for $35.00. Grab a glass of the Pinot Noir and stroll the gardens for a refreshing experience or hang out at their Healdsburg tasting room.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 74 What is Verjus?

Blog 74 What is Verjus?

In Healdsburg, you will notice that many of the wine tasting rooms offer olive oil made from their own olive trees in their vineyards. Being Italian, I don’t have a choice but to love olive oil. After tasting some of the different types of olive oil in the Sonoma Valley, it is hard to purchase olive oil in a regular store again. Of course, I picked up a half a case of this stuff and even started to look for more as I went from tasting room to tasting room.



I walked into Kendall-Jackson’s tasting room and found something that I had never heard of before…Verjus? Verjus according to Kendall-Jackson means “green juice” in French. The grapes are harvested early and the juice is pressed from the grapes to make Verjus. They say that it was used in Europe to cook with to add flavor to dishes. It is also used to replace vinegar in some dishes that may not need such an intense flavor. Verjus can be used to make salad dressing, sauces and can add complexity to beverages as well. I bought a bottle of Pinot Noir Verjus, and when I figure out what to make with it, I will let you know how it goes. If you have any recipes for me, feel free to send them my way. They do have recipes for the Pinot Noir Verjus such as “Verjus & Watermelon Gazpacho” and “Verjus Cranberry Sauce”. They suggest a “Verjus Margarita” with the Chardonnay Verjus.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 73 La Crema, Healdsburg, California

Blog 73 La Crema, Healdsburg, California

I was staying at the Napa Valley Marriot and they offered a free bottle of wine and two free tastings at La Crema. Although the drive was about an hour or so away, I was already in the area and I decided to use my free tasting coupon.

The La Crema tasting room is in the Downtown Healdsburg area. The location is great! It is within walking distance of many restaurants, shops and other tasting rooms.
I picked out my free bottle. I was able to choose which wine I wanted for free and opted for their 2007 La Crema Chardonnay. They had a Pinot Noir that I liked too. The La Crema tasting room contains wines that are only found at their tasting room and with their wine club.

La Crema had something different. Their tasting takes place using stemless glasses. I prefer a stem to my glass, but I enjoyed being able to taste while having some fun. A member of the La Crema wine club was taking advantage of his free tasting. He started spinning his glass on its side with wine in it and the wine was not falling out of the glass. You can’t do that with normal wine glasses. I finished my tasting and was off to my next venture.



Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 72 Healdsburg, California

Blog 72 Healdsburg, California

According to the Chamber of Commerce & Visitor’s Bureau Web site for Healdsburg, they are “A town renowned for its eclectic offering of all the finest things in life…food, wine, friends and fun.” The city of Healdsburg is surrounded by Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Chalk Hill and Russian River Valley, which are four of the regional wine appellations of Sonoma County and include over 100 wineries and tasting rooms for you to choose from.

A small town atmosphere that even has a town square. Small bookstores and antique shops with locally made breads, wines, cheeses and olive oils. In the center of town, there are several wine tasting shops that are quaint. You can park your car and walk from one tasting room to the next, sampling some great wines. Some of the tasting rooms that I visited will be in my upcoming blogs such as La Crema, Kendall Jackson and Stephen & Walker. I also drove out to Simi, Jordan Winery and Clos Du Bois which are not far from the area.



If you are in the area, don’t pass it by, you will enjoy the people, food, wine and atmosphere of this small town that has everything.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 71 Merryvale Vineyards, St. Helena, California

Blog 71 Merryvale Vineyards, St. Helena, California

Merryvale Vineyards is located in St. Helena and is the first winery built in the Napa Valley after the repeal of Prohibition. Unfortunately for us, they were hosting a party in their Cask Room when we first tried to visit. This made their facility closed for all tastings on a day when they should have been open during their normal hours of operation.



We tried them again on another day. This time, we made it right before closing and were able to get the last tasting in of the day. They allowed us to try a few of the wines but then wanted to know which wines we were purchasing. They were a little too pushy for me on the sales tactics. They then tried to sell us a $35.00 Pinot Noir (the one that we did not like) when we were trying to buy the $65.00 bottle (the one that we did like).

They also had tip jars sitting all over the counter which was a little tacky. Literally, the only winery in all of Napa or Sonoma Valley, or anywhere, that I have ever been to, that had many, many tip jars on the counter.

As far as the wines go, they make some great wines. I was not impressed with the snobby attitude. Many wineries are great. Now that I saw it, I will skip this one next time. My experience with Merryvale has been much better at a restaurant then it has at the winery. I guess I had to have a bad experience somewhere. I’ll tell you some other stories about bad experiences in a different blog coming up.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 70 Frog’s Leap, Rutherford, California

Blog 70 Frog’s Leap, Rutherford, California

For over 20 years, Frog’s Leap has been farming organically. They feel that the grapevine needs all the nutrients that it can get by having healthy soil to grow in. They dry-farm all 250 acres of their vineyards and their wines are made from grapes harvested from non-irrigated grapevines.

And what great wines they have. We started our tasting on the patio with a 2008 Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford. Light, crisp, with flavors of grapefruit, white peaches, and a taste of minerality.



We tasted the 2007 Frog’s Leap Zinfandel, Napa Valley. Tasted yummy with traditional flavors of cherry and boysenberry, and a slight touch of oak and spice.

Our favorite at Frog’s Leap was the 2007 Merlot, Rutherford. Flavors of cherry and currants with dried herbs. Made with 100% Merlot. It was so smooth and delicious, I asked for more and they gave it to me. They were not stingy at all.

My least favorite was the 2006 Frog’s Leap Rutherford which they call “Rutherford Dust”. Made with 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc. Dark fruit taste with black olive and earthy notes.

For dessert, we were able to try the 2007 Frogenbeerenauslese. 100% Reisling made with 100% Rutherford grapes. Only 247 cases were produced. Made with specifically selected grapes that were left on the vine to rot called “Noble Rot” also known as Botrytis cinera. Made from 70-year-old vines that were around when Franklin D. Roosevelt was President.

Here is what their Web site had to say about it:

The 2007 Frogenbeerenauslese presents with bright aromas of caramelized peach and fig that waft over a bed of spice and white flowers. Rich – even viscous – flavors of candied apricot, honeycomb and citris blossoms are balanced by a mierality that is reflective of its appellation. Try with a cheese plate for a new take on the classic wine-and-cheese pairing.

Grab a glass and walk the gardens or sit in the historic-looking open-air farmhouse. Be sure to spend some time relaxing and taking in the beauty. When you visit, pick up a bottle of the Zinfandel, the Merlot, and the Frogenbeernauslese for me and don’t forget to pet their cat, Tara, she is 14-years-old and living out her last days on the property in the style and comfort that she has been accustomed too.



Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!

Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 69 Hall in St. Helena, California

Blog 69 Hall in St. Helena, California



Renovations are done at Hall in St. Helena, California. While I love the Rutherford Property for a private formal tasting, I thoroughly enjoyed myself at Hall in St. Helena.





It is a more casual atmosphere with outdoor tables where you can “order from the tasting menu” if you are a member. I was able to have the wines that I wanted and boy did I pick my favorites. I bee lined to the Kathryn Hall 96 point Cabernet Sauvignon. Why not? My taste buds thanked me for it. Prior to this wine being rated, it has always been one of my faves.







The service is outstanding at Hall. They have the outdoor patio, an intimate indoor seating area in a separate room, and the regular stand-up tasting room that is connected to their gift shop. Outside in the parking area and patio area, you will find red art.









There are several very large roses in the garden area and some abstract pieces all over the property. The indoor area has some black and white pictures on the wall and other art around the tasting room for your viewing pleasure. Art, wine and great service can only make you want to visit Hall more than once.



Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 68 Chateau Montelena

Blog 68 Chateau Montelena





Chateau Montelena Winery is famous for winning the Judgment of Paris Tasting in 1976 with their 1973 Chardonnay. One of my favorite wine movies is Bottleshock, which tells the story of Jim and Bo Barrett. Be sure to watch it, you will like it.



The winery and property at Chateau Montelena are incredible. The building is beautiful and yes, it is the one that they used in the movie. Some of the filming took place on the property located in Calistoga, California in North Napa Valley.





The tasting rooms were crowded. I made my way to the library room and tried some wines there without feeling crowded. If I would have had to try their wines in the regular room, it would have been difficult with their popularity.



They also poured me a 1991 Calistoga Cuvee but no 1973 Chardonnay. However, they did keep a bottle of the famous wine under glass that they showed on display with all of the correspondence in a book from the Paris Tasting.





My favorite wines there were the 2007 Chardonnay Napa Valley at $50.00 and their 2006Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley at $45.00.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica