The Sake Experience

This months Wine Bloggers Wednesday assignment, the Sake Challenge, was posed by Richard Auffery (@RichardPF)

For many years I thought of sake as something to avoid. I’d only had it hot and in my experience it was worse than drinking dishwater straight out of the dishwasher. Not my favorite kind of flavor profile.

But the first time I really got a sense of the realm of Sake was at the now closed Grasshopper in the Rockridge area of Berkeley. They offered sake flights and it was a great way to contrast and compare them. I learned that Sake can range in flavor from super sweet to very dry. They also range in price and some can be very expensive. Most sake is clear but some are unfiltered (nigori) and look cloudy. I don't like drinking cloudy stuff. (think Horchata for example) So I stayed away from the unfitered style.

My tastes run towards clear, ultra fragrant, pricey and dry. Like Yumedono, a Junmai /Daigino style sake that is closer to a fine white wine experience than sake. Even though it is technically a wine made of rice, I tend to think of wine as something that comes from grapes.

One of my favorite “go –to” sakes is Hasumago (first grandchild). It's fragrant and dry and it goes well with all types of food. It's a good choice when you have a long list of selections and not sure what to order.

For this WBW segment I tried two "new-to-me" sakes.

First I tried Kurosawa Kimoto. I ordered it because I like Kurosawa movies and the style --junmai-- sounded like "Jambi" the genie from Pee Wees Playhouse. Anyway TV and movie references aside, I found this sake easy to drink with a light citrus fragrance and a smooth lemony juniper flavor. It paired well with Yakitori.

I also tried Onikoroshi, a Daiginjo style that was also dry and delicate but more floral than fruity in fragrance. This sake tasted more interesting to me with a fuller flavor and more acidity. It also seemed much stronger than the Kurosowa Kimoto, but that may just have been a function of timing and volume, since I drank it after the Kurosowa and more of it.

This was a fun little assignment and I learned more than expected. The world of Sake certainly deserves more research on my part. But if you're looking for something new to drink, give sake a try. I'm sure you'll find one with your name on it.

Arigato and Syornaya

Ode to Dad on Father's Day

My Dad was not really a wine drinker per se, but he taught me the finer points of scotch and how to make a great whiskey sour.

After I moved to California my Dad called me every morning around 7am just for a quick hello, or to tell me something funny and to say he loved me. The calls rarely lasted more than 65 seconds.

Then one morning I got a call and he said, “If anything ever happens to me I want you to know I love you very much.” “I know Dad,” I said. “I love you too.”

A few hours later my Mom called to say my Dad had had a stroke. He was only 67.

Weather the stroke was caused by stress, smoking, or years of living with my mother is up to debate. (Mom was quite a character.)

My dad did not live to see the Internet age fully realized. But he would have loved email and even more than that he would have loved Twitter--Quick, Sharp, and to the point. Just like my Dad.

My dad was the coolest guy in the world. He was fun and smart with a wit so sharp it could draw blood. Things were never dull or boring when my dad was around. He could turn the most mundane tasks or experiences into laugh-a-thons.

When I was twelve I went on a whirlwind tour of Europe with my parents and my fondest memories are about my Dad and how much we laughed on that trip. At a tiny hotel in Genoa we found a violin had been left behind in the room and my Dad took it down to the front desk where by some crazy translation misunderstanding they thought he wanted to perform for them. So he gave me a wink and he took the thing out of it’s case and gave it a go. And as he was coaxing the most god awful and tortuous sounds from the instrument, the actual owner walked in to see if his violin had turned up.  Suffice to say the looks exchanged all around were priceless. We checked out shortly thereafter.

I have so many memories and stories about my Dad I could fill volumes. I should start a regular feature and add a piece about my Dad each month. He certainly deserves it.

Happy Fathers Day Dad, and wherever you are, I know everyone is in stitches. 

Pairing Nuts with Wine

Why I’m compelled to share this story all over again I don’t know, but it still makes me laugh every time I think about it and since it is concert and picnic season at many wineries, I thought it might be fitting.

Several years ago I went see Diana Krall at an outdoor concert series at a winery that shall remain nameless. Anyway, before the show, along with several wines, there was a huge dinner buffet with lots of fancy food set up under white canopies. A guy in line in front of me was going crazy piling stuff on his plate as if he'd just been released from prison or something.  At one food station there were all kinds of salads and a huge bowl of candied caramelized pecans, almonds, and walnuts that were piping hot. And the guy says "Oh man, I love hot nuts!" and mounds them on his plate. And I'm thinking—this guy really needs to pace himself—there was lots of food yet to come.

At the end of the buffet line there were chicken breasts and prime rib and ratatouille and garlic mashed potatoes. The woman behind the chafing dish of mashed potatoes says to the guy--"Could you push your nuts aside for me or you want me to put the mashed potatoes right on them?" So this of course this sets me into giggles. And the guy says "Oh just put the mashed potatoes right on my nuts, it'll keep 'em hot."  At that point I lost it completely and doubled over laughing, and in the process I dropped my ratatouille on his flip-flops, which made me laugh even harder and I fell to the ground gasping for breath with tears streaming down my face and that prompted the mashed potato lady to call security because she thought I was having a seizure.

When the EMT and security folks arrived all I could do was bleat out the words "nuts" "hot nuts" between gasps for breath, and that made the medic think I was having a nut related allergic reaction and he pulled out a needle to give me a shot of god knows what. The sight of the needle sobered me up quick and I finally pulled it together long enough to explain that I was just laughing because the guy said "keep my nuts hot" and they all looked at me with expressions of such utter disgust that I felt like a pathetic creature acting out some absurd Beavis and Butthead moment. Then after much deliberation they decided I was not a threat to myself, or others, and they let me go.

The moral of it all: Nuts and wine do NOT pair well together. 

Experiment with Wine and Music

Wine Blogging Wednesday #58

Little late to the proverbial table on this, but figure I'd give it a go anyway.

For my non-wine followers this post is in response to a Wine Blogging Wednesday assignment, or challenge rather, that asks bloggers to respond to various topics or themes regarding wine. This challenge, issued by Kate of Gonzo Gastronomy, asks that bloggers experiment with wine and music. Specifically the task is to taste a wine or two and  notice how or if the different music changes your experience of the wine.

Okay I can do that. Got wine. Got music. Lets give it a go.

I put the ipod on random and opened a bottle of Quivira Grenache Rose 2008 because it seemed like a fun little wine for this assignment. It had a pale pink color that reminded me of the inside of a sea shell and a scent of strawberries and melon and a bit of Gramma's dusting powder.

First up on the ipod was "Baba O'Riely" by the Who which was kind of a nice accompaniment with all that trilling in the beginning  followed by the big chords. The wine drank quite nice to the Who at first. But as the song progressed it got a bit complex for this nice light wine. Epic ballads and light Rose don't seem to be a good pairing. Not a Rose wasteland I guess.

Next on the ipod was Chris Isaak "Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing". The steady bass line on this song actually made the wine feel more robust than before. Odd. 

Next up was "White Punks on Dope" by the Tubes. Good Grief! This is not a good pairing for Rose! Perhaps a baby's arm holding an apple and a bottle of Rose, but this music did not enhance the Rose in any way. Well, maybe the acidity did amp up a bit.

"Bella" by Jovonotti. Hey this works. Jovonotti is an Italian pop singer who is huge in Italy and "Bella" is the perfect light bouncy melody for this wine. It actually tastes lighter and more fruity as I listen to the Jovonotti. Interesting.

Second glass. 

Neil Young- "Cinnamon Girl". Well everything goes well with Neil Young. 

King Crimson -"I Talk to the Wind". Jeeze this is too down tempo. One glass away from full on depression. Cue next song.

Ramones- "The KKK Took My Baby Away". Almost hit move to next song, but hung in there with it. Result: this heart wrenching song was too brusque for Rose.

Last song- Paolo Conte, Via Con Me. Another Italian singer in the mix, and no surprise goes well with Rose. This song is jazzy and up tempo and makes the wine taste light and bouncy too. Perfecto!

Results and impressions- Italian pop and Rose are a good match and made the wine taste lighter and sweeter. Heavy Rock ballads, not so much.

Well that was certainly fun. I recommend you try this experiment yourself and see if you don't find that every song is perfect by the end of the bottle.

ciao--

All in the Family at Seghesio

Imagine this: A sweeping saga of four generations of Italian winemakers as they struggle against the odds and triumph over adversity for the sake of land, love and wine. Sounds like a Hallmark movie of the week or an Oprah book club selection, right? But it's not--not yet at least. It's the real story of the Seghesio family, winemakers in Healdsburg, California. And I got to learn all about it first hand this past Sunday.

Shana Ray (@sharayray) the Sonoma county social media maven arranged for a wine blogger private tasting lunch at Seghesio and graciously invited me. Also in attendance was Thea Dwelle (@winebratsf), Paul Mabray of Vintank (@pmabray), David Horowitz (@dmhoro) marketing professor at Sonoma State,   Hardy Wallace (@goodetobefirst) visiting from Atlanta and heir to the Murphy-Goode throne in attendance with his lovely maiden, plus Valerie Crowell (@WineDog), and Jim Morris (@sonomawineguy).

It was quite a mixed group and I must admit before I got to know some of these folks personally I was a bit wary. Judging from their tweets alone I had the feeling that any type of event with them might be a cross between Sideways and SuperBad a sort of ad hoc Harold and Kumar Go Wine Tasting  kind of affair. But to the contrary, these people are pros with great knowledge, passion and respect for wine and all aspects of the business. They have been incredibly genial and accommodating to me, an outsider, looking to learn more about the local wine scene and add the moniker of wine blogger to my writing bag of tricks.

Dan, our host at Seghesio, started us off with a light and zesty Pinot Grigio on the terrace before leading us inside to Angela's Table, a private tasting room for the food and wine paring. 

It's all about la famiglia at Seghesio and it’s apparent in every detail. From the black and white photos that line the hallways to the favorite family recipes paired with the wines. Even the redwood in the redwood room had a family history. Seghesio is a living legacy of one family's love of land and wine. It shows in the decor and it shows in the wine.

The wines presented at Angela's table included: 2008 Fiano, a white grape from Campania, the 2005 Rockpile Zinfandel, 2003 Omaggio -a blend of 60% Cabernet and 40% Sangiovese, 2002 Petite Sirah, and the Dionigia Port. You can read more details about the wines here.

The food pairings, all created from recipes passed along generation to generation included; Uncle Ed's Eggplant parmigiana that resembled a tiny pizettea with sausage and cheese melted over a round of eggplant. (Uncle Ed is not to be confused with Mr. Ed of course. But who would do that besides me?) Peter’s spaghetti alio olio with wild prawns, Rachel Ann’s stuffed zucchini, and the spicy traditional family recipe sausage served on brioche with grilled onions. I detected a bit of stone ground mustard on the brioche which seemed rather un-Italian to me, but that could just be a regional thing.

Between the wines, I kept gravitating back to the Omaggio as it paired so well with the sausage and the eggplant parmigiana. It was my kind of wine. A wine that supports and encourages the through enjoyment of something fatty. The Sirah also matched well to the fennel and clove flavors of the sausage. In fact the Italians beloved lardo would be a very nice accompaniment to this wine as well. The more fat the better.

But the surprise for me was the Dionigia port, named after Angela Dionigia Seghesio and made from equal parts Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet. Maybe I’m biased because my middle name is Angela, but I thought this port was wonderful. Paired with chocolate covered almonds, the Dionigia port was soft and full without the high alcoholicky kick I've found in other ports.

After the lunch we adjourned to the patio once again and sampled the 2006 Zinfandel. It reminded me of the type of the wine found in Italy. Younger and brighter with fuller fruityness. (go ahead and add fruityness the to the new wine lexicon along with alcoholicky.)

If you are in the area, stop by and visit Seghesio-- hang out, play some bocce -- and even if you are not of Italian heritage you can adopt the Seghesio sensibility for a day and find your own sense of family in a glass of their storied wine.

Salute and grazie la famiglia Seghesio

Chill a Cella

I started thinking about all the cheap wine we drank in college, like Black Cat Riesling and Black Tower Liebfraumilch. Mostly we drank German wines because I was studying German at the time and liked the labels. And mostly we drank what we could afford, which was not much.

Then one night at the local Italian restaurant my roommate and I had a bottle of Vapolicella and I realized that there was more to wine than cheap whites. 

I was completely blindsided by the Vapolicella. It was such a departure from the super sweet Rieslings and Liebfraumilch's and it opened my palate in an unexpected way. I could actually feel a difference as well as taste it. And that was new to me. The Vapolicella had a weight and shape to it that was lacking in the the white wine I'd had. Up to that point, I'd not realized or noticed the vast range of tastes, textures and flavors in wine.

After that I spent more time in the wine aisle looking at the labels and trying all sorts of things. Since we rarely spent more than 4 dollars it was rather hit and miss. One stand out was the Bolla Vapolicella. The Bolla was a good wine for the price and set me off on Vapolicella jag.  

Around the same time the Aldo 'chill a cella' commercial came out for Cella Bianco (view it here) and people called me "Mar-chill-a-cella" for the next two years. Eventually, as with most jags, I got burned out and moved on to something else. 

I didn't drink Vapolicella again for almost 15 years. But recently I tried a bottle of Giuseppe Campagnola Valpolicella Classico Superiore Caterina Zardini 2005 and it made me appreciate it all a new.  

It certainly makes a difference to drink a Valpolicella Classico or Superiore instead of the regular old Vapolicella. And this wine was super superiore for around $24. I found this wine to be fresh and flavorful, quite spicy and even smokey, and with much more dimension than the Vapolicellas of old. 

After the fact, I discovered the 2006 had been rated tre bicceriere three glasses from Gambero Rosso. The bottle I tasted was a 2005 but it was still very much on the mark.

I think it's interesting to revisit wines we have a certain preconception about from time to time. So what have you drank, eaten, seen or read recently that re-acquainted you with something you once were obsessed with but may have forgotten? Do tell. 

A Wet Day in Dry Creek

My big sister is in town, so today we did Home School Tuesday tasting (see April 28th post below) on Monday and spent a wet day in Dry Creek rambling about. After learning a Visa Signature card gets you complimentary tastings at certain wineries, (see list here) I built the day accordingly. 

Today's Itinerary:

Quivera 

Rosso & Bianca (Francis Ford Coppola Presents)

Trentadue

Hanna - Hwy 128 (visited Occidental tasting room last week)

I just love, love, love Quivera. From the gardens, to the chickens, to the design of the structures on the property and even the collateral materials. Everything seems in harmony here, just like their wines. Today I made my love affair with Quivera official and joined their Queue wine club. I guess you could say we're going steady now. 

From Quivera we went to Diavola for lunch and had panini's and pizza. I must be on a pig/boar jag since the logos at Quivera and Diavola both feature swine. Or maybe it's a subconscious reaction to the Swine flu (media flu, really). Whatever--swine, I fear you not. I embrace thee!

After lunch we drove over to Rosso & Bianco which was just around the corner. I think it took us longer to drive to the tasting room on the winery property than it did to get to the winery gates from Diavola. If you go, just keep following the red signs past all the construction. You'll find it eventually. 

The tasting room at Rosso & Bianco (soon to be re-named/branded Francis Ford Copppola Presents) is long and narrow with a dark slate poured concrete counter top and low key lighting. It's all about the visuals here. The hosts wear red and white Guayabera style shirts that resemble bowling league attire from the 50's. The shirts gave the place a theme restaurant feel, but it was also kinda cool. 

We tasted the Sonoma County flight of wines and also a new release, the Sofia Riesling. 

Behind the tasting bar was a display of Coppolas' Oscars, Golden Globe, Donatello (an Italian version of an Oscar), Palme d'Or and other awards of merit. Plus storyboards of scenes from The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. Apocalypse Now is one of my all time favorite movies if not the favorite. I saw it about 30 times when it was first released and I was working part-time at a movie theater. I was riveted by it from the get go. I had just written a college paper on Joseph Conrad and The Heart of Darkness so it was beyond intriguing to me. I've since seen it another 20 times or so, I never tire of it. 

Off to the side of the bar at Rosso & Bianco was a rack of All-Story issues, the lit mag that Coppola publishes. I highly recommend All -Story to you readers out there. The design alone is worth the subscription price. Each issue is designed by a guest artist like Tom Waits, Wayne Thiebaud, Wim Wenders, Chip Kidd & most recently Guillermo del Toro.

I am always attracted to clever, well designed labels. The Coppola labels are very unique. The FC Reserve bottle feature the letters of the Coppola name scattered across the bottle. Apparently the letters were tossed in the air and then photographed as they landed.  The Directors Cut labels feature whimsical block cut figures that spiral around the bottle. The Votre Sante label is cut like a delicate piece of hand crocheted lace. Something anyone with an Italian grandmother is well acquainted with. 

From Coppola we drove back under the freeway over to Trentadue where we were greeted by a very happy wine dog that was part sharpei and boxer. I've had Trentadue Port, but this was the first time tasting their other offerings. There were many selections that stood out on the tasting menu, but my favorite was the Sangiovese. 

On the way home we stopped off at Hanna on Hwy 128. Originally Hanna was not on the list but we enjoyed their wines so much last week that we could not resist another taste.