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DeLoach “Barrel to Barrel” continued…

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

Yea ask, and yea shall receive!

I wondered in my previous post how one would insert the 10 liter eco-bag into the barrel. And sure enough a fine chap from Deloach emailed me a link with a video. The “how does it work” comes up at about 2:52.

Though the video is obviously self promoting (and not unbiased information), it is promoting a revolutionary product. It is a terrific idea that I am sure will be copied. Kudos to Deloach, for their ingenuity & forward environmentally friendly thinking.

On a similar note I will be re-tasting the Andes Peak bag in a box tomorrow, over 4 weeks since originally opening it up. I’m looking forward…

Happy alternatively and environmentally friendly packaged wine tasting!!

WTG

Tags: bag in a box, barrel to barrel, deloach vineyards
Posted in Wine STUFF | 1 Comment »

Wine in a barrel

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

People have been sending me positive feedback on my recent wine in a box series. I must admit that I was somewhat surprised by the kind words I received. But I suppose the niceties were largely due to the subject matter as opposed to my brilliant writing and reviews. Further evidence that the whole wine in a box issue is front and center appeared when Dr Vino wrote a piece for Forbes.com; “Box Wines That Can Be a Hit”.

So you can imagine how pleased I was when I read a related piece I could write about. It seems the good folks at Deloach vineyards are taking this minimizing carbon footprint issue to a new level. Seemingly (at this point) a pilot project, Deloach vineyards is selling wine in 10 liter size barrels to commercial restaurant/hotel accounts. This enables these businesses to sell wine by the glass straight from this barrel, eliminating the need for these 10 liters to be shipped as 14+ bottles.

But HOW does the wine stay fresh? Doesn’t air/oxygen enter the barrel as it is emptying, resulting in oxidized wine? Ahhh…good question – this is where the comparison to wine in a box comes into play. Once accounts have this 10 liter barrel, Deloach ships the wine in 10 liter eco-bags. I must admit though, that I am not certain exactly how the bag gets into the barrel (removable barrel head?). Regardless, it does seem pretty cool to me!

SO, are we seeing the end of the wine bottle? I do not think so, as the finest of wines still do seem to age best in traditional bottles with traditional corks. But since Americans, & I would venture a guess most consumers, consume wine within a few days (even hours) after purchasing, I would say that most wines CAN in fact be consumed from containers OTHER THAN glass bottles.

Happy wine in a barrel wine tasting!

WTG

Tags: deloach vineyards, wine in a barrel
Posted in Wine STUFF | 1 Comment »

Liquid cocaine in wine bottles

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Yes, this is CRAZY, but this is not a laughing matter folks. I just read this scary piece at decanter.com about liquid cocaine being detected (thankfully) in bottles of Bolivian wine.

OK , so the picture is a bit humorous, but drugs are dangerous and illegal, and tainting wine (yes, even Bolivian wine) with cocaine is truly frightening. I applaud those who made this discovery. Decanter reported that “earlier this year a London cab driver died after drinking the drug from a rum bottle “. For all the frustrations we experience here with liquids not being allowed on airplanes, I guess those making the rules know what they are doing. From explosive devices to illegal substances, criminals are using liquids to hide things and I am proud that the good guys seem to have won this round.

Coming tomorrow, more on alternate containers for wine.

Happy untainted wine tasting!

WTG

Tags: Decanter Magazine
Posted in Wine STUFF | Comments Off on Liquid cocaine in wine bottles

Sheep in the vineyard

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

Last week I wrote about a the bizarre drunken badger. Just when you thought it could not get any more strange, I recently read about a New Zealand vineyard that is introducing “pint sized sheep” to the vineyard.

(the sheep appears to be about half the size as that golden retriever)

The theory behind this strange story is that these sheep will cut energy costs associated with cutting the grass/weeds between rows in this 1000 hectare vineyard. Claiming that they mow the vineyard 8-12 times a year, the vineyard manager talks about the sheep helping them to cut back on fuel burned and energy consumed by their seven tractors.

Now I have heard of introducing bugs & fowl into the vineyard to reduce the need to use pesticides. And I think introducing a grass eating mammal is terrific. But who came up with the idea that a full sized sheep will ALSO eat the grapes, so instead they need MINI-SHEEP?!?!? Who even knew such things existed?? Bizarre indeed…

Happy mini-sheep aided wine tasting!

WTG

Tags: baby doll sheep, vineyard management
Posted in Oenology & Viticulture, Wine STUFF | 2 Comments »

Wine news; wine counterfeiting & burnt rubber wines

Monday, June 29th, 2009

I try to stay current, but I am not a newspaper guy. For a time I was, but the piles of newspaper sections I saved to read the next day (and never did), contributed to the “walls are caving in” feeling of a seemingly shrinking (small to begin with Manhattan) apartment and led me to give up paper and opt instead to get my news online. One such online source is the daily email I get from the NY Times. I also get several wine related alerts both from the NY Times and from google.

You were forced to suffer through that irrelevant dribble due to the source of the 2 news stories that caught my attention on this day – BOTH from the NY Times.

The first, an article sent to me by buddy Dave, is a piece written by Robin Goldstein. In the article, “Are Empty Wine Bottles on eBay Being Used for Counterfeiting?“, Goldstein wonders whether (as the title suggests) purchasers of empty bottles are purchasing said bottles to refill them and pass them along to unsuspecting buyers as the real thing. A rather unsettling thought given the exorbitant asking price for some of these collectible bottles. Counterfeiting is not a new phenomenon, and I have read about technologies being developed to test the authenticity of wine in the bottles. Either way, given storage issues, one must seriously consider the source they are buying from – whether buying a $20 bottle or $2,000 bottle.

Of further interest, an item mostly unrelated, but also in the NY Times, is that of the negative biased towards South African wines. The article by Barry Bearak, “A Whiff of Controversy and South African Wines“, talks a bit about the biases (or stigmas if you will) that have developed as a result of some scathing reviews for South African wines. Bearak tells of the wine critic who chastised a large group of South African wines for their off putting burnt rubber aromas.

The result is an industry that has taken issue with its image when it seems that only a sample of (well intended but) seemingly improperly trained winemakers allowed certain sulfide compounds to develop in their wines, resulting in these off putting aromas.

While both this aroma issue and the resulting stigma are serious problems it leads me, and Israeli wine advocate, to wince in empathetic pain. Israeli wines have suffered the Manishewitz stigma for FAR TOO LONG. (Incidentally, Manishewitz is & always has been made in NY state – not that there is anything wrong with NY state wines.) Countless articles about Israeli wines have begun with the line “this is not your (insert previous generation reference)’s Manishewitz – Israeli wines have improved by leaps and bounds… BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. Prejudice, bias, stigma, generalization – whatever you want to call it, it SUCKS. How about starting an article about Israeli wines by saying that “although unbeknown to most, Israel has been producing world class wines for nearly 30 years now”?

I don’t want to belabor the point. But I do hope that people begin/continue to give wines from ALL OVER THE WORLD a chance just as they give cuisine from all over the world a chance. Sure you might end up with something less than what you hoped, but at least you gave it a fair chance and were not influenced by archaic or minority samples that tainted the reputation of the whole.

Happy bias-free wine tasting!

WTG

Tags: burnt runner, counterfeit wines, South African, wine stigma
Posted in Wine News, Wine STUFF | Comments Off on Wine news; wine counterfeiting & burnt rubber wines

Andes Peak Select – Box wine (part I)

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

Two weeks ago, prior to heading out to the Bay area (of California) for the family gathering celebrating the birth (and bris) of my nephew Jonah, I received, on consecutive days, those pesky notes from a delivery company that they was attempting to deliver a package when I was not home to accept it. I hadn’t ordered anything but speculated that it might have been a wine sample. Sure enough I was eventually home to accept said package and it contained the familiar “contains alcoholic beverage – must be signed by adult…” label on the outside. I am generally made aware of pending wine sample deliveries, but this one had no advance warning. I try to open these packages quickly (even if I am unable to get to tasting them right away) so I can put them in proper storage – especially this time of year & even more so when a wine has been on the back of a truck for consecutive days. So I opened the package and low and behold I had just been sent two 3-liter packages of boxed wine.

andes-peak-box-wine1

I’ve recently spoken about alternative packaging, in particular as it relates to its smaller carbon footprint. Also of special note in particular for boxed wine is its ability to remain fresh longer, given its container. It is actually a “bag-in-a-box”, and as wine is dispensed (from its cool spout) it releases wine but does not allow that wine to be replaced with air. The bag simply contracts, keeping oxygen out and preventing any possible oxidizing of the wine. Instructions on the side of the box tell the consumer that after opened the wine should be stored in a vertical position in a cool and dry place. They say it should be consumed within 2 weeks, but I’d bet it will be “alive” for even longer – though it will likely lose some of its freshness.

This box is easily transported and great for taking to BYO parties, bar-b-Q’s or picnics. It is recyclable, presents great value and while some might think me crazy for saying, damn fun to pour. It reminded me of an old beer ball or other fun mini-keg gadget I used back in college.

But the bottom line is, how was the wine???

I must say, not bad. not bad at all.

I have been hearing/reading positive things about Chardonnay from Central Valley Chile. Hearing of their acidity, something I find imperative for chardonnay to be decent, especially in the summertime when I am looking for crisp refreshing wines rather than the heartier wines of winter.

Well, the 2008 Andes Peaks select Chardonnay (from box) has a clear straw color with a slight green tint. It has bready and steely aromas, with light citrus notes. Flavors of tart green apple, lemon zest and hints of spice and melon were complimented by a refreshing bracing acidity and medium + finish.

Now I titled this post “part I” as I plan on re-tasting this wine several times over the next few weeks and look forward to reporting my findings. I will also report on the 2008 Andes Peak Cabernet Sauvignon box wine. But until then…

Happy bag-in-box Wine Tasting!

WTG

Tags: Andes Peak, chardonnay, wine in a box
Posted in Wine STUFF, wine tasting | 5 Comments »

West coast for a brit milah & CA wine shops

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

I returned to NYC this morning on the red eye flight from San Fransisco. Usually when coming back from the west coast, in addition to seeing my sister and brother in law I make a trip to one CA wine region or another. Close to my sister (in Palo Alto ) is Monterey County, a region I’ve written about before that I believe is making some great wines. I was hoping to make a quick day trip to some Monterey wineries but this quick, family oriented trip did not allow for any wine travel. Instead, I got to meet my new nephew JONAH!

It is my second time an uncle, and first nephew. What an awesome little man. I just met the kid and he did not have a nice thing to say to me yet I love the heck out of him already. So much so that I fed the 8 day old kid some wine? I DID…I PROMISE…I have proof…

(that is me with my little pinkie in the newborns mouth)

OK, so yes, I am a little wacko. But don’t go calling child services, this was no form of child abuse. I adore little Jonah and would never do anything to harm him. I was simply following the very logical directions of the Mohel – yup, the guy with the long groovy beard. Hey, he declared me the “Wine Guy/Anesthesiologist” – how could I not?!?! 😉

Seriously though it is all part of the Jewish “Brit Milah” ritual and all he got was a drop or two off my little pinkie finger. I hope it helped to dull his senses ’cause seeing that nasty circumcision ceremony up so close gives a new perspective on why people find the ceremony to be barbaric. It is said to be healthy, but boy did the little guy wail. 🙁

BUT, I digress. Getting back to wine, though I did not visit any wineries while out west, one would have to lock me up and throw away the key to keep me away from wine. I picked up a bunch of wine for the weekend with the family (even my brother from Israel came in) and along the way noticed something that hadn’t previously occurred to me. To begin with, wine is EVERYWHERE in California. The Walgreens pharmacy. The supermarkets. Even the little ethnic corner store seems to have at least a row of wine. And of course the large wine/liquor chains.

While this may not seem unusual, coming from NYC where the state liquor authority is incredibly strict about who sells wine and what else those that DO sell wine are allowed to sell – this was a big deal.

But to me, the bigger deal was which wines they were selling. The pharmacy and small corner store seemed to carry over 90% California wine while the supermarkets and wine/liquor specialty stores appeared to carry well over 60% California wine.

So what you say! In France one finds predominantly French wine. In Italy mostly Italian. And so on…

SO, as a New Yorker, why is it so hard to find more than a few token New York wines? True the NY wine regions are still in their infancy in terms of gaining recognition as legitimate wine producing regions. But where is the loyalty?

Obviously NY wines must continue to improve in quality before we see them replacing their left coast counterparts. But in recent tastings of NY wines I will say that many wineries are really getting “IT”, and I am confident that NY wines will continue to improve as the vintners learn which varietals do best in which locations and the best vinification practices for each varietal.

Happy local wine tasting!

WTG

Tags: brit milah, California Wine
Posted in Other, Wine STUFF | 1 Comment »

Wine in a can

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

I recently wrote about plastic wine bottles, but it seems that wine containers are being invented faster than you can pop a cork!

UK’s Timesonline reports that Rexam, one of the worlds largest can manufacturers sold 6 million cans to the wine industry in 2006 and that last year that number increased to 35 million.

Now that is a lot of cans…

The article pointed out a lot of reasons why cans actually do make more sense than bottles. The single serve size would mean a lot less wine being poured down the drain. Less (or eliminate) broken glass. And apparently, aluminum is 100% recyclable (anyone know what percentage of glass is recyclable?). Aluminum, like the plastic bottles discussed in this space a week ago, also weighs less than glass and as such have a lower carbon footprint.

Would you drink your wine from a can?

Happy aluminum can wine tasting!

WTG

Tags: aluminum wine cans, wine in a can
Posted in Wine STUFF | 1 Comment »

“Map-It ™ Because Place Matters”

Monday, May 18th, 2009

“Place Matters”. This is what Wine.com is telling us with their latest marketing tool.

Terroir, or the “sense of place” as it is often described, is said to be what distinguishes ordinary, or what I suppose could theoretically be laboratory wines (those manufactured anywhere, and tasting of nowhere), from extraordinary wines; those wines that truly bring you to a specific geographical location through its aromas and flavors.

The idea of terroir-driven wines makes sense to me in that these wines possess a unique quality. They might possess that unique smell of saltwater from the parallel ocean, or they might possess a flinty aroma from the flint stones scattered throughout their vineyard. Or, as is the case with some of the better Israeli wines, they might possess an herbaceous or even green olive quality from all the wild sage, rosemary, thyme and olive groves that grow throughout the country and often surround the vineyard itself.

Getting back to the new wine.com Map-It feature, I wonder how important it is for people to SEE (on a radar image) the location where the wine was made, or better yet (when available) where the grapes were grown. If it opens up one’s imagination to a story and helps to paint the picture behind the wine for the wine-curious consumer then I guess it is important.

As is generally the case when it comes to my bizarre mind, this all led me to think about Israeli wine. In this case as it pertains to Israeli wine in retail stores. Outside of Israel I would venture to say that NYC has the greatest selection of Israeli wines in the world. But if you are to enter a retail store seeking an Israeli wine do you know where the clerk would take you? To the KOSHER section. WHERE in the world is kosher???

There is a section for France. Italy. Spain. US wines are generally grouped together, yet they usually are separated between states. German wines. Australian wines…I can go on and on. Heck, even organic wines are USUALLY found in a section pertaining to their country of origin (though some stores ALSO have a special organic section). So why does just about every store in the region with the 2nd largest concentration of Israeli wines group these wines together with other wines from all over the world??

What of those wines made in Israel that do not have kosher certification??

Why not create a section for Israeli wines (they should be contained within an Eastern Mediterranean section near wines from Greece, Cyprus & Lebanon) AS WELL AS a kosher section just as is done with organic wines???

Clearly I am a very biased observer here. But the more I read about how trendy terroir is and how important a “sense of place” is when it comes to wine the more I wonder, why not for Israel????

Happy terroir driven wine tasting!

WTG

Tags: Israeli Wine, kosher wine section, map-it, sense of place, terroir, wine.com
Posted in Israel Wine, Oenology & Viticulture, Wine Industry, Wine STUFF | 3 Comments »

New Look & …PLASTIC wine bottles??

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

So the look of the site has once again been updated. I hope you all like it. The bottle background was actually designed for me by a talented designer based in Israel. I use it for my business cards. I use it on my Twitter page. And I finally figured it was time to update things here. What do you think?

Onto wine news, I read the other day that Australian wine producer Wolf Blass has begun to bottle (a portion of?) his wines in plastic bottles rather than glass bottles.

Looks ok…

Apparently the intent is to be more “green”, as the plastic (PET – polyethylene tetraphthalate) bottles are 90% lighter, and transporting them will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

I like to think of myself as somewhat progressive, and I am all for screwcaps in place of corks. At least on wines that are not intended for long term cellaring.

And I am also all about reducing greenhouse gas emmissions, saving the environment, all the good stuff. But PLASTIC WINE BOTTLES????

I suppose I should ponder the concept for a while before I pass judgement. I just thought the issue was worth bringing up.

Any thoughts?

Happy plastic bottle wine tasting!

WTG

Tags: greenhouse gas emissions, PLASTIC WINE BOTTLE
Posted in Wine Industry, Wine News, Wine STUFF | 4 Comments »