The term wine varietal refers to the grape from which the wine is made. By law, the varietal must have at least 75% of that grape. Example: A bottle of wine labeled Chardonnay must contain at least 75% Chardonnay grapes. On this web page we will be teaming up the specific wine to the Grill. You will most likely soon begin to recognize and identify their specific characteristics. Later, as you gain understanding through tasting wines, you will begin to recognize subtle differences within each varietal. If you have suggestions on a Grilled steak, can work with a wider range of reds, including Cabernets. And hamburgers should be fine with just about any red wine--just pick your particular wine with a recipe, please send me an email to colin@grilladventures.com favorite Beaujolais, just slightly chilled, is a popular choice. Barbecue with smoky, spicy barbecue sauce and typically sweet flavors, is a challenge for wine pairings. A young, bold, fruity and spicy red wine, such as Zinfandel, American Syrah or Aussie Shiraz should stand up to the barbecue flavors--Zinfandel, being all-American, is the favorite. Crisp, intensely aromatic high-acid white wines, especially Sauvignon Blanc, work very well with grilled flavors. Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio is great with grilled shrimp. Off-dry (slightly sweet) Rieslings and Gewurztraminers should pair nicely with spicier and sweeter barbecue flavors. When you are grilling for a group of people, it is generally best to offer both a red and white wine. During warm get-togethers wines should be light, refreshing and easy to drink. They should also be able to be served slightly chilled. All your white wines should be chilled for serving. Pinot noir is a red versatile wine that works well with a variety of foods. Its acidity helps balance the rich, fatty nature of salmon, so it is a great choice, and can be served slightly chilled.f you prefer white wine outdoors, don't worry about an ice bucket to keep it cold, the wine will stay chilled - just don't place it too close to the hot grill. |
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by Gwen Dolyn - Wine.com I just heard a story from someone who had to dump a bottle 1988 vintage Champagne because it had been stored in a regular fridge for almost two years. While that may seem like a harmless thing to do – you are supposed to keep wine cool while you store it after all – one very important component is missing – humidity! To keep food fresh, you need a dry environment. To keep wine fresh, you need a humid one. Humidity prevents the cork from drying. This is why you buy a wine fridge for your wine and a regular fridge for the food. For the average consumer, most wines purchased will be drunk within a month, often within 24 hours. In this short amount of storage time you should not worry too much about where you put that bottle. But do if it’s going to be sitting somewhere for more than a day, keep these storage tips in mind. - Don’t keep it over the oven or stove, in a hot car, in direct sunlight or anywhere else where it could be “cooked.” - Don’t keep wine in the fridge for over a week or two because of that humidity factor. - Store wines on their side to keep the cork wet. Screw cap wines can be stored upright or on their side, but be careful that you don’t dent the cap – that could break the seal and let in air. If you are planning to store wine longer than a month or two, you may need a more controlled storage environment. The same tips above apply, but you may try to make sure the wine hangs out in an area with regulated temperature – it’s not necessarily the temperature that can ruin a wine, but the swings in temperature, so even if it’s not perfect storage temps, staying constant is important. A dark closet in a basement would be good –no sunlight or drastic temperature changes and possibly a bit of humidity to help as well! For super age-worth wines – invest in a fridge. There are small ones out there that will do the trick and not break the bank. |
| Have a Wine Tasting Party Have a Wine Tasting along with your BBQ Cookout What is a Wine Tasting Party? The wine tasting party meets to taste, judge, and discuss wine. Wine tasting parties are educational but are mostly a way to enjoy friends and have loads of fun. Suggestions for Starting a Wine Tasting Party? · Ideal party size is anywhere from 8 to 16 people. · Start by hosting the first wine tasting party. · Send out an invitation with all the details about the event. Emphasize fun and education. The last thing you want is intimidation. · At the first meeting set the guidelines for the party. Decide on what foods will be served. A wine party goes along great with your BBQ Cookout! · Is always a good idea to have a person as the designated recorder or secretary. The main responsibility is to make sure they keep all the scoring results and send them out. · Decide how to pick and purchase the wine. Wine.com has a great selection of wine. Each month Grill Adventures will have a wine of the month – make it one of your selections. If each couple or person brings one bottle of wine then it can become a contest to see brought the “winning” wine. It is best if the host purchases the wine and then gets a reimbursement. · Make some copies of the Wine Tasting Party Scoring Sheet/ Wine Ratings - Easy Score Sheet (Click Here for Score Sheets ). |
Grill Adventures
Wine of the Month
Wine of the Month
| Dedicated to Grillers Around the World |
| Storing Wine |
| Properly |
| 2009 A good year — Wine harvest promises a good vintage Written by Marlize van Romburgh Monday, 28 September 2009 It may have been a sour year for the national economy, but bottle it up and 2009 will probably taste better on reflection. Up and down the Central Coast, wineries are frantically bringing grapes in for the crush by the truckload and, by and large, the feedback seems to be that it’s going to be a good year. At Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard in Los Olivos, winemaker Blair Fox looked up and grinned only momentarily as he continued hand-sorting Pinot Noir grapes by the basketload before they passed through a de-stemming machine to go on to be crushed. “The grapes look good,” he said. |
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| Red Wine-Barbeque Pairings Red Wines Cabernet Franc - Grilled Steak Cabernet Sauvignon - Grilled Steak Chianti - Anything with lots of BBQ Sauce Merlot - Grilled Steak, Poultry & Pork (Almost Anything) Pinot Noir - Grilled Steak Sangiovese - Grilled Steak, Poultry &Pork Zinfandel - Anything with lots of BBQ Sauce Virtually all red wines go well with hamburgers and hotdogs. When it comes to barbeque-wine pairing, red wines are the easiest. If you want to play it safe, both Zinfandel and Merlot are good all-around red wine-barbeque pairings. Dessert wine-barbeque pairing can be rather tricky. Champagne and Sparkling Wine are sometimes great with other things but pair up best with grilled vegetables and seafood. Sherry is often great with grilled meats but Port wine is a hard match. When it comes to wine-barbeque pairing, the main rule is to pick a wine which is going to compliment the flavor while not being overpowered by it. This can be a delicate balance but these tables should lead you in the right direction. |
White Wine-Barbeque Pairings White Wines
Chardonnay - No Suggestion
Gewurztraminer - Anything with spicy BBQ Sauce
Pinot Blanc - Grilled Steak, Poultry & Pork
Pinot Gris - Grilled Steak, Poultry & Pork
Riesling - Anything with spicy BBQ Sauce
Sauvignon Blanc - Grilled Vegetables & Seafood
Semillon - Grilled Vegetables & Seafood
Champagne & Sparkling Wine - Grilled Vegetables &
Seafood
Chardonnay - No Suggestion
Gewurztraminer - Anything with spicy BBQ Sauce
Pinot Blanc - Grilled Steak, Poultry & Pork
Pinot Gris - Grilled Steak, Poultry & Pork
Riesling - Anything with spicy BBQ Sauce
Sauvignon Blanc - Grilled Vegetables & Seafood
Semillon - Grilled Vegetables & Seafood
Champagne & Sparkling Wine - Grilled Vegetables &
Seafood
When it comes to
wine-barbeque pairing,
the main rule is to pick a
wine which is going to
compliment the flavor
while not being
overpowered by it. This
can be a delicate balance
but these tables should
lead you in the right
direction.
wine-barbeque pairing,
the main rule is to pick a
wine which is going to
compliment the flavor
while not being
overpowered by it. This
can be a delicate balance
but these tables should
lead you in the right
direction.
| Wine-Barbeque Pairing The main rule is to pick a wine which is going to compliment the flavor while not being overpowered by it. |
Wine Clubs are a Unique Way
to Explore New Wines
Explore a variety of exceptional wines with the convenience of door-to-door shipping. There are
wine clubs geared for a variety of wine enthusiasts: Red Wine Clubs, White Wine Clubs,
International Wine Clubs, Champagne Wine Clubs and the list goes on.
Wine.com offers three solid wine club adventures for $20-$70/month.
Membership Includes:
1. Two bottles each month selected by our wine experts
2. Choice of 2 red wines or 1 white/1 red
3. Detailed tasting notes in each shipment about the wineries and wines along with food pairing
ideas
4. 15% discount on re-orders of recent club wines while supplies last
5. Subscription to a monthly email newsletter for club members only featuring wine tips,
information on wine regions & trends, special offers and seasonal recipes
The entry-level, Discovery Tour
For the wine novice, this introductory wine club features different varietals, styles and regions
each month- all at a good value. Whether the winery is well known or up & coming, the wines are
meant to be enjoyed now, no aging necessary. We'll help you discover what wines you like best!
Additional Wine Club Details
1. Convenient delivery to your home or office - a signature from a person at least 21 years of
age is always required
2. We'll tell you it's on the way - make sure your email or your gift recipient's email is on file with
us and we will alert you each month when your club has shipped
3. For Gift Giving - an email notification is sent along with your gift message within 24 hours of
placing your order and will also ensure timely delivery since an adult signature is required
4. Initial club shipments are sent within 5 business days after placing your order
5. Subsequent monthly club shipments usually ship during the 2nd or 3rd week of each month
but no later than the 25th
6. Ongoing memberships are shipped monthly until cancelled, you may cancel at any time prior
to a shipment being sent
7. Pre-paid memberships are shipped monthly for the selected pre-paid duration
8. During extreme hot and cold temperatures, the club shipment may be delayed to prevent heat
or frost damage
to Explore New Wines
Explore a variety of exceptional wines with the convenience of door-to-door shipping. There are
wine clubs geared for a variety of wine enthusiasts: Red Wine Clubs, White Wine Clubs,
International Wine Clubs, Champagne Wine Clubs and the list goes on.
Wine.com offers three solid wine club adventures for $20-$70/month.
Membership Includes:
1. Two bottles each month selected by our wine experts
2. Choice of 2 red wines or 1 white/1 red
3. Detailed tasting notes in each shipment about the wineries and wines along with food pairing
ideas
4. 15% discount on re-orders of recent club wines while supplies last
5. Subscription to a monthly email newsletter for club members only featuring wine tips,
information on wine regions & trends, special offers and seasonal recipes
The entry-level, Discovery Tour
For the wine novice, this introductory wine club features different varietals, styles and regions
each month- all at a good value. Whether the winery is well known or up & coming, the wines are
meant to be enjoyed now, no aging necessary. We'll help you discover what wines you like best!
Additional Wine Club Details
1. Convenient delivery to your home or office - a signature from a person at least 21 years of
age is always required
2. We'll tell you it's on the way - make sure your email or your gift recipient's email is on file with
us and we will alert you each month when your club has shipped
3. For Gift Giving - an email notification is sent along with your gift message within 24 hours of
placing your order and will also ensure timely delivery since an adult signature is required
4. Initial club shipments are sent within 5 business days after placing your order
5. Subsequent monthly club shipments usually ship during the 2nd or 3rd week of each month
but no later than the 25th
6. Ongoing memberships are shipped monthly until cancelled, you may cancel at any time prior
to a shipment being sent
7. Pre-paid memberships are shipped monthly for the selected pre-paid duration
8. During extreme hot and cold temperatures, the club shipment may be delayed to prevent heat
or frost damage
More Info on Wine Clubs Click:
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| Perfect Wine Matches for Grilling Fare Grill-friendly Red Varietals to Consider: Zinfandels will be able to handle a wide variety of red meats. This bold red wine bellies up to meaty, smokey flavors – allowing the varietal’s black pepper spice, acidity and ripe tannins to carry the meat’s fats and texture to a new dimension. A Zin will also work well with barbeque sauce, steak sauce and mild salsas – if there is too much spice in the sauce the two will compete and both the wine and the sauce end up as losers. Merlot is the spicy sauce answer to the above dilemma. With the characteristic fruit-forward flavor profile, this varietal will support the spice and not aggravate it. Grilled pork chops, chicken and garden-variety salads with lighter dressings also mingle well with Merlot. Shiraz/Syrah another varietal that makes the grill-friendly wine list. This varietal is delicious with just about any red meat. Offering dynamic, somewhat aggressive fruit flavors, balanced with more mellow tannins and a softer-fuller body – this wine’s place to shine is definitely at a barbecue gathering! Rhone Syrahs tend to have a smokier flavor characteristic and lend themselves extremely well to smoked brisket. Cabernet Sauvignon is made for steaks with a higher fat content and burgers of beef or turkey will pair equally well. The tighter tannins are significantly mellowed by the meat’s fat, producing a palate pleaser to remember! Top your burgers with bold cheeses, like blue or sharp cheddar and this varietal gets even better! Pinot Noir a flexible varietal that is known for being extremely food-friendly. Can go from grilled fish to a juicy burger in a single sip! Pinot Noir is an ideal candidate for grilled fish – especially salmon, burgers and chicken both bare their best in the presence of Pinot Noir. If you aren’t sure if what wine will work with your grilled dinner, Pinot Noir will likely be your best bet. Grill-friendly White Varietals to Consider: Chardonnay will work wonderfully with grilled fish (including shellfish), chicken with creamy sauces, and grilled corn on the cob with lots of butter! Riesling the perfect varietal for grilled brats, shrimp, barbecue chicken, grilled pineapple and a variety of grilled veggies. Sauvignon Blanc has a herbaceous quality that supports marinades and sauces with similar attributes. For example, grilled chicken that has been doused in Italian dressing or a citrus marinade will be unbeatable with a Sauvignon Blanc. Likewise, roasted peppers, veggies in fresh herbs, grilled fish with dill and lemon will all be highlighted in tandem with a Sauvignon Blanc. Gewurztraminer often offers a balance to spice with its slightly to moderately sweet character. This varietal would be a great choice to go with blackened Mahi Mahi, or grilled Cajun chicken with fresh mango salsa. |
This Sangria recipe
Sangria is perfect for outdoor parties - always a favorite, you may consider
doubling the recipe.
Prep Time: 0 hours, 5 minutes
Ingredients:
•1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
•1 Lemon cut into wedges
•1 Orange cut into wedges
•1 Lime cut into wedges
•2 Tbsp sugar
•Splash of orange juice or lemonade
•2 Shots of gin or triple sec (optional)
•1 Cup of raspberries or strawberries (may use thawed or frozen)
•1 Small can of diced pineapples (with juice)
•4 Cups ginger ale
Sangria is perfect for outdoor parties - always a favorite, you may consider
doubling the recipe.
Prep Time: 0 hours, 5 minutes
Ingredients:
•1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
•1 Lemon cut into wedges
•1 Orange cut into wedges
•1 Lime cut into wedges
•2 Tbsp sugar
•Splash of orange juice or lemonade
•2 Shots of gin or triple sec (optional)
•1 Cup of raspberries or strawberries (may use thawed or frozen)
•1 Small can of diced pineapples (with juice)
•4 Cups ginger ale
| General red wines go well with grilled red meats - we’re talking your basic burgers, steaks, ribs and the like. These meats can be somewhat salty, a bit smokey and tend to be a touch sweeter if grilled due to marinades, sauces, condiments, cooking times, etc. The lighter meats and sauces are more apt to flow better with white wines that share similar flavors as the foods they are meant to accent. If you are having a backyard barbecue, offer a few whites and a few reds and let your guests mix and match to see which flavor pairs suit their preferences. They are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pairing wines with your grilled foods, just generalities that can get you going. Ultimately it is your palate that your seeking to please by the wine pairing. |
Preparation:
Pour wine into a large pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon,
orange and lime into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if
possible) and pineapple then add sugar, orange juice and gin. Chill overnight. Add
ginger ale, berries and ice just before serving. If you'd like to serve right away, use
chilled red wine and serve over lots of ice. However, remember that the best
Sangrias are chilled around 24 hours in the frig. - allowing the flavors to really
marinate into each other.
Pour wine into a large pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon,
orange and lime into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if
possible) and pineapple then add sugar, orange juice and gin. Chill overnight. Add
ginger ale, berries and ice just before serving. If you'd like to serve right away, use
chilled red wine and serve over lots of ice. However, remember that the best
Sangrias are chilled around 24 hours in the frig. - allowing the flavors to really
marinate into each other.
| Unlike last year, when temperatures fluctuated drastically throughout the growing season, this year was mild and temperate, Fred Holloway, winemaker at Justin Vineyard & Winery in Paso Robles said. “The quality of these grapes is going to be very intense,” he said. “They’re going to be very flavorful.” Just down the road at Firestone Vineyard, now part of the Foley Family Wines group, winemaker Paul Warson agreed that the grapes are some of the best he’s seen in recent years. “I’m expecting good things from this year,” he said. In Santa Barbara County, Pinot Grigio grapes are flooding in, said Shayne Kline, general manager at Wild Horse Winery & Vineyeards in Templeton, while his part of the region is enjoying a bit of a later harvest. Wild Horse gets grapes from both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo county vineyards. “There really is a lot of excitement this time of year for everyone,” Kline said – and not just for busy winemakers, but for visitors who often schedule late-summer trips around harvest time. Chris Taranto, communications manager of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, a member organization for the region’s wineries and vineyards, said that he’s been hearing good things from his part of the wine world. “All accounts at this point in time are that it’s up from last year,” Taranto said. “And the quality is also showing to be incredible this year.” Tasting room sales Harvest time, an attraction for winery visitors, also wraps up the summer tourist season when the area tasting rooms are typically flooded with visitors. Because they’re so heavily reliant on area tourism in their tasting rooms, wineries were expecting to take a bit of a dip this year, Taranto said. But Tracy Dauterman, sales and marketing coordinator at Justin Vineyards & Winery, said tasting room visits there were actually up a little this year but that the average customer coming through is spending a little less than before. “The bodies were there this year, it was busy, but they may have been spending less,” Taranto agreed.Wholesale sales have taken a slight dip as well, Dauterman said. Like other businesses, “a lot of wineries are looking at flat as the new up,” Taranto said. “They’re happy if they held their own this year.” Kline said Wild Horse was off about 15 percent compared to a normal year in tasting rooms sales this year but that they’re seeing a lot more people from Northern California coming into Central Coast wine country than before.Winery owners and winemakers all agree that consumers have scaled down and that it’s now bottles in the lower to mid-range price categories that fare the best. “The price range that we’re seeing do the best right now is the $12.99 to $24.99 range,” Taranto said. Sideways side-effects Even as the fifth anniversary of the film rolls in, “Sideways,” the Oscar-winning comedic drama about a couple of middle-aged men who tour Santa Barbara wine country in search of Pinot Noir and women, still has a profound impact on the county’s wineries. The film brought instant fame to more than a dozen wineries and restaurants in the county featured prominently in the film. Fess Parker — where a key scene in the film that involves Miles, the lead character, having a breakdown in the tasting room — still sees a residual effect from the film, Fox said. Firestone, although not named in the film, is also featured when the characters take a walk through its large barrel room. “What the film really did was get Los Angeles to realize that it has great wine country in its backyard,” Fox explained. “It made that area realize it doesn’t have to drive to Napa to get great wine — it’s just waiting a few hours drive up the coast.” |
GRILLIN'
& WINE
& WINE
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colin@grilladventures.com
Bogle has long been one of California's go-to producers for consistently
producing a wide range of excellent value wines. Combine this talent
with the wonderful 2007 vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon in California
and you have a wine that over-delivers for the price. This is wine which
spent 14 months aged in American oak barrels (unusual in this price
category) giving a slightly vanilla and caramel edge to the finish and
melding beautifully with the classic Cabernet flavors of rich dark currant
and plum. Great with grilled steak!
Wine Enthusiast loved this wine as well, giving it a 90 rating, stating:
"Here's a stellar example of how a really good Cabernet can be made
without gouging the consumer. This is a dry, elegant and rich wine, with
firm tannins housing flavors of blackberries, currants, herbs, spices and
smoky cedar wood. It's a terrific value." We couldn't have said it better
ourselves!
producing a wide range of excellent value wines. Combine this talent
with the wonderful 2007 vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon in California
and you have a wine that over-delivers for the price. This is wine which
spent 14 months aged in American oak barrels (unusual in this price
category) giving a slightly vanilla and caramel edge to the finish and
melding beautifully with the classic Cabernet flavors of rich dark currant
and plum. Great with grilled steak!
Wine Enthusiast loved this wine as well, giving it a 90 rating, stating:
"Here's a stellar example of how a really good Cabernet can be made
without gouging the consumer. This is a dry, elegant and rich wine, with
firm tannins housing flavors of blackberries, currants, herbs, spices and
smoky cedar wood. It's a terrific value." We couldn't have said it better
ourselves!
Bogle Cabernet
Sauvignon 2007
Central Coast, California
Bottle Price: $11.99