127 Days of Food and Beverage, In Pictures

For the past 127 life-altering days, the main goal around here has simply been to keep everyone’s physical and mental health as strong as it can be. As any of you can attest to daily it isn’t easy to deal with, but hopefully we can all find some pockets of time to be able to sit back and appreciate what we have. During these times of quarantine/lockdown/social distancing, I have always been able to count on Friday Pizza & Movie Night, takeout dinners to support a local restaurant once per week, and the Sunday Cocktail & Appetizers right here at home. Of course, there is the occasional Thursday Happy Hour on our deck with oversized chess, checkers, and “four-in-a-row,” or even the Tuesday night where I decide, “screw it…I’m getting a beer.”

Seeing as I haven’t shared anything with you all in a while, I figured now is as good a time as any to do so. I have taken some of my favorite moments of food and beverage experiences over the last 3+ months to help you get caught up. Think of it as a “Best Of” mini-guide to help you the next time you are looking to cook something up or pick up something new at your local liquor mart.

Drink from the fire hose, and feel free to share what you have tried since March…I’d love to hear about it! In the meantime, hang in there and be good to one another.

Local Oysters with Bacon Butter

I normally go for raw oysters, but the technique of using a bed of hot rock salt was amazing.

Garlic Scape Pizza with Proscuitto

You need to try a garlic scape.

Misty Cove Sauvignon Blanc

It’s like drinking passionfruit lemonade. No other wine I ever had went down easier.

Bodegas Garzon Cabernet Franc Reserva

Ever try a wine from Uruguay? This is a great place to start. Loaded with berries and spices.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

One of my favorite pastimes is taking a carcass and cooking it over wood and charcoal for several hours.

Chicken Shawarma

A new adventure for me, using marinated boneless skinless chicken thighs held together with red onions and metal skewers led to a tasty meal in a pita.

Strawberry Beer Coolers

Not a bad little beer cocktail!

Cabernet Franc Vine

These are doing much better than our Gruner Veltliner vines. More than anything, I’m just thrilled they are alive

Wines of Dry Creek Vineyard

Had a fun virtual tasting, learning the winery’s story and philosophy. I contend their Chenin Blanc is one of the best values on the market for any wine.

Pink French 75

Gin, sparkling rosé, simple syrup, and a squeeze of lemon

Grilled Vegetable Bounty

Pick up as many veggies as your arms can carry and grill the lot of them.

Brisket pizza

Because that’s what you make out of the leftovers from…

Smoked Beef Brisket

Not bad for an Italian boy from Brooklyn.

Oven-Fried Eggplant Pizza

Crispy, salty goodness.

Maple Bacon Donuts

Greatest Wife In The World calls, I haul.

Michel Schlumberger Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Did a virtual tasting for an old friend, featuring this wine. A really well-made Pinot Noir that deserves your attention.

French and Italian Rosé

Campuget is from southern France, while the Planeta is from Sicily. Priced about the same and they may look similar, but the flavors are totally different. This is why you taste wine side-by-side.

Sancerre

This is the Greatest Wine In The World, didn’t you know?

"Wine Diamonds"

Sometimes in an unfiltered white wine, you may see these harmless calcium deposits at the bottom of the glass. Especially in a wine like…

Domaine a Deux Touraine Sauvignon

A zesty, yet full-bodied Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley that has incredible creamy-citrusy finish.

Château Charrier Bordeaux

Everyday red Bordeaux wines have been so good lately. 2018 is shaping up to be a really good vintage.

Burgundian Grape Varieties

Did a virtual tasting where we discussed the ins and outs of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Pacific Pinot is a fantastic way to get to know the grape for less than $20, while the Louis Jadot wines are a great way to get introduced to individual villages and communes within Burgundy.

Celery Gimlet

I dare you to find a better way to awaken the appetite. Muddled celery, lime, and simple syrup shaken with good quality gin.

Surviving Doomsday

It’s a difficult time right now. The discomfort that stems from the pandemic gripping our lives is to a point where some are out raiding all stock of toilet paper and hand sanitizer in preparation for Doomsday. But there is something critical that you need to have on-hand during such a crisis. You need wine and plenty of it!

Yes, I realized that the wine fridge was approaching DEFCON-3 status, so it was time to load up. I picked up a nice spread of wines, white and red, Old World and New World, cheap ones and splurges. Besides, if the lady who dropped by the store could come in and clean out our stock of White Burgundy since “she doesn’t plan on going out anytime soon,” then these wines are plenty good for us.

Of course if all else fails, we’ll find some cask-strength 120 Proof whiskey to wash both our insides and outsides with. Stay safe out there, everyone.

Here’s the list:

All wines pictured are listed below, from left to right.

Estate Tiblalexis Kokarella White Blend ($13): Get exploring when the world is crumbling around you. Here is a zippy unoaked Greek white blend of the lemony, minerally Assyrtiko and the aromatic Malagouzia.

Essay White Blend ($11): Amazing blend of Chenin Blanc, Viognier, and Roussanne from South Africa; I tried some before buying, and the combination of fruity flavors and long finish make this a wine with incredible value.

La Craie Vouvray ($14): It has been a while since I tried a Vouvray…no time like the present! Chenin Blanc has rapidly become my favorite springtime grape.

Broadley Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ($23): The Greatest Wife In The World and I both really enjoy Pinot Noir from Oregon.

Frescobaldi Remole ($10): If we go through our inventory of wines in the picture quickly, I’ll just keep buying cases of this easy-drinking Sangiovese-based blend while giving some love to the folks in Italy.

Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico ($16): If we somehow end up sequestered from the rest of society, chances are we are making a lot of pizza and pasta knowing that the kids will eat it. A Chianti Classico will pair nicely with each one of those meals.

Domaine les Semelles de Vent Vacqueyras ($24): I love the Rhone Valley’s expressions of Grenache and Syrah, and when I saw this was a new arrival I did not hesitate to blindly grab it. If you don’t see this specific producer, a Vacqueyras in this price range is where it’s at.

Piazzo Barolo ($39): Live like royalty and drink some Barolo, the Wine of Kings and the King of Wines (and for Medieval authenticity, complete with infectious disease running rampant around your castle!). Piazzo makes an outstanding range of wines, all of which can be found at outstanding value. Treat yourself…you deserve it.

Have No Fear...I'm Still Here

The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s tends be a little hectic, and things have finally slowed down to a more manageable pace. Despite not having posted about booze in a while, trust me…I have been sampling plenty of good stuff and you deserve to know about it.

So today I am keeping it very simple: here’s a three-bottle flight of French wines I have tasted since Thanksgiving that is worth your time, money, and effort to find in your local beverage depot. Three different styles from three different regions of France. Ready…go!

Domaine du Petit Clocher Anjou Blanc ($14): Chenin Blanc continues to be an underrated grape variety, and you get 100% of it here. Lemon curd flavors and a fleshy texture are countered by a zing of acidity to balance things out. A solid way to introduce yourself to the Loire Valley’s style of Chenin Blanc.

Pascal Aufranc Chénas Vignes de 1939 ($16): The “Cru” level wines of Beaujolais have always been some of my favorite light reds as they have more substance than village-level Baeujolais and definitely more depth than the candy-like Nouveau. This wine is made from 80 year old vines, featuring violet aromas, vibrant strawberry fruit, and a stony/earthy character with gentle tannins.

Chateau d’Arcins Haut-Medoc ($25): A 50-50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot., this wine shows textbook blackberry and cedarwood flavors and aromas with noticeable tannin and acid that are synonymous with Bordeaux from the Left Bank. The wine I had was from the 2014 vintage, which is a damn fine year for Bordeaux, but you may need to let the wine air out a bit to soften (pour this into a decanter and let it sit for a couple of hours before drinking). With time, the texture becomes more plush, the blackberry fruit seems riper and more powerful, and a dark chocolatey note seems to come out on the finish.

Ring Around The Rosé

A couple of weeks ago, the Divine Wine Emporium hosted a huge rosé event outside on the deck. In a little New England shore town, we welcomed quite the crowd as we opened eighteen bottles from wineries located all over the globe. I was lucky enough to have a table of my own, where I poured five rosés and it was a great time. There is nothing better than showing somebody something new.

We had our attendees score the wines they tried on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being outstanding and 1 being, well...pour-down-the-drain-worthy. Recently, we were able to compile all the data and now I have some winners to share with you. The top five rosé wines are listed below (along with an honorable mention). If you have not been jumping into rosé wines, you now have no excuse. Without further ado, here they are, all priced between $13 and $19.

Survey says...Drink Rosé

Honorable mention: Hillersden New Zealand Rosé

This did not get enough votes as not enough people had the chance to try this, but those that did gave it high marks, and deservedly so. Made from 100% Pinot Noir, Hillersden's example shows flavors and aromas that I can only describe as a berry salad with orange zest shaved on top. This may not be available in all markets, but if you can find it, snap it up.

Words to live by from Charles Smith, Winemaker

5) Charles & Charles Washington Rosé

This is a wine stew (a term coined by my father any time more than four grapes are in a blend) of Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre (popular for structure in red wines), Cinsault (adds fruitiness and acidity to Rhône blends), and Counoise (a peppery variety that appears in the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape). The result is a fruity, refreshing, and complex wine with candied citrus and strawberry the primary flavors. 

4) Gérard Bertrand Cote des Roses (Languedoc, France)

A fancy-shaped bottle with a rose etched on the bottom, the wine inside is legit. Bertrand makes a complete range of wines from the everyday to the cellar-worthy, all acting as a great way to introduce yourself to the Old World if you are traditionally a California/New World wine fan. Classic strawberry, watermelon, and a hint of grapefruit gives a mouthwatering sensation on the finish of this Rosé.

3) La Belle en Rosé Sancerre (Loire Valley, France)

This is actually a label from the 90+ Cellars family of wines. In the region of Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc is dominant, but when it comes to reds and rosés, it is Pinot Noir that shines. Coming from a cool climate in the Loire Valley, the flavors become more citrusy (think ruby red grapefruit here) than berrylike, and a minerally, almost smoky character. Finding a Sancerre Rosé for under $20 can be a challenge, so the La Belle is a fantastic way to be introduced to the style.

The reds from Nerello Mascalese can be incredibly powerful, smoky, earthy, and savory. As a Rosé, it's a completely different experience.

2) Tasca d'Almerita Regaleali Le Rosé (Sicily, Italy)

This has become a new favorite at Divine Wine; even before the event it sells out regularly. A Sicilian Rosé made from the local Nerello Mascalese grape, this is very full-bodied and fruity with cherry and raspberry dominating the palate, accompanied by some sweet spices like anise. This is an all-seasons rosé.

1) Domaine Houchart Côtes de Provence (Provence, France)

This wine has been a classic at Divine Wine; it has been at the store longer than I have been here in Connecticut as it consistently delivers on a great combination of delicacy, fruit, acidity, complexity, and long-lasting finish. Whether it is herbed shellfish, tomato-based salads, or a warm summer day on the deck, it does not matter...Houchart is a crowd-pleaser.

The Obligatory Wines To Go With Thanksgiving Post

It arrived rather quickly, but those of us who haven't already moved on to Christmas are making preparations for Thanksgiving Day. It's one of my favorite holidays; I get to eat, drink, and watch football in a larger quantity than I would on any autumn Sunday. I love how the air smells; it is filled with all kinds of sweet and savory goodness. It's many of the usual suspects for the majority of us, right? Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, veggies, and pies are typical, but if you aren't a turkey fan, or a meat eater at all, there might be some other items coming out of the oven or perhaps off of a barbecue.

Nevertheless, the blitz of food needs some tasty beverages to help keep everything moving. While I know beer, cocktails, and sippin' spirits are all delicious, the scope of today's post is to help you find some good wine options. With Thanksgiving serving as our first major feast day of the cold weather months, chances are you will be bringing out a ton of different food options, including the ones I mentioned above. So how do you go about choosing a good wine for foods that will taste rich, savory, herbaceous, fruity, and so on? Here is one basic rule of thumb to follow:

Keep it simple.

I know that's a vague statement on my part, but honestly it holds true here. You will have so many aromas, flavors and textures fighting one another on your plate that you need a wine to bring it all together. It should typically be one that has plenty of acidity (to help you digest large volumes of food), straightforward fruitiness, and body (to harmonize everything on the plate). Certain parts of the meal are enhanced even more if the wine has an interesting spice or floral note. On the other end of the spectrum, if you are looking to break out that super-expensive bottle from the cellar, Thanksgiving dinner isn't necessarily the time for that. The high-end wines that have a ton of complex flavors never get the chance to stand out. Save the special bottle for a simple-yet-elegant dinner (you will see what I mean when I do my Christmas post. Trust me, so stay tuned).

Barberani's Castagnolo Orvieto Classico ($21) has distinct sage, thyme, and anise spice to complement the apple and stone fruit of this wine.

For example, Italian wines can have a pleasant herbaceousness or anise spice. Pinot Noir that spends time in French oak imparts a range of baking spices like cinnamon and cloves. Pinot Gris has some body and texture to help stand up to the rich foods, as well as a floral quality. Riesling's strong aromatics and inherent fruity/floral quality makes it versatile enough to play with all parts of the meal. Beaujolais wines are berry-scented and versatile with plenty of acidity to make your mouth water. I mean, even the candy-like Beaujolais Nouveau (which the wine academic types sneer at) is perfect for just staying lubricated during marathon eating sessions. Of course, the easiest fallback option is to grab some sparkling wine, which I acknowledge is "cheating" when it comes to pairing, but what's a feast without bubbles?

Additionally, if you are looking to try something different, look to Sherry or Saké. Dry Sherry has nutty and savory characteristics and is the magic potion for dealing with difficult-to-pair foods like nuts, olives, and green foods. Light and dry Saké does very well with salty snacks and appetizers. For more details on exploring this route, you should go visit my friend The Passionate Foodie, who has great ideas on how to approach these two wine styles with Thanksgiving dinner.

So let's get to some recommendations! These are all well-made wines from producers who I respect. I hope you seek some of these out and give them a try.

Domaine de la Prebende Beaujolais ($15): Fermented in both stainless steel and concrete tanks, this is a fruity red wine that will give you the versatility you need, with that touch of sweet spice that makes this wine feel like fall in a glass.

Willamette Valley Vineyards "Whole Cluster" Pinot Noir ($24): This is a wine that gives you the fruitiness of a Beaujolais wine plus a range of earthy spice and coffee that Oregon Pinot Noir can provide. Willamette Valley Vineyards ferments whole bunches of grapes, using the carbonic maceration method that is popular in the Beaujolais region. A different expression of Pinot Noir that will do its duty at the dinner table.

Hillersden Marlborough Pinot Gris ($18): New Zealand has become overwhelmingly well-known for its distinct Sauvignon Blancs, but let's also get to know their other wines! Here is a copper-hued Pinot Gris from vines that reached optimal maturity for producing quality wine. Citrus and stone fruit flavors dominate, with brief "sur-lie" aging to round out the texture and counteract the acidity. Very clean and refreshing.

Charles Bove Touraine Sparkling Rosé ($19): You can always go with a Cava or a Prosecco for something simple and bubbly, but lets go with something pink. This is 70% Cabernet Franc, 30% Gamay...and 100% awesome. The combination of aromatics and fruit marries so well with the 18 months lees aging, giving you a sparkler that gives you a great feel for traditional method wines in the Loire Valley. Fresh, fruity, and bone-dry, this is one to enjoy all day long.

Conte Vistarino Sangue di Giuda Costiolo, ($19): Don't forget about dessert! Literally translating to "Blood of Judas," this sweet wine is a specialty of the Oltrepo Pavese region of Lombardy. This is a blend of Barbera, Croatina, and Uva Rara, all plentifully found in this growing zone of Italy. Think of this as a lighter Port wine, where the alcohol is far lower at around 7% abv. This is a very lively wine with plenty of acidity, bursting with berry fruit, finishing clean and without a sticky, cloying sensation. Give it a shot with an apple-cranberry or blueberry pie!

Fun To Say, Fun To Drink: Muscadet

Wines from the vineyards near the river city of Nantes (pictured) are exactly what you need this summer.

It's fun to drink

And it's fun to say.

It comes from France.

It's Muscadet [moose-cah-day]!

You know that I am an unabashed fan of wines from the Loire Valley of France, and with the heat returning to the northeast, I love them even more. There are so many dry, zesty white wines and fresh, lively red wines to choose from. However, today we focus on a white wine from the city of Nantes in the western Loire whose low alcohol, light body, and refreshingly simple flavor is perfect for this time of year. Additionally, it was a wine that my two older sons absolutely loved to say when they overheard me discussing my wine studies; it's clearly fun to say for kids, but they have over a decade to go before it can be fun to drink.

Muscadet is one of the unique protected production areas in France in that it does not refer to a grape variety or a geographic region. Wines made with this name are made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape (often shorted to Melon), whose tendency toward neutral flavors was ideal base material for Dutch traders to turn into brandy. This, along with the deep freeze of 1709, led to an increase in plantings of Melon. The name "Muscadet" is believed to have come from the supposed "musky" character that Melon displayed. Perhaps earlier clones of the variety showed this funk, but in today's examples there is no muskiness to be found.

Muscadet wine is produced from an area of roughly 32,000 acres, a significant swath of land for producing one type of wine, but still pales in comparison to Bordeaux's nearly 300,000 acres. Within the boundaries of the Muscadet zone, there are more specific terroirs and names that may be appended to the name of Muscadet on a label if the wine follows the production rules.

Map of the Muscadet production zones. Chéreau Carré is an important producer of Muscadet wines Image credit: DeMaison Selections

Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine: this is the one we see the most often on the shelves; it is often the richest and most complex of all three sub-zones.

Muscadet-Coteaux de la Loire: the northernmost region, where vintage variations are noticed the most out of the three sub-zones. Coteaux de la Loire tends to be the highest in acidity of the three sub-zones.

Muscadet-Côtes de Grandlieu: this didn't receive its own sub-zone until 1996, so prior to this vineyards were producing basic Muscadet. Soils are lighter and sandier, leading to delicate, light-bodied wines with floral aromatics.

In addition, these three sub-zones can all add "sur Lie" if they use a specific winemaking technique. In order to impart a creamier texture and give Muscadet a fuller body, fermented wines will sit in a tank or vat with the spent yeast cells (called the lees) from fermentation. The cellar hands need to stir the lees, which release sugars and proteins into the wine, leading to a richer texture. Temperature needs to be kept under control and lees need to be stirred, otherwise spoilage can occur in the wine. Additionally, if lees aging goes for more than a twelve months, it can lead to "off" flavors, such as rotten eggs in the wine (Yum!), unless serious care is taken in the cellar.

Muscadet wines are natural matches for seafood. Sea scallops and raw oysters are both phenomenal with Muscadet, as are mussels cooked in white wine with garlic and herbs. Keep the seafood preparations simple,and you will be in business. The other good news about Muscadet is that it does not break the bank, even on the higher end of the price spectrum. I have four wines for you to try, all of which show a progression from delicate and easy-drinking to assertive and complex.

Château de La Chesnaie Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie ($12): Briny and citrusy, this is an easy way to get yourself introduced to what everyday Muscadet is all about.

Château l'Oiselinière de la Ramée Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie ($17): More defined citrus fruits, such as grapefruit and lemon zest, are complemented by a subtle floral note A softer texture than the Chesnaie, but still has some bracing acidity to keep the wine from feeling flat in your mouth.

Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie Les Gras Moutons ($23): Vines are 20-60 years old, so fruit concentration begins to increase when compared to the previous two wines. The range of citrus fruits show up in this wine, but now stones and earth start to show. The texture is richer than the two as well, and this is where you begin to see what happens when Melon is grown in more specific vineyard areas with organic farming techniques.

Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Clisson ($28): Organically farmed, "Clisson" is the first recognized "cru", or great growth of Muscadet. Pépière stretches the limits of lees aging by going to nearly two years on the spent yeast cells. Vines ages are anywhere from 50 to 110 years old, leading to very concentrated flavors. White peaches, apples, brioche bread, and a smoky/stony character make this one of the more complex Muscadet examples out there. I highly encourage you to try this wine if you can find it!