This wine is the dream of all  who have not yet mastered the ability to enjoy dry red wine. I’ve been asked “isn’t there a red wine that tastes good?” While I can’t find myself recommending this wine with a meal, it is sweet and it is red. Well, at least that’s what the bottle says.

This dessert red wine seemed to take on a much more amber hue while in my glass.It looked more like caramel sauce in color, but was pleasant. It had a very interesting nose bursting with plum and brown sugar. Hints of ginger and raisin danced around too.  It’s very sweet on the palate, even more raisiny, with high acidity on the back end.  Surprisingly full bodied for a dessert wine, it’s quite good.  I’m never surprised that Greek wine treats me to a whole level of tastes that I’m not used to.  The first wine I ever had was a Greek Retsina that tasted as if I had just sipped a glass full of pine needles.

The best pairing I can guess at for this wine is nothing other than dark chocolate. Even a bitter dark chocolate would be offset nicely by the sweetness of this wine.

Artiste normally only makes blended wines, but this one is 100% mourvedre. According to winemaker Bion Rice “it was too good to blend!”It is a great medium bodied red. A nose of light rose petal and red fruit with a surprising butterscotch finish. The finish of the wine is what intrigued me most, it isn’t sweet by any means, and the flavor of butterscotch is undetectable on the nose but bursts on the palate at the finish. I immediately fell in love with this wine after trying it and took home a bottle to Ohio from California. This Mourvedre was a limited release wine club wine, but I loved it so that they let me purchase a couple of bottles. The wine is 14.4% alcohol and was a 74 case production.

Mourvedre is on the right.

What makes Artiste stand out from the rest is their labeling process. Artists from around California submit artwork and Rice chooses his favorites to reproduce on the bottles. Reprints are then sent to wine club members and some are available for purchase at one of their two tasting rooms in Healdsburg and Santa Ynez, California

I’m aware this post is a bit overdue, but better late than never right? First of all, the only wine I was planning on drinking this new year was the bottles of champagne that were to be popped in New York City where I was supposed to spend 4 days ringing in the New Year. As all perfect plans tend to do, my plans fell through, on the day I was supposed to leave. What’s a girl to do two days before NYE with no plans? Well, visit localwineevents.com of course. I found a few parties, but the one that stood out was a six course wine dinner coupled with hotel stay in Jeffersonville Indiana.  Why Indiana? I thought the same thing until I saw that the Bristol Bar and Grille was home to a Master Sommelier named Scott Harper.

Master Sommelier, Scott Harper

Scott was very pleased to hear that I was a wine writer and was extremely knowledgeable and straight forward with the dinner guests. I only received a few questions from dinner patrons regarding the wine and I was very impressed. The dinner consisted of a nice mix of white a red wines including a couple of very sweet wines.Harper wanted to include wines from all the wine regions he has traveled to around the world, the wines he chose were expertly paired with very diverse courses created by Chef Richard Doreing. We sampled everything from jumbo shrimp corn dogs to petit beef wellington to a dessert of a chocolate flight complete with a Pouderoux truffle and chocolate mousse in an edible chocolate espresso cup.

the menu

My favorite pairing of the evening was tempura fried goat cheese with quince preserves coupled with a Gewurztraminer from Andrew Rich in Columbia Valley, Washington. This was our last wine poured as it needed to be chilled. It came in a small bottle which brought to mind an ice wine, and I was expecting the same flavor profile. I’m  used to Ohio Gewurtztraminers, and  I was pleased with the subtle differences in this particular Gewurtz. It’s bouquet was heavy on honey, and almost smelled thick like honey. The mouth feel of Rich’s creation was almost carbonated in the way it popped with my food, much lighter on the palate than I had expected, and not as much like an ice wine. Overall the wine was rich and sweet on the finish, the sweetness was offset by the goat cheese and preserves. A very impressive pairing.

Thinking the Gewurtztraminer pairing could not be topped, I was even more surprised with Domaine Pouderoux from France’s Maury region. This wine, paired with dark chocolate creations was made from 100% grenache grapes on 100 year old vines. Looking at the wine list I was wary as to how this grenache would fare against chocolate. Once again I was surprised by the depth and flavors of the wine. It’s nose was heavy with dark chocolate, it reminded me of something I had tasted before but I still cannot put my finger on it. The richness of this wine rounded out our dinner pefectly. We finished up around 11:30 and went back to our suite to ring in the New Year with a bottle of bubbly. Gloria Ferrer, blanc de noirs, and you better believe I wore the same dress I had planned on wearing to the MTV New Year’s party.

A.B.S. dress and Steve Madden Stilettos

Here’s to many great wines in 2010!

As a newly minted wine blogger the 2010 conference in Walla Walla, Washington is the first that I will be able to attend. I’m really looking forward to getting together with fellow bloggers, drinking some great wine, and learning the tools of the trade. Unfortunately, it will be my fourth trip to CA in a year, and being the poor college student that I am, I’m not sure if I can fund the 4 day trip on my own. Coincidentally, it falls on the first weekend of the first week of summer classes, and I can’t teach in the summer so I won’t be receiving my stipend to help fund the trip.

Luckilly, my friend Thea Dwelle heads up the WBC scholarship initiative.

http://wbcscholarship.wordpress.com/

This is a way to help people like me fund their trips out so that they too can experience this opportunity. The scholarship can only help fun as many people as funds are donated. If you are interested at all in donating-or know someone who would be- please pass along this link, and I’m more than willing to speak to anyone or direct them to Thea.

Thanks so much,

Emma

This blogger blend off is by far the coolest thing I have done in the wine world thus far. As you may, or may not know I am a wine blogger (SHOCKING!) and my good friend, Thea Dwelle assembled a crew of us fellow bloggers to get together at Conn Creek for a blend-off on December 13th.

I was aware there would be lunch, and some talk about blending. What I didn’t realize was that I would get to blend and take home my very own bottle of wine!! us 12 lucky bloggers assembled in the AVA room of the winery where it was basically a whirl wind tour of what Napa has to offer. Lining the walls of the room were 15 different cabernet sauvignons, a merlot, malbec, cab franc, and a petit verdot.  Following a bit of direction from guest services manager, Paul Asikainen, I was off and tasting.

How attractive are those barrels?

From the 15 I was able to pick out 6 wines that I enjoyed the most along with a decision that I must add malbec ( I am in a malbec phase right now) . Then came the not so fun part: figuring out how much to blend! I have never given much thought to how many different vineyards went into one bottle, let alone how much to blend in them, needless to say I assumed the task would be a little dauting.

I began to go to each barrel filling up my chemistry equipment bit by bit and then tasting the glasses. My attempt #1 was nice,but a little too tannic and fell flat at the end. 2 had a great nose but was also too tannic. On my third try I added a splash of a softer cab sauv from Oakville-Stanton Vineyard. This blend was great, it tasted a bit like a berry pie, very round, smooth and with the right hint of creaminess I was looking for. I knew this was it, but wanted to try once more. The final attempt still fell short of what I was dreaming of and I bottled up #3.

We then were able to create our very own wine labels. In the end we had everything from my “E” blend to a gingerbread man, to a label-less bottle.  I now have the perfect bottle of wine to drink when I get my Masters, and a treasure trove of memories from the day.

You too can have your own wine blending experience at Conn Creek for $95(includes bottle)

Thanks to Conn Creek and Thea!

Cheers!

The Ohio State University v. Michigan college football game is arguably the biggest football clash in both states. Recently my friend has decided to put together a blind wine clash consisting of wines from both states.

Story adapted from an earlier published piece at www.supplewine.com

by Emma Criswell
published: 11 Nov 2009

As I sat down at the judges’ table, I noticed that in addition to being the only judge under 35, I was one of only two women on the 8-person Ohio half of the panel. I quickly realized what everyone means when they say wine is a man’s world.

The event was organized by my friend, Andrew Hall, who throws an Ohio/Michigan wine clash every year to coincide with a big football rivalry: Ohio State University and University of Michigan. Andrew contacts wineries from both Ohio and Michigan and selects 11 wines from each state (which matches the number of players on the field for each team in a football game) for a blind tasting. There are two legs of judging: one in Columbus, Ohio and the second in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Andrew then compiles the results from each tasting and averages them to determine a winner. The judging I participated in was held at the Twisted Vine wine shop in Columbus.

This was the first wine competition I was asked to judge. It was all very new to me, and it’s probably new to many of you as well. Here’s how it went. There were three flights of tastings: red, white and dessert. We judged on many different facets, such as color, aroma, bouquet, taste on the palate and finish. We totaled up the points for each wine, took notes and then came up with a first, second and third choice for each flight. At the end of the tasting, we picked our overall favorites, regardless of which flights they came from.

It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

I must say I was very nervous and intimidated when I first arrived at the event. The other judges, who were all from out of town, were talking about various champagne brands and saying they were surprised that we could have them shipped to Ohio. It was an intimidating conversation to walk into, and I felt like I had no idea what I was doing there. However, once we got through the first flight of wines and began to discuss them, I noticed that most of the things I liked and disliked about the wines were similar to what the other judges pointed out. I gained the confidence I needed to give more input and to get to know the judges.

A few days after the event ended I read the press release announcing results from the clash, and I was very pleased to see that the wine that won the competition was also my personal favorite: Longview Winter Ice 2007 (Dessert Wine) Leelanau Peninsula MI. The wine was very well done; everything about it was outstanding, from the liqueur to the finish.

The Ohio leg of the wine clash was really incredible and was a wonderful experience. The whole event was very well planned and orchestrated with very intelligent judges. I hope to have the chance to take part in many more competitions like this in the future.  In the end, Michigan won the wine clash, but Ohio won the football game.

For the full 2009 Ohio vs Michigan Wine Clash results, click here.

I had been wondering about what wine to have at my Halloween get together when my friend Katie emailed and invited me to a “Hallowine” tasting she was holding at her house. I thought this was an awesome idea and was very excited to attend. The event was very well organized and the theme was flawless as per Katie’s style and we had eight wines to taste with various candies.

Whites were paired with sweet and fruity candies such as chardonnay with candy corn and savignon blanc with apples and caramel candy apple dip. That dip was delicious and paired well with all the whites. It consisted of cream cheese with brown sugar, caramel sauce, and crushed heath bars.

The reds were paired with chocolates; shiraz with Kit Kats, cab with dark chocolate, etc. and the dessert wines like moscato were paired with nutty candies like a Snickers bar. The moscato and Snickers was my favorite pairing. The nuttiness of the candy and chocolate played well upon the sweetness of the moscato leaving the wonderful bubbles on the palate. I normally can’t enjoy too much moscato because of its sweetness, but this candy and wine pairing was the perfect sweetness. All of the wines served are sold exclusively through The Traveling Vineyard. If you would like to find any here is the link to Katie’s site: http://www.myttv.com/Katie9301

I followed this pairing list at my own Halloween get together, however, my friends aren’t avid wine connoisseurs like me, so I only opened two bottles: a moscato and a pinot noir. We paired them with Snickers, Heath bars, caramel apple dip, and a pepperoni pizza. This gives me a toothache to read, but we had a great time. Thanks to my friend Katie Corrigan-Seeman, who is also a wine consultant for The Traveling Vineyard– for coming up with this idea and allowing me to use it. Happy Hallo-Wine!!

caramel candy apple dip in ghost trays!

I have always loved to cook, but could never try anything new out at home because my Mom is very picky about trying new things. After I moved into my new apartment here in Athens it was my mission to begin cooking for my friends. So began the tradition of the Monday night dinner party. Don’t get me wrong I love the food and my friends enjoying it with me, but these dinner parties are also a covert operation. It is my mission to expose my friends to wine and help them all to realize why I love it so much. I’m still referred to as an “alcoholic” by a few friends who just don’t get it, the rest lovingly call me “queen wino.”

you can see why I have this title

Here is how it normally goes: First, I’ll normally post in my Facebook status what I’m making weekly, and send out text messages to friends. Dinner is always at 9, so my other roommate can enjoy a hot meal when he gets home from work.  When they ask if they should bring wine I always encourage them, I know they will bring the white zinfandel or a similar sweet white. I’ll let them have that first and then taste the wine I am drinking just to “see if they like it.” If they do I will enthusiastically pour them a glass, then ask them how it tastes, what they recognize on their palate. I’m impressed with the progress I’ve seen, my roommate, Kyleigh has gone from telling me she smells alcohol in the wine to telling me she picks up some melon. Even if they don’t get much else, they at least learn to appreciate why I find wine so interesting. My dance has been evolving for a while, theirs has only just begun.

I even find new pairings that I enjoy on occasion. My last dinner party of the summer consisted of wheat penne with chicken and vodka cream sauce, a Mediterranean salad, and a strawberry chardonnay cake, and some wonderful company. A friend brought over a bottle of white zin for the rest of the guests to drink; I had some Argentinean Malbec I needed to finish up, so I brought it out with dinner as well.  I was really surprised how well the malbec went with the pasta. I, of course poured the girls all a sip and none of them liked it. (That’s okay; it took me awhile to enjoy the dryer reds, too. I’m patient.)

The real beauty of wine to me is the company it brings. It’s easy for me to see how much people care about me when they are willing to listen to me ramble on about something they know nothing about and are willing to taste something they don’t like just because I’ve described it so enthusiastically to them. Emma will always oblige me and take a sip when I say “You have GOT to try this, it tastes amazing with the pasta!” she will then make a sour face and tell me that it’s just not her style. It means so much to me that they do this, and by the end of the year I hope to see all their eyes light up when they try RED zinfandel with pepperoni pizza and tell me how good it goes with the spicy food.

I received an email about this asking if I would promote it on my blog. I was tempted to respond how I would love to blog about this all expense paid dream vacation they had awarded me simply for being me, but alas, it was not to be. Sadly, I am ineligible for this contest, but I am more than happy to promote it as well. Everyone should be able to enjoy wine country the way I did, it’s a phenominal place to see.I plan to go back in December

That being said, Livingston Cellars, a subsidiary of the E & J Gallo company is offering an all expenses paid trip to wine country by way of an essay contest. Winos across the 50 states (save for CA, UT, and PR) are encouraged to write an essay of 250 words or less about how each entrant “embodies the core values of the Livingston Life” These values are: 1) being an individual, 2) staying connected to friends/family/community, 3) discovering your new world, 4) making a difference to others. All applicants must be 21 when they submit entry, for more info visit http://www.TheLivingstonLife.com/Getaway

Livingston states that no other generation has embraced these values as much as we do that’s why they want to reward us with this trip. Good luck to all, and if one of my readers wins please contact me and we can put together a post chronicling the highlights of the trip. Take lots of pictures!!

I’ve finished my bottle of malbec, had a wonderful “see you soon” dinner which I prepared; complete with Chardonnay Strawberry Cake, and I’m off to Florida tomorrow. I don’t know anything about Florida wines, or even if they make them there, but I plan to find out. Wherever I go, wine seems to find me.

So I’ll be off, staying at my aunt’s home there for two weeks. I’m going with my best friend and I’m really excited, I’ve never had a ‘girls’ vacation. We’ll cook, and explore, and hopefully drink some good wine. My aunt also has no internet at her summer home, so I’ll be cut off from the world (haha) but that will be a nice little vacation in and of itself.

We’re driving down tomorrow and taking it easy for a few days. We’ll go to the coast and Orlando; to St. Augustine and Fort Myers. It’ll be a great time, hopefully I’ll enjoy some great wine or even find a winery or two along the way.

See you all when I come back to real life, to orientations and to grad school!

-Emma