Full day of wine blog fodder and news

It's amazing what happens when you have 30 minutes to catch up on your Google reader feed! I found some gems in the wine bloggosphere and newsfeed I can't help but share. Good Friday, indeed! I've narrowed the playing field to just 3.5 for you to soak up: 1. A new take on the "nature" of wine - click! For all of my photographer and scientist/nerd friends and followers out there, I bring to you this very cool concept for a wine book... Seeing is believing!

2. The "Ick Factor": smoke taint in wine. I found the timing of this article too perfect as just a couple of weeks ago my colleague and I had the chance to meet Dianna Lee of Siduri; she had been lamenting the challenge she and her husband faced making great Pinot Noir in a year inundated with forest fire. She said they ended up tossing wine made from certain vineyards where they source fruit (so you don't have to worry about any of the Siduri gems tasting like an ashtray as they'll never hit the market). Check out this WSJ article... Something for you to bare in mind when shopping for 2008 Anderson Valley Pinots this year!

3. Trader Joe's latest "wine trick", lol. I'm a bit cynical, it's true, when it comes to national chains taking on such large scale wine projects to pass on great "value". (Shop local, people! You'll find great value, smaller production, artisan wines if you have a great wine shop.) But I am legitimately interested to hear if you've tasted this wine - and your impressions. (And yes, next time I land at TJ's I'm going to see if there's still a bottle on the shelf for me to bring home.) In the meantime, weigh in using the comments thread below!

Sr. Juan Bengas comes to Boston

This Friday I have a bit of a treat for you! Rather than sticking to our usual format of wine news/trends article links today, I urge you to pop over to Ball Square Fine Wines' blog to learn a bit more about Argentine viticulture, winemaking and the impact of the Chilean earthquakes not just domestically, but among their neighbors just over the Andes. There you'll find a bit of video to stimulate your senses as Senor Benegas, the 4th generation grandson of the man known as the Father of Argentine winemaking, visited us in Somerville last week with his wares and his knowledge both at the ready. Enjoy! Are you a fan of the Benegas collection? Have you tasted the latest releases yet?

Baboons, bubbly, accolades and more!

I have a healthier than normal appetite, I'm told. But it seems South African baboons do, too! Check out this hilarious (but costly) piece on these "Thieving Baboons". The age-old question "does stemware really matter?" has a simple answer: yes. It's because a good glass can really help display aromas and flavors by channeling them in a precise way to your senses. Riedel is the company that has set the bar on this technology. And so they took their a competitor to the mattresses recently when Eisch advertised a breathable glass. Read all about the outcome here.

Speaking of glass, looks like the Champagne Bureau is getting greener! Each bottle of Champagne will now weigh 2oz less than before. Discover the full implications of this move here.

Last but not least, I had the pleasure of meeting the famed Randall Graham of Bonny Doon vineyards a couple of weeks ago at a local trade event. Looks like I had the opportunity right before his celebrity really took off! Graham was just inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame. Cool stuff.

Which wine headline caught your attention this week?

What's new(s) in wine and tasting it

I'm not sure I will ever fully understand why some known wines get a make-over largely in name only. A few years ago it was Moet doing away with their White Star Champagne bottling and replacing it with a slightly different iteration (in terms of the style of wine itself) and calling it Moet Imperial Brut. White Star was a really recognized name in the marketplace and today it is still a point of confusion for many looking for the White Star, and being handed the Imperial Brut. Is the wine different? Yes, a bit. But why not roll with the old name? Now it looks like La Mission Haut Brion is making a similar name shift. Check out this brief Decanter article on why the change.  Then tell us, as a consumer, does the reasoning make sense to you? Do you care? Next up we have an article that three different friends sent to me (from two different sources), to ensure I didn't miss it: the latest in wine health news reports suggests that women who drink have a better chance of avoiding obseity. Egad, will these studies ever cease? An entertaining read if you, like me, don't mind another guilt-free reason to keep pouring your nightly glass of wine.

Last but not least, we have a fun Old World vs. New World showdown on The Tasting Docit! On Friday March 19 you and other foodie nerds at WGBH can enjoy the fun for a mere $25. And there will be music to further enrich your tasting experience. Check it out!

Chilean wine news

It's probably no surprise that all news on the Pour Favor blog this Friday - one week after the Chilean earthquake - is dedicated exclusively to Chilean wine. Ironically, I had the pleasure of meeting winemaker Jean-Pascal Lacaze just last Thursday in the early evening, just before he headed back to New York to catch his flight home - and resume business as usual (harvesting) after the weekend, the unofficial end to summer. I haven't heard if he's made it home yet or what impact the quake had on his lot. No doubt agriculture and wine are an important part of the Chilean economy and will play a role as the country gets it's bearings again. Check out these few articles to learn more, then pop back this Monday for some great wines to seek out as we unleash March's Wicked Wines, Chilean style.... Prior to the quake, the skinny on Chilean wine exports via the LA Times.

A more humanized view of how things looked last Friday, Feb. 28th via my old fav, Dr. Vino.

And an updated, trade-oriented snapshot of where we are a week later via Decanter.

Generally speaking, do you think the buzz around the  magnitude of this quake will generate new or even greater interest in Chilean wines?

Prohibition is as prohibition does

ProhibitionPhoto

I don't know anyone who doesn't like a good story. A story with historical truth, that is remarkable and compelling for the audacity of what "went down" is even better. This week there are several interesting wine-related news/events links I could send your way. But I'm going to streamline your wine reading instead by pointing you in only one direction.... Last Friday as my post was hitting the web-waves, Deborah Blum from Slate was churning out a deliciously interesting article about Prohibition days in America. I love history, but somehow my AP American History class skipped over this particular snapshot of what the US government was willing to do (kill) to enforce the new law. Grab your cup of coffee or enjoy a great lunch break at your desk this afternoon; this is a great read!

What other historic snapshots from Prohibition do you know of that are similarly voyeuristically compelling today?

modernity and wine - the debate on diversity

adventuresonthewineroutebookcover

I've been reading and rereading the astoundingly delicious Adventures on the Wine Route by Kermit Lynch for at least a year now. It is so well written and such a delightful trip through wine country - from seemingly "ages" ago. Lynch writes about tasting wines from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s - even the 1920s! It provides tremendous perspective, that's for sure. But what I find most compelling about the book as a whole is Lynch's search for totally unadulterated juice. Today it is appreciated (or understood?) more, perhaps; yet this idea of using modern tools and approaches gets more play, I'd argue.

Today, pop over to this post by Eric Asmiov - and spend a few extra minutes reading BOTH articles he links to, particularly the one by Cory Cartwright. Personally, I would love to see more people more naturally through the course of things embrace "the diversity" in wine.

Do you find wines with a more "modern" flare more or less appealing?  Is this idea even something you consider when you are wine shopping?

Wine corks, grape crop and... the chocolate wine pairing debate!

A bit of business and a bit of fun this week in wine! Let's get the business out of the way first: It looks like the 2009 crop in California is going to keep the price ship rather righted moving forward! Gotta love the economic principle of supply and demand. Check out this article on what the Press Democrat (at least) thinks we can come to expect moving forward.

Next up... a Cork Report! There are a bunch of wine bottle stoppers on the market now, made from myriad materials. Traditionalists still appreciate finding real cork under the foil. Environmentalists and others in the wine trade promote other closures as the better way to go.  Read this Decanter article to find out what Portugal is doing by way of cork promotion these days.

And yes, we've saved the best for last! What with Valentine's Day this weekend, I'm sure you've seen quite a bit about either chocolate or wine recommendations - or both! But are they a really a good match, or just a traditional pairing with no real rhyme or reason? Enjoy the debate as translated by Dr. Vino!

What's your Valentine's Day wine choice this year?

Wine Tasting 101

We've had an insane week here at Pour Favor what with the Boston Wine Expo winemakers and other exhibitors in town. It's weeks like this I am grateful for the folks in my network who find juicy tidbits online and forward them to my attention, just checking to be sure I haven't missed them. It's a great way for me to ensure I've got my finger on the pulse of what interests other people, too. So this week, enjoy these two "fan favorite" articles! First up - Tasting is as Tasting Does, aka "My Rating? I Like It!". Check out this great piece by Katy Mclaughlin over at the Wall Street Journal. This is precisely the kind of thing I'm talking about when it comes to picking out a wine (more on that Monday!).

SanTasi, photo care of their homepage

Next - Now this is something I might have benefited from this past week myself (if only it also had protein and electrolytes!): a liquid Palate Cleanser. Check it out!

Would you be more likely to purchase a wine if it had a "Fan Favorite" thumbs up, rather than 90+ points?

Massachusetts wine laws back in the news (and wine events of note!)

Big news! Massachusetts continues to get its act together in the wonderful world of wine (whether the powers that be like it or not). It's looking like finally, after three+ years of duking it out in the courts, out-of-state wineries of any shape or size can choose to ship directly to consumers. Read Wine & Spirits Daily's synopsis (and somewhat surprising take on the matter...) here! And, of course, we can't let today go by without mentioning the biggest wine event in Boston happening this weekend: the Boston Wine Expo! You can still get tickets to this well-known event, but if you do, be sure to check out my  Survival Guide to make the most of your experience.

Last but not least, if you're in the hood and not just a wine nerd, but also a gourmet cheese aficionado, be sure to attend Ball Square Fine Wines' "Expansion Celebration" event this TUESDAY, Jan. 22, from 5:30-7:30pm.

Did I miss a wine tidbit or event this week? What's on your vino screen?