Happy hour at home and homemade sangria led to this purchase!
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May 5, 2018
March 25, 2017
Lunetta Prosecco
Prosecco holds a special place in my heart. Champagne can be expensive. To date, my favorite champagne is Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label. I even like the Veuve Rose! Veuve is my jam. But Veuve is pricey. And every time I want to drink some bubbly, I don't want to spend $50+ for that privilege. Different types of alcohol make me feel differently. Bubbles make me happy, so I drink them often, which brings me to Lunetta Prosecco.
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Country/Region/Year
Veneto, ItalyComparable to
For the price, Lunetta Prosecco is pretty damn good. It's no Vueve but if you need a few bottles of bubbly for brunch, Lunetta is an acceptable Prosecco, especially for the price. If I was going to compare it to one of my defaults, La Marca Prosecco, I would say it's a tad bit more Brut and less sweet to my taste buds, resulting in a little more of a tang. It's a good choice if your options are slim and it's down to a few choices.Alcohol Content
11.5%Price
$10-12March 21, 2017
Light Reds: Barefoot Pinot Noir
I recently made my first Pinot Noir purchase. I am very much into tannins and full-bodied reds, so this was totally not a normal thing. What prompted me to try this Pinot Noir was a very delicious one I recently had the opportunity to try from California. While Barefoot's Pinot Noir isn't as rich as the one I tried (which I cannot remember for the life of me; unfortunate because it was at a private club where I was a guest, and where I don't know when the next time I will have the opportunity to return), it was an acceptable Pinot Noir.
Barefoot doesn't put years on their wine. My assumption is that they don't age their wine and sell it right away.
This Pinot Noir was ok, but I will delve deeper into Pinot Noirs, perhaps from some other region of California so I can continue to chase that "Pinot Noir high" I got from the brand that remains elusive to me.
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Country/Region/Year
USA, CaliforniaBarefoot doesn't put years on their wine. My assumption is that they don't age their wine and sell it right away.
Comparable to
It's hard to compare this to anything at the moment because it was my first Pinot Noir. It's very light and easy to drink. I included Pinot Noir in my post on the easiest wines to drink for that reason. If you like Merlot, this is lighter, but not much lighter.Alcohol Content
~13%Price
Barefoot wines are budget wines and usually run from $5.99 on sale up to over $8.00, a huge part of why they are so popular. The point of it all is a great wine at an amazing price point.This Pinot Noir was ok, but I will delve deeper into Pinot Noirs, perhaps from some other region of California so I can continue to chase that "Pinot Noir high" I got from the brand that remains elusive to me.
March 18, 2017
Let's Talk About Tannins
I'm not about to write up a post on the chemical makeup of tannins; I don't find that helpful for the purposes of this blog. I'm here to give you examples of why my taste buds like tannins, and why it's only natural that I veer toward red wines with higher tannin levels. Perhaps it'll help you, too, when deciding on reds.
I like the skin of mangoes more than I like the sweet meat of mangoes.
I'll often eat the skin off of a grape before eating said grape.
I prefer my tea unsweetened.
I love neat bourbon and also bitters.
I really dislike dark chocolate.
Cinnamon can be overpowering.
What do all of these things have in common? They taste like tannins. Tannins are in tree bark, in fruit skins, and in other plants.
Tannins are usually referred to in red wines, and that's where I got the other half of the name of this blog from. I prefer full-bodied red wines, such as California Cabernet Sauvignons and Argentinian Malbecs, although I will drink pretty much any red wine out there. Once I found out what tannins were, it wasn't a surprise that I tend to like a lot of drinks on the bitter side. Have a look at the chart below. What red do you fancy?
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I like the skin of mangoes more than I like the sweet meat of mangoes.
I'll often eat the skin off of a grape before eating said grape.
I prefer my tea unsweetened.
I love neat bourbon and also bitters.
I really dislike dark chocolate.
Cinnamon can be overpowering.
What do all of these things have in common? They taste like tannins. Tannins are in tree bark, in fruit skins, and in other plants.
Tannins are usually referred to in red wines, and that's where I got the other half of the name of this blog from. I prefer full-bodied red wines, such as California Cabernet Sauvignons and Argentinian Malbecs, although I will drink pretty much any red wine out there. Once I found out what tannins were, it wasn't a surprise that I tend to like a lot of drinks on the bitter side. Have a look at the chart below. What red do you fancy?
Marlborough, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc | My Default White Wine
Since I will be referring back to the taste of Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs, I think it's only appropriate that I write up a post abuot them.
Dry, gooseberries, tropical, zesty, lingering. These are all words that describe the taste of Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs. I find that I always return to the Sauvignon Blancs that taste the least "zesty" or tart; that is -- the ones that don't have an acidic aftertaste. I have made a list of those below, from my absolute favorite on down to some good options.
For me, Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc is my Holy Grail white wine. It's got the perfect amount of dry and sweet and the aftertaste always leaves you wanting more. It's more expensive than others, but definitely worth the price. Once you have it, you see exactly why it's as pricey as it is. The bottle in the store is around $20, but don't be surprised to see this wine at around $15/glass in restaurants.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is a great option. It's almost as good as Whitehaven and is a great option if Whitehaven is not available.
The wines below are good options if neither of the two above are readily available. They are also a lot more common in restaurants and stores, but have more of that tarty aftertaste I was talking about earlier. I still buy and drink them without hesitation, though!
So there you have it. I would encourage you to try a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Especially if Riesling is more sweet than you'd like it to be and Pinot Grigio is too dry.
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Dry, gooseberries, tropical, zesty, lingering. These are all words that describe the taste of Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs. I find that I always return to the Sauvignon Blancs that taste the least "zesty" or tart; that is -- the ones that don't have an acidic aftertaste. I have made a list of those below, from my absolute favorite on down to some good options.
Whitehaven
$20For me, Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc is my Holy Grail white wine. It's got the perfect amount of dry and sweet and the aftertaste always leaves you wanting more. It's more expensive than others, but definitely worth the price. Once you have it, you see exactly why it's as pricey as it is. The bottle in the store is around $20, but don't be surprised to see this wine at around $15/glass in restaurants.
Kim Crawford
$10-15Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is a great option. It's almost as good as Whitehaven and is a great option if Whitehaven is not available.
The wines below are good options if neither of the two above are readily available. They are also a lot more common in restaurants and stores, but have more of that tarty aftertaste I was talking about earlier. I still buy and drink them without hesitation, though!
Monkey Bay
$10 or lessOyster Bay
$10 or lessNobilo
$10-12Cupcake
$10 or lessSo there you have it. I would encourage you to try a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Especially if Riesling is more sweet than you'd like it to be and Pinot Grigio is too dry.
March 11, 2017
Top 4 Easiest Wines to Drink
Years ago when I started drinking wine, I had no idea if I would like it. It took me quite a while to define what I liked in a whine and develop my own tastes. While exploring, I often wished there was someone that could give me a rundown of the different wines and how sweet, bitter, or tart they were. After many years, I have found that there are fundamental wines anyone can drink, whether you're just starting out or just not very knowledgeable about wine. Here are five wines that are smooth, and easy to drink, and readily available in stores, bars, and restaurants.
My Taste
Please read my "About Me" section to get a more comprehensive idea of my wine preferences.Riesling
Riesling is one of the sweetest white wines I have had the pleasure of having. It was my wine of choice for at least two years when I was living in Miami. Riesling is really good for going to happy hour for "just one drink" and especially for those just starting out because it's so easy to drink. It's very light, crisp, and refreshing, and as I mentioned before, pretty sweet, but not as sweet as say, Moscato. Most Rieslings I have drank came from Germany, but they are also made in California and likely many other places.White Zinfandel
White Zinfandel is considered a blush and is a great alternative for people that don't want something as sweet as Riesling. I like it because of its unique taste; it's sweet but has some citrus tartiness (but not sour), and goes with almost everything. Every White Zinfandel I have ever had came from California. My favorite was from Barefoot, but I can't find it anywhere anymore. I swear, after half a glass, I already feel the warm and fuzzies. I often seek White Zinfandel out for this reason, only to be disappointed because all wines aren't made equal and they all don't make me feel that way. I find White Zinfandel's all taste very similar, though and are usually $10 or less.Sparkling Wine
In my opinion, sparkling wine is the lightest of all the bubbles. There are different categories, so pay attention to the label if you are buying in store. If you're in a restaurant or bar, make sure to ask if it's brut or more sweet. Either way, my taste buds find sparkling wine to be the lightest and sweetest over prosecco, champagne, and especially cava. Sparkling wines are easy to drink, and I find it hard to turn down. Watch out for those hangovers, though. I always get them after over-indulging in bubbly.Pinot Noir
It's hard for me to include red wine at all in this category because they are so mysterious to me and not necessarily easy to drink. But not everyone likes sweet wines, so I chose Pinot Noir because it is the lightest red wine I have had thus far, that's more on the dry side. So, if you are having dinner and someone else is in charge of the wine selection, you should be fine with Pinot Noir unless you just don't like red wine at all. I recently had one from California that blew me away because I usually go for the tannins. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name because I heard Pinot Noir and had to be gently talked into it. There's a lesson there; don't judge a label by its cover! I shall find out what it was and get back.Domaine de la Chaise Touraine Sauvignon (2015) | France
I found myself in Whole Foods on a chilly Saturday night with a taste for white wine. I couldn't decide between Sancerre and Sauvignon Blanc, when I spotted this French Sauvignon Blanc and became immediately intrigued. Was it like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blac, or closer to California? Or maybe it was one of those in-betweeners, like from South Africa. Perhaps it was like Sancerre?
As my default is New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, I went ahead with it; a plus is that it was only $9.99, an unusual price point for Sauvignon Blanc in Whole Foods. I also loved the classic label; and yes, sometimes I get drawn in by the label rather than what's in it.
As my default is New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, I went ahead with it; a plus is that it was only $9.99, an unusual price point for Sauvignon Blanc in Whole Foods. I also loved the classic label; and yes, sometimes I get drawn in by the label rather than what's in it.
Country/Region/Year
France, Loire Valley, 2015Comparable to
South Africa Sauvignon Blanc. It's more tangy/tarty than New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. It smells delicious; very fruity, but citrusy and it tastes similar to how it smells. It's got a sharp and tangy aftertaste, which I don't generally go for, but it's not overwhelming.
Alcohol Content
12.5%
Price
$9.99/750 ml
I liked the Domaine de la Chaise Sauvignon Blanc. While I prefer Marlborough over this region, I am certainly willing to try more Sauvignon Blancs from France, as well as compare others in the region to this one. I drank it on its own, without food, but I imagine this wine would go well with fish and pastas.
