With 2015 upon us there are so many wine areas I would love to visit this year.  Below are five I hope to visit !  Some of these areas are up and coming while others are some I am sure you are familiar with. If you haven’t already made your list of wine travel locations for 2015 now is the time to start !  Here is hoping you have a new year filled with great wine, great adventures, and spent with great people .

1. The Finger lakes in New York:  This region is well known for its Rieslings, but in recent years they have seen a rise in red wine production.

2.  Virginia :  This region has gotten a lot of media attention over the last year as it continues to grow, develop, and find its voice.

3. Texas hill country:  This area may not be one you have thought of in the past but as the 5th highest wine producing state in the country they must be doing something right.

4.  Michigan Wine Country near Traverse City:  This area sits right on Lake Michigan and sits on the 45th parellel

5. Oregon :  Pinot Noir country ( Need I say more)

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Wine and a meal
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When planning a meal there is always a reason behind what you are making.  It may be something simple as you are low on time it may fancy because of a special occasion , it may be themed or one of many other factors.  One of these driving factors behind your meal may be wine.  That is correct wine can frame a meal !  Wine can help create a template on where you would like to take your meal and how the diners will experience it.  Here are some ways wine can frame your meal this evening.

Wine has the ability to to help steer the flavors of the meal.  If you speak to any sommelier they will tell you that certain wines pair better with certain foods due to things like acidity levels in the wine, how sweet the wine is, how spicy the food is, along with a number of other factors.  This being said if you decide to drink a Merlot this evening  it may not pair well with every food therefore helping to steer your food choices.

Frequently we have theme’s for our meals.  This can be because of a special occasion or time of year or just for fun.    When you chose a wine it can help you decide on your theme.  For example if you chose a Rioja from Spain it may be a great opportunity for a Spanish themed meal or Tapas party.  Maybe, you run across a pineapple wine from Hawaii which would lead perfectly into a Luau.

These are just two of many ways that wine can frame the meal you are going to prepare for dinner this evening.  So remember wine isn’t just a part of the meal it may actually help to plan your next meal.

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Do you have a favorite local wine hang out ?  Is there a place you enjoy going or have never tried and would love to check out?  Everyone has a different reason for enjoying a particular establishment.  However, I think there are a few key elements that make any wine hang out a great place to go back to time and time again.  First I think the establishment needs to have a great selection of wines at a variety of price points.  Some days you are in the mood for a tried and true Pinot Noir at a good price, and other days you are celebrating and need a exciting and different grape varietal to sample.  Next, I think it has to be comfortable.  Nobody wants to go to a hangout that you can’t enjoy.  Finally, it should be a place you want to return to and bring others along for the ride, because lets face it wine is always more enjoyable when others are present.  Below are some local places I enjoy or would love to try.  Please let us know where your favorite wine hang outs are, we would love to try them.

1.  Preservation Bread & Wine :  A great little wine bar and cafe in historic downtown Geneva,IL

2.  Acquaviva Winery :  A great place for Italian food along with a glass of local estate wine.  Located in Maple Park,IL

3. Pops for Champagne:  Dedicated to champagne and sparkling wines.  Located in Downtown Chicago

4. D.O.C Wine Bar:  a neighborhood wine bar and bistro.  Located in Chicago

5. Webster’s Wine Bar :  A place where beginners and experts a like can enjoy.  Located In Chicago

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A new year has started.  Which means new opportunities, new experiences, new places, new people, and new fun. Below are some wine regions I would love to visit or try wine from in the new year.  Where do you want to go and what do you want to try ?   Cheers and happy new year !

Arizona Wine Country 

The Finger lakes in Upstate New York

Chianti in Tuscany

Texas Wine Country

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What inspires art ? Is wine art ?  It can be said that great wines, vineyards, and wineries can inspire great artwork of many forms.  Many artists create art based off of what they are passionate about, inspires them, and keeps them up at night.  These artists also create there works using a variety of mediums.  This is what makes art so unique and inspired.  Like great art, wine can be looked upon similarly.

 Winemakers are often looked upon as artists.  They create wine that is inspired by the grapes of great vineyards and the passion to create something that can be enjoyed.  These artists also use a variety of mediums to create there master works.  They use different grapes from different regions in order to create different aromas and flavors.  They bottle there works of art in different types of containers of different sizes with different works of art on them.  Art is also created for many different reasons and often best enjoyed in different ways.  Some is best enjoyed in a museum, while some is best viewed outdoors, while there are some that need to be interacted with.   Wine is similar in that the winemaker has a vision on how to best enjoy there works of art.  Some wine is best enjoyed with food,  while some is best enjoyed by itself, and others are best to be sipped before or after a meal.  Finally, some art will increase in great value over time or become of great cultural importance.  This can be said of wine as well.  There are certain great wines that will not only increase in price over time but also come to there full potential over time.  There are even great wineries, and wine luminaries that have come to great cultural importance as well.  

As you can see great art and wine share more in common than originally thought. So next time you open a magnificent bottle of wine think of the artist behind what you are drinking.  For those of you who are artists and wine lovers please send us a picture of your masterful works of art so we can post them.

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Do you view wine only as a drink ?  Or do you view it as possibly something larger.  Let me explain.  As part of our Mission statement states:  “We believe that wine is more than a drink, we believe that it is a lifestyle and culture to be enjoyed.”  One of the ways we believe this to be true is by viewing wine as entertainment (and no I don’t mean drinking to much of it and doing something ridiculous).  What I mean is that wine can be a good source of creating entertainment. Examples include movies, TV shows, music, and board games.  Since wine is such a broad topic it can lead to many fun and interesting ways to entertain ourselves.  Below is a list of some wine entertainment you should check out.  Remember wine is more than a drink.

1.  Movies: Bottle Shock, Blood into Wine, Somm

2.  Books:  The House of Mondavi, Napa: The Story Of A American Eden, The Billionaire’s Vinegar

3.  Games:  Wine Wars:  A Trivia Game For Wine Geeks and Wannabes, Wine Smarts Game 2.0, Wine Party Game

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Wine tasting parties are as varied as hosts throwing them.  However, they seem to have some common themes.  The first is the most obvious and that is tasting wine.  The second which is equally important is enjoying the experience with friends and family.  If these two elements exist you are bound to have a great time.  Below you will find my latest experience at a wine tasting party.  If you have never been make it your mission to be a part of one in the new year as you won’t be disappointed !

This past week I had the pleasure of being a part of a wine tasting party that my good friends threw.  The concept was ingenious yet fun for the wine lover to the casual wine drinker. The ultimate goal was to see if we could decipher which wine was more expensive. Every couple that came to the party had to bring two bottles of wine of the same varietal.  One of the bottles had to be $10 or below and the other had to be $20 and above.  The hosts of the party had brown bags that went over each bottle as the guests brought the wine in, and one of the bottles was labeled with “A” and the other with “B”.  When it came time to start the host opened the first pair and every guest had a glass labeled “A” and one labeled “B” .  We than proceeded to try the wine and mingle with guests while enjoying tasty appetizers.  When we were done tasting we voted by using our glasses.  We placed each glass on one of two sides of a table that had been split in half.  One half representing the less expensive wine and one representing the more expensive wine.  The host did the reveal and each of us got a point if we guessed correctly.  The twist was that the people who brought the wine couldn’t vote.  However, they could earn a point if more than half the group guessed wrong on the wines they brought. Finally whoever had the most points at the end of the evening won a prize.

Through out the evening we all had our own strategies and some of us changed our strategies through out the evening.  However, a few things were clear as the evening came to a close.  The experience of wine is to be shared with great family and friends, It is to be enjoyed with great food and It is to be shared with great conversations.  One thing was made clear at the end of the event, just because a wine is more or less expensive doesn’t mean it can’t be amazing!  Keep tasting you will never know what you stumble upon.

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Renovated 1915 school house winery of L'Ecole No 41

After returning from Walla Walla Washington recently from a relaxing wine vacation I am compelled to share about some of the amazing wineries I had the pleasure to visit and enjoy.

Walla Walla is split into four areas.  There is the westside, southside, downtown, and the eastside.  Each of these areas is unique and showcases Walla Walla in a different way.  The westside of town has some of the oldest wineries in it along with some bigger name wineries.  The southside has some of the most beautiful vineyards and views of the blue mountains.  The downtown district has a wide variety of tasting rooms from many wineries along with different restaurants and shops to visit.  The eastside of town has a few wineries with surrounding vineyards but also a unique area by the airport where many old military buildings have been turned into wineries.  Also, in this area is a wine incubator where  there are five buildings that house new wineries and allows them five years in the building to get up and running before they have to leave and allow a new winery to enter.  Each of these areas houses many amazing wineries.  Below are some of the ones we had the pleasure of visiting and enjoying.

To the West of town we enjoyed a number of wineries but two that stood out to me was Reininger and L’Ecole No 41.  The first winery of the trip we visited was Reininger and it was a great one to start with as the tasting room staff was incredibly kind and knowledgeable.  The winery also has a great line up of moderately priced wines along with a higher end line up.  There line up on wine variatels was great and we are looking forward to popping open the 08 Reininger Syrah.  The second winery of note is L’Ecole No 41.  This winery is housed in a renovated school house from 1915.  This is the third oldest winery in Walla Walla and they are consistent on producing great wines.

To the South is where you will find some of the most scenic views of the blue mountains and the surrounding vineyards.  Three wineries that stood out in this region were Saviah Cellars, Morrison Lane, and Gifford Hirlinger.  Each of these presented a different feel and breadth of Walla Walla valley wines.  At Saviah Cellars they had a great selection of wines at many price points.  We are looking forward to enjoying there 09 Big Sky Cuvee.  At Morrison Lane you get to see a winery using many unique grape varietals that you don’t see everyday from a Cinsault to a Counoise.  The view of the blue mountains from the wineries front doors are stellar.  The third winery to check out is Gifford Hirlinger.  This winery has a simple and modern feel with very approachable wine.  This place sits on the boarder of Washington and Oregon.

The view from Morrison Lane's from Door

Next we head to the east where many of the wineries are located in in the airport district with a few dotted outside that area.  Two places to check out here include A’Maurice Cellars and Dunham Cellars.  At A’Maurice Cellars you will travel to the edge of the vineyard.  The tasting room staff is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about wine.  All the wines on there list are fantastic but I am excited to try there 09 Malbec.  The other winery to check out is located in the airport district.  This is Dunham Cellars.  Here you will enjoy a large tasting area to experience your wine and just relax with friends.  Through out the year Dunham hosts a number of winemaker dinners as well. Also, enjoy some of the artwork on the bottles as this comes from one of the owners.

Finally is the downtown district.  We didn’t have the opportunity to fully experience the downtown tasting rooms.  However, if you are looking for a place to leisurely walk from tasting to tasting this is the place to do just that.  Not to mention the great food and beautiful downtown.  Some suggestions we were given by other wineries to check out down town include Cadaretta and Fort Walla Walla cellars  ( if you have tried either of these or others in the downtown area let us know).

As you can see there are many places to try and enjoy.  This is only a small cross section of the wineries you will find.  Walla Walla does a great job of delivering a relaxing wine experience and great wine.  So hop in your car or grab a flight to Walla Walla wine country you won’t be disappointed by the wineries you discover and experience.

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Photo Taken From Tripadvisor

Why should we be excited about wine?   Most of the time when a beverage comes up in conversation or you read about it, the only thing that is said about it is if it was enjoyed and would we drink it again.  Wine is more Than a rating or comment.  Wine can help sway  our travel plans, our meal plans, and even who we spend a evening with.  Not only can wine do that but most of the time when wine dictates these things we are sure to have a wonderful and enjoyable experience.

You ask how can wine sway us in our travel plans?  Many people make travel plans based on a wine region ( Yes I am one of them).  You may say how boring.  However, quite the opposite.  Some amazing wine regions are in some amazing and beautiful locations.  Check out Napa or Sonoma or how about Washington State or Oregon.  If you are in the mood for something more far flung escape to Argentina, Chile, or South Africa.  These places not only have amazing wine but amazing sites to explore.  So for your next vacation explore the region where your favorite wine comes from.

You also may ask how can wine sway us on our food choices or the company we keep for the evening.  You will find that many people may chose a cuisine to cook or restaurant to visit based on the wine they enjoy or the wine lists the establishments possess.  Pairing the right wine with the right food can bring about a depth and enjoyment in the food and wine you can’t always find by themselves.  Not only that but who we chose to share these experiences with may be dictated on if that person enjoys wine or what kind of wine they enjoy.  Who, wants to go to a restaurant you have being dieing to try with a wine you have been dreaming about only to find out that the person you are with doesn’t really care.  This may ruin some of the experience.

So as you can see wine is more than a beverage that tastes good.  It is something to get excited about.  It can help to sway our experiences and shape the people we hang out with and the food we enjoy.  It is a powerful persuader but a extremely enjoyable one !

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Tasting three Cabs

Step on up!  Don’t be shy, wine tasting is fun, exciting, and one of the best ways to learn what you do and don’t like.  The rules are easy, the opportunities many.  Wine tastings come in all shapes and sizes.  You can find them at your local wine or liquor store, at your local watering hole, in a friends home, or other exciting or exotic locales.  So lets get started.

1. Decide what you are looking for in a wine tasting.  Do you want to try one particular varietal from different regions, different vintages from one winery,  One region, or a melting pot of many wines.

2. Look for a location in your area that is having the particular tasting you are looking for.  check your local restaurants, wine shops, bars, or one of the many websites out there.  One of my favorites is  http://www.localwineevents.com/

3. Check on the price of the tasting.  This can vary so make sure you pay attention to what the cost is and what is included.  Some variations I have seen are the free tasting and the tasting that has a entrance fee which includes a souvenir glass along with a specified amount of tastings.  I am sure there are many more options so be sure you know before going.

4. Pick some amazing people to go with.  (you can go by yourself but it always is more fun with others)

5.  Once arraving make sure to wander around to see what is available and what you may be interested in.  Also, don’t be affraid to ask questions of who is pouring your wine.  Half the fun is learning what is in your glass.

6.  Enjoy!!

Tips:

-If there something you don’t enjoy or care for there is almost always a place to pour out what is in your glass.

-Ask for water to rinse out your glass

– If need be rest your palate between tasting wines it is not a race you want to make sure you enjoy what is in your glass.

-Take notes

Over the many tastings I have been to it never ceases to amaze me how many amazing wines are out there.  So make sure to try new things, ask questions, and have fun you are drinking wine after all !

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