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If it's a normal cork, I vote on the side or upside down. You want to keep the cork wet so it doesn't let air in, at least that's my understanding.
Hope that helps :)
Tim
Anti-Wine Snob Brigade. The revolution is on!
Hugs
Jen
I am a fan of white wines to the disgust of many of my friends and co-workers. Albeit, I am just a noob when it comes to wines. I am just beginning my journey into the wine-world, for years I have immersed myself in the fine tastes of liquor, but now, as my tastes grow and evolve I am starting to like wines. I thought that I should begin with whites as they are a bit sweeter and not too bitter, as my wine loving parents have told me. Also, being from Canada there is no shortage of ice wines in our house. But back on subject, I like whites for their sweet simplistic nature, which also pairs beautifully with the food in my diet which consists mainly of veggies, chicken breast and fish.
If you're feeling up to it, have a apperitif glass of Niagara ice wine VQA with dark chocolate (taking a hint from your past post about your trip to the "Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory").
Cheers
C
You will have to make your way down to Australia for a mini-retirement. We have a bunch of great wine regions and a variety of sensational wines. And we aren't too snobby about who drinks what. Shiraz from McLaren Vale in SA, Semillion from Hunter Valley, Riesling from Clare Valley SA, Cabernet from Margaret River WA. Then there is arguably the best red in the world...Grange Hermitage Shiraz from SA.
Come on down and enjoy.
My best friend has a website called Anti Wine Snob and when I saw the title of your blog post on my Google Reader, I thought maybe you had written something about it! Her site is fairly new and trying to generate traffic, so my heart skipped a beat for a second.
Alas, no link or mention of her site :-(
The article you wrote sounds very much like the sort of stuff she writes and you should check her site out some time. You sound a bit like kindred spirits (no pun intended) when it comes to wine.
If you're feeling particularly philanthropic and want to help a really cool person out you could even make a little mention of it on your site. You have such a huge following (myself included) that I know it would send some much needed traffic her way.
Anyway, thanks for all the great advice on "Lifestyle Design." I'm slowly trying to incorporate some of this stuff into my own life!
Cheers,
...Sam
Or, if you really, really want to be bored out of your skull, you can visit my site (full of my pontifications about health care).
I've got a link to her site in my sidebar.
Cheers,
Sam
I am beginning to find with your blog posts that I am getting a bit of information overload. What you've got to say is damn important and it's great stuff, but it's hard to think about the ideas in your book when all of these blog posts are competing for my attention.
I know there is a huge demand out there for what you write about, but I think it would be more beneficial for people if you did a post say once every two to three weeks.
That way your being congruent with your low information diet and the quality of what your saying has more impact.
Just a thought
Gordon
Kudos to you and Gary for bringing wine back down to earth.
Tim, what is your opinion on transhumanism in general and longevity in particular? We will be putting up an interview with Aubrey de Grey shortly, stay tuned for that (yes, it will be in English, not Swedish like the rest of the site).
Oh, and another question, have thought about learning the Danish language? Forstår du lidt af sproget? ;)
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Hi Ravenwood,
To be honest, I'm not that familiar with transhumanism. Danish, on the other hand, I'd love to learn. However, it might be hard to practice considering nearly all of you seem to speak English well :)
Tim
Since you will be in the UK next week, try picking up these BBC DVDs
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jamess-Big-Wine-Adventu...
Quite funny to see the odd couple "wine ponce and no-nonsense petrol-head" on a road trip Sideways' style.
And, since you like your chocolate ... this chocolate is quite "hype" at the moment after a TV series on Channel 4 about how it was produced.
http://www.selfridges.com/index.cfm?page=1158&a...
Hmm, being Belgian it's difficult for me to be promoting UK chocolate ;-)
Cheers,
Greg
1) breath in
2) take a slip
3) exhale through your nose slowly
4) swallow
And then you'll feel that all the taste from the wine will come up in your nose and you will be able to identify a few things like the fruits flavors, spices, etc.
Al
Because I was close to someone in the industry last year, I had an opportunity to attend all kinds of tastings -- wine, tequila, scotch and more. It was a blast and I learned a lot.
As an amateurish enthusiast, I will share my preferences and hope it inspires people to try something they haven't tried before.
Reds:
I've never met a Zinfandel I didn't like. I'm not great with remembering names, but know that Liar's Dice by Murphy-Goode is reasonable (about $20) and highly enjoyable. Last Thanksgiving, I had a dessert Zin (fortified, I think) which was unexpected and awesome.
Second to Zin in my book are Rhone varietals, which are typically blends. I find them easy to drink yet sufficiently complex.
Whites:
Personally, I do not like citrus-inspired Chardonnays. Peachy and buttery are more my taste, but knowing which is which before ordering is dicey. Instead, I typically stick with the sweeter German and Austrian whites - Riesling, Gewurtztriminer, Auslace, etc. They make me smile. And, I'm glad that Norman referenced Icewine above - I love the stuff (and "late harvest" wines, too). Cheers!
Rat tail, huh? I'll be darned. The little details you share...
Dare (a wine importer - of course ;)
For anyone interested in learning to taste properly or develop their palette, I suggest going to your local wine bar for a tasting night. In most places these are laid back, educational affairs. Make friends with the sommelier and be honest about your likes and dislikes. He or she can point you in the direction of good wines and reasonable prices that will meet your criteria.
Tip generously and you may have a friend for life.
I definitely agree with the guy above who mentioned tasting straight from the barrel. The wine tour is the best way to experience the wine, great food (key to really appreciating it), and wine culture. Come visit the Northwest - you won't be disappointed!
We Europeans are a bit hurt by the 'up-and-coming Portugal' ;)
But a good post nonetheless.
Filip
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Hi Filip,
No offense intended. Just that most of us non-cultured Americans are only now discovering Portuguese wine :)
Tim
It's a great way to learn about the wines, especially when you try similar varietals from different vineyards or, over time, from different years. The wineries around me charge $1-2 (or often free) for a half dozen tastes, and are happy to answer questions.
My poll answer is that I drink a lot of whites, because I love exploring the local wines, and this area has great whites - especially rieslings.
As something of a wine lover, if you want to assemble a list of questions from readers, and then I'll answer them for you, that'd be cool.
Shalom aleichem,
Pete
Not that the info your providing is not interesting or informative but its kinda distracting. :)
btw..I am just finishing 'The E-myth Revisited' and it is fantastic. I highly recommend it to everyone thinking of starting their own business.
Have you tried "herding cats" merlot/ pinotage from South Africa? You'll find it in most grocery stores & under $10 (sorry, not under $5 - but worth a splurge! :) Lili
For great out-of-vogue wines, and one of the best wine educations you can get, check out Bonny Doon. I learned more in my first visit to their Santa Cruz winery (okay, that and a few weeks of trying their wines) than in my first several visits to Napa and Sonoma combined. Plus, you have to love a winery whose website contains hidden links to Albert Hofmann's.
Oh, and I'll second, third, and fourth your advice about over-chilled whites. The fridge is great for making a mediocre white palatable for a party; otherwise something much closer to room temperature is the way to go. Incidentally, I think the reason super-chilled whites are so popular is the tendency for California chardonnays to be oaked to the gills with 100% malolactic fermentation--all butter and sugar, in other words, which can get overwhelming.
Come to think of it (sorry for rambling)--easily the most under-the-radar grape from the Napa/Sonoma area is Sauvignon Blanc. It's a cinch to find a $10-$15 bottle that will draw more 'ooh's and 'aah's than virtually any chardonnay under, say, $40 (or whatever Grgich is selling for these days).
What absolute fun it was to meet you on Saturday...we loved every minute....
thanks, too, for the photo and mention of the Late Harvest SB!
really nice of you!
...the sheep are still giggling amongst themselves and wondering when everyone will be back...
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Thanks, Jann! We all had a wonderful time, and you absolutely must share your braised lamb recipe. It was AMAZING ;)
Tim
I emailed the Mexican fisherman story to my brother in law in LA because I found it fascinating. His respomse threw me a bit though: he said, "Yes but I'm glad when I'm 80 I won't HAVE to fish to get by." Then I began to question your whole concept: What happens when you do become old, or disabled, or weak and tired and can't do it anymore. If you haven't followed the traditional path and saved for retirement what do you do then?
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Hi Ed,
The two aren't mutually exclusive, so you can still generate serious revenue and save, but you don't sacrifice your life to do it. I'll have a post on investing coming up soon, but rest assured that our Mexican fisherman will have family and friends to help care for him when he's older, even after he stops fishing at 70 or 80.
Hope that helps,
Tim
I'm now more interested in the imminent barrel tour given what I've learned. Two other important notes: with web 2.0 on the way, there's soon to be an opportunity to make your own wine from the comfort of your own computer. I'm not an owner or investor or anything, but when I found an outfit in San Francisco named Crushpad and mentioned it to a wine lover, he went ga ga. A week later he had his own business plan for making his own Cab, label and all. Second, I suspect we'll see Portugese popularity continue to grow; here in Spain the word is that the best coffee in the world is Portugese, why not the wine?
Thanks for the learning.
A palette is what artists use to mix paints on.
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LOL... damn, you're right. I'll get that one fixed. Can someone please invent a "logic checker" to go with my spell-checker? :)
Tim
Jose Castro-Frenzel
ps Could not think of a good closing word, better less than more and it be dumb...LOL
My parents bought a set of these glasses. They saw them in one of the wine magazines. They have a notch cut in the rim so your nose gets farther into the bowl while you drink. I thought it was stupid but Tim is spot on with his #3 point.
My parents had us do a side by side with some tasting glasses we had got them for their anniversary and there was a world of difference.
As promised, here's the post...
I travelled two and a half hours last night to come to that event. Hence I turned up at 8.30. I left at just before 10 (as you know), and got back at 12.40.
About 5 hours travelling for about an hour and a half of time there.
Was it worth it? Absolutely!
Firstly, an apology: I didn't really come to meet you. Don't get me wrong, hearing you speak and answer questions (even for only half an hour) was worth the cost alone. However, what I was more interested in was the other people who'd come.
I didn't manage to get around anyone (simply down to a lack of time), but those that I did meet all had one thing in common: whether they'd read the book, or just the blog, you'd made an impact in their lives. Some have left their jobs to go and do new things, some are changing the directions of their professional lives, some are embarking on entirely new lifestyles as a result of your teachings... The list goes on.
So what I want to say, on behalf of all of them, and myself is this:
Thank you.
What you have done is incredible, but what you're helping others do, by your example and through the book and blog is (to my mind at least) even more remarkable. You have, are, and will continue to change people's lives, and that's a great gift. You're a truly inspiration person, and I'm honoured to have been able to hear you talk, and to have shaken your hand.
Thank you for your time. It was invaluable.
Shalom aleichem,
Pete
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Dear Pete,
Thank you so very much for your kind words and for coming to the event last night. It was overwhelming for me (in a good way).
I remember all the editors and publishers who turned down the book, all of the doubts I had as I was told what it would never become, that no one would embrace it, etc. To see that it has made the light of day and helped even a few people makes it all worth it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Thanks to you and the other people who came out for making my trip to the UK one to remember!
All the best,
Tim
Dear Pete,
Thank you so very much for your kind words and for coming to the event last night. It was overwhelming for me (in a good way).
I remember all the editors and publishers who turned down the book, all of the doubts I had as I was told what it would never become, that no one would embrace it, etc. To see that it has made the light of day and helped even a few people makes it all worth it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Thanks to you and the other people who came out for making my trip to the UK one to remember!
All the best,
Tim
Thought I’d join your UK fan club in tagging a comment onto this post. It was a pleasure to meet you the other night and I couldn’t agree more with Pete that you’re a real inspiration.
Any chance you could remind me of the URL you mentioned for the guys that do web designs that you can review and comment on before you pay?
Also just wanted to warn you that if you’re planning on taking that bottle of Sauternes to Denmark, UK airports are real Nazis about taking liquids through in hand-luggage and you wouldn’t want to have to give decent stuff up to some security guard! Turned out to be a wine-related comment after all ;)
James
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Hi James,
I ended up getting the wine through, but that's another story! Thanks for the kind words and for coming out. It was so much fun, and I have the bottle of wine with me in Copenhagen.
The site you need is: http://99designs.com/
Enjoy :)
Tim
Hi James,
I ended up getting the wine through, but that's another story! Thanks for the kind words and for coming out. It was so much fun, and I have the bottle of wine with me in Copenhagen.
The site you need is: http://99designs.com/
Enjoy :)
Tim
Another incredible resource you've given us! That's why I absolutely LOVE your blog...not only for what I learn from you, but from your oh-so-generous subscribers.
Keeps my muse going!!!!
I'm trying to learn to love wine, while still keeping my abs in check.
I've got clients who love wine, yet can't figure out why they have a fat belly sitting on their stomach and when I tell them to stop, just for a week, they tell me wine is good for them because of the antioxidants. and won't. Some do take me up and realize that alcohol, in excess, will make you gain, and keep, fat...and lots of it.
Ed
Rick
Their enthusiasm for wine (and one another) comes through in their writing and is completely infectious. Neither one started out with any particular background in wine. They were just curious and wanted to learn. One key underlying theme in their writing is that people should experiment, approach wine with an attitude of fun, and learn to trust their own opinions.
I’ve gone on to do just that and am now quite passionate on the subject of wines. (To the point that I think I just transported as many boxes of wine as books to my new place in Portland.)
Wine is definitely one of the finer pleasures of life... right up there with really good chocolate. :)
I just received this from one of France's wine experts, a lovely woman who writes for the Revue des Vins de France (the most respected industry review in the country). Thought I'd share...
Which are the perfect wines for women?
Sauternes, obviously. I'd go for Château Climens, produced by a woman (Bérénice Lurton) in the Sauternes-Barsac appelation. The Sauternes from Barsac are said to show more minerality than regular Sauternes and Climens is said to be the only sauternes wine able to compete with Yquem (in terms of finesse (excuse my French!), elegance and aging potential).
Then Champagne, naturally. Carol Duval-Leroy produces a "Femme" cuvée that is quite famous. Or you have the "Amour" cuvée by Deutz. But to push the caricature even further, I'd go for a Champagne rosé. Obviously not the one from Krug (look at the price, it's scary!!) which is already the flagship of the gay community in Miami... But that's the thing : quite a few women wines are also gay wines! So probably the Brut Rosé from Bollinger. It's brand new, just been created and released in the UK. Bollinger is James Bond's Champagne so I guess the marketing people at Bolly wanted the James Bond girls to have their own as well. Or is it for the gay James Bond inside Sean Connery ? Or does is mean Ruppert Everett is going to be the next James Bond ??? hihi... Yes I'm having a lot of fun!
And what to pick for the third wine? Just plain rosé is popular, in the sweet and cheap New World version they call "blush" or a "real" European dry rosé, which they call gastronomic rosé nowadays... But the latter might be complex and require some (wine) education, so that can't agree with women (simplistic and wrong ? no ! marketing-oriented and performance-based ! I hate marketing people!). Or port and sherry... or for that matter, all the sweet fortified grand'ma wines. But that's another marketing caricature. You also have Chardonnay : Bridget Jones' Chardonnay. The movie is said to have had a very positive impact on Chardonnay sales in the UK. SO let's look back, we have selected women wines that have charactéristics related to women : they're either sweet, simple or sparkling... How about a women wine that echoes to the characteristics of a man that women would fall in love with? The wine would have to be reliable, strong but not rough, fresh but not too thin, not too strong (in alcohol)... Well it echoes with how Angelo Gaja describes hte grape of his wines, Nebbiolo, as opposed to Cabernet Sauvignon, the international star : he says Nebbiolo is a Marcello Mastrojani character (with style and a mischievous grin), while Cabernet Sauvignon is John Wayne : broad, strong, unmistakable. Gaja says "You expect John Wayne to make love to you every saturday night at 9PM sharp for a precise 30 minutes. With Marcello, you never know how, when and where. Once you know that, you pick the character that suits you best". I kinda like the idea... So I'd definetely go for a Nebbiolo wine, possibily from Gaja, if I have the money!
by Anne Serres