Wine Events for the Inland Empire Area for the Week of May 19 thru May 24

For seasoned and new wine drinkers alike that want to experience the events of this week, here are the upcoming events:

1. Event: “Heidi’s Picks…Wine Tasting”
Where: At the San Dimas Wine Shop & Tasting Room
When: Tue., May 19 through May 24 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The host, Heidi has personally picked her favorites for this wine tasting event week. Trust me, she has an excellent palate. You will not be disappointed. Price for this event is $13.99 per person.

For more information, go to: San Dimas Wine Shop & Tasting Room
Located at:
225 W. Bonita AvenueSan Dimas, CA 91773
Phone: 909-971-9425

2. Event: “Rhone Valley - Wine Tasting Wednesdays”
Where: abd256 Gallery Wine Bar
When: Wed., May 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. & Sat., May 23 from 2pm to 5 p.m.

This week is wine from the regions of Rhone Valley and Santa Barbara. Wines in this event are Ovene 2005 Viognier, Camino Real Wines 2006 Syrah, M. Chapoutier 2006 Croze-Hermitage, Colombo 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape. Price: $12 per person

For more information go to: http://www.dba256.com/436/index.html
Located at:

256 S. Main Street, Pomona, CA 91766
Private wine tasting is available. Call 909-623-7600

3. Event: “Flight Night with Bo Bianchi from Bianchi Winery”
Where: Azo Vino Art Gallery & Wine Bar
When: Thurs., May 21 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This week, Bo Bianchi from Bianchi Winery in Paso Robles will be at Azo Vino this Thursday to Host this weeks Flight Night. Price $15.99 per person.

Located at:
144 W. Badillo St
Covina, CA
Phone: (626) 732-9827 Call ahead for reservations

4. Event: “Italian Wine Night”
Where: Packing House Wine Merchants
When: Fri., May 22 and Sat., May 23 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This week is the “Italian Wine Night” where Packing House Wine Merchants has selected six different Italian wines for your pleasure. The Italians know how to make good wine. Price: $15-$20

For more information, go to: Packing House Wine Merchants

Located at:
540 W. First Street
Claremont, CA
Phone: (909) 445-WINE

5. Event:: “Wine & Style Fashion Show Extravaganza”
Where: WineStyles Claremont
When: Thurs., May 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

This week is a wine and fashion show event. Isabell Dee from Isabella Dee Boutique will be co-hosting this event at WineStyles to bring you mini treatments, and Botox treatments by GIA Laser Aesthetics. Enjoy these luxuries with a glass of fine wine. Price for event is: $15 (Botox treatments are additional)
(Potions of the event proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society)

For more information, go to: WineStyles
Located at:
201 N. Indian Hill Blvd, Suite A-100
Claremont, CA
Reservations for this event is encouraged. Email your RSVP to: ejoseph@winestyles.net

6. Event: “Cool Wines and The Blues at the Sycamore Inn”
Where: The Sycamore Inn
When: Thur., May 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This week is music by Gino Mateo and Chris White and a great selection of wine. Price for event: $25 per person

For more information, go to: The Sycamore Inn
Located at:
8318 Foothill Blvd.Rancho Cucamonga, CA

If you attend any of these events, please be sure to tell them, Michael J from Lifestyle Food & Wine sent you.

Where to Find Good Cheap Wines

I talk a lot about going to tasting events and wine boutiques a lot, but that’s assuming that money is no object. Am I right? I feel like I am leaving out the average Joe, where $15 can go a long way, especially in this tight economy.

Today, I am dedicating this segment to on how to finding a good cheap bottle of wine at your local stores, like Trader Joe's, Stater Bros., and Vons.

Trader Joe’s is a hot spot for fresh produce and organic foods. They also carry a selection of wines that are around $2 per bottle, also known as “Two Buck Chuck”. But the question is, “How does it taste?”

Two Buck Chuck is actually not the name of the wine. It is bottled by Bronco Winery and owned by Charles Shaw. The nick name came from the wine press, but the name has stuck ever since. This brand of wine comes in eight types of vintages including, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, White Zinfandel, and Valdiguie, and Pinot Grigio. Not all Trader Joe stores will carry all eight brands at one time, but they will always carry Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay since these are the most popular.

As far as taste, it isn’t the best in the world, but enjoyable and the best quality for the price. The 2007 Chardonnay received a 98 point rating and voted Best of California and Best of Class, while the 2002 Shiraz bested over 2,300 wines and a double gold medal.

At Stater Bros. you can find the Douglass Hill’s wines for under $2 as well. And guess what? These wines are produced by Bronco Winery as well. There’s not much else I can add, because it literally is the same wine, just a different label.

Vons (Safeway), another popular southern California grocery chain carries other brands of wine that is below $4 per bottle starting with the Searidge, California Syrah for $3 per bottle. This vintage has a decent nose of berries. It finishes rather bitter, but it’s not too bad for the price.

Another bottle I discovered from Vons is the Bin 99, 2006 Lindemans, Pinot Noir priced at $3. This is a smoky, yet peppery wine with brown and deep red tones. It sounds good, but I recommend letting this breathe a bit. If you have a wine aerator, I recommend using it to speed the oxygenating process.

For more on wines under $10, go to my previous article: Smoking Loon - Best Wine Label under $10

Storing Wine Do's and Don'ts

Ever wonder why some people keep wine in caves and underground cellars? The optimum temperature for wine to keep is at 55 degrees with a humidity level of 70 percent. Wine must be kept still and out of sunlight. Seems like a lot of work just to keep a single bottle of wine.

One of the many follies of being a new owner of a bottle of wine was keeping it too long at the wrong temperatures. In the past, at times, I would buy a bottle of good wine and I would save it for a special occasion. Often times, that special occasion never came. When I finally opened the bottle, it tasted like vinegar. The reason was due to poor storage. Here are a few simple rules on how to store wine in your own home.

For wine to keep, it must be stored in an area that is between 68 and 73 degrees. The temperature must never reach above 75 degrees. If wine is exposed to temperatures above 75 degrees, it will oxidize. The complexity and properties of the wine changes, thus its flavor will change. This is not the intent of the wine maker.

I have found that a lot of people like to display there wines on racks on the kitchen counter as decoration. Unless your house is at a constant temperature below 73 degrees, this is not a preferred way to store wine, unless you never plan on turning off the air conditioning or don’t plan on opening the bottles.

The preferred way to store a bottle of wine is in a temperature controlled wine refrigerator, but like most people, a wine refrigerator is not in your house. Unless you are a wine collector, it isn’t necessary to own one. The best way to store wine when a refrigerator is not available is to keep it near ground level in a dark area, like a cabinet or pantry.
Back in the day, I used to put bottles of wine on the plant shelves, because I thought it looked sophisticated. That is pure comedy. Don't do this, unless you've already drinken it and you put Kool-aid in its place and recork it.

Another way to preserve your wine is to not disturb it. Moving the bottles and vibrations will negatively affect the wine. If you have to store it in the hall closet, then keep it there.

Another thing to keep in mind is to keep the bottle on its side. This is keeping in mind that you’ve purchased a wine with natural cork. Keeping the bottle on its side keeps the cork moist.

More often, winemakers are using synthetic corks or screw caps to seal the wines. The reason is 3 percent of all produced wines are tainted with trichloroanisole. This is caused by bad corks. The result from a tainted cork does not change the properties of the wine, but it alters the flavor. To prevent this from happening, many winemakers are switching to synthetic corks to reduce that down from 3 percent to 0 percent loses.

So the next time you purchase a bottle of wine, you have a better idea of how to store it for months or years to come.

Coming Wine Tasting Events in the Inland Empire Area

For seasoned and new wine drinkers alike that want to experience the events of this week, here are the upcoming events:

Event: “Blind Tasting Event”
Where: At the San Dimas Wine Shop & Tasting Room.
When: Tue., May 12 through May 17 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The host, Heidi will be presenting six wines in brown paper bags. With only two hints, this game will have you guessing. Price for this event is $14.99 per person.
For more information, go to: San Dimas Wine Shop & Tasting Room

Located at:
225 W. Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, CA
Phone: 909-971-9425

Event: “Wine Tasting Wednesdays”
Where: dba256 Gallery Wine Bar
When: Wed., May 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. & Sat., from 2pm to 5 p.m.

This week is the taste of Sonoma. Wines in this event are Rutz Cellars Maison 2005 Grand Cru Chardonnay, Lamier 2007 Pinot Noir, Wild Oak 2007 Merlot, and a VinNostro 2007 Zinfandel. Price: $12 per person
For more information go to: dba256 Gallery Wine Bar

Located at:
256 S. Main Street
Pomona, CA
Private wine tasting is available. Call 909-623-7600

Event: “Wednesday New Arrival Tasting”
Where: Pacific Wine Merchants
When: Wed., May 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Pacific Wine Merchants will select from new and old vintage favorites for everyone to enjoy. Price: $12 per person
For more information, go to: Pacific Wine

Located at:
210 East A Street
Upland, CA
Phone: 909-946-6782

Event(s): "Stone Brewing" & “Flight Night”
Where: Azo Vino Art Gallery & Wine Bar
When: Stone Brewing - Wed., May 13 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Flight Night - Thurs., May 14 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Host Galen Metz takes you on a tour of a specific region and he chooses what you taste for that evening. On Wednesday night is Brew tasting night and Thursday is reserved for the Flight Night wine tasting event. Every event is different and each beverage and wine is hand picked by Metz himself. Event price: $15.99 per person.

Located at:
144 W. Badillo St
Covina, CA
Phone: (626) 732-9827 Call ahead for reservations

Event: “Red, Wine, & Blues”
Where: Packing House Wine Merchants
When: Fri., May 15 and Sat., May 16 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This week is the “Blend of Blends”. Packing House Wine Merchants has selected six different red wine blends from regions all over the world. Enjoy live jazz music from Buck Wildstar on Saturday. Price: $15-$20
For more information, go to: Packing House Wine Merchants

Located at:
540 W. First Street
Claremont, CA
Phone: (909) 445-WINE

Enjoy and drink responsibly!

Cold Stone Offers Alternatives to the Calorie Infested Ice Cream of Old

One of the better known creameries is Cold Stone. They are famous for the creamy creations and the mixing process on a granite-stone slab. With over 1,400 stores and counting nationwide, this tasty establishment can be found in almost every city in America. But, are they to blame for making people fat? Maybe not, but they aren’t helping.

Since 1988, Cold Stone has been serving up some of the best ice cream, but until recently, they were known as one of the most, if not the most fattening ice creams on the market today. In a Newsweek article on May 22, 2008, a study was conducted on the six most fattening ice creams and Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Peanut Butter was number one with 360 calories and 24 grams of fat. Does that seem high to you? That is nothing.

On Calorielab.com, the website lists all of Cold Stones menu items and the ice cream with the most calories is the Candy Land with 965 calories, 59 grams of fat, and 115 grams of carbs. All of that is just in the kids size. If you opt for the “gotta have it” size, that is packed with 1,720 calories, 89 grams of fat, and 221 grams of carbs. This ice cream concoction is a combination of cake batter ice cream, Snickers, M&Ms, Kit Kat, in a dipped chocolate waffle cone.

One serving of this ice cream has enough calories for an entire day. The good thing is not all of Cold Stones deserts are as bad. Earlier this year, they released some healthier alternatives like the Sinless cake batter ice cream which has about 50 percent less calories and up to 95 percent less fat. Also launched this year is the Sinless yogurt and Sinless sorbet. While Sinless yogurt has more flavor and creamier texture, the Sinless sorbet has fewer calories, and NO fat. With healthier conscience people in mind, this new menu may attract more customers.

So, if you’re craving something sweet, but you were one of those people who stayed away from Cold Stone due of the lack of healthier options, be sure to check out their new menu and feel better knowing you don’t have sacrifice a whole days worth of food to enjoy good ice cream.

West Covina's Best Kept Secret, One World Vegetarian Restaurant

Located in an unsuspecting location of West Covina behind Edwards Cinema is One World Vegetarian.

Now, for you carnivores don’t let the name fool you. In fact, their food will fool almost anyone. I was surprised to find that some of their dishes are created to resemble real meat like their famous Grilled Teriyaki Kabob, which looks like real beef teriyaki. But, you may be hesitant and ask someone if it tastes like real teriyaki, and the answer is invariably, YES.

When I came to the restaurant, it was packed. It was a beautiful day, so I sat outside. In the patio area is surrounded with plants, small trees, and a six foot high rock water fall. It was very enjoyable and relaxing. The waitress gave me peanuts as an appetizer and a menu. The menu is colorful with names like Secret Love (Grilled chicken stuffed with spinach served with slices of cucumber and tomato) and Infinite Love (Grilled veggie chicken covered with tomato sauce and veggie cheese served with steamed broccoli) or the Patriotic Royale which is a veggie steak marinated in their own barbecue sauce.

With dinner options like that, you might wonder how this food is prepared and it may even strike your curiosity as it did with me.

For an appetizer, I had a side salad with veggie ranch and the spring rolls. The spring rolls are prepared with veggie beef teriyaki, fresh mint, cucumbers, and vermicelli in a rice roll. Both were excellent.

When it came time to order the meal, I had a hard time deciding, because there is so much to choose from. Finally, I ordered the One World Grilled Teriyaki Kabob. It comes with veggie beef with teriyaki sauce on skewers, served with fresh steamed vegetables.

As I sat there, I watched people eat their meals. Everyone appeared to be enjoying their meals with smiles on their faces, and nodding with the look of acceptance of what they chose to eat. One woman in particular was eating a hamburger, and it looks fabulous. Next time I come, I’m ordering that.

My meal arrived and of course it was everything I had hoped. The kabob was delightful. I am amazed how good it was and it didn’t have the squishy tofu texture that I was afraid of. It felt, smelled, and tasted like real beef. Knowing that I was eating something healthier made it all worth while. The service was outstanding. The water was filtered, which is a plus.

They have all sorts of menu items from 20 different appetizers, eight different soups, and eight different salads all priced under $5.90. One World offers a variety of house specials and entrees, lunch specials, including One World’s sub sandwiches, burritos, tacos, and of course, deserts. The best thing is every meal is under $10.

If you would like to see the menu yourself, go to: One World Veggie

One more thing to add. If you find a server dumping water onto the plants; that is because they practice recycling by feeding the plants with customer’s left over water.

The Wine of the Week, 2007 Pillar Box Padthaway Red

The wine of the week, hands-down goes to the 2007 Pillar Box Padthaway Red. From the Henry’s Drive Vigernons vineyards comes this Australian little gem that is strikingly bold with just the right balance of sweetness. Made from a blend of 65 percent Shiraz, 25 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10 percent Merlot grapes gives this vintage the perfect balance of flavor. The nose is of bright vibrant wild berries, ripe cherries, black licorice, and vanilla oak. On the palate is rich with cherries, blueberry infused with French oak and vanilla. Even long after the previous sip, the lingering smooth finish will leave a taste of chocolate truffle and pleasant spice.

Bring out this bottle of wine to enjoy alone or have with any meat or pasta dish. This wine would definitely impress your friends, so buy more than one bottle. For the quality, one would expect to pay well over $30 per bottle. Surprisingly, it is priced well below. With a price tag of $10 to $15 per bottle, it won’t break your bank.

For more information about the winemarker, go to Henry's Drive

An hour at the San Dimas Shop and Tasting Room

I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Heidi Daniels and her assistant Bonnie at the San Dimas Shop & Tasting Room on an early Tuesday afternoon.

As I walked in, Heidi immediately invited me in and she was friendly enough to give me a quick tour of her establishment and handed me a wine tasting schedule. I was amazed of the assortment of wines from wall to wall. SDWS is a cute little wine bar with different wines from around the world, also with a good selection of non-commercial micro-brewed beers.

This weeks wine tasting event is called the “Battle of the Blends”. During this event, you are taken on a journey through an assortment of different wines from France, Carneros in California, South Africa, Australia, and Napa Valley in California. For a tasting fee of just $15.99, I was able to taste from all six regions.

My first pour was from Languedoc, France with a 2007 Domaine Auzias “Bonal” Cuvee Blanc. It is a blend of Chardonnay and Muscat Petit Grains. It is definitely a Chardonnay, but with a much greater sweetness from the Muscat grapes with tastes of peaches and apricot on the palate. The taste lingers like a Chardonnay, but with a much more pleasant finish. Retail price is $12.99.

The second pour was a 2006 Malibu Estate “Cielo” Malibu Rouge from Carneros, California. This wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc. This is peppery wine and goes along well with tri-tip and burgers. Retail price is $19.99.

The third pour was from a 2008 Boekenhoutskloof “The Wolftrap” from Cape of Good Hoe, South Africa. This dark red wine is a blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, and Viognier. It has deep of garnet colors, but is light on the palate with hints of vanilla from the French oak and spicy flavors and mellow tastes of blackberry and cherry and has a nice long wonderful finish. For the pedigree of this kind of wine, one can expect to pay over $30 per bottle. Surprisingly, it is reasonably priced for this kind of quality. Retail price is $17.99.

My fourth pour comes from Padthaway, Australia. It is my wine of the week, the 2007 Henry’s Drive “Pillar Box” red. This wine is a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. With its abundant cherry and French vanilla flavors, makes this a velvety smooth wine worth savoring by itself or with food. This bottle of wine is reasonably priced at $13.99.

The 2005 Mount St. Helena “Heritage Site” red was my fifth pour. This blend has Zinfandel, Syrah, Charbono, and Petite Sirah that comes from Napa Valley, California. Upon the first sip, the zinfandel grape is evident with tastes of leather, ripe plums, and a flowery bouquet to the nose. This juicy wine goes well with a porter house steak or barbequed tri-tip. Retail price is $15.99.

The final pour comes from Napa Valley was the 2005 Ceja Vineyards “Vino de Casa” red wine. This wine comes from a blend of Pinot Noir and Syrah grapes. This wine is full of ripe cherry flavor and the perfect balance of fruit and spice. For the quality, this bottle is reasonably priced at $21.99.

That was my tasting experience at the San Dimas Wine Shop & Tasting Room. It was an intimate and personal experience with the hosts of the wine bar. While I was there, I witnessed as Heidi brainstorming for the wine tasting that will be for next week and the following month. In the coming week is a “Blind Tasting” tour. For each wine presented will be in a brown bag to hide the wine to make the event a fun “guessing game” experience.

For anyone that is interested in experiencing an affordable wine tasting experience in a friendly, non-stuffy environment, I highly recommend this establishment. It is located in downtown San Dimas on Bonita Ave. It can be easily missed, so drive slowly and you will see the cute little store.

2009 Food and Wine Festival at California Adventure

On Saturday, May 2, I went to the 2009 Annual Food & Wine Festival at Disneyland California Adventure which is going on from April 24 through June 7, 2009. I enjoyed eight different wines from eight different wineries, from three different wine tasting events in one location.

With the price of admission, it was free to attend the complimentary culinary events, wine seminars, and beer & spirits seminars. I for one was late, so I was limited to how many features I could sit in.


To start the day, I first went to the Golden Vine Winery and did a sample tasting of three wines including, a 2006 Merlot from Cupcake Vineyards. This merlot is fruity and tart. It’s extremely light bodied with soft tannins, and tastes of chocolate and blueberries. It’s a little too sweet for a Merlot. In fact, it’s almost like drinking a glass of port.

My second pour was a 2005 Rosso from Rosso & Bianchi presented by Francis Ford Coppola. This traditional table wine is a blend of 51 percent Zinfandel, 29 percent Syrah, and 20 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a bold wine with a lot of texture and rich juicy flavors of plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, oak, and spice.

My final pour from Golden Vine Winery was a Laird Family Estate 2000 Mast Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon. These cabernet grapes are grown in the Sonoma appellations and Laird Family Estate uses 100 percent Cabernet grapes for this vintage. With a deep garnet color, this wine is rich in oak aromas and strawberries, and a hint of thyme. The flavors are rich with dark chocolate, cherry, and vanilla oak. This full bodied wine is very flavorful in the mouth, with the perfect balance of tannins that ends smooth.

The next tasting event was down by the Bountiful Valley Farm called the Festival Wine Walk. In this wine walk are 12 wines from countries all over the world including Italy, New Zealand, South America, France, Germany, and Spain. For $10 a person, you could enjoy a pour from four different countries or enjoy a full glass from any one bottle of wine. I chose a tour and I was handed a passport. The passport is used to give you an idea of the location from where these wines came from and it is also used for the vendors to keep track of your tasting tour with a use of a grape stamp.

My first pour was a 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon from Emilians winery. It is a natural organically grown wine. While most wineries use chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, Emilians does not. They use a process called “biodynamics”. It’s an Austrian technique that involves undisclosed homeopathic processes, astronomical and astrological processes that involves the mapping of the constellations and planet alignment. The real question is – does the growing process match up with the hype. The answer is “no”. Not even close. The wine was tainted with a smell of manure. Unfortunately, I had to pour it out and move on to the next wine.

My second pour was the 2008 Gascon Malbec from Argentina, South America. This wine was much better. It is a full bodied wine with a nose of blackberry, plums, and a hint of chocolate truffle. It has a long smooth finish and it is delightful.
My third wine was the 2006 Matua Mariborough Pinot Noir from New Zealand. This wine is light and spicy, but possesses too much of that oaky flavor. They offered two other wines, but I was not interested in the Sauvignon Blanc nor the Gisborne Chardonnay.

My fourth and final wine came from France. It is the wine of the day, the Barons de Rothschild Collection, 2007 Bordeaux. This Bordeaux reserve is a made up of 70 percent Merlot and 30 percent cabernet. Surprisingly smooth and medium bodied as I would expect from a Bordeaux wine. With aromas of currant and fruity elegance, this lovely wine ends with a long pleasant finish.

The final part of the Disney wine portion of the festival ended with the final presentation, which was the Wine Education & Tasting seminar by Remick Ridge Vineyards. The host was Marci Smothers, wife of Tommy Smothers, the owner and winemaker of Remick Ridge.

Marci talked about some of the history behind the vineyards and how they began to develop wine. “The wine making began in 1976 when the planted chardonnay, Cabernet, and Merlot grapes,” said Marci. Then she had us sample a taste of their 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon. Made from 100 percent Cabernet in French oak, these grapes are grown organic and were picked during its stressful period during September through October of 2002. Only 300 cases were produced for this vintage, so it has a high price tag of $32 per bottle. “Varietals that are stressed yield the least amount of productive grapes, but those grapes are of the best quality,” said Marci.

“This cabernet is best enjoyed with a rack of lamb seasoned with garlic, salt and pepper, cooked at 400 degrees for 25 minutes, and also meatballs,” Marci added.

That was the last event for the day for the wine shows. I tried to make it to a culinary event, but tickets were all given out. I plan on returning for another part of the Food & Wine Festival, but it won’t be for another month or so. The good thing is this festival is daily and hosted by a variety of different chef’s and winemakers. If you’re in the Anaheim area, come to the California Adventure and see as many as the events as possible. Come early and enjoy the atmosphere and free festivities.

The Answers to Questions about Wine

From time to time, people will approach me with such questions as, “How many calories does wine have?” or “I don’t get how to you can taste all those fruits and stuff in the wine,” or “What are tannins?” or “What health benefits do you get from wine?” or “I just don’t understand how people love wine or like it for that matter.”

How many calories are in wine?
I’d like to answer those questions. First off, wine is very low in calories. There is approximately 85 calories per glass. Vodka alone has 64 calories per one ounce shot and that’s just the alcohol.

How do I taste all that “stuff” in wine?
Haha! That really is a good question. For some people, they just have a good palate and can taste everything in the wine. For others, it’s a technique that you acquire over the years from experience.

One way to tell what flavors are in the wine is by sipping and swirling the wine in your mouth for a period of a few seconds. Feel the wine and taste it. There’s a taste and smell technique that involves sucking in air through your mouth while wine is still present. This is how you sense the aromas and true flavors in the wine. In this process, you have to envision what you taste. Use your imagination. You may taste truffles, cherries, minerals from the soil it was grown in, and the type of barrels the winemaker used. For a first-time wine drinker, it can be a difficult task, but not impossible. It just takes time.

What are Tannins?
Another presence in wine is called, “tannins”. Tannin is a tannin-like polyphonic compound and ethyl-bridged flavanols which is found in wines and highly acidic fruits. This comes from the grapes tough skin, much like the skin on green apples. Depending on the degree of tannins, it can be very tart to the taste. The lighter the tannin, results in the lightness of the body and smoothness of the wine. The heavier the tannins can result in a bitter taste and even a sour result with a longer finish. This is what is described from many wine drinkers as a “taste that lingers.” Sometimes, you don’t want a wine that lingers too long.

What health benefits do you get from wine?
Red wine in particular is rich in antioxidants, which is good for good cardio-vascular health, and increasing good cholesterol and aids in the prevention of artery damage.

The main property in red wine that helps prevent artery damage is reseveratrol. Resveratrol is an polyphenolic compound (antioxidant) found in many red wine grapes and in Japanese knotweed. There are claims that reserveratrol is an anti-aging compound, but that is a claim that is not proven. Some studies have shown that reserveratrol can reduce the symptoms of inflammation and blood clotting.

White wine also has traces of resveratrol in the wine, but because white wine is not fermented as long, it is not as highly concentrated as red wines.

Why do people love wine or like it for that matter?
To be fair, I don’t know how to answer that. It’s a personal taste, I suppose. I can only answer this from my own perspective as to why I love wine, because everyone has a different answer for this question.

Maybe, it feels a bit more sophisticated to drink wine versus a glass of beer, which is more common with the average Joe with a beer in his hand. Sometimes, I do enjoy a glass of beer, but not as much as a enjoy wine. Wine is more relaxing after a long stressful day.

Other than a few occasions from wine tasting events have I ever been drunk from consuming too much wine. I drink wine in moderation with about half a glass per day.

Wine is an adventure and can be fun. Beer taverns or micro-breweries don’t typically cover miles and miles of massive beautiful parts of lands. Wine tasting is an adventure in itself. You get to venture in areas that are full of lush fields. It can be breath taking to leave the city and get a personal view of the wine fields and other parts of the countryside.

When you’ve taken a journey into these areas and you come back home, you tend to have a craving for a glass of wine that represents where you visited. When you’ve discovered a new wine, you want to visit that winery and discover why it is so great.

If you haven’t experienced a visit to a particular wine region, put it on your a “to-do” list.

Wine of the Week, 2007 Tin Man Chardonnay from De Tierra winery of Salinas

This weeks wine goes to the 2007 Tin Man Chardonnay from De Tierra winery of Salinas California.

This bottle of wine is an exquisite balance of aroma and flavor. While, I do not recommend drinking without accompanying a plate of cheese and fruit, you may enjoy it alone anyway. It is enjoyable as it is pleasurable. The aroma is of tropical fruit and pine nuts, with a hint of pear. On the palate is a crisp zest of spicy pineapple and soft butter, with a hint of vanilla oak. This wine is highly acidic and ends dry, which is why I recommend drinking with food.

The name “Tin Man” comes from its cold barrel fermentation nine month process in French oak and stainless steel barrels. This process aids in the fresh tasting quality it possesses. De Tierra only produced 350 cases, so finding a bottle of wine is for a limited time. Grab a bottle and save it for a special occasion, but be prepared to pay a hefty price for this vintage.

My personal belief is this wine was released a little premature, but if aged another six months to a year, it will broaden the flavors. As is, it is still a delightful Chardonnay.

Best enjoyed with fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, or main courses like halibut, grilled mahi mahi, sea base, and grilled or baked chicken.

One of the Best Hamburgers I have Ever had, Taxis Hamburgers

One of the popular hamburger diners in Northern California is Taxi’s Hamburgers. I had the opportunity to experience the rave at one of their six diners in northern California at the Modesto location.

Upon seeing their menu, I was impressed at the variety of the menu. From fresh ground beef patties to turkey patties to pastrami burgers, and of course, chicken breast. There are is no shortage of options for their burgers either. Another notable optional burger is the garden burger for the more healthy conscience eater.

Taxi Hamburgers not only serves hamburgers, but they also specialize in hotdogs, pulled Cuban style pork sandwiches, fish sandwiches, tuna melts, and their famous baked potatoes with over 20 toppings available including the grilled chicken breast potato, the homemade chili potato, and the sautéed mushroom potato. Sounds good, huh? It’s making me hungry.

I wanted to try it all, but unfortunately, I was only in Modesto a short time. I ordered the mushroom burger with onion rings. I have to say, this was a most satisfying hamburger. It came with a thick 1/3 pound patty with sautéed mushrooms and Monterey Jack cheese and natural cut french fries. I didn’t see it as an option, but Taxi’s Hamburgers offers garlic fries, seasoned curly fries, and chili fries.

The basket of food was so much, I couldn’t finish it. My only complaint is the burger was quite greasy and messy, but a good messy. My recommendation is use lots of napkins. Bring a handy wipe if possible. Overall, my experience at Taxi’s Hamburgers was satisfactory.

If you’re in the Bay Area, and you are in the mood for a not so ordinary hamburger, come to Taxi’s Hamburgers for a juicy, fulfilling burger. And, bring your appetite.

California Adventures Food and Wine Festival from April 24th thru June 7th now on!

Starting April 24th, Disneyland is hosting the Disney California Food & Wine Festival. With your paid admission to the California Adventure Park through June 7th, you’ll get to enjoy the Food & Wine festivities with your pass. During each day, you can see demonstrations from culinary expects from throughout California and experience the different wines, beers, and spirits all located at the lower patio of the Golden Vine Winery and in the Pacific Warf.

For more information, go to the Disneyland website to see more details on scheduled events for dates and times.
Unfortunately, I will not be in attendence until May 2nd, so keep on a look out for my personal review of the event for that day.

Smoking Loon - Best Wine Label under $10

Believe it or not, a wine does not have to be expensive to be enjoyable. There are plenty of good wines that are below $10. In this economy, expensive wines are looked at as a luxury and it is. Smoking Loon is my pick for best quality under $10. Do not let the wine label design or the name fool you. All their wines are full of flavor, rich aromas, and pairs well with all foods or even enjoy a glass of each wine by itself.

Smoking Loon has been a production of Don Sebastiani and Sons since 2001. This brand can be found in almost any local grocery store, bulk wholesale stores, and most wine & liquor stores. I’m not going to recommend a single bottle by Smoking Loon, because every bottle of wine they offer is of the highest quality for the price and they offer a wine for every occasion.

Recommend wines by Smoking Loon are:

2007 California Merlot – Avg. price: $6 - $10
Wine traits: While Merlot can seem bland in comparison to other varietals, it’s one of the most publicly favored wines on the market. Smoking Loon produces well balanced, light tannin merlot. It’s medium bodied with aromas of plum, black cherry, green olives, and currants. On the palate with tastes of sweet cherries, ripe plums, cranberry, black pepper, and a hint of bay leaves.

2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon – Avg. price: Ave Price: $6 - $10
Wine traits: This is one of the highest rated wines by Smoking Loon. It’s perfectly balanced with flavor, tannins, and aromas. This peppery wine is very bold with strong flavors of black cherry and ripe strawberry with a hint of French oak. The aroma is bouquet of cinnamon, cloves, and black cherry. Enjoy this wine with any almost any food that has bold flavors or spice like a barbecued steak.

2006 California Chardonnay – Avg. price: $7 - $10
Wine traits: This fruity wine is quiet enjoyable with an aroma of flowers and pineapple. This chardonnay begins with a taste of soft vanilla and ends dry with a flavor of vanilla oak. Enjoy this wine with an appetizer of cheese and crackers with a chicken salad, grilled chicken breast, or even seafood.
Note: The 2007 Chardonnay should be ready to be released at the end of this year.

2006 California Syrah – Avg. price $7 - $9
Wine Traits: This is one of Smoking Loon’s best wines. Its big with juicy flavors of strawberry, mocha, and caramel. It has a leathery nose, but also ends very warm and smooth. Enjoy with spicy barbecue steak and chicken, or enjoy with teriyaki beef and other meaty Asian dishes.

2006 California Old Vine Zinfandel – Avg. price: $7 - $10
Wine traits: This robust wine has aromas of fig, cherry, and spice. On the palate it hints of dark chocolate, blackberries, and vanilla oak.

2006 California Viogner – Avg. price: $6 - $10
Wine traits: This is a very floral scented wine. The palate is rich with peach and apricot with a finish of honey and cloves.

2006 California Pinot Noir – Avg. $6 - $9
Wine traits: This well balanced is medium bodied with tastes of pomegranate, cherries, strawberry, and cinnamon flavors and a light aroma of roses and violets. This vegetarian friendly wine also pairs with salmon, chicken, lamb, and hamburgers.

Wines by Smoking Loon that I have not rated:
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Grigio

Wine of the Week: 2006 Hahn Estates Meritage Red Wine

The wine of the week goes to the 2006 Hahn Estates 2006 Meritage. In the year prior, Hahn Estates produced the multi-award winning 2005 Meritage, but unfortunately this exquisite wine is now out of circulation. If you can find a bottle of the 2005 Meritage, cherish it and hold on to it for a special occasion.

The next best thing is the 2006 Meritage. While during unpredictable weather with an unusually cold climate and wet weather during the first quarter, it forced growers to start a month behind. Towards the end of 2006, temperatures were more favorable, yet crops yielded fewer grapes than in previous years. What was produced, the grapes were healthy, but wines became more acidic as a result for many winemakers across the regions of Monterey and Paso Robles.

One of the highlights for 2006 is the Hahn Estate 2006 Meritage, because its flavor seems unaffected by unpredictable weather. This Meritage comprises of 33% merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the remaining mixture of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec all contribute to make this a memorable wine. This bold but soft tannin wine produces a satisfying taste that isn’t abrasive or over powering nor does it have weak attributes. It’s perfectly balanced.

On the nose, a light aroma of asparagus and dark chocolate truffle is evident followed by black cherry and raspberry, while on the palate gives a big taste of rip cherry produces a grip of flavor that lingers long after you swallow. That lingering flavor makes you crave more of that big bold Bordeaux like flavor.

My Food pairing suggestions
While traditionally, this type of wine would go good with red meat, it isn’t a spicy wine, so go light on the peppery meats. I recommend lamb chops, veal, filet mignon, or a lightly seasoned steak. The Meritage also goes well with a variety of Italian dishes. Surprisingly, this wine went well with halibut, but other wine connoisseurs might strongly disagree pairing any red wines with any type of seafood.

The pricing for this wine is between $13 to $20 per bottle. It may seem pricey, but for the quality, it really isn’t. For more information on Hahn Estate wines, click Hahn Estates Winrey