AmericanWinery.com

“…whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of [our wine industry].” ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

The 4th is nearly here, and the wine industry is buzzing with blog posts, emails, etc. about this holiday and it’s relation to wine. Most popular topics include suggestions about what wine you should drink on Saturday based on what the founding fathers were supposedly sipping on during the signing of the Declaration of Independence (and what they drank in general also seems a topic of interest). Thomas Jefferson, at that point in his life was into Madeira wines.

These wines are traditionally made in, well…the Madeira Islands off the coast of Portrugal. Similar to the drink well known as Port, Madeira wines are fortified. Historically, this technique was used to prevent the wines from spoiling on their journey to Europe (and America), but the irony here is that during one of these early travels across the Atlantic, the wine was exposed to high temperatures, which transformed the flavor of the wine - apparently made it better. So, in short, this became their style, and now a days, part of the Madeira winemaking process is to heat up the wines to approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit for extended periods of time, in addition to deliberately oxidizing the wine.

But that’s enough about Madeira for now - the point was that the founding fathers were drinking it, and in an attempt to google-together a connection to wine on the 4th of July, the internet is buzzing with suggestions to drink as Thomas Jefferson did in 1776. I would like to suggest the opposite, and more so, to insist that Jefferson would side with me as well. According to wikipedia, the 4th of July is a holiday to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence which officially proclaimed that the people of America were fed up with Great Britain, and that Americans, all-in-all, did not think that these Brits were so Great. Americans did not break all ties, just declared political independence. And in the spirit of the official beginning of what is now known as the United States of America, I would like to boldly suggest that you drink AMERICAN wine for the 4th of July. To bring it all back, I would like to quote Thomas Jefferson, “”We could in the United States make as great a variety of wines as are made in Europe, not exactly of the same kinds, but doubtless as good.”

Mr. Jefferson (if I may speak to you directly), you were right. We could, and we did. Not only that, but we are finally becoming a wine drinking nation Mr. Jefferson - this wonderful nectar of life which you and so many of the founding fathers enjoyed on a regular basis is slowly becoming a staple in many American homes. We have over six thousand wineries, and are the world’s 4th largest producer and 3rd largest consumer of wine. You would have been proud to see the U.S. become such a nation of winos, Mr. Jefferson, and I bet that if you had lived to witness such a thriving wine industry in this country, you would support it whole heatedly and pop some bottles of Cali Cab, Oregon Pinot, and Washington Syrah (these, by the way, are the wine stereotypes of the top 3 wine producing states). Even if you enjoy your Burgandies, Riojas, and Madeiras, I’m sure you, Mr. Jefferson, of all people would agree that Saturday of all days, is one to celebrate and enjoy the national fruits of our oenophilial labor.

It is HOT out there! Or at least, it is getting there. With the hot hot heat comes a shift in my drinking habits - big bold reds take a back seat to dry rose and fruity, floral whites. But lets face it - the Dad types out there might be loath to be drinkin’ any of that pink stuff. Here, my suggestions for manly reds under $20 that help Dad beat the heat.

Pinot Noir is a natural choice for the discerning dad. This award-winning Pinot Noir from Emerson Vineyards is a great choice, pairing nicely with everything from lamb to pizza.

And check out the winemaker’s tasting notes:

“Clean and expressive scents of sweet currant and kirsch immediately greet the senses, followed by hints of spice, subdued oak, and perfumy, blossomy highlights. A taste reveals an intense, round, hedonistic wine built on flavors of black cherry and currant, giving way to exotic spices, vanilla, smoke, and minerality.”

Exotic spices, vanilla and smoke? Yes, please! At only $19/bottle, this is a great summer wine under $20 for the Dad in the know.

How ’bout a tasty Syrah? I know what you’re thinking… no big, bold reds, man! But this Bonny Doon Vineyard 2005 “Le Pousseur” Syrah, my friends, is a BBQs best friend and you know how Dad likes to BBQ!

From the winemaker’s tasting notes:

“…bacon fat is well in evidence, as is the scent of licorice, anise, wintergreen, violet and spicy elements – white pepper, most notably, juniper, cardamom and sandalwood. I almost neglected to mention the brilliant mineral element herein - mostly in virtue of shy-yielding grapes. The texture is particularly noteworthy, with melted, creamy tannins and a very silky finish.”

I see some of Dad’s fave flavors in there - what Dad doesn’t love bacon?! This is an impressive wine at any price point, but at $18/bottle, this wine will save you a speech from ol’ Pops about saving for the future.

Here’s a wine that is both frugal and environmentally friendly… Parducci Wine Cellars 2005 Sustainable Red. Parducci Wine Cellars makes wines that are produced sustainably because it’s the right thing to do - wines with a conscience. Dad taught you right and wrong - show him you learned your lessons with an ethical wine choice.

You know what else Dad loves? A winner - and this baby took 2nd at the Light New World Red Wine Under $15 competition (”Good game, sport!”).

A snippet of the tasting notes:

“A flavorful blend of sustainably grown Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Primitivo, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Viognier grapes from Mendocino County. Parducci Sustainable Red has berry fruit flavors and spicy complexities. Enjoy this robust dry red wine with pasta, pizza, grilled, and flavorful cheeses.”

At a mere $10.99/bottle, this is a bottle of wine that will satisfy picky Pops year ’round, but its so good with the grill its a natural fit for summer time sips.

So, make Dad proud this Father’s Day, skip the cheesy Hallmark card and pour him a glass!

There is a phenomenon that exists in the wine blogging community, known as Wine Blogging Wednesday. The 2nd Wednesday of each month, there is a new topic for wine bloggers to explore, recording their discoveries and musings via their own blogs. The result? A very interesting collection of perspectives across the “blogosphere”!

The topic for the 58th installment of Wine Blogging Wednesday, as designated by Katie Pizutto over at the wonderful Gonzo Gastronomy blog, was the exploration of wine and music pairings. Ms. Pizutto’s challenge for this WBW?

The challenge I put forth to the wine bloggers out there for this month’s Wine Blogging Wednesday (#58) will involve a little more than just finding a nice wine, a lesser-known varietal or an emerging region to write about—it will involve sitting with a wine or two, tasting them, playing different types of music, and taking note of how your experiences change. This is NOT about sipping and spitting. It is NOT about a few scribbled tasting notes. And it is most definitely NOT about objectivity. And please, for the love of all that is holy, if all you have in your music collection is Michael Buble, go borrow some CDs from your head-banging neighbor, your hip-hop-loving relative, and your stuck-in-80s-alternative college buddy.

Some of us will be posting WBW entries of our own on our various personal blogs, which we’ll of course provide links to. Here’s a peek at Stacy’s wine+music pairing pick.
Anaal Nathrakh - ‘In The Constellation Of The Black Widow’ + Orin Swift 2006 ‘The Prisoner”:

If you follow me on Twitter, you recently witnessed my obsessing over the new album from this infamous “kvlt” UK duo. Blackened death crustcore with absolutely seething ferocity. We’re talking sizzling vitriol all over the place, from the stellar production to the uber-necro vocals, these guys go for the jugular with blast beats, nihilism, evil riffage, and a dose of melodic dynamics to help sink their teeth in even further. What do you pair with something so cacophnously delicious? Orin Swift’s 2006 ‘The Prisioner’….more

Erica went with a lighter music and wine pairing:

the first notes of Ginastera’s “Danza de la Moda Donoza” fill the living room, I take a few sips of the Aurora. Now - I already like this wine, but there could not be a better pairing than the Ginastera. The left hand plays, steady and mellow, in contrast with the piquant melody, creating harmonic tension that is right in balance with the tensions of flavors and structure in the “I Aurora.” I find that the more lively flavors in the I Aurora are standing out - more lime, a touch of bay leaf…more

Sasha took a different approach:

While judging a wine or pairing it with food, we attempt at objectively identifying the combination of flavors, the way wine hits our mouth and integrates with the flavors of the food, where we taste sweetness or bitterness, acidity or tannins, spice, etc. There is no equivalent science to music, no theories about how high tannin levels mold well with a 2/4 time signature or the piano. Wine does, however, share a characteristic with music that I believe can be paired in a non-traditional manner. Be warned, it is extremely subjective in nature. I will make no attempt what so ever to justify this combination with objective descriptors. I choose the music I play based on my moods. Certain moods that I believe work best for particular types of music are based mostly on MY experiences…more

Pairing wine and music is something we at AmericanWinery.com are really excited about - we recently partnered with Sony Music to launch Wine+Music, a site dedicated to the fine art of pairing music with American wine. Currently on the playlist? “El Rey” (the King) Tito Puente paired with Ceja Vineyard’s “El Trio” offering of three wines. Check out the site, where you can download the album and order the wine direct from the winery with 1¢ shipping.

We all had so much fun doing wine and music pairings, we thought we’d get our readers involved, too. Does music make your heart sing? Does wine make your toes tap? Crank up your computer’s volume and play a few numbers from the widget embedded below - then, in the comments, tell us what wine you’d pair with your favorite selection.

We could go all day.

In general, I prefer red wine. I have come to understand, appreciate, and respect the occasional white wine, but given the choice, I rarely go for white. Summer is a tough time for us red wine lovers, however. Partially because a lot of red wines are heavier than whites, but mostly because they are served at higher temperatures than whites. And when the thermometer outside is pushing 100, a chilled drink is preferable. The solution? Sangria of course! Here’s what you need:

• 2 bottles of cheap, medium-bodied red wine
• 2 oranges, a lemon, and a lime
• 1 small can of pineapple bits (with juice)
• 1-2 cans of ginger ale

Grab a pitcher. Slice one of the oranges, the lemon and the lime, and add to pitcher. Add pineapple bits (along with the juice, mind you), juice the second orange and add that as well. I occasionally also like to add a sliced apple, not as much for flavoring the sangria, but for munching on while drinking this yummy beverage. Crush the sliced fruits a little bit with a wooden spoon. Some people like to add some sugar at this point, but I think that I am sweet enough already.

Pour in the wine and let the mixture sit for several hours (4 is a solid minimum). Once the juices have blended with the wine, add at least 1 can of ginger ale, 2 if you like your sangria a bit more bubbly. Put a good amount of ice in a glass, pour sangria, drink the glass and pour again.

Please ensure that you are wearing shorts and flip-flops while drinking sangria (or some sort of summer-wear), as shoes and pants have been known to deter one’s body from fully appreciating the delicious, refreshing party of flavors.

How do you make sangria?

Over the course of a company’s history, there are defining moments. AmericanWinery.com just had one.

We are so excited to announce the winecliQ Public Beta release! We’ve been hard at work making winecliQ a really fun, easy to use tool for wine lovers to share their favorite wines with the world, all the while staying compliant with all state liquor laws. Some of the public beta features we are particularly fond of:

• Share up to three wine faves through your winecliQ widget – so easy to get and share, even I can do it!
• Your unique “cliQ Picks” page features your current favorite wines, plus keeps an archive of past “cliQed” wines for peeps to peruse.
• Secure check out makes it super safe and secure for people to buy your recommendations!
• Each transaction is backed by the stellar customer service team at AmericanWinery.com
• You get cash for promoting your favorite wines and wineries!

Our fearless leader, Lloyd Benedict, had this to say about launching winecliQ:

“The launch of the winecliQ program is great for wine consumers and great for wineries. They say that a winery’s customers are their best salespeople - now a winery can realize a direct wine sale from a referral in the online space! Consumers have the opportunity to discover new wines through the recommendations of friends, family members and bloggers, giving them greater confidence in their purchase and a more personal connection with the wine. Wineries gain new customers and build their direct sales. And “Wine Activists,” people who are passionate about wine and share their favorites through the winecliQ program, are able to make cash just for talking about the wines they love. Its a great thing for the wine industry.”

Get over to http://winecliQ.com to learn more and to start cliQing! And feel free to ask any questions or provide feedback here on the blog or by using the “Feedback” tab on the left side of each page at winecliQ.com.