Budget Vino

My trainer should read this! More proof that red wine is good for you.

I recently noted that the cause of my blogging hiatus was the work of my over energized gym trainer. He banned wine from my diet for a short period of time, but after many discussions, he reluctantly agreed to let me put it back on the list- but only if I drank in limited quantities, and with great moderation.

Perusing the web today, I found an article that I will sure share with him the next chance I have. The Washington Post today reported that Resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, can actually help your heart and reduce aging. Awesome news. Something even my trainer can appreciate.

Link to the article is found here.

Top bargain wines of 2007- per the Wall Street Journal

A good buddy of mine sent this to me last night. It’s the Wall Street Journal’s list of top wine bargains of 2007. The article highlights 9 wines in total, of which 3 are under $10. (Note that the other 6 wines cost no more than $10.99, only $1 above the Budget Vino price cap.)

A comment in the article that I really appreciate is this one-

“there have never been as many genuinely good wines available at low prices. The trick, in most cases, is to look beyond the usual suspects. The world right now is awash in wine as country after country, from Austria to Uruguay, improves its winemaking and seeks to compete in the international marketplace”

I liked this comment for a couple reasons.

1. It acknowledges that budget wine can be great wine.
2. It confirms what many of my top choices seem to indicate- that great budget wine is coming from countries other than the US and France.

The article is a quick read, and I recommend giving it a look. The link is here.

Let me know what you think.

Cork vs. Screw top- What's better for the environment?

I was just perusing Yahoo!'s site, and found this interesting article- "Cork debate pits wine vs. environment."

It seems the debate over what is better- cork or screw top, has expanded to examine the impact of each on the environment. Give the article a look if you have a moment. It's pretty interesting, and a fast read.

Move over cheese, wine has a new best friend...Chocolate!

A couple days ago (after a fine Thai food meal), I stumbled upon arguably one of my greatest finds yet in San Francisco- The San Francisco Chocolate Factory.

Why was this such a great find? Well, aside from the obvious, the SF Chocolate Factory has a product line called "Wine Lovers Chocolate." Based on the % of cocoa, each wine varietal is matched with a different type of chocolate. Take a look at the pairings they recommend.

Wine Type            % Cocoa
Zinfandel                72%
Syrah                      61%
Merlot                    58%       
Pinot Noir               56%
Cabernet                55%
Port                       54%   

If you want to learn more, click on the image below, or go to their website. I tested out their Zinfandel recommendation the other day, and it was spot on.

Let me know what you think.

5 budget wines to bolster your BBQ

If you live in the US, this weekend is Memorial Day- the annual barbecue season kickoff weekend. If you don't live in the US, it's still a great weekend to pull out the old BBQ, grab some fresh meat or fish, and get grilling.

I believe that the best compliment to a barbecue is a nice bottle of budget wine. To help you quickly select a wine that is sure to bolster your BBQ, I am providing my 5 top choices below.

1. La Ferme Julien 2005
2. Coppola Rosso Classic
3. Rancho Zabaco Dancing Bull 2003 Zin
4. Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc
5. Silver Ridge Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Have a great weekend, and enjoy the BBQ!
  

 

 

Use a Rose to thicken a Pinot

Before I provide this tip that I serendipitously discovered the other day, I should clarify that when I use the word "rose", I am not referring to the flower, but rather to a type of wine. Unfortunately, the location on my keyboard of the French accent required on top of the "e" is eluding me, so I have to go with this somewhat incorrect spelling.

This tip is quick and easy, and is perfect for those of us who enjoy the taste of a Pinot Noir, but are often left disappointed when they are too thin. For only $4.99, here is how you make that Pinot taste thick and rich...

1. Go out and buy a Rose. I suggest the one I reviewed on Monday- La Ferme Julien.
2. Have a glass or two of the Rose.
3. Open the Pinot. Let it breathe for 30 minutes or so.
4. Pour yourself a glass of the Pinot. You should immediately notice that it tastes thick abnormally thick.

While having a glass of white wine may have a similar impact, there is something about the Rose that really drives this one home. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Budget Wine goes best with Bocce Ball

I freely admit that I am a Bocce Ball addict. I also love wine. When the two come together, it's a marriage of perfection.

This morning, my good friend Jared (a regular Budget Vino contributor) sent along a link to all the known wineries in Northern California that also have Bocce Ball courts. I acknowledge that this list is of no value to those living outside of Northern California, so I apologize in advance. I also assume that these wineries do not sell wines under $10. However, a list like this is just too good to pass up. I just have to post it. I hope you understand.

http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/bocce-ball-wineries.html

The guide you can't afford to live without

It's happened to us all- we go to the store to buy a wine under $10, but for the life of us, we can't remember the names of those that have been recommended. That all changes today!

For over a month now, I've posted Budget Vino top choices on the site, with links to the related reviews. A large number of you have clicked on these top choices to learn more, but unless you wrote them down, there was no way to take them with you. That is why I've prepared a wallet sized and printable Vino To Go guide. This guide lists a number of the Budget Vino top choices (always costing less than $10), segregated by wine type. I'll be updating the guide as my top choices evolve, but one thing that will never change is your ability to print  the Vino To Go guide and take it with you to your favorite wine shop or supermarket. All you have to do is click this link, print the guide, put it in your wallet, and be on your way. Now all you have to worry about is finding $10.

ALERT: BevMo 5 cent sale "sneak preview" starts on Friday, March 30!

I just got word that BevMo (my favorite retail chain in the entire world) will be holding another one of their famous 5 cent sales. The sale officially starts on Tuesday, April 3rd, but if you're in the know, you can take advantage of this sale during the "sneak preview" which starts this Friday. This sale is an incredible opportunity to buy some fantastic wines at bargain basement prices.

Go to http://www.bevmo.com to peruse the list of available wines. You'll quickly understand why this sale is my absolute favorite!

The best way to save money without disappointing your friends?- the follow-up wine

In yesterday's posting, I referred to the Abrazo Del Toro 2005 as a good "follow-up wine." What do I mean by a "follow-up wine"?, and why am I such a big fan of the concept?

I'll explain the idea behind a "follow-up wine" by using the example of a get together with a group of friends. When I have people over, I always want to start everyone off with a great wine. To do this, I always start with a Budget Wino Top Choice like Cellar No. 8. Top Choices are great wines to serve when your guests palates are fresh.

Supporting an entire evening of drinking by serving only a Top Choice wine can get pretty expensive pretty quickly. Most of the Top Choices retail just below $10 (with some exceptions of course). If your guests are big drinkers, you're going to find yourself spending a lot of money to keep the night going. To prevent a fiscal crisis, I like to use the "follow-up" trick.

It goes like this...

Once people have downed a few glasses, their palette isn't as sensitive, and wines that aren't necessarily as good tend to taste a lot better. So, when I sense this time has come, I like to switch to something a little more budget- usually a solid wine in the $3.99 to $5.99 range. No one ever seems to notice, I've never had a complaint, and my wallet has always thanked me. This "follow-up" concept really is a great way to go if you're living on a budget.

Give it a try and tell me what you think.