It's All Fun & Games!

Since the three of us Stay at Home Winos have been blogging since last April, we tend to take our knowledge of learning more about wine, sometimes seriously.  We meet often to have our little wine classes and really research ahead of time for what three wines we want to learn about.  We study and come up with different pairings that we feel would be great with our wine choices.  Sometimes we go out of our comfort zones and try wines we never thought we would.  Some win and some lose!

Well, to spice things up a bit and have a little more fun, we thought about trying wine related games!  Now these are not neccessarily drinking games you played in college, but fun games that go along with learning.  We sometimes even surprise ourselves with knowing answers now that we would have never even guessed a year ago.

I thought I would share some games we have either already played and some others that looked quite fun.

For starters, Winerd: The Wine Game That Crushes Fears by Tamara Leigh Murphy.

Show more

Show less

Wine tasting + wine trivia = major fun! This exciting board game tests everyone's wine knowledge with each sip. To start the game, taste three different wines, write down their names and where they are produced. Note the aromas, the colors, and the tastes. When a player lands on a blind tasting space, take a sip of one of the wines and try to remember which one it is. Land on a wine label space and answer trivia questions like Why are wine bottles stored on their sides? and What grape is used predominantly for Beaujolais? Are you a winerd?

Show more

Show less

Show more

Show less

When the three of us played this game just a few months into our classes, we didn't realize we could actually answer a lot of the questions and get the blind tastings right.  However, when we didn't know the answer, learning something new was the best part.

The next game I came across was Wine Wars: A Trivia Game for Wine Geeks and Wannabes by Joyce Lock.                                 
This fun and fascinating trivia game tests your knowledge of the fruit of the vine.  Let the battle begin as players answer questions in categories such as Vine to Vino (growing grapes, making wine, and world production), Wine Cellar (selecting, storing, and tasting wine), and Cork Culture (wine people, business, arts and science, and trivia).  Perfect for those new to the world of wine, but challenging enough for the devoted oenophile.  Wine Wars will have you swirling, sniffing and sipping your way to vinicultural victory.

Since our husbands are into making wine, we'll have to have them join us for this game.  We should have fun with this one since we already call ourselves wine geeks!

The third game I came across that looked fun was Cork Jester's Wine Teasers by Jennifer Rosen.
                                                                                





Wine Teasers is a fun, lighthearted activity for people who enjoy wine!  Teams of players answer questions, discuss topics, loot virtual wines from each other and more.  This game is perfect for wine-tastings, informal get-togethers, staff training and even personal reference for learning of when shopping for wines.

I'm excited about trying to "loot virtual wines" from the other two winos :)!  Could be fun...

These are just a few of the wine related games I came across.  I'll let you know how fun, entertaining and "educational" they are.

In the meantime, Cheers!
Lisa

WINE WORD OF THE WEEK

Chaptalization is the process of adding sugar to unfermented grape juice (must) which will result in a higher alcohol wine. (Snooth.com)

Wine School, Zinfandel vs. Primitivo, January 17, 2013

Wine School, January 17, 2013

Primitivo, Zinfandel, Old Vine Zinfandel

Wines

 

Layer Cake Primitivo 2010

Color:  Opaque, ruby red

Nose:  Must, oaky, woodsy with white pepper. Mary Jo picked up a garden mixture aroma with a hint of mint too.

Mouth:  Fruit up front with minerality and a lovely mid palate. The finish drops off.
Price:  $15.99

Conclusion: A nice, easy drinking everyday wine. 

Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel 2010

Color:  Dark, deep ruby

Nose:  Deep blueberry and blackberry notes with some mustiness, and a hint of smokiness.

Mouth:  Nice finish with notes of pepper, a balanced jammy fruit. Definitely a longer finish than the Layer Cake.
Price:  $19.99

Conclusion:  This wine was definitely the favorite of the bunch. We all loved the finish and it seemed to pair best with most of the food. We especially enjoyed it with the White Pizza and dark chocolate.

Rosenblum Cellars Appellation Series Zinfandel 2005

Color:  Brick red

Nose:  Fresh pumpkin, dark fruit, with underlying earthiness

Mouth:  Some tartness on the finish with big tannins, acidic with a bit of spiciness on the finish.
Price:  $17.99

Conclusion:  This wine seemed to be a bit chewy for all of us and the tannins seemed a bit out of balance. It may be that wine had already met its prime.

Pairings

Cheese

• Gouda
• English Cheddar

California Pizza Kitchen White Pizza
Mexican Layer Dip
Chocolate

• 72% Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate
• Lindt Chili Chocolate

Final Thoughts:

Beth -  I love Zinfandels so this was a great class and perfect for a cold, winter night! Klinker Brick was by far my favorites of the wines we sampled tonight. I loved its finish and it went well with most of the pairings. It was fantastic with the layered Mexican dip and the dark chocolate. The Layer Cake was a bit disappointing in its finish, but the finish did improve with the food.  The Rosenblum was interesting with lots of tannins. I could see pairing it with a grilled steak. It was also wonderful with the Lindt Chili Chocolate. My biggest disappointment was the cheese just didn't stand up to these wines.

Lisa - It's been a while since I've had a Zinfandel so I was ready for the class!  Starting with the Layer Cake which I have had a few times in the past was very good but I think older vintages were a little better than the 2010.  The Klinkerbrick was definitely my favorite! I've had it a few times and with its high alcohol content (15.8% yikes!) you could get too much of a good thing, so be careful.  Finishing with the  Rosenblum, the tannins were a little on the high side for me. As for the food pairings, Klinkerbrick was by far the best and the chocolates were my favorite!

Mary Jo-I was so excited to do this class.  I have been so into spicy wines lately!  I have to agree with Beth with my favorite wine being the Klinker Brick.  I have to admit, I have had this wine several times and love it every time.  I did this class because DNA testing in the late 90's revealed that the zinfandel grape was identical to the Primitivo grape of Italy.  I thought we would pair that with a zinfandel and an "old vine" zinfandel.  I can't say that the three were strikingly similar - as I thought they would be.  The finish on the Layer Cake Primitivo was abrupt, but the food pairings did help.  The cheeses, while recommended, did not pair well, but the chili chocolate was a delicious pairing.  Klinker Brick takes the prize for the evening!

My Heart "Wines" For You!

With Christmas and New Years are behind us, it is now time to think about the most ROMANTIC holiday of the year - Valentine's Day!  Are you looking for a nice wine or a wine-related gift to give your sweetheart?  Here are a few on-line stores that offer a huge assortment of wonderful items for that special person in your life.

There are a host of wineries and other gift shops that offer, not only deals on wines for this special day, but offer baskets that pair wines with various cheeses, chocolates and crackers!   Last year, I purchased a set of small bottles of Papapietro Perry wines that were paired with chocolates.  It was a very  nice way to try several PP wines, without going overboard!  It was our own little wine tasting!

During my research for the best wine gifts, I first found that winecountrygiftbaskets.com offers a variety of Valentine's Day wine baskets pairing wine (sparkling or non, red or white) and chocolate, crackers or a combination of both!  Also, for non-wine drinkers, they offer coffee and tea baskets, as well as baskets for breakfast in bed!  Chocolates include Ghirardelli and Godiva, and Oreos are offered too! Some baskets even come with a darling stuffed bear.  Depending on the basket, shipping may be free!

The next site that I found to have wonderful gifts was wine.com.  Through wine.com, you can buy single bottles or multiple bottles of wine, or gift baskets!  Chocolates available include, Godiva, Brix and Ghirardelli.  I found a beautiful decanter, pictured below, whose handle is shaped like a heart!  Also, with your first order of $49 or more, you only pay one cent for shipping!

If you would like a personalized gift, I would suggest redenvelope.com.  I have purchased several things from Red Envelope, and have always been pleased.  This company has unique personalized gifts, such as a personalized wine cellar sign, personalized lazy susan, or an all-inclusive picnic backpack, just to name a few.  Red Envelope also carries wine baskets, as well!

Interested in something really unique?  How about designing your own wine label for your honey?  If you go to personalwine.com, you can design your own wine label and select your own wine!  The web site seems extremely user friendly and production takes approximately ten days.  You can buy individually or in bulk, or you can just buy the labels!  In addition, etchinexpression.com will etch a beautiful design with your special message right onto a wine bottle!  This is a wonderful keepsake that makes a beautiful decoration after the wine has been enjoyed!

There are plenty of other wine-related gift ideas for the wine lover in your life.  A personalized wine tote with a heavy duty corkscrew would be a great idea!  How about a membership to a wine club, it is the gift that keeps on giving!

If you are the creative sort, make your own wine basket tailored to your special person!  Buy a bottle or  two of their favorite wine, crackers, chocolates, a candle, a couple of nice glasses and a red rose for good measure!  Put all the items in a basket, or a large wine box or tote and put a bow on it.  I guarantee that it will be a hit!

Happy Valentine's Day!

(Image from corkjoy.com)

Cheers!
Mary Jo

Wine Word of the Week



Brix - A scale used to measure the sugar content of grapes before harvest or unfermented grape must. This scale can help to estimate the alcohol level in the finished wine.

Wine School, December 20, 2012 - Champagne

Wines

Mumm Cuvée Napa

Color:  Golden

Nose:  Fruity nose with apples and pears, toasty with carmel notes.

Mouth:  Nice tart green apple with a slight sweetness on finish.

Price:  $17.99

Conclusion:  Nice sparkling with a touch of sweetness. We would all agreed it would be a great party wine with appetizers.  This wine was delicious with the dark chocolate with sea salt.

Laurent-Perrier Champagne

Color:  Pale straw

Nose:  Smell just like fresh bread rising.

Mouth:  Dry, more effervescent than the California wine with an elegant finish.

Price:  $33.99

Conclusion:  Lovely elegant champagne, perfect for toasting on New Year's Eve. Surprisingly tasty with Billy Goat Potato Chips.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

Color: Light, golden straw.

Nose:  A yeasty nose, like baking bread.

Mouth:  A lovely crisp wine with toasted almonds on the finish.

Price:  $24.99 (1/2 bottle)

Conclusion:  Dry and crisp, definitely a special bubbly. This was also delicious with the dark chocolate with sea salt.

Pairings

Cheese: Manchego, Smoked Gouda, and Brie

Chocolates: 60% Dark Chocolate and Dark Chocolate with almonds and sea salt

Buffalo Style Chicken Strips
Roasted peanuts
Billy Goat Potato Chips


Final Thoughts:

Beth - Sparkling wines are not part of my regular wine drinking experience, and when I do drink them on special occasions and New Year's Eve, I tend to stick with ones from California. Tonight, Lisa did a great job expanding our knowledge of these gems, and introducing me to the "true" Champagne. I have to say I really enjoyed all three of the wines that we tried this evening. The California wine is at a great price point, and would be a wonderful party wine. It was a bit fuller body and would work well with party foods and appetizers. However, I have to say I liked the French Champagne the best with the Veuve Clicquot my favorite. As far as pairing goes, the Billy Goat Potato Chips were surprisingly amazing with all the wines. I could also definitely relive the French wines with some lobster in the future! What I came away with from this class-stop saving Champagne for just special occasions.
Lisa - With the season, champagne was  mentioned everywhere so I thought I would compare American to the true French Champagne of two different bodies.  I am used to the sweet bubbly that we mostly enjoy at weddings and other special occassions.  However, I was totally surprised by the yeasty bread smell of the French Champagnes! Pairings mentioned spicy,  salty and smokey. I do have to agree that the Billy Goat Potato Chips hit the spot with all three.  Since these are not my everyday "go to" wines, I still enjoyed them all and now appreciate the differences.
Mary Jo - While I usually only enjoy sparkling wines on rare occasions, I am so glad Lisa decided to do this class!  Lisa really brought forth some interesting information about Champagne that I did not know.  What a difference in these three "champagne" choices!  My favorite overall was the Mumm Cuvee Napa.  In fact, I purchase another bottle for our at-home New Year's Eve celebration in Arizona.      The pairings were delicious and, I agree, the Billy Goat Chips were wonderful!  I will be enjoying sparkling wine more often after this class!!!

Fun(gus) With Wine

     I enjoy receiving my Cooking Light Magazine each month. Looking for new recipes to try with the family that are tasty, but not over the top in fat and calories is something I look forward to. In the latest issue, January/February 2013, a suggestion in the Match Me column caught my attention. Lisa, Mary Jo, and I enjoy pairing wine with food, and are always looking for that next “ahhhh” pairing we can discover. I was intrigued by the Cooking Light’s suggestion to pair a Spanish Rioja with an earthy mushroom dish. In the past my tried and true pairing with mushroom dishes has been Pinot Noir, but I do enjoy a nice Rioja, so I decided to put these two wines to a taste test with my husband and myself as the judges.

    
 I have to admit in the past I was the first to pull mushrooms off a pizza or push them to the side of my plate. I hated the texture, and didn’t see any reason to make them part of my cooking repertoire.  My husband on the other hand has always loved mushrooms. The fact that most of the mushrooms that I had tried in the past came out of can and look like they might bounce if you drop them may have something to do with my distaste for them. Luckily with age (there are advantages to getting older) I have become more adventurous in my gastronomical endeavors, and I have come to appreciate mushrooms in my dining. It helped that I had life altering food moment on my 25^th anniversary trip with my husband at Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg, CA. Mike and I were fortunate enough to enjoy a wine pairing dinner as part of our celebration. I would have to say it was one of the best, if not the best dining experiences of my life, and in the process opened my eyes to the wonders of mushrooms. What changed my opinions of mushrooms?? A wonderful mushroom soup paired with a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. I’m not kidding; I wanted to jump in a vat of that soup!! And the Pinot Noir to me was the perfect pairing, and that is why my first thought when pairing a mushroom dish is to go with a Pinot.

     First I needed to find the recipe I wanted to try pairing with a Rioja and Pinot Noir. I looked at the recipe recommended by the magazine article, but thought I would search a bit more and I found a winner on myrecipes.com. It is a Smoked-Gouda Risotto with Spinach and Mushrooms and just happens to be a Cooking Light recipe from 1999. Next I needed to pick the wines. The article had recommended Camp Viejo, Rioja Reserva, 2007. I have enjoyed this wine in the past and it is readily available at a reasonable price, but I have recently tried a Rioja that I enjoyed as much, if not better. It is Viña Eguía, Rioja Crianza, 2008 and I found it at my local World Market for $9.99 (regularly $14.99). For the Pinot I went with one of my favorites in the low $20 range, Meiomi Pinot Noir, 2011 for $22 at Plaza Liquor and Wine in O’Fallon, IL. Both wines have received high ratings. The Wine Advocate gave the Rioja 91 points and Wine Spectator rated the Meiomi at 92 points. Let the tasting begin!

     The preparation of the risotto went off without a hitch. The sautéing of the mushrooms warmed the winter house with a wonderful, earthy richness. Mike also grilled some T-bone steaks for himself and our 15 year old son, and I fixed a green salad with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The wine was opened about ½ hour before the meal was ready.  

 

THE TASTING

Meiomi Pinot Noir

We have both enjoyed this wine in the past and were not disappointed tonight. Cherry, spice, nicely balanced, Mike thought it tasted like a cherry cola! The risotto definitely enhanced the finish on this wine. Mike thought there was a taste explosion at the back of his mouth. He loved it with the T-bone so much I had to try a taste.

Viña Eguía, Rioja Crianza

The nose on this wine was much earthier than the pinot so I was a bit surprised when tasted alone it seemed very jammy compared to the pinot. With the risotto it definitely tamed the fruit and the finish was much enhanced. This wine was delicious with the steak.

RESULTS

The risotto was a definite hit and although both wines went well we both agree the Meiomi was the winner, hands down.

Cheers!
Beth


WINE WORD OF THE WEEK
Earthiness-a common wine term used to identify the subtlety and terroir characteristics of Old World wines such as Italian Chianti, French white and red Burgundy and Rhone wines, Spanish Rioja, among many others. Some other "earth" words used in wine descriptions are dusty, flinty, chalky, minerally, mushroom, truffle (the fungus, not the candy), forest floor, humus, wet leaves, tea leaves, and barnyard.  Get the picture? Not the old mud pies you made as a kid :).
 

Here's To Your Health!

Happy New Year!  It's a time of new beginnings and fresh starts.  For some of us it's New Year's Resolutions once again.  Whether or not we actually make a resolution, we do think about making changes in our lives to improve upon something.  Maybe it's losing weight, volunteering more, getting more sleep, etc.......  I've chosen to be healthier!  Since I enjoy a good bottle of wine I thought I would see what scientists and doctors have to say about wine and my health.

DISCLAIMER:  I AM NOT A MEDICAL EXPERT!

Now for some good news about drinking wine in moderation (defined by the American Heart Association as one to two four-ounce glasses a day). Wine does have health benefits!

Food & Wine magazine had a great article by Christine Quinlan on the benefits of drinking wine.  Below is some of her article:

The Benefit: Promotes Longevity
The Evidence: Wine drinkers have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than beer or spirits drinkers. Source: a Finnish study of 2,468 men over a 29-year period, published in the Journals of Gerontology, 2007.

The Benefit: Reduces Heart-Attack Risk
The Evidence: Moderate drinkers suffering from high blood pressure are 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack than nondrinkers. Source: a 16-year Harvard School of Public Health study of 11,711 men, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, 2007.

The Benefit: Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
The Evidence: Red-wine tannins contain procyanidins, which protect against heart disease. Wines from Sardinia and southwest France have more procyanidins than other wines. Source: a study at Queen Mary University in London, published in Nature, 2006.

The Benefit: Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
The Evidence: Moderate drinkers have 30 percent less risk than nondrinkers of developing type 2 diabetes. Source: research on 369,862 individuals studied over an average of 12 years each, at Amsterdam's VU University Medical Center, published in Diabetes Care, 2005.

The Benefit: Lowers Risk of Stroke
The Evidence: The possibility of suffering a blood clot–related stroke drops by about 50 percent in people who consume moderate amounts of alcohol. Source: a Columbia University study of 3,176 individuals over an eight-year period, published in Stroke, 2006.

The Benefit: Cuts Risk of Cataracts
The Evidence: Moderate drinkers are 32 percent less likely to get cataracts than nondrinkers; those who consume wine are 43 percent less likely to develop cataracts than those drinking mainly beer. Source: a study of 1,379 individuals in Iceland, published in Nature, 2003.

The Benefit: Cuts Risk of Colon Cancer
The Evidence: Moderate consumption of wine (especially red) cuts the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent. Source: a Stony Brook University study of 2,291 individuals over a four-year period, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2005.

The Benefit: Slows Brain Decline
The Evidence: Brain function declines at a markedly faster rate in nondrinkers than in moderate drinkers. Source: a Columbia University study of 1,416 people, published in Neuroepidemiology, 2006.

Now as you can see the word "moderate" is repeated often because heavy drinking can harm the heart and liver.  So please heed the warnings! You may think I am just trying to justify enjoying a glass or two several times a week, but I mostly enjoy sharing a good bottle with my wino buddies!

Cheers!
Lisa