The Coravin 1000 Wine Preservation System

How often have you wanted to enjoy a glass of wine in the evening, but knew you wouldn't finish the bottle and did not want to waste it.  Or, have you desired a white wine prior to dinner and a glass of red with your steak?  Wines start to oxidize the second the cork is pulled and, unless you either finish the bottle or share it with others, your wine will likely not be as good the next day.  There are different preservation systems on the market, but none are completely foolproof.

Greg Lambrecht, the Founder of Coravin, Inc., found that when his wife became pregnant and he was the only one drinking wine, he didn't want to commit to drinking an entire bottle.   Greg wanted to be able to enjoy his wine, without having to pull the cork.  Is that possible, you ask?  Greg Lambrecht made it possible.

Greg explains the technology behind the Coravin on his website coravin.com.  There is no need to remove the cork or the foil.  When the Coravin is put into place, a thin, hollow needle is placed through the cork to extract the wine from the bottle.  The bottle is then pressurized with Argon, a gas plentiful in nature and is regularly utilized in other methods of wine preservation.  Once the bottle is pressurized, the wine flows through the needle into your waiting glass.  The last step is simply to remove the needle and the cork reseals itself.  The wine in the bottle never comes into contact with oxygen, thus the degradation process never begins.

Not only does the Coravin allow a wine drinker to preserve wine, but it also allows one to go from one type of wine to another as the Coravin needn't be dedicated to one bottle.  The benefits of this device are even more appreciated by wine store and wine bar owners who are now able to keep their wines-by-the-glass fresh, even if they aren't finished in one day.  The financial and taste benefits are worth the price of this gadget!

For only $299, you will receive the Coravin 1000, a storage base and two pressurized argon capsules (FREE SHIPPING - ground).  If you prefer, you can get a flight-ready Coravin without the pressurized capsules (FREE SHIPPING - air).  Each pressurized capsule allows for approximately 15 pours.

Don't waste your wine, it is like pouring money down the drain!  Enjoy your wines over weeks or months, instead of feeling pressured to drink or dump.

Cheers!
Mary Jo

Duchman Family Winery

As you probably recall, last Valentine's Day weekend Beth and I, along with our husbands ventured to the Texas Hill Country to check out the wines and enjoy the weekend away from our harsh Illinois winter.  As we searched many books and websites to determine which wineries we wanted to try, due to limited amount of time, we had to narrow our choices to only  a few a day (yes, we were trying to be responsible too).

One of the very first wineries I jotted down on my "must see" list was the Duchman Family Winery.  Several things caught my attention about this winery, starting with the ambiance of the drive up to the tasting room.  It looked like a slice of Tuscany in the little Texas town of Driftwood!

More importantly, the owners Lisa and Stan Duchman's goal was "to craft wine in Central Texas using exclusively Texas-grown fruit"(Spectacular Wines of Texas). Their philosophy is "100 % Texas Grapes 100% Texas Wines".  Fortunately, the Texas warm summers mimic the Mediterranean climate of Italy, meaning that grapes that fare well in warm and often arid climates thrive. Native Italian grape varieties like sangiovese, agliancio, and vermintino grow in the vineyards.  In addition to experimenting with Italian grapes, the winery sources the majority of its fruit from the Texas High Plains appellation, where cooler temperatures and a more moderate climate prevail.

They offered a variety of white wines which include Trebbiano, Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Vermentino, and Bianco (a blend of Trebbiano, Vermentino, and Pinot Grigio). Thanks to my most convenient WineCheck, I was able to bring home my top three choices: a 2011 Trebbiano, a 2011 Pinot Grigio and a 2012 Vermentino.  Yes, they are all winners in my book-perfect by the pool!

Next, we tasted the reds chosen from Sangiovese, Dolcetto, Rosso (a blend of Sangiovese and Dolcetto), Montepulciano, Tempranillo, Aglianico, and Canto Felice.  Again, I limited myself to only a couple of tastings but thoroughly enjoyed the Sangiovese, the Montepulciano and the Tempranillo.  As you can see, we even enjoyed a bottle of the 2011 Tempranillo while sitting outside soaking up the lovely warm weather as the sun was starting to set. They even had a Bocce Ball court! (Aw, I remember last year's California trip.)  For more detailed information about their wines, check out their website at duchmanwinery.com.

All in all, the Texas Hill Country was quite a success and I'm looking forward to visiting again- hopefully soon!

Cheers!

Lisa

A Lesson on Bordeaux!

The wine line up!

     Recently my husband and I had the opportunity to participate in a class on Bordeaux wines at The Wine Merchant in Clayton, MO. The class was taught by owner and sommelier, Jason Main, and was both entertaining and educational. Jason is a wonderful teacher, taking the time to answer all of our questions. In addition to enjoying the six wines, we also tasted some of the wonderful edible treats available at The Wine Merchant. 

Delicious white Bordeaux

Our Line-up for the Evening:

• Wine #1 - 2012 Maison Sichel Bordeaux Blanc "Sirius" -   This is a delicious little white wine for $12.99. It had lovely mineral notes on the nose and was especially delicious with the cheeses. I brought home two bottles that night and have been back for more already! Perfect for the upcoming summer season!

• Wine #2 - 2008 Chevalier de Russan-Gassies Margaux, Bordeaux, France - This wine had the look of an old world wine, it was earthy with nice acidity and paired very well with all the goodies. Priced at $42.99.

• Wine #3 - 2009 Cháteau Taillefer Pomerol, Bordeaux, France - This red was fuller bodied than the Chevalier with dark red fruit up front on the nose but also a nice earthiness. We loved the finish on this wine. Priced at $27.99.

• Wine #4 - 2009 Cháteau Fieuzal Pessac-Leognan(Graves), Bordeaux, France - Color on this wine was very dark brown-red. It had deep rich notes on the nose. Again paired well with the nibbles. Priced at $62.99.

• Wine #5 - 2009 Cháteau Cantermerle Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France - Color was deep, dark almost purple. Bright fruit on the nose and wonderful with the cheddar cheese and sausage. We brought home a bottle at $59.99.

• Wine #6 - 2005 Cháteau d'Armailhac Pauillac, Bordeaux, France - This was the big treat of the evening. A wonderful full body on this wine but the tannins were well balanced. We both loved it and would consider getting a bottle for a special event. Priced at $110.00.

Cheese, Charcutérie and Páté of the Evening
Winnimere, raw cow's milk, VermontBrie Fermier, cow's milk, FranceCabot Clothbound Cheddar, raw cow's milk, VermontCantelet, raw cow's milk, FranceWenneman's sausage, IllinoisFabrique Delicés Páté de Chanpagne & truffle mousse, California

     I definitely would recommend trying one of the many classes offered by The Wine Merchant(www.winemerchantltd.com). I know I will be signing up for a future offering. After finishing this class I wouldn't say that I am an expert in French Bordeaux wines, but my appreciation and understanding for these wines has grown. Maybe my next Bordeaux experience should be in France!

Cheers,
Beth

     

Caymus!

One of my absolute favorite higher end wines is Caymus.  I have loved the everything about this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon since my very first taste.  My husband and I had it for the first time at a local steakhouse and fell in love.  Since then, when my wonderful Husband knows I need a pick-me-up, this is what he has in his hand!

Caymus Vineyards was started in 1971 in Napa Valley, California by Charlie and Lorna Wagner, along with their son Chuck.  In 1972, 240 cases of their first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon were produced, a far cry from today's production of 65,000 cases.  Charlie, Lorna and Chuck ran Caymus for 30 years.  The Winery is now led by Chuck and his two sons, Charlie and Joe and daughter, Jenny. The grapes are grown on 350 acres in Napa Valley.

According to Caymus.com, the vineyard's name came from a Mexican land grant known as Rancho Caymus, which was given to George Yount in 1836.  This included the area now known as Rutherford, as well as the surrounding area.

The Wagner Family of wine includes other well known names, such as Conundrum, Meiomi, Bella Glos and Mer Soleil.

Caymus produces two different Cabernet Sauvignons, one is the "Napa Valley" and the other is the "Special Selection".  I have had both versions, and they are both amazing!  Caymus prides itself on aromas and flavors that can only be attained via "hang time" which is a process that risks the loss of a crop at the hands of an early winter.  This technique leaves the fruit to hang on the vine longer than usual.  This process increases color and produces a suppleness and tannin maturity with a velvety softness unique to Caymus wines.  Caymus also chooses to utilize crop thinning, which allows maximum sunlight to reach the vine's fruit zone.  These wines are full of aromas and flavors that include vanilla, cocoa and cassis!

I have been so blessed to have been exposed to these delicious wines.  They are an absolute favorite, and every time I mention Caymus, I am met with many positive testimonials by Caymus fans.

If you haven't had the pleasure, please make this a bucket list item!  You will not be disappointed!

Cheers!

Mary Jo

New Wine Fellowship

     The Stay at Home Winos had a wonderful time Saturday afternoon kicking off the new Rotarian District 6510 Wine Fellowship with a blind wine tasting. What a great group of hard working people who give back so much to the community. We feel honored to have been a part of the first event of this new fellowship.

Plenty of good food to enjoy with the tasting

     The group sampled two white varietals to begin the event - Martin Codax 2011 Albariño and Kung Fu Girl 2012 Riesling. 

     For the reds we tried the Artezin 2012 Mendocino Zinfandel and Montecillo 2007 Rioja Reserva.

Cheers,
Beth, Lisa, Mary Jo, and Kim

P.S. Thank you to Harry Henderson for sharing his photos and Greg and Catherine Yank for hosting the event.

Wine School, Torrontes, April 1, 2014

Theme:   

With spring here and summer right around the corner, I thought it would be nice to check out some harder to find Torrontes wines.  I had forgotten how distinctive these wines can be!  I had it in my head that they were closer to a Sauvignon Blanc, when, in fact, I felt they were closer to a Chardonnay.  While these wines are not plentiful in stores, they are worth looking for and you will likely get a great wine for not a lot of money!   

The Wines:

Trivento Reserve 2011 Reserve Torrontes

• Color:  Pale, yellow green
• Nose:  Aromas of citrus with mineral notes and a hint of floral-the mineral aromas really stand out to us.
• Mouth:  A creamy mouth feel with a bright acidity at the end.
• Price:  $10.99

Crios 2012 Torrontes

• Color:  Pale, yellow green-lightest color of the wines
• Nose:  Gardenia and white floral aromas hit you in the nose at first sniff.
• Mouth:  Creamy with a bit more bright acidity in this wine.
• Price:  $17.99

Aylla 2012 Torrontes

• Color:  Light yellow gold with a green tint
• Nose:  Peach, grapefruit and strong rose notes
• Mouth:  Driest of the three wines, the acidity is up front with creaminess coming through on the finish.
• Price:  $9.99

Overall Conclusion:  We enjoyed all three of these wines. So interesting how the same grape can make such different styles in wine. The Crios is our favorite, but we would recommend all three of these wines. If you prefer your whites bone dry-go for the Aylla! Definitely these wines would be perfect for a summer party, by the pool, or the next time you order Thai food.

The Pairings:

Goat Cheddar:  Excellent cheese that paired well with all three wines.
Goat with Lemon Poppy Seed: Great cheese, and it paired well with the wines-a winner! 
Goat - Four Pepper:  Paired well with the Aylla, with the Trivento coming in second.




Chicken Satay:  A wonderful dish that paired well with all three of the wines. Our favorite pairing was with the Trivento.
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups:  Very interesting pairing. If you are a fan of Reese's-you should give it a try. We recommend pairing it with the Trivento or Aylla.
Sea Salt Chocolate:  Another nice pairing. We liked it best with the Trivento and Crios.
Dark Chocolate:  Dark chocolate was a bit too bitter for these luscious wines. Save the dark chocolate for a lovely red!

Conclusion:

Beth:  Another great class that has me ready for some warmer weather after sampling these Torrontes wines! The creaminess of these wines is a real treat. The characteristic that stands out the most to me is the aromas. It is amazing the floral undertones-you almost feel like you've just walked into a florist shop when you get a big whiff! I would have to say my favorite wine of the evening was the Crios. The bright acidity and yet still creamy palate makes this wine stand out from the others. All of the wines paired well with the dishes. This is a perfect wine the next time you are having Thai or some other spicy dish. 
Lisa:  It's definitely time for warm weather whites!  Come on Spring!  I have to agree that this grape comes in many flavors.  I've always enjoyed the Crios and will continue. I've had other Torrontes and again thought they were more toward the crispness of the Sauvignon Blanc, but tonight they gave me a big surprise. I definitly found the floral and mineral qualities on the nose, especially the rose petal and gardenia in the Aylla.  As for the mouth, they tended to be more buttery like a Chardonnay.  A little more chill on the wine may have brought out some more citric flavors.  As for the cheese pairings, the goat cheddar and goat with the lemon poppyseed only got better with each wine. The chicken satay was the best with the Trivento!  As for the chocolates, the sea salt won hands down for me.  All in all they were all different and very good but may lean toward the Crios.
Mary Jo:  While I have had Torrontes in the past, I guess I had forgotten the true style of this wine.  The colors of all three were pale yellow green, with the Crios being the lightest of the three.  All three wines were delicious with aromas of citrus, peach, minerals and grass.  However, on the mouth, they had a heavier mouth feel than I expected with a creaminess that I found wonderful!  It was interesting how the Crios was creamy initially with the moderate acidity found in the finish, while the Aylla had its acidity up front, finishing up with delightful creaminess. The Crios with the goat cheddar was delicious, while the Aylla was the best with the four pepper goat cheese and the lemon poppyseed goat cheese.  The Trivento paired very well with the chicken sate.  Finally, the sea salt was best with the Trivento and the Reese's peanut butter cups.  I'm not sure I had a "wow" moment with any of the wines and the dark chocolate.  Ultimately, three really great wines that were all very moderately priced.  These wines need to be chillier than a Chardonnay, but not as cold as a Sauvignon Blanc.  I will definitely stock up for summer!  

Tuscany in Texas! Grape Creek Vineyards

As you may have read in one of Beth's previous blogs, she and I, along with our husbands took a trip to the Texas Hill Country back in February.  Though we visited several wineries and loved them all, one of my favorites was Grape Creek Vineyards.

They ARE a little Tuscany in Texas!  With it's limestone bell tower at the entrance and the beautiful Tuscan-style Villa tasting room, the ambiance was the perfect setting to taste some award-winning wines.

Grape Creek Vineyards is located just 10 miles east of Fredericksburg (which is about 70 miles west of Austin on Hwy 290).  Since we were there visiting on a Saturday afternoon, the place was hopping!  It was actually a Texas Wine Trail tasting weekend too.  With live music playing outside on the patio we mosied on inside to taste the wines.  They have their Black Label wines which include Bellissimo, a Super Tuscan style red wine which is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Mosaic is a full-bodied blend of traditional Bordeaux grape varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and a splash of Syrah.  The Black Label also includes a Port and a Petite Sirah. The 2010 Epiphany Estate is a combination of Estate Montepulciano and Aglianico.  The 2010 and 2011 Serendipity blend wines complete the Black Label line.

The list doesn't stop there.  Grape Creek also includes more dry red wines, a variety of white wines and even a couple of sweet wines.  Check out their website at www.grapecreek.com for more details.





 As you can see, the grapes weren't really in season while we were there but the warm sunshine did wonders for us wearied from the long winter!

Enjoying a bottle outside while listening to the music was such a good time. The winery also has a wonderful shop filled with all kinds of fun wine related items.  One thing we didn't get to experience was the Bed & Breakfast.  The 2 bed/2 bath villa sits atop the Ambassador Tasting Room and has wonderful views of the vineyard, the banks of Grape Creek, the rolling hills and natural landscape of the area.  I think we will have to check it out on our trip back!!

 

 

 

All in all, we had a great time on our Texas Wine Trail wine tasting and I'm ready to return!

 

 

Cheers!

Lisa