Nic discusses Givry. Priced at $19.99.
Watch the video and enjoy!
Nic’s first video blog! He likes Burgundy.
Category: Wine
On Colonial Spirits of Acton’s wine blog page, you will find posts from our team of wine experts. Topics range from trends in the wine industry, appreciation for and personal recollections of wine, and debates on the growing and production of wine. Good wine blogs cannot exist without the participation of our friends and customers, so we invite you to get in on the discussion and post your reactions to our entries. You can also jump over to our beer blog if brew is your thing. And if wine and beer are not your cup of tea (or alcohol), check out our liquor blog for thoughts and opinions on all things spirits. Whatever topic in the liquor industry interests you, Colonial Spirits wants you to join the conversation. Post here or contact us with questions, suggestions, and comments. Or feel free to come in to meet us at one or our weekly wine tasting events. Leave the computer behind and talk to us face to face about your favorite wine, while sampling new and old vintages alike.
Culture and Wine
Wine is deeply affected by our cultural norms. If you’ve ever had a conversation with me about wine and food or old world wines (Europe, & arguably South Africa) v. new world wines (anything outside of Europe, & arguably South Africa) you know that I have firm opinions on these matters. I am a wine autocrat, and therefore am opposed to democratic ideals when it comes to wine. Don’t make what the people want, make what’s right! This is very French.
On the other hand, wine can be politically incorrect. Wine is all about taste, and when it comes to taste, can anyone tell you that you’re wrong? This seems to be more American idea, reflecting our democratic society.
What do you think?
Alsace Premier Cru?
Have you ever had an Alsace Premier Cru? You haven’t heard of such a thing? Really? Don’t worry, it doesn’t exist…actually maybe you should worry. Alsace’s Grand Cru vineyard system has been widely criticized for a number of reasons, they include…
- Including not only the great vineyards of the region, but also many that arguably are not capable of producing Grand cru level wines
- Grand Cru rankings have also been criticized for promoting varietal wines made from four notable Alsatian grape varieties: Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Muscat, and for, at least until recently, excluding other varieties and blends, even when made using the above varieties.
Instead of answers, I have more questions.
Why doesn’t Alsace have a Premier Cru system? Should it? If it did, what would it mean for the Grand Cru vineyards? Continue reading Alsace Premier Cru?
Organic Revelation from Portugal
Every once and a while I taste a wine that redefines how I view a certain region or, perhaps, a certain grape variety…Portugal, deservedly famous for Port, has nothing to be ashamed of. But despite a lot of improvement in its three key red wine regions (the Douro, the Dao and Bairrada), non-fortified Portuguese wines have yet to make a big splash with American consumers. The delicious, approachable wines from Casa de Mouraz will certainly do its part to change that.
While both wines clearly owe their respective characters to their distinct regions of origin, their quality and appeal have everything to do with organic farming and skillful winemaking, the likes of which we’re seeing for the first time at this price level from Portugal.
Winemaker Antonio Lopes Ribeiro and his partner Sara Dionisio view organic farming as a means by which to capture the essence of regional character from their vineyards. The traditional methods they use to press and ferment the grapes guarantee the wines are truly hand made and convey a lot about where they are grown. The results will surprise you… Continue reading Organic Revelation from Portugal
Dank die Here vir die Franse!
Most of you know me as a defender of Old World wines, but you probably don’t realize that I am very fond of the wines of South Africa. I’ve always enjoyed them because I believe that they consistently offer an intriguing blend of new world fruit with just enough old world earthiness, structure (think acidity, tannin, etc…), and complexity.
I do, however, struggle to place South Africa in the “New World” wine category. Why? Continue reading Dank die Here vir die Franse!
Look elsewhere…like Spain!
Here’s a challenge for all of you out there in internet land…try something new! ‘You’ll never know if you don’t try,’ is applicable here. I’m reminded of it myself when evening after evening I consume some of my favorite wines [brews, and ciders] from France & Italy…I know, France & Italy, as if anything matters outside of those two countries ;-)…& then I taste something that is either soo completely different or really good from neither of those two countries. It’s shocking actually how ‘settled’ we can become in our habits, particularly in what we consume.
When I stepped on the plane to Spain at the end of February, I thought to myself that I would much rather be flying to France or Italy (maybe the Piemonte again). While on the plane less than a week later, I wondered to myself, “When can I come back?” What happened? I was familiar with Spanish wines before through my tasting and studying of them, in fact I had even been to Spain before (Catalunya, although I was not there ona wine trip). The trip proved to me how good Spanish wines actually are. I came to understand that previously I didn’t really understand the wines of Spain, despite all my tastings of & studying of Spanish wines, as well as my previous visit. Continue reading Look elsewhere…like Spain!
