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.
January’s wine of the month has big shoes to fill. Many of our customers have fond memories of premium wines they may have splurged on during the holidays. Yet for most, the urge to splurge has ended.
January therefore calls for a wine that tastes like a splurge, but isn’t–a soft landing from the heights of luxury.
This beautifully crafted red from Spain captures all the best features of the super-versatile Tempranillo grape, exhibiting class well above its price range, and fits perfectly within anyone’s post holiday wine budget.Continue reading Valdelana Rioja 2011- Wine of the Month
One of the biggest misconceptions of our times is, newer is always better. In my line of work, along with most lines of work, this is both true and false. Not everyone is capable of change, and in some cases there are those who are resistant to it. But there are those who also accept it and follow the tides. Either way a decision has to be made whether the outcome is good or bad. What I don’t agree with is someone just giving in and letting the “tail wag the dog.” This has been the case in wine for quite some time, and I’m going to speak out about it.
In 1982, Bordeaux had what some would say is one of their best vintages ever. Around that time a man by the name of Robert Parker would hit the wine scene and be one of the most influential spokes persons for the 1982 Bordeaux. Needless to say, he was right about the vintage and the great wines that were produced from it, and from that point on the rest, as they say, became history. Continue reading What’s wrong with sticking to your guns?
I was reading The Juice by Jay McInerney and it got me thinking, why do I love wine? I wasn’t one of those kids that was brought up in a wine drinking family; truth be told my parents didn’t start drinking until I was in my teens, and even then the wine they enjoyed the most was Franzia White Zinfandel; that’s right, the stuff in the 5 liter box! I wasn’t one of the “artistic” kids, although I can play the guitar and drums and I found that even if you didn’t have a natural gift for it you could play either instrument with enough training. I was an “A” student when it came to Math and Science and a “B” student when it came to English and History, both of which are tremendously important in the wine industry, which begs the question, why do I love wine?Continue reading Why I Love Wine?
Right now the Central Coast is demanding headlines. There are many reasons for this, but at the top of the list has to be their successful production of Pinot Noir. While wine snobs may want to dismiss the influence of the movie “Sideways”, they certainly can’t deny the tremendous increase in the demand for Pinot Noir over the past two years as well as the increased number of tourists who are visiting the wineries of Santa Barbara County. “Sideways” brought this up and coming wine region into the spotlight and today more people are trying wines from this region than ever before. Last year more than two million people visited Central Coast wineries, drawn there by the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, the unique wines, and the warm hospitality that is not always present in the two more famous California wine regions. Continue reading Transformation of the Central Coast – Part II
Up until recently California’s Central Coast has suffered from what some would call “an identity crisis”. This was largely because a small number of large producers used the area as a source for a vast quantity of uninspiring, inexpensive wine. It was also a region that large Sonoma and Napa producers used as a grape source for up to 20% of their Chardonnay blends. Another reason that contributed to this apparent lack of identity was that as late as the 1960’s nobody had a clue as to which grapes to plant and where to plant them. Many producers tried several varietals in many different locations, but the end result was mostly nothing special. When knowledgeable wine consumers sought out quality wines from California they looked for wines from Napa or Sonoma. What the heck is the Central Coast anyway? How can a region define itself when it stretches the length of one-third the state of California? How could a region define itself when it originally tried to produce Cabernets and Zinfandels that could never compete with Napa and Sonoma? Today however, thanks to a number of unique and quality producers, as well as a better understanding of this large viticultural area, wines from the Central Coast are starting to define themselves and slowly, but surely finding a niche in the market place.
To be continued…in my next post we’ll explore a few of it’s valleys.
The title is self explanatory. I wrote about the Neyen not too long ago, so it should still be fresh in people’s minds. I wanted to know what our customers thoughts on this wine are, since it was so well received. It sold out about four hours after I sent an email that we had some in stock. I know what a few customers think about the wine, since they emailed me either asking for more, but there were many more customers that bought than those who wrote back. So I have a knowledge gap I’d like to fill.
Whether you leave a comment that criticizes my choice or praises it, all are welcome. This is not only a great exercise for our customers, but it is also a great learning experience for me. It allows our customers to voice their opinions without feeling like they have hurt mine. At the same time, it helps me understand what it is our customers are searching for. Everyone likes a great bargain, but was it worth it? Did the wine meet expectations or did it fall short?
On that note, please feel free to leave comments on any wine you may have bought from us whether it be through our email service or if you got direct advice from us while you shopped at our store. Please respond because the more we know, the better we can serve you.
Nic & Nic
Colonial Spirits
Colonial Spirits is the premier liquor store in the Greater Boston area. Visit the store on Rt 2A in Acton for the best selection of beer, liquor & wine in the area, or order online for shipping, delivery & in-store pickup. (Contact)
January’s wine of the month has big shoes to fill. Many of our customers have fond memories of premium wines they may have splurged on during the holidays. Yet for most, the urge to splurge has ended. 
