Best ATL Wine Lists!

Here is a list of some of ATL's best wine lists, per Atlanta Eater (Click HERE). I haven't been to many of the new ones but I have long been a fan of Aria. If you are able (and can book well in advance) the wine cellar is a unique experience (e.g. you can dine in the cellar!). Only 4 people fit and it's a lovely/romantic affair. I highly recommend it (and the food is divine!).

One trend I haven't fully embraced is the use of iPads for wine lists. Bones is a pretty simple wine list (voluminous, but well laid out) and makes it easy to find a bottle from their large list but I was recently in Charleston SC and was frustrated HOW LONG it took to find a wine using their little iPad. Yes, it was split between varietals and/or countries; yes, it was helpful to see a photo of the actual bottle for 'recognition' but overall, trying to toggle back and forth took way too long and really took the fun out of ordering a wine. Ah but when I did make the choice, that lovely Keenan Merlot was stunning!

Final vent--another recent restaurant experience was lackluster due to the fact that their wines were VERY overpriced and also very YOUNG (e.g. all 2012). I wish they had a bit more depth to their list (e.g. some age would be nice). Sigh... can't always get what you want, eh? Note to restaurants: Variety is great; simplicity in the list is great; overpriced? Not so much. If you didn't try to make up so much of your expenses on the wines, you may actually see more business, but that's just me...

Cheers!

A quick "Tips and Sips" for Thanksgiving wines

Just a quick posting to toss out some favorites for Thanksgiving wines. In terms of white wine, you really can't go wrong with Sparkling wine, such as Champagne from France, Cava from Spain or even Prosecco from Italy. The wines won't overpower your food (like Chardonnay would) and all the complex pairings will work out well (e.g. think of a typical Thanksgiving spread--lots of different flavors which would make it tough to pair just "one" wine with everything). If you are not a bubbles fan (shame on you!) an excellent plan B is Viognier. Viognier is a very yummy grape that pairs well with many of the foods as well. Try to find the white blend by Treana or Tablas Creek. If you can't find one of those (try Costco!), perhaps try a DRY Riesling (emphasis on dry--which is NOT sweet). A perfect example is Chateau St. Michelle's Eroica Riesling (around $25).

In terms of red, Beaujolais Nouveau is out now and is always a youthful, fun wine to have with turkey. If that's too light/fruity for you there is always Pinot Noir--try Acacia or anything from Russian River Valley, Carneros (both California) or something from Oregon's Willamette Valley. It can be tough to find a 'good, cheap' (those words together) Pinot though! As always, a RED Zinfandel is a great option to toss out there; go for a Ridge blend and you'll be pleased but anything from Amador County, Lodi or even Napa/Sonoma will work!

So there's a quick shopping list for your feast! Have a WONDERFUL thanksgiving! Blessings to you and yours!

Wine of the Moment: Prosecco!

This week's wine is Prosecco. Oddly enough, Prosecco is a grape, a wine, and a place in Italy. While the grape is now called "Glera", the primary region where prosecco is produced is about an hour and a half north of Venice, in the Veneto region (commonly in Valdobbiadene--try to say that one fast!)

Prosecco is light and refreshing and is quite food-friendly like other sparklers Cava and Champagne. It is typically produced ‘charmat’ style (where secondary fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks vs. ‘methode champagnoise’, the traditional in-bottle fermentation of fine French champagnes). As a result, prosecco is meant to be consumed young, typically within 3 years of bottling or it can become flat! As Italy’s most popular sparkling wine, the bulk of production is either Frizzante (lightly sparkling) or Spumante (fully sparkling). As a comparison, Moscato can be also frizzante but definitely sweeter, while champagne is more crisp but equally ‘spumante’ or fully sparkling.

Proseccos are traditionally dry, with creamy notes of peach. In fact, world-famous Harry’s Bar in Venice created a signature cocktail known as the Bellini, by mixing prosecco with white peach puree. Other characteristics of prosecco include notes of citrus, apple, baked bread with a hint of bitterness on the finish. As such, prosecco pairs with lighter fare, such as seafood (like smoked salmon; yum!), lighter balanced cheese, and pastas with lighter sauces or even fruit desserts such as sorbet or fruit tarts. Right now, as summer comes to a close, it’s perfect to sip on the deck watching the sun go down!

The final attribute of Prosecco, and perhaps one of its best features is the price—you can find most Proseccos in the $10 range. Mionetto is one famous producer; they have one line with a bottle cap (the “IL” line) that is $10 but they also have their ‘best’, named Sergio, after their founder. Sergio is more expensive and a bit tough to find but typically is highly rated by wine publications. I found a 92 point Nino Franco at Smyrna World of Beverage (LOVE that place) for $15 and Sam’s and Costco both have offerings in the $10 range. So pop a bottle of Prosecco this weekend and enjoy the bubbles! Cheers, Bo

CHEAPIE ALERT: Kroger has Apothic Red on sale this week for $7.99! See prior posts about this yummy blend!

What I'm having for New Year's Eve...

Tonight's menu? "Surf and Turf" with king crab legs (RIP Captain Phil!) and steak; on the wine front, I picked up a lovely Blanc de Noirs from Gruet yesterday at Total Wine & More. All Pinot Noir, so it may have a bit of a blush color, but will be a nice 'middle of the road' option for both items. (In all reality, I'll probably end up popping a nice aged bottle of 'something red' as well). Regardless, God Bless you and have a great evening--best wishes for 2011!

(Gruet is a great label from New Mexico, click here for more info. Cheers!)

I'm not the only one...

See, I keep saying "Think Pink" and remind you to drink 'sparkles' for any occasion--I'm glad to know I'm not the only one! Read this article and learn about some yummy Valentine's day ideas. See my previous post about my New Year's choice as another option. Cheers!

Sparkle Plenty!

I actually took my own advice when planning for New Year's eve. I found myself at Total Wine & More in Alpharetta with an 'old friend' in my hand when I was approached by a helper in the Champagne/Sparkling wine section. While the Perrier Jouët Brut I carried was a great 'go-to' selection (around $35), I decided to see what one of their staff members recommended. We looked at several different options in the same price point and ended up looking solely at rosé champagne. She pointed out one specific bottle that she loved, which was a 90+ point champagne that I hadn't tried before. What the heck, the PJ went back on the shelf and we had something new for New Year's eve. As suggested, the wine was a definite winner and my impression of Total Wine remains positive! Give Champagne Montaudon Grande Rosé a shot; you'll be pleased! And while I'm at it, don't forget that champagne (or Sparkling Wine from CA, Spain, etc.) is ALWAYS a great choice and NOT just for celebrations alone!. Cheers!