• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A.D.S. Wine News

All Daily Stories: News About Wines

  • Home
  • Wines
  • Making Wine
  • Vineyards
  • Wine Pairing
  • Wine Tasting
  • Wine Varieties
  • VIDEOS
  • About/Contact

ADSWineReporter

The WORLD Of WINE – Wine News. Cheap Wine, Tasting Notes And Cooking With Wine

December 1, 2021 by ADSWineReporter


Home
Videos
The WORLD of WINE – Wine News. Cheap wine, tasting notes and cooking with wine

The World of Wine – May 2021 Tasting Notes and Cooking with wine

This is the ‘World of Wine’ covering the following topics:-
– Cheap bottles in resturants
– Do tasting notes mean anything
– Cooking with wine
– Expensive tastings
– What did you drink at home in 2020

Looking to learn more?
Get ‘The BIG Wine Quiz Book’ now – 1000 exam style questions, perfect for studying or keeping your knowledge up to date. Available in Paperback and on Kindle
https://geni.us/winequiz

Get ‘The BIG Wine Puzzle Book’ now – 100 Wine Brainteasers to check your brain healthy and to test your wine knowledge. Available in Paperback
https://geni.us/winepuzzle

Links to the Wine books I use for studying: –
The World Atlas of Wine – https://geni.us/atlaswine
Wine Folly – https://geni.us/winefolly
The Oxford Companion to Wine – https://geni.us/oxfordwine

Dont forget to Like and Subscribe for more

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheGrapeExplorer
Twitter – https://twitter.com/grapeexplorer
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thegrapeexplorer/
Facebook – https://en-gb.facebook.com/thegrapeexplorer/

Contact me for business enquiries or collaborations: thegrapeexplorer@gmail.com

DISCLAIMER – Some links in this description are affiliate links (I earn a small commission)


>>> Don't Miss Today's BEST Amazon Deals!
Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: gift me wine, VIDEOS

Visiting Napa Valley On A Budget

November 21, 2021 by ADSWineReporter

How to visit Napa Valley on a Budget. In this video Carson and I explain a few ways to enjoy Napa on the cheap. Tip and advice about how to visit Napa Valley and avoid spending a fortune.

Apologies for the poor camera positioning! I’m about 6 inches taller than Carson and I set up the camera for him and failed to realize my head would be slightly out of frame. Haha!

>>> Don't Miss Today's BEST Amazon Deals!
Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: gift me wine, VIDEOS

Get To Know Argentina Wine

November 18, 2021 by ADSWineReporter


Home
Videos
Get To Know Argentina Wine | Wine Folly

If you love Malbec, Argentina is your ultimate wine region. But that’s not all the Argentina has to offer! See the full guide here: https://argentina.guides.winefolly.com/

Spanning out from Mendoza, you’ll find a wide array of Argentinian specialties from robust and age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon to delicate and floral white wines made with Torrontés.

What makes Argentina’s wines so unique is the influence of the landscape on its wines. For example, many of Argentina’s top vineyard sites sit next to Andes Mountains at very high altitudes. It’s this influence from the mountains and sun conditions that makes Argentina’s wines so unmistakable.

>>> Don't Miss Today's BEST Amazon Deals!
Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: Vineyards

11 great Bay Area gift ideas for foodies, hikers and more

November 8, 2021 by ADSWineReporter

Looking for holiday gift inspiration? These 11 gift ideas — all Bay Area made or inspired — offer all sorts of ways to help your favorite foodie, spirits lover or outdoor enthusiast eat, sip and play. You’ll find chocolate subscriptions, Moscow Mule kits, java inspiration and even board games for hikers and s’mores lovers alike.

(Just remember, shipping delays are the new normal. Get those gifts in the mail quickly!)

EAT: Chocolate deliveries

Treat your chocolate fiend to a world of small-batch producers making dreamy, ethically-sourced dark chocolate. San Francisco-based Cococlectic, which is run by women and minority-diverse owners, is the only bean-to-bar subscription box that features all American chocolate makers, including ChocolateSpiel in Seattle, Black Sheep Chocolate of Bend, Oregon, and Mutari Chocolate in Santa Cruz.

The full-sized bars are vegan, non-GMO and fair trade and made using less than five ingredients, so your giftee can savor every rich bite while feeling good about the world. Did we mention the virtual chocolate tastings?

Details: Subscriptions start at $43 per month. Choose from monthly, quarterly or semi-annual options, as well as one-time gift boxes; https://cococlectic.com.

SIP: A DIY cocktail kit

Hanson of Sonoma, the family-owned distiller of premium organic vodkas, has cornered the local market on cocktail kits. Seriously.

The DIY Old Fashioned Cocktail Kit is one of several offered by Hanson of Sonoma. (Courtesy Hanson of Sonoma) 

They currently offer 10 mouth-watering options, from a DIY Old Fashioned Cocktail Kit featuring Bitter Girl Bitters to an Inked Vodka Tonic Cocktail Kit (the “ink” is trendy dried butterfly pea flower, which will infuse your bottle of Hanson Cucumber Vodka with a hypnotic violet hue).

Wanna go bigger for your cocktail lover? Try a gift set, like the Martini & Caviar ($200), which includes 30 grams of Thomas Keller’s Regiis Ova Caviar, or a tasting kit, like Chocolate, Mules & Vodka ($125). It comes with three Hanson vodkas plus six truffles from award-winning Yountville chocolatier Kollar Chocolates. Plus, all the lime, ginger beer and agave needed to make tasty mules. Did we mention the Boozy Popsicles Cocktail Kit?

Details: Cocktail kits start at $50 and can be shipped anywhere in California. Each kit comes with ingredients, recipe card and the option to add engraved glassware. https://hansonofsonoma.com

PLAY: Campfire story prompts

Mountaineers Books’ “Campfire Stories Deck: Prompts for Igniting Stories by the Fire” is the perfect gift to bust out on winter outdoor getaways. (Max Grudzinski) 

Your first trip to a National Park. The strangest thing you’ve seen on the trail.  A time you were in danger — but didn’t know it.

“Campfire Stories Deck: Prompts for Igniting Stories by the Fire” (Mountaineers Books, $35) is a collection of 50 cards that will inspire meaningful conversations in the outdoors, whether you’re hiking with friends, camping with family or hanging in the backyard with your boo. Many of the deck’s  prompts use nature to instigate conversation — that first encounter with a wild animal, for instance — or simply ask the reader to draw from coveted memories — your favorite beach experience — to foster connection.

All you need to complete the experience is a cup of something warm to sip, a s’more or two and access to the stars.

Details: The deck retails for $35 and is available via Mountaineers Books as well as Parks Project, which benefits the National Parks; www.mountaineers.org; www.parksproject.us

EAT: Alice Waters-approved jams and jellies

Baking mixes, jellies and jams, including this Strawberry Jam, are made with ingredients grown organically by the Homeless Garden Project in Santa Cruz. (Courtesy Homeless Garden Project) 

How’s this for a feel-good/give-back gift? The Homeless Garden Project, a Santa Cruz urban farm and nonprofit that provides transitional employment to the homeless, is selling a selection of its food products, including artisanal jams and jellies, all made using ingredients grown organically.

There are currently three to choose from: Classic Strawberry Jam, Smoky Pumpkin Jelly and Tomato Chipotle Jelly. And if you want to stuff an extra treat in your foodie’s stocking, try the Cheezy Kale Seasoning — organic nutritional yeast, kale powder, sea salt and organic krusted kale from the farm — to elevate salads, pizzas and popcorn. They also make a variety of teas and baking mixes, including a Chocolate Rosemary Brownie we’ve got our eyes on.

Details: Products are $6 to $16 and can be purchased at the Homeless Garden Project store, 1338 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, or online at https://homelessgardenproject.myshopify.com

SIP: Mr. Espresso’s “La Vacanza”

Mr. Espresso’s “La Vacanza” gift box includes a box of Mr. Espresso’s Steeped coffee, 1 extra-large MiiR camp mug and Detours activity cards from Chronicle Books. (Courtesy Mr. Espresso) 

Coffee bags? Yes. After trying another brand — and tossing out the insipid, tea-like liquid — we gave Oakland-based Mr. Espresso’s “Steeped” bags a dunk and were more than satisfied by the light smokiness and caramel finish of the medium dark roast. Dare we say it had a nice, silky body as well?

Any coffee lover will appreciate La Vacanza, a gift box that includes one box of Steeped coffee bags, an extra-large MiiR camp mug with the Mr. Espresso logo and inspirational “Detours” activity cards from Chronicle Books. Beautifully illustrated, each card offers a mind-frame challenge, like “Photograph the tiled floors you see while wandering” or “Try a mode of transportation you don’t ordinarily use.”

Details: $47 plus shipping; https://mrespresso.com/product/la-vacanza-gift-set-2021

PLAY: Trails, a hiking board game

In Trails, players hike across iconic trails and national parks, spotting birds, taking photos and earning badges along the way. (Jackie Burrell/Bay Area News Group) 

This fun little game was designed by the same people who created the Parks board game. Both offer plenty of outdoor-inspired fun, but this pint-sized version is easier to learn, faster to play and petite enough to toss in your backpack. Players hike across iconic trails and national parks — the Pacific Crest Trail, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Joshua Tree National Park and more — gathering resources, spotting birds, taking photos and earning badges along the way.

The trails are represented by 6.5 by 4.5-inch cards illustrated with gorgeous art from the Fifty-Nine Parks project, and the playing pieces include little wooden hikers, resource cubes, badges and a bear.

Details: Trails ($20) is designed for two to four players, ages 10 and up, and takes about 20 minutes to play. A portion of sales benefit the National Park Service. https://keymastergames.com.

EAT: Red Boat Holiday Gift Box

This Red Boat Holiday Gift Box makes a perfect prezzie for fans of Vietnamese cuisine. (Red Boat) 

A bottle of fish sauce might sound like an odd present, but not if you’re a fan of Vietnamese cuisine — and especially not when the sauce in question hails from Hayward’s Red Boat. The sauce is Vietnamese-American, just like its creator, former Apple engineer Cuong Pham, who set out to make his own nuoc mam nhi when he couldn’t find the vividly flavored, first-press fish sauce in the Bay Area. The anchovies are caught and fermented with salt in wooden barrels at his facility on the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc, then filtered and bottled at Red Boat headquarters in Hayward.

Pham’s fans include everyone from chef David Chang to food writers Ruth Reichl and Andrea Nguyen — and soon, the foodies on your gift list. This fun holiday box includes plenty of culinary inspiration, as well as the famous fish sauce

Details: Order the holiday gift box ($56), which includes fish sauce, nuoc cham dipping sauce, kho sauce, a Red Boat bowl, recipe booklet, notebook and tote, at https://redboatfishsauce.com. Want to add even more oomph? Tell your gift recipient you’ve pre-ordered Pham’s Red Boat cookbook, which comes out Dec. 28.

SIP: Blend your own wine

There are plenty of virtual wine tasting kits out there these days, but Paso Robles’ ONX Wines offers a different take: a blending kit that lets you blend your own signature wine at home. (ONX Wines) 

We’ve all gotten used to virtual wine tastings, but Paso Robles’ ONX Wines has taken the concept one step further. Yes, they do virtual tastings, and they will ship wine gift kits ($30) with five Rhone blend samples to your door, so you can taste along during your Zoom session. Now, they have blending kits, too.

The ONX Blending Experience kit sends you four straight-from-the-barrel samples, two samples with finished wines and the equipment wine lovers need to blend their own — pipettes, a cylinder. And a 90-minute Zoom session with a pro walks neophyte winemakers through the how-tos.

Details: The $48 blending kits are a great idea at any time, but they’re especially popular for virtual holiday parties with friends, family or co-workers. Find the kits at www.onxwines.com.

READ: Culinary curiosities

“Gastro Obscura” hails from the same team that gave us the endlessly diverting Atlas Obscura website and best-selling book. This one’s a food adventurer’s guide to the planet, from the backstory of Pad Thai (invented by a dictator) to the role of iceberg lettuce in “Titanic” (sound effects, who knew?) The book’s 500 entries delve into the strange, the delicious and the distinctly odd corners of the food world, from Spam to Zombie cocktails, San Francisco’s “Brownie Mary” and Victorian mustache cups. (The latter were designed to prevent gentlemen’s whiskers from dipping into their tea, old chap.)

Ever wondered about ice cream beans? Chernobyl’s exclusion zone cafeteria? Beer made from Chilean fog? (You’re wondering now, aren’t you?) This hefty volume will delight foodies, travelers and curious readers alike.

Details: Dylan Thuras and Cecily Wong’s “Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide” (Workman Publishing, 2021) is $42.50 at https://books.atlasobscura.com or from your favorite indie bookstore.

In his first book, Livermore winemaker Steven Kent Mirassou explores life, love and six generations in California Wine. (Val de Grace Books) 

READ: Steven Mirassou memoir

Oenophiles love dirt. And not just the kind their beloved vines sprout from, but the heart-pounding drama that comes with making wine: rough growing seasons, business mistakes, the loss of cherished vineyards, the death of a partner. In his first book, sixth-generation California winemaker Steven Kent Mirassou spills it all with honest and deft prose.

You won’t find any boring technical wine notes in “Lineage: Life and Love and Six Generations in California Wine” (Val de Grace Books, $35).” Mirassou holds a masters degree in literature from NYU, and in addition to making the highest-rated wines ever to come out of the Livermore Valley — Mirassou’s cabernets and Lineage blends have fetched 100 points — this winemaker who started in sales uses his gift of storytelling to convey the literal blood, sweat and tears that connect him, and all of us, to something bigger.

Details: The hardcover is $35, and you can get a signed copy through Mirassou’s website, https://stevenkentmirassou.com. While there, pick up a special bottle of cabernet for your giftee, like the silky Mia Nipote 2019 Il Rinnovo ($50), a blend of cabernet sauvignon and petit sirah.

Oakland author Diana Helmuth’s new book is perfect for newbies or experienced backpackers alike. (Mountaineers Books) 

PLAY: A funny intro to hiking

Know an outdoor hopeful or urban adventurer? They’ll find priceless tips and belly laughs in the pages of Diana Helmuth’s new book, “How to Suffer Outside: A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking and Backpacking” (Mountaineers Books, $19). Helmuth, an Oakland resident and expert backpacker, writes with honesty and humor about modern hiking culture while offering a guide to all the basics, from gear and food to hygiene and clothing.

The book, filled with checklists, resources and vivid illustrations by Latasha Dunston, is funny, relatable and great for any outdoors person on your list, from the casual walker to the experienced backpacker who can relate to both the struggles and magic of hitting a trail.

Details: The book retails for $19 and is available through Mountaineers Books as well as Amazon.

>>> Don't Miss Today's BEST Amazon Deals!
Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: Making Wine

How the Internet of Things (IoT) is Used by Volkswagen Group, BigBelly Solar, Deep Sky Vineyards, Citizen Care Pod, and Canutillo Independent School District: Case Studies

November 8, 2021 by ADSWineReporter

When decision-makers consider implementing Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, they typically want assurance that their investments will pay off and that service providers’ offerings will meet or exceed their needs. 

Reading IoT case studies can show business leaders what’s possible and help them make more confident choices about when and how to implement the technology.

These studies below show how the IoT opens diverse possibilities for businesses, helping them meet current and future goals. 

5 IoT case studies

1. Improving Insights at a Vineyard

Industry: Agriculture

Use case: Applying the IoT and data analytics to track statistics from fields and equipment across the complete grape-growing process. 

Outcome: Deep Sky Vineyards has locations in Arizona and Argentina. Business leaders wanted a better way to oversee operations after a broken valve caused a flood. The company used a Google Cloud IoT solution that caused a 75% reduction in human error costs. Since the technology gives water flow and soil moisture metrics, it raised crop efficiency by 50% by preventing adverse conditions that could cause rot. 

Cloud technology also allowed pushing over-the-air updates to remote devices. That convenience allowed the vineyard to maintain visibility over its sites and use the latest software versions. 

2. Streamlining Contactless COVID-19 Testing

Industry: Health care

Use case: Building pods for contactless COVID-19 testing

Outcome: As the coronavirus spread around the world, it became critical to care for people without putting providers at unnecessary risk. For example, one Italian hospital used robots to take patients’ vitals. In this IoT case study, Microsoft Azure’s cloud and IoT solutions allowed for creating contactless testing stations in less than two months.

The solutions served as stations where people could drive or walk up to a window for their tests. The portability allowed setting up testing centers in remote locations or anywhere they’d most likely reach the most at-risk groups. 

The testing pods have computerized translation services to help non-English speakers as well as artificial intelligence (AI) cameras that ensure everyone wears masks. 

IoT innovations: 85 Top IoT Devices

3. Minimizing Labeling Errors During Automotive Production

Industry: Manufacturing

Use case: Using smart cameras and machine learning (ML) to help team members apply the correct regulatory labels to vehicles in a factory. 

Outcome: Since the IoT can alert people to issues before they cause outages, manufacturing and industrial brands are particularly interested in its potential. It can bring attention to faulty equipment and also reduce human errors. Brands under the Volkswagen Group umbrella must apply 25 different labels during vehicle production, and each one has more than 2,000 variations based on country specifics. 

Amazon Web Services (AWS) provided a cloud-based IoT solution that uses machine learning, automated cameras and IoT apps to identify label errors and alert workers to the issues.

The labels are in several languages, but this method translates them into an employee’s native tongue. Volkswagen Group representatives reported that this process improvement reduced the complexity of workers’ tasks and led to an overall improvement in vehicle quality. 

4. Enhancing the Management of Solar-Powered Trash Receptacles 

Industry: Waste management

Use case: Using IoT and the cloud to improve oversight of solar trash cans in a given location or community. 

Outcome: BigBelly Solar relied on Telit to develop a better way for people to manage waste disposal points. This IoT case study caused an 80% reduction in management costs and gave customers a browser-based console for better visibility. The associated cloud functionality also facilitated remote diagnostics if a particular trash can malfunctioned in a customer’s network. 

Moreover, an authorized party could use the cloud interface to remotely update a garbage receptacle’s software, keeping it functioning smoothly. BigBelly Solar has compacting and non-compacting versions. This technology works with both kinds to verify the fullness level of a given container, saving waste managers from having their staff members make unnecessary trips to check it. 

5. Narrowing the Digital Divide to Facilitate Learning

Industry: Education

Use case: Bringing reliable internet access to the 70% of students in a Texas school district who did not have it at home. This approach also created secure outdoor access points. 

Outcome: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a quick shift to remote learning for many students around the world. This IoT use case involved using products from Cisco’s IoT line to extend the school’s internet access into the homes of children who needed it to continue their studies. 

After first testing this method by bringing dependable, private Wi-Fi to one cluster of houses, the school district’s leaders decided to roll out the technology to eight other groups of residences in the area. The people who worked on this project are developing a blueprint for use across the country, helping kids connect beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Oscar Rico is the school district’s executive director of technology. He explains his drive to find a solution, saying, “When your family can afford internet, you can get up, log in, and do your schoolwork from home. But 70% of our students don’t have internet access at home. Maybe some have access to a parent’s cell phone with unreliable internet. But I knew most would be sitting at a makeshift desk, working their way through a pile of paper. I wanted to find a way to change that.”

>>> Don't Miss Today's BEST Amazon Deals!
Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: Vineyards

Decanter tastes and rates the best buys

November 8, 2021 by ADSWineReporter


Supermarket Aldi showcased more than 130 wines in its UK Autumn/Winter collection, with a focus on both the premium and the ‘unexpected’.

Buyers Josh Heley (still wines) and Andy Maxwell (sparkling, fortified and spirits) introduced a ‘super-premium’ tier: Winemaster’s Lot. This line represents just 10 wines (or 2%) across the whole Aldi wines range, priced from £7.99 to £19.99.

Winemaster’s Lot sits above the Specially Selected range (which superseded the Exquisite Collection in 2020). Among these top-tier wines are classics such as a Pouilly-Fumé, Barbaresco and Rioja Gran Reserva.

Also new is a range of more esoteric and niche wines, including a Riesling-Chardonnay blend from China and a Swiss Gamay. ‘Getting the opportunity to try amazing, exciting wines from every corner of the globe should be a right for our customers – not a privilege,’ explains Heley.

The seasonal Aldi range provides great options for everyday drinking, particularly between £5.99-£9.99. The core lines (from £3.99) are more of a mixed bag, but nevertheless offer several solid options.

In September 2020, Aldi updated its range of online-only Classic Icon wines (first launched in 2019). Veuve Monsigny Champagne is a firm customer favourite, but also seek out the new 2016 Margaux and a fabulous Argentinian Malbec – all perfect for Christmas feasting.

While the majority of Aldi’s full range of wines can be found both on the supermarket’s website and in-store, some are online exclusives and only available while stocks last. Among these are an excellent Canadian Riesling, Australian Durif and Chilean Syrah which have been popular online since spring.

Not yet available, but worth snapping up once released are: the Weingut Reverchon German Riesling 2018 (December), Buenas Vides Argentinian Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (January) and Carmel Road California Chardonnay 2019 (TBC).

Save when you subscribe to Decanter

Decanter’s best Aldi wines:

The first 21 wines are the most recently tasted. The others are still available online and/or in store.

{}

{“wineId”:”53006″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53015″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53014″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53010″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53012″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53013″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53008″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53009″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53007″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53011″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53016″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53021″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53019″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53020″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53023″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53022″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53017″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53018″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53024″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53025″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”53026″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49573″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49581″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49577″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49576″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49579″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49578″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49575″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49574″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49582″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49591″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49586″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49587″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49584″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49589″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49590″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49588″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49585″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49583″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”49592″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”42858″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”24647″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”47857″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”38250″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”46985″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{“wineId”:”42862″,”displayCase”:”standard”,”paywall”:true}

{}

Updated 03/11/2021: Added wines from the autumn/winter 2021 tasting (21 wines) and removed unavailable wines

Updated 15/06/2021: Added wines from the spring/summer 2021 tasting (20 wines) and removed unavailable wines

Related content:

Marks & Spencer wines: top buys for autumn and winter

Majestic: best buys for autumn

Best Tesco wines: the buys for this autumn

Best Co-op wines for Christmas

>>> Don't Miss Today's BEST Amazon Deals!
Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: News/Trends

These 10 Mouth-Watering Eateries Will Let You Eat Now & Pay Later

November 8, 2021 by ADSWineReporter


PEDESTRIAN.TV has teamed up with Payo to help you eat like royalty and pay later.

I don’t know about you, but I live for the ‘buy now, pay later’ movement. I’m not a fan of credit cards and I set myself a spending budget per month, so these bad bois allow me to occasionally spend big and still technically remain on budget — everybody wins. Or maybe just I win in this scenario, but what’s wrong with that?

What I didn’t realise until I was today year’s old, was that for the first time ever in Australia an app exists that’ll actually let you EAT now and pay later — Payo. It’s a pretty timely discovery seeing as I live in Sydney and just came out of lockdown, ready to devour literally anything that I didn’t have to cook for myself.

Basically, you download their app, pick one of 700 participating restaurants, cafes and bars spread throughout Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and eat like a king. Then, with Payo, only pay 25 percent upfront, then deal with the rest in three equal fortnightly chunks.

The app allows you to not only discover places to eat, but also filter by location and cuisine. So what are you waiting for? You can now tick-off your restaurant wish list and experience all the culinary delights you’ve been frothing from afar.

Sounds like a dream, right?

There’s actually a bunch of your fave restaurants on there too, not just randos. I’ve pulled the top 10 just to prove my point.

1. Butter (Sydney)

Sydney’s cult favourite for everything from fried chicken and cinnamon doughnuts to bottomless champagne lunches to ramen is 100 percent on this ‘pay later’ train, which is good news for all your office welcome back reunions, am I right?

Paying less upfront on your meal might even leave you with more sneaker money, who knows?

2. Tokki (Sydney)

Tokki is the closest we’ll get to Asia for a while yet, but what a brilliant substitute it is. With both decor and food inspired by the bustling nightlife of both Tokyo and Seoul, gorge yourself on classic dishes with a contemporary spin then wash it down with bespoke cocktails, small-batch beer and organic wine.

3. Hotel Ravesis (Sydney)

Yep, you can soak in a nice sea breeze and iconic views to boot at Bondi’s beachside hotel. A place where the decor is as ‘Grammable as the cocktails, Ravesis draws inspiration from Mediterranean cultures for their menu. Find seafood, lamb, chicken, salads and hand-rolled pasta.

4. Bomba Bar (Melbourne)

Nothing is better for a celebration than tapas, and nothing is worth celebrating more than Melbourne finally coming out of lockdown. Bomba Bar takes tapas to the next level, and the adorable rooftop setting means the atmosphere is also on point.

They work in set menus that start at $65. Personally, I’d be jumping on Payo and upgrading to the decadent $85 option.

5. Morris Jones (Melbourne)

There is no shame in the Morris Jones Instagram game, what with flower walls and tiled courtyards. But they also have a menu and cocktail list to back it up. This restaurant, cocktail and wine bar is serving up a modern and adventurous Californian Japanese cuisine.

6. House of Lulu White (Melbourne)

The presentation is on point at House of Lulu White. With an all-day breakfast and lunch menu, you won’t ever have to choose between eggs and pasta. It’s long been my belief that brunch is the best meal, and these guys do a bottomless one every weekend with Mimosas, espresso martinis and Bloody Marys.

All I’m saying is, I’d do bottomless brunch basically every weekend if I could pay for most of it later.

7. Cielo Rooftop (Brisbane)

Nothing says summer like a rooftop, and Cielo’s is perched above Brisbane’s famous Fortitude Valley. They serve unique and fun modern cocktails and a food menu to match. These are the guys behind the award-winning Maybe, Sammy Bar in Sydney, so you know it’ll be good.

8. Takashiya (Brisbane)

Get an authentically Japanese experience at Takashiya Omakase restaurant and Japanese whiskey and sake bar. Omakase is the Japanese tradition of letting a chef choose your order, so all you have to do is make a reservation and let the chef take your tastebuds on a journey.

The full Takashiya Omakase Experience is one you can’t get anywhere else in the city, but it does cost $230 per seat. Better get out your Payo app.

9. The Henchman (Gold Coast)

The Henchman is located in the heart of Miami — the Gold Coast suburb of Miami, that is. This adorable outdoor cafe is dog-friendly, so you can enjoy coffee and brunch or sip delish cocktails and devour cheeseburgers while your pet chills beside you. They’ve even got live music on the weekends.

10. Vanitas Restaurant (Palazzo Versace, GC)

If you’re a fan of labels and being fancy, the famous Palazzo Versace hotel on the Gold Coast houses Vanitas Restaurant — an AGFG Hatted Restaurant. Their menu focuses on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and provides a (very important) wine pairing menu.

The average price range here for one person is $155 — the food is that good — so Payo is really going to come in handy.

More Stuff From PEDESTRIAN.TV

Image:
Instagram: @palazzoversace / @tokki_syd

>>> Don't Miss Today's BEST Amazon Deals!
Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: Wine Pairing

The Tradition of St. Martin – Celebration of Food and Drink

November 8, 2021 by ADSWineReporter

St. Martin’s Day, which Czechs celebrate on November 11, is a holiday of good food and drink.

Autumn slowly alternates with winter, and it begins to snow. In the past, the economic year was ending at this time, and the landowners were preparing a feast for their people as a form of thanks, when they were also paid out their wages.

And what about today? Today, the feast of St. Martin is a great opportunity to bring a little joy to life! Traditionally, fattened geese are roasted on 11 November, and the first bottles of young wine open at exactly 11:11 am.

St. Martin wines are fresh and young, as they only have a few weeks to mature. They are very clear and have a lower alcohol content.

For a wine to bear the St. Martin brand, it must be made in the Czech Republic from grapes of the varieties Müller Thurgau, early Roter Veltliner, Moravian Muscat, Blauer Portugieser, Svatovavřinecké (St. Laurent) and Zweigeltrebe and undergo an evaluation by an independent committee.

It blind tastes the properties of the wine, such as appearance, aroma, taste, and overall impression of the wine. So if you buy wine with the St. Martin label, you can be sure that you will be getting quality young wine from South Moravia, Mělnicko or other areas in Central or Northern Bohemia.

Svatomartinský košt (St. Martin wine tasting) – start of the celebrations

The Czech association of winemakers, called the Wine Fund (Vinařský Fond), is once again planning the largest tasting of St. Martin wines in the Czech Republic on 11/11 at 11 am on Brno’s Náměstí Svobody square. The St. Martin wine tasting traditionally offers 100 samples of St. Martin wines from 100 different winemakers.

But you can also look forward to more tastings, i.e. wine tastings and St. Martin’s Day processions throughout the Czech Republic. For example, in the Prague Botanical Garden, in Český Krumlov and in Jihlava.

St. Martin’s Day in restaurants

You can be sure that almost every restaurant around mid-November will be offering its visitors a special St. Martin’s Day menu.

What does it feature? According to a tradition that has lasted for several centuries, geese were always roasted in the autumn, fresh cabbage was processed, and wine or beer was drunk. And today’s restaurants and pubs remain faithful to these basic ingredients.

Typically, you will be served liver pâté as an appetizer, followed by a strong broth with liver dumplings and noodles, which the chefs usually leave to simmer overnight, with the main course being roast goose with red or white cabbage and dumplings.

A cornucopia in the market and gallery

City markets are not far behind either. There are fewer of them this year compared to previous years, due to the continuing uncertainty about the pandemic situation. Even so, some of the markets will open their gates.

In Prague, for example, the farmers’ market on Kubánské Náměstí square. Here, on November 13, from 10 am to 6 pm, you can taste young wines, roast goose, and other delicacies from this year’s harvest at the St. Martin’s Day festivities. In Kutná Hora in Central Bohemia, the St. Martin’s Feast will take place directly in GASK, the local famous gallery.

On November 13, you can look forward to feasts, wine tastings or traditional folk music, which are all an integral part of any good wine festivities.

 

prague morning advertising.

Facebook Notice for EU!
You need to login to view and post FB Comments!

>>> Don't Miss Today's BEST Amazon Deals!
Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: Wine Tasting

Croatian Wine ‘Supergroup’ Forms in Primošten

November 7, 2021 by ADSWineReporter

November 2, 2021 – Vinas Mora is a new label of natural wines from the ancient stone vineyards of Babić and other local varieties in Primošten. 

In the music world, you may be familiar with the term ‘supergroup’, which would be roughly defined as a band composed of already proven musicians who have world-renowned careers. There are numerous examples where heavyweights have come together under a common denominator: Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age in Them Crooked Vultures, Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, and others in Super Heavy, or the inevitable Audioslave which is actually Rage Against The Machine with Chris Cornell of Soundgarden on vocals instead of Zack de la Roche, reports Jutarnji List. 

A Croatian wine supergroup was formed in Primošten, called Vinas Mora. It is the joint project of Krešo Petreković, who works for the best importer of natural wines in America based in New York, Niko Đukan, and partly Marko Kovač – organizer of the phenomenal natural wine festival in Vienna and distributor for Brazil, France, and Asia. An essential member of their team is Neno Marinov, a local winemaker from Primošten known for his famous grandmother.

“It’s a phenomenal story of how I beat Marinov,” Krešo Petreković begins with an anecdote. “I have been coming to Primošten forever, even when I started working a lot with the American market. I once came across a genius babić placed in plastic bottles, of course without a label, and I struggled until I found out that it was Neno Marinov’s.

When I came to his cellar, I immediately realized that the man knew what he was doing and, without any doubt, immediately suggested that we export his babić to America. At first, he didn’t believe me, but he couldn’t come to his senses when the first order arrived. So we made the labels in London,” Petreković reveals the beginning of the friendship, and later the business cooperation.

Although one might think that Vinas Mora is another in a series of babić editions, this time a bit made-up, but with a good designer label, the matter is still more complex. The initial idea was to present the terroir through wine by buying vineyards from spectacular but hard-to-reach positions. The winery makes five completely natural cuvées, and the most exciting thing is that all wines have the same vinification, but the terroir makes the difference. So, the grapes are picked by hand, mixed in small barrels, then pressed and put in PVC tanks, macerated for only four days, and 25 percent goes into barrels. Sulfur is applied only at the beginning for protection. The main goal was to keep the primary aroma and make the somewhat wild and lively babić elegant, which was served by aging it in wood.

“I think that if you lose or cover those primary aromas in wine production, you made a mistake. Cherry is dominant here, after the immortelle, in fact, the Mediterranean,” says Petreković.

“The basic cuvée is Barbba, a blend of lasina, plavina, debit and maraština from Šibenik-Knin County, more precisely around Šibenska Dubrava to Oklaj. When we tasted it, we were almost instantly overwhelmed by the honey-floral flair with quite pronounced acids. If you had to describe it in two words, you wouldn’t be wrong to call Barbba a “Dalmatian cviček,” the kind you just invented on the terrace by drinking another glass in the thick shade.

Then there is Kaamen 1 – a stylized name that reminds of the region from which the grapes come. These are the vineyards of the Šibenik hinterland, Blizina, Bristivica, and Vinovac. With the first sip of this wine, you will encounter the strong aroma of cherries, which is an example of this “preservation” of primary aromas. Kaamen 2 is also a pure babić, just like Kaamen 1, but in slightly higher positions, like Kruševo and Široki. This is a more potent wine compared to Kaamen 2, and notes of cherry and jam characterize it.”

Screenshot_2021-11-02_at_16.48.09.png

According to Krešo, Kaamen 3 should welcome us with an even more concrete and powerful character since it is a grape from high locations such as the former Kamena Suza. It is a vineyard for which it is unbelievable that anyone would plant anything there, let alone succeed. Imagine vines growing from stone that must be broken by hand, vines have to be watered by hand, and no new age mechanization in such terrain can make your job easier. The last Andreis was made from grapes from the Primošten area, mainly from the Jadrtovac location.

Screenshot_2021-11-02_at_16.48.26.png

The whole project started during the pandemic; the first harvest was in 2020. First, they founded the agricultural cooperative Motika, took over the former cellar of Šibenik’s Vinoplod, and bought about 60 tons of babić and other native varieties from local winegrowers. Then, without equipment, any chemical interventions, they crushed grapes day and night with their hands, so these five cuvées, with the common denominator Vinas Mora, were created.

This wine supergroup has already presented new wines to its customers, and the reactions are very positive. Exports to America, Brazil, Switzerland, and Spain have already been agreed upon, and the Netherlands immediately ordered two trucks to Rotterdam as soon as they tasted the wine. These wines are primarily intended for export precisely because of their recognizability and terroir, making them different from anything else. If you were to conjure up the Šibenik or Primošten region without words, to a wine connoisseur from America or Brazil, just with the help of wine, this would be a good choice. The spectacular images of vineyards, historical sketches, food, and dishes of this area are later put together like a puzzle until the whole picture persuades you to visit and get to know this small country with huge potential. Trends are changing, and people like to get to know an area through food and wine, and that is why it must be tremendous and recognizable. Local recipes integrated into the cultural heritage and native wine varieties from which good, drinkable, and elegant wines have been created are the keys to the success of Croatian enogastronomy.

In Croatia, these wines can be purchased at the Agricultural Cooperative Motika, which will soon open to the public.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

>>> Don't Miss Today's BEST Amazon Deals!
Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: Wine Varieties

A Buyer’s Guide to Environmentally-Conscious Wine

November 7, 2021 by ADSWineReporter

In recent decades, consumers have become increasingly conscious of how our food is produced, and the local, sustainable food movement has moved into the mainstream. Many Americans have transitioned to plant-based diets as awareness mounts about factory farming and harmful large-scale agricultural practices like synthetic pesticide use, soil depletion, and harmful runoff from fertilizer-laden fields.

Yet, wine – a product of major importance in culture and cuisine – is largely left out of this conversation, although its environmental impact is significant. In France, where wine production accounts for only 3% of agricultural land, 20% of the country’s pesticide use occurs on vineyards, according to Decanter. Conventional vineyards are mostly monocultures that depend on intensive pesticide and fungicide use, thousands of pounds of which are used on California vineyards each year. Greenhouse gases are emitted from harvesting machinery, and CO2 as a byproduct from the alcoholic fermentation process employed by many winemakers.

Finding sustainable, environmentally-conscious wines takes some know-how, including some skepticism and caution about greenwashing. The FDA doesn’t regulate certifications or terminology on wine labels, unlike many other foods, and there’s no ingredients label on a bottle of wine.

The four main, recognized wine labels to look for are organic, biodynamic, natural, and sustainable. In general, organic wines avoid synthetic ingredients, biodynamic wines are created with a more holistic approach, natural wines use minimal processes and additives, and sustainable wines reduce waste and emissions. However, each of these terms is much more nuanced.

Organic

Like other food products with the USDA Organic label, organic wineries use no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or insecticides in their fields. This official label indicates that the vinification processes (AKA winemaking) was organic, employing no sulfites – which help preserve the wine and kill bacteria – that aren’t naturally occurring, and fermenting with only certified organic yeast.

The USDA also has a “made with organic grapes” label, which means the grapes themselves were grown organically, but the winemaking process itself wasn’t organic, and small amounts of sulfites and non-organic yeast might have been added.

This official government label is widely recognized for its rigorous certification process for farms, and is a trusted indicator of the practices used on wineries.

Biodynamic

Founded by Rudolf Steiner, biodynamic agriculture is a holistic approach to farming, taking into account the entire ecosystem and mixing the spiritual with the scientific. This kind of regenerative farming focuses on revitalizing degraded soil, increasing biodiversity, and sequestering carbon to reverse climate change. For example, a biodynamic farm might raise honeybees, maintain vegetable gardens, compost, and engage in other practices that benefit the whole farm ecosystem. Biodynamic farming is somewhat spiritual as well, and base planting/harvesting schedules on the lunar phases of the moon.

Like its organic counterparts, biodynamic winemaking doesn’t utilize synthetic chemicals, and there is a similar difference between biodynamic wine and grapes grown biodynamically: the former means that the winemaker used biodynamically-grown grapes and didn’t add yeast or make other adjustments to the product, while the latter means that the grapes themselves were grown biodynamically, but the process itself wasn’t necessary biodynamic (AKA the fermenting process might have utilized yeast additives, etc.).

The nonprofit organization Demeter certifies biodynamic wines and vineyards, and unlike most other wine certifications, the biodynamic label is recognized globally.

Natural

By its most basic definition, natural wines use the least possible amount of additives, chemicals, and technological processes; a natural wine in its purest form would be made from solely fermented grape juice, unlike conventional wines that often have added sugars, colors, stabilizers, and even animal additives like fish bladder and egg whites. While not necessarily made with organic or biodynamic grapes, many natural winemakers follow similar standards and use no chemical inputs.

The natural wine-production process harkens back to a more traditional way of making wine, employing no artificial practices like filtration, mechanical separation, etc. The absence of sulfites is a common attribute of natural wine, although small amounts (10-25 parts per million, as opposed to the 350 allowed in conventional wines) are usually considered acceptable in vintner circles. Given the lack of sulfites and filtration processes, the stability of the wine is often different; it might look cloudier as well, but many wine-lovers claim the taste is superior to conventional wine. Unlike the U.S., Europe has its own official natural wine label.

Sustainable

“Sustainable” wine is somewhat of an umbrella term with multiple certifications underneath it. Sustainable wineries tend to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions while conserving water, but the chosen practices are left up to the farmer.

The Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW) label is one of the most widely recognized, issued by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance for California wines, which account for 81% of all wine produced in the U.S. The vineyard, winery, or both can be certified, all of which are delineated with different labels. Considerations include pest, waste, and water management, as well as employee rights.

LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) Certified is another recognized label for wineries in the Pacific Northwest, which looks at the attributes of a region and make rules based on the unique conditions of that area; for example, some land-use practices might be permitted in an arid region but not in a wetter one. Headquartered in Lodi, California, where 1/5 of California grapes are grown, the Lodi Roles certification has many standards for its wines and wineries, including the Pesticide Environmental Assessment System (PEAS), which considers the impact of pesticides on the ecosystem and vineyard workers. Labor is a main consideration of the SIP (Sustainability in Practice) certification as well.

So, how do you identify truly environmentally-conscious wine?

Many wine stores have separate sections for environmentally-conscious wine, which is a good place to start. When perusing the aisles, look for the above certifications/labels; keep in mind that organic is an official, highly-regulated label in the U.S., unlike the other three, although they do tell consumers about the values and practices of a vineyard or winery.

Certification is often a lengthy, expensive, and complicated process; becoming a certified-organic farm takes three years and can cost upwards of $1,000. Some vineyards might not have the time or resources to become certified, but still follow the same standards as those that are. Do your own research about wineries to find out what their practices are; some that are uncertified might even go further than those that are when it comes to environmentally-friendly practices and ethical labor standards.

If possible, look for wines local to your region (that is, if you live in a wine-producing state). Like local food, wines produced nearby require much less transportation and your business contributes to the local economy.

Environmentally-conscious wines can be just as delicious as conventional wine, if not more so! Check out Food and Wine’s list of 10 Planet-Friendly Wines for recommendations to get started.

Linnea graduated from Skidmore College in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Environmental Studies, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Along with her most recent position at Hunger Free America, she has interned with the Sierra Club in Washington, DC., Saratoga Living Magazine, and Philadelphia’s NPR Member Station, WHYY.

From Your Site Articles

Related Articles Around the Web

>>> Don't Miss Today's BEST Amazon Deals!
Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: Vineyards

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 664
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Editor Picks

B13: A new limited edition Champagne from Bollinger

Bollinger’s newly launched vintage Champagne from 2013 provides a striking interpretation of a quite challenging year; a year in which a number of … [Read More...] about B13: A new limited edition Champagne from Bollinger

Wine & Dine Road Trip: Houston

Wine & Dine Road Trip: Houston

  An evening out in Houston at Bar No. 3 at La Colombe d'Or Tarick Foteh / T FOTEH PHOTOGRAPHY When most people think of Houston, Texas, the … [Read More...] about Wine & Dine Road Trip: Houston

Epic entertainer | The West Australian

Sitting pretty in a desirable pocket of Trigg, 9 Elliott Road is a stunning modern home on an expansive 728sqm block.Spanning two levels with four … [Read More...] about Epic entertainer | The West Australian

Privacy Policy . Terms and Conditions
ADS WINE NEWS IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.
Copyright © 2023 · ADS Wine News . Log in

Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions