What a better way to really celebrate the holiday season than with bubbly! 

If you didn’t attend the ‘Holiday Sparklers!’ mini class that I taught at Cafe Ena in south Minneapolis on Wed, Dec 12th, you missed a good one.  With a great turnout of 40 people, we filled the restaurant with bubbly fanatics from across the Twin Cities.  Knowing that this would be a great subject, truly because my good friend Erin Ungerman (owner/operator of Cafe Ena, El Meson and Indio) and I are big fans of drinking ‘bubbly’ libations when we get together, the hour was a big success.  Wonderful people and great conversation filled the room.  

When we designed the occasion, we wanted to be sure that folks appreciated ‘the bubble’ from more than just its most famous region, Champagne.  With a little slower economy this holiday season, I think it’s important that folks remember that there are plenty of bubbles out there than can be obtained at a very reasonable price without having to go to the traditional ‘Champagne’ region for its kind.  

I started the class with a really fun little sparkle called Toad Hollow Risqué.  Toad Hollow, a winery found just north of Healdsburg, CA in the Sonoma region does have a small allotment of grapes that they utilize from southern France to make this wonderful little wine.  The grape: Mauzac.  The taste: fun, frisky, lite, orangey and fun with appetizers or dessert.  I love this wine because it truly can be used in any course of your dinner.  The zippy, refreshing zest to this wine makes it easy and quaffable for every occasion.

The next wine comes from the region of Veneto, Italy.  Veneto is famous for producing Prosecco, which is truly one of my favorite ‘breakfast of champions’ wine.  Why do I say ‘breakfast of champions’??  Low in alcohol (this one, about 11.5%) and you can easily enjoy a bottle before noon without it ever really affecting you!  The Prosecco that I showed on Wed night was called: Astoria Lounge.  With a creamy mid center of about 10% Chardonnay, this yummy little goody, has a beautifully balanced palate with a crisp apple finish that makes you want for more.  

Center tasting I featured a good stand by- Kenwood Yulupa Sparkling Brut.  This is a good, exceptionally reasonably priced American sparkling.  The grapes:  Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir and Colombard.  The Kenwood is nice because it really does fit any palate.  Rich with ripe fruit, a plethora of pears, apples and peaches take center stage of this delicious goody.  Great with fresh green apples and goat cheese!

Next came a very inexpensive favorite of mine, Segura Viudas Brut Rosé.  The region:  Penedes, Spain.  Cava!  First off, you have to love the pink bubble.  It’s so beautiful with glints of pink and gold running through it.  I love it AND, this one will really make you thristy.  It has this very interesting white pepper stripe to it.  All I could keep thinking of was…paella.  Fresh seafood with a just a zip of spice that will would make the cava come right to life.  Fun!

And…last but certainly, not least…we did feature a very unique Champagne.  While I did start my comments with ‘inexpensive’, I did have to slip in my new favorite.  While it is NOT cheap, it is truly one of the best Champagnes I’ve had in a long time.  Champagne traditionally uses the grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Munier.  The Blanc de Blanc that I featured on Wed nite is made exclusively with Chardonnay grapes.  Labeled the “Haute Couture” of Champagnes, Ruinart is the oldest Champagne house in the world.  And, with its sexy packaging, the bottle that holds it is the oldest style of Champagne vessels.  Very cool.  This wine…completely balanced from top to bottom with a luminous pale gold color is a gorgeous bottle of wine.  Rich, creamy, ripe but very crisp at the same time.  Loads of fun and absolutely delicious, the luxury of this Champagne will have every bubble fan seeing stars. The one and only place I know that it can be found in the retail world is Solo Vino located on Selby Ave in St Paul.  Ask for Chuck and mention that you saw the Champagne featured on my blog page, he’ll set you up. 

So…that’s it.  I will tell you that if you missed it, bummer.  But, there is one more opportunity for you to really experience bubbles with a full tasting – 3 hours of it!

I am teaching one more bubbles class this month at Cooks of Crocus Hill on Saturday, December 20th.  A full three hour class that will feature a number of international bubbles paired with a delicious selection of artisanal cheeses.  With loads of fun sparkling tips and a great array of information, this class is truly always one of my favorites to teach.  If you’re interested in making reservations, visit my WINE EVENTS page on my website for more information and the number to call for reserving your seat.  Seats are limited so act fast if you plan on coming.

The moral of my story: Drink more Bubbles!  They’re good for you and I will tell you, NO ONE can resist them.  And if they do, you should think about choosing new friends.

Isn’t that what wine is all about, after all?  Complimenting.  Giving your experience the ‘cherry on top’?  All in all, we get too wound up after a hard day’s work.  We sit starting at computers, we sit in traffic, we race around trying to accomplish everything.  Let’s face it…it’s a rat race.  No matter the industry, your profession, your ‘money maker’ – it’s tough.  It never seems like there’s enough time in the day to get it all done.  So at the end of the day, you want to make it ALL count.  That’s why, I drink wine.  I drink wine because it tastes good, first and foremost.  I’d rather drink it over beer, liquor or tea and I like it because it always comes with a story.  It takes me away from the day I’ve had.  It takes me to the place where I had it first (sometimes) and it reminds me that after all  the running around we do, it’s all worth it after that one sip.  Well, I’ve had one of those days…running, meeting, organizing, organizing some more and sitting in traffic, wondering…did I eat?  how much coffee have I had? or what is for dinner????  Sometimes you just can’t keep up, which is why I always suggest adding wine as your “compliment”.  No matter your day, the time or your pickle, wine always adds to the experience.

You know, they do say that wine is 90% experience.  Some ‘experts’ would beg to differ, but hey…I’m an “expert” and I say…I’d almost put that on the money.  Tonite is one of those occasions.  Tough day, my feet hurt, traffic was yukky…so, I went to the cellar.  The ‘cellar’ at my house is a very interesting place.  It’s filled floor to ceiling with a lot of things that are ‘undrinkable’.  You know, things that will either put my kids through college or will either out live me.  Not tonite.

I have a bottle that I’ve been saving.  Well, two.  Okay, quite a few…but these are both ‘special’ bottles.  The winery:  Linne Calodo.  The region:  Paso Robles  The excessability:  Zip, zero, good luck!

Linne Calodo was introduced to me on my very first trip to Hawaii.  I visited the big island of Hawaii about 5 years ago for my birthday.  I was spoiled at the Four Season Resort with fresh pineapple every half hour, Evian mists every 15 minutes and loads and loads of amazing seafood.  Wolfgang Puck has a restaurant right there in the hotel, so you can really spoil yourself rotten.  Getting back to the Linne Calodo…I discovered it at a teeny tiny wine shop on the island.  The sales person recommended it on one of my day excursions, and I bought it.  And ever since then…I’ve been hooked.   At the time, I was living in Portland, OR so I would order it through the website and treat myself to it from time to time but since my move to Minneapolis (2years), I really haven’t had it. 

I was reminded of it in the Spectator about 6 months ago when I saw it’s name with a ridiculous point score to it… so I called the winery.  And, I ordered just two bottles just to remember how it tasted.  Long story short, they’ve been sitting in my cellar now for about 4 months.  I have to tell you that I experienced one of the best customer experiences of my life with Linne Calodo.  Mark, with Linne Calodo, seriously made my shipping/receiving of their product – A1.  Spending a good chunk of my time in the winery industry, I understand shipping, ordering, etc when it comes to wineries.  Dude, he was the best.  He waited to send my wine in the cooler temps, he tracked my wine, he was outstanding.  I couldn’t have asked for more.

Anyways…the wine.  Tonite, I am drinking the 2006 Rising Tides.  44% Grenache, 42% Syrah and 14% Mourvedre.  Wow!  The absolute compliment to my day!  It is the bomb. 

Somebody told me a couple of weeks ago that they didn’t care for the wine (they were lucky enough to try it) because it had too much oak.  That, my friends, is horse-rooky.  Nonsense.  In fact, if anything…they’ve laid off the barrel since I’ve had it last.  I love it.

I grabbed a glass, took it outside and drank it in the hot tub.  Just the right (MN) temp, and…the perfect compliment to my day.

Here’s my soapbox for the nite…call Linne Calodo (look it up – www.linnecalodo.com )

and tell Mark, I sent you – (Leslee from Minneapolis).

And…enjoy!  Deep dark rich fruit, but all fruit….lush boisenberry, marionberry and rich chocolate with a hint of forest floor.  I love it.

Order a couple and tell me what you think?

Salut!

Ever wonder what drinks good with the sly sounds of a sweet, sweet jazz musician, or the goopy romantic tunes of an acoustic guitar or better yet…the hot and sultry moves of a fun salsa band?  My answer ~ drink what’s right!  This came to mind a couple of weeks ago when I set out to watch the smooth and slippery, Mr. Chris Botti.  Now that man can blow a horn!  With his well manicured look and funky sleek band, his music is one genre that makes you want to slither right back in your seat, close your eyes and dream of a far, far away destination (maybe with him applying your sun tan lotion!)  Chris Botti is not for the ‘NIN’ kind of lover, he’s looking to entice only the real romantics.  There’s no way that you’re walking out of that concert with feeling a little ‘something something’, if you know what I mean.

With all that said…Chris Botti, who happened to perform at the Minnesota Orchestra Hall on Saturday, November 22nd, was outstanding!  But as I sit through concerts, my first thought is generally, what should I be drinking?  What is this music making me feel like I should drink?

That nite with Mr. Botti- only the most lushy, sultry, slick and slightly promiscuous wine would do.  That’s right- a California Cab or an Aussie Shiraz.  Now, Orchestra Hall could use a little help with their wine list, with most of their wines being served from a cheap behind the counter mag, but there is still one that they have there that does the trick…the Los Vascos Chilean Cabernet.  Not exactly a Cali Cab or an Aussie Shiraz, but certainly had many of the same characteristics with its hot and peppery body and frisky outer edges.  The Los Vascos can be found almost anywhere at this point and time.  From Surdyks and Haskells to Costco, they are producing it by the truck load.  I think I saw it at France 44 a while back as well, but the store had it over priced by a few more dollars than they should.  Really, this bottle of wine (on the shelf) shouldn’t cost you more than $9-$10.  It’s a good one.

It’s always interesting to find what other music lovers are drinking.  I wrote a column in the Midwest Wine Connection last August regarding this exact same topic. 

Check it out: http://www.wineheads.com/pdfs/august07.pdf

I’d love to hear your thoughts…