Halloween Wines

Halloween is a festive time, for both children and adults.  Children get Dots, Twizzlers, and Wachamacallits, so what do adults get?  It's time to delve into some tasty beverages fit for your favorite Halloween party!

Armida "Poizin": This is a full bodied blend of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.  A bold wine with sweet ripe fruit flavor, it is a perfect fit after you just bobbed for apples.  Plus the fact that it comes in a coffin, makes it perfect for the season.  I've seen it sold in three pack online for $56.99, so I would imagine it sells for about $20 per bottle.

Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon: A wine this good could drum up the spirits at your party.  The wine and vineyard it comes from is named for the Pioneer Cemetery which it borders.  Locals say the vineyard is haunted by the ghost of  the valley's first planter, George C. Yount, as he looks over the fruit of his labor to this very day.  The wine itself is full of berry fruit and chocolate flavor, and is available for around $65 per bottle.

Orin Swift "The Prisoner": This could be one of the most popular wines I've ever sold, and it is perfect for the party.  A complex blend of mostly Zinfandel, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Charbono, and Grenache added, the wine and label artwork is sure to capture your guests.  The wine is available for around $35 per bottle.

Casillero del Diablo Wines: The "Cellar of the Devil" carries a wide variety of affordable value wines, priced around $10 per bottle.  18 different wines are produced by this label, anything from Viognier to Carmenere. 

Toad Hollow "Eye of the Toad" Pinot Noir Rosé: What party would be complete without some witch components?  This one is a bit lighter, but will wow the crowd with it's pink fruit flavor.  Available for around $12 per bottle.

Doc's Draft Hard Apple Cider: This is a mega award winning cider, with big apple flavor.  I don't see how any Halloween party could be complete without this beverage.



Make sure to enjoy these holiday pairings, and let me know about your parties.  Trick or Treat!

Wine on Vacation

My wife and I recently returned from a fabulous vacation in Cancun.  We stayed at Dreams All-Inclusive Resort & Spa which was a gorgeous place to relax and enjoy the sun, sea and local beverage specialties: cerveza, tequila, and margaritas (I may be the WindyCityWineGuy but don't forget I love the other bevs too!). 

There are alot of bars- beach, poolside, lounge, etc. but there will come the time to dine and you should do it right.  The wine inclusive to the resort was OK but only for chugging and not for taste and enjoyment.  When it came time to celebrate with friends, they decided to hand the wine list over to the WCWG.  Now it is time to get into how to select some quality wines while outside of your comfort zone- Home.  Let's remember this- the WCWG always likes to scour the list to find the wines which will not just save you from breaking the piggy, but which give the most bang for the buck.

1. Go Local!  Normally you can find great wines at a great price while traveling.  We were in Mexico and it is quite hard to find some local quality.  Most grapes are used to make brandy to go along with Coca-Cola.  When confronted with this problem think of neighboring countries/continents.


2. Be Global.  Your knowledge of what happens outside of your country can be key in many areas including selecting wine.  Since I know that the American dollar has sunk in value especially compared to a strong Euro, I realize that the European wines will be quite pricey.  And demand for champagne across the globe, especially from China and Russia, has driven the price out of control.  Also, California wine can be very pricey outside of the US- import prices and the quality level assumed.


3. Remember your "Go-To Wines".  I am sure that when you buy wine, you buy specific favorites.  Remember when you do this to scan the shelves around your favorites and recognize the surrounding bottles.  This can help you to find comparable taste profiles when your favorites are unavailable.  You can then compare/contrast.  You just may find something you like even more for +/-!

These simple rules led me to the South American wines.  This neighboring mainly Spanish speaking continent (#1) would surely render some good value since it also does in the US (#2).  I immediately recognized Casillero del Diablo made by Concha Y Toro in Chile (#3).  They produce good high production wines for under $10!  A red and white were asked for so this called for some Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon priced at $25 on the list.  Everyone enjoyed the wine with apps and dinner- mission accomplished.