Barclay's Wine on Groupon

I woke up this morning to find a great wine deal on Groupon: spend $25 and receive $75 credit to use on Barclay's Wine Shop Online. You can buy at most three (2 as gifts), must be 21 or over and a first time Barclay's Groupon user, and you can apply it toward wine packages or membership. Unfortunately, shipping is not included, but it's still a good deal.

Now I was trying to figure out the best way to use my Groupon. Here's what I came up with:

1. Purchase 1 expensive bottle. I like this option for collectors, but only recommend the '06 Yalumba Vinnovations Shiraz ($75 + $11.95 shipping). It's the only wine that isn't overpriced- most of the wines can be had for almost 50% less. For example, their '03 Bugay Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon ($62.50) can be found on Gary Vaynerchuk's Wine Library for $33.33!
2. Purchase multiple bottles. In their $15-30 range, alot of the wines can be had for $5-10 less with some online shopping, but good buys for the Groupon are Bagrationi Brut (from Georgia?!), Vinum Cabernet Sauvignon & Gagliosso Barbera d'Alba. In the $15 or less, Corbieres Cuvee Vignerons and the Washington Hills wines look to be good deals.
3. Packages. All packages are priced at $129.95 (add $16 for shipping) and are a mixed bag of the good, bad & ugly of wines, but with the Groupon, not a bad deal for a case.

I recommend the deal any way you choose to go, but do your research and take my advice, and you should end up with a great wine deal!

Thanksgiving Wines Edition 3

Another Thanksgiving full of stuffing, yams, pumpkin pie, turkey and football is almost upon us.  I talked about some great wines and varietals and how they go with your holiday dinner in my 2009 Thanksgiving pairings article, and those rules still apply.  If you're still looking for the perfect wines to match, I've got a few for you:

• Santa Margherita Prosecco ($16).  Yes, they do make a normally overpriced Pinot Grigio, but their Prosecco is amazing and a deal at this pricepoint.  Apricots, pears, peach and a hint of white pepper will tickle your tongue.
• 2007 Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Gris ($15).  A turkey dinner always needs some richness and this wine has it.  Loaded with sweet fruit nuances of peach, pear, melon and apple pie, a touch of minerality, a hint of spice and creaminess makes this the white wine buy of the holiday season.
• 2007 Grgich Hills Chardonnay ($36).  A steadily amazing wine year after year, this biodynamic, full-bodied but bright white will match your turkey and alot of other dishes.  Ripe apple, mango, oaky vanilla, cinnamon, pineapple and wild honey are just a few of the nuances your senses will enjoy.
• 2006 Dog Point Pinot Noir ($34).  Recently I've become a huge fan of New Zealand Pinot Noir, and this one keeps me coming back.  Excellent acidity, this wine is vibrant and full of earthiness, mushroom, ripe cherry and plum.
• 2006 Château de Tiregand Pécharmant ($15).  A hard wine to find but well worth the adventure.  Hailing from Bergerac, this deal is made up of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.  It's silky smooth and complex, full of dark plum, coffee, blackberry, clove and vanilla.
• 2007 Cosentino CigarZin ($15).  This is one of my favorite red picks for the holidays- a very festive wine with dark dried fruit and lively spice flavor.  Have to love the jamminess and cigarbox scents!
• Terradora di Paolo Aglianico ($16).  A southern Italian classic which goes perfect with your holiday dinner.  Ripe raspberry, cherry, tobacco, licorice and more oak spice takes this wine a long way.
• Dogfish Head Punkin Ale ($9.99/4 pack)  I'm always throwing a beer or two in and since I made a batch of pumpkin ale, I decided to recommend one of my favorites on the market.  The pumpkin flavor is subtle and it does have the spices and a hint of brown sugar on its full-bodied finish.

I hope you go with some of these selections and enjoy the day with your friends and family.  Also, have fun planning those post-Thanksgiving workouts and let me know how the pairings worked!

Michelin Stars Wheel into Chicago

Chicago is about to receive it's first ever Michelin Guide ratings and I'd be hard pressed to find anything more overdue.  This city has long been a culinary and eating mecca, not to mention having great spots for wine, beer and beverages.  The Michelin Guide has been around for about 100 years and highlights top restaurants and chefs.  Now that we've taken a bite into the coastal bias, let's get into our award winners:

3 star: Alinea, L2O

2 star: Avenues, Charlie Trotter's, Ria

1 star: Blackbird, BOKA, Bonsoirée, Crofton on Wells, Everest, Graham Elliot, Longman & Eagle, NAHA, NoMI, Schwa, Seasons, Sepia, Sixteen, Spiaggia, Takashi, Topolobampo, TRU, Vie

While the Michelin Guide has yet to be released, these results were made available through a Yelp poster leak which is currently under investigation.  In addition to the awards above, 46 other restaurants have received the Bib Gourmand Award, given to those establishments which offers good value (two courses plus a glass of wine or dessert for under $40, not including tax or gratuity).  Some of these include: Belly Shack, De Cero, Gilt Bar, Girl & The Goat, Hopleaf, La Creperie, Lula Café, Mado, Nightwood, The Purple Pig, Riccardo Trattoria and Taste of Peru, to name a few.

All of these establishments represent fine food, great beverage, excellent service and years of hard work which have become known and respected.  Congrats to our Michelin Stars and Bib Gourmand winners!

Beaujolais Nouveau 2010 Release

Upcoming this week is the release of the 2010 vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau.  It's the first wine released yearly from the Northern Hemisphere grape harvest.  The wine is always released on the 3rd Thursday of November at 12:01 am Central European Time (CET) which means it's available for Thursday parties and events! 

The wine is made from the Gamay varietal in the southern portion of Burgundy.  It is meant to be drunk young while it's fresh, lively and fruity, so they employ a rapid means of fermentation called carbonic maceration, which also eases the normally acidic nature of the grape.  I recently received a sample of 2010 Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau and was eager to taste and share the notes with you.  The wine is full of strawberry and ripe cherry along with cinnamon hints, a touch of minerality, smooth tannins and high acidity.  It's very light and not lengthy on the finish, but a good wine to share with friends and even try with your Thanksgiving turkey.  (84 WG)

If you're planning on going out to celebrate the release, here's a few local spots to try:

• Vertigo Sky Lounge.  Hosting a "midnight" release party on Wednesday 10pm-1:30am to unveil 2010 Georges Duboeuf.  Reservations are required.
• Whole Foods-Lincoln Park.  Join them for free samples in the wine department.  12pm-9pm.
• Union League Club.  $50 in advance will get you: tastes of Beaujolais Nouveau and more French wine, food & spirits, souvenir photos, chance to win a trip for 2 to Paris, and a 2010 commemorative wine glass.  6pm-9pm.
• Chicago French Market.  Come in for free samples of Beaujolais Nouveau.  4pm-7pm.
• Bistrot Zinc.  Join them for a three-course meal and a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau for $29.95.  Reservations recommended.
• Bistrot 110.  A $25 tasting of Beaujolais wine and seasonal samples.  6-8:30pm.  Reservations recommended.

Whether you are go out or stay in, I hope you enjoy some Beaujolais Nouveau friends and family!

Eastern European Spotlight: Croatian & Slovenian Wine

So since I've been hitting on wine producing countries and regions new to the global market, I look to keep the trend growing by introducing Croatia and Slovenia.  Both countries were formerly a part of Yugoslavia and are located just west of Italy.  Both countries have long been favorite European vacation spots and are experiencing prosperity.  Slovenia was admitted into the EU in 2004 and Croatia is targeted to enter next year.  Slovenia has mainly a continental climate with hot summers and cold, dry winters, though there is a bit of Mediterranean influence in the west.  Croatia has a Mediterranean coastal climate of long hot, dry summers and some wine being made inland with a continental influence.  Basically this means that along with good soil they have the capability to make some very good wine.

As far as grapes go, Slovenia uses Bordeaux and Burgundian varietals along with Riesling and some Italian varietals like Barbera, Refosco (known as Teran), Malvasia (Malvazija), Friulano, Glera and Ribolla Gialla (Rebula).  They also grow many indigenous varietals like Pinela, Šipon (Furmint), Kraljevina and Štajerska Belina.  They also have unique styles of wine: Cviček, a light, easy drinking wine made with white and red grapes, and Kraški Teran, a deep, dark red wine with low alcohol and high acid.

In Croatia, they also use Bordeaux, Rhone and Burgundian varietals along with Riesling and Italian varietals Barbera, Nebbiolo, Malvasia (Malvazija) and Trebbiano.  They also use MANY indigenous varietals like Bogdanuša, Grk Bijeli, Plavac Mali and Crljenak Kaštelanski, which is the father of Zinfandel.  They also use Vranec (known as Vranac), a Macedonian varietal known to create very dark red wines full of berry flavor and local Balkan character.

I have a list of some wines you may start seeing in restaurants or wine shops that you may like to try:

• Saints Hill Winery- Very impressive Croatian wines.  They make their white "Nevina" in Istria with a blend of Malvazija and Chardonnay.  It's rich and full-bodied with minerality, citrus and tropical flavor along with a creamy texture.  Their red "Dingač" hails from the Pelješac peninsula on the southern coast.  It is made from Plavac Mali, an ancestor of Zinfandel, and has dark and dried fruit flavor with pepper spice and mocha.  It is full-bodied, has smooth tannins, a lengthy flavor and aging potential.
• Matošević Winery- This winery also makes extremely high quality Croatian wine, mainly from Istria.  They have a stainless steel fermented Malvazija, Alba, which exhibits clean, easy drinking wine with citrus and mineral flavor with almond notes.  They make two Malvazija wines aged in oak, Alba Robinia in Istrian acacia barrels and Alba Barrique in French oak.  These wines are richer, with the Robinia tasting a bit smoky, while the Barrique exhibits caramel.  Their Chardonnay, Aura, is unoaked, light and refreshing.  Their Grimalda wines are blends, the white made of Chardonnay, Malvazija and Sauvignon Blanc, and the red made of Merlot and Refosco (Teran).  Both are excellent wines, and the red is smooth with integrated tannins, minerality, dark berry and oak spice.  This is a must try lineup!
• Piquentum Winery-  Another Istrian winery which makes Malvoisie (Malvazija) full of pear, chalk and a touch of mint flavor.  Their Teranum is made of Refosco (Teran) is stainless steel fermented with natural fruit flavor, licorice and bright acidity.
• Verus Winery- Slovenian winery using white grape varietals of Furmint, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.  The Furmint is the most interesting and very refreshing with high acidity and peach flavor.  Their Riesling resembles the German style of off-dry, slatey and full of lime, while the Sauvignon Blanc resembles the Loire with minerality and light citrus.

I am very impressed by the Croatian wines I've tasted and am looking forward to trying more Slovenian.  This is very promising as the world of wine continues to expand with different countries, styles and varietals.  Let me know if you've tried these or others, and let me know what you think!

Austrian Wines

It seems everyone is looking for the next new to the market wine producer, and Austria is definitely one of my favorites.  Though they seem new to the world market, they have a history that can be traced by four thousand years.  They were popular in past centuries and were the third largest producer in the world as recently as post World War I.  Unfortunatley, they produced mainly diluted bulk wine, but that changed with government regulations calling for smaller yields, technological advancement and more dry and red wine production.

Austria mainly grows Grüner Veltliner (36%), a white grape varietal with mineral, peach and pepper characteristics renowned for its food-friendly character.  They also produce Riesling and Müller-Thurgau, which is known to be light-bodied and full of green apple and mineral notes.  They are starting to be known for reds, which account for 30% of total production.  Zweigelt accounts for most of it and makes long lasting wines with jammy, cherry flavor along with pepper and soft tannins.  Blaufränkisch (also known as Lemberger) is another serious red making wines higher in tannins with dark fruit and spice notes.  Also made is Pinot Noir, known as Blauerburgunder.

I recently received a couple of samples, and here's how they scored:

2008 Forstreiter Gruner Veltliner Schiefer Kremstal DAC Reserve ($21).  This is a serious white with medium plus acidity, meyer lemon and tropical fruit flavor along with a touch of white pepper, slatey minerality and lemongrass.  Long flavor length and is surprisingly creamy on the palate.  (91 WG)

2007 Tinhof Blaufrankisch Bergenland ($20).  A light-bodied wine full of ripe dark cherry, red peppercorn, and cinnamon along with herbs and minerality.  (86 WG)

A few of my favorites also include Domäne Wachau Riesling Smaragd "Terrassen", Prager Riesling Federspiel, Paul Achs Zweigelt Langer Acker, Heinrich Blaufrankisch and Szigeti Sekt sparkling wines.  I highly recommend trying Austrian wines as I have found them to be, on the average, the highest quality wines in the world.  Ein Prosit!

Santorini Wines

SantoriniA few weeks back I worked with a corporate client on a Greek wine tasting at Athena Restaurant.  The wines are very fun because not only are there some great indigenous grape varietals but there's also alot of wine history.  Earliest evidence shows that wine has been produced in Greece since at least 6500 BC, and also held high prestige in trading during the Roman Empire.  Today, quality is stepping up in many regions, with wines made from Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, Roditis, Muscat, Agiorghitiko, Xinomavro and Mavrodaphne grapes.

I also recently received some samples of wines from the volcanic island of Santorini.  Most farmers grow Assyrtiko, which makes white wines known to be citrusy and full of minerality, though Athiri and Aidani are grown as well.  Due to the fact it is such a small island, Santorini does not produce alot of wine, but produces even less because of low humidity, high temperatures and age of their vines- they're ancient!  But they are able to make high quality white wines and sweet wine known as Vinsanto, which is made from the local grapes being sundried and aged for long periods in oak.  Here's a bit about the wines I tried:

2008 Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko ($22).  A well made white with mouth-watering acidity, lemon, minerality, chalk, salinity and a hint of both grapefruit and tropical flavor.  Would be great with shellfish.  (89 WG)

2008 Santo Wines Nykteri Reserve ($20).  This is a blend of the three white varietals: Assyrtiko, Athiri and Aidani, which are aged in oak for 9 months.  There are bold citrus like meyer lemon and gold grapefruit along with toasted oak spice and cinnamon.  Lacked the great acidity of the former wine, but had a very lengthy flavor.  (88 WG)

Estate Argyros Oak Fermented Assyrtiko ($25).  100% Assyrtiko oak fermented and aged for 6 months.  Acidic bite of lemon, along with almonds and spicy persimmon.  Also has a buttery mouthfeel with vanilla flavor.  I like this with grilled chicken and smoked, mild cheeses.  (89 WG)

1999 Canava Roussos Vinsanto ($188).  This wine is made of all three white varietals which were sundried for 15 days and aged for four years.  Extremely concentrated dried figs, golden honey, toasted nuts, vanilla bean and candied oranges are all jumping out onto your tastebuds.  A very good dessert wine, but many good Vinsanto wines can be had for much less.  (91 WG)

Red wines are also being made on the island from the Mavrotragno and Mandilaria varietals, creating wines much like Zinfandel with jammy red fruit with a hint of berry sweetness and spice.  There is much to be said about these wines as well as many others from Greece as well, as they are currently stepping up quality, technology and production.  We'll look forward to seeing more from this emerging wine country.

St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc and Unoaked Chardonnay

St. Supery Estate, RutherfordI recently received samples of a couple of white wines from St. Supery to review and was ready to pop the tops and get to sipping.  I visited St. Supery in Rutherford, Napa Valley in 2009 and really enjoyed it.  They have a gorgeous estate situated just off St. Helena Highway, and I enjoyed a relaxing afternoon lunch outdoors while taking in the scenery. 

The estate was purchased in the 1980s by Robert Skalli, whose family has made wine in France for several generations.  They now own over 1500 acres of Napa vineyards and produce some world class California wines.  Here are the two that I sampled:

2009 St. Supery Oak Free Chardonnay ($22).  This wine is made up of mostly Chardonnay, with 1% Sauvignon Blanc added.  It has very good tropical and grannie smith apple aroma and flavor, plus decent acidity.  There is a small detection of both minerality and spice, most like white pepper.  The flavor is a bit dull on the finish and does not last long.  A decent wine, though I can find better Chardonnay for the price.  (82 WG).

2009 St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc ($23).  I've always loved St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc, especially from Dollarhide Vineyard, and this one does not disappoint.  They've always resembled New Zealand with zesty grapefruit and no oak treatment, and that's definitely my style.  This one exhibits bright lime, kiwi, loads of grapefruit, excellent acidity, and a touch of caper berry to finish off the greenness of the wine.  Awesome with seafood dishes or sushi.  Highly recommended.  (91 WG).

I hope to try more St. Supery wines and let you know what I think.  They not only make some very good white wines, but the reds are just as good if not better.  If you make the trip to Napa, be sure to stop in, and tell 'em the Windy City Wine Guy told ya!

Chicago Gourmet Breakdown

Chicago Gourmet 2010 has come and gone, leaving Chicago with the feeling of fulfillment on the culinary scene.  With big names like Rick Bayless, Jimmy Bannos, Dirk Flanigan, Stephanie Izard, Paul Kahan, Bill Kim, Art Smith, and the list goes on, we have alot to be proud of in our great city. 

I was given free passes to visit Chicago Gourmet, where chefs were giving demonstrations and food samples, and there was much wine to be tried as well.  Now while the wine was relatively very accessible, the food was not.  Every tent had extremely long lines to taste food samples and it seemed as though the chefs had a hard time keeping up with demand.  At last year's event, the tents were very accessible and I had time to get pictures and speak with chefs, all while spending minimal time in line waiting.  I think the main problem was that this year's event was oversold.  I'm very glad that I chose to attend on Saturday, as I heard that with Groupon sales, Sunday was a madhouse!

I decided to make the most of my time trying wine instead of food.  There were alot of very familiar names as far as wine labels are concerned, but there was also some great finds as well.  Some of the better ones I tried were Schweiger Cabernet Sauvignon, Cosentino Cigarzin, Argyle Nuthouse Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and Cusumano Nero d'Avola, just to name a few. 

For next year, I recommend visiting on Friday or Saturday, and early if possible.  You can get all of your sampling in and leave time to hit demonstrations as well.  Until then, enjoy culinary Chicago and have a glass of wine!

Italian Festival at Daley Plaza

In honor of Chicago's rich Italian American heritage, the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) is hosting Fiera Italiana from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., October 5 - 9 at Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington Ave.). This outdoor festival-style event brings food, drink, performing arts, entertainment, fashion and more in celebration of the culture of Italy. The festivities will be the kick off to the tradition that is the annual Columbus Day Parade on October 12.  This outdoor festival-style event brings food, drink, performing arts, entertainment, fashion and more in celebration of the culture of Italy. The festivities will be the kick off to the tradition that is the annual Columbus Day Parade on October 12.

On Thursday, October 7, yours truly will be hosting an Italian wine tasting in Daley Plaza.  We'll travel through Italy's rich history of wine along with many of their great indigenous varietals.  The tasting will be free to all participants and will begin at 1pm.  Hope to see you there!

Windy City Wine Festival, Naperville Wine Festival & Chicago Gourmet

Summer's end brings more opportunity to enjoy the rest of 2010 and all that Chicagoland has to offer.  Great weather, food and drink is what's on the menu for the next three weekends so get your fall outfits and taste buds ready!

Windy City Wine Festival (Sept. 10 & 11).  Over 300 different wines will be onhand to sample along with food, beer and music.  You will also love the new location- 500 S. Columbus at Buckingham Fountain!  Tickets available for $25 online or $35 at the door.

Naperville Wine Festival (Sept. 17 & 18).  If you live out in the burbs or just want to travel outside the city, this is the perfect venue for you located in the historic Naper Settlement.  Tickets are available for $25 online or $35 at the door.

Chicago Gourmet (Sept. 24-26).  Featuring the best of the best in Chicago's rich culinary scene along with amazing wine tasting.  A weekend full of demonstrations, seminars, food and beverage featuring great names like Rick Bayless, Cat Cora, Jose Garces, Stephanie Izard, Tony Mantuano, Marcus Samuelsson and many more.  It begins with a Hamburger Hop Friday Night Burger Competition (tickets available online for $75) hosted by Allen Bros. Steaks and Blue Moon.  It continues through the weekend with tickets available online starting at $150. 

Also available this month is Dine Around, where special prix-fixe menus will be available at some of Chicago's best restaurants like NoMI, Mercat a la Planxa, Piccolo Sogno and many more.  This gives you a chance to check out some Chicago restaurants you've been dying to try on a budget.  You can also earn yourself a free ticket to Chicago Gourmet by enjoying five different meals at participating Dine Around restaurants.  I can't think of a better way to get the most out of Chicago culinary!

Frietkoten Belgian Fries & Beer at Chicago French Market

Being a sommelier is not all wine- it includes all things beverage including spirits, liqueurs, coffe, tea and beer.  I love being able to delve into the other areas and my latest invite to Frietkoten (Flemmish for "Fry Shack") at the Chicago French Market offered me an excellent beer tasting.  They specialize in two things: beer and fries, both Belgian style.  Belgians have the longest known history of making fries, since 1680 as they had a habit of accompanying meals with fried sardines, but when their rivers were frozen, they substituted potatoes.  Their beers are world famous as they make over 8700 different and consume about 93 liters/year on average.

The concept behind Frietkoten sprouts from owner Jeroen Hasenbos and his life experience of Amsterdam Fry Shacks.  Family recipe includes hand cutting the fries, blanching and double frying them.  There are 20 different sauces available in both Mayo form like Truffle, Wasabi, Green Chile and Garlic, along with Ketchup form like Roasted Red Chile.  He also features over 20 Belgian and American "Belgian Style" beers (3 organic) both on tap and in bottle like Dupont's Avril Biere de Table, Urthel Saisonniere, De Koninck Pale Ale, Bosteel Tripel Karmeliet and Brasserie Lefebvre Blanche de Bruxelles.

Not much goes better with these crisp, full flavored fries and sauces than beer- try them out next time you stop The Chicago French Market (131 N. Clinton)!

Fleming's Steakhouse & Wine Bar

WCWG with Curtis Nordeen of Fleming'sI recently was invited to a wine dinner at Fleming's Steakhouse & Wine Bar in River North and was quite impressed with their wine selections and food quality.  It's at a great location, just west of Michigan Avenue on East Ohio Street, with two levels of options.  On the first floor is the wine bar featuring the "5 for 6 'til 7" menu, which is 5 cocktails, 5 wines by the glass and 5 appetizers priced at $6 each until 7pm.  Upstairs is the kitchen, dining room and rooms for private events.  And the most impressive thing I found was the Fleming's 100: 100 wines available by the glass, with 30 of them being priced $10 or less! 

Our wine dinner featured some new and exciting menu items including RoastedPeppercorn Steak Mushroom Ravioli, Lump Crab Louis Wraps, Tillamook Bay Petrale Sole, Two-Peppercorn Steak with F-17 Sauce Lobster Bake(17 ingredient house steak sauce), Beef Wellington, Lobster/Seafood Bake and Molten Lava Cake.  These were also paired with two excellent wines which, while they weren't an ultimate pairing, did an great job of being versatile: 2007 Sanford Santa Barbara County Chardonnay and 2006 Frog's Leap Rutherford Merlot.

Here's a bit of footage I took of one of their private dining rooms along with an interview from Chef/Partner Jerl Griffin:

There's lots of great things happening at Fleming's this month and next including a $39.95 three course prix fixe menu, a Caymus interactive dinner, wine Tuesdays with 25% off Fleming's 100 bottles & free corkage, and "Opening Nights" every Thursday in September where they'll bring you into the Fleming's 100 by opening 20 bottles for you to taste for $25- and you'll also receive a $25 dining credit if you stay for dinner!  A lot of value at a steakhouse.

Chicago 3 MediaFor extra coverage be sure to check out my interview with Chicago 3 Media and Jennifer Fernicola-Ronay.  It was a good time with good food and good people.  Special thanks to Chef, the Fleming's staff, Operating Partner Curtis Nordeen and Kurman Communications.

Velika Gospa Croatian Fest at St. Jerome

Every August 15th I head to my old neighborhood, Bridgeport, to celebrate the Velika Gospa at St. Jerome Croatian.  This is a celebration of the Assumption of Mary, which is a national holiday in many Catholic and Orthodox countries.  It may not be a national holiday here but if you went down to the Armour Square neighborhood you would think it was! 

There are three church masses, a huge parade procession,Raznici marching bands, live music, fireworks and loads of Italian and Croatian food.  Over 100 lambs and pigs are spit-fire roasted the night before to prepare for the next day and served alongside Freddies pizza, beef, sausage and lemon ice, Raznici (Croatian grilled pork skewers), and Fritula (fried sweet dough).

There's also some good drinks like homemade lemonade, which you can get spiked with vodka, Heineken Light and Amstel Light, and some wine choices- my wife had a Sterling Chardonnay Vintner's Collection.  And for the first time there was some wine sampling by Midland Wine & Grape from Arlington Heights.  They had samples of some homemade wines and they sell wine barrels, grapes and grape juice to make wine.  Grapes like Barbera, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Sirah and Zinfandel along with white grape juice is available from select California vineyards in Lodi, Alexander Valley and the Sierra Foothills.  I tasted a Zin and really liked it- I'm gonna look into getting some juice from these guys!

It's always a great time at this event even if you're not Croatian.  Located in a great neighborhood, lots of families, good food and drink.  Make plans for next August 15- you won't regret it!

Beaujolais AOC and its Wines

So after the awesome tasting I attended of the 2009 vintage Beaujolais wines, I thought it would be a great idea to tell a little about the region the wines come from.  There are many people who like these light and fruity wines, but there's alot more to learn about them- first of all, it's not all Nouveau!  The Gamay grapes used to make Beajolais Nouveau are grown on the high alkaline clay-lime soils of southern Beaujolais.  Just to the north there are 38 villages which make up the Beaujolais-Villages AOC where the grapes are grown on schist, sandy loam and granite.  Finally, you have the ten different "Crus".  They are able to produce higher quality wines which can age anywhere from 3-10 years.  Also, a very small percentage of white wine from Aligote and Chardonnay, while Pinot Noir and rosé wines are produced as well.

The Gamay Noir varietal is a cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais, which was introduced to French soil by the Romans, who started wine production in the region, later to be carried out by the Benedictine Monks.  Gamay was grown all throughout Burgundy and was a huge asset around the time of the Black Plague, as it was easy to cultivate and ripened earlier, giving more and faster fruit to many starving people.  However, due to it's extremely thin skin and harsh acidity, it was not seen as being noble like Pinot Noir, and was eventually pushed out of most of Burgundy to the south, where it flourished on granite soil. 

The name "Beaujolais" hails from the 9th century and a village called Bogenis, a Celt word meaning "fine white bull".  That named was later Latinized, first to Bellibocus, and later to Beaujeu, before it finally became Beaujolais.  In the 19th century, it grew in fame with the expansion of the railroad, and became known for making lower priced wines which required less aging.

Wine production in the area is very unique, as grape clusters are picked by hand and put through carbonic maceration.  The clusters are placed in stainless steel tanks, the bottom third grapes are crushed by the weight of the grapes on top of them, releasing juices which are fermented by native yeasts on their skins.  This releases CO2, which pushes O2 out the top, creating an anaerobic environment.  This triggers fermentation inside the other grapes at an intracellular level.  The grapes are all later crushed, but this process changes the wine's profile: malic acid is significantly decreased, pH is increased, glycerol levels increase ten-fold which brings up the potential alcohol, tropical flavors like banana become highly detectable.  This produces wines are ready to drink, low in tannins and very fruity.

Church of RégniéBeaujolais Nouveau is a very basic red wine, fruity, light bodied and made to drink chilled.  Beaujolais-Villages can be had for a few dollars more (around $10) and while it is very drinkable, it has more body and some darker fruit flavor.  The Crus each have their own character, are available around $12-20, and are much more complex:

• Régnié.  This region is named after the Roman nobleman Reginus who formerly owned much of the commune.  The grapes are grown on pink granite sand and small amounts of clay.  It's the newest addition to Cru status (1988) and is renowned for it's floral, fruity scents and cherry flavor.  Normally ages up to three years.
• Chiroubles.  It's the highest in altitude of all the Crus with soil comprised of granite and recognized for violet aroma.  Normally ages up to three years.
• Brouilly.  This is the largest Cru, accounting for 20% of all Cru wine, and located at the foot of Mont Brouilly.  Silky tannins, plum and minerality highlight the wines, which age up to three years.
• Côte de Brouilly.  Grown on soils made by the extinct volcano Mont Brouilly, the wines made here are more complex, balanced with minerality and fruit.  Normally ages up to four years.
• Chénas.  Named for the Roman nobleman Canus, this is the rarest Cru with only 270 hectares of vineyard.  It has tremendous amount of black fruits and is so floral, it's said to be "a bouquet of flowers in a velvet basket".  Renowned for rose scents.  Normally ages up to ten years but can last fifteen.
• Fleurie.  Ideally backed onto a chain of peaks, this Cru is known as the "Queen of Beaujolais" for it's refinement and nobility.  It produces wines with silky tannins and velvety texture.  Normally ages up to ten years but can last sixteen.
• Saint-Amour.  Graduated up to Cru status in 1946 thanks to a self taught shepherd-turned-winegrower named Louis Dailly.  The grapes are grown on granite and flint and make wines with aromas of peach and red fruit.  Normally ages up to ten years but can last twelve.
• Juliénas.  Named for Julias Caesar who once passed through, the grapes are grown on pink granite and schist.  The wines have spice and pepper with loads of fruit and aroma of peonies.  These wines easily age up to ten years.
• Morgon.  The wine made here is such a great expression of its terroir that the French sometimes describe it as "morgonne".  They stress the "rotten rock" soil (decomposed granite), its exposures and location.  Cherries, kirsch and an earthiness rivaling red Burgundy are present in the wine and easily age up to ten years.
• Moulin-à-Vent.  This Cru takes its name from an old windmill which was used to mill grain up until the 19th century.  The soil contains a perfect amount of manganese, which normally is harmful to vines, but in this case controls yields.  The wines are normally aged in oak and are easily the longest aged- anywhere from 6-20 years.

90% of the wine produced is made by 30 different négociants like Louis Jadot, Bouchard Pére et Fils and Georges DuBoeuf.  The rest is made up of 20 different co-operative producers and estate bottlers, though both are very hard to find.

The wines are known to be "the only white wine that happens to be red" and is the perfect picnic wine.  They are also easily pairable with dishes many would only drink whites with like appetizers, fish and poultry.  Make sure to try these amazing wines and the value that they bring!

Georges DuBoeuf 2009 Vintage Beaujolais Lunch at Blackbird

The amazing 2009 vintage of Beaujolais wines are about to hit Chicagoland and I was fortunate enough to taste them at a Blackbird Restaurant wine luncheon.  For this event, Chef Paul Kahan would be pairing dishes with '09 Georges DuBoeuf selections: Beajolais-Villages, Morgon, Fleurie, Julienas and Moulin-a-Vent.

Beaujolais wines come from southern Burgundy, just north of Lyon.  They're made from the Gamay varietal which is known for it's thin skin, low tannins, high acidity and loads of fruit flavor.  Be sure to watch for my upcoming post about the different growing regions and production.

We started with the '09 DuBoeuf Beajolais-Villages ($10), made from grapes grown in the northern half of Beajolais.  The higher tannins in this wine is the highlight of the vintage and was quite surprising- it makes an interesting combination of not just being extremely drinkable, but also great with food.  It's total harmony of ripe acidity, full fruit, fresh herbs and the 2009 vintage tannins.  Here's a bit more about the vintage from winemaker Emeric Gaucher:

Emeric and I also talked about what some of his favorite wines are and he really loves Syrah/Shiraz, especially from Côte-Rôtie and Barossa.  He gets chances to visit many vineyards throughout the world and is really looking forward to an Australian trip.

CharcuterieAs far as the lunch went, everything went well with the wines due to both the '09Pork Loin & Belly vintage character and Chef Khan's vision.  We started out with Duck Sausage and Mortadella with Almond Yogurt, Fennel and Smoked Almonds and continued on to Grilled Pork Loin and Pork Belly with Royal Trumpet Mushrooms, Melted Leeks, Pickled Tumeric and Chorizo Broth.  The fruity nature of the wines along with their minerality, acidity and tannins complemented the richness and saltiness of the pork.  The earth and licorice of the mushrooms, leeks and fennel matched well with the Cru Beaujolais, especially Moulin-a-Vent. 

Each wine exhibited the unique character of their growing region's soil through their aroma and flavor profile.  The Beaujolais-Villages had the most jammy fruit, while each Cru wine was typical but with the added strength and tannin of the vintage.  We also tried a couple of special wines from DuBoeuf: the Fleurie Domaine des Quatre Vents ($16), which was an extremely pretty wine full of cherry and violet, and the Moulin-a-Vent Domaine de la Tour du Bief ($18), which was strong with black fruits, spice and licorice. 

I not only recommend purchasing Beaujolais-Villages and Cru wines for their tremendous value and versatility, but also the 2009 vintage for it's amazing quality, tannin and power.  Make sure to take advantage of the value these wines bring and let me know how you liked them!

Partida Tequila & Mondavi Dinner at Blackbird

This past Tuesday evening I was fortunate enough to be invited to Blackbird Restaurant for a very interesting dinner featuring Partida Tequila and Folio wines from Michael Mondavi.  Now alot of people may be saying "Tequila with dinner?!", but the flavor profile of this beverage matches well with many foods and sauces, not just with salt, lime and margaritas.  If anything, this would prove to be an interesting experience.

Premium tequilas can be very smooth and have the flavor and aromas of citrus and tropical fruits, fresh flowers, herbs, vanilla, nuts, smoke, chocolate and spices, making them excellent food companions.  Partida is a new ultra premium brand which places emphasis on mixing tradition with technology.  Each of their blue agave plants are cultivated for 7-10 years until they are ripe and mature, then hand selected and slow baked in stainless steel autoclaves (pressure cookers).  They make a Blanco (unaged), Reposado (barrel aged under 12 months), Añejo (aged over 1 year in Jack Daniel's barrels) and Elegante, an Extra Añejo aged over 3 years and bottled in crystal. 

We got our chance to taste some good wine as soon as we walked in the door when I was handed a glass of 2009 Isabel Mondavi "Deep Rose" of Cabernet Sauvignon ($15).  The label is inspired by the wife of Michael Mondavi and the wine is her concept created by her son Rob.  The color is nothing short of amazing- translucent purple/red.  It is fruity, dry and delicious with watermelon and strawberry, balance and length.  A great way to kick off the night before starting dinner.

Blackbird's Chef Paul Kahan makes great food and also pairs his dishes very well with beverages.  We started with cured hiramasa (yellowtail amberjack), bread sauce, peaches and lime salt with 2008 Isabel Mondavi Sonoma Carneros Chardonnay ($20).  The Blanco pairs great with the fish and lime salt, with it's clean citrus and smooth balance.  The wine was great with the bread sauce and peaches as it was creamy and toasty with loads of tropical fruit.  A very good Chardonnay as the oak was apparent on the nose but amazingly not on the palate.

Next we moved onto smoked sweetbreads (thymus gland), blackberry soubise and summer truffles with 2006 Isabel Mondavi Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($30).  If you've never tried sweetbreads, I highly recommend you try them, especially here!  They were smokey, slightly crispy and very delicious, and the saltiness and blackberries meshed perfectly.  The light red berries and elegance of the Pinot fought the flavors, thought the wine's earthiness matched the truffle.  Only the smooth nature of the Reposado made it good with this dish, but the flavors didn't match up quite right.

It was then onto the main event with roasted lamb loin, charred polenta, sea beans and caramel paired with 2006 Mondavi "Emblem" Oso Vineyard Napa Cabernet Sauvignon ($49) and 2006 Mondavi "M" Napa Cabernet Sauvignon ($200).  The lamb, of course, was tender and terrific, with the Cabernets picking up the strength, char, tannin and fruit.  The Emblem is more elegant with dark fruit from Howell Mountain and oak and vanilla flavor, while the M has more power, length and structure with fruit from a former Opus One vineyard on Atlas Peak.  I like the Añejo as it's toasty, sweeter character went with the sauce, but still the power was a bit much for the dish.  Wine wins again.

Dessert was on the way and we were in for a treat as the Elegante was being poured.  This extra aged select tequila had alot going on and did match well with the honey parfait with passion fruit, rum and carmelized white chocolate.  A good way to sip through the rest of the experience.

To sum up, I think smooth, premium tequilas do match well with food, but I would pair blancos with light fresh seafood and spicy vegetables, while aged tequilas match well with desserts at the end of a meal, though I still like shooting them with salt and lime (for fun)!  Wine still wins in this battle but they each have there place, and I encourage everyone to find where you like them- let us know!

Valdo Prosecco Lunch at Terzo Piano

This past Tuesday I was introduced to the newest sparkling wine producer to hit the Chicago market- Valdo Spumanti.  Their wines were set to be paired with the cuisine at Tony Mantuano's Terzo Piano in the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago.  This would be an all out effort to not only prove the versatility of Prosecco but also the versatility it can bring.

A little bit about Prosecco- it's famous for being crisp, light and fruity, along with being a great value sparkling wine.  It's made from the Glera varietal (formerly known as the Prosecco varietal) in northeast Italy, mostly from the hills surrounding Treviso.  Valdo has been making wine for over 80 years, was purchased by the Bolla family in the 1940s and has dedicated itself to making high quality sparkling wine from hand picked grapes along with single vineyard bottlings, which is rare for Prosecco.  The wines were brought to us by Dr. Pierluigi Bolla, proprietor of Valdo, and were to be paired with three courses prepared by Chef Meg Colleran.  On to the tasting!

We were initially greeted with Valdo Prosecco Brut DOC ($12) and it proved to be just as flavorful as it was aromatic.  Sweet golden apple, white peach, meyer lemon and lilies were coming out of the glass- it'll be hard to keep this wine off my patio this summer!

It was time to start the pairings as we were poured Valdo Cuvée di Boj Prosecco Brut DOCG ($16).  A single vineyard wine from the vaile dei buoi, it is aged for 5 months sur lie and 3 months in the bottle.  This wine is much drier with a longer finish and ripe pear and apple flavor.  The crisp acidity matched well with our tomato salad with cherries, almonds and 8yr Balsalmic vinegar.

The next course would be a big challenge- a rich dish of roasted Miller's skin-onChicken Leg w/ Cous Cous chicken leg with fennel seed, cous cous and Nichols Farm snap peas.  We were poured Valdo Cuvée del Fondatore Prosecco Brut DOCG ($20), another single vineyard Prosecco aged 12 months sur lie, 6 months in the bottle and blended with 10% six month barrel aged Chardonnay to add richness.  The wine was extremely complex and lengthy with tropical fruit, toasted nuts, baking spice and dry, crisp acidity making it drinkable with many rich fish, poultry or meat dishes.

Ricotta FrittersThe last course we tried turned out to be the best thing I ate all day- Ricotta Fritters with sweet corn ice cream, raspberries and plums.  The fritters were crisp and warm on the outside with a slightly sweet cheesy center- just an amazing dessert!  The sweetness and the fruit paired well with Valdo Nerello-Mascalese Brut Rosé ($12), a blend of Prosecco with the dark Sicilian Nerello-Mascalese varietal.  Just red berry fruit and floral harmony with this extreme value of a rosé sparkling wine.

These Prosecco wines were very impressive all the way around- point taken! 

Special thanks to Dr. Pierluigi Bolla, Chef Meg Calleran, Lindsey Johnson of Lush Light Productions for the invite and Marene Babula of Pasternak Wine Imports for being an awesome host.

Grab a Fork Tour with Tapeña Spanish Wines

It's time to carry on the enthusiasm of Spain's first ever World Cup with Tapeña Wines!  During their Grab a Fork! Tour, they'll be giving us a chance to taste their great spanish wines paired with tapas.  They've already finished a tour of Florida and are ready to join us in the Windy City.  Make sure to reserve a spot and become a fan of Tapeña by clicking here.  They'll be at:

• Landmark Grill. Tuesday, July 20, from 5:30-7:30pm.  RSVP by clicking here.
• Mercadito.  Thursday, July 22, from 5:30-7:30pm.  RSVP by clicking here.

They have a great line of wines which pair well with food, friends and good times: a Tempranillo, a Garnacha, a Verdejo and a Rosé (a blend of Garnacha, Monastrell and Shiraz).  Glass pours will be available at a discounted price and paired with each venue's tapas  Come out to enjoy the food & wine, prizes will be given out, and say hi to the Windy City Wine Guy.

Bastille Day Wine Tasting at Christofle

Make sure to come out this coming Wednesday evening to celebrate Bastille Day at Pavillon Christofle with yours truly, the Windy City Wine Guy!  Below is your invite:

 See you there!