Top 10 Tailgating Food/Wine Pairings

Football season is finally here. For all you wine loving football fans, I have compiled a list of the top 10 tailgaiting foods and wines that pair well with them. Hope it helps you enjoy the football season a little more.....GO PATS!

1. Chile - German Riesling, Chianti or Red Zinfandel
2. Buffalo Wings - Crisp Sparkling Wine, Red Zinfandel
3. Nachos - Chardonnay, Syrah
4. Bratwurst/Kielbasa - German Riesling, Pinot Grigio
5. Hotdogs - Sweet Riesling, Beaujolais
6. Grilled Chicken - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
7. BBQ Ribs - Shiraz, Red Zinfandel, Tempranillo
8. Sausages - Lambrusco (hot), Chianti (sweet)
9. Mac & Cheese - Chardonnay, Beaujolais, Merlot
10. Potato Salad/Coleslaw - Pinot Grigio , Sauvignon Blanc

The end of an error? I hope not....

Landmark Vineyards, Sonoma Ca.

One of the most beautiful I have ever visited. 
Their wines are equally delicious. 

Fiji Water's Owners purchase Landmark Vineyards.....

http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/45506

Milford H.S. Adult Education Syllabus

I am super excited to teach my first Adult Education class this fall. Hope there aren't any empty seats and remember......any know-it-alls will not be allowed in this classroom.

Class 1–Oct 18th 7:00–9:00 pm

Lesson 1: Wine Tasting-It’s not rocket science
Wines to be tasted:
Italian Pinot Grigio
Australian Shiraz
A brief overview of how to taste wines correctly. As if learning about wines isn’t difficult enough, there is a science to wine tasting….although like I said; it isn’t rocket science so not to worry.

The next 5 lessons will hopefully lend clarity to the 5 components of wine

Lesson 2: “Man that’s some cool acid”
Wines to be tasted:
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
Oregon Pinot Gris
No we aren’t taking a trip back in time, but we are learning about the importance of acidity in wine, what it is and what it does. However that being said, for ambiance I suggest playing Grateful Dead music in the background.

Lesson 3: Tannins-They are the pits!
Wines to be tasted:
French Beaujolais
California Cabernet
Actually tannins are good pitts (as in Brad Pitt). What are tannins? Why are they important? Do they cause headaches? You’ll want to tune into this class and find out. Ambiance recommended: Ocean’s Eleven on the big screen.

Class 2–Oct 25th 7:00–9:00 pm

Lesson 4: What a sweet surprise!
Wines to be tasted:
Italian Moscato
French Viognier
Sweet, dry, fruity….how can I tell the difference? This class will teach you what each term means and more importantly how to say the word ‘Viognier’!

Lesson 5: Check out those legs!
Wines to be tasted:
White Zinfandel
California Red Zinfandel
Legs, fingers and tears take on a whole new meaning in the wine world. Check out this class and find out all about them!

Lesson 6: Do you drink your wine naked?
Wines to be tasted:
California Oaked Chardonnay
Australian Unoaked Chardonnay
Yes, I saved the best for last, get your mind out of the gutter it is not what you think. This class will illustrate the difference between oaked and unoaked wines. As for the ambiance for this tasting…. I am not even going there.

What is in a name?

Well, sometimes more than meets the eye - especially when it comes to Italian wine. Just as Italy hosts a mind-boggling array of different grape varieties, there is also something of a free-f0r-all when it comes to putting them on the label. Unlike the U.S. or France, where labeling is strictly regulated, Italian wines might be named for the grape variety, the village or district where the grapes were grown, or even simply for the winemaker. To make matters even more confusing, some wines are named for both the grape and the location.

For example:

• Chianti is not a grape; it is a region in Italy
• Pinot Grigio is a grape best grown in the Friuli and Trentino-Alto Adige regions of Italy
• Moscato D'Asti is both a grape and a region. Moscato (Muscat) is Piedmont's most traditional white-wine grape and Asti is a village northeast of Alba, Italy

Confused? Me too! It's a good thing that what really matters is what's inside the bottle.

Wine don't Whine

Over the course of the current recession, thousands of people have lost their jobs. For some, downsizing has come as an opportunity to try out something new. Some people have turned to wine as a second career. Only, where does one go to get the proper training? The top schools dedicated to the study of oenology are located in Chicago, NY, Denver, California's Napa Valley & Alexandria, Virginia. These schools cover such topics as viticulture, wine vocabulary, winemaking, winetasting, wine evaluation and food/wine pairing. You could pay to go to one of these schools or you could join The Traveling Vineyard as a wine consultant and earn while you learn!
Call into tonights conference call and hear what our president, Rick Libby, has to say about the New Improved Traveling Vineyard.

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 8th
Time: 9:00 pm EST
Phone: 218-844-0860
Code: 922283#

If you like what you hear, contact me at theeducatedgrape@yahoo.com. I will help you turn your love of wine into a business.

Together we can uncork the possibilites!

Cheers!

Deb

How to turn wine green...

No matter what your preference is in wine-white, red or rose- you can always think green once the wine is gone. Recycle the empty bottle, or perhaps use it for something else. The 375 ml bottles (1/2 bottles) make great containers for olive oil. And don't forget the cork. While those with a creative mind might turn them into trivets, wreaths or bulletin boards, others are creating a demand for recycling. Recycled corks are being used as floor tiles, agricultural products, sporting equipment and more. To find out whether there's a cork recycling location in your area visit www.recork.org. Turning wine green is easier than you think.

Wines that go great with BBQ's

Hitting the sauce this Labor Day weekend? Whatever your secret recipe is for BBQ sauce, you'll find it is one of the hardest foods to pair with wine. Spicy.... smoky....sweet... piquant...you'll want something that can stand up to these qualities without being overwhelmed by them. Plan on bold wines with a higher alcohol content (13% or more) and plenty of acidity, that also have fruit-forward flavors and a hint of pepper and spice. Red-wine lovers might want to choose Zinfandel or Syrah, while Riesling is a good prospect for white-wine lovers.

Happy Labor Day and Cheers!