Wine around the world

Region: Trento, Italy
Varietal: Sparkling Wine
(90% chardonnay, 10% Pinot Noir)
Year: Non-Vintage
Cost: $5-$10
Purchase: FinestWine.com

I don't mean to turn this into Wilder on Wilder, but I'm too excited not to share this news: Your humble wine reviewer has become an even more humble father to a horrendously cute baby girl!

This is cause for celebration.

The problem is that, because my daughter is already the smartest baby on the planet (and sure to only get smarter, not to mention cuter), there will be endless reasons to celebrate. Think of it: In addition to all the usual firsts (first smile, words, steps, etc.), I'll surely be stuck celebrating a first platinum-selling album, Pulitzer prize, an Oscar or two, and Olympic gold... all before kindergarten!

I may be a proud papa, but I'm not made of money. That's why I love this wine. I can crack a bottle of this bubbly to commemorate every diaper change and still have enough to pay for the tuxedo I'll need for all the awards ceremonies.

Granted, the same is true of Andre sparkling wine. The difference is that the Rotari is a nice wine to open with friends, whereas I think Andre is a foaming paint-stripper.

The Rotari "Brut" is also seemingly two, two, TWO wines in one! The nose and palate are about as congruous as wine reviewing and child rearing, and while that doesn't bode well for my future in fatherhood, it makes for a double-
your-pleasure, double-your-fun wine.

The nose is all about yeasty, doughy richness and light citrus (which kinda rhymes).

The chardonnay really comes through, and smells like it'll taste of toast and nuts and maybe pears.

Or maybe not.

The flavors that come from this pale hay-colored bubbly are flinty and minerally, with only the lemony citrus flavors connecting smell with taste. It's about as far away from bread dough as someone on the Atkins diet.

But that's not a bad thing. It means this wine pairs with a whole lot of different foods (in case you're eating as you celebrate). This'll soon come in handy, as I think it will be a good match with mashed carrots, pureed peaches and whatever unholy stuff gets stuffed in those little baby food jars. (Hey, I need my daughter to develop an early appreciation of fine wine, right?)

Speaking of Atkins, my only beef with this wine is that the bubbles have a fairly short lifespan. Thus, make sure you celebrate with plenty of friends so that an open bottle is a soon-empty bottle. You'll want them around for bragging rights anyway. What good is boasting about your nearly omniscient baby girl if no one is around to hear it? (Not like that would stop me, mind you - she really is frighteningly brilliant, even with just a few days under her belt.

And speaking of belts, hers will soon be black. She'll also be a karate master.

Source: http://www.wilderonwine.com/Reviews/review_71.shtml

If, like me, you enjoy a couple of glasses of red wine after a hard day in the office, you've got some extra work to do to make your weight-loss plan effective.

As well as being 'empty' calories - i.e not necessary for nutrition, alcohol can also play havoc with your willpower and resolve.

A couple of glasses of wine and, as well as the calories shown below, you could find yourself reaching for the crisps or nuts if you're not careful.

We're all different so if you want to cut down on your alcohol consumption, you need to look at your own lifestyle and find your own way of doing it - here are a couple of ideas:

• Give up alcohol completely for a set time - a week - a month - or untill you've hit a target weight - as well as helping your weight loss, it will also have benefits to your long-term health.
• Don't drink in the week. If you like to go out with the gang after work on Fridays or to your favourite bar on Saturday, this could be the way forward BUT just because you've abstained all week, it doesn't mean you can binge on the weekend!
• Have at least two or three alcohol-free days a week.
• Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or low calorie soft drinks.

Source: http://www.dietweightloss.co.uk/alcohol.htm

Rating: 4

Tasting notes for Cabernet Saugivnon Merlot 2003

Source: http://www.kosherwinereview.com/site/scsm2003.html

Barefoot Chardonnay

(no vintage) Modesto, California $5.50 for 750 ml
(White Wine)

If you are new to wine and want to try a few different varietals without committing too much of your paycheck, I recommend patronizing the bottlings of Barefoot Cellars.  Not only are they consistently inexpensive and good, but trying varietals from the same vintner can help one compare and discern different flavors and characteristics in grape varieties.

Logical incentives aside, I live on the coast, so I particularly like the advice printed on my Barefoot Chardonnay bottle: “Get barefoot and have a good time.”  Thanks! I think I will.

The Barefoot Chardonnay is the perfect beach-picnic beverage as the crisp, mild apple and smooth vanilla undertones of this quaff really hit the spot.  I had a few sips all on its own before giving it a little company with my picnic snacks (big fan of Brie and crackers).   This Chardonnay is tasty and has just enough layers to make it interesting while retaining an easygoing, sip-inducing quality.

Bottom line?  Try it.  And, while you’re at it, try taking it up on its advice, too!

Source: http://antiwinesnob.com/category/white/

Last night I went to the Industry and Media Reveal for Tunnel Bar|Lounge (622 West Pender Street) which was an invitation-only event to preview the club before it opens to the general public. Thank you to DJ Skilla, the resident DJ at Ginger 62 for handing me these passes while he was DJing at my 21st birthday party last week. The event started at 8pm-ish and we were given complementary drink tickets (stylish, mini, fuscha-colored cardboard squares) in the line up. By 10pm the club was already starting to fill up with groups of people who know a lot of other people from working in "the industry".  The picture below is taken from the BACK of the club, facing the front entrance: 

The Tunnel venue is a long, rectangular club. Looking through the entrance, you could see right to the end of the club, where the DJ booth is located. Coatcheck is on the right, a small, veiled VIP lounge is on the left. Beyond that, the bar, its white counter stretched down on the left side of the club while couches were opposite it on the right. Behind the bar were wide TV screens flashing scenes of a driver's-seat view of (appropriately) driving through a tunnel. At the back end of the room, with the dance floor and DJ booth, the walls and ceiling curved where they met to give the impression of a tunnel. The washrooms were slightly grungy with its with black walls and pink graffitti yet elegant chandelier lamps hung from the ceiling

At the event, broadcasters were there to film the progression of Tunnel club - from the planning to the launch. They intend to pitch the series to a number of networks later this summer. I have to say, you should check this club out if not for any other reason than to see what the hype is all about. From my blog stats, more people are visiting Modern Mix Vancouver from search terms relating to Tunnel than any other search query.

There is nothing more awesome than a true Italian style dinner....multiple courses, good wine, and eating that spans several hours. It is pretty rare to find a restaurant that feeds you continuously for that long without requiring you to nibble and look ackwardly at your impatient waitress/waiter. But at Enoteca Roma (restaurant part of Letizia's bakery from my previous post) the owners have created the ultimate Roman feast with 6 courses, serving more food that you can handle and the grand experience of eating what I like to call a "sprawling" European style dinner. All of it is for a swoon worthy $25. Count 'em...
Courses
1. Antipasta and Bruscetta
2. Appetizers- usually steamed mussells and stewed sausage
3. Salad
4. Polenta served hot on a cool slab of marble
5. Pasta
6. Pizza
(7. Dessert)

Dessert is a little extra, and we actually refused the pizza and went for the dessert instead. The various cheesecakes and gelato were a perfect way to end the meal. I greedily finished off the rest of the pana cotta that was silk smooth and topped with berries. It was nothing short of glorious. All of us couldn't help but comment how great the meal was along the way. Each course was well made and definitely drool worthy. I am already plotting my next visit.

Wines
Bisson Prosecco IGT Valdobbabiene, Italy 2006- $13- Not bad- Damn Good

We started out with this bottle. It had a nice acidity and a good deal of carbonation that made it a good way to clean our palates and start the evening out right. With hints of citrus and pear and a light nose, I thought this was a pretty good prosecco.

Corregio Roero Nebbiolo Piemonte, Italy 2003-$18- Not Bad

This was a very fruit forward light bodied red. It had a little bit of an acidic, tanniny, dry finish but maintained its body. With the bitter savoriness of our arugula parmesan salad, it paired wonderfully showing a great complexity than at first taste. It also left a clean palate.

J Hofstatter Pinot Nero Valle D'Aosta, Italy 2005-$20- Damn Good

To me the best wine of the night, this bottle had a great fruity jammy nose with hints of cherry and a great taste to match. What made it interesting was its complex spicy finish. It went beautifully with our heavier more substantial pasta dishes. Less tannin than the previous wine, it had a medium body and was very drinkable.

This was good.

So you marinate about eight ounces of shrimp like so.  I used my food processor to make the marinade because I'm fancy like that and also I like making more dishes for Chris to wash.

Then, in a large bowl, mix together:

2 cans of black beans, rinsed

1 can of corn, drained

1 bell pepper

3 scallions

1/2 of a red onion

1 medium tomato

cilantro

In a separate bowl, for the dressing:

1/3 cup vegetable stock (approximately)

juice and zest from one lime

1 T honey

2 cloves garlic

1 t cumin

1 t paprika

1 t chili powder

Hot sauce to taste

salt and pepper

Add the dressing to the black bean mixture and mix.  In a pan, cook shrimp with the marinade until pink and cooked through, then add shrimp and cooked marinade to black beans and toss together.  Makes about four servings, give or take a little.

I also had this glass of wine with it:

But I only drank about half because Mexican food + wine = heartburn.  If you're me.  I'm kind of like a fat old guy.

I also had a bunch of this cantaloupe this afternoon as a snack.  And by a bunch, I mean almost all of it:

This was the Fourth Annual Portland Indie Wine Festival event. Small, independent producers are the heart and soul of Oregon’s world-class wine industry, and HotCosts attended so we could meet the next generation of winemakers emerging from cellars all across the state.

Wineries that produce less than 2,000 cases each year are invited to submit wines for this event. All wines for the festival are selected by a panel of judges in a blind tasting competition held six weeks before the festival. The top scorings wines determine the 40 wine producers and the wines to be poured at the festival.

Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir were the two most often represented varietals at this event.  Most of these winemakers also owned their own vineyards.  I often heard the comment of wanting full ownership of the winemaking process from vineyard management to bottling. Here is a list of noteworthy wineries we visited:
Alexana Winery - A new addition to the Revana Family Vineyard, this winery is focused on Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills and Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley's famous Shea Vineyards.
Appolloni Vineyards - Food friendly wines. The white wines are made in traditional Italian-style: dry, with great fruit, and crisp clean flavors.  Because of its location in the northern Willamette Valley, the winery focuses primarily on growing and producing pinot noir.
Arbor Brook Vineyards - Situated on the southern flank of Yamhill County’s famed Chehalem Mountain near Newberg, Oregon, ArborBrook Vineyards specializes in Pinot Noir. 
Boedecker Cellars - Winemaker family that sources grapes from some of the finest vineyards in Oregon. Great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Capitello Wines - Winemaker that sources his grapes has a cold fermented, “de-alced” Pinot Gris.  Has a Pinot Noir that sells out quickly.
Grochau Cellars - In addition to Pinot Noir, this winemaker produces Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo and Syrah.
Mad Wines Company - No website, this winemaker is really indie!  His wines are in high demand and impossible to get, unless you've know him.  Really a shame as the wines I tried had that focused fruit flavor and mid-pallet velvety feel that makes for a very enjoyable wine to pair with food.

- more to come!
 

I officially take back all  most of some of the bad things I've said about Wax(spybar). First off, it is no longer so full of pill heads that you can't have a good time(see 'Wax on Wax off'). I concede that I was hasty in my judgment and possibly a little harsh. I had a fantastic time last Wednesday and I wasn't even drinking(much), I only downed those bottles of prazky because I can't dance with two free hands(no, really) and the tequila? Ah sure I bought those as a birthday present, and it'd be rude to make her drink them alone.....the pints in Major Toms?  Well, someone had to buy a real drink or else they'd think we were sneaking in vodka and kick us out. What about-fuck off!!

Anyways, the music in that place is pretty consistant, constant and loud. I like big dirty bass drums, low end rumblings and high end madness. In other words, I like clubs to play 'dance music' instead of their usual 'chart shite' and in this sense you can't really touch Wax. Its big and fast and loud, perfectly suited to when you're drunk and horny and sweaty.

 Another thing I noticed was that its no longer full of really pretentious Indy kids with bad haircuts, eye-liner and a tragi-poetic facial expressions. No, they've replaced the chronic posers with something else-something much worse, more hideous than I could ever have imagined it to be. They've replaced the chronic posers with the people who don't have the balls to pull it off. They're 'the other guys'. Now that Wax is no longer the underground Indy wankathon that it once was, now that its 'so mainstream and like totally different', its filled up with the type of people who show up just as the parties over. I'm talking about the type of people who started listening to punk after it was dumped on their musical radar by Sid Vicous'death and began trying to enter a scene that was already over. I other words-weiners, spas, fools and tools.

Is that a bit harsh and unfair? Yes, completely ignorant and judgemental too, but its my blog so piss off I'm on a roll here.

2 incidents summed up the impression I got of the crowd

 Diamond and I were standing in the que moaning about having to go to Wax and what a shit night we were expecting when three lads joined the que behind us-they all had guitars.(yes, that is a full stop) 

I was doing my funky thing(oh and it is very funky) on the dancefloor when this girl walked up to me and asked if she could try on my 'cool' hat. Naturally, being a gentleman, I obliged. She then handed me a camera and asked me to take a photo.  Naturally, being a gentleman, I obliged. She then grabbed her boyfriend from nowhere and posed waiting for the flash.  Naturally, being a gentleman, I obliged. Then she took a photo of me and fucked off without another word. The whole incident was bizzarre-I acted like a gentleman!

Sorry, reliving that passage has just confused me. I've lost my train of thought and am now deeply confused. Good night

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