The Wine Atelier's 2012 Holiday Wine Picks & a Very Special Offer!

"It is well to remember there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend, one's present or future thirst, the excellence of the wine, or any other reason." ~ Latin Proverb

The holidays are here and for those of us who love wine it's the prime time of year to indulge! On that note I am very happy to announce the 2012 Wine Atelier Holiday Wine Picks which I've selected with your vinous needs and desires in mind. Whether you're entertaining friends, neighbors and family; looking for the perfect gift; or just looking to explore the world of wine, this list has you covered, featuring wines from around the globe that suit many tastes at a variety of price points. As a special offer, the first five shoppers who spend $100 or more will receive one month of the Wine Atelier Club free - a $50 value!

In addition to the wines listed here, please feel free to inquire about any other favorites you enjoy. I have a wide selection of wine in my virtual boutique which you will be able to see shortly once my website is complete! Also, if you are looking for a fabulous gift for the wine lover in your life (or looking to treat yourself!) please consider The Wine Atelier Club which delivers a monthly wine experience right to your doorstep. For more information on The Club please click here and if you'd like to purchase any of the wines in this post, there is a shopping cart located at the bottom of the page. So without further ado, my fellow oenophiles, here are The Wine Atelier's 2012 Holiday picks:

 2012 Holiday Wines

Pfaffl Grüner Veltliner Austrian Pepper 2008: The home of Mozart, Edelweiss and Lederhosen has a long rich tradition of winemaking. The vine has been cultivated in Austria since at least 700BC and nowadays Austria is considered a very dynamic wine producing region. Known for its wonderful whites, Grüner Veltliner is the region' s signature grape and this incarnation of 100% Grüner exhibits lovely aromas and flavors of citrus, minerals and herbs with a distinctive touch of white pepper, the calling card of this grape variety. Price: $16

King Estate Domaine Pinot Gris 2011: Founded in 1991 by the King family, King Estate is committed to producing Oregon wines of exceptional quality using organic and sustainable farming methods and time proven winemaking techniques. The King Estate Domaine wines represent the highest level of their portfolio and are made exclusively with organically grown grapes from their estate vineyard. This lovely incarnation of Pinot Gris is 100% stainless steel fermented and sur lie aged to produce a wine with lovely freshness and texture. Enticing notes of nectarine, white peach, citrus and star fruit accompany a delightful freshness and balance. Price: $24

Bodegas Palacio Cosme Palacio 1894 Blanco 2008: Bodegas Palacio was founded in 1864 by Don Cosme Palacio y Bermejillo and is located in the heart of Spain's Rioja Alavesa. This wine is a blend of 92% Viura and 8% Malvasia from 80 year old vines grown at high elevation on limestone based soils. The wine is then aged in new French oak barrels (50% new) for 14 days and the result is a very intriguing wine with a lot of personality! Notes of lime, stone fruit, almond and spice are accompanied by a lovely minerality and food friendly acidity. If you are looking for something a little off the beaten path, look no further! Price: $30

Joseph Drouhin Vaudon Chablis Premier Cru 2010:The Moulin de Vaudon, a property of Joseph Drouhin, is an 18th century watermill close to the Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis. Because of its unique location at the heart of their 38 hectare vineyard estate (95 acres), this historic mill is the headquarters of the Drouhin Domaine in Chablis. Here, the Kimmeridgian limestone soil of Chablis contains millions of tiny marine fossils once located at the bottom of a Jurassic seabed hundreds of millions of years ago. The marine origin of the soil gives the wines their unique flavor profile and brings to life the true concept of "terroir". This elegant wine has notes of apple, melon and grapefruit with a lovely minerality and food friendly acidity. Price: $37

De Bortoli Deen Vat 4 Petit Verdot 2010: Deen De Bortoli created his Vat Series to highlight traditional varietal wines and also wines made from interesting, newer varieties to Australia. He personally selected the blends and chalked the numbers on the vats to identify them. Petit Verdot is one of Bordeaux’s classic grape varieties which is enjoying a revival in Australia. This late-ripening varietal performs exceptionally well in Australia's warm climate which allows it to achieve heightened levels of ripeness compared to the cooler climates of France. This juicy, delicious wine has aromas of blackberries, cherries, and violets as well as flavors of rich dark fruit, chocolate and spice. Chewy but approachable tannins are imparted by oak ageing. Price: $12

Renato Ratti Barbera d'Alba 2010: Renato Ratti entered the world of winemaking free of ancestral ties or responsibilities and was able to face Barolo with unfettered freedom. He was a true pioneer in the region creating the first single-vineyard Barolos produced in the same tradition as Burgundy, France. Following his untimely passing, his unique wine making philosophy is able to live on through the passion and commitment of his son Pietro. This 100% Barbera is crafted from 20 year old vines located in the Torriglione vineyards in La Morra. The Tortonian soil creates wines that are approachable with marked fragrance, softness and elegance. This wine spent six months in French oak barriques creating a wine with an intense, ruby red color and aromas and flavors of ripe plum, cassis, violets and spice. Price: $20

Chateau Mont-Redon Chateauneuf du Pape 2010: Chateau Mont-Redon is the largest single-vineyard estate of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and one of only two in the entire appellation. It supports plantings of all 22 grape varieties authorized for this well known wine from the Southern Rhone. This particular offering is a blend of 7 of the 22 allowable grapes (60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, 2% Cinsault, Counoise, Muscardin and Vaccarèse) and each variety is fermented separately before blending occurs. Half of the wine is then transferred to barrels for 10-12 months after malolactic fermentation while the other half remains in vats. The result is a wine with elegant ripe black fruit offset by notes of spice, leather and pepper with a firm tannic structure and delightfully complex finish. Price: $44

Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hills Pinot Noir Laurène 2009: Véronique Drouhin is the "guardian" of the Drouhin style serving as Head Winemaker for Domaine Drouhin since its inception in Oregon in 1988 as well as Maison Joseph Drouhin in Burgundy. This very special wine is named after her elder daughter, Laurène and is the estate's flagship wine, produced entirely from Pinot Noir grown on the family's estate in the Dundee Hills. It is vibrant in color with aromatics of sweet red fruit, cherry and a hint of toast. On the palate, fresh red fruit flavors of cherry and cranberry mix easily with notes of vanilla and smoke. This elegant wine has soft, well-integrated tannins, a lovely minerality, and lengthy finish. It beautifully represents the Drouhin style applied in the New World. Price: $59

If you'd like to purchase wines from "The List" you can use the PayPal Shopping Cart and drop down list below to do so. If you have any difficulty using it, please call 561-317-6663 to place your order over the phone or e-mail everydaywinegirl@aol.com. If you live in South Florida please call or e-mail to arrange pickup or shipping and, as always, please feel free to call with any questions. For shipment outside of South Florida, please call us to make arrangements. Also, don't forget: the first five shoppers who spend $100 or more will receive one month of The Wine Atelier Club free - a $50 value. Thank you again for your continued interest and support and stay tuned for my next post: Holiday Sparklers!

2012 Holiday Wines

Pfaffl Gruner Veltliner Austrian Pepper $16.00 USD King Estate Domaine Pinot Gris $24.00 USD Bodegas Cosme Palacio 1894 Blanco $30.00 USD Joseph Drouhin Vaudon Chablis Premier Cru $37.00 USD De Bortoli Deen Vat 4 Petit Verdot $12.00 USD Renato Ratti Barbera d'Alba $20.00 USD Chateau Mont-Redon Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge $44.00 USD Domaine Drouhin Pinto Noir Dundee Hills Laurene $59.00 USD

Cheers,

The 2nd Anniversary of "The Art of Wine & Food" Series!

At last week's installment of "The Art of Wine & Food" at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale we celebrated the second anniversary of the series!

In addition to our featured wines we had lots of fun giveaways including a Family Membership to the Museum, free tickets to the "Shark" Exhibition accompanied by gorgeous Guy Harvey coffee table books, free tickets to the wine tasting of your choice as well as a free month of The Glamorous Gourmet Wine Club, complete with wines and recipes to pair with them. We also gave special recognition to two very special guests who have been with us since the beginning, Kathleen Van Schalkwyk and Jill Harris. 

Our official theme of the evening was "Take a Walk on the Wild Side with some Alternative Grape Varieties" and featured three wines selected specifically to indulge your inner wine geek! The wines were accompanied by the delicious cuisine of Hugh's Catering whom we have had the pleasure of working with on many of the events in the series. We also gave a big round of applause and heartfelt thank you to Republic National Distributing Company for their ongoing support over the past two years! 

In the spirit of wine geekiness, the evening's wines were made from grape varieties a little off the beaten path but delicious nonetheless and definitely worth experiencing:

2008 Pfaffl Grüner Veltliner Austrian Pepper 

The home of Mozart, Edelweiss and Riedel Crystal has a long, rich tradition of winemaking that dates back to approximately 700 B.C. Nowadays Austria is a dynamic wine region characterized by its white wines which account for approximately 65% of the country's total production.
 

More than one third of the vineyards are planted to Grüner Veltliner, a white grape which is indigenous to Austria and not found much outside its borders. Austria’s wine law, which is very similar to Germany’s, dictates grape variety and yields within delineated zones of production. This particular wine hails from Austria's largest wine-growing area, Niederösterreich which is located near the capital of Vienna.
 

This wine is 100% Grüner Veltliner fermented in stainless steel to preserve its fresh fruit flavors and acidity. It is bright green-yellow in color with hints of citrus, minerals and herbs on the nose. On the palate, flavors of lime zest, honeydew melon and white pepper follow through on a refreshing finish. This wine is a natural match for shellfish, grilled fish, chicken or Asian-inspired cuisine. Guests enjoyed this wine paired with deliciously refreshing Ceviche Shooters.

2010 Renato Ratti Barbera d'Alba  

Piedmont is one of Italy’s most revered wine regions and home to the majestic Barolos and Barbarescos made from the Nebbiolo grape. While lesser known, the Barbera grape provides the majority of the region’s everyday wines which are also capable of great style.
 

Unlike many producers, Renato Ratti entered the world of winemaking without a family tradition behind him. Free of any ancestral ties or responsibilities, he was able to face Barolo, "with neither pride nor prejudice, but with unfettered freedom." He was a true pioneer in the region, responsible for creating the first single-vineyard Barolos produced in the same tradition as Burgundy. Following his untimely death in 1988 his innovative wine-making philosophy lives on today thanks to the passion and commitment of his son Pietro.
 

This 100% Barbera is crafted from 20 year old vines located in the Torriglione vineyards situated in La Morra. The Tortonian soil creates wines that are approachable with marked fragrance, softness and elegance. This wine spent six months in French oak barriques creating a wine with an intense, ruby red color and aromas and flavors of ripe plum, cassis, violets and spice. This wine is perfect for pairing with heartier dishes such as aged cheeses, grilled or roasted meats and/or tomato based sauces. Guests enjoyed this lovely red paired with Hugh's Mediterranean Flatbreads.

 

2008 De Bortoli Deen Vat 4 Petit Verdot

Deen De Bortoli created his Vat Series with the idea of developing a range of delicious, full-flavored wines at an affordable price. Deen personally selected the blends and chalked the numbers on the vats to identify them. The Vat Series includes traditional varietal wines and also wines made from interesting varietals newer to Australia.
 

This wine hails from the Riverina wine region in New South Wales. Petit Verdot is one of Bordeaux’s classic black grape varieties which is currently enjoying a revival in Australia, where it performs exceptionally well. This late-ripening variety does well in the warmer climates of Australia and other New World wine regions compared to the cooler climes of France where it didn’t ripen as well due to climatic differences.  

This wine is a vibrant, deep ruby-purple color with heady aromas of blackberries, cherries, and violets. On the palate, rich dark fruit, chocolate and spice predominate along with chewy tannins imparted by the oak aging. Enjoy this wine paired with smoked meats, roasted or grilled lamb, veal chops, and/or a big, juicy steak. This wine was paired very well with Hugh's Lamb Rounds with Grain Mustard Demi-Glaze.

Looking forward to our next event on Thursday, July 19th featuring "The Rosé Lifestyle of St. Tropez with Chateau d'Esclans" with our Special Guest Paul Chevalier. We will have the pleasure of sampling the latest releases of some of the world's finest rosés. If you think you're not a fan of these delightfully pink dry wines, think again! To make reservations, please contact Gail Vilone at gvilone@moafl.org or (954) 262-0249. Hope to see you there! 

 

 

 

Cheers,

   

The Diversity of Australia: Some Interesting Wines from Down Under!

Despite Hurricane Irene's best efforts, our monthly installment of "The Art of Wine & Food" at the Museum of Art, Ft. Lauderdale went off without a hitch! 

The evening's theme was "The Diversity of Australia," and instead of the typical Shiraz and Riesling many people associate with the land down under, the evening featured varietals a little off the beaten path.

To accompany the wines, Chef Marci Boland of L'Hermitage Catering created some delicious dishes that complemented the wines beautifully.

The first wine of the evening was the 2008 Turkey Flat Butchers Block White hailing from the Barossa Valley. Located in the state of South Australia, the Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s oldest and best-known wine regions. It's home to Australia's largest wine companies as well as plantings of Grenache and Shiraz that are over a century old.
 
The popularity of Shiraz (aka Syrah) in this region sparked interest in the development of other Rhone varieties. The 2008 Turkey Flat Butchers Block White is a blend of 58% Marsanne, 28% Viognier and 14% Roussanne, grapes indigenous to France’s Rhone Valley. This wine has appealing flavors of citrus, pear and green apple with a hint of toasty oak from partial barrel fermentation and a richness from extended lees contact. This wine is ideal for pairing with richer seafood dishes like scallops and lobster or those with exotic spices such as Thai, Curry or Indian cuisine. Chef Marci prepared a delicious Curry Coconut Chicken that paired very nicely with the spice and citrus notes of the wine.

The second wine of the evening was the 2009 Robert Oatley Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir. Proud and passionate Australian, Bob Oatley is considered by many to be a pioneer of Australian wine. His successes include the family-owned Australian winery Rosemount Estate and his latest endeavor, Robert Oatley Vineyards, is built around the family’s vineyard holdings and winery in New South Wales.

The Mornington Peninsula is located in the Australian state of Victoria is known for its cool, maritime-influenced climate, ideal for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. The 2009 Robert Oatley Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir has delightful cherry aromas with hints of strawberry, earth and spice; the 10 months in French oak nicely enhances but doesn't overpower the character of the wine. This Pinot Noir would be delicious served slightly chilled with dishes like seared tuna, grilled salmon or roasted duck with cherry sauce. Guests enjoyed it paired with Chef Marci's Tomato Provencal with Prosciutto, Thyme, & Garlic.

The final wine of the evening was the 2008 De Bortoli Deen Vat 4 Petit Verdot from the Riverina wine region in New South Wales. De Bortoli Wines is a third generation family winery established by Vittorio and Giuseppina De Bortoli in 1928. Deen De Bortoli personally selected the blends and chalked the numbers on the vats to identify them. The Vat Series includes traditional varietal wines and also wines made from interesting varietals newer to Australia.
 
Petit Verdot is one of Bordeaux’s classic grape varieties that is currently enjoying a revival in Australia. This late-ripening varietal performs exceptionally well in Australia's warm climate which allows it to achieve heightened levels of ripeness compared to the cooler climates of France. The 2008 De Bortoli Deen Vat 4 Petit Verdot has aromas of blackberries, cherries, and violets. On the palate, rich dark fruit, chocolate and spice accompany chewy tannins imparted by oak ageing. This wine is perfect for pairing with smoked meats, roasted or grilled lamb or veal chops, and/or a big, juicy steak. It paired remarkably well with Chef Boland's Zinfandel Braised Short Ribs with Pasta.

Guests really enjoyed these edgy Aussie wines which many were unfamiliar with prior to the event. They certainly sparked lots of interesting questions and conversation throughout the evening. Many participants said they especially enjoyed experiencing how the flavors of wine and food can really complement and enhance each other - I just love hearing that! A big thank you to Republic National Distributing Company for providing the wines for this event.

Please join us for our next installment of "The Art of Wine & Food," entitled "Chardonnay Around the World: Learn how Winemaking Styles Exhibit Qualities of Old Hollywood Glamour." It should be an interesting evening! For more information, please contact Gail Vilone at gvilone@moafl.org or call 954-262-0249.

Cheers,