As we are solidly into football season with it being the third week for college and the second week for pro games, let’s not forget that one of the most enjoyable parts of the game is pre and post game tailgating. What better way to enjoy the whole football experience, whether in the parking lot of the stadium or in the comfort of your home, than with a nice glass of wine? The following ideas are for solid enjoyment and simplicity.
Enjoying wine out of a paper or plastic cup is somewhat of an oxymoron. That is why the stem-less wine glass from Riedel is such a great idea for when you need to travel with glassware. No stems to break here and we even have an incredibly good deal on 4 pack tubes of the Riedel ‘O’ series. When the tailgating is over, just slide the glasses back in the tube for the ride home.Riedel ‘O’ 4pk Party Tube, Retail $49.99 Warehouse $19.99
Riedel ‘O’ 1pk, Retail $14.95 Warehouse $6.99
All of the wines suggested can be opened without a corkscrew or ‘tire-bouchon’ in French. Thus the beauty of champagne corks and screwcaps make it possible to carry one less thing to the game.
Why don’t we start with a little fizz. Originating from the largest single estate in Penedes in Spain are the wines from the Sumarroca family. Penedes is not only the most prominent Cava area, but is also the base for such serious red wines as Torres Grand Coronas. This Cava is fashioned from the tradition varieties of Parellada 42%, Xarel lo 24%, Macabeo 27% with the non-traditional Chardonnay 7% added. Aged for two years on its yeast lees, this fresh, light-bodied and creamy non-vintage Brut Reserva offers hints of peaches as well as small pinpoint bubbles.
Sumarroca Brut Cava nv, Retail $13.99 Warehouse $9.99
Riedel ‘O’ 1pk, Retail $14.95 Warehouse $6.99
All of the wines suggested can be opened without a corkscrew or ‘tire-bouchon’ in French. Thus the beauty of champagne corks and screwcaps make it possible to carry one less thing to the game.
Why don’t we start with a little fizz. Originating from the largest single estate in Penedes in Spain are the wines from the Sumarroca family. Penedes is not only the most prominent Cava area, but is also the base for such serious red wines as Torres Grand Coronas. This Cava is fashioned from the tradition varieties of Parellada 42%, Xarel lo 24%, Macabeo 27% with the non-traditional Chardonnay 7% added. Aged for two years on its yeast lees, this fresh, light-bodied and creamy non-vintage Brut Reserva offers hints of peaches as well as small pinpoint bubbles.Sumarroca Brut Cava nv, Retail $13.99 Warehouse $9.99
For the serious tailgater is a top cuvee fizz from the Napa Valley. Crafted by a careful selection from more than 45 separate vineyards and 90 different wine lots, only 14 small lots of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir made the cut for DVX in 2000. The selected lots were kept separate during initial fermentation in order to highlight their vineyard differences and make the most of their specific strengths.The palate explodes with a combination of white and red berry flavors, followed by creamy layers of fresh fig, white cherry, vanilla beans, all balanced by a refreshing acidity. The finish concludes with hints of hazelnut and nutmeg, a broad push of ripe, complex fruit, turning creamy and earthy. Beautiful stuff!
Mumm DVX 2000, Retail $55.00 Warehouse $24.99
On to the white wines:
Garganega anyone? When one says that Garganega is the grape variety that makes Soave it makes the picture much clearer. This is my favorite wine of the ‘Ravelli 5.’ It has a surprising amount of subtle pear and cream notes with incredible freshness to boot. This is a beautiful wine that is light, fresh and a great alternative to Pinot Grigio.
Mumm DVX 2000, Retail $55.00 Warehouse $24.99
On to the white wines:
Garganega anyone? When one says that Garganega is the grape variety that makes Soave it makes the picture much clearer. This is my favorite wine of the ‘Ravelli 5.’ It has a surprising amount of subtle pear and cream notes with incredible freshness to boot. This is a beautiful wine that is light, fresh and a great alternative to Pinot Grigio.
Ravelli Soave 2006, Retail $9.99 Warehouse $6.99
New Zealand’s most awarded winery is Villa Maria. Owner George Fistonich is forward thinking, having secured his own vineyard land, landing the country's most favorable vineyard contracts and hiring the best personnel. There are more ‘Masters of Wine’ who have either worked for or continue to work for ‘Villa’ than any winery on the planet. George's strategy has certainly paid off as Villa Maria is the largest privately held winery in New Zealand.
This is ‘Villa’s’ entry level Sauvignon Blanc. Marlborough winemaker George Geris says this about his ‘Private Bin’ SB: ‘This Sauvignon is bursting with ripe gooseberry, citrus lime, melon and exotic herbal aromas. It is fresh and ripely flavored with fantastic intensity, finishing with crisp and racy acidity.
Villa Maria ‘Private Bin’ Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Retail $13.99 Warehouse $9.99
New Zealand’s most awarded winery is Villa Maria. Owner George Fistonich is forward thinking, having secured his own vineyard land, landing the country's most favorable vineyard contracts and hiring the best personnel. There are more ‘Masters of Wine’ who have either worked for or continue to work for ‘Villa’ than any winery on the planet. George's strategy has certainly paid off as Villa Maria is the largest privately held winery in New Zealand.This is ‘Villa’s’ entry level Sauvignon Blanc. Marlborough winemaker George Geris says this about his ‘Private Bin’ SB: ‘This Sauvignon is bursting with ripe gooseberry, citrus lime, melon and exotic herbal aromas. It is fresh and ripely flavored with fantastic intensity, finishing with crisp and racy acidity.
Villa Maria ‘Private Bin’ Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Retail $13.99 Warehouse $9.99
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The initial Southern Eclipse release is the 2006 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Three time New Zealand ‘Winemaker of the Year’ Michelle Richardson did a custom crush for Wine Warehouse from a different vineyard than the one who supplies the grapes for her Richardson ‘Marlborough’ Sauvignon Blanc. This cuvee is cool-fermented exclusively in stainless steel for primary fruit expression on both the bouquet and on the palate.Southern Eclipse displays fresh tropical fruit aromas with green apple, gooseberry, grapefruit and a hint of passion fruit flavors on the palate. There is a nice crisp zing to the finish. Sancerre in France has been the standard bearer of crisp zingy Sauvignon Blanc for the world. Marlborough can act a bit like Sancerre on steroids as its characteristics can be a bit amplified. This wine is an example of Marlborough meeting Sancerre, not running over it.
Southern Eclipse Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Retail $14.99 Warehouse $12.99
And for the white wine purist:
And for the white wine purist:
'Making Riesling is the purest form of winemaking,' Jeffrey Grosset has said, and his Polish Hill - has incredible purity, restraint, and austerity. Grosset is a perfectionist and the wines have incredible perfume and purity, lime/floral fruit profile balanced by an indelible acidity that cuts across the palate. This wine does much to define the distinctive character of Clare Valley Riesling. Jeffrey was listed as one of the fifty most influential winemakers in the world in Wine and Spirits in 2005. This wine also made The Wine Spectator Top 100.Despite shy aromatics, this delivers tremendous depth and character, finishing dry, with welcome delicacy and grace. The flavors center on mandarin orange, apricot and warm slate, lingering beautifully on the harmonious finish. Drink now through 2017. Only 380 cases made it to the US. 93pts Wine Spectator Magazine
Grosset ‘Polish Hills’ Riesling 2005, Retail $34.99 Warehouse $27.99
Red wines in stelvin are a beautiful thing:
Perrin Cotes du Rhone Rouge is a sturdy red value that is produced strictly from vineyards that the Perrin family either own or from vineyards where they control the grape growing. This CDR is produced from traditional Grenache Noir that offers raspberry and pepper notes with nearly half the blend being fleshed out with Syrah and Mourvedre for added intensity and a spicy leather and meaty character. In the glass this wine reveals dark ruby color, nice raspberry-like fruit characters with pepper, spicy aromatics, and cedar in a medium-bodied and fresh style.Perrin Cotes du Rhone Rouge 750ml, Retail $10.99 Warehouse $7.99
I wrote a few weeks ago about this delicious Shiraz from Aussie-land.
I wrote a few weeks ago about this delicious Shiraz from Aussie-land.
An amazing offering for $14 (I assume discount stores will have it priced even lower), this firm is a joint venture between importer Peter Click and winemaker Kevin O’Brien, who produces the youthful cuvees from McLaren Vale’s Kangarilla Road estate. This deep ruby/purple-tinged Shiraz offers gorgeous aromas of sweet blackberries, figs, plums, and kirsch. Dense, opulent, and full-bodied, it is a terrific South Australian fruit bomb. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years. It is the type of wine value that simply can’t be found in California. 90 points Wine Advocate
2 UP Shiraz 2005, Retail $13.99 Warehouse $11.99
Please do not forget hydration as part of your tailgating equation. As always, fantastic pricing on bottled water that require no bottle openers:
Italy-Tuscany:
Italy-Tuscany:
Acquapanna ‘Sport Bottle’ 750ml plastic, Retail $1.49 Warehouse $ .99Italy:
Pellegrino Sparkling Water 750ml glass, Retail $1.49 Warehouse $1.19
France:
Perrier Sparkling 750ml glass, Retail $1.49 Warehouse $ .99Perrier Sparkling Lime 750ml glass, Retail $1.49 Warehouse $ .99
Volvic Still 1.5L plastic, Retail $1.89 Warehouse $1.29
Go Team!
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