GrapeStone Concepts

Champagne Sabering at Christmas

Champagne Sabering at Christmas....so festive.

Champagne Sabering - A Festive Launch at a Wedding or Celebration Meeting

Tricia Conover, Advanced Sommelier, Champagne Sabruese, and Diploma of Wine wine writer offers a custom champagne sabering presentation for your special event. For more information, contact her assistant Maggie: [email protected] 

Bypass Bordeaux and Discover the Wines of Athens Instead in JustLuxe.com

 

Athens has long been known for its history and gastronomic expertise, but the emerging importance of the local wine industry adds an exciting new dimension. Vintners are rediscovering indigenous grapes (Assyritiko, Moschofilero, Savatiano and Xinomavro), meaning that discerning wine connoisseurs are getting a whole lot more to sip than the unusual international staples of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

 

See My entire Article on JustLuxe.com in the LuxeEpicure Section.

 

 

Dry Rosé Resurgence – Top 8 Recommendations

Check out my article: Dry Rosé Resurgence – Top 8 Recommendations - at PRiME Magazine featuring Brad and Angelina's Chateau Miraval (see Estate pictured below). Noteworthy that Kathie Lee Gifford just launched her Dry Rosé as a house wine for Carnival Cruise Lines. Love the variety of colors, flavors, and grape blends that make up this "Summer in a Glass" wine.

 

 

A Taste of Venice in Vegas

As Steve and I, Mark and Becky Perrings, and many of us know, the Venetian in Las Vegas has a wonderful indoor area called the Majestic Grand Canal where visitors can wander either on foot or by gondola (complete with a singing gondolier), but the sensation of being in Venice isn’t complete until you’ve enjoyed the culinary delights of Zeffirino’s.

Enter through the little side entrance to this family owned restaurant, the longest running in the Venetian, to be escorted by a delightful hostess to the second floor where the restaurant boasts views of the canal. There is an elevator as well, if needed. Being greeted by the wait staff in their Italian accents sends you on a mini sensory trip to Italy in this haven from the shopping and bustle of Vegas. The understated décor is a calming start to the experience with the 40 ft. tall handcrafted bar, comfortable lounges, and the many tables along the balcony overlook the shopping canal with its sights and sounds.

See entire article at PRiME Magazine:

 

South America Wine at Great Prices - in PRiME Magazine

This is a beautiful view of the Andes from Catena Zapata taken by Courtney Quinn, co-author of our new article in PRiME Magazine: "South America Wines at Great Prices" 

South America is a place to find great quality wines at lower prices. With less labor and land expenses, Chile and Argentina are the main wine-making countries in South America. In the world they rank as two of the top 10 countries for wine production. Those of us adventurous wine drinkers in United States and the UK can also find wines from Uruguay and Brazil.  

When we think of South America, we picture the physical beauty of the Amazon rainforest, Incan ruins, and Andes Mountains. We envision the indigenous activities in Argentina: gauchos riding horses, children playing soccer, and the sensual embrace and allure of the tango.

South America is a place to find great quality wines at lower prices. Chile and Argentina are the main wine-making countries in South America, and can offer lower prices due to lower labor and land costs. In the world they rank as two of the top 10 countries for wine production. Those of us adventurous wine drinkers in United States and the UK can also find wines from Uruguay and Brazil.

Included are two South America wine books written by a Master Sommelier, Evan Goldstein and Laura Catena of Catena Zapata fame.

Please see entire article in PRiME Magazine. Enjoy the wines and prices. Part II on Food and Wine Pairing will appear later this month.

 

 

 

 

  

Ultimate Aphrodisiac Food and Wine Menu for Valentines Day

I had more fun creating this article for PRiME Magazine, "Valentines Day Aphrodisiac Food and Wine Pairings: Ultimate Menu." Searching for ideas through A Diary of Aphrodisiacs, finding Grilled Oyster recipes from Emeril Lagasse, and sourcing wines that match some of this luxurious, stimulating food. The Chocolate Decadence cake recipe is worth the read. Hope you enjoy my tongue-in-cheek approach!

Inspiring Wines-By-the-Glass Restaurant Wine Programs in PRiME Magazine featuring an interview with Master Sommelier, George Miliotes, MS

See my interview with George Miliotes and the entire article in PRIME Magazine.

Today's post-recession restaurant customer demands a significant Wines-by-the Glass (WBTG) program. A truly inspired wine list drives curiosity, welcomes exploration, and invites sampling.  Properly priced WBTG programs can motivate guests to sample specialized selections within affordable ranges. Finding such an inspired wine program in fine dining and casual chain restaurants can be challenging, but examples of excellence exist. Below are details of several multi-location, specialty restaurant, and Locavore restaurants that offer distinct wine-by-the-glass programs.

Master Sommelier, George Miliotes is the Wine and Beverage director of the 42-location Seasons 52 fresh grille restaurants, 51-location Capital Grille fine dining restaurants, and 12 location Eddie V’s, New Orleans style seafood restaurants.   He anchors all these wine programs with smart and exceptional WBTG selections. George is one of the fewer than 250 (MS) Master Sommeliers worldwide.

George Miliotes, MS, was one of the original creators of the Seasons 52 concept. In these restaurants he features over 65 choices of wines-by-the-glass with selections from 14 different countries, and featuring over 26 grape varietals. A popular aspect of his program is "Drink them before they are famous", wines that invite discovery, like the Casas del Bosque Reserva Carmenere, Rapel, Chile. Milliotes and chef Jim Messinger thoughtfully present food and wine pairing suggestions on each week’s menu as well.   Happily, a one-ounce sample of any wines on the list is cheerfully offered by the staff, and allows guests the opportunity to choose their favorite pour.  Logical prices ranges reflect the smart economics of the program, too. Thorough and extensive staff training accompanies this outstanding WBTG wine program, so your servers can make knowledgeable suggestions. “The beauty of our program is that we allow you to sample wines side-by-side and pick your favorite,” says George Miliotes, MS, in a private interview. (See Q&A with George Miliotes, MS below.) 

George plans and directs the annual summer Capital Grille Wine Event, “Generous Pour”. “We plan a year in advance for this promotion and work with several wineries to create special offerings”, Miliotes notes. The Generous Pour event allows guest to sample up to 7 different wines in the collection for just $25 with accompanying meal from the regular menu, then refill their favorite. Miliotes works with wineries like Arrowood, Sonoma, CA, and Selbach-Oster, Mosel, Germany, to create unique wines like the Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon, “Catchwire” for this program. “Some of our guests come 3 or more times during the Generous Pour two month season”, George notes. “The iPad wine menu we have just introduced to Capital Grille has also enhanced our guest experience. This programs rolled out smoothly and guests seem to like it. It allows them to look for wines by food pairings, by varietal, by region, by flavor, and by point score.”

I also recount the Specialty (A-16, San Franciso and The Slanted Door, San Francisco) with superior programs and highlight some Farm-to-Table excellent wine programs (Harvest Seasonal Kitchen, McKinney, Texas, and Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch, St. Helena, California).

See entire article at PRiME Magazine.

The Dry Rosé Wine Revolution: Even Brad and Angelina are OnBoard

 

When it was announced in February that the 2013 Chateau Miraval, a dry rosé wine, was sold out in an impressive 5 hours, I knew that the dry rosé revolution was in full swing. Chateau Miraval is a joint venture of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and the Famille Perrin in France’s Provence region. Their 2012 vintage was ranked #84 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the Year, making it the 2012’s “Best Rosé in the World.” Some of my wine industry fellow sommeliers have been noticing this dry rose trend for the last 3 years. See entire article in PRiME Magazine. Join us for a glass.

Introducing PRiME, and the ABC's of Anything But Chardonnay

I am so pleased to be part of  PRiME, a Magazine for Women in Their Prime. I am serving as the Contributing Wine Editor, but I'm also excited about the articles my fellow editors have written on fashion, finance, travel, lifestyles, health. How exciting to reach out to such an under-served demographic, the 50+ fashionable, astute, brilliant woman!

My first article titled: The ABC's of Anything But Chardonnay details 9 Intriguing White Wine Alternatives, Highly Rated, Great Value.

Today we are fortunate to have many expressions of chardonnay, not just the over-ripe, over-oaked choices. New-age chardonnays range from the tart, crisp apple to the buttery, creamy mouth-feel variety.

Why not widen your horizons and palates with some of the white wine varietals that are gaining more attention?  My recommended wines include full-bodied whites like Viognier (Zaca Mesa pictured), Gruner Veltliner, Vermentino, and Gewürztraminer and the light/fresh offerings like Pinot Gris/Grigio (King Estate pictured), Albarino, Moscato, Vinho Verde, and Torrentes.  

We love chardonnay in all of its styles and expressions. White wine alternatives represent a whole new range of scents, flavors, body, and terroir - wine sense of place - to explore. Let me know what the experience brings you. Join the conversation on Twitter @winegrapestone and @primewomen.