GrapeStone Concepts

Video: Wine in a Can - PrimeWomen Choose

I loved making this video in the studios of PrimeWomen Magazine. Enjoy!

The Prime Women "Wine in a Can" Video Taste Test.

Tricia

Premium USA Rosé Wines - A Taste Test vs. French

I have spent some time sampling Rosé wines around the world. Here are some premium examples of my favorite USA Rosé wines in PrimeWomen Magazine.

The full version of the tasting video is here.

One of my favorite wines was made by Pursued by Bear, owned by actor, Kyle McLachlan seen here.

 

US PREMIUM ROSÉ WINE BRANDS VS FRENCH – A TASTE TEST

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• Tricia H. Conover
 
•  Fri Jul 12

Watch Tricia’s Rosé Tasting Reviews

Dry rosé wines are produced all around the world in many wine regions using countless varieties of red grapes. Rosé wines have been the fastest growing category of wine consumption in the last few years. Rosé wine brands in the USA are a rapids growing trend.

What is not to like? Savoring the flavors and aromas of red grapes in a chilled glass on a beautiful patio is my idea of a great happy hour.

And these are not your Grandmother’s White Zinfandels!

The most well-known rosé wine brands come from Provence in the South of France. Provence rosé history goes back to Roman occupation of the region in the days of Julius Caesar. Some of the wines were called “claret” for being such a clear red/pink color.

In the 19^th century tourists started to flock to the Cote d’Azur to go swimming in the Mediterranean sea on those beautiful beaches and would relax afterwards with a chilled glass of rosé. These local wines became a symbol of glamour, leisure, and summer.

But, rosé is now a year-round wine and pairs so well with many foods ranging from light cheeses and seafood to grilled meats. And, it hails from many winemaking regions of the globe.

 

Forget Provence and Savor the Rosé of Texas Hill Country - featured in JustLuxe.com

 

Dry Rosé had been the darling of the wine industry for the last three years. Rosé is a refreshing, crisp light style of red wine grapes that can be drunk year-round. Most people think of Provence in Southern as the traditional, go-to region for buying world class dry rosé wines.

The Texas Hill Country has been a tourist mecca for decades. There are over 350 wineries now in Texas. Remarkably Texas wine tourism has increased so much that the Hill Country is now the second fastest growing wine destination with only Napa Valley, California ahead.

Continue reading in JustLuxe.com

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.

 

 

Paros: Exotic Wines and Exotic Legendary Greek Island

Greek wines have grabbed the imagination of wine drinkers worldwide. The indigenous Greece grapes can make spectacular wines that have bracing liveliness and interesting spicy aromas. The legendary island of Paros offers both a unique travel experience, and some truly exotic wines. Visit this island paradise and discover the wine, food, and sporting adventures that drew the original settlers to Paros.

I am privileged to travel with other International wine and travel writers IWFTWA  this fall to Paros (and Milos, Ios, and Alonissos) to sample first-hand the Greek wine and travel renaissance. I intend to give our PRiME Magazine readers a “sense of place” proposing that you consider these islands as you plan a Mediterranean trip. What to drink, What to Eat, Where to Stay, Water Sports, Archeological and Historic sites, stunning beaches, and marine phenomena will all be featured.  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!

Is Merlot Alive and Kicking? 10 Year Anniversary of "Sideways" Movie

Is Merlot Live and Kicking? 10 Year anniversary of "Sideways" movie
See my article in PRIME Magazine: http://bit.ly/11TjZ9e

October marked the 10-year anniversary of the premiere of Sideways, the movie that belittled Merlot and starred Pinot Noir. This Oscar-nominated movie–a pre-wedding buddy trip gone wrong—features Miles, the main character starring Paul Giamatti. Miles, who utters a notorious line, “No, if anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any [expletive] Merlot.” During the next year Merlot sales dropped and Pinot Noir sales soared...... WWW.primewomen.com

 

And the beautiful Fess Parker Winery in Santa Ynez/Santa Barbara wine country....or the infamous "Frass Canyon" of the Spitton drinking scene?

So Merlot is doing quite well, thank you...our 4th most consumed wine varietal.Merlot remains one of the most approachable and food-friendly red wine choices. The softer tannins of Merlot make it important in red blends. Excellence in Merlot has been achieved in the US with brands like Shafer, Duckhorn, Trefethen, Nickel & Nickel, and Jarvis. Certainly the Merlot-rich blends from France’s Bordeaux region continue to set the standards of excellence and high prices in wine. Right-bank Bordeaux, which are Merlot-rich from the Pomerol Region, for example, Petrus, Chateau Lafleur, and Le Pin continue to command prices like $1000-1500 per bottle.  See full story at: www.primewomen.com

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.

Carissa Mondavi, Continuum Estates: Women in Wine Series

Join me for my interview  in PRiME Magazine and YouTube Videos with Carissa Mondavi, granddaughter of Robert Mondavi, daughter of Tim Mondavi as she and her family continue Robert's dream of making world class wines. This Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley, location is optimal for making truly complex fine wines. Carissa discusses the unique terroir of the vineyards, winemaking techniques, and the changing environment of women in the wine industry. Enjoy!

Youtube: Mondavi history and dream

Youtube: Tour of Continuum Estates.