Wines For Summer Grilling

As the seasons change, our food  and wine pairings change. Summer is no different. This is a season where you can truly appreciate the fruity flavors of wine accompanied by some wonderful foods cooked on a grill. To assist you with a wine and food pairings this summer, we found some useful suggestion that you can use.



Grill-friendly Red Varietals to Consider:

Zinfandels will be able to handle a wide variety of red meats. This bold red wine bellies up to meaty, smokey flavors – allowing the varietal’s black pepper spice, acidity and ripe tannins to carry the meat’s fats and texture to a new dimension. A Zin will also work well with barbeque sauce, steak sauce and mild salsas – if there is too much spice in the sauce the two will compete and both the wine and the sauce end up as losers.

Merlot is the spicy sauce answer to the above dilemma. With the characteristic fruit-forward flavor profile, this varietal will support the spice and not aggravate it. Grilled pork chops, chicken and garden-variety salads with lighter dressings also mingle well with Merlot.

Shiraz/Syrah another varietal that makes the grill-friendly wine list. This varietal is delicious with just about any red meat. Offering dynamic, somewhat aggressive fruit flavors, balanced with more mellow tannins and a softer-fuller body – this wine’s place to shine is definitely at a barbecue gathering! Rhone Syrahs tend to have a smokier flavor characteristic and lend themselves extremely well to smoked brisket.

Cabernet Sauvignon is made for steaks with a higher fat content and burgers of beef or turkey will pair equally well. The tighter tannins are significantly mellowed by the meat’s fat, producing a palate pleaser to remember! Top your burgers with bold cheeses, like blue or sharp cheddar and this varietal gets even better!

Pinot Noir a flexible varietal that is known for being extremely food-friendly. Can go from grilled fish to a juicy burger in a single sip! Pinot Noir is an ideal candidate for grilled fish – especially salmon, burgers and chicken both bare their best in the presence of Pinot Noir. If you aren’t sure if what wine will work with your grilled dinner, Pinot Noir will likely be your best bet.

Grill-friendly White Varietals to Consider:

Chardonnay will work wonderfully with grilled fish (including shellfish), chicken with creamy sauces, and grilled corn on the cob with lots of butter!

Riesling the perfect varietal for grilled brats, shrimp, barbecue chicken, grilled pineapple and a variety of grilled veggies.

Sauvignon Blanc has a herbaceous quality that supports marinades and sauces with similar attributes. For example, grilled chicken that has been doused in Italian dressing or a citrus marinade will be unbeatable with a Sauvignon Blanc. Likewise, roasted peppers, veggies in fresh herbs, grilled fish with dill and lemon will all be highlighted in tandem with a Sauvignon Blanc.

Gewurztraminer often offers a balance to spice with its slightly to moderately sweet character. This varietal would be a great choice to go with blackened Mahi Mahi, or grilled Cajun chicken with fresh mango salsa.

In very, very general red wines go well with grilled red meats - we’re talking your basic burgers, steaks, ribs and the like. These meats can be somewhat salty, a bit smokey and tend to be a touch sweeter if grilled due to marinades, sauces, condiments, cooking times, etc. The lighter meats and sauces are more apt to flow better with white wines that share similar flavors as the foods they are meant to accent. If you are having a backyard barbecue, offer a few whites and a few reds and let your guests mix and match to see which flavor pairs suit their preferences. They are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pairing wines with your grilled foods, just generalities that can get you going. Ultimately it is your palate that your seeking to please by the wine pairing.

This should get you started on appreciating grilled food and wine pairings. Thank you to about.com for their information concerning this topic. If you would like to contact us with any questions or feedback you can reach us by email.

Thank you for visiting!
Joseph A Jones & The WellLife Team

Easter Wines

Spring is here. Wine selection as we know are quite seasonal in nature. So, accurate food pairing is a must. For Easter, we found a wonderful guide to help you pair that Easter food with that right wine to make it a wonderful holiday. Here is our findings.


Eggs
Eggs in general are an Easter tradition - a symbol of new life, as well as a food traditionally banned during Lent, then eaten during an Easter feast. There are more options than colored hard-boiled eggs, though. Brodetto pasquale, a Roman Easter soup, is a delicious beef-lamb broth brightened by marjoram and lemon and thickened with egg. It isn’t that heavy and it comes at the start of the meal, so a crisp white is an ideal choice. Frascati, a staple of casual Roman trattorias, would be ideal. The 2010 Fontana Candida ($9) is easy-drinking and pleasant; the same winery’s 2009 Luna Mater bottling ($22) is a standout.

Ham
Whether it comes from the notion that hams once put away to cure in the fall were ready by spring or from a simple “Well, ham sure tasted good at Christmas, let’s have one at Easter, too” inspiration, there’s no question that Easter is good times for ham salesmen. The key with ham and wine is salt - salt tends to intensify tannins, so if you want red, go for a lighter wine. Pinot Noir is a good choice, like the lively 2010 Pinot Project Pinot Noir ($14) or the berry-scented 2009 A to Z ($19), as is a lighter Italian red, such as the cherry-inflected 2009 Col D’Orcia Rosso di Montalcino ($24).

Lamb
There are a number of cultural and religious reasons why lamb is a classic Easter dish, and there’s a basic culinary reason, too, which is that roast lamb tastes great. (I fully admit to bias - I love lamb.) Personally, I’m a fan of marinating a butterflied leg in Greek yogurt, sliced garlic and chopped rosemary and then slapping it on the grill, but no matter how it’s prepared, lamb loves red wine. It particularly loves Syrah - the roasted meat and pepper notes of the wine taste great with lamb’s gamey intensity. Look for the ripe 2008 Andrew Murray Tous les Jours ($16) from California, the smoky 2009 Yalumba Y Series Shiraz ($13) from Australia (Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape) or the peppery 2009 Delas Freres Côtes du Rhône Les Esprit ($15), which adds a bit of Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre to its blend.

These wines will definitely enhance your special meal. Thanks to eatocracy for their wonderful advice. If you would like to contact us with any questions or feedback you can reach us by email.

Thank you for visiting!

Joseph A Jones & The WellLife Team

Valentines Day Wines

Valentines Day. That special holiday is upon us.We also know there is nothing more meaningful than a romantic toast with the one you love. So, it is important that you choose that special wine for this occasion. Well, we  found special Valentines Day wines from TheWashington Post.com with the assistance from a sommelier.

★★★Exceptional  ★Excellent ★Very Good
Prices are approximate. Check Winesearcher.com to verify availability, or ask a favorite wine store to order through a distributor.
Here are Valentine’s Day wine recommendations. Some are from the sommeliers I interviewed for my accompanying column, and some are from my own tastings.
— Dave McIntyre

Duval-Leroy Brut
★★¹/₂

Champagne, France, $45
This perennial value was better than ever when I tasted it recently, brilliantly showing the tart red-fruit flavors of pinot noir and pinot meunier and the fleshiness of chardonnay.
Prestige in the District and Maryland; Virginia Imports in Virginia: Available in the District at Cairo Wine & Liquor, Pearson’s. Available in Maryland at Cork 57 Beer and Wine in Bethesda; Dawson’s Market in Rockville; Graul’s Wine & Spirits, North Charles Fine Wine & Spirits and the Wine Source in Baltimore; Wine Cellars of Annapolis. Available in Virginia at Arrowine and Curious Grape in Arlington, Ashburn Wine Shop, Balducci’s and Chain Bridge Cellars in McLean, Cork & Fork in Gainesville, Out of Site Wines and Vienna Vintner in Vienna, Planet Wine & Gourmet and Unwined in Alexandria, various locations of Trader Joe’s and Wegmans, Virginia Fine Wines in Springfield, Whole Foods Market (Alexandria and Vienna), Wine Styles in Dumfries; on the list at Euro Bistro in Herndon, Willow in Arlington.

Simonnet-Febvre Brut Rosé Cremant de Bourgogne
★★
Burgundy, France, $20
This producer, based in Chablis in northern Burgundy, is one of my favorites for value-oriented chardonnay and sparkling wines. The Brut Rosé shines with cherry and strawberry flavors. Its razor-sharp balance complements food and makes you ready for more.
M Touton Selection: Available in the District at Best in Liquors, Central Liquors, Congress Market, Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquor, PanMar Wine & Liquor, Rodman’s, Sherry’s Fine Wine & Spirits, U Street Mini Mart, Watergate Wine & Beverage; on the list at Windows Cafe. Available in Maryland at Bethesda Co-Op in Cabin John, the Bottle Shop in Potomac, Bradley Food & Beverage and Georgetown Square Wine and Beer in Bethesda, Franklin Liquors in Ijamsville, Old Farm Liquors in Frederick, Rodman’s in White Flint, Silesia Liquors in Fort Washington; on the list at Bistro Provence in Bethesda.

Gruet Brut Rosé
★¹/₂
New Mexico, $19
Gruet’s sparkling wines from New Mexico are an American treasure: top-notch fizz with real champagne character at an affordable price. The rosé is a good for a romantic interlude, and the entire lineup is worth exploring.
Country Vintner: Available in the District at Ace Beverage, Pearson’s, Rodman’s, Wagshal’s Market, Whole Foods Market P Street, Yes! Organic Market. Available in Maryland at Finewine.com in Gaithersburg, Georgetown Square Wine and Beer in Bethesda, Pine Orchard Wine in Ellicott City. Available in Virginia at Grape + Bean in Alexandria, Grateful Red Wine & Gift Shop in Arlington, Total Wine & More in McLean and Springfield, Whole Foods Market Fair Lakes.

Annalisa Moscato d’Asti
★¹/₂
Piedmont, Italy, $12
Bright, fruity, bubbly and sweet. What you don’t finish for dessert could go nicely with blueberry pancakes for brunch.
Country Vintner: Available in the District at Circle Wine & Liquor, Lion’s Fine Wine & Spirits, Whole Foods Market P Street. Available in Maryland at Georgetown Square Wine and Beer in Bethesda, Franklin Liquors in Ijamsville, I.M. Wine in Fulton, the Perfect Pour in Elkridge. Available in Virginia at Slaters Market in Alexandria, Total Wine & More (Alexandria, McLean, Springfield), Wine House in Fairfax.

Loredan Gasparini Casa Bianca Prosecco Rosé
★¹/₂

Veneto, Italy, $11
This budget sparkler is a nice scene-setter: Its bubbles help set the mood, and the pink color, from 15 percent pinot noir in the blend, will sparkle in the candlelight.
Dionysus: Available in the District at Cleveland Park Wine and Spirits, A Litteri, Wagshal’s Market, Whole Foods Market (P Street, Tenleytown). Available in Maryland at Balducci’s and Bradley Food & Beverage in Bethesda, Urban Cellars in Baltimore, Sav-On Liquors in Reisterstown, Eastport Liquors in Annapolis. Available in Virginia at Balducci’s (McLean and Alexandria), the Italian Store in Arlington, Whole Foods Market (Alexandria, Tysons Corner, Reston), Unwined (Alexandria and Belleview).

The impressive list of wines should get you started shopping so that you can create that perfect romantic toast on Valentines Day.Thank you to  The Washington Post.com and Dave McIntyre for this useful information.  If you would like to contact us with any questions or feedback you can reach us by email.

Thank you for visiting!

Joseph A Jones & The WellLife Team

How To Be A Wine Afficianado

It is an new year and we want to improve ourselves and learn more about everything. This also includes the area of wine. In fact, many people want to learn more about wine to the point of becoming a wine aficionado. As you can imagine there are several approaches you can undertake to accomplish this goal. So, we found some ways that you can increase your knowledge and become an expert in a fascinating field.

Learning Your Wine Preferences

Wine is a personal choice. Not everyone likes the same thing. I may love a good Merlot but you might prefer a Pinot Noir. How to tell what you like takes a little detective work. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Pick up a journal and make it your wine tasting notebook.

2. Go to a local wine shop or a large liquor store where they have a decent selection of wine. Get to know the manager or the wine buyer for the shop. See if they have wine tastings, if not ask what restaurants in the area conduct these and get on their email lists.

3. Start with a wine that will match the food you are serving. Ask for help from the wine shop. There are wines available for every taste. Buy a couple different varieties that will pair well with food.

4. Make this fun. Don’t just stick to the traditional California wines. There are wine regions from around the world that offer great taste at tremendous value. Try wines from Spain, which has excellent values; Argentina and Chile as well as the popularly branded French and Italian wines. Even in the states there are great wine regions besides what we see in the store. I love Oregon and Washington State wines as an example. There is a difference in taste between a California Pinot and an Oregon one. Develop your palate with wines from our country as well as from around the world.
As you become more comfortable with wine tasting, understanding what you like and what you don’t, the next step to becoming an aficionado is education.

Developing Your Wine Aficionado Knowledge

There are tons of books, newsletters and online education out there to help you become a lover of wine. Start by subscribing to online free newsletters on the subject. Stay tuned to wisewinechoices.com, bookmark us, as we review books that we feel are valuable to the up and coming connoisseur of wine.

I would caution a person just starting their education not to subscribe to expensive magazines and newsletters until you have a clear understanding of what you like as you develop your palate.

Along with education, now should be the time to introduce your new passion to others. What better way to do this then to host an informal wine tasting night with friends. I recently attended an informal wine night. This was a great way to taste wines without it costing a fortune. Each of us was assigned a specific wine. We started with 3 different white wines, than moved to 3 different reds and a dessert wine for the finale.

No one spent more than $20 per bottle. A fun night and affordable too! We all learned something about wine, what we liked and what we didn’t, plus we had so much fun doing this that we booked another night at a different person’s home. This may turn into a monthly social event, and it’s all focused on us learning more about wine.

Storing Your Wine

The other crucial part to developing your wine persona, is how one stores wine. Most people buy wine and drink it immediately. Others, who have become accustomed to drinking wine and find one they really love, would like to store the wine and drink it over time. Either way is fine. If you are storing wine it is important that it is kept in a cool, dry place. If you become a true aficionado, temperature of wine will become important to you. In the meantime, there are wine refrigerators available for storing wine. You can buy them at Home Depot or a BJ’s Warehouse for a reasonable price.

This is a good starting point on your journey to become a wine expert. Thanks to wisewinechoices website for this  useful guideline to use.  If you would like to contact us with any questions or feedback you can reach us by email.

Thank you for visiting!

Joseph A Jones & The WellLife Team