Are You Ready for Some Football?

Fall is when a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of … football! And with football comes that uniquely American pre-game ritual: tailgating!

Tailgating. An American tradition that, while not quite as old as Thanksgiving, actually has quite a bit in common with the all-American holiday. It starts with a gathering of family and friends who might not otherwise find time to be together in the same place. It’s followed by a football game that, for some at least, is the primary reason for the gathering. And in the middle is a meal consisting of several of the most diverse dishes to share a plate.

Continue reading →

Brachetto is for Lovers

Whether you consider it a celebration of love and romance, or just another overhyped Hallmark Holiday, Valentines Day is just around the corner. And with it come all of the signifiers and customs we’ve come to associate with the holiday: roses, chocolates, the color red, those chalky candy hearts. While any number of wines can be appropriate to help celebrate the mood of the day (if you choose to celebrate), your Private Wineaux believes that there’s one that wraps it all up into one glass.

Ladies and gentlemen: Brachetto d’Acqui

Continue reading →

Coro Mendocino: America’s “Corporate PDO”

Mendocino County winemakers are kickin’ it Old School! Or Old World, rather. Coro Mendocino represents “the first time in U.S. history that winemakers from any region have created parameters for a wine distinctive to their area,” and the experiment of applying “Old World” rules to “New World” winemaking (and winemakers) has lasted for over a decade now. Your Private Wineaux has thoughts, but first a bit about that “Old World/New World” thing.

Continue reading →

High/Low: Ringing In With Champagne Cachet

The new year is upon us and in the middle of looking forward with resolutions and looking back with “best of” lists lies a night of celebration. wine drinkers thoughts turn to that most celebratory of wines: Champagne! Yes, there are many different sparkling wines out there — Prosecco, Cava, Sekt, Asti, Sparkling Shiraz or Baga — but Champagne sets the standard for all of them; so much so that “methode champenoise” was originally used to describe the way they are made (today “methode traditionelle” or the language equivalent is used). Take a bottle from a major champagne house with you to a party, and people will notice.

Continue reading →

An Evening With Friends of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra

Your Private Wineaux had the pleasure of leading a tasting session for Friends of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra on December 1, 2011. Attendees had the opportunity to taste wines representing the six most common grape varieties (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah/Shiraz) while learning the basics of formal tasting and a beginning vocabulary for discussing what they’ve tasted. They also got to ask a wide range of questions about the winemaking process, regions, food pairing, and wine styles.

The six wines tasted are grouped together as an “event” on CellarTracker. That event can be found here (under the title “Friends of Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra Wine Tasting“) General notes are provided, and attendees are encouraged to share their notes as well.

Apple Innovations

Neige PremièreAfter grapes, Your Private Wineaux believe the best fruit for winemaking is the apple. The balance of sugar and cool climate acidity in the ripe fruit makes the apple one of the most versatile wine fruits. It’s capable of producing wines in a variety of styles, from crisp dry and off-dry table wines to unctuous dessert wines, and all are instant crowd-pleasers. And much like the company that took its name from the fruit, simplicity and innovation are what yield the best examples.

Continue reading →