Wrongo Dongo Spanish Monastrell

 Wrongo Dongo. The name alone caught our attention when Mike Gregg opened this bottle as a bonus for the TWAV team at the recent Cork's tasting - well, that and the 15% alcohol content. Knowing that Glorious T loves spicy, peppery blends, Mike thought she would get a big kick out of this Spanish Monastrell. It comes from the Jumilla region - sounds tropical and adds to the intrigue.

We loved the dark violet color, the evident legs, and the spicy aroma. Robust without being acidic, and with well balanced tannins, the Wrongo Dongo was a big hit and so was the price tag - just around $12. (Keep your eyes open as this wine can be found for even less when it is on sale.) This is an interesting, flavorful choice and a must for those looking to expand their varietal horizons. It is bursting with rich fruit flavors and exotic spices. If nothing else, pick up a bottle just to have on display. If loving this wine is wrongo, I don't want to be right.

Cleavage Creek 2007 Tracy Hills Merlot-Shiraz

  Cottony white clouds were wafting across a blue sky. It was a perfect summer evening and we soon had a steak grilling on the patio. With a little Cuban jazz in the background we only lacked one ingredient -- a nice wine. After a quick trip downstairs I returned with a Cleavage Creek 2007 Tracy Hills Merlot-Shiraz.

First, let's deal with your skepticism. I avoided buying from this winery on an online auction because I thought the name was a half-baked marketing scheme. I was half right. It is marketing -- but with a great cause, raising money for breast cancer research. The women pictured on the labels are all breast cancer survivors. Ten percent of gross wine sales are donated to fund breast cancer research and support.

The wines are also very tasty.This blend is 67% Syrah and 33% Merlot. It has a silky finish with raspberry and blackberry flavor notes. It is aged in oak, but we found it very smooth -- in fact a little light in body for our steak.

As we were enjoying the great evening and the smooth wine in the backyard, sirens and flashing lights on the next street over caught our attention. We could never quite figure out what happened -- but it involved a lot of milling about and comings and goings of emergency vehicles. It appeared everyone was alright and we resumed savoring the wine.

This is an enjoyable bottle and a great value at only $18. I've also noticed that Cleavage Creek has some great case sales going on.

Technorati Tags: wine

Dry Scaly Skin? Try Switching from Beer to Wine

   Take that, Budweiser! Turns out a beer belly may not be the worst result of a taste for brewsky. According to a new study issued last week in the Archives of Dermatology, women who regularly drink beer are more likely to develop psoriasis, a skin disease that causes scaly lesions, redness and inflamation of the skin. Women who drink at least five regular beers a week increase the risk of psoriasis 2.3 times compared to non-drinkers.

No link has been found, according to researchers, between psoraisis and other types of alcohol including wine, spirits or light beer. The culprit may be barley, which contains gluten. Barley is used to ferment beer and those with psoriasis are more sensitive to gluten than those without the disease.

And you thought that beer belly was a problem? How about dry scaly skin as a reward for downing brewskys? Women who drink beer regularly are more likely to develop psoriasis, an auto-immune disease that causes scaly lesions, redness, and inflammation of the skin, a new study suggests. Drinking at least five regular brews a week increases a woman's risk of psoriasis 2.3 times compared to non-drinkers, according to a study published Monday in the Archives of Dermatology.

Researchers found no link, however, between psoriasis and other types of alcohol including light beer, wine, or spirits. The gluten-containing ingredient barley, used to ferment beer, could be to blame for the increased psoriasis risk, researchers say, since those with psoriasis are more sensitive to gluten than those without the disease.

 

Technorati Tags: wine,psoriasis

 

Photo by Mykl Roventine

Wine Tastings & Events: Week of August 23, 2010

Wednesday, August 25
Anderson's Market, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8:00 PM. Closeouts: 1. Alfredo Roca Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay, 2.  Kitfox Vineyards Syrah, 3.  Sterling Diamond Mountain Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.  Hayman & Hill Riesling.  Nominal fee per sample or flight $8.25.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. Grillin-n-chillin Wines. $15. 

Thursday, August 26

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM.

Wines of the Tour de France! Featuring Burgundy/Beaujoais: 1. 2008 Domaine de la Collonge – White Burgundy, 2. 2008 Louis Jadot Beaujolais (Gamay), 3. 2009 Georges Dubceuf Beaujolais-Villages (Gamay)4. 2006 Ladoix – Red Burgundy (Pinot Noir). Flight $8 or nominal fee per sample. 
 

The Andersons, Talmadge Road.

“How Merlot Can You Go.” A survey of great merlot from low to high cost. 1. The Velvet Devil Merlot , Washington, 2. Chateau Sainte-Marie Bordeaux, French Merlot blend, 3. Blackstone Napa Merlot, Napa, 4. BV Reserve Carneros 2006 Napa Pinot Noir, 5. Century Oaks Reserve Cabernet, Lodi, Calif., 6. Morande Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Chile. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. Grillin-n-chillin Wines. $15.  

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Toast the Coast:
Napa, Sonoma, blah, blah, blah. It's time to take a trip to Socal and explore all that this rich and diverse wine region has to offer. We'll check out dynamic and exciting wines from the premier producers of the Edna, Santa Maria, and Santa Ynez Valleys; along with Paso Robles and Santa Barbara County. Nominal fee per sample.

Friday, August 27

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Unique Whites: 1. Condesa Eylo Rueda, 2. Cliff Family Winery "The Climber," 3. Chateau de L'Hyverniere Muscadet, 4. Anne Amie "Prisme."  $10 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Toast the Coast:
Napa, Sonoma, blah, blah, blah. It's time to take a trip to Socal and explore all that this rich and diverse wine region has to offer. We'll check out dynamic and exciting wines from the premier producers of the Edna, Santa Maria, and Santa Ynez Valleys; along with Paso Robles and Santa Barbara County. Nominal fee per sample.

Saturday, August 28
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Unique Whites: 1. Condesa Eylo Rueda, 2. Cliff Family Winery "The Climber," 3. Chateau de L'Hyverniere Muscadet, 4. Anne Amie "Prisme."  $10 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville, Wine Tasting. 1-3 PM.

We will be pouring German wines in celebration of Oktoberfest: 1. Schloss Bierbrich Sekt Sparkling Wine, 2. Superstition White Blend, 3. Sweet Desire White, 4. Schlink Haus Dornfelder. Nominal fee per sample or $2 flight.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. Noon to 5:00 p.m. Pay by the sample or flight.

[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]

Technorati Tags: wine

Word Cloud of Toledo Wines and Vines

OK, what is this crazy illustration? It's a word cloud created at http://www.wordle.net/. You can make a word cloud with any chunk of text and then continue playing with it as long as you like. I recommend an unoaked Chardonnay while enjoying this exercise.

Drink Me Tags Add A "Bow Tie" To Your Wine Gifts

   We recently received a couple samples of  Drink Me Tags for use in giving wine as gifts. They are colorful tags with nice graphics and clever sayings. They are held to a nice quality ribbon with a bright brass pin.

You may ask yourself, "Can't I just crank these puppies out on my laser printer and save the expense?" Yes, you could -- unfortunately, it will also look like you did,  prompting the gift recipient to ask if you are really too cheap to buy a card or a gift bag. These cost $2.25 a piece, which seems a bit pricey to us -- but if you are giving a nice bottle of wine you may want to consider something different. These tags have a nice visual appeal and could fill the bill.

I now have two bottles sitting on my table sporting "Just Add Corkscrew" and "Put a Cork In It" labels. They're looking proud!

Drink Me Tags were founded by mother-daughter team, Val and Sara Rossi, to enhance the experience of wine giving by accessorizing the bottle in a unique way.
Sara says gifting options for wine have always been slim but these wine bottle gift cards are "easy, classy, and turn your bottle of wine into a gift with that little something extra."

Drink Me Tags come in a variety of designs and are available online for $2.25 a card. You can also buy customized cards in minimum quantities of 25. You can check out the available designs at http://www.drinkmetags.com/.

 

Technorati Tags: wine