Category: Ron’s Corner

                              WINE CLUBS

About 15 years ago, there were only 3 or 4 national wine clubs that  you could order from online.   Today, there are dozens upon dozens of them.   Over the years, I’ve belong to several wine clubs.   It was so long ago, I dont even remember the name of the first club I belonged to.    But after trying out several clubs, I came to the same conclusion.    I really dont like wine clubs!

Why?  Each month you would be given a list of wines that you could pick from.   You didnt have to order that month, you could wait until the following month, but it just seemed that most of the wines from these clubs were wines I would not purchase in any store, nor had any desire to try.

But for many people starting out learning and enjoying wines, the wine club is not  a bad idea.

I’ve looked at about 2 dozen wine clubs and from what I could get, the following would be the ones that I would sign up for.    There is a number rating for each club, that I find by digging around.

 

 

Firstleaf                   9.8    https://www.firstleaf.club/

Whether you’re a novice wine drinker or a seasoned sommelier, Firstleaf is the only wine club that caters to you. Once you establish your profile, you’ll get great wine, every time, guaranteed.

• Quiz to help establish your taste palate
• Wine delivered directly to you door
• 100% satisfaction guaranteed
• Choose reds, whites, or mixed
• Save up to 60% off retail prices
• Just $5 per bottle

 

Wine Insiders               9.6

 https://wineinsiders.com/

oin Wine Insiders and start your journey with their hand selected highlight bottle and 15 exceptional wines at the lowest price of any club.

• Features 15 expertly-selected wines for $89.99 ($329.84 value)
• 3 bonus bottles of Les Chartrons Bordeaux Supérieur
• Choose between red, white, or mixed packs of wine
• Complete tasting notes with every bottle
• Free shipping on first order
• Free Professional Grade Corkscrew with second order ($44.99 value)
• 100% Money-back Double Guarantee
• No obligations, cancel or skip at any time
• Digital tasting notes available
• Just $5.99 per bottle

 

 

 

Amazing Clubs    9.5    http://www.amazingclubs.com

Are you looking for a wine club to impress the wine lover in your life? With Amazing Clubs Wine Club, you get the highest quality of boutique and international wines delivered monthly.

• Two Full-Sized Bottles of Hard-to-Find, Premium Wines
• Wine of the Season Club Option with Quarterly Delivery
• Free Shipping in the Continental U.S.
• “They’ll Love It” Guarantee
• Personalized gift announcements
• Red, white, and mixed options
• $17 per bottle

 

 

Winc                    9.4      https://www.winc.com

Winc is perfect for wine enthusiasts that want to learn more about your wine preferences and select from recommended bottles for your taste profile.

New memberships start at just $32 for 4 bottles (save $22)

• Determine custom taste profile in 6 questions
• Select individual bottles with tailored wine recommendations
• 100% Satisfaction guarantee
• No obligations, cancel or skip at any time
• Just $13 per bottle

 

WSJWine             9.3                    https://www.wsjwine.com

WSJwine delivers top-rated wines including a 97-point Super Tuscan “an absolute masterpiece” and California Cabernet from “one of the iconic wineries of Napa” according to Robert Parker.

• 15 fantastic wines for $69.99 ($259.99 value)
• Free five-piece corkscrew set ($49.99 value)
• Choose between red, white, or mixed packs of wine
• No obligations, cancel at any time
• Just $5.83 per bottle

 

  

Laithwaites                   9.2      https://www.laithwaiteswine.com

Laithwaite’s 4 Season Wine Club is perfect for anyone that wants to enjoy delicious wine and not think about it any further.

• 15 fantastic wines for $69.99 ($189.99 value)
• Free expert tasting wines on every bottle
• Choose between red, white, or mixed packs of wine
• Change selections or skip cases at any time
• 100% satisfaction guarantee on every bottle
• Just $5.84 per bottle

 

Bright Cellars                9.1    

https://www.brightcellars.com

When you take Bright Cellar’s quiz, you’ll be matched with wines that fit your taste. Review wines to improve your matches.

• Try 4 new wines each month
• Algorithm matches wine to your preferences
• Personal Bright Cellars Wine Concierge
• Boutique wines from Italy, Spain, Portugal & South America
• Skip a month or cancel at anytime
• Delight guarantee will replace any bottle you don’t lov

 

 

Tasting Room               8.8                     https://www.tastingroom.com

Forbes Wine Club by Tasting Room offers incredible flexibility that focuses on your wine preferences and taste from a name you can trust.

• Rate six mini-bottles to start and create your wine profile
• Select how many bottles you want and delivery frequency
• Choose between red, white, and mixed packs
• Evaluate all the wines you receive for personalized selections
• Sourced from 10 different countries
• Earn rewards by referring friends
• 100% Satisfaction guarantee
• No obligations, cancel or skip at any time
• Just $9 per bottle

 

Nocking Point               8.7   

https://nockingpointwines.com

Drink what the celebrities drink with Nocking Point Wine Club. Each shipment is hand-picked and has a special celebrity guest’s seal of approval.

• Wines are crafted by a celebrity winemaker
• Free bag of micro-roasted coffee and t-shirt included in each order
• Shipments are delivered directly to you door
• Friendly customer-service team to help with any questions
• Free Shipping on all orders

 

Wine of Month  8.6         https://www.wineofthemonthclub.com

Join the original monthly wine club and have a tasting adventure every month with Wine of the Month Club’s shipments of premium wines from around the world.

• Memberships start at just $23.96
• Skip or cancel anytime
• Never pay for a wine you don’t like – simply exchange it
• Boutique wines from Napa Valley & around the world
• Just $12 per bottle

 

 

STILL MY CHOICE  

WTSO  – Wines Til Sold Old    

https://www.wtso.com     

You sign up for the service via email.   Each day you will get a number of emails detailing a particular wine.  With the purchase of 4 bottles, shipping is always free.  You are not obligated to purchase any wine at any time.   I’ve gone through months of looking at the offerings without purchasing one, then I might find one week, where I pick up about a dozen wines.

The best way to detail WTSO is to give you a link with all of its features  https://www.wtso.com/features

Wine Suggestions for Holiday Gifts

During the holiday season many people select wines as the gift for some of their friends.   While this can be a fun experience, it can also be very confusing for some.     The first thing you need to identify is the people that you are buying the wine gift for.

Are they new to wines?
Do they enjoy wines and have it daily?
Are they really into wines and know alot about them?

Those are three different categories of people and the wines you would select for those would also be different.

I will start with a selection of wines for people who are new to wines and are just starting out to enjoy them.

Blends:  Red or White.  These are probably the easiest wines for people to enjoy.  You could just be starting out with wine, or you could be very familiar with wine.  Blends are the one type of wine that would please almost anyone on your list.  Most of the good blends will cost between $9.99 and $14.99.  No need to spend more.

Some of the Red Blends that I have tasted and under $15 are

Bogle Essential Red
Apothic Red
Menage a Trois
19 Crimes Red Blend
Ca’ Momi Rosso

Some of the White Blends that I have tasted and under $15 are

New Age White
14 Hands Hot to Trot
Wolftrap Wite
Apothic White
Menage a Trois

You also can never go wrong purchasing some Sparkling wine as a gift.  I stay
away from true French Champagnes, since they can be pretty pricey.   But here are some nice Sparkling wines under $20

Note:  Brut means bone dry,  Extra Dry means there is a touch of sweetness to the wine

Korbell Brut
Freexenet Cordon Negro Brut or Extra Dry
Mionetto Prosecco
French Cremant

People that know their wines and enjoy them ($12-$25 range)

Reds

J Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon
Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Benzinger Cabernet Sauvignon
Block Nine Pinot Noir
Erath Pinot Noir
Penfold Shiraz

Whites

Simi Chardonnay
Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc
Chateau St Michelle Sauvignon Blanc
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
Trebianno

People that really love wine and are have their own collections  ($25-$??)

Reds

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
BR Cohen Cabernet Sauvignon
Francis Coppola Claret
Decoy Pinot Noir
Earthquake Petite Syrah
Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Justin Isocles Cabernet Sauvignon
Italian Barolos ($$)
Italian Super Tuscans (many $25 – $200)
Tenuta SanGuido Sassicaia  (Super Tuscan – $200)
French Bordeaux ($25 – $1000)  try to go with 3rd and 4th growth wines

Whites

Caymus Condundrum
La Crema Chardonnay
Landmark Chardonnay
Bonnet French White
Italian Gavi
Girard Sancerre
Dominque Roger Sancerre
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey (Sauterne)
Château Climens (Barsac)
Château d’Yquem  (Sauterne $$$$$)

Champagnes

Moët & Chandon
Veuve Clicquot
Taittinger
G.H., Mumm

Fortified Wines  (Ports and Sherries)

Taylor Tawny Port 20 year old
Grahams Ruby Port
Dry Sack Sherry

 

 

 

 

Here is a listing of the Top #1 Wines selected each year  by Wine Spectator  from 2000 to  2017.   The ratings on the right side of the identified wine.

Year   Vintage                 Wine                                                                         Rating
2017     2014      Duckhorn Melot                                                                95
2016     2013      Lewis Cabernet Sauvignon , Napa                          95
2015     2012      Peter Michael Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville    96
2014     2011       Dows Vintage Port                                                         99
2013     2004     Cunde Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva                       95
2012     2008     Shafer Relentless, Napa                                              96
2011      2009     Kosta Browne Pinot Noir, Sonoma                        95
2010     2007     Saxum Jame Berrys Blend, Paso Robles            95
2009    2005     Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Res         95
2008    2005     Casa La Postolle Clos Apalta Blend                      96
2006    2001      Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino           97
2005    2002      Joseph Phelps Insigna                                                96
2004    2001      Chateau Rievssea Sauterne                                    100
2003    2001       Paloma Merlot Spring Mt District                        95
2002    1999       E.Gugal Chateauneauf du Pape                             93
2001    1998       Tenuta dell Ornellaia Super Tuscan                      96
2000   1997       Antinori Toscana Solara Super Tuscan               98

 

 

 

What is the best temperature to drink your wine?

Traditional temperatures for some wines

Cellar      55            Cabernet Sauvignon and other full bodied reds
Room      65           Chardonnay and other full bodied whites
Cool         60           Sparkling Wines
Cold         52            Crisp whites, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc
Iced          <45         If you must

When you start to think about the temperature you are going to drink your wine at, think of this example:

Hot summer day at the beach, playing volleyball, running around.  You are sweaty and hot!   You dip your hand into a ice cold bucket of Coors Light.  Pop open the can and you down the beer in seconds!   Wow, did that quench your thirst!   But did you really taste anything?

Probably not!

 

Well, this is the same thing with many wines.   Over the years, people have often had a rule, that white wine should be chilled.  Keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to drink it.  Now, that does how true with certain white wines.   Those crisp , light, acidic types  ( Pinot Grigio, Vino Verhde, Sauvignon Blanc,  and some Rieslings)   In fact those types of wines sometimes taste much better at a colder temperature than they do as they warm up.

While I was in the retail business,  I always talked to customers about temperature of wine vs cost of wine.  I used Pinot Grigios as an example.   There are so many Pinot Grigio’s that you can    purchase for $5 a  bottle.  Then  you had some finer Pinot’s that  run around $20 bottle.    Those inexpensive bottles ( I never like using the word cheap) would taste great when they were ice cold.  But as they started to warm up, they became bitter and at times to the point very difficult to drink.  While the more expensive bottles, were fine cold and they maintained their taste and enjoyment even as the bottle started to lose its chill.

So chill out!

Now with Chardonnays, there is a major reason why you don’t want the wine too cold.  As with the example of the ice cold beer, drinking a complex wine like Chardonnay too cold, all the tastes, complexity, and characteristics are  lost. You basically can not taste anything special – Sure, it still taste good, but you are missing so much.   When  served at room temperature, the Pinot Chardonnay grape begins to shine.   The fruit overtones, apple, apricot, honey.   Some have that buttery taste from the Malolactic fermentation .   Here also you can appreciate how the wine was stored and aged, be it in stainless steel or oaked barrels.  Now you can really begin to taste and appreciate Chardonnays.

I think Europeans have a better feel as to what temperature they should be drinking their wines.  Americans on a whole tend to drink the whites too cold and the reds to warm.    Coming from the school of French Bordeaux back in the 1970’s, I drank all of my reds at room temperature.  I would generally remove them from any cellar temperature and leave them in a room for an hour or so before I drank them.   That really was from what I was taught and it became habit.

Twenty odd years later, I started to drink all my reds slightly chilled.   And by that I mean, after taking them from the cellar, I would put them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.   This was especially true for the lighter style of reds (Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, Granacha, etc).   I found I actually enjoyed these reds better this way and that they became more alive and basically started jumping all over your palate.    But, alas, I guess I still have some  old fashion blood in me.   When it comes to the classic reds, be it the French Bordeaux, the California Cabernet Sauvignon, the Italian Brunello those I always drank at cellar or room temperature.

 

 

But I’ve left some wines out…. The Rose.   Rose wine popularity has been increasing  in the last two years.  Before that, Rose wines were the special treats during the Spring.  The  picture of a picnic basket down by the river made it just perfect.  In fact those wines almost marked the Spring and as soon as the weather started to turn warm, out went the Roses.   Not any more!  There are so many different types of Rose wines now.   France had the market on the classic Rose Cote de Provence.  Always light, crisp and so refreshing.  But now, Roses are made from so many different grapes and countries.  Some I would even consider to be full bodied.   With all of this, Rose wines can be and are enjoyed year round.   Now, whats the perfect temperature for Rose?   To me, the lighter the Rose, it taste fine being chilled, but not too cold.  In fact for some Roses when they are too cold, we once again visit the ice cold Coors beer example.   The fuller Roses, those made from the Malbec, the Sangiovese grapes can be totally enjoyed at slightly less than room temperature.

Ice in wine?   Well my mother in law will not drink any white wine without 1 ice cube in it.  In fact at restaurants, she will order a glass with one ice cube and ask for a glass of ice cubes so she can add more to her wine.

 

 

 

 

 

I read this the other day and loved it, so I am sharing it here

It is commonly believed that putting ice cubes in your wine is a faux pas; watering down and diluting the flavours of the wine. … That’s what wine’s for, after all. ‘But, unless you’re drinking super-fast, the ice will melt and dilute the wine and it won’t taste as good

In the end   –  You know what?

Its really up to you to decide at what temperature you want to drink your wine!Wine is fun, so you dont need to follow any rules,  do and drink what you like and how you like it!

                                                    

 

 

I had to research a bit to get the actual origins of a sommelier.   Here are some excerpts from the following url:

https://www.torres.es/en/blog/wine-planet/origins-and-future-sommelier

To varying degrees, wine service has played a significant role alongside food culture since ancient times. Ganymede was cup-bearer to the gods in Greek mythology, and the Romans had a specific name for the people two tasted and served wine (cámera). In the 18th century, however, wine culture really started to come into its own.

There are different theories about the origin of the word “sommelier.” One of them points to the Latin word sumere, which means to absorb liquid, to drink. Another is based on the name for the person who was responsible for the wine during long voyages in medieval France, known as the somerier. The job entailed transporting the wine in carts drawn by animals, the bêtes de somme  (pack animals). From there, the word evolved into sommelier, the person who took care of and knew about wine

The Sommelier’s Cup

The official name is Tastevin,  which in French means Taste Wine.. This shallow silver metal cup is faceted and convex so that when you’re in a candle-lit cellar, you can judge the color and clarity of a wine more easily than by holding up a glass.   Many times you will see this on a chain around the sommelier’s neck.   This is really for ease of use.   Today, it has become more of a badge of honor recognizing the credentials required to become a sommelier.   Rarely will you see one of these cups used in a restaurant to pour wine to be tasted before giving the bottle to a customer.  Its an old  traditional, but something that should be held in great regard.

How does one become a Sommelier?

If you think becoming a sommelier is all fun and drinking wine, you should know this: it’s no cake walk. You have to read and study, study, study, and practice wine service and identifying wines tasted blind.

First the cost:  Cost to be a Certified Sommelier. An introductory sommelier course through the Court of Master Sommeliers is just $525, with a follow-up course at $395 and an exam fee of $395. If you pass the exam on your first try, this means you can become a Certified Sommelier with your out-of-pocket costs totaling about $1,315. 

Courses:  You can take both Court of MasterSommeliers and WSET classes in the U.S. If you go through the entire Court program and pass, you become a Master Sommelier(MS). For WSET, if you pass the Diploma level, you can work towards a Master of Wine (MW). These top levels take years to achieve.

Achievements:  For blind tasted the wines, they are taught how to analyze color, body, intensity, aroma and flavors to help them figure out where the wine comes from and what type of wine is in the glass.  Lots of time was spent on classic grape varietals and regions where they grow.

The hardest part — tasting wines blind and figuring out what each one is. If you pass then you become a Certified Sommelier. Now you are one step closer to being a  Sommelier

What I have left out of this so far, is the hard work anyone wanting to become a sommelier has to go through.  Face it, you just dont get out of college and one day say, I want to become a sommelier (perhaps they may be some out there), but for many it was a decision that probably came after spending time in some other field.   But their passion for wine drove them to a new career path.  At the same time, they still needed an income, so they stayed with their current job, many having families and other responsibilities.  So, more hard work and sacrifices had to happen to reach their goal.   I am not saying that only people becoming sommeliers have to go through hard work and sacrifices, because anyone who wants to achieve what they are really after and want drives them, it takes more work than usual.

I retired from IBM in 2009.  Part of the retirement package, IBM would pay towards my retraining and/or paths towards another career path.   Since, I have always had a strong passion for wine, I was thinking of going the sommelier route.  But I eventually did not, because I couldnt see what I would do with that degree at my age, since, I wasnt going to work at any restaurant, I’ve already done my time in retail business, and I wanted to enjoy more of a social life and travel.   I do regret not taking that plunge.   Sure, I might never have used that degree ins a professional manner,  but it would have given me more self satisfaction.

Over the years, I have met many sommeliers.   Some face to face, some from research and some online.   I think the one thing that always turned me off, was those ‘Wine Snob type – Sommeliers’  Because of their knowledge, they feel that they are one level above anyone they talk to about wine.   Doesnt even have to be a sommelier, you have probably run into people like this everywhere.   Many retail wine shops have one wine person that fits that description of a wine snob.  You know, talks about all the different things about wine, that the average consumer really doesnt want to know about.   I have always had a pet peeve about this.  Wine should be fun, no matter if you are the teacher or the student.

In the past 6 months or so, I have really ramped up my interest about wine.  Not wine itself, but talking to others about wines, theories, tastings and almost anything dealing with wine.   Prior to that , I had joined a number of wine forums.   I never stayed their too long, because of what I felt was ‘Wine Snobbery atmosphere’   Then on Instagram, I found a whole different sort of folks.   It was fun again.  I’ve learned so much and hopefully have parted some of my knowledge.    I have to single out one person in particular, that is Samantha Capaldi , instagram name samanthasommelier.   I read so many of her posts, knowing that she is a certified sommelier and I enjoyed all of her words.   She made it fun, to me, she is what the wine industry really needs, a spokesperson who can educate, delivery and show you so much about the world of wine and food and ENJOY IT

In my section on Resources, I have included her website    http://www.samanthasommelier.com    
Take a look at her web site or visit her on Instagram, she is a very talented
and creative young sommelier.

 

My Tastevin

When I was working in my first Wine shop, as many of you know, I was trained by and ex-sommelier.  When he passed away, he left me his cup.  I still have it today.   I received it in 1972, but I made a mistake.  The cup was old, dirty, not much of a shine or gleam to it.  So, I took some  silver polish to make it shine like new.   I should have kept it in its original condition.

 

 

HOW TO OPEN A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE or SPARKLING WINE

 

Remove the foil from the cork.

 

 

 

Untwist the wire restraint securing the cork. It will take 5 and ½ turns.

 

 

 

 

Wrap the bottle’s neck and cork in a dish towel. Take hold of the cork with the towel and gently   untwist.  Continue untwisting, or hold the cork in place and twist the bottle itself.

 

Angle the bottle away from everyone. 

 

 

 

Slowly ease the cork out of the bottle’s neck. Listen for the pop and pour. And then enjoy!