mike and I went into the liquor store to get some miller chill to take with us to the pool. when we walked into the liquor store, we walked right into the craziest wine tasting EVER!!! the wine was surprisingly delish, and? I learned some stuff! like: pinot grigio, the fruity white wine? is made from the same RED grape that pinot noir, the light, red wine, is made from! the reason pinot grigio is white, not red, is because it doesn’t touch the red skin when it’s bwig fermented. I also got to taste something I’ve never ever seen before! this particular vineyard i was tasting claims to be the only vineyard that supplies the US with it. so, what is this mystery drink? pinot grigio rosé, my friends. (how is it rosé?) I’m so glad you asked! during fermentation, the pinot grape is only allowed to touch the red skin for an hour. this gives it a pretty pink color and a tart, citrusy flavor. if you’re lucky enough to find a pinot grigio rosé, serve it chilled, just like you would a traditional pinot grigio. anyway, I was so excited about my new information, and had to share. now off to enjoy the pool and miller chill. (:
Monthly Archive for June, 2009
a series of questions (4, if we’re keeping score) was posed to me a few days ago, and i was only able to answer a feeble fraction of them. after doing adequate and efficient research, i have found the remaining answers. this post features all the questions that started this madness, and the answers are more than a little fascinating (imho!). (:
one thing to warn you of, though… this blog isn’t TECHNICALLY wine related. now, my redemption time. it IS 100% fermented grape related. so, yay. read on, wine compadres!
here are the questions, with their related answers.
thanks to donna and alicia farrell(s!) for the conversation that started the passion that fueled the the research for this yummy, sparkly blog.
have you ever gone to buy a bottle of bubbly and realized, omg, the decisions are endless?! it’s not just what’s your favorite label… it’s do you you like champagne? prosecco? sparkling wine? brut?
ok. here we go. hopefully, this will help you make your decision next time you make your sparkly purchase!
1. what is champagne? champagne is the term reserved exclusively for sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France. the grapes are grown and harvested in Champagne, and the cost is (typically) noticeably higher than champagne’s less formal competitors.
2. what is sparkling wine? sparkling wine is the the bubbly beverage similar to champagne that has no same name home city. for those curious, it is typically made in the US.
3. what is prosecco? prosecco is the grape variety that gives this sparkler its name. typically grown in venice, prosecco is famous for being the “other half” of the peach flavor in a Bellini. it also serves as a wonderful (and economical) substitution for champagne in a mimosa. i find prosecco to be slightly less bubbly than champagne and sparkling wine, but that might just be me (maybe also because it’s made in italy, where sparkling wines are made a little differently). also, the difference is not enough to make me want to stop buying. the flavor is usually impeccable, very light, and has scents of crisp apple or honeysuckle. (i am a big fan of prosecco.)
4. what is brut? brut is a very dry substitute for a sparkling wine. as a general rule, i am a fan of dry wines. but when we’re talking champagnes/ sparkling wines, i like a little sweet, with a clean, crisp palate. i find brut a little too dry. there is almost no sugar in brut. ideally, this is my kind of wine, but since we’re drinking cool, crisp bubbles, i’d like a touch of sweet and lots ofbubble kisses.
the glass you pour any of these in is absolutely important. the reason we use champagne flutes (and less frequently, champagne coupe or saucer) is to allow the bubbles in the sparkling wine to last as long as possible. part of the charm of the sparkling beverage is the bubbles. why drink flat champagne? you wouldn’t. so invest in a good pair of champagne flutes. your happy, bubbly tongue will thank you lots.
anyway, that’s all i have for now. hope this helps you shop, and maybe answered a few of your questions!
if you have any questions you’d like answered, send them to my email (sadie.farrell@gmail.com) or post them in the comments.
cheers!