Holiday Vinos- Turkey verses the Fermented Grape

Dear Wine Lovers, 

I adore this time of the year. It's the season to give thanks, spread joy and celebrate new beginning. What better way to shares those special memories then with a great bottle of wine with every course. As you begin the gobble turkey feast, this year try something different, like a nice chilled bottle of a off- dry white wine. This choice will compliment the juicy brown sugar, honey baked ham (Aunt Stephany normally bakes for our family). If you are looking for a vino to taste with your grand-moms tender beef stew, try a ultra dry old vine zinfandel. The tannins in this wine will quickly soften your palate due to Nana's special homemade gravy that accompanies the beef and hearty veggies. Last but not least, for desert, skip the boring apple pie and overly frosted cupcakes. Instead, light the fire place or build a bonfire to enjoy a perfectly chilled bubbly glass of Champagne paired with freshly popped kettle corn to snack on. 

Well, I've just shared my holiday parings. Feel free to let me know your thoughts on turkey verses fermented grapes. Of course if you find yourself bogged down by the holiday to-do list. Let me help you choose the perfect vino for your holiday party, family gathering or girls-night-out-get away from the oh so intruding in-laws. Just contact me at iheartfermentedgrapes@gmail.com or stop pass my Twitter page #iheartfermented. 

Happy Holidays Oenophiles!

🍷🎁🎉

*Picture courtesy of my 7 yr old son and his second grade class. A drawing of a turkey only a proud mom would love.

Wine Bar Etiquette!

As a wine enthusiast and active blogger, I feel that it is my obligation to discuss the "elephant in the room", bar service and etiquette. Lately, I have noticed that the customer experience at wine bars in Baltimore have been less than tip worthy. I love to work at wine tastings. I enjoy talking about wine and meeting other Oenophiles. I visited one of my old favorite wine spots and quickly realized that something was truly different about the place. The bar staff were huddled in a group like shy teenagers and no one acknowledged our arrival. My friend and I found a seat (on our own) but waited a lifetime to be served. This was her first time at the wine bar but it was not mine. The crowd was even different. The food menu had drastically changed, and the happy hour house wine absolutely sucked. Come to find out, the place was under new management. They carried on with part of the wine bar theme but included crappy lifeless table wine. Once I was told the dillo, I was relived. There had to be some sought of explanation for the creepy slim guy who was roaming around the bar area studying us patrons. He's the new owner, I heard someone say. My experience at this wine bar was no longer office vineayard gossip worthy. Until further notice, I won't be returning to that bar for the rest of the year. 

Tonite, we visited a jazz spot. The experience was less than exciting. I asked for a wine list but was told that the restaurant only had three types of red vino and two types of white wine varitiabials. I chose a Malbec, thinking my choice would be flawless. After one sip, I could taste that the wine bottle had been open for sometime. No flavor, all air. It had no completely to my palate. Also, the waitress was R-U-D-E and very unprofessional. To top it all off we were given completely over flowing glasses of wine and small black straws to sip from. The food was ok but the Jazz band showed up late. 

I'm a huge fan of Jessy Barns from Bar Rescue. Jessy specializes is proper bar staff customer service skills. Now that's a job I would adore. A long as the selection of wine is great, the tapas are tasty and the bar service is memorable, count me in..... I'm there.

Cheers

Wine Loves 🍷

2010 Merlot

I recently read an article that said, "Merlot is Making a Comeback"! My first thought was, where did it go? The Merlot grape is one of my absolute favorites. My car is named Merlot and everyone that knows me adores Merlot the car. As of late, I've tasted a delicious 2010 Merlot from South Australia. The name of the wine is Steeple Jack. It's a fairly inexpensive wine. For the price, I purchased extras to share. This wine has medium tannin, that leaves a light coat of grape jelly on the tongue. It's a dry red wine but the color of the vino in my glass shows deep dark purple legs. The alcohol content is 14%. Purchasing this Merlot was definitely a great buy. Cheers wine lovers!  

Picture thanks to wine-searcher.com

Wine Station

I love to travel around the DMV (DC, MD, VA) for great places to taste wine, and food. Today I ventured to a hidden space on the east side of Baltimore County, Liquid Lib's. I was very intrigued by the fact that they had a wine station. What's a wine station you ask, well so did I? I was actually curious by the concept of a wine station. Unfortunately after giving it a try,  I quickly learned that it was a alternative to charging unreasonable prices for a 1oz tasting. The food was ok. I'm a Foodie by nature and expected more than the Lib's had to offer. The wine collection was average. There were not many wines available that I had not already tasted. But hey, wine tasting is my part-time profession so no judging allowed, laugh out loud 😃. 

BIG ZIN

I'm a sucker for a "Great Red Zin". Rubus 2011 Old Vine Zinfandel is as good as it gets! This three year old vine zinfindal is a awesome addition to my wine collection. I was so impressed, I purchased one bottle to immediately taste and another to hold. My palate actually likes tanin. I'm looking forward to tasting this same great vintage three years from now to celebrate my daughters voyage to her first year as a college freshman. But until then, I'm enjoying this old vine zin as a relaxing end to my looooooong day. There are notes of blackberry, and raspberry. I normally would pair this wine with a juicy steak or cheese steak sub. Because I'm in dessert mode, I'm actually pairing my glass of Zinfandel with milk chocolate (thanks to my sons PTA candy drive). Over all this is a great wine and with 15.75% alc content there is nothing to lose. I suggest this vino to my bold red vine drinkers. Cheers!!!

Pinot In A Can

Union Wine Company has created an awesome concept for packaging their Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Rather than using the average method of glass bottled or cardboard boxed, they decided on metal cans. I love when thinking out of the box becomes the "new normal" process of gathering great thoughts. Canned wine is definitely a eye-catching conversation piece. I'm an adventurous vino lover. I've purchased a few cans to enjoy and will back with you on what my taste buds say. Until then, enjoy a few pictures I snapped at the wine store of Union Wine Company soda can persevered Pinots. CHEERS!!!

Harvest 2014

When I grow-up (well actually, when my children are off to college) my career will exist consumed with my passion for wine, the fermented grape. The big question is what position will I play in the wine industry? It's not a bad thought to ponder. It is vey exciting, at the least. I recently had the opportunity to assist an awesome wine maker with the 2014 harvest season. During this fun and messy session, I worked with the continuous fermentation of freshly picked Syrah grapes as well as other varieties of red and white grapes. It was very interesting to me to learn about the complex stages of making wine. Cheers to Mrs. L. Baker-Hinson. I'm in debt to you and your family forever more!!! Looking forward to the next session.