What do you think about this change in wine marketing? Does a can make wine more sexy and appealing in a club atmosphere?

Beyond this diatribe of what I like to call the dumbification of wine, I changed the channel to Jay Leno and saw one of best performances on Late Night TV in a while. “In January 2007, an unlikely pair teamed up for two nights of concerts in New York City: Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis. Or maybe not so unlikely: Mr. Marsalis and Mr. Nelson came together to celebrate and play the blues, a musical tradition with ties to both jazz and country.” They played Bright Lights, Big City which was amazing not only because Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis are two of the most accomplished musicians of our time, but because it was done in a traditional jazz style where each player: guitar, trumpet, saxophone, harmonica, keys, and drums, all got to solo. Check the album out!

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I chose this wine because with the unofficial start of summer Alsace is perfect. The white wines here are well known with the Rieslings and Gewurztraminers, and their sparkling wines prosper as well. Another key point is these wines are not expensive at all. Alsace is respected but it doesn’t have the same prestige as Champagne, Burgundy, or Bordeaux. This is great for you. In the US a typical bottle will be between $12 to $20.

This wine is from Rene Muré, a Cremant d’Alsace. On the nose is a wave of fresh pears and peaches. Keeping with the farm stand pattern it’s granny smith apples that take over the palate. This wine is a Brut, so it’s going to be dry, but with a slight sweetness upfront. Overall it is fresh and bright.

Now if anyone was wondering, yes, Cremant does taste delicious with Cassis Liqueur or perhaps orange juice. Did someone say Mimosa? I could swear I heard someone say it. Well either way, this is a fantastic way to liven up Sunday brunch and to Wine Your Diet. It’s light, refreshing, an excellent source of calcium, and one way to stay cool in the hot sun. There is one problem with Mimosas though; they go down way to fast. Pace yourself, there is something called too much calcium.

From Pars I say au revoir, but soon I will be greeting you from New York in hopes of bringing back pride to Long Island wines. For now go grab any bottle of sparkling wine, it doesn’t even have to be from France, pop it, enjoy it, and as always don’t forget to Wine Your Diet.

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When I first arrived in Paris I thought it would be fun to go to a wine tasting. I had basic knowledge of French wine, but I was starting to read my French wine books and decided that a bit of reinforcement wouldn’t be the worst thing. Ô Chateau conducts different wine tastings in English. In a non-intimidating environment the speaker, who was born in Burgundy and lived and worked in Napa Valley, put you at ease and spoke about wine in a way that no matter what level you were at you would understand. We tried seven different wines ranging from Alsace and the Loire to the Rhone and Bordeaux. There was one region that stood out the most for me, Languedoc Rousillon. Located in the south of France, it is south of the Rhone and to the west of Nice. There was incredible body to this wine and developed on your palate to no end. I was in love.

I’ve had a few good experiences with this region, so let’s try it again. I had the 2006 Collioure, Appellation Collioure Controle. Collioure is as south as the region gets, as it breezes by the coast. Unusual for a French wine to have information on the back, this one told me it was made from Grenache Noir. Fantastic, this is sounding good already. On the nose there were strong earth tones. Initially I could even smell the sand from the beaches, then the wind came in and ripe berries were pulled through. I was extremely excited to drink this wine, but unfortunately sometimes you can be fooled by your senses. First reaction I was ready to spit it out. I’m a reasonable person so I gave it another chance. It was just too dry and harsh, not well balanced at all.

I remembered what someone in Burgundy told me about decanting. Old wine should never be decanted because you will age them and loose their essence. Young wines on the other hand, decant away because you are now helping it achieve what the winemaker had in mind. I’m renting a furnished apartment and as the French love their wine, they don’t equip all their apartments with decanters. I poured a glass and let it sit for about an hour. It wasn’t that tempting, I really wasn’t that excited to drink it again.

Time passed and it helped. This still wasn’t the wine that I fell in love with, but there were definite improvements. It wasn’t as attacking on the palate, but there was a bit of bite. Oh well, you can’t win them all. Please don’t let this deter you from trying wines from Languedoc Rousillon because there are really some great wines being produced here. If I let every bad California wine get in my way then I would have given up on it a long time ago. Also, I found that pairing food helps. It won’t ruin your meal, but if you’re doing something simple like pasta then you really can’t ruin it. Who ruins pasta? If you know anyone that does then please give me their name, I’d like to help. In conclusion, Languedoc Rousillon wines are delicious, so go out and grab a bottle and don’t forget to Wine Your Diet.

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I recently traveled to Reims, Champagne and to Dijon and Beaune in Burgundy. Reims and Epernay are the two big cities in Champagne that attract tourists. Reims was an enjoyable city to walk the streets with cafes lining pedestrian only walkways and a glass of Champagne in hand. The cellars were informative but you certainly don’t have to continue from one house to another, you will be receiving the same information at all. For most houses you need an appointment, which gave me the feeling of not being welcomed. Wine should not just be for a certain group of people that can fit the schedule. We were able though to get an appointment at Pommery and then we continued to Taittinger where there were no appointments necessary.The two tours if combined would have been spectacular, but where one lacked energy the other lacked information. After the tour you are given a glass of Champagne, well actually you paid for it with admission. Most houses are 10 euros, so put a few tours together in one day that will tell you the same information, then you have just wasted a lot of money. Instead I would recommend going to one house and then heading over to a café and popping a bottle and just enjoy your surroundings.

The next stop on the trip was Dijon in Burgundy…
Dijon was filled with friendly faces that knew each other and just enjoyed being. With their cobblestone streets and medieval appeal, it was refreshing to be here. In one restaurant they have a mock guillotine set up with different types of meats hanging from it. The server explained where we were, Place Emile Zola, was the location of guilloting, so they were incorporating history with the dining experience. The people were friendly, the atmosphere relaxing, and then history was alive.

One more place to go before heading back to Paris: Beaune. Beaune was a twenty-minute train ride south of Dijon. When we arrived we walked through the marketplace and picked up cheese and meats from sellers who would happily cut a sample for you before buying. Then of course, being in the land of mustard we had to include it in our picnic we were building. Once that was in order we had to make a decision, should we be tourists and stay in town and go to the houses and only sample the minimal and not really connect with the wine or do we rent bikes and head out into the vineyards and meet with the people who create them? Of course we rented the bikes. We went to Bourgogne Randonnées, right by the train station and the owners mapped out a route for us including vineyards to stop at.

We stopped at a few vineyards but one stood out strong, Château l’Ange Gardien (www.chateu-langegardien.com). We pulled up and it seemed like a scene in a movie. The husband and winemaker, Pierre was just pulling out to go to the fields and his wife Nicole was sitting at a picnic table enjoying her lunch with flowers and trees surrounding her. She immediately came over to us and brought us in to taste her wines. I can honestly say there was not one wine I didn’t enjoy. And then to finish it off she gave us a Kir Royal made with Cassis Liquor, that they also produced, as well as a fantastically refreshing bottle of Crémant.

I could have spent all day and all my money there but we had to move on to our next destination. When we go back into Beaune we dropped off the bikes and café hopped, having a different glass of wine at each. It was the perfect end to a perfect day. Beaune had the friendly appeal of Dijon, but there was something about being there that made you never want to leave. Actually, the woman from the bike shop was originally from Canada and came on vacation to Beaune. Then eighteen years later she never left.

While visiting Château l’Ange Gardien, I learned that there is a natural element in Pinot Noir that aids with digestion. I think the French are on to something here. Go grab a bottle of Burgundy and pair it with something delicious, but don’t forget to Wine Your Diet.

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I was recently at a wine bar in Paris with friends for dinner. When it came time to order our wine, I was looking at the reds, and by accident I ordered a Cotes-du-Provence thinking it was red. The server came back with our drinks. We had a rainbow of wines sitting on our table, one ordered white, another red, and apparently I ordered a rosé. A bit reluctant at first, I considered sending it back, but quickly remembered the French customer service policy…

I should take the time here to fill you in on the astonishing practice of the French customer service. In France, as with most of Europe, tips are included because the servers and bartenders are receiving hourly wages. Without having to worry about tips you can be a bit more honest with your customers, I guess. The French take it one extra step; they are never wrong, even when they are wrong actually they are not. In the U.S. it’s the customer is always right, well in France the customer is always wrong.

In my situation I was wrong, but why annoy my server because she did smile when I ordered, there must be something good here. In turn, I accepted my fault and drank the wine. There are some mistakes in life worth making. I never knew springtime could be more enjoyable until I started drinking rosés. I later learned that in Paris it’s hip to drink pink. There is nothing like getting the seal of approval from your server when ordering a wine, for me at least, I’m more excited. That smile I received was her way of telling me that I would not regret my decision.

Rosés are made in every region in France, but the South is more known for their winsome, approachable wines, in particular Provence. I am drinking a 2006 La Ferme Blanche from Cassis. The color on it is an orange pink, it is young, but generally best drank that way. On the nose is a slight tangerine and apricot fruit profile. Here is a good example of a rosé; it’s light, dry, not complex, well balanced and extremely enjoyable. The only way I can think to describe what I’m experiencing on my palate is lifesavers. This wine is the white lifesaver. There is flavor there, but it’s not as strong as the orange, green, or red. The white lifesaver is the subtle flavor; it doesn’t over power. I have had rosés with fish dishes, as well as meat dishes, though I would stay away from heavier meats.

While I write this I feel the urge to go to a restaurant by the water and order up a dozen oysters. Seeing that I’m in Paris, perhaps I’ll just take the rest of this bottle down to the Seine, have a picnic, and watch the sunset. This is a perfect springtime and summer wine and a great way to Wine Your Diet.

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That’s all I have to say, it is a region that does not need a proper introduction. South of Burgundy, here is where we start to leave the Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cabernet Franc dominated reds and move into deeper Syrah, Grenache, Mouvedre and Carignan.

Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the big stand out in this region, as well as the way to my heart. Of course such quality and recognition is also accompanied by a prestigious price. If you are fortunate enough to be able to enjoy this treat of a wine on a regular basis, then give me a call and we’ll start hanging out. To the rest of us, there are great alternatives within the Rhône without going into debt.

Côtes du Rhône is the most popular of these alternatives and is available at a great value. A typical bottle will range form $12 to $20. A Côtes du Rhône is, generally speaking, a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and then sometimes Mouvedre and/or Carignan, but Grenache is the dominant force here. It’s centralized within the Rhône, displaying characteristics of the North and the South. Côtes du Rhône Villages are within Côtes du Rhône, but a bit more specific. French wine can never be simple; there always has to be a break down and then possibly two or three more after that.

I’m drinking a Côtes du Rhône Villages from Seguret, 2005 Domaine le Souverain. On the nose I have jammy flavors up front, but then spice evolves. The spice intrigues me though because it reminds me of mustard. Now I’m not talking about any kind of mustard, specifically the kind of mustard they put on hot dogs at baseball games. I’ll be honest; I’m not a huge hot dog fan. I usually reserve this for baseball games or Fourth of July festivities, but I could really go for one now. Interestingly enough the mustard flavor is on the palate as well. It starts off subtle, but then explodes with spice. It’s almost a bit too much. I would say to hold off on the 2005 for at least a year more. This wine has not quite reached its potential but you can taste bits and pieces. At least one more year of aging will give the wine the respect it deserves.

I’m not one for traditional wine pairing. I understand there is a basic formula out there. But I say break the rules. Every palate is different, so really what I enjoy about a wine could be completely different to what you may like about a wine. If you feel like having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with your wine, then do it. That actually sounds quite delicious. The only thing that matters is that you are enjoying what you are experiencing. It’s starting to get warmer out and I would definitely consider this wine for a barbeque.

A wine will take on different characteristic when paired with food. I tried this wine with a few different combinations. First I went more traditional with cheese, a Cousteron from the Loire. It has nutty flavors that add to this wine very nicely. Then I added hummus to the mix. Another delicious combination, you just can’t go wrong with hummus. But to prove that anything goes, I went for the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. As we all know this French delicacy is a fine pairing for juice boxes in, say, a My Little Pony or Smurfs lunch box. Being a kid at heart, I found this to be a winner. Break the rules and mix it up.

If you really didn’t dig this style of wine but are willing to give it another chance, then I would suggest trying an Australian Shiraz or Grenache. Even California is producing some interesting Mouvedre. You have the same grape varietals, but perhaps a different terroir will be more compatible. Expand your palate and try something different. If you have that favorite bottle that you just can’t part from, then don’t, but certainly try something different. The worst thing that could happen is you don’t like it, but ask yourself why. From that you might discover that you are really into wines from Argentina, Canada or even Greece. Just put down the Yellow Tail and explore. And remember to Wine Your Diet.

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For those of you not familiar with Muscadet, it is a region within the Loire Valley in North West France. The grape is Muscadet, but if outside of this area will go by Melon, such as Melon de Bourgogne. This wine can be both white and red. Though the name is similar to Muscat, it is not related.

If you are looking to eat something with this, I would go with something light such as seafood. This is great wine with cheeses, possibly with contrasting characteristics, a strong nutty flavor, or a creamy rich cheese. I am eating hummus and crackers right now and it tastes delicious, but I also have a hummus problem and it would taste great with anything, but I’d rather not discuss that right now. If you are used to drinking sweet wine this is a great contender to transition yourself into a new world of wine. But get out there are try new wines, new grapes, and Wine Your Diet.

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As I was watching the Paris Marathon last Sunday I couldn’t help but think about this horrible rumor I had heard, that wine slows down the metabolism. Just the thought of it sends my mind spinning in twenty, that’s right, twenty, different directions. Let me take this time to set the record straight. As a medical professional, which I am not, I can honesty tell you that the enjoyment of wine does not slow down your metabolism.

We have red wine, say a delicious Côtes du Rhône, which is excellent for the heart. It’s a scientific fact; trust me. The heart is in control, the “boss” of the rest of the body. I think we all know that if the boss is happy then everyone else is going to work efficiently, including metabolism, who is the one in the office that’s usually late all the time, everyone likes him, but he also gets on everyone’s nerves. At this point if you don’t know what I’m taking about, then I’m sorry but you’re metabolism. If the boss doesn’t have her wine, then we all know how the boss acts and then everyone works differently as well.

I think the real lesson here is to make sure your boss is drinking on the job. But I know what you’re thinking, what about white wine? I too asked this question. I’m really glad we’re on the same page here. Well wine, as we all know comes from grapes. And grapes are fruit, which we need a daily intake of for a healthy lifestyle. So drink away, it’s good for you. Say goodbye to those fad diets, don’t milk your diet, but Wine Your Diet. It’ll sweep the nation just you wait. I’ll be on Oprah by the beginning of the summer.

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This Bordeaux in particular has predominant Merlot character to it. The jamminess of it takes over, with subtle tannins and a body leaning between medium and full. But the Cabernet Sauvignon comes through on the end. For what I’m about to say, French winemakers everywhere are probably planning their attack on me, but this wine actually reminds me of a wine from the Santa Ynez Valley, California, Three Saints Merlot. Three Saints has 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc to it, but because of this 4% Cabernet Franc added, this Merlot drinks more like a Cabernet Sauvignon.

The French take pride in their regions, so they don’t display on the bottles what the percentage, or for that matter what grapes are present. The downfall of this is that you don’t know what you are drinking, unless you have a good deal of knowledge of the region and it’s different characteristics. Or there is the other alternative, you may be a wine geek such as I am and you read many wine books and articles for the mere fun of it all. To the natural wine consumer it becomes more of a guessing game. I could easily be mistaken by saying that Cab. Sauv. is present when actually it may be Cab. Franc. Both are present in this region. And on steps the confusion.

There is a slight smoke on the end, which becomes more apparent after leaving it to breathe for a bit, that reminds me of a South African Pinotage. It’s not as full force as a Pinotage, but the qualities are there. Which this one isn’t too much of a stretch since the more popular grapes of the wine world in South Africa originally came from France.

With all this said, am definitely interested to see what else 2005 has to offer. Now if you would excuse me I have a phone call to make.

-Meghan

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