The wine lady is back!

hi all, the wine lady has been away for awhile dealing with a pretty tumultuous summer. but now autumn has arrived, time to settle in with whatever new life changes have occurred for all of us. and what better way to do it than with a glass of wine. so chin up, head to the sky, glasses high!

Cheers,

and don't be afraid to tilt the glass!

wine/memories/price rant/saturday night

i was given a couple bottles of wine yesterday, a southeastern aussie chardonnay and a california zinfandel. they were both economical buys, which everyone knows i love. i love expensive wines also. i just don't want to purchase them, because i also love eating.

but, back to the wines from yesterday. the aussie chardonnay was called black opal, retails here in pennsylvania for about $5. that price range is very difficult to find here in our fair state. i hope the chairman of the pennsylvania liquor control board reads this blog and decides to argue with me, because i would love to know where the other $5 bottles of wine are located. but i digress.

the black opal was extremely fruit forward, a slight hint of that popcorn buttery flavor reminiscent of many california chards, but not overwhelming. as a matter of fact, for a summer evening, it was even a bit refreshing. the gentleman that gave me the bottle, suggested i could use it for my wine 101 beginner's classes. i always look for wines that are easy to drink and don't require a lot of explanation for my beginner's classes; that way i am assured that most will return for wine 102 and won't be scared off by terms like "malolactic fermentation", or fruit descriptions like "lychee nut", which most people have never seen or tasted.

after a few sips of black opal chardonnay, i remembered that it was one of the first aussie wines i had experienced years ago. it was one of those simple wines that tasted good enough to encourage curiosity. and you can't snub your nose at wines like that, commercial maybe, geared to a young palate, sure, cheap in price, yeahhh! these are the wines that brought me to the place i am today; a wine girl who appreciates many flavors of wines and one who will still try anything once. i realized last night that i had somewhat come full circle with my last sip of black opal chardonnay before settling in to watch graham norton on the bbc. i still liked it. it still tasted good. it's $5. what more could you ask for in a wine on a saturday night?

the california zin may not be a great wine for a basics class, being a bit drier, most new wine students tend to shy away from it. but this was alright for burgers and fries, a good pepperoni pizza, being economical also, retailing at about $9 a liter. this is not your "big boy zinfandel", high in alcohol, fruit, flavor. this is a more simple version of the grape to give you a hint of what you could have if you spent quite a bit more money. to me zinfandels (and i reference the true red wine, not the pink stuff) is hard to find cheap and great, like pinot noir. for these two grape varieties you really need to shell out a few precious bucks to really have the experience. and yes, it would be great if someone out there proved me wrong. i'm still waiting.

don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

by the way * the black opal logo you see above is courtesy of www.madwine.com, a great online wine store. check them out if you live in a state that allows you to have wines shipped to your home. I mean, after all you are an adult.

Eulogy

i guess i love philadelphia. i keep wanting to make this blog about something else. i say that i want to include experiences from all over and not just my daily philly travels. but...hey, i live here, i love here, i eat and drink here. it's an awesome place.

my husband and i visited a tavern today, on an amazingly beautiful sunday, a place called eulogy. yes, this post is not about a sermon or a funeral. it's about my awakening. i'm a wine girl, hence the title of this blog, but i love excellence and flavor. and this place has a beer list to beat any wine list, 4 pages, maybe 5, i can't recall.

i enjoyed a crisp australian cooper's sparkling ale and the hubby had a big giant bold victory ale's v12 brew, 12 % alcohol, that's right, straight from downingtown, pa. and did i mention that the food was big in flavor and proportion?

they have this freaky little room upstairs in the back that is dark, has glass tables with business cards and skeletons inside. Don't ask why.

just visit eulogy at 136 chestnut st. philly. http://www.eulogybar.com/.

the wine list only has 6 wines on it, but their sins are forgiven. they can now go to heaven.

*photo courtesy of www.eulogybar.com



don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

707

i had the pleasure of visiting a new restaurant in center city philly called 707. i was there for a snack and a drink, all in the name of my profession. i actually get paid to teach about wines and spirits and how well they go with the foods we eat. it's a special life.

back to 707. well, i found it to be a pretty place, sort of new york loft style decor; very modern. but more importantly, the small amount of staff there in the middle of the day, was organized and friendly. Jennifer served me one of 707's delicious cosmos made with fresh lime juice and raspberry liqueur. It was the most refreshing drink ive had on a steamy day.

i had an adorable serving of french fries served in a little pot, and at Jennifer's suggestion, with 707's awesome oregano mayo.

it's more fun to visit new places at odd times of day, at 2 or 3pm when lunch is over and dinner hasn't started. there's a zen-like silence, you get to know a place intimately and you get to see shifts change. i had a great time with my mixologist Jennifer but she had to move on with her day. she introduced me to Dave, who took over the mixology reigns and i persuaded him to sell me a glass of spanish rose. and it was just what a summertime rose wine should be, nice acid, noticeable fruit and a beautiful deep pink color. this wine delighted my sense of smell, sight and taste buds, and if it could sing, well, it would have been perfect. anyway, it's called zaza made with 100% garnacha grape variety; a more than decent delicious economical wine. it was a mere $6.50 at 707, which is cheap in restaurant language, it's probably about $9-$11 retail.

dave was a sweet young guy, seemed genuinely friendly and i had a lot of fun chatting with him about this blog. he was a bit confused as to why people like me do this sort of thing, write about everything we eat and drink. i couldn't really explain it. it's addictive and also, i think, a bit ego-driven and since i have an addictive personality and a big ego, well blogging about my life, suits me. but i also like to share and when i find things, places, and people i like, i want others to know about it.

today... it is 707 at 707 chestnut st, boasts the biggest martini in town at 7oz, of course. a few doors down from morimotos. Check out their fab website at http://www.707restaurant.com/

go...and enjoy.

don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

like pizza and sex

one of the great things about wine, and blogging, as a matter of fact, is that even when it's boring, it's enjoyable. Some ordinary wine you've had a thousand times, on a relaxing sunday night before another week of pressure, is better than looking at an empty bottle of opus one or dom perignon. They say the same thing about pizza and sex, that even when it's bad , it's good, Maybe.

I guess what i want to say, is this; i had a light-bodied italian white wine tonight, leftovers. it's not an award winner but it made hgtv's "design star", a lot more fun to watch. i'm thankful for the little things.
cheers!

*photo courtesy of Google Images

don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

robert's rock

robert's rock is a new range of wines from south africa. it's apart of the kwv international brand of wines, a huge conglomerate, the man, the big wheel of business. anyway, they are meant to reach the everyday drinker, economical thinker. ok, i am feeling a bit poetic tonight.
i tried the cabernet sauvignon/merlot blend. i have to say that it had a bit of a european style to it, a bit less fruit forward than i expected, kind of food-friendly. it was definitely better with my KFC...uhhhhh, I mean my foie gras, well, no, my KFC chicken, three ways.

robert's rock...1.5 liter, $9, give or take a few pennies. not for impressing, simply for quaffing.

*photo courtesy of robertsrock.com

don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

Aussie wine? Again?

by now, if you have been reading some of the other posts on this blog, you may have figured out that i have a special love for aussie wines. two reasons: they are usually bold in flavor and more economical for the quality than most wines. i am introducing you to another of my regulars, because to me that is what loving wine is all about; learning how to find the tried and true favorites that are sure to satisfy your particular craves.

lindeman's cawarra semillon/chardonnay blend is not shy. a bit heavy on the buttery flavors, noticeable oak barrel, a nice alcohol warmth at the end or the finish, as we say. if you are looking for subtle, don't pick it up. a liter for about $13. if you're not afraid.


don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

two new favs to speak of

one of the best things about summer for me is that for some reason i feel more free to try wines that are not so serious. true...i would scare off a few of my wine snob colleagues with what i drink on a hot summer day. but i have a theory; real wine lovers are adventurous and will try MOST wines at least once. i have two practically full plastic bottles of banko, wine from guyana, in my refrigerator as i type this. i tried it...once.

a far, far reach from guyana's attempt at wine, is another one of my box favorites. in one of my postings i talked about "black box", a california product, premium grapes, pretty fine chardonnay and riesling. i now dare you to try "killer juice" california chardonnay. this black box with a harley davidson-like logo in red, is a great buy for around $25 a box (contains 3 liter bottles of wine) is round, southern peachy, nice alcohol at 13.5 %. the box describes itself as creamy butterscotch, toasty oak. i can't say it any better. the 2005 is out now...give it a swirl.

next on my list is another rose wine for the summer or anytime, for that matter. miguel torres, chilean, santa digna, cabernet sauvignon rose, 2006. this wine was so economical, i bought 2 bottles on a whim having never tried it, a little over $6 a bottle. it is worth much more. this wine was so much fun, strawberry, fresh, crisp, french picnic, blanket on the lawn, towel on the beach. i can't stop talking about it. try it.

don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

what's for dinner? June 28th, 2007

Lemon Honey Tilapia fillets (3) - season with sea salt/pepper to taste. drizzle with olive oil, rub into fillets. coat very lightly with flour. heat a couple tbsp of olive oil in a saute pan on medium heat. place fillets in pan, you should hear a light sizzle. cook for 2 minutes or so, turn over, cook til done. please don't overcook fish, buy it fresh. if it is opaque, it is done. remove from heat. sprinkle with grated lemon zest. in warm pan squeeze juice of 1 lemon and 1 squeeze of honey from the honey bear. whisk until flavors combined. pour over fish and serve. options: snow peas, asparagus, fresh green beans.

a great day for a bike ride

ok, i don't bike ride really. but i do drink wine, and i finally gave in and tried a very commercial french wine called "red bicyclette". this really modern, kitschy label produces reds, whites, and rose wines. i tried the rose. it is exactly as they say it will be on the label, raspberry is strong, slight strawberry flavors, cherry. this wine is a summer fruit basket. i was pleasantly surprised that i loved it. my husband and i had it with spicy shrimp and a fresh summer salad.

i thought that "red bicyclette" was possibly just some plunk wine sold to get american novice drinkers to buy french wines the way we have fallen in love with such aussie productions as "yellowtail", which in my opinion deserves its popularity. but i was wrong, at least in the case of the rose. when i try the rest i will let you know, happily.

red bicyclette rose wine, 2006, france, approx. $9. take a ride when you can.

don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

vinum africa 2005 chenin blanc

if you've never heard of chenin blanc, you're missing something. like most wine grapes, it is grown in france, specifically france's loire valley. but america grows quite a bit of chenin blanc also. this wine grape is somewhat of a variety like riesling that tastes great dry, off-dry, semi-sweet and dessert style.

the one i enjoyed last night with dinner was a dry variety from a label called vinum south africa, 2005. i loved it because i found it refreshing, a bit mineral like and that sort of petroleum scent, which non-wine lovers don't understand at all, and some wine lovers don't get the appeal of. but there's something about that scent in some white wines that is appealing and savory.

the vinum south africa chenin blanc (sometimes called steen in south africa) was perfect with my delicious fatty salmon fillets and the buttery sauce on top. for $12 in pennsylvania, quite a find. and...it comes with the trusty stelvin closure, uhhh, that's screwcap for the old school.

don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

prosecco and what happened to me friday night

this past friday i went to make some purchases for a celebration bbq we were having. it had nothing to do with the impending holiday. anyway while i was picking up all the libations on my list, i saw a colorful new cognac based liqueur called xoteric. the bottle and liqueur had a purple haze sort of color and i am a girl...so i bought it. the back of the bottle gave serving suggestions of course. serve chilled over ice to display the amazing purple color, top off with prosecco, etc. my husband and i love prosecco. it's a wonderful, usually off-dry sparkling wine from Italy, basically italian "champagne". it's economical, easy on the palate and goes well with just about every type of food. so i also grabbed some prosecco.

later that evening my husband opened the purple liqueur and it was green, lime green. so...like a member of the underground, i'm not afraid. we pour it in the prosecco and take a sip. all along we are thinking that either i am crazy, which is always something to be considered or the makers of xoteric have a sense of humor. because this stuff definitely looked purple, has purple packaging and the recipes on the bottle all have the word "purple" in the name.

after a couple of glasses i decided to go the internet and look it up. after much searching i found out that xoteric is supposed to be purple and that the same company does make a lime colored liqueur, i think called "intrigue". i dug my receipt out of the trash and took it back to the store and the store manager and a couple clerks had a good laugh at the liquid inside my bottle. and apparently overnight in the refrigerator it seemed to turn even more green, if that was possible. anyway, all turned out well. i now have xoteric in the icebox, it's a gorgeous shade of purple, we cracked open a new bottle of prosecco last night and it was well worth it.

happy independence day to all and thanks to everyone keeping up with the underground.

don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

what's for dinner?

I hope you enjoy my new series called "What's for Dinner?" I have had so many friends and family ask me how I manage to create such special and creative meals at least five nights a week. Well, truthfully, I have an advantage, because for me, cooking is no chore, it's a privilege to be able to create something as basic and necessary as a meal, and feel good about it and make it precious. But still, even with that gift, it can sometimes get difficult to keep it exciting. So, like everything worthwhile, it does take effort. But I don't mind. So here you will find how I do it, basic recipes and suggestions to keep you going during those tedious moments during the week. And...done economically.

June 26th Tuesday's What's For Dinner?

Chicken and Sausage Spaghetti

Background: yesterday I made a chicken dish with italian dressing and tomato sauce, tomato soup, garlic, onions and bell peppers. I put whole pieces of chicken inside seasoned with sea salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika and a touch of cayenne pepper. I let it cook until done and the chicken was falling off the bone. I served it over yellow rice with green beans and fried ripe plantains for a spanish flair.
Tonight, I am taking the remainder of the sauce, which has been blessed by bits of chicken mixed in, adding cooked italian sausage and fresh basil, pouring it over some spaghetti noodles and viola...another happy husband.
Don't forget the wine. We are having leftover wine, a bit of riesling for my spicy sauce and some south african chardonnay, well, because it's here and it's fruity. Don't look to me for the obvious pairing. I was trained by the Aussies. Eat what you like and drink what you like! But for purists, a nice california merlot, aussie shiraz or for summer a pinot noir.
Cheers.
p.s.
interpret these recipes anyway you like. substitute spaghetti for penne pasta, smoked paprika for regular or hot paprika, chicken for leftover duck...mmm.

acacia 2003 chardonnay

oh what a day, sunny, hot and humid. air so thick you can cut it with a knife. i am pleasantly distracted from work by my cousin acacia asking me if i wanted to share a chilled bottle of her namesake winery's acacia chardonnay (she is not connected at all to acacia winery. they have no idea who she is.)

how could i say no? the only question that came to our minds was whether or not we would brave the heat and sit outside on the deck or retreat to an air conditioned room. we chose the latter. smart girls.

acacia 2003 chardonnay, carneros region of california was creamy, fruit-forward with a tamed taste of the oak barrel that lends it some maturity. most importantly, it was fun. it was delicious. and it took the sting off of a hot summer day.

not sure how much this particular bottle costs, but knowing a bit about acacia, it probably runs about $20 on average.

check it out, any vintage.

and yes,
don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

old world subtlety vs new world spunk

i have a wine buddy who loves to have debates with me about which wine regions are better. he adores old world wine, italy being his all-time favorite. i like italian wines also. italy makes some of the best wines in the world. barollos are among my favorite.

but i grew up in the wine world with new world wines, california, australia, new zealand, and south africa (which actually combines the best of both worlds, new world experimentation and boldness but with the taste of old world soil). i enjoy the spunk of new world wines, that fat flavor, big fruit boldness, sometimes higher alcohol content. let's face it, a lot of new world wines are very forward. i have american taste buds which means i also tend to be drawn to that slight hint of sugar which sits in the background of many of our so-called "dry" wines. i read an article once that said that "americans talk dry, but buy sweet", meaning that we talk a good game about how we prefer wines with very little to zero residual sugar, but behind closed doors, we consume a lot of off-dry to sweet wines.

my buddy has his right to debate with me. it is one of those things that makes the wine world such an interesting place to live. we all have such strong opinions. he likes his wines to speak to him softly, to court him, take him out on a few dates before consummating the relationship. i, on the other hand seem to be a bit easier. i like to be spanked by my wine on the first date. welcome to wine...and the underground.

don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

it's red, it's bubbly, it's australian

being a big fan of the bubbly, sparkling wines from around the world and the occasional champagne, i am always looking for something new. about 4 years ago i had the privilege of being apart of an australian tasting that showcased an exciting new product for the u.s. market, sparkling shiraz.

for those of you who know about aussie wines, you know that shiraz is huge. they do such a great job at making these highly fruit loaded, burst in your mouth red wines. especially from the southern aussie regions. the westerners are a bit more subtle.

but back to the bubbly; so, a producer named alkoomi makes a bodacious full-bodied sparkling shiraz, fit for any special occasion. if you can find it in our local wine & spirits, it's usually about $26. for that everyday hankering for something a little different, there is "lorikeet", a $9 bottle, not as complex, but just as juicy and even more fun.
here's to bubbling over with excitement!

yeh,
don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

house wine? part 2

the mission grill is amazing. modern mexican fare and the decor to match. you sort of know that it's southwestern, but it's tasteful. it's no chili's (no offense to the chain restaurant...really). i was invited to a great networking event there last evening that turned out to be incredibly rewarding.

but let's get to the point, which is always wine. the wednesday evening specials were yeungling lager $2, margaritas and sangria $4, and house wine $3. that's correct, you're not insane (well i'm just guessing). yes, $3 glasses of wine. wine in real wine glasses, bold flavor, distinct in character. the house white wine was a dante chardonnay, sold for around $7-$9 depending on where you are in the country. fruit-forward, a hint of fruit-sweetness, good alcohol, meaning that you feel a nice warmth at the base of your throat after swallowing, sensual.

the house red was a montpellier cabernet sauvignon, just as it should be. warm, wraps around your tongue and stays there. good lover. this one retails for around $10 depending once again upon where you make your purchase.

mission grill: 18th & arch sts. philadelphia. spicy chunky guacamole, authentic salsa, and sooooo much more delicious fare (they are not paying me..they have no idea who i am).

and..uhhh. don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

house wine? part 1

my life is incredible...really. sometimes i whine and groan for no reason at all, exercise, i guess. but i get invited to the coolest events. anyway, tomorrow, which is wednesday, i will be headed to an event to promote healthy living at the new mission grill in center city. free appetizers, $3 house wines. i cant tell you how excited i am. yes, i am constantly seeking info to make myself healthier, but what really got me to rsvp? the $3 a glass house wine.

what is "house wine"? probably the equivalent to a four-letter word for some wine folk. but not me. i have wine wisdom. i know enough to know that a good restaurant (i am a restaurant snob) would never carry a really crappy wine. why would they? so the house wine can only be so bad. and i have had great luck with ordering house wine. it's always the economical choice and unless you are on a splurge, first date or your husband forgot your anniversary, there is really no need to spend $10 a glass or $75 a bottle for your nightly buzz. and...if you ask the server for the name of the house wine, most likely they will tell you and wonders never cease...it's probably some well-trusted bottle you have at home.

so, i wont be afraid tomorrow, when i place my $3 order and because i am trapped by passion for this wine thing, this life of vino, i will dare to ask what it is and as long as its not some watered-down pinot grigio...i wont die.

all i do is for the underground.

don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

one of those nights i wont drink wine

tonight i am headed to a phillies game with my husband and a business colleague of his. i love the phillies, love baseball, hotdogs...you get the picture. and that citizens bank ball park...is amazing. fresh, modern and packed with all varieties of food choices. but let's face it, in some areas of life, beer rules. and this is one of those areas. and the stupid beer at the ball park (no offense to anchor steam brewery, which i think does sell its beer at citi park and is pretty tasty) is extremely over-priced.

so it's either pepsi or coke, which i think is pepsi at citi park or beer. so tonight with my well-deserved hotdog and fries, i think i'll coax my husband into fetching me an anchor steam, he'll cringe while he pulls the money out of his wallet to take the dreaded walk. i'll be thinking about the fact that i could have purchased almost a whole bottle of wine for that price. but i will drink it with my salty meal and dream of riesling.

hey, i just remembered there's a few drops of riesling left in the fridge...
avia riesling, cheap and tasty, big bottle, 1.5 liter for under 8 bucks.

don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

the black box

i may as well get right to it, just so you see exactly where you've landed in the amazing world of wine. i have wine with dinner almost everyday, (my husband has introduced me to iced herbal tea with stevia...refreshing, so i've been drinking a lot of that also) anyway, no real person cracks open a $20 plus bottle of wine every night, at least no real people that we know. so one of my yummy alternatives is a product called "black box". this is a wine company that uses wine made from premium grapes, then pours four 750.ml bottles of it into a plastic container, cover it with a stylish black box and ta da...you have a big adult juice box filled with pretty decent wine. the german riesling being our favorite.
so you see why the creation of this blog was so necessary for my sanity. i need to connect with the real wine lovers, those of us who don't mind traveling off the well-beaten path for a sip, those of us with no shame, just looking to enjoy the vino without judgement. we've drawn our lines, we have our limits...but not many. this blog is for the brave hearts, people that concern themselves with grapes, not containers and corks.

don't be afraid to tilt the glass.

i am who i am

welcome. i'm a lazy typist. so you wont see much in the way of capitalization but you will be overwhelmed with my passion. since this blog is titled "wine and the underground", you probably have figured out that my passion is directed in the area of the juice of the gods. this is true. but what about the underground? well...i am somewhat of a scrappy, sultry rebel who will try any wine at least once and i am not afraid of the new "stelvin closure", the revival of the screw cap and i am not afraid of the big giant adult version of the juice box either. i am not afraid of what people think about wine freaks and geeks. i'm proud to be a gluttonous, insatiable consumer. and i want to meet more of the same. the tattooed, pierced and courageous who crawl in at night, slip into something a bit kinky and pour white wine into a red wine glass....ahhhhh, the delicious, sinful thought of it all.
secret: one night it was sticky and hot, so i dropped a cube of ice into my shiraz...now my husband knows.
drink to the underground geeks and freaks.
don't be afraid to tilt the glass.