Wine

Mark your calendar for these not-to-be-missed wine events in Arizona….   AZ Wine and Dine Thursday, April 12, 2012 - Sunday, April 1, 2012 AZ Wine & Dine will showcase Arizona's premier chefs, restaurants, resorts, fine wines and craft beer. The hip, new Scottsdale Quarter location sets the perfect tone for a magical evening of food and wine. The top chefs from renowned restaurants and resorts will offer culinary delights while rocking jazz beats fill the Arizona night sky. Boutique wines and craft beers will be paired with each dish to ensure a palate-pleasing experience in a fun, festive atmosphere. Visit http://www.azwineanddine.com/ for more information.   Southeast Arizona Wine Growers Festival Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15, 2012 Join Kief Manning, winemaker at Kief-Joshua Vineyards, and 14 other Arizona Wineries at the 2012 Southeast Arizona Wine Growers Festival. In addition to live music, great food and fabulous wine, you will be able to meet winemakers from... More

When I think of holiday entertaining, I immediately think SPARKLING. Is there anything more festive than those bubbles?   So when Anthem Country Club hosted a Chandon Winemaker Dinner, I was quick to sign up. It was a wonderful evening...the Club was decorated beautifully, the staff was spot-on and kudos to the new Chef for some wonderful pairings.   But alas, the shining star of the evening was Chandon. After 30 years, Chandon is an expert in sparkling. They blend the best of French tradition with new world innovation and it is evident in every yummy bottle. Chandon also has lovely still wine varietals such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.   Three highlights of the evening were the Chandon Rose Sparkling, Chandon Chardonnay and the winemaker, Tom Tibruzi.   First, the Rose, a dramatic pink tint with strawberry, citrus and apple notes all perfectly balanced. This is a sparkling that can hold up to most foods. Retail is around $22.00.   Second, the Chardonnay,... More

At the end of a decadent meal, a glass of port with a hearty cheese tray is just the ticket. Add a little dark chocolate and perhaps a strawberry or two and you have perfection.   Port is a fortified wine – fortified by the addition of a neutral grape spirit (such as brandy) in order to spot fermentation which then leaves extra sugar in the wine and increases the alcohol content. The wine is aged in barrels then bottled. Ports come in two forms, ruby and tawny. A Ruby Port is younger, sweeter and fruitier while a Tawny Port has aged longer and has a more complex characteristic. In a 20 Year Old port, the fruit has mellowed further than in the 10 Year Old, and the spicy, nutty aromas of ageing are more powerful and intense.   A particularly nice port is the 20 Year Old Taylor Fladgate Tawny. I personally like this port because it is smooth, powerful and spicy. It retails for around $50 and may be found at most wine stores. Below is what the tasting-pros have to say:   Robert... More

This heat is out of control! And the only way to survive is in the pool…with a good glass of Rose, of course   Rose can range from hot pink to a gentle blush. The color depends on the grape varietal and how long the skins were allowed to hang out with the juice. The flavor profile is all over the place from sweet to super dry. I personally like a dry Rose.   As mentioned previously, Rose is a great hot day, pool wine...Serve chilled. It also pairs well with a multitude of foods because the wine is so refreshing and typically light. Fish, chicken, ham, salads, burgers and fruit, all go great with a Rose.   Here are a few Rose wines to check out: Maryhill Winery, in Washington, produces a Rose of Sangiovese. It’s a refreshing Rose with hints of strawberry and nice minerality. The wine retails around $12 per bottle and can be purchased at Bev Mo.   Delille Cellars has created a Rose with the traditional European flare. Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvedre make up this... More

Once upon a time there was a naïve lass. This poor lass walked through life with no wine palate and no knowledge of the romantic world of wines. Her only experience with wine was a trip through Eastern Washington lovingly called the “Fruit Loop” (the name says it all). For reasons she may never completely understand (let’s not question fate), she was hired at the top Washington wine company where she proceeded to learn the intricacies of wine. Now, she spends too much money each week on her “passion” and has become a picky wine-drinking lass. Ah to be naïve again!   Were you a naïve lass or lad once upon a time? What experience moved you from the boxed Chablis, super fruity Riesling or that dreaded white Zinfandel?   Well, to continue my story…   On a sunny Seattle day (that was truly make-believe), I had the opportunity to sit in on a wine tasting with Chateau Ste Michelle’s winemaker at the time, Erik Olsen. I was curious to see how the other-half tasted... More

I often am asked “what is a fun wine itinerary for a long weekend”. Most people expect that I will say “Napa” and I must say that it is on the top of the list. But if you are looking for a long weekend wine get-a-way with personality and warmth, Walla Walla Washington is truly the place.   Walla Walla is in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. The area has over 1.800 acres of grapes and is the home of over 100 wineries with tasting rooms. In the center of town is a cute historic district filled with great restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and of course, tasting rooms.   The residents, which include 100s of winemakers, are friendly and very proud of their community. Walla Walla was just named by Rand McNally THE friendliest small town. And I must agree with the vote, no where will you find a warmer, friendlier, relaxed community.   http://union-bulletin.com/stories/2011/07/21/and-the-winner-is-ww   Arrive in Walla Walla and stay at my personal favorite, Girasol... More

Fight against breast cancer while you sip semi-sparkly Rose. Aveleda, one of the leading producers in Portugal, will donate $2 for every case sold in June of Casal Garcia Rose to the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.   The grapes come from the Vinho Verde Region of Portugal. Vinhos Verdes wines are light and fresh, and are intended to be drunk early. The name means “Green Wine”, referring to the youthful freshness.  Check out the video to get  a feel for the region.   Aveleda Casal Garcia Rose is available at Bev Mo for $8. This wine is perfect for fish, spicy cuisine or a poolside afternoon. With a low alcohol content (10.5%)and natural acidity, the wine is light, fresh and has an effervescent mouth feel. Served chilled.   To learn more about this producer go to www.CasalGarcia.com.   Holly Matson WinoGal... More

In honor of the upcoming 4th of July celebrations….a wine with history!   Mateus is a brand from Portugal that was created in 1942; production began at the end of World War II. The flavor profile appealed to the international market and became a huge hit. At that time the appeal was its fizzy, sweet, easy drinking profile.   Eventually, sales diminished so to breathe life back into the brand, a re-package and re-launch began. The new package capitalized on 1970s nostalgia. Along with new packaging came an updated flavor profile; less sweet and slightly more sparkling.   Today, you can find Mateus in its flask-shaped bottle, inspired by the flasks used by soldiers in WWI, at Bev Mo for approx $6.99.   Serve well chilled on a steaming hot day, such as this 4th of July, and you won’t be disappointed. Its not a dry Rose, it is a unique, fizzy, lively, fresh, $6.99, Rose....... More

By Stephanie Maher Palenque   Our staff at Images AZ enjoys fine wines a great deal. But what we enjoy even more than a fine wine, is a fine wine that is a good bargain …truly a “find.” We have discovered that we each have our short list of favorites, and included on each staff member’s list is at least one or two deliciously low-priced wines. At our last editorial meeting, we found ourselves asking, how low can you go and still get a good wine?   Well, this month we endeavored to find out. We set a date, laid out the requirements for each staff member’s picks, and waited with delicious anticipation. Each of us was to share up to five our favorite wines – anything goes – just keep it under $15 per bottle. The challenge was issued, accepted, and highly anticipated. The night finally came, and no one was disappointed. We’d like to share the result with our readers who also enjoy delicious value!   The staff favorites overall: Natura Carmenere (organic, chocolate,... More

By Stephanie Maher Palenque   We are deep into the Arizona summer. The hot and heavy comfort foods of the cooler months have given way to cooler, fresher, more healthful dishes, paired with crisp and fruity spirits.   We took time out to speak with some of our favorite wine shops and wine sellers in order to learn what they would suggest for our warm summer nights. We can’t wait to try each one of their suggestions!   Phil, owner of Eccentric Gourmet in Anthem (3434 West Anthem Way; 623.551.4445; www.eccentricgourmet.com) had a few favorites to suggest for summer drinkers. The Eccentric Gourmet offers scheduled wine tastings, wine dinners, and they serve wine by the glass with a cheese plate at their wine bar. Here are his summer picks …   O’Reilly’s 2007 Pinot Gris: “Oregon fresh. Absolutely beautifully made nice tropical flavors. Goes great with fish or white meat.” Ermita Veracruz Verdejo 2005 White Wine: “Light white wine from the north of Spain Basque country,... More

by Stephanie Maher Palenque   There is nothing that brings me back to my hometown of Green Village, New Jersey, faster than the smell of sizzling bacon or Taylor Ham (Pork Roll) and farm fresh eggs. It ranks right up there with the scent of fresh cut grass and the sound of horses clip-clopping down the street ...going nowhere in particular, just enjoying the morning walk. What a wonderful way to wake up!   For many of us, breakfast items are the ultimate comfort food ...and it is no wonder why. Waking up to freshly-brewed coffee and a hearty homemade breakfast means that someone was thinking of our well-being before we even opened our eyes to start the day.   In years of late, much of the time, effort, and care in planning breakfast for others as well as ourselves has been overlooked in favor of starting the day earlier, and jumping right into work. By many accounts, this is a great mistake. Read on to learn about the one change that you could make in the New Year that might really... More

Writer Liz Suto   Raise your hand if you are one of those people who pick up their bottle of wine at Safeway, and stash it in the refrigerator until that Saturday night steak dinner. Sure, it's less expensive to break open a bottle of wine at home. I'm the first to admit that there is an open bottle in my refrigerator, with the tannins and bouquets just wasting away. However, we home-wine-drinkers are missing a wine experience that can't be replicated at the kitchen table, and that is the Wine Bar. A great Wine Bar fuses atmosphere, wine and cuisine into an enjoyable evening that doesn't need to be combined with a movie or any activity with the word "family" in it. For wine lovers, we've chosen two great places for Vino-tasting. Both have great wine and cuisine, but the atmosphere of these two Wine Bars is totally different.   For me, a little wine goes a long way - too long without food. Appetizers and light meals make a great accompaniment to an evening with wine, especially when... More

"If you are not proud of your cellar, there is no thrill of satisfaction in seeing your guest hold up his wineglass to the light and look judicial." George Eliot, Middlemarch (1871)   Even classic author George Eliot knew the importance of wine storage, back in 1871. For those of us with wine collections, or with aspirations of starting one, storage should be of major concern here in Arizona due to the extreme heat and low humidity in the desert Southwest. Some wines, Chardonnay for instance, are particularly sensitive to light exposure and the damage will be worse if the bottle is made of pale-colored glass. The warmer the wine, the quicker it will age, and very high temperatures can spoil wine quickly. If you're not mindful of how you store your wine, you will wind up with very expensive vinegar in your collection.   Kathleen Valentini of Valentini's Custom Wine Cellars (www.worldclasscellars.com) stresses the importance of protecting one's investment when collecting wines. "All... More

Nature and our connection to it, is evident in the work of husband and wife artists Ben and Marcela Wright. Marcela works with adobe, and Ben with paint, but they have married the two mediums into one exploration of their connection to the earth.   Ben has a Cherokee heritage, but didn't explore that part of his self in an artistic way until later in life. He studied history in school, which led him into the study of Native American people, and later into their culture. At first he painted historical figures, but as he discovered the spiritual nature of these people, Ben's art evolved into a reflection of his interpretation of those beliefs. "There is a wealth of spiritual substance in the images I paint," Ben says, "and it is usually reflective of some of the teachings and understanding that comes my way. That knowledge manifests itself on the canvas."   There are many Native American teachings of how the "unseen," the spirit world, is manifest in the material world in a symbolic... More

Writer Mike Aguilera   Ridin' down the highway, looking for adventure? You don't have to go far down I-17 to find the "guy's dream-come-true": the ultimate motorcycle.   Brigitte and Roger Bourget have built their Phoenix based custom motorcycle business from the ground up. Roger started modifying Harleys in his garage over 12 years ago, and eventually reached the point where he was building his own bikes from scratch. His enthusiasm and drive for perfection has made the Bourget bike one of the most sought-after custom bikes in the world.   Bourget's Bike Works, Inc. now occupies 36,000 square feet near the Deer Valley Airport . Because of high demand, their state of the art manufacturing and production facility will soon double in size. The company manufactures most pieces from scratch, including the brakes, wheels, frames, gas tanks and handlebars. The bikes use S&S engines that the company polishes, customizes and adds Nitrous.   If you buy one of Bourget's bikes, you will... More