The WineMadeEasy Blog

Much of the magic I associate with the Christmas season is steeped in nostalgia and I remember the Christmases of my childhood with great fondness. I still love old carols and songs from the likes of Robert Goulet, Andy Williams, Tony Bennett and Rosemary Clooney. I also love to watch classic Christmas films and old TV shows.

This year I may be taking a more traditional route for our Thanksgiving pairing.  But I should mention that this is no ordinary Riesling offered at this price point. The Lamoreaux Landing 2013 Dry Riesling is a glorious wine we should definitely be thankful for.

When you are going to someone’s house for dinner and don’t know what they are serving, it can be a bit frustrating trying to decide which wine to bring. Sparkling wines and dry roses might work, but they can be a bit risky because a fair amount of people may not wish to try these wines with dinner. 

In the last few years, wine producers have stepped up and generously contributed some of their profits and in some cases their time to several worthwhile causes. One of the most significant causes is honoring and supporting our veterans.

Halloween is almost upon us and here at the store, we have a wide variety of wines and spirits that will help you celebrate this highly atmospheric holiday.  With names like Werewolf, Vampire, Poison, Zombie Apocalypse and Supernatural, it is clear we are ready for any Monster Mash you might want to attend. 

The third offering from Perseverance (the Zinfandel and Cabernet being one and two) is their 2013 Chardonnay.  If you are looking for an inexpensive, but not formula tasting Chardonnay, you should consider this one. This wine has plenty of rich and ripe fruit notes, including pear, mango and peach. 

Recently we began carrying Perseverance Cabernet Sauvignon and their Chardonnay.  We have carried the Zinfandel for a couple of years and the name appears to be justified.  This wine makes no pretense in either how it is made or how it should be received.  

Leaves are turning, the temperature is finally dropping, and you probably noticed it is pretty dark shortly after seven pm.  My food and wine palate seem to crave more hearty fare as well as full bodied red wines.  I don’t entirely stop eating light foods such as salads or drinking white wines, but I prefer richer foods and bolder wines this time of year.  In fact, I like to refer to this as “stew, soup, and casserole season”. 

After I got back from Tuscany, I noticed that I had gained a bit of weight.  At first I thought this was a bit unusual because it seemed I ate well, but moved around quite a bit. Then it dawned on me. I wasn’t just having three squares a day over in Tuscany I was constantly munching on something. You see, Italians view drinking wine as something you do with food, even if it is just with bread and cheese. 

Trying to discuss in a blog all the wines I tasted in Tuscany is a bit like showing slides of your trip to Europe in 5 minutes – your guests might be relieved, but what did they really see?  So for the sake of your sanity, dear reader, I will mention just a few wines and then focus on some you can purchase without selling your children.