What kind of wine am I?

I saw this post on Wines.com and could not resist taking the quiz.

When traveling, you like to

a. Plan everything in advance, with a complete itinerary in hand and each day having a specific schedule, with little wiggle room.

b. Plan most of the trip out, booking rooms and flights and car rentals, making a list of things you’d like to see and do while you are there, though no specific schedule.

c. Kind of play it all by ear. You book the flights and maybe hotels, but plan to book most things while you’re there depending on what is most popular at the time.

d. Buy a ticket or rent a car last minute to get to your destination, bring a tent as you love to camp everywhere you go and plan on staying in hostels and other cool places.

When picking out a restaurant for the evening, you prefer one that

a. Has a menu and wine list online so that you can plan what you’ll order – and you wont’ go without a reservation

b. Has been acclaimed and written up by critics and is a style of food that you like. Hopefully they have a reservation, but if not, you will walk in for a table if they have a walk in policy.

c. Pick a place from the most recent write up in your local paper or magazine and go there.

d. The newest ethnic restaurant

If you had an extra two hours to do whatever you wished, you would

a. Clean or organize

b. Exercise or go walking

c. Read the newest book or see the newest movie

d. Wander around in a new neighborhood or park

Your favorite type of movies are:

a. Classics

b. Dramas and comedies

c. Independent Films

d. Documentaries

Your friends see you as:

a. Fastidious and meticulous in all that you do

b. You have your opinions, but are generally easy-going when it comes to most things

c. Adventurous but down-to-earth as well

d. Completely carefree

So how did I rate?

Mostly B – you are Smooth and Supple – You like to go with the flow and enjoy life. Not everything must be perfect, but chaos is not your thing, either. Try some Australian Shiraz or red Rhone Blends.

Is is a coincidence that grapes from the Rhone are some of my favorites? I think not.

Wine Puzzles

So another thing you should know about me is that I love puzzles. I have a stack of crossword puzzle books that would make your head spin and I thoroughly enjoyed Problem Solving class in college (yes I got an A, and I swear not everyone did.) It's no wonder that when my coworker sent me this puzzle yesterday (conveniently at 4:55pm,)I wouldn't stop thinking about it until I figured it out.

However, it being the time that it was and considering I had a 6pm spin class to make it to, I decided to leave the puzzle where it was and simply mull it over, casually, in my head until this morning.

Well what I thought was going to be a casual mulling over, turned into a disturbed-sleep, nightmare-ridden night because for the life of me, I could not figure it out.

Quite honestly, in the end I cheated. I rationalize this with the fact that I do not have the time to figure it out on my own - and after seeing the answer, I'm pretty sure I never would have... but don't let that discourage you.

As a side note, I wish I'd thought of this first! (And then bought a vineyard/learned how to make wine...) Not only is this label catchy, but it has led to a pure obsession. Of course I've heard of Fetzer wine, I've never had it, but definitely know the name. However, next time I'm in the store, I'm going to be seeking out this label... I simply need to have it for my wine journal.

Can you figure it out? I didn't post the answer link on purpose, so if you simply MUST know comment or email me and I'll let you in on the secret :)

“Le Beaujoulais nouveau est arrivé!”

I’m sure this isn’t a tradition unique to my own family at Thanksgiving, but nonetheless, it is our tradition.

Every Thanksgiving, the Chamberlain family heads to the Gramma’s house at 2:00pm (okay, more like 2:30pm because the other Chamberlain tradition is to never by on time on a holiday.) So anyway, our entourage of six totes the vegetable sides, an appetizer of sorts and way too much wine for the nine person table we’re about to sit down at. This assortment of wine usually includes an array of red and white varietals, a few dessert wines and oh yes, the Beaujolais Nouveau.

I’m sure that last part didn’t make anyone’s jaw drop. Yes, we’ve fallen victim to the marketing scheme, but as I sit here writing this article I can’t help but join in with the cheers, “Le Beaujoulais nouveau est arrivé!”

My Grandfather and mother used to make wine in the sink of my Grandparent’s house and my mother runs a prestigious wine shoppe so wine has always been a part of my life – I guess it’s only natural that we should complete our celebration of overindulgence with the celebration of the first wines produced in Beaujolais.

As long as I can remember I’ve found a bottle with an incredibly colorful label, foil and neck band planted on the table every Thanksgiving and printed on it, a French name I could not pronounce until I was a teenager.

In case you haven’t figured it out – the wine I’m speaking of is George DeBoeuf, the largest producer of Beaujolais Nouveau.

I must admit, Beaujolais is far from my favorite region. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever opted to drink a wine made from Gamay grapes over another in any other situation (to be fair, it’s probably because I have a negative perception of the entire region – the Beaujolais Nouveau is always drunk fairly quickly in order to get to the other wines on the table.) I think I’m going to add Beaujolais AOC to my list of things to pick up next time I’m perusing a wine shoppe.

As a an ever budding wine enthusiast, I do my best to not fall victim to marketing schemes that convince me to drink something that I’m not totally in love with, after all, there’s too many wines out there to waste time drinking something not made for my palate. But alas, I guarantee that Thursday of next week, Thanksgiving Day, I will be indulging in George DeBeouf, Beaujolais Nouveau, forgetting my morals as a wine connoisseur and simply soaking up the tradition of it all.

Release date: November 19, that’s today! Go out and get some!

Puro Chile Grand Event

Last night marked the official launch of Puro Chile in New York City, a unique store filled with Chilean products that range in wines, accessories and gourmet goods from private sector organizations.

Puro Chile is the first of its kind. Although primarily a retail space, Puro Chile not only exclusively carries Chilean products, but it also encourages culture and tourism and promotes the entire the country as a brand.

The event was held 5-8 and was well attended throughout that time. Chilean trade officials flew in from Chile specifically for the launch and were working the room. Industry insiders were graciously accepting the classic Chilean hors d'oeuvres that were served in company to the array of both red and white wines.

The store is located on 221 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013 and is now, officially, open for business.


**Photo credit to Leo Borovskiy of LushLifeNY

Bring on the Half Bottle

I discovered the wonder of the half bottle long before it was legal for me to be drinking it. Albeit I enjoyed the half bottle for a different set of reasons than I do today, nevertheless it was love at first site.

To me a half bottle is even more exciting than the discovery of a decent wine bar. Unfortunately, I've been incredibly disappointed lately with the availability of these bottles as I'm finding they're hard to track down in the CT area.

Why do I love half bottles so much?

Think about it. Sure you're paying $20+ for a three glass bottle of wine, but if you were in a wine bar, you'd be paying $9 (minimum) for one glass and if you were to buy the whole bottle you'd be out at least $40. Basically, the half bottle gives you a chance to taste things you might not otherwise have a chance to in the comfort of your own home at a cheaper cost.

Although I am the proud owner of a vacuum wine contraption, I find that I often end up pouring a portion of the wine out, even if I share, because we weren't able to get to the remainder of the bottle the next day or some other extenuating factor prevented its consumption before the dreaded oxygen ran its course.

Half bottles solve this problem. You can taste a generous 375mL portion of the wine and yet, you do not have to worry about wasting another 375mL of perfectly delicious wine. They're also exciting when socializing at a bar or restaurant when you know you'll be having more than one glass of a given wine, but no one can agree on a selection.

What's even more exciting? 375mL of Champagne and sparkling wines allow for a personal celebration any time of day! I've never found a Champagne stopper to work exactly how it's supposed to (perhaps it's the user...) which results in either an over indulgence of bubbly or EVEN WORSE wasted bubbly.

Currently, I'm particularly partial to half bottles due to the nature of my wine studies. As you may know, I am working toward my Advanced Certificate from the WSET. Because I am doing home study, that means I'm tasting 90-100% of these wines on my own, opening six bottles at a time. No one needs six open bottles of wine to themselves no matter how glorious that sounds in theory.

In short, I'd like to propose that all wineries distribute a portion of their wines in half bottles. Lets start the revolution.

*If anyone else is currently studying for the WSET Advanced at home, please email me. Prospective test day is 2/1.
**Picture taken from http://whiskhampers.co.uk

Seven Wines to Try Before... You Die?

I found an article in the November 30th issue of Wine Spectator by Matt Kramer that gave a comprehensive list of seven wines to try before I kick the bucket.

1. Mature Grand Cru Chablis

2. Tokaji Aszù

3. Benanti Pietramarina Etna Bianco Superiore

4. Mature Traditional German Riesling

5. Reds & Whites from Australia's Clare Valley

6. The Extreme Sonoma Coast

7. Albariño from Rías Baixas


Hmmm. So let's see, if I died tomorrow, I wouldn't be at a total loss. I've had Albariño from Rías Baixas, Algareiro Albariño to be exact, though, admittedly, this is the only Albariño I've tasted that I remember. I'm sure I've sipped their delightful crispness at a tasting or two, but of note, Algareiro Albariño the only one I remember.

I've had Reds and Whites from Australia's Clare Valley, O'Leary Walker Wines, to be exact (again, probably a couple other sprinklings in there that I don't remember to name...) but the beauty of these wines is I tasted them all. From the Cabernet/Merlot to the Shiraz/Viognier, to the straight Chardonnay... I suppose it's okay to check that one off my list as well.

Mature traditional German Rieslings. Check. Although all of those were at tastings, undoubtedly and I'd love to honestly indulge in a bottle all my own (or perhaps I'd share a glass with one other person...) Kramer makes a great point too - there are so many different types of German Rieslings that you can't check this off your life with just one wine - and I fully intend not to end my stint of tasting mature German Rieslings after one sip!

Tokaji Aszu - No idea if I've had it or if I've just, for some reason, read a lot about it because I could have sworn we've crossed paths. However, considering I can't remember when or wih which wine that would be, I suppose I can't really mark it off the list...yet.

Now let's go to the wines I definitely haven't had.

The Extreme Sonoma Coast. Kramer describes this as not only tasting, but traveling along the Pacific Ocean and actually stopping in the wineries. Nope. In fact, the only wine region I've actually been to it Connecticuts, and I highly doubt that fits the bill. A few scattered wineries throughout Europe, a few in LA... but nope no other wine regions.

Mature Grand Cru Chablis (15+ years.) Considering I've only just begun my wine collection, I can not be expected to own a wine that is older than over half of my age.... looks like I'll have to stick around for the next 15 just for this!

And finally, Benanti Pietramarina Etna Bianco Superiore from Sicily. I have a feeling this might be the most challenging to find... perhaps I'll just have to take a trip back there!

SO there we have it. I can honestly mark off two of the seven wines I need to try before I die. Looks like I've got my work cut out for me, but rest assure, I need to try try a lot more than seven wines before I'm outta here!

My Night as a Grape

It is evident from this picture that I do not know how to smile... but regardless of the unfortunate fact that this is indeed the best picture I have of myself in this years Halloween costume, I found it necessary to post my this on my blog.

Being a grape isn't easy. As you can tell, my grapes (balloons) are over ripening only from the few hours after they were blown up, luckily only one was crushed (popped) throughout the entire night.

It was worth it; my costume was voted best costume by most to all attendees of this Halloween soiree. Most found it particularly amusing that my beverage of choice was indeed wine (as if I'd choose something else for such a outfit?)

Which grape was I? In the end I chose to be Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes on my costume are a bit more purple than those of the luscious varietal, but I figured it'd be one of the easiest for those who are not quite as versed in the wine world to relate to, plus, I opted for a bottle of Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon (yes, I did get sucked into the Halloween hype.)

Overall, this was the most successful costume I've ever worn. Certainly an attention grabber and perfect for my over obsessed lifestyle of wine enthusiast. Salut!