How to Select a Bottle of Wine to Take to a Party

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You've been invited to a party and asked to take a bottle of wine.  Now what?  You don't think you know a thing about wine but are expected to show up and not embarrass yourself.  Well, fear not!  

There are several things to consider. First, who will be attending the party. If this is an invite to the boss’s house for dinner, that's one thing. If it's a after-work happy hour, a beach party or picnic, that's another.  The primary thing to consider is who you are buying the wine for. 

So, let's start from the easiest position to be in.  If you are invited to an after work happy hour, a beach party or picnic with a big group, don't fret.  Just about any bottle will do.  The point will be to enjoy some food and wine and have a good time.  Show up with a chilled bottle of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, or a Rosé and your bottle will fit right in.  

Next, if you are invited to someone's house for a big party, whether it be an open house or a birthday party, again it's hard to go wrong.  The big group will just be looking for a bottle that can be opened and enjoyed while socializing at the party. Along with the previously mentioned white wines and rosés, you might venture into some reds wines and consider a popular Red Blend, Zinfandel, or a Merlot. Inexpensive versions of these can easily be found in the $10-$15 range. And, like the beach party or picnic, it will be easy to introduce your wine with little threat.

Next comes the smaller couples party where you are to take a bottle of wine. Here your wine will be noticed. If you know the hosts well, it’s certainly appropriate to ask what type of wine they'd like for you to bring.  They know what food they are going to be serving and should give you some direction on a white versus a red.  Otherwise, show up with a nice bottle of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Merlot in the $15 price range.

A harder situation is when the boss invites you over for dinner or you are in a social situation where you are trying to make a strong positive impression.  Even if you weren't asked to bring a bottle of wine, you should show up with one.  If you are trying to impress, plan on shopping by price and find a nice bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, or Zinfandel) in the $20 - $30 price range.  Yes, that may be a bit pricey compared to what you would usually spend, but remember, you want to impress.  And, spending a few extra dollars will be well worth it.

Finally, if you've been invited to someone's house where you know they are big wine lovers.  You want to be shopping the upper shelves which is where the 'nice' wines are usually displayed.  If you can go $35 to $50, do so.  And focus on the red wines. A nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah or a fine red blend should impress. 

Whether it's a picnic party or a small gathering, be sure to look around at what other wines show up.  It will give you a better sense for next time. And, you just might want to drop off your bottle and try someone else's wine that you've never tried before.  

So, boldly go out there, pick up a bottle of wine to share and, most of all, don't worry. Your wine will be appreciated and rapidly consumed.  Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Jump Mountain Vineyard Borderland Red Blend

2019 Jump Mountain Borderland Red Blend ($27)

From the Shenandoah Valley AVA, Jump Mountain Borderland red blend is an award-winning wine having received 1st place in the Shenandoah Cup Awards!

Approved in 1982 as Virginia’s first American Viticultural Area, the Shenandoah Valley AVA is located in the Appalachian region of the eastern United States covering the land along the western edge of Virginia and spilling into the easternmost portion of West Virginia.

Bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west, these two ranges create a specific mesoclimate for the valley between them, which itself ranges from 500 to 1,800 feet above sea level, protecting it from storms from the west and rain-bearing winds blowing in from the Atlantic coast, 100 miles east.

Protected by the sandstone knob of Jump Mountain, the micro-climate and soils found at Jump Mountain Vineyards create conditions conducive to growing vinifera grape varieties.

This Jump Mountain Borderland red blend is produced from 50% Tannat, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc. It is deep ruby in color with big aromas of rich dark fruit. On the palate, this blend has wonderful flavors of cherry and raspberry with medium tannin and a balanced soft finish. The three ‘big’ red grapes used in this blend might typically need a good hour or more in the decanter but the 2019 Borderland was great right after pulling the cork.

Being a 1st place wine, and only having produced 50 cases, this Jump Mountain Borderland red blend may be tough to find. But if you are able to find it, pick up a couple - it’s super! And, at the price, it’s definitely a perfect fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Jump Mountain Vineyards via the Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association and Donna White Communications

Lady Bug Taint in Wine? Yes - It's a Real Thing!

Photo by Justin Lauria on Unsplash

There are various type of problems that can occur in the winemaking process that result in the wine being damaged, or tainted.

Some common wine faults include:

• Oxidized wine - Wine which is exposed to too much oxygen can take on orange/brown colors and nutty flavor

• Brett - Caused by a type of yeast, this fault causes wine to smell like a barnyard, hay bales, a sweaty horse saddle, Band-Aids, or a sweaty horse

• Cork Taint - Caused by airborne fungi and bacteria, wine takes on the odors of wet newspaper, a wet dog, or moldy cardboard

• Cooked Wine - When wine has been exposed to too much heat, it can take on a nutty, brown color along with a roasted sugar aroma

• Lightstrike - After exposure to too much UV light the wine may take on the smell of wet wool

These types of damage are sometimes rare (e.g., Brett, Cork Taint) and others are more common than we think (e.g., Oxidation, Cooked wine, Lightstrike). But then there’s Lady Bug Taint!

Lady bugs are quite common in the outdoors and generally thought to be beneficial to plants. The problem comes when Lady bugs remain on clusters of grapes during the winemaking process. When they are in distress, such as being crushed or drowned, their defense mechanism is to give off a smelly compound. This compound can have nutty notes, sometimes compared to roasted peanuts. It can also include odors of molded potatoes, asparagus, rotten peas or green bell pepper. It’s thought that just one beetle per vine can be enough to taint the resulting wine!

While not considered harmful to humans, this Lady bug taint is a real thing. So, as always, if your wine has an off-odor, it’s likely one of many things that can be damaging, including Lady bug taint. Who knew?

Behind the Cork™ - Vilarnau Cava is Perfect for Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for sparkling wine. And, Cava is great choice.

These two wonderful Cavas are from Vilarnau in Barcelona Spain. The name comes from the old Vilarnau castle which can be found on the banks of the river Anoia and which formed part of the Subirats castle, where the vineyards can be found today. The winery is a small, artisanal, hand crafted Cava house located outside of Barcelona that dates back to 1949. Made in the traditional méthode champenoise, the Vilarnau bottles honor their Catalan roots with wrapping that reflects the beautiful avant-­garde imagery of Antoni Gaudí.

• Vilarnau Brut Reserva NV ($15.99) This Brut Cava is made from three varietals: 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, 15% Xarel.lo. Each varietal is fermented separately. The first fermentation takes place over 30 days before the wines are blended. The second fermentation occurs the traditional way, in the bottle, where the yeast turns the wines into Cava with its characteristic bubbles. On the palate, this Brut Cava has flavors of apple, lemon, and white pears along with bright acidity. It is classified as a "Reserva" because it was aged for more than 15 months in the bottle.

• Vilarnau Brut Rosé Delicat Reserva NV ($16.99) This rosé Cava is produced from 85% Garnacha and 15% Pinot Noir. They are fermented separately in stainless steel tanks for 30 days. They are then blended and bottled where they undergo the second fermentation which takes about six weeks. It then stays in contact with the yeast for at least 15 months in the bottle during the aging process which qualifies this Cava as a “Reserva.” This Cava has delicate flavors of ripe strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. It’s smooth, creamy and refreshing.

Vilarnau cavas are imported by González Byass USA, distributed nationally at great prices and are this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week.

Happy Valentine’s Day and “Cheers” to raising a delicious glass of Cava!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Samples Provided by González Byass via Donna White Communications

Think Wine is Just Grape Juice and Yeast. Think Again!

Photo by Roberta Sorge on Unsplash

What is more natural than a glass of wine?

Grow some grape vines, wait for them to produce grapes, harvest the grape bunches, de-stem them (sometimes), crush them to produce juice, leave the crushed grapes in contact with the juice to create color (in the case of red wines and rosé) and then rely on natural yeasts or added yeast to convert the natural sugars in the grape juice to alcohol and, voilà, - you have wine! It’s just that simple, right?

Well, wine isn’t always that simple. While some wines are indeed produced with these simple steps and ingredients, there are some other ingredients that can be used in the winemaking process. And, the only two ingredients that are required to appear on a wine label are the alcohol content and if it contains sulfites.

Here’s a few of the other ingredients that may be used in wine making or remain in a wine:

• Added Yeast Nutrients and Enzymes

  • Yeast nutrients are used to speed up the process of fermentation.

• Potassium Sorbate and Potassium Metabisultite

  • Both of these ingredients are used to guard against bacteria and protect the yeast from spoiling, and are commonly used together during the fermentation process to help the yeast ferment efficiently while improving the overall flavor.

• Acid, Sugar, and Tannin Additions

  • Adding acid will decrease the pH and increase the total acidity of the wine to ensure it is in overall balance

  • Adding sugar before or during fermentation can help boost the alcohol content. The process is called ‘chaptalization’ and also assists the yeast during the fermentation process.

  • Powdered tannins may be added early in the process to help add balance

• Acid Reducers

  • Calcium carbonate is used to reduce the acidity of the finished wine, and is sometimes added if the grapes have had trouble ripening. It’s usually added before or at the start of fermentation, so it doesn’t impact on the aroma of the wine.

  • Potassium Bicarbonate is also used to help lower the acidity

• Oak and Oak Chips, Powders, and Granules

  • Winemakers rely on oak barrels to flavor wine with notes of vanilla or subtle spices,

  • If the wine doesn’t come into direct contact with wood (i.e., stainless steel tanks), some producers will add oak chips, powders or staves to add oak flavors.

• Stabilizers and Anti-Sediment Additions

  • Potassium bitartrate is used as a seeding agent to promote tartrate precipitation during cold stabilization

  • Urease is added to reduce the level of urea in wines, when this is excessive, in order to avoid the formation of ethyl carbamate during aging.  The enzyme transforms urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide.

• Fining Agents

  • Fining agents are used for clarifying wine. These agents, such as bentonite (powdered clay), isinglass (fish bladder), casein (milk protein), gelatin or egg whites, combine with sediment particles and cause them to settle to the bottom of the vessel, where they can be easily removed before the wine is bottled.

• Grape Concentrate

  • Grape juice concentrate is sometimes included to boost the color of red wine and add a bit of sugar to smooth out the mouthfeel.

• Coloring Agents or Color Stabilizers

  • Coloring agents may be used to deepen the color of red wines, or to add ‘blush’ to whites

  • Stabilizers ensure the wine’s color does not change during fermentation and aging

• Dimethyl Di-carbonate, Ammonium Phosphate and Di-ammonium Phosphates

  • Dimethyl di-carbonate is used to stabilize wine by preventing microbial spoilage

  • Di-ammonium Phosphate is used to speed up the fermentation process

• Sulfur Dioxide

  • Usually listed as ‘sulfites’. It’s used to preserve the grapes and prevent oxidation during the winemaking process.

• Preservatives and Antibacterial Agents (e.g., potassium sorbate, dimethyl dicarbonate, sorbic acid, copper sulfate)

  • Preservative such as potassium sorbate or sorbic acid are used to 'stabilize' a wine and prevent a renewed fermentation by inhibiting the yeast cell from being able to multiply, grow and begin a new fermentation.

  • Dimethyl dicarbonate is used to stabilize the wine by preventing microbial spoilage

• Alcohol

  • Adding alcohol, usually from another grape-derived spirit such as brandy, is called fortification. Since yeast naturally dies at 15% ABV, addition of extra alcohol will push the alcohol concentration of a wine over the 15% mark.

  • Alcohol is added to “Fortified” wines such as Port, Sherry, Madeira, Marsala and Vermouth