As the writer of a ‘New Booze’ column, I never thought I’d be able to talk about sherry, but here we are: Bodegas Grant is the newest sherry producer imported to the US, and just in time for a resurgence in popularity of this previously obscured wine. Sherry has been produced for centuries and plays an integral role in the aging of spirits, as sherry casks add unique flavor to a variety of spirits, but there has been very little rhetoric surrounding it in the modern cocktail community until recently. There is a romance and an unmatched mystique to this wine, but many bodegas outside of Jerez, sherry’s production region in Spain, have been shuttered due to the world’s waned enthusiasm. A new, boutique sherry producer being imported is both exciting and relieving. Bodegas Grant is located in El Puerto de Santa Maria, southwest of Jerez on the shore of [...]

Grapevines are among the most finicky of crops. Not content to just be sensitive to whims of weather, grapes even resist the best intentions of modern civilization. the establishment of trade routes between the americas and Europe irreversibly changed not only the fortunes of many now-defunct wine chateaux, but it also forever changed the way that a vineyard is planted. Genetic (and marketing) research now makes it possible to grow just about any type of grape in any type of vineyard given the proper vine clones. the specter of climate change (if you happen to believe in “science”) is already wreaking havoc in established wine regions and making new ones as we speak. before any of this factors in, it all begins with dirt. Viticulturists and soil go together like cats and catnip. They need to feel it, grind it up, smell it, taste it, and analyze it endlessly. And [...]

We had the pleasure of chatting with Wilfred Wong, BevMo’s cellar master, this week about his favorite wines of the year and what it’s like to have the best job in the business (seriously — he visits France, Chile, Argentina, and more every year and tastes thousands of wines on each trip).  He started at BevMo in August of 1995 as the import wine buyer and now, as cellar master, he scores about 8,000 wines/year for the retailer.  Bevmo shoppers will be thrilled to know that the ‘WW’ on wine ratings around the store is, in fact, a real person. Wilfred gave us a quick primer on how he utilizes the 100 point scale to score wines in a systematic way. These top ten wines are all members of the illustrious “90+ point club,” which means that they all possess the characteristics of not only their respective grapes, but also [...]

The holidays are upon us. Holiday shopping has officially taken hold of our wallets. The only tool a wine enthusiast really can’t live without is a good old fashioned cork screw — but presents are more fun when they’re something you want, not need — so here’s a quick list of gift items any wine lover will love. Corkcicle $22.95- This little contraption is the answer for the age old question – “What do I do when a white wine is warm that should be cold now?” The corkcicle is a like an ice pack for your wine. To use, simply open the bottle of white wine, pour a small portion in a glass to create some room, and pop the corkcicle in the wine. The corkcicle is made up of a cork that has a long, thin freezer pack attached to it. Once inserted, the corkcicle will chill the [...]

Thanksgiving is upon us, which means that tomorrow, the third Thursday of November, will mark the release of Beaujolais Nouveau on US shores– a traditional celebration of the first release of wine from Beaujolais. What appeals to many wine drinkers is that they are able to consume the wine in the same year it was grown and bottled.  The flipside of that coin is that a heck of a lot of wine drinkers avoid Beaujolais Nouveau for the very same reason. Beaujolais Nouveau isn’t the only 2011 wine currently on the market, though. In fact, an entire Thanksgiving meal can be enjoyed with solely 2011 releases. For starters, much of the Southern hemisphere – Chile, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil – have already released their 2011 vintages, though without such fanfare as our friend Nouveau. Even in the northern hemisphere, the 2011 vintage of many wines have been released, which [...]

In today’s society, it is generally accepted that you get what you pay for; the higher the price, the higher the return. Of course, there are many exceptions to this rule and luckily one of those exceptions is wine. American consumers are drinking wine in larger quantities and with more ‘wine literacy’ than ever before, but that doesn’t mean everyone can afford first growth Bordeaux. The good news is that this fact, in conjunction with the today’s financial situation, has put an increased pressure on winemakers to craft inexpensive, but respectable and delicious wines. As the holidays approach, you’re going to need to pick out a good wine for parties, dinners, and gifts. Here are some examples that are great value wines to help you through the struggle: Charles de Fere Sparkling Rose Dry Reserve NV $11.99   Made of a blend of red grapes from throughout France this light [...]

Some people collect coins, some people collect stamps and some people collect this week’s topic: corks. It has become increasingly common to craft household items from corks. Trivets, wreathes, bulletin boards – and suits- are just some of the modern-day creations craft-stars have concocted for sale (at a hefty price too.) These are nice trinkets, but there is actually a more meaningful way to utilize many of the corks you pop in your own life, albeit not as practical. To what is this referring to? Memories. Here’s how: next time you’re at a party or a fancy dinner and the bottle of wine you are drinking is cork enclosed, snag that cork, write the date and the occasion on the cork and throw it in a decorative vase. The vase serves not only as stylish decoration, but also as a time capsule. Perfect for family occasions or when you need [...]

Take a look at the bottle of wine/beer/spirits in your hand. How did it get there? Well, after it was produced, the producer sold it to a distributor at less than 50% of its retail price, who then sold it to a store at a large profit, who then sold it to you at a markup 18-25% higher than its intended retail price. There may have been a broker in there as well. Why so many middle men, and why so complicated? Prohibition and the three-tier system. Prior to prohibition, the alcohol industry was very loosely regulated, and dominated by a few very large producers. Anti-competition practices abounded: if a brewery or distillery didn’t have its own bar, it ‘invested’ in bars by giving loans or furniture and, in exchange, demanded that no other brands be sold on the premises. These big, bad breweries also required increasing sales, so the [...]