I'm Cheating on Finger Lakes Wines!

With all of the herbaceous, highly seasoned, salty foods that I have been eating this winter, I have formed a soft spot in my heart for the 2008 Simi Valley Chardonnay. It is extremely buttery and provides a sweetness reminiscent of apples, pears and citrus. A lot of herb roasted turkeys (think Thanksgiving!), chickens, pork, even root vegetables are paired with dressings of orange zest, sauteed apples etc to contrast the savory flavors without overwhelming them. It comes as no surprise that this wine would accompany the food of the season. It is aged for 6 months in 25% new oak, and the flavor difference from the unoaked Finger Lakes Chardonnays that I am accustomed to, is enormous. I enjoy unokaed Chardonnay with grilled foods and fish in the summer, however; the slow cooked, braised, brined, baked, broiled, roasted foods of the winter need something a bit less crisp, and more luscious like the Simi Valley Chardonnay. So the next time you...lets say...herb roast a chicken, butternut squash and brussel sprouts, think Simi.


Cheers,
Nora

Cheers to Microbreweries!

I have admitted that I am a food snob, clearly I have an affection for wine and today I have to confess, I am a bit pretentious about beer. Why would I drink a Bud Light with my meal when I could have a carefully crafted microbrewery beer? I want to enhance the foods that I am eating with my drink not ruin them. Using good ingredients in a meal makes it taste better, and drinking better wine and beer does the same. If you aren’t drinking the good stuff what is the point?

My favorite microbrewery is the Middle Ages Brewery in Syracuse, New York. From the outside you would never guess that this place was a brewery. There are no signs and the parking area (well, it is a side walk really) is non-existent. You walk in to a little room filled with burly men tasting beers and two fat cats basking in the sun. They have clever labels on their brews and even more clever names. My favorite beer they produce is called the “Wailing Wench”. It is a very flavorful hoppy beer that they deem “full bodied and screaming with hops”. The label features a voluptuous “wench” who appears to be screaming (with hops?). Their seasonal Apricot Ale is also surprisingly good. If you typically don’t like fruit flavor beers, neither do I, but this one is worth the try. The apricot flavor pairs nicely with the ale, enhancing the beer without making it too sweet. Next time you go to the grocery store skip over the 30 racks of Coors and Budweiser and make your way over to the 6 packs of microbrewery beer. Your taste buds will thank you.

Drink up,

Nora

Visit The Finger Lakes for Riesling...and Merlot?

As an Upstate New Yorker, I am a proud supporter of Finger Lakes Region wines. Some of the best Riesling, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer wines that I have enjoyed are produced in the Finger Lakes. If you noticed, I only mentioned white wines. The thought of a Finger Lakes red makes me cringe. Every time I do a tasting, I make sure to avoid any red wine they have listed. I constantly wonder why this region would even attempt a Cabernet Franc or Merlot, as they will NEVER compare to the rich, full-bodied Californian version. That is until I visited the Hermann J. Wiemer winery.
Wiemer is one of my favorite, if not my favorite, Finger Lakes winery. Their Rieslings are award winning legends and nothing short of perfection (I'm craving a nice chilled glass just writing about them!). I made an exception to my very strict "NO FINGER LAKES RED!!" rule, when the sommelier at Wiemer suggested the 2007 Merlot. He described it as, "The kind of wine you want to curl up and watch a movie with." It happened to be a rainy, cold day, so it was hard to deny a wine that carried such a sentiment. I carefully examined the color, drew in the aroma and was ready to taste. To my shock, my palate was delighted to be experiencing such a treat. It was comforting, smooth, and slightly smokey. I was so enamored with this wine that I completely forgot it was raining. The sommelier was right and I was sold. Before you head out to the liquor store I must be the barer of bad news: this wine is not sold in stores. It can be purchased at the winery or online. So next time you visit the Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, be sure to stock up! I promise you won't be disappointed with this purchase.

GO RED! (...and green...save the earth...yadda-yadda)

Nora