flipflop Moscato California 2010

For those of you new to my blog, let me give you some background, I’m a wine drinker. I don’t mean, I occasionally enjoy a glass with dinner or with friends, I’m a nightly wine drinker. Even if I’m sick, I have been known to have a glass of wine, of course then it’s for medicinal purposes only. Being a serious wine drinker can put a dent in your budget, so I set out to find great tasting wines that wouldn’t break the bank. Over the past few years, I have found some great wines under $20, for the occasional splurge, and very tasty wines under $10 for my everyday wine drinking. I’ve also found some that I wouldn’t even use for cooking; luckily those are not the norm.

In July my husband and I took the leap and moved to the NE Georgia Mountains, settling in Murrayville. We have 3 acres of wooded land complete with the occasional bear, plenty of deer and one steep, long driveway that I know I will not venture down if there is any chance of ice. I’m a Florida girl, grew up in Southwest Florida and moved to Tampa during college where I put down roots until our recent move. Being a newcomer,  I have the opportunity to explore this wonderful area and see things in a way a native NE Georgian may not. I’ll bring to you great wine finds and those you may want to leave on the retail shelves.

Most of the country associates the south with sweet tea and sweet wines. I can happily contest the notion that all southern wines are sweet. However, this being my debut in the true south, I thought it appropriate to profile flipflop Moscato 2010. The wine took Double Gold at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and has been listed as Best Buy in the June issue of Wine Enthusiast.

Floral aromas fill the glass; flavors are sweet and crisp with a lingering honeysuckle finish. Light bodied the wine is semi-sweet and pairs well with spicy barbecue chicken or ribs. Perfect wine to enjoy outdoor while the temps are still warm.

TA: 0.68 g/100mL

RS: 7.60 g/100mL
pH: 3.53
Alcohol: 10%
SRP: $7.00
Case Production: 15,000

Looking for another good reason to checkout flipflop wines? With every bottle of flipflop wine purchased, Soles4Souls distributes a pair of shoes to someone in need. Soles4Souls, a Nashville-based charity, collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. To find out how you can help more, click here. How often do you get the chance to enjoy a bottle of wine and help a community?

Tune in each week and read up on my new adventures, like my “bobcat” sighting that turned out to be just a large cat or local wine events like the Frogtown Cellars Harvest Dinner that took place this past Saturday evening and how you can participate in future harvests. 

Cheers!

2011© Kellie Stargaard.  All Rights Reserved.

http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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Monticello Rioja Reserva Tempranillo 2003

Mother Nature seems to be teasing NE Georgia with days where you’re sure fall has arrived, only to find the next day humid and warm. My arms are getting tired with all this open the windows, close the windows stuff. A handful of leaves have just started to turn on the fall color show. Though I’m not sure if it’s due to drought or if fall is truly making an appearance. Regardless, when the temps at night dip into the 60’s it’s time to crack open a wine with a little oomph to it. That’s where Monticello Rioja Reserva 2003 comes into play.

First whiff and the classic bouquet of spice and oak come through. Flavors are full of spice, vanilla and very woodsy. Refined tannins give it a dry feel but not enough to make the cheeks pucker. Finish is long and oaky.

Varietal – Tempranillo

Region – Rioja Alta, Spain
Alcohol – 13.5%
SRP - $18

Founded in 1874 by Celestino Navajas in Rioja Alta, Spain, Bodegas Monticello is one of the oldest wineries in the region. The winery focuses on top-of-the-line wines and all receive the seal of the Rioja DOC control board. Once the grapes are harvested they are left to age in Bordeaux oak barrels for no less than 18 months. They are then bottled where they can be consumed immediately or aged for several years.

As the much needed rain gives way to bits of sunlight shining on the wet leaves, I’m anxious to experience my first true fall season. Stores have already begun setting out pumpkins and various gourds and I’m itching to begin hauling them home and setting up my own little pumpkin patch. Hoping the first week of October will bring a little cooler temps so my poor pumpkins don’t turn to mush before the season is over. I know I shouldn’t complain, in Florida you couldn’t carve a pumpkin until the day of Halloween since it would be rotten the next day.

Come January I’m sure I’ll be cursing the cold, stuck inside unable to navigate the snow and ice and desperately missing my flip flop and t-shirt attire. In the mean time, I’ll sit back and relax in one of our rocking chairs while watching the squirrels gather acorns and wait patiently for nature to turn on its spectacular color show.

If you would like to send samples for my review, please contact me at kstargaard@yahoo.com.

2011© Kellie Stargaard.  All Rights Reserved.
http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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Running with Scissors Cabernet Sauvignon Livermore, CA

Boxes, boxes and more boxes. Whether they be unopened, repacked or flattened, my life is now full of boxes. The excitement over rediscovering all my stuff has turned into an overwhelming feeling of doubt and wonder. Doubt of whether I’ll ever get everything into place and wonder of where in the world am I going to put all this stuff. Now I look forward to some much needed storage solution. A wine storage solution will be the purchase of a riddling rack to hold all those wonderful wines. This brings me to my next wine, Running with Scissors Cabernet Sauvignon.

Aromas were a little closed even after some in glass swirling but I can detect some hints of blackberry and vanilla. Cherry and blackberry hit the palate, nice balance between sugar and the round and smooth tannins. Very drinkable but was a little disappointed. I was told by an associate at Total Wine, the wine is a second label produced by  Concannon but I wasn’t able to find anything online that confirmed this statement. If anyone knows, please let me know. I did purchase this at Total Wine before we left Florida for $9.99.

Unfortunately the only website I found for Running with Scissors is under construction, so I have zero info on this wine and winery. For $9.99 it’s worth a try and it really was drinkable, I just found it to be a little closed. Perhaps a different variety or vintage will be on my shopping list soon.

While I make friends with our new house, the land is stunning. We’ve already had a bear or two, deer feed in our woods on a regular basis, the squirrels are busy preparing for the upcoming winter and the local wineries are wrapping up their harvests. More to come on those very soon. 

As I dive into the mountain of boxes, unpack some things, repack others, drag boxes back to the basement, it hits me. Why is it, I can find all the high school crap my mother made me store and all of my old Fisher Price toys, yet I can’t find the box with the DVD player? Frustrating…. Ah, I look forward to the day when everything is in its place, even if that place means stored in the basement. The basement, big plans for that area…will eventually become the wine bar. A place of my own where I can sit back and enjoy a few glasses of wine with my husband, or friends and family. The roads are around are too winding to go out and have a few glasses, much safer and smarter to enjoy in the comfort of our own home. Until then, there’s always the front porch and the rocking chairs, which is still blissfully clutter free.

If you would like to send samples for my review, please contact me at kstargaard@yahoo.com.

To donate to the America’s Disaster Relief Truck, currently helping Alabama tornado victims and Mississippi flood victims, click here.

2011© Kellie Stargaard.  All Rights Reserved.

http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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Root:1 Carménère 2009

Reunited and it feels so good. After months of being in storage and packed up in boxes I finally have access to all of my stuff! Now comes the daunting task of finding a place for all that stuff. I think George Carlin put it best when he said “That’s the whole meaning of life isn’t it, trying to find a place for your stuff.” Well, I know that’s what my life meaning will be for the next several weeks.

While getting reacquainted with my stuff, I’m getting accustomed to the sounds of rural country life. Roosters crowing and cows mooing intermingle with the birds in the trees and the dogs barking in the distance. Rural life, getting back to man’s roots I guess you could say. Seems like a good intro into my latest wine, Root:1 Carménère  2009.

Intense red fruit aromas of cherry & blackberry and spicy notes. Full to medium bodied with woodsy red berries and just a hint of smoke in the finish. Perfect balance of smooth tannins and residual sugar. It’s dry but not mouth puckering. A really a lovely wine to sip while sitting in our rocking chairs on our front porch. You can find this at most retailers for around $12.99. Picked this one up at the local Kroger store.

Rooted in Chili (pun intended) Root:1 the Original Ungrafted takes pride in their unique wine region. Geographic and climate conditions create an environment resistant to Phylloxera which  forced so many wine makers in other countries to graft their vines to generic rootstocks. Root:1 roots are grown on original ungrafted roots, allowing all the surrounding flavors to absorb through the roots and shine through in the wines.

The Carménère vineyards are located between the Andes Mountains and the coastal mountains on the Pacific. The steep and rocky slopes consisting of sand and clay help retain moisture during the warm days and the ocean breezes provide for cooling during the night.

Originally planted in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, the Carménère grape, was thought to be extinct and was only rediscovered in Chile in 1994. The name "Carménère" originates from the French word for crimson (carmin) referring to the crimson color of the autumn foliage. Now rarely found in France, Chili is the largest producer of the Carménère variety with more than 8,800 hectares cultivated in the Central Valley. Carménère is considered part of the original six red grapes of Bordeaux, France and is referred to as the “lost grape of Bordeaux”.   

If you would like to send samples for my review, please contact me at kstargaard@yahoo.com.

To donate to the America’s Disaster Relief Truck, currently helping US disaster victims  click here.

2011© Kellie Stargaard.  All Rights Reserved.

http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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LibertySchool Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2007

Today’s the day, my husband and I close on our new house set on 3 acres of wooded Georgia land, amidst the NE Georgia Mountains. We’ve been apartment dwellers since moving to Georgia 32 days ago. It’s a two bedroom, two bath but the dining room and second bedroom are jammed packed with boxes and furniture. With the majority of our belongings still in boxes, we’re surviving with the bare essentials and even some of those still have not been located. I find myself opening boxes and fingering my treasured belongings. I miss my possessions and can’t wait until I can liberate them from their cardboard prison and have all the true comforts of home around us. Of course I took extra care to ensure we had a few essentials on hand such as; wine refrigerator, wine collection, two wine glasses and one very important corkscrew. I know it’s a stretch but I felt Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2007 tied in well with my quest for freedom for my possessions.

Aromas are full of leather and vanilla. Fruit forward plum and blackberry wash over the palate. Cassis and well balanced tannins all provide for a very well rounded wine. Priced at $9.99, you won’t mind liberating a few dollars to enjoy this wine.

Need another reason to check out Liberty School, how about that it’s family owned and operated by the Hope Family in Paso Robles, CA since 1978. You may even say this is the poor man’s Caymus. As Napa Valley vintner Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards, was in search of Cabernet for his second label, Liberty School, Wagner approached Hope Farms as a fruit source. Growers over the next decade, the Hope family helped build the brand known for quality wine at an affordable price. In 1996, the Hopes established Treana Winery, providing a natural transition for Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon to join the Treana family of wines.

After we close on the house, we’ll head over with those two wine glasses, that one wine opener and a bottle of wine which will be carefully selected, where we will sit on our rocking chairs overlooking the beautiful view. This wine ties in more with our move than I realized. For months my plan was to purchase a bottle of Caymus to celebrate the move into our new house. After some deep and serious waffling, I decided that money would be better spent on a new light fixture for the kitchen, helping to bring it into the current century. While I have second thoughts on spending my money on Caymus, I have no qualms about buying more Liberty School wines.

If you would like to send samples for my review, please contact me at kstargaard@yahoo.com.

2011© Kellie Stargaard.  All Rights Reserved.

http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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Crimson & Clover Red Wine 2009 and Fresh Starts

My first three weeks in North Georgia have brought about many fresh and new adventures. Everything from learning to drive mountain roads, tubing rocky but clear rivers and discovering all the wonderful people, wineries and local retailers the area has to offer. With so many new things in my world, it’s nice now and then to turn and see a familiar and friendly face. This is especially true when this “face” is in the form of a wine label. Last nights sampling of Concannon’s Crimson & Clover was one of those faces I welcome into my home no matter where that home may be.

Decadent, rich currant and clover aromas lead to flavors bursting with fresh ripe blackberry. Soft and supple finish with a touch of leather. Priced at $15, this wine is sinfully delicious. We paired with a Southern favorite, shrimp & grits. Of course we had to add our own spin with sherry and scallops.

Crimson & Clover is the first blend and the fifth wine in the Concannon Conservancy portfolio. Created to commerate Jim Concannon’s 80^th birthday in 2011, the wine is a nod to the Concannon’s Irish heritage; the clover is a traditional sign for prosperity, crimson reflects the deep red color of the blend. Befitting of Jim Concannon’s moniker as the father of America’s First Petite Sirah, the wine is a blend of 50% Petite Sirah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sryah and 10% Zinfandel. For more info on Concannon, click here.

Local NE Georgia finds:

Talk about fresh, Mountain Fresh Creamery located in Clermont, GA is our very own connection to fresh milk, cream, butter and ice cream. Their motto is, 24 hours from cow to store and speaking of cows, they graze on fresh grass just 6 miles from the creamery. Having just opened in July of this year, the focus now is on the milk but I know they’re working very hard to get the other products out to those of us constantly clamoring for butter or cream. Whenever I pass by I always stop by and use just two words, got butter? I also check their Facebook Page on a regular basis, waiting and hoping today will be the day. I’m just 10 miles away and I know I can fly like the wind over those roads to get some precious pure and wholesome butter. The chocolate milk is the best I’ve ever had and I can’t wait until it gets cold and I can heat some up and sip it while sitting on my rocking chair on my front porch. Even if you don’t live in the area, check them out on their website or FB Page, you’ll be glad you did.

If you would like to send samples for my review, please contact me at kstargaard@yahoo.com.

2011© Kellie Stargaard.  All Rights Reserved.

http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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Domaine St. George Select Reserve Merlot

After two weeks in Northern Georgia, there are still so many things to see and do. Lucky for this foodie and wine lover, the area is not lacking in great places to buy wine and delectable noshes to go with the wine. One recent find is local wine & cheese store, Vine & Cheese, conveniently located less than a mile from my temporary residence in Gainesville, GA. Once we move into our house in Murrayville, GA, it will be about 12 miles but will be worth the trip. I wandered in and took away about 5 wines I had never tasted before. First wine I tried, Domaine St. George Merlot from Hearldsburg, CA, was a winner.

Black cherry and red licorice aromas. Mellow, soft and supple texture. Plum flavors with a hint of vanilla. Full bodied, in classic Merlot style the finish is long and slightly dry. Merlot has been treated like the red headed step child in the wine world for the past few years but Don, the store’s owner, informed me Domaine St. George Select Merlot outsells their Cabernet. Maybe, Merlot is making a comeback. 

Appellation – California

TA – .61gm/100ml
pH – 3.4
RS - .20
Alcohol – 12.3%
Price - $11.99 at Vine & Cheese

Originally named the Cambiaso Winery, Giovanni Cambiaso planted the first vineyards in 1928 above the Russian River in Sonoma. Since that time the soils and microclimate have proved to be ideal for premium grape growing. Over the years, the winery has undergone many changes. In 1986 the winery was renamed The Domaine Saint George Winery. In 1995 the vineyards were replanted with select clones of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The new vines produce outstanding vintages and have been named "The Best Red Wine of the Year" by wine writer Jerry D. Mead. At $11.99 the wine drinks closer to a $20 bottle.

If you’re in the NE GA area, stop by Vine and Cheese on Friday nights for a wine tasting from 5-7. Vine and Cheese is located at 1175 Thompson Bridge Rd. NW in Gainesville, GA. Tell ‘em the Wine Chick sent you! Meanwhile, I think I’m going to sneak a bottle into a nearby park and have a glass of wine on the shores of Lake Lanier. There the only sounds you hear are the rolling waves, the rustling leaves, the cicada and the occasional boat. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon.

Independent blogger. If you would like to send samples for my review, please contact me at kstargaard@yahoo.com.

2011© Kellie Stargaard.  All Rights Reserved.

http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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