Seek out wineries that go above and beyond the norm to provide a great tasting experience and you will enjoy the experience even more. Darioush winery, also on the Silverado Trail, also has one.

They are also great for the holidays because you can put them in punch bowls and have your guests gather round. You can also get your friends in on the action by having them help you shake and muddle (as I did with dubious results on this segment of View from the Bay).

So please take a look at my Examiner.com column for a couple fun holiday recipes.

Stores that once sneered at me for seeking out wines under $10 are stacking them out on the floor. Most wine shops are now featuring prominent value sections, often chosen by wine geeky employees. Restaurants are offering half-off nights, ladies nights and two for ones. Take advantage of these deals. If you have a little money saved it’s even a great time to collect, as prices on classified Bordeaux are way down. One only wonders when, if ever, Napa may follow suit.

We filmed it at K&L, which is one of my favorite wine shops in the City. They  had some great wine on the floor, including some very well priced Malbecs and Torrontés from Argentina and a couple of Nero d’Avolas from Sicily. These were stacked out in the middle of the store in the staff picks section. I always love to see curious and wine savvy sales staff getting invested in sharing their favorite wines and have a hand in what’s on the floor.

Nick and I among the wines at K&L.

So Nick played the part of the curious newbie drinker perfectly. He told me he had had an Etude Pinot Noir the other night and enjoyed it. So I walked him over to the Pinot section and pointed out a couple of other great wines he might want to try–like the Hitching Post Cork Dancer–as well as some Oregon Pinots, like Domaine Serene, that might be similar in style.

We also talked about the concepts of second labels as more affordable versions of a winery’s production. I showed Nick Beyond from Buitenverwachten, which is a great everyday Sauvignon Blanc priced around $10. We also touched on Prosecco and Cava being great Champagne alternatives and did an interview with co-owner Clyde Beffa about the different wines he direct imports for the store.

So here’s to great retailers.

Cheers,

Liza the Wine Chick

 Makeup for this segment provided by Shawnté Vargas of Benefit.

The Business of Wine is composed of more than 140 entries from a multitude of experts of different backgrounds in the wine business. Importers, journalists and educators came together to try to forge the industry’s first serious ode to the business of wine. It has chapters that address hence thus forth infrequently discussed concepts such as the role of importers, distributors and cult wines. It also tackles topics like the trend towards higher alcohol levels in wine and the value of ratings and scores. It was edited by Geralyn and Jack Brostrom and was published by Greenwood Press. Other contributors include educator Doug Frost, Jamie Ritchie of Sotheby’s and winemaker João Portugal Ramos.

These are often topics that remained less than well redefined in the shadows and it’s exciting to see a wine industry book take them all on head on. I wrote the chapter on how to best market to the on-premise sector, which has become somewhat of a specialty of mine over the years. The bulk of the book is well written and focused on really useful information many in the industry will use to better navigate the business. What’s more those who read my blog here and my posts on the Examiner.com readers can get 20 percent off the cover price of $65 by going to this link on the Greenwood site for the next week by using code F238. Happy reading!

Cheers,

Liza the Wine Chick

View from the Bay host Spencer Christian and Liza the Wine Chick at the ABC studios.

I was also thrilled to share tips on how to find great and affordable, everyday wines. This has always been my passion, even when I had an expense account, and seems particularly apropos now. Not only was I able to introduce viewers to a handful of great, value wines, I also shared down-to-earth tips on how to be a savvy shopper. I have always supported shopping in independent wine stores and forging relationships with the passionate folks who work there. Half my selections were from Chile, which even surprised me. However this country continues to emerge as a wine-producing star, even though it has gotten bogged down in a price ghetto. I also shared favorites from Sicily, Australia and South Africa.

Spencer, one of the program’s hosts, is quite a wine geek and his passion made the whole experience even more fun. So here are my under $10 picks, which isn’t an easy category to sort through, even in this economy:

Secreto Sauvignon Blanc 2007                             $8.99
Sebeka Cabernet-Pinotage Blend 2007             $8.99
Viu Manent Malbec 2008                                        $5.99
Feudo Arancio Nero d’Avola 2006                        $8.99
Casillero del Diablo Carmenere 2007                $9.99
Rolling Cabernet-Merlot 2005                               $9.99

My retail partner, the Jug Shop, on Pacific Avenue will be carrying them all for at least the next week in a special “Liza the Wine Chick’s View from the Bay” section. The View from the Bay is also featuring all my savvy wine shopping tips on their site. Please do check them out and let me know if they are of use in your search for great wines.

I will also be speaking tomorrow on the great, local wine and travel show A Matter of Taste tomorrow with the fabulous Rachel and David Cane from 11:45am to noon approximately Pacific Time. We were all recently running around the wilds of Argentina together and will have lots to share about finding great wines.

Cheers,

Liza the Wine Chick

On the horizon for next year:

“Large servings; ginger; absinthe; specialty bitters; agave; old time liquors (Scotch, Bourbon, etc.); artisan sodas, tonics and vinegars, fresh-pressed citrus cocktails, wine offerings created with a partnered winery; and spiced up fiery drinks.”
Andrew Freeman, president, Andrew Freeman and Co.

“Drink trends have not changed much lately: simple recipes, classic style and fresh….with more and more home made bitters and syrup.”
David Nepove, director of mixology Southern Wine & Spirits (a wine wholesaler) and U.S. Bartenders’ Guild national vice president

“White wine is back and it’s unoaked, crisp, light and fresh. Albariños or Alvarinhos, depending on whether they come from Rias Baixas in Spain or the Minho in Portugal, these are single varietal wines that offer great quality and a touch of acidity standing up well to food…  For reds, Malbec from Argentina follows Merlot in name appeal and continues to increase in popularity….Also gaining in popularity are wines coming from southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. Spanish wines from Toro, La Mancha and other regions of Southern Spain… Following on their coattails just on the other side of what is now a wide open border, are wines from Alentejo, Portugal, often produced with the same grape varieties like Tempranillo known in Alentejo as Aragonez, and other indigenous to Portugal.”
Lou Capitao, managing partner, Touchstone Wines (an importer)

“Pink wines will continue to gain in popularity, and with the economy as it is, high value wines will be increasingly popular.”
Alder Yarrow, founder and editor, Vinography.com

For more interesting local drink trends read my recent SF market profile in Cheers magazine.

Cheers,

Liza the Wine Chick

Yours truly in the Alentejo with a stand-in for Miquel

Here are a couple of important thing you may not know about cork:

1) The cork harvest doesn’t harm the trees but removes their outer layers (every nine years).
2) Cork forests are good for the environment and prevent arid countries in North Africa from being desserts.
3) Some cork closures can cost less than a screwcap.
4) Cork producers are working very hard, and succeeding per my own experience as well as their research, in reducing cork taint.
5) Wines under screwcap can suffer from “reduction,” i.e. a reduced flavor profile with less fruit and expressivity. I had experienced it but couldn’t wrap my head around an explanation.

Save Miguel

Above you can see the corks that fueled the campaign and yours truly in the Alentejo with a stand-in for Miquel.

My Examiner.com column has gotten quite a bit of response, both pro-cork and otherwise. I intend to follow up on it and welcome your feedback.
Salud,

Liza the Wine Chick