Wine Blog from The International Wine of the Month Club

South Africa: This Year’s Hottest Wine Destination

May 22, 2015 by Don Lahey

With stunning scenery, excellent restaurants, and exceptional wines, South Africa’s Western Cape has become a must go wine destination. Add the American Dollar’s present favorable exchange rate to the South African Rand and the Western Cape’s proximity to Cape Town, arguably Africa’s most beautiful city, and it’s easy to see why South African vineyards are this year’s hottest wine destination.

Stellenbosch, along with nearby Franschoek, Paarl and Swartland, dominate the wine production on South Africa’s Western Cape. Some must-see wineries include the iconic Klein Constantia estate, known for fashioning excellent Sauvignon Blanc, as well as Vin de Constance, one of the world’s greatest dessert wines.

More excellent South African wineries include Black Pearl, Mary-Lou Nash’s pearl of an estate for fabulous Shiraz; Edgebaston, the source of David Finlayson’s very impressive age-worth Cabernet Sauvignons; Rustenberg, the home of the John X. Merriman, which might be the best Meritage offering anywhere for the money; Eagle’s Nest, an upcoming star for Shiraz and Viognier; Downes Family, outstanding producers of incredible Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc; and Barista, a leader in the burgeoning Pinotage market.

Don

Long Island Wines: No Longer a Best Kept Secret

May 8, 2015 by Don Lahey

Long Island Wine Country For more than forty years, Long Island has been a budding wine region and an increasingly popular source of excellent red and white wines from traditional European varietals. With soils and a climate similar to that of Bordeaux, we should all be wondering why it took so long for anyone to plant vines there, especially on the island’s North Fork, the warmest and sunniest spot in all New York State. A better question is why has the rest of the nation been deprived of these wines, many of which are truly world class?

Although the total Long Island acreage under vines remains relatively small and densely concentrated on the island’s North Fork, Long Island’s 50-plus commercial wineries turn out a dizzying array of red and white wines that are snapped up by local restaurants and the hordes of summertime visitors to the Hamptons and other East End vacation spots. Hence, the reason the rest of the country has been so long deprived of Long Island wines.

Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Syrah, and plenty of blends from a litany of varietals abound and attest to both the quality and variety of wines to be found on Long Island. But, change is on its way. More and more Long Island wineries have begun allocating some of their production to national markets. The International Wine of the Month Club™ has been paying attention, and here are some Long Island wineries we suggest looking for:

Bedell Cellars: Excellent Merlot- and Bordeaux-style reds. Musée is the winery’s top performer.
Castello di Borghese Vineyard and Winery: As the name suggests, these noble wines hail from Long Island’s oldest winery (formerly Hargrave), which dates back to 1973.
Lieb Cellars: Sustainably farmed, award-winning Pinot Blanc and Merlot are stars.
Paumonok Vineyards: This winery produces a first-rate Chenin Blanc, along with a fine collection of other varietals.
Pellegrini Vineyards: Excellent Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

For anyone visiting New York City, why not leave the din of Manhattan behind for a day or two, drive East onto Long Island, and head to the island’s North Fork where fresh air, light sea breezes, warm sunshine, and plenty of good wine awaits?

Don

Shrimp Tostada Bites

May 4, 2015 by Kristina Manning

This fast and easy recipes is great for your next Cinco de Mayo party or any party for that matter! Make them full size for a delicious weeknight meal that comes together in a snap!

Ingredients:

20 mini round tortillas (cut from large flour tortillas – 1.5-3″)
1 can refried beans
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 cup shredded white cheese (I used a queso blanco)
1 bunch cilantro
1 bunch green onions
20 small shrimp (tail-off, de-veined)
3 tablespoons fajita seasoning
1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions:

Use a small round cutter to create mini rounds from larger flour tortillas. Bake at 350 degrees for 3-5 minutes or until toasted.
When cooled enough to handle, spread on refried beans and top with diced tomatoes.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Dice cilantro and green onions and add on top.
In a grill pan, saute the shrimp in 1 tablespoon olive oil with fajita seasoning and black pepper until thoroughly cooked.
Top each tostada bite with a sauteed shrimp.
Keep warm on a baking sheet in a warm oven.

Recipe and photo from: www.pizzazzerie.com

Grilled Shrimp and Noodle Salad

April 27, 2015 by Kristina Manning

Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this fast and zesty Thai-inspired dish features grilled shrimp and Spring vegetables.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

14 ounces flat rice noodles
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/3 cup fish sauce
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 to 2 teaspoons Asian chili sauce (such as Sriracha)
1 pound medium-large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 medium bunch asparagus, trimmed
5 ounces shiitake mushrooms, trimmed
1 medium carrot, shredded
1/2 cup fresh cilantro

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook as the label directs; drain and rinse with cold water.

Meanwhile, whisk the lime juice, fish sauce, brown sugar, garlic, chili sauce and 1/3 cup water in a medium bowl. Transfer 1/4 cup of the marinade to another bowl and toss with the shrimp. Toss another 1/4 cup marinade with the asparagus and mushrooms in a third bowl. Let the shrimp and vegetables marinate 10 minutes at room temperature. Toss the noodles with the remaining marinade.

Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Grill the shrimp, asparagus and mushrooms until the shrimp is just cooked through and the asparagus is slightly tender, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Halve the mushrooms and cut the asparagus into pieces.

Divide the noodles among bowls and top with the shrimp, asparagus, mushrooms, carrot and cilantro.

Recipe and photo from: www.foodnetwork.com

What’s New in Italian Wine?

April 24, 2015 by Don Lahey

Italian wine often gets overlooked with the proliferation of New World wines invading the market, but Italy continues to be a source of new and interesting wines. Although much of what is new in Italian wine stems from recent releases rather than new wineries, there is no shortage of the latter. And many first time Italian wines to our shores may indeed issue from centuries old wineries. After all, what are a few centuries to Italy?

Most intriguing to me from Tuscany are the 2012 Rosso di Montalcino and 2010 Brunello di Montalcino wines from Le Potazzine Gorelli, both of which are a home run.

Equally compelling are the organic wines from newcomer Monterotondo. Monterotondo’s 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva positively sings from the glass. It invokes the fecundity, purity and everlasting charm of Tuscany.

Not to be outdone, Alesandro Sderci’s Il Palazzino Chianti Classico estate has recently released the family’s outstanding 2010 Chianti Classicos. Sderci also introduced Bertinga, an elegant Tuscan Cabernet blend, to the U.S. for the first time with the 2008 vintage.

Lest we think southern Italy the neglected step child, there are plenty of exciting wines flowing from the fabled Amalfi Coast as well as the hinterlands of Campania and points south. Benito Ferrara, Caggiano, and Colli di Lapio make some of the best red and white wines in southern Italy. Colli di Lapio’s outstanding 2013 Fiano di Avellino and 2010 Taurasi Vigna Andrea might be the two best white and red Campanian wines to start and finish a meal, though every wine from the diminutive Colli di Lapio estate merits seeking out. White and red wines from Benito Ferrara and Caggiano stand out as well.

Don

Don’s April Collector Series Top Pick

April 21, 2015 by Don Lahey

April’s Collector Series Top Pick belongs to an up-and-coming boutique California producer, Fore Family Vineyards. The 2009 Fore Family Vineyard Napa Carneros Pinot Noir is a mere 208-case production and a true family affair. I am tough on Pinots and rather particular about the ones I drink. With that said, the graceful, mouth-filling 2009 Fore Family Vineyards Carneros Napa Pinot Noir captures the essence of what draws people to Pinot Noir – elegance, complexity, and flavor. For this reason, Fore Family Vineyards’ 2009 Pinot Napa Carneros shines and earns this month’s Top Pick. Enjoy!

Don

Don’s April Premier Series Top Pick

April 20, 2015 by Don Lahey

I really enjoy drinking good Bordeaux and the growing number of delicious Claret/Meritage offerings coming out of California. Claret, the English term for Bordeaux (an enviable union of Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, etc.), and Meritage, California’s more familiar name for Claret, always seem to offer more in the way of balance and complexity than straight varietal offerings from any single grape, and often at a more conducive price. Add the blessings of two great vintages and this month’s Top Pick becomes a toss-up. Donati’s 2012 Claret might be the best value in California Claret or Meritage on the market, as it offers plenty of delicious fruit along with excellent purity, body, and balance. At the same time, the 2010 Château Barreyre makes many overpriced, big-name Bordeaux seem wimpy and under-endowed. At 15% alcohol, it over-delivers and proves to be a crowd pleaser. Given its size and structure, the 2010 Château Barreyre is likely to continue to evolve. So, what’s this month’s Top Pick? I opt for the 2012 Donati Claret as this month’s Top Pick for immediate consumption, but you can be sure I will be stashing away the 2010 Château Barreyre for drinking later this year and next. In the interim, don’t miss this month’s exceptional white wines – Morgadio Albariño Rias Biaxas and Tamellini Soave – two of the very best wines from their respective appellations.

Don

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