Tuesday Tasting: Mira 2011 Admiration White

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we sample a wine from a relatively new Napa Valley vineyard.

Mira Winery of Napa, Calif., is a 2009 startup winery that buys fruit from vineyards in the region. The winery makes three whites, a chardonnay, a sauvignon blanc – both made with 100 percent grapes of those styles – and Admiration White, a blend of 80 percent sauvignon blanc and 20 percent chardonnay. Mira recently made news by announcing it was testing the impact of aging wine in the ocean by sinking some cases in Charleston habor.

“Perceptions are changing about white wine in America. It’s not just for the cocktail hour anymore,” said Gustavo Gonzalez, winemaker at Mira. “More white wines are being made and they’re not all being made in a chardonnay style that had become so innocuous.” 

Mira 2011 Admiration White is a blend of 80 percent sauvignon blanc and 20 percent chardonnay. Clean fruit aroma that opens to a combination of honeysuckle and citrus flavors. Clean and bright, a good wine to go with light meals.

Around the World in 80 Drinks: CIA Launches Wine Lovers Boot Camp

Around the World in 80 Drinks is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores drink culture and the places where great beer, wine and spirits are created and consumed.


The Culinary Institute of America is launching a new series of classes designed for the wine enthusiast at its St. Helena, Calif. campus.

Wine Lovers Boot Camp will take place at the CIA Greystone campus, near many great Napa Valley vineyards. Two courses will launch the Wine Lovers Boot Camp series, a five day Basic Training program and a two day Tasting Like a Pro program.

The Basic Training program will feature CIA faculty, information on great wine regions, tastings and food and wine pairings. Students will use the CIA kitchen to prepare a multi-course meal with paired wines. Class dates for 2012 are Feb. 13–17, April 16–20 and May 21–25. Tuition is $2,195 per person.
Tasting Like a Pro will teach the casual wine drinker how to adopt professional approaches to tasting wine. The two day program will guide feature structured tastings, where students will learn the influence on flavor of winemaking techniques, from barrel fermentation to fortification. Blind tastings will ultimately test their ability to identify wines like professionals. Class dates for 2012 are Feb. 2–3, Feb. 29–March 1, March 26–27, April 13–14 and May 17–18. Tuition is $895 per person.

Both classes are open to students 21 years of age and older.

Information about the CIA Wine Lovers Boot Camp is available at www.ciachef.edu/enthusiasts.

Around the World in 80 Drinks: Trip Advisor Food and Wine Rankings

Around the World in 80 Drinks is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores drink culture and the places where great beer, wine and spirits are created and consumed.

Trip Advisor is a useful online service if you want to avoid booking a room at a modern day version of the Bates Motel. They also provide consumer feedback on what to do and where to eat in top travel destinations around the world.

Trip Advisor recently published its Travelers' Choice award winners, including a list of the Top 10 U.S. food and wine destinations:

1. New Orleans, La.
2. Napa, Calif.
3. Chicago, Ill.
4. Charleston, S.C.
5. San Francisco, Calif.
6. New York, N.Y.
7. Savannah, Ga.
8. Santa Fe, N.M.
9. Las Vegas, Nev.
10. Asheville, N.C.

It is hard to argue with any of these locations as being noteworthy for foodies. However, since the list is promoted as a top 10 for food and wine, it is difficult to understand why cities such as Portland, Ore., or Seattle, Wash., are left off the rankings.

Like any of these rankings, it is designed to get people talking and build website traffic. The difficulty is that what might make my top 10 will not necessarily hit your top 10. The best service these types of lists perform is to suggest new places to try.

Around the World in 80 Drinks: American Wine Society to Hold National Conference in Oregon

Around the World in 80 Drinks is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores drink culture and the places where great beer, wine and spirits are created and consumed.


The American Wine Society, the nation’s largest wine consumers’ organization, will hold its 45th National Conference in Portland, Ore., from Nov. 8-10.

The event opens with a reception featuring Oregon wines followed by two days of tasting sessions with leading wine personalities from the world's top regions. The event features wine pairing meals, including a sparkling wine breakfast and grand banquet.  Pre-conference activities include wine dinners and excursions to nearby wine country.

The AWS selected Portland because of the easy access to the Pacific Northwest wine industry, as well as the city's nightlife, and emphasis on locally produced food and drink. To learn more about registering for the event visit http://www.americanwinesociety.org/.

The American Wine Society Commercial Wine Competition and the Amateur Wine Competition are held in conjunction with the conference. The organization’s wine judge certification training will also be held at the event. 

Founded in 1967, the AWS has more than 4,000 members and 125 local chapters. This is the first time the organization has held its conference in Portland.

Around the World in 80 Drinks: Napa Valley Restaurant Month

Around the World in 80 Drinks is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores drink culture and the places where great beer, wine and spirits are created and consumed.

Most of the world's truly great wine regions are also well known for great cuisine and artisan food products. Vineyard operations and the entire wine making process fits well with the tenants of the Slow Food movement and its emphasis on utilizing quality locally produced ingredients. Napa Valley has earned its reputation for producing exceptional wines and the culinary scene across the region is nothing short of amazing.

But just like Napa's cult cabs, higher calibre Napa Valley restaurants command breathtaking prices and reservations can be hard to come by during the height of the tourist season.

That makes Napa Valley Restaurant Month in January worth considering for a winter wine country escape. Napa Valley Restaurant Month is taking place at more than 58 restaurants and hotels, including Michelin-star recipients the Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil, La Toque, Solbar and Bouchon, along with other notable eateries such as Fish Story, Bottega Napa Valley, Cole’s Chop House, FARM, Brix, Brannan’s Grill and Mustard’s Grill.

Napa Valley hotels and inns are also offering special packages so you can turn dinner into a full weekend of touring and wine tasting.

Day 365 Drink: Schloss Biebrich Sekt

Schloss Biebrich Sekt is a non-vintage sparkling wine that is one of those Trader Joe's exclusives that comes with the promise of a low price and good quality. At around $5 a bottle, it has to be one of the best values in a sparkling wine for toasting the New Year.

Schloss Biebrich Sekt pours with a flurry of bubbles. The wine is a light straw color and green apple nose. The wine has a good base acidity, which balances out the basic semi-sweet nature of the grape. There are hints of pear and melon. A nice sparkling wine.

Day 359 Drink: Folie à Deux 2008 Zinfandel

Folie à Deux Winery is located between Oakville and Yountville along Highway 29 near Mustards, a landmark Napa Valley restaurant. The winery's tasting room is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Folie à Deux 2008 Zinfandel is made from grapes sourced in Amador County. The wine pours a dark purple with ample fruit aroma. This is a soft and drinkable zinfandel. Moderate tannins and overall smooth character.

Day 357 Drink: Sapphire Hill 2006 Alexander Valley VLH Zinfandel

Sapphire Hill Vineyards calls Healdsburg, Calif., home. We stopped at their tasting room a couple of years back and this bottle has been safely stored in our wine fridge since that great trip to California.

Sapphire Hill 2006 Alexander Valley VLH Zinfandel pours a dark purple red and gives off a thick grape aroma. The wine is made from single vineyard
old vine zinfandel grapes. The flavor is unlike any other dessert wine you have likely had recently. The zinfandel grapes are left on the vine for weeks after the regular harvest, so the flavors become concentrated. At harvest the grapes were 33.5 Brix and the residual sugar an amazing 8 percent. The result is a wine with a big zinfandel body and a sneaky sweetness that keeps popping up throughout.

Day 343 Drink: Trullo 2008 Riesling Qualitatswein

German wine labels can be a challenge, but if you know what you are looking for they can help make your selection a little easier.

If you are in Germany, you may encounter Deutscher Tafelwein (German Table Wine) or Deutscher Landwein (German Country Wine), but in the U.S. most of your choices will be either Qualitatswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA) (quality wine from a specific region) or Pradikatswein, which traditionally had been called Qualitätswein mit Prädikat (QmP), the highest ranking among German wines..

Trullo 2008 Riesling Qualitatswein is from the Rheinhessen region, which is south of the Rhein between Bingen and Worms. Wineries in the region make Silvaner, Muller-Thurgua and Riesling. If you have ever had a Liebfraumilch, it was likely made in this region and must contain a blend of at least 70 percent of the Silvaner, Muller-Thurgua and Riesling grapes. If you turn your nose up at Liebfraumilch, keep in mind if you enjoy Spätlese or Auslese you are basically drinking a blend of the same grapes.

Trullo 2008 Riesling Qualitatswein is a light golden color with a sweet floral nose. The fruit is forward in this wine and it would make a nice cocktail wine. There are bits of peach and honeysuckle in the flavor profile.

Day 338 Drink: Afton Mountain 2005 Chardonnay

Afton Mountain Vineyards is one of Virginia's pioneer farm wineries, with its oldest vines dating back to the 1970s. The vineyard, located on the southeastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is run by Elizabeth and Tony Smith.

We visited a couple of years back and this bottle has been biding its time every since. The vineyard is in a beautiful part of Virginia with winding roads, mountain views and vineyard tasting rooms.

Afton Mountain 2005 Chardonnay is an estate bottled wine in the Monticello AVA. The wine is a light straw color and has a faint pear and citrus nose. The chardonnay has a nice balanced fruit flavor, hints of buttery goodness and a good level of acidity. Perfect for a seafood and pasta dish.

Day 336 Drink: Napa Cellars 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

Napa Cellars is located in Oakville, Calif. The winery selects grapes from across the Napa Valley. Winemaker Joe Shirley got his start in the business at Sonoma Cutrer, before joining Trinchero Winery in 1999. He became head winemaker at Napa Cellars in 2007.

Napa Cellars 2009 Sauvignon Blanc is a bright straw color and has a fresh grapefruit aroma. The wine benefits from cool fermentation in 100 percent stainless steel which allows subtle citrus and floral flavors to be maintained. A good level of acidity lends a crispness to the wine that makes it perfect to accompany fowl and pork dishes.

Day 335 Drink: Martin Codax 2009 Albariño

Albariño is a white grape that is native to Galicia on Spain's northwest coast. The cool climate, ample rain and lengthy periods of sunshine create a white grape that has a good level of acidity and fruit balance.

Martin Codax 2009 Albariño Rias Baixas is a pale straw color with a clean fruity nose. The flavor has a mellow dried apricot base, some distinct mineral notes and a palate cleansing level of acidity. A solid cocktail party choice.

Day 326 Drink: Höpler Gruner Veltliner 2008

Höpler Winery is in Breitenbrunn, Austria, southeast of Vienna on Lake Neusiedl. Half of the wines it makes are whites, with Gruner Veltliner -- the national grape of Austria -- being the most unique.

Gruner Veltliner is a food friendly wine that is usually best consumed young. Traditionally at home in Austria and the Czech Republic, a number of American wineries have begun planting the grape.

Höpler Gruner Veltliner 2008 is a white that has a slight green tinge to its color. The aroma is a pleasant light pear. The flavor tells the story of a rocky soil and the Austrian growing season. The wine has a residual sugar of 1.5 percent and 5.0 grams of acidity, so it is a crisp refreshing drink.

Day 322 Drink: Hayman & Hill 2008 Meritage

Hayman & Hill produces its Monterey County Metritage using 47 percent cabernet sauvignon, 24 percent merlot, 14 percent cabernet franc, 13 percent malbec and 2 percent petit verdot. David Hayman and Dennis Hill source grapes from around California to make a variety of quality wines at value prices.

Hayman & Hill 2008 Meritage is a deep red color with a slightly sweet nose. The flavor goes in a different direction. There is good fruit depth, a persistent spiciness and a hint of smoke. Even with plenty of flavor, the wine is not heavy and can match up well with a variety of foods.

Day 320 Drink: Joel Gott 2008 815 California Cabernet Sauvignon

Joel Gott named the 815 wine for the August 15, 2003, birthday of his daughter, Lucy. Gott sources grapes from around California for this wine.

Joel Gott 2008 815 California Cabernet Sauvignon pours a bright garnet red. The wine has a fresh fruit nose, with a hint of cedar. The flavor has a good balance of flavors, with dark cherry, cigar and oak notes each taking a turn. Mild tannins are present in a smooth finish.

Day 316 Drink: Liberty School 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Liberty School is a family-owned Central Coast winery in Paso Robles, Calif. The Hope family planted wine grapes here in 1978 and in the early 1980’s started selling cabernet sauvignon grapes to Caymus Vineyards for a second label, Liberty School. In 1996, the Hopes established Treana Winery and acquired the Liberty School label.

Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon is made from a blend of grapes from about a dozen vineyards. The wine matures in French and American oak, about 10 percent of it new, for about 12 months.

Liberty School 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is a dark purple color and has an attractive fruit forward aroma. The wine is a combination of dark cherry, oak, cocoa and hints of smoke. A great value and a nice match with hearty meals.

Day 313 Drink: The Naked Grape Pinot Grigio

Grape Valley Wine Co. is located in Modesto, Calif., and is a trademark of the E. & J. Gallo Winery. Grape Valley markets four non-vintage varietals from California under The Naked Grape brand, a pinot grigio, chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon.

The Naked Grape Pinot Grigio is a pale straw color and has a soft note of pear for an aroma. The winemaker used pinot grigio as the primary grape, blended with gewurztraminer, viognier and riesling. The flavor is light, with a decent level of acidity.

Day 306 Drink: Ledson 2009 Carneros Chardonnay

Steve Ledson is a fifth generation Sonoma farmer who founded Ledson Winery and Vineyards in 1993. Ledson Winery & Vineyards produces more than 70 wines annually.

Ledson 2009 Carneros Chardonnay has a buttery nose that has a touch of mango and tropical aromas. The flavor is full of fruit. Nice demure citrus notes, more mango and peach. Great food wine.

Day 301 Drink: Kathryn Hall 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

Craig and Kathryn Hall purchased the Bergfeld winery in St. Helena, Calif., in 2003. Craig made his fortune as a Texas businessman and Kathryn is a former U.S. ambassador to Austria.

There has been a winery at the Napa Valley location since 1885 and the Halls have poured a considerable investment into the property since taking it over.

Katherine Hall 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is a bright garnet color. This wine is at least 85 percent cabernet, with merlot and cabernet franc blended in for extra complexity. Berry nose, smooth, but assertive flavor. Cabernet character is balanced with both tannin and fresh fruit evident.

Day 300 Drink: Franciscan 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Franciscan Winery got its start in the Napa Valley more than 30 years ago with a 240 acre plot in Oakville.

Franciscan 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon pours a lovely purple color with a fruity bouquet. The wine is made with 86 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 12 percent Merlot and 2 percent combination of Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot and Malbec. The first whiff from this wine was a little horsey, but it quickly opened to reveal the grape. Very nicely structured. Good dark fruit tones, nice oak spice and a full round finish.