Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful…

By: Cresta

That’s the first line on the back of the Middle Sister Goodie Two-Shoes Pinot Noir. This extremely cute bottle of wine was a birthday gift from a friend and I just got around to drinking it this past weekend.

I am not a middle sister, nor am I a goodie two-shoes (hold all comments, please), but I guess you don’t have to be to appreciate this California Pinot Noir. It was yummy. I have to admit, I was skeptical at first. I’ve often found that these sweet, charming bottles are all about the label and not so much about the wine…but this one was different.

Upon opening the bottle, I smelled strawberries with a touch of vanilla. That ripe berry carried through to the taste, with a chocolate-like flavor on the finish. This is a medium-bodied wine, a mix of sweet and rich, but not too bold.

I drank this wine with pizza, but it also pairs well with typical grilling fare.

I had to check out the website, of course, and all of the Middle Sister wine names and labels are adorable, like Drama Queen Pinot Grigio, Sweet & Sassy Moscato and Forever Cool Merlot. And each “girl” has her own depiction. There are fun facts, quizzes and apps, and you can buy things like t-shirts, aprons and tote bags that resemble the wine labels. Love it!

Oh, and they give back to the community. A dime a bottle goes toward causes women care about, such as Dress For Success and Wine, Women & Shoes.

As I said, I got this as a gift but I believe the Pinot Noir is around $10. www.middlesisterwines.com.

One of My Favorite Sauvignon Blancs

By: Cresta

I recently bought a bottle of Brancott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010 after first trying it at P.F. Chang’s a few weeks ago. It is now one of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs.

Brancott Sauvignon Blanc has a pale straw color with a hint of green.  It is aromatic with distinct smells of pineapple and grapefruit.  An intensely fruity wine with flavors of gooseberry, tropical fruit and lemon-lime, but well-balanced with its invigorating high acidity.

Marlborough is one of New Zealand’s sunniest, driest areas. Lots of sunshine combined with cool nights and a long growing season helps promote the lively fruit flavors for which this region is famous. Brancott Vineyard is where the original Sauvignon Blanc vines were planted.

And, just this week Brancott Estate launched a new smartphone app (compatible with Apple and Android) called World’s Most Curious Bottle. There are 14 ‘unique consumer experiences’ on the free app, including entertainment, food pairings, tasting notes and more. Users can unlock the experiences by scanning the QR code on the new Brancott Estate labels…pretty cool. Cheers!

Vibrant, Tangy Sauvignon Blanc

By: Cresta

I really enjoyed this wine. Benziger Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma-Lake Counties 2009.

Strong citrus aroma with a hint of floral. Medium-bodied, tart and tangy with flavors of lemon, lime and green apple. This wine has a vibrant finish, fresh, crisp and firm with a generous kick of acidity.

And you can feel good about drinking it! As if you need an excuse. The Benziger Family Winery is dedicated to green winemaking and its Certified Sustainable Grape Growing Program. The grapes for this Sauvignon Blanc were grown with certified sustainable farming methods. That wine growing philosophy is displayed in the elemental symbols on the bottle’s label. Around $15.

Have you tried any great wines lately? Please share.

Hello Vino! Cool App for Any Wine Lover

By: Cresta

I recently downloaded an app to my iPhone so that I have notes handy when I’m in the wine aisle or out at a restaurant. Hello Vino is a great app for any wine lover, with many options to choose from. You can download the app for iPhone or Android, and it’s FREE.

You can choose a wine:

• To go with a specific meal or food.  Select the food – from pizza to cheese to dessert – and Hello Vino will provide suggestions on the best wine pairing.
• For an occasion. Whether it’s a gift, special holiday or a tasting party, get suggestions on the type of wine you should consider, including at least three specific recommendations.
• By taste preference. The app selects the best wines to fit your taste, whether that’s red, white, pink. Dry, fruity, sweet.
• By country, then by region. Know that you prefer wines from Argentina? Tap that and Hello Vino provides different regions to choose from, then at least three specific recommendations.
• There’s also a section dedicated to Holiday Wines and Gifts.

This app includes a search function so that you may search by brand name, food pairing and taste preference. There’s also a wine label image recognition function (but you must purchase label scanner credits to use this). The My Wines tab allows you to save favorites, as well as wines that you’d like to try (Wishlist). There’s also a Reviews tab with two-minute audio reviews of select wines. Give the wine a thumbs up and save it to your shopping list. Share the wine on Facebook or Tweet it. Each wine highlights tasting notes and includes an average price.

You can download this app from the iTunes App Store and the Android Market. Or visit www.hellovino.com.

Did You Know That ALDI Sells Wine?

By: Cresta

A couple of weeks ago I received a special delivery. ALDI sent three bottles of wine to my doorstep. Nicely packaged in a re-usable grocery bag, each bottle in its own padded wine sleeve.

The press release that accompanied the delivery touted ALDI’s line-up of award-winning international exclusive wines, all at bargain prices.

I didn’t even know ALDI carried wine. According to the release, selections include Beverage Testing Institute 2011 World Wine Challenge Winners, Wine Spectator Best Values and Wine Enthusiast Best Buys. Here’s what I received:

• Walker Napa Valley Red Wine from California (World Wine Challenge Winner)
• Gonfalone Chianti from Italy (Wine Spectator Best Value)
• Landshut Riesling from Germany (Wine Enthusiast Best Buy). This is the only one I’ve tried so far. It was a seriously sweet wine, but I was in the mood for sweet at the time. Well-balanced, vibrant acidity, a distinct peach flavor. Pretty good.

Most of ALDI’s wines are priced at $4.99 or less. I checked ALDI’s web site and only select locations carry wine – most of the Ohio stores do.  

Excellent PR idea, by the way. Great way to build awareness and word-of-mouth.