Well, I finally did it! I hosted my very first wine exchange a couple of weeks ago. It was not orchestrated as “formally” as I would’ve liked (yes, I am pretty neurotic about things going according to plan), but because everyone had a great time, I consider it a big success! Here is how it worked…

Each person brought two bottles of the same wine. One bottle was put aside for the exchange and the other was opened for tasting. I even found these really cute wine glass tags to help distinguish our glasses.

Cute wine tags that I found at Cork ‘N Bottle. They not only describe some wines, but personalities as well.

We ate a few snacks before we got started. I kept it simple with cheese and crackers, a variety of nuts, olives, some veggies, dark chocolates and cocoa dusted truffles.We began with white wines (sweet then dry) and moved on to the reds, which included quite a few blends. No one brought any dessert wines or sparkling varieties. I provided index cards for people to take notes but that kind of fell to the wayside as we started down the line of about eight different wines.

After the tastings, we moved on to the exchange. We drew names to pick the order and we allowed one steal. I ended up with 3 Girls Cabernet Sauvignon, which I really enjoyed.

Some of my other favorites were: Clean Slate 2011 Riesling, Cary Chen Riesling from Elk Creek Vineyards and Pro-mis-Q-ous, a California red table wine.

I think it would be fun to try this again but perhaps create a theme around it (like Summer Wines). Or maybe dictate the variety of wine people bring. It’s not such a bad deal…I ended up with the leftover wine. Oh, and we had a massage therapist friend scheduled to give shoulder massages but she fell ill. So I would incoporate that next time.

Celeb Wines

Stop the presses! Brad and Angelina are releasing their very own vino. No doubt they can as they own a 1,000-acre estate in Southwestern France. Plus they’re rich and famous.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will release a 2012 vintage pink rosé, Miraval, sometime in mid-March – the grapes harvested from their vineyards in France. The wine, named after Pitt and Jolie’s Chateau, is a result of a partnership with French winegrower Marc Perrin.

Plans are already underway to release white wines this summer. Will you try the power couple’s new wines?

Wine-Flavored Teas

If you like tea and wine, this just may be your drink. I saw this in the March issue of InStyle Magazine – wine-flavored tea. Vintage TeaWorks makes a variety of loose teas in celebration of several wine flavors, including:

• White Tea Riesling
• Oolong Chardonnay
• Green Tea Sauvignon
• Rooibos Noir
• Black Tea Merlot
• Pu-erh Cabernet

Each canister makes about 30 to 35 cups and price range is $15.99-$18.99. www.vintageteaworks.com.

FREE Friday Aisle Tastings at The Party Source

This Friday, February 22, The Party Source in Bellevue continues their Friday Wine in the Aisles Tastings. This week they will be pouring several Zinfandels and Zinfandel-based blends.

The Friday series takes place from 4-8 p.m. The tastings are free and no reservations are required. Here is a list of the next four tastings and the wines that will be featured:

February 22 – Zinfandels
March 1 – Chilean wines
March 8 - International wines & wines from Kentucky’s Lover’s Leap Winery
March 15 - South African wines

For details about these and other Wine Tastings happening at the Party Source, visit their website.

I tried the 2010 vintage of Jacob’s Creek Cab Merlot back in the fall at a party, but had forgotten about it until I found the photo on my phone. I decided to pick some up again as I remember liking it. And I was spot on. It is a delicious red blend.

I’ve written about Jacob’s Creek before – this post last spring about the Southeastern Australia winemaker’s Reserve wines.

The Cab Merlot is a Jacob’s Creek Classic wine (as opposed to Reserve). The Classic wines are touted as great everyday wines. And this full-bodied wine is very approachable.

The 2010 blend consists of 53% Cabernet and 47% Merlot. Lots of dark berry fruit flavors and smooth. There is a hint of mint with spice characteristics and a delicate toasted oak.

I am beginning to gravitate toward a lot of red blends these days. Any I should try? I am open to suggestions.

We recently had family in town – my husband’s brother and his family. Neil is a wine aficionado like me, and was thoughtful enough to bring some of his favorite wine to share.

Ghost Pines 2010 Merlot ($15-$17) is big and bold with dense flavors of black cherry, ripe mixed berries and hints of chocolate and toffee. This is a fat and juicy wine, not too tannic.

It’s smoother than most Merlots that I’ve tried – and I don’t drink Merlot very often – with a fairly long finish. It had a little bit of a sour aftertaste for me, but not enough to ruin the experience.

This winemaker’s blend features grapes from the winegrowing areas of Sonoma and Napa Counties, aged in French and American Oak.

If I were to buy a Merlot to keep in my wine reserve, this one would be at the top of my list. Thanks, Neil, for introducing me to to this wine.

Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 is a very tasty full-bodied wine.

You can really taste the dark jammy fruits in this wine. It is a bold one in flavor but easy to drink with soft tannins. Somewhat oaky with a little spice, touch of chocolate and a long, smooth finish.

At less than $15, this is a great one to have on hand this winter. I enjoyed mine in front of the fire. So much so that my husband did not have any.

Definitely a Pink Happy Face. Cheers!

Hello, wine lovers. Happy New Year to all! I took more time off over the holidays than I have in years past, and I admit it’s a little hard getting back in the swing. But I’m getting there.

I don’t have a wine review today. To be honest, I was a bit underwhlemed by some of the wines I tasted over the last couple weeks. Nothing really excited me. But I’m confident something will very soon.

Also, while I don’t believe in making true New Year’s resolutions, I am among the many that vow every year to be more healthy when it comes to eating (and drinking). That doesn’t mean I am abandoning wine! That will never happen. But I will likely be more selective in what I choose to drink. Just wanted to throw that out there.

So as we kick off a new year, I am asking for your help on a few things:

1. Tell me what you’d like to hear more of this year – wine reviews, news about tasting events, best places around town to have a glass of wine, etc.

2.  Tell me what wines I absolutely must try. I want to know your favorites.

3. I am planning a wine exchange with some friends in March. Have you ever hosted or attended one? Have any good tips for me?

Thanks for reading… and sharing.

Here’s to a fabulous 2013. Cheers!

This Saturday, December 15, The Wine Guy Bistro, Wine Shop & Wine Bar in Rookwood Pavilion is offering a fantastic opportunity to try a variety of different wines.

The Wine Guy’s seventh annual Taste the Tables event takes place from noon until 4 p.m. They will open 50 different bottles of wine for you to try… 50 wines for just $15. To me, there’s nothing more disheartening than buying a bottle of wine that you end up not enjoying. So this event is the perfect chance to find some varieties that you like and then purchase them to take home. You can mix and match cases to stock up for yourself or purchase Christmas gifts.

I would suggest grabbing a bite to eat before you taste. They won’t be serving food at the bar during Taste the Tables. But The Wine Guy Bistro will open for lunch (and dinner).

 A few things to note:

• They are not taking reservations; it’s first come, first served.
• Standing room only; there won’t be any barstools at the bar so that they can accommodate the crowd.
• It could get pretty crazy up at Rookwood with all the holiday shoppers, so remember you can park in the garage located behind The Wine Guy.
• Wines that are left over will be sold during dinner that night for $4 per glass.

The Wine Guy Bistro Wine Shop & Wine Bar is located in Rookwood Pavilion, 2692 Madison Road. Call 513-834-5712 or visit http://thewineguywineshop.com for more information.

If you go, please comment here and let us know how it was. Or you can always email me. If you find some fantastic wines, we want to know that as well.

Cheers!

I normally don’t drink red blends, but I happened upon a bottle of Apothic Red a couple weeks ago and I will definitely be making this purchase again.

Apothic Red is a delicious blend of spicy Zinfandel, fruity Syrah, bold Cabernet Sauvignon and smooth Merlot. The winemaker’s blend includes grapes from a variety of California vineyards. It is fruity on the nose with flavors of cherry, chocolate, vanilla and a little bit of spice. Sounds like a dessert to me!

I think this is a very versatile wine as well. A nice everyday selection and a great value at around $10. It also would make a good hostess gift to take to holiday parties you may be attending over the next couple weeks.  And although a somewhat bold full-bodied wine, I believe it’s a good choice for white wine drinkers who might be hesitant to try a red.

Now I must try its companion, Apothic White – a blend of Chardonnay, Riesling and Moscato.

In case you’re not sure what to get the wine lover on your holiday gift list…Wine Enthusiast has made it easy to choose the perfect gift.

I believe you cannot go wrong with gift certificates to a local wine shop. And although I’ve never drank wine from a straw, I like the idea of it, especially when you’re drinking red wine. Find Wine Enthusiast’s list here.

Found any other great gifts out there? Please share. Cheers!

I’ve been a big fan of Dep’s Fine Wine & Spirits for a while. I think they have a fantastic wine selection at great prices. Plus, it’s family-owned, and I love frequenting the local guys.

Dep’s has two Northern Kentucky locations – one in Covington and the one I usually visit in Ft. Thomas. The Ft. Thomas store recently moved to its new digs – from Ft. Thomas Plaza to 424 Alexandria Pike (the old Moore’s Lumber Yard). Earlier this week I spoke with wine buyer, certified sommelier and family member Shannon Depenbrock about the move.

Shannon told me that they simply were outgrowing their old space. She said that the new store has allowed them to grow and add some new offerings for customers. They’ve expanded on wine, beer and tobacco selections and have added a fine foods area featuring local specialty cheeses, coffees, snacks and more. There’s a tasting bar and a new Cellar Room.

The new store is nice. Very open and bright. It’s super convenient as it’s right off the highway, and there is ample parking.

The tasting bar in the middle of the store is where they hold regular Friday night tastings. When I was there yesterday, the bar was set up for the Beaujolais Nouveau tasting. Today (November 16) from 4 until 8 p.m., you can taste a selection of Thanksgiving wines.

There’s also a separate Cellar Room to hold wine classes, as well as host wine makers. Shannon said that they are also looking to rent this space to groups who want to have a special event inside the store. It looks quite cozy and a little rustic.

Visit Dep’s online at www.depsfinewine.com. Call the Ft. Thomas store, 859.781.8105 or the Covington store, 859.291.2550. Check out some pictures of the new Dep’s in Ft. Thomas.