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Wine 101: Food And Wine Pairing

Taken from Kendall-Jackson’s own website, here are the basics of wine pairing:

Pair Similar Flavors

Wine with similar flavors pair well together – fish with lemon sauce pairs well with citrusy Sauvignon Blanc.

Pair Similar Weight And Texture

Pair light, medium, and heavy dishes with corresponding wines – both medium and rich, Lobster and Chardonnay go very well together.

Pair Same Sweetness

Wine should always be of equal sweetness, if not more sweet, than the dish it’s paired with – pork chops and apple sauce are perfect with sweet Riesling.

Pair Crisp With Salt

A crips wine balances salty food – kalamata olives and feta tapas are complemented by crisp Sauvignon Blanc.

Pair According To Sauce

Light citrus sauces go well with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, heavy cream and mushroom sauces pair with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and red and meat sauces go well with Merlot, Cabernet, and Syrah.

Pair For The Spice

Spicy foods are relieved by sweet wines – hot Asian foods go very well with Riesling.

Pair Tannins With Fat

Tannic wines cut through fat leaves in the mouth – Cabernet Sauvignon pairs great with steak.

Click on this infographic for an easy visual guide for what foods pair with what wines:

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A Wine Collector’s Must-Have Pinot Noirs

Growing one’s collection of wine is not an easy feat to undertake. It requires, time, knowledge, storage, and money. So, if you’re going to consider yourself a true collector of delicious wines, you must have all the above resources. However, to really cultivate your collection, to make it coveted by every other wine enthusiast, start collecting the wines on this list.

You’ll be a wine connoisseur once you nab a bottle of these amazing Pinot Noirs:

Romanee-Conti

This Pinot Noir is annually released in limited supply, making it highly coveted and revered. Each vintage comes out remarkably consistent, with grapes being grown in the clay-rich soil of the Romanee-Conti vineyards, buyers jump at any opportunity to purchase one of these bottles.

    Domaine Georges Roumier

Fermented differently than other Pinot Noirs, this unique vino is more fruity and flavorful than the rest. Bathed in a cold soak at the beginning of the fermentation process, this vintage is seamlessly blending the old with the new.

Richebourg

Considered by many to be the first of its kind, the Richebourg Pinot Noir is much richer than most other, thinner versions of the wine. It was also the first estate to receive AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée) status.

d’Auvenay Mazis-Chambertin

With a love for natural, unfiltered wines and a name associated with the white variety, owner Lalou Bize-Leroy only produces about 350 cases of this wine annually. According to biodynamic approaches, each harvest yields a very low amount of crop each year.

Sylvain Cathiard

Terroir is almost as important to the characteristics of wine as the grapes are. However, there is only one estate that truly adheres to this philosophy. Only using materials for labor and farming from resources within a few miles of the vines, this Pinot Noir is as terroir-pure as a wine can get.

Louis Jadot

Produced traditionally and extremely consistent in quality, Louis Jadot is one of the largest wine producers in the world. Preferring wood over metal, the natural fermentation process of this Pinot Noir has been ahead of the trend since day one.

Kosta Browne

Not rare or impossible to find, this California wine makes up for its lack of exclusivity with its diligently garnered and formulated ingredients and processes. Letting the vines grow to full maturity before harvesting, this wine is able to capture the flavorful, complex notes it’s loved for.

Domaine Fourrier

Separated by terroir, the Pinot Noirs that Domaine Fourrier produces are pure in origin, but that’s not all. Their malolactic fermentation technique combined with their 20% new oak barrels produces a more delicate, fruity wine.

Marcassin

With a waiting list over 5,000 names long, Marcassin Pinot Noir might be the most coveted, exclusive vintage of them all. Only offered to those on their mailing list, this unfiltered and cold stabilized wine is the creme de la creme when it comes to Pinot Noir.

Peregrine Pinnacle

The grapes on the vines of Central Otago, New Zealand endure extreme weather conditions. However, located on stone-heavy soil, the grapes have excellent drainage year round. Also, aided by a gradient that changes to mimic the wings of a peregrine falcon, the vines get excellent sunlight 12 months a year at the vineyard.

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A Wine Collector’s Must-Have Pinot Noirs

A list of the most coveted Pinot Noirs you must work on adding to your collection.

Music: CALMING ELEGANCE by Jared C. Balogh (http://ift.tt/QRkFoR)

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The Many Wines Of Italy

Wine comes from many different regions across the world. Italy is one of the most popular regions with a wide variety of grapes and as a result, many different varieties of wine.

Producing both red and white, Italian wine has something to offer every palate. Here’s a list of the major Italian wine varieties:

White

Asti: sparkling, moscato grapes from Asti, sweet, low alcohol content, fruity, floral

Frascati: Trebbiano grapes, Frascati area, dry, light, crisp, subtle

Gavi: dry, medium, Cortese grapes from Gavi, crisp. slight notes of honey, apple, and minerals.

Pino Grigio: light, dry, crisp, subtle flavors, Pinot Gris grapes, Northeastern Italy

Soave: Veneto region, Garganega grapes, dry, crisp, light-medium, slight notes of pear, apple, or peach.

Verdicchio: dry, medium, crisp, mineral flavor, fresh, Verdicchio grapes, Marche region

Red

Amarone: full bodied, partially-bried Corvina grapes, Veneto region, dry, firm, concentrated fruity notes

Barbaresco: Very similar to Barolo, same grape and area, lighter, more palatable, best 8-15 years

Barbera: Piedmont region, dry, light-medium, strong berry flavor, acidic, slight tannin, best from Alba or Asti zones

Barolo: dry, full, Nebbiolo grapes, Barolo area, eclectic aromas, strawberry flavor, tar, herbs, earth, tannin, 10-20 years

Brunello di Montalcino: full, strong, Savgiovese grapes, Montalcino zone of Tuscany, dry, very tannic, 15+years

Chianti: very dry, medium, slight tannic. sour cherry flavor, Savgiovese grapes, Chianti area of Tuscany, enjoyed young and old

Lambrusco: sweet, fizzy, grapey flavor, Lambrusco grapes, Emilia-Romagna region, dry, can come sparkling

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: medium, red fruit flavor, slight veggie note, comes as a lighter wine, best enjoyed concentrated, denser, from Montepulciano grape, Abruzzo region

Salice Salentino: dry, full, Negroamaro grapes, Puglia region, strong flavors of hot, ripe fruit, complex

Valpolicella: medium, Corvina grapes, Valpolicella area, Veneto region, dry, light, slight tannic, strong cherry flavor

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: medium, dry, light, cherry flavor, similar to Chianti, Sangiovese grapes, Montepulciano area, Tuscany region.

  Check out this video of another guy who is passionate about wine and its many varieties:

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Wine Cocktails Part 2

Cherry Jam

Yes, this cocktail is made with fruit preserves, and it’s a revelation. Combine some delectable cherry jam, lemon juice, vodka, and Chandon Brut Classic (or your choice of champagne or prosecco), shake, strain, and enjoy!

French 75

Made with Pucker Grape Gone Wild Vodka, this drink is not sour, but its sweet and delicious! Most flavored vodkas are terrible, leaving you with a medicinal, bitter taste, but Pucker flavored vodkas are actually tasty! Combine the vodka with lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice in a shaker, strain, and top with sparkling wine. Voilà!

San Francisco Sangaree

This cocktail is guaranteed to warm you up! After muddling cherries in a shaker, add ice, simple syrup, merlot, bourbon, and a lemon slice, and shake your heart out. Strain into a glass and let this rich, warming drink keep you company on any chilly evening.

Beauty Elixir

A cocktail that is (semi) good for you? Yes, this drink is hydrating and delicious! Muddled cucumber combined with ice, Oxley Gin, strawberry puree, lemon juice, and simple syrup is shaken up and topped with sparkling rosé. Yum!

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Wine Cocktails Part 1

Vino Francesca

This fruity cocktail incorporates honey and sage syrup, rosé, ice, and lemon for an earthy yet refreshing drink made to enjoy with lunch or dinner.

The Payson

This citrusy, zesty cocktail has many ingridients but doesn’t lack freshness and personality! Ingredients include fruity red wine like Pinot Noir, cranberry and orange juices, Chambored, ice, sprite, and lemon, lime, and orange zest for garnish.

The Star Gazer

A cocktail with pazaz and complexity, The Star Gazer isn’t playing around. Incorporating chardonnay, dark rum, vanilla bean syrup and pineapple juice, you cannot get bored with this beverage.

Apple & Pink Julep

Port is not traditionally thought of as refreshing, but the Croft Pink Port in this drink reimagines what one can do with wine and cocktails. Muddle some mint leaves with apple juice and add the port and ice and you’re good to go!

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Hampton’s Rosé Shortage

Year after year, case after fleeting case, rosé wine has become scarce in the Hamptons during the summer months when the wine is most popular by demand.

Whether by those who inhabit the area year-round or just during their vacation time on the beach, rosé has become the go-to drink for men, women, young, and old as they soak up the sun and take in the salty coast.

Rosé, to those not hailing from the Hamptons, has garnered a bad reputation. But for those who do not know, the first wines ever made were rosés, and they are much closer to red than white in comparison. Rosé is made very similarly to a number of red wines but the color is created differently, hence the light blush to deep purple colors rosé can come in.

So, why is rosé so scarce in the Hamptons? Rosé is best enjoyed the same year it is created, making it hard, even discouraged, to hoard the bottles longer than 12 months. With wine connoisseur-ism on the rise, rosé is gaining respect and the demand is greater than the production, plain and simple.

However, the wineries on the island and the Hamptons are clueing in to the trend and preparing to generate more and more rosé each year. A famous and very popular rosé brand, Wolffer, has increased its production every year since 1992. Wolffer’s winemaster, Roman Roth, has stated “every year we make a little more.” However, maybe he would be advised to push for a little more than just “a little more” given the urgency of this rosé shortage and the Hamptonite’s dependency on the refreshing vino.

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AUTUMN SPIRITS: 5 WINERIES TO VISIT

As the season of apple and pumpkin picking is upon us, the smell of fall is in the air, and it’s the perfect weather for wine tasting too. Head to Virginia and Maryland for some of the best wines for autumn this year. According to The Washington Post, here are 6 wineries you can’t miss:

Old Westminster Winery The past five years, Old Westminster Winery has impressed with its hand-crafted wines. This season (starting Nov. 7th), they will be opening a new tasting room to add to the experience. Recommendations include: any of the 2014 whites, but especially, the Greenstone (a blend of sauvignon and viognier) or the albariño. Keep a lookout for co-owners and siblings Drew Baker and Ashli Baker Johnson, who manage the vineyards and tasting room, respectively. Paradise Springs Winery Located in the corner of the southwestern region of Fairfax County, Paradise Spring keeps gaining in popularity. October 3rd, co-founder Kirk Wiles and his winemaker partner Rob Cox are releasing their 50/50 blend of petit verdot and tannat. The grapes are homegrown from the Williams Gap VIneyard in Fauquier County. Continuing to grow his business, Wiles has been traveling out to Santa Barbara, CA, creating yet another wine. Casanel Vineyards & Winery Family-owned and run, Casanel Vineyards & Winery was created by Casey Nelson and her husband Nelson in 2006. Two years ago, they decided to change directions and hired two winemaker consultants: Katell Griaud and Lucie Morton. Morton is the product of famed winemaker Michel Rolland. Together with the Nelson’s daughter Katie, they have released new reds including petit verdot, cabernet, and sauvignon. New whites include: a pinot gris and a chardonnay. Big Cork Vineyards Situated on rolling hills in Maryland, Big Cork Vineyards is picturesque and serene. The decor is quirky with cork-themed bar stools and a motif of Big Cork’s new labels throughout. Their food from their kitchen is also delicious so plan to stay for a late lunch. Granite Heights Winery Being right off of U.S. Route 29, Granite Heights Winery provides easy access to its perfected red wines. The 2011 reds are certainly something to try, but the soon to be released 2012’s and 2013’s are the real showstoppers. There are other goodies to find here too including homemade jams and homegrown fruits.

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Martial Arts & Sports Performance Mentality

This is an important video about the mentality of sports players.

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White & Red Wine Chiller

Perfect for those nearly Summer, not yet Fall days. Enjoy responsibly!

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6 CHARACTERISTICS OF A MMA FIGHTER’S MENTALITY

MMA fighters are known for their mental strength and composure as much as their graceful footwork in the ring. If you were ever wondering what exactly is going on in their mind, read below for six of the tactics they use to win fights.

1. Permit yourself to win You must have a real belief that you are going to win and that you are a best. It’s all mental so play a mental game with yourself. Make yourself believe. First, you must believe that you are going to win in order to win. Once your mind believes, visualize yourself winning. These two connected will lead you towards success.

2. Accept losing To accept losing, does not mean giving up or giving in. In fact, it is the opposite of that. It is recognizing fear and rejecting that fear of failure. You must be able to accept that losing is possible. Do not give fear power over you. If you do lose, you have to remember that tomorrow is a new day and a new day for another fight. Losing a fight is an opportunity to improve and continue to grow.

3. Trust comes from training Failure is something most do not plan because they fail to plan. We’ve all heard it, but if you want to be great at anything, you have to put in the time and dedication. Then, you can trust yourself, your training, and your hard work to help you complete your goal. Mixed martial arts is a sport that encourages you to completely invest in yourself.

4. Yield to the moment When you enter into a fight, your mind must be focused while trusting in your training. Don’t stand in your own way and allow yourself to compete how you have envisioned yourself to do. Let yourself go into the motions you have practice for your fight.

5. Remember to remain calm in chaos Frenetic energy and turmoil may surround you, but you need views yourself as the center of a tornado. Endure and keep calm. Center yourself with confidence and grace.

6. Commit When it comes to longevity and a lasting career, it comes down to commitment. Commit yourself to a cause and you will reap the benefits. Those who run at the first sign of struggle are never heard of again. If you carry on, you are preparing yourself for greatness.

Info courtesy of sportspsychologycoaching

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Basque Wine Tasting in NYC

Check out this great video about a Basque wine tasting in NYC! It’s great to get out and explore new foods, cultures, tastes, and experiences – all available in this oyster we call New York. Enjoy!

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3 Great Wines to Ring in Fall 2015

The goal when it comes to wine is to find distinctive and interesting bottles from places you’ve never heard of before. Having a diverse approach to wine drinking will help expand your wine knowledge, and help evolve your taste. Being able to serve wine from around the world is a great pleasure – and sharing it during New York’s beautiful fall season is something to be excited about as the warmer days cool off into the digress of winter.

Fall in the city is a great time to be outside. No one gets more excited about sweater-weather more than New Yorkers, as we can finally enjoy each other in the sun after a scorching hot, humid, and sticky summer. This fall, make it a point to enjoy the company of others and explore new parks and neighborhoods – as well as new wines everywhere you go!

Here are my top three wines to sip on this fall:

Fattoria di Fubbiano Rosso delle Colline Lucchesi. A beautiful Chianti with old-fashioned charm.

Casa Santos Lima Quinta das Amoras Vinho Regional Lisboa Tinto. Portuguese wine!

Le Fraghe Bardolino. The perfect Italian red with rosy undertones.

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MMA Techniques for Beginners

Check out this video for some basic MMA skills and techniques to work on if you’re a beginner. Have fun and stay safe!

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Harry Dalian | Best Wine Spots NYC video

Harry Dalian posts a video about his favorite spots in NYC to get the best, impressive, and interesting wines.

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Organic Farming in Tuscany

I love Italia. It’s absolutely beautiful, with great food and wonderful people to enjoy it with. I also love organic wines, something new to my taste as of late. Here is a great video about how the Italian’s make organic wines in the breathtaking countryside of Tuscany!

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Psychology of MMA: Toughness Training

Favorites don’t always win. Even the strongest, fastest, most agile competitors lose – a lot. Why is this? Sports Psychologist Brian Cain says, “The best fighter never wins, it’s always the guy who fights the best.”

In this day and age of MMA fighting, a true competitor seeks a rigorous mental edge that doesn’t let them down when distractions can take hold. Competitors such as Jorge Gurgel and St. Pierre know that distractions may arise and throw off a whole game and they want to fight as well as they’ve trained.

Cain reminds us that “the mind controls the body.” Cain helps MMA fighters explore and grow their mental toughness by removing any negative thoughts that hold an athlete back from performing at the top of their game. This negativity could be a product from previous, traditional sports conditioning, and requires anything from hypnosis, to energy medicine and meditation.

Cain says removing insecurity from the competitor at the subconscious level eliminates doubt and fear that may have cause a self-sabotaging situation. He also states a point that all of us could use: In order for us to get rid of negative, self-sabotaging thoughts, we need to remove anything from our minds but the now.

MMA fighters are always looking to sharpen their skills and develop mental toughness. This is a fight that never stops – one with the subconscious mind. Brian Cain hopes to see more training associated with this type of approach designed to help competitors maintain their highest performance – mentally. The goal is to fight as good during the fight as one does in training.

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