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GARTENWine, Finance & Astrology
Savouring the New York Wine Lifestyle & Vino around the World
by Henry Wein (wine) garten (garden)
wine@afund.com (212) 949 7275
© Henry Weingarten 2023
updates coming
soon
Now that we are back at live wine tastings, we are in the process of reactivating this website. We are planning
1) To make Tasting Bytes and On the web a regular feature.
2) Posting some highlights of the last year's wine thoughts
3) Providing an economic assessment of public wine companies.
4) Hosting Wine Tasting Dinners 2024 at the Tudor City Steakhouse.
Stay Tuned for more
TASTING BYTES 2023
JANUARY 23 UNION GRANDS CRUS BORDEAUX
Chateau Lynch-Bages in Paulillac having the greatest # of First growth did not disappoint
Despite very difficult warm seasons, Chateau Bastor-Lamontagne was my favorite "Modern" Sauterne enjoyed here
TASTING BYTES 2022
Wine's Demand and Demography Dilemma
meet-the-man-who-revolutionized-the-wine-industry
WHY WINE, FINANCE & ASTROLOGY?
The most apparent is my last name; Weingarten or WEIN (Wine) GARTEN (Garden).
In ancient times, it was the practice to grow grapes (along with olives and various grains) in walled protected wine gardens. Perhaps I am being called by ancestral memories?
But a truer answer might be that Wine, Finance & Astrology is how I occupy most of my time.
For a complimentary subscription to the WEINGARTEN wine blog email wine@afund.com.
After you subscribe, please also Vote for My Blog on LocalWineEvents.com!
ON THE WEB
investing-in-wine-continues-to-mature-as-an-alternative-asset
How to pair wines with your favourite takeaway meals
wine-investing-theres-an-app-for-that
Why China’s 10-Point Scale for Wine Ratings Matters
This is the red wine of choice for the longest living people in the worldWho Would Crowdfund A Wine Project ...And
Why?
Tasting Bytes 2020 -- Coming Soon
TASTING BYTES 2018/9 Previous Tasting Bytes
Rioja Saber Quien Eres tasting 2.13.2019
Good wines and delicious food all around-we found two outstanding price/value offerings:
Bodegas Faustino VII White $10.99 & Faustino Crianza $12.99
Georgian Wine Tasting NYC 6.4.18
Effortlessly, our favorite Sapervai was Artevani $30. Delicious by itself or with Food.
With my second choice was Papari Valley Saperavi 2016 $28.
Massanois Portfolio Tasting 2.26.18
3 Favorites:
Durnberg Gruner Veltliner "Tradition 2016 Tasty AARP (50+ year old) vines
Manos Andinas Parceleros Malbec Mendoza 2017 Very Good Everyday wine value
ORR Take Me Home Williamette Pinot Noir 2015 Compelling Name
Slow Wine 2018 US Tour March 1
My Favorite: CABERLOT Podere Il Carnasciale Il Caberlot Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy
A Unique and tasty clone of Cabernet Franc and Merlot in a Magnum Bottle- ideal for a dinner party of 8
Irene's Favorite:
G. D. Vajra Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2013
1) To discover several new “favorite wineries” – For me that is always goal number one for any wine trip;
2) To find the best Malbecs to match with Steak (even though I don’t personally eat red meat);
3) To find the best Argentine wines to drink for dancing (Tango naturally) and
4) To research winery investments in Argentina.
WINE-TORIAL: WINE & MOVIES
To read more click Weingarten blog #1 2014
The front page of last Saturday’s National Post carried a giant wine glass and the provocative question, “Are wine critics fooling us into buying pricier bottles?” Adam included my 2 cents in wrapping up his piece: Natalie MacLean, whose books and wine review website have made her one of North America’s best-known wine writers, imagines she could be tricked if someone served her a wine out of context. “I don’t set myself up as infallible,” she says. Ms. MacLean argues that wine reviewing, like art criticism, is largely a matter of taste and opinion. “As wine critics I think our primary goal is to be of service to wine drinkers, to be their guide; their virtual wine friend standing beside them at the store.”
To read more click Weingarten blog #5 2013
What Argentina did for Malbec, Sardina may do for Carignano (Carignan).
Eataly is New York’s Italian food & wine lovers mecca. At La Scuola Grande over an alltoo short 2 hour lunch, we literally feasted on delicious assorted dishes and made a wine discovery: 100% Carignan wines can be especially delightful. Not in the style of the French or Spanish blending varietal, but wines from Sardinia: Ancient, bush-trained pre-Phylloxera vines (Latin vines) preservingtheir original rootstock thanks to the sandy soil. All tasted AUTHENTIC- one could easily felt/tasted Sardinian Terroir. Unfortunately, this is increasinglya rare experience due to the proliferation of international wine styles.... The parting words that I strongly recall were: “If you drink Carignano, you live to 100 years old”.
IF TRUE, Step aside French Paradox and buy and drink all can of these wines BEFORE this newsgets out! :)
To read more click Weingarten blog #2 2013
BOOK REVIEW: THE COMPENDIUM Tasting the World’s Finest Wines Vol 1 John Kapon
“To me, there is nothing better than aged wine.” John Kapon CEO Acker Merrall & Condit
These tasting notes of many of the world’s finest wines are a real treat for the serious oenophile/wine collector to share memories. They may also serve as a valuable guide/inspiration for future wine tastings/purchases
PINOT DAYS New York City
Many Bay Area pinots were obviously pleasant to drink, but my standout favorite pinot was from New Zealand - Churton, a delightful Biodynamic from Marlborough. I am looking forward toretasting it at the May 13 New Zealand Wine Fair.
To read more click Weingarten blog #1 2013
At a Fall Opici tasting, I tasted their Chianti Fiasco or “Straw” Bottle wine. Sadly it did NOT bring back happy early adult memories. Not only was it made in a modern international style, i.e. insufficient acidity to even counteract pizza, but was also lacking in quality. I keep asking Chianti producers to give we Baby Boomers a reasonably tasty quality authentic Chianti in a memorable fiasco that we can enjoy and light memories ( candles) in. To date they refuse so as not to rekindle their past association with cheap wines. Che tristezza- I am positive there is a substantial and profitable US market for a well-made Chianti packaged in a traditional straw covered flask.
To read more click Weingarten blog #8 2012
Wine Riot is a multi-city celebration of wine. Wine Riots were designed to teach the uninitiated to love learning about wine. It is owned and operated by a handful of people all under 30 who just want everyone to drink more wine. They succeeded! My plus one (target audience) was happily buzzed. I found the most value in the Spanish and Portuguese wine section. What I would do differently? 1) I was disappointed by lack of depth at the wine seminars- although they were very generous in their pours. 2) While there was lots of bottled water, I would have preferred some bread to clean my palette and also more food choices. But bottom line: It was FUN!
To read more click Weingarten blog #7 2012
I prefer the relaxing and feminine FS mode of space travel, while my wine wife prefers the more masculine R travel. Hence we often do not see eye to eye on many wines. Recently we requested samples of Abduction, a sci-fi wine. We both strongly disliked their Galactic White 100% Airen wine, although she quipped- ?the more ice I added (and especially the more it melted) the better (less bad) it tasted!? Perhaps extra-terrestrial tastes are different? Be that as it may, their Cosmic Red (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot) is not only reasonably priced under $10 and a fun party wine/house gift but also pleasant enough for drinking on our planet earth.
To read more click Weingarten blog #6 2012
Q: Who would be your ideal dinner party guests and what wines would you serve them?
A: I?d invite six Jewish men who marked the history of humanity: Abraham (everything is God), Moses (everything is law), Jesus ( everything is love), Karl Marx (everything is money), Sigmund Freud (everything is sex) and Albert Einstein (everything is relative). On pour would be Bollinger 1964, Chapoutier Ermitage de l?Oree Blanc 2011 and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux 1999.
Michel Chapoutier owns and runs Maison M. Chapoutier in Tain-l?Hermitage in the Rhône.
To read more click Weingarten blog #5 2012.
Up until recently, I had little desire for Rose. Perhaps it because I spend my summer vacation up in theCatskill
Mountains and not on the French Riveria? Be that as it may, slowly I am
developing a taste. While I knew that Rose consumptions
was growing rapidly in the US (up 62% 2010 to 2011), I was
quite surprised to learn that French consumers drink more
rosé wines that white wines: In 2011, 27% of rosé wines of
the total French wine consumption compared with only 16,8%
of white wines.
To read more of our April 4. 2012 BLOG click Weingarten blog #4 2012.
FOOD NOTE: Of course the wine appropriate hors d'oeuvres were tasty but the French pastries by Celine were truly delicious and memorable. These authenticBordeaux
To read more of April 2012 BLOG click Weingarten blog #3 2012.
TASTINGS 2014
Feb 21 2nd Annual New Jersey Winter Wine Festival
Feb 24NYC Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2014
March 21Wine
Tasting and Comedy at City Winery!
April 08 TastersGuildNY Salentein Award Winning Argentine Wines
WINE BARS
WINE EDUCATION ICE: The Institute of Culinary Education Nancy's Wine Astor Place
WINEMAKER EVENTS
WINE PLUS ENTERTAINMENT
WINE PLUS FOOD
WINE TOURS Long Island Hudson Valley
WEBSITES:
Gayot New York Wine Tasting Events
Local Wine Events
NEW YORK CORK REPORT
Natalie Maclean Delicious Wine picks and pairings
WEINGARTEN WINE RATINGS
Wine Stars are rated 95 or higher for quality. As such they are classic and outstanding and make ideal gifts for special occasions.
WINE NUT QUIPS
"My daughter says she doesn't drink French Wine- she says she likes to drink Cabernet Sauvignon."
"...I flew the Concorde from London to New York, in the course of which I consumed several glasses of an '87 Premier Cru Puligny-Montrachet that defied altitude' notorious flattening of the palate (the flight was far shorter than it ought reasonably to have been given the quality of the wine list)."
ON THE WEB
The Taste of Wine ? Does
It Matter?
Finance
The Top Performing Alternative Investments: Fine Wine
Astrology & Wine
Chateau Moonshine? How the taste of wine is governed by the waxing and waning moon
Approaches and Guidelines
Wine Tourism
WineTravelGuides.com
Wine Business News
winebusiness.com
Wine outstrips shares as investors get the taste for liquid assets ...
RESOURCES
If you are a newbie to wine, I would recommend one of four books to start:
1) If you just wish be able to understand some basics and only wish to read one book so as to better navigate a restaurant wine list or buy wine in a liquor store it would be DRINK THIS, WINE MADE SIMPLE by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl.
2) If you to potentially begin a life long study of wine and become a wine sophisticate, then read WINDOWS ON THE WORLD COMPLETE WINE COURSE by Kevin Zraly.
3) If you are unsure of your future relationship to the world of wine read: EDUCATING PETER How I Taught a Famous Movie Critic the Difference Between Cabernet and Merlot by Lettie Teague
4) If you are more "California" than "New York/Europe" or interested in the Zen of the wine experience, read: Wineocology by Caitlin Stansbury with Heidi Shink
Next I would pick up a basic reference book such as
THE WINE BIBLE Karen MacNeil and/or
EXPLORING WINE: The Culinary Institute of America's Guide to Wines of the World 3rd Ed.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED READING:
THE ULTIMATE WINE COMPANION Editor: Kevin Zraly
THE BATTLE FOR WINE AND LOVE or How I saved the World from Parkerization by Alice Feiring
IS THIS BOTTLE CORKED The secret life of Wine Kathleen Burk and Michael Bywater
WINE MYTHS AND REALITY Benjamin Lewin
THE JUICE Vinous Veritas Jay Mcinerney
A YEAR OF WINE Perfect Pairings, Great Buys, and what to Sip for Each Season Tyler Colman, aka Dr. Vino
WINE FOR EVERY DAY AND EVERY OCCASION Dorthy Gaiter & John Brecher
All about WINE CELLARS Howard G Goldberg
The Wine Collector's Handbook Storing and Enjoying Wine at Home Linda Johnson
Keys to the Cellar Strategies and Secrets of Wine Collecting Peter Meltzer
The Wine Lover's GUIDE TO AUCTIONS The Art & Science of Buying and Selling Wines Ursula Hermacinski
Wine Investment for Portfolio Diversification: How Collecting Fine Wines Can Yield Greater Returns Than Stocks and Bonds Mahest Kumar
Investing in Liquid Assets: Uncorking Profits in Today's Global Wine Market David Sokolin
A SHORT HISTORY OF WINE Rod Phillips
THE STORY OF WINE Hugh Johnson
WINE, The 8000-Year-Old Story of the Wine Trade Thomas Pellechia
INVESTING WINE Paul Lukacs
THE GEOGRAPHY OF WINE Brian Sommers
THE SCIENCE OF WINE From Vine to Glass Jamie Goode
TERROIR The role of Geology, Climate, and Culture in the Making of French Wines James Wilson
WINE WARS Mike Veseth
RENAISSANCE GUIDE TO WINE AND FOOD PAIRING From Consumer to Connoisseur Tony Dido and Jean Luc Le Du
Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine & Food Pairing Jaclyn Stuart and Jeanette Hurt
SECRETS OF THE SOMMELIERS: How to Think and Drink Like the World's Top Wine Professionals
Rajat Parr, Jordan Mackay, Ed Anderson
BOOK REVIEWS
BOOK REVIEWS: WINE WARS,VINO ARGENTINO & SCIENCE OF DRINKING
BOOK REVIEW: EXPLORING WINE (Revised Third Edition) Culinary Institute of America
THE WINE TRIALS 2011 Alexis Herschkowitsch & Robin Goldstein
EXPLORING WINE: The Culinary Institute of America's Guide to Wines of the World 3rd Ed.
Q&A
NEWBIE:
Q: Why do I prefer the taste of inexpensive wines to expensive ones?
A: Most likely because you prefer sweeter wines. In blind taste tests, many consumers show the same preference. There is a well known "learning curve" with wines: newer wine drinkers frequently prefer sweeter, lighter whites, but often may over time prefer more robust, aged and complex reds. Like all generalizations, however this is not always true.
Q: Why can't I just drink Cab with all types of foods.
A: Because the "food police" don't allow it! :)
On a more serious note, the ideal purpose of drinking wine WITH food is to ENHANCE the experience: 1 plus 1 = 3.
Drinking wine WITH food, can enhance or diminish the pleasure of eating certain dishes.
From one's own personal experience, most people soon realize that different wines will TASTE better with different foods.
WINE SELECTION
LETTERS
READER: Wine, Finance and Astrology. Interesting order. The first glass makes you loose enough to talk money. A few more glasses, and you get metaphysical. Seriously, good luck with the site.
READER: I LOVE THIS FOR YOU, MR. WINE! CHANGE Weingarten to Winegarten
Finally?a computer prompt I understand!
READER: even-mice-can-become-snooty-wine-experts
This explains why I see
rat-looking people at tastings.
More Letters
SAMPLE REVIEW POLICY
WEINGARTEN happily accepts wine and book samples for review.
Our review policy is to taste and read everything we receive but we usually only write only about the wines and books we like.
Please include a contact name and telephone number so that we may reach you with questions. Supporting material is encouraged but not required. There is no fixed tasting or review schedule, and feedback may or may not be provided to wineries or publishers other than what might be written on the site.
(c) 2010-2019 Henry
Weingarten 212 949 7275 310 Lexington Avenue
Suite 36 New York, N.Y. 10016
Please email any comments, suggestions, corrections, clarifications, or notice of inappropriate reader comments to wine@afund.com. Thank you.
Now that we are back at live wine tastings, we are in the process of reactivating this website. We are planning
1) To make Tasting Bytes and On the web a regular feature.
2) Posting some highlights of the last year's wine thoughts
3) Providing an economic assessment of public wine companies.
4) Hosting Wine Tasting Dinners 2024 at the Tudor City Steakhouse.
Stay Tuned for more
TASTING BYTES 2023
JANUARY 23 UNION GRANDS CRUS BORDEAUX
Chateau Lynch-Bages in Paulillac having the greatest # of First growth did not disappoint
Despite very difficult warm seasons, Chateau Bastor-Lamontagne was my favorite "Modern" Sauterne enjoyed here
TASTING BYTES 2022
Oct 12: Spain's Great Match 2022 at Mercado Little Spain
Like Eataly [Italy] is Mercado - Good Spanish Food, Good Wine.
DOC regs Old vines in Spain are not 50 yrs + but => 90 years!
Oct 24: Simply Italian Great Wines U.S. TourON THE WEB
La Querce Terra Divino 2018 Sangiovese in Terracotta "Orci" Amphora: Intense Color & Taste!
2023/2024 NEW YORK WINE EVENTS
Vinexpo New York February 28/29 2024 NYC Winter Wine Festival Nov 11, 2023
USA Trade Tasting May 26-27, 2023 New York Wine Experience Oct. 19-21 2023
May 21, 2023 NY Wine Competition August 22-24, 2023 The New York World Wine and Spirits Competition
September 9 & 10 2023 Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest September 12, 13 2020 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival NYC Wine & Food Festival October 12-15, 2023
Wine's Demand and Demography Dilemma
meet-the-man-who-revolutionized-the-wine-industry
How New Tech Is Making Wine Cellars Smarter – Robb Report
When you turn 100 in Switzerland, you get 100 bottles of wine (thetakeout.com)
WHY WINE, FINANCE & ASTROLOGY?
The most apparent is my last name; Weingarten or WEIN (Wine) GARTEN (Garden).
In ancient times, it was the practice to grow grapes (along with olives and various grains) in walled protected wine gardens. Perhaps I am being called by ancestral memories?
But a truer answer might be that Wine, Finance & Astrology is how I occupy most of my time.
- I observe and study global markets
nearly 24x7.
- I frequent wine tastings
and sample wine just up to (but not beyond) the
limits defined as healthy by western doctors.
WHAT IS THE
DEFINITION OF A "GOOD" WINE?
To me it is something I enjoy drinking and want more! If so then it is good - Ernest Gallo
It should start and end with a smile." - William Sokolin
To me it is something I enjoy drinking and want more! If so then it is good - Ernest Gallo
It should start and end with a smile." - William Sokolin
It is simply a
wine that makes you feel good! - Henry
Weingarten
"Life is too short to drink bad wine." --- Anonymous
"For me, life is too short to drink entry level wine" - Henry Weingarten
"Life is too short to drink bad wine." --- Anonymous
"For me, life is too short to drink entry level wine" - Henry Weingarten
For a complimentary subscription to the WEINGARTEN wine blog email wine@afund.com.
After you subscribe, please also Vote for My Blog on LocalWineEvents.com!
Note in 2019 we were voted into
the Top 5 blogs out of 1000+!
ON THE WEB
investing-in-wine-continues-to-mature-as-an-alternative-asset
wine-com-seeks-funding-at-a-valuation-of-more-than-1-billion
HW: The obvious
question is not what they have been smoking,
but rather drinking!
How to pair wines with your favourite takeaway meals
wine-investing-theres-an-app-for-that
I am old fashioned and
prefer Traditional wine investing:
Buying two bottles and when the price doubles, selling one
& drinking one in celebration!
Why China’s 10-Point Scale for Wine Ratings Matters
This is the red wine of choice for the longest living people in the world
Who Would Crowdfund A Wine Project ...And
Why?
Tasting Bytes 2020 -- Coming Soon
TASTING BYTES 2018/9 Previous Tasting Bytes
Rioja Saber Quien Eres tasting 2.13.2019
Good wines and delicious food all around-we found two outstanding price/value offerings:
Bodegas Faustino VII White $10.99 & Faustino Crianza $12.99
Georgian Wine Tasting NYC 6.4.18
Effortlessly, our favorite Sapervai was Artevani $30. Delicious by itself or with Food.
With my second choice was Papari Valley Saperavi 2016 $28.
Massanois Portfolio Tasting 2.26.18
3 Favorites:
Durnberg Gruner Veltliner "Tradition 2016 Tasty AARP (50+ year old) vines
Manos Andinas Parceleros Malbec Mendoza 2017 Very Good Everyday wine value
ORR Take Me Home Williamette Pinot Noir 2015 Compelling Name
Slow Wine 2018 US Tour March 1
My Favorite: CABERLOT Podere Il Carnasciale Il Caberlot Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy
A Unique and tasty clone of Cabernet Franc and Merlot in a Magnum Bottle- ideal for a dinner party of 8
Irene's Favorite:
G. D. Vajra Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2013
WINES OF ARGENTINA
HAVE CORKSCREW WILL TRAVEL: WINE & TANGO
September 19-30, I was a cheerful guest of Wines of Argentina.
My focus was on four themes:
1) To discover several new “favorite wineries” – For me that is always goal number one for any wine trip;
2) To find the best Malbecs to match with Steak (even though I don’t personally eat red meat);
3) To find the best Argentine wines to drink for dancing (Tango naturally) and
4) To research winery investments in Argentina.
WINES OF ARGENTINA PART I: TANGO
& MALBEC OR?
WINES OF ARGENTINA PART II: STEAK & MALBEC OR?
WINES OF ARGENTINA PART III: INVESTING IN ARGENTINA - NOW OR WAIT?
LINKS:Winesur
Malbec quiz – test your knowledge
To read more click Weingarten
blog
#7 2013
WINE-TORIAL: WINE & MOVIES
On snowy days I
enjoy opening a bottle of wine and relaxing by watching
a movie at home. Likewise
on hot summery nights. However ,Movie-Wine matching is
not usually as easy with wine
movies
such as Pinot Noir & SIDEWAYS or Malbec & EL
CAMINO del VINO (The Ways of Wine). Here are three
hints:
I] As with food, local Terroir usually works e.g.
Champagne et French Cinema, Riesling und Deutsche Films,
Sangiovese con Italian etc.
2] What is its
genre? Is it an adventure flick or chick film? For the
former a “masculine wine”, for the latter a soft, a
feminine one works better.
3] Match the
seasonality/weather in the film e.g. Rose or Sauvignon
Blanc with Summer/Beach scenes; Cabernet Sauvignon or
Chateauneuf du Pape for Winter/Skiing scenes etc. Please
note: As with a multi-course meal, this option may require
several bottles! :)
To read more click Weingarten blog #2 2014
WINE-TORIAL: WINE & CHEESE aka CHEERS
& CHEESE!
I don’t define myself as
a “foodie” but a “Wein [wine] Garten [garden] lover.
Still these days I am heavily into cheese- studying it by
taking classes, reading books and of course eating
cheese! As many WEINGARTEN readers know, there is much
beyond the simple neighborhood concept of Terroir that
connects wine and cheese. I recently incorporated two cheese
homework exercises into my “Why is Wine Special?" workshop:
1] Discover the ideal cheeses to match
your favorite wine and 2] Discover which wines match your
favorite cheeses. Why?
To read more click Weingarten blog #1 2014
The front page of last Saturday’s National Post carried a giant wine glass and the provocative question, “Are wine critics fooling us into buying pricier bottles?” Adam included my 2 cents in wrapping up his piece: Natalie MacLean, whose books and wine review website have made her one of North America’s best-known wine writers, imagines she could be tricked if someone served her a wine out of context. “I don’t set myself up as infallible,” she says. Ms. MacLean argues that wine reviewing, like art criticism, is largely a matter of taste and opinion. “As wine critics I think our primary goal is to be of service to wine drinkers, to be their guide; their virtual wine friend standing beside them at the store.”
HW: Well written article. I basically agree with your points. But you left out one important function of the wine critic- not only to help select wines but to INCREASE THE ENJOYMENT of drinking a particular wine.
NM: Thanks Henry! Great point. To read more click Weingarten blog #6 2013
WINE-TORIAL: MARKETS & WINE
Last month I attended the analyst presentation for Constellation Brands (STZ) and a pre-IPO Sidotti presentation for Truett-Hurst. Two years ago, we were very impressed with the new management strategy of STZ and put it on our Buy conviction list. Since then it has doubled. However, while still a sharp management team, the fact they will become 50% beer and only 50% Wine & Spirits, clearly does not strike this wine lover’s heart favorably. Others STZ Upgraded to Strong Buy. While I concede the plan forward may be a smart financial move, we have downgraded it to “Market Perform” with intermediate term support at 46 and resistance at 58. Truett-Hurst has several renowned wine markers advising. They will be concentrating on the highly profitably private label sector for wines. They are also exploring numerous marketing gimmicks- paper wine bottles for picnics, square wine bottles to reduce shelf space etc. Their initial IPO strategy failed (too expensive, too favorable to insiders etc.). Truett-Hurst raises $14.1 million in IPO started trading on June 20 - a day the Dow was down 353. Clearly they should fire their astrologer (or hire one)! Until then, I would wait and not buy this interesting wine company.To read more click Weingarten blog #5 2013
WINE-TORIAL:
HAVE CORKSCREW WILL TRAVEL
Like many of my readers, I have become overwhelmed with the variety of new wine choices. This is not so much a complaint i.e. “There are too many good wines” but a humble appreciation: “There are now so many good wines.” When asked what my favorite NY restaurant, I usually answer “30-40 favorites which depend on my mood, company, budget and after dining activities planned”. Similarly, I restrict myself primarily to no more than 30-40 favorite wine regions.
When recently traveling to Bermuda, I was unexpectedly stopped by US airport security. My wife was wondering whether she had accidentally taken 4oz of body lotion rather than the requisite 3. I absent-mindedly had not taken my travel carry on but my office bag which naturally has a corkscrew inside. Obviously, this the TSE saw it as a potential weapon. Fortunately having a wine press card made little explanation necessary. Unfortunately, we restricted our evening hotel room drinks to screw top wines. :) To read more click Weingarten blog #4 2013
VINA CROATIA 2013
Four wine regions, 66 Appellations and 16,000 winemakers: who knew? Irene, who visited and wine tasted the region last year! Something I learned: Until February 26, 2013 I would have said: “If you like Zinfandel, you would find a better expression in Italy with Primitivo. But a far better expression is Plavac Mali from Croatia.” But this no longer is the case. According to recent studies by UC Davis as well as the University of Zagreb, Zinfandel and Plavac Mali are different grapes! Yet, as cousins so to speak, they taste somewhat similar. To read more click Weingarten blog #3 2013
Carignano [Carignan] del Sulcis [Sardina] at EatalyWhat Argentina did for Malbec, Sardina may do for Carignano (Carignan).
Eataly is New York’s Italian food & wine lovers mecca. At La Scuola Grande over an alltoo short 2 hour lunch, we literally feasted on delicious assorted dishes and made a wine discovery: 100% Carignan wines can be especially delightful. Not in the style of the French or Spanish blending varietal, but wines from Sardinia: Ancient, bush-trained pre-Phylloxera vines (Latin vines) preservingtheir original rootstock thanks to the sandy soil. All tasted AUTHENTIC- one could easily felt/tasted Sardinian Terroir. Unfortunately, this is increasinglya rare experience due to the proliferation of international wine styles.... The parting words that I strongly recall were: “If you drink Carignano, you live to 100 years old”.
IF TRUE, Step aside French Paradox and buy and drink all can of these wines BEFORE this newsgets out! :)
To read more click Weingarten blog #2 2013
BOOK REVIEW: THE COMPENDIUM Tasting the World’s Finest Wines Vol 1 John Kapon
“To me, there is nothing better than aged wine.” John Kapon CEO Acker Merrall & Condit
These tasting notes of many of the world’s finest wines are a real treat for the serious oenophile/wine collector to share memories. They may also serve as a valuable guide/inspiration for future wine tastings/purchases
PINOT DAYS New York City
Many Bay Area pinots were obviously pleasant to drink, but my standout favorite pinot was from New Zealand - Churton, a delightful Biodynamic from Marlborough. I am looking forward toretasting it at the May 13 New Zealand Wine Fair.
To read more click Weingarten blog #1 2013
At a Fall Opici tasting, I tasted their Chianti Fiasco or “Straw” Bottle wine. Sadly it did NOT bring back happy early adult memories. Not only was it made in a modern international style, i.e. insufficient acidity to even counteract pizza, but was also lacking in quality. I keep asking Chianti producers to give we Baby Boomers a reasonably tasty quality authentic Chianti in a memorable fiasco that we can enjoy and light memories ( candles) in. To date they refuse so as not to rekindle their past association with cheap wines. Che tristezza- I am positive there is a substantial and profitable US market for a well-made Chianti packaged in a traditional straw covered flask.
To read more click Weingarten blog #8 2012
Wine Riot is a multi-city celebration of wine. Wine Riots were designed to teach the uninitiated to love learning about wine. It is owned and operated by a handful of people all under 30 who just want everyone to drink more wine. They succeeded! My plus one (target audience) was happily buzzed. I found the most value in the Spanish and Portuguese wine section. What I would do differently? 1) I was disappointed by lack of depth at the wine seminars- although they were very generous in their pours. 2) While there was lots of bottled water, I would have preferred some bread to clean my palette and also more food choices. But bottom line: It was FUN!
To read more click Weingarten blog #7 2012
I prefer the relaxing and feminine FS mode of space travel, while my wine wife prefers the more masculine R travel. Hence we often do not see eye to eye on many wines. Recently we requested samples of Abduction, a sci-fi wine. We both strongly disliked their Galactic White 100% Airen wine, although she quipped- ?the more ice I added (and especially the more it melted) the better (less bad) it tasted!? Perhaps extra-terrestrial tastes are different? Be that as it may, their Cosmic Red (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot) is not only reasonably priced under $10 and a fun party wine/house gift but also pleasant enough for drinking on our planet earth.
To read more click Weingarten blog #6 2012
Q: Who would be your ideal dinner party guests and what wines would you serve them?
A: I?d invite six Jewish men who marked the history of humanity: Abraham (everything is God), Moses (everything is law), Jesus ( everything is love), Karl Marx (everything is money), Sigmund Freud (everything is sex) and Albert Einstein (everything is relative). On pour would be Bollinger 1964, Chapoutier Ermitage de l?Oree Blanc 2011 and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux 1999.
Michel Chapoutier owns and runs Maison M. Chapoutier in Tain-l?Hermitage in the Rhône.
To read more click Weingarten blog #5 2012.
Up until recently, I had little desire for Rose. Perhaps it because I spend my summer vacation up in the
To read more of our April 4. 2012 BLOG click Weingarten blog #4 2012.
FOOD NOTE: Of course the wine appropriate hors d'oeuvres were tasty but the French pastries by Celine were truly delicious and memorable. These authentic
To read more of April 2012 BLOG click Weingarten blog #3 2012.
WAS IT THE MOON OR THE
VINTAGE?
At the Drefus Ashby Leap Year
Late Night Tasting (10pm to Midnight) at the Setai
Fifth Avenue Hotel I tasted a number of Maison
Joseph Drouhin which surprisingly didn?t taste
?special?. Was it the
late hour? (This was my first late night tasting.) One real standout me was a
lovely Tempranillo whose name and night sky label
instantly attracted me. The winemakers notes for
2008 Torres Celeste Ribera del Duero $18 state: ?Celeste is an opulent wine brimming with
fruit, body and colour: as unique as the night sky
in the Ribera del Duero.?- I
agree!
This is exactly what Biodynamic practitioners would have predicted!
To read
more of March 2012 BLOG click Weingarten
blog
#2 2012.
March 2012 WINE NEWS & TRENDS, KOSHER FOOD & WINE, GALIA ITALIA, WINE REVIEWS and more... To read click Weingarten blog #1 2012
To read the
2011
Weingarten blogs, please click
here.
NEW
YORK WINE EXPERIENCES
QUALITY & VALUE is the focus of
the WEINGARTEN wine blog.
Many wines are wonderful in their own backyard, but when
I evaluate a wine, my key judgment is: ?Would I would
drink (and buy) it in
TASTINGS 2014
Feb 21 2nd Annual New Jersey Winter Wine Festival
Feb 24NYC Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2014
April 08 TastersGuildNY Salentein Award Winning Argentine Wines
WINE BARS
WINE EDUCATION ICE: The Institute of Culinary Education Nancy's Wine Astor Place
WINEMAKER EVENTS
WINE PLUS ENTERTAINMENT
WINE PLUS FOOD
WINE TOURS Long Island Hudson Valley
WEBSITES:
Gayot New York Wine Tasting Events
Local Wine Events
NEW YORK CORK REPORT
Natalie Maclean Delicious Wine picks and pairings
EVERGREEN POSTS
THE
PURPOSE OF WINE:
Ancient Egyptian Wine Classifications: Beyond date, maker,
quality & origin - classifying wine by its
function ? e.g. celebrating first class functions,
tax collection day, wine for dancing, wine for
offerings, wine for a happy return and of course
wine for merrymaking!
Wine
as an Investment Part I
Publicly Traded Wine Companies,
that is, companies whose primary
business is wine: Remember the Peter Lynch
dictum: Buy what you KNOW and LOVE!
10 Desert
Island Wine Choices The
one wine to most enjoy drinking if marooned on a desert
island just for one year and the one if for life.
Johann Wolfgang Goethe once
was asked which three things he would take to an island.
He stated: "Poetry, a beautiful woman and enough
bottles of the world's finest wines to survive this dry
period!" Then he
was asked what he would leave back first, if it was
allowed to take only two things to the island. And he
briefly replied: "The poetry!" Slightly surprised, the
man asked the next question: "And Sir, what would you
leave back if only one was allowed?" And Goethe thought
for a couple of minutes and answered: "It
depends on the vintage!"
Red Wine & Health Living Drinking wine in moderation offers physical, emotional and mental benefits. In dream interpretation, drinking wine predicts joy and friendship. Both are major contributors to a healthy lifestyle.
IN PREPARATION
Red Wine
& Health
Wine as an Investment Part II Wine Investment
funds, Private Equity & Venture Funds; shareholding a private winery & wine
stock exchanges.
Astrology & Wine: Part I
Wine Horoscopes
Wine Wisdom: On Aging
Like people, wines develop character
and individuality with the passage of time. Also, like people, wines today have the
ability to age better and longer than in former
times.
FORTHCOMING
Wine as an Investment Part III Wine as investment
class (Collectibles): Wine Investing
vs. Wine collecting. Wine
'outperforming
oil and gold'
The
classic tenet so dear to wine lovers - buy two
cases, hold until the price doubles, sell one and
drink the other free. However the
bottom line is: Be prepared to drink your portfolio!
Wine as an Investment Part IV Wine Business
Opportunities: Becoming a wine entrepreneur: "Do you
want to make wine or make money?"
Starting a Winery or Custom
Crush; Wine Importer, Wine Bar, Wine
Shop, Teaching, Tourism & Wine Events.
Wine and the Cosmos I
Wine and food
adventures in New York and around the world:
Argentine Wines
Astrology & Wine: Part II Birthday Wines: Your
Personal Wine horoscope
The Weingarten
Wine Glossary: Our Winespeak dictionary is in the
tradition of Ambrose Bierce's satirical "The
Devil's Dictionary" who defined wine as:
"n.
Fermented grape-juice known to the Women?s Christian
Union as ?liquor,? sometimes as ?rum.? Wine, madam, is
God?s next best gift to man."
Sample entry: BIG BOTTLES: Seasoned wine lovers
don't really believe "size doesn't matter"!
The classic example is Champagne
which is widely believed to last longer and taste
better in Magnums than when matured in a normal size
bottle. It also has the virtue that it Very
impressive.
FUTURE
POSTS
WEINGARTEN WINE RATINGS
Wine Stars are rated 95 or higher for quality. As such they are classic and outstanding and make ideal gifts for special occasions.
?Wine is about the story where it
comes from and who made it, what makes it different
from other wines,
why it tastes the way it does, and most important, why is the right wine at that
time?
Drew
Nieporent
WINE NUT QUIPS
"My daughter says she doesn't drink French Wine- she says she likes to drink Cabernet Sauvignon."
"...I flew the Concorde from London to New York, in the course of which I consumed several glasses of an '87 Premier Cru Puligny-Montrachet that defied altitude' notorious flattening of the palate (the flight was far shorter than it ought reasonably to have been given the quality of the wine list)."
"Blind
tastings are to wine what strip poker is to love."
Kermit Lynch
"Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it. "
"A meal without wine is like a life without love. "
COMEDY
"Most of our customers frankly wouldn't know the difference
between a Bordeaux and a claret." Basil Fawlty in Fawlty
Towers
"A man's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another drink." W.C. Fields
"It's a naïve domestic Burgundy without any breeding, but I think you'll be amused by its presumption." James Thurber
"I love cooking with wine . . . sometimes I even put it in the food."
"A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine, except that on a day without sunshine you can still get drunk." Lee Entrekin
Good wine ruins the purse; bad
wine ruins the stomach. SPAIN
The best use of bad wine is to drive away poor relations. FRANCE
"Old wine and friends improve with age." ITALY
QUOTES
"Wine is a passport to the world." THOM ELKJER, Adventures in Wine
"Wine is not
just an object of pleasure, but an object of knowledge; and
the pleasure depends on the knowledge." ROGER SCRUTON,
I Drink Therefore I Am
?Wine is
about the story where it comes from and who made it, what
makes it different from other wines, why it tastes the way
it does and most important why is the right wine at that
time.? Drew Nieporent
ON THE WEB
Can
you afford a vineyard? Can you finance a
wine-making operation?
The Taste of Wine ? Does
It Matter?
The best wine importers
Why more expensive wines taste better: Psychology 101Finance
The Top Performing Alternative Investments: Fine Wine
Astrology & Wine
Chateau Moonshine? How the taste of wine is governed by the waxing and waning moon
Moon Theories in Wine :: Society Grapevine
Biodynamic Wine The newest trend in wine-making combines agriculture with astrology and mysticism
Matching Wine and FoodApproaches and Guidelines
Wine Tourism
WineTravelGuides.com
Wine Business News
winebusiness.com
Wine Misc
The
Collectionary: wine
Wine outstrips shares as investors get the taste for liquid assets ...
Apr 14, 2010 ...
Investors driven to drink by the market turmoil of the past
few years may have been on to a good thing.
Is Wine a Good Investment
Wine Beats Russell Stocks as Liquid Investment in Swiss Study
RESOURCES
If you are a newbie to wine, I would recommend one of four books to start:
1) If you just wish be able to understand some basics and only wish to read one book so as to better navigate a restaurant wine list or buy wine in a liquor store it would be DRINK THIS, WINE MADE SIMPLE by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl.
2) If you to potentially begin a life long study of wine and become a wine sophisticate, then read WINDOWS ON THE WORLD COMPLETE WINE COURSE by Kevin Zraly.
3) If you are unsure of your future relationship to the world of wine read: EDUCATING PETER How I Taught a Famous Movie Critic the Difference Between Cabernet and Merlot by Lettie Teague
4) If you are more "California" than "New York/Europe" or interested in the Zen of the wine experience, read: Wineocology by Caitlin Stansbury with Heidi Shink
Next I would pick up a basic reference book such as
THE WINE BIBLE Karen MacNeil and/or
EXPLORING WINE: The Culinary Institute of America's Guide to Wines of the World 3rd Ed.
Steven
Kolpan, Brian
H. Smith, Michael
A. Weiss.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED READING:
THE ULTIMATE WINE COMPANION Editor: Kevin Zraly
THE BATTLE FOR WINE AND LOVE or How I saved the World from Parkerization by Alice Feiring
IS THIS BOTTLE CORKED The secret life of Wine Kathleen Burk and Michael Bywater
WINE MYTHS AND REALITY Benjamin Lewin
THE JUICE Vinous Veritas Jay Mcinerney
A YEAR OF WINE Perfect Pairings, Great Buys, and what to Sip for Each Season Tyler Colman, aka Dr. Vino
WINE FOR EVERY DAY AND EVERY OCCASION Dorthy Gaiter & John Brecher
All about WINE CELLARS Howard G Goldberg
The Wine Collector's Handbook Storing and Enjoying Wine at Home Linda Johnson
Keys to the Cellar Strategies and Secrets of Wine Collecting Peter Meltzer
The Wine Lover's GUIDE TO AUCTIONS The Art & Science of Buying and Selling Wines Ursula Hermacinski
Wine Investment for Portfolio Diversification: How Collecting Fine Wines Can Yield Greater Returns Than Stocks and Bonds Mahest Kumar
Investing in Liquid Assets: Uncorking Profits in Today's Global Wine Market David Sokolin
A SHORT HISTORY OF WINE Rod Phillips
THE STORY OF WINE Hugh Johnson
WINE, The 8000-Year-Old Story of the Wine Trade Thomas Pellechia
INVESTING WINE Paul Lukacs
THE GEOGRAPHY OF WINE Brian Sommers
THE SCIENCE OF WINE From Vine to Glass Jamie Goode
TERROIR The role of Geology, Climate, and Culture in the Making of French Wines James Wilson
WINE WARS Mike Veseth
RENAISSANCE GUIDE TO WINE AND FOOD PAIRING From Consumer to Connoisseur Tony Dido and Jean Luc Le Du
Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine & Food Pairing Jaclyn Stuart and Jeanette Hurt
SECRETS OF THE SOMMELIERS: How to Think and Drink Like the World's Top Wine Professionals
Rajat Parr, Jordan Mackay, Ed Anderson
BOOK REVIEWS
BOOK REVIEWS: WINE WARS,VINO ARGENTINO & SCIENCE OF DRINKING
BOOK REVIEW: EXPLORING WINE (Revised Third Edition) Culinary Institute of America
THE WINE TRIALS 2011 Alexis Herschkowitsch & Robin Goldstein
EXPLORING WINE: The Culinary Institute of America's Guide to Wines of the World 3rd Ed.
Steven
Kolpan, Brian
H. Smith, Michael
A. Weiss
BOOK REVIEWS: WINE WARS,VINO ARGENTINO & SCIENCE OF DRINKING
BOOK REVIEWS: WINE WARS,VINO ARGENTINO & SCIENCE OF DRINKING
Q&A
NEWBIE:
Q: Why do I prefer the taste of inexpensive wines to expensive ones?
A: Most likely because you prefer sweeter wines. In blind taste tests, many consumers show the same preference. There is a well known "learning curve" with wines: newer wine drinkers frequently prefer sweeter, lighter whites, but often may over time prefer more robust, aged and complex reds. Like all generalizations, however this is not always true.
Q: Why can't I just drink Cab with all types of foods.
A: Because the "food police" don't allow it! :)
On a more serious note, the ideal purpose of drinking wine WITH food is to ENHANCE the experience: 1 plus 1 = 3.
Drinking wine WITH food, can enhance or diminish the pleasure of eating certain dishes.
From one's own personal experience, most people soon realize that different wines will TASTE better with different foods.
WINE SELECTION
Q: Have
any Malbec suggestions?
A: Argentine wines, like wines from
Here
are three suggestions:
85 Trapiche Broguel Malbec
2008
87 Graffigna Grand Reserve
Malbec 2007
90 Terrazas de los Andes
Alincado Malbec 2006
Given there are so many more fine Malbecs, it will be the subject of a future blog. In the meantime, you may wish to also taste selections from Alamos (Catena) and Archaval Ferrer.
LETTERS
READER: Wine, Finance and Astrology. Interesting order. The first glass makes you loose enough to talk money. A few more glasses, and you get metaphysical. Seriously, good luck with the site.
READER: I LOVE THIS FOR YOU, MR. WINE! CHANGE Weingarten to Winegarten
Finally?a computer prompt I understand!
READER: even-mice-can-become-snooty-wine-experts
More Letters
A LOVING WIFE
A woman was sipping on a glass of wine while
sitting on the patio with her husband.
She says, "I love you so much. I don't know how
I could ever live without you."
Her husband asks, "Is that you or the wine
talking?"
She replies, "It's me... talking to the wine."
SAMPLE REVIEW POLICY
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Our review policy is to taste and read everything we receive but we usually only write only about the wines and books we like.
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