Recommended Introductory Wine Books

Would you like to learn more about wine? Would you like an introductory overview of the world of wine?

There are several excellent books available that can educate you about wine. Here are a few of my recommendations for such books. These books are all easy to understand but are very informative.

"Windows on the World: Complete Wine Course" by Kevin Zraly. This book is frequently updated and the 2007 edition is currently available. You might be able to find the 2006 edition on the discount rack at your local bookstore. The 2007 edition is a large hardcover book and retails at $24.95. It covers all the basics about wine, the different countries and varietals, recommended wineries and producers, and much more. In addition, it provides alot of wine trivia. It is an easy read and contains alot of interesting and valuable information. Most people will find they learn something from this book.

"Great Wine Made Simple" by Andrea Immer Robinson. This is a revised edition, in hardcover and retails at $29.95. This is also an easy read with lots of interesting and valuable information. It also tries to downplay the wine lingo and talk in more plain English. It goes more in depth in some areas than the Zraly book. It also presents you with some wine tasting suggestions that will help you better understand wine.

"Jancis Robinson's Wine Course" by Jancis Robinson. This is a trade-sized paperback and retails at $29.95. The first half of the book is all about wine while the second half goes into details about the world's different wine regions.

"Oldman's Guide To Outsmarting Wine" by Mark Oldman. This is also a trade sized paperback that retails for $18. This book is a bit more ecletic than the others but contains information you may not find in the other books. It is an easy read and contains numerous wine recommendations as well.

Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie is one of my favorite comfort foods but I am very picky about what goes into my pie.

It is a traditional English meal that usually consists of minced lamb topped my mashed potatoes. In the U.S., it is usually made with ground beef and may then be called "cottage pie" or "cowboy pie." In the U.S., a layer of corn is commonly added too. A number of other vegetables, such as peas, onions and beans, are sometimes added to the ground meat. Shepherdess Pie is a vegetarian version.

For me, I enjoy ground beef, corn and mashed potatoes. I don't like any other veggies in my Shepherd's Pie. Trying to find that type of Shepherd's Pie though can be difficult. But, I have found one store that has exactly what I want. And their Pie is delicious.

J. Pace & Sons Inc. sells a home-made Shepherd's Pie. It is large enough to feed two people and costs only around $9. What a bargain! They don't make it every day though so it is not always available. You just have to take it home, heat it up and then serve. A quick meal. It has a nice crusty top, soft potatoes and flavorful beef.

I'm having some tonight. Yum!

J. Pace & Sons Inc.
333 Main St.
Saugus, MA
Phone: (781) 231-2741

2002 Marques de Gelida Cava

Cava is Spanish sparkling wine, made in the same manner as French Champagne. But there are some differences as well. For one, the Spanish Cava regions generally get a lot more sunshine than Champagne so Cavas are often softer with riper fruit flavours. Cavas also usually use some indigenous Spanish grapes, including macabeo, paralleda, and xarello. These varietals commonly make a light, fruity wine.

I prefer Cava to Champagne because I do not care for the yeasty flavors of many Champagnes. I prefer a fruitier wine. It is my experience that others who dislike thay same yeasty flavor also tend to enjoy Cavas. Many people though are not familiar with Cavas, though they would like them if they tried them. Cavas are usually cheaper than Champagne which is nother advantage.

The 2002 Marques de Gelida Cava Brut Exclusive Reserva ($15) is an excellent example of Cava. It has a fine fruitiness with only a touch of sweetness. It is refreshing with a medium length finish. This is one of the better Cavas that I have had and it is a good value at this price. This is a definite Drink & Buy!

If you have not ever had a Cava, try this one. Even if you dislike sparkling wines, give this a try as you might be surprised.

Lower Falls Wine Tasting-Thursday

This Thursday, July 26, from 5-6:30p.m., there will be a free wine tasting at the Lower Falls Wine Co.

They will be tasting new arrivals from the all-organic winery, Case Corini. Eileen Wright, of Il Capriccio and Adonna Imports, will be there to pour a selection of Corini's finest!

The wines to be tasted include:
2003 Barbera d'Asti "La Barla"
2001 Barbera d'Asti "Bricco"
2001 Barbera d'Asti "La Villa"
2001 Monferrato Rosso "Achille"

Wines poured will be available during the event at a special discounted price.

I have not tried these wines before but I have much faith in Adonna Imports. They often find great Italian wines, from small producers. This should be a good event and I may be there.

I should also mention that the Lower Falls Wine Co. has recently updated their website. It is more informative now so check it out.

Lower Falls Wine Co.
2366 Washington Street (Rt. 16)
Newton Lower Falls, MA
Phone: (617) 332-3000

1999 Coturri Assemblage Millenaire

While wandering through The Wine Emporium in the South End of Boston, I found several bottles of the 1999 Coturri Assemblage Millenaire ($25). I have never seen this wine before, or even heard of it before. I am a fan of Coturri Winery which makes some excellent organic wines. Their wines are usually low production wines and very reasonably priced. You can find some of my views of other Coturri wines on this blog. As the Assemblage Millenaire was new to me and seemed intriguing, I bought several bottles.

Now, the Coturri website says almost nothing about the Assemblage Millenaire. And I could not find much else online either.

This Assemblage Millenaire is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. Only twenty cases were made so this was a very low production wine. I opened a bottle a few nights ago with my local wine buddies.

The wine is very dark in color, almost inky. Initially, this wine had a funky aroma, very earthy and almost a barnyard smell. My initial tastes of this wine began with a gush of very grapey flavors. It transformed into a more earthy taste on the finish, which was fairly long. What this wine really needed was to sit and breath for awhile. For later on, after some time had passed, the wine really smoothed out. The funky aroma largely vanished, though still being mildly earthy. The grapey flavor became much more subdued to nice blackberry and dark cherry flavors. The wine became very smooth with a complex layer of tastes. There were some spicy elements on the finish that emerged and the earthiness largely vanished. I was very impressed with the wine after it had sat for a time. It became very much a Bordeaux-style wine.

My friends all enjoyed the wine as well, especially after it sat for a time. I would recommend this as a Drink & Buy. I do look forward to my other bottles as I will get to taste even more of the wine then, rather than split it with five others.

For a wine of such low production, which is also all organic, I think this is an excellent value wine. You may not be able to find this wine because of its rarity, but if you do, buy it! If you have never had any Coturri wines, I recommend you try some. You may find some new favorites.