Enobytes Wine Blog

When I was a young man, I used to preach the atrociousness of the varietal of Merlot being produced as a stand-alone wine circa 1985-1989. I will actually admit that back then, I would hold up Bordeaux wines as an example where Cabernet ruled and Merlot took a back seat. How uneducated my claims were back then especially with the facts being St. Emilion and many St. Julien’s consist primarily of Merlot and these regions have continued to make standout wines vintage after vintage. That would make my limited education obviously challenged and all the rants ludicrous and unsubstantiated. To all the new-world produced Merlot and all the Bordeaux regions I may have slighted, I officially apologize.

Now on to new business, I recently weighed in on some wholesale grape price disparities in Napa, primarily the gap between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, $2300-4500 per ton on Cab and only $1400-2500 for Merlot. Some Cabernet even went for a whopping $39,000 a ton. In my opinion, the Merlot retailing in the $25 –$35 price range far outshines comparable Cabernet at the same price point. Who is getting rich here? Is the real joke on Read the rest of this entry »

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Cinco de Mayo is upon us and many question wine pairings with Mexican dishes. Dr. Vino posted this same conundrum on his blog, approriately titled, "Burritos - impossible food-wine pairing!?", for which he asks his readers to recommend what they would pair with a burrito. It’s interesting to see posters recommend everything from sparkling wine to Zinfandel. One poster went as far as to say everyone was wrong with their suggestions, since "Mexican food + mexican wine = the only match".

When it comes to Mexican food, there really isn’t much difference between burritos and grilling up some meat and accompanying it with some vegetables, herbs and a starch. So why do we have such a hard time selecting a wine that compliments Mexican dishes? Some may think it’s an impossible task, but Read the rest of this entry »

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After reading comments left regarding a recent post about restaurant wine lists and corkage fees I felt compelled to make a comment of my own.

First, I would like to say I appreciate the fact someone actually reads my blog. I was even more elated to find out I am not the only one that feels on-premise wine sales are pushing the limits lately with profit margins and ridiculous corkage fees. Now I would like to chime in on retail prices and mark ups. I have previously mentioned the industry norm was Read the rest of this entry »

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A couple of posts back I mentioned the entity known as Crushpad to introduce another exciting option wine enthusiasts have for procuring custom made premium quality wine. After reading the following post, it may become an idea that not only sounds advantageous but also an idea whose time has come.

The reason I mention this option again is there is a current debate about the fall of the great Napa region’s reputation and Read the rest of this entry »

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Have you ever considered making your own wine but found the quest of acquiring a winery, grapes and a genius that can make the wine an expensive and daunting challenge? The mere thought of following this dream through completion is a strenuous and ambitious endeavor with the results squashing the hopes of almost every enophile; unless you have discovered the possibilities Crushpad offers.

Photo credit, wikipedia

With Crushpad you are allowed to pick the varietal and usually the type of clone from some of the most sought out fruit in the location that suits your desired flavor profile. You will have up to the minute harvest information. The fruit is then trucked to the winery in San Francisco the same day it is picked. Then you choose the method of winemaking or let their accomplished winemakers make that choice for you. If you want 12 months in new oak, that’s your choice. Say you fancy stainless steel and no malolactic fermentation for your Chardonnay; that’s your choice. Check out the Crushpad 30, a menu of options to fully realize the complete list of winemaking styles and choices; Thirty separate choices for putting together the wine of your dreams. Read the rest of this entry »

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When UC Berkeley Professor Richard Mathies began prototyping the Mars Organic Analyzer (MOA), he never expected it would help millions of wine drinkers that suffer adverse reactions from consuming red wine.

Funded through NASA, Mathies set out to develop an instrument to detect life on Mars. His MOA prototype analyzes Martian soil samples to find a broad class of molecules like organic sugars, amines and amino acids, which are key components for detecting life on the planet.

Many of you are probably asking how this all ties into wine and why you would care. Consisting of many minor components, wine consists of many amino-based compounds including Tyramines and Histamines, which can trigger a wide range of symptoms from nausea, headaches and hot flashes to respiratory disorders and high-blood pressure for many wine drinkers. If you are one of many individuals that suffer adverse symptoms, help may be on the horizon. Read the rest of this entry »

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Ok, so I have to admit, I was a little disappointed that Enobytes did not make the cut, but I know I wasn’t the only blogger crying in my bowl of Cheerios the morning Tom Wark announced the American Wine Blog Award (AWBA) finalists.

In light of the loss, I thought it would be amusing to create my own award where Napawood appropriately replaces Hollywood as the metonym for the Global Wine Awards, and the scenario would go something like this… Read the rest of this entry »

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Welcome to our "Wine Regions of the World" © series. This map depicts outstanding wineries and upcoming tasting rooms within the New York Finger Lakes AVA. Here you will find Enobytes exclusive vineyard and winery information including geographical terrain, Enobytes tasting room and wine reviews, public reviews, winery hours of operation, location information and much more.

Vineyards near Canandaigua Lake
Photo credit: Finger Lakes Visitor Connection

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Compagnie de Transport Maritime a la Voile (CTMV), a French shipping company created the world’s first fleet of sail-driven merchant ships to transport Languedoc wines. The initiative is to support a sustainable economic development project.

Since CO² emissions from transport are expected to rise by 50% in Europe by 2010, the Treaty of Amsterdam project was introduced to integrate environmental considerations into community policies.

Using fleet that support renewable energy and biofuels, CTMV acquired a set of sailing vessels which meets environmental requirements and supports the Treaty of Amsterdam project, with an expectation of saving nearly 5 ounces of carbon per wine bottle compared to traditional shipping methods. Additionally, CTMV uses the Canal du Midi to transport client goods on to the fleet, which, in itself burns five times less fuel than traditional shipping. The canal connects the Garonne River to the Étang de Thau on the Mediterranean.

CTMV’s first voyage from Bordeaux to Dublin is already in transit, expected to arrive in Dublin next month, and future ports of call including England, Sweden and Demark will certainly assist in the initiative to save carbon. Read the rest of this entry »

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As I was wandering the wine isles of a local grocery retailer the other day, I was happy that they were now carrying the Echelon label. When this label first came into existence in the late 90’s it represented above average quality wine from respected growing regions at below average prices and their Pinot Noir and the Merlot were standouts. My first instinct was to grab a bottle and check out the information on the label. Much to my surprise, the Pinot Noir lists French fruit but the wine is blended and bottled in California.

Many other American producers seem to be on this ‘source Pinot Noir from anywhere‘ mission. Beringer’s founders reserve Pinot Noir is now made from grapes coming from the Lombardy region of Italy. Pepperwood Grove’s Pinot Noir started this year with French Vin d’ pays grapes then it went to Chilean fruit, changed again to join Beringer bringing it’s grapes from Lombardy, Italy, only to change once again bringing the fruit from Australia.

Grapes from three different continents and four different viticulture regions all with the same label all within one vintage - I hope you Pepperwood Grove drinkers like change.

If you go to the Pepperwood Grove website after reading this article, you might be a little confused because the website lists the appellation as California. I have not seen any of their Pinot Noir from California on the shelf since 2006. Read the rest of this entry »

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Anyone that has traveled with their wine in hand has experienced some sort of problem along their route. Here are a few tips to consider when traveling by air, boat, train or bus.

If you are flying any time soon, be certain to read up on the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Permitted and Prohibited items list. Rules seem to change often enough to require a quick review of the limitations before you travel. The 3-1-1 rule regulates carry-on liquids, and to date, the TSA will only allow each passenger a three ounce liquid limit (or less) stored neatly in a one quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag. So if you have a 750 ml bottle of wine,

expect to pack it in your checked luggage or leave it at home. There is one exception to the rule: Items purchased after the checkpoint have been pre-screened and are allowed on the plane so if you want to pay the airport prices, you can carry your purchase onboard. Read the rest of this entry »

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