Getting Organized

In order to get ready to drink wine from 100 different grape varieties, (blends count) I had to get organized. I purchased a Moleskine black book (the legendary notebook used by European artists and thinkers for the past two centuries, from Van Gogh to Picasso to Hemingway....might as well continue the tradition of great writers) and I listed one grape variety per page. Since the majority of the names are unrecognizable, I highlighted the red grapes in red so at a glance, I can easily access the list in my little black book. An important resource will be the The New Wine Lover's Companion with history, geography and pronunciation of the grape varieties.

With black book in hand, I was ready to start the wine journey. The first variety on the list is Agiorgitiko, a red Greek grape. Since I live in a dry area in Dallas, I usually do my wine shopping in Addison, where the liquor stores are lined up one after the other. I walked in to store # 1 and asked if they carried Greek wines. All three of the attendants stared at me cluelessly so I repeated, "Greek, like Zorba the Greek". One of the women asked me to follow her as she shuffled to the Australia aisle and pointed to the "Jacob's Creek". Well, I knew at that point that part of this journey was going to be just finding the wine. My next stop at store # 2 was the same story, no Greek wines. Finally at Goody Goody, I located a $15.00 bottle of 2005 Boutari Nemea, made from 100% Agiorgitiko grapes. Thank heavens for the wine manager, Robert Emery who will become my new best friend as I embark on this journey~

P.S. I would love for anyone to join me in this project. Download the list and then we'll start with the first A and move to the last Z. You are welcome to post your comments on any of these varieties.

100 Sips with Tina from A to Z

I love the movie "Julie and Julia" starring Meryl Streep as Julia Child. The film follows events in Julia Child's early years in her culinary career and a young woman, Julie Powell, who challenges herself to cook all 524 recipes from Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year and blog on it. Each time I saw the movie ( yes, I have to admit more than once) I not only came away inspired to try Julia's Boeuf Bourguignon but a little bummed. Bummed because why didn't I think of the "Julia project" first? Later, this month as I was reading Tyler Coleman's A Year in Wine, he mentions Steve and Deborah DeLong's Wine Century Club. The De Long's have listed 184 grape varieties and if you try at least 100, you are qualified to join the Wine Century Club. Bingo!! I have found my "Julia project"!
I immediately went to their website and downloaded the application, http://www.delongwine.com/ . Am I ready for the challenge? Tasting 100 varieties from A to Z? According to their website, "The common grape varieties are typically considered the "big six": Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. Does that mean Chenin Blanc, Sangiovese and Syrah are considered exotic? No, but when you really get down to it, every wine grape variety is considered ordinary or typical in some part of the world, which makes trying "uncommon" wine grape varieties all the more fun: you can be transported to a faraway place with just a sip!"
Ok, I'm ready to join these adventurous wine lovers! 100 sips with Tina from A to Z.

Red Caboose 3rd Annual Grape Stomp

How have I lived in Dallas for close to 9 years and never discovered the beauty of Central Texas? Or even the people? On my 2nd trip to Meridian in one week, I revisited the Red Caboose Winery & Vineyards and participated in their 3rd Annual Grape Stomp. Evan & Gary McKibben, the dynamic father/son team hosted the event and their careful planning provided everyone in attendance a "stomping" good time. Guests were each given a Red Caboose personalized souvenir wine glass, plate and t-shirt.
The thunderstorms which lasted all afternoon did little to dampen spirits. Guests gathered on the back patio, listening to the music of the Gordon Collier Band, www.gordoncollierband.com Winner of the 2007 Country Band of the Year Award from the Music Association of Central Texas. They entertained for hours as we sipped red wine with new friends and enjoyed the warmth from the fireplace. Can it get any better? In between the wine, music and food, we found time to crush the grapes. Protected from the rain, large vats of grapes were set up for the grape stomp. There's always a first time for everything, and this was my virgin crush. After rolling up the pants, washing my feet in a bucket of clean water, I climbed into the barrels full of purple & blue grapes. Wow! Cold and squishy was my first reaction. Then after a few turns, with grape juice all over my feet, I climbed out and stepped onto my white souvenir t-shirt which the staff had placed on the ground. How much fun to have a reminder of your crushing adventure with your footprints.
Unfortunately time doesn't stop at the Red Caboose, and after a delightful afternoon, it was time to venture out into the rain and I-35 back home. But first we had to make some purchases of their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot and the 2007 Cabernet France Tempranillo, something to remind us of the good times at the Red Caboose. In addition, we purchased a couple of t-shirts with the winery logo on the back and a very clever slogan " We have something NAPA never will...we are surrounded by Texas. " Don't you just love Texans! So proud... look out California~
I'll be returning to their 4th Grape Stomp next year and this time I'll be a veteran~ Look out Lucy and Ethel!