So it seems I’m not the only one who’s loving the spritzer. The folks at Bon Affair are taking a similar approach to re-introducing this oft-considered boring and outdated drink by creating a sleekly branded bottled version. It seems they are currently offering a Sauvignon Blanc and a Syrah version both at around 6.5% ABV; which of course is less than wine, but a little higher than most commercial beers. I myself have not tried a bottle but I’m a sucker for good imagery. How about you all: have you had the chance to sample a little Bon Affair?
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Last night we celebrated a wonderful weekend with a bottle of this sparkling Rosé. The bottle was 90% Glera (fairly typical grape for Prosecco) and 10% Pinot Noir which is where that fantastic color and flavor profile comes from. It was delicious on it’s own but even better with a little lemon, via some Wine Spritzer inspiration…
That’s right. I’m officially bringing back the spritzer. Actually, maybe it can’t be considered “brought back” if it was never here in the first place. But you’ll remember last year I gave away my little secret and now I’m here to tell you definitively, that despite the fact that you almost certainly think of your grandmother when you think of spritzers, you are seriously missing out on some damn good summer drinking if you ignore the possibilities.
Here’s the thing: I’m not telling you to abandon all other alternatives and only drink seltzerfied (should be a word) wine. I’m just telling you the concept of the spritzer is basic and open to a world of manipulation. Maybe we just need a new name for it? Any ideas (fill out the form below to be eligible for this week’s giveaway)…
I’ve been working on a few basic recipes to share (I plan on posting next week with a few other summer-centric drinking details) but in the mean time, the idea is simple. I’d actually suggest you grab a bottle of solid rosé and start there. The slightly more complex wine holds up to the splash of seltzer fantastically and makes for a perfect mid-day cocktail. And I say cocktail, because that’s where the fun can begin. You know all of those simple syrups you’ve been making? Infusing herbs, spices, and more? These are great for wine based drinks as well; perfect for the ultimate refresher from the summer heat.
It’s been a while since we’ve had a wine post hasn’t it? Well it’s been for good reason. Nobler wine contributor, Adam and I, along with another good friend Josh have been busy working on an exciting venture called VinePair. VinePair removes the anxiety of choice in the wine purchasing selection and is launching later this summer in the New York City area for delivery service. I’ll share more as the details come but wanted to share some other exciting news in the meantime…
As part of the VinePair experience, we have developed a series of wine tasting events with our first tasting scheduled for June 16th. This won’t be your typical tasting, that’s for sure so check out more details and buy your ticket (space is limited) at our Eventbrite page here:
Despite impressive arguments by myself and Mark, it looks like Adam and his wine won out for Valentines Day. Don’t tell him I told you this, but I actually had some wine, and no whiskey so it looks like I didn’t help my own cause. But anyway, I’m glad you all enjoyed our debate and hope you all had a great fake holiday.
As for some other news, the Night Cap NYC tickets are moving and there aren’t many left at this point. I know we’re still a few weeks out but if you want to make sure you can join us for another unforgettable tasting, grab your tickets today. Otherwise have a great weekend and enjoy the extra day (if you have it).
Here at the Nobler we have some pretty strong opinions. But unlike what has become so typical around the country on Valentines Day, you won’t hear us bash this Hallmark Holiday. Yeah we get it. There are a lot of stupid details surrounding this so called love-fest that make it quite easy to hate on: the ridiculous gift expectations, the inherent competition of who has the best boyfriend, and worst of all, the pre-fixed dinner menus that are disappointing and overpriced all contribute to the growing counter-movement against Valentines Day. But we say screw it. Embrace the day, give a little love to your friends, family, or significant other but no matter what you do, it most certainly should involve some booze.
But what booze to choose? Remember I mentioned those strong opinions…
A Nobler Debate: What should you drink on Valentines Day?
(Disclaimer: Adult topics discussed below)
Wine, Defended by Adam – I can’t believe we are even discussing this on the Nobler today…wine is and forever will be the only choice for V-Day. Why? Because wine makes you think of sex, case closed. Seriously, do you ever see characters in a movie slugging beer or whiskey and then doing the deed? No. Why? Because beer makes you feel fat, and whiskey can give people performance issues…Wine on the other hand makes you feel sexy. On V-Day, give me a glass of champagne any day, and lets head to the bedroom.
Beer, Defended by Mark – Ok, so it’d be a little absurd to try to claim that there’s a beverage out there that’s more romantic than wine, but that doesn’t mean a case can’t be made for beer on Valentine’s Day. And the crux of that case is this: Its goddamned cold on February 14th. When it comes to Humans v. The Elements, for thousands of years our ace in the hole has been hearth and home. Meat sizzling on a roaring fire, animal skins and piled blankets, and a tall, belly-warming, vitamin-rich, life-sustaining flagon of ale. Add to these the most primal of all human activities and I’d say you’re doing it right. Save the wine and whiskey for the spring thaw. For now let’s get warm, full, and naked.
Whiskey, Defended by Ricky – Mark makes a convincing argument but my animal skins are at the dry cleaner. As for Adam, I’m not so sure what “performance issues” he is alluding to, but that’s for another conversation. And yeah, I get it: wine is romantic, sensual, etc. But it’s also a bit of a sleeping aid. So sure, share some wine and head to the bedroom… for a wonderful night of sleep. Not so much with whiskey because with whiskey you have no idea what’s coming. And that’s exactly what the perfect Valentines Day should be like. Make a few strong whiskey sours and I guarantee sparks will fly. Maybe those sparks are in the form of some whiskey rage, but hey, at least you can you say your night was exciting.
I may often paint my fellow Noblers as booze-fiending, loyal followers of the experiment but…Well that’s true. However, some of them can write…Here’s some Super Bowl wine advice from Adam!
With the Super Bowl approaching this weekend, many people are busy planning their menus while their guests are trying to figure out what booze to bring. Beer has always been the go-to beverage to bring to the party, but after a few beers with all the heavy game-day food, I usually wind up feeling tired and full, trying to slip away to take a nap, instead of watching the second half.
Wine, on the other hand, can be a perfect lubricant for the festivities, and there are a few varietals out there that pair perfectly with what your friends are probably making for the big game.
If you know your friends will be making food that is heavy – think burgers, chili, sour cream based dips – you’ll want a wine with the acidity to cut through all of that.
Two wines I really love for this task due to their quality and affordability are Dolcetto and Barbera, both from the famous Piedmont region of Italy. While Piedmont is most famous for its Barolo and Barbaresco, the King and Queen of wines, the lesser known varietals Dolcetto and Barbera are the wines the Italians drink every day, and they are just acidic enough to cut through the fat and bold flavors of the Super Bowl’s heaviest dishes. Dolcetto, in fact, almost never touches oak, instead, after being crushed, it is aged in steel for 6 months to a year, and then bottled, preserving the wine’s bright colors and acid perfectly.
Lets say, however, that you’re headed to a party where the hosts are embracing the flavors of New Orleans, this year’s host city. That means many of the dishes are going to be spicy, and you’ll want a wine that goes well with the spice. One of the best wines for that task is Reisling (try it with spicy Indian and Thai food too). While Germany is the most famous region that produces Reisling, there are a lot of great Reislings being made in the Fingerlakes region of upstate New York as well as many affordable bottles being produced in Austria. All should go very well with the spice.
Have a great day, and don’t get too wrapped up in the game. It’s all about the commercials anyway
Time for some of the Noblers to get in on the Gift Guide mix. Here’s some great advice from our self proclaimed wine geek, Adam…
With so many gizmos out there for the wine lover in your life, it is easy to get overwhelmed. So many of the gadgets and gizmos run the risk of being played around with a few times and then left to collect dust.
That’s not to say that every wine gift out there is a waste, but one should be cautious of gimmicks when purchasing wine geek gifts. One of the safest routes for a wine-related gift is nice glassware. There is no point in drinking wine unless you share it with others, and when you share wine with others often, it’s pretty likely glasses are going to break, so even if the wine geek in your life already has stemware or a decanter, one can never have too much! A go-to brand I really like for its quality is Riedel. The great thing about Riedel glasses, and decanters as well, is that they have several lines at various price points, so you can always find nice glasses that are within the price range you want to pay. At my house, I just have one glass shape from which I serve both white and red, but you can always go crazy and purchase glasses perfect for every varietal under the sun.
Another gift that is perfect for wine geeks is a mixed case of wine. Head to your local wine shop, give them a price you want to spend and have them put together an interesting case or half case for your friend. Then, when you deliver the gift, tell the friend your intention was that the two of you would try each of the bottles in that case together over the next few months, a win-win!
I may often paint my fellow Noblers as booze-fiending, loyal followers of the experiment but…Well that’s true. However, some of them can write…
Thanksgiving is quite possibly my favorite holiday, from the food, to the football, to the cocktails and, of course, to the wine. There is nothing more enjoyable than getting together with friends and family to share a meal and drink great drinks. That said, this meal comes with a lot of pressure, so my hope is that at least in the wine department, I can rid you of some of that stress.
Over the past few decades a trend has developed around our tables. Wine writers have declared that, because Thanksgiving is an American holiday, we really should drink an American produced wine. In the 80’s and 90’s, this meant the wine was probably a good Cabernet that came from California’s Napa Valley. As we moved into the 21st century, the wine became Pinot Noir from Oregon, and Pinot is still the dominant wine that is suggested every year. But I am here to tell you that there is another great American wine that everyone is overlooking, and it should definitely be on your Thanksgiving table. That wine is Cabernet Franc from New York’s North Fork wine region.
Cabernet Franc has historically been known as a blending varietal that is used in Bourdeaux, but out on New York’s North Fork, it is proving itself to be a varietal that was destined for much more than just a grape to be blended with other grapes. Cabernet Franc is light in color and can have lovely notes of pepper, raspberry, tobacco, and violet, perfect for pairing with the Thanksgiving meal.
Over the past ten years, the Cabernet Franc has really thrived out on the North Fork and many would now argue it’s the wine for which the region will become known, much like Napa for Cabernet or Mendoza for Malbec. There are a lot of wineries on the North Fork producing excellent Cab Franc, but since I can’t list them all, here are some of my favorites:
The Nobler Experiment 