12 under 20: The Chardonnays!

Hello friends!

Admittedly, I have never been much of a Chardonnay fan. To be a bit crass, the idea of drinking wine that tastes like licking a buttered barrel never really compared to the idea of savoring fresh red berries or luscious tropical fruits. However, it occurred to me that I needed to be fairer to the Chardonnay lovers out there. There hasn’t been a single Chardonnay on my 12 under 20 list yet…until today.

I endeavored to compile not just one, but a few Chardonnays I have tried recently that I think are an excellent compromise for “Chardonnay people” and my personal tastes. It was really fun to learn throughout the process that not all Chardonnays are buttered toast in a glass and that ultimately, I had the wrong idea. 

 Sonoma-Cutrer Sonoma Coast, 2012 ($19.97 at Total Wine)

This wine is special because it was the wine shared the night some good friends of ours got engaged. Jess, the future bride, is all about Chardonnays and to be perfectly honest, I had her in mind when I felt compelled to do a Chardonnay post. 

This Chardonnay basically has it all: prominent fruits (apples, melons, pineapple), but also toasty oak and a spiciness, blended with soft butter. I had to admit, I really enjoyed this puppy a lot. We shared this wine again at our first time in their new house, pairing with pan-sautéed lemon cod, asparagus, rice with Cajun seasonings, and a mixed green salad.

  14 Hands Chardonnay, 2013 (Can’t find price?! – Assuming under $20)

We got this wine on a whim from someone that didn’t want it (crazy, I know…), so it was a good experimentation opportunity. 

I remember making my husband do a “smell test” to try and figure out what exactly we were smelling when we volatized the esters. Answer: Butterscotch. To me, this wine is all apples and butterscotch. The mouth flavors ended softly and truly favored bright apples with a toast foundation. It is easy to find, and if you like Washington wines this might be a good place to start.

     “446” Noble Vines Chardonnay, 2013 (approx. $11 at Publix)
Because I loved the Noble Vines Pinot Noir so much (check Instagram), I have made a point of trying every other Noble Vines wine I can get my hands on. Publix had a display of just their wines this week and I almost cleaned them out, haha!

The NV Merlot is amazing, their Red Blend is super fun, and their Chardonnay is another butterscotch beauty. The Chard is acidic almost to the point of being effervescent (but not in an invasive way). The taste is full of tart lemon and tangy grapefruit with a silky finish.

      “LIMITED” by Cambridge Cellars, 2013 ($10.99 on California Wine Club, $19.00 regular)

Myself and another woman I work with were recognized at our yearly team meeting for the work that we do. Knowing us well, our supervisors rewarded us with a 6-month wine of the month club (BEST. GIFT. EVER).  This particular club, The California Wine Club, focuses on wines at a great price from small family vineyards you won’t usually find just anywhere. I like the exclusivity of it and I have to say, shipment #1 was a hit!

When I opened up the "LIMITED" BY CAMBRIDGE CELLARS 2013 MONTEREY CHARDONNAY, I was quite pleased with what I tasted. I personally experienced apple cider from the nose and the taste was creamy, peachy, and very easy to sip. I was surprised that I didn’t get really any butter from this Chard – I am going to guess it is steel barrel aged. We paired it with a badia seasoned chicken breast, egg noddles, asparagus, and a lemon hummus butter sauce.

So, a few Chardonnays for you to try. I am going to keep my mind open moving forward in hopes of adding to this list, but for now I have found some Chards I am happy with. I hope you were able to find at least one Chardonnay here that could be an easy, “go-to” Chard for you too!

Cheers!

12 under 20: Hidden Crush Cabernet and Bree Riesling

Happy New Year, readers!

I hope that thus far 2015 is treating everyone very well. As my first wine post of 2015, I would like to share two wines I discovered over the December holiday (man, I do need to get back to the art side of things sometime...). Though these were first time trials, I think these could easily become classified as "go-to" wines.

Hidden Crush Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 - Madera, CA - Avg. $15/bottle
This. Wine.

I discovered this wine while up in Cleveland, OH visiting my grandparents. Our waitress recommended it between two cabs at dinner one night and thence forth, I have been in love. I enjoyed this wine so fantastically that it pained me to turn down another glass (Have to be a responsible driver though).

I am determined to find this wine again and buy many, many bottles. Why, you ask? Easy. This is my perfect cab: It was medium-bodied,  completely red-fruit forward, soft oak, and superficially, I love the bottle design. There was a hint of vanilla on the finish that left a soft, delicate sweetness in contrast to the dash of spice. It was an excellent dichotomy of flavors that left nothing to be desired for me.

Obviously, on the regular I would recommend pairing this kind of wine with grilled burgers or pasta with tomato sauce. I actually had it with a grilled salmon salad that night and thought it was perfectly lovely, so I have to feel this is a versatile pairing wine! Hidden Crush also produces a Chardonnay so be on the look out for that review (if I can find it) down the road!


Bree Riesling 2012 - Qualitswein, Germany - Approx. $12/bottle
A friend gave us this wine as a Christmas gift and I have to say, it surprised me. When I first opened the bottle (such an sleek, modern design...It looks more like a liquor bottle than a wine bottle), I did not immediately smell or taste the sweetness characteristic of most rieslings I have tried. It was very dry to me initially, which I now know is not atypical of German rieslings. I wasn't sure how I felt about it after the first glass, but it was in the following glasses (on other nights, kids) that I realized its true value.

This wine has an light nose of green apple to me. The dry sweetness comes forward with crisp, acidic fruit notes of honeydew melon and a mellow undertone of slate. I think I get a hint of peach from it as well. If you prefer softer white wines (sweet, but not lingering toothache sweet), this would be a great wine for you.

This wine I think absolutely comes alive when paired with foods. We enjoyed it with crock-pot chicken fajitas and with Patak's Mango Curry chicken. This would be a great wine to pair with any Thai or Indian dish, roast turkey, lemon baked rainbow trout, or probably with that salmon salad I had had the Hidden Crush with!

My friends, which wines did you enjoy over the holidays? Which "go-to" wines would you recommend for us to try? 

Cheers!

12 under 20: The Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection

Good day, readers!

Bringing you another vineyard chain today, much like previous posts on Cupcake and Oliver. The Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection wines can be found in just about any grocery store, so they should be super accessible for you to try! They will typically be mid-to-upper priced on my $20 scale.

My Mom introduced me to this label and thus far, I have been pleased with every bottle I have tried. Specifically and most recently, I have enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon, the Pinot Noir, and the Pinot Grigio. On previous occasions, I have also appreciated the Merlot and the Malbec. I still have some tastings to do to cover all varietals in this collection, but today let’s focus on the three I am most familiar with.

The Ivory Label – Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.99 at Publix last visit!)
One thing I learned in the last wine class I took was that for a wine to be labeled as a certain varietal, it must merely consist of 75% of that type of grape. For example, this cab! Though labeled as a Cabernet Sauvignon, this luscious wine is actually only 78% Cabernet Sauvignon grape. The remaining ingredients consist of 10% Segalin, 7% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc grapes. Though that may seem initially curious to come, a calculated combination of different grapes helps the winemaker create a broader spectrum of unique wines for you to consume!

For those that aren’t too familiar, the Cabernet Sauvignon grape is a hybrid of the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc plants (So cabs are basically a blend from the start, right ;)?)! The Cabernet Franc is a fragrant black grape that adds flavors of pepper and dark berries. The addition of that extra pinch of Cabernet Franc grapes may have been with the intention ever-so-slightly weight this wine in favor of those dark, smooth flavors.

This wine by Coppola’s winemaker Corey Beck is rich like velvet, bold, and spicy. It is aged in French Oak barrels, which accentuates its berry-filled fullness. Deep royal garnet in color, it is easy to feel sophisticated while drinking this wine. I’d highly recommend pairing wine with a well-seasoned steak, braised lamb, or spaghetti and meatballs.

The Silver Label – Pinot Noir ($16.99 at Publix last visit!)
This wine was gone almost instantly when served at our Christmas Day dinner! Unlike its Cab cousin, this wine is 100% of its namesake grape. The way this wine was prepared (grown in a region influenced by cooler bay-temperatures, picked in the early morning, and immediately cold-soaked) I think definitely plays a factor in this wine and is why I recommend you make sure it is chilled prior to consumption. This wine has a lovely nose filled with raspberries and cherries, and the French oak barrel aging comes through on the long finish (so you can enjoy it a little longer :)). This wine was exceptional with our turkey and ham Christmas dinner, but I also envision you would enjoy it with lamb burgers, quatro formaggio pizza, or eggplant parmesan. And now I’m hungry…

The Emerald Label – The Pinot Grigio ($11.99 at Publix last visit!)
This darling is 100% Pinot Grigio grape and professes a Northern Italian style. I am partial to the stainless steel barrel aging when it comes to white wines as I feel it lets the complexities of the grape play first fiddle in each sip, rather than the fiber of the barrel. Steel aging for this wine results in a clean, crisp taste like an Anjou pear or green apple. It is light, refreshing, and a perfect pairing for that scrumptious berry salad, white fish entree, or the alfredo pasta you’re having for dinner.

If you are looking for an accessible label that you can count on to provide you with variety, quality, and the right price…give the Francis Coppola Diamond Collection wines a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Cheers, readers!

12 under 20: Relax Riesling

12 under 20: Relax Riesling
I don’t know what it is with me…My “go-to’s” tend to be either bold, fruity reds or the sweetest of whites! I do know that a lot of my friends out there prefer white wines, so let me make a recommendation that you’re sure to enjoy.

Relax Riesling has, for years, been a solid go-to wine for me when I need something sweet, light, and fruity. I find this wine has the versatility to be enjoyed with melons and peaches on a warm summer day or with goat-cheese stuffed dates and sugar cookies on a cozy winter night (I know this because I enjoyed it with sugar cookies just last night!). Aside from desserts, sweet wines like this are also a wonderful complement to spicy Thai or Indian cuisine, fish entrees, and fruit-filled salads. Any way, you should definitely serve it chilled!

Like its clean, modern bottle, this wine is crisp and fresh. I would expect no less from a popular German Riesling! It is so easily sippable you will forget it’s even alcoholic (until you stand up, of course). This would be a great wine to drink while taking a bubble bath or reading a good book on the couch. And if you’re crafty, think of all the fun things you could do with the gorgeous cobalt blue bottle once you’ve enjoyed the contents!

Relax Riesling is a JOY and very accessible; I typically find this in the wine section at my local grocery store at or under $12. I now know that Relax has three other wines as well, so I know what I’m going to try to find next grocery trip!

Cheers!

12 under 20: Decoy 2012 Pinot Noir

WELL, I have catching up to do if I’m going to give you 6 more 12 under 20’s by December 31^st!

So when we went to Napa back in July, along with Markham we also stopped at Duckhorn. WOW. We did a wine and cheese pairing with them and it was a delightful time (worth the money if you get the chance to go).

Unfortunately, most Duckhorn wines won’t quite make the “under $20” mark for this blog. However, Duckhorn is part of a great ducky family FULL of options that will fit whatever your budget while maintaining their high quality and brand acclaim. Sister vineyards include Decoy, Paraduxx, Migration, Goldeneye, and Canvasback.

12 under 20: Decoy 2012 Pinot Noir

Decoy was the first of Duckhorn’s sister vineyards that we explored (at the store). Husband’s birthday was last week and aside from Chianti’s and Cabs, the man appreciates a good medium-bodied Pinot Noir. We were pairing this wine with a baked, lemon-seasoned salmon, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Most often people would advise pairing a white wine with fish, but for red-drinkers like Husband, the Pinot Noir is an excellent compromise.

The back of the Decoy 2012 Pinot Noir label pretty much sums it up: “The everyday wine for the well-informed.” Consider this post you being informed!

This vintage is 100% Pinot Noir grape, aged in 100% French Oak Aged Burgundy barrels (Luscious!). It was fresh and full of bright, red fruit.  I personally experienced the mouthfeel of cranberries and raspberries and it had a soft, oaky zest to it. This wine was fruity and light enough for those that don’t prefer heavy red wines, but also toasty enough for wine drinkers that enjoy notes of wood and spice.

Their 2013 varietal is sounding more earthy and herbal (lavender, sage, mushroom, white pepper amidst the blue and red berries)…so for those that prefer the warmth and lushness of more fruit, try the 2012 first.

The Decoy Pinot Noir just barely skates under our $20 cap at $19.99 at Total Wine. That tends to be the average price for this wine, though the Internet says some lucky wine aficionados might be able to find the 2012 as low as $15 at some retailers. 

Cheers, readers!

12 under 20: Mark West Pinot Noir

12 under 20: Mark West Pinot Noir

Welcome to my Go-To #3...Mark West Pinot Noir!

Mark West makes a lovely Pinot Noir that I just discovered last weekend at the recommendation of my friend Gennie. It is easy drinking, filled with great fruit (notably cherry, raspberry), and a hint of spiciness. It's very smooth, the tannins are soft, and it is a beautiful garnet color. I can say with 100% confidence that it pairs well with homemade pizza. :)

Mark West is located in Sonoma County, California where they have been making wines for over 40 years. I'm hoping, on my trip there in May, that I'll get to have a visit. I'm forever going to associate this wine with laughing, honest sharing, and solid quality time with a good friend. Wines are definitely for sharing!

At Publix, this baby sells for $14.99!

Cheers!

12 under 20: Cupcake Vineyards

My 2014 New Years resolution is to become a novice level sommelier. At this time I am not doing this through an official school, but through monthly wine tasting classes at various locations to lay the foundation for my knowledge. Maybe in the future I will consider actually going to school to get certified! 

I know this is not art related, but I'd like to start a mini series called 12 under 20. Over the next year, I'd like to highlight 12 of my favorite "go-to" wines for under $20. When you are a wine enthusiast, people frequently ask "What wine is your favorite?" That's not always the same thing as "What is your go-to wine?" meaning that wine that you can count on on a Tuesday when you're in your pjs watching TV. My husband asked this question of Thomas Arvid and it inspired this series. 

So let's get started!

#1. Cupcake Vineyards

I can confidently say Cupcake Vineyards is one of my favorite, most consistent go-to brands. One of their distributors was having a promotion years ago at the Bloomington Kroger and easily made smitten with the idea of this creative brand, I went home with multiple bottles. They pulled me in with their decadent name and scrumptious descriptions on the back of the bottle. They kept me with the variety, comforting mouthfeel, and food friendliness.  

Cupcake has a wine for every occasion, every palette. From the "tangy and creamy...lemon chiffon cupcake," their Sauvignon Blanc, to the "chocolate mocha and blackberry cupcake," their Shiraz - You will not be disappointed. Other mouth watering varietals include:

- Reds - Red Velvet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Shiraz, Pinot Noir
- Whites - Angel Food, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
- Celebratory - Moscato d'Asti, Prosecco

*Bold indicates wines I have tried...thankfully I still have some yet to try!

And I had yet to mention, all for under $12! At Publix, I regularly find this brand on sale for $9.99. So stop reading, stop reading now and go buy yourself a bottle! (Please drink responsibly ;))

Cheers, readers!

"Life without art is like dinner without wine. Why bother?" - Thomas Arvid

So. It has been a very, very long time since I last posted here. The whirlwind that is post-graduation has kept things racing pretty consistently. Among other things, I now work at a software technology company (Say what??) and am recently married (Hi Honey!). Boy, how things can change in a year and a half!

I am compelled to start this exercise all over again. I need to purposefully bring art back into my life - So for the next calendar year I will be doing (a minimum of) 52 posts - One for each week of the year. To kick things off, I'd like to start with an artist that is recently very special to me.

Thomas Arvid - The Painter of Wine

If you have not yet heard of Thomas Arvid, go to Google. Go to Google now. Or keep reading, of course.

Mr. Arvid hails originally from Detroit and always knew that he wanted to be an artist. He began his art career upon moving to Atlanta, Georgia where he taught himself how to paint in oils. During a backpacking trip through Europe, Arvid's now-wife Vanessa (an art historian herself :)) introduced the idea that to be more than just a "good painter," an artist had to have an organizing principle or theme behind their work.

Arvid started with a color -- Red. While working out of Atlanta's Cafe Tu Tu Tango in the early 1990s, Arvid painted Radio Flyer wagons, red Converse high tops, Campbells soup cans, and for the first time, glasses of red wine. As the red wine pieces started selling right off the easel, Arvid knew he was on to something big. An early commission challenged Arvid to not only paint a Silver Oak cabernet, but also taste a truly fine wine for the first time -- Opening up his palette to the world of fine wines and introducing him to his life's work. More on his bio here.


I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Arvid at The Vinings Gallery in Roswell, GA about a week ago. I was familiar with his work - Hyperrealistic, meticulous paintings of filled wine glasses, bottles, corks, and cork screws. He had fooled my eye (and my husband's!) on more than one occasion, the detail of his work causing you to think you were looking at a photograph instead of a painting. He personally was warm, charismatic, and a delight to talk to. He has a wonderful sense of humor and radiates passion for what he does. Conversing with him was really was one of the coolest 15 minute conversations I had had in a long time.

"Half Full" (c) Thomas Arvid, from ThomasArvid.com

I love Arvid's works for 3 main reasons. I could certainly come up with many more, but this is meant to be a blog post, not a novel. I don't want you all falling to sleep on me!

1) The Detail. If you spend some time reviewing examples of his work, you will see exactly what I mean. 

2) The Compositions. Unlike traditional still lifes where you see all aspects of the inanimate spread on the table, Arvid intentionally interrupts the scene, enabling the viewer to "paint" the rest of the image in their minds. You can see this with Half Full (Limited Edition Giclée on Canvas. 43 x 21 ¼ in. Edition size: 100), above. You only get snipits, fragments of the wine glasses, the wine bottle, the corkscrew. This engages the viewer and their imagination, making them part of the moment. Which leads me to #3:

3) The Significance. To quote the artist himself, "When you buy a special bottle of wine you always look forward to the time when you'll open it -- Who will be there, where you'll be. An amazing bottle is as much about whom you're with as the wine itself; it's about being in the right place, at the right time."

As a fledgling wine enthusiast myself, I can relate this to concept whole-heartedly. My husband and I officially became a couple after sharing a bottle of Arrington Vineyards Viognier in Nashville, TN. Oliver Winery's Bean Blossom Blush and Blackberry wines will always remind me of tastings and shenanigans with my graduate school colleagues. Francis Coppola's Diamond Collection Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir were among the last wines my Mom purchased for us. Wines are meant to be shared and Arvid's efforts to capture of that moment is both special and equally relatable.

One of the most special aspects of getting to meet Mr. Arvid was finding out how caring and civic-minded he is. At the event, the gallery was holding a raffle to benefit Loving Arms Cancer Outreach in Roswell, GA. This beautiful outreach program enables cancer patients to continue on with their normal lives by donating wigs, grocery gift cards, meals, financial assistance, and warm hugs. The gift of "normalcy" is often the most precious thing that someone can offer to a cancer patient. The work these volunteers do is extraordinary, so please take a moment to visit their page if you have a chance.

Mr. Arvid donated a limited edition painting, a sculpture, and a wine tasting/gift box to the raffle, with all proceeds going back to the outreach.

As luck would have it...my husband won the wine tasting/gift box (pictured left)! We're so thrilled!


A few final things gleaned from our conversation with Mr. Arvid:

"Golden Opportunity" (c) Thomas Arvid, from Thomas Arvid.com

• What he listens to while painting: Country music and talk-radio
• The bottle of wine that will "change your world": Shafer Family Vineyards' Cabernet Sauvignon
• What he does for fun: Besides painting (he honestly loves what he does), he plays the guitar and ukelele
• A dream/goal: To build a wooden boat
• Methods for motivation: When he first started painting, he would hang his art on the wall until his walls were full. He would not allow himself to take something he deemed mediocre down until he painted something better to replace it.
• Advice for those starting to paint (or to do anything artistic): Do it...a LOT. 

"The artist and the winemaker are visionaries, each in his own medium. One conveys his vision to canvas, the other inside a bottle. The art of painting wine and making wine are all about romance and perception. Good wine is quality art for the heart and soul." - Thomas Arvid

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In honor and loving memory of my Mom - The very first and most wonderful wine enthusiast I have ever known and one of my biggest fans when it came to my love and pursuit of art.