Summer Chardonnay

I think it will come as no surprise to most of you that I love wine. I have a cabinet full of wine for emergencies (gifts, dinner parties, Wednesday nights...).

World Market wine section...the BEST!

 

I can easily say that Chardonnay is my favorite wine. Not only is it delicious, but its WHITE. That comes in handy when the inevitable spill occurs (my friends and family can attest that that happens regularly). It also won't stain your mouth out in public (always a plus).

Unfortunately, a good, robust Chardonnay can end up being way too heavy for a Texas summer day! And, I'll admit that for some people, the crispness of  Pinot Grigio can  be much more alluring in 100 degree weather!

The good news for Chardonnay aficionados is that winemakers are giving us a few more options for the summer! Crisp and light Chardonnay's are coming on trend...finally! When wine is made, it is typically kept in oak barrels to ferment and age, which gives Chardonnay its woody or buttery flavor. When Chardonnay is "Unoaked," it is kept out of those barrels so that it will keep it's light and fruity flavor!

Next time you are out wine-shopping, try grabbing an Unoaked (aka Unwooded, Naked, or Virgin) Chardonnay! Here are a couple that I have tried recently and LOVED!

Joel Gott 2011 Unoaked Chardonnay
$15 at Tom Thumb

Layer Cake 2009 Virgin Chardonnay
$11 at World Market

Enjoy!

P.S. - Here's a sneak peak at next week's post...yum yum!

 

Wine Glasses 101

While thumbing through this month's Traditional Home Magazine (yes, I do subscribe to that), I ran across this handy little article: In Grape Shape, which was an interview with Georg Riedel, who owns the glass company, Riedel Glas Austria. . Basically, our new friend Georg ran us through the different kinds of wine glasses, and why they are used for specific wines.

Being a self-proclaimed "wine-enthusiast" myself, I thought it may be fun to share some of these little factoids with you, in hopes that you will enjoy it as much as I did! If anything, you can now impress your dinner/cocktail hour guests with some of this knowledge. Prepare to take your intimidating factor up a bit!

Cabernet Sauvignon:

Merlot:

Pinot Noir:



Chardonnay:

Pinot Grigio:

Sauvignon Blanc:

Red Wines:

The large bowl shape offers a wider mouth, and more exposure to the air. Larger bowls are particularly good for the more complex reds like Pinot Noir. FYI - the larger bowls have the most surface exposure to the air (aeration is VERY important for red wine). The narrowing "tulip" tips allow for you to swirl your wine like a pro while not spilling a bit!

The narrower glasses, like those for Merlot and Cab direct the scent straight to the nose.

White Wines:

It is not as important to aerate white wine. For this reason, most white wine glasses have a narrower bowl. The only exception for this is Chardonnay, which is typically more robust than other lighter whites. The "oaky" Chards call for the larger bowls, while the lighter, "non-oaked" ones are good in the narrower glasses. 

Now go forth and host a wine party with your new knowledge! Don't forget to invite me :)