October 2003 Newsletter

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Hot Wine News – The Northern Hemisphere Wine Harvest

As harvest winds down in the great wine regions of the northern hemisphere – California, France, Italy, Spain and Germany – wine lovers have reason for good cheer. Not only is the quality of the wine from the 2003 vintage expected to be spectacular, especially in Europe where record heat led to abnormally early harvests, but there is now more good wine available to consumers, at reasonable prices, than ever before.

In addition to the classic regions – Napa Valley in California, Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhone Valley in France, Tuscany in Italy, Rioja in Spain, and the Mosel and Rhine river valleys in Germany - superb wines are coming from California’s Central Coast and Sierra foothills, the south of France, southern Italy, Austria, and numerous regions in Spain. Not to mention the incredible values emanating from southern hemisphere countries like Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, and South Africa. The intense competition among these regions for shelf space in U.S. stores is driving prices down and introducing Americans to less well-known, but high-quality varieties such as Shiraz, Grenache, Malbec, Tempranillo, Pinotage, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Grüner Vetliner.

So, whether you’re an established connoisseur or a novice eager to learn more, now is the ideal time to be exploring the endlessly diverse, fascinating world of wine.

Harvest News • Wine of Month • Food Pairing • Wine Wisdom • Events • Top of Page

Wine of the Month – The Versatile Pinot Gris

What do Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Tokay d’Alsace, and Ruländer have in common? They’re all the same grape!

A mutation of the red Pinot Noir variety, Pinot Gris (literally, "Grey" Pinot, for the grape’s typical grayish blue to brownish pink color) is grown throughout the world, from Burgundy (Pinot Gris), where it originated, and Alsace (Tokay) in France, to northeastern Italy (Pinot Grigio), Germany (Ruländer), Oregon (Pinot Gris) and California (either Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio).

What’s remarkable about this increasingly popular grape is how different the wines it makes can be. In Alsace and often in Oregon, it makes dry, rich, full-bodied white wines (some fermented and/or aged in oak barrels), while in Italy it typically produces light, crisp, sometimes innocuous, wines.

Most California producers pursue a stylistic middle ground, making medium-bodied wines that are lighter and fruitier than Alsatian versions, but richer and softer than most Italian Pinot Grigios. The California renditions tend to be fresh and fruity (apple, melon, pear, and peach aromas and flavors), and ideal for sipping by themselves or enjoying with casual meals.

Good, medium-priced versions (under $12) include Echelon, Gallo Sonoma, Ivan Tamas, Montevina, Sutter Home, Trinity Oaks, and Turning Leaf, while the best, more expensive brands (over $15) include "J", Navarro, Luna, and Swanson.

Harvest News • Wine of Month • Food Pairing • Wine Wisdom • Events • Top of Page

Wine / Food Pairing – Pinot Gris and Lemon/Mint Salmon

Chardonnay is often considered the king of the whites. No wonder, as Chardonnay's large, complex, oaky flavor and rich aroma easily justifies its popularity. While Chardonnay often pairs well with food, the very characteristics that make it great can often overpower more subtly flavored dishes. This can be especially true with fish and shellfish, where just the full-bodied aroma of a Chardonnay can be a bit overwhelming.

Luckily for the wine/food lover, other white wines more suitable to these pairings have gained in popularity. One of the nicest examples is Pinot Gris. This wine displays full flavors such as rich peach and pear, and an exciting spicy quality and acidity in the mouth while its mild aroma never intrudes. Pinot Gris perfectly enhances salmon where the wine's acidity and fruitiness balance the the oily richness and unmistakable taste of the fish.

Lemon/Mint Salmon:

In a dish large enough to lay the salmon flat, mix the juice of two lemons with three tablespoons of finely chopped mint leaves. Place four salmon slices or one full filet in the juice and marinate for 30 minutes. Turn salmon over and marinate another 30 minutes.

Place salmon slices on slightly larger pieces of aluminum foil. Curl up edges of foil and spoon two tablespoons of marinate over each slice. Grill or BBQ fish to desired texture. Serve with bottle of Pinot Gris.

Harvest News • Wine of Month • Food Pairing • Wine Wisdom • Events • Top of Page

Wine Wisdom – More than just Enjoyment.
by Ellen Mack, M.D., M.P.H

Could a glass of wine a day, keep the doctor away? This philosophy, cultivated by ancient Chinese, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian societies, is today enjoying a re-emergence thanks to scientific scrutiny. Let’s look at some of the evidence.

In the 1950’s, it became apparent that Americans were having heart attacks at unprecedented rates and coronary heart disease had become the number one killer of Americans. Unfortunately, coronary heart disease carries this distinction to this day.

To better understand this problem, and therefore effectively combat it, the medical profession undertook large scale studies in the 1960’s to investigate the association between heart disease, diet and lifestyle. Such studies, including the widely publicized Framingham Study, taught us that a lifestyle consisting of a low fat diet, regular exercise, no smoking, and weight loss lowers our risk of death from heart disease. What these early studies also revealed, but which was not publicized, was that persons who regularly consumed moderate amounts of alcohol also had a lower risk of dying from heart attacks.

The general public and, I might sadly say, much of the medical profession did not become aware of this knowledge until the 1990’s when 60 Minutes aired ‘The French Paradox’ episode in 1991. The paradox is that the French, who eat more fat than the Americans, have similar cholesterol levels, and smoke more, would be expected to have similar, or even higher, rates of heart disease than Americans. However, the French have only one third the number of fatal heart attacks and less than half the rate of coronary heart disease of Americans.

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Harvest News • Wine of Month • Food Pairing • Wine Wisdom • Events • Top of Page

Upcoming Wine Events

November 12 – 23rd -- Mendocino Wine & Mushroom Fest
Held in mid-November this is a county-wide celebration of two of Mendocino's products. Winemaker dinners, cooking classes, guided mushroom walking tours, cooking demonstrations, exhibits, special winter lodging rates and featured cuisines. Please call for more information on this event.
Fee: Varies by event
Time: Varies by event
Phone Number: 707-462-7417

November 19 – 26 and 28th & 30th -- COPIA Presents: What's Nouveau, Pussycat?
November is the traditional time for unveiling nouveau (new) wines from around the world. Why the fuss? Stop wondering and come sample the freshest of all vinos. 500 First Street, Napa. Program dates are: Nov 19-26, Nov.28th & Nov.30th.
Fee: Included with day pass, $12.50
Time: 3pm, see website for specific days
Phone Number: 707-259-1600

For more upcoming wine events, please visit our events page.

Harvest News • Wine of Month • Food Pairing • Wine Wisdom • Events • Top of Page