Bringing tasting room quotes to the blog

In the tasting room we get so many questions from beginner to experienced wine drinkers.  On the other side of the bar I know we 'Wine Educators' use terms that the average wine drinker doesn't necessarily know the meaning of when used in referencing wine's character or flavor.  I think this blog is an excellent source to discuss these terms with the hopes of making it easier for all of us to understand each other a bit better!

From a recent guest, "I've been told at other wineries that you should swirl the wine before tasting.  I do it.  But I have no idea why I'm doing it.  What am I looking for exactly?"  Well, I would tell you that you are watching to see what kind of film the wine is leaving on the glass, but that sounds disgusting!  So we'll just say that you are looking to see how thick the wine is before tasting it.  A thicker wine is going to be heavier bodied.  In reds, this could mean the wine is mature and/or heavy with tannins.  In whites, it could mean a high sugar residual.

From the mouth of a colleague behind the bar, "The next wine you will be tasting is the Rose, it's a floral forward wine made up of Chardonnay and Merlot grapes."  FORWARD - the dominant component in a wine that gives your mouth its first impression.  Your nose (olfactory sense) tastes the wine first and gives your tongue and mind an idea of what's coming.  A wine could have a floral, fruit, or oak forward, these are commonly heard references but honestly the list is virtually endless.

So come on in and try the floral forward Rose!  Or share with us the forward you are picking up when you taste the Merlot!

Cheers!

Wine for turkeys

In order to get to the most wonderful time of the year, we first must get through the long-standing, American tradition of all day football.  Oh, I meant to say, Thanksgiving!  Appetizers consisting of cheeses, crudites, and meatballs...oh no.  Dinner consisting of turkey, stuffing, and smashed potatoes...oh my.  Dessert challenging the bird for highest honors consisting of pumpkin pie, cheesecake, and trifles...oh no!    And somehow you're supposed to find a wine that will magically go with all of it?

The answer is simple.  No, no you don't have to find that one magical bottle that will compliment and capture the delicacies of each meal that will satisfy everyone's palate.  My Thanksgiving gift to you.  You're welcome.

So what then? you ask.  It's easy.  Find a light/medium bodied, yet fully textured red (like our Chambourcin Gold for example) and a medium bodied, dry white (might I suggest our Vidal Blanc) to satisfy all of the folks gathered around the table.  There is no "right" or "wrong" wine to serve your friends and family this holiday.  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes-and-cooking/thanksgiving-wine-pairings-drink-american/index.html

For dessert, a small glass of dessert wine is always a nice compliment to the end of the eat-fest.  Take this time to offer a toast to the coming holiday season and maybe even the new year.  Raise a glass of our Courtney's Christmas, with its subtle cranberry and accents of cinnamon/clove, there is no other wine that tastes quite like it.  Consider serving it chilled or slightly above room temp.  Before you know it, your guests will be heading out into the brisk night, thanking you for a fabulous meal and a wonderful evening. 

Lost Creek will be open today (11/20) until 5P and Monday (11/21) until 5P. 

From all of us at Lost Creek Winery to all of you, we wish you a safe and warm holiday.  Happy Thanksgiving!