Wines featured in today’s show:

• Château de Manissy Tavel (~$17)
• Quinta de Alorna Touriga Nacional Rosé (~$10)
• Wooden Valley White Gamay (~$12)

Show synopsis and recommended food pairing from The Som:

I know why Bovee used the song “C’mon Get Happy”, but it happens that it fits the world of Rosé perfectly.  There are few wines that bring more joy on a hot summer day while grilling brats or burgers on the grill than a nice juicy Rosé.  We’ve done several shows that highlight different foods that pair with them well (there are so many), so check out some of the other options for pairings on some of the other shows that have featured Rosé:

• Summer Sippers 2010
• Pizza Pairings
• Spring Rosés

Wines featured in today’s show:

• Ranga Ranga Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009  (~$10)
• Monte Volpe Primo Bianco 2009  (~$10)
• Alexander Valley Vineyards Sangiovese Rosé 2009  (~$13)

Show synopsis and recommended food pairings from The Som:

It’s always fun doing the “Summer Sippers” show because our first public show was an SS episode.   They’re always about freshness and fun, so this episode rejuvenated us and for another year of WineGeekTV excellence .  Be prepared for the best year of WGTV yet!

As I mentioned in the show, look for freshness in your back patio sippers.  Try to find the most current vintage available.

Geez…that Ranga Ranga Sauvignon Blanc sure has developed quite the following at Zipp’s, and with good reason.  Enjoy the bright, lime zest and grapefruit note and slight herbaciousness reminiscent of freshly mowed grass. Mix up a marinade of fresh lime juice, garlic, salt, pepper and chopped cilantro, mix in some E.V.O.O. and drop in the shrimp.  Refrigerate for 1/2 hour, line them up on scewers and grill them up.

The Monte Volpe Primo Bianco is quite different; a burly blend of several grapes that is fuller bodied, but the acidity is still spot on.  It’s something that can be enjoyed with heavier dishes like pan pizza, grilled pork chops or meatier fish.

Look at that Alexander Valley Vineyards Rosé!  I do love the color.  This wine is from grapes grown specifically to produce Rosé.  Believe it or not, that’s more rare than you think.  More often than not the winemaker just bleeds the juice from their regular bottling further concentrating that wine.  When you think of summer fare, a good Rosé will work really well with almost any of it.  Why?  It’s just light enough to pair with delicate fish but has that fuller red fruit flavor that it’s able stand up to fuller bodied dishes like BBQ and/or grilled veggies.  And as Bovee pointed out…it’s stellar with pizza!

Wine’s featured in today’s show:

• Espelt Rosé 2009  (~$12)
• Enotria Dolcetto 2007  (~$18)
• Cristalino Cava Brut  (~$9)

Recommended food pairings from The Som:

I love when Bovee and I have a show that we have always wanted to do but never quite get too.  I’m so happy we finally did it.  One of the things I enjoyed about this episode is that when I’m at Zipp’s, I am often asked for a good pizza wine.  For me the problem is, at home, I already have something open and then my wife suggests pizza for dinner so I give recommendations based on sound food and wine pairing techniques.  Except for the Enotria Dolcetto, I was just figuring these other two would work.  It turns me on that they not only worked, but worked well.   But enough of me patting myself on the back.

Ever made a calzone?  Try the Dolcetto with this recipe.   By the way…if you make your own dough and live within 10 blocks of a pizza shop you are wasting your time.  Stop in and ask your pizza guy for some fresh dough.  He may charge you a dollar or, like my guy, he may not charge you at all.  Other than that, follow this recipe, pour the Dolcetto, and enjoy your life.

Or…if you happen to live in the Twin Cities, swing your cute little patootie over to Cossetta’s on West Seventh Street in St. Paul (across and just down the street from the Xcel Energy Center) and get yourself one killer piece of pie.

Wines featured in today’s show:

• Bretz Eiswein Riesling 2003  (~$30)
• Bretz Eiswein Spatburgunder Rose 2002  (~$33)

 Recommended food pairings from the Som:

These things are built for luscious, full bodied, slightly sweet desserts with a touch of that “dark spice” (as the kids say).  Check out this winner bread pudding recipe and pair it with a Riesling ice wine.  Here is the secret to pairing wines to dessert:  the wine must be at least as sweet as the dessert.  Make sense?  If the wine is drier that the dessert it is being paired with, it will turn the wine to a boring, sour mess.
 
For the Pinot Noir…oh, I’m sorry, the Spatburgunder (as the Germans call it)…I was thinking of the tasting notes we mentioned during the show (apple or peach cobblers and rhubarb pie).  This recipe would probably be damn near perfect.  And if it isn’t, I will shut our little WineGeekTV thing down!

I kid, of course.
 
Thanks for the time!

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Wines featured in today’s show:

• 2006 Frontenac
• 2008 Frontenac Rosé
• 2008 Frontenac Gris
• 2008 La Crescent
• 2007 Prairie Blanc

Crofut Family Winery – Synopsis from The Som :

Crofut was not my first encounter with Minnesota wines.  Because of that, I was a little nervous tasting these offerings LIVE in front of owner/winemaker Don Crofut.    Why?  In the past, I have been far from impressed with Minnesota wines.  I can honestly say these far surpassed my expectations.  How?   They are balanced as almost any wine from anywhere in the world.

I can hear the gasps already.

The secret to good winemaking is keeping everything in balance; no particular element should stand out on it’s own like a sore thumb.  The Crofut wines demonstrate pure fruit, bright acidity, above average structure, and alcohol that is present but kept well in check.  These are qualities that the best winemakers from the greatest wine estates in the world can appreciate.

You should definitely check out the Crofut wines, or visit the vineyard if you get the chance…especially if you live in the Minnesota.  For those of you here in the Twin Cities, some of the best wines you will taste this year are grown practially just down the street!

Region:

Tavel district of the Rhône Valley, France

Nose:

Not terribly aromatic.  There are vague cranberry and cherry notes along with a slight leafiness…kind of like a few too many strawberry leaves got mixed into fruit salad.

Palate:

Medium bodied but very mouth-filling.   Dry, better than moderate acid, well structured.  It really holds together in the mouth.  “Tightly wound” as we like to say.  Strawberry, raspberry, cloves or cinnamon stretch throughout the mid-palate.  Long, lingering finish.

Synopsis:

Tavel is the only appellation in the Rhône Valley that only does Rosé wines.  They are based on the usual Rhône suspects; a blend of  Grenache and Clairette.

I’ve probably had Rosés with more of a “wow” factor, or ones that have a distinct pop of flavor, but for all around beauty and solidness this is right up there.  Great balance and confidence here.  This must be a winemaker that has a strong opinion of what good Rosé should do and is intent on sharing that vision with us.  Just lovely wine.

The Som Rating: 8/10 Scarlett Johansson Heads

Featured in today’s show:

• 2007 Picpoul de Pinet from the Languedoc region of France
• Pavao Vinho Verde from the Minho region of Portugal
• 2007 Chateau La Baronne Rose also from the Languedoc-Roussillon area in France

Recommended food pairings:

• Grab a bottle of the Picpoul and serve it with some shrimp and grits
• Buy yourself a case of the Vinho Verde, and have some friends over for scallops provencal
• Here’s a classic recipe to pair up with the Rose; the BLT