Behind the Cork™ - Ace Kicker Big Bet Blend

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2016 Ace Kicker Big Bet Blend ($15)

This Ace Kicker wine originates from Spain’s Castilla-La Mancha region which is located about 40 miles south of Madrid.

This Big Bet Blend is indeed a big blend that’s produced from 34% Cabernet Franc, 27% Syrah, 15% Petite Verdot, 12% Tempranillo, 7% Graciano and 5% Garnacha with the latter three varieties being classic Spanish grapes.

After the grapes are hand-harvested they undergo fermentation and malolactic conversion in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged in French and American oak for eight months.

This Ace Kicker Big Bet Blend is deep ruby in color and has aromas of black cherry, black berry, with some spice and hints of oak. On the palate it has lighter fruit flavors, definite cherry flavor, medium tannin and an easy finish.

This 2016 Ace Kicker Big Bet Blend is imported to the U.S. by González Byass.

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications

Book Review - Professional Drinking by Jim Schleckser

I’ve got a bunch of wine books. They are all reference-type books that I keep on-hand when I need to look up something. But, Professional Drinking by Jim Schleckser is different.

The book states that it is “A spirited Guide to Wine, Cocktails, and Confident Business Entertaining” and seeks to provide you with the information you need to avoid being “reduced to a quivering mess of jelly when handed the wine list at a fine restaurant” when dining with the boss, a client or simply good friends.

The material in the book is presented in a series of brief, easy to read chapters. And, I appreciated that a majority of the book is focused on wine.

Section Three is “Wine Time” and includes several brief reads explaining everything from The Basics of Grapes to Wine Making but then goes on explain “The Difference Between a $10 and $100 Bottle of Wine” as well as “The Wine Business at a Restaurant.” Then, Section Four is entirely focused on Ordering on Your Own In A Restaurant.

Professional Drinking is loaded with easy to understand information. My favorite was finding each of the more than 50 “Pro Tips” that are scattered throughout the book.

If you’re looking for a good easy-read to become more knowledgeable about wines and cocktails and how you can be confident in a professional or social setting, Profession Drinking is for you. Cheers!

Disclosure: I received this book at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Book Provided by Jim Schleckser who is a Certified Sommelier, holds an Advanced Certification from WSET and is a business person with 30 years of professional drinking experience.  He helps professionals navigate wine, while keeping it fun.

Behind the Cork™ - Mosketto Sweet Pink, Sweet White and Sweet Red Wines

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Looking for sweet, low-alcohol, refreshing wines? Here they are!

The market for low alcohol, sparkling wines has been gaining momentum for a few years now and the demand for all types of sparkling -- white, rosé or red -- has never been more popular with people choosing wines that are lower in alcohol but still high in flavor.

These Mosketto wines are refreshingly sweet with pleasant bubbles, and have the ability to match the flavors in food that can't always be achieved with dry wines.

These easy-sipping, low-alcohol Frizzante (i.e., lightly sparkling) wines are from the Piedmont region of Italy. The white is made from the Moscato grape while the red is made from Brachetto. The rosé is a blend of these two grapes.

These three Mosketto wines are traditionally made, naturally carbonated, delicious and versatile. And, at just 5% alcohol by volume, these wines are light and refreshing.

These Mosketto wines are imported by Mack & Schühle, The Wine and Spirits Family.

Serve cold and enjoy!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications

Ever Wonder What 'Frizzante' Means on a Wine Label?

There are a lot of terms used that make wines confusing. And, for American consumers, it seems to get even more confusing with French and Italian wines. The Italian term “Frizzante” is one of these seemingly confusing terms.

Simply put, Frizzante means that the wine is lightly sparkling. You may also see the term “semi-sparkling” used for Frizzante wine.

This is in contrast to a Spumante wine or a traditional Champagne that will have about twice the bubbles as a Frizzante wine.

Frizzante wines are made using the Charmat method in which the second fermentation takes place in a tank. Here, base wines are added together in a large specialized tank with a sugar and yeast mixture (Tirage). As the yeast consumes the sugar it releases carbon dioxide (CO2) . The specialized pressure tank causes the CO2 to be absorbed into the wine. The sparkling wine is then bottled from the tank.

Sparkling wines made using the tank method have a much more freshly made character and secondary yeasty flavors. This tank method is more affordable than the ‘tradition’ method used in Champagne where the secondary fermentation (formation of bubbles) takes place in the bottle.

So, there you have it — Frizzante is lightly sparkling or semi-sparkling wine. Cheers!



Wine Tastings Can Be Truly Eye Opening Experiences

Opening a bottle of wine and drinking a glass will give you the opportunity to taste that one varietal produced by that one winery. For those with some wine tasting experience, drinking that one wine will give them an opportunity to assess the pros and cons of the wine. But, to truly experience differences in wines, you need to sample two or more wines at a time. That’s why doing wine tastings is so important in learning about wine.

The ultimate way to do wine tastings is at a winery or a wine bar that serves tasting flights. In these settings, you get the opportunity to have a couple sips of a variety of wines. And often, it can be eye opening.

At a winery, you usually start with white wines unless they produce rosés or sparkling wines which are a great place to start. White wines are lighter and more delicate in their flavors so that’s why you start there. Then, you’ll move into the red wines that have the bigger and bolder flavors.

But, the most important part of any wine tasting, whether it’s two wines or more, is the side-by-side comparisons and the opportunity to go back and “revisit” a wine. Even those with little or no wine experience will find doing side-by-side tasting interesting. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had multiple bottles opened and served a person one wine and then a second wine. And, the responses are usually the same - “Wow! I like the first one but this second one is really different!” Yes, indeed, they always are!

So, whether it’s a visit to a winery, trying a flight of samplers at a wine bar, or just opening a couple of bottles at home with friends and family, ensure that you take the time to sample the wines, one after the other, to truly understand differences in the wines and to better understand your personal wine preferences. Cheers!