Secrets of the City

Solo Vino is a great little shop, and close to work, but I usually look for bargins at Big Top. I also shop at Surdyks and Haskell’s for specialty wines (like Port and Sherry).

I used to be a big fan of The Cellars, but I haven’t been there in some time.

Right now I have a bottle of Ruby Port in the cabinet and a bargin bottle of red from Spain in the basement.

PS: As I have said before, Solo Vino’s staff is very welcoming to all, especially wine newbies.

They also have a “bargin table” of very good wines, most under $10.

My friend Leslee who runs http://www.amuseewine.com has recently started blogging, her blog is called “The Crush Pad”. She is a certified somelier and puts together superfun wine tasting parties.

She also does those videos about wine pairings etc with the guys on the star tribune and I believe will be doing work on the http://www.livegreentwincities.com site regarding sustainable wine.

Whenever I need wine info shes my go to source.

When we visited Paris, we bought wine where the Parisians do — the grocery store. Found a nice vintage Bourdeaux that way; Mouton Cadet. It was the equivalent of $2 per bottle (in 1999) in Paris but can be found at Haskell’s, Surdyk’s, Trader Joe’s, etc. for (usually) under $6-$7. It’s from the Roschchild vineyards.

When I’m not drinking Bourdeaux, you’ll find me imbibing Tawny Port. Or Guinness.

Long time wine blogger and podcaster, Tim Elliott, is a guy that not only knows wine, he’s deeply involved with Napa Valley and other region wineries.

Blog: http://winecast.net/
Podcast: http://winecast.net/category/podcast/

Have been really into Spanish reds for some time now. I also especially like Zinfandel–allegedly a true American grape.

Granted, I will drink pretty much any red wine and many whites and dry roses.

If the wine is kinda bad but you want to drink it anyway, water it down. It’s fine!! That’s how some lucky French kids first get to try wine.

I can’t wait for the weather to warm up so I can drink rose on my patio…that and livin’ the high life are too of my favorite libations on a warm summer night.

Ditto to noodleman’s recommendation of Mouton Cadet. We had a bottle of the white Bourdeaux with dinner on Wednesday. The red version is great, too.

Another favorite on mine is La Veille Ferme, an organic wine (with a screw top!) from the Rhône Valley region of France. Very good.

Bordeaux, not Bourdeaux.

(Just piping in in case Spells is not on SOTC this morning)

Thanks, Jane. My spelling is even worse than usual today.

Oh, and it’s Chistina Córdova in my casting call in the Open Thread, not Cordoba.

In your defense, if speaking Spanish, the ‘v’ in her last name could be pronounced like a ‘v’ or a ‘b’.

Back to wine. This summer I plan to try out some vinho verde wines, light whites from Portugal. Anyone familiar with them?

I spent a few weeks in Portugal in the 90’s…

I am, jane. They are a favorite of Mrs. Lungs.

Vinho verde translates as “green wine,” I believe. It has light fizz (not nearly as much bubbles as most other sparkling wines) and a very fresh, fruity taste.

Like beaujolais nouveau, it is best when served young. It’s not a wine for aging. Great wine for summer.

@jane: I must be channeling the English today. They put an extra, useless “u” everywhere, e.g. harbour.

I’m a big fan of Minnesota wines.

No, really.

Just not grape wines. There is a wonderful winery up in McGregor called Minnestalgia (website not working). They have great honey wines that are mixed with fruit wines. They range from sweet to dry and are really wonderful.

Talking to an Iron Ranger friend this past weekend, apparently his dad, who has been making wine forever in his basement, won some Minnesota wine competition at the State Fair this past year.  Anyone know about this competition? 

I know as much about wine as you’d expect from an Iron Ranger, which is next to nothing.

For those who don’t already know, the cherry wine sold around the orchards in Door County, WI, is really just cherry-flavored white wine.

When our family lived in Tokyo, my mother used to make plum wine by placing a whole plum in a sealed jar of rice wine.

@spells: I know next to nothing about wine, too. I only know what I do like.

Here’s a listing of the 2008 best MN wine winners from the state fair, spells. The professional wineries are listed on the last page, after the amatuer winemakers.

Thanks, Bob. I saw my friend’s mom’s name on there numerous times.

It’s great that you are drawing attention to wine blogging. There are a lot of very good ones out there.