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Words on Wine
We think wine should be fun and enjoyed by everyone no matter what
the occasion, although
you don’t need a ‘special’
occasion, just open
a bottle, relax and
enjoy!
As Benjamin Franklin
said
“Wine
makes daily living
easier,
less hurried,
with fewer tensions & more
tolerance”
Here is a brief explanation behind the major varietals or grapes as a reference.
SAUVIGNON
BLANC Crisp, high in
acidity and light-
to medium-bodied,
Sauvignon Blanc
is recognizable
for its grassy,
herbaceous flavor
and aroma. When
grown
in warmer climates the flavors are more fruity and melon-like. When pairing
this wine think acid, such as salads (dressings), lemon or citrus sauces,
spicy dishes, goat cheese and grilled fish.
RIESLING & GEWURZTRAMINER
Both of these varietals
found their home
originally in Alsace
but these are the
New World interpretations
of aromatic crisp
whites. These wines
have a common thread
of acidity, delicate
body and aromatics,
which make them perfect
with food. Pair these
with dishes that
have a touch of spice,
parmesan, scallops
and shrimp.
PINOT
GRIS/ PINOT GRIGIO Pinot Gris is a darkly
colored white wine
grape that evolved
from Pinot Noir.
This popular wine
is often seen from
Alsace (where it
was once labeled
Tokay) and northeastern
Italy (where it is
called Pinot Grigio).
Most versions are
quite dry, but Pinot
Gris wines can range
from light and delicate
to fairly full-bodied.
Pair this wine with
salmon, shrimp, calamari,
cockles and feta
cheese.
VIOGNIER & CHARDONNAY Chardonnay is to
white wine what Cabernet
is to reds. When
Chardonnay wines
are made well, they
are bold, rich and
complex and taste
of ripe peach, honey
and butter, hazelnuts
and spice. Viogniers
can be equal in weight
with similar flavors
of honey, vanilla
and a touch of floral.
Too much oak can
over power the food.
Pair with rich fish
or butter sauces,
mussels, mushrooms,
chicken and fish
stew.
PINOT
NOIR At their best,
Pinot Noir grapes
produce wines that
are rich and complex,
tasting of black
cherries, red berries,
earth and spice,
with an aroma that's
been likened to everything
from herbs and cola
to bacon and roses.
Pair with mushrooms,
duck, fennel, grilled
lamb, salmon and
veal.
MERLOT Merlots are often
less tannic and fruitier
than Cabernets, though
still full-bodied,
deep in color and
fairly high in alcohol
with flavors of cherry,
plum and chocolate.
It is still one of
the most popular
wines around. Pair
with rib eye, filet
mignon and braised
meats.
SYRAH
(SHIRAZ) & ZINFANDEL Syrah is a rich, full-bodied, complex, spicy, long-lived wine that
thrives in warm regions.
American Syrah can
be full-bodied wines
and often show spice
elements and berry-like
fruit not unlike
Zinfandel. You will
find this grape does
well in California,
Washington, Australia,
Rhone and Argentina.
Pair these wines
with veal ragout,
braised rabbit, pork,
liver and lamb chops.
CABERNET
SAUVIGNON This is the grape
responsible for some
of the finest wines
in the world. The
classic Cabernet
flavor is one of
deep, dark fruits,
primarily blackcurrant
(cassis) and the
best are medium-
to full-bodied, intense
and firm. These wines
are rich and therefore,
need food equally
rich, such as stews,
red meats and salty
items like prosciutto
help mellow the tannins.
TEST YOUR WINE KNOWLEDGE
Questions
1. How
many acres are planted
to grapes worldwide?
2. Among the world's
fruit crops, where
do wine grapes rank
in number of acres
planted?
3. How many countries
import California
wines?
4. What was the primary
fruit crop in Napa
Valley during the
1940's?
5. How many gallons
of wine were lost
in the 1906 San Francisco
earthquake?
6. When was phylloxera
first discovered
in California?
7. How many acres
of Napa County vineyards
have been replanted
in the last 15 years
because of phylloxera?
8. How many more
acres of Napa County
vineyards will need
replacement?
9. How long does
it take to harvest
a commercial crop
from newly replanted
grape vines?
10. How many varieties
of wine grapes exist
worldwide?
11. How much does
it cost per bottle
to age wine in a
French oak barrel?
12. How much does
it cost per bottle
to age wine in only
new French oak barrels?
Answers
1) 20 million,
2) #1, 3) 164, 4)
Prunes, 5) 30 million,
6) August 19, 1873,
7) 10,450, 8) 4,450,
9) 4-5 years, 10)
10,000, 11) 90 cents,
12) $2.50
WINE SUGGESTIONS
FROM OUR LIST
We have added a few
new and interesting
wines to our wine
list. We hope you
enjoy them. There
are a few in particular
that are our favorites
that we would like
to recommend to you.
Zuani,
by Patrizia Felluga,
Collio,
Italy, 2005 This
is a white blend
of equal quantities
of Pinot Grigio,
Chardonnay, Sauvignon
Blanc & Tocai.
It is a zingy fruit
driven wine with
a touch of oak.
It comes from a
winery
that was voted
“one of Italy’s
top 10
wineries to watch”
by Decanter Magazine,
May ’05 and it
is made by a lady
wine
maker! $32
Destino,
Chardonnay, Napa
Valley, 2004 A food-friendly chardonnay,
with rich and enticing
flavors of pear
and honeydew melon
with
bright citrus notes.
With some many
large or ‘corporate’
producers
of chardonnay out
there, competition
is tough. This
wine comes from
a very
small producer
in Napa Valley
and we
were very impressed
with its quality
and price! $46
Domaine
du Vieux Lazaret,
Chateau
Neuf-du-Pape Blanc,
France, 2005 This
is a white Rhone
blend – we didn’t
know there was
such a thing until
a few
weeks ago! 45%
Grenache Blanc,
30% Clairette,
20% Bourboulenc & 5%
barrel fermented
Roussane. This
wine has intense
floral
flavors, with hints
of apricots, honey
and almonds. A
house favorite!
$42
Chateau
de Puligny Montrachet,
Bourgogne
Rouge, France,
2003 This is a classic
Burgundian Pinot
Noir. Aromas of
fresh strawberries
and
casis, with a pleasant
burst of fruit
on the palate.
Thanks
to the movie ‘Sideways’,
the price of Pinot
Noir has soared
but if you search
hard,
you can still find
bargains out there.
$36
Enrico
Santini, Super Tuscan,
Bolgheri, Italy 2001 A blend of 40% Merlot,
35% Cabernet Sauvignon,
20% Syrah & 5% Sangiovese. This is a lush, dense wine with a long finish. Aromas of spice,
cassis and plums
with rich, layered
flavors of ripe berry
fruits and hints
of cedar. We think
this is a special
treat to be enjoyed
with someone special!
$84
View our list of wines available by the glass or bottle
Inspect
the Wine List at the Field Restaurant
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