| 02 September 2010
Arneis, pronounced ar-NAYS, is a bit of an unknown in the world of wine. It's an Italian white grape that's been grown for hundreds of years in Piemonte. The name of the grape gives us some insight into the nature of the grape. Arneis, in the dialect of the Piemontese, means "little rascal". The ancient Italians apparently gave it that name for a very good reason. It's a grape variety that can be quite temperamental to grow. Although it thrives in the cool climate at the foot of the Alps, if the thermometer tips the balance toward either the cold or warm side, the grape's development goes a little awry. In good years, arneis is crisp, indicating nice acidity, and floral.
So, if the arneis grape is little more than a headache for grape growers, why is it still cultivated? Well, it actually wasn't for a very long time. Vineyards growing arneis had dwindled almost into non-existence by the 1970s. Prior to that, the grape was important because it was blended with Nebbiolo to reduce the harsh tannins present in that famous Barolo grape. Since the last century, Barolo makers have used 100% Nebbiolo grapes to make their sought after wines, and Arneis is no longer blended. There has, however, been a resurgence in interest in growing and producing Arneis-based wines, not only in Italy but in the cooler parts of California, too.| 28 July 2010
So far the weather has been absolutely spectacular this summer. Hot, dry, sultry days may not stimulate your appetite for elaborate meals, but this kind of weather provides the perfect reason to crack open a light and lovely bottle of wine. Should you choose a light red, a rosé or a white? Although any one of these would be perfect, I'm going to suggest you go with white. There are a number of good whites out there that deserve your attention.
Sitting on the patio or at the beach, wherever you happen to be, look for some of the off-the-beaten-track whites that will inevitably elevate the best day to something even greater. Sound impossible? Not so. Everyone's familiar with Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewûrztraminer. Perfect summer sippers, no doubt. But why not take this opportunity to try something equally refreshing, but just a little uncommon?| 14 May 2010
The classic line often heard at wine tasting parties or restaurants is: I don't know much about wine, but I know what I like. We've all said something to that effect at one time or another. It's true enough for most of us, I suppose. But, the line has an air of dismissal that borders on denial. Are we so afraid of being labelled wine snobs that we'll discount what wine knowledge we do have? Or is it simply that we don't realize we actually know what we're talking about? Knowing what you like is at least half the battle. If you can say that you like fruity over peppery or red over white, you've got a place to start. The fact that your understanding of wine may be different from the person sitting next to you only adds to the pleasure. You really can't go wrong here.
A number of years ago (13 to be exact), Peter Adams wrote a book called The Wine Lover's Quiz Book. In it, he challenges readers to answer a series of sometimes baffling questions. Admittedly, I didn't do so well. Guess it's time to hit the books (or the bottles perhaps). Give them a try for yourself, and see how you do. But, don't be too hard on yourself. Discovering that you don't know as much about wine as you thought will only pique your interest.