5 Wine Blogs

If you are here, it means that wine has a special place in your life and you want to dedicate some time of your day to find out what is going on in this wonderful wine world, don't you?

Well, here are some of the blogs that we recommend:

Dr. Vino's wine blog
http://drvino.com/ wine talk that goes down easy
Recent topics : Wine • Terms • Wineries • Sommelier • Robert Parker • Cabernet • Appellation • Chateau • Pinot Noir • Wine critics • Michael Broadbent • Gamay • Chardonnay • French wine • Gary Vaynerchuk • Jancis Robinson • Grenache • Australian win


Fermentation: The Daily Wine Blog
http://fermentation.typepad.com/
A wine insider's view of that place where culture, politics, wine and I mingle.
Recent topics : Wine • Wineries • Pinot Noir • Wine critics • French wine • Terms • Appellation

Vinography
http://www.vinography.com
Wine and food adventures in San Francisco and around the world
Recent topics : Wine • Wineries • Terms • Cabernet • Pinot Noir • Chardonnay • Appellation • Cabernet Sauvignon • Sommelier • Grenache • Chateau • Australian wine • Shiraz • Wine critics • Jancis Robinson • Chilean wine • Merlot • Italian wine • Enology • Dining

Vinotology
http://www.vinotology.com/
The musings and tastings of a wine enthusiast
Recent topics : Wine • Merlot • Cabernet • Wineries • Cabernet Sauvignon • Terms • Pinot Noir

If you feel that you have a nice wine blog as well, please don't be shy and send us a note. We will take to time to take a look at it. If it's really cool we will recommend it too.

And as usual, don't forget to check what is going on at our main site: www.thewinehub.com

Cheers,
LA

2010 ZAP Festival in San Francisco

Sadly, business in Germany and France made it impossible for me to attend the 2010 ZAP Festival in San Francisco that I had enjoyed in 2008 and 2009. The photo work I had been doing for The Wine Hub and my personal preference for Zinfandel wine led me to the ZAP Festival in 2008. There was simply no better opportunity to sample and understand the virtues of that wonderful varietal than a festival dedicated exclusively to Zins. And that is what the ZAP Festival is, the best show for Zinfandel wines yet. Sure, some wineries slip the occasional Primitivo into the array of wines they provide for sampling if only to educate us about the shared genetics of Zins and Primitivos. But ZAP is Zin, Zin, Zin.

This Zin-rant reflects my preference for Zinfandels. (It has even been proposed as the official wine of the State of California!) You might think that my preference and partiality to Zins accounts for my enthusiasm for the San Francisco ZAP Festival in January 2011. OK, that is somewhat true. But, the ZAP Festival is so well done that nobody walks away from the event without planning to attend the next edition of the ZAP Festival.

(Photo below is from 2008 ZAP at Fort Mason in San Francisco]



If you can only give one day for this ZAP event, choose Saturday, 29 January 2011, at Fort Mason. On that day, you, and several hundred of your friends, will be able to sample hundreds of Zinfandels presented by scores of vintners. However, if you have the time, you will love the earlier ZAP Festival events that put Zinfandel, food and you together… where Zinfandel really shines. I confess; I am a Zinner. And, after spending 27-29 January 2011 at the ZAP Festival, you will be a Zinner too!

* ZAP - Zinfandel Advocates & Producers

Robert F. Tardif, Ph.D.
Sacramento, CA

To learn more about the event, click here:
http://www.zinfandel.org/default.asp?n1=3&n2=189&member=

200 Bloggers Transport Austria's Wine Country to the Entire World via Facebook, Twitter & Co.
Between October 22nd and October 26th, Austria as a wine country was the focus of the international wine blogger scene. Vienna's Schönbrunn palace served as the stylish venue for the annual European Wine Bloggers Conference (EWBC), which was enticed to the Austrian capital through the initiative of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB). The event was organised by Gabriella and Ryan Opaz of Catavino Marketing and Robert McIntosh from The Wine Conversation.

This third EWBC conference – held for the first time outside of the Iberian Peninsula - gathered wine bloggers, journalists, key wine trade professionals and social media experts in one setting to discuss the latest challenges for the wine branch and the web. The Austrian Wine Marketing Board ensured that, besides the seminars, discussions and new wine web ideas, Austrian wine always was in the spotlight. Following a tasting of Austrian wine archetypes and presentations by 20 winemakers, and then an evening at a traditional Viennese Heurigen (wine tavern), the big Austrian Wine Party on Saturday night at Österreicher im MAK guaranteed a hot time with cool music.


After the conference itself, all of the wine bloggers had the opportunity to get to know Austria's wine-growing areas. On Sunday, October 24th, wine tours to Burgenland, the Danube the Weinviertel were conducted, and on Monday and Tuesday, October 25th and 26th, there were special press trips to the areas with Austria's new origin-typical wines.

"We Austrians had so much fun discussing, tasting and having a great time with the bloggers," said the Austrian Wine Marketing Board's general manager, Willi Klinger, about the EWBC. "I believe we fit very well together. The blogging scene is very exciting - it's young and it's smart, just like Austrian wine.”


A short film about the event, pictures and quotes by bloggers about Austrian wine and the EWBC, are available via the following links:

General: http://www.winesfromaustria.com/news/info_20101028.html
Video EWBC: http://www.youtube.com/oesterreichwein <http://www.youtube.com/oesterreichwein>

AWMB - Social Media links
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/oesterreichwein/ <http://www.facebook.com/oesterreichwein/> , http://www.facebook.com/austrianwine <http://www.facebook.com/austrianwine>
Twitter: http://twitter.com/oesterreichwein/ <http://twitter.com/oesterreichwein/> , http://twitter.com/austrianwine <http://twitter.com/austrianwine>

AWMB - EWBC links
Best Tweets about the EWBC: http://tinyurl.com/2vgblmu <http://tinyurl.com/2vgblmu>
The best EWBC pictures: http://on.fb.me/9Tz3xO <http://on.fb.me/9Tz3xO>
Austrian Wine Party: http://on.fb.me/9cdJcV <http://on.fb.me/9cdJcV>
Wine Tours: http://on.fb.me/cuF7x5 <http://on.fb.me/cuF7x5> (Burgenland, Danube, Weinviertel)
Key words for searching Tweets: #EWBC, #EWBC10, #oesterreichwein, #austrianwine, #media140

AWMB pictures
Selection Preview: http://access.thelounge.net/ewbc/ <http://access.thelounge.net/ewbc/>
Selection Download: http://access.thelounge.net/ewbc/ewbc_sel.zip <http://access.thelounge.net/ewbc/ewbc_sel.zip>

Franciacorta, Italy's Answer to Champagne

I'm a girl who loves Champagne and all that sparkles and on a recent trip to Italy I discovered a new favorite, Franciacorta. Franciacorta is a sparkling wine with DOCG status (since 1995) from the territory of Franciacorta in the Lombardy region of north central Italy.

What sets this sparkling apart from other Italian sparklers is that it is made in the traditional Champagne method, or as known in Italian as metodo classico. Most other Italian sparklers; Prosecco, Spumante, etc. are made using the Charmat method, where secondary fermentation occurs in a tank, rather than the individual bottles like with the Champagne method. Permitted grape varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Nero (Noir), and Pinot Bianco (Blanc). I was so impressed with the complex, but subtle and elegant taste...and for the price, a vintage Franciacorta is a great alternative to a vintage Champagne.

My recent favorite Franciacorta finds are:

NV Ca' Del Bosco Cuvee Prestige (around $45): Yeasty, bready style, with a hint of nuttiness, minerality and great acidity

Bersi Serlini Brut Cuvee 4 Millesimo 2004 ($30) 100% Chardonnay, ripe fruit, sage, vanilla, toasted nuts and crisp acidity

Explore and enjoy!

Bridget Coulter Cheslock, Certified Sommelier

VINITALY at EATALY on Monday, October 25th..a CONSUMER AFFAIR in NEW YORK CITY...TICKETS $55..all proceeds DONATED to the American Cancer Society..

On Monday Evening, October 25th, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, VINITALY will hold a Benefit Tasting for Consumers.

VINITALY is an ambassador of Italian wine. The VINITALY Tour organizes events in many of the most important cities in the world. Their goal is to facilitate communication between Italian producers and key players in the industry.

VINITALY is the largest wine fair in the world, hosting over 4,500 producers. The event takes place in Verona from April 7th to 11th in 2011. For more information, visit: http://www.vinitaly.com/

Priced at only $55 a ticket, ( food is extra) with all proceeds donated to the American Cancer Society, this event is the First Paid Consumer Event at the Culinary Complex, modeled after one in Italy. The space opened in late August and is home to all aspects of the Italian Culinary World.

EATALY is owned and operated by Italian Restauranteur Partners, Mario Batali and mother and son, Lidia and Joseph Bastianich and the Italian founder of the concept, OSCAR FARINETTI.

EATALY FRANCHISES exist in Turin, Asti, Milan, Tokyo, Bologna and now New York. Future expansion includes GENOA and ROME.

VINITALY will showcase 60 Italian wine producers pouring over 200 wines.

One of the HIGHLIGHTS of the event is the participation from a new "NATURAL" Winery from Le Marche, DOMODIMONTI.

DOMODIMONTI will be pouring their NATURAL wine in America for the first time.

Their wines are made with indigenous grapes from LE MARCHE, including two White wines, one made from the Pecorino grape and other from the Passerina grape.

The Red varieties include Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Montepulciano.

More Information on DOMODIMONTI can be found at their website: http://www.domodimonti.com/
or by contacting MARCO SCAPAGNINI: mscapagnini@domodimonti.com , the North American Project and Marketing Manager.

They HOPE to find an Importer/Distributor for the New York/New Jersey area at the TRADE portion of the show, which runs from 2:00pm to 6:00pm..

To PURCHASE a Ticket to this EXCITING EVENT, at EATALY, 200 Fifth Avenue at 23rd Street, e-mail:
Pamela B. Mohr at: Pamela.Mohr@Cancer.org .

Tickets are $55

PHILIP S. KAMPE

ROMA ADVENTURES...LES ETOILES RESTAURANT AND ATLANTE STAR HOTEL near the VATICAN by Philip S. Kampe

ROMA...........ATLANTE STAR HOTEL....LES ETOILES........ROMA........

When in ROME, do as the ROMANS DO.
Stay at the ATLANTE STAR HOTEL and DINE at the Roof Garden Restaurant, LES ETOILES.

During my most recent visit to Rome, I dined at the 'GARDEN IN THE SKY' and enjoyed a 360 degree panoramic view over the ETERNAL CITY of ROME, complete with a view of ST. PETER'S DOME.

LES ETOILES is operated and owned by ROBERTA MENUCCI. Her staff is very efficient, focusing on local and international cuisine.
The wine list is OUTSTANDING, with wines representing all TWENTY Italian provinces.

Choices range from PROSECCO to BRUNELLO, all at FAIR prices.

The wine steward chose a PINOT NERO to accompany my meal.

I was fortunate to dine on "THE FIRST FRUITS OF AUTUMN" creative seasonal menu at
LES ETOILES.

For 55 euros, I was served a complete meal that was comprised of:

MIXED SALAD with FRESHWATER SHRIMPS and aromatic vinegar.

Autumnal GNOCCHI with CEPE MUSHROOMS.

VENISON CHOP with NERO d' AVOLA Wine sauce.

and CHESTNUT TARTLETS with Chestnut Honey.

This meal easily SURPASSED all other meals I had ever had in ROME.
LES ETOILES is a true gem of a restaurant and is a MUST RESTAURANT VISIT when in Rome.

Located within a short walk of the VATICAN, at 34 VIA VITELLESCHI, the restaurant and Hotel can be reached at (06) 687. 3233.

The ATLANTE STAR Hotel is located in a distinguished 19th Century building, within walking distance to shopping, the BASILICA and other attractions. The attractive rooms, with lush striped fabrics on the wall, include a minibar, SKYE television, in-room safe, WIFI and often a HOT TUB in addtion to the lovely shower.

The STAFF and CONIERGE are helpful, courteous and effcient.

The ATLANTE STAR HOTEL and LES ETOILES can be found on the INTERNET at: http://www.atlantehotels.com/

PHILIP S. KAMPE

Fall 2010 in New Jersey, USA

The bright yellow tones of a tall poplar, the golden leaf of the black hickory, the dark color of oak trees and the splendid glow of the red leaves of maple.
The back roads will take you to a reality that is spectacular!
Life is beautiful...


To watch the video:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheWineHub?feature=mhum

Cheers,
LA

*** This video is brought to you by Selva Capuzza ***
To buy their wines in the US
http://bit.ly/98CxEB



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