Monday, February 1, 2010

Heavens Cave Cellars

Some say that wine and charity have no business being in business together... The so called concept wines

Heaven's Cave Cellars,
is a Washington State winery that makes great boutique wine and donates all of it's profits to a foundation called "Make the Dash Count Foundation"


Washington State has become a world class wine region. Just as other predominate wine regions of the word. Washington State, possesses a finger print that can't be duplicated, and that is the TERROIR... Sharing the longitude of California and the latitude of France affords Heaven's Cave to craft wines with perfect balance, intriguing complexity and an elegance that allows the wines to age gracefully.

The juice comes from Heaven's Cave's "
Destiny Ridge Estate Vineyard" all hand harvested their goal is to produce exceptional wines that reveal the essence of the Horse Heaven Hills appellation and showcase the terroir of the vineyard. These fruit-forward wines are handcrafted with a delicate balance of tannins and acids, making them approachable when first opened, enjoyable both alone or with food, and able to age well in your cellar.

Heaven's Cave produces approximately 1,000 cases per year. Very small. The production is so small that in some instances there are only 20 or 30 cases available for all NE, NY, and NJ States... They primarily sell their wines through the wine club subscribers on line and delivered to your home via DHL... Accept in MA, in MA you can not have wine delivered to your door from the winery. So, Heavens Cave has agreed to sell to a hand full of specialty wine shops around the state. Tutto Bene
a wine & cheese cellar is the first boutique wine shop to carry this wines...

The wines:

2007 TWO DEGREES BARBERA |$38
100% Barbera! On the nose, pronounced strawberry notes gracefully intertwine with hints of chocolate and mint. Elegant and smooth, the palate reveals rich cherry and plum jam fruit flavors. Medium bodied, well balanced with a warm earthy tobacco note to round out the finish. These Barbera grapes were hand-picked from Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. | Barrel-aged for 18 months in new French oak (75% new - 25% one-year-old)
| 115 cases produced

2007
THE DWELLER Syrah | $37
Just try it! 98% syrah, 2% Viognier in Hungarian oak makes for a very smooth finish. On the nose, pronounced berry and musky game notes gracefully intertwine with aromas of sweet, smoky toast and char. The palate reveals rich blackberry fruit flavors marked by subtle and pleasing notes of anise and spicy black pepper. | 100 cases produced


2007 THE INNKEEPER
Cabernet | $50
Deep red color in this 100% Cabernet. Hints of vanilla, spice, tobacco and licorice on the nose. Rich mouth feel with dark fruit, ripe berry flavors and hints of toasted oak on the palate. Barrel-aged for 22 months in 75% new and 25% one-year-old French oak. Hand-harvested | Destiny Ridge Estate Vineyard |100 cases


2007
destination merlot $45
Aromas of black cherry, rich berry fruit and a hint of leather on the nose. The palate reveals a fully integrated, well structured wine with a delicate balance of smooth tannins, toasted oak and hints of plum. Rich and velvety this Merlot is like a layer cake of red berry fruit flavors that spring up from the tongue.

2007 NOBILITY late harvest Riesling | $30
Double Gold Winner, Seattle Wine Awards 2009 ~Named to honor the noblest of grape varieties. This bright, crisp wine opens to fresh honeydew and ripe melon aromas. Botrytis cinerea (Noble rot) was present in over 20% of the grapes giving the wine its characteristic honeyed flavor. 5.3% residual sugar after fermentation. Pairs beautifully with Thai food, dessert or just a glass | Destiny Ridge Estate Vineyard | 295 cases produced


2006
ICICLES Riesling Ice Wine | $50 (1/2 bottle)
Bronze Medal, Seattle Wine Awards, 2009 | These Riesling grapes were left on the vine weeks past normal harvest time causing severe shrivel and dehydration thus concentrating flavor and aroma. The still frozen grapes were hand-picked in the pre-dawn hours of November 3, 2006, when temperatures fell to 12ยบ. Residual Sugar is 15.4 grams | A dessert all by itself |175 cases



While you enjoy these fantastic wines you are also contributing to this wonderful foundation Called "Make the Dash Count" The DASH reference is the dash that you will find in a tombstone between the date of your birth and the date that you left this world. So the dash represents your life... The idea is to make it count... Make your life count, do something that is worthwhile, make a difference... This foundation is ran by High School students and it benefits underprivileged children... If you can check out the video at the bottom of the page...

Enjoy these wines

Cheers,

Augusto

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Boston Wine Expo 2010
















January 23rd and 24th 2010 marks the 19th year of the biggest wine event in the country. 440 exhibitors pouring approximately 1,800 different wines from all over the world.


I have been going to the Boston Wine Expo (BWE) for the last 15 years, as an attendee as well as an exhibitor. To be quite honest I prefer to be working the event. even though it is two very long days of heavy pouring. and dealing with huge crowds of people. This year will be no different, I will be there the two full days.

It's just to many people getting snockered. If I had to pay to go I probably would not... The price for a couple to go is $180.00. For that kind of money two people can have a great dinner in Boston with a good bottle of wine, in a nice, romantic candle lite dinner, with even, maybe, some nice live music to go with it... It's no wonder why people go into the expo and try to get their monney's worth, by getting absolutely shitfaced... Can't blame them I guess... But at least, the BWE organization is advertising that over the years they have donated approximately $1,000,000.00 to more than 27 charitable organizations.

Let me give you some tips on how to do this event with some dignity, maximize what this tasting has to offer and save money...

The average price for one day ticket is $90.00 per person, and $140.00 for a two day pass (If as you are considerate general public). If you are trade (restaurant, liquors store, journalist) then it is $45.00 per day and each liquor licensee is allowed 2 free tickets for Sunday (there are a tremendous amount license holders that don't care to go. They can't go on Saturday because it's their busiest day of the week and Sunday is their day off and going to a crowded place is the last thing on their mind. So they maybe willing to let you go under their business name or if they go, you go with them). My suggestion is to talk with the owner/manager of your favorite restaurant/liquor store and ask them if they are going and/or if you can go with their discounted prices. This will not only save you some money but will also get you early access to the grand tasting. Trade hours are 11:00AM - 1:00PM both days, this means that you can actually walk around without being pushed all over the place, until 1:00PM, you can also hold a conversation with the folks working the tables because 1) there aren't a lot of patrons sipping the wines 2) you will have a trade badge which means you are a potential buyer; And vendors, like myself, like that very much... 3) if you demonstrate interest for their product you even might taste some of the wines that the representative has under the table, for the "so called" special customers ;) I always have wine under my the table... It's going to be something that I will have a glass or two myself...
Now, if you are able to go as a trade member, then you also have to do your homework.
  • Search for the wines that are being poured -- This link starts by listing vendors first, then they are listed by winery and table number (just scroll down) print this page and mark the wines that look interesting to you. Then when you are there go to the tables that you have marked (if, on your way from table to table you see something else you may like to taste make a quick stop but don't lose your focus) if you know what you want to taste you will be prepared to ask for the wine by name when you get to the table, instead of saying "What you got?" or "I'll have the Chardonnay" when you are at the Austrian, German, or Portuguese table and they don't have Chardonnay... Get my point? This is the type of thing that makes wine makers, that travel across the ocean, cringe... Then consumers say "he's such a snobby S.O.B." True, the vendor could be a bit more patient with these types of consumers... But the consumer could also be a bit more interested in actually finding out a bit more about the wine they are about to taste. Some basics at least, like what country?!
  • Do you want to look like a pro -- This is not necessary but it is the correct step by step way to taste wines:
1) Notice the color of the wine as you tilt your glass, against a white background, to see the wine from its very thinnest and lightest to its deepest in color.

2) Bring the wine to your nose to inhale the aroma and take note of what scent first makes itself known to you.

3) Gently swirl the wine inside the bowl of the glass to coat the sides. Notice how quickly or slowly the wine filters down after you stop swirling (this is called LEGS). Then lift the wine to your nose to inhale the aromas. Take note of the scent you get and compare to the first time you nose it.

4) Take a sip and swish the wine throughout your mouth. This method helps to bring the wine to all parts of the mouth and tongue, allowing each taste sensation to be detected. You may allow a little air through your mouth; this further intensifies the flavors.

5) Swallow the wine or spit (there are a lot of wines to taste at this expo, be careful)... I remember when I started to go to tastings and i was so tough "I don't spit" I used to say. Then I would be carried home and had no recollection of any of the great wines I tasted... Ouch...

6) Take note of how long the flavor of the wine stays in your mouth. This is referred to as the “FINISH” and will leave the lasting impression of the wine with you
Enjoy and have fun



There are, also, a few wine seminars and celebrity chef demonstrations that maybe interesting to check out...

If you go or went let me know your thoughts... I will be at the ViniPortugal booth... pouring a lot of different wines come by to see me, if you mention this blog I'll be sure to pour you the wine I'll have under the table...

Ciao,

augusto


Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Introduction

My name is Augusto Gabriel, I have been in the hospitality/food & beverage industry the last for 25 years. I have been exposed to numerous concepts at all facets of the industry. I have traveled quite a bit in Europe and through out the United States of America. My intention with this blog is to share some of my experiences and thoughts with you. I hope to be a source to you in regards to restaurant etiquette, how to buy and taste wine, and discuss customer service.

This is how my blog began:
  • I am very often disappointed with the quality of service presented before us on our daily routines at all levels...
  • Buying wine is very overwhelming on its own, why are the so called wine guru's making it even more complicated for us?
  • The majority of restaurants out there are taking us for a ride and making us feel like idiots, when in fact they are the ones that have grossly underperformed...
You think I am angry? Absolutely... Enough is enough!

My posts will not only include frustrations, I will also share my good experiences with you. There are examples of greatness out there as well, I will guide you to the good and keep you from the bad.

If you have any questions please send them to me.

Thank you to my Love, friends and family that have encouraged me to begin writing this blog. Please understand that I am not a writer, I simply have very strong opinions about this subject matter. Forgive me in advance for my poor writer skills...

Ciao,

Augusto