Ain't That a Kick in the Teeth

Virginia just loves to test the mettle of its winemakers and, unfortunately, yesterday was no exception. After getting a late start to the season because of the cold weather, vineyard managers were excited about the prospect of a growing season without frost concerns.

The frost arrived Tuesday morning, impacting many vineyards in central and northern Virginia. It will be a few weeks before we know the full extent of the damage, but if the pictures popping up on Facebook and Twitter are any indication it is not good.

We'll keep you updated

A Look at the skybar One

I have been intrigued by the skybar wine system since it was first introduced. I like the idea of preserving a bottle wine at the perfect temperature after it has been opened. With diabetes limiting my wine intake this has become even more important.

Last month I took the plunge and invested in the skybar one, the single bottle wine preservation system. So far, I am impressed.

The skybar wine system is a countertop system and it is about an inch shorter than the cabinets in our kitchen. For the most part this is okay, but if you need to change the type of wine you want to preserve you have to pull the system out to change the settings.

This is a good problem to have though, the strength of the skybar one system is its versatility and ease of use. The system allows you to set the preserving temperature based on wine type or you can manually set the temperature. I cools the wine down quickly, and except for when it is first starting up, it is quieter than other wine chillers I have used. Loading a bottle is simple, as is serving the wine.

The big test comes with the taste. We've loaded a bottle into the system each week, switching between red, white and rosé. Each bottle has lasted for the full week, in fact the red wine we tested was significantly better by the end of the week than at the start.

I definitely feel the skybar one was worth the $229 we paid for it on Amazon, especially if you only drink a glass or so a night.

Win 120 Bottles of 2010 Bordeaux!

Praise for the 2010 vintage in Bordeaux continues to grow and now you have a chance to win 120 bottles of 2010 Bordeaux -- 1 bottle from each of the Grands Crus.

The contest is sponsored by Bordeaux negotiant Millesima USA, who will be at the Weekend des Grands Crus next weekend as well!

To enter the contest, visit the Millesima Contest Page, answer a couple of questions about Bordeaux and you will be entered.

This is a unique opportunity to own an amazing vintage, and the beauty of it is that even if it takes you forty years to drink all that wine it will still be good.

Why We Should Celebrate Virginia Rosé

Virginia Rosé (#varosé) is coming up on the 29th of May, so I wanted to take a minute and talk about the importance of rosé wine in Virginia. First, out of 228 wineries in Virginia 82 of them produce a rosé. That means 36% of Virginia Wineries are making a rosé. That is the same number of wineries that produce a Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Secondly, American wineries tend to make bad rosé. Alder Yarrow wrote about the problems with American rosé back in 2010:

Of course, this isn't the first time I've cursed in frustration at the sorry state of rosé in this country, but what I don't understand is why it doesn't really seem to be getting any better. It's not like there aren't plenty of examples of how to do it well. It's not like American winemakers haven't managed to figure out how to make decent Pinot Noir. It could hardly be as difficult as growing The Heartbreak Grape.

The only reason I can think of for the pitiful state of rosé in this country is that most consumers don't know the difference between good rosé and bad. Otherwise why in the world would they keep drinking Merlot that is only one or two shades of red lighter than the wine it was pulled out of a few days earlier? Or maybe it's just that most American winemakers are too lazy to be bothered with learning how to make rosé properly and can't be bothered to pick their grapes before they hit 26 Brix?

While I can't say I have seen improvement in much of the rest of country, rosé in Virginia has gotten significantly better in just a few short years. Virginia winemakers are showing more respect for rosé and it shows in the quality and finesse of some of the best Virginia rosé wines.

I think the knowledge amongst winemakers that their rosé is being compared to other winemakers locally, and around the world, is driving continued experimentation and improved quality.

And there is a demand for it. A study done in 2011 shows Americans love for rosé is continuing to grow:

Americans’ awareness of and demand for dry rosé is increasing. The reasons for its popularity likely include the rise of younger, more adventurous wine consumers, an appealing color, an attractive price point, and an accessible flavor profile.

Projections show this growth trend continuing. According to a Vinexpo study, U.S. consumption of rosé wine is forecast to rise by nearly 10%, from 565 million bottles in 2008 to 620 million bottles in 2012.

The point is, next time you are out at Virginia winery pay close attention to the rosé, it is another area where Virginia winemakers shine.

Also, make sure you pick up a bottle to celebrate #varosé day on May 29th!