Des Moines Wine and Food Connection

2011 Wine Industry Tasting Pt. IV

Johnson Brothers tasting: 34 wines, 1 tequila, 1 vodka, 1 Jones soda

Johnson Brothers are one of the big dogs in the Iowa market as well as across the country. They're in something like 26 states and are the 5th or 6th largest disrtributors in the country. They're actually 4 divisions that encompass wine giants Gallo Wines & Constellation Wines. They put on a large tasting in the conference rooms at Prarie Meadows (the past 3 years) and it includes beer, wine & liquor + sodas, waters & Riedel glassware. It's big, crowded (around the tables) and lots of fun. The food spread includes carving stations and it's a good opportunity the get caught up on all the current vintages of favorites like Peter Lehmann, Hess, Caymus, Mt. Veeder, Coppola, Montes & more. Plus it's a chance to try new items that your wine & food guy may not have had exposure to. The tasting can be leisurely, the wine booklet is good, spit buckets & water plentiful but there are a lot of folks that show up there to party and they park in and around the tables and yap so it can be a challenge to get to those buckets. So, what was good?

2011 Wine Industry Tastings Pt. II

Dimitri Wine & Spirits tasting: 71 wines tasted 

Dimitri Wine & Spirits put on their holiday show last night (Weds.) at the "new" Embassy Club on the 34th floor of the Ruan Building. I didn't think the new location could possibly equal the Club's previous location at the top of the 801 Building. I was wrong. The new location is every bit as spectacular and the space and setup of the club may even exceed the previous one. Very well done.

Dimitri W & S is not one of the "big boys" in the local wine scene but Dimitri Papageorgiou conducts business the old school way. A personal touch, a shake of the hand, looking you in the eye. You know his word is good. His business is local (Davenport) and is family oriented instead of a corporate, multi-state, big business operation. Sometimes there can be confusion but the intent is always good.

Dimitri always puts on a classy holiday show. It may be the one show I look most forward to each autumn. Their portfolio is a little more eclectic, not a bunch of mass produced juice. The people pouring seem a bit more connected to their product and proud of it. The food & service is always top notch. White tablecloth, good spacing, accessible spit buckets & water pitchers. And a easy to use booklet with pricing and space to write (good on ya' David). A beautiful day to look out over Des Moines and the scene was complete. The tasting was a pleasure. What about the wines???

2011 Wine Industry tastings

Pre-Holiday shows are de rigeur in the wine industry. Here I'll try and give a brief synopsis of each tasting I attend.

 Glazer Tasting: 51 wines & 4 beer tasted.

The fall wine tasting season (for industry professionals) kicked off this afternoon at Embassy Club West with the Glazer Distributing Holiday Show. The tasting was very nice with adequate space, good lighting, and plenty of spit buckets & water pitchers. This year's booklet made it easier to take notes but any way we can get the program to proceed in the same order as the tables next year folks?

Some of the wines that made my highlight list:

Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Rose - France's #1 bubbly always makes a good value rose.

Cline 2010 Viognier (Cal.) - Showing nice balance of fruit & mineral. Very Rhone like.

Fontanafredda 09' Barbera (Piedmont, Italy) - Easy fruit with some grip on the back end. Screams for tomatoes & pasta.

Hope Family "Troublemaker" Red (Syrah, Grenache & Mourvedre) - A Rhone style blend from Paso Robles. Seems I'm on a Euro kick here.

pro+mis+Q+ous Red - (Zin, Merlot, Cab & Petite Sirah) A California blend that shows nice deep fruit and layers of flavor. Worth checking out.

*Get it while you can* - 2006 Villa Mt. Eden Cabernet Sauvignon - Just a few 6-packs left I'm told. Deep, lucious & complex without going over-the-top or being jammy. A well made Cab for now and the next 5-7 years.

Beer alert! Zatec Lager from the Czech Republic. Think Pilsner Urquell. Think good beer.  

Final note: We go on and on about food/wine combos and so many times the sum is so much greater than the individual parts. Tasted the Russell Hamilton Pinot Noir from South Africa by itself and it was bright and acidic and a bit wild. Went and grabbed a piece of brie or camembert (not sure which) and tasted the cheese and then the wine again. The richness of the cheese completely knocked down the acidity and tamed the wine leaving beautiful red fruit to stand alongside the cheese. THAT'S what it's all about.

Good on ya' Glazer,

Howard Bernstein
Wine & Food Guy,
Des Moines Wine & Food Connection

Al Fresco Month at Casa di Vino

Hi all: May is officially “Al Fresco” Month at Casa di Vino. Time to enjoy the great outdoors. Fire up the grill, sweep the deck, wipe down the patio furniture & uncover the boat or pool if you’re lucky enough. CdV has two tastings this month that will make any al fresco experience even better. Great wines and recipes to match. Hope to see you here.

 

Tuesday, May 3 from 5-7 PM Casa di Vino presents “Soups, Salads & Appetizers”. Light dining & easy to make. Come taste the wines that will make your meal that much more enjoyable. 

 

Tuesday, May 17 from 5-7 PM  CdV says fire it up! If it belongs “On the Barbie” Casa di Vino has a wine to go with it. If you’re just chilling out these wines will play that way also.

 

Don’t forget, Casa di Vino is your food & wine connection for all your match-making conundrums.

 Bon appétit,

Howard Bernstein
Owner, Casa di Vino
Wine & Food Guy
Des Moines Wine and Food Connection

Syrah, Sirah, Shiraz Redux

So here we are, in March again. March at Casa di Vino means Syrah. For the 5th Annual March CdV celebrates Syrah, Sirah (Petite) & Shiraz. Yes, petite sirah IS a differnet grape but many of the chracteristics are the same. Bold, rich and spicy, they both play well together. For the record (as has been stated before), Syrah is probably this Wine and Food Guy's favorite grape. Old World styles are perfect accompaniments to many foods. New world styles can be big, bold & brassy and drunk by themselves or paired with many dishes. To taste the wide variety of styles these grapes have to offer CDV will hold two tastings this month.

Tuesday, March 8 from 5-7 PM Casa di Vino features "The Northern Hemisphere" focusing on wines 
                                              from North America & Europe. 

***Thursday*** March 24 from 5-7 PM CDV will pour "The Southern Hemisphere". Wines from South
                                                       America, South Africa, Australia & New Zealand will be the stars.

Lastly, Casa di Vino is now taking reservations for our Wednesday, April 16 "Introduction to Wine" class.
Join us as we help to foster an appreciation of wine for the beginner. Seating is $25 per person and reservations are required. Please contact CDV for details.   

Howard Bernstein
Owner, Casa di Vino
Wine and Food Guy,
Des Moines Wine & Food Connection       

 

 

Casa di Vino in February

Hi all:

February at Casa di Vino includes a visit from Chocolaterie Stam. Tuesday, February 8 from 5-7 PM we present “For my Valentine”. A tasting of chocolates and vino that will surely put a smile on your valentine’s face.

 On Tuesday, February 22 from 5-7 PM Casa di Vino visits “The Great Northwest”.  Oregon, Washington and British Columbia have had some great vintages lately. Join us as we pour some of our current faves.

Last call: Still some seats available for Casa di Vino’s “Introduction to Wine” class Wednesday, Feb. 16 from 7-9 PM. Join CDV as we help foster an appreciation for the fruits of the vine. Seating is $25 per person and reservations are required.

Serving all you wine needs since 2004,

Howard Bernstein
Owner, Casa di Vino
Wine & Food Guy
Des Moines Wine & Food Connection 

 

Bang for the Buck

It's January and everyone has shot their wad and splurged on the holiday season. Now everybody's looking for places they can save a few pennies. In that vein Casa di Vino proclaims January "Bang for the Buck" Month. CDV will present two tastings this month on January 11 & 25 from 5-7 PM where we'll feature some of our current faves and wines we consider great values. Wines that will give a "Bang for the Buck". Come join us. Maybe our faves will become yours.

Casa di Vino is also taking reservations for our Wednesday, February 16 "Introduction to Wine" Class. The class is from 7-9 PM and will feature wines of varying styles and how to develope an appreciation for them. Cost is $25 per person and seating is limited. Reservations are required. Act now.   

Howard Bernstein
Owner, Casa di Vino
Wine & Food Guy,
Des Moines Wine & Food Connection