Epicurious.com, the food/recipe site, has partnered with Snooth.com, a site for wine aficionados, to provide wine pairings for the site’s extensive (over 25,000) recipes. Starting today, when users view Epicurious’s recipes (with the exception of kid-friendly and breakfast recipes), they will also see multiple wine suggestions for that recipe.

The pairings are chosen based on the recipe’s primary ingredients, type of cuisine, and preparation method. The Epicurious and Snooth teams worked together to emphasize affordability and availability; nearly all pairings feature nationally distributed brands and/or wines that cost less than $20.

For those of us living in PA - it doesn’t offer much help, as most of the wine suggestions can not be shipped to Pennsylvania. However - it gives us a place to start the thought process.

So two great web resources have just gotten better.

Low price does not necessarily mean low quality.

When McDonald’s launched the McCafe, we were lucky enough to be selected to fill the cups with stuff other than brown liquid.  The containers were  filled with packets of coffee from local Fortune’s Coffee, along with sugar sticks, chocolate espresso beans, and biscotti, the necessary coffee companion. Each filled cup was cello wrapped, and then finished with a hand tied color coordinated bow.

Managers from the surrounding area stores received a McGift, and each of them was delighted to receive an unexpected treat that they did not have to make!

These gifts cost very little to create, yet had an enormous impact. They generated lots of excitement for the new product launch. We like to believe that we did our part to create the success of the McCafe!

“Super Hero Wines” is owned by winemaker Scott Harvey, who produces wine under this label along with “Scott Harvey” and a label named for his wife, “Jana Winery”. We’ve met Scott and he has visited our store for special tastings. Thoughtful and intelligent, he is amazing to talk with if you want to learn something new about the world of wine. One Last Kiss Rosé is almost identical to the Jana Winery Grenache Rosé, so if you have tasted that one and liked it, you’ll enjoy this well balanced offereing from Scott.

Small yields of flavorful grapes (92% Grenache and 8% Semillon) were harvested early to produce a light and delicate wine, with low alcohol (11%). One Last Kiss delivers a European style, dry Rosé of Grenache.

Really pale pink with just a hint of a red tint to it - this wine’s color is fresh and aesthetically appealing. The nose is a bit tricky with no distinct, singular scent, but there is definitely some citrus (orange peel) with a touch of strawberry and watermelon. On the palate is a smooth vanilla wash, with cherry as the predominant fruit. Honeydew and pineapple follow with a faint bit of lemon. There’s some herbaceousness to it as well. Overall it delivers excellent acidity with good balance. The cherry carries through to the finish, along with a little of the watermelon.

Clean and crisp, this is a truly enjoyable, mid-length rosé. Slightly chilled - it’s perfect for summer sipping and a great partner for seasonal chicken dishes and your favorite salads.

You can order here.

Quick, what's America's biggest wine region? If you answered California's Napa Valley, you're way off - thanks to a federal ruling that creates a new region starting today.

It's the Upper Mississippi River Valley, covering a whopping 29,914 square miles and encompassing portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. That's 39 times the Napa Valley's 759 or so square miles. The new region is huge news for midwestern vintners.

American Viticulture Areas, or AVAs, recognize a unique grape-growing region that may be historically known and that contains specific geological features. The new region was created after area wine and agriculture officials petitioned the Alcohol Tobacco and Tax and Trade Bureau, which controls the designations. Use of an AVA isn't a stamp of approval, but many consumers like the idea of buying wine from a specific area, following the French concept of "terroir" -- that wine should reflect the character of the land it came from.

Ninety years ago, Iowa was sixth in grape production in the US but that was with the Concord grape, associated with sweeter wines, not today's drier, more food-friendly wines. The wine industry re-emerged in the last decade, surprising some with medals in national competitions. Though the region is big, the wine industry there is small - but growing rapidly.

Are you excited about Wisconsin grown wines?

okay first. sorry i've been so out of the loop. promise to start posting regularly again.

At a time when Starbucks is losing business and countering attacks of being "out of touch" with its $4 cups of coffee, the powerhouse coffee shop chain is trying a new approach at three Seattle stores.

It's changing their name, removing their logos, and even serving wine and beer.

The company's newest shop, set to open Friday, will be called 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea. The vibe will be more artsy: there will be live music, poetry readings and alcohol options of wine and beer. But could the new strategy backfire?

R.J. Hottovy, an analyst at investment research firm Morningstar, said, "I think it is a little bit of a risky move, especially if they were to do this on a large scale."

In March, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz acknowledged the company needed to adjust its approach in a down economy. "This is a time when every business can no longer embrace the status quo, and (must) do everything they can to get as close as possible to the customer."

Starbucks says it may expand the new approach to other cities if it succeeds in Seattle.

So how much will a glass of Chardonnay set you back?

Three days of intense Olive Oil tastings and classes led me to understand how much more I need to learn.  Two days at UC Davis gave me chemistry and health information on Olive Oil and then some serious sipping and swirling of Olive Oil. Some quick overviews of things that I’ve learned:

- the greener the olive the more polyphenols the olive oil will have (this is the good antioxidant stuff)
- the more polyphenols the more astringent the olive oil
- more important than where the olives were grown is how ripe they were when they were picked
- yes the varietal counts too but many growers believe that the ripeness is the most important factor
- the color of the olive oil is NOT a sign of quality
- California Olive Oils have beaten Italian and Spanish Olive Oils in international competitions
- Australia produces a large amount of Olive Oil
- the United States does NOT adhere to international standards for Olive Oil  therefore the term Extra Virgin means nothing in the US
- the term cold press means nothing because NOTHING is hot pressed
- the tasting wheel for Olive Oil is far more complicated than the ones for wine

More details coming in Olive Oil Olive Oil 2

Ships-A-VINE!

On Monday, August 10th, 2009, at 6:00 PM, Dreadnought Wines and Palate Partners will pull up anchor and set sail on the RiverQuest Educational ship “Explorer” for an evening wine cruise to benefit the RiverQuest Educational Programming.

RiverQuest is a non-profit educational organization that operates a river learning center for students, teachers and the community of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Voyager, Inc. was founded in 1991 by a group of parents who wanted use Pittsburgh's rivers as an experiential classroom to get children excited about science, mathematics and learning.

RiverQuest programs engage students of all ages in hands-on learning while exploring Pittsburgh's Three Rivers. The rivers themselves are at the center of RiverQuest's education program. The vessel Discovery, soon to be retired from service, is a U.S. Navy vessel originally used to train midshipmen in navigation, refurbished and put into educational service again as a fully operational state-of-the-art floating classroom.  A second retrofitted U.S. Navy vessel, Voyager, was retired from RiverQuest service in early 2007. A newly constructed state-of-the art green educational vessel, Explorer, arrived in Pittsburgh in late 2008 and began full service in 2009.

The evening’s sail will include guided tours of the ship, experiments and demonstrations, a few exquisite finger temptations from All In Good Taste Productions, a tasting of 5 wines from Dreadnought Wines, and we hope a spectacular sunset shimmering on the Three Rivers.

For more than twenty years, All In Good Taste Productions has been making local and regional headlines with its award-winning events, dinner parties and fabulous soirees. Owner and Event Producer, Bob Sendall, continues to attract clients who want to work with the best. His commitment to excellence encompasses more than just the client; it extends into signature cuisine, impeccable décor and distinguished service.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the RiverQuest Educational Programs.

To be a part of this very special evening of sailing, sipping, smarts and signature snacks, pre-paid reservations of $70 per persons are required by calling Palate Partners at (412) 391-8502

Have been away. Sorry for not posting.

Congrats to the Pens. I am proud to live in the City of Champions. The white out in game six was insane - and game seven was pure joy. Had to post this photo of Crosby and his newest friend.

Got this quote from the Associated Press: “As temperatures climb, I want my wine crisp, light and tangy.”

True that. With the 4th looming, it time to stock the whites.

White wines that go well with lazy summer days include Pinot Grigios, Rieslings and Verdejo. I‘d be remiss in not mentioning Italian Prosecco, ‘cause every now and then there‘s nothing like a classic Bellini (the sparkling with some peach puree.)

Back to posting. See ya soon.

Long dismissed by certain purists, boxed wine is now getting a thumbs-up, of sorts, from the realm of science. One type of cardboard packaging, according to a new study, is better than any cork or screw-cap when it comes to reducing an unpleasant “green” taste that strikes some wines.

This taste may come from one of two sources, said Gary J. Pickering, senior author of the study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Either the wine was made from unripe grapes, or the grapes were infested with a species of ladybug.

For some reason the researchers can’t explain, wines stored in Tetra Pak-brand cartons had the lowest levels of these unwanted chemicals, called methoxypyrazines.

One possibility, Pickering said, is that the chemicals escape through the carton’s innermost layer, made of polyethylene, and then attach to an adjacent layer made of aluminum foil.

This is going to require some serious “box drinking” this weekend. Like I needed an excuse!

You already know we like Scott Harvey and his wines - so we wanted to share a post from one of his recent e-blasts.

Decanting wine can seem a little intimidating at first glance. I want to take this opportunity to make the mystery of decanting a little more clear for everyone. The first thing you need to know is what decanting actually is and that answer is easy. It is the introduction of oxygen into a bottle of wine  and the removal of any sediment that is created in the bottle through the aging process. But why in the world would we need to add oxygen to our wine?  Dr. Richard Peterson has a very simple and good explanation for this.

"Everything we eat or drink is bathed in air as it passes over our taste (& nose) receptors.  We are used to whatever the taste of air in food and drink is. We like it. But old wine is not like most foods that we eat or drink, at least not when the bottle is first opened. Old wine has been sealed up inside a bottle for many years and something changes during that time. The wine is no longer 'bathed in air' and it will taste funny at first, until we bathe it in air before drinking. We live in a world of chemistry and that is sometimes confusing. You see, old wine has been living in a 'reducing atmosphere' in the sealed bottle, which is the chemical opposite of aeration. When you aerate an old wine, you mix air into it and that makes it easy to drink and enjoy."

Now that does not mean that you just need to pop the cork an hour before you plan on drinking the wine. What the wine needs is a high ratio of air to wine to be decanted properly. If you just cork the bottle and let it sit you don't have a very good air to wine ratio. You need to pour the bottle into a decanter to really get a good mix.

As you can see decanting is not as scary as it may have first appeared and it will really help bring out the full potential of some of your favorite bottles of wine.

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Decanters make an awesome gift for Father's Day and we've got several different styles in our retail store. Add a bottle of wine and you're good to go! The decanters come in a wide price range, so stop by and check them out, or give us a call at 412 391 8502. We're here to help you deliver the unexpected.