I gave birth this week to a bouncing baby book…a nine-inch, half pound, soft-cover wonder. The birth certificate reads, The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide. As my colleagues at Wine Review Online who have penned books before can tell you, it’s not only a challenging task but a true labor of love (no pun intended).
After my first book, Wine for Women, came out three years ago I began developing a follow-up for my publisher, William Morrow. Many readers asked if my next endeavor would be entitled Wine for Men. I joked that I could write a book called Men Who Whine, but my husband would not be pleased. So to prevent discord on the home front, I focused on a wine guide with a twist.
Since I write for numerous outlets, speak at wine events around the country and host a PBS television show, I’m in contact with thousands of wine lovers each year. Occasionally I’m presented with queries about my favorite Alsatian Gewurztraminers or recommendations for $50 California Cabernets, but usually people ask me about wine in the context of daily drinking.
As I was thinking about how to develop the roundups of wine to make the most sense to readers, I jotted down inquiries I’d received over the years. What wines deliver great value? Which ones go with pizza, snack food, or desserts? What about bottles to impress the boss or those that impress for less? How about wines to buy for an anniversary or wedding?
These are the types of questions I’m asked with regularity. So I sampled thousands of wines over the past year to select more than 1,000 picks to recommend. Organized to address what people are doing, feeling, and eating, I break down sections into Wines by Mood, Wines with Food, Wines by Season, Wines for a Reason, and Insider Wines.
A few of the lists highlighted in the 320-page read include: 25 Wines to Try Before you Die, Gathering of the Greats, Twice-the-Price Picks, Bathtub Sippers (think bubbly for bubble baths), Overlooked Surprises (roundups of dry Rosé, Riesling and Sherry), Virtual Vacation Vino (take a vinous trip around the world in one case), and Makeover wines where I select a pricey bottle and offer less expensive but similar tasting wines.
Giving birth is never easy, but the result has made me a proud mother once again.
Excerpt from The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide (William Morrow, October 2006, $14.95):
During my first trip to the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer area of Germany years ago, I met with one of the region’s wine masters, Wilhelm Haag. As he greeted me in the small tasting room of the Fritz Haag winery, we walked by rows of empty bottles lined up on the floor. I asked enthusiastically if he just had a large tasting. He said no, a party. He proceeded to tell me about the food and the great wines his guests had enjoyed as we sat down to begin our formal tasting. Wilhelm was charming and informative. He regaled me with stories as we sampled dozens of awe-inspiring Rieslings, some older vintages, and other rare wines I’d never tasted before. I seriously tasted, spat, took notes, tasted, spat, took notes, and spat again into my small spittoon. When I was nearing the end of the series of wines, I glanced at Wilhelm’s spit bucket and noticed it was completely empty. When I innocently asked him “you’re not spitting?” he replied with an impish grin on his face, “Oh yes I am, my dear, but because I love my wine so much I’m spitting backwards.”
What I learned from that experience has stayed with me as a wine writer, communicator and educator. Wine is all about enjoyment, yet we often take it (and ourselves) too seriously. It is an information-intensive subject and takes never-ending study to become an authority, but you don’t have to be an expert to buy and drink wine. Are you a computer or car expert when you head out to buy a new laptop or sedan? No, but you are informed. That’s what this wine guide is meant to be – an easy-to-use book with suggestions for making informed buying decisions so you can enjoy your purchases to the fullest.
From beginners to sophisticated buyers this book offers an innovative way to learn about and choose delicious wines, showing how simple it is to be wine savvy.
Wines to Watch
Part of the joy of being a wine writer is discovering exciting producers that deliver value and quality. I came across a new Aussie brand recently that deserves some ink.
Pretty Sally is named for an Australian Madame, Sally Smith, who ran a successful brothel during the Australian Gold Rush of the 1860s. The vineyard is located in Central Victoria near the Pretty Sally Hills north of Melbourne. A cooler climate region, the wines from this spot tend towards the elegant side of the scale similar to those from Western Australia.
Partners Rosalie and Dan Cornew, who live in northern California, left jobs in the high tech sector to find what Rosalie calls the “human side of business.” They have joined forces with the two other families – the McKays and Davies – and noted Aussie winemaker John Ellis, formerly of Rosemount and Yalumba, to create the 15,000 case brand.
Their portfolio focuses on sleek Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon with fruit-driven, crisp Sauvignon Blanc and a delicious dry Rosé. Vintage dates are also accompanied by the month of harvest to indicate, as Rosalie Cornew says, “A true southern Hemisphere wine.” Combining style and substance with fair pricing, Pretty Sally is certainly attractive.
Pretty Sally, Victoria (Australia) Sauvignon Blanc 2006 ($22, ANZEUS Imports): Australian Sauvignon Blanc generally takes a backseat to New Zealand versions, but this one has a style all its own. Less herbal and riper than its island brethren, this wine sees no malolactic fermentation or oak barrels so it retains a crisp, taut quality. Only 430 cases were made, making availability limited. 89
Pretty Sally, Victoria (Australia) Rosé 2006 ($15, ANZEUS Imports): Made from the free-run juice of their Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, this is a terrific pink. Using only stainless steel to ferment and age the wine, it’s packed with bright strawberry, raspberry, and spice notes set squarely on top of a broad-shouldered structure. 90
Pretty Sally, Victoria (Australia) Cabernet/Shiraz 2004 ($17, ANZEUS Imports): The Pretty Sally estate Cab is blended with Shiraz from a neighbor’s vineyard to make a harmonious blend. One and two year old oak barrels (60 percent French and 40 percent American) lend softness to the vibrant acidity without overpowering the dark berry fruit. With hints of herbal and licorice aromas, it showcases true varietal character at an affordable price. 90
Pretty Sally, Victoria (Australia) Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 ($25, ANZEUS Imports): The first thing that jumps from the glass is minty (but balanced) aromas followed by chocolate-covered cherry flavors. Tight and firm with an elegant, medium-bodied structure, this is a wine to drink now with steak or age short term. 91
Pretty Sally, Victoria (Australia) Shiraz 2004 ($25, ANZEUS Imports): I’m a fan of wines that show restraint while still expressing character, and this one is an ideal example. Full bodied and lush, like many an Aussie Shiraz, but it has a core of natural acidity that gives the wine a framework on which to build. Smoky notes combine with boysenberry jam flavors to add layers of complexity. 93