Backsberg Estate Cellars - "Seamless" wines of South Africa

Marquee Selections is proud to announce we have signed on Backsberg Estate Cellars from Paarl, South Africa to add to our green portfolio of outstanding wineries!  In this episode of InTheCellar Michael Back of Backsberg joins Bonnie Rabicoff  & Christopher Cribb in an informative video session to learn about the wines and vineyards of South Africa.  South Africa has a wine history that goes back hundreds of years; the sad fact remains that through and after apartheid  most of the world has not seem the best of their wines. Join us as we taste through both the reds and whites of Backsberg and see how South Africa is tying the string between "New World and Old World Wines"!

The idea of balance is a key to the Backsberg culture and it is brought to the consumer through seamless wines; wines that are in harmony between acids, tannins, power, and acidity.  We begin our tour of South Africa by tasting the Backsberg Premium Series Chenin Blanc, a light white wine with balanced acidity, fruit driven with a touch of residual sugar.  Green apples fill the mouth, with a touch of pear and notes of hay with honey, a lovely tasting wine.  The grape, Chenin Blanc, finds its original home in the Loire Valley of France, but was an early addition to the wine history of South Africa, making its way to the Cape region in the 1600's!.  Chenin Blanc also goes by the name 'Steen' in South Africa where it is the most widely planted varietal in the country.  Delving deeper into the white wines from Backsberg we find they also produce a light, bright and fresh Backsberg Premium Sauvignon Blanc, the Backsberg Reserve John Martin Sauvignon Blanc that spends time in oak barrels akin to many barrel aged Fume Blanc's from California.  Finishing out the portfolio is the charming, fruit driven Backsberg Kosher Chardonnay, and a small amount of the floral grape, Viognier in the Backsberg Reserve Hillside Viogner.. 

For the second tasting selection of the day we go to an award winner for Backsberg, the Backsberg Reserve Pumphouse Shiraz! Awarded 90 points from Wine Spectator as a great buy for the money, one taste of this elegant beauty and you will know why; rich, dark mulberries, milk chocolate, with hints of spice and an extra smooth finish make this wine a show stopper!  To round out the range of wines produced by Backsberg in the Marquee portfolio we have the Backsberg Premium Pinotage, the Backsberg Kosher Merlot & the Backsberg Kosher Brut.   Pinotage is a South African specialty; a hybrid cross between the Pinot Noir grape and Cinsault developed in 1925 by Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University.  With dark skins and tastes of smoky, brambly fruit, the Backsberg Pinotage is fruit forward and delivers a touch of sweetness to the palate.   For production of Kosher wines, Backsberg has fulfilled a promise, not to just make wine that is Mevushal Kosher, but to make GREAT wines that happen to also be Kosher.  When time comes to produce the Backsberg Kosher wines, the winemakers at Backsberg in conjunction with a Rabbi from Cape Town and his helpers take over physical production of the wine once it has arrived in the cellar.  Overseen by our winemaker Guillaume Nel, the Kosher processes are followed as directed and the resulting wines display the Kosher symbols, letting the consumer know that our wines have been approved as Kosher by both the Cape Town Beth Din and the OU of the United States.

Backsberg has become the first wine producer in South Africa and one of only three in the world to gain Carbon Neutral status by sequestrating its carbon emissions. Proprietor, Michael Back, who joined the family business in 1976, is passionate about the environment, believing that each generation is the custodian of the land for a limited period of time only. "Care for the environment means care and concern for succeeding generations. As custodians of the land, it is our duty to understand and recognize potential threats, and to mitigate against them for the benefit of the next generation," says Back  The foundation for success at Backsberg is rooted in tradition, but driven by innovation.  In addition to the Carbon Neutral status Backsberg has been a pioneer in the use of the PET - Hard Plastic bottle with the introduction of their 100% recyclable bottle / series, Tread Lightly.  Marquee Selections is proud to have the Tread Lightly Sauvigon Blanc and the Tread Lightly Merlot in our global portfolio.  One box of 12 bottles of the Tread Lightly wines weighs twenty pounds lighter than the same juice in traditional glass bottles!

Backsberg currently has around 271 acres of vineyards which are located along the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountains, mid way between Paarl and Stellenbosch;  some 40 minutes from Cape Town, South Africa.. The region has wonderful climate; full sunny days in the summer and cold wet days in the winter -- a great location to 'grow' wine.  The South African wine industry benefits from the maritime effects of the convergent South Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.  Vineyards at Backsberg rise into the higher elevations on the Simonsig Mountains with a targeted approach to grow white wines at higher elevations therefore allowing the wines a slightly cooler climate.

Marquee and InTheKitchen give a big "thank you" to Michael Back and the Backsberg Winery for joining us on InTheCellar - more information about Backsberg is available on their website http://www.backsberg.za!

In the Kitchen and Marquee sends out a special thank you to our friends at Wines By Jennifer Boutique wine shop in Parkville, MO http://www.winesbyjennifer.com/ for participating in this exciting show and transporting us back to the vineyards and fields of South Africa from a quaint house along the Missouri river! Sharing the knowledge of culture, atmosphere is always great with Jennifer and I highly suggest if you are in the Parkville area, stop in for a visit, they always have great wine selections open on the tasting table and a helpful staff to pour and chat with!!

Marquee Selections has partnered up with the award-winning chef focused program " In The Kitchen with Bonnie" (http://inthekitchenwithbonnie.com) to produce an exciting new wine segment entitled "In the Cellar" with Marquee Selections . During each episode we will unravel the wine world one grape at a time! Each week we invite you to join us for an engaging conversation for our food and wine lovers to see why wine has been a worldwide tradition for centuries and how learning more about it can help bring the stories and flavors to life. Learn more about exciting regions, new wine types, varietals, how to pair wines with food, decanting, proper serving temperature, what wine goes best with pizza and more! 

A great 10 minute break from your day to learn and "wet" your taste buds for more"!

Cheers!

Christopher J. Cribb, CSW

Marquee Selections - Green, Global, Grapes

InTheCellar - The Art of Choosing the Best Wine Glass & Decanting

Why is the White Wine glass smaller than the Red Wine glass? The table next to us had their wine decanted, should we? Simple answers about different wine glasses, decanting and a few sommelier tips as Christopher Cribb from Marquee Selections and Bonnie Rabicoff from In The Kitchen With Bonnie go InTheCellar to explore wine glassware and gadgets.



For the 1st set of wines today we selected two white wines to showcase why you choose different style and shape wine glasses for each. In our smallest glass for surface area with a taller more narrow bowl similar to a champagne flute, we showcase the Marquee Classic Riesling. The majority of our glassware for today's tasting comes from an industry leader, Riedel Glassware, that was a pioneer in creating wine glasses specialized for different wine types and styles. The Riedel Riesling Grand Cru glass we are using is slender to concentrate the floral and bright acidic aromas of Riesling, we love the lime, passion-fruit and hints of sweetness in this off-dry Aussie. Moving ahead we next taste the Marquee Classic Chardonnay, a tropical fruit inspired white wine that we have in a slightly shorter and winder bowled glass, the Riedel White Wine / Chablis /Chardonnay Glass. The surface area difference in this glass allows additional oxygen to the wine and the shape ensures the wine is delivered to the palate at the best possible location for the wine type.


Moving ahead with our red wine setup we showcase an outstanding Bordeaux style red from Spain, the 2005 Aljibes Red Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc from Fincas Los Aljibes. In an effort to showcase the effect the wine glass can have on a particular wine we taste the Aljibes from 1st - from a plastic tumbler (better than a styrofoam cup or coffee mug, but not ideal, 2nd - from s smaller Riedel Red Wine Glass - The Chianti / Zinfandel, that allows more swirling in the bowl & delivers the wine effortlessly, but as with the tumbler, the nose still seems a bit closed and 3rd - from the Riedel Bordeaux / Cabernet Wine glass, a much larger red wine glass that allows the nose / bouquet to open up and showcase itself as a big, bold beautifully aromatic wine. Hands down, the Bordeaux glass that is specifically made for the Cabernet / Merlot / Cab. Franc blends was the best of these three at showcasing the wines best qualities; as Bonnie describes, "I can't believe that's the same wine!"


Our final tip and showcase in this episode is on decanting and to do so we are using the same red wine we have just tasted, the 2005 Alijibes Bordeaux Blend and decant it first using a classic open mouth decanter and second decanting this wine through a personal wine aerator called the Vinturi - Essential WIne Aerator. For this selection we would recommend decanting this red wine as it is a 2005 vintage that has been properly stored on its side in a cool environment and we are drinking it at seven years of aging. You decant the wine to reduce and eliminate that particulates and sediment that naturally occurs in a wine and also to open the wine up for more air. In some instances with a big young red wine we would also suggest decanting, the 2010 Caligiore Reserve Malbec for example gets more complex and smooth even though you will likely not find any issues with sediment.

In this example; the Alijibes tasted after decanting from the glass device was proved to be more smooth, as if a slight edge was taken off the red wine tannins. Our final piece of today's discussion focuses on a stocking stuffer Christmas present for the wine lover, a personal aerator. The model we selected, the Vinturi retails for around $40.00 and is great for the person that knows a wine needs air to open up, but doesn't want to put half or all of the bottle into a traditional decanter. The Vinturi lived up to its name and opened the wine up, but it was a toss up as to whether it or the classic decanter was overall a better choice. In either case these always make great presents for your wine lover (a nice classic decanter can be picked up for around $25.00, but go well up into the hundreds with Riedel's beautiful collection of art glass).

In the Kitchen and Marquee sends out a special thank you to our friends at The American Restaurant, http://www.theamericankc.com/ for participating in this exciting series of shows and in this particular show for allowing us to take a look at their impressive decanter collection! As always it is a treat to work with a crown jewel and institution for Kansas City; Hallmark; and the Hall Family!

Marquee Selections has partnered up with the award-winning chef focused program " In The Kitchen with Bonnie" (http://inthekitchenwithbonnie.com) to produce an exciting new wine segment entitled "In the Cellar" with Marquee Selections . During each episode we will unravel the wine world one grape at a time! Each week we invite you to join us for an engaging conversation for our food and wine lovers to see why wine has been a worldwide tradition for centuries and how learning more about it can help bring the stories and flavors to life. Learn more about exciting regions, new wine types, varietals, how to pair wines with food, decanting, proper serving temperature, what wine goes best with pizza and more! A great 10 minute break from your day to learn and "wet" your taste buds for more"!

Cheers!

Christopher J. Cribb, CSW
Marquee Selections - Green, Global, Grapes

InTheCellar - Pairing Wines with Hearty Winter Comfort Foods

InTheCellar - Pairing Wines with Hearth Winter Comfort Foods!

With a fire roaring in the hearth, a bubbling stew on the stove or some homemade Mac & Cheese in the oven, what wines are you going to be reaching for? Join Marquee Selections and Bonnie Rabicoff as we go In the Cellar to find the best pairings for hearty winter fare and our favorite comfort foods and a few tips on cooking with wine!

We wanted to get your mouth watering during this episode so let's off the Blog with a great recipe from our friends over at The Food Network, a cookbook we love - The Barefoot Contessa sharing - Lobster Mac and Cheese with one of our favorites "Gruyere"!

In our lucky thirteenth episode of In the Cellar, the first wine we review is the versatile 2010 Capa Rota Macabeo from Yecla, Spain. Macabeo is a grape type (varietal) indigenous to Spain that falls in the flavor spectrum on the light to medium side between a Pinot Grigio and a lightly oaked Chardonnay. For good service, you want to make sure the wine is chilled down to show off its tropical notes and we paired this wine up today with your traditional homemade Cheddar Mac & Cheese (maybe even a little bacon in with it)!



The second wine we focus on in this episode is the 2008 Quattro Leoni Barbera D'Asti from Castello Di Gabiano in Piedmont, Italy. With root vegetables making the winter fare list we choose the Barbera to show off this delicious red varietals versatility in pairing as something that could go with a rich OssoBucco with a parsnip puree or even be a hit alongside your traditional red beef chili! Barbera is the 2nd most grown grape in all of Italy & Castello Di Gabiano last year was awarded the prestigious "Best Barbera" medal at VinItaly and focus its red wines on this signature grape. If you happen to be in the northern Italian wine county we highly suggest you stop by this picturesque vineyard and property that was originally growing grapes in 1108 AD!

In the Kitchen and Marquee sends out a special thank you to our friends at The American Restaurant for participating in this exciting series of shows! As always it is a treat to work with a crown jewel and institution for Kansas City and Hallmark!

For more information about using tools like the VacuVin Wine Preservation system to take the oxygen away from your wine for wine storage materials at your local retailer and here as an education resource Vacuum Wine Preservation Products.

Marquee Selections has partnered up with the award-winning chef focused program " In The Kitchen with Bonnie" (http://inthekitchenwithbonnie.com) to produce an exciting new wine segment entitled "In the Cellar" with Marquee Selections . During each episode we will unravel the wine world one grape at a time! Each week we invite you to join us for an engaging conversation for our food and wine lovers to see why wine has been a worldwide tradition for centuries and how learning more about it can help bring the stories and flavors to life. Learn more about exciting regions, new wine types, varietals, how to pair wines with food, decanting, proper serving temperature, what wine goes best with pizza and more! A great 10 minute break from your day to learn and "wet" your taste buds for more"!

Please enjoy this web-episode of In the Cellar with Marquee and additional details are available below for more information on Marquee Selections! I am a bit new to the HD Camera, so please bear with me as I get my sea legs as an action reporter ( with today's technology you can find the grey hairs if you look) :) and thank you so much for tuning in and supporting Marquee Selections!

InTheCellar - "How To Steps on Wine & Cheese Pairing For The Holiday's " Part I & II

Wine & _____ (if you said Cheese) we are on the same page! The holiday entertaining season is now upon us, therefore InTheCellar is teaching methods of pairing Wine & Cheese! As a two part series we will explore the "brand new" International Gourmet Cheese section at the Hy-Vee Grocery in Liberty, MO with Marquee Selections and In The Kitchen With Bonnie!

In our ninth episode of In the Cellar, we head to the International Cheese Shop at the Hy-Vee Premium Grocery in Liberty, MO and take a look behind the scenes in their show kitchen at a number of lovely wine & cheese pairings!





The first wine we review is the 2008 Capa Rota Monastrell / Syrah blend from the Yecla, region of Southern Spain. Monastrell, also called Mourvedre and Mataro in other parts of the world is a dark red grape known for being cherry flavored with a dry, light mocha dustiness to the wine. For the perfect cheese comparison we stuck with the theme of what "grows together goes together" and choose a Cheese used quite a bit in Spanish cuisine, Manchego to pair with this light red wine. A waxy, semi dry style of cheese, the Manchego is used in many charcuterie plates and finds its way next to another Spanish component, Serrano Ham and olives on many platters. If you are looking for a great pairing to entertain this winter, the Spanish sampler plate with Capa Rota Monastrell / Syrah is a great hit!


For the second wine we showcase a specialty wine, the best of the best from Caligiore Organic Vineyards in Mendoza Argentina, the 2008 Caligiore Organic Legacy Malbec. Described as a big rich red wine wrapped in a velvet glove, we have chosen a very dry aged cheese to pair with this wine, Parmigiano Regiano. The selected Parmigiano for this wine benefits whereby the dry and hard cheese component helps to bring out the subtle spicy notes from the wine and offers a crisp contrast to clean the palate. A delicious discovery, always also try old world Italian wine favorites with the aged Parmigiano like Chianti Classico or Amorone.

Time for Part II - Continue with us in our eleventh episode of In the Cellar, we head to the International Cheese Shop at the Hy-Vee Premium Grocery in Liberty, MO and take a look behind the scenes in their show kitchen at a number of lovely wine & cheese pairings with our partner Bonnie Rabicoff from In The Kitchen With Bonnie!





The third wine we review is the 2008 Marquee Signature Chardonnay, a cool-climate Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley in Australia just North of the city center of Melbourne. This "chardy" has light tropical notes riding alongside lemon flavors, a bit of creaminess and a touch of minerality. To show a similarity in pairing we went paired this wine with a Triple Cream Brie Cheese from France, which accentuates the notes of oak integration and buttery soft notes. The brie is served soft and the Chardonnay also acts as a palate cleanser as the balanced acidity brings refreshes your presentation for a 2nd / 3rd taste. Historically Chardonnay is a great pairing with many soft cheeses, be sure to ask your wine consultant for a lighter style if you are going with strong cheese or a stronger style if you are going with light cheese!

The forth wine we focus on in this episode is the 2004 Silver Wings Old Vine Vincenzao Mourvedre / Shiraz that is also from Victoria, Australia. Beautifully aged for several months in both French and American oak, this wine is a great choice for long term cellaring, and/or decanting to be consumed now. As a cheese accent we have moved to showcasing two different types of blue cheese with this wine, the first a Deep Veined Artisan Blue Cheese that also hails from Australia, the "Roaring 40s" from King Island and the second cheese, a more traditional Blue Stilton Cheese from England. A special note of thanks out to our friends from Paris Brothers Artisan Foods for allowing us a taste of this Australian Specialty cheese! The blue flavor is strong and therefore the wine picked has a backbone of strength, but actually is a medium bodied and not full bodied wine to contrast the cheese/. As shown in our episode the Stilton has more milky, creamy notes and is a bit softer in style, while the Roaring 40s has more blue veins and a stronger flavor. Both profiles work with the wine and will tempt your taste buds, the best pairing, well you need to try that for yourself!

In the Kitchen and Marquee send out a special thank you to our friends at Hy-Vee for participating in this exciting series of wine & cheese shows! The test kitchen is spectacular and we look forward to be coming back for more!

Marquee Selections has partnered up with the award-winning chef focused program " In The Kitchen with Bonnie" (http://inthekitchenwithbonnie.com) to produce an exciting new wine segment entitled "In the Cellar" with Marquee Selections . During each episode we will unravel the wine world one grape at a time! Each week we invite you to join us for an engaging conversation for our food and wine lovers to see why wine has been a worldwide tradition for centuries and how learning more about it can help bring the stories and flavors to life. Learn more about exciting regions, new wine types, varietals, how to pair wines with food, decanting, proper serving temperature, what wine goes best with pizza and more! A great 10 minute break from your day to learn and "wet" your taste buds for more"!

Please enjoy this web-episode of In the Cellar with Marquee and additional details are available below for more information on Marquee Selections! I am a bit new to the HD Camera, so please bear with me as I get my sea legs as an action reporter ( with today's technology you can find the grey hairs if you look) :) and thank you so much for tuning in and supporting Marquee Selections!

Have a great holiday!

~Christopher J. Cribb, CSW
Marquee Selections - Green, Global, Grapes
http://www.marquee.com

InTheCellar - Wines for Thanksgiving!

Give thanks, carve the bird, pile on the stuffing and pop a cork on GREAT WINE to go with it... check out great tips to pair with the hearty fare we serve at Thanksgiving from cranberry sauce to mom's pumpkin pie, we have got the wines for you!

In our tenth episode of In the Cellar, we head to the Club Room / Gourmet Kitchen at the Hy-Vee Premium Grocery in Liberty, MO and unwrap wines to pair for our upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday!



The first wine we review is the 2009 Marquee Classic Riesling - a lovely wine that pairs perfectly with the Thanksgiving meal and is not the "Sweet Riesling" that you may think of when you hear the term. Australia does a more dry style of Riesling and what we find is that this wine pairs well with a variety of foodstuffs, is lighter in alcohol and has lots of lime / lemon acidity to clean your palate between the different Turkey day tastes!

The second and third wines we are showcasing today come from Mendoza, Argentina and are of products of the grape type, Malbec. The first is a bright and fruity "rose", yes rose as in white zinfandel, but mind you this is a lovely wine as opposed to the tangy sweet White Zin's from Sutter Home that you may have tasted once before. The 2010 Pianissimo Organic Malbec Rose is fruity, fresh, has lots of strawberry, watermelon and light rhubarb qualities that make it a great chilled wine for thanksgiving that has enough body to match the sauces, turkey, stuffing and even pumpkin flavors of the season.

For those that prefer to drink red wine we have selected the 2010 Staccato Organic Malbec / Cabernet Blend as a "medium bodied red wine" that will pair well, but not overpower your food at thanksgiving. I like the choice of a lighter bodied wine as it allows the food to stay center stage on this occasion. I routinely also serve Pinot Noir for Thanksgiving, but this year in a tough economy could not think of a better wine for your value at only $9.99 than the Staccato Malbec / Cabernet Blend. PS - Like the family dog at thanksgiving grabbing table scraps, the family dog for this winery in Argentina actually loves to eat grapes straight out of the fields!

In the Kitchen and Marquee send out a special thank you to our friends at Hy-Vee for participating in this exciting series of wine education shows! The test kitchen is spectacular and we look forward to be coming back for more!

Marquee Selections has partnered up with the award-winning chef focused program " In The Kitchen with Bonnie" (http://inthekitchenwithbonnie.com) to produce an exciting new wine segment entitled "In the Cellar" with Marquee Selections . During each episode we will unravel the wine world one grape at a time! Each week we invite you to join us for an engaging conversation for our food and wine lovers to see why wine has been a worldwide tradition for centuries and how learning more about it can help bring the stories and flavors to life. Learn more about exciting regions, new wine types, varietals, how to pair wines with food, decanting, proper serving temperature, what wine goes best with pizza and more! A great 10 minute break from your day to learn and "wet" your taste buds for more"!

Please enjoy this web-episode of In the Cellar with Marquee and additional details are available below for more information on Marquee Selections! I am a bit new to the HD Camera, so please bear with me as I get my sea legs as an action reporter ( with today's technology you can find the grey hairs if you look) :) and thank you so much for tuning in and supporting Marquee Selections!

Check back next week for more exciting wine education from Marquee!

Cheers!

Christopher J. Cribb, CSW
Marquee Selections - Green, Global, Grapes

InTheCellar - A Visit To Lake County, Califonia!

Travel outside of San Francisco, past Napa to its North neighbor, Lake County, home of Clear Lake the largest freshwater lake in California as we taste the Classy Sauvignon Blanc & Zinfandel!



In our sixth episode of In the Cellar, we listened to Miles from Sideway's and turned our head away from California Merlot, but instead of going to Pinot Country, Marquee turned North and the vineyards of Lake County to find two great single varietal bottlings of Sauvingnon Blanc and Zinfandel . With partner wine company, X-Winery we have two unique wines that show the terrior of the area and focus in on how simple, minimalistic winemakeing can have a true impact on highlighting vibrant wines!

The first wine is a Sauvignon Blanc from just vineyards that surround the largest freshwater lake in California, Clear lake. Two vineyards contributed the fruit to the Classy Sauvignon Blanc to balance natural acidity and peach flavors with a longer palate and juicy mouth-watering finish! Sauvignon Blanc in California (as opposed to other parts of the world that it is also grown in like France, New Zealand, Chile & South Africa), is medium to full bodied with interesting green notes intertwined. A great comparison to try, taste the racy acidity of a New Zealand Sav. Blanc that can make your mouth pucker next to its cousin from the USA where it gets more sunlight, warmth, etc... and you can even fool some experts!


For the second wine we showcase the grape that the USA has adopted as our own varietal, ZINFANDEL. No other place in the world produces as much of this single variety than the US and for today's tasting the Classy Zinfandel shows that great nuance between spicy, rich notes and medium to smooth soft tannins. A great pairing for a ton of the US food supply, Zinfandel can win you kudos as a pair with BBQ, Pizza, Hamburgers and more! Scientific tests have shown this grape to be the same as the Italian grape "Primitivo", another interesting comparison, taste these two side by side to take your wine education to a new level!

Marquee Selections has partnered up with the award-winning chef focused program "In The Kitchen with Bonnie" (and it's lovely host Ms. Bonnie Rabicoff) to produce an exciting new wine segment entitled "In the Cellar" with Marquee Selections ; view our list of topics and videos at the Marquee Selections - Wine Talk Channel on YouTube!. During each episode we will unravel the wine world one grape at a time! Each week we invite you to join us for an engaging conversation for our food and wine lovers to see why wine has been a worldwide tradition for centuries and how learning more about it can help bring the stories and flavors to life.

Learn more about exciting regions, new wine types, varietals, how to pair wines with food, decanting, proper serving temperature, what wine goes best with pizza and more! A great 10 minute break from your day to learn and "wet" your taste buds for more"!
Please enjoy this web-episode of In the Cellar with Marquee and additional details are available below for more information on Marquee Selections! I am a bit new to the HD Camera, so please bear with me as I get my sea legs as an action reporter ( with today's technology you can find the grey hairs if you look) :) and thank you so much for tuning in and supporting Marquee Selections!

Check back next week for more exciting wine education from Marquee!

Cheers!

Christopher J. Cribb, CSW
cjcribb@marquee.com

InTheCellar - Organic Wines of Mendoza, Argentina!

Argentina is known for a few great things, the tango, international soccer, incredible beef and now WORLD CLASS WINES - join us as we discuss the Wines of Argentina & explore 100% ORGANIC wines from Mendoza!



In our fifth episode of In the Cellar, we head to looking at one of the world's most dynamic and growing wine regions, Mendoza, Argentina! The wines of Caligiore Ecological Vineyards and the Symphony Organic Series are all produced under strict 100% Organic guidelines where no pesticides, herbicides and minimal intervention were used in their processing. The organic movement in the wine industry is growing and Marquee is proud to present the wines of Gustavo Caligore, Caligiore Ecological Vineyards and VinEcol SA Vinos Organicas as perfect representations of great wines regardless of price-point that also happen to be organic!

The first wine is a Torrontes from the high elevation vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina, the 2011 Grazioso Organic Torrontes. A light and floral grape that is unique to being grown in Argentina, it is #1 in overall white wine production and dances a unique line between the acidity and crisp flavor of a Sauvignon Blanc and the more floral and soft mouthfeel of a Pinot Grigio. Once you have tried this versatile grape varietal, you will keep watching for it on every wine list you see!

For the second wine we showcase the grape that has made Argentina a world wine power, MALBEC. Malbec has its origins in the field blends of Bordeaux, France, and came to Argentina with early settlers to this new world location. A "thin skinned" grape that loves sunlight, Malbec thrives in the high-elevation climate of Mendoza where the long days and cooler nights let the grapes achieve optimum ripeness. The Caligiore Organic Reserve Malbec is a stellar example of the varietal with deep dark raspberry, blueberry and blackberry notes alongside a hint of spice, mocha and dry sandalwood. The luscious mouthfeel / body of this wine comes from the "old vines" that produce it (over 80+ years old) and the long period of skin contact (3+ weeks). Malbec is the most widely planted grape in all of Argentina and Marquee Selections is proud to showcase this award winning Malbec for the mere cost of $14.99 per bottle! Wine & Spirits Magazine awarded this wine one of its Top 100 Best Buy Wines of 2009 and once you taste you will know why!


Marquee Selections has partnered up with the award-winning chef focused program " In The Kitchen with Bonnie" (http://inthekitchenwithbonnie.com) to produce an exciting new wine segment entitled "In the Cellar" with Marquee Selections . During each episode we will unravel the wine world one grape at a time! Each week we invite you to join us for an engaging conversation for our food and wine lovers to see why wine has been a worldwide tradition for centuries and how learning more about it can help bring the stories and flavors to life. Learn more about exciting regions, new wine types, varietals, how to pair wines with food, decanting, proper serving temperature, what wine goes best with pizza and more! A great 10 minute break from your day to learn and "wet" your taste buds for more"!

Please enjoy this web-episode of In the Cellar with Marquee and additional details are available below for more information on Marquee Selections! I am a bit new to the HD Camera, so please bear with me as I get my sea legs as an action reporter ( with today's technology you can find the grey hairs if you look) :) and thank you so much for tuning in and supporting Marquee Selections!

Check back next week as we move around the map and explore new wines!

Cheers!

Christopher J. Cribb, CSW
cjcribb@marquee.com