Kathiey's World

What is Port Wine? Recently, I bought a white port at a local vineyard.  It was super sweet and rather tasty.  I found I needed to sip it rather than drink it the way I enjoy my white wines. This wine lasted me a long time because it takes a while to sip a bottle of port. I later read that if an opened bottle of port is kept in a cool, dark place, it can last 4-6 weeks.  Fast forward many months, and I decided to open another bottle of Port.  Much to my dismay, I did not like it, and it is going down the drain.  My untrained palate could only recognize the overwhelming flavor of almonds, and I did not like it. Port is a fortified wine. It is sweeter and higher in alcohol content than standard wines because of the added Brandy. Below is a definition of port wine I found on Leaf TV. "During fermentation, the producer adds brandy to the wine. The brandy's high alcohol content stops the sugars in the wine from fermenting into alcohol, leaving port with a much higher...

 I enjoy a good Chardonnay.  Why, you ask?  Well, because it tastes good.  That's about as much description I can give. Let's get a few details about Chardonnay from Google. For the most part, I enjoy a good Chardonnay.  Once in a while, I will encounter one I am not fond of.  I have found that some Chardonnays have little flavor, and I shy away from those, and some are a bit too citrusy for me.  I will try to understand the difference between the types of Chardonnays to make an educated decision when purchasing one.  Here is what Wine Magazine says about Chardonnay "Chardonnay can taste different, depending on where it grows and how it's made. But typically, Chardonnay is a dry, medium- to full-bodied wine with moderate acidity and alcohol. Its flavors range from apple and lemon to papaya and pineapple, and it also shows notes of vanilla when it's aged with oak" I realize I will not like all Chardonnays as I look at that definition.  I love...

It is time for Wine Wednesday.  Today I want to talk about Wine Points.  I had never heard of wine points until I was invited to a wine party.  Everyone has to bring a bottle to share.  The bottle has to be rated 85 points or above.  Having never heard of such a point system, I decided I needed to do my research before the event.  So What the Heck is the Wine Point System? The wine rating system is a grading process.  This rating is based on opinion, so it is an subjective grade.  Market View Liquor states that these scores are basically "a point of reference and not an official decree." Who makes the determination on the rating of a bottle of wine?  There are usually three groups Professional Wine Critics, Wine Competitions, and Wine Bloggers. The wine score is based on various criteria such as Appearance, Consistency, Nose, Taste, Complexity, Varietal Representation, and Room for Improvement.  More can be found on this at Market View L...

 I do enjoy wine.  Do I know a lot about wine, and have I been drinking wine for decades?  The answer is no and no.  That being said, you have to start somewhere, so let's start with your basic wine tasting.  As a beginner, I am looking for a process to help me better taste my wine. As I research wine tastings, I have found 3, 4, and 5 steps to wine tasting.  There are three main factors: visual, smell, and taste.  Other steps you could add are swirl and spit, and you can also include savor.  I would love to get to the point where I was an expert at all 5, but that will not happen anytime soon. As far as the "spit" portion of the wine tasting, I would prefer to "dump".  Meaning I want one of those containers to pour my leftover wine into rather than having to spit.  I was never into spitting unless something was so offputting that I had no choice. The Wine Tasting 1-The Visual -Take a good look at your wine.  Look at the color and t...

 Whenever I visit a new town, I look for wineries or wine in local stores to enjoy. I found this outstanding wine and beer shop in Apex called Bottle Theory.   Bottle Theory has a large variety of wines and also a wide variety of craft beer. I am not a beer person, but I love wine.  I don't know much about wine, but luckily, they have an extremely knowledgeable staff that could point me in the right direction. Bottle Theory has an extensive events page where there seems to be something going on every day. They have food trucks, beer tastings, wine tastings, and the list goes on. I can't put myself in the category of wine connoisseurs, but I love to go into wine shops and peruse the wine bottles on the shelves. Here there are plenty of bottles to study. I love that you can go on their site and see what is on tap and what is on the shelves. As far as the wine,  on their site, you can read about each one, and they also mention food pairings which I think is wonderful....

You may ask, "Where can I find a nice wine bar in Apex, NC?"  Well, I have the answer: Peak of the Vine in downtown Apex. I have visited Peak of the Vine several times, and it is always a wonderful experience. It is one of the best wine bars I have had the privilege to visit. Here was my drink of the evening.  I had a glass, and then I bought a bottle. Here is a description from their website... "Peak of the Vine is a unique combination of wine lounge and wine shop.  Enjoy the warm and friendly atmosphere of our lounge as you sip on exceptional wines from around the world; or choose your favorite bottles to take home.  Conveniently located in Historic Downtown Apex, Peak of the Vine is the perfect destination to meet friends". I would have to agree with the description.  The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. I would call it a cozy wine bar. You will find a list of wines to the left of the bar, and to the right, they have info on beer.    They have a v...

Recently I have heard the term Orange Wine or Skin Contact Wine.    What is it you ask?  I don't know let's find out.  I assumed Orange Wine was made from oranges, but that is not the case.  I found in my research that Orange Wine dates back thousands of years and has come and gone as far as popularity.  It seems in the last 20 years, according to Eat Italy , orange wine is making a resurgence. "What is an Orange Wine? It’s a type of white wine made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice, creating a deep orange-hued finished product." Wine Folly Orange wine is made from white grapes, and it is all-natural with no coloring or additives added. It is different because it is fermented with the seeds and skins intact.  Because the skins are intact, the wine takes on a more tannic flavor and deeper color. Here is what Unusual Wines has to say about the taste of Orange Wine... Generally, orange wines are described as being robust...

 I am headed to Asheville this week.  A friend of my daughters suggested two wineries to visit while we are there.  My motto is "You Must Visit A Winery in Every Town", or a wine shop. Let's take a look at two suggested wineries in Asheville NC... Two wineries were suggested for my visit to Asheville this week.   The first is called Marked Tree .  This vineyard is in Flat Rock NC which is over 30 miles from Asheville.  The good news is that there is a tasting room in Asheville.  I have to keep in mind that we are traveling with two small children so the tasting room would probably be the best option for us. The second one recommended is Point Lookout Vineyards which according to Google is an hour or so drive from Asheville.  I have already visited this one and here is my post on the experience. I am going to do some more research on wine in Asheville.  I am not sure where I will find it but believe me I will find it and let you know just wha...

Welcome to Wine Wednesday, Everyone. I have come across several articles on the fact that the price of wine is increasing. It seems like the price of everything is rising, so I guess we should not be surprised that the cost of wine is on the rise also. The cost of wine may be going up because of the glass bottle. According to several articles I have read, the cost of glass has gone up 20% in some places. The weight of the bottles is also a cost issue. The heavy bottles take up more gas during shipping, so the shipping cost will go up as well. It takes a lot of energy to make the bottles. There is a link between the energy needed to make the bottles and the cost of oil. With the war raging in Ukraine, most countries have stopped buying Russian oil in protest, which I think is the right thing to do. The oil that was once purchased from Russia at a minimal cost is now being bought elsewhere at a much higher price, affecting the cost of many things, including wine. The winemakers and distr...

I tried a new wine last week.  The one I tried was by 4 Estaciones, and it was a Viognier.  Let's see the results of my tasting. The tasting is based on my limited abilities... Appearance The wine is pale yellow with no bubbles or sediment. The Scent I would say acidic and fruity. Taste Very sour and acidic.  I would say a sour lemon taste. Re-tasting with the experts from the Wine Cellar "Yellow tones with fine hue, intense with apricot, citrus, and tropical fruits. A refreshing wine with creaminess and an elegant persistent finish." I agree it is yellow. As far as the fruit tastes, I can only identify citrus; although I smell something else that I can't identify.  It did have a persistent finish that I did not like. Vivino says it tastes like... I would agree that it is bold in flavor and leans a tad toward sweet.  I would disagree and say it is more acidic than soft.   I found this wine very acidic to point of discomfort.  I read that an acidic win...

It's Wine Wednesday.  Let's visit a local winery.   Tunnel Creek Vineyards in Roxboro, NC. Here is a quote from their website... "Imagine a place where serenity meets exhilaration, modesty meets magnificence, and exclusivity meets affordability." It is about an hour and twenty-minute drive from where I live in West Cary.  I like to drive, especially in the country, so the trip was a joy. Let's head in for a tasting... The tasting room is lovely.  I like the wood and the long bar.  It is a beautiful venue for a wine tasting. The wine tasting cost $20.00.  The range in wine prices that I found online was $24.99-$48.99. Another quote from the site... "This gorgeous facility boasts an all-wood interior that looks and smells amazing.   One cannot help but feel this is the perfect setting to taste new wines."  Here is a list of their wines.  Quote from the site... "Want to stay inside as close to the wine as possible?  Our live music and indoo...

Wine Tasting I did this tasting several years ago and never posted it.   I thought now would be an excellent time to share this tasting. 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 One of the first wines I tasted from a  wine club I was in was the 2015 Pas ordinaries Saint-Chinian Blend red wine.  I fell in love with it.  Here is what the WineC site says about it. An anything-but-ordinary, all-natural red made from the Languedoc’s classic blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Carignane. Take it straight from the maker — Pas Ordinaire is "rugged, pure, and exhilarating. I have served this wine with a couple of different dishes.  They suggest it be served with stews and braised meats.  They also  recommend  lamb, cassoulet, stuffed eggplant, Camembert.  The recipe with the wine as a  suggested  pairing was French Inspired Cheese Fondue.   I found it went well with pizza...  ....and with Chicken Marsala They said it sme...

It is wine Wednesday, and high time to share a wine tasting with a food pairing.  I am in a wine club called Naked Wines.  This club has wines from all over the world, and it is always an adventure to try a new wine. I am going to do my amateur tasting using the plan from my recent posts called My Basic Wine Tasting Technique.  After I have tasted and have given my opinion, I will look on the wine site to get the story of the wine from the experts.  It will be interesting to see if I get anything right. The Wine Sacchetto delle Venezie  Pinot Grigio 2020 Italian Wine and the winemaker is Paolo Sacchetto The grapes were grown at the foot of the Italian Alps.     Wine Tasting Visual-The color was pale yellow, and it was a clear wine. Swirl-I did swirl, and this did enhance the scent of the wine.  Aroma- I found it to have a citrus aroma. Taste-The taste to me was citrus lemony.  I think it was bright and acidic. What the experts have to say- "I...