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Cult Booze...

12/29/2013

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This post is much more about me trying to make sense of the crazy world in which we live. 
Apparently, there are people in the world who are so obsessed over cult beverages that they will pay thousands of dollars for them. THOUSANDS. OF. DOLLARS. For something that is meant to be consumed. Not a house, not a car, not surgery, or chemotherapy, or college, or a trip to Europe, but alcoholic beverages. 
Call me naive, but until I started working in the retail industry this past year and got my first phone call asking for Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon, I didn't really realize this was a thing. But boy is it! 
Here in Chicago, people took to following around the distribution trucks from store to store, hoping to catch them on the day the shipments came in. "People,  how are you going to pay for this stuff (retail was "only" about $300) if you don't go to your jobs!?" I wanted to yell at them. 

Then this fall, people waited in line for hours outside large liquor stores, and our phone rang off the hook with people looking to get their hands on Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout series. NUTS, I tell you.
I understand that 80-90% of the fervor of these fans is the idea that they could possible get something no one else can. I get that. But it still seems NUTS.
However, I was thinking... I haven't seen really this much cult attention drawn to wine. Why is this? I can't figure out what cultural differences there are between die-hard bourbon fans, beer fans, and wine fans that lead them to not be scrambling for highly allocated, small-batch wines. Whither the wine geek love? 
What do you all think? Why the difference, and is a bottle of bourbon really worth $2500? 
Thoughts? 
Also, I should squeeze in an apology for skipping a week. The holidays got me! But I am back, and the 1 yr anniversary of the blog is coming up! I'll have to cook up some fun posts! 
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Taste the price

12/17/2013

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I give a lot of thought to wine quality vs price. I would dare say that most of the time, (yes, most,) more expensive wines are of better quality than cheaper wines. When you jump up to $20 and $30+ bottles, the care exercised by small, boutique winemakers, the quality of the fruit, and the craft of the winemaking really begins to shine. It is difficult for small producers to offer bottles below $15. Some can do it, but will then wind up using their lower quality juice in those batches. I know I've harped on this before. I know... But now, I'm going to give you an assignment. 

Pick a varietal from a region of the world- let's say Washington Cabernet, (I'm pre-disposed towards WA wines, I confess.) Purchase 4 bottles. 
1. One that falls near or under $10
2. One that is between $10 and $20
3. One that is around $20
4. And one that is closer to $30 (or even $40 if you're feeling spendy.) 

Do not research first to see what you know about the producers. Just base your decisions on price. This is important.

Place each bottle in a paper bag once opened and mix them up so you do not know which is which. If you can get help with this, even better (though this assignment is more fun with a friend.) 

Write A, B, C, D on the mixed up paper bags. The letters should have nothing to do with the wine inside at this point. 

Take a piece of paper and set 4 wine glasses on it. Then, write A, B, C, D in front of one of each glass. 
Pour the corresponding wine from each bag into the glass. Check out the color, sniff, taste. Make notes for yourself about your thoughts on each. (If you're tasting with a friend, try not to influence each other's thoughts just yet.)

Once you feel like you have opinions on each, go ahead and take the bottles out of the bag and write down which was which next to your notes. 

How did your likes and dislikes correspond to the prices? Did you notice a quality difference?

Next head to the interwebs. Go to each winery's website. See if you can read up on the winemaker. How many cases were made? Where'd the fruit come from? Did the higher priced wines come from smaller craft producers? 

How did all that info fit together in your mind?

If you didn't notice a difference, then congratulations! You can keep enjoying lower-priced wines. It'll be easier on your pocketbook and you're an easy peasy dinner guest (seriously. I'm not being snotty here.)

If you did notice a difference, what will be your go-to price point? Was the most expensive drastically better? Was the middle-priced wine worth it or was the least expensive wine the best bang for your buck? 

If you do this experiment, please share your wines and thoughts in the comments! 
This would make a fun holiday party activity! (hint, hint!)

Cheers!
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Mull this over...

12/11/2013

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'Tis the time of year in which people are attending a lot of festive parties, wearing ugly sweaters, and trying to make all sorts of warming beverages. I've started getting calls at the shop from people looking for pre-made mulled wines. Usually (since Chicago is a multi-cultural city,) I get requests for gluhwein or glogg, specifically. Now, you can certainly buy this stuff pre-made, but my real question is, "why would you want to?" Not because it isn't tasty and festive, (it is!) but because it is very easy and satisfying to make at home! There are lots of recipes out there, but as with much of my own cooking, I recommend you get creative. Start with a bold, fruity wine- maybe a cheap (hah!) Zinfandel or even a Merlot, some brandy, a little sugar, some cloves, cinnamon, orange peel, apple chunks, whatever you wanna throw in there, go for it! (Candied ginger, anyone? Mmmm.) Add the ingredients to taste, warm it up on the stove for a while and let your home fill with its delicious and delightful aroma, ladle it up, and enjoy with people you love (I'm feeling sappy, can you tell?) My one word of warning- beware the fumes directly over the pot (or don't if you want an extra kicky celebration.)
Cheers and Happy (secular with some Christian and Pagan roots) Holidays from me to you! 
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What's your Wine Personality?

12/3/2013

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OK. Another cheaty non-original post. But, one of my classmates shared this a while ago and I found it too delightful to not share.
Those of you who are not familiar with your Myers-Briggs personality type may want to go here first. However, for anyone who has ever suffered through an HR retreat or college dorm retreat, you probably are no stranger to this guy. (I personally am a weirdo and lie right on the border between INFJ and ESFJ.)
Well, some hilarious (and likely bored) person over at Vino Lovers decided to link up your personality type to wine. Enjoy! 
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    I'm a wine-loving actress in the Windy City who holds certificates in Enology and Viticulture from Washington State University. I also own a hilarious cat.

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