Well, the banks of Northern Spain (Cajas Duero, Rioja) have finally come through and given me a grant to do several more episodes of Interwined, my wine show.
We sent discs of the first show to all the wine producers involved in the first episode. The trailer is at the end of this blog for readers of Interwined.com, or directly on the page, for myspace readers. Yes this is the first wine blog, not associated with a wine maker or publication, with video...
Guess more video should go online if there's going to be so much trash talking.
Anyway, long story short, one of the winery owners happens to be friends with Spain's Minister of Agriculture and decided to shared the love and show him the episode. And now the government wants more. Mainly to help promote tourism in the regions.
Four months it took, waiting for financial approval... and in all that time they never wised up. Sweet.
Hopefully, blogs will come every other day or so, but shooting these things normally involves 14 to 16-hour work days. Leaving on Sunday 1 October and back in two weeks.
Wish me luck.
Real quick. Expect errors from time to time on this blog, and some are also intentional, in order for you to get your learning on.
Earlier this week, Glen Carlou was called a New Zealand producer from Paarl. Paarl is in South Africa. Thought someone would have caught that, since the article was kinda about South African wines. Kinda. Better luck next time, guys.
But, more alarmingly, no one is clicking my google ads. What's the point of getting filthy rich if it doesn't come from shameless begging? See, the problem right now is that while I may not be close to rich, I make up for it by being filthy.
You know what, you guys are great, I'm going to review a South African wine for you RIGHT NOW! Gimme a sec...
Just let me finish that last sip of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from Moncaro, 8 pounds from the pizzeria down the street. Mmm, OK. Bit light, but perfect with the pepperoni pizza from last night. The dough was a bit too salty though, but the Italians who made it know more than Dominoes... 8.4 points
The 2003 Tukulu Pinotage, the South African hybrid grape mentioned earlier this week, cost about 7 pounds at Oddbins. There are two words that make little sense to me, (anyone care to explain?) under the Tukulu name reads 'Papkuilsfontein' which would normally indicate some kind of region or vineyard. But there is also another word on the back, 'Groenekloof,' which is probably also a region. Who named these regions, Tolkein?
The wine is neat because is smells of banana, as well as the typical ripe vine fruits of a typical red wine. However, the taste is smokey and oaky. It's really nice for the price. It is a fascinating wine, the body is weak but the structure is strong, just like the Superdome. 8.7 points.
Don't drink with food and cheese will tone it down. Go for it full tilt. Try some bottles of Pinotage, people, and tell me if you think this is a typical taste profile for the grape.
Next stop, Madrid.
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1 comment:
Hi. Long time reader, first time writer, here. Well not really, I only started reading your blog last Friday, but the first time writer bit was true. I never comment on blogs -- never. Anyway, let me begin by saying that, having seen the promotional episode of your Interwined series on Spain, I fully understand why the Spanish vintners and wineries were so keen on supporting you. Your style was informal, yet professional and polite; and the content made for a great teaser on what is by my personal account an excellent, if underappreciated, wine-making country. As in so many other things ‘food and drink’, Spain suffers from its perceived similarity to Italy and the prejudices of Francophile Gourmands to the point where Rioja, Manchego, and Paella are all anyone knows and mispronounce. But I digress. But not before I ask why the English insist on pronouncing Rioja as Reeaka. I asked a very well respected restaurant’s English general manager once and was befuddled to learn that he thought Reeaka was easier to say than Re-o-ha. Go figure.
Back to the point of this comment: after watching your episode, I found myself down at the supermarket buying a bottle of Tempranillo from the Duero that even came with an add to stay the remarkable Hotel Zorita, profiled on your show. So take that to the bank!
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