WIYG? We Answer The Age Old Question

WIYG? That’s a question we are often asked. Here’s a look at what's in our glass.

Vaughn Duffy 2018 Rosé, Mendocino County

We scored this rosé from Underground Cellar for $20. It is 100% Carignane and is whole-cluster pressed. That means more subtle, shifting layers of flavor than you’d expect from your typical rosé. Herbs and strawberry dance with a zippy finish.

Balgownie 2017 Black Label Cabernet Franc & Syrah, Bendigo Vineyard, Australia

This wine traveled back with us from Australia as a prize from a visit to Yarra Valley. Yarra is know for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. While visiting the winery, we were most impressed with this stylish take on Cabernet Franc and Syrah. We enjoyed it with Herbed Chicken from the grill with garlic mushroom couscous and butternut squash. Silky, savory, superb!

Elevation Cellars 2011 Monolith, Columbia Valley

Yes, of course we love Washington wine! We picked up this gem a couple years ago in Woodinville from Elevation Cellars. It’s 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Merlot and a skootch of Malbec. Was the wine getting long in the tooth? Nope. We caught it just before the Monolith began to topple. There are flavors of earth and black fruit and a playfully long finish.

Vino-Sphere Publisher Named To Top Wine Writer List

We’re proud to announce that Dave Nershi, publisher of Vino-Sphere, has been named to the Top 101 Wine Writers list by Corking Wines. Corking Wines are a leading online wine merchant and retailer, based in the city of York, UK.

In bestowing the award, Corking Wine's founders David Beswick and Yvonne Holmes said, "We're proud to award Dave Nershi with our Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 award, in recognition of his highly engaging writing style and insightful articles on the world of wine.

"Dave has an incredible knowledge of the wine industry, which he translates in a regular series of entertaining bitesize posts, each of which are so well illustrated and never fail to raise a smile ."

The Vino-Sphere blog was founded in 2009 as Toledo Wines and Vines. It was rebranded as Vino-Sphere in 2016. The blog has received numerous awards, including Top 100 Wine Blog by Excel Wines, and Top 100 Most Influential Wine Blog of 2020.

Nershi is a Certified Specialist of Wine and a member of the Wine Century Club.

FireClay Cellars: North Carolina Winery Visit

North Carolina wineries have reopened, providing a delicious diversion.

Fire Alarm

This is an odd location for a winery, I thought to myself as I pulled into a parking lot in downtown Siler City. To my left were the city’s police cruisers and to the right a shiny fire engine.

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“Are you certain this is the right address?” I asked the Green Dragon. My wife doublechecked her phone. Oops! She had use voice recognition to set our coordinates and instead of heading us to FireClay Cellars in Siler City, we ended up at the Siler City Fire Department!

We speedily turned around and zipped back down the highway. Soon we were surrounded by vines and eased our SUV into a parking spot at FireClay. Our friends Arthur and Mary Barham and Natalie and Kyle Hampton were already on the front porch with filled wine glasses.

Rocking The Porch

In the days of COVID, you are left guessing when visiting a restaurant, store or winery. Will there be a lot of people? Is there enough space? Is everything safe?

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At FireClay Cellars, any pandemic anxiety quickly dissipated. The inside of the tasting room is spacious, with a soaring ceiling and plenty of room for social distancing. There are a number of tables out on the deck with a great view of the vines. We staked out the front porch, which not only offered a sturdy roof (it was a rainy day) but comfy rocking chairs.

The days of squeezing in, elbow to elbow, at the tasting bar are over for the time being. Instead many wineries are offering flights, which minimizes face-to-face interactions and the handling of wine glasses. At FireClay, you can get a flight of four wines for $8 or a glass of white or red for $7 and $8 respectively.

Wide-Ranging Wine

We were greeted by co-owners Andrei Mitran and his wife Sue. Their son Erick is the winemaker as well as being a co-owner with another couple, Steve and Bonnie Thiedke. The winery grows an interesting mix of vinifera grapes and hybrids, which are well suited to the North Carolina climate. The wines on the tasting list include those made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Tannat. Hybrid grapes include Chambourcin, Seyval Blanc, Traminette, and Chardonel.

Andrei says that FireClay wants to eliminate “chemical warfare” by minimizing the use of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. That means using sustainable farming practices and also planting varieties that do best in the unique red clay soils of the vineyard. A good case in point is Chardonel, which is a hardy hybrid grape that derives from Chardonnay. We tasted two versions, a 2019 Chardonel with pleasing green apple notes, and an oaked Chardonel, which could easily pass as a Chardonnay. The wine is aged in a combination of French and Austrian barrels.

Tasting Notes:

• 2018 White Blend – Made with Chardonel, Seyval Blanc, and Traminette, this is a zippy, dry white wine.
• 2019 Rosé – This was a refreshing glass, made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Tannat. For $19, this is the equal of just about any domestic rosé you can find.
• 2016 Red Blend – My favorite taste of the day! A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Tannat and Chambourcin. The Chambourcin gives it a nice twist. This is fresh and fruity. SRP $20.
• 2016 Chambourcin – We love this grape, which produces wine with a lovely raspberry flavor. It gains complexity from 18 months in French oak barrels.

Reserve And Beyond

As if these wines weren’t enough, Andrei provided a taste of FireClay’s yet-to-be-released Reserve Red. This is a robust red that benefits from the inclusion of Tannat, a highly tannic grape. Our band of wine tasters loved this wine. It’s not ready yet for release, but when it is, we’ll certainly need to pick up a bottle or two. There are layers of flavor building that will be delightful with time.

There are other exciting developments at FireClay. They have planted Crimson Cabernet vines becoming, as far as is known, the first in the state to grow this unusual grape. Crimson is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Norton. Norton is a native American grape known for hardy vines. Paired together with Cabernet Sauvignon, you get vines that are disease-resistant and produce flavorful grapes. This could result in some exceptional wines.

White grapes aren’t forgotten either. While 50% of new vines are Crimson Cabernet, the other 50% are Cabernet Doré, a white grape with lineage that includes Cabernet Sauvignon and Norton (yes, two reds can make a white). The grape produces golden yellow wine with tropical notes. This is a rare variety and this is believed to be the first planting in the state.

FireClay Cellars is just a 45-minute drive from Raleigh and offers a great assortment of wines and plentiful hospitality. Be sure to visit soon (just check that your navigation isn’t set for the fire department)!

Petit Verdot Grape Gaining Singular Attention

Long known for its blending attributes, this Bordeaux grape is garnering fans for its single varietal wines.

Celebrating The Grape

In my home state, August is celebrated as North Carolina Grape Month. As part of the festivities, my friend Arthur Barham, of Merlot2Muscadine, organized a Zoom program in which North Carolina wine influencers each highlighted a favorite grape.

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I decided to elevate Petit Verdot. Petit Verdot is one of the six key red varieties of Bordeaux. (Malbec and Carmenere are the ones you might overlook!)

The name means “little green one” in French as it usually struggles to ripen until late in the growing season. Although traditionally reserved as a minor blending component, that dash of Petit Verdot can make all the difference.

Pepper On The Steak

As one winemaker put it, Petit Verdot is like the pepper on the steak. Without the pepper, it is not the same steak. Even 1 or 2 percent can make an obvious difference.

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Petit Verdot has spread to warmer climates, like North Carolina and Virginia, and winemakers are discovering that Petit Verdot can make bold, intensely fruity wines that can easily stand alone.

My first single varietal Petit Verdot was at Flying Fox Vineyard in Virginia. I came seeking Cabernet Franc and left singing the praises of their delicious Petit Verdot.

In North Carolina, the grape was introduced in the early 2000s and some of the earliest wineries to adopt it were Childress, Shelton, RayLen, and Shadow Springs. The Shadow Springs Petit Verdot I had during our last visit there was, in my estimation, their finest wine.

From Bordeaux To Yadkin Valley

A quick aside about climate change and Bordeaux grapes. Many wine enthusiasts can name the six red grapes of Bordeaux – but that number has grown. Due to climate change, Bordeaux is now allowing new grapes: Touriga Nacional, Marselan, Arinarnoa and Castets. You can expect to see these grapes be introduced gradually, but it shows the inseparable connection between climate and the ability of grapes to thrive.

For the Zoom program, I picked the 2016 Round Peak Petit Verdot, Yadkin Valley. I’ve liked this wine since we tried it at the winery in 2017 and it continues to be a tasty choice.

It has round flavors of sour cherry with a light to medium body. There are traces of smokiness and violets. This is an easy drinking, high QPR (quality price ratio) wine. SRP is $15.

I found my bottle in North Carolina, but I’ve enjoyed single-varietal Petit Verdot from Colorado, Washington, Virginia, and Sonoma too. Australia, Napa, South Africa and South America also produce Petit Verdot.

Are you in a red wine rut of Pinot Noir and Cabernet? Declare your independence with a bottle of Petit Verdot.

Screwcap Wines Perfect For Your Outside Enjoyment

The current pandemic has increased the amount of time we’re spending outdoors. Here’s a list of some outstanding screw closure wines to enjoy while there.

Welcome To The Great Outdoors

Patios, backyards, parks, beaches, lakes, balconies, rooftops. Camping, picnics, hiking—one of the biggest trends of 2020 just might be how much time we’re spending outdoors. For the time being, our entertaining has all been on our back patio with plenty of room to social distance with our friends. We’ve been twisting off the tops of many wines in the process.

Wines with screw closures have come a long way. Previously screwcaps were used almost exclusively on low-quality, mass-produced wine. Today the story is much different.

Advances in closure technology now allows for the preservation of wine without the worry of cork taint. Many producers also tout the environmentally-friendly aspect of screw closures. You can no longer judge the quality of the wine by the bottle top.

Perhaps the biggest bonus is convenience. No foil cutter or corkscrew is required – and you don’t need to worry about resealing the bottle if you didn’t quite finish. Just twist the top back on.

Twist And Shout

We recently untwisted the tops on eight enjoyable screwcap wines:

Bernier 2018 Chardonnay, Loire Valley – We’re Loire Valley fans and consider these French wines fun with plentiful fruit. This Chard is fresh with apple and pear notes with minimal oaking. Nice minerality too. SRP $15.99.

Domaine Matrot 2018 Chardonnay, Burgundy – This Burgundy gets malolactic fermentation and time on the lees for a nice rounded flavor. The vines average more than 30 years old. SRP $28.99.

Domaine Matrot 2017 Pinot Noir, Burgundy – Made with grapes from Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault, this is a Pinot designed to drink young. A fresh wine with sweet notes of red berries. Lacks the earthiness of some Pinot, but is juicy with soft tannins. SRP $33.99.

La Vieille Ferme 2019 Rosé – La Vieille Ferme is the best-selling French wine in America and is designed to be straightforward and inexpensive. The Rosé is thoroughly enjoyable at a mere $11.99 price. Made with Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah.

La Vieille Ferme 2018 Rouge – This is a unique red with a Southern France profile. The grapes are Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah. The grapes are crushed and fermented in cement vats, which gives the wine a light and playful style. One of my patio favorites at a mere $11.99.

MAN 2019 Chenin Blanc, South Africa – This Chenin Blanc, or Steen as its called in its home country, comes from unirrigated bush vines. Surprisingly, it is made from free-run juice – no pressing involved. This is a fresh, enjoyable mix of pineapple, lemon and apple flavors. SRP $11.99.

MAN 2017 Pinotage, South Africa – There’s a lot to love about this Pinotage (a South African specialty). It starts with earthy notes of mocha then softens into juicy, red berry bliss. This was a favorite of the Green Dragon (my lovely wife). SRP $11.99.

Mohua 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough – A satisfying, classic version of Marlborough Sauvignon with tropical fruit and lime notes punctuated with a zesty acidity. The Mohua is a small colorful bird found only on the South Island of New Zealand. This is a solid choice for the summery days of September. SRP $15.99

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Want To Be Happy And Have More Energy? Make Travel Plans

It’s time to chart your next trip and get an unexpected benefit.

New Research Says Planning Travel Makes You Glad

It sounds too good to be true. This one small action can make you happy and give you more energy. Turns out it is bona fide.

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As Americans slog through months of at-home isolation and pandemic-driven worries, new research released earlier this week suggests that the simple act of making travel plans can boost their happiness and increase their energy levels and sense of well-being.

In new polling conducted by happiness researcher Michelle Gielan, 97% of respondents say that having a trip planned makes them happier, while 82% reported that it makes them “moderately” or “significantly” happier. Seventy-one percent reported feeling greater levels of energy when they had a trip planned in the next six months.*

Given the benefits of trip planning, America’s travel industry has a message for everyone who has dreamed of missed getaways: When you are ready to travel, we’ll be ready to welcome you back.

Launching today and extending into 2021, a new, industry-wide initiative called "Let’s Go There" aims to spark a conversation about future getaways.

Put That Travel On The Calendar

“Booking a trip—even just getting it on the calendar—might be the very thing we need to restore our emotional immune system after months of mounting uncertainty and stress,” said Gielan, founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research and an expert in the science of happiness. “In our study on the connection between travel and happiness, 82% of people say simply planning a trip makes them ‘moderately’ or ‘significantly’ happier.”

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Gielan’s findings align with previous research finding an inherent sense of happiness and satisfaction generated by the mere act of planning a future travel experience—and that anticipating a trip might have an even stronger positive effect than reflecting on one that has already happened.

With flexible booking and cancellation policies in place and great deals for destinations across the United States, there has never been a better time for people to start looking ahead to all the travel they’ve been missing.

“The memories and experiences that travel enables cannot be replaced,” said Jill Estorino, President and Managing Director at Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, and a co-chair of the Let’s Go There Coalition. “This campaign is a first step in inspiring Americans to think about planning a vacation, and encouraging them to look forward to experiencing the wonder and joy—and even magic—that only travel can offer.”

Ready To Open The Front Door

Coalition co-chair Brian King, Global Officer at Marriott International, said, “As the norms of travel evolve to ensure health and safety practices are firmly in place, we have immense optimism that when it feels right to do so, travelers will open their front door and see the world again. The yearning for togetherness and a change of scenery highlight just how much we miss travel. When travelers turn their wanderlust into plans, emotional excitement grows as a host of dream destinations are ready to be discovered and explored.”

Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, whose organization is supporting the activities of the Let’s Go There Coalition, said the time is right to unite the industry behind a campaign that reminds Americans that the benefits of travel begin the minute they start planning a trip.

“As millions of people have stayed close to home to contain the pandemic’s spread, we have all missed getting away to be with others and experience moments that clear your mind and refresh your soul,” said Dow. “Those days will return, and we want travelers to know that we’ll be ready when they’re ready to make their next trip.”

Half Of Travel Industry Jobs Have Been Lost

Traveling not only brings abundant benefits to the individual—it also provides an economic lifeline for millions of people employed by the industry. Travel supported employment for one in 10 American workers pre-pandemic—but more than half of those jobs were lost between the onset of the pandemic and May 1. The travel industry is committed to being fully prepared for the moment travel demand returns, in order to keep its customers and workers safe and healthy and to restore jobs as quickly as possible.

The Let’s Go There Coalition includes more than 75 partnering businesses and counting, including: American Airlines; American Express; the American Resort Development Association; Chase; Delta Air Lines; Disney Parks, Experiences and Products; Ecolab; Enterprise Holdings, Inc.; Expedia Group; Hilton; the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Visitor & Convention Bureau; Hyatt Hotels Corporation; the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Loews Hotels & Co; Marriott International; PepsiCo; Sabre; the South Dakota Department of Tourism; United Airlines; the U.S. Travel Association; Visa; Visit California; Visit Spokane; and World Cinema, Inc., among other organizations.

Unraveling The Mystique Of North Carolina Muscadine Grapes

Still seeking Chardonnay and Cabernet? Perhaps its time to sample the native North Carolina grape: Muscadine.

The Heritage Of Muscadine

Winemakers in North Carolina have something their counterparts in France and California don’t. While Napa and Burgundy can boast plentiful Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines, you won’t find any muscadine wine to sample.

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Muscadine grapes are native to the American Southeast ranging north to Kentucky and as far west as Texas. Muscadine grapes are bigger than other wine grapes with a thicker skin – and they don’t like cold weather.

The Roots Run Deep

Muscadine history in North Carolina is long and deep. The Mother Vine, legendary for its size and age, is located on North Carolina’s Roanoke Island. The scuppernong vine is estimated to be more than 400 years old.

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The wine industry in the south was largely based on muscadines and scuppernongs (a variety of muscadines named after the Scuppernong River) in the 1800s and 1900s. In the years before prohibition the most popular wine in America was Virginia Dare, a scuppernong-based wine. Prohibition delivered a crippling blow to the muscadine wine business, but you can’t keep a good grape down.

Although lesser known than the popular international varieties like Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, muscadine grapes and wines made from them are immensely popular. In fact, the muscadine grape is the North Carolina state fruit. In North Carolina 50% of the grapes grown are muscadine, according to Debby Wechsler, executive secretary of the North Carolina Muscadine Grape Association. When home gardens are taken into account, she adds, muscadine totals more than half of all grapes grown in the state.

Andy Zeman of Benjamin Vineyards in Graham says part of the appeal to growers is the hardiness. “They are hard to kill,” said Zeman. “They are resistant to just about everything.” Since they require less care to prevent disease, they are less expensive for winegrowers to raise.

The fruit is also popular as table grapes. The colors range from green to bronze to red to almost jet black. The grapes, almost all of which have seeds, have a delicious sweetness.

Beyond Sweet Wine

While muscadines can produce wine to tickle the sweet tooth, its not all sweetness. “Sugar is a great way to cover up your boo-boos,” said winemaker Nadia Hetzel of Cypress Bend Vineyards in Wagram. She adds that Cypress Bend focuses on drier muscadine wines.

We had the opportunity to sample Cypress Bend’s Livy Estate, a white wine made with the Carlos variety of muscadine. It is produced in an off-dry style. Conveniently, the winery uses a sweetness scale on the back to help you find muscadine wines that suit your palate.

For those used to sniffing a very mild bouquet from your typical wine – hold onto your socks. The aromas from muscadine wines are bold. The smell is grapey and somewhat musky. The Livy Estate is a welcome wave of refreshment – especially if properly chilled on a hot day. It’s light and crisp and a good match for chicken or seafood. It retails for $16.

Wine To Extend Your Life?

The benefits of muscadine grapes may go beyond your wineglass or dinner table. According to Dr. Patricia Gallagher of Wake Forest University Medical Center, the extract of muscadine grapes has shown promising results in breast and prostate cancer studies. Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in the skins of grapes, has long been studied for its health benefits. The thicker skins in muscadine grapes means this potentially beneficial substance is there in abundance.

Initial research findings at Wake Forest shows that muscadine grape extract may reduce the spread of certain cancers in the body. The extract may also improve the safety of radiation and chemo treatments for cancer patients.

Pour a glass of muscadine and drink in a North Carolina tradition.