WEINGARTEN Wine, Finance & Astrology Savouring the New York Wine Lifestyle & Vino around the World by Henry Wein (wine) garten (garden) wine@afund.com (212) 949 7275 © Henry Weingarten 2020 WHY WINE, FINANCE & ASTROLOGY? The most apparent is my last name; Weingarten or WEIN (Wine) GARTEN (Garden). In ancient times, it was the practice to grow grapes (along with olives and various grains) in walled protected wine gardens. Perhaps I am being called by ancestral memories? But a truer answer might be that Wine, Finance & Astrology is how I occupy most of my time. I observe and study global markets nearly 24x7. I frequent wine tastings and sample wine just up to (but not beyond) the limits defined as healthy by western doctors. Astrology is the basis of my central world view. The use of astrology in markets helps me "make more money with less risk" or always a stellar performance." Given I can identify about 1/3 of market "surprises", there is no need to drink heavily. So thanks to Astrology, I sip wine! I will be writing my wine posts according to one or more of these three personal core interests. Many oenophiles claim that Wine is a living thing. If so, it has a horoscope as it is born in a moment of time. In fact just as a horoscope is a map of Time and Place, so too is wine a combination of Vintage (Time) and Terroir (Place). WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A "GOOD" WINE? To me it is something I enjoy drinking and want more! If so then it is good - Ernest Gallo It should start and end with a smile." - William Sokolin It is simply a wine that makes you feel good! - Henry Weingarten "Life is too short to drink bad wine." --- Anonymous "For me, life is too short to drink entry level wine" - Henry Weingarten For a complimentary subscription to the WEINGARTEN wine blog email wine@afund.com. After you subscribe, please also Vote for My Blog on LocalWineEvents.com! Note in 2019 we were voted into the Top 5 blogs out of 1000+! ON THE WEB investing-in-wine-continues-to-mature-as-an-alternative-asset wine-com-seeks-funding-at-a-valuation-of-more-than-1-billion HW: The obvious question is not what they have been smoking, but rather drinking! How to pair wines with your favourite takeaway meals wine-investing-theres-an-app-for-that I am old fashioned and prefer Traditional wine investing: Buying two bottles and when the price doubles, selling one & drinking one in celebration! Why China’s 10-Point Scale for Wine Ratings Matters This is the red wine of choice for the longest living people in the world Who Would Crowdfund A Wine Project ...And Why? 2020 NEW YORK WINE EVENTS Vinexpo New York March 2-3, 2020 NYC Winter Wine Festival March 7, 2020 NY DRINKS NY GRAND TASTING March 31, 2020 USA Trade Tasting May 26-27, 2020 New York Wine Experience Oct. 22-24 2020 NYC AUTUMN WINE FESTIVAL October 17, 2020 April 17, 2019 About Ultimate Wine Challenge April 27, 2019 NY Wine Competition May 3, 2020 The New York World Wine and Spirits Competition September 7 & 8 2019 Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest September 12, 13 2020 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival October 02-04, 2020 NYC Wine & Food Festival October 8-11, 2020 HOW TO READ TASTING NOTES Take the Decanter Chardonnay quiz Tasting Bytes 2020 -- Coming Soon TASTING BYTES 2018/9 Previous Tasting Bytes Rioja Saber Quien Eres tasting 2.13.2019 Good wines and delicious food all around-we found two outstanding price/value offerings: Bodegas Faustino VII White $10.99 & Faustino Crianza $12.99 Georgian Wine Tasting NYC 6.4.18 Effortlessly, our favorite Sapervai was Artevani $30. Delicious by itself or with Food. With my second choice was Papari Valley Saperavi 2016 $28. Massanois Portfolio Tasting 2.26.18 3 Favorites: Durnberg Gruner Veltliner "Tradition 2016 Tasty AARP (50+ year old) vines Manos Andinas Parceleros Malbec Mendoza 2017 Very Good Everyday wine value ORR Take Me Home Williamette Pinot Noir 2015 Compelling Name Slow Wine 2018 US Tour March 1 My Favorite: CABERLOT Podere Il Carnasciale Il Caberlot Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy A Unique and tasty clone of Cabernet Franc and Merlot in a Magnum Bottle- ideal for a dinner party of 8 Irene's Favorite: G. D. Vajra Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2013 WINES OF ARGENTINA HAVE CORKSCREW WILL TRAVEL: WINE & TANGO September 19-30, I was a cheerful guest of Wines of Argentina. My focus was on four themes: 1) To discover several new “favorite wineries” – For me that is always goal number one for any wine trip; 2) To find the best Malbecs to match with Steak (even though I don’t personally eat red meat); 3) To find the best Argentine wines to drink for dancing (Tango naturally) and 4) To research winery investments in Argentina. WINES OF ARGENTINA PART I: TANGO & MALBEC OR? WINES OF ARGENTINA PART II: STEAK & MALBEC OR? WINES OF ARGENTINA PART III: INVESTING IN ARGENTINA - NOW OR WAIT? LINKS:Winesur Wines of Argentina Uncork Argentina Vendimia 2014: A Behind the Scenes Tour of Argentina’s Wine Harvest and Culture March 28- April 6, 2014 Malbec quiz – test your knowledge To read more click Weingarten blog #7 2013 WINE-TORIAL: WINE & MOVIES On snowy days I enjoy opening a bottle of wine and relaxing by watching a movie at home. Likewise on hot summery nights. However ,Movie-Wine matching is not usually as easy with wine movies such as Pinot Noir & SIDEWAYS or Malbec & EL CAMINO del VINO (The Ways of Wine). Here are three hints: I] As with food, local Terroir usually works e.g. Champagne et French Cinema, Riesling und Deutsche Films, Sangiovese con Italian etc. 2] What is its genre? Is it an adventure flick or chick film? For the former a “masculine wine”, for the latter a soft, a feminine one works better. 3] Match the seasonality/weather in the film e.g. Rose or Sauvignon Blanc with Summer/Beach scenes; Cabernet Sauvignon or Chateauneuf du Pape for Winter/Skiing scenes etc. Please note: As with a multi-course meal, this option may require several bottles! :) To read more click Weingarten blog #2 2014 WINE-TORIAL: WINE & CHEESE aka CHEERS & CHEESE! I don’t define myself as a “foodie” but a “Wein [wine] Garten [garden] lover. Still these days I am heavily into cheese- studying it by taking classes, reading books and of course eating cheese! As many WEINGARTEN readers know, there is much beyond the simple neighborhood concept of Terroir that connects wine and cheese. I recently incorporated two cheese homework exercises into my “Why is Wine Special?" workshop: 1] Discover the ideal cheeses to match your favorite wine and 2] Discover which wines match your favorite cheeses. Why? This is a happy by product of my new association with Artisanal Premium Cheese (AHFP). We hope to help them become the number one premium national brand cheese in America. They have a promising head start as the cheese of choice for many illustrious clients such as Per Se, Picholine, Goldman Sachs, New York Times, NY Stock Exchange etc. This spring Artisanal will be opening the first of their European style cheese cafés in Long Island City. For this reason among others, I have also been recommending their stock to friends and family for aggressive/speculative portfolio allocation. Recall the Peter Lynch dictum- “Invest in what you know and love.” To read more click Weingarten blog #1 2014 The front page of last Saturday’s National Post carried a giant wine glass and the provocative question, “Are wine critics fooling us into buying pricier bottles?” Adam included my 2 cents in wrapping up his piece: Natalie MacLean, whose books and wine review website have made her one of North America’s best-known wine writers, imagines she could be tricked if someone served her a wine out of context. “I don’t set myself up as infallible,” she says. Ms. MacLean argues that wine reviewing, like art criticism, is largely a matter of taste and opinion. “As wine critics I think our primary goal is to be of service to wine drinkers, to be their guide; their virtual wine friend standing beside them at the store.” HW: Well written article. I basically agree with your points. But you left out one important function of the wine critic- not only to help select wines but to INCREASE THE ENJOYMENT of drinking a particular wine. NM: Thanks Henry! Great point. To read more click Weingarten blog #6 2013 WINE-TORIAL: MARKETS & WINE Last month I attended the analyst presentation for Constellation Brands (STZ) and a pre-IPO Sidotti presentation for Truett-Hurst. Two years ago, we were very impressed with the new management strategy of STZ and put it on our Buy conviction list. Since then it has doubled. However, while still a sharp management team, the fact they will become 50% beer and only 50% Wine & Spirits, clearly does not strike this wine lover’s heart favorably. Others STZ Upgraded to Strong Buy. While I concede the plan forward may be a smart financial move, we have downgraded it to “Market Perform” with intermediate term support at 46 and resistance at 58. Truett-Hurst has several renowned wine markers advising. They will be concentrating on the highly profitably private label sector for wines. They are also exploring numerous marketing gimmicks- paper wine bottles for picnics, square wine bottles to reduce shelf space etc. Their initial IPO strategy failed (too expensive, too favorable to insiders etc.). Truett-Hurst raises $14.1 million in IPO started trading on June 20 - a day the Dow was down 353. Clearly they should fire their astrologer (or hire one)! Until then, I would wait and not buy this interesting wine company. To read more click Weingarten blog #5 2013 WINE-TORIAL: HAVE CORKSCREW WILL TRAVEL Like many of my readers, I have become overwhelmed with the variety of new wine choices. This is not so much a complaint i.e. “There are too many good wines” but a humble appreciation: “There are now so many good wines.” When asked what my favorite NY restaurant, I usually answer “30-40 favorites which depend on my mood, company, budget and after dining activities planned”. Similarly, I restrict myself primarily to no more than 30-40 favorite wine regions. When recently traveling to Bermuda, I was unexpectedly stopped by US airport security. My wife was wondering whether she had accidentally taken 4oz of body lotion rather than the requisite 3. I absent-mindedly had not taken my travel carry on but my office bag which naturally has a corkscrew inside. Obviously, this the TSE saw it as a potential weapon. Fortunately having a wine press card made little explanation necessary. Unfortunately, we restricted our evening hotel room drinks to screw top wines. :) To read more click Weingarten blog #4 2013 VINA CROATIA 2013 Four wine regions, 66 Appellations and 16,000 winemakers: who knew? Irene, who visited and wine tasted the region last year! Something I learned: Until February 26, 2013 I would have said: “If you like Zinfandel, you would find a better expression in Italy with Primitivo. But a far better expression is Plavac Mali from Croatia.” But this no longer is the case. According to recent studies by UC Davis as well as the University of Zagreb, Zinfandel and Plavac Mali are different grapes! Yet, as cousins so to speak, they taste somewhat similar. To read more click Weingarten blog #3 2013 Carignano [Carignan] del Sulcis [Sardina] at Eataly What Argentina did for Malbec, Sardina may do for Carignano (Carignan). Eataly is New York’s Italian food & wine lovers mecca. At La Scuola Grande over an alltoo short 2 hour lunch, we literally feasted on delicious assorted dishes and made a wine discovery: 100% Carignan wines can be especially delightful. Not in the style of the French or Spanish blending varietal, but wines from Sardinia: Ancient, bush-trained pre-Phylloxera vines (Latin vines) preservingtheir original rootstock thanks to the sandy soil. All tasted AUTHENTIC- one could easily felt/tasted Sardinian Terroir. Unfortunately, this is increasinglya rare experience due to the proliferation of international wine styles.... The parting words that I strongly recall were: “If you drink Carignano, you live to 100 years old”. IF TRUE, Step aside French Paradox and buy and drink all can of these wines BEFORE this newsgets out! :) To read more click Weingarten blog #2 2013 BOOK REVIEW: THE COMPENDIUM Tasting the World’s Finest Wines Vol 1 John Kapon “To me, there is nothing better than aged wine.” John Kapon CEO Acker Merrall & Condit These tasting notes of many of the world’s finest wines are a real treat for the serious oenophile/wine collector to share memories. They may also serve as a valuable guide/inspiration for future wine tastings/purchases PINOT DAYS New York City Many Bay Area pinots were obviously pleasant to drink, but my standout favorite pinot was from New Zealand - Churton, a delightful Biodynamic from Marlborough. I am looking forward toretasting it at the May 13 New Zealand Wine Fair. To read more click Weingarten blog #1 2013 At a Fall Opici tasting, I tasted their Chianti Fiasco or “Straw” Bottle wine. Sadly it did NOT bring back happy early adult memories. Not only was it made in a modern international style, i.e. insufficient acidity to even counteract pizza, but was also lacking in quality. I keep asking Chianti producers to give we Baby Boomers a reasonably tasty quality authentic Chianti in a memorable fiasco that we can enjoy and light memories ( candles) in. To date they refuse so as not to rekindle their past association with cheap wines. Che tristezza- I am positive there is a substantial and profitable US market for a well-made Chianti packaged in a traditional straw covered flask. To read more click Weingarten blog #8 2012 Wine Riot is a multi-city celebration of wine. Wine Riots were designed to teach the uninitiated to love learning about wine. It is owned and operated by a handful of people all under 30 who just want everyone to drink more wine. They succeeded! My plus one (target audience) was happily buzzed. I found the most value in the Spanish and Portuguese wine section. What I would do differently? 1) I was disappointed by lack of depth at the wine seminars- although they were very generous in their pours. 2) While there was lots of bottled water, I would have preferred some bread to clean my palette and also more food choices. But bottom line: It was FUN! To read more click Weingarten blog #7 2012 Should extra-terrestrial (ET) wines be judged the same as earth grown? I believe the answer varies depending on whether you prefer space travel by rocket (R) or flying saucer (FS). I prefer the relaxing and feminine FS mode of space travel, while my wine wife prefers the more masculine R travel. Hence we often do not see eye to eye on many wines. Recently we requested samples of Abduction, a sci-fi wine. We both strongly disliked their Galactic White 100% Airen wine, although she quipped- ?the more ice I added (and especially the more it melted) the better (less bad) it tasted!? Perhaps extra-terrestrial tastes are different? Be that as it may, their Cosmic Red (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot) is not only reasonably priced under $10 and a fun party wine/house gift but also pleasant enough for drinking on our planet earth. To read more click Weingarten blog #6 2012 Q: Who would be your ideal dinner party guests and what wines would you serve them? A: I?d invite six Jewish men who marked the history of humanity: Abraham (everything is God), Moses (everything is law), Jesus ( everything is love), Karl Marx (everything is money), Sigmund Freud (everything is sex) and Albert Einstein (everything is relative). On pour would be Bollinger 1964, Chapoutier Ermitage de l?Oree Blanc 2011 and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux 1999. Michel Chapoutier owns and runs Maison M. Chapoutier in Tain-l?Hermitage in the Rhône. To read more click Weingarten blog #5 2012. Up until recently, I had little desire for Rose. Perhaps it because I spend my summer vacation up in the Catskill Mountains and not on the French Riveria? Be that as it may, slowly I am developing a taste. While I knew that Rose consumptions was growing rapidly in the US (up 62% 2010 to 2011), I was quite surprised to learn that French consumers drink more rosé wines that white wines: In 2011, 27% of rosé wines of the total French wine consumption compared with only 16,8% of white wines. To read more of our April 4. 2012 BLOG click Weingarten blog #4 2012. FOOD NOTE: Of course the wine appropriate hors d'oeuvres were tasty but the French pastries by Celine were truly delicious and memorable. These authentic Bordeaux caneles cannot be too highly recommended. Afterwards, I learned that the Patissiere Céline Legros was recently described as the "new sweet addiction? by Bon Appetit - D?Accord! To read more of April 2012 BLOG click Weingarten blog #3 2012. WAS IT THE MOON OR THE VINTAGE? At the Drefus Ashby Leap Year Late Night Tasting (10pm to Midnight) at the Setai Fifth Avenue Hotel I tasted a number of Maison Joseph Drouhin which surprisingly didn?t taste ?special?. Was it the late hour? (This was my first late night tasting.) One real standout me was a lovely Tempranillo whose name and night sky label instantly attracted me. The winemakers notes for 2008 Torres Celeste Ribera del Duero $18 state: ?Celeste is an opulent wine brimming with fruit, body and colour: as unique as the night sky in the Ribera del Duero.?- I agree! However the week after, at Benoit, I tasted several lovely 2010 Maison Drouhin offerings. I like best their flagship Beaune Clos De Mouches (Blanc & Rouge). The Setai tasting was mostly 2009 (widely considered a stellar vintage). [fyi in 2009 they became certificated organic. This long term practice makes the discovery delight of variation found in biodynamic offerings.] Then I wondered could it be astrology? According to Chateau Moonshine? How the taste of wine is governed by the waxing and waning moon many serious English tastings are Moon based. Being an astrologer should I not know better? All oenophiles know one key factor in enjoying wines is our moods and the Moon rules our moods! At the first Drouhin event the Moon was in Gemini, an Air (Flower) sign, but Saturn was rising- that alone could be enough to explain things. At the second tasting the Moon was in Virgo (Earth/Root). This is the opposite of biodynamic doctrine. Then I again wondered if it was the time of night or vintage and not astrology. However, I confess to ignorance of biodynamic tenants (my specialty is financial astrology, not agriculture). So I did a quick web study and learned they used a modified (visual) Sidereal NOT Tropical reference. The ?GOOD TASTING was NOT Moon in Virgo, but Leo (Fire/Fruit) and the ?BAD? TASTING was NOT Moon in Gemini but Taurus (Earth/Root). This is exactly what Biodynamic practitioners would have predicted! To read more of March 2012 BLOG click Weingarten blog #2 2012. March 2012 WINE NEWS & TRENDS, KOSHER FOOD & WINE, GALIA ITALIA, WINE REVIEWS and more... To read click Weingarten blog #1 2012 To read the 2011 Weingarten blogs, please click here. NEW YORK WINE EXPERIENCES QUALITY & VALUE is the focus of the WEINGARTEN wine blog. Many wines are wonderful in their own backyard, but when I evaluate a wine, my key judgment is: ?Would I would drink (and buy) it in New York?? TASTINGS 2014 Feb 21 2nd Annual New Jersey Winter Wine Festival Feb 24NYC Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2014 March 21Wine Tasting and Comedy at City Winery! April 08 TastersGuildNY Salentein Award Winning Argentine Wines WINE BARS WINE EDUCATION ICE: The Institute of Culinary Education Nancy's Wine Astor Place WINEMAKER EVENTS WINE PLUS ENTERTAINMENT WINE PLUS FOOD WINE TOURS Long Island Hudson Valley WEBSITES: Gayot New York Wine Tasting Events Local Wine Events NEW YORK CORK REPORT Natalie Maclean Delicious Wine picks and pairings EVERGREEN POSTS THE PURPOSE OF WINE: Ancient Egyptian Wine Classifications: Beyond date, maker, quality & origin - classifying wine by its function ? e.g. celebrating first class functions, tax collection day, wine for dancing, wine for offerings, wine for a happy return and of course wine for merrymaking! Wine as an Investment Part I Publicly Traded Wine Companies, that is, companies whose primary business is wine: Remember the Peter Lynch dictum: Buy what you KNOW and LOVE! 10 Desert Island Wine Choices The one wine to most enjoy drinking if marooned on a desert island just for one year and the one if for life. Johann Wolfgang Goethe once was asked which three things he would take to an island. He stated: "Poetry, a beautiful woman and enough bottles of the world's finest wines to survive this dry period!" Then he was asked what he would leave back first, if it was allowed to take only two things to the island. And he briefly replied: "The poetry!" Slightly surprised, the man asked the next question: "And Sir, what would you leave back if only one was allowed?" And Goethe thought for a couple of minutes and answered: "It depends on the vintage!" Red Wine & Health Living Drinking wine in moderation offers physical, emotional and mental benefits. In dream interpretation, drinking wine predicts joy and friendship. Both are major contributors to a healthy lifestyle. IN PREPARATION Red Wine & Health Wine as an Investment Part II Wine Investment funds, Private Equity & Venture Funds; shareholding a private winery & wine stock exchanges. Astrology & Wine: Part I Wine Horoscopes Wine Wisdom: On Aging Like people, wines develop character and individuality with the passage of time. Also, like people, wines today have the ability to age better and longer than in former times. FORTHCOMING Wine as an Investment Part III Wine as investment class (Collectibles): Wine Investing vs. Wine collecting. Wine 'outperforming oil and gold' The classic tenet so dear to wine lovers - buy two cases, hold until the price doubles, sell one and drink the other free. However the bottom line is: Be prepared to drink your portfolio! Wine as an Investment Part IV Wine Business Opportunities: Becoming a wine entrepreneur: "Do you want to make wine or make money?" Starting a Winery or Custom Crush; Wine Importer, Wine Bar, Wine Shop, Teaching, Tourism & Wine Events. Wine and the Cosmos I: Biodynamic Wines and Terroir Compatibility Oenomancy (oinomancy) Divination involving observation of the colors and other features of wine Wine and food adventures in New York and around the world: New York State Wines: Hudson Valley, Long Island & Finger Lakes New Zealand Wines Argentine Wines Israeli Wines Astrology & Wine: Part II Birthday Wines: Your Personal Wine horoscope The Weingarten Wine Glossary: Our Winespeak dictionary is in the tradition of Ambrose Bierce's satirical "The Devil's Dictionary" who defined wine as: "n. Fermented grape-juice known to the Women?s Christian Union as ?liquor,? sometimes as ?rum.? Wine, madam, is God?s next best gift to man." Sample entry: BIG BOTTLES: Seasoned wine lovers don't really believe "size doesn't matter"! The classic example is Champagne which is widely believed to last longer and taste better in Magnums than when matured in a normal size bottle. It also has the virtue that it Very impressive. FUTURE POSTS WEINGARTEN WINE RATINGS Wine Stars are rated 95 or higher for quality. As such they are classic and outstanding and make ideal gifts for special occasions. FAVORITE WINERIES ?Wine is about the story where it comes from and who made it, what makes it different from other wines, why it tastes the way it does, and most important, why is the right wine at that time? Drew Nieporent WINE NUT QUIPS "My daughter says she doesn't drink French Wine- she says she likes to drink Cabernet Sauvignon." "...I flew the Concorde from London to New York, in the course of which I consumed several glasses of an '87 Premier Cru Puligny-Montrachet that defied altitude' notorious flattening of the palate (the flight was far shorter than it ought reasonably to have been given the quality of the wine list)." "Blind tastings are to wine what strip poker is to love." Kermit Lynch CLASSICS "Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it. " "A meal without wine is like a life without love. " COMEDY "Most of our customers frankly wouldn't know the difference between a Bordeaux and a claret." Basil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers "A man's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another drink." W.C. Fields "It's a naïve domestic Burgundy without any breeding, but I think you'll be amused by its presumption." James Thurber "I love cooking with wine . . . sometimes I even put it in the food." "A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine, except that on a day without sunshine you can still get drunk." Lee Entrekin PROVERBS Good wine ruins the purse; bad wine ruins the stomach. SPAIN The best use of bad wine is to drive away poor relations. FRANCE "Old wine and friends improve with age." ITALY QUOTES "Wine is a passport to the world." THOM ELKJER, Adventures in Wine "Wine is not just an object of pleasure, but an object of knowledge; and the pleasure depends on the knowledge." ROGER SCRUTON, I Drink Therefore I Am ?Wine is about the story where it comes from and who made it, what makes it different from other wines, why it tastes the way it does and most important why is the right wine at that time.? Drew Nieporent ON THE WEB Can you afford a vineyard? Can you finance a wine-making operation? The Taste of Wine ? Does It Matter? The best wine importers Why more expensive wines taste better: Psychology 101 Finance The Top Performing Alternative Investments: Fine Wine Can wine be an investment? Investing in Wine Astrology & Wine Chateau Moonshine? How the taste of wine is governed by the waxing and waning moon Moon Theories in Wine :: Society Grapevine Biodynamic Wine The newest trend in wine-making combines agriculture with astrology and mysticism Matching Wine and Food Approaches and Guidelines Wine Tourism WineTravelGuides.com Wine Business News winebusiness.com wineindustryinsight.com Wine Misc The Collectionary: wine DATED WEB POSTS Discover & Invest Finance And Investment Blog » Gold versus Wine... Feb 4, 2010 ... Two excellent choices therefore are gold and wine. Should you only be able to invest in one or the other, which should you choose? Wine outstrips shares as investors get the taste for liquid assets ... Apr 14, 2010 ... Investors driven to drink by the market turmoil of the past few years may have been on to a good thing. Is Wine a Good Investment Wine Beats Russell Stocks as Liquid Investment in Swiss Study The Wine Economist How Globalization is Reshaping the World of Wine. RESOURCES If you are a newbie to wine, I would recommend one of four books to start: 1) If you just wish be able to understand some basics and only wish to read one book so as to better navigate a restaurant wine list or buy wine in a liquor store it would be DRINK THIS, WINE MADE SIMPLE by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl. 2) If you to potentially begin a life long study of wine and become a wine sophisticate, then read WINDOWS ON THE WORLD COMPLETE WINE COURSE by Kevin Zraly. 3) If you are unsure of your future relationship to the world of wine read: EDUCATING PETER How I Taught a Famous Movie Critic the Difference Between Cabernet and Merlot by Lettie Teague 4) If you are more "California" than "New York/Europe" or interested in the Zen of the wine experience, read: Wineocology by Caitlin Stansbury with Heidi Shink Next I would pick up a basic reference book such as THE WINE BIBLE Karen MacNeil and/or EXPLORING WINE: The Culinary Institute of America's Guide to Wines of the World 3rd Ed. Steven Kolpan, Brian H. Smith, Michael A. Weiss. FURTHER RECOMMENDED READING: THE ULTIMATE WINE COMPANION Editor: Kevin Zraly THE BATTLE FOR WINE AND LOVE or How I saved the World from Parkerization by Alice Feiring IS THIS BOTTLE CORKED The secret life of Wine Kathleen Burk and Michael Bywater WINE MYTHS AND REALITY Benjamin Lewin THE JUICE Vinous Veritas Jay Mcinerney A YEAR OF WINE Perfect Pairings, Great Buys, and what to Sip for Each Season Tyler Colman, aka Dr. Vino WINE FOR EVERY DAY AND EVERY OCCASION Dorthy Gaiter & John Brecher All about WINE CELLARS Howard G Goldberg The Wine Collector's Handbook Storing and Enjoying Wine at Home Linda Johnson Keys to the Cellar Strategies and Secrets of Wine Collecting Peter Meltzer The Wine Lover's GUIDE TO AUCTIONS The Art & Science of Buying and Selling Wines Ursula Hermacinski Wine Investment for Portfolio Diversification: How Collecting Fine Wines Can Yield Greater Returns Than Stocks and Bonds Mahest Kumar Investing in Liquid Assets: Uncorking Profits in Today's Global Wine Market David Sokolin A SHORT HISTORY OF WINE Rod Phillips THE STORY OF WINE Hugh Johnson WINE, The 8000-Year-Old Story of the Wine Trade Thomas Pellechia INVESTING WINE Paul Lukacs THE GEOGRAPHY OF WINE Brian Sommers THE SCIENCE OF WINE From Vine to Glass Jamie Goode TERROIR The role of Geology, Climate, and Culture in the Making of French Wines James Wilson WINE WARS Mike Veseth RENAISSANCE GUIDE TO WINE AND FOOD PAIRING From Consumer to Connoisseur Tony Dido and Jean Luc Le Du Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine & Food Pairing Jaclyn Stuart and Jeanette Hurt SECRETS OF THE SOMMELIERS: How to Think and Drink Like the World's Top Wine Professionals Rajat Parr, Jordan Mackay, Ed Anderson BOOK REVIEWS BOOK REVIEWS: WINE WARS,VINO ARGENTINO & SCIENCE OF DRINKING BOOK REVIEW: EXPLORING WINE (Revised Third Edition) Culinary Institute of America THE WINE TRIALS 2011 Alexis Herschkowitsch & Robin Goldstein EXPLORING WINE: The Culinary Institute of America's Guide to Wines of the World 3rd Ed. Steven Kolpan, Brian H. Smith, Michael A. Weiss BOOK REVIEWS: WINE WARS,VINO ARGENTINO & SCIENCE OF DRINKING Q&A NEWBIE: Q: Why do I prefer the taste of inexpensive wines to expensive ones? A: Most likely because you prefer sweeter wines. In blind taste tests, many consumers show the same preference. There is a well known "learning curve" with wines: newer wine drinkers frequently prefer sweeter, lighter whites, but often may over time prefer more robust, aged and complex reds. Like all generalizations, however this is not always true. Q: Why can't I just drink Cab with all types of foods. A: Because the "food police" don't allow it! :) On a more serious note, the ideal purpose of drinking wine WITH food is to ENHANCE the experience: 1 plus 1 = 3. Drinking wine WITH food, can enhance or diminish the pleasure of eating certain dishes. From one's own personal experience, most people soon realize that different wines will TASTE better with different foods. WINE SELECTION Q: Have any Malbec suggestions? A: Argentine wines, like wines from Chile and New Zealand, offer great value. Fortunately, most imported Malbecs are of good quality and very reasonable. Here are three suggestions: 85 Trapiche Broguel Malbec 2008 Mendoza $14.95 87 Graffigna Grand Reserve Malbec 2007 San Juan $19.95 90 Terrazas de los Andes Alincado Malbec 2006 Mendoza $45 Given there are so many more fine Malbecs, it will be the subject of a future blog. In the meantime, you may wish to also taste selections from Alamos (Catena) and Archaval Ferrer. LETTERS READER: Wine, Finance and Astrology. Interesting order. The first glass makes you loose enough to talk money. A few more glasses, and you get metaphysical. Seriously, good luck with the site. READER: I LOVE THIS FOR YOU, MR. WINE! CHANGE Weingarten to Winegarten Finally?a computer prompt I understand! READER: even-mice-can-become-snooty-wine-experts This explains why I see rat-looking people at tastings. More Letters A LOVING WIFE A woman was sipping on a glass of wine while sitting on the patio with her husband. She says, "I love you so much. I don't know how I could ever live without you." Her husband asks, "Is that you or the wine talking?" She replies, "It's me... talking to the wine." SAMPLE REVIEW POLICY WEINGARTEN happily accepts wine and book samples for review. Our review policy is to taste and read everything we receive but we usually only write only about the wines and books we like. Please include a contact name and telephone number so that we may reach you with questions. Supporting material is encouraged but not required. There is no fixed tasting or review schedule, and feedback may or may not be provided to wineries or publishers other than what might be written on the site. (c) 2010-2019 Henry Weingarten 212 949 7275 310 Lexington Avenue Suite 36 New York, N.Y. 10016 Please email any comments, suggestions, corrections, clarifications, or notice of inappropriate reader comments to wine@afund.com. Thank you.