Gary,

Good job, enjoyed your love for wines. However, I think it might make more sense if you can tell the viewers what wine regions the 4 rieslings are coming from. As you know, the different regions in Germany offer different styles of Riesling, some are sweeter, some are more acidic, some has a nice fizz to them, and some are even more food friendly than others. I think just an overbroad category is fine, but hopefully you dive into a more specific region, or a comparison between the regions the next time.

Enjoy your vacation and good luck on the live show today.

QOTD: I’m loven Spain now

Hey all, I’ve been watching these wblogs dailey for about a month now. I did start from the beginning so this I didn’t missing anything. I’m hooked, I love your (Gary V) personality on wine and I think it definetly opens more eyes to the world of wine. Keep up the good work, can’t wait for teh live broadcast!!!

QOTD: I’ve been drinking different international Syrah mixes — like Malbec/Syrah (Chile, Maule Valley), Montestrell/Syrah (in Spain’s Jumilla), etc.

There are some killer reds coming out, and cheap, all of which host some Syrah — good with grilled meats and a large orange cheese named Mimolette, which I once heard the French used as a replacement for cannonballs (when cannonballs were in short supply).

Taste some of these Syrah mixes, Gary, I’d love to hear what you think about these.

Interesting that only 3 people mentioned Pinot Noir as their favorite grape, and two of them specified New World Pinot. It’s been my experience that Pinot Noir is fragile and one of the most difficult grapes to turn into a good wine. Maybe that’s just my taste buds. When I named my favorite grapes earlier, I didn’t even bother to list it, it’s so far down on my list.

When I was in my 20s and just learning about wine, my father had a pretty good Burgundy collection, so that’s what first got me into red wine. However, I can’t remember the last time I had a Burgundy that was even remotely worth the price. When friends bring them over as dinner party gifts, I’m always eager to try them, but usually find the taste simple, light and a bit bland — at best. Maybe they’re just too subtle for my aging palate.

And speaking of bland, here’s a grape mentioned by NO ONE: Gamay (Beaujolais). With good reason, if you ask me.

errr, I think I need a personal editor. Hehe. Maybe 7:30am is to early to start tasting wine?

Want to try a killer food and wine pairing? Try a Spatlese, or even better, an Auslese with steak! It may be unusual, but the combination of sweetness and acidity in rieslings are wonderful foils to the charcoal taste of the meat.

Have a great vacation. You will be missed during that time off though. Rieslings have been a major struggle in my house. I lived in Munich for a year and learned to love them though my flavor profile tends toward Rheingau and Rheinhessen not Mosel as I think these were. My wife absolutely hates German Rielings saying they are too sweet or fruity or other lame reasons to force more blah oak monster Chardonnays to the table. I love them alway the way to TBA’s and ice wines (just a tad too expensive nowdays). I have tried sneaking up to the with Alsatian Rieslings but on Pinot Gris or Pinot Blanc from Alsace ever seem to make a hit. If anyone has a clue how to change someone’s tastes please let me know. For whites right now Soave, Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignons are high on my list with my just beginning to try several Spanish whites though I don’t knw the grapes as well.

Addicted: Semillon, ever since I visited Hunter Valley last year.

Washington State L’Ecole No 41 2004 Fries Vineyard also does some advanced work with this grape.

Gary,

It would be good to revisit some of the earlier WLTV episodes.

Ones that you pick out for their significance.

With all the newer viewers I am sure there are some episodes they probably have never seen.

Don’t worry about us Gary- vacation away, we’ll be fine without you. PLenty of old shows to watch.

Love Rieslings. Been drinking the J&H Strub and Leitz Dragonstone for awhile. Great with Chinese/Thai Food.

QOTD- Really trying not to drink just one thing these days. Bouncing around alot.

Lawrence Leichtman, try bringing home a Kabinet or Spatlese Trocken (not TBA) and don’t let your wife see the bottle. Tell her that it’s a California or NZ Sauvignon Blanc. These wines are dry with just a hint of sweetness (no oak, though).

My current addiction is viognier and viognier-roussanne blends. You ought to try ’em.

Thanks for doing the Reislings, great episode. . . love them also.
My advice. go have a great and relaxing vacation and don’t worry about taping. There are lots of good past episodes to flip through and I enjoy doing that anyway.

Love the Rieslings. I’m a self admitted red wine snob, but the one white I’ll always jump at is a German Riesling. Prum, Tanisch, Balbach…

QOTD — Have been diggin the Spaniards… Montrasell(Mourverdre), Grenache, Tempranillo….

Turned my daughter-in-law and niece on to Rieslings last year. Neither of them thought much of drinking wine before then. They just love the sweet aspect of the wine and ” never thought wine could taste like that”. I’ll have to stock up on the 2005’s, my 2001’s are all but gone thanks to our newly minted wine lovers. Have a great time on your well deserved vacation.

My current addiction is verdejo – from Rueda, Spain.
Infact, I suggest doing a tasting on native spanish white wines.

Gary…thanks for mentioning that NJ doesn’t ‘smell’…it doesn’t, mostly, it has some great features, perhaps most notably, Wine Library!

Secondly, I’m torn between letting you off the hook for a well-deserved vacation and asking that you stockpile episodes for viewing in your absence. Maybe a quick daily wine tasting from your pool chaise or beach towel, for our viewing pleasure? You decide….no pressure….:)

There is nothing like licking the sweet wet rock of a Riesling….or as some may say, the underlying minerality…but sounds better my way, no?

Thanks for the Rieslning suggestions…will definitely try!

QOD: Viognier
What’s Condrieu?

Condrieu is a very expensive, Northern Rhone wine made with Viognier Grapes.

I have been exploring Viogniers recently too. I am more of a red wine drinker, but my wife likes white and is tired of the tongue-depressor chards out there, but wants a white that is dry, fragrent and full-bodied.

Gary – take the vacation. Start up again when you get back.

Thanks for the webcasts. You deserve a break.

Take a break from the show- you clearly deserve it. couldn’t agree more about Rieslings- have found finger lakes, NY not a bad region in the US for the riesling. Have a good vacation!

GREAT EPISODE!!!!!!!!! My favorite grape, and German’s (especially the Mosels) are my favorite. I’ve been posting this from way back that riesling are the best. I had a differend Gunderloch Spatlese and its one of my favorite wines. The only draw back is that if it catches on it will drive the prices up which would be a shame!!
Wow, Italian reds and German rieslings in one week.

been working like a dog for 48 hours and just finished this episode! love Riesling and loved this episode. sweet work with the cork toss too.

QotD: Sangiovese. if i was restricted to just one grape i’d pick Sangiovese as i love it with food.

next episode upon your return: Auslese baby. suh-weet.