QOTD: Sadly, in my neck of the woods (i.e. the middle of Canada, north of North Dakota) there aren’t any wines from outside the big 4. Heck, I don’t even think I’ve had a wine from New York (other than Manischewitz, of course). But I’m happy to say I’ve had wine from five Canadian provinces, so there you go.

Loved the Men’s Health article. Is there a way to go into any wine shop or grocery store and pick out a good wine you’ve never heard about without the help of the clerk… like some ground rules for finding a diamond in the rough?

QOTD: can’t say i’ve ever had a wine from outside the big four. There are a few wineries I know of here in Florida and I have NO desire whatsoever to try them. Now if we’re talking North America, Canadian icewine is very nice. I sympathize with your pain Gary, up until this year my Bucs have been killing me. This year has been quite the pleasant surprise so far.

Virginia is a nice state; the development of a wine making culture for modern tastes is still in its infancy.
QOTD – I have had some nice dessert wines from Shelburne Vineyards in Vermont; a nice wine (sad – but it was not that impressive and so I don’t remember the varietal) from Martha’s Vineyard.
I don’t think any of those wines have the history and educational structure and institutions ( did someone say UC Davis?) to compete with California and Oregon and – ok ok Mr. Walla Walla gary V – Washington for quality and complexity of the wines.

Keep your chin up Gary!!!

Bad chard from Virginia? Are you guys actually surprised? I, for one, am not. It’s funny to think that vintners in Virginia would even bother putting out such an inferior, and overpriced product – considering how many very drinkable, and incredibly inexpensive(though too oaked for you, Gary )Cht. St. Michelles, Sebastianis and J Lohrs are out there.

QOTD: I was with Paso Wino the night he opened up that bottle of wine from Hawaii. It was, quite seriously, the WORST wine I have ever had. It was so awkward and unenjoyable that we instantly dumped out the entire bottle and scoured the cellar for something to save the night. I think a ’02 Tolo Zin came out and warmed our hearts with all its dark chocolate coverered raspberries sprinkled with pepper goodness. The lesson that night was simple – Hawaii can’t make wine….but Paso can.

QOTD: Inwood Estate 2004 Tempranillo-Cabernet Sauvignon from Texas High Plains AVA – like a cherry cream soda with all the vanilla oakiness it throws at you, but the best damn cherry cream soda you’ve ever had.

BlackStock 2004 “ACE” from Georgia – this is Touriga-friggin-Nacional (!) and Mourvedre from Georgia. And it’s very nice. Tart cherry/cranberry flavors with controlled oak and good acid. Well-balanced wine.

The Gruet blanc de noir is good, as others have mentioned. Nice and crisp, even (dare-I-say) elegant. Totally solid, real-deal sparkling wine from New Mexico.

I’ve tried a riesling-based ice wine from Ste Chapelle Winery in Idaho that was delicious.

Hey TomB.: you didn’t find that Flat Creek Super Texan a bit sour? I was disappointed in it overall at the price point (around $18-20 as I recall).

Here’s to drinking beyond the Big 4!

I have to admit I know very little about wine but I found your podcast through DiggNation and you have entertained me so I will be back.

Cheers!
Rhonda

I’ve secretly been waiting a while to hear a “corn on the cob” in an analysis…

Lack of QOTD responses from me: So many of your questions require more “wine experience” than I have, I’ve only actually been interested in what I was drinking for a short time.

Best wine not from the big four is St. Chappelle Idaho ice wine. $15 for a 375ml bottle, but quite sophisticated. I also have a 2002 Leelanau Cellars, Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan Pinot Noir that is in my cellar. I will let you know how that turns out. I have heard on good authority that I will not spit it out instantly in disgust, but who knows?

I bet if you put that “good” Virginia wine up against a $2.99 bottle of Crane Lake Chardonnay from California, it would be crushed.

QOTD: I haven’t had much from that category, but did have a “red table wine” from Somerset Winery in Indianola, Iowa once that was pretty decent.

Drop in comments>>>I think often I don’t comment becuase I don’t get the “broadcast” until 2,3,4 am EST and by that time most people have already watched and are ready for the next episode. This means that there will be little interaction between Vayniacs at this point, and if I had time to spend on the blogs/discussion boards, that is where I would be able to get the most interaction. Still love the show and look forward to it each day…and often wish prices and selection here in Hawaii was better.

You know Gary, being a JETS fan might be better than being a Chargers fan. The JETS weren’t expected to do a whole lot and haven’t, while the Chargers were supposed to be able to waltz into the Super Bowl with the amount of talent they have, and thus far haven’t played any better than your JETS.

QOTD: Virginia wine actually got me into wine. I took a trip on the Blue Ridge Pkwy and visited Chateau Morrisette. I tasted several of their wines, but that early in my wine hobby I was into sweet wines. The southern Mountain Dew type. Chateau Morrisette’s Sweet Mountain Laurel was a wine that just reminded me of my southern roots. Reminded me of eating Scuppernong (sp?) grapes behind grandma’s house. When in the right mood, I still enjoy a little today.

thanks for the pretape I’m feeling your football woes today Gary I’m a die hard Bengals fan and IM very sad today. QOTD 2004 Kinkead Ridge Cab form Ohio is by far the best I’ve had in Ohio and being born and raised in ohio I’ll give it my vote. Someday I’ll get it together and I’ll send you a few bottles of Oh. wines. Thanks Gary and WLTV crew.

QOTD: I gotta rep. little Rhody (Rhode Island) with a QOTD like this: I think I’ll go with Sakonnet Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Franc for my favorite non- big 4 red: with a cooler New England climate, this lighter, more elegant style wine is able to capture the classic bell pepper of Cab. Franc, along with integrated tannins and not overbearing acidity, even though it was made all the way across the pond from either Bordeaux or Chinon.

too bad to have to start out the week with some bad Va. wines. maybe it is better for tabaci and peanuts.
QOTD: i don’t think i have had wines outside the ” BIG 4″. i think NY is even missing. i am looking forward to having more oregon and washington state wines. i had a wine from washington last year in LA and it was quite tasty. i am still stuck in france and italy (stuck?, they are good places to be stuck)

ps, a friend, maybe a lurker had some texas wine last week and said it was what you think it would taste like…. BAD!

QotD: Tennessee wine, baby. Specifically Highlands Manor Muscadine. Their Riesling is also very above average, but their Muscadine is the best. Muscadine is a southern grape that is usually not taken seriously, but Highland Manor’s is sweet and flavorful.

QOTD: I got to try a 2005 Gamay Noir, which was fantastic, at the Lone Oak Vineyards Harvest Party last Saturday. Unfortunately they ran out by the end of the night. Being a smaller-volume vineyard, this was understandable. Especially considering how many people attended the Harvest Party. But, should anyone happen to be near Jackson, MI definitely stop in to Lone Oak to check out their selection. To top it all off the Gamay Noir was only $12!

QOTD — I think it was a 2002 Shelton Reisling from North Carolina Yadkin Valley. NC is makin good Rhone style wines …. ex Viognier & Syrah Also some good Sangiovese…

Good show, but I don’t think the wines people sent you were representative of good Virginia wine. I think we’re probably better producing reds, especially things like Cabernet Franc, are a little more interesting. As far as whites go the Chardonnays are usually pretty light or really oaky. I think the Viogniers in VA are better – especially vintage years like 2001.

Gary- The whole spanning the globe thing: Jim McKay from ABC Sports:)

QOTD: Troutman Winery Chambourcin Ice Wine. Vilma in the line up that’s hilarious. How many ZZZZs for the big V.

This tasting may illustrate the motivation of enophilic forefather Thomas Jefferson to brew his own beer at his Virginia home but to import wine from France.
As a resident of VA, I’ll stick to Old Dominion Lager for few more years on the local front.
Thanks for trying something new on the show, Gary.

GARY-QOTD: I was just at The Biltmore Estate Winery. I will be bringing their Sangiovese when I come to NJ SOON!!
It is smooth, medium-bodied, smokey, old world, dirt driven and FANTASTIC :):)

Good to see the VA wines. Not impressive, but you need to try some of their reds. I hear great things about the cab franc and some other reds including sangiovese. I have not tried them but am looking forward to them.

QOTD – Worst I have had, I received a table white from Intercourse, PA – one sip and down the drain.

Hi Gary, Thanks for going outside the box.
QOTD: I’ve had some nasty PA wines but a nice dessert wine from Vermont!