To Beer or Not to Beer.
Last month I asked subscribers to please give us thoughts on the notion of running educational tasting courses on beer. Overwhelmingly, 86% said YES! This same group of suds-lovers said the courses should be under $39/session, should be social in nature, with specific courses on beer & cheese too. One person's final comment was "It's time to have serious discussions and tastings of beer. Glad you are considering it!" I guess that settles it then.

Wine Festivals Here We Come!
September 29th - 30th, Wine South -- I'll be running a Sherry seminar and two Cotes du Rhone seminars on Saturday that day (not that you can tell from their website), and Jane Garvey, Kelly Wheeler, Lauren DeLuca and Jeff Emmons are all working the Cotes du Rhone booth, with Debbie Ruskin, Cynthia Salazar, Kara Eads, and Mike Murphy working the AWS/Cabot Creamery booth. Then, on October 6th Susan Loth is running the AWS/Cabot Creamery booth at Harvest Midtown . All of us hit it again for Taste of Atlanta, October 13th & 14th, and finally I will be running seminars in Rosemary Beach for the Wine + Culinary Festival, October 20th.

If you make any of these stops, please come by and say "Hi!"

Michael Bryan
Executive Director, Atlanta Wine School & Editor, Connect With Wine eNews

Getting outside the box is essential to making life worth living. And that goes for wine as much as it does other matters. Folks often ask me about Napa Valley as if going there summed up all that California has to say about wine. Of course, one should know Napa Valley, but it accounts for only 4% of California's wine production. There's so much more to see and taste.

Taken on a global scale, hidden gems are waiting around every corner. Come exploring with us.   >>> This Month's Column

On Friday, August 24th, members of the media along with AWS staff and previous private event clientele were invited to the grand opening of our little event facility dedicated to wine tasting.

>>> The Pics

Do you make your living in a wine-pouring capacity--as a server, banquet manager, or within the wine distribution chain? If so, we have preferential pricing on all of our events & courses for YOU! Please contact us and state your professional affiliation for a promotional code you can use anytime.

>>>> info@atlantawineschool.com

For Beginners ONLY (SORRY, SOLD OUT*)
Thursday, September 13th (NEW AWS Wine Room, Roswell)
Instructor: Michael Bryan
Sure you can drink it, but can you pair it? Can you speak it? Come to terms with it in a special tasting that helps you express yourself in the world of wines. Go into the Fall/Winter--the primetime for wine--with more confidence and finding more pleasure in every sip. More Info

*This was a popular course so we will run it again to be sure!

• The Big Wine Seduction (taken from a column of writer Dan Berger)
  "I have stated my desire for better structure in wines for more than a decade, and I see little happening to encourage me. A few Pollyannas have written to me saying, hey, cheer up!, winemakers are lightening up on the alcohol, on the oak, on the tannins, and they are making a more balanced wine, and they are seeking better harmony." Read on
• Speaker Busts Vineyard Myths
  At the recent American Society for Enology and Viticulture conference fruit dropping (otherwise known as Green Harvesting), along with canopy management procedures like vertical shoot positioning, and deficit irrigation are all discussed and debated as to their true effectiveness. More
• Hi-Tech Genelogy Work Targets Pinot Noir
  Researchers from France and Italy found 13 genes that are responsible for the Pinot noir wine's distinctive flavors, according to a study released yesterday by the journal Nature. Turning them on and off may give vintners the ability to add and subtract key characteristics from their products. More
• Wine Sales Up 7% in June, 2007
  As summer hit full swing, wine sales continued to rise in The Nielsen Company-tracked supermarket channel. In the 13 weeks ending June 30, 2007, overall wine sales rose by 7 percent and case volume sales gained 4 percent. In imports, leader Australia took second to Italy, and in varietals, Chardonnay continues to dominate. More
• Brand Image Built on-premise, and Volume off-premise
  U.S. restaurants are most likely to feature California wines that sell for less than $39 a bottle, according to a new report. Topping the list are Beringer, owned by Foster's Group Ltd. , Kendall-Jackson, and Constellation Brands Inc.'s Robert Mondavi. More
• Seeking Napa-Valley-like Experiences Close to Home
  People who may never travel to California or New York's Finger Lakes are touring vineyards and doing tastings at wineries in Wisconsin and other seemingly unlikely states. More
• Why Warren Winiarski sold Stag’s Leap: “I wasn’t going to live forever.”
  Faced with his own mortality and the fact that none of his three children wanted to take over the winery, Warren Winiarski, who will be 79 in October, had little qualms about selling his iconic winery. More
  

I am, I confess, cursed with a taste for adventure, even if it means I get myself lost (a frequent event), drink the occasional bad wine (mercifully, not so frequent an event), and generally make a fool of myself trying such things as rowing a canoe along a lily-pad-lined Okefenokee water trail. I should probably stick to urban adventures, but I don't.

Getting outside the box is essential to making life worth living. And that goes for wine as much as it does other matters. Folks often ask me about Napa Valley as if going there summed up all that California has to say about wine. Of course, one should know Napa Valley, but it accounts for only 4% of California's wine production. There's so much more to see and taste.

Nor is California the only state worth discussing when it comes to viticulture in this country. Oregon and Washington State follow in close pursuit in terms of wine production, and to my mind, and palate, the latter produces America's best Chardonnay and Merlot. On the East Coast, New York's Finger Lakes and Long Island produce excellent wines, and Virginia is fast closing in on its 100th winery. Held twice a year, in June and August, Vintage Virginia near historic Winchester is a good opportunity to sample what the state is doing in viticulture. And the next time you ramble through North Carolina, see what the folks at Raffaldini are doing. The Vermentino is especially worthy, and would probably fool the folks back in Sardinia.

Marlborough, on New Zealand's South Island, doesn't sum up that country's viticulture either. Wine growing occurs on both the North and South islands, with one of the hottest trends being Pinot Noir in Central Otago on the South Island. Spain isn't just about Rioja; indeed Don Quijote's La Mancha is the country's largest wine-growing area. France isn't locked up in Bordeaux and Burgundy. And Stellenbosch doesn't sum up all that South Africa has to say about wine, either, although the town, a vibrant historic university-centered metropolis, and its surrounding land are amazing pieces of the planet Earth. But outside of Stellenbosch lie other zones that we wine lovers need to explore.

So if you're locked into a wine habit of any sort, break the chains and get out of your skin to try something you've not experienced before. Resolve to deal yourself a new wine deck. If you don't like it, hey, you can always go back to your old habits. Today, wines are coming into Atlanta from all over the planet. They're expressing not only a wide variety of flavors and grape types, but also reflecting our interest in remote and difficult-to-reach parts of the globe. Through wine, you can go there without leaving your easy chair. Sort of. Have at it! Here are some suggestions.

Medium-bodied sweet white sparkling wine; very pale yellow. Aromatic with touches of orange blossoms and other floral characters; flavors pick up orange zest and a suggestion of cardamom. Exotic, sweet but refreshing, very long finish. Sweet but balanced. Persistent bead. Grape type: Torrontes, Argentina's icon white wine grape. Patagonia is quickly opening up as a region for cool wine grapes, especially Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. But Torrontes does well, too. Charmat method, like Prosecco. Serve chilled, about 45-50 degrees, in tulip-shaped sparkling wine flutes.

Outstanding with Asian fare that has a sweet-and-sour aspect to it, Chinese honey barbecue ribs; honey-glazed chicken, sesame chicken. With creamy desserts, custards, panna cotta with crushed fresh fruit; fruit tart with mascarpone cheese; zuppa inglese; trifle

New World Wines
$17

Medium-bodied slightly sweet white wine; medium straw. Intense aromas showcase the classic diesel-y characters often associated with Riesling. Citrus peel and oils grace the aromas as well, especially tangerine and kumquat. A luscious mouthful of ripe fruits comes forth, with pear, melon and peach all playing melodies. Clean, brisk acidity leaves the palate refreshed. Delightful food wine. Serve moderately chilled, about 55 degrees, in tulip-shaped white-wine glasses. Home to intense Rieslings as well as other fine white wines, Waipara is located on the South Island in the so-called Alpine Pacific Triangle along the island's east coast. Perhaps 40 mi. north of Christchurch. If whale watching is on your list of must-dos, you'll find it handy on the nearby Kaikoura Coast.

Crab and red pepper mousse; myriad Asian-influenced seafood, noodle and chicken dishes; chicken salad with mango, grilled chicken apple sausages, braised veal steak or pork steaks with caramelized onions and whole-grain mustard; grilled shrimp with mango salsa; beer-poached mild white fish (halibut or sea bass) with mustard-influenced Bechamel sauce, coq au Riesling (coq au vin made with Riesling)

Unique World Wines
$22

Medium-bodied dry white wine; Aromas of freshly cut hay, ripe apples, with flavors that capture ripe apples, yellow stone fruits, some lemon and rich minerals. Complex. Brisk but well-integrated acidity (essential if the wine is to go with food or last). Intense but balanced. A real pleasing sipper, also good with food. Grape type: Furmint, a yellowish green Hungarian grape, is the main ingredient of sweet Tokaji Aszu. No oak. Serve chilled, about 50-55 degrees, in tulip-shaped white wine glasses.

All manner of Asian fare, shrimp fritters with a fruited dipping sauce; egg rolls; crab Rangoon (wonton wrappers stuffed with cream cheese and crab); egg foo yung; peanut chicken. Caribbean fare that's not too hot, such as coconut shrimp with mango or bitter orange dipping sauce or chutney. Fried chicken strips with honey mustard, lentil salad with orange and onion. Skip the oysters, though.

National Distributing Company
$16

Medium/full-bodied very slightly off-dry (just .6 RS) white wine; pale straw. Classic Gewurztraminer floral (rose petal) aromas, with spice on spice--exotic and aromatic--notes. Flavor focus on lichee nut and pear. Restrained exuberance, superbly balanced; Alsace style, elegant and refined. Good acidity. Serve in tulip-shaped white wine glasses, at about 55 degrees. Located on Seneca Lake, Standing Stone has made Gewurztraminer its own since first planting it in 1994. Named for their long, narrow shapes, these lakes were pre-glacial streams; as later glacial ice retreated, it deposited material that dammed up valleys and entrapped water. The Finger Lakes moderate temperatures for the surrounding vineyards. Seneca and Cayuga are the two deepest, with bottoms actually below sea level. We also tasted a 1997 Pinnacle, the winery's blended red wine, still in good shape.

Soft-shell crabs lightly dusted in curry powder scented flour and sautйed in butter (a superb pairing!), any lightly curried dish; roast turkey; grilled apple chicken sausages with caramelized onions and whole-grain mustard; grilled pork steaks with sauteed apples and onions; assertive creamy cheeses (French Munster from Alsace)

Sommelier Direct
$19

Medium-bodied dry white wine; medium pale yellow. Floral and white peach aromas are characteristic of the grape. Luscious white peach flavors keep up a virtual dance on the palate, abetted by good acidity, and provide a long, clean, dry finish. The finish closes with a slight butter note (not unpleasant, however!), perhaps suggesting grapefruit zest. Serve moderately chilled, about 50 degrees, in tulp-shaped white wine glasses. Agricultural with an emphasis on fruit growing, Wellington is slightly north of Paarl, itself just slightly north of Stellenbosch

Chicken salad with mango or other yellow stone fruits; Chinese shrimp fritters; coconut shrimp with mango or bitter orange dipping sauce; light curries with seafood or chicken, grilled chicken apple sausage with caramelized onions, fried chicken with honey mustard dipping sauce, sotly smoked chicken, seafood or chicken with exotic but not aggressive spices (not hot ones).

Atlanta Wholesale Wine/NDC
$15

Medium-bodied dry rose wine; lovely rose-pink color. Spicy, cinnamon hearts aromas; flavors knit brown spices, red fruits and glide easily into a long, crisp, dry finish. Mouthwatering. Lovely balance. Grapes: 60% Grenache; 40% Syrah. Methodology: saignee. Serve at about 50 degrees, or moderately cool, in tall, medium-sized tulip-shaped glasses, such as the Riedel rose glass. Surrounding the eponymous mountain peak, Pic Saint Loup embraces 12 communes north of Montpellier, where there is a fine school of enology.

Rosette de Lyon or other cured spicy sausage; grilled shrimp with remoulade sauce; tomato stuffed with shrimp or crab salad; well-spiced smoked chicken; smoked pulled pork with spicy tomato-based barbecue sauce; deep fried calamari or other seafood with sweet tomato dipping sauce; sandwiches (also po' boys, tortas, gyros, wraps); tacos; Chinese honey barbecue ribs. And that ain't all. It's a long list.

Empire Distributors
$18

Medim-bodied dry rose wine; medium pink-toned light red. Aromas capture a wide assortment of red fruits, from watermelon to strawberry and raspberry, with brown spice notes for accent. Delicious red fruit flavors with good acidity propel the flavors to a broad mid-palate experience and a clean, crisp, long, fruit-rich finish. Moderately chilled, about 55 degrees, in tall tulip-shaped glasses. Yecla is located in the province of Murcia, east of Madrid and west of Cartagena, which is on the Mediterranean. Lots of golf resorts there. Grape type: Monastrell, a/k/a (in France) Mourvedre and (in California) Mataro, is the main red wine grape type in this region and in adjoining Jumilla and nearby Bullas. Very fine value.

Buttermilk-fried chicken fingers with honey mustard dipping sauce (splendid!), smoked liverwurst; grilled wild salmon steak; ham salad, croquetas or grilled ham steak; grilled chicken apple sausages with spicy mustard; grilled pimento cheese sandwiches; croque Monsueir or Madame (grilled ham and cheese sandwiches); honey-glazed Chinese barbecued pork, paella

Quality Wine & Spirits
$12

Medium-bodied dry red wine; medium, translucent cherry red. Aromas of sweet and sour red cherries, cherry flavors mold the palate, which is full and lingering. Length is amazing, in fact. Flavors are straightforward, not complicated, and consistent with Pinot Noir. Tannins are elegant, and alcohol is a reasonable 13.5%. Serve at a cool temperature, about 65 degrees, in round Burgundy glasses. Pinot Noir is the grape of Germany's Spatburgunder. Baden is in southwest Germany, and nearly one-quarter of its vineyards are planted to Pinot Noir.

Pвtйs and terrines; rilled duck breast with reduced red wine/blackberry vinegar sauce; sauteed chicken livers with country ham or speck and Madeira; roast pork tenderloin; mushroom ravioli with butter and cracked black pepper; roast chicken; feathered game; Cornish hen (roasted or grilled); pheasant

Bibb Distributing Co.
$24

Medium-bodied dry red wine; medium translucent cherry. Intense varietal aromas tilt more to savory than to fleshy fruit, with a lovely earthy/animal notes. The nose knows instantly what the palate is in for! While there are plenty of stuff to the fruit profile, the savory character (no cherry fruit bomb this) and easy fruit tannins providing structure make it of the best Pinot Noirs I've seen in a long time. Very Burgundian, and I don't toss that around loosely. Outrageous good value, too, for the genre. Do not miss this one. Serve at cool room temperature, about 65 degrees, and get out the good glasses. The Mornington Peninsula is a glorious piece of landscape jutting out into the bay south of Melbourne. With its cool climate, it's perfect for this grape. Merricks Creek only does Pinot Noir. As the Aussies would say: It's a great "drop."

Pates and terrines, mushroom ragoыt or mushroom-filled ravioli with butter and cheese; chicken livers sauteed with country ham and Madeira; roast chicken, duck or Cornish game hen; feathered or furred game; boeuf Bourgignone; Peging duck or grilled duck breast with dark fruit glaze; grilled or roast lamb; mixed legume dishes; creamy mild blue cheeses

Big Boat Wine Co.
$35

Medium-bodied dry red wine; medium deep cherry red. Aromas of currents mingled with white pepper notes mark the fragrance, which virtually leaps out of the glass. Deep berry flavors, with more white pepper accents, compose the palate. Lingering fruit finish comes up with a little heat, (despite reasonable alcohol at 13.3%) but rich foods ease that sensation, and this one loves to be with food. Silky texture and juicy tannins. Grape types are two Rhone varieties: Shiraz and Viognier. Blending a bit of Viognier (5%) into the Shiraz to lighten it and lift its aromas is a classic. technique. Serve moderately cool (also helps temper the alcohol) in large tulip-shaped glasses. Excellent value. Cool-climate, high-altitude Orange les west and slightly north of Sydney. Viticulture is on the slopes of Mount Canobolas, an extinct volcano, which has produced rich basalt-based soils. .

Roast pork loin; roast duck, Peking duck, or grilled duck breast with black currant vinegar/red wine reduction sauce; roast lamb; steak with blue cheese sauce; Chinese pepper steak; beef tataki, braised short ribs; grilled veal rib chopped stuffed with prosciutto and Fontina cheese, very dark chocolate.

Grape Expectations
$16

Big, powerful, full-bodied dry red wine; deep dark purple red. Deep, concentrated, compelling aromas focused on dark fruits with gentle white pepper notes. A big mouthful of ripe dark fruits with firm but fruit-defined tannins. Rich and complex. Definitely a guy wine. Finish shows a little heat, but fruit is so zesty, you won't care. Designated in 2006, Saddle Rock-Malibu AVA lies north of Los Angeles, and holds some 2,100 acres. Serve in large tulip-shaped glasses at cool room temperature, about 65 degrees.

Rich pates and terrines; rich, full-bodied meat stews; braised garlic-studded short ribs of beef cooked in Syrah, roast duck; leg of lamb with garlic and parsley, buffalo and other furred game; firm, steak with peppercorn cognac sauce or blue cheese sauce; aged cheeses, dark chocolate. Would love to try with mole poblano.

Georgia Crown
$20

Full-bodied sweet white wine; deep reddish gold. Aromas of dried and sweet peaches and apricots, with delectable sweet fruit flavors enhanced by honey and passion fruit characters. Touch of citrus. Unctuous texture. Acidity breaks the sweet grip on the palate, and provides a clean finish. 2004 was a good vintage for Gisborne, located on the East Coast of the North Island. Grape type: Semillon (70%). Alcohol is just 11%. Residual sugar is 13% Will drink well in its youth, cellar a few bottles to watch it evolve over the next 10 years. Serve in small tulip-shaped glasses, such as a Port glass, at very cool room temperatures, about 55 degrees.

Angel food or pound cake with fresh fruits; panna cotta with crushed fresh fruits; pear or other fruit tart with a Mascarpone cheese base; creamy custards and creamy custard-based pies; zabaglione, zuppa inglese or trifle (or any of its variants);

Bibb Distributing Co.
$24/375 ml. bottle