Why Not "Tannat"

After a long day--scratch that--week at the office, I received a pleasant surprise upon returning home: husband cooked dinner. And not just any dinner, but a he-has-never-done-this-before dinner of a whole-roasted chicken on a bed of red potatoes and vidalia onions. The apartment smelled amazing and it seemed worthy enough of an occasion to pick out a bottle from the "good wine night" wine fridge collection...and the decision went a little like this:

Husband - I'm going to roast a whole chicken for dinner tonight
Me - We could open the bottle of Tannat?
Husband - I don't see any reason "Tannat" do that

....and boom, date night. Not all of his jokes are noteworthy, but because this one proved to me that he could correctly pronounce an unusual wine varietal, it got my approval.

Looking for a change up in the "reds for roasts" category? Why not try Tannat? Typically used as a blending grape, the full varietal often expresses elegance on the palate with soft tannins yet can deliver a punch of heavy fruit flavors. It is now the prominent grape grown in Uruguay. Interestingly, newer vines are producing more powerful wines with higher alcohol content but less acidity and less complexity. I have an affinity for the style in which the "old" and the "new" vines are blended because they deliver a soft mouthfeel with pops of dark fruit layered with hints of robust tobacco. And with the frugalista prices of value wines from South America (ahem $12.99 in this case)...it's a win. And fun to say :)

Total Wine Spontaneity

Tonight was one of those nights in which the ordinary go-to vino wouldn't suffice. Hubby and I wanted to try something unique, new, and interesting because that's often how we classify "vacation wine" vs "weeknight wine". We were grilling burgers and hot dogs in true American fashion, but we also wanted to accentuate the  BBQ flavors with a bold, layered, oaky, smokey red. And because we are often difficult (or awesome?) we also added a dimension of challenge to give ourselves the pentameter of "$15 or less". This is actually my favorite category of wine-buying trips: searching for bang for your buck aka a quest for incredible value. Some said it couldn't be done....

But boom: Thank you, Argentina. We ended up walking out of Total Wine with a bottle of Syrah, Malbec, and Cab Sauv blend grown at 700 meters above sea level in Mendoza and aged in French and American oak for 12 months. A 2010 vintage that proved to be  satisfying  on the palate with a lingering fruit-forward finish for  a frugalista price of $14.99. Mission accomplished.

*Looking for a new red? South America never seems to disappoint when it comes to affordability without sacrificing complexity.  Don't be afraid to reach for a Bonarda from Argentina, a Carmenere from Chile, or a Tannat from Uruguay when you have one of those "I feel adventurous about trying a new red wine but don't want to risk a lot of investment" nights. These big, bold, layered reds offer an excellent alternative to a standard Cab or Merlot for a summer night BBQ.

"Our" Cigar and Wine Bar

4th of July: freedom, fireworks, and....red wine. Today was filled with many wonderful things including a return visit to one of my favorite spots in Charleston, SC - Charlestowne Tobacco & Wine on East Bay Street. The service is always top notch and today was no exception. The hubby and I enjoyed Trivento Malbec paired with a beautiful selection of heavenly cheeses, meats, etc from Goat.Sheep.Cow *drool*.

If you find yourself strolling the historic streets, make sure to pay a visit to the friendly folks at both of these places. You'll 1) feel French and 2) feel amazing. Cheers to that.

Wine Wednesday

Decisions...decisions. If only all of life's winding roads led to wine, right? Well I've been back and forth on this whole blog decision for a while, but a bottle of 2003 Stonestreet Cab with a few good friends on a lovely farmhouse porch in Michigan was the final kicker - Wine Not? I like wine, I like to travel, I love food, I  like to exercise. I'm part exercise physiologist and part wine enthusiast. I also like meeting people and I love my friends....and those people and friends frequently ask me about wine, travel, food, and exercise (but mostly wine) and insisted that it was about time I created a space for sharing....so  BAM: blog.

It's going to be place for exploring life's little pleasures...but mostly wine? I envision posts about local wine events/happenings & wine nerd humor but also about incorporating health & wellness in wine adventures. I will be on the lookout for inspiration everywhere I go  with a wine glass and a camera.

Cheers! SALUD.