The Fourth Day of Wine Gifts...

On the fourth day of wine gifts, my true love gave to me...

Now, it probably would have made sense for me to unveil each of my selected wine gifts in a fashionable order (you know, like leading up to my favorite gift), but instead I decided to keep the price points mixed up and keep you guys guessing. Afterall, we do have winobees of all levels, so its only fair to mix and match according to an array of needs. With that being said, this next gift, is one for the books. When I uncovered it, I thought to myself, "Now who in their right mind wouldn't want that!?"

EuroCave, maker of the world's finest wine cellar, has developed the "pinnacle of wine preservation." The EuroCave SoWine Home Wine Bar chills and preserves opened bottles of wine!

The unique 2 bottle preservation and service unit allows you to keep uncorked wine for up to 10 days! How does it work? Just place your uncorked bottle inside, close the door, slide EuroCave's patented vacuum cylinder over the bottle neck, and set the desired temperature. No stoppers, pumps, or gases required!! The push down pump seals the bottle, ensuring the perfect vacuum to slow the further oxidation of the wine.

And to top it off, the EuroCave has two compartments, so that you can preserve one red and one white wine at their respective temperatures (or two reds, or two whites - whichever you prefer!)

Where To Buy: Amazon.com

Cost: $395

On the Third Day of Wine Gifts...

On the third day of wine gifts, my true love gave to me...

So you may think I'm old fashioned, or just behind the times, but I like to consider my next choice for wine gifting more of a "classic."

The Rabbit has been touted for the past few years as the best corkscrew for wine lovers of any level. Particularly for novices, the Rabbit's simple removal system, which consists of attaching to the bottle and flipping the lever, allows winos alike to depart with their precious wine cork in a mere 3 seconds. That's 3 seconds flat to go from bottle, to glass, to your mouth. Sign me up! Not to mention all the bypassing you will be able to do from having to muscle up and keep twisting your old corkscrew until the cork comes loose...

And while everyone loves a classic (especially one that's already been perfected), the maker's of the Rabbit decided to put a fresh new spin on their corkscrew by offering the Vertical Rabbit Corkscrew. Its glossy finish is still built for speed and precision! Plus, the die-cast zinc lever handle and non-stick worm keeps every maneuver smooth. The Rabbit stands ready in a hinged Lucite case with foil cutter and replacement worm, and its synthetic cork friendly. The most fun part... they are offered in fun colors. You can get your Rabbit in Gun Metal, Candy Apple Red, and Velvet Black. Oh, it also has the same 10-year warranty as the original too. Let's just say, I've already added this one to my stocking stuffer list!

Where to Buy: Wine Enthusiast

Cost: $59.95

Vino-Versity® BOOT CAMP

Reposting information from Vino-Versity® for their "BASIC TRAINING" BOOT CAMP for wine novices. Check out information below:


Vino-Versity® "BASIC TRAINING" BOOT CAMP
Tutorial Sit-Down Wine Lectures For Wine Rookies
$189 per person
Two 2.5 Hour "Basic Training" Classes
www.vino-versity.com

WHO? The founder and principal of NYC's foremost wine bar, Divine Bar, is prepared to take her private restaurant staff wine training public! She will conduct ongoing two-part lectures and tastings to teach wine novices everything they ever wanted to learn but were afraid to ask! Shari Schneider, a graduate of Cornell University, has formatted wine training lectures after those she attended at her alma mater and has already taught "Wines 101" at The New York Restaurant School as well as all her Divine Bar staff members for the past 12 years and counting. Here it is...the ONE and ONLY lecture you will ever have to attend to finally demystify wine!

WHAT? Two Lectures, 2.5 hours each part.
Part 1 Syllabus: *How wine is made (from grape growing to fermentation)* Definitions and explanations of corks, glasses, swirling, breathing, decanters, screw caps, varietals, "terroir", appellations, Old Vine, "Old World vs. New World", and wine-making jargon.*A tasting and explanation of 6 grape varietals (types) featuring:

1. A comparison between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
2. A comparison of Chardonnays from around the globe
3.A comparison of Sauvignon Blancs from around the globe
4. A comparison of other fun and exciting white grapes


Part 2 Syllabus:*A comparison of differences between white and red grapes*An explanation of aging and Tannins*An explanation and comparison of Barrel Fermentation and Barrel Aging*A tasting and explanation of 10 grape varietals (types) featuring:

1. A comparison of Cabernet and Merlot
2. A comparison of Merlots from around the globe
3. A comparison of Cabernets from around the globe
4. A comparison of "Spicy" Grapes: Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel
5. A comparison of grapes/styles from "Old World" regions of Spain, Italy, & France
6. A tasting of native South American red grapes

WHERE? Divine Bar West / Upstairs Lounge 236 West 54th St. b/w 8th & Broadway.

WHEN? Two Consecutive Sundays (starting Jan. '09) from 5:30pm-8:00pm with an optional 1/2 hour for Q&A from 8:00pm-8:30pm. Advance reservations required, $189 per person. http://www.vino-versity.com/ for schedule/times of classes.

WINE? Part 1 focuses on white grape varietals; Part 2 focuses on red grape varietals. Specific wines being poured each lecture will be determined each day and printed out for all students, along with helpful Vino-Versity take-home literature. Students can also take home their set of 3 Reidel Crystal Stemware after each lecture part (bags will be provided!) Students who enjoy the wines tasted at each lecture may also stay afterwards and enjoy many of them (and others) at the Divine Bar downstairs bar. A special password for a 20% online discount on all wine glasses and serviceware at http://www.riedel.com/ will be offered to all Vino-Versity Basic Training graduates!

One the 2nd Day of Wine Gifts...

One the 2nd Day of Wine Gifts, my true love gave to me...

I recently posted a request on Twitter (@oenobee) to some of the top wine connoisseurs asking suggestions on their favorite products suitable for gifting this holiday season. W.R. Tish, former editor of Wine Enthusiast Magazine (http://www.wineforall.com/) mentioned a terrific book that I thought I would share with each of you... Mark Oldman's Guide to Outsmarting Wine!

For winobees, like myself, itching to learn more about wine, but lacking the patience to do so, this guide synthesizes the top wine buzz into streamlined shortcuts. The book includes quotes and quick nuggets of pertinent wine information, celebrity wine profiles, and a survey on what people like to drink - a great way to help you know what to serve at your next soiree. It's a terrific option for any wine consumer. Consider it adding to my list of stocking stuffers!

Cost: $12.00

Where To Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Oldmans-Guide-Outsmarting-Wine-Confidence/dp/0142004928/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227668609&sr=8-1

For More Information: http://www.markoldman.com/

On the first day of Wine Gifts...

Well, my fellow winobees, it's that time of year again -- the smell of pine runs rampant in the air, colorful lights shine throughout the neighborhood, and (in many places) snow glistens on the streetsides. But that's enough for being nostalgic...

We all know that the joys of the season easily pair alongide the stress of holiday shopping. That's why we are attempting to make your spending attempts as seamless and easily executable as possible. Welcome to OenoBee's "12 Days of Wine Gifts," our gift to you for helping find the best gifts for seasoned winos, winobees (like ourselves) and even for your boss (cuz' let's face it, they can always use a drink).

On the 12th day of wine giving, my true love gave to me...

With the constant praise I've been feeding out, it's only appropriate to kick of the "12 Days of Wine Giving" with my own personal favorite, a subscription to Wine of the Month Club.

The Wine of the Month Club is dedicated to providing consumers of all wine levels the education and good wine (at a good price) they deserve. Whether a beginner or expert, their is a membership specificly dedicated to helping diversify your palate.

Your giftmembership is delivered in a beautiful burgundy gift box with a newsletter binder, hand written gift card personalized with your message and Wine Letter. With each subsequent shipment, the wines are delivered in guaranteed pristine condition with a 12 page Wine Letter describing each wine -- where it is from, what and how to serve, tasting notes and much more. Each wine is hand selected from hundreds of wines tasted each month.


Recomended Gifting:
FOUR MONTH "CLASSIC SERIES" MEMBERSHIP - includes delivery of 2 bottles each month. the next 4 months.

Cost: $118.00 (includes free s&h)

Visit: http://www.wineofthemonthclub.com/

Tis' the Season...

As we round-out the end of November, the smell in the air shouldn't be limited to that of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah... add the fresh aroma of a newly uncorked bottle of wine paired with some of your favorite fixings! 

Now, every year its easy to become perplexed. You constantly ask yourself - red, white, or both? With all the flavors brought on by a fancy Thanksgiving feast, it can be difficult to decide which wine to choose. From turkey and mashed potatoes to pumpkin pie and cookies, we've culled together a list of suggested wines for your Turkey Day festivities:

Choice Reds: 

• Pinot Noir - it goes with just about anything. Try '06 Flowers Andreen-Gale Pinot Noir, $70
• Zinfandel - hearty enough to provide an extra kick to your meal. Try '07 Orin Swift The Prisoner, $35

Choice Whites:

• Sauvignon Blanc - compliments herb-based stuffings. Try Arauja '01 Napa Valley Eisele Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, $35
• Chardonnay - rich enough to stand up to flavorful sauces, like gravy. Try '06 Sonoma Coast Vineyard Chardonnay 2006, $50

Choice Dessert Wines:

• Port - classic and fantastic with a pumpkin pie (TRY: '05 Edge Hill Vintage Port, $45)

And in honor of the winter spirit of giving, I've decided to cull together "The 12 Days of Wine Gifts," a list of the top holiday gifts for winos! If you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them, don't hesitate to email or tweet me your suggestions...

Email: oenobee@yahoo.com

Twitter: OenoBee

Virtual Wine Diary - yes please!

Just uncovered this awesome new program that's perfect for people like me, who drink alot of wine, take the pics and then forget to upload their images online to blog about them (can you tell I feel guilty for taking yet another hiatus?)

Check out Cork Savvy (http://www.corksavvy.com), a site that makes it simple to recall EVERY bottle of wine you ever sample. And it's as simple as three steps:

1) Take a picture of the bottle you are sampling using your camera phone.

2) Email the picture to mycellar@corksavvy.com.

3) Log-in at www.corksavvy.com, plug in your user name and password (ok, you have to register first). Your email will be recognized and a virtual cellar will be created for you. Genius!

Francis Coppola Diamond Series - 2004 Gold Series Chardonnay

In honor of my experience this evening at New York Magazine's NY Taste food and wine event, I've decided to post on the only wine I opted to part-take in (my palette was guilty of craving exotic seasonal mixed cocktails instead - shame on me!)

The fine folks at Coppola Wines were sampling their Diamond Series '04 Chardonnay in the VIP lounge (its nice to have such a status, huh?). Now I must admit that when it comes to whites, I'm more of a dry wine sort-of gal, so perhaps my affinity for Chardonnay, you can say, is a bit discriminatory. I felt a bit overpowered by the powerful ripened fruit flavors - rich pears, sweet apples, and tart pineapple. To help mask some of the richness, you will notice a hint of oak from having been aged in a French oak barrel for some time. 

Now, as I disclosed (and let's be subjective here), I wouldn't necessarily pick this bottle up and stock my wine fridge with it, but next time I do think I would attempt to manipulate the overall experience of the wine by partnering it with a bland brie cheese to help subtle the wine's overall taste. I also think this may be a great summertime wine. So, come July, I'll re-try it out for you and let you know if my opinion changes. 

Until then, if you're interested, the Diamond Series grapes are grown in California's inland and coastal valley and can be purchased at a retail value of about $15/bottle.