win May 2006

win@thebarn.com

4 participants
14 discussions

by Jim L. Ellingson

Mostly for Russ/Sue, but thought it of general interest. Cheers, Jim May 11, 2006 Online Shopper A Stemless Glass (and Otto Keeps His Tail) By MICHELLE SLATALLA IN so many ways, Otto is an ideal dog. He does not dig in the garden or chew chair legs. He has never raided a kitchen counter, even for unprotected roast beef. He watches benignly while our little dog Sticky struggles to drag away his bone as if it were a felled redwood. So I hesitate to complain about Otto's tail. True, it is a big, swishing, street sweeper of a tail. Inside the house, his tail wreaks more havoc than a billy club. One casual swipe at the coffee table can knock over an entire cocktail party's worth of wineglasses. But I realized, as I dabbed at red wine stains and picked slivers of glass from the rug the other day, that it was not necessarily Otto's fault. How graceful would any of us be if we were Labrador retrievers trying to manage a 13-inch tail? Still, something had to be done. Tail-reduction surgery was not an option. I turned to the Internet for help, and there I found a novel solution: stemless wineglasses that the tail will have a tougher time toppling. Stemless is a trend that has been gaining followers. In 2004, the glassmaker Riedel Crystal introduced an O series of lead-free crystalline stemless glasses in six different styles, designed to complement such different grape varietals as cabernet and chardonnay. The glasses, which look more like egg-shaped tumblers than anything else, are plentiful these days at online stores. At wineenthusiast.com, for instance, a set of eight (four red wine glasses and four white wine glasses) was $67.80. In recent months, many variations of the stemless style have become available at prices ranging from $1.95 a piece (for "casual no-stem, no-frills, un-goblets" at Crateandbarrel.com) to $100 for two Waterford crystal glasses at Michaelcfina.com. Target.com has a set of four for $14.99 and Amazon.com even has a set of four "tipsy tumblers" with tilted rims for $29.95. I can understand the appeal. Stemless glasses fit compactly into a dishwasher. They take up less room in a cabinet. Their egg shapes lend a casual and modern air to place settings at a dinner party. It's the sort of idea that seems obvious. But I wondered what was the inspiration for this style. I asked a Riedel representative, "Does someone at Riedel by any chance have a big Labrador retriever?" No, said Kathleen Talbert, a spokeswoman for the company. "They came about because Maximilian Riedel, the C.E.O. of Riedel Crystal of America, moved from a large house on Long Island to a small house in Hoboken and realized he didn't have enough room for his wineglasses," Ms. Talbert said. "He started thinking about what is taking up the space. It was the stem. He sent drawings to Austria, where they tasted wine in the glasses and made a few adjustments." Ms. Talbert said the tumbler's egg shape collects aromas in the headspace of the glass, bringing out a wine's best qualities. The trick, she added, was to fill the glass less than halfway . one-third full was ideal . to leave room for the aromas to gather. "How well does the egg shape repel tail attacks?" I asked. "I have cats," said Ms. Talbert, whose pets jump on the table. "Most of the glasses, if you tip them over gently, will tip right back. Remember Weebles? Like Weebles, the glasses wobble but they won't fall down." I still had qualms. Without a stem to hold, I would have to cup the tumbler in my hand. Wouldn't warmth from my fingers heat the wine? Wouldn't the temperature change alter the taste? "If you're having a glass of wine at dinner, you drink from it and put it down, instead of holding onto it to warm it up," Ms. Talbert said. Still, I wanted a second opinion. I phoned Hildegarde Heymann, a viticulture professor at the University of California, Davis, who recently completed a study of cheese eaters, discrediting the theory that eating cheese enhances the flavor of red wine. "I don't know if anyone has sat down and figured out how much you heat up a glass by picking it up, taking a sip and putting it down," she said. "But obviously if you hold onto a glass it will warm up." "So stemless could be a bad thing for the wine?" I asked. "It may depend on the wine," Professor Heymann said. "If you have a really good wine, you might want to heat it up a little. With a really bad wine, you don't want to heat it up because you want to minimize the volatiles that come out. You may want to drink it straight from the refrigerator." "Sometimes I even put an ice cube in cheap white wine," I said. "Me too," she said. Emboldened, I made a confession. "Riedel recommends only filling the glass one third of the way to enhance aromas," I told her. "But I have lots of children, and I drive a lot of car pools, and I have a job. And at the end of the day, sometimes I fill the glass, um, a little higher so I can feel like I am only having one glass." Professor Heymann said: "Then you just have to buy a bigger glass." By this time, I felt like Professor Heymann was someone I could really talk to and, if she didn't live more than an hour's drive away, perhaps invite over for a glass of wine sometime. But could a serious wine scientist survive a run-in with Otto's tail? Would a drive-by swishing unglue her? "Do you by any chance have a dog?" I asked. "Cats," she said. (Hers don't get on the table.) "But I've been very well known in restaurants for gesturing and having glasses knock over." "You have?" "Yes, and we just bought some stemless Riedels," she said. "I'm very pragmatic when it comes to what I do at home." I am too. I bought Riedel glasses from wineenthusiast.com in two sizes, chardonnay and "bigger." E-mail: Slatalla(a)nytimes.com -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

19 years, 6 months

[wine] East Side Assoc. Tasting

by Jim L. Ellingson

Greetings, Nothing official on the docket for this week. (There was some talk of going to Sapor, but I don't know that we have critical mass. Let me know if that's changed.) The East Side Neighborhood Assoc. tasting is 5 to 8 on Thursday at the Nicollet Island Pavilion. Go to the website FFI. http://www.esns.org/index.asp?Type=B_EV&SEC={A7C12463-09B6-45DB-8891-3E7F1B… TICKETS - $35 in advance, and $40 at the door. Call 612-781-6011 for ticket information Surly Brewing Open House is Friday 4-8 and Saturday noon-4. Free tours and samples including Bender, Furious, and the new Cynic Ale. Off 100 in Crystal SurlyBrewing.com FFI. Blessing of the Maibock is at 6:00 on Saturday at Mpls TownHall Brewery. Cedar/Riverside/Washington. Free Maibock from 6 until 7. Cheers, Jim Here's a list of "crowd pleasers" from The Post. They're also "good to have on hand". WINE For Large Events, Simplify Your Choices Wednesday, May 10, 2006; F05 BEN GILIBERTI Theoretically, five different wines are needed for a full menu at a graduation party, anniversary celebration or June wedding. These are a red and white wine for the cocktail hour, two reds for the dinner (a light red to go with poultry or salmon, and a heartier one for meats), plus a full-bodied dinner white to go with seafood or cream sauce entrees. But with everything else you have to worry about when planning a large event, this is too complicated. Simplify by choosing two cocktail hour wines (a red and a white) with enough body to move over to the dinner table afterward. Then you will need only a hearty red wine -- for total of three wines -- to complement the red meat dinner entrees. Guests tend to drink more at late-afternoon and evening celebrations, so such events require more wine than do luncheons. For a late-afternoon or evening wedding celebration with a one-hour cocktail hour followed by dinner, plan on a minimum of three cases of wine, or approximately 36 bottles, per 100 guests. Divide the mix equally among the white wine, the light red and the full-bodied red. Adjust up or down according to the number of guests, whether beer and mix drinks will be served at the bar and the amount of red meat on the menu. If you decide to buy extra as a safety margin, note that some stores will take back unopened bottles of wine. Take advantage of the opportunity provided by many caterers and banquet facilities to provide a preview dinner to test the wine and food matches. Finally, don't overspend. At a large event, wines are rarely the focus of attention. The following wines from my recent tastings are great choices for the big event. Even if you are not entertaining, these wines are ideal for stocking your home cellar. Prices are approximate. WHITE WINES (cocktail hour and dinner) Mezzacorona 2004/2005 Chardonnay ($8-$9; from Italy; distributed by Washington Wholesale); Mezzacorona 2004/2005 Pinot Grigio ($8-$9; Italy; Washington Wholesale): Mezzacorona Chardonnay is made from a rare Austrian clone of chardonnay offering distinctive yellow fruit flavors. The pinot grigio is bright and fresh, with a soft, round finish. Louis Latour 2004/2005 Chardonnay Vin de Pays des Coteaux de l'Ardeche ($9; France; Winebow): This wine, from a famous Burgundy house, offers balanced, lightly oaked fruit and French prestige. Pepi 2004/2005 Pinot Grigio ($10; Oregon; NDC): Because it is made from cool climate Oregon grapes, this brisk pinot grigio retains lots of zesty acidity to complement its apple and tropical fruit flavors. Santa Julia Torrentes 2004/2005 ($8; Argentina; Henry Wine Group): Intense tropical aromas of mango and melon make for a great match with crudites and first-course salads. LIGHT- TO MEDIUM-BODIED REDS (cocktail hour and dinner) Mirassou 2005/2004 Pinot Noir ($10; California; NDC): Given the rising popularity of pinot noir, this well-made, supple California offering will be a hit with your guests. Heart Kris 2003 Merlot ($12-$13; Italy; Winebow): The delicate fruit of this perfumed red carries through nicely to the finish. Tortoise Creek 2005 Merlot ($8; France; Henry Wine Group): An excellent match with salmon or light poultry in the manner of a petite chateau Bordeaux, this can also be served slightly chilled during the cocktail hour. >> French Rabbit Pinot Noir and French Rabbit Merlot ($10 for one liter; France; Wine Partners): Packaged in an innovative, environmentally friendly box and using grapes from Languedoc vineyards employing sustainable vineyard practices, the smooth merlot and the berry-accented pinot noir are both tasty and socially responsible. FULL-BODIED REDS (meat entrees) Rosso Classic 2004 "Francis Coppola Presents" ($9; California; NDC): This delectable blend of zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon and syrah has a full-throttle bouquet of spice and vanilla, a voluptuous, velvety texture on the palate and finishes with harmonious tannins. You won't want to return leftover bottles. McWilliam's 2004 Shiraz "Hanwood Estate" ($9; Australia; NDC): Offering an assortment of plum and red fruit flavors on the palate, this finishes with enough tannins to stand up to red meat without being at all harsh. Frescobaldi Castiglioni Chianti 2004 ($12-$14; Italy; Bacchus): This seductive young Chianti offers a lovely bouquet of violets and berries, followed on the palate by layers of black cherry and tart strawberry fruit. Thoroughly sophisticated. Ben Giliberti, The Post's wine critic since 1987, can be reached atfood(a)washpost.com. � 2006 The Washington Post Company -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

19 years, 6 months

[wine] [Dennis.Skrade@courts.state.mn.us: White House Dinner] - Colbar

by Jim L. Ellingson

Greetings, This is worth watching. Cheers, Jim ----- Forwarded message from "Skrade, Dennis" <Dennis.Skrade(a)courts.state.mn.us> ----- Subject: White House Dinner Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 10:38:37 -0500 X-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: Thread-Topic: White House Dinner Thread-Index: AcZt/nraQIxfRxFAQDWOfJaeVH+LXg== From: "Skrade, Dennis" <Dennis.Skrade(a)courts.state.mn.us> http://blogs.citypages.com/ctg/2006/04/the_truthiness.asp This is the link for the White House Correspondence Dinner featuring Steven Colbert from the Colbert Report. It is one of the best pieces of satire I have seen recently. dennis ----- End forwarded message ----- -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

19 years, 7 months

[wine] Arborfest Beer Festival Tix

by Jim L. Ellingson

Greetings, Sounds like the group is taking a week off. Some of us are going to "Arborfest", a bennefit Craft Beer Tasting at Macallister College on Thursday. Rake Mag has a deal on Tix. Cheers, Jim ----- Forwarded message from "Louise A. Stich" <louise.stich(a)verizonbusiness.com> ----- Date: Tue, 02 May 2006 09:10:07 -0500 From: "Louise A. Stich" <louise.stich(a)verizonbusiness.com> Subject: Arborfest ? To: "'Jim L. Ellingson'" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> Arborfest 2006 - Regional Craft Beer Festival and Fundraiser Exclusive offer for Rake readers: $10 off ticket prices <http://www.rakemag.com/images/uploaded_images/17718/17719/arborfest-logo2x2 .jpg> Arborfest is a fundraiser to help the Family Tree Clinic of Saint Paul, a non-profit clinic serving as a leading low-cost health care provider in Saint Paul since 1971. Thursday, May 4 5:30 to 9 p.m. Macalester College in the Kagin Commons building Tickets include a commemorative tasting glass tos sample 35 beers from 12 breweries, food, entertainment, and live music. Rake ticket price: $30 Regular ticket price: $40 Purchase tickets online at: www.ticketworks.com <http://www.ticketworks.com/> Enter "The Rake" in the discount code You must be 21 or older and present a valid ID in order to attend Participating breweries include: Bandana Brewery, Barley Johns Brew Pub, Bell's, Fitger's Brewhouse, Finnegans, Great Waters Brewing Co., Lake Superior Brewing, Rock Bottom Brewery, Rush River Brewing Co., Summit Brewing Co., Surly Brewing Co., Town Hall Brewery For more information visit the www.familytreeclinic.org/arborfest/ <http://www.rakemag.com/images/1x1invis.gif> ______________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned by Verizon Managed Email Content Service, using Skeptic? technology powered by MessageLabs. For more information on Verizon Managed Email Content Service, visit http://www.verizonbusiness.com. ______________________________________________________________________ ----- End forwarded message ----- -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

19 years, 7 months

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win May 2006