The white wines we tasted were the 2008 Pinot Gris, the 2008 Chardonnay, the Table Rock White, and the 2008 Traminette. We also tasted the Slightly Embarrassed, the blush wine. Warren and I both agreed the gold star for the whites went to the 2008 Traminette. Its a light white wine with hints of pear and melon. We thought this one would be a good summer sipper on a warm day.

During our tasting we were able to sample the different flavored pita chips, sauces, and olive oil they now sell at Unicorn. Warren even left with a bottle of the olive oil. The olive oil is from Greece and can be purchased in 250 ml or 500 ml bottles.

On to the reds. We tasted the 2005 Merlot, the 2005 Chambourcin, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2005 Cabernet Franc, and the 2005 Crimson Sunset. While they were all nice wines, Warren and I agreed again the gold star should go to the 2005 Merlot. Its medium bodied with black cherry notes and an easy finish. We thought this one would go well with pizza.

To finish our tasting we tried the Frappe Vino. Its like a wine slushy. They serve it in two flavors; pinot gris and merlot. I really enjoyed the pinot gris version. It was refreshing considering how warm it was that day. Its always fun to catch up with Sandy at Unicorn Winery. If you stop by, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Are you looking for an iPhone app that helps you pronounce the wines of the world? The Enotria Guide is for you. With this app you can find the wine word you’re looking for and have the app pronounce it for you. We received a copy to test out. I have an iPad and while it’s written for the iPhone, it does work on the iPad. An iPad specific version is in the works. We tested it out and found that it had lots of layers to go through to find the words but the words are pronounced clearly and with the correct accent. If you are in the industry and already know how to pronounce the wines of the world, you’ll find this app useless. However, if you are new to wine this app might help you pronounce the words correctly. Have fun!

I also appreciate Grumdahl’s no-nonsense approach to the wine experience. Her clever style and straight-forward approach disarms the wine snob and puts the beginner at ease. So you like Merlot? So does Grumdahl! No Sideways poseurs allowed in her book; however, if Merlot is not your thing, Grumdahl has a suggestion for you. Don’t know the difference between Bordeaux, Burgundy or any other wine region? Dara is glad you asked. Structured in a concise, clearly organized yet complete fashion, your questions are answered.

With the holiday season upon us, consider giving Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl’s Drink This: Wine Made Simple as a gift for that favorite wine collector or budding aficionado on your list. Should anyone wonder where you heard of this excellent wine source, mention that you read about it on Virginia Wine Time.

All the products were of high quality steel and came in a decorative leather topped case. We started with the foil cutter part of the wine opener. The foil cutter does not have a serrated edge so be careful when cutting the foil. A serrated edge would make the foil removal easier. The corkscrew worked as expected. It opened the bottle without issue and the grip was very comfortable. The drip ring slid over the top of the bottle smoothly. The wine pourer fit snugly in the bottle but we must report that when pulling the wine pourer out, the rubber casket came off the pourer and stayed in the bottle. We had no problem getting it out of the bottle though. Overall it’s a nice product and works as expected. The packaging is very attractive and would make a nice gift.

Click on the picture below to see a short video.

This guide is written in a very accessible manner. Organized into four parts and thirty chapters, topics include selecting the right wines, tasting wines, important wine regions, and trade secrets that debunk myths about wine. Have you wondered when to decant wines? Did you know that Hungary produces world class wines? Heard the word “tannin” but not sure what it means? The answers to these sorts of questions are revealed in this wine guide. Probably the most prevalent myth about wine is that only expensive wines are worth drinking; therefore, building a quality wine collection must be costly. Hammond puts this one to rest as she devotes ten pages to recommend quality wines for under $20! Newbies and pros can certainly take advantage of these valuable recommendations.

Another beneficial feature of this guide is its size. Many wine guides are dense with information and bulky to carry. How many times have you walked into a wine shop armed with the information gleaned from these sources only to realize that you have forgotten what you read? This guide can be easily held in the hand or slipped into the purse while browsing the shelves at the wine store, and since it is organized into bite-sized portions of information, facts can be researched within seconds. Reached the shelf labeled “Portugal” and want to know more? Flip to Chapter 12, and tip #636 explains that the 2001 Altano Reserva Duoro is “an excellent wine from the Douro region.” Further details reveal the varietals used and their characteristics. The 1000 Best Wine Secrets can be the next best thing to creating a personal contact at the wine store; in fact, those who already have such a relationship may still want to bring this guide along with them.

Since we devote much time to promoting Virginia wine, I must note that only one very small paragraph is devoted to Virginia wine while a lengthier section is devoted to New York wines. Of course, Virginia is a small producer in the international arena of wine production, but perhaps Ms. Hammond will continue to sample Virginia’s award-winning wines and note their progress in her next edition!

Recently Paul decided to change the way he was storing his wine. Believe it or not, he was storing it above the refrigerator in his kitchen. The temperature alone was not ideal. So he decided to move all his wines into a larger rack system and move the rack into the living room on the floor. This is a cooler, darker place and all the bottles of wine can sit properly at the right angle. A wine cellar would be ideal but when you live in a condo you have to make due with what you have.