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Label Love: Vermouth Rojo

by whitney on April 13, 2012

Ever had vermouth from Spain?

You should! It’s not just a France and Italy only club.  Primitivo Quiles in Alicante is producing a stellar and affordable red vermouth made from mostly monastrell. It has made its way to the US via Jose Pastor and we should thank him for this fine juice and one of the BEST labels I’ve ever seen. Right?

How to drink your vermouth? Especially with red and sweet vermouth, leave it alone and let it be the star. Pour it over some ice and let it percolate. Perhaps some citrus peel would be nice. Maybe some soda water. But, you don’t need to know how to make a Manhattan or be a master mixologist to enjoy it. Remember- even though it is fortified, it is a wine based product, so keep it in the fridge after opening for a longer life.

Label ♥ Love: Greatest Hits

by whitney on January 13, 2012

It’s HELL ya’ll! And that devil is getting crunk.

Danilo Thomain Enfer d’Arvier

Such is the type of thing that constitutes a label love situation. Among other things. So, I thought I’d do a little round-up of all my favorite labels (and wines) over the past year or so.

I want to look at pretty things today. I just do.

Lemasson “Gama-Sutra” // Lemasson Trio // 2009 Jean-Francois Ganevat “J’en Veux”

 

Bouchard “Inflorescence” Blanc de Noirs // Pithon Chenin

 

Saetti Lambrusco // Chenu Bourgogne

 

Chateau Musar Jeune // La Dilettante // Ameztoi Rosado

 

Tedeshi Pignoletto // Edmunds St. John Heart of Gold // Broc Red

I get so inspired! When wine labels are great, they are GREAT. But damn- when they’re bad, they are semi-horrendous.

To all the designers of these labels- thank you. Thank you for giving us something lovely to look at and for giving an appropriate/stimulating/creative/clever visual representation of the winemakers’ extremely hard work.

Label ♥ Love: Tedeschi Pignoletto

by whitney on August 22, 2011

The fun fest that was all of last week (with visitor Christina) kicked off with a gal’s dinner at Terroni. There was laughter, arancini, hugs, many an Aperol spritz, seared tuna, gossip, octopus, lamb ragu and of course…wine.  First up to bat: 2007 Alberto Tedeschi Spungola Bellaria (100% pignoletto, pronounced peen-yo-leh-toe, from Emilia-Romagna). Yes, I just wrote peen. Get over it.

In keeping with the Label Love criteria- I not only seriously love what’s inside the bottle, but what’s on the outside. I know, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. But dang I sure do enjoy something pretty to look at. Look at that slightly textured paper, the watercolor-esque flower print and that strong Art Deco inspired font.

And it not only gives good label, but good GLASS as well! Check it.

This wine, as with many skin contact whites, was really versatile in terms of pairing ability. It was rockin’ with many of our first courses like the crispy/soft arancini (fried risotto studded with peas, cheese and meat) and a beautiful seared tuna over little bits and pieces of corn and cicerchie.

There was lots of talk of umami between us gals and how well skin contact whites do with the umami flavors present in some foods like parmesan, tomatoes, mushrooms/truffles, etc. There’s just that magical rainbow connection ya’ll.

One more shot of that wine. So beautiful. I could use a little bit of that golden glow for my Monday morning.

Bottom 3 photos by Marisa Q