I tasted a white wine today that realigned my analytical approach to whites. Medium in body with crisp acidity and just enough oak influence to give it curves on the palate, the wine was far from being varietally correct - and with good reason. It was a blend. Having tasted tons of high acid Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, refreshing Roses from around the world and quaffing-worthy Pinot Grigio this summer, I was pleasantly at ease with the balance of the blend and quickly realized just how charming well-made examples can taste. Commonly presented as an aperitif wine in Europe, blended whites are not fashionable in America. Instead we like to call our wine by its first name - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling etc. Doing so allows us to anticipate the flavors behind the labels - blend a few of these together and we lose our ability to size it up without tasting first. To make matters worse, blended wines often carry clever names such as Conundrum leaving us in total aroma profile hell. Yet today I tossed out the expectation theory and tasted the”white table wine” without giving it a second thought. Who cares what the grapes are afterall - the real question is “Do I like what I tasted?” And I did. Stainless steel fermented Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc fermented on the skins (rare for whites), Chardonnay maturated in a bit of oak, and an unual Italian grape called Ribolla Gialla fermented in small barriques worked in perfect harmony to round out the blend. How cool is that? By treating each variety separately, the winemaker was able to layer flavors making the sum better than its parts. The wine, rightfully coined Freakout, is produced by Luna Vineyards . At $14.99 a bottle, the wine offers more than a great deal - so mix it up and give the blend a try. Cheers.

One of the best ways to learn about a region is to focus all your vinous energy on a small region or set of regions. Take Italy for example. With so many different native grapes, Italy is a bear of a country to get your arms around. As such, every so often I break it down and focus my efforts. Right now, it is the north east regions of Veneto, Trentino and Friuli. I start by printing a map off the internet - the importer Kobrand has a great map library - then I grab a good text such as Mary Ewing - Mulligan’s Italian Wines for Dummies and I spend a few minutes each day soaking up regional information such as grape varieties,  geography, soil types, climate etc.  Then I start tasting and tasting and tasting.

Stumbling upon regional favorites is the best part and in my book Prosecco is one of those little gems. Crafted from the Prosecco grape in the Veneto region, Prosecco is bubbly, festive and easy to drink. Best part - quality bottles are priced between $15-$25 making it a great value wine. If you have not tried a glass - do so the weekend and discover your new holiday sparkler.

Earlier, I blogged about a Prosecco Sangria that I enjoy. FYI, we are sampling it this weekend at Cellar Door - but if you want to make it at home; mix one bottle of quality red Rioja  with one bottle of Prosecco, add a cup of white Lillet or Cognac along with cut up apples and oranges. Serve it straight up or on the rocks.

Labor Day is over and the Cleveland Browns are ready to rumble. While the entire issue of dogs and lifestyle choices (a.k.a Vick) are at the top of everyone’s mind - in terms of wine, dogs are generally honored and revered. Spend a few minutes at a winery and soon you will hear the rustling of a wonderful vineyard dog chasing a bug just a few rows over. Vineyard dogs are so prized that a great book, Vineyard Dogs, has been published on the subject.  While I rarely drink wine during a Brown’s game, (yes, normally beer is in the glass) I think this year I will make an effort to support man’s best friend and sip a dog- related wine during the game this Sunday. Perhaps a Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand or a Chateau La Paws, Cote du Bone from California will do the trick. Whether you are interested in a doggie drink from California, a  good old bottle of Mad Dog 2020, or a perfectly chilled Leg Humper Brew, as Brown’s fans let’s raise a glass to the dog pound and to the spirited fans who love dogs for pets and not as sacrifical entertainment.