This year, instead of donning one’s newly acquired dress or suit, new shoes, and matching accessories—perhaps including a proper bonnet—those who celebrate Easter will not head to church to gather and worship, but instead will be at home with only their immediate family, or even alone. These are times of safety first, stay in place, and quiet contemplation.
The Governor declared on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, that beer, wine and liquor stores are considered essential and will be allowed to remain open for normal business hours. For the moment, we are planning to stay open normal business hours. As we move though this next month, the number of hours open may be adjusted as necessary. At City Vino, we appreciate all your support and are committed to meeting your wine needs safely, by providing curb-side pick-up; shipping; and delivery, where possible.
The “Look of Wine” is the first part of a multi-part blog that we’ll spread out over the next couple of months about how to taste wine. Each post will cover a different component of wine tasting. The key to beginning wine tasting is that there are no wrong answers! You can like a wine, not like a wine, or be ambivalent about it, and it’s all good. Wine preferences are subjective, even though wine scores tend to imply otherwise. Find out what you like, and don’t like, and own it. Explore outside your preferences and you may be surprised to find more wines or styles than you knew you like. The first thing you notice when wine is poured in your glass is the color. Wine Folly’s website released this graphic about wine color that is helpful in showing a wide array of shades of wine, and possible wine varieties or styles that the shade may indicate. For all wines, the grape variety itself, or the winemaking style, may produce juice that is either light or dark or somewhere in between as this chart indicates.
The Rhône Valley region of France runs in a narrow band from Burgundy to its north to Provence to its south, and is one of the oldest wine-growing areas in France. It comprises two distinct areas—the Northern Rhône Valley and the Southern Rhône Valley, both of which are along the Rhône River. Different styles of wines are produced in each area, but both are known predominantly for red wines.
On Tuesday February 25, 2020, the Virginia Wineries Association announced the 12 wines that comprised the Virginia Governor’s Cup Case from their annual competition, which represent the highest scoring wines. The top wine in the case is the Virginia Governor’s Cup winner. For 2020, the Virginia Governor’s Cup was presented by Governor Ralph Northam to winemaker Carl DiManno from 868 Estate Vineyards in Purcellville, Virginia, for their 2017 Vidal Blanc Passito. This is the first time a winery located in Loudoun County, and the first wine made from hybrid (non-vinifera) grapes, has earned the trophy.
