December 13th - This Date in Wine History

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'Replique_de_la_Naissance_d'Henri_IV'_by_Eugène_Devéria.jpg

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • The future Henri IV was born in Pau, Navarre in 1533.  He is said to have been baptised with a spoon of Jurançon wine and garlic.

  • Sir Francis Drake begins his round the world voyage in 1577.  During the trip he stopped in Valaparaiso, Chile where he captured a ship of Chilean wine.

  • Giovanni Del-Monico, a Swiss Wine Merchant and his brother Pietro open Delmonico & Brother Café 1827.

  • Pierre Marie Alexis Millardet who saved the vineyards of France from phylloxera was born in 1838.

  • The Cacc'e mmitte di Lucera DOC was created in 1975.

  • The Moscato di Sardegna DOC was created in 1979.

  • Portugal's Alto Douro Wine Region was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.

March 8th - This Date in Wine History

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Theobroma

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • The Annotated Book of Common Prayer published in 1548 added the English Order of Communion to the Latin Mass.  This required that people receive both bread and wine as part of the Communion Rite.  These changes were made by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Edward VI.
  • C.A. Trundy of 61 Court Street, Boston wrote a testimonial as to the efficacy of Theobroma Wine which is found in a prospectus for the Theobroma Wine Co.
  • British wine writer Tom Stevenson was born in 1951.

February 24th - This Date in Wine History

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Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor was born in 1500. He was known for his preference for beer over wine.
  • Spain's Valdeorras DO was created in 1977.
  • The Rosso Canosa DOC was established in 1979.

2013 Nobelle Wines Carmenère - Wine of the Day

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2013 Nobelle Wines Carmenère

$39

This varietal has a light and delicate perfume. The density of the wine is very interesting, a lot of weight, followed by long and smooth spice. It will go perfectly with a rack of lamb with rosemary or similar, the simpler the better!  

Colbert in San Miguel is one of the only vineyards to carry the varietal in the region. Carmenère always ripens late; mid-October to mid-November is the usual picking time. The leaves turn black in fall, which is very surprising and rare! 100% Carmenère.

December 13th - This Date in Wine History

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Landsat image of Sardinia from NASA.

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • The Cacc'e mmitte di Lucera DOC was created in 1975.  This region is located in Apulia.
  • The Moscato di Sardegna DOC was created in 1979.
  • Portugal's Alto Douro Wine Region was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.

December 1st - This Date in Wine History

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Flag of the State of Oregon

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Oregon's Willamette Valley AVA was designated in 1983.  (Willamette Dammit! - Your pronounciation guide)
  • Spain's Ribera del Duero DO was established in 1992.

November 30th - This Date in Wine History

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Portrait of Winston Churchill

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Winston Churchill, known for enjoying a glass of hock for breakfast was born in 1874
  • Oscar Wilde dies in Paris in 1900. He is famously quoted as saying while sipping champagne, "And now, I am dying beyond my means.”
  • California's Wild Horse Valley AVA was designated in 1988
  • Oregon's Dundee Hills AVA was designated 2004

Gravy - The Sauce That Pulls it All Together

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Photo of Gravy by Gretchen Miller Neuman for Qorkz. 

Photo of Gravy by Gretchen Miller Neuman for Qorkz. 

What Thanksgiving feast is complete without gravy.  You can put it on everythingother than the pie and the cranberries… Gravy is essentially a thickened drippings, broth and flavorings.  Periodically, I have added wine, usually port or madeira but this time I have added zinfandel because I had an opened bottle.  The key to cooking with wine is to make sure that the wine is drinkable, but don’t go crazy.  No one should consider a bottle of Screaming Eagle for sauce.  I know cooking schools use boxed wine so that should give you some guidelines. 

This sauce is based on a recipe by Anthony Bourdain in the November 2016 Food and Wine.  I was astounded by the addition of Worcestershire and fish sauce that tempted me to make it.  And so I have.  

The necessary ingredients are as follows:

  • Three quarts of turkey stock (chicken works as well)
  • 2 cups of red wine
  • 2 shallots chopped
  • 8 - 12 oz of butter
  • 1/2 - 3/4 cup of flour
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 Cup of turkey drippings
  • Kosher salt and pepper to taste 
  • 1 teaspoon of browning base such as Gravy Master or Kitchen Bouquet (this is my addition)

The first three ingredients go into a pot and cooked at a simmer until reduced by half.  This should take about 45 minutes.  Good gravy isn’t fast, but it is worth it.  When it reaches the proper volume strain the solids from the liquid and set aside.

Next up make a roux from the butter and flour.  How much you make depends on thick a gravy you want.  I thought the 8oz and 1/2 cup roux wasn’t quite thick enough for my liking… so I made more roux and added it.  Making this base is easy.  Melt the butter and mix the flour in until a a paste is formed.  Keep cooking on medium low heat stirring constantly.  The mix will change from a thick paste to a bubbly compound.  Keep cooking until thoroughly blended together and starts to brown.  Btw, once you get the hang of this, creole food will easily conquered.  Most gumbo requires a roux cooked until the color of a copper penny.  It can also be cooked up and stored in the freezer and pulled out with a melon baller a bit at a time as needed.

 

When the roux is ready start adding the winey stock.  Mix it in a bit at a time whisking to keep lumps from forming.  Add the fish sauce, drippings and Worcestershire sauce and browning base whisking constantly.  Technicallythe browning base isn’t needed, but I thought the gravy had a purplish-puce shade to it which personally I found off-putting.  It isn’t part of the original recipe and it is no skin off mynose if you leave it out.  This is your holiday.  Enjoy it as you want.  Bring the mix to a low boil to ensure that everything is thickened their fullest.  Taste to check for seasonings.  Add salt, pepper and even more fish sauce or Worcestershire sauce until you are satisfied.  Remember to add these seasonings a bit at a time.  You can always add more, but can’t subtract them.

Voilá! You have gravy.  And as an added bonus it can largely be done ahead of time.  Time management is important.

Wine pairing: Whatever red you use in the gravy.  You had to stir a lot.  You deserve it.

November 11th - This Date in Wine History

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Christ with the Eucharist by Vincente Juan Masip

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Today is the feast day of St. Martin of Tours.  St. Martin is the patron saint of vintners, wine growers and winemakers.
  • The Fourth Lateran Council meets today in 1215.  Thedoctrine of transubstantiation by whichbread and one are transformed into the body and blood of Christ was formalized.
  • Spain's Bierzo DO was created in 1989.

Wine for Your Valentine!

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Love is in the Air:

Valentine's Day is coming up on February 14th and wine is the perfect way for you to romance your sweetheart.  And what kind of wine expresses your love?  Red, of course!  Qorkz has selected a few of its favorites that represent the season.  Remember to order early to make sure that your heart's desire gets the token of your affection.

Cheers and Happy Valentine's Day from  Qorkz! 

David Toomey

Qorkz Reds of Love

2011 Oak Cliff Cellars Lovers Lane Petite Sirah

This Oak Cliff Cellars Petite Sirah from the Lovers Lane Vineyard in Mendocino County, is deep purple in color with a seductive nose of violets and offers a mouthful of boysenberries, blueberries and blackberries with a chocolate finish.  This wine will stand up to a hearty meal, but gentle enough for chocolate and berries.

This wine retails for $42 a bottle,and is available for residents of:  Arizona, California,  Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Texas, Washington, Washington DC. or to those with a California based wine locker. 

20% off today only
Use PromoCode: LOVERS LANE

2012 Ascension Cellars Rapture
Red Port-Style Dessert Wine

Deep and dark, like your love, this award-winning dessert wine boasts of aromas of ripe fig, caramel, dried blueberries, violets and cocoa and finish with the spice of cinnamon cloves.  Rapture is the perfect start to a conversation or the last kiss goodnight.  You will want to pair this wine with crème brûlée, molten lava cakes or even the exquisite simplicity of French vanilla ice cream.

The bottle normally retails for $36.00 for a 375 ml bottle and is available for shipping to California, Florida and Texas.
 

 

For today only it is 10% off!
Use PromoCode: RAPTURE

2014 Picayune Cellars Pinot Noir

This wine might be the key to your true love's heart!   The 2014 Picayune Cellars Pinot Noir is pure and elegant and bursting with juicy blueberry and fresh raspberry and are complemented with hints of lilac and old growth forest.  The wine is versatile, able to be paired with creamy pasta, seafood or fine French fare.

This appellation of the this wine is Sonoma Coast and retails for $29.00.  Sadly, it can only be shipped to California.
 

Today it is 10% off! 
Use PromoCode: VALENTINE