Love with a qualification - it has to be a nice hot day, when red just won't do and white just isn't hitting it.

Ohhh the picnics I can plan!

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Wine to which alcohol has been added, like a brandy, which stops the fermentation and makes it more concentrated.

For example:
Maderia
Marsala wine
Vermouth
Sherry

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Yes - cloudiness is typical in unfiltered wines.

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Sediment is pretty normal in a lot of red wines, especially as they get older.

Filtration is part of the winemaking process that is optional. Many winemakers choose to NOT filter or fine their wines (with egg whites, milk, and other chemicals I can't pronounce) because they feel it adds flavor and complexity.

There is a big controversy about this in California right now, because some winemakers insist that filtration and fining is required to produce these cult wines and provide stability for long shelf life (like the 3 year old bottles gathering dust on the bottom shelf of Safeway, to be AVOIDED at all costs), when others think that it is an added step that mucks with the wine.

I recently had a side by side of pinot noir from the same year, same vineyard. One was manipulated in the classic way, and was a great classic pinot from Russian River.

The other, was unfiltered and unfined. The core flavors were the same, BUT the unfiltered example was wild, untamed, and had more overall complexity to it.

Check it out, you can create your own side by side! It's all personal taste and winemaker preference really.

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Shhh! It's a secret!
For you Vinquire folks who in the SF Bay Area,
Family Winemakers is a non-publicized event at Ft. Mason that caters to small, family owned &/or operated wineries.

There will be 150+ wineries pouring all different varietals for your tasting pleasure.

If you are interested in volunteering, you get two days of tasting passes for F R E E ! You can sign up online or send me an email and I'll forward it to the volunteer coordinator.

If you would like to attend, the public event is at Ft Mason on Sunday, August 19th from 12pm - 4pm.
http://www.familywinemakers.org/tastings...

Please join us!

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BevMo! They usually have at least 2 syrahs (the everyday adn the Cool Climate) as well as the zins.

I can usually find them at Cost Plus as well.

Cheers

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I have to say I agree - while not terribly exciting (save the Jacuzzi label and some single vineyard designates), you get great bang for the buck.

There are also some good under $20 wines they produce that are readily available at mass retailers, which makes finding a good wine when you are away from home easy.

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