Auburn Wine, Auburn’s First & Premiere home for wine news, events, and more on the web, is proud to announce, Auburn Uncorked!’s first wine tasting. It is open to the public.

By: Gus the Wine Guy

Can you name the most famous romantic couples in history? How about Anthony and Cleopatra; Romeo and Juliet; and chocolate and wine? These pairs symbolize love! With Valentine’s Day and Spring wedding anniversaries right around the corner, many true romantics are inclined to give gifts of chocolate and sparkling wine. A bottle of bubbly and a box of chocolates will give you the hallmarks of a Valentine’s Day to remember.

So, you already thought about giving the gift of great chocolate and tasty bubbly, but were a little nervous … not sure where to begin? After all, you want your gift to be as special as the one to whom you are gifting. Sparkling wine makes a great gift. Memorable gifts are personal and thoughtful. A memorable gift often leads to a very memorable occasion. You get the idea.

Try an exciting bottle of sparkling Shiraz. It pairs nicely with cherries or plums. Sparkling Shiraz also goes with dark chocolate. The heady flavors in chocolate complement rich, bubbly reds. Serve red sparkling wine slightly chilled. You’ll find an excellent selection in our store.

Prosecco is an Italian white grape that is used for sparkling wine. It’s wonderful with chocolates. Prosecco can also be substituted for pricey champagne in mixed drink recipes, such as the Bellini.

Moscato is another Italian sparkling sure to please most any gift recipient. This particular grape has low alcohol content and is light, crisp and very drinkable. Gift this bottle with a tin of exquisite chocolate biscotti. Moscato is a great sparkling for someone just beginning to love wine.

These fabulous wines are not just for Valentine’s gifts. Surprise the host at brunch with a bottle of Prosecco and fresh orange juice. You have all the ingredients for a classic Mimosa. You don’t need a holiday to share! The next time the mood for pizza strikes, grab a pie and a bottle of sparkling red. The two flavors go amazingly well together.

Most importantly, have fun enjoying the gifts. A special bottle of wine is to be shared. Those of you getting the bubbly: don’t save it to gather dust in a rack. Don’t let it linger into obscurity in the fridge. Enjoy the gift of each other’s company and open that present right away!

Credit: Kroger.com

No man also having drunk old wine straight away desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. Luke 5:39

Even in ancient times, apparently, folks knew really good wine from the less desirable stuff. In today’s world, most people think cellaring wine is beyond their reach. I have to admit, the prospect of building a wine cellar does seem daunting. Luckily, there are experts right here in Lee County to take some of the guesswork out of it.

Read More »

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a terrific opportunity for chefs to showcase the best of Cajun Cuisine, it is also an excuse for wine lovers to mix and match favorite wines with the hot and spicy flavors of the beloved Bayou region.

General Rules of Thumb

Cajun Cuisine is known for being rich, buttery, spicy and full of flavor. So when you are searching for wines to step up to the pairing challenge, you will want to bypass heavy duty reds that are high in tannins like a Cabernet Sauvignon, as they will taste more metallic and destroy the flavors of the dish. Instead, opt for wines that will be crisp, cool and will not compete with the intensity of the dish’s flavors.

Going for Gumbo?

Read More »

1. Most Expensive Regular Sized Bottle

Chateau Lafite 1787

- sold at Christie’s London in 1985 for $160,000. This wine bottle was purchased for a private collection and prominently features the initials of Thomas Jefferson etched into the glass. This practice was not unusual in the 18th century when large purchases were made directly from the Chateau.

2. Most Expensive Fortified Wine

A Jeroboam (5 liters) Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945

- Wine enthusiasts consider this selection to be one of the finest of the great vintages of the 20th century. It sold at Christie’s London for $114,614.00 in 1997. Of the 20th century, 1945 is considered to be one of the exceptional vintage years. The buyer of this wine remains anonymous.

3. Most Expensive Lot of Wine Sold At Auction

1775 Sherry from Massandra Collection

- This classic wine sold at Sotheby’s London for $43,500 in 2002. The Massandra winery is located 4 kilometers from Yalta and it is frequently honored as the finest in Russia. The winery’s cellar contains well over a million bottles of both Russian (with the Imperial seal), and Western European wines. The oldest in their collection was the Sherry. Read More »

Posted in Blog No Comments »