tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77373222963398674762012-02-04T14:31:13.873-08:00Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.comBlogger391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-44721309643968104602012-01-11T07:53:00.002-08:002012-02-04T13:45:57.964-08:00

We love the one liter bottles, they are a deal. Here is a list of several great things about them.1. More wine, more fun.2. As they frequently come with a screw cap or bottle cap, there's a refreshing casual attitude and lack of pretense. Most producers don't put their more "serious" wines in this format, just good, drinkable, everyday quality stuff.3. The math is simple, you get 25% more wine

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-90438493839402535532012-01-03T07:26:00.001-08:002012-01-06T11:09:28.094-08:00

I must confess a personal love of Rhône wines. Some of the first wines I got into drinking were Côtes-du-Rhône. I drank them mostly because there were good and solid and I could afford them. They've been in my rotation ever since. I just love the generosity without pretension that the wines have, the full, ripe flavors combined with an earthy, peppery quality that makes for totally enjoyable

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-58647990773797181592011-11-28T10:57:00.000-08:002011-11-29T10:42:56.791-08:00

So now we're into the Holiday Season. Wine makes a great gift and perhaps you're thinking about giving a bottle to a business associate, friend, or family member. Here are some suggestions that are good for both experienced wine drinkers and novices alike, it's a selection for the Holidays of the best of the best.1. Barolo and Barbaresco. Nebbiolo is the top grape from Piedmont, Italy and the

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-45677539665730101502011-11-15T13:08:00.000-08:002011-11-16T12:27:20.790-08:00

Some of the most challenging wine questions we get every year have to do with Thanksgiving. A Thanksgiving meal is a usually a large, casual affair with a lot of different dishes and trying for the perfect match for specific dishes can be misguided. I like to serve several wines that are food flexible and non-fatiguing. Here are some strategies that can make your holiday meal more

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-68777854819129957502011-11-03T10:00:00.000-07:002011-11-03T13:29:01.646-07:00

We are always happy to find wines that have good quality at a good price and even more so if they offer some interest and character. The wines from Spain definitely fall into this category. It's not surprising, Spain has a long history of wine production and a great wine and food culture. What is surprising is that some of these wines aren't more popular. Sure everyone knows Rioja and perhaps

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-30742871927915757282011-10-20T07:50:00.000-07:002011-10-20T09:51:16.303-07:00

What's a quaffer? Well various sources define "to quaff" as a term that means to drink a beverage deeply and enjoy it heartily, especially an intoxicating one. We're not advocating chugging any of our products but in our world, we use the word quaffer to describe wines that are inexpensive, pleasant, and fun to drink. It's an everyday wine with a bit of a gulpability factor, something to enjoy

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-5954378621167947462011-09-28T08:26:00.000-07:002011-09-28T14:20:35.013-07:00

Have you been drinking a lot of the same wines? Perhaps you're ready for a change of pace to get out of the rut of the ordinary and usual. Maybe you want to do a little upgrade to your regular selection or want something a little more special and unique? Here are some alternative choices to consider (click on the pictures for a better look):Alternatives to Pinot Noir - Two reasons we love pinot

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-74598830268555468702011-09-06T07:22:00.000-07:002011-09-06T13:47:56.625-07:00

Do you get get headaches from wine? If so, please read on. We have helped many of our customers and here is some information that can help you too.Typically when someone gets headaches from drinking wine they look to sulfites as the culprit. This is probably not the reason for your headache. Sulfur is present in all wines at various levels. It is a by-product of the fermentation process and

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-84389193093812454052011-08-20T06:35:00.000-07:002011-08-20T14:33:56.852-07:00

I thought it would be nice to go over a little method of how to taste wine, this is something we would talk about in an introduction to wine class and it can really help you get more out of your wine experience. 1. The wine glass. To get the more enjoyment out of your wine choose a good wine glass. It should have a tulip shape where the width of the bowl is slightly larger than the rim. Most

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-775759898676007502011-07-19T15:06:00.001-07:002011-07-20T11:01:47.924-07:00

The places we look to for quality pinot noir are few; typically Burgundy, parts of California and Oregon, and New Zealand. I wanted to point out a few really nice pinots from places you normally wouldn't think about.Two generous and lovely pinots from GermanyBecker Estate Pinot Noir, Pfalz, Germany 2008 ($19.99) - This wine is made from grapes grown right on the German border with Alsace. It's a

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-66705049492474017842011-06-25T09:23:00.000-07:002011-06-29T10:49:42.280-07:00

It's officially summertime and I wanted to highlight some beautiful full-bodied white wines that deserve more attention. These wines are big, extracted and not oaky. The hot climates that these wines come from have the sunshine and heat to push the ripeness resulting in big forward lush fruit flavors. They are super expressive and really fun to drink. Let's go first to France for a look.Pascal

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-16120093921066290722011-06-14T12:32:00.001-07:002011-06-16T12:37:00.575-07:00

The motherload of all wine topics! The subject of dryness in a wine is the most misunderstood thing amongst customers so I thought I'd try to approach it in an intelligent way. First off let me state that whether a wine is dry or not is not indicative of it's quality! Okay, I had to get that off my chest, but it's true. Really, think about it, in a world where there are so many poorly made

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-27860465702660925522011-05-18T04:26:00.000-07:002011-05-18T09:49:20.332-07:00

Well, I can't say that a wine actually tastes like rocks but I do know that wines definitely reflect minerality. I think using the term "minerality" is a way of trying to specify flavors in the wines that are notable for being grown in rocky soils. Certain wines, especially whites, are famous for expressing mineral. Chablis, Sancerre, and Muscadet are three of the most obvious. In the case of

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-52509674160924490082011-04-22T15:38:00.000-07:002011-04-22T15:38:56.626-07:00

Certain wines are completely original. They're impossible to classify and hard to describe. Think about trying to relate a flavor and texture to someone who has never had it before, it's not easy. Well, the wines in this post are all very unique and not well known to people who aren't in the wine business. None of them happen to be red. They are white, yellow, or pink. What they have in common is

E.C. ouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06114976800584371238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-22494153170608849162011-03-31T08:47:00.000-07:002011-03-31T08:47:01.081-07:00

In the fashion world they say that "accessories make the man". Well, in the wine world, a few handy items can definitely enhance the experience so let's talk about some useful wine accessories.The Clamshell ($5.99). Forget about buying half bottles of bubbly. If you like to drink sparkling wines then invest in one of these. It clamps on the top of the bottle and keeps the fizz in. Instead of

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-34810405329080148582011-03-23T14:24:00.000-07:002011-03-23T14:24:23.433-07:00

Welcome to the new WindsorWineMerchants.com! Combining the best of both worlds, we have taken the live, updated content from our blog, The Windsor Wine Wire, and the design scheme of the old website to produce our current baby. Our Home Page: 1. No, we do not serve candy, soda, or ice cream. These stained glass windows have become a fixture of our store and, though we may have lost the errant

E.C. ouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06114976800584371238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-69031770766939043502011-02-23T10:38:00.000-08:002011-03-15T12:16:40.714-07:00

So I thought I'd ask the staff here at Windsor to share some wines that they've been taking home and drinking lately. Since it's my privilege to write this column I get to go first:Michael: My choice for a killler wine that I've had recently is Ottin Pinot Noir Vallee D'Aoste 2008 ($29.99). I'm not messing around, this is a wine that can pull you out of a bad day, make you feel good about the

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-53745139686303180202011-02-11T05:55:00.001-08:002011-03-12T17:41:04.222-08:00

Things change. You always hear stories about how great things were in the past. First Growth Bordeaux was $15 a bottle, Cotes du Rhones were $6, great Chianti was $10.... some of that is true. At a wine shop in which I worked in the mid-80's, we sold a nice Petit Chateau Bordeaux for $3.99, this for a classified, respectable everyday bottle of red, not some bulk jug wine. Of course Burgundy

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-78082099477868209232011-02-10T07:52:00.000-08:002011-02-11T17:25:29.139-08:00

We all know some of the great and famous wines and regions of Italy; Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico from Tuscany, Barolo and Barbaresco from the Piedmont, Amarone from the Veneto. Quality everyday wines like Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Valpolicella are also well known. With such a long tradition, the reputations of these wines are well deserved. Additionally, there are other areas of

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-77154606843737846442011-01-05T12:27:00.000-08:002011-01-05T13:42:31.056-08:00

I like pinot grigio, I do, especially when it's a well made wine of character, and the truth is that there's nicely expressive pinot grigio to be had. When it's at it's best there's texture, an oily, viscous, waxy mouthfeel and richness, a floral aromatic quality, and nice savory notes that can be mineral, smoky, even saline. What I have issue with is vapid, industrial wines without any character

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-43263254488455313142010-11-27T09:07:00.000-08:002010-11-29T10:03:33.335-08:00

Now that it's holiday season, a time for gathering with friends and family and occasions for gift giving, there's no better time than now to consider purchasing a special wine. If you want to WOW! the crowd at a party or dinner, impress your boss, or want to give something unique and thoughtful to that special person consider giving a special wine.What is a special wine? A truly special wine

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-26821223356404843332010-11-05T08:37:00.000-07:002010-11-05T16:16:39.670-07:00

Some of the most challenging wine questions we get every year have to do with Thanksgiving, here are some strategies that can make your holiday meal more successful.1. Drink American. Many folks think that this classic American holiday deserves a homegrown wine and that's a great idea! Excellent choices are Pinot Noir, Gamay, Oregon Pinot Gris, or something unique like the Heitz Grignolino. One

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-30017564958840226632010-10-26T08:54:00.001-07:002010-10-26T09:16:43.746-07:00

Beaujolais doesn't get enough credit as a real wine, it should. I'm not talking about the Beaujolais Nouveau. Sure, the 2010 Nouveau will be here soon, it's fun, fruity stuff and it's the first wine we'll see from this year's harvest in Europe. As is our custom we will only carry a few and they will be of good quality, hand-harvested, and made with their natural yeasts. There won't be any of

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-17070321420208474272010-10-08T09:24:00.000-07:002010-10-09T12:43:42.912-07:00

Pinot Noir is the most elusive wine grape. Given the fact that it's been so popular in recent years that seems like an odd statement to make. What I mean is that there is a certain "correctness" in the profile of Pinot Noir that's hard to come by. When you find it, the wine can be stunning; beautiful aromatics, light yet structured, elegant and powerful. These descriptors are all part of the

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-43887113265176489322010-09-14T11:27:00.001-07:002010-09-14T13:16:27.504-07:00

Chardonnay is really good, honestly! For a dry table wine there are more successful styles of chardonnay than any other grape varietal, yet because of it's success there's been a backlash of skepticism against it. Don't get me wrong, there's so much of it that a lot of bad chardonnay is out there lurking and giving you a bad opinion of it's brethren. Typically the bad ones are really bad too,

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-87748060076464130182010-08-03T07:48:00.000-07:002010-08-03T09:53:27.548-07:00

I need a riesling to live! Yeah that's pretty corny, I know. Something else I know is that riesling is one of the greatest wine grapes, capable of making stunningly complex wines in a variety of styles. That's a strength that you can use to your advantage, few wines go as well with food across the entire spectrum. I love fresh corn on the cob, but unfortunately it's a difficult match for wines

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-84903213205345080762010-06-09T09:22:00.001-07:002010-06-09T09:28:20.532-07:00

As the hot summer weather quickly approaches I'd like to introduce you to a style of wine called "vins de soif." This roughly means a wine for thirst or a wine to quench thirst.We think of roses and some whites like vinho verde as refreshing choices in the summer but there are some reds that work as well. They are light in body and alcohol, have crisp refreshing acidity, and are best drunk cool.

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-12882825130975997492010-05-27T09:11:00.000-07:002010-05-27T09:21:17.190-07:00

Bigger is not better. At least in wine production it's not and that's one reason why you don't see as many familiar labels here as you do in other stores. A lot of experience tasting and selling wine has shown us that smaller production is most often better. You could call this a "farmstand mentality". It's the idea that a homegrown tomato is better than one from the supermarket. Especially if

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-23526479770264371512010-04-14T10:20:00.000-07:002010-04-14T12:07:30.732-07:00

Yes they are! and we will have lots of them. We love dry rosé, not only does it confirm the arrival of Spring (yeah!) but the wines are for drinking not thinking. Less cereberal, more quaffable. Roses do come in many different styles so you can definitely pick what you're in the mood for. Look at this short list or ask us!Actually off-dry and sweet - Bacaro Pinot Grigio, Beringer White

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-84920202394178428592010-04-07T08:42:00.001-07:002010-04-07T08:54:35.985-07:00

Domaine Ferret doesn't exist anymore. The Ferret family began the domaine in the late 1700's and started bottling under the family name in 1942. They were owners of some of the finest parcels of vineyard in Pouilly-Fuisse and also produced some of the best wines. Traditionally made wine, hand-harvested and raised entirely in barrel as with the custom of Burgundy. That all ended in 2006 when

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-81902689371166009012010-03-27T07:38:00.000-07:002010-03-27T13:16:56.114-07:00

We have a lot of tastings here at Windsor and you should come to them. Why? Well, they are a great way to learn about wine and they are FREE. The person pouring is an expert on the wines. It could be an importer, a sales rep who works with the wines on a daily basis, or even a winemaker. They are always a great source of knowledge and you can ask lots of questions.Wine tastings are EVERY

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-12004519616743302782010-03-24T08:57:00.000-07:002010-03-24T10:58:31.427-07:00

I thought I'd mention a few thoughts on wine and food. One thing I've noticed many times is how similar flavors between wine and food can blend together, putting things in the background on your palate only to reveal other flavors in the wine. For example, I had a Valpolicella Ripasso the other day with some slices of chicken breast that were dusted in various spice rubs and, in essence, sauteed

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-69765498986932900682010-03-13T06:22:00.000-08:002010-03-16T13:32:14.610-07:00

I was thinking about some of the wines we have which are downright deals in today's market. What makes a wine a deal? Well, a wine of good quality with some interest that sells for a reasonable price. So what is a wine with interest? Sometimes it's easier to define something by what it isn't. For example, we sell a lot of malbec to a lot of customers. The price is very good on malbec,

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-16573848391715441802010-03-04T10:48:00.001-08:002010-03-04T11:22:44.256-08:00

I want to talk about 4 nice white wines from the Macon. Not the US State but that part of France just south of Burgundy where the whites are chardonnay. You don't like chardonnay, you say? Well there are more styles of chardonnay out there than anyone can keep track of and there are many great ones across all price points so that makes no sense to me. What's nice about the Macon is that you don't

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-58941737637950044602010-02-05T10:27:00.000-08:002010-02-06T07:48:47.219-08:00

So I wanted to write about Austria for this post. We've always carried some Austrian wines in the store and I was happily able to take a trip there at the end of January so I'd like to talk about 4 wineries whose wines we already carry and some of my impressions from the trip.First off, Austria's wine regions are in the eastern part of the country, if you want to see a map look here:Wine map of

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-48536495996228154892010-01-20T05:22:00.001-08:002010-01-20T05:38:19.801-08:00

I know this is not the season for rose. I actually have to confess that I took a bottle of this wine home last November, planning to have it as part of my Thanksgiving Day and just never got around to it. Last weekend I was poking around in my stash for a bottle to have with lunch and it just seemed to point itself out to me. It's possibly the best rose ever! Well maybe that's a little much but

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-73754268992873714992010-01-14T08:13:00.000-08:002010-01-14T14:38:48.234-08:00

So I just grabbed a sample selection off the shelves of what we consider to be "natural wines". These wines are different than most conventional, organic, and sustainably produced wines in that they are made with minimal intervention. What I mean is that the methods used by larger, industrial wine companies to make their wines are not used here. Things like selected yeast strains, artificially

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-88506794251395720212010-01-06T07:51:00.000-08:002010-01-06T13:56:13.377-08:00

Merlot is getting a bad rap. I have a lot of customers tell me that they "don't like merlot." They glare at me with suspicion when I recommend one, even when they are asking for an affordable wine just to drink. They want something that isn't too big, has nice soft fruit and maybe they even want to drink it without food too (that's merlot folks). I don't know if it's partly the "Sideways" effect,

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737322296339867476.post-8941968973759589532009-12-18T06:37:00.000-08:002009-12-19T06:45:35.046-08:00

So it's exciting to write the first blog entry! I'm thinking about the Holiday Season and how we sell more sparkling wine this time of year than any other. It's a time when a lot of customers step up and buy a real Champagne, which is great, and of course Prosecco is always very popular with people on a budget looking for a celebratory glass of bubbly. I'd like to mention a few other options that

Michael Amendolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165919759018639538noreply@blogger.com2