UberSomm

With Thanksgiving upcoming this is a perfect time to get acquainted with the wine best known for perfectly pairing with almost anything such a festive feast can entail. That being Pinot Noir. A grape with a long history, particular breeding, and one of the most finicky grapes to grow for such a vaunted prize. Listed below are the wines I have picked but if you are unable to find the specific ones the main goal should be to find substitutes from the following areas: Burgundy (France), Sonoma/Russian River (California), Williamette Valley (Oregon), Central Otago (New Zealand) Wines: Rabbit Ranch Pinot Elk Cove Pinot River Road Pinot Noir Stephanie's Russian River Valley Au Pied Du Mont Chauve Saint Aubin Charmois Rouge Suggested pairings: pork medallions w/cherry sauce, stuffed mushrooms, truffle mac n cheese, goat cheese w/cranberry, lamb chops, roasted duck, brussel sprouts w/bacon #sommelier #wine #pinot #pinotnoir #thanksgiving #foodwinepairing

We end our advent calendar with the last 6 wines in the Twas-The-Night box. An equal grouping of reds and whites, with 2 each from Spain, France, and Italy. We're decking the halls with some more , exquisite and known regions and varietals this time around. Suggested pairings: caprese salad, chicken parmigiana, crostini with truffle butter, Spanish chorizo #foodandwine #sommelier #vinebox #adventcalendar

After finishing off the light-hearted Holi-Day box, we now move onto the first 6 wines of the Twas-The-Night box. 4 Spanish and 2 French greet us this time with an even split between whites and reds. Suggested pairings: herbed goat and Manchego cheese, lump crab cakes, grilled steak, bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers #foodandwine #sommelier #vinebox #adventcalendar

We taste our way through the last 6 wines in the Holi-Day box of the 2022 24-night advent calendar from Vinebox. #foodandwine #sommelier #vinebox #adventcalendar

We taste our way through the first 6 wines in the Holi-Day box of the 2022 24-night advent calendar from Vinebox. #foodandwine #sommelier #vinebox #adventcalendar

The last time we attempted this most religious of events, we sacrificed some quality for cost. This time, my most esteemed oenophiles, we're breaking open the piggy banks and splurging to get us as close to an equal of the experience as possible. If not the same vineyards, then the same sub-region. It's old world versus new world. Will we make the same decisions as those judges that upset the wine world almost 50 years ago? Wines: Javillier Bourgogne Des Forgets Chateau Montelena Chardonnay Napa Chateau Cantemerle Haut Medoc, 2018 Stags' Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, 2018 Suggested pairings: spinach-arugula salad with vinaigrette dressing, shrimp scampi, lobster, arancini, grilled steak #foodandwine #sommelier #judgmentofparis #napawine #bordeaux #burgundy

The wines of Washington have always been compared to California, but this region has a very diverse and different terroir than its southern cousin. Come with us as we explore the wines that make Washington special from all over the Columbia valley. Chapters:: 00:00 - Lecture 9:55 - Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling Eroica 26:47 - H3 Merlot 34:53 - Pendulum Cabernet Sauvignon 49:26 - Owen Roe Syrah Ex Umbris Suggested pairings: brie, Manchego, and pecorino romano cheeses, salad with vinaigrette-based dressing, grilled red meat, dark chocolate desserts #sommelier #washingtonwines #wallawalla #foodandwine

A touch more known than Lodi, but still living in the shadow of Napa and Sonoma, is Paso Robles. A hidden gem of California wine that hosts many big name wineries and some really great reds. Come along and learn a few secrets of the area as we try wines from both east and west of the "46". Chapters: 00:00 A little about Paso 07:53 Tobin James Ballistic Zinfandel 21:30 Opolo Mountain Zinfandel 39:45 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 58:00 Daou Cabernet Sauvignon #wine #winetasting #pasorobles #sommelier #foodandwine

Make a date with your dentist because we're exploring many of the dessert/ sweet wines from all over the globe! Wines: Blandy's 5 Year Old Malmsey Madeira Emilio Hidalgo Pedro Ximenez Jerez Sherry NV Chateau Laribotte Sauternes 2018 Yalumba Antique Tawny NV Suggested pairings: Stilton cheese, milk and dark chocolates, fruit tarts #wine #sommelier #winetasting #sauternes #madeira #tawnyport

We head to the northern parts of Italy to check out the wines up top. Start pinching those pennies because these wines are not cheap, for the good stuff at the very least, though all effort was made to find a good balance between price and quality. But prepare for your palates to be given a ride of their life! Wines: 00:00 Jermann Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia IGT 2020 14:54 La Braccesca Vigneto Santa Pia Riserva Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 2016 29:54 Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore DOC 2017 44:58 Damilano Barolo Lecinquevigne DOCG 2015 Suggested pairings: Pecorino and machego cheese, sopressata and peppered salami, shrimp scampi, bruschetta, pasta with bolognaise sauce, game meats, tiramisu #wine #italianwine #sommelier #foodwine #winepairing #pinotgrigio #montepulciano #ripassa #barolo

The first of two back-to-back tastings with Italian wines as the theme, and we start in the much warmer and wetter southern regions. From the island of Sardinia down the to heel of the Italian "boot", there is a wide range of varietals from zippy whites to stain-your-teeth-purple reds. So gas up your Vespa and come join us on our adventure! Suggested pairings: burrata mozzarella, pecorino, and manchego cheeses, peppered salami, beef brisket, beef bolognese 00:00 Lecture 6:45 Donnachiara Falanghina Beneventano 17:55 Dolia Cannonau di Sardegna 29:04 Barba Montepulciano Vigna Franca 44:44 Marchese di Borgosole Appassimento Rosso Puglia IGT #wine #winefoodpairing #southernitaly #italianwine #falanghina #montepulciano #cannonau #negroamaro

We finally take a vacation from abusing our palates with sub-par wine and go straight into Argentinian wines rated highly by noteworthy organizations. A very unique white to the region, along with a typical Malbec, a tasty Bonarda, and the magic that happens when you mix the two. Buckle those taste buds up for a ride east of the Andes! Wines: 00:00 - Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes White Wine 2019 15:05 - El Enemigo Mendoza Bonarda 2017 29:28 - Tikal Patriota Red Blend 2017 49:21 - Catena Classic Mendoza Malbec 2018 #wine #winefoodpairing #sommelier #argentinianwine #malbec #torrontes #bonarda

We've tried TJ's Charles Shaw wines, leading to much watering of lawn grasses and dump buckets. The iconic shopping center for worldly and odd tastes also has a line of private label wines, at still reasonable prices but multiples above their Two Buck Chuck. Will these "premium" wines stand up to our snobbish senses? Wines: 00:00 2020 Sonoma Valley Reserve Chardonnay - Lot 221 14:20 2016 Sonoma Valley Petite Reserve Zinfandel 28:25 2019 Paso Robles Reserve Syrah - Lot 100 41:06 2020 California Grower's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon #wine #winepairing #sommelier #traderjoes

To start the new year off with a bang, we're going super classy with wines you can find at any grocery store...and maybe even some larger gas stations! So hop in your soccer mom van, find that extra large wine glass, and slice up some oranges for junior's practice. This is going to be a boozy and gluggable ride. Wines: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Yellow Tail Shiraz Apothic Crush Red Blend Michael David Petite Petit Suggested pairings: grilled shrimp, bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers, chived goat chevre and aged sharp cheddar, dates with cinnamon cream cheese spread Chapters: 00:00 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 19:13 Apothic Crush Red Blend 33:55 Yellow Tail Shiraz 49:58 Michael David Petite Petit #wine #sommelier #winepairing #soccermomwine #apothicwine #kimcrawford #yellowtailwine #michaeldavidwine

What better way to celebrate Christmas than drinking French wine with a bunch of friends?!? A tremendous ending to our Costco advent calendar with wines from all over France. Wines: Brilliant Brut Even Steven Bordeaux Blanc Stacks&Stones Sauvignon Blanc Magical Nights Pinot Noir Portrait of a Wallflower Merlot Champs Anciens Grenache/Syrah Suggested pairings: raw or grilled oysters, brie and morbier cheese, french onion soup, beef bourgogne Chapters: 00:00 Brilliant Brut 11:55 Stacks&Stones Sauvignon Blanc 24:40 Even Steven Bordeaux Blanc 34:32 Magical Nights Pinot Noir 47:13 Portrait of a Wallflower Merlot 64:36 Champs Anciens Grenache/Syrah #wine #sommelier #winepairing #frenchwine #costcowine #wineadventcalendar

The third of four groupings will feature wines from western Europe - Spain, Portugal, and south-western France, with some varietals not normally found and the return of a 2020 name, Octopada! Wines: Octopada Macabeo Ode Coule Fernao Pires Brillo Solar Chardonnay Aragonez Castelao Alicante Bouchet Luna Brillante Red Blend Struggling Deep Roots Cotes de Gascogne Suggested pairings: Manchego and Iberico cheeses, bruschetta with garlic and tomato, bacon-wrapped chorizo-filled dates, shrimp tacos, Castelvetrano olives, jamon or prosciutto Chapters: 00:00 Octopada Macabeo 12:17 Ode Coule Fernao Pires 22:42 Brillo Solar Chardonnay 33:30 Aragonez Castelao Alicante Bouchet 43:30 Luna Brillante Red Blend 55:50 Struggling Deep Roots Cotes de Gascogne #wine #winesomm #winepairing #spanishwine #portugeusewine #gascognewine #wineadventcalendar #costco

We start off with a pop, in preparation for New Years celebrations, by learning how to saber (even if you don't have a saber) a Champagne bottle. A saber works really well because there's a lot of weight behind it compared to other objects but those other objects are far more readily available for impressing at impromptu times. #wine #winesomm #champagnesaber #sabering #champagnesaberfail #nofailtoday

Our second set of wines is the loose leftovers after everything else was grouped up. Not that it makes these any less interesting or good! Lots of South African and eastern European wines in this eclectic bunch of misfits. Wines: Shadow Dance Chenin Blanc Timok River Reisling 12 Generations Merlot Blue Seirina Kotsifali/Syrah Volde Cab Sauv West Cape Gold Cab Sauv Suggested pairings: Stuffed cabbages, beef or lamb kabobs, aged gouda and cheddar cheeses Chapters: 00:00 Shadow Dance Chenin Blanc 13:27 Timok River Reisling 27:07 12 Generations Merlot 39:12 Blue Seirina Kotsifali/Syrah 51:37 Volde Cab Sauv 63:15 West Cape Gold Cab Sauv #wine #winesomm #winepairing #moldovawine #bulgarianwine #greekwine #wineadventcalendar #costco

We're revisiting one of the first regions covered by itself in these tasting sessions, Spain! Checking out some bubbly, a crisp white, and the more famous of the red grape varietals. So break out the tapas and prep the fruit for sangria with the leftovers! Wines (if you can't find these wines please contact me with a nearby store with a website, or send pics of the Spanish wine rows, and I can help with picking substitutes): Borrasca Rose Cava Blanka Vinho Verde Valserrano Rioja Crianza San Gregorio Single Vineyard Loma Gorda Old Vine Garnacha Suggested pairings - Manchego and Iberico cheeses, bruschetta with garlic and tomato, bacon-wrapped chorizo-filled dates, shrimp tacos, Castelvetrano olives, jamon or prosciutto Chapters: 00:00 Lecture 17:31 Blanka Vinho Verde 26:59 Borrasca Cava Rose 40:24 Valserrano Rioja Crianza 54:03 San Gregorio Garnacha #wine #winesomm #winepairing #spanishwine #vihnoverde #rioja

We head back to South America, but this time on the eastern side of the Andes. Off to the land of gauchos and empanadas, Argentina. Wines: Zuccardi Q Valle de Uco Chardonnay 2018 El Enemigo Mendoza Bonarda 2017 Proemio Reserve Single Vineyard Mendoza Malbec 2018 Catena High Mountain Vines Mendoza Cabernet 2018 Suggested pairings: shellfish or chicken with cream sauce, empanadas, churrasco steak with chimichurri, dark chocolate, oatmeal raisin cookies Chapters: 00:00 Lecture 15:16 Zuccardi Chardonnay 31:12 El Enemigo Bondarda 46:15 Proemio Malbec 61:10 Catena Cabernet #wine #somm #winepairing #argentinawine #malbec #bonarda #mendozawine

It's time to put those eyes, noses, and taste buds to the test and see if we can use the deductive method to guess a bunch of unlabeled bottles. We ordered a group of four 375ml wrapped bottles from Lifetime Vintage and, using their cheat sheets, try to figure out what we're drinking. Sections: 00:00 Wine #1 17:22 Wine #2 40:11 Wine #3 59:23 Wine #4 76:51 Unwrapping and conclusions #wine #winefoodpairing #blindtasting #lifetimevintage #somm

On request we're circling back around to one of our first region-specific sessions. So saddle up those alpacas as we travel to Chile! With Chilean wines the theme of the night will definitely be pyrazines, with lots of green grass and grapefruit notes. Wines: Porta Sauvignon Blanc Carmen Gran Reserva Pinot Noir Los Boldos Carmenere Gran Reserva Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon Suggested pairings: Ceviche, empanadas, churrasco steak w/ chimichurri, manchego and swiss cheeses Sections: 00:00 Lecture 12:20 Porta Sauvignon Blanc 25:18 Carmen Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 38:32 Los Boldos Carmenere Gran Reserva 58:04 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon #wine #winefoodpairing #chileanwine #carmenere #cabernet #sauvignon #pyrazines #somm

The movie Bottleshock made this event recently popular but back then it was the spark that both put California wines in the spotlight and eroded the domination France had on the international wine world. Come with us as we pit Burgundian whites and left-bank Bordeaux reds against some big Chardonnay and Cabs from Napa! Wines: Domaine Chenevieres Chablis Rombauer Chardonnay Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon Chateau Pierre de Montignac Medoc Suggested pairings: gruyere, goat, and blue cheeses, shrimp scampi, bacon-wrapped filet migon, spanish olives Sections: 00:00 Lecture 12:32 Domaine Chenevieres Chablis 24:33 Rombauer Chardonnay 36:25 Chateau Pierre de Montignac Medoc 55:08 Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon #wine #winefoodpairing #judgmentofparis #chardonnay #cabernetsauvignon #somm

Guten Tag, fellow wine lovers! Make an appointment with your dentist, because we're visiting Germany and Austria to try their wines...and most tend to have a fair amount of sugar left in them! The land of lederhosen and beer has made Riesling very popular but there are a few different varietals we'll be trying. Wines: Gruber Roschitz Gruner Veltliner Roschitz Dr. Loosen "Dr. L" Riesling Geil Gewurztraminer Kabinett Dr Heidemanns Dornfelder Suggested pairings - asparagus (this is a definite you should have on your plate!), sweet and sour or General Tso chicken, Pad Thai, street tacos with cilantro and onion, jambalaya, black forest or spice cake Sections: 0:00 Lecture 22:54 Gruner Veltliner 35:55 Riesling 52:24 Gewurtztraminer 72:45 Dornfelder #wine #winefoodpairing #germanwine #riesling #grunerveltliner #gewurtztraminer #dornfelder #somm