About Andy Tasker

Rhone: The Rhone river valley in southeastern France is a grape growing and wine producing area famed for its red wines. The region is just under 150 miles long (north to south) and lies between the cities of Lyon in the north and Avignon in the south. There are 16 specific appellations that cover an area of more than 41,000 hectares. All qualities of wine are produced here from Appellation Controllee to Vin de Table. Production is 2% white, the rest being red and rose. Wines from the Rhone can achieve outstanding quality. There has been opportunity to achieve greater value in the purchase of many Rhone wines versus those of Bordeaux or Burgundy.

Some of the vineyards here are very rocky. Chateauneuf du Pape and Cotes du Rhone (means 'Slopes of the Rhone') are the two best known wines to come from this region. A wide variety of grapes are grown and blended in this region but the two most commonly used are Syrah and Grenache.

Full Liquor

Nebbiolo (red)
Grown extensively in Piedmont and other northern Italian provinces, Nebbiolo produces the long-lived, somewhat austere Barolo and Barbaresco with their characteristic bitter finish.
Noted flavours: Truffle, tar, roses

Global Wine and Spirits

American Liquor Alliance: Zinfandel

Zinfandel is a grape variety that has been important almost exclusively in California. The Zinfandel grape can make solid red wines with good fruit and structure. It was a popular variety with home winemakers during the American prohibition era because its thick skins allowed the grapes to ship without damage. It later (late 1970's and early 1980's) became popular for the wines produced from it with forward fruit flavors and spicy overtones. Zinfandel declined in popularity in the mid 1980's and became unprofitable to grow until "White Zinfandel" was introduced. White Zinfandel is a Zinfandel rose that is left slightly sweet with an acid balance.
Recent DNA tests indicate that Zinfandel is actually the same as the Primitivo grape found in Italy.
AMERICAN LIQUOR ALLIANCE
Andy Tasker
FULL LIQUOR

What makes vintage Champagne better? Well, status for one – many vintage Champagnes are made in small quantities, so low supply and high demand beefs up the price and the prestige of a vintage bottle. And of course, beyond the status symbol of vintage Champagne is the taste and care given to the grapes. For vintage Champagne, the grapes are carefully selected, the blends painstakingly created and the ageing process lovingly prolonged. Vintage Champagnes are often more complex and flavorful than their non-vintage counterparts, and can often age for up to a decade or two, although most houses release their bottles at an optimum time for drinking. Vintage Champagne differs from non-vintage because the winemaker's focus is on that specific year rather than a blend to match the house style.

Sparkling wines from regions that follow the traditional method are apt to create vintage wines as well. These regions typically enjoy more freedom in their vintage choices. While they only make wines from years they deem worthy of vintage, they do not have a regulated body to declare a vintage year, so it's to the winemaker's discretion in making a vintage or non-vintage.

GLOBAL WINE AND SPIRITS
ANDY TASKER: Champagne & Sparkling Styles

Extra Brut or Brut Naturale – Bone dry - the driest of the dry
Brut – Dry. This is the typical style of Champagne, with no sweetness
Sec – Still very dry but with a hint of sweetness.
Demi-sec- While the definition is half dry, think of it as half sweet. This wine will be fairly sweet.
Doux – also known as rich, this wine is the sweetest you can get in Champagne –over 5% sugar. It's a dessert in itself and very rare.

RSVP Wine and Spirits
Rias Baixas

Just above the Portuguese border lies Rias Baixas, Spain's prominent white wine region. Situated in Galacia, the region is wet and rainy with some large temperature changes due to its proximity to the coast. The main grape of note here is Albarino, the white variety known for creating fragrant and fruity wines perfect for seafood. The bottles are easily recognized as they all print “Albarino” on their label.

Notable Facts
There are sub-districts in Rias Baixas, a few of them are more prone to blending Albarino with some other indigenous grapes, which can make the wines more aromatic or fuller-bodied. Both single variety Albarino and blended wines excel in this area. Aromatic and light, one whiff of these whites may bring thoughts of a Sauvignon Blanc, but after one sip the creamy texture says otherwise. Typical aromas and flavors are peach, honeysuckle, lime and vanilla.

Keith Lawes

Rosé is a wine that goes through the red winemaking process, but is stopped before extracting too many red wine characteristics. Almost always made from red varietals, the grapes are pressed and the juice sits with the skins for fermentation - but just for a little while - enough time to get a bit of color and a bit of the skin characteristics. Then fermentation continues as a white wine, most often in stainless steel. Rosés are typically ready to drink early - not so much to age. Some popular regions of rosé are Tavel (an AOC for ONLY rosé wines in the Rhone area of France), other areas of Southern France, Spain, Italy and California. Almost all regions make rosé, and many from different grape varieties (Grenache - based in Spain, France, Australia and South Africa; Sangiovese or Nebbiolo in Italy). Just like red and white wines, rosés can be of different styles - sweet or dry, dark or light - the winemaker and grape variety (or varieties as rosés are often blended) are key. Pink wines have delicious character and are perfect for food. For dryer styles of rosé, try those from Southern France and Spain, for the sweeter styles, look for White Zinfandel and some other California rosé makers.

RSVP FINE WIN AND SPIRITS

Pinot Gris (white)
One of the most underrated of grapes, grown mainly in Alsace where it is called Tokay-Pinot Gris. In Italy it's called Pinot Grigio. In Germany and Austria, Rul?nder. Full-bodied white with lots of flavour. Some of the best come from Oregon.
Noted flavours: Peaches