http://www.keepwinesimple.com/Wine-blog.html Keep Wine Simple Blog will keep you up to date with all the additions and changes to the keepwinesimple.com web site. Subscribe here. en-us Wine education Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:44:41 GMT Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:44:41 GMT keepwinesimple.com http://www.keepwinesimple.com/the-monterey-wine-festival-celebrates-36-years-with-new-additions-to-the-line-up.html June 8th 5 – 9 p.m. and June 9th 11 – 4 p.m. 2012 Custom House Plaza, Monterey, CA Now in its 36th year The Monterey Wine Festival continues to evolve Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:44:38 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/Wine-Recommendations.html Wine recommendations. Wines that offer great value for your money. Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:06:04 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-march12.html Spring is here, and so are the Wine Recommendations for March 2012. This is the time of year when we begin to think of sun and friends. Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:56:24 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-feb12.html Wine recommendations for February 2012 will help us keep the chill away. We look at "comfort wines" Sherry and port. I know I know; you are going to say "my great-grandma drank Sherry!" Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:39:29 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-jan12.html Wine recommendations for January 2012! Happy New Year. We look forward to a year full of great wine at excellent prices. Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:24:49 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/cooking-with-wine-recipes-christmas.html Christmas will soon be here. Let the cooking begin! Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:55:52 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-dec11.html Wine recommendations for December 2011! Just in time to celebrate the Holidays and welcome the New Year. This month brings the usual offerings of white and red wines, plus some sparkling wines to ch Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:06:31 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/beaujolais-nouveau.html On the third Thursday of November people go a little crazy for wine. Specifically for one particular wine, Beaujolais Nouveau! That is the day that this young wine is released. Aficionados do pretty zany things. I've heard that in Japan they bathe in it! Join the fun. Maybe you don't want to be at the store at 12:01 A.M., or set up a backyard wading pool; but you might want to organize a race with your friends, and let the winning price be a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau. Salud! Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:50:36 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-pairing-thanksgiving.html Yes, Thanksgiving is almost here! Whether we are guests or cooks, we are probably thinking of wine. Sometimes we take great care in planning the menu and wine list, other times it is thinking about the host and what he or she loves in a wine bottle; often it is a "what the heck am I going to pair with marshmallow sweet potatoes!" No matter where you are in the "wine choosing experience-meter", I know there is a wine just waiting to be noticed by you! Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:54:21 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-nov11.html Wine recommendations for November 2011 are perfect for celebrating with family and friends; for giving thanks for all our blessings, even if the road has not been totally smooth. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:23:26 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-oct11.html Wine recommendations for October 2011 focus on Washington State. This area has been producing excellent wines at really good prices for a while now. They are not easy to pigeonhole! They have wonde Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:03:15 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-sept11.html The wine recommendations for September 2011 are here; just in time to helps us welcome the harvest! its the time of year when vineyards come alive. Summer is full of hope and expectation. The vines Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:39:51 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/winery-at-the-biltmore.html Just visited the winery at the Biltmore in Asheville, NC and loved their wines, very very nice and very reasonable. Just wondering if you carry any of Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:48:52 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-aug11.html Wine recommendations for August 2011 focus on California wines. California wines a wonderful, but prices have gone up in recent years. It isn't always easy to find great values. But we have ten win Tue, 02 Aug 2011 01:19:12 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-july11.html Wine recommendations for July 2011 come straight from the Iberian Peninsula . Spain and Portugal have wine traditions that stretch deep into their history and DNA. Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:28:20 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-june11.html Gear up for summer parties with these wine recommendations for June 2011. The days get longer and the evenings balmy, that spells get-togethers with friends or just spending a quiet evening with a lo Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:13:36 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-club.html Think of this site as your own personal wine club. Here you find information, wine recommendations, discussion, ideas about wine and food pairing, all things wine. Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:57:19 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-may11.html Ah, wine recommendations for May 2011 lure us into a summer state of mind. Though we are still a few weeks away from the official start of summer, our mind is already there. Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:25:04 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/35th-annual-monterey-wine-festival-west-coast-chowder-competition.html The Monterey Wine Festival Celebrates 35 years with historical highlights! June 10th 4 – 8 p.m. and June 11th Noon – 4 p.m. 2011 Now in its 35th year Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:59:50 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-april11.html Wine recommendations for April 2011 focus on two of my favorite wines, Pinot Gris, and Malbec. These wines are rising in popularity because of their versatility. They pair well with many different t Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:11:21 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-march11.html Wine recommendations for March 2011 focus on France. Beautiful, romantic, stylish, gorgeous France has taught us how to live, how to eat, and how to drink. Its wines are legendary, memorable, and ex Mon, 04 Apr 2011 02:15:32 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/lynnie.html Brand new at wine makin Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:59:01 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-feb11.html Love is in the air, and wine recommendations for February 2011 will surely make Valentine's day a special one. This month you'll find great wines that pair beautifully with a romantic dinner. Tue, 08 Feb 2011 03:20:32 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-jan11.html Wine recommendations for January 2011 are in. Perhaps you are partied out, and it is time for New Year's resolutions and new beginnings. Well, a good resolution is to drink better wine. Sun, 06 Feb 2011 01:26:11 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-dec10.html The wine recommendations for December 2010 shout party! This month we are concentrating on sparkling wines. They are festive and fun, and they go well with all sorts of dishes. Wed, 29 Dec 2010 03:29:15 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/cooking-with-wine-recipes-christmas.html The Christmas season is upon us; a time of excitement, feasting, family, and traditions. It is also a time for cooking up a storm, at least it is in our home! We share with you some of our family's favorite recipes, and a small window into our celebrations. Enjoy! Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:36:48 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/beaujolais-nouveau.html No, I don't meant Thanksgiving (thought it is almost here), I mean time for Beaujolais Nouveau! Yep, the third Thursday of November is here, and the bottles of this very young wine are at the stores. Join the fun, and the annual ritual, and get yourself a bottle or two. Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:27:52 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-nov10.html The Holidays are almost her, and the wine recommendations for November 2010 will help you celebrate in style and without spending a fortune. Sat, 06 Nov 2010 16:04:34 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-pairing-thanksgiving.html We are three weeks away from Thanksgiving and the rush is on. Planning! Shopping! Cooking! What about wine?! Pairing wine with the mind-boggling variety of dishes at the table can be intimidating, but it isn't as hard as it seems! Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:30:24 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-oct10.html Wine recommendations for October 2010 are ideal for fall celebrations. There is so much going on this month! The Crush is on; that time of the year when the grapes have been harvested, and their jui Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:09:56 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/california-wine-country.html Ah, the twists and turns of wine making! Our friends at award winning Eagles Nest Winery have called off their volunteers for this weekend. They have re-scheduled the beginning of harvest till September 25. The problem? Brix too low! The cooler weather has delayed ripening of the grapes, so sugar levels are not yet where they should be. Dennis and Julie are sure that giving the grapes another week on the vine will do the trick. If there are some of you who can make it next week, go ahead and join them. Besides having the satisfaction of working on the vineyard, there is a t-shirt in it for you. You will be able to proudly proclaim “I crushed grapes with Eagles Nest” If you would love to participate please email Julie Grimes at julie@eaglesnestwinery.com or Dennis Grimes at grimes@znet.com Fri, 17 Sep 2010 23:57:05 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/california-wine-country.html Our Friends at Eagles Nest Winery in Ramona, California are getting ready for harvest. They are looking for "Outdorsy Winos", as they so delicately put it, who would love to spend a day working on the vineyard. What a great opportunity to get hands-on experience in the labor of love that is called wine making. If you would love to participate please email Julie Grimes at julie@eaglesnestwinery.com or Dennis Grimes at grimes@znet.com Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:38:22 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-sept10.html The wine recommendations for September 2010 are signaling the last few precious days of summer, and also the exiting harvest to come! Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:22:55 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-aug10.html The glorious summer is going to the dogs, and wine recommendations for August 2010 come to the rescue! Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:14:19 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/culinary-schools.html Ah, the romance of culinary schools! Who can forget Audrey Hepburn trying to make a souffle in the 1950's movie Sabrina! Nowadays cooking is much more than getting nourishment for our bodies, it mus Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:22:21 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/cooking-with-wine-recipes-paella.html Its official! Get the paella and wine ready. Spain will win the World Cup, Paul the Octopus says so!!! And if Paul fails in his prediction, you'll still have a great dish to enjoy with friends and family. Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:54:40 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-related-gifts.html Best wine related gift ideas. You already know that are a huge number of wine related gifts available. Now you just have to find one that the wine lover on your list will adore. In addition to corksc Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:24:24 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-july10.html The wine recommendations for July 2010 are tailor made for summer parties. Whether it is a barbecue, or an evening under the starts for no good reason other than the fact that you love l Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:43:21 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/a-fantastic-find-from-dry-creek-valley-that-too-a-merlot.html This is a fantastic Merlot with robust flavors, almost like a cab! Very smooth with berry flavors and a hint of carmel. The Mushal Merlot 2006 is a wine Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:44:43 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-june10.html Summer is here! Do you have a favorite summer wine? For me, it is almost always a white wine. They are light and refreshing, and really hit the spot on those hot summer evenings. My two "go-to" summer wines are Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. The grassy notes of Sauvignon Blanc make me think of cool green meadows, while the subtlety of Pinot Grigio brings instant lightness to my life, and it pairs so well with a variety of dishes. Of course; if you love red wine (and I do), Pinot Noir and Beaujolais are ideal for summer! they are light on the tannins and go with anything. Happy Summer! Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:20:33 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/Wine-Regions-of-LA.html Malbec grapes have been in Argentina for over one hundred years, but the magic really started about twenty years ago. The grape goes by several different names, but it is best known as Malbec; and it is the desert at the foot of the where it loves to grow. The wine is fruity, dark, and rich. It is also a great value, a bottle of Malbec will not break your budget. Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:23:19 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/cooking-with-wine-recipes-beef-wine-sauce.html It's the grilling season, and fathers are the stars. Whether Dad is getting a brand new grill for his special day, or just cranking up old faithful, gather the family around and enjoy a juicy steak or a beautiful salmon, or both. For Dad's delight, offer him a Castle Rock Pinot Noir Central Coast 2008! Score of 87, $14.00 USD. Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:03:45 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/wine-recommendations-june10.html The wine recommendations for June 2010 come from various countries, continents, and hemispheres! If we can't actually visit this beautiful places, we can still gain some understanding of them from th Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:45:28 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/my-favorite-wine.html So we love wine. We get a lot of satisfaction from the flavor, the color, the aroma. But there is so much more to wine than just drinking it. I know that I get “attached” to wines that I relate to an enjoyable experience. I would say it is almost an emotional relationship. I became attached to one particular wine because, in addition to being very good, it was served at the wedding of one of my friends. When I open a bottle of that wine, I think of that sunny day, of the carefully chosen dishes that went with each wine, of the beautiful couple. I have also become very huge admirer of a winery in Sonoma because their wines are fabulous, and they remind me of a great family vacation that we took. We became acquainted with the place were the grapes are grown, we saw how they make their wine, we enjoyed the friendly atmosphere of the tasting room, and we remember our granddaughters playing in the grassy area right next to the vineyard. Wine has a way of getting into our consciousness like no other beverage. Would you feel the same way about a soft drink? Naaah. So I say to you, cheers to your favorite wine, and to the wonderful memories that it evokes! Fri, 28 May 2010 15:09:44 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/Food-and-Wine-Pairing.html Its that time of the year! The grilling season is here. With the unofficial start of summer upon us, thoughts of outdoor gatherings get us going. Steak, ribs, hamburgers, who doesn’t look forward to such a meal! But don’t overlook fish for your grill (and stomach). Sometimes red meat can be a bit heavy for hot summer days. Why not a nice tuna steak, just barely seared! Or an even lighter sea bass, all washed down with a nice Chardonnay; or you can be adventurous and pair your tuna steak with Pinot Noir or even a Beaujolais. That spells summer to me! Wed, 26 May 2010 15:58:16 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/sonoma-wine-country.html Sonoma County California, what can I say; second only to Napa in fame, but certainly not in wine! In the tiny town of Graton you will find our wine of the week. Lucky Star Winery Chardonnay 2008 is “citrusy” and fresh. At $9.00 USD and a score of 87 points, it is hard to beat this bargain. Tue, 25 May 2010 15:23:49 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/Wine-Regio...ns-of-SH.html New Zealand is a great wine place, and it keeps getting better. Long known for its white wines, now it is making a name for itself with its reds. Try a Yealands Pinot Noir Marlborough 2008; you'll love the berry flavors, and the $16.00 USD price tag. This is an excellent wine! Sun, 23 May 2010 23:22:05 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/paso-robles-wine.html The Paso Robles Wine Festival is going on right this very moment! If you are anywhere near this beautiful area of California, hurry down and enjoy great wine, great food, and great people. You won't be sorry Sat, 22 May 2010 22:06:16 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/Ordering-Wine-in-a-Restaurant.html Ordering wine in a restaurant can sometimes be intimidating, particularly if the server is overly ceremonious! Cusina Urbana, on the corner of 5th and Laurel in San Diego, California, has a great wine concept. They have designated an area of the restaurant as a "wine store". You can either walk to the store and chose a bottle of wine, or your server can bring it to you. The cost is at retail plus a $7.00 corkage fee! Did I mention that nothing in the menu is over $20.00? And that the service and food are superb? Well, now you know. Pay them a visit when you are in the area. Tue, 18 May 2010 19:34:59 GMT http://www.keepwinesimple.com/paso-robles-wine.html The San Luis Obispo area is a delight. Its star is Paso Robles; but there is so much more to see, and so much more wine to be had, that a visit to this wine region is a must. From Rhone style wines in Edna Valley, to the wonderful Paso Robles Wine Festival in May, to just hanging out and sipping wine in Pismo Beach; explore and enjoy! Tue, 18 May 2010 17:31:30 GMT