Tag Archives: video

Video! Learn about Sparkling Wine

learnaboutsparklingwine

What’s the difference between Champagne, cava, and prosecco? Watch a basic overview of these different sparkling wine categories with Eric Taylor, our resident wine expert at Bottles.

We’re here to help make sense of it, and so we have broken the giant world of sparkling wine into three really big categories:

Champagne and sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne:  

Champagne is not only a style of sparkling wine, but also a place.  Only sparkling wines made in the very small region of Champagne (just to the East of Paris) can be called Champagne.  Among other very strict regulations, Champagnes must be made in a very particular fashion: they must get their bubbles from a secondary fermentation that happens inside the bottle.  While this is costly and time consuming, it’s worth the extra effort because it gives Champagne its signature richness, complexity and tiny lively bubbles.  Some of the most famous and expensive wines in the world are from Champagne:  Dom Perignon, Louis Roederer’s Cristal, Krug and Veuve Clicquot.

New World wine makers, mainly from California, are making brilliant wines in the very same style and manner as Champagne.  These wines are made using the same grapes that are used in Champagne (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) and taking the effort and time to produce sparkling wines exactly as they would be made in France.  The biggest difference is price:  many top notch sparkling wines from California are half the price from their more famous counterparts in France.  Great examples are: Schramsberg, Mumm Napa, Chandon and Roederer Estate.

Prosecco:

Prosecco is a light, beautiful sparkling wine from the northeast corner of Italy made from a not so famous grape called Glera.  Proseccos are generally light and fruity, intensely aromatic, most with flavors of tart green apple, pear, white peach and apricot.  Prosecco is meant to be consumed young, and unlike Champagne, does not benefit from additional aging.  Also, prosecco is usually very inexpensive and makes it a great choice for large gatherings, casual parties and everyday drinking.  Some proseccos to look out for are: Mionetto, Ca’ Furlan, Bisson and Carpene Malvolti.

Cava:

Cava refers to sparkling wine made in Spain with the majority of it grown and produced in the Northeast corner of Spain around the grand city of Barcelona.  Cava has a long and rich wine making tradition in Spain, but has only recently gained popularity in the US.  The huge rise in popularity is due to the outrageous value that cava can offer.  Made in the exact same manner as expensive Champagne but with different grapes, cava is bright and vibrant but has many of the complex and sophisticated as its more expensive French counterpart.  Cava is great with cured meats, cheeses, appetizers and things that one would serve at a party.  Some of the most well known brands are Cristalino, Mercat and Raventos I Blanc.

Cheers!

Learn About Malbec

Malbec Wine Information - regions, styles, brands

What exactly is Malbec wine? And, why should you care? Eric, one of our resident Bottles wine gurus, gives you the lowdown in our newest video. Malbec is an extremely popular type of wine in our store because you get a lot of bang for your buck. Full of antioxidants and great with roasts and grilled meat, find out why Malbec is a solid choice.

Learn about wine by subscribing to our Youtube Channel!

Cheers!

Learn How to Taste Wine Like a Pro!

How to Taste Wine

We all know how to drink wine, but do you know how the wine experts at Bottles taste a wine? Here’s a short video tutorial with the Bottles Wine Director, Nick Shugrue, that shows you how he does it.

The steps are simple, and they can help you quickly assess the aroma, color, flavors, and mouthfeel of a wine. Cheers and enjoy!

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Rosé Wine Guide!

Learn all about rosé wines! These are not the sweet blush or white zinfadel wines you might be thinking of, but dry, delicious, and great with a wide variety of foods. Watch our very own Eric Taylor’s video guide for more information on rosé styles, flavors, food pairings, and some of his favorite brands.

In this same video, Eric also visited Derek Wagner (chef and owner at Nicks on Broadway in Providence Rhode Island) to chat about rosé wine and pairing it with food.

Derek Wagner - Nicks on Broadway in Providence rosé wine pairings rosé wine guide

 

Learn about Dessert Wines

dessert wine guide

Dessert wine? If you’re not familiar with them, and are curious to learn more, then watch this video guide! Eric Taylor, the Bottles wine expert, talks about different dessert wine styles, and gives you an example of a few of his favorite brands in the shop. Great for the holidays!

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more wine guide videos:  http://www.youtube.com/bottlesprovidence

Cheers!

Learn All About Riesling Wine

Introducing a new Bottles video series: Learn about Wine with Eric Taylor! Eric is our wine store manager, a wine rockstar and a professional libation enthusiast. Watch the video below to learn all about Riesling wine, one of his favorite varietals. Eric also visited Birch, a new restaurant in Providence, to talk with chef/owner Ben Sukle about pairing Riesling with food.

LEARN ABOUT WINE
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Elk Cove Riesling Wine
Kungfu Girl Riesling Wine

Garrett Oliver & Brooklyn Brewery Tour

To coincide with Garrett Oliver’s visit to Bottles on October 19th, 2012, Liam recently visited the Brooklyn Brewery where Garrett gave a tour and discussed Sorachi Ace. Click here to watch the video.



Want to know more about Garrett Oliver’s visit? Watch the event video for more details, or read this previous blog post. Garrett Oliver is a world-renowed brewmaster from the Brooklyn Brewery, and editor of the recently published Oxford Companion to Beer.

At this Bottles Event, you can have your copy of The Oxford Companion to Beer or The Brewmaster’s Tales signed by Garrett. You can also taste a variety of Brooklyn Beers for free, and treat yourself to fresh Rhode Island Oysters from  Walrus and Carpenter Oysters.

This event takes place on October 19th, 3:30 – 6:00 at Bottles, 141 Pitman St. Providence, RI. Contact us at (401) 372-2030 or info@blog.bottlesfinewine.com for any further questions or information.