Ronga’s Rant

There are so many wine bars in NYC.  I’ve made it a personal goal to hit up each one while I’m here.  Ambitious, I know…

The best tool I’ve found to assist me in doing this is a mashup created by Dr. Vino that shows most wine bars by geography in NYC.  He not only has wine maps for wine bars, but also wine shops and covers the Chicago area.  Tyler – Dr. Vino – also writes a great blog worth checking out.

Anyhow, y’all know I’m a sucker for South African wines.  I love them all. When I came across Xai Xai South African Winebar, I about died & went to heaven.  They only serve South African wines, & not just your typical African wines (as if there is such a thing).  Really, really interesting ones.  It was hot outside & I wanted a white.  So I went with a grape I know… one that is 1) slowly going extinct in South Africa because it is becoming more expensive to grow so it is becoming increasing replaced with Sauvignon Blanc & one that is 2) delicious because the soil & weather there supports its growth.  Sorry for the ridiculous build up. The grape is Chenin Blanc.

The South African bartender poured me a taste and it was good… a little oily, petrol like, but good.  Then I do what I always do & ask him if he had to pick ONE wine to drink, which would he choose.  This usually proves an impossible question to answer.  But not for this guy; he immediately pulled out the Haute Cabriere ‘06 Pinot Noir-Chardonnay from Franschhoek.  I have never had a Pinot Noir Chardonnay combo, except in sparkling or Champagne of course, but there was no second fermentation on this baby.  We are talking new territory!

Wow.  What a treat.  This made the Chenin Blanc seem like PBR in the world of beer.  I opted for his suggestion & was even more impressed by the temperature at which they kept their wines. Honestly, it was perfect…not freeeeeezing. Room temperature, rather.  You could actually taste the flavors in the wine. While the mix was unclear (I was told it was 70/30 chardonnay/pinot noir), this did not ooze chardonnay to me.  Instead I got richness, intensity, & a medium body.  Crisp & green, there was some acidity to add to the balance of the wine.  I am salivating as a write about this.

If you get a chance to pickup this wine – do it.  More importantly, go check out Xai Xai on 51^st & 9^th Ave. Well worth the trek.  Cool ambiance, friendly staff. Didn’t try the food, but would be a great after work spot.  Let me know if you end up swinging by.

Black Friday for wineries has occurred. Almost 20% of the staff at one of the largest wineries, Jackson Family Wines (Kendall Jackson), was laid off on 1/30/09.  Also on 1/30 Robert Gary Andrus – founder of Pine Ridge Winery – passed on to another world, hopefully one flowing of wine. Pine Ridge is one of my favorites and if you ever get a chance to try their Malbec which is one of the few masterfully produced Malbecs in CA, then do it. It is not a stereotypical Argentinean Malbec, but just fills your mouth with richness and hits every level of the palate. The Pine Ridge Malbec is a rarity and I was fortunate, heck flat out blessed by Bacchus, to have an opportunity to drink this. Andrus did wonders at Pine Ridge and I have no doubt his legacy will be carried on.

Now, back to wineries being hit with Swine Flu. Why? First, people like me and you are trading down in our purchases. Gone are the days of $120 Silver Oak purchases and hello are the days of South African Pinotage and New Zealand Sauv Blancs. Thank goodness! I view this as a good thing, as if it wasn’t clear. There are plenty of quality and delicious wines for under $15 in these regions.

Second, we are not going out to eat as much and wineries focus heavily on their restaurant sales. Again – a good thing for me and you. Think of the mark up we get hit with at restaurants (sometimes 2x, sometimes 8x!) Wines stores on the other hand….we can find deals. Sweet, sweet deals. Some of my favorite wine stores by way of value include Wine Library in NJ, K&L Wines in SF, Twin Liquors in Austin, TX. Also, ever heard of a little store called Costco – number one when it comes to wine retailers!

So which wineries will make it? Not wineries that have put all their huevos in one basket (i.e. in on-premise – otherwise known as restaurants/bars). Wineries that have a strong focus in off-premise sales (i.e. retail stores) are hanging in there. Some believe small wineries are sunk. I have a different take. If a winery, small or large, has distribution, it can make it. However, in this environment a winery has to have quality wine offered under the $20 mark (with distribution). For example, if you are a small winery with distribution, produce quality wine and get it into the retailers, if you only offer $50+ wines, I say “good luck”. That is, in this environment.

Back to us, the consumers…. Just a couple grapes and wines to offer up if you are looking for wines under the $20 price point with exceptional value – I know I am. However, I caveat – these are exceptional for my palate, for my mouth. Yours is different than mine, surely!

My favorite:  Pinotage, red, usually South African (Graham Beck, Backsberg, Fairview, Nederburg, Kanokop all b/w $10 – 15) this is a smelly, dirty sweat sock, gym lock, blue cheesy kind of wine. Embrace it and eat it with cheese.

Another fav:  Chenin Blanc, white from Loire Valley in France, I prefer South Africa (Ken Forrester $14, Man Vintners $10, Winery of Good Hope $12) this is a full bodied white with a little honey and peach mixed with almond, mineral, and earthy tones depending on the wine and on your palate!

Love:  Malbec from Argentina, red (Bodegas Esmeralda Tilia $11, Alamos $10 – $15 depending on which selection, Norton $18) hints of oak, earthy, dark ripe rich juicy fruit (how’s that for some adjectives?)

Yummm:  New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, white (Nobilo $20, Brancott $18, Babich, $14) papaya, mango, guava, I’m on a tropical island with a lei around my neck sitting pool side with a piña colada in hand… yes acidic, but foresty and creamy.

What do you guys (who actually read this wee lil blog of mine) want from me? Education? Specific wine suggestions? Winery info? Stellar wine bars? Regional info?