Category Archives: Uncategorized

Horchata, Paella, Wine, and Architecture in Valencia, Spain

Posted on June 9, 2014 by waywardwine

After a hiatus, this Monday visits Day 115 of our EU Austerity Drinking Tour. A dull bus ride from Madrid deposits us near the coast in Valencia.

Our first hostel in weeks sits in Valencia’s ancient heart. Better still, it has a kitchen, which sends us shopping for groceries.

Along a narrow medieval street we find a garage door. Inside is Bodegas Baviera: a sliver of a wine shop wall-papered in bottles.

The thinning but hardly thin, grumpy Vicente, speaks no English but understands we want something native and cheap.

We grab a bottle of Valencia DO red, head back, and make our typical pasta. The bottle disappears immediately. It is such a grippy yet ripe, black-fruited, peppery blend that I run out again. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Baviera, Bodegas Baviera, Europe, Gulliver's travels, Holy Grail, hostel, Lonja de la seda, Silk Market, Spain, Spanish, travel, Valencia, Valencia Spain, wine, wine shop | 4 Comments

Caymus Vineyards, 40th Anniversary, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California 2012

Posted on June 2, 2014 by waywardwine

Three generations and forty years on, Caymus lucked out with 2012. The vintage seemed completely tailored to their style. Up and down Napa Valley it was sunny, dry, and not drought-ridden as recently. All their lazy grapes got to stay on the vine (usually they drop lesser fruit).

Now Caymus likes a late harvest. More time lowers acids and tannins but risks rot, damage, or excessive alcohol. But weather allowed them to wait until Halloween to pick (madness in California). Their grape haul doubled 2011’s. So much ripe Cabernet resulted that they didn’t have to blend others. 17 months in half new barrels, mostly French with some from Missouri. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 40th Anniversary, Cabernet Sauvignon, Caymus, Caymus Vineyards, Napa Valley, Wagner, wine | 2 Comments

Friday Fridge: Wine, Beer, Spirit and Occasionally Food

Posted on May 30, 2014 by waywardwine

Went for breakfast this fine Friday morning, opened our fridge to find this: Now, some might think we have a problem. I think we need a bigger boat. That glass carboy is our cold-stabilizing Vienna Lager. Since we lack a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Thirsty Thursday: Il Poggione, Brunello di Montalcino, Riserva, Italy 2006

Posted on May 29, 2014 by waywardwine

This Thirsty Thursday, Wayward Wine splurges and satisfies its Europhilia with a bottle from Italy. Box Chianti this ain’t. No, within Tuscany, within Chianti, within Brunello di Montalcino, within Il Poggione’s 309 acres, sits a single vineyard called Vigna Paganelli. These … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Archaeology, Brunello, Brunello di Montalcino, il poggione, italy, Sangiovese, travel, wine | 3 Comments

Memorial Day Home Brew: Lite American Lager

Posted on May 26, 2014 by waywardwine

Nothing. I say nothing is more American than pouring a glass of Lite American Lager that you made from scratch. Yes, lager may have been born in Central Europe. Yes, it was really Canada that modernized it. Yes, it killed … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments