“

Check out the radio show on The Trail 103.3FM and U 104.5FM.  The live stream feed is online at www.trail1033.com where you can click on “Listen Live”.  The WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© airs on both radio stations Sunday mornings at 10:00AM MST.

Social Media links;

This week’s podcast on Merlot and  The Connoisseurs’ Classic & Auction; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/11/04/wine-guy-mike-for-november-4th/

Youtube preview from this week’s show;

Last week’s podcast Wines From the Veneto Wine Region Of Italy; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/10/28/wine-guy-mike-for-october-28/ 

Recent week’s podcast The Big Red Wines of Piedmont; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/10/21/wine-guy-mike-for-october-21/

Recent week’s podcast The Great Wines of Tuscany, Part 2 Italian Wine Series; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/10/14/wine-guy-mike-for-october-14/

Recent podcast; Understanding the Italian Wine Label Part 1 http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/09/09/wine-guy-mike-for-september-9/

Recent podcast; What You Need To Know About Wine  http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/07/15/wine-guy-mike-for-july-15/

Recent podcast; (full length conversation) with Maximilian Riedel, CEO Riedel Crystal of America http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/06/24/wine-guy-mike-for-june-24/

NBC Montana Today TV Segment; Perfect Patio Wines and food pairing; http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/Mike-Tornatore-8-7-12/-/14594602/15999458/-/67a5ri/-/index.html

YouTube; My YouTube channel of course is WineGuyMike™ or the actual URL link; http://www.youtube.com/user/WineGuyMike?feature=mhee

Facebook; WineGuyMike please “like”

Twitter; @WineGuyMike please follow me

Sleep City Missoula  www.SleepCity.com

Liquid Planet “Best of Beverage” and a great place to WineGuyMike show wines for the lowest price.  Located in the heart of downtown Missoula.

Georges Distributing in Helena, Montana.

Good Sunday morning and welcome to the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show©. This week I’m talking a little bit about this and a little bit about that, just mixing things up.  Each year there is a very important benefit event that occurs in Missoula, Montana, the Connoisseurs’ Classic & Auction.  This year’s benefit marks the sixth annual star-studded event, and when I say star-studded I’m talking about the beverage lineup.  Attendees travel from around the United States to attend this event and when you see the beverage tasting list below you’ll understand why.

I also have a short commentary on one of my favorite grape varietals, Merlot.  Yes the much maligned varietal is making a comeback and I will be sharing my thoughts about this classic underdog that is beginning to trend in the hands of very good winemakers.   In the spirit of the upcoming Presidential election, I’m WineGuyMike and I approve this message.

This year’s Connoisseurs’ Classic & Auction will be held November 9, 2012 at the Sister Rita Mudd Activity Center in Missoula, MT.  Ticket prices are $175 for those of us who will be imbibing but for designated drivers or attendees not consuming alcohol, ticket prices will be $40.  Purchase tickets by calling Child Care Resources at 406.728.6446 or online at; http://www.childcareresources.org/cca  

This annual benefit for Child Care Resources, a nonprofit dedicated to helping kids, fosters their growth into successful adults by enriching the learning environment of their crucial early developmental years.  Proceeds from this event fund CCR’s Hand Up Scholarship, which helps families with otherwise unmet child care needs.  This is a great organization and benefit event that I support each year.

The Connoisseurs’ Classic & Auction is hosted by my friends Kevin Head and Charlie Brown, both experts and connoisseurs’ of wine and Scotch.  Both of these men work diligently throughout the year assembling the star-studded line up of beverages and with the assistance of the staff at Child Care Resources present an amazing array of treasures for the live and silent auction.

This year’s Connoisseurs’ Classic wine tasting list:

•Paul Hobbs, Nico Cobos, 2006, Blend

•Chris Ringland, Premier Three River, 2002, Shiraz

•Chris Ringland, F.U., 2004, Shiraz

•Tenuta De Biserno Bolgheria, Coronato, 2005, Blend

•1996 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto Di Serra Lunga, Nebbiolo, 1996, Nebbiolo

•Hill Family Estate, Double Barrell, 2005, Cab Sav.

•Penefold Grange, 2004, Shiraz

•Molly Dooker, Velvet Glove, 2009, Shiraz

•Schramsberg, Blanc de Noirs, 1998, sparkling

•Spottswoode, Cabernet, 2008

•Aldelsheim, Bryans Creek, 2008, Pinot Noir

•Lokoya, Howell Mountain vineyard, 2007, Cab Sav.

•Colgin, Proprietary Red Estate, 2005, red blend

•Sassicaia Proprietary Red Estate, Tenuta San Guido, 2005, Red Blend

•Harlan Estates, Bond De Vecina, 2006, Red Blend

•Achaval Ferrer, Finca Altamira la Consulta, 2009, Malbec

•Turley, Petite Syrah, 2005

•Trespass Vineyards, Cabernet Franc, 2009

•Drew Family Cellars, Weir Vineyard, 2009, Pinot Noir

•Guidalberto, 2006 Blend

•Salanquez 2003, Priorat

•Y Rousseau, Milady, 2009 Chardonnay

This year’s Connoisseurs’ Classic Scotch tasting list:

•Aberfeldy, Single Cask, Cask# 3698, 14 year

•Ardbeg 1990, Cask# 86, 16 year

•Arran 1997 Single Cask, Cask# 719

•BenRiach, 30 year

•Bowmore Oloroso, Black 1964, 42 year

•Bunnahabhain, Douglas Laing, 34 year

•Brora, 32 year

•Glenallachie 1972 Directors’ Cut 40-year-old

•Glendronach Grandeur 31-year-old

•Glenfarclas, 40 year

•GlenGloyne, Cask # 354, 24 year

•Glen Moray 1991, 16 Year

•Highland Park Thor, 16 year

•Nikki Single Cask, Coffee, 12 year

•Of Probably Speyside, Douglas Laing, 40 year

•Spirit of Unity 2011, Numerous, Blend

•Springbank 1970, Signatory, 37 year

•Strathisla, Gordon and MacPhail, 30 year

•Wemyss Malt 1990, Mocha Spice, Blend

In August of this year I hosted two of the most charming guests that I have had on one of my WineGuyMike radio shows, Julia McIlvaine and John Colella http://wp.me/p2JY6W-Ny .  Both of these actors starred in the lead roles of “Sideways The Play”.   Yes that Sideways, the movie that literally sent merlot wine sales spiraling downward globally, -2%, and lifted the global sales of pinot noir to the heavens with an increase in sales of 16%.

For the savvy wine consumer this smacks of opportunity, great merlot winemakers didn’t quit making merlot throughout the world just because a movie had tremendous physiological impact on the wine industry worldwide.  What this did mean is that poorly made merlot that would no longer sell was purged from the market place.

Merlot is a classic wine varietal that is medium-bodied, very expressive of its terroir that it is exposed to and grown in.  The merlot grape is very fruit forward and truly express’s nuances of red or dark fruits depending on where it is grown, and how it is made.  The merlot varietal is used as a primary blending grape in Bordeaux wine where it has gained its notoriety worldwide.

Merlot is a very fruit forward grape that is very soft with supple mouth-feel texture.  As a Bordeaux blend this exquisite wine is excellent to drink alone or as an amazing companion to a wide variety of foods. California winemakers are also learning to blend this classic grape too, and I emphasize the word learning.  While they have long produced merlot as a single varietal wine they are now blending with other varietals such as syrah, cabernet franc, and cabernet sauvignon.  There are some very good wines being produced but they are centuries behind the winemakers of Bordeaux and the special touch they have in producing classic Bordeaux wines of incredible quality.

Merlot is making a comeback and you will see more on the shelves of your favorite wine store.  This morning I leave you with two very nice wines that are of exceptional quality, one a blend from Napa Valley and a single vineyard 100% organic merlot from the Columbia Valley of Washington State.  Please enjoy both of these luscious wines from Whitehall Lane and Hedges Estates.

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Be sure to visit Liquid Planet, “The Best of Beverage”, in the heart of downtown Missoula, a great selection of wines and wonderful wine shopping experience.

The wines reviewed today all receive the WineGuyMike™ Seal of Approval™

From my table to yours,

“

Check out the radio show on The Trail 103.3FM and U 104.5FM.  The live stream feed is online at www.trail1033.com where you can click on “Listen Live”.  The WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© airs on both radio stations Sunday mornings at 10:00AM MST.

Social Media links;

Today’s podcast Wines From the Veneto Wine Region Of Italy; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/10/28/wine-guy-mike-for-october-28/ 

Last week’s podcast The Big Red Wines of Piedmont; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/10/21/wine-guy-mike-for-october-21/

Recent week’s podcast The Great Wines of Tuscany, Part 2 Italian Wine Series; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/10/14/wine-guy-mike-for-october-14/

Recent podcast; Understanding the Italian Wine Label Part 1 http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/09/09/wine-guy-mike-for-september-9/

YouTube preview of Wines From The Veneto Region Of Italy;

Recent podcast; What You Need To Know About Wine  http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/07/15/wine-guy-mike-for-july-15/

Recent podcast; (full length conversation) with Maximilian Riedel, CEO Riedel Crystal of America http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/06/24/wine-guy-mike-for-june-24/

Father’s Day podcast, Special Father’s and Special Wines http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/06/17/wine-guy-mike-for-june-17/

NBC Montana Today TV Segment; Perfect Patio Wines and food pairing; http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/Mike-Tornatore-8-7-12/-/14594602/15999458/-/67a5ri/-/index.html

YouTube; My YouTube channel of course is WineGuyMike™ or the actual URL link; http://www.youtube.com/user/WineGuyMike?feature=mhee

Facebook; WineGuyMike please “like”

Twitter; @WineGuyMike please follow me

Sleep City Missoula  www.SleepCity.com

Liquid Planet “Best of Beverage” and a great place to WineGuyMike show wines for the lowest price.  Located in the heart of downtown Missoula.

Georges Distributing in Helena, Montana.

Good Sunday morning and welcome back to this week’s show and the continuing series of The Great Wines of Italy Part 4.  Last week I shared with you “The Big Red Wines of Piedmont”, we covered a little bit of history of the Piedmont wine region, the indigenous foods, and the various styles of wines the regions produced by  winemakers and the grapes used in making these glorious wines.  If you have missed any of the previous shows of this Italian wines series you can visit my blog at WineGuyMike.com to read the blog posts or listen to the show podcasts.

The Veneto is one of Italy’s largest wine producing regions.  In fact you may have enjoyed some of the wines from this area and not even known it.  Winemakers from this region produce many wines that adorn many of our American dinner tables.  These Veronese wines like Soave, Bardolino, and Valpolicella are very easy drinking wines that are budget minded, just what we love on the WineGuyMike radio show.

The Romans arrived in this area in the second century B.C. and quickly organized it by dividing tracts of land which were then given to locals to then be cultivated.  Romans founded the cities of Padova, Vicenza, and Verona, and named the region Venetia.

The Venetian trade routes connected Asia with Europe created great wealth and spread prosperity throughout the region.  Growing Mulberries and breeding Chinese Silkworms brought prestige and affluence to the locals of this area.  A strong economy in this region allowed Venice to put in place an amazing infrastructure and undertake its great building project that still in place today.

With the Suez Canal opening between the 19^th and 20^th centuries Venice became an important modern day port city and with vastly improved communications and technology Venice is now a highly sought tourist destination.  The area in and around Venice is known for its outstanding artisan craftsmanship in fabrics, glass, jewelry, wood, and ceramics.

There are 20 DOC’s within the Veneto wine region which is known for quality and quantity both.  The Bardolino, Soave, and Valpolicella are the best known wines from this prolific wine region.  Valipolicella Superiore is produced using the Ripasso winemaking method; this involves adding back the grape skins of one of my favorite Italian wines Amarone to the Valpolicella wine.  This imparts a rich body, texture, and sturdy framework to the Valpolicella Superiore.  Did you know that when you see a bottle of wine designated as Superiore it has been made with special attention, longer aging, and will have more body due to a higher alcohol content in the wine?

I mentioned one of my favorite Italian wines, the Amarone.  What is an Amarone wine?  Amarone is a style of Valpolicella wine made by a special process, using only the ripest Molinara, Corvina, and Rondinella grapes from the top of grape bunches.  When the grapes are harvested they are spread out on straw mats left to raisinate or dry and shrivel.  This is a process similar to that used to produce French Sauternes and German Trockenbeerenauslese wines.  The difference between the French and German dessert and aperitif wines and the Italian Amarone wine is during fermentation the most of all the sugar is fermented.  The result is a very special wine that is full, rich, with a lush mouthfeel, and a higher alcohol content.  The Amarone wine is very special indeed which you are quick to discover when shopping, yes these wines are expensive but for special occasions are very worthy wines. 

Remember when looking at an Italian wine label will note that the label will provide you with three critical pieces of information in the way an Italian wine is named; the grape, the village or the district, and the proprietary name.  this is different from California which provides a grape variety on their label, and a French wine label that classified by region and quality designation.

Decades ago wine that was made in Italy was produced to be consumed locally with the foods common to those areas and regions.  Today with the incorporation of modern winemaking technology Italy is in the business of making and exporting their beautiful wines.  I hope after this series of four shows on Italian wines you will be encouraged to get out of your box and try some Italian wines.  As it has been said way to many times, try it you’ll like it.

I leave you this Sunday morning with some great Italian wine suggestions that are favorites of mine, check them out by visiting my blog at WineGuyMike.com and be sure to visit Liquid Planet, “The Best of Beverage”, in the heart of downtown Missoula, they have a great selection of Italian wines.

An Italian toast to all of you, Salute, my fellow wines lovers, I’ll see you on the radio.

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The wines reviewed today all receive the WineGuyMike™ Seal of Approval™

From my table to yours,