As many of you know, we now include wine reviews in the free Hello Vino app. We are extremely excited to collaborate with a talented group of writers that include Certified Specialists of Wine (CSW), Certified Wine Educators (CWE), and sommeliers certified by the Master Court of Sommeliers. Over the next few weeks, we will profiling each contributing wine writer beyond the third screen so you can learn more about the author.

Introducing: Joe Roberts ... a.k.a the Dude

Joe lives in Pennsylvania, and when he tackles the subject of wine on his blog at 1WineDude.com, he aims to help you get to know it better, how it's made, how the industry works, and most importantly how to get the most enjoyment out of wine that you can. When Joe is not spending time writing about wine, he plays bass guitar and digeridoo for acclaimed singer/songwriter Steve Liberace.

From the Dude himself:

"Most of the wine world is trying to tell you that in order to appreciate wine, you need to spend tons of money, memorize wine rating scores, and learn names that you can't even spell, let alone pronounce – otherwise, you will look like a total uncultured idiot. The problem is that they're wrong. You don't need to do any of those things to appreciate wine."

Joe has conducted some serious interviews including the one and only Robert Parker, and has a book available called
Wine Tasting Guide, How to Taste Like a Wine Geek.

Priding himself on helping you learn more about wine, Joe's primary focus on his website 1WineDude.com is to a) entertain you b) providing useful information to you, and c) make you laugh along the way. Let's start by agreeing that no matter what you've heard, learning to appreciate wine does not have to be daunting, expensive, or reserved for some strange elite audience with magical noses. The Dude says you can learn to appreciate wine just as you can food, cooking, music, or anything else that you enjoy.

Quick Reviews

Joe also provides Weekly Twitter Wine Mini-Reviews for quick thoughts on specific bottles that include:

• The Wine
• The Region
• A Quick Review
• Price
• Grade

You will notice that his Twitter Wine Mini-Reviews contain a rating that mirrors the report card A-F format. Here's how those ratings work.

He's Got Cred

Joe holds both the Level 2 (Intermediate, with Distinction) and Level 3 (Advanced, with Merit) Certificates in Wine amp; Spirits from the Wine amp; Spirit Education Trust (WSET) based in England. In addition, Joe is a member of the U.S.-based Society of Wine Educators, holding their Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) qualification, and belongs to the Wine Century Club. He more-or-less knows his wine stuff and provides serious wine talk for the not so serious drinker (and we dig it).

The Dude has toured the globe (including Alsace, the Rheingau, Pfalz, Rheinhessen, Mosel, Hungary, upstate New York, Long Island, Napa/Sonoma, Oregon/Washington, Canada's Niagara Peninsula, Greece, and South Africa, to name a few) in search of new wine experiences. His writing has been featured on CNBC.com, Mutineer Magazine, Publix Grape Magazine, Palate Press, and Chester County Cuisine amp; Nightlife.

We are excited to have Joe Roberts involved with our wine reviews. Be sure to check out his latest posts within the free Hello Vino app, and on his 1WineDude blog.

Cheers!

The Hello Vino Team

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(photo credit: allrecipes.com)

Have you been fishing for a different meal, or an alternative to meat? Instead of eating haddock, various types of shellfish, or tuna... why not give trout a try?

Trout are fish in the Salmonidae family and are close relatives of salmon. There are different kinds of trout, including rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout and tiger trout. Brook trout are the most typically cooked and eaten by fish-lovers, although all types are edible.This fish is easy to cook, and cooks fast so you won't be in the kitchen for a long time.

Different seasonings and rubs can be used to fit to your personal tastes, and if you are health conscious, trout includes many heart-healthy vitamins, minerals and high levels
of Omega-3 fatty acids, low in fat, and high in protein.

We suggest that you pop open a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc or a crisp Chablis, fire up the grill, and give this tasty trout recipe a try:

Foil Barbecued Trout w/ Wine (recipe credit: allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 2 trout, cleaned and head removed
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat a grill for medium-high heat.
2. On a flat surface, lay out two sheets of aluminum foil about 18 inches long so
   that they overlap to make one long wide sheet. Rinse the trout and pat dry. Lay the fish in the center of the foil about 2 inches apart. Sprinkle with white wine, melted butter and lemon juice. Season with parsley, salt and pepper. Fold the foil up loosely around the fish and crimp the seams to seal.
3. Place the packet on the grill and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until fish
   is cooked through.

Ready In: 35 Min

Have a great weekend,

Cheers!

The Hello Vino Team

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As many of you know, we now include wine reviews in the free Hello Vino app.  We are extremely excited to collaborate with a talented group of writers that include Certified Specialists of Wine (CSW), Certified Wine Educators (CWE), and sommeliers certified by the Master Court of Sommeliers. Over the next few weeks, we will profiling each contributing wine writer beyond the third screen so you can learn more about the author.

Introducing: Elizabeth Schneider

CSW and sommelier from NormalWine.com, a.k.a "a wine expert for normal people." She also blogs at Wine for Normal People.

Elizabeth is a wine educator and expert based in Atlanta, Georgia. Coming from the California wine industry, she's new to Atlanta, but always tries to bring her authentic experience and expertise to you. A native New Yorker with a way of breaking down wine in a unique, honest, and down-to-earth way that is factual yet memorable, Elizabeth is kind of unorthodox for the wine world (and we like that). Not snotty, not gimmicky, and not boring — an experience with Elizabeth is a perfect blend of entertainment and education, professionalism and fun.

Wine is Fun. Remember?!

If you have ever felt uncomfortable at a wine event, or wanted to know more about wine in general, Elizabeth is someone you can lean on. You will not get smacked in the face with snobbery, or have a light shined on what you don't know about wine. What you will get is a fun personality behind each word you read, and a person who wants to help you determine what you like about wine and how to articulate why you like it.

Plan to learn a thing or two about a region and/or styles of wine. Elizabeth is honest, entertaining, and has a conversation with you on her blog, Wine for Normal People. In fact, she loves Riesling... especially dry Riesling (more about that here).

Break It Down

Elizabeth also provides a nice wine review template that includes:

• The Wine
• Where It's From
• The Grapes
• Vintage
• Price
• Color
• Smell
• Taste
• Food Pairing
• Drink or Down the Sink

She's Got Cred

Elizabeth Schneider holds certifications from the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Society of Wine Educators. She worked in California's wine industry, conceptualizing and writing national wait staff training programs. Elizabeth has traveled to many wine regions of the world including Tuscany and Northern Italy, Burgundy, Napa, Sonoma, and South Africa to name a few.

We are thrilled to have Elizabeth Schneider involved with our wine reviews. Be sure to check out her latest posts within the free Hello Vino app, and on her Wine for Normal People blog.

Cheers!

The Hello Vino Team

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Now this is just too cool.

I'm a child of the 80's. In fact, I'm considered part of the "MTV Generation". And I must admit, watching Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" change from black and white to color rocked my world.

But, there were a special group of people on MTV that grew up with us. Each with their own personality - some outspoken, some wacky, and some with incredible hair. I'm talking, of course, about the MTV VJ.

Enter: Adam Curry

Adam Curry on The Big App Show

One of the most prolific VJs, Adam Curry would introduce Top 20 videos while rubbing elbows with the likes of Guns & Roses, Poison, and other world famous 80's rock bands. Curry was a fixture on MTV - probably the largest influence on late 80's / early 90's pop culture. You can imagine our excitement when we found that Mr. Curry had chosen to demo our Hello Vino app on his latest video production, The Big App Show. Wicked!

"This app is really hooking me up - I love this!"
- Adam Curry, The Big App Show

Download The Big App Show (free iPhone app) to watch the video.

A Podcasting Pioneer

Also known as "The Podfather" of the tech industry, Adam Curry introduced the concept of delivering pre-recorded radio shows online via MP3 (or, what Apple has coined as "podcasts"). He founded the first and longest-running daily podcast to date, The Daily Source Code. He then founded the company Mevio, a network of audio and video entertainment with over 40 shows ranging from tech to comedy to general entertainment.

Thanks, Adam.

To Adam: If this blog post popped up in your Google Alerts, and you're reading this stream of consciousness from an excited Gen X'er, allow me to extend sincere thanks on behalf of the Hello Vino team. You've delivered a renewed sense of inspiration to this scrappy, bootstrapping startup.

Cheers,

Rick Breslin
Hello Vino

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Hey Everyone,

We've experienced some hot weather on the east coast recently. We've also felt the heat of the sun in California as well. For us, a nice summer sipper lately is Sauvignon Blanc. We were fortunate to have a glass of I-Block Fumé Blanc on Wednesday.

Fumé Blanc is made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Before the 1970's, Sauvignon Blanc had a bad rap in the United States for being too sweet and boring. Robert Mondavi was inspired by Loire Valley's Pouilly-Fumé (poo-yee foo-MAY) and worked a nice batch of Sauvignon Blanc grapes he had to counteract the sweet and tired reputation the wine carried. Modeling the subtle elegance of the Loire Valley wines, and fusing the wine names together, Fumé Blanc was born. In California, the Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma enjoys daily high temperatures in the mid-80s with frequent late afternoon/evening cooling from the coast. Crisp acidity is maintained in the grape when growing conditions are on the cooler side. This temperature fluctuation helps the winemaker decide how to mould the taste of their wine.

A nice food and wine pairing for Fumé Blanc is flounder, and we'd like to share a recipe we recently tried.

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Click here to download:

tech-in-twenty-2010-07-08.mp3 (4921 KB)

This week, the Tech in Twenty podcast on Blog Talk Radio uncovered some of the cool web sites, gadgets, apps, and personalities in the digital world of the “Foodie”.  Host Luis Sandoval was gracious enough to interview Rick from Hello Vino, and talk about our favorite wines, how wine conversations are perfect for social networking, and new features to expect from our free mobile app.

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(photo credit: Mark Wilson for The New York Times)

Last night my wife and I met some friends at Jerry Remy's Sports
Bar and Grill in Boston. Remy is the color analyst for New England
Sports Network and has set up a big, open-themed atmosphere with
plenty of big screens and beverage choices for all. This sports bar
actually replaced the old WBCN building (the legendary 104.1 and
"The Rock of Boston" for over 40 years).

We sat, chatted, and ordered some food and drink while watching
the Red Sox take on Tampa Bay (at Tropicana Field).

Since Remy's sits in the shadow of Fenway Park, why not order the
mother of all appetizers?

The Green Monster

• 18 buffalo wings
• six beef & cheddar sliders
• loaded french fries
• beer battered onion rings
• dipping sauces and table reinforcements included!

Interestingly, there are a few wines you can try with an appetizer
like the Green Monster.

1) You could go with a white wine, or red wine for good old buffalo wings. Dry Riesling, or a jammy Zinfandel work nicely...just have a napkin handy!

2) Red wine works best for the sliders. Syrah or Zinfandel are
good choices for the beef.

3) French fries and onion rings are tough ones, however, the crisp character and fine bubbles of sparkling wine cut the fat, and refreshes your palate for the next bite. A little bubbly can balance the salt and stand up to the tomato flavor in the ketchup...if you're dipping away. Sparkling Rosé is a real nice choice here.

Whether you are in a booth at a sports bar, or making some fun food at home,
just remember...wine and wings can be finger licking good.

Cheers!

Jim from Hello Vino

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Please rise...

I pledge allegiance to the wine
of the regions across the world,
and to the vineyards from which grapes grow:
one glass, in our hands, indivisible,
with bright fruits and substance for all.

The 4th of July weekend is here! Grills will be grilling. Fireworks will be blasting. Many of you will be hanging out with friends and family, and hopefully soaking up some sun. Hello Vino has wine recommendations for this very special occasion.

Which wine to bring to a cookout?

Wine is a great pairing for many bbq foods, pasta salads, assorted munchies, and if you're lucky... a juicy lobster. You do not have to bring a cooler full of beer to a cookout if you're more of a wine person.

Here are some nice varieties of wine you can pick off the shelf that will go over well at any cookout.

• Chenin Blanc is a nice pairing for white meats
• But, for BBQ chicken and BBQ pork, go with Syrah
• Steaks and burgers are great with Zinfandel or Malbec
• Chardonnay for lobster, pasta salads, and chicken salad
• Rosé is a versatile choice, as it goes well with lobster, spinach dip, and guacamole

Would you like to bring the host of the party some wine as a gift?

In the spirit of the holiday, use the free Hello Vino App to choose a type of wine
they'd like.

• Bottle Rocket Reds (for the red lovers)
• White Stars & Stripes (nice whites that can be chilled)
• Sizzling Sparklers (patriotic bubbles & refreshing)
• Sweet Blasts (a sugar bomb in the glass)
• Rosé Roman Candles (light, pink, & enjoyable)

Have fun, be safe, and Happy 4th of July!

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(photo credit: Finale Desserterie & Bakery)

Hey Everyone,

I was recently in Boston an visited Finale for some late night dessert.
Talk about hitting your sweet spot! The award-winning plated desserts are
available in their full-service dining room. While you're waiting for a table,
you may hang out at a casual bar area and sip on a wide variety of ports,
dessert wines, Champagnes and house-made specialties.

An array of pastries, cookies, cakes, and other delectable desserts are
designed for carryout as well.

Choosing one delicious creation to dig into was difficult. With culinary
mirrors overhead, Finale desserts are on display with beautiful presentations
that only make your mouth water even more than it already is.

"Our desserts are made with passion. Using
only the best ingredients, such as Valrhona
chocolate and Tahitian vanilla beans,
we create sweet works of art that are as
exciting to look at as they are to eat."

I was pleasantly surprised to see wine pairings right on the menu that
recommend wines you may not order on a routine basis like
Ice Wine, Tawny Port, Madeira, and Sherry.

They also offer a light-bite menu called "The Prelude," some lunch options
as well, but the real draw are the top-notch desserts. Each menu offered is
complete with wine pairings which I thought was pretty cool. Maybe you'd
like to start with a shrimp & avocado salad before ordering a dessert panini??

Some fun dessert and wine pairings from the night:

Lemon Pound Cake
Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc (Maule Valley, Chile)

Molten Chocolate Cake
20-Year-Old Tawny Port (Douro)

Crème Brûlée
Aged 5-Year-Old Malmsey (Madeira)

Hot Fudge Sundae w/ vanilla gelato
Banyuls (Languedoc, France)

Dessert Sampler with a selection from:
Crème Brûlée, Strawberry Shortcake, Manjari Mousse, Hot Fudge Sundae,
Finale Cheesecake, Boston Cream, Whoopie Pies, Apple a la Mode and Gelati/Sorbet
Vidal Ice Wine (Niagara, Canada)

Finale has 3 locations (Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge).
Satisfy your sweet tooth next time you're in town.

Cheers!

Jim from Hello Vino

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Let's play the word association game. When I say "Napa," what type of wine comes to mind? Cabernet Sauvignon, right? Truth is, most of the Napa Cabs you're drinking have other wines blended in to fill out the mouthfeel, contribute to the color, and add luscious fruit flavors to the final product... and those wines typically contains a significant amount of Merlot.

That's right. Merlot!

You're probably familiar with the bashing undertaken by Merlot from the movie Sideways, where the main "wine snob" character exclaimed, "I am not drinking any %&$!@ Merlot!" Well, he obviously didn't try the Bolen Family Estates Merlot from the Oak Knoll District of Napa. 'Cause if he did, it probably would have saved Merlot from being the "last kid picked for the kickball team" for the past few years (or, so to speak).

Meet Eric Bolen from Bolen Family Estates

In this short video, Eric takes us through the fermentation and blending process he uses to craft the perfect Merlot. His clear explanation of how each "lot" contributes to different components of the wine will help you pick out the nuances (aromas, flavors, texture, etc.), while making you appreciate the care and dedication he puts into his winemaking.

More on the Bolen Family Estates Reserve Merlot

The 2006 Reserve Merlot (made from 100% Merlot grapes) is the latest release from Bolen Family Estates. And... the 2007 vintage (pictured) will be available within the next few weeks. The grapes come from the Beckstoffer Orchard Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, which has the ideal climate and conditions for a longer growing season. The Bolen Family also harvests their Merlot grapes later than others in the area, in order to deliver a "unique flavor profile of deep red fruits and berries".

Two years of oak aging to "bring out some sweet spice and layers in the wine,", combined with the three fermentation methods explained in the video above, result in a deliciously well-balanced wine with beautiful fruit flavors of both red and dark berries, and a wonderful, lengthy finish (i.e. take time to enjoy between sips).

Under the direction of renowned Napa winemaker Tom Rinaldi, the Bolen Family has an unparalleled dedication to quality, while focusing on a single variety to deliver an inspiring Merlot experience.

You can buy this wine through their web site at BolenLegacy.com. On their site, you can also find directions to the tasting room (part of Silenus Vintners) on Highway 29 in Napa, where you can experience an intimate tasting and tour with Eric Bolen.

This gorgeous photo was taken by Penelope Moore, and posted to the Bolen Family Estates Facebook page.

More Merlot Love: It's "Merlot Monday"

On Monday, June 28, join Bolen Family Estates as they celebrate the launch of "Merlot Monday" - an effort to bring Merlot back into the spotlight and celebrate your favorite Merlot wines. In addition to tweeting with the hashtag #MerlotMonday, you're invited to celebrate in person at the VinTank office in downtown Napa. RSVP at: twtvite.com/MerlotMonday

Hopefully now you're able to mock the Miles character from Sideways, and proclaim I love %&$!@ Merlot!

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