The witty, funny and charming Laura Lawson was kind enough to invite Rick Breslin from Hello Vino to her Wine Crush Radio Show, which airs on several stations across the county.

"Wouldn't that be a cool app ... If I like chocolate chip cookies. I like Big Mac wraps. I like lemon chicken off the grill. I like BBQ. ... And by putting in these flavor profiles and putting in these foods that I like, the "computer" has an idea of what wines it might steer you toward."

Yes, Laura. That would be cool. And that app is called Hello Vino.

Grab Some Vino & Listen In
(Interview at 27-minute mark):

winecrush_051612_Hello_Vino_Interview.mp3

(download)

Click here to download:

winecrush_051612_Hello_Vino_Interview.mp3 (48.4 MB)

During the show, Laura asks Rick several questions about the inspiration for creating the Hello Vino app, the strangest food & wine pairings, and the most popular wines according to shoppers using the app.

If you love learning about wine in a fun, down-to-earth and totally approachable way, Laura is the perfect host. You can download this episode or listen to the show online.

Cheers!

The Hello Vino Team

www.hellovino.com

You asked, we answered.

For the past three-and-a-half years, we've added several features and content to the free Hello Vino app based on user feedback.  We love our community.  And we get all fuzzy when we get a little love back:

Y'all. There is an app called @hellovino. I am in love.

— Katie Ennis (@katierennis) March 28, 2012

Enough of the lovefest, what's new?!

One of the most popular requests we receive from Hello Vino users is the ability to quickly get wine recommendations based on their favorite type or variety of wine.

"Is there a way to do a straightforward search on a wine type, such as recommendations for Rioja or Pinot Noir?"

For example, if you know you love Pinot Noir, simply tap into the new "Wine by Type / Variety" section of the app to get some inspiration for your next shopping trip:

So, how do you get the new recommendations?

It's super easy.  Simply open the Hello Vino app on your iPhone or Android phone, then tap the button to download the latest wines and recommendations.  Here are screenshots to help you out:

Special Thanks to Kevin Quass

When we say that we listen to our community of wine shoppers, we really listen.  Sometimes, we ask questions right back.  In the case of this new update, we'd like to thank Kevin Quass for helping us with the naming convention for the new "Wine by Type / Variety" section.  Kevin originally reached out with the question above, then we asked his advice on which verbiage would help direct wine shoppers into this new section.  Thanks, Kev.

Happy Wine Shopping!

Here's the link to download the free Hello Vino app.

Cheers,

The Hello Vino Team

www.hellovino.com

iPhone Life Magazine published a 3-page feature on Hello Vino in their May/June 2012 issue. Author Steve Boss (also host of the Great Taste radio program on KRUU-LP 100.1 FM) was kind enough to provide a free PDF download of the piece.

It's the first location-based recommendation app in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, let alone the wine industry.

iPhone Life Magazine is available at newsstands across the world, and is #2 in Apple Newsstand for the iPad. The "Wine Apps Uncorked" article is found on page 64.

The article gives a few hints about the future of Hello Vino, and also profiles a few other wine apps.

Cheers!

The Hello Vino Team

www.hellovino.com

It's a holiday weekend!

You're probably starting to run errands to get ingredients for your holiday dinner, and of course, those killer bottles of wine that you're looking forward to sharing with friends and family.

We're Here to Help

In the old days, people were left stranded in the wine aisle.  Now, we have these newfangled gadgets called smartphones that make us, well, smarter.  That's where the free Hello Vino app comes in - the app gives you wine recommendations for meals, taste preferences, and for special occasions like Easter.  Here's a sneak peek:

Wine with Dinner... AND Dessert

Right now, the wine pairing requests for Ham and Lamb preparations within the Hello Vino app are off the charts.  But, what about the candy?  Yep, how could we ignore the guilty pleasure of raiding Easter baskets for those (ahem) once-a-year indulgences?  The free app even makes wine pairing suggestions for all your favorite candies:

Why Are You Still Reading This?

Download the free app and grab some vino!

P.S. Don't forget to tap the big green button when you open the app to download the latest Easter and Candy pairings.

Cheers,

The Hello Vino Team

www.hellovino.com

Tuscan. Pork. Wine. Go!

Tuscan Pork Stir-Fry 

Ingredients (credit: AllRecipes.com)

• 1 pound pork tenderloin, cut into strips
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups frozen cut Italian green beans, thawed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small white onion, cut into 1/2-inch-wide wedges and separated
• 6 ounces sliced cremini OR sliced portabella mushrooms, halved
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 (16 ounce) tube refrigerated plain-flavored polenta, cut into 1/2-inch slices and quartered
• 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet over high heat; stir-fry pork for 3-5 minutes or until no longer pink. Remove pork from skillet with slotted spoon; cover to keep warm.

Add beans to skillet; stir-fry for 1 minute. Push beans to side of skillet; add 1 tablespoon oil to center of skillet. Add onion and mushrooms; stir-fry all vegetables for 2 minutes. Remove from skillet; cover to keep warm.

Stir together tomatoes, cornstarch, sugar, salt and basil. Add to skillet; bring to boil. Add polenta. Cook, stirring gently, over high heat for 1 minute. Return all to skillet; cook, stirring gently, for 1 minute. Transfer to shallow pasta serving bowl; sprinkle with cheese. Serve immediately with a side of garlic bread.

What wine pairs with pork stir-fry?

Riesling: a semi-dry version with peach, orange, and citrus

Pinot Gris: a nice, zippy white wine with flavors of honeydew melon and kiwi

Cheers!

Hello Vino

Looking back at 2011, there are many trends with wine, but some will most likely be around for a while. 

Here are some topics that should swirl around for a bit.

Eye on Organic

Folks are increasingly keeping a close eye on the source for their food, and so goes the wine. Natural wines are becoming better and better, and some consumers are making an effort to seek out organic, biodynamic and sustainable winemaking. 

Knock, Knock. Here's Your Wine.

The state of Maryland joined 37 others in allowing direct to consumer shipments. There's a ways to go here…but it's a start. Here's a fun little site to learn more about the movement: http://www.freethegrapes.com/

Celebrity Juice

In 2011, Donald Trump bought Kluge winery (who was bankrupt). Actor Stanley Tucci has a new show called 'Vine Talk' where other famous faces sit around a table sipping and shooting the breeze about wine. Most recently, Drew Barrymore entered the wine business offering the Barrymore Pinot Grigio with a label designed by the famous street artist, Shepard Fairey (the one behind the Obama "Hope" poster).

Millenialls are Adventurous

This segment of wine drinkers want to expand their horizons, and will be willing to toss a few more bucks toward a new glass or bottle of wine. Interestingly, within the free Hello Vino wine apps, we offer your common "go-to" varietals, however, we also make it a point to recommend wines like Torrontes, Nero d'Avola, and Gewürztraminer to please everyones palates.

Wine with Dinner in America

Let's face it, wine has become much more popular over the years in the U.S. With resources such as Hello Vino, or recipe websites attaching a type of wine that may match well with the meal, food and wine pairing will continue it's upward trend. If you have travelled to Europe, wine on the dinner table is second-nature. American dinner tables are being peppered with more and more table wine, and it creates a great social atmosphere. Do you need to know what wine to pair with dinner…theres a free app for that

What do you think will happen in 2012?

Cheers!

Hello Vino

The wine aisles have grown up over the years, especially in places where you shop for food.

Small sections and shelves that were simply labeled "wine" have exploded into rows of bottles that are appropriately categorized into types, styles, varietals, regions of the world, imports, jugs, boxes, 4-packs, and more.

The shelves also pepper you with endless coupons, deals to purchase a food item in another part of the store to get $2 off the wine, and passively ask you if you're interested in some wine charms, gift bags, or some fluorescent bottle stoppers?

The aisle suddenly has a lot of personality.

We know you have an overwhelming amount of options when shopping for wine, but realize you're not looking to spend a half hour searching for something. In fact, you may be missing out on some interesting wine you'd dig based on your taste preferences, or a meal you may be having because you have to get a move on!

We created our free wine app Hello Vino to demystify the wine aisle and help you select or discover great wine you can enjoy, remember, and share with friends.

Here's a little diddy explaining how we can help in an instant:

Simple Supermarket Wine-Buying Tips

Use the Hello Vino Wine App

• Wine recommendations for food, specific occasions, regions, and your personal taste preference
• Save your wines, create a wishlist or future shopping list, and give them your own ratings
• Search for wines like you would on Google, or try our wine label image recognition (point and shoot with your smartphone camera)
• Listen to audio reviews of wines you can easily find in stores
• Sign up for 'Wine Picks for You' and we'll send you deals based on your history and items you like
• Share your pairings and wines with friends through Twitter and Facebook

» Download the free app for iPhone or Android

Check That Rating or Score
We've seen great industry scores on the bottle-necker or shelf-talker promoting a particular vintage, but the one for sale, or in your hand is a different vintage!

Move Beyond California Wines
Explore some the of excellent wines from other regions. In fact, some bottles from regions located in Argentina, Portugal, and Spain provide killer deals (roughly $10 and taste like $30)

Check The Vintage
Most wines for sale at a supermarket are meant to be consumed immediately and are best when they're young and fresh

Where do you like to buy wine...your local supermarket, wine shops, Trader Joe's, drug stores...sound off!

Cheers,
Hello Vino

Rosés are not red. Violets are not blue. In fact, colors of pink, purple, or orange in your glass will smile back at you.

If you, or your significant other enjoy sweeter Rosés (the 1970's U.S. surge of "blush wines"), or you like the drier versions (more European), we have a great list below.

To quote William Shakespeare, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." 

A Dozen Rosés For Your Wine Lover

Crios de Susana Balbo Rose of Malbec 2009

89 Points: Robert Parker 

"The 2009 Rose of Malbec is dark pink in color with an enticing nose of strawberry and cherry. Ripe, dry, and full-flavored"

Price: $11.29

**Buy the 2009 Crios de Susana Balbo Rose of Malbec

Cataldi Madonna Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Cerasuolo 2008

90 Points

"One of the more overt, fruit-driven roses of the vintage. Medium in body, the wine possesses gorgeous depth and richness, with a long, polished close"

Price: $17.99

**Buy the 2008 Cerasuolo by Cataldi Madonna

Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rose 2009

88 Points

"Bright pink. Raspberry and blood orange on the nose, with notes of white pepper and fresh bay adding complexity. Spicy red fruit flavors show a refreshingly bitter quality"

Price: $15.99

**Buy the 2009 Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rose

Terredora Rosaenovae Rosato 2009 

90 Points

"Dried roses, berries, spices, minerals and licorice are some of the notes that emerge from this ethereal, deceptively medium-bodied wine"

Price: $16.49

**Buy the 2009 Terredora Rosaenovae Rosato

Domaines Ott Les Domaniers Cotes de Provence Rose 2009 

88 Points

"Rich and minerally, with slate and pepper accents to the dried cherry and plum flavors. Features dried mango and citrus on the zesty finish"

Price: $ 19.99

**Buy 2009 Domaines Ott Les Domaniers Cotes de Provence Rose

Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rose 2010  

"The mouth feel is succulent, with strawberry, rhubarb and cinnamon flavors. It opens to a fine dense body of wine with a soft texture that is long and beautifully balanced"

Price: $ 11.29

**Buy the 2010 Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rose

Trenza Rosado 2009

"There is bright strawberry and cherry, along with rich banana, and a hint of rose petals. It finishes nice and surprisingly dry"

Price: $ 15.29

**Buy the 2009 Trenza Rosado

Folie a Deux Menage a Trois Rose 2009 

"Fruit-laden roller coaster ride of raspberries, strawberries, lychee nuts and flowers with a silky smooth finish"

Price: $ 10.99

**Buy 2009 Folie a Deux Menage a Trois Rose

Francis Ford Coppola Winery Sofia Rose 2009  

"A luminous magenta hue and beautiful perfume of wild strawberries, tea leaves and violets. Luscious flavors of raspberries, cherries, candied orange and cloves enliven the palate"

Price: $ 16.79

**Buy the 2009 Francis Ford Coppola Winery Sofia Rose

Muga Rioja Rosado 2009  

"Vivid pink. Complex, highly aromatic bouquet of pink grapefruit, strawberry, rhubarb and white flowers, with a strong mineral undertone"

Price: $ 13.29

**Buy the 2009 Muga Rioja Rosado

Mulderbosch Rose 2009 

"A dry rosé (made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) with a beautifully fragrant nose, offering alluring aromas of rose petal, strawberry, and cherry"

Price: $ 9.99

**Buy the 2009 Mulderbosch Rose

Ch. Campuget Costieres de Nimes Rose 2009  

"Scents of small red fruits such as raspberries or blackcurrants, and the final taste is very long, leaving an delicate impression of fruitiness"

Price: $ 11.49

**Buy the 2009 Ch. Campuget Costieres de Nimes Rose

With Love,

Hello Vino

Do you want to have a pre-Valentine's Day night of fun? Dazzle your date and inject some goofy fun?

I'll proudly shout that I love chocolate strawberries. And, I love lamp (Brick Tamland voice)!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Ingredients:

• 16 ounces milk chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons shortening
• 1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves

Not That You Need Directions…but here you go:

Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.

In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.

Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.

Lava Lamps 

Ingredients

• 1 (3 ounce) package red or blue colored instant gelatin mix
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup vodka
• 1 (750 milliliter) bottle champagne

Directions

In a medium bowl, stir together the gelatin mix and boiling water until completely dissolved, about 2 minutes. Stir in vodka. Pour the liquid into small paper cups or portion cups. Chill until set, at least 2 hours.

Pour champagne into glasses. Break up the gelatin with a fork, and pour into a glass of champagne. A little stir gives it some 'lava' action. Drink with caution, these will sneak up on you.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers,

Hello Vino

Superbowl snacks coming at ya!

Restaurant-Style Potato Skins 

Ingredients (credit: AllRecipes)

• 6 potatoes
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/8 cup bacon bits
• 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

Pierce potatoes with a fork. Microwave the potatoes on high until they are soft; approximately 10 to 12 minutes.

Cut the potatoes in half vertically. Scoop the inside out of the potatoes, until 1/4 inch of the potato shell remains.

Heat oil to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C) in a deep fryer or a deep saucepan. Place the potatoes in hot oil, fry for 5 minutes. Drain potatoes on paper towels.

Fill the potato shells with cheese and bacon bits. Arrange them in the prepared baking pan.

Bake for 7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Serve hot with sour cream.

Wine Pairing:
Pinot Gris or Pinot Noir

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients (credit: AllRecipes)

• 2 (10 ounce) cans chunk chicken, drained
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup Ranch dressing
• 3/4 cup pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot®)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 bunch celery, cleaned and cut into 4 inch pieces
• 1 (8 ounce) box chicken-flavored crackers

Directions

Heat chicken and hot sauce in a skillet over medium heat, until heated through. Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Cook, stirring until well blended and warm. Mix in half of the shredded cheese, and transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, cover, and cook on Low setting until hot and bubbly. Serve with celery sticks and crackers.

Wine Pairing:
Dry Riesling or a jammy Zinfandel

Have a great weekend, and enjoy the Superbowl!

Cheers,

Hello Vino