Advice From Someone Who Is Selling Plenty

After nearly six months of writing a wine column and related blog, the response has come mostly from wine novices or people who want to take a step up into better $10-$20 wines.

That’s why offering advice from many different sources continues to be a goal.
I’ve written a couple of columns of general advice and will continue to seek the opinions of others with varied backgrounds. My background is from buy, drinking, and tasting a lot of different wines. I think someone who is selling wine every week certainly has an even more credible and broad-based experience to offer.

You can almost always find such people in area wine shops and increasingly they’re turning up in grocery stores. But it’s not just grocery stores in high-income metropolitan suburbs. Reggie McConnell is helping Baesler’s Grocery in Terre Haute move wine you don’t normally find in the supermarket.

Target and a few other stores have a wider selection of wine than most of the big chains, it’s still rare to find a wine steward, advisor, or host in most vino aisles. McConnell ended his business career in 2008 with early retirement. He had always been a wine buff and loves talking wine.

When Bob Baesler approached him about helping stock the shelves of his family-owned grocery, answer questions, and help sell more wine, Reg enthusiastically agreed. Now you can find him on hand Thursday, Friday and Saturdays helping customers select wine and try new wines. He has boosted case sales to nearly 15 percent of the store’s total and more than doubled the wine selection.

The grocery still carries plenty of Yellowtail and other brands you’d expect to see, but McConnell has also brought in an eclectic mix of other wines up to about $25-$30. Operations like Baeslers remain rare and you may not find one near you, but the trend is for more stores to hire wine stewards with the ever-increasing wine sales across the country.

A few metropolitan Indianapolis markets have wine help on hand during busy times of the week.

“While I think it’s a good strategy to find a wine consultant one is comfortable with (whether it be at the retail level, or even a nationally known critic) don’t make the mistake of placing too much emphasis on your advisor's opinions,” McConnell said.

“Wine consultants can be enormously helpful as general guides for the hobbyist. Most folks don’t have the time, money, or inclination to devote untold hours to seeking out new wines. Find a consultant or reviewer whose tastes seem to dovetail with yours and let him/her be your guide. This method can save hobbyists considerable time and cut down on costly mistakes. Should you find that your consultants’ recommendations are not passing muster then find a new consultant.”

Reggie took time out on a recent Saturday morning to talk wine and the wine business. He said the key to any grocery selling more wine was better selection and simply someone there to answer questions.

Too many people find wine to be a mystery. When there is someone there to help buyers out, they buy more wine. Generic advice doesn’t always work, but simple things like reading labels, read the shelf notes, and try lots of different wines, will broaden your wine appreciation.

McConnell has another piece of advice I can heartily endorse.

“Wine’s ability to enhance the taste of food (and vice versa) cannot be overstated,” he said. “I suggest folks new to the hobby begin their journey by introducing wine with the evening meal. It’s amazing how pairing the right wine with the right food can turn one’s everyday dining experience into something truly special. Europeans have known this for centuries, while Americans are just catching on to the notion of enjoying a glass of wine each day.”

My suggestions would be a crisp Sauvignon Blanc with fish, Riesling with simple chicken or turkey dishes, Cabernet or a Zinfandel with steak off the grill, perhaps a Syrah with BBQ, and a nice Sangiovese-based Chianti with your pasta. If you have a food pairing question, go to my blog (www.redforme.blogspot.com) and send me an e-mail.

Howard’ Pick:

Klinker Brick – This is a label instead of a wine. I recently had the Klinker Brick Zinfandel, at about $18, and their Syrah, which was $16. The Klinker Brick label is relatively new but comes from a vineyard that has long sold its grapes to other producers. I thought both wines tasted well above the price you’ll pay for them. Both were great representations of the grape and big, bold-flavored wines. You won’t find Klinker Brick in any market, but I have seen the label in Indiana wine shops.

Cabernet - Even the Name Sounds Royal

Cabernet Sauvignon – even the name sounds royal. That’s appropriate for a wine often thought of as the King of Red Grapes!

Cabernet, or “Cab”, is the world’s best known grape varietal. It is the big wine that gets all the attention, headlines, and often sells for really big bucks.

Now let’s be honest here, Cabernet is not what I’d recommend for beginning wine drinkers or even novices. It’s very difficult to find good ones under $20 and it is generally a big-flavored, very tannic, red wine.

But it is the wine most people have heard of and read about. It is the primary grape in the great French Bordeaux wines and it dominates California’s Napa Valley. It is the one red wine most often put away in the cellar to age for a few years, or many years, before drinking.

It’s a hearty grape that is easy to grow, at least in comparison to many others. It likes warm climates and has spread to every major wine growing region of the world.
And you can’t go to any grocery and not find a Cab on the shelf. In a wine shop you’ll find Cabs from around the world. There are many big wines that are actually blends with Cabernet. The traditional Bordeaux blend has long been Cab, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Now days you might find just about any red wine grape blended with Cabernet to soften the big grape’s flavor.

Being a big and brawny grape it’s the wine you want with a great steak. Cabs are usually very dark wines with a flavor of cherry, bell pepper or even green olive. You can almost always taste the oak used in the aging process on the finish as you swallow the wine.

And frankly, there are a lot of bad Cabs out there on the super market and wine shop shelves as well.

I waited 10 columns into this adventure in wine writing to just tackle Cabernet. I’d suggest if you have been drinking Merlot, Malbecs, Syrah and other varietals and have not yet tried Cabs then you are ready to get started.

I’d point you toward Washington State Cabernets initially. I’ll recommend what I think is a very good one below. The Washington Cabs seem more “ready to drink” than many you’ll find from California. They are a bit softer and smoother.

General guidelines never work, but if I was to offer just one I’d say buy a Cabernet that is at least three years old. If you’re not prepared to buy red wine and set it aside for 2-3 years, minimum, then the 3-year rule works well. The bigger the Cabernet the smoother and richer it will become with age.

There are some very palatable Cabs coming from Argentina and Chile. You won’t find many Indiana Cabernets but there is one I can recommend. Huber Winery’s 2006 Cabernet is surprising for a Hoosier Cab at just under $20.

There is nothing better with a steak off the grill than a really big and smooth Cabernet. For most of us the really good Cabs are going to be at or above the top end of what we want to spend on wine. The greatest glass of wine I’ve ever sipped was the iconic Joseph Phelps Insignia from Napa Valley. The current release, a 2004 Cab blend, retails at $225 a bottle! And, that isn’t the top end of what you’ll pay for the signature Napa Valley wines but it does give you a clue.

If you want to buy a really good Cabernet for a special occasion, there are many really great Napa Cabs in the $40-$60 range. Joseph Phelps, Cakebread Cellars, and Chappellet are three I have tasted and think are superb. All three are found in better Indiana wine shops.

But most of us aren’t buying too many bottles at that price point, especially in these economic times. There are good Cabernets out there under $20. And I’d love to hear your recommendations. I’ll include your favorite Cabs in a future column. Just drop me a line with the winery name, vintage year, and where you bought it, with your comments at: hewitthoward@gmail.com

The best two Cabs I’ve ever tasted under $20 are below.

Howard Picks:
Duck Pond 2004 Cabernet – This Washington state Cabernet tastes like $30-$40 wine. It’s big and smooth and ready to drink. I paid $10.99 at an Indianapolis shop and was astonished by the quality.

Green Lion 2005 Cabernet – This Napa Valley Cabernet is a bit bigger than the Duck Pond but also unbelievable wine for around $20. It’s a little harder to find than the Duck Pond but it is available in Indiana. Look for the funky and color label done by the same artist who once did album covers for The Beatles!
Remember to check out my wine blog for regular wine reviews.

Try Something Different for a Change

One of the greatest joys of appreciating wine is trying something new and different.
Maybe you love Chardonnay and really enjoy trying the big oak-flavored Chards of California and then comparing them to the lighter stainless steel-aged wines of France.

Or maybe you like the bigger red wines and like to compare the fruit-forward Syrahs versus the peppery finish of a big Zinfandel.

Here’s a challenge to be more adventurous. There are more than 10,000 documented varieties of wine grapes. Most fine wines come from about 230 grape varietals. There are hundreds more pressed and aged into wines in all corners of the world.
So instead of trying the same wine from another country, how about trying a grape you’ve only heard of or, better yet, one you’ve never heard of at all?

Let’s start with some red wines for your consideration. If quizzed on the mostly widely planted grape in the world many would probably guess it’s Cabernet Sauvignon. But it’s widely believed that Grenache is the most planted varietal of wine grapes. The heart of Grenache (or Garnacha in Spain) is the Spanish countryside and lower France, though it is grown around the world.

Grenache is often used in blends and is the key grape in many of the fabulous Southern France wines such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Those wines are usually more expensive juice, starting at around $40 a bottle and going up. But I’d suggest buying a bottle of Spanish Garnacha in order to try something different. There are many great Spanish Garnacha wines in the $12-$20 range.

Grenache will often have something of an herbal nose with raspberry and peppery notes. The wines can range from super smooth to big robust wines. It’s a very easy-to-drink wine you’ll enjoy by itself or with food.

How could you not like a wine when the grapes are known as “little sweet ones?” Dolcetto D’ Alba is an Italian grape and wine from the Piedmont region of Italy meant to be consumed when young. If you buy much red Italian wine the odds are you’re buying Sangiovese. The Dolcetto grape makes a wine which is dry with some acidity. You’ll taste the fruit and it will go down smooth. Try it with your next plate of pasta instead of Chianti.

You’ll have an easier time finding Grenache than you will the Dolcetto, but both are worthy of your palate. And both are usually quite affordable.

Other reds worth your effort which are relatively smooth, easy to drink and affordable: Malbecs and Bonarda from Argentina, Carmenere from Chile, and wonderfully affordable Tempranillo or Mencia from Spain. (I’ll be writing about these wines in future columns as well!)

Let’s switch gears for the white wine fans and offer a couple I think you’ll really enjoy.

First up is an ancient grape that dates back to Roman times. The wine is quite easy to find and even easier to enjoy. Viognier started in France but can be found extensively in the United States, Australia and other parts of the world.

One of the great things about this wine is the nose. I think one of the most under-appreciated aspect of all wines is the sensual pleasure of getting your nose into the glass and really appreciate what you’re about to drink.

Viognier will give you hints of peaches, apricots and sometimes musk. The California Viognier is usually very affordable. If you want to go to the grape’s origins pick up a Condrieu from the Northern Rhone region of France.

Some of the best white wines you will ever drink come from wineries and grapes you’ve never heard of out of Italy and Spain. One of the easiest to find is Soave, a dry white wine from Italy’s Veneto region. Soave wines will sometimes include more than one but always includes the Garganega grape.

The wine will be crisp and at least slightly acidic but pair it with seafood and you have a great wine-food experience. The wine will have a bright and fruity nose and perhaps a touch of mineral to the taste.

Other whites to consider include: Gewürztraminer, an aromatic and spicy wine that is awesome on a summer evening. Gewurtz’s hybrid brother Traminette is grown and made into great wine by many Indiana wineries, great Pinot Gris from Oregon, and a great French or American Chenin Blanc are all good choices.

Howard’s Picks:

2006 Vega del Castillo Garnacha – A nice representation of the wine, a bit acidic but pairs well with food. Give it an hour open before pouring. Under $15.

2004 Tamellini Soave – A beautiful wine that would pair nicely with white fish. It has a bit of apricot on the palate and a surprisingly smooth finish. I paid $13 for this Italian beauty.

A reminder that any wine I recommend in these columns was purchased in an Indiana wine shop. To read more about the wines and what I’m drinking, go to my wine blog at www.redforme.blogspot.com

Wine and Cheese/Chocolate Make Great Date

Wine and cheese.

We’ve grown up with the pairing as an established cliché in American culture. But with Valentine’s Day approaching, and really any other time, try something healthier and even more sensual. How about wine and chocolate?

At first glance the pairing seems most unlikely. I found myself in that camp for some time until I put a Zinfandel to a dark chocolate cake about five years ago. Wow! Now I regularly nibble a little bit of chocolate after dinner to finish off a glass of wine.

Pairing chocolate to wine is much like pairing your dinner entre’ to the right wine. You want to balance and complement the flavors of each treat.

There are some general guidelines that work in trying to find the perfect match. First, the wine should be at least a bit sweeter than the chocolate. During your experimentation, you will find some duos are great on the first bite or sip but then go sour. It takes experimentation.

Another tip is to let each totally dissipate in your mouth before going back and forth. You’ll find early on that each taste of chocolate and each sip of wine is like your first taste of the evening.

Now, some common sense advice: If you enjoy lighter and sweeter chocolates then you’re going to be looking at lighter-bodied wines. For example, if you enjoy white chocolate you might want to try a Sherry or a Muscat or perhaps even a sparkling wine.

You might want to pair a Pinot Noir, Merlot or even a German Spatlese-style Riesling with milder to medium chocolates.

If you’re ready to pair the big boys, start with chocolate at the 60 percent cacao level. Then you can experiment to see what works for your palate. At the 60 percent mark, you might want to try a Zinfandel or Syrah. If you are a big mouthful-of-flavor wine person, buy some 65-70 cacao chocolate and break out the Cabernet or any other big red wine.

My personal favorite is chocolate and Zinfandel. I like the big powerful Zins which tend to be very fruit forward with a peppery finish. They will hold up to the 60 or 70 percent cacao products. Some Zins will pair better than others. Many value priced Zins will pair best with chocolate in the 60 percent range. If you jump up in price point to around $25-$30 for a huge Zinfandel, you might want the powerful 70 percent chocolate to hold its own.

It’s not difficult now days to find good chocolate. Even grocery stores carry Ghirardelli, Dove, and other products. But as a recommendation to get started I’d suggest Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate. It’s 60 percent cacao and a fine product. Every grocery has it and the large bar is usually in the $1.80 price range. Indiana Kroger stores often have it on sale for $1 a bar.

Wine Spectator, in an issue on wine and chocolate about a year ago, singled out Special Dark as surprisingly good. You can also, of course, buy expensive hand-made truffles and live it up! There are even specialty chocolate companies that make specific chocolates for specific wines. I haven’t tried Brix but it makes three chocolate bars for wine. They’re available in Indiana at World Market and other up-scale groceries.

Start slow with small bites. Let the flavors melt in your mouth. Wine and chocolate can be a very inexpensive luxury.

Remember to check out my wine blog (www.redforme.blogspot.com) for updates on lots of different wines I’m drinking and news from the wine world.

Howard’s pick:
Renwood Zinfandel – Renwood is one of California’s best known and widely available quality Zinfandel producers. Its 2005 Old Vine Zin is a real gem at $14-$20, depending on where you pick it up. Most often, you’ll find the wine for around $15-$16. It’s nicely balanced though relatively high in alcohol at 15 percent. It’s a perfect wine for 60 percent cacao chocolate.

A Few Basic Suggestions for Newbies

When I talk to friends or acquaintances really into wine, more often than not they most frequently ask about wine tips more than recommendations on particular wines.
So today I’ve rounded up a list of suggestions, guidance, and ideas that may help you enjoy wine even more. You can find list after list available in wine books and the internet but I’ve selected some I think are most helpful.

Wine storage – Keep your wine in a dark, moderate temperature spot. Ever wonder why wine comes in dark glass bottles? Light will break down the chemical structure of the wine. Buy a simple wine rack that is easy to find in most any home store. Keep it away from heat and away from direct sunshine or bright light and you should be fine. Never store wine on top of a refrigerator or near a heat source.

Wine glasses – You can find wine glasses at Wal Mart or Target. You can also spend close to $100 apiece for Riedel crystal wine stems. But the best and least expensive advice is to buy two different kinds of glasses. Buy a big bowl wine glass for your red wines and a smaller glass for your white wines. It took me a long time but it makes a difference. If you have advanced to wines which are a little more complex and expensive, then you can look to different shapes and better stemware. If you are getting serious about your wine, Riedel (and other companies) offer crystal wine glasses at a number of price points. Riedel, the Austrian glassmaker, is the world’s leader in wine stemware.

Washing wine glasses – You might say, huh? It’s important to clean your wine glasses thoroughly immediately after using them. Use mild dish soap sparingly and dry immediately. The slightest residue can affect the taste of your next glass of wine.
Wine Ratings – Ratings are one of the most controversial topics in oenophile circles. They are meant to be a guideline. If you buy highly-rated wines and like them, then the ratings are useful to you. I’d recommend you take recommendations from your local wine shop owner. Then when you return, tell them what you like and didn’t like.

Value wine – You like wine and want to enjoy it more often but don’t like the price of better wines? Go abroad! There are good U.S. made value wines. But if you look at South American wines, Spanish wines, and Australian wines, you’ll find some great wines in the $9-$15 range.

Restaurant wine – Unless you’re fabulously wealthy, buying a bottle of wine in a restaurant is seldom a bargain. Restaurant wines are often marked up 100 percent or more. I will order a glass of wine in a nice restaurant, but just refuse to pay $50 for a bottle I know costs $22.

Chilling wine - There is more advice on wine temperature than you can sort out. Put a white wine in your refrigerator for 1-2 hours – no more. For a red wine, I’d open the bottle and chill about 10-15 minutes before serving. Try these methods then adjust the time to your taste.

Storing wine overnight – Frankly, I’ve found few things that work and have tried them all. What I use is a vacuum pump and rubber bottle stop. The small stopper goes in the bottle and has a small slit in the top. The pump removes some of the air to help preserve the wine. It works about as well as any of the other methods. Basically, find a way to limit your wine’s exposure to oxygen. White wine will often last a couple of days in the fridge. For me, red will only hold together about 24 hours.

It would take all of the pages of this newspaper for a comprehensive list. If you have a specific question, drop me a line at the email address below. If I don’t have a good answer, I’ll find one for you.

Don’t forget to check the complementary blog (www.redforme.blogspot.com) I write for this column. I share wine news and thoughts about wines I’m drinking. In the blog I also share detail on price points and where I buy wine.

hewitthoward@gmail.com

Col. No. 7 - Malbec Great Step to Better Wine

You’d had a Merlot, a Cab, and maybe even a Zinfandel or other type of red wine. You are adventurous with your taste. Perhaps you’re just looking for a consistent wine you can buy over and over and explore the grape as you increase your wine knowledge.

Argentinean Malbec is the wine you should be drinking if you fit in to any of the above categories. Or if you just want to try something different, Malbec might be for you.

Malbec is one of the darlings of the value wine world. You can find outstanding wines in the $12-$18 range at any wine shop. And, Malbecs are starting to show up in many grocery stores.

Malbec was once known as a varietal of Bordeaux, the great wine-making region of France. Malbec has, at times, been compared to Merlot. Malbec’s French history is comparable to Merlot. The French use Malbec to blend into their great red wines. But since they use it primarily for blending, they never really developed the grape to any great extent.

The Malbec grape has thin skin and requires intense heat to make great wines. Apparently, in the late 1800s a French agricultural specialist began growing Malbec in Argentina. And as they say, the rest is history. Argentinean Malbec grapes produced a softer, less-tannin driven wine that proved perfect not just for blending but as a standalone wine. It’s not unusual to find Malbecs with an Italian or French name as many great European producers have bought vineyards in Argentina to grow the grape.

For years Bonarda, a smoky and earthy wine, was the primary grape of Argentina and the country’s famed Mendoza Valley. In 2007, Argentina exported more than 13 million gallons of Malbec. The United States is Argentina’s biggest customer, gobbling up $50 million of the Malbec wines.

So while history is important, why should you drink it and experiment with it? Well, the answer is the same as always and that’s because you’ll like it. Malbec is usually an inky black wine with a very approachable, smooth taste. Some wines will be very soft to almost thin, usually depending on the price point. But others will be fruity or jammy. You’ll taste ripe black fruit, a sense of earthiness, and acidity.

I have expanded my palate by purchasing different Malbecs and comparing them. Malbec is my favorite value red wine. The price point is not limited to the $12-18 I mentioned above. You will find very good Malbecs in the $9-$10 range on occasion. And, there are high end Malbecs worthy of aging that will hold up to the Cabernet and Bordeaux wines that get all the publicity.

News & Notes
- Grape Sense has debuted in Seymour and Terre Haute since my last writing. It’s cool to get feedback. I heard from a descendent of the Bogle wine family who lives in Jackson County. And, I heard from a “wine guy” at Beasler’s Market in Terre Haute after my first column ran there. I also heard from a couple of Terre Haute Star-Tribune readers asking for some recommendations. I intend on visiting Beasler’s soon and will write about that in my blog. (www.redforme.blogspot.com)

- The Associated Press reported recently that the United States is poised to become the world’s largest wine consumer. Italy has held the top spot in recent years, but projections suggest the U.S. will become the world’s biggest consumer of wine in 2012. I posted a link in the blog to the AP story.

- I have to include a thank you to Grape Sense readers in Frankfort, Indiana. I traveled to the Gem City Jan. 6 and did a short wine education program for the Frankfort Kiwanis Club.

- Indiana has another winery opening. Wildcat Creek Winery joins 36 other Indiana wineries. It’s apparently in a restored farmhouse right off I-65. I’m going to try to visit several Indiana wineries in spring and summer and feature them in Grape Sense. The other interesting news from Indiana’s Wine Grapes Council is that four more Indiana wineries are due to open this year!

Howard’s Picks:
Caligiore Malbec, from Argentina’s Mendoza Valley. This is not one for the beginners. It is big, bold, and dry. It has some tannins on the finish and was great with dinner. You’ll find it in wine shops anywhere from $12-$18.

Maipe Malbec. This is a great silky smooth Malbec. The fruit on the front of the palate won’t be as strong but it’s hard not to like. Look for Maipe at $10-$14.

Sediento Malbec/Bonarda, a 50/50 blend that rocks! This one is smooth with a bigger flavor at the front of the palate than the Maipe or the Saint Julia you’ll see in wine shops everywhere. The Saint Julia isn’t bad, but a little thin for my tastes. Try the Sediento blend and I think you’ll love it. This wine generally retails $9-$11.

You can read where I buy my wines on my other blog and comments about them. All the wines I recommend are purchased in Central Indiana.

Col. 6 - All About Bubbly on New Year's Eve

It’s hard to understand why people rush out before the end of the year to buy an expensive drink they’ve never had before, and if they have had it - they probably didn’t enjoy it!

Yes, I’m writing today about champagne.

Champagne, from my very limited experience, can be exhilarating or just plain awful. This column is being written on research more than experience. I try to stick to things I know when writing about wines. But it’s the time of year people are looking for some direction and advice.

Let’s start with a little education. The only real ‘Champagne’ comes from the Champagne region of France. You see the word ‘Champagne’ on other bottles but if it’s not French, then it’s not Champagne. The explanation for all of that involves lots of history and understanding of Old World (Europe) wines. But let’s not go there today.

There are a handful of major Champagne houses in France but probably the best known is Dom Perignon. Moet et Chandon produces the famous green-bottled wine with the shield-shaped label. The champagne is named after a Benedictine Monk, born about 1638, who purportedly discovered the method for making champagne, some say he worked on blending methods, but the Dom Perignon name stuck.

It’s always good to know what you’re getting in a bottle. The classic Dom Perignon is 55% Chardonnay, and 45% Pinot Noir. And as you probably know it’s expensive. I believe the current release is a 2000 vintage which sells for around $130 a bottle.
I’ve never had it but have certainly heard its praise from others. Dom Perignon is portrayed in at least one ad campaign having said it was like “drinking stars.”
And if you want to take a step up from Dom Perignon, try Cristal produced by Louis Roederer. It is known for its flat-bottomed clear, “crystal bottle, cellophane wrapper, and gold label. It’s also known for its $350 price tag.

So there must be an alternative. And, there are lots of alternatives. I read numerous wine columns and blogs and found some recommendations that make sense.
Italy and Spain have some marvelous white wines that are becoming increasingly popular. They are very affordable, consistent with the ‘under $25’ approach.

Italy’s Prosecco is a frothy, bubbly and fun wine made in the region around Venice. You will find mass market Prosecco wines and smaller producers. If you’re into it, look for Prosecco from the Valdobbiadene region. You’ll find some great buys in the $15-$20 range.

Prosecco is generally lighter than champagne, less alcohol content, but you still get the bubbles!

Another great pick is a Spanish Cava. Cava hails from the region around Barcelona. Cava sparkling wines have become very popular and can be found in the $10-$20 range.
What about good U.S. bubbly? Perhaps the best known name is Korbel. That company found loopholes in international treaties that allow it to use the word “Champagne” on their bottles. They offer several price points.

Washington state’s leading winery Ste. Michelle makes a Brut for $8.99. Gloria Ferrer, from California’s Sonoma Valley, is one of the U.S.’s leading producers. The winery’s top-of-the line product is Royal Cuvee which sells for $35 and was awarded 93 points by Wine Spectator. They have less expensive bottles as well.

If you want something nice and are near a wine shop, go ask for their recommendation. It’s important to support these smaller shops during these tough economic times. Any wine shop will have a selection that should fit your budget.

And Martini and Rossi’s ‘Asti Spumante’ - about nine bucks - remains a nice mouthful of bubbles for New Year’s Eve.

A couple of notes: “Grape Sense” has expanded to Crawfordsville, Frankfort, Terre Haute, Seymour, and Wabash, Indiana, newspapers. I have not spent much time working to spread the column but I continue to get great e-mail response.

Have a great and very Happy 2009!

PS: A special toast to those who recognize Christopher Walken in the photo center left. This is from his Saturday Night Live skit where he constantly refers to the pleasures of a fine "champanya."

Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. - Lord Alfred Tennyson

Send comment or questions to: hewitthoward@gmail.com