Do yourself a favor and watch this ENTIRE 5 minute video. You’ll be very glad you did. Given the crazy times we all live in today and the recent strife experienced by so many, it’s pretty uplifting to see an organization focusing on bringing joy to the masses, even at its most elemental level. This video was done by a group called Playing for Change. Their mission is to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music.

Quoting one of the artists in the film, Roger Ridley, these people, much like him, are “in the JOY business” and I see great dividends in their future.

Looking beyond limitations, walls, and current situations of doubt, we benefit ourselves by benefiting others and seeking to speak and relate to each other in a universal voice.

Enjoy.

This past October I was invited to check out some wine making over in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Now, I’d bet you’re asking yourself the same thing I did: “Wine making… In Brooklyn?” Yep, that’s exactly what’s going on and the story behind it is pretty catchy. Former Sound Technician for Peter Frampton and Billy Joel and now turned Wine Distributor, Mark Snyder (a local New Yorker), decided making wine in Brooklyn was just the thing to do. From what I’ve heard wine making isn’t all that disconnected from Brooklyn. Historically, the area was a home to Kosher wine production and much as I’ve witnessed in small town Italy,  homemade wine is an integral part of the culture and apparently thrived among Italian-American immigrants in Brooklyn during years past.

Given Snyder’s close connection to two of the West Coast’s cult-status winemakers (Bob Foley of Robert Foley Vineyards and Abe Schoener of The Scholium Project) it now seemed time to do a little “West Coast Winemaker meets East Coast Grapes” style throwdown.

Talking to Snyder, you can sense his enthusiasm and passion for wine. This drive is exactly what led to the formation of his company, Angel’s Share Wines which, is well-known for distributing quality West Coast wines from the likes of both Foley, Schoener and many others.

In reality, these bold Winemakers faced a really though year. Long Island vineyards experienced an aggressive growing season in 2008 with increased rain, lower than average temperatures and according to one of their growers accounts, the onslaught of hungry birds as the tough little grapes hung on the vines longer than normal for a bit more development.

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viogner and as you can see above, Merlot are all on the block. Having the opportunity to taste some of the Sauvignon Blanc during fermentation was excellent. The yeast was very much present and while it was still more juice than wine, I was intrigued by the rich, crisp fruit and sweetness that was present given such a though year. If anyone can pull-off this project, I’m betting Snyder, Foley and Schoener are the crew to do it. It’ll be really exciting to taste some of these wines in 2009.

I’ll be posting some video taken at the yet-to-be-named Red Hook, Brooklyn winery soon. Until then, check out some of the photos I snapped that night up in the Fermented Photo Gallery.

Hippies and wine, always welcome!

This “eye-opener” was sent to Fermented Thoughts by one of our friends in the field, whilst on a wine scouting mission. If ever the importance of line breaks needed to be emphasized, I’d suggest we start here.

Who was asleep at the wheel of this ship?

Ad wizards indeed…

Vincent Dureuil-Janthial Bourgogne Aligoté 2006

Welcome to Bourgogne, France (aka Burgundy). Home to eastern French headliners Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Oh, and Aligoté [ah-lee-goh-TAY] a lesser known, almost rambunctious yet immensely pleasant grape from the small appellation of Bourgogne Aligoté.

Who doesn’t love an underdog? Consistently in the shadow of its enormously popular neighbor Chardonnay, Aligoté gets very little play but when produced from old vines, for those in the know, a special treat awaits.

Lost among my mid-summer wine purchases, I discovered this racy bottle while searching for the right wine to enjoy with some fresh roasted pumpkin seeds. It’s that time of year again and let me state clearly, I’ve stumbled upon paring perfection…

Golden lemon in color, this Aligoté opens with the generous perfume of sweet, spiced citrus, mild carrots and layers of rich tropical fruit. The palate is no less than electric. Medium-bodied with a knife-sharp initial acidity that smooths into an intense marriage of lemon, salted nuts and grassy bay leaf flavors. Bright, fresh, clean and complex.

The mixture of citrus, tropical and nutty characteristics lead me to believe that this wine saw time in oak and possible aging on the lees, thus adding to its rich character. With a dual-sided, crisp yet savory nature this Aligoté served as a delightful complement to the season’s first batch of roasted pumpkin seeds and delivers pleasure far beyond its value-based price of $16-18.

In buying, pairing and sipping remember, there’s more to life than Chardonnay.

Sitting in Monaco at Quai des Artistes on the shore of Port Hercules,
I find myself under the spell of this fine shank.

After the casino this, paired with an anonymous Burgundy gave rest to
my non-winning soul.

Limoncello. Lemonade stirred with a very sharp knife. Indeed.

Valpolicella from Sant’Antonio. Tenuta Sant’Antonio Vendenimia 2007.
Yes, I am in Monaco but, my heart is in Italy.

Clear the palate in preparation for le vin prochain. Or so they say…
A little French before some more Italian wine.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2005 by TreRose. At Cacio e Pepe in
Monaco. Severe old world style. Too good to type about.

Weinhenstephan, a taste of Germany while in Monaco.

Sitting at Cafe de Paris across from Le Casino Monte Carlo I feel it
necessary to have a beer in an area of such concentrated wealth.

The trenino – not exactly the Eurostar…

Little, rickety trains like this one shuttle locals up and down the
steep, terraced Cinque Terre hillside providing easy access to the
vines during the growing season and harvest.

Most families of the Cinque Terre make their own wine for private
consumption. Here, you have a scaled up version of the home wine maker
alla Monterosso.

I believe this tower, has had too many vinos.

Corvo, I believe and pizza margherita.

The simple pleasures.

Ah, Italian sweet bread. Fresh and warm, direct from a little old
lady’s oven in Riomaggiore. Dark and golden raisins with dried
currants, candied orange chunks and pine nuts.

I enjoyed my breakfast with a warm cappuccino.

Off to Pisa.

Ciao Ciao!

Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino 2003

Beautiful Brunello. A welcome reward after hiking the six mile Cinque
Terre coastal hillside.

Sun warmed earth, dried Turkish figs, spice and black berry purée in
the nose. Full on the palate with tannins as smooth as my college
roommate on a Saturday night. Coffee, cedar and dense black plums pop
out in the end.

Excellent Brunello, worth the praise.

Pesto is a classic Ligurian sauce that I’ve found to be truly
magnifico on troffiette, a small rolled pasta made of chestnut flour.

The fresh pesto and hand made, dense pasta married well with the house
Chianti Classico Riserva.