Vino Keeno, The Grapevine for the Recreational Wino

In addition to the Recreational Wino shirts, there are two new reasons to go check out the Vino Keeno Shop!

We now offer black t-shirts that proudly proclaim “Red Wine Snob” and a BBQ apron featuring the following little ditty. My mother taught this tongue-twister to my sister and I long before either one of us understood what any of it meant. Hee, you rock, Mom!!

starkle starkle little twink
who in the heck you are i think
i’m not under the alfafluence of incohol
as some thinkle peep i am
the drunker i sit here the longer i get
take me drunk i’m home

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Gala Rouge Pinot Noir 2004 Collection
$7.99

Wine label said:
Gala Rouge (ga-luh roojz) n. 1. A red carpet event [see charity fundraisers or black tie weddings]. 2. A fun evening of your choosing [see Bunko night or poker club]. 3. An unexpected celebration [see hole-in-one or finding a great vintage poster]. 4. A rich, full-flavored wine with a hint of fruit that is the perfect complement to any old reason to celebrate.

WebWino says:
This wine was given to me by a friend (who I hope starts submitting wine reviews… hint hint) and I have to admit I was afraid to try it. I was having such rotten luck finding a Pinot Noir I liked, that I was scared I would be panning his gift (even with it’s cool label design). However, I’m singing a different tune after finally trying this wine.

HALLELUJAH!

This Pinot Noir was yummy. It was nice and smooth right out of the bottle. No decanting necessary. It was mellow, non-intrusive and really pleasing to drink. Thank you for finding me a Pinot I’ll be definitely buying again!

Bella Vineyards 2001 Big River Ranch Syrah
$30-ish

Wine label said:
Dang. There is a lot of small type on that wine label and I’m too lazy to type it all in. It takes itself pretty seriously too, so I’m just going to skip over this part of the review.

WebWino says:
Time for another wine review brought to you by both WebWino and Rabbi Tuchman. We were fortunate to have the good Rabbi in for a visit on a his recent business trip. Luckily, this time we completely agreed on the wine and there was no name calling.

Basically, this wine was wonderful. It was grapey and mild. The good rabbi referred to it as a weak Syrah. Not negatively, it’s just that it did not have an overbearing flavor. It was very nice. Thumbs up from this crowd.

Black Mountain Vineyard 2004 Pinot Grigio
$7.99

Wine label said:
Cultivation of the famous grape from Verona, Italy in our own California vineyards provides the right climate and soil to express these fine qualities.

Grape Lady says:
This charming wine is loaded with fruit and herb flavors. It pairs well with most foods and is just pleasant to sip. Considering I really never cared for Pinot Grigios, this wine was a most pleasant surprise. I’ll buy it again.

WebWino says:
This wine is apparently available only at Trader Joe’s, and I was having lots of trouble finding a suitable image. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Since I’m all about promoting improved wine drinking with the RoJaus Wine Decanter, I thought I’d share a great article that ran in the August issue of Nashville Lifestyles magazine.

When It Pours, It Reigns
A local engineer improves the traditional wine decanter

It’s amazing how long we put up with things that don’t work or buy products that work poorly just because they’re all that’s available. Millennia passed with humankind lugging their belongings around on stretchers supported by poles that dragged on the ground instead of wheels. Eons went by before someone thought to invent the umbrella. And until just a few years ago, wine connoisseurs the world over had access only to an inadequate and clumsy system of decanting that had barely evolved from biblical times. That’s where Nashvillian Jim Moore comes in.

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