Sweet + Spicy Gochujang Roast Chicken + Honey-Lime Potatoes

“Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has the ability to comfort.”

When I think of comfort food the FIRST thing that comes to mind is roast chicken. Succulent, crispy skinned, flavorful roast chicken. And what better time of year for comfort food than Fall, especially in these strange, unusual and unsettling times we’re living in. Comfort food has never seemed more necessary.

Roast chicken is one of the first things I ever learned to cook and, decades later, it’s still one of my absolute favorite things to make. In fact, I think it’s safe to say roast chicken is my “spirit dish.” It’s a blank canvas upon which you can channel the spirit of a particular season or specific region depending on how you’re feeling. From my experience, it seems like most dedicated home cooks have their own signature roast chicken recipe (mine is right here!).

I can’t even count the number of incarnations I’ve experimented with over the years, but I definitely remember the standouts, and this recipe for Gochujang Roast Chicken with Honey-Lime Smashed Potatoes is definitely one of those delicious gems.

During the pandemic, I’ve been experimenting with Asian-inspired recipes and ingredients and I’ve become absolutely smitten with gochujang. This sweet, spicy, fermented Korean red chili paste is packed with flavor and imparts a fiery, umami deliciousness to whatever dish you add it to.

Straight out of the tube, it’s a deep crimsony, brick red color but when roasted, it turns a beautiful burnished, mahogany that goes especially well with golden brown roast chicken skin.

Gochujang is made from chili powder, glutinous rice (aka sticky rice), fermented soybean powder, barley malt powder and salt. Traditionally the mixture is fermented over years in earthenware pots, usually outdoors. Over time, the starches in the glutinous rice are converted to sugars which gives the paste its sweetness, while the chili provides the enticing heat. And it’s the fermented soybean powder that round out the trifecta with a fabulous umami kick.

A few important things to keep in mind when making this delicious dish:

• The gochujang I recommend is listed below - you will need TWO tubes of this particular brand to make this recipe so Amazon Prime it up and you’ll be enjoying this dish within 48 hours!

• This recipe will require you to spatchcock your bird and before your mind heads to the gutter, this term simply refers to removing the backbone from the chicken. It is kinda fun, in a much different way than you were initially thinking, and you’ll need sharp poultry shears to accomplish this task - I’ve recommended my favorites shears below. They are an investment you will NOT regret!

• A microplane is the best way to grate the garlic and ginger into the gochujang oil and a potato masher sure comes in handy to smash those glorious potatoes. You can also use the back of a wooden spoon but I found it had a tendency to shoot the little suckers across the kitchen. Please see my recs below for both items!

And while hearty roast chicken and potatoes might immediately inspire thoughts of a fuller-bodied red wine…think again! In this case, the heat and spice of the gochujang paste together with the honey and lime in the potatoes should lead you in another direction. Remember, you pair wine as much with the protein as with the “prep” and any other ingredients and it’s important that the wine doesn’t clash with any component of the dish.

Part of what I love about Asian ingredients are their delightful complex flavors that are so much fun to pair with wine. And when if comes to this recipe for Gochujang Roast Chicken with Honey-Lime Smashed Potatoes, the Morgan Double L Vineyard Riesling ($24), an aromatic dry Riesling from California’s Santa Lucia Highlands region, turned out to be the perfect choice! It’s notes of lime, peach, honey and white flowers together with a vibrant acidity complemented the dish beautifully, creating a wonderful synergy with its flavors and textures and a truly memorable, lengthy finish.

Dan and Donna Lee, founders of Morgan Winery, are true pioneers in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA with over thirty years of winemaking experience in this very special region. Their crown jewel is the Double L Vineyard, named “Double Luck” in honor of their twin daughters. They purchased and planted the land in 1996 and in 2001 it became the first certified organic vineyard in the entire AVA. Today, the Double L Vineyard is the source of Morgan’s best wines, the Double L Pinot and Chardonnay and is one of the most famed wine growing properties in California.

In the event you can’t find this particular selection, simply ask your local wine shop for something similar. As I mention in this post, developing a relationship with your local wine shop is one of the most important components to empowering your palate and learning about wine! I hope you enjoy this pairing as much as we do and that it inspires your love of roast chicken in all its seasons and forms.

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“GOCHUJANG ROAST CHICKEN WITH HONEY-LIME POTATOES”

Adapted from FOOD52 recipe by Molly Baz

INGREDIENTS

• 1 3 1/2-4lb whole chicken

• 5 Tbsp. gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste)

• 1/4 cup plus 3 Tbsp. olive oil

• 1 head of garlic

• 1 1/2” piece of fresh ginger, peeled

• 1 1/2lbs. baby Yukon Gold potatoes

• 2 fresh limes

• 4 scallions, green + white parts thinly sliced

• 2 tsp. honey

• Kosher salt + freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and place it breast side down on a cutting board. Using sharp poultry shears, cut up each side of the backbone from tail to neck until the backbone can be freed + removed + either reserve for stock or discard.

3. Place freshly spatchcocked chicken (yes, YOU just spatchcocked a chicken), breast side up, on a rimmed, medium-sized baking sheet. You want the chicken + potatoes in a single layer to fill the majority of the sheet. Otherwise, if the baking sheet is too big, the juices will evaporate. Press down on center of breast to get chicken to lay as flat as possible. Season liberally with Kosher salt + freshly ground black pepper.

4. Whisk together 5 Tbsp. gochujang paste + olive oil in a medium bowl until combined. Peel + grate 3 cloves of garlic from the head of garlic into gochujang mixture, followed by the 1 1/2” piece of peeled, fresh ginger. Whisk to fully combine grated garlic + ginger into gochujang oil. Using a pastry brush, brush half the gochujang mixture over chicken.

5. Cut the remaining head of garlic in half crosswise + place both halves + baby Yukon Gold potatoes in a large mixing bowl. Add the additional 3 Tbsp. olive oil + remaining gochujang oil + toss well to coat. Season potatoes + garlic with Kosher salt + pepper + toss again to thoroughly combine.

6. Arrange oil-coated potatoes + garlic halves around the chicken on the baking sheet, making sure the garlic halves are cut side down. Roast chicken + potatoes for 40 minutes without disturbing. Then rotate pan and turn potatoes to coat in juices. Drizzle with additional olive oil if the pan looks like it’s getting dry. Roast for an additional 20-30 minutes until chicken is a deep reddish-golden brown + potatoes are golden + tender when pressed with the back of a spoon or potato masher.

7. Transfer chicken from baking sheet to a cutting board to rest for 10-15 minutes while you prepare the potatoes. Using a potato masher or wooden spoon, gently smash potatoes to expose their flesh to the heavenly juices in the pan so they can soak it up. Drizzle potatoes with 2 tsp. honey + juice of one lime half. Taste potatoes + season with Kosher salt + pepper to adjust seasoning. Finish by scattering sliced scallions over potatoes.

8. Carve chicken + arrange pieces over roasted potatoes. Serve with remaining lime wedges + be sure to squeeze out roasted garlic cloves into potatoes as desired.

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Top 10 Fall Favorites for Food + Wine Lovers

“Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp + golden as an apple.”

Well, it’s official - my absolute favorite season of the year is finally HERE! (insert happy dance)

Yes, this week welcomed the first official day of Fall and, as a fellow food and wine lover, you’re probably awaiting with great anticipation all the deliciousness that’s in store for us in the coming months. Dishes like Rosemary Roast Chicken with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms, Porcini Mushroom, Thyme and Barley Soup and Ina Garten’s Pear Clafouti are just a few that get my tastebuds going. Not to mention all the delicious, fuller-bodied wines!

I have so much to share with you in the coming months so I hope you’ll stay tuned and, since we’re all still dealing with #pandemiclife, it’s as important as ever to practice culinary #selfcare and nourish your body AND soul. I sincerely hope my curated list of Top 10 Fall Favorites for Food + Wine Lovers helps you to appreciate the wonderful sights, smells, sounds and flavors of this delightful season and truly inspires you to “feed your senses” and celebrate Fall to the fullest. xo

TOP 10 FALL FAVORITES FOR FOOD + WINE LOVERS

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Top 10 Rosés for Fall 2020

As we ease into Fall, I know you’re probably looking forward to embracing all the wonderful red wines that pair so brilliantly with the delicious dishes we look forward to during the chillier months. But since Fall doesn’t officially start until September 22nd and the temperatures are still soaring into the triple digits in most of the U.S. (please, make it STOP!), I have some delicious rosé recommendations to share that are going to help you make the transition seamlessly.

But lest you think these are the pale, rose petal pink Provençal rosés of Summer…think again! No, the wines in this post are located on the other end of the rosé spectrum. They’re the crimson-hued, deeply colored, pink wines that are packed with flavor and beautifully bridge the gap between the lighter rosés of Summer and the fuller-bodied red wines of Fall and Winter.

You might be surprised to learn that this spectrum of rosé wine even exists! Since the Provencal rosés have gotten so much press during the #RoséRevolution, many of the other beautiful shades of pink wine still remain well kept secrets. Well, that ends today and I’d like to encourage you to drink the rosé rainbow, and the wines listed here provide the perfect opportunity to do just that.

And because these rosés contain more color, flavor and tannin than their lighter counterparts, I like to call them “red wine drinker” rosés. Mostly because my die hard red wine lovers who generally despise wimpy Provencal rosés, positively LOVE the darker colored pink wines. But these wines are so user friendly, as we usher in Fall they can provide enjoyment to a variety of wine lovers. This is also a great way to get acquainted with some unfamiliar grape varieties including Nebbiolo, Mourvedre and Negroamaro which make some truly brilliant pink wine.

So go forth, scroll down and enjoy these recommendations and if you have any questions about anything you read here, please let me know in the comments section below.

TOP 10 ROSÉS FOR FALL

Leone de Castris Five Roses Salento Rosato, Puglia, Italy ($16): In Italy, rosé goes by the name “rosato” and this one represents the very first pink wine to ever be bottled and sold in Italy back in 1943. The current vintage is a blend of 90% Negroamaro, a dark, thick-skinned, red Italian grape with blackish-violet skin that produces wines with medium-plus tannins, and 10% Malvasia Nera, a blending grape that brings additional color and aromatics to the finished wine. The end result is a delightfully dry, medium-bodied rosato with notes of baked plum, cherry and spice with a delightful herb and spice-tinged finish.

A.A. Badenhorst Secateurs Rosé, Swartland, South Africa ($14): If you’ve been following my recommendations lately, you know I’m obsessed with the Secateurs wines. They offer an incredible value for the price and their rosé is no exception! This savory blend of 90% Cinsault and 10% Shiraz will keep you coming back for more with enticing notes of wild strawberry, watermelon and earth accentuated by a tangy, balsamic finish. And just FYI, this wine gets its gorgeous deep pink hue from 2 hours of contact with richly colored Shiraz grape skins.

Masciarelli Villa Gemma Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy ($18): Established in 2010, the Italian Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC is strictly dedicated to the production of rosato wine. It’s an appropriate name since “Cerasuolo” means “cherry red” which refers to the deep, translucent crimson color the wine has from very brief skin contact with the highly pigmented Montepulciano grape. As a big fan of this producer (check out this delightful pairing), I love this hearty gem that’s sure to delight those who enjoy a more mouthfilling style of rosé with notes of wild cherry, raspberry and herbs accentuated by lovely tannins.

Chateau D’Aqueria Tavel Rose, Rhône, France ($22): This deeply colored pink wine hails from France’s Southern Rhône, specifically, from Tavel, the first AOC ever established in France in 1936. This is a Grenache-based blend that includes other indigenous red and white grapes from the region including Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Bourbolenc. As a rosé that’s closer to an actual red wine, it has a dazzling, deep ruby-red color and fragrant aromatics of red berries and spice. On the palate, ripe juicy flavors of cherry and ripe berries strawberry, cherry, peach,

Charles Joguet Chinon Rosé, Loire Valley, France ($22): Hailing from France’s Loire Valley, this rosé comes from well known producer Charles Joguet and embodies the beauty of the region’s signature red grape, Cabernet Franc. This medium-bodied, lively rosé, crafted from 100% Cab Franc, exhibits enticing aromas and flavors of raspberry, rose and cherry accompanied by savory herbal notes of lavender and thyme. Red wine lovers will adore this wine’s depth of flavor, slight grip of tannins and spice tinged finish that round out the experience.

Round Pond Estate Rosato di Nebbiolo, Napa Valley, California ($24): When I first tasted this wine at a trade tasting years ago…I was immediately intrigued! It was clearly no wimpy rosé and to this day, this California “rosato” exhibits tremendous depth of flavor and that delightful hint of grip that only tannins can provide. Crafted from 100% Nebbiolo, the same red grape responsible for the legendary Barolos and Barbarescos of Italy’s Piedmont region, this wine has aromas and flavors of blood orange, watermelon, strawberry and spice framed by a food friendly acidity and fine grained tannins.

Goldeneye Rosé of Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, California ($25): This gem from the legendary, California-based Duckhorn portfolio, has been one of my best sellers since last season! This delightful rosé is a blend of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier, and while crafted from relatively reserved grapes, this sophisticated rosé seduces with layers of flavor featuring notes of white peach, orange peel, strawberry and spiced pear. The fruit is accentuated by a lively, yet graceful acidity and a lengthy, spice-tinged finish.

Wölffer Estate “Summer in a Bottle” Rosé, Long Island, New York ($26): Hailing from Sagaponack, NY in the bucolic glory of the Hamptons this rosé is a creative blend of 40% Merlot, 22% Chardonnay, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Gewürztraminer, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Pinot Meunier, 4% Pinot Blanc, 3% Riesling and 2% Sauvignon Blanc. As the sheer number of grapes might suggest, this delightfully aromatic wine is packed with flavor exhibiting notes of blood orange, guava, spiced pear and strawberry accompanied by a fabulous, food-friendly acidity and fine-grained tannins.

Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé, Provence, France ($40): The pale color of this rosé from this iconic, Provençal producer belies the fabulous flavor you’ll discover in your glass. Crafted primarily from Mourvèdre, the region’s signature red grape, with a bit of Grenache and Cinsault added for good measure this refreshing wine delights on the palate with complex aromas and flavors of blood orange, tart cherry and peach accentuated by a lovely minerality and notes of savory rosemary, lavender that conjure the terroir of this beloved wine region.

Chateau Minuty Côtes de Provence Rosé et Or, Provence, France ($45): Hailing from the South of France with vines planted on the Saint-Tropez peninsula overlooking the stunning Côte d’Azur this delightful bottling is a blend of the winery’s signature grape, Grenache, with a splash of Cinsault. This wine delivers enticing, fragrant aromas of candied citrus, red berries and white flowers while on the palate intense flavors of pink grapefruit, white peach and wild strawberry are accentuated by a bright acidity and a crushed limestone and citrus-tinged finish.

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Refreshing Red Wines to Enjoy this Summer

“All worries are less with wine.”

While rosé has quickly become Summer’s signature wine, with white wine coming in a close second, today I’ve got something for you die hard red wine lovers who would MUCH rather #Cabernetallday - even in 110 degree heat! And thanks to those of you who reached out to me about this topic because there are puh-lenty of positively delightful, seasonally-appropriate red wines from around the globe for you to enjoy this Summer and I’ve included some of my favorites in this post.

You can enjoy these beauties on their own (served with a slight chill, of course!), or paired with your favorite Summer dishes like meatier fish (i.e. swordfish, salmon), burgers and BBQ - the possibilities are truly endless…and oh so delicious!

Before we dive into the selections, here are a few tips to keep in mind when choosing a Summer red wine:

• Opt for wines made from thinner-skinned red grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Gamay and Barbera which produce light- to medium-bodied red wines with minimal tannins that are much more refreshing in the heat of Summer.

• Avoid heavily oaked red wines. French oak imparts notes of baking spices such as clove, cinnamon and allspice as well as a richer, more viscous texture which is more of a #Fallthang. Summer reds should exhibit a nice balance between fruit and acidity with only a kiss of tannin!

• Keep an eye on that ABV! If you’re spending the day at the beach or lounging by the pool you don’t want to get prematurely #daydrunk because a wine’s alcohol level is off the charts. Stick with reds 14.5% or lower and you’ll be able to enjoy AND remember your Summer day.

REFRESHING RED WINES TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER

1.) Maison Joseph Drouhin Hospices de Belleville Brouilly, Beaujolais, France ($25): One of the best Summer pandemic #winegoals you can have is to get to know cru Beaujolais - NOT Beaujolais Nouveau - CRU Beaujolais! These wines hail from specific villages or “crus” (there are 10 of them!) within the southernmost part of Burgundy and are crafted entirely from the Gamay grape that produces utterly charming, light- to medium bodied reds that are vibrant, fruity and delicious. This exclusive partnership between Maison Joseph Drouhin and the Hospices de Belleville is worth seeking out with notes of black cherry, wild strawberry, violets and spice - for maximum enjoyment, serve slightly chilled!

2.) Paul Achs Blaufränkisch Heideboden, Burgenland, Austria ($19): Please don’t let the name deter you! The Blaufränkisch grape is one of my Summer faves and it might just become yours too! This indigenous Austrian grape produces medium-bodied red wines known for having oodles of lush, dark fruit (i.e. blackberry, black cherry and plum) accentuated by notes of black pepper, herbs and flowers. And in the hands of esteemed winemaker Paul Achs, you really can’t go wrong! Opt for youthful examples of Blaufränkisch like this one which are guaranteed to charm you with their lively acidity and soft, approachable tannins.

3.) Vietti Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne, Piedmont, Italy ($18): If you are new to the Barbera grape, this delightful Italian red will immediately win(e) you over! Not to be confused with the Nebbiolo-based Barolo and Barbaresco wines which hail from the same region and require ample aging, Barbera (which is the name of the grape AND the wine) is ready to drink young. These alluring, medium-bodied gems are known for their racy acidity, soft tannins and charming, fruity character. This incarnation from the legendary Vietti family display notes of black currant, black cherry, violet and cassis with a lengthy, spice-tinged finish that’ll have you coming back for more!

4.) A.A. Badenhorst Secateurs Red Blend, Swartland, South Africa ($17): The Secateurs line of wines, named for the tool used to prune back the vines in the Winter and harvest ripe grapes in the Summer, from cousins Adi and Hein Badenhorst is, simply put, sheer Summer perfection! I mentioned the Secateurs Chenin Blanc in my Summer white wine post and the red, a juicy blend of Cinsault (82%), Shiraz (10%) and Grenache (8%), is equally delicious. Fragrant aromas of ripe red fruit and spice are followed on the palate by savory flavors of ripe red cherry, red currant and pomegranate with hints of anise and spice with a supple, smooth mouthfeel.

5.) Paul Cluver Estate Pinot Noir, Elgin, South Africa ($24): Pinot Noir has the ethereal lightness that’s so desirable in a Summer red wine but often at a very high price. Enter the wines of Paul Cluver! This 4th generation family has been farming in the Elgin Valley for 120 year and were the first to pioneer it as a fine wine region. The region’s cool climate is perfect for growing the finicky Pinot Noir grape and Cluver focuses exclusively on Burgundian clones. This gem of a wine is 100% Pinot Noir aged in a combination of (25%) new and used French oak barrels and the end result is a delightful, medium-bodied wine with classic notes of red cherry, cranberry, earth and spice.

6.) Tasca d’Almerita Tascante Etna Rosso Ghaia Nera, Sicily, Italy ($20): Sicily seems to be a never-ending source of intriguing grapes like this red beauty: Nerello Mascalese. Producing wines I would describe as Pinot Noir meets Nebbiolo, its wines can be fruity, herbaceous, spicy and floral all at the same time and, perhaps most importantly, imminently enjoyable. The wine’s pale color belies its power, leading you to believe you’re in for a wimpy wine but that couldn’t be farther from the truth! Instead, this wine delights with robust aromas and flavors of black cherry, wild strawberry, spice + volcanic ash accentuated by a tangy acidity and lithe tannins.

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Top 10 Summer Finds for Food + Wine Lovers 2020

“Keep your face to the sunshine + you will never see the shadows.”

While this Summer might look much different than you imagined earlier this year, there’s no reason you can’t still embrace the spirit of the season. In this post I’m sharing my Top 10 Summer Finds for Food + Wine Lovers that were chosen especially to enhance your enjoyment of Summer without wandering too far from home.

And for some reason I can’t seem to get enough of this gorgeous citrus yellow color! It literally makes my eyes smile which triggers an immediate flood of endorphins in my brain. And as a big proponent of “feeding your senses,” sight is a very important one and when feeling down or depressed, just focus your peepers on the above photo and see if this color doesn’t do the same for you.

Simply scroll down for the curated list and all the associated details. I hope these items help you celebrate Summer and live your best life in a new but thoroughly enjoyable way. xo

Top 10 Summer Finds for Food + Wine Lovers 2020

1.) SPARTINA Embroidered Florida Bag ($129): These charming, colorful embroidered bags truly represent the casual elegance of Summer and are available in many coastal states.

2.) REWINED Soy Wax Rosé Scented Candle ($28): This stylish candle is handpoured in Charleston, SC + beautifully captures the soft red berry, rose petal, white peach and pink peppercorn notes of your favorite rosé wine. It has an incredibly long burn time and it’s subtle delicious scent is positively perfect for Summer.

3.) LILLY PULITZER Marielle Scallop Dress in Lilly’s Lemon Floral Scallop Eyelet ($218): This absolutely gorgeous dress is Summer personified! Leave it to Lilly to come up with the most glorious, eye-catching citrus yellow color and combine it with the perfect seasonal eyelet fabric. This is sure to be a favorite for years to come.

4.) GLOSSIER Coconut Balm Dotcom ($26.95): This cult-favorite, do anything lip balm has the most heavenly coconut scent + once you experience it you’ll understand why it so frequently sells out! Formulated with nature’s heavy-duty moisturizers including Castor Oil, Beeswax + Lanolin it nourishes the skin while getting you in the Summer spirit.

5.) ISLAND CREEK OYSTER Starter Pack ($75): If you can’t make it to Cap Cod this Summer but still want the oyster experience, you can’t go wrong with oysters from Duxbury, MA! This started pack includes 2 dozen oysters PLUS shucking tools so simply pop a bottle of bubbly (the PERFECT pairing!) + get shuckin’!

6.) COMPTOIR SUD PACIFIQUE Vanille Coco Eau de Toilette Spray 1 OZ/30 ML ($42): The master perfumers behind Comptoir Sud Pacifique have truly captured the feeling of the tropics. Vanille Coco embodies the gentle warmth + relaxation of a South Pacific beach. The scent blends notes of island vanilla, refreshing coconut milk + intoxicating heliotrope for a blissful escape to a warm + gentle memory of paradise.

7.) CALIFORNIA PICNIC BASKET Set for 4 ($99.95): In lieu of that Summer trip, enjoy green spaces closer to home! Whether you choose the gently rolling hills of a local park or the beautiful white sands of your favorite beach, this picnic basket set is perfect for packing up your favorite al fresco foods (see #8 for some fab ideas!) + a bottle of wine and enjoy the COVID free fresh air!

8.) THE PICNIC: RECIPES + INSPIRATION FROM BASKET TO BLANKET BY MARNIE HANEL ($16): A picnic is a great escape from our day-to-day + a chance to turn a meal into something more festive + memorable. This fabulous book shares everything you need to plan an effortless outdoor get-together including no-fail recipes, helpful checklists + expert advice ~ Enjoy!

9.) BALL MASON JARS Regular Mouth w Lids + Bands (16-ounces) Set of 4 ($14.22): These multi-purpose jars are a Summer essential in our house! In addition to using them for preserving jams and jellies, we use them for everything from serving our favorite Summer cocktails (especially this one), to mixing a batch of salad dressing + creating layered salads + overnight oats - the possibilities are truly endless!

10.) CUISINART ICE-20 Automatic 1 1/2 Quart Ice Cream Maker ($89.97): One of Summer’s great delights ice cream on a hot, sunny day! And with this beauty you’ll always be prepared - it is a true investment that you will gain years of delicious enjoyment from. And if you’re looking for inspiration, try my recipe for Honey Lavender OR Browned Butter + Bacon ice cream.

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6 Essential Tips for Empowering your Palate + Discovering Wines You Truly Love

“Everybody’s palate is different, but nobody’s palate is wrong.”

Wine can be a pretty intimidating subject. The sheer volume of information involved in its mastery is daunting enough but when you add a cadre of wine snobs and aloof Sommeliers to the mix, yep it’s official. I remember when I decided to get serious about wine and make it my career, those first few trade events and study groups were terrifying! But over time, I put in the work and earned my credentials, all while pledging to make the world of wine as unintimidating as possible for my readers, family and friends. Wine should be a source of pleasure and discovering which wines you like (and WHY!), can be a lot of fun as well as the key to feeling truly empowered.

So just imagine a day where you no longer have to rely on your spouse or friend to tell you which wine to order. Picture yourself confidently bellying up to the bar and ordering a glass of Trockenbeerenauslese…or Pinot Noir depending on how you roll. So if you’re interested in embarking on this wine-soaked journey towards vinous enlightenment, I’ve got six essential tips to Empowering your Palate that are going to help you learn about the world of wine and, most importantly, lead you to discover which wines YOU truly love!

6 Essential Tips for Empowering your Palate

TIP #1: EMBRACE + TASTE WINE WITH A SENSE OF ADVENTURE

In order to truly empower your palate and experience the world of wine, you’re going to have to forego the tried and true, break out of your wine rut and start tasting lots of different wines. That’s not to say you should just randomly choose wines based on the critter or picture on the label – no, not at all! You just need to start tasting different wines from a variety of wine regions that are recommended by your “go to” websites, resources and people whose opinions you trust and respect in order to make an informed decision.

Here on my website I’ve got lots of helpful resources to guide your tasting exercises including blog posts (a great place to start is with White Wine 101, Red Wine 101 and Champagne + Sparkling Wine 101), podcast episodes and mini video masterclasses on a host of wine regions, producers and styles of wine. And please scroll down for even more helpful resources and advice on empowering your palate!

TIP #2: DOCUMENT & TAKE PHOTOS:

You’re out drinking wine with friends (properly social-distanced of course!) and you try a wine that truly wows you. You love it so much you’re absolutely sure you’ll remember the name of the producer and what the label looks like. But, not surprisingly, the next morning through your vinous haze you just can’t remember a darn thing about that wine! (I’ve been there too!)

This is precisely why, the moment you discover a wine that delights you, either write down the name of the wine and/or producer in the “Notes” section of your iPhone or, even better, snap a photo of it. Having that photo is your key to finding that wine again or getting something that’s very similar. So create a new folder in your photo app labeled “Wine” and, in time, you’ll develop a library of images that’ll tell the story of your unique vinous preferences. You can use this valuable information to help determine which wines you’re likely to enjoy in the future. You can also use wine apps like Delectable (my personal fave!), Wine-Searcher and Vivino that have loyal communities of wine lovers and experts to guide you as well.

TIP #3: ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR LOCAL WINE RETAIL STORE

This is perhaps the most important tip to vinous empowerment! In the process of discovering which wines truly make your palate sing, you’ll need a guide by your side since I can’t always be there with you (darn!). Because as you may have already discovered, many wines you read about on websites, in books or in magazines are not available at your local retail store. This is mostly due to antiquated wine laws that prevent retailers from having open access to whatever wines they want and unfortunately there’s no sign of anything changing anytime soon.

That’s why it helps to have someone who’s local and easily accessible who can reliably guide you to a similar selection in the event the wine you’re looking for isn’t available. The beauty is, over time, you’ll become more confident discussing wine and they’ll become familiar with your palate and will be able to anticipate and recommend wines you’ll like in the future based on your purchase profile with them. And I know they’ll really appreciate your business right now, and conveniently, many of them deliver now too!

TIP #4: READ, READ, READ

Now that we’re all supposed to be sticking closer to home, it’s the perfect time to catch up on your reading! And there’s SO many amazingly delicious wine resources to dive into. A great place to start here on my website is with my posts that cover the basics: White Wine 101, Red Wine 101 and Champagne + Sparkling Wine 101. Other resources I greatly admire in the wine world by some of my favorite experts include:

1. The Wine Bible ($18) by truly fabulous innovator + wine expert, Karen MacNeil. You’ll thoroughly enjoy her charismatic writing style, plus she enjoys a glass of Champagne every day of her life so I love her for that as well! You can also click here for my interview with her to learn more about her fascinating journey as one of the first female wine writers.

2. The Oxford Companion to Wine ($49) and Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties ($129) by the legendary Jancis Robinson

3. Wine Simple: A Totally Approachable Guide from a World Class Sommelier ($20) by the uber-brilliant yet down to earth Sommelier of Le Bernardin in NYC, Aldo Sohm.

4. Anything written by Master Sommelier Andrea Immer Robinson.

5. Of course you can also listen to podcasts which are perfect if you’re on the go or pedaling away on your Peloton! Of course I highly recommend my podcast, The Wine Atelier, but some of my other favorites include Levi Dalton’s “I’ll Drink to That,” and the Guild of Sommeliers podcast.

 TIP #5: ATTEND ONLINE/VIRTUAL EVENTS

This tip generally would have read “attend all the wine events you can afford and/or have time for,” however, given our new, altered reality, virtual tasting are definitely the way to go - and I have to say, they are fabulous! I’ve been on both the attending and delivering end of virtual tastings and the sense of conviviality you experience at an “in-person” wine tasting can definitely be achieved at virtual events as well.

Some of my favorite entities that are hosting regular “virtual” wine tastings right now include:

1. EATER at Home Virtual Food + Wine Events on Instagram: Updated every Monday, the Eater at Home live tastings feature some of the food and wine world’s most well-known names such as Samin Nosrat, Alex Guarnaschelli and Andrew Zimmern.

2. Coravin Virtual Wine Events: Headed by Greg Lambrecht, inventor of the Coravin which revolutionized the way we taste wine. He has created a nice lineup of hosts whose goal it to create special moments of connection over a glass of wine.

3. Corkbuzz: The fabulous NYC-based restaurant and wine bar founded by female Master Sommelier, Laura Maniec.

4. Charlie Palmer’s Pigs + Pinot Tutorial Series: Every Thursday @ 4pm ET Chef Palmer and a rotating lineup of prominent Sonoma winemakers for the inside scoop on our favorite pork and pinot pairings.

5. The Boisset Collection: The charismatic Jean-Charles Boisset hosts daily Happy Hour wine tastings on Facebook Live @ 6pm PDT where he opens bottles and takes questions from viewers.

“Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions + more tolerance.”

TIP #6: TAKE CLASSES

While attending virtual events and tastings is really fun and you’re probably learning something new during each one, if you really want to kick it up a notch, taking formal wine classes is the way to go!

1. Wine & Spirit Education Trust: WSET provides globally recognized education and qualifications in wines, spirits and sake, for professionals as well as enthusiasts. They have a variety of different levels of certification that you can start at based on your existing level of proficiency. I currently hold the WSET Advanced Certificate which involved a blind tasting of two wines and a written exam consisting of a multiple choice section and an essay paper. These courses focus on materials best suited to teaching and writing about wine since there is no service component to them. If you’re interested in working in a service capacity, check out the next organization.

2. The Court of Master Sommeliers: Made famous by the 2012 movie SOMM, this globally recognized organization is considered the benchmark as far as wine service goes. And while the Master Sommelier designation is the pinnacle of this organization (there are only 255 Master Sommeliers in the world!), there are three other preceding tiers of certification as well, the Intro level which is perfect for enthusiasts and those still considering a career in the wine industry, the Certified Sommelier level which is self-study only and the exam is a mini-version of the Master Somm exam, consisting of a blind tasting of two wines, a written theory portion and a service component.

   The last level before the Master Sommelier is the Advanced Sommelier in which all three components of the exam, bling tasting, theory and service, must be passed at the same time and failing any one of them requires you to take the entire exam and all of its components over again.

3. The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW): If the Master Sommelier is the highest certification in terms of service in the wine world, the Master of Wine is the highest level of certification in terms of academia and writing. The WSET diploma is often considered a prerequisite to being accepted into the MW program which culminates in a three-part examination, comprised of theory and practical components as well as a research paper. The theory papers touch on a comprehensive range of wine-related topics including viticulture and vinification, the business of wine and current trends in the wine industry. There are currently 394 MW’s in the world today.

4. Society of Wine Educators (SWE): As the title implies, this organization is focused on providing wine and spirits education along with the conferral of several certifications including the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS), Certified Wine Educator (CWE) and Certified Spirits Educator (CSE). The Society is internationally recognized and its programs are highly regarded for both their quality and relevance to the industry.

5. Wine Scholar Guild: This well-respected organization is considered the leading provider in specialized certification programs on the Old World wine regions of France, Italy and Spain with a school network spanning 30 countries and 5 continents. They’re definitely pioneers in online wine education and students learn from the best names in the wine industry. They also offer very exclusive wine study immersion programs on the market.

I hope you find these 6 essential tips for Empowering your Palate helpful and that these resources enhance your enjoyment and exploration of the wine world. Whether as a career or hobby, this is truly a topic you can easily devote your life to!

And if you’d like to receive weekly updates about the world of food and wine, simply click here to sign up for my newsletter. The GG Guide to Wine + Food will delight you with seasonally-inspired, Sommelier-curated recipes, wine recommendations, pairings and travel trips. xo

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Wine Word of the Week: Residual Sugar

Key to learning about wine, sweet wines in particular, is a little term called Residual Sugar which is our Wine Word of the Week. While there are many factors that ultimately determine the perception of sweetness in wine, residual sugar is the actual amount of sugar left in a wine after the alcoholic fermentation - which can end in a variety of interesting ways.

During fermentation, yeast converts sugar into (1) alcohol and (2) carbon dioxide (yeast + sugar = alcohol & CO2). The carbon dioxide gas is generally allowed to dissipate (except in the case of sparkling wine) and the fermentation process is complete when either: (1) the yeast consumes all of the fermentable grape sugars, resulting in a dry wine, (2) the alcohol level becomes too toxic for the yeast and it dies, leaving some residual sugar in the wine; or (3) the winemaker halts the fermentation prematurely. In fortified wines for example, the winemaker halts the fermentation by the addition of a neutral grape spirit which kills the yeast, leaving oodles of residual sugar in the finished wine.

Residual sugar is often measured by either (1) percentage, or (2) grams per liter (aka g/L). Generally speaking, the threshold level for a wine to be considered sweet is around 35-45 g/L, although many sweet wines actually far surpass 150 g/L! And it's not uncommon for dry wines (dry meaning "not sweet") to contain low levels of residual sugar at imperceptible levels (i.e. 10 g/L), since some sugars are unfermentable.

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WINE SNOB ALERT: Many Wine Snobs will refer to residual sugar as "RS" especially when they're in the company of someone they are trying to impress or intimidate. They've also been known to snidely ask the uninitiated, "Hmmm, do YOU detect some RS in the wine?" To which you should confidently reply, "Hmmm, I don't know, do YOU?"

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Other factors can also affect the perception of sweetness in wine including acidity, tannin and alcohol. Acidity and tannin tend to mitigate the perception of sweetness, while alcohol can actually increase it. Some high acid wines that have high levels of residual sugar, such as Vouvray from the Loire Valley and German Riesling, can be perceived as dry because the sweetness is balanced by the acidity. Such is the case with sparkling wines as well.

I hope you enjoyed learning about residual sugar, my latest Wine Word of the Week! And if you happen to know any wine lovers who'd like to learn more about wine, please feel free to share this post with them. And if there are any “wine words” you’d like to learn more about, please feel free to share them in the Comments section below and I'll do my best to demystify them for you.

To see previous WWOTW posts, please click here and, as always, thanks for reading!

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