I find it interesting to look at the history of some Chilean wine producers. Some have a long history, but it often appears to be a rather sleepy one. Such is the case for Santa Rita, with a history dating back to 1880, but things really started happening there 100 years later. Perhaps it’s just the […]
Vinas Viejas de Paniza Garnacha – Rich and Delicious
I love garnacha. It’s an easy, affordable, everyday wine that’s often more interesting than other wines in the price range. This one from Bodegas Paniza is a great example of why I think of garnacha in this way. The vineyards where the grapes for this wine were grown are in Cariñena, the origin of carignan. But […]
Villa Wolf Pinot Gris – What a Pinot Gris Should Be
Pinot gris is one of those wine varieties that some people love and some people hate. Or perhaps it’s one of those varieties that’s easy to make poorly, lending itself to frequent dislike. But when it’s made right it can be beautifully delicious. While many US wine consumers may not think of Germany when they […]
Louis Guntrum Nierstein Rehbach, Riesling Spatlese – Fantastic!
Last fall I reviewed a dry riesling from Louis Guntrum that I absolutely loved. It turns out they also make at least one absolutely stellar sweet riesling. The Louis Guntrum vineyards are located in Rheinhessen, Germany. More specifically, the vineyards are in Nierstein right along the banks of the Rhine. An excellent climate for riesling. And while […]
Château Beausejour, Grand Vin De Bordeaux
Over the past year I’ve reviewed a few different Bordeaux wines, a category that generally isn’t on the list of “cheap” wines. But they do offer some good values and it’s possible to find some tasty ones for under $20. This particular one is a little over the $20 price target. I tasted it without knowing […]
Las Rocas Garnacha – Dynamic and Delicious
Garnacha was the first wine I wrote about at Cheap Wine Ratings and continues to be an easy choice for delicious and affordable wine. And Las Rocas was one of the wines that I included in my early reviews, but I haven’t revisited it since then, until now. This garnacha comes from a co-operative winery […]
Cruz de Piedra Garnacha, Selección Especial – Very Special
Happy New Year! I know that was over a week ago, but I’ve been preoccupied with my day job and a big kitchen remodeling project, so admittedly I’ve been neglecting this site. But I haven’t forgotten it. I wanted to start the new year with getting back to my wine blogging roots and write up […]
Port Wine for Beginners
When it comes to dessert wine, there’s no single type that gives you as much variety as Port. It’s one of my favorites, in part because a good Port is absolutely delicious and in part because there are so many ways to enjoy it. I’d say it’s much more more diverse than just a dessert […]
Concha y Toro, Gran Reserva Serie Riberas Chardonnay – Exciting
The wines from Concha y Toro’s “Gran Reserva Serie Riberas” line come from vineyards along select river banks in Chile. “Serie Riberas” translates to mean river banks series. And it’s an interesting concept, knowing how influential rivers can be on a wines characteristics. Think about it, some of the best wine regions are along rivers. This […]
C.H. Berres Impulse Riesling – A Delicious Zing
The Mosel region in Germany is the source of some of my favorite riesling. Why? Because it tends to be vibrant and lively, complex and balanced. Some Mosel rieslings are dry and some are sweet, this one is on the drier side but it still has lots of life to the fruit. Let’s get right […]