Hello Vino Blog

#winewednesday Five #wine trends in 2011 that will continue in 2012

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:09:00 -0800

Looking back at 2011, there are many trends with wine, but some will most likely be around for a while.

Here are some topics that should swirl around for a bit.

Eye on Organic

Folks are increasingly keeping a close eye on the source for their food, and so goes the wine. Natural wines are becoming better and better, and some consumers are making an effort to seek out organic, biodynamic and sustainable winemaking.

Knock, Knock. Here's Your Wine.

The state of Maryland joined 37 others in allowing direct to consumer shipments. There's a ways to go here…but it's a start. Here's a fun little site to learn more about the movement: http://www.freethegrapes.com/

Celebrity Juice

In 2011, Donald Trump bought Kluge winery (who was bankrupt). Actor Stanley Tucci has a new show called 'Vine Talk' where other famous faces sit around a table sipping and shooting the breeze about wine. Most recently, Drew Barrymore entered the wine business offering the Barrymore Pinot Grigio with a label designed by the famous street artist, Shepard Fairey (the one behind the Obama "Hope" poster).

Millenialls are Adventurous

This segment of wine drinkers want to expand their horizons, and will be willing to toss a few more bucks toward a new glass or bottle of wine. Interestingly, within the free Hello Vino wine apps, we offer your common "go-to" varietals, however, we also make it a point to recommend wines like Torrontes, Nero d'Avola, and Gewürztraminer to please everyones palates.

Wine with Dinner in America

Let's face it, wine has become much more popular over the years in the U.S. With resources such as Hello Vino, or recipe websites attaching a type of wine that may match well with the meal, food and wine pairing will continue it's upward trend. If you have travelled to Europe, wine on the dinner table is second-nature. American dinner tables are being peppered with more and more table wine, and it creates a great social atmosphere. Do you need to know what wine to pair with dinner…theres a free app for that

What do you think will happen in 2012?

Cheers!

Hello Vino

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Supermarket Wine-Buying Tips

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:17:00 -0800

The wine aisles have grown up over the years, especially in places where you shop for food.

Small sections and shelves that were simply labeled "wine" have exploded into rows of bottles that are appropriately categorized into types, styles, varietals, regions of the world, imports, jugs, boxes, 4-packs, and more.

The shelves also pepper you with endless coupons, deals to purchase a food item in another part of the store to get $2 off the wine, and passively ask you if you're interested in some wine charms, gift bags, or some fluorescent bottle stoppers?

The aisle suddenly has a lot of personality.

We know you have an overwhelming amount of options when shopping for wine, but realize you're not looking to spend a half hour searching for something. In fact, you may be missing out on some interesting wine you'd dig based on your taste preferences, or a meal you may be having because you have to get a move on!

We created our free wine app Hello Vino to demystify the wine aisle and help you select or discover great wine you can enjoy, remember, and share with friends.

Here's a little diddy explaining how we can help in an instant:

Simple Supermarket Wine-Buying Tips

Use the Hello Vino Wine App

Wine recommendations for food, specific occasions, regions, and your personal taste preference
Save your wines, create a wishlist or future shopping list, and give them your own ratings
Search for wines like you would on Google, or try our wine label image recognition (point and shoot with your smartphone camera)
Listen to audio reviews of wines you can easily find in stores
Sign up for 'Wine Picks for You' and we'll send you deals based on your history and items you like
Share your pairings and wines with friends through Twitter and Facebook

» Download the free app for iPhone or Android

Check That Rating or Score
We've seen great industry scores on the bottle-necker or shelf-talker promoting a particular vintage, but the one for sale, or in your hand is a different vintage!

Move Beyond California Wines
Explore some the of excellent wines from other regions. In fact, some bottles from regions located in Argentina, Portugal, and Spain provide killer deals (roughly $10 and taste like $30)

Check The Vintage
Most wines for sale at a supermarket are meant to be consumed immediately and are best when they're young and fresh

Where do you like to buy wine...your local supermarket, wine shops, Trader Joe's, drug stores...sound off!

Cheers,
Hello Vino

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A Dozen Rosés For Your Wine Lover on Valentine's Day

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:45:13 -0800

Rosés are not red. Violets are not blue. In fact, colors of pink, purple, or orange in your glass will smile back at you.

If you, or your significant other enjoy sweeter Rosés (the 1970's U.S. surge of "blush wines"), or you like the drier versions (more European), we have a great list below.

To quote William Shakespeare, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

A Dozen Rosés For Your Wine Lover

Crios de Susana Balbo Rose of Malbec 2009

89 Points: Robert Parker

"The 2009 Rose of Malbec is dark pink in color with an enticing nose of strawberry and cherry. Ripe, dry, and full-flavored"

Price: $11.29

**Buy the 2009 Crios de Susana Balbo Rose of Malbec

Cataldi Madonna Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Cerasuolo 2008

90 Points

"One of the more overt, fruit-driven roses of the vintage. Medium in body, the wine possesses gorgeous depth and richness, with a long, polished close"

Price: $17.99

**Buy the 2008 Cerasuolo by Cataldi Madonna

Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rose 2009

88 Points

"Bright pink. Raspberry and blood orange on the nose, with notes of white pepper and fresh bay adding complexity. Spicy red fruit flavors show a refreshingly bitter quality"

Price: $15.99

**Buy the 2009 Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rose

Terredora Rosaenovae Rosato 2009

90 Points

"Dried roses, berries, spices, minerals and licorice are some of the notes that emerge from this ethereal, deceptively medium-bodied wine"

Price: $16.49

**Buy the 2009 Terredora Rosaenovae Rosato

Domaines Ott Les Domaniers Cotes de Provence Rose 2009

88 Points

"Rich and minerally, with slate and pepper accents to the dried cherry and plum flavors. Features dried mango and citrus on the zesty finish"

Price: $ 19.99

**Buy 2009 Domaines Ott Les Domaniers Cotes de Provence Rose

Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rose 2010

"The mouth feel is succulent, with strawberry, rhubarb and cinnamon flavors. It opens to a fine dense body of wine with a soft texture that is long and beautifully balanced"

Price: $ 11.29

**Buy the 2010 Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rose

Trenza Rosado 2009

"There is bright strawberry and cherry, along with rich banana, and a hint of rose petals. It finishes nice and surprisingly dry"

Price: $ 15.29

**Buy the 2009 Trenza Rosado

Folie a Deux Menage a Trois Rose 2009

"Fruit-laden roller coaster ride of raspberries, strawberries, lychee nuts and flowers with a silky smooth finish"

Price: $ 10.99

**Buy 2009 Folie a Deux Menage a Trois Rose

Francis Ford Coppola Winery Sofia Rose 2009

"A luminous magenta hue and beautiful perfume of wild strawberries, tea leaves and violets. Luscious flavors of raspberries, cherries, candied orange and cloves enliven the palate"

Price: $ 16.79

**Buy the 2009 Francis Ford Coppola Winery Sofia Rose

Muga Rioja Rosado 2009

"Vivid pink. Complex, highly aromatic bouquet of pink grapefruit, strawberry, rhubarb and white flowers, with a strong mineral undertone"

Price: $ 13.29

**Buy the 2009 Muga Rioja Rosado

Mulderbosch Rose 2009

"A dry rosé (made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) with a beautifully fragrant nose, offering alluring aromas of rose petal, strawberry, and cherry"

Price: $ 9.99

**Buy the 2009 Mulderbosch Rose

Ch. Campuget Costieres de Nimes Rose 2009

"Scents of small red fruits such as raspberries or blackcurrants, and the final taste is very long, leaving an delicate impression of fruitiness"

Price: $ 11.49

**Buy the 2009 Ch. Campuget Costieres de Nimes Rose

With Love,

Hello Vino

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Weekend Wine Pairing: Chocolate Covered Strawberries & A Lava Lamp

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:24:29 -0800

Do you want to have a pre-Valentine's Day night of fun? Dazzle your date and inject some goofy fun?

I'll proudly shout that I love chocolate strawberries. And, I love lamp (Brick Tamland voice)!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Ingredients:

16 ounces milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves

Not That You Need Directions…but here you go:

Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.

In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.

Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.

Lava Lamps

Ingredients

1 (3 ounce) package red or blue colored instant gelatin mix
1 cup boiling water
1 cup vodka
1 (750 milliliter) bottle champagne

Directions

In a medium bowl, stir together the gelatin mix and boiling water until completely dissolved, about 2 minutes. Stir in vodka. Pour the liquid into small paper cups or portion cups. Chill until set, at least 2 hours.

Pour champagne into glasses. Break up the gelatin with a fork, and pour into a glass of champagne. A little stir gives it some 'lava' action. Drink with caution, these will sneak up on you.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers,

Hello Vino

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Weekend Wine Pairing: MVP Super Bowl Snacks with…

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:55:00 -0800

Superbowl snacks coming at ya!

Restaurant-Style Potato Skins

Ingredients (credit: AllRecipes)

6 potatoes
1 cup vegetable oil
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
1/8 cup bacon bits
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

Pierce potatoes with a fork. Microwave the potatoes on high until they are soft; approximately 10 to 12 minutes.

Cut the potatoes in half vertically. Scoop the inside out of the potatoes, until 1/4 inch of the potato shell remains.

Heat oil to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C) in a deep fryer or a deep saucepan. Place the potatoes in hot oil, fry for 5 minutes. Drain potatoes on paper towels.

Fill the potato shells with cheese and bacon bits. Arrange them in the prepared baking pan.

Bake for 7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Serve hot with sour cream.

Wine Pairing:
Pinot Gris or Pinot Noir

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients (credit: AllRecipes)

2 (10 ounce) cans chunk chicken, drained
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup Ranch dressing
3/4 cup pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot®)
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 bunch celery, cleaned and cut into 4 inch pieces
1 (8 ounce) box chicken-flavored crackers

Directions

Heat chicken and hot sauce in a skillet over medium heat, until heated through. Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Cook, stirring until well blended and warm. Mix in half of the shredded cheese, and transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, cover, and cook on Low setting until hot and bubbly. Serve with celery sticks and crackers.

Wine Pairing:
Dry Riesling or a jammy Zinfandel

Have a great weekend, and enjoy the Superbowl!

Cheers,

Hello Vino

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#winewednesday If you constantly talk about wine that you'll never open…does that make you a “cork-tease"?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:51:00 -0800

Do you have a couple bottles of wine stored away for a special occasion? Maybe a friend of yours is a bit of a collector and has a treasure trove of legit juice.

Have you been shown a bottle at dinner, given the delicious back story, and then watch the bottle go right back in the basement, fridge, or cellar?

It happens, and yes, some bottles are meant to be enjoyed later. This is true for various reasons.

Without digging into crazy facts, we know the majority of Hello Vino users classify themselves as general wine consumers, who consume wine more than 3 times per week, and typically spend between $10 and $20. Many of us pick up a bottle, open the bottle, and drink the bottle (with company of course)!

We recently came across an old, but amazing fact about wine shared by DWSmg.com which stated, "A person who constantly talks about wine that she/he will open but never does, is popularly known as a “cork-tease”.

Hilarious stuff right there. This made us smile, but also got our wheels turning about what wines you may want to purchase now, and enjoy later.

So, in the spirit of holding out, here are 5 Wine.com wines worth tucking away for a while so you can be a "cork-tease"

5 Wine.com Wines Worth Saving

Mount Veeder Winery Reserve Red 2006
Bordeaux Red Blend from Napa Valley, California

Wine Enthusiast: 93

"A big, big wine, showing hard mountain tannins and extraordinary concentration of fruit. Made from a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend of the five classic Bordeaux varieties, it's massive in blackberry, cherry, creme de cassis, mineral and smoky oak flavors that finish dry and long. A serious cellar contender, it should start to come into its own after 2014."

Price: $39.99

*** Buy Mount Veeder Winery Reserve Red 2006

Tardieu-Laurent Crozes-Hermitage Vielles Vignes 2007
Syrah/Shiraz from Hermitage, Rhone, France

Wine Spectator: 91
Wine Enthusiast: 90

"Typical for Tardieu-Laurent, this wine is strongly marked by its barrel treatment, which may be enough to put off traditionalists. But the quality and concentration levels of the black cherry fruit underneath are high, and this rather full-bodied, muscular Crozes should develop nicely over the next 5–7 years."

Price: $29.99

*** Buy Tardieu-Laurent Crozes-Hermitage Vielles Vignes 2007

Hartford Court Lands Edge Pinot Noir 2007
Pinot Noir from Sonoma County, California

Wine Enthusiast: 94
Robert Parker: 93

"A blend of various vineyards from the far or "true" Sonoma Coast, and also Hartford Court's highest-production Pinot Noir. Always beautiful and balanced, the ’07 in particular is remarkable for its silky tannins and overall seamless quality. Really excites for the complexity of currant, cola, licorice and cedar flavors. Now through 2013. "

Price: $44.99

*** Buy Hartford Court Lands Edge Pinot Noir 2007

Peter Lehmann Eden Valley Riesling 2009
Riesling from Barossa Valley, Australia

Wine Spectator: 90

"Bright and jazzy, a taut style that delivers pineapple, grapefruit and lime blossom flavors, lingering easily on the refreshing finish. Drink now through 2019."

Price: $14.99

*** Buy Peter Lehmann Eden Valley Riesling 2009

Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 2004
Vintage from Champagne, France

Robert Parker: 97
Wine Enthusiast: 97
Wine & Spirits: 97

"The 2004 Brut Cristal has put on quite a bit of weight since I first tasted it earlier this year. It is a powerful, structured Cristal layered with considerable fruit. Chardonnay seems to play the leading role in 2004, at least today. Cristal is often accessible young, but that is far from the case here. This is a serious, painfully young Cristal that will require considerable patience. Readers who are willing to spend some time with the wine today will find a super-impressive, complete Cristal. The 2004 Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. This is Lot L033331E100008, disgorged January, 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2034."

Price: $189.99

*** Buy Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 2004

Cheers!

Hello Vino

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Weekend Wine Pairing: Extreme Chocolate Cake with...

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:31:11 -0800

Let's face it - it's hard to beat chocolate cake. This recipe below would be an awesome surprise for a birthday.

This cake is easy to make and comes out perfect with no special effort. The frosting is excellent (some folks used cream instead of milk).

Balloons...chocolate cake...party. Check. Check. Check.

From a reviewer:
"I bake a lot and this is the BEST chocolate cake recipe I have ever tried! Instead of butter icing, try a chocolate glaze over the cake just before its completely cool so the glaze soaks in YUM! Glaze: 1 cup sifted icing sugar 2 tablespoons cocoa 2 tablespoons milk ½ teaspoon vanilla"

Extreme Chocolate Cake

Ingredients (credit: AllRecipes)

2 cups white sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
5 1/3 cups confectioners' sugar
2/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch cake pans.

Use the first set of ingredients to make the cake. In a medium bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla, mix for 3 minutes with an electric mixer. Stir in the boiling water by hand. Pour evenly into the two prepared pans.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to cool completely.

To make the frosting, use the second set of ingredients. Cream butter until light and fluffy. Stir in the cocoa and confectioners' sugar alternately with the milk and vanilla. Beat to a spreading consistency.

Split the layers of cooled cake horizontally, cover the top of each layer with frosting, then stack them onto a serving plate. Frost the outside of the cake.

What wine goes with chocolate cake?

Cabernet Sauvignon: a rich red wine with red fruit mixed with spice

Madeira: a sweet wine with caramel, almonds, and hazelnuts

Cheers!

Hello Vino

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Visit Italy for Under $100

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:14:00 -0800

Have you wanted to try different Italian wine? Maybe you'd like to host a big dinner, or simply try a bottle you normally can't find in stores near you.

This little package below is great because it gives you a variety of wine. In addition, enjoy the Greet Sheet that includes descriptions of the regions from which the six featured wines hail. The description cards are perforated as 4x5 index cards to be torn off for future reference. Invite some friends over, pour some vino, and show off you wine skills as if you just got back from the old country!

You can also use the free Hello Vino wine app to pair some great food with your Italian wine gift.

From our home screen, choose Food Pairings for Your Wine
Select the type of wine you are opening (color, sparkling, etc.)
Scroll to the name of your wine
Viola…recommended food pairings!

Visit Italy for Under $100

Viva Italia! Italian Wine Gift Collection
Mixed Collection
Price $89.99

From Prosecco to Chianti, Viva Italia combines six bottles representing the best wine growing regions and varieties of Italy. A diverse collection for the Italian wine lover.

Wine Gift Collection Includes:

Veneto: Allegrini Palazzo della Torre
Deep ruby-red in color, this wine is brimming with notes of dark, dried cherries, blackberries and hints of dates and mocha. Pairs well with full-flavored pasta and risotto dishes, roast poultry and chorizo.

Sardinia: Argiolas Costamolino Vermentino
Lemon-green in color with intense yet delicate aromas of citrus, pineapple, tropical fruits and honey. On the palate, the wine shows a delightfully zesty acidity, which makes it the wine of choice for many dishes.

Basilicata: Azienda Bisceglia Aglianico del Vulture Gudarrà
Deep ruby-red in color with enticing notes of red cherries, cassis, blackberries, sweet spice and a hint of licorice. This is an accessible, versatile red that pairs beautifully with southern Italian pasta dishes, lamb and grilled or roasted game.

Trentino-Alto Adige: Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio
Pale yellow in color with green reflections. It has the pleasant aroma that characterizes the variety, with exotic fruit notes and a trace of meadow flowers. Slightly spicy, well-structured and full in the mouth.

Tuscany: Castellare Chianti Classico
Brilliant ruby red with generous aromas of ripe black cherry, violets and vanilla followed by elegant layers of dark fruit, tobacco and sweet spice on the palate. Dry, full-bodied and firmly structured, this wine makes a great pairing with roast beef.

Veneto: Zardetto Prosecco Brut
Crystal clear with a hearty white foam and fine perlage. Fresh fragrant aromas and a delicately soft and harmonious taste are the hallmarks of this quintessential aperitif wine.

------ Buy Viva Italia! Italian Wine Gift Collection ------

Please note that due to the popularity of this product, Wine.com reserve the right to substitute like wines and vintages of equal or greater value.

Salute!

Hello Vino

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Weekend Wine Pairing: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches with…

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:16:00 -0800

The creator of this recipe states "Pork simmered in root beer makes all the difference. Topped with your favorite BBQ sauce, it's sure to bring rave reviews."

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is so easy, so good. Set it and forget it. This recipe has roughly 2,000 reviews and is rocking the house with 4 1/2 stars.

I'll tell you what...I already pulled out the crock pot for this Sunday, and this is what I'm going after now! Awesome-indoor-tailgate food for the football games too.

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Ingredients (credit: AllRecipes.com)

1 (2 pound) pork tenderloin
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle root beer
1 (18 ounce) bottle your favorite barbecue sauce
8 hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted

Directions

Place the pork tenderloin in a slow cooker; pour the root beer over the meat. Cover and cook on low until well cooked and the pork shreds easily, 6 to 7 hours. Note: the actual length of time may vary according to individual slow cooker. Drain well. Stir in barbecue sauce. Serve over hamburger buns.

What wine goes with pulled pork?

Syrah/Shiraz: a great red wine with blackberry, plum, and some jamminess

If you're more of a white wine person, we recommend Chenin Blanc.

Cheers!

Hello Vino

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So, what wine goes with NFL Football?

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:33:00 -0800

The AFC and NFC Championship games are going to be lighting up TV's this Sunday, and you can throw a tailgate party in your living room. Many folks would argue that you don't hold a wine glass in the stadium parking lot (but they secretly love wine). So, in the comfort of your own living room, take the bottles of wine off the bench and pair them with some regional foods in honor of the 4 teams still standing.

Here are some food choices, recommended wine, and bottles you can order online if you're interested for this Sunday or maybe the Superbowl!

New England: Well, Clam Chowder (of course)

The Wine:

Sebastiani Sonoma Chardonnay 2009
Chardonnay from Sonoma County, California

This player has a helmet full of flavor. It's delicious and zesty, filled with pineapple, pear, green apple, honey and oak, wrapped into a texture of buttercream and with a long, spicy finish.

Price: $12.99

Buy Sebastiani Sonoma Chardonnay 2009

Baltimore: Crab Cakes

The Wine:

Castello del Poggio Moscato d'Asti
Non-Vintage from Piedmont, Italy

Castello del Poggio is a long name for the back of a jersey, but this spicy moscato tastes fresh and cool. It feels full and rich, but not sugary—the fruit is what lasts, with hints of nectarine and kumquat.

Price: $15.99

Buy Castello del Poggio Moscato d'Asti

New York: A Serious Slice of Cheese Pizza

The Wine:

Michele Chiarlo Barbera d'Asti 2009
Barbera from Piedmont, Italy

The blue shirts roster reads that this wine is ruby red with violet hues. Elegant, with good intensity - you can feel the fruits of berries, and mint leaves. Well structured, fruity and dry.

Price: $14.99

Buy Michele Chiarlo Barbera d'Asti 2009

San Francisco: Chicken Tetrazzini
(named for famed Italian opera soprano Luisa Tetrazzini)

The Wine:

Castello D'Albola Chianti Classico 2007
Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy

This is a "drink now" wine (aka…playoff ready!). This Chianti has plenty of dark cherry and floral aromas and flavors that say Sangiovese. Fresh and fruity.

Price: $13.99

Buy Castello D'Albola Chianti Classico 2007

Cheers!

Hello Vino

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Weekend Wine Pairing: Easy Chicken Parm Bake with…

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:00:09 -0800

When you have a serious, comfort food - pasta craving...chicken parm is mighty enticing.

The cool thing about this recipe is that there is no frying pan, and no grease-splatttering. This dish is simple carbs, sauce, and a delightful craving killer casserole.

Easy Chicken Parm Bake

Ingredients (Credit: AllRecipes.com)

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed and finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 cups prepared marinara sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 (5 ounce) package garlic croutons

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Coat the bottom of a 9x13 inch casserole dish with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic and hot red pepper flakes. Arrange the chicken breasts in bottom of the dish, and pour marinara sauce over chicken. Sprinkle basil over marinara sauce, and top with the mozzarella cheese, followed by half the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle on the croutons, then top with remaining half of the Parmesan cheese.

Bake in preheated oven until cheese and croutons are golden brown and the chicken is no longer pink inside, about 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a chicken breast should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

What Wine Goes With Chicken Parmigiana?

Sangiovese: a red wine with tart cherry, plum, and some spice

Pinot Noir: a nice wine with red berry, cherry and truffles

Merlot: Another red that is lush with plum, black cherry, and caramel

Cheers!

Hello Vino

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Shipping Wine Home…Don't Ship It, Check It?

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:41:00 -0800

Have you been soaked with shipping charges when sending some wine to your home, a friend, or a family member? Maybe you tried to stuff your suitcase with a couple bottles of juice hoping they wouldn't break and ruin your clothes. Perhaps you purposely purchased only a couple bottles when you would have loved to bring a case back home with you.

Well, if you're purchasing wine after visiting a winery, while on vacation, or you want to bring some vino with you on a trip…here's a simple way to travel with your favorite bottles.

We just stumbled upon The Wine Check, and I have to say, I may use this thing (and it's a FAA-approved package).

Don't Ship It......Check It!

The Wine Check is a safe, convenient, and economical way to transport up to one case (12 bottles) of wine to and from the airport, and check the bag with a full 12 bottles intact, while staying under the 50lb airline weight limit for luggage!

When full, The Wine Check weighs in under the typical 50-pound airline weight limit for checked bags. Obviously, if this is an extra checked bag when hopping a flight, odds are the airline with charge you. I guess you'll have to determine if it's better to pay for an extra checked bag, or ship the package to your house. Also, when The Wine Check is empty, you can collapse it for storage or easy transport. Not bad.

This seems so simple…just curious what costs you more - standard shipping to your door, or drop $59.00 for The Wine Check, and pay to check it at an airport.

We are curious, would you use a wine carrier like this?

Cheers!

Hello Vino

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Weekend Wine Pairing: Thai Noodles with…

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:46:58 -0800

No need to order out for Thai food this weekend…just whip up some noodles with a little chicken and some crisp vegetables!

You can impress your friends, or a date with this dish as it tastes like it was made in a high-quality Thai restaurant. In addition, this is a great meal to offer someone in your circle that is shy with new foods. Open a bottle…wine and dine…have some fun.

Vegetarians: we recommend substituting the chicken with Quorn Chicken Style Pieces (meat free, soy free).

Thai Noodles

Ingredients
(credit: AllRecipes.com)

1/2 pound dried rice noodles
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 dash soy sauce
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 cucumber, coarsely chopped
1 carrot, grated
10 mushrooms, halved
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
1 1/2 tablespoons red chile sauce
3/4 cup peanut sauce
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions

Cook rice noodles according to package directions.

Slice chicken breasts into strips. Marinate in soy sauce for about 1/2 hour.

In a large saucepan or wok, heat sesame oil over medium heat. Cook chicken until no longer pink. Add garlic, ginger, and onions; cook until onions are tender. Add mushrooms and cucumbers; cook until mushrooms are tender. Add peppers, carrot, peanut sauce, oyster sauce, and hot chili pepper sauce. Heat through.

Toss cooked rice noodles with saute. Garnish with sesame seeds

Reviewer's Tip (on cooking the vegetables): onion in first, when it just barely starts to soften, throw in the mushrooms. Cook for only 1 or 2 minutes, then add the peppers and the sauces. Continue to cook till the peppers are tender-crisp, by then the mushrooms will be succulent, and the onions will be softened

What Wine Pairs with Thai Noodles?

Riesling: a dry version with flavors of peach and orange blossom

Barbera: an acidic, juicy red wine with flavors of black cherry

Sparkling Wine: a Brut bottle of bubbly

Cheers!

Hello Vino

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Top 5 Wines of 2011 Paired with Top Foods

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:23:00 -0800

Wine Spectator released its annual roundup of the year's most exciting wines, and we wanted to pair some great food for each.

If you are going to splurge and purchase a bottle of wine for a special occasion, or for a nice gift, the Top 100 is a good list to check out. In fact, you can find many of these bottles on popular websites such as wine.com, and try to score some deals.

Let's take a closer look at the top 5 on the 2011 list, and see what foods may be worthy of being its dance partner.

5. Dehlinger
Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley 2008

Critical Acclaim:

"Aromas of plum and blackberry jam turn firm and intense on the palate, gaining depth, nuance and traction. Finishes with a strong burst of flavors. Drink now through 2018. 1,050 cases made."

Wine Spectator: 95
Robert Parker: 93
International Wine Cellar: 92

Price: $50.00

Wine Pairing: Smoked Salmon Bruschetta

4. Campogiovanni
Brunello di Montalcino 2006

Critical Acclaim:

"Licorice, sweet spices, toast, smoke and sanguine aromas and flavors envelop a kernel of raspberry in this intense, extroverted red, which is complex, focused and structured, with an expansive finish. There’s fine potential, but needs time. Best from 2014 through 2027."

Wine Spectator: 96
Wine Enthusiast: 92
Robert Parker: 90
International Wine Cellar: 90

Price: $59.99

Wine Pairing: Duck with Garlic

3. Domaine Huët
Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Première Trie 2009

Critical Accliam

"The nearly 15-acre Clos du Bourg vineyard features a mix of clay, silt and pebbles over limestone subsoils, producing this Loire Valley domaine’s richest expression of Chenin Blanc. If weather permits, as it did in 2009, beneficial Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) dehydrates the late-ripening grapes, whose fresh acidity counterbalances the resulting sweet wine’s concentrated fruit and spice notes. This Première Trie represents Huët winemaker Noël Pinguet’s top selection of hand-harvested grapes."

Wine Spectator: 96

Price: $69.00

Wine Pairing: Fresh Fruit & Cream

2. Hall
Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Kathryn Hall 2008

Critical Acclaim:

"The 2008 Kathryn Hall Cabernet is a blend from four of the sites. Winemaker Steve Leveque added a splash of Merlot to round out the texture and heighten the aromatics. The wine captures the essence of Napa Cabernet yet is distinguished from other great 2008 Cabs by its seamless texture, wonderful focus, purity of flavor and persistent finish."

Wine Spectator: 96

Price $90.00

Wine Pairing: Filet Oscar

1. Kosta Browne
Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2009

Critical Acclaim:

"Ripe and deeply flavored, concentrated and well-structured, this full-bodied red offers a complex mix of black cherry, wild berry and raspberry fruit that's pure and persistent, ending with a pebbly note and firm tannins. Drink now through 2018. 5,818 cases made."

Wine Spectator: 95
International Wine Cellar: 91
Connoisseurs' Guide: 91

Price: $52.00

Wine Pairing: Mushroom Risotto

Congrats to the 2011 winners, and here's to 2012!

Cheers,

Hello Vino

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Weekend Wine Pairing: Two New Year's Appetizers with…

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:52:00 -0800

Here are two great appetizers to serve on New Year's Eve in 10…9…8...

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients (credit: AllRecipes.com)

1 pound fresh mushrooms
7 ounces crabmeat
5 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground savory
ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a medium bowl, combine crabmeat, green onions, herbs, and pepper. Mix in mayonnaise and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese until well combined. Refrigerate filling until ready for use.

Wipe the mushrooms clean with a damp towel. Remove stems. Spoon out the gills and the base of the stem, making deep cups. Discard gills and stems. Fill the mushroom caps with rounded teaspoonfuls of filling, and place them in an ungreased shallow baking dish. Sprinkle tops with Parmesan and paprika.

Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and serve immediately

Cajun Appetizer Meatballs

Ingredients (credit: AllRecipes.com)

1 pound lean ground beef
1 1/2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup barbeque sauce
1/2 cup peach preserves

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking sheet.

In a large bowl, mix thoroughly the ground beef, hot pepper sauce, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, onion, bread crumbs, milk, and egg.

Form the mixture into golf ball sized meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until there is no pink left in the middle.

In a small bowl, combine the barbeque sauce and peach preserves.

When meatballs are done, place in a serving dish and cover with the barbeque sauce mixture. Toss to coat.

Wine Pairings:

For the Crab Stuffed mushrooms…

Champagne: a dry (Brut), light sparkling wine that is refreshing and food-friendly

For the Cajun Meatballs…

Zinfandel: (a spicy red wine with blueberry and blackberry

Cheers!

Hello Vino

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Holiday Wine Pairing: Eggnog Cheesecake with…

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:38:00 -0800

Looks like your cheesecake just got a little festive!

Not too sweet, great eggnog flavor, and full of delicious holiday spirit. People will rave about this dessert if you grace their table with it.

Eggnog Cheesecake

Ingredients (credit: AllRecipes.com)

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons white sugar
3 tablespoons melted butter
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup eggnog
2 eggs
2 tablespoons rum
1 pinch ground nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

In a medium bowl combine graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons sugar and butter. Press into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

In a food processor combine cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, flour and eggnog; process until smooth. Blend in eggs, rum and nutmeg. Pour mixture into cooled crust.

Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.

Reduce heat to 250 and bake for 45 minutes, or until center of cake is barely firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and immediately loosen cake from rim. Let cake cool completely before removing the rim.

Wine Pairing:

Moscato d'Asti: a sparkling wine made with Muscat grapes

Champagne: a sweet, but light bottle of bubbly will be refreshing with this rich dessert

Cheers!

Hello Vino

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Basic Wine Gift Guidelines. A Couple Simple Rules & How We Can Help

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:24:00 -0800

During this holiday season, bottles will be purchased, bottles will be opened, and bottles will be given as gifts.

Nielsen Co. reported that 18% of total sales last year occurred between mid-November and early January, raking in $880 million dollars in wine sales! That's a lot of vino, and we'll certainly be part of the 2011-2012 number. Overall, a bottle of wine is an appropriate and thoughtful gift for your host or hostess and we have a free wine app that can help you pick the perfect bottle.

Here are some easy gift guidelines so you spend your money wisely, spread some cheer, and please palates.

Wine for Dinner?

Most hosts/hostesses will most likely have their wine planned out ahead of time to pair with the meal. However, if you are responsible for the wine, ask what's on the menu and dig into "Wine with a Meal / Food" path in the free Hello Vino app and select a great bottle or two that compliments the meal.

Giving Wine as a Gift?

If you are purchasing wine for a good friend, your boss, or family member…try choosing a bottle you know they will enjoy. If you know what color wine they prefer, or tastes they are in to, you're golden. Simply tap into our
"Wine by Taste Preference" path in our wine app, answers a few quick questions, and we'll offer you some wine recommendations.

If you are not familiar with the gift recipients wine tastes, a general rule to follow is to offer red wine in the winter and white wine in summer. Another good tasting note is to stay neutral by selecting wine with medium body.

Do You Open a Gift Wrapped Bottle?

There are many ways to signal that a bottle of wine is a gift. You can place the wine in a tall gift bag, wrap it up with tissue paper and tie it off with a ribbon, place a simple bow on it, or attach an accessory such as a custom wine stopper for a little something extra. This type of presentation generally means the wine is to be enjoyed by your host, or gift recipient at a later time. You are not obligated to open the wine that night.

Don't want to wait? That's ok…simply ask if you should open this tonight or save it for later. This provides the host or gift recipient an out.

Save & Remember

With all this great wine flowing during the holidays, and people sharing bottles they bring to parties and dinners, we're sure you will want to remember certain ones so you can purchase them yourself down the line. Lucky for you, we can help you hear as well.

Launch the free Hello Vino App
Tap the “My Wines” Footer Icon
Tap the Add+ Button
Enter the name of the wine, vintage, and price (if applicable)
Slide across the stars to rate the wine you're saving and add your personal notes
You can add wines to your Favorites, or your Wish List for future shopping
Share your wines with friends on Twitter & Facebook
Remember, hit the green Save button in the top right hand corner and you're all good!

Cheers & Happy Holidays!

Hello Vino

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Holiday Wine Pairing: Duck Breasts with Raspberry Sauce & a bottle of...

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:07:04 -0800

Are you getting ready to prepare a holiday feast?

In all honesty, raspberries may be the perfect fruit twist when it comes to duck. The tangy, berry sweet flavors mesh well with the juicy meat, and it's simply delicious. If you are tired of turkey and ham, and would like to surprise guests with an elegant dish for the holidays...look no further.

Feel free to do potato wedges as a side too - I bet they'd taste great with the raspberry sauce seeping underneath them.

Duck Breasts with Raspberry Sauce

Ingredients (credit: AllRecipes.com)

4 duck breast halves
2 teaspoons sea salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 teaspoons demerara sugar
1/2 cup red wine
1/4 cup creme de cassis liqueur
1 teaspoon cornstarch
4 ounces raspberries

Directions

Preheat oven on broiler setting. Use a fork to score the duck breasts through the skin and fat but not all the way through to the meat.

Heat a large heavy skillet on medium high. Fry the duck breasts skin side down, until the skin browns and fat runs out, about 10 minutes. Remove the breasts from the pan, and pour off most of the fat. Return breasts to pan, and fry skin side up for another 10 minutes. Remove breasts from pan, and allow to rest on a baking sheet. Mix the sea salt, cinnamon and Demerara sugar together and sprinkle over the skin of the duck breasts. Pour most of the fat out of the frying pan.

Mix together the red wine, cassis, and cornstarch in a small bowl. Pour into the pan, and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thickened. Add raspberries, and simmer for another minute until heated through.

Broil the duck breasts skin side up, until the sugar begins to caramelize, about 1 minute. Slice the duck breasts thinly, pour a little sauce over the top, and serve warm.

Wine Pairings:

Pinot Noir - a nice red wine with red berry, cherry, and truffles.

Viognier - a white wine with honeysuckle and vanilla on the nose, mixed with peach and honey flavors

Cheers!

Hello Vino

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It's Official: Canada Loves Hello Vino

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:27:00 -0800

...and we love you back!

Last week, the Hello Vino team woke up with CTV Canada AM, and watched host Beverly Thomson sit down with Amber MacArthur to discuss tech toys to help your daily lives, and the perfect apps to assist you with gifts and shopping this holiday season.

Amber is co-host of App Central, and she shows you that if you're choosing a wine, or choosing a cookie recipe, there's an app for that! Ambermac is also Canada’s top tech public speaker, and a best-selling author. Very cool!

Fun fact about CTV: Wake up to the world of Canada AM, television's morning star and Canada's most watched national morning newsmagazine. Hosts Beverly Thomson and Marci Ien, along with Weather Anchor Jeff Hutcheson, are currently celebrating the series' 40th incredible broadcast year!

Check out the video -
Holiday apps: Apps that make the holidays easier

By the way, if your making some fantastic chocolate chip cookies, some great wine pairings are Cabernet Sauvignon, Tawny Port, or go for a little Vin Santo ; )

Also, on December 6th, our free wine app was mentioned on App Central's "App Wrap" segment during their holiday special that aired on the Business News Network (BNN) in Canada. This is a great show to discover great gifts and gadgets for your mobile wielding friends.

APP CENTRAL is an original 30-minute production dedicated to apps. It airs on BNN, (Tues. 8/10p.m. ET) CP24 (Sun. 10:30 a.m. ET), CTV (Sat. 4:40 p.m. ET), and CTV Two (Sat. 6:30 p.m. ET).

On the heels of its successful premiere season as the most-watched app program of its kind, App Central has got you covered this holiday season with the top apps for all occasions, and we're thrilled that we were in the mix!

We are included in Part Four of Episode 211 (at the 0:40 mark) << click

Cheers Canada!

Hello Vino

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Weekend Wine Pairing: Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip II with...

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:50:00 -0800

You know a recipe has a history when it has a Roman numeral it.

I'll be the first to admit that I loves chips, dips, and other pickings at parties. Even after dinner, I cannot resist munching on these delicious snakes and appetizers. A family member once sake, you still grazing over there?"

Yes. Yes I am. My arm would be a crane with this cheesy and fragrant dipper.

Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip II

Ingredients (credit: AllRecipes.com)

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
salt and pepper to taste
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a small baking dish.

In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, garlic, basil, garlic salt, salt and pepper. Gently stir in artichoke hearts and spinach.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake in the preheated oven 25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned.

What Wine Pairs With Artichoke and Spinach Dip?

Can't go wrong with Sauvignon Blanc. Try to find one with "grassy" herbs and a little smoke and you're in business.

Cheers!

Hello Vino

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