Category: Wine Club

Beyond the Fig, German, Germany, Pinot Noir, Spätburgunder, Wine, Wine Blog, Wine Blogger, Wine Club, Wine Lover, Wine Pairing, Wine Review, Wine Tasting, Winery

Spätburgunder! Pinot Noir German Style!

Appetite for Wine

Why just call it Pinot Noir, when you can venture to Germany and declare Spätburgunder!?

That’s right, German Spätburgunder is the same grape most know as Pinot Noir. Such a versatile grape, presented in many different styles, from light and elegant, to big and bold.

Tonight, we opened the Weingut Steintal Buntsandstein Spätburgunder 2020. This is a spectacular wine, tasting great now and with the potential for a few more years of aging. Paired with Roast Chicken with Meyer Lemon and Smoked Paprika (recipe from discovercaliforniawines.com) with its smoked paprika seasoning, it was a match made in heaven.

Ruby color in the glass. Aromas lead with smoke and baking spice, with notes of cherry, raspberry, and mushroom. On the palate, delightful flavors of plum, red cherry, earthy notes, minerals, and tobacco smoke. Medium body, soft tannins, and perfectly balanced acidity. A spectacular Spätburgunder.

Have you had a German Spätburgunder? Let us know in the comments what you thought!

  • By Kent Reynolds and Robyn Raphael-Reynolds
Consumers Advocate, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Online Wine, Review, Wine, Wine Club, Wine Clubs

Wine Clubs to the Rescue

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Wine clubs have been around for awhile, in various iterations. From winery-based clubs in which members receive a shipment of pre-selected bottles, at a prescribed frequency, to online retailer clubs, where members can order however many bottles they want, from a broad selection, as often as they want. One of the main attractions that wine clubs share, is home deliver (in most states.)

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and shelter-in-place orders becoming the norm, wine clubs are more vital and relevant than ever before. Beyond winery versus retail, there are many other variations from one club to the next. Some retail clubs are more of a mail order wine shop, with recognizable, major brands. Others offer club-exclusive wines that you can’t get at Total Wine & More or your neighborhood shop. With all the options out there, how can you know which club is right for you?

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As luck would have it, the folks at ConsumersAdvocate.org did the research for you. With more than 200 hours of research (that’s a lot of wine drinking time!), they looked at 20 online wine clubs, and narrowed it down to four recommended choices. Click here to check out the results. Be sure to read the whole article for great information on incorporating wine into a healthy lifestyle, wine making, packaging, and pricing. 

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Even after the COVID-19 is nothing more than an horrific memory, I believe online wine sales will continue to be strong, and a safe, convenient way to shop for your favorite beverage.

Stay safe, everyone, and remember to SIP while you Shelter In Place.

Cheers!