Original Zin

Whenever people ask me to recommend a Zinfandel, I often feel as though the world is ending. Just the memories of one too many sickly sweet, overripe Zins with too much weight are enough to make me feel sick. I've battled a feeling that this grape is the Original Sin of the wine world. Imagine a world where the jammy, sludge-like qualities of a poorly made California Zin become the standard-bearer for all California reds? Oh, the horror.

Despite my feelings toward Zin, I have recently come across a few that I have quite enjoyed-- much to my own surprise. The 2004 Graziano Mendocino Zinfandel has a hearty, earthy essence that seems to ring true to the family's Italian roots. Furthermore, the Mendocino climate seems to take a tougher toll on the grape, which, thankfully, thins out the flavor and roughs it up a bit for a lighter-style wine. This wine retails for about $18.00.

Another winner is the Quivira's Steelhead 2006 Dry Creek Zinfandel. Spicy and earthy with full cherry and plum and a touch of tannin, this medium to full-bodied Zin has balance and a refreshingly tart little finish. And the great thing is, Steelhead is the official wine of Trout Unlimited and a percentage of proceeds from the sale of each bottle goes toward that organization.

So, for those of you who are Zin-weary, the above wines just might win you over. And, if you were a Zin drinker before, expand your palate by giving these unique wines a try.


Cheers!

www.grazianofamilyofwines.com
www.quivirawine.com

Shropshire Blue Cheese

Shropshire Blue Cheese is a cow's milk blue cheese from the U.K. and is somewhat of a cross between Stilton and Cheshire. This cheese is delightfully creamy with a beautiful tangerine color created by the addition of annatto, a natural food coloring often used in Wisconsin cheddars. Shropshire Blue has a nutty, lingering flavor and its unique texture and color make it a great alternative to other Blues. However, I don't recommend eating the outer blue skin on the cheese. It is not very tasty!

I was able to purchase this cheese at E's Cheese market in Mendota Heights for about $10.00/half lb. Dessert wines or ports are often recommended with blue cheese so I paired the Shropshire Blue with a 2007 Dr. Loosen Riesling. However, the combination was not very good. The sweetness of the Riesling did not enhance the flavor of the cheese and I actually found that the wine's minerality conflicted with the nuttiness of the cheese. I would try a Prosecco, a semi-dry Rose, or a Port with this cheese.



Shropshire Blue Cheese

Welcome!

Welcome to the MSP Wine and Cheese Blog!

Thank you very much for taking the time to stop by. If this is your first visit to this site, welcome to one of the Twin Cities' best resources on wine and cheese.

I've always been a giver and this blog is about giving! I want to share with you all of my knowledge and experience with wines and cheeses. My love of wine began with a chance job offer at a winery in Anderson Valley, CA. There I learned about wine production, grape harvesting, viticulture, proper tasting techniques and much, much more. Currently, I work for a wine shop and am an avid student of any wine book I can get my hands on.

As for cheese, I guess I've just got it in my blood as a Wisconsin-native who spent several years living and loving cheese in Vermont. Additionally, I have studied both goat cheese and cow cheese making on farms in Ireland.

So, I welcome you to follow along as I point out all the best places to find great wines and even better values in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area! Also, I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments about this blog. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me about the content of this blog and its value as an online resource.


Thanks!

MSP Wine and Cheese Blog