I went to Phoenix area this past weekend to visit my sister for her birthday. And what do you do with your older sister when it’s her birthday? Get a babysitter for your niece and nephew and head on over to the closest wine bar! Inside the wine bar in Old Town Gilbert, Postinos, is a…
Tag: #wine
Malbec, Non-California, Review, Under $10
Review: 2013 Trapiche Alaris Malbec
by wineforthewin •
OK, I only have a few more Malbec posts from Argentina. So bear with me! I mean, you have to drink Malbec when you’re in Buenos Aires and we drank a lot. Dialing back the clock a bit, we drank this 2013 Trapiche Alaris Malbec on our second night in Buenos Aires. It was actually…
Chardonnay, Under $20
Review: 2010 Hobson Estate Chardonnay
by wineforthewin •
Off to Temecula I went this past Saturday to visit my other half’s childhood home–I’m sure you’ve seen my previous descriptions of this quaint property filled with all kinds of animals. Including this durpy Great Dane. We hung out in the aviaries with the cockatiels–who are also my bird’s parents–and caught a glimpse of three…
California, Under $20, Zinfandel
Review: 2012 Criss Cross Old Vine Zinfandel
by wineforthewin •
This warm, chocolatey wine has a full-mouth feel. It’s pert, it’s spicy and it’s jammy. Because this wine comes from Lodi, it makes sense that it would have that mocha taste. Zinfandels from Lodi tend to have rich flavors and smoky finishes. A friend brought this over to watch a TV show at my place.…
Interesting Fact, Musing
Idaho: premiere wine locale?
by wineforthewin •
Remember Paso Robles man? How can you forget this debonaire fellow? Now, the Idaho Wine Commission has taken their own shot at a cheeky, sarcastic promotional video. This one features two characters from Idaho–a potato farmer and the owner of a rafting company. Both are having trouble convincing people that they are not in the…
Interesting Fact
Would you pay someone to put your favorite wine in a box?
by wineforthewin •
The last time I had boxed wine was sophomore year in college when I was on the editing board of a literary magazine. We were holed up in our senior editor’s apartment eating cheap cheese and crackers and sipping Franzia from Solo cups critiquing poetry. That was seven years ago. But now I’m talking about…
Interesting Fact
Top produced wines: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
by wineforthewin •
Although they’ve been in the top 10 for more than two decades, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot had been bringing up the rear back in 1990. But now, they’ve catapulted to first and second place when it comes to top produced wines. Other wines such as Syrah made even bigger jumps, with that varietal running up…
Blends, Muscat, Non-California, Reisling, Review, Under $20, White Blend
Review: 2012 Jarenincan Crnko
by wineforthewin •
Bet you can’t say that five times fast. I bought this Slovenian white blend of riesling and dry muscat hoping to drink it with a delicious meal featuring lemon garlic cod and jasmine rice, but I decided to bring this table wine to a pre-New Year’s Eve party since it’s 1-Liter size and bottle cap…
California, Red Blend, Under $10
Review: 2011 Cocobon Red Wine Blend
by wineforthewin •

For some reason, whenever I say Cocobon it makes me think of big band music, dancers with big feather headdresses, Miami Beach in the 1960s and that scene in “The Mask” when Jim Carrey does a crazy dance number. Remember that one? If not, here’s a refresher: The 2011 Cocobon, sold at Trader Joe’s, is…
Interesting Fact
Bicycle wine rack? Yes, please. #Christmas
by wineforthewin •

I have a lot of friends who bike, and yes I still live in Los Angeles. Many of those peddling amigos also like wine. In comes the bicycle wine rack! It’s an ingenious invention from Etsy creator oopsmark, who focuses on tools for urban living. The olive-oil treated leather rack fits a 1-inch bike frame,…