Hello wine lovers, it has been a very busy week –moving wine days and attending corporate meetings at the Century Plaza have occupied my time more than normal. Saturday we served Beer from5 pm to 8pm, featuring Belgian beers and Lambics, Fruit style beers that have been top fermented with fruit pulp and natural juice. These Belgian beers are popular among women and men across the world. These French and Belgian beers are sweet in flavor and have champagne like character in carbonation. Deep rich colors are common in this style of beer. Mainly from the fruit juice and red extract of the juice from the berries used. Belgian Lambics are sweetened by natural fruit sugar called fructose. This natural sugar is perfect for creating two things, Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers–Busy Week
All posts by Mike Berger
Hello Wine Lovers
While working in the wine sales side of the grocery industry once in a while a special training opportunity comes my way. This trip was to the Bealeiu Vineyards The BV house was amazing it’s a 1920’s bungalow style mansion 10,000 square feet of living space. It was built for George and his wife owners of BV. We had a wonderful tasting of Chalone wines and of BV wines as well. We were shown how the glass the wine is served in could change the entire experience of the wine. George Reidel once said to me that “ perception is everything!” Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers
Hello Wine Lovers
Well it’s Saturday and I am ready for another wine tasting at Ralphs tonight 5pm to 8pm. Tonight, we’ll be tasting Sparkling wines of California. This is not the same as Champagne due to a law the United States recognizes with France since around 1975, or so, we can’t call sparkling wine Champagne unless it comes from Champagne France. Now, many bottles can be labeled “Methode Champaniose meaning it is fermented in bottle the same as a Champagne wine. Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers
Hello Wine Lovers
Hello Wine lovers. California being a temperate climate for growing wine grapes allows us to mimic many varietals from the French growing regions. Tonight we will taste the Rhone Valley style wines. Syrah and Grenache and Mouvedre are a few red varietals that are common. For a white wine there are three types. Marsanne Roussane and Viognier. These six wines consist of the bulk of what is produced in the Rhone. The valley is divided between the northern region and the southern region along the Rhone River. It might seem strange to taste such velvety white wine in such early Spring, but this wine really delivers a great value and quality all in one. Tonight is Tuesday and at 5pm until 8om At Ralphs we will explore the Region of France known as the Rhone Valley. Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers
Hello Wine Lovers
Once again it is time for another tasting at Ralphs Grocery Store. Monday (today) we will be tasting red table wines from 5pm to 8pm. Many of the table wines we sell at Ralphs are special red table wines. This simple title lends its name to many great red wines. Legacy from Napa county Estancia from Paso Robles carries the name as well. Even the sought after Opus One is considered red table wine. Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers
Hello Wine Lovers!
Wine lovers gather together tonight as we experience Sparkling wine of California. Out of all the wine produced in California and the wine producing regions, none is more challenging than sparkling. From the moment when Dom Perignon uttered the words” I am tasting stars” to the last “pop” of a cork sparkling wine has enraptured us. With its velvety texture to its long goose like necks to it’s sturdy bell shaped bottle. Sparkling wines has satisfied many over the past decades. The history of sparkling wine in California only spans a few decades where as in Europe it spans centuries. We will sample this wonderful wine this Saturday evening (tonight!) from 5pm until 8pm here at Ralph’s. Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers!
Hello Wine and Sake Lovers
Hello Wine and Sake lovers. Tonight at 5pm until 8pm I will be serving Sushi and Sake for a fun Friday night Sushi and traditional Sake at Ralph’s. Friday is a great night to start your evening festivities at Ralph’s with a little Sushi and Sake, then head out to your favorite places in town o get your party on.
Sake is an alcohol product distilled from the rice grain; it originated in Japan and slowly made its way around the world. Continue reading Hello Wine and Sake Lovers
Hello Wine Lovers
Well it is time to put on the green in honor of St Patrick. Green beer will be flowing around the city I fear. Green bagels already are being sold in the bakery and “Kiss Me I’m Irish Shirts are showing up all around the city. Tonight at Ralph’s from 5pm to 8pm, we will revisit the traditional Irish Beer of Guinness Harp Smithwicks and Guinness stout or as many refer to it, motor oil. The price of the tasting is just six dollars. Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers
Hello Wine Lovers
Hello wine lovers, another night approaches of good wines. The last few days were filled with Irish beers; well just for a break we are trying Riesling Wines.
Germany and Alsace region style wines offer a unique profile of sweetness and acidity. Rieslings are cold climate wines grown on traditionally steep inclines of the Rhine River in Germany. Also grown in colder climates in the United States in such areas as Grand Traverse in Michigan and in Washington State along the Columbia Valley . This would be on the eastern side of the Cascade mountain ranges. The profile of flavor in the wine will range greatly from where the grapes are grown. Traditionally German Riesling grapes are grown around Mosel, Phaltz Saar Ruwr and Rhine regions. Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers
HELLO WINE AND BEER LOVERS
Hello Beer and Wine lovers, Friday the 13th is not known for great things normally, here’s to changing a trend. Tonight at Ralphs from 5pm to 8pm we are offering an early Irish Beer tasting of Guinness Harp and Smithwicks. These are the few foremost beer’s Miller Brand offers around the famed Irish holiday. We are starting on Friday to catch the Irish in us all of us. With the March Madness at the Staples Center I thought it a great time to break out the beer along with corned beef sandwiches and good sour pickles! As an added bonus to the evening the Guinness Girls will be attending the event handing out trinkets and beads to get into the Irish spirit of the evening. Inoculating kegs of beer with green dye seems a bit too college fraternity for my taste so I opted for a nice classy tasting with cute ladies to lure the guys in for a sip of great beer. Continue reading HELLO WINE AND BEER LOVERS