The South Beach Wine Club
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We aren’t just another wine club - we provide our club members with everyday wines along with a daily blog full of great wine information. Our articles are full of wine news, pairing suggestions, restaurant reviews, and party tips designed to help wine buyers ranging from complete novices to experienced drinkers looking for the next best bottle. Sure, we want you to purchase a membership to The South Beach Wine Club, but we also want you to stop by every day to see what's on our minds. And once you're here, we hope you comment on what you read.

The club is designed for those who like to enjoy wine every day and those who know that wine helps make a party great - no matter what size! But who has time to make that extra trip after work to the wine store, trolling through endless bottles of wine? You should spend your time enjoying the wine, so we pick great bottles at great prices for you. No more guess work!

We keep it simple - 3 different tiers: 2, 4 or 6 bottles per month.

The price is listed in the total price - no hidden shipping costs at check out.

Customize your shipment to be all reds, all whites, or a mix - because you never know.

Perfect gift for those busy friends who always like to have a bottle of wine around.

Regularly updated blog to provide you with helpful party tips, wine suggestions, and pairing ideas.

South Beach Wine Club Blog:

Washington wineries are diversifying

Author: Randy  //  Category: Wine Regions, Wine Stories, Wine Tips

 

Once known for world-class Merlot, Washington State’s wineries are taking on the world. This shouldn’t come as a surprise; after all, the state’s escalating wine industry is on about the same latitude as two of France’s most famed wine regions, Bordeaux and Burgundy.

The number of wineries in the state has increased by more than 400 percent in the past decade. Today, Washington boasts 460 wineries and 30,000-plus acres of vineyards, making it second in wine production in the U.S. only to California. Obviously something remarkable is going on here, and it’s happening fast.

washington wine country vineyard

After initially achieving prominence with wines made from Merlot, which many critics still consider to be the best in the country, award-winning wines have been made from the state’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Old World-style blends of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc also became popular.

But now, Washington’s vintners are finding that less-common grape varieties are producing great wines due to the soil and climate of the state. Washington is blessed with lots of volcanic soil, which is resistant to the root pest called phylloxera that plagues vineyards in other regions. That makes it easy to try more demanding grape varieties. More important, a combination of generally warm days, cool nights, and adequate water lead to grapes with both good sugar content and acidity – essential for making well-balanced, quality wines.

Examples of the new varietals being planted include Sangiovese and Nebbiolo (the fathers of Chianti, and Barolo and Barbaresco, respectively, in Italy), Syrah (the signature red grape of the northern Rhone Valley in France) and Viognier (famous for the tropical fruit-flavored white wines of Condrieu in France).

washington state wine

Due to the near-ideal growing conditions of many areas in Washington, Riesling (the great grape of Germany) has found a second home here and is being used to make outstanding wines. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are making a good showing as well.

Yes, Washington State is playing in the “big-leagues” of wine making, and there is a lot of press to back up the assertion that WA wines are some of the best in the country. But despite the increase in notoriety, the price of Washington wine has not grown at the same rate as their quality.  The next time you are wandering about your local wine store, you may want to do a little comparison shopping, trying a Washington version of your favorite Italian red, or even a sweet Washington Riesling. These wines are kind of like potato chips…you can’t just have one.

The Pacific Northwest sure is jam-packed with grapes

Author: Randy  //  Category: Wine Regions, Wine Stories

 

Immortalized by Lewis and Clark as a splendorous land of discovery, the Pacific Northwest is also one of the best places to explore magnificent wines. Offering power-packed Merlots, Cabernet Sauvignons, world-class Pinot Noirs, and elegant whites, this region is a boundless paradise for modern wine adventurers.

pacific-northwest-white-wine

Second only to California in terms of production volume among U.S. states, Washington is an even closer rival in terms of quality. Odds are, when you pick up a bottle of Washington wine, the grapes will have been grown in Columbia Valley, the state’s biggest vineyard region. Although smaller, the nearby Yakima Valley region shares a similar growing climate and reputation. Tucked away in Washington’s southeastern corner, the tiny Walla Walla Valley region is home to more than its share of the state’s high-end wineries. As for styles of wine, Washington boasts an ever-expanding, wide-ranging assortment. In addition to the state’s established stars – massive Merlots and Cabernets – reds such as Syrah and Cabernet Franc have lately been proving themselves worthy of similar esteem.

If white wines are your fancy, you’re probably already familiar with Washington’s classy Chardonnay and Riesling. And on the rise is Semillon, a sumptuous French variety currently causing a stir in northwest wine circles.

And then, there is Oregon. How can an unheralded wine region make waves on the international scene? By embarrassing prestigious French wines in competition. Oregon Pinot Noirs did this back in the ’80s and ’90s, placing near the top in a field packed with famous pinot noir-based French Burgundies. A specific climate is necessary for making great wines from Pinot Noir grapes, and the cool, damp weather of Oregon’s top wine region, Willamette Valley, is virtually unmatched. Don’t be surprised to see French vintners establishing their own wineries there.

Even though Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is an international star, Oregon is anything but a one-hit wonder. The state also receives raves for Pinot Gris, the same grape variety as ever-popular Pinot Grigio. In Oregon, however, Pinot Gris takes on an entirely different character from its typical cousin, with an opulent texture and exhilarating floral aromas. Also look for Oregon Chardonnay – the number of delicious examples of this favorite is definitely on the upswing.

And let’s not forget about the state known for potatoes – Idaho. Although lagging light years behind the state’s highest profile crop, Idaho wines are beginning to generate a jumbo-sized reputation of their own. The grape industry is still in the pioneering stage, so experimentation with loads of different varieties is currently underway. For now, check out Idaho’s whites, including Riesling, Chardonnay and ice wines. If you want to try an Idaho bottle tonight, look for the producer Sawtoothe – they make a pretty solid Riesling.

Rhone Style Wines

Author: Randy  //  Category: Wine Stories, Wine Tips

 

If you crave juicy wines with a hint of chewy depth, Rhone blends should be part of your wine repertoire. Made up primarily of three grapes – Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre – Rhone Valley blends originated France, but have become more popular in New World countries as well.

France’s Rhone Valley is like two different wine zones crammed into one. In the north, the Syrah variety reigns supreme as the only red grape in famous Hermitage and Cote-Rotie wines. But in the hotter south, blends are the name of the game, and a whopping 13 different varietals can be included in some wines! In all southern Rhone blends, including famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Cotes-du-Rhone, the three main varietals are major players. Typically, Grenache takes on a leading role, strongly backed up by Syrah and Mourvedre. Any other varietals making the mix will appear in much smaller amounts.

french-rhone-wines

Winemakers in the Rhone use so many varietals because of the complexity each grape brings to the wine.  The three main varietals provide the backbone. Grenache adds bright, red raspberry flavors, and because it’s naturally lower in tannin than many other reds, easy-going drinkability is always part of the package. Syrah, called Shiraz in Australia and South Africa, adds spiciness and darker, blackberry-type flavors, plus the ability to gracefully age. It can also lend beguiling scents of smoke and leather. Mourvedre is intense and meaty. It adds even more aging ability, plus an inky, dark color.

In the United States, the big-league popularity of Rhone varieties is largely due to the efforts of a group of daring California winemakers known as the Rhone Rangers. With a belief that California’s climate has much in common with the Rhone Valley in France, this posse of winemaking rebels turned their backs on ever-popular staples such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, focusing instead on Rhone mainstays. These days, the Rhone Rangers’ influence extends throughout the entire west coast, including Oregon and Washington. But many of the top wines are found in California’s Central Coast, including areas such as Paso Robles and Santa Barbara.

If you’ve ever gotten even a whiff of Aussie wine, chances are you know all about the down-under success of Shiraz. But Grenache and Mourvedre feel right at home in Oz as well. In addition to wines labeled Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre, keep an eye out for Shiraz-Grenache-Mourvedre and Shiraz-Grenache wines in which Shiraz claims the lion’s share of the blend, rather than Grenache. For fresh, exciting Aussie-Rhone takes, pay particular attention to bottles hailing from Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale.

The ample warmth and sun of South Africa perfectly suits heat-loving Rhone grapes. Although the region is steeped in centuries of tradition dating back to the 1600s, South African winemakers have recently adopted Rhone varieties as their very own. As in other New World areas, you’re likely to see the classic Rhone trinity alongside an infinite number of variations on the theme. Don’t shy away – South African mixes featuring any of the Rhone varieties can be meltingly soft and easy to love.