Il Maestro: Antonio Sanguineti

I don’t know about you, but I gotta love a winemaker who drives what locals refer to as la Banana Rapida.

For Antonio Sanguineti, his brilliant yellow Audi wagon that speeds throughout the Tuscan countryside is as much motif as it is automotive in his life full of bold moves, including the bold wines he crafts so carefully and which have earned him the nickname, Il Maestro.

The story goes that his family owned vineyards, but when he was but a child the family fell on hard times and had to sell those vineyards.  The fruitful land was gone, but clearly not the expertise that evolved.  A winemaker without a vineyard is not so unusual these days, and Sanguineti’s palate and gift for making incredible wine blends led him to work as a consultant, often being paid in wine grapes that he hand-selects to make his unusual and provocative limited production wines. Today, his Small Vineyards company is known for its unique wines that focus on quality not quantity.

Sanguineti’s flamboyant personality conveys to his unique Italian wines that garner constant praise.  Lucky for Hinsdale, he is bringing at least five of those wines to town Saturday, Feb. 27^th, 5-8 p.m., for a $20 tasting, that is sure to stun the taste buds. Hinsdale Cellars will host the event that includes: one white, Verdicchio, followed by Chianti, a couple of Super Tuscans, and a Brunello.  (Note: Many credit his il Maestro nickname to his incredible Brunello.)

The evening promises to be a brief, but magical oenological trip to Tuscany certain to bring you back home a bit dizzy from the whirlwind sensory tour.  Afterall, Sanguineti is a man of adventure whose favorite toast is: “May we all die young — as late as possible!”

Tasting fees will be applied to any purchases that evening, and limited reservations are still available for the event. Call 630.654.9862 to save yourself a place.

A Toast to Our Pets

Many of us are always ready for a celebration, and even more are also pet owners. So, wouldn’t you know that I would come across a perfect occasion that greeting card companies have yet to fully exploit? Saturday, February 20th is Love Your Pet Day.

And while the spirit of the holiday is to pamper your pets and pay homage to the unconditional love they provide so freely, perhaps it’s a time to look to those wines that make every day, Love Your Pet Day and include them in your celebrations of this special occasion.

These days we have wineries that donate proceeds to animal shelters and humane societies. Others host fundraisers for pet-related causes. And certainly, many vineyards are home to cats, dogs and other sorts of pets. While I love a good animal-related wine label, I can’t help thinking of my friend whose only wine-buying advice is that she never chooses wines with animals upon them. She may laugh as she spouts what she herself knows to be nonsensical advice, but it does give one pause. Sure any winemaker can throw a gerbil, parrot, iguana, cat or dog onto the label, but how do we find one that will pair well with tonight’s dinner? Here are just three really terrific pet-labeled wines to get you started…

Woof Woof for Riesling

Not sure if the label on O’Reilly’s 2007 Riesling is an Irish Wolfhound, but its tropical fruit flavors seem a far cry from Ireland. While German Rieslings in the States tend to be sweeter, this Riesling comes from Yakima Valley, Washington, showing much more like the luxurious German Kabinett Rieslings that don’t seem to export much out of Germany. This is a crisp white with a hint of minerality and citrus flavors that will have you recall that perfect summer day when Fido’s Frisbee-catching in the park also caught everyone’s attention. This wine is as great with fondue as it is with grilled fish, and a superb way to remind you that summer will indeed come again.

A Warm Spot for a Washington Red
Here’s a wine that is the cat’s meow among wine critics who praise its sensational drinkability and value. Bergevin Lane 2006 Calico Red Blend, another Washington wine, has scents of cedar and cherry that lead you into this medium-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc. The wine brings forth berry flavors, vanilla and oakiness and is perhaps just the right homage to celebrate your cat’s favorite climbing tree.

Wine that makes the dog dance?
If you are looking for a chardonnay that knows how to have fun, then perhaps the Hoopla 2007  Chardonnay from Napa is the wine for you. Spencer Hoopes has become known for his wine-making trailblazing, and this chardonnay is touted as a great example of his risk-taking in producing interesting, great-tasting wines. It is a fresh wine with flavors that range from green apple, fig, citrus to allspice. The free-spirited pup on the label is indicative of the light-hearted, fun-loving wine that will have you barking for more.

Inspired Wine Club: Reminder of your love, all year long

True Love is… The Hinsdale Wine Club!

The scrambling has begun.  Each February, the pressure is on for couples everywhere to find that perfect gift that says I love you more than ever and celebrate St. Valentine’s Day with fervor.  Yes, a dozen red tea roses are special.  Most never tire of a metallic red heart box full of chocolates.  And a meal at a memorable, cozy restaurant is always meaningful.  But alas, while the memories may last, these gifts do not.

In a week or less, roses will be withering.  Only the sweet chocolate smell will remain in a heart-shaped box (unless tough caramels are still there, too).  And the dinner will have long digested.  And what does that say about your love—that it has passed as well?  Well, perhaps this year, it’s time to find a gift that can last at least until next Valentine’s Day:  membership in the Hinsdale Cellars Inspired Wine Club.

“Your words are my food, your breath my wine. You are everything to me.”

- Sarah Bernhardt, French Stage/Film Actress (1844-1923)

The Inspired Wine Club says your love is lasting and that you treasure your beloved like a fine wine that only improves as you age and grow together.  Each month, your beloved will receive two unique, special and truly fabulous wines, which provide you a monthly celebration of love.  Hinsdale Wine Cellar gurus handpick each month’s selections – even traversing the globe to find some!  And as the wine club membership list grows, so too does the wine value as the club’s buying power increases.  Most bottles are estimated at $50, despite a monthly club fee of only $34.95 ($419.40 for all 12 months) plus shipping.

“Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”

- Robert Heinlein, American science-fiction writer (1907-1988)

Happiness is indeed guaranteed with the wide range of wines you and your beloved will experience in the Inspired Wine Club.  Each month, these wines will transport your senses to the world’s most premier vineyards, experiencing an exotic, hot Malbec from Argentina, a tender Provencal Grenache Rosé, a lush Rioja from Spain, a dry Australian Riesling full of minerality, and so much more.  Essentially the Inspired Wine Club provides a passport to broaden wine horizons, including literature, tasting notes and reviews.  Your beloved will also get special discounts on each month’s wine selections upon purchasing more of these great wines and advance notice of other wine specials and events at Hinsdale Cellars.  You might think that this gift is something you could only dream of, but thank goodness, it’s actually right here, right now, waiting for you to select it and make your St. Valentine’s Day remarkably blissful.

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”

- Dr. Seuss, American Writer, Cartoonist (1904-1991)

Next Page »