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.

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.

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)

“What I need to live has been given to me by the earth. Why I need to live has been given to me by you.”

~Author Unknown

A long history of winemaking

Archeologists basically found old wine bottles and other winemaking evidence that date back to 6^th century B.C., and wine historians believe Slovenians probably learned about fermentation from the Greeks.  Throughout history, however, it’s been a roller coaster ride for Slovenian winemakers – boosted by the Romans, nearly dying out as a trade in 700 A.D., rising again simultaneously with Christianity in the region (the Catholic Church was a big player in the wine business in the 1200-1500s), until the late 1800s when Phylloxera destroyed half of the vineyards and sent winemakers scrambling all the way to the United States in many cases.  Slovenia went from 126,000 acres of vineyards to today’s nearly 60,000 acres.

The Oxford Companion to Wine estimates that today Slovenia has more than 40,000 registered wineries, making the average vineyard pretty small – 8-15 acres on average.  No surprise that most of locals generally consume most of this wine.

At a cultural, geographic crossroads

Interestingly, Slovenia is at the heart of great winemaking territory, or should I say terroir?  South of Austria, east of Italy, sitting along a bit of the Mediterranean and on the edge of some Alps, Slovenia enjoys a variety of terrains and microclimates that also unfortunately provide an unbelievable degree of uncertainty with each vintage.  Their limited production becomes ever more so in years where weather is not cooperative – 20, 30 even 50 percent less than normal.

Three broad regions comprise Slovenia wine territory: Primorska, Posavje and Podravje.  Primorska, which is also written as Primorje, lies closest to Italy, so many collaborations with Italian winemakers continue to occur. This region is probably the best known internationally, thanks to the Brda subregion and Movia, the oldest privately owned estate here, which makes biodynamic wines that caught Robert M. Parker Jr.’s attention.  Conversely, Posavje is probably least well known, but is the region that produces nearly as many red wines as whites and is located next to the Austrian border.  Podravje is the largest region, and according to Parker, has “long enjoyed the highest-quality reputation.”

The beauty of such diversity in such a small country is that winemakers are game for exploring varietals that will maximize the terroir of their very specific area.  Slovenia is most known for its whites, which make up 75 percent of its wines.  Not surprisingly, you will see Slovenian Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.  However, more likely, you will encounter wines whose names you can barely pronounce, let alone be familiar with.  The Wall Street Journal published a story recently on this phenomenon of unpronounceable wines come from Slovenia and other Eastern European countries, so now is the time to get a taste of Samling, Traminer, Sylvaner, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia, Kerner, Pikolit, Viovska, Sipon and Pinela.

Understanding Slovenian wine lingo

Much like the European Union, Slovenia created laws to require testing and tasting prior to market that decides the wines’ quality, per the Zaščiteno geoggrafsko poreklo (ZGP), which is similar to the European Union’s QWPSR system (Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions). The quality ranges are: Namizno vino (table wine); Deželno vino PGO (country wine); Kakovostno ZGP (quality wine); and Vrhunsko vino ZGP (premium quality wine). Additionally, Slovenian wine labels identify wine sweetness with the following terms: suho (dry), polsuho (medium-dry), polsladko (medium-sweet) and sladko (sweet).

It’s hard to get smart about Slovenian wine since so little of it leaves Slovenia. With the increased interest in finding new great wines, however, U.S. importers are starting to bring these Slovenian gems to wine sellers.  The key to learning more, however, is finding a wine merchant like Hinsdale Cellars, whose staff can provide information about their specific offerings and offer a taste of the Old World.

– Ivy F. Kupec

From the heart, for the heart
Since 1991 when 60 Minutes’ Morley Safer first reported on the “French paradox,” Americans and others have been fascinated by the way the French seem to resist heart disease despite their culturally-entrenched diet of high-fat stinky cheeses, cholesterol-laden pâtés, and pommes frites bathed in saturated fats like lard. Are butter and cream like vitamins in this culture? Nay, many believe that the wine they drink with their meals offers cardio-protection.

Moderate alcohol consumption is known to raise “good” cholesterol levels and flush out the nasty platelets that like to cling to our blood vessels and create the blockages that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, the antioxidants in wine – whether they are flavonoids or nonflavonoids aid heart health. The superstar nonflavonoid is undoubtedly resveratrol, which also prevents fat from clogging our arteries. Additionally, quercetin and catechins are popular antioxidants found in wine and other foods. The reason so many people tout the benefits of red wine is that these antioxidants are primarily found in grape skins, which steep longer in the red winemaking process than white wines, so reds have more resveratrol than whites. However, antioxidants are everywhere, including non-alcoholic foods, like simple, unfermented grapes. Wine, however, has an interestingly larger amount.

Antioxidants prevent cancer, right?
When I think antioxidants, I think anti-cancer. Antioxidants fight the free radicals in our bodies that are said to result from smoking, radiation and certain bad chemicals that have been associated with cancers and other diseases. That’s why marketers love to promote antioxidants. If folks have seen the movie, Idiocracy, my husband compares this worldwide obsession with antioxidants to the movie’s fixation with electrolytes that caused society to replace water with sports drinks and wonder why the grass and plants were all dying. Seriously though, many researchers have long reported wine’s antioxidant properties and their role in preventing cancer.

That’s why many health-minded wine lovers were disappointed to hear the studies this past year that reported an increased risk of certain cancers as a result of even moderate wine consumption. And these weren’t small studies, either. Some researchers believe that alcohol damages fragile cells it comes into contact with, increasing the risk for mouth, lung, bladder, colon and liver cancers. Additionally, a large study involving British women showed consistent increased risk for breast cancer. However, the jury is still out on these issues as researchers wrestle with some of the confounding factors of these studies, such as the roles diet and other lifestyle factors played in increasing cancer risks. Undoubtedly, this confounding scientific evidence will spawn further research.

Super Wine!
Reading the various medical literature on wine might lead one to believe that wine cures most anything, and in some cases the studies, though mostly in animals, do seem promising. Wine has impressive antioxidants, and antioxidants are credited with not only preventing heart attacks, strokes and blood vessel disease, but also thwarting Alzheimer’s disease, other dementia, degenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s, immune disorders, cataracts and macular degeneration. Of course, successes are in varying amounts, but according to Dr. Harvey E. Finkel, a clinical professor of medicine at Boston University Medical Center and chairman of the Committee on Health of the Society of Wine Educators, these claims have solid research behind them, so the outlook is good that antioxidants are likely helpful to people with these health issues.

More preliminary research, according to Dr. Finkel, has shown that wine and grapes inactivated certain viruses and possibly stimulated “fat burning” that helped with weight loss, believe it or not. But my favorite study is the one that essentially says wine makes you smarter. A study of aging twins – one who drank moderately, the other who didn’t – showed that the moderate drinker was smarter, scoring higher intellectually than those who drank significantly more or significantly less.

Everything in moderation
Without exception, studies that purported wine and/or alcohol’s health benefits only saw those benefits with moderate consumption, which is defined as one drink per day for women and two per day for men, who are generally larger and metabolize alcohol somewhat differently. As soon as consumption increased beyond this level, the benefits disappeared and other long-term health risks developed, such as diabetes, liver disease and certain cancers.

That said, if we go back to that original researcher who discussed the French paradox with 60 Minutes, Serge Renaud, we see his research makes a wonderful case for enjoying moderate wine consumption. He and his colleagues from the University of Bordeaux associated moderate wine consumption with a “30% reduction in the death rate from all causes; a 35% percent reduction in death rates from cardiovascular disease; and an 18-24% reduction in death rates from cancer.” Now that is something I can drink to.

– Helen Gurley Brown, the Ultimate “Cosmo” Girl

Naysayers may exist, but I find it hard to believe that anyone is immune to the celebratory powers of Champagne. It’s what’s for weddings, New Year’s, and so many other special occasions. Karen MacNeil, author of the Wine Bible, recounts Marilyn Monroe’s love for the stuff such that the actress reportedly took a bath in 350 bottles of it!

Sure, these days one can find other satisfying bubblies in a favorite Prosecco, Cava or Sekt, but Champagne will always have one thing these others don’t: the name, Champagne.

Folks like Robert M. Parker will say that name has done a disservice to the wine, allowing it to rest on its delicate fizzy laurels and take far longer than it should have in developing into wine that is as great tasting as it is luxurious and festive.

Back to the chalk pit

What makes Champagne unique is what makes so many French wines unique: its terroir. From its start 65 million years ago when prehistoric seas over northern France and Britain receded, leaving huge chalky deposits, Champagne grapes had unique soil composition and an interesting set of microclimates for such a small area (again, very French) that yielded interesting wine stories, if not great wine in its early years in the 1600s.

• Cold temperatures that kept the yeasts from growing during the winter months initially frustrated wine makers. Spring would come, yeasts would grow again and the result was embarrassingly fizzy wine. At this time, that was more likely seen as evidence of spoilage rather than something elegant.

• Theses wines also had a problem with gritty yeast residue. Thanks to a Widow Clicquot employee, a fascinating “riddling” process migrated the residue to the bottles’ stems where it could be frozen and expelled with gas from the bottles themselves before a final topping off with base wine and rebottling.

• The Champagne region winters and springs could be (and still are!) so cold that grapes had a hard time surviving. Not only were vines trained low to the ground to maximize the heat that bounces off the white soil, but winemakers used to employ white plastic sheeting to aid reflection as well. That sheeting has since been outlawed.

The trio of grapes

Interestingly, only three grapes can be found in Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. And because of the disparity between these grapes, Champagnes, depending on the grape distribution, can fluctuate wine flavors and textures as well – from something light and citrusy to full-bodied and more reminiscent of vanilla custard in flavor and texture.

Champagne makers tend to stick with a style such that Perrier-Jouêt will likely always be a light-to-medium wine. Veuve Clicquot and Pommery will likely always be medium-to-full bodied, and Bollinger and Krug will always be known for their fullness. For someone interested in a more Chardonnay-driven Champagne, a Blanc de Blanc might be in order, which predominantly come from Côte des Blanc, which is one of five Champagne vineyard areas. Along with the Montagne de Reims, the Côte des Blanc is home to essentially all 17 of Champagne’s “extraordinary” villages, according to MacNeil, saying they are “historically rated 100 percent.” Duval-Leroy, based in Vertus, has been making Champagne in this region since 1859, and produces both Blanc de Chardonnay as well as other Champagnes that have gotten considerable attention.

Ringing in the New Year

As New Year’s Eve approaches, finding just the right bubbly to make your festivities special doesn’t have to be difficult. With an ample selection, the experts at Hinsdale Wine Cellars are here to assist, and most importantly, wish you a joyous 2010.

The author replied that: “…A truly caring, thoughtful and concerned wine merchant can be a teacher, a guide and a friend”. To my staff and I at The Hinsdale Wine Shop, building these types of personal relationships is the foundation for our business being such a success. These are relationships that you cannot find elsewhere, particularly at big and unfriendly chain retailers. We want to give you the best experience shopping for and tasting wines as we possibly can.

I feel, as well as my staff and many of our patrons that wine is so much more than just a liquid. Wine is a journey of the world through a glass; it is a living thing that goes through family events and special occasions with us and has the ability to build friendships and can help with discoveries of the soul.

Because we have such close relationships with the wine we drink, why would we not have a corresponding relationship to the person that introduces us to it? Wine has an incredible ability to bring people together, and it is certainly the time of year where we all think about good family and friends.

The writer also writes in the answer: “…if you don’t have a wine merchant to whom you would ever consider giving a gift, you should make a New Year’s resolution to find one. They’re out there” and I couldn’t agree more. If you need someone to direct you through your journey of wine, consider letting me be your guide.

Happy Holidays and I hope to see you soon,

Sean Chaudhry

Whatever and wherever your friends, family and colleagues are celebrating holidays this time of year, wine is a natural gift that not only adds joy to the season, but color as well.

With wine, you have the opportunity to send Aunt Tillie to France with a succulent Chateauneuf-de-Pape.  Thank that neighbor who loves using his fancy snow blower to clear your sidewalk as well as his by sending him to Germany with a chilled Riesling.  The shy accountant who takes care of your taxes in his musty office can take respite in Argentina via a pampas-derived Malbec.  And what clients wouldn’t enjoy a sparkling Cava to ring in the New Year?

It is hard to find something more festive than wine for the holidays. And it’s also the gift among gifts.  There’s something about wine and wine bottles that just immediately says, “When you open me, I will taste good and provide a good experience.”  OK, not every wine can live up to that expectation, but because the majority do, a gift of wine is something that rarely goes unused or unappreciated.  Wine tells stories and conveys inherent fellowship.  And these days it’s easier than ever to find a wine that fits your budget as well as it fits the person who is receiving it.

Hinsdale Cellars has made it easier than ever to send your family, friends, colleagues and clients fine wines for a happy holiday.  They will even help you with your shopping from afar, much like that florist in Miami picks out a bouquet within your budget and just right for your Oma who now lives near the beach.

Christmas shopping as easy as 1-2-3

Whether you come to the store, give Hinsdale Cellars a call, or shop online, the best place for Christmas gift wine is Hinsdale Cellars (http://www.hinsdalecellars.com or 630.654.9862) The Web site has wonderful tasting notes and broader information about wine in its Vintelligence blog.  A direct call or a visit to the store will have you talking to one of the on-site wine experts who can find just the right wine(s) within your budget. For client gifts, it’s as easy as 1-2-3:

Step 1: Let Hinsdale Cellars know your budget per client and any other information that might help guide wine selection.

Step 2: Provide your client list, including full names and addresses.

Step 3: Provide credit card information, and Hinsdale Cellars does the rest, filling out holiday cards, including thoughtful tasting notes, and packaging and shipping.

Wine is a gift that is sure to help make your family, friends’, colleagues’ and clients’ yuletide season joyous.  For more information, call Hinsdale Cellars at 630.654.9862 or e-mail sean@hinsdalecellars.com.

Happy Holidays from your friends at Hinsdale Cellars!