Update from Hans: Back from wine tasting South Africa!

March 7th, 2012 | Posted in Travel, wine, wine club

Touring the wine regions of South Africa was a magical experience. The landscape and coastline reminds me on California. However, the mountains surrounding the wineries seem higher, the vegetation more colorful and the stars so much brighter. Well, that was my impression after tasting 20-50 wines every day, starting as early as 8am.

Seriously, South Africa is stunningly beautiful; the people are extremely friendly and the wines …unique and diverse. So, what makes South African Wines so unique and diverse?

1. Unique Terroir:
The Western Cape, where the wine regions are located, happens to be the smallest but richest of the world’s six floral kingdoms. It offers the most unique soil types, found in the foot hills of majestic mountains all the way to the deep valleys.
2 . Diverse Climate:
Only the South African wine regions can claim to receive warm ocean breezes from one side (Indian Ocean), and cool ones (Atlantic Ocean), from the other. In addition to the most extreme altitude differences, slope inclination and distances from the seas, the meso climates can create diversity even within a single vineyard’s site.
So, if you are not sure if you want to sit in a plane for 27 hours to see it for yourself; then look at our wine list in a few month and experience South Africa …sip by sip.
Cheers!
-Hans

Tagged , , , ,
273 views | Email This Post | Print This Post | No Comments »

The history of sharing & other ways to share the wine club love

February 25th, 2012 | Posted in wine, wine club

Photo via UnorthodoxY on Flickr – Creative Commons, Commercial Use

Sharing wine is an fundamental part of human history.

Everyone knows the phrase “drinking to one’s health.” This started in ancient Greece when a dinner host would take the first sip of wine to assure guests it was not poisoned.  Then, the Romans, while continuing this Greek tradition, introduced the concept of toasting. To deal with excessive acidity or icky tastes, toasted bread would be passed around and guests would drop pieces into the wine glass to mitigate those less-than-ideal flavors.

While we’re not opposed to drinking alone (wink, wink), taking time out to share a bottle of wine happily continues as tradition amid the hustle and bustle of our over-scheduled lives in today’s world. This is where the benefits of a wine club membership come in… the ability to combine ancient tradition with taking time out of your own scattered life to share your wine, love, laugher, and stories.

Here are a few ideas for sharing the wine club love in today’s busy world:

Give the gift that lasts all year! Flowers and chocolate are here today and gone tomorrow. However, a wine club membership keeps reappearing every 6 weeks throughout the year. Beat that gift!

Be the best guest ever! Whether it’s your favorite wine or one that doesn’t appeal to your personal tastes, bringing your host or hostess a bottle of wine is bound to gift you brownie points. Do you think the Greeks and Romans showed up empty handed to a dinner? Okay, so maybe we don’t have the facts on that question… but it doesn’t hurt you to be a considerate and thankful guest.

Host informal tastings after your shipment arrives! Invite some friends and toast to your health (minus the soggy wine-soaked bread) as you taste these new wines for the first time. Or, go all out and do a blind tasting.

How do you share the wine club love? If at all…

Tagged , , ,
298 views | Email This Post | Print This Post | No Comments »

Hot off the press! Great links for wine news

February 17th, 2012 | Posted in News and Events, wine

Screenshot of Jon Bonné’s San Francisco Chronicle wine blog. Read it!

Want to keep up with the world of wine? Here are some links you’ll want to bookmark on your browser:

The Wall Street Journal –

Scroll down to the Wine & Spirits section for some fun wine news and opinions. Find out “What they’re drinking at Davos” or “When to drink white wine with cheese” as well as updates about what’s happening in the world of wine. Lettie Teague is one of our favorite WSJ wine writers.

WineBusiness.com –

While it’s more geared for the wine industry, depending upon your interest in wine happenings, this could be a great resource for you. We subscribe to this site via email and receive daily wine news updates in our inbox.

San Francisco Chronicle –

This newspaper, no surprise with its close proximity to wine country, has an entire section devoted to wine. If you haven’t read Jon Bonné’s wine articles, you aren’t up on the latest wines and industry gossip. Bookmark it.

We’re always looking for more great resources for wine news. If you have a source you’d like to share… let us know!

Tagged , , ,
366 views | Email This Post | Print This Post | No Comments »

Winter Travel Escapes – You Can Bring Your Own Wine!

February 7th, 2012 | Posted in Travel, wine, wine club

Screenshot of the Big Bear website. Tip: Sites like these have links to hotels, ski cabin rentals, & other travel tools. Use ‘em!

A few weeks ago, we asked our Facebook friends: When you travel… do you bring your own wine or find something fun and local?

Based on the responses we received, people agree it’s always fun to try something local. But, they warned, it’s always handy to have your own wine on hand “just in case.” We couldn’t agree more. If you’re traveling, for instance, to Virginia Wine Country, Napa Valley, or Walla Walla, Washington… by all means, leave your wine at home and savor the local flavors. However, these wine destinations are few, far, and not every vacation happens to be near wine country.

That’s why we recommend planning travel escapes where you can bring your own wine (BYOW). Think: cozy ski cabins, beachside bungalows, and city hotels with kitchenettes.

Here are a few winter travel destinations to consider – and don’t forget to BYOW!

The Cozy Ski Cabin

Nestled in the woods, a storybook ski cabin at a ski resort can provide privacy, spacious comfort, a blazing chimney, and if you’re lucky a bit of kitchen space. Before heading up the mountain, stock up on cheese, bread, and other appetizers at a local grocery store. Even if you end up dining in the resort’s restaurant, you’ll appreciate a memorable happy hour with your own wine.

The Breezy Beach Bungalow

Perhaps you already live in the snow and “escaping” to a ski cabin doesn’t appeal to you? Thankfully, warm destinations like Florida and Southern California provide beachside bungalow rentals at sometimes discounted prices during the winter season. Pack the white wine!

The City Hotel with Kitchenette

New York City, Chicago, Savannah… a quick web search for hotels with kitchenettes will provide you with suitable options for the getaway city of your choice. Book concert or Broadway tickets ahead of time and enjoy a glass or two of your own vino before walking or taking a taxi to your evening entertainment.

PS- It never hurts to bring a few extra bottles just in case you meet your wonderful neighbors. Lifelong friendships and bonds have been forged thanks to great wine.

PPS- Don’t forget a corkscrew.

PPPS- Do you want winter wine recommendations? Contact your Schlossadler Wine Club Guru for details!

Tagged , , , , ,
356 views | Email This Post | Print This Post | No Comments »

Easy recipes for an uncomplicated, stay-at-home Valentine’s Day

February 2nd, 2012 | Posted in Food and Wine, Random

Photo via James Colesberry – Available for commercial use

Is there a better excuse than Valentine’s Day to celebrate love? February 14th is a reminder to celebrate your partner in crime, er… life, and wine. Although, we know you don’t need that reminder! Unfortunately, for some, V-Day is also tied to stress because you should buy a gift and make restaurant reservations!

SCRATCH OUT THAT LAST SENTENCE!  Forget the restaurant reservations and expensive gift. Instead, make it an authentic Valentine’s Day to remember with a loving, uncomplicated meal at home and a memorable bottle of wine. If you’re looking for ideas, the Internet is full of tasty, easy-to-make recipes.

We have a few ideas to get you started.

French Cooking

AdventurousTastes has this easy recipe for a Quick Coq au Vin or if you’re in the mood for Potatoes au Gratin, the Pioneer Woman can help. For dessert, pick up something decadent and already prepared at the grocery store. Oh, and don’t forget the fromage (cheese).

Asian Cooking

Lots of supermarkets make fresh sushi each day and many Japanese restaurants will make the rolls to-go. If you’re in the mood for noodles, Yakisoba is always a quick fix at home.

Italian Cooking

Spaghetti is an easy choice and fresh ravioli cooks fast while tasting like it was prepared with love by a top Italian chef. Throw together a side salad, toast some garlic bread, and buy a container of gelato for dessert. Buon Appetito!

We wish all of you a very happy, wine-filled and worry-free Valentine’s Day!

Tagged , , ,
346 views | Email This Post | Print This Post | No Comments »

Forget Valentine’s Day! We love wine all year!

January 25th, 2012 | Posted in wine

Photo via doegox on Flickr – labeled for commercial redistribution

You know the Valentine’s Day routine… break out the wine and chocolates, buy your loved one a cute heart-shaped card, and light a few candles. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with this way of celebrating! But why wait until V-Day to pop open a bottle and nibble on a decedent box of chocolate love?

We say forget about only celebrating love on Valentine’s Day and choose to celebrate all year! Who needs this special day as an excuse to tell someone you care and uncork a bottle of your favorite wine? Make it a healthy habit. ;-)

Another recommendation to go along with this new healthy habit is to spend more quality time with your significant other cooking at home. Ask anyone here at Schlossadler… we love to pour a glass of wine in the kitchen!

Do you have a “wine all year” routine?

Tagged , , ,
395 views | Email This Post | Print This Post | No Comments »

Be first in the USA… to taste our hottest new arrivals from Spain!

January 19th, 2012 | Posted in Food and Wine, Spanish Wines, wine, wine club

Well, we already tasted them a few month ago and absolutely loved them. They just arrived into our warehouse and are for the first time available in the USA.

Here’s what we have for you to taste:

1. Albae Chardonnay
Crazy about Chardonnays? …then this is a must have in your wine cellar. Toasty oak and creamy vanilla bean. It’s a truly classic Chard compatible to
much higher prized ones.
2. Esencia (Syrah/Merlot)
Our first Syrah in 30 years! Deep color and complex black fruit. Get those steaks out of the freezer – it’s a food wine! The Syrah gives it all the structure/backbone while the Merlot just refines and softens it… a superb blend and great value.
3. Albae Tempranillo
Gosh …what a noble wine! Elegant and plumy. You just want a chew it. Get your hand on this world class Tempranillo – it will be a popular one… having a bottle tonight myself :)
Cheers,
Hans

Tagged , , , , ,
359 views | Email This Post | Print This Post | No Comments »

Is your wine club AWESOME or just a SCAM?

January 11th, 2012 | Posted in wine, wine club

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License

The bottom line: A great wine club should offer you VARIETY & VALUE!

Here’s what we think:

VARIETY

Many wine clubs are limited to wines from only one winery or only a certain type of wine. How boring is that? Your wine club should be surprising you with new wines and a variety to spice up your cellar and allow you to explore the world of wines.

VALUE

Some clubs are just over-priced, especially when you see words like “Medal or Reserve.” Hey, just about any wine can get a “medal.” I get approached all the time from “wine competitions” asking for wines; guaranteeing us a medal if we send in enough samples. So you see, it’s that easy to get a “Medal.”

The word “Reserve” is the biggest scam word in the wine biz. There are no restrictions on labeling a wine “Reserve”… any wine could be called a “Reserve.”

Here’s how we also make sure you get more bang for your buck:

Did you know, if you get 2 bottles EVERY month, you waste most of your dollars on shipping & packaging. It’s just not efficient to send 2 bottles! However, 3 or 4 bottles every OTHER month makes more sense. The cost for shipping & packaging is only a few pennies more than sending two bottles.

Go green, save and demand VALUE… not fancy words!

-Blog post by HANS

Tagged , ,
351 views | Email This Post | Print This Post | No Comments »

Schloss President (a real wino) Makes His 2012 New Year Wine Pledge!

January 4th, 2012 | Posted in Office Updates, wine

Hans skips Thanksgiving 2011 to taste wines in Germany.

Wow! 2011 was a busy year here at Schlossadler International Wines and 2012 looks like it will just keep getting better! We promise to keep you updated with exciting happenings (and new wine arrivals!) via our newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter (don’t forget to like & follow us).

In the meantime, we asked our fearless leader (aka: Hans Fritsch, President) for his 2012 wine and business pledges! Here’s what he has to say:

- I pledge to taste more wines from more countries and regions I am clueless about.

- I pledge to experience variatals I have not even heard about.

- I pledge to support family owned wineries not “wine factories.”

- I pledge to travel anywhere in the world to seek truly amazing wines... that’s a good one :)

- I pledge to do whatever it takes to make these available to wine lovers all over America… even Utah :)

That’s enough “pledging” for a year …let’s start celebrating and pop open those bottles!

Happy New Year!

-Hans Fritsch, President of Schlossadler International Wines

Tagged , , , ,
359 views | Email This Post | Print This Post | No Comments »

The Schloss Guide to Wine Lingo

December 28th, 2011 | Posted in Wine Knowledge, wine

Photo via Schlossadler International Wines website

Have you ever read a wine review only to scratch your head at the language? Or, maybe you were drinking wine with some friends and suddenly a very serious man is talking about “great legs” and amazing body? If so… it’s time to learn some wine lingo!

Here are a few basic wine terms:

Legs: Swirl your glass of wine. See the liquid dripping down the inside of the glass? Those are the legs. If you hear someone talking about “tears of wine” it’s the same thing. If the wine takes a long time to slide back down, it could mean the alcohol content is higher.

Bouquet: This is the encompassing smell of a wine. You might hear people talking about the spice, earth, floral notes, or fruit tones when referring to the bouquet of wine.

Character: A wine with character will make you pause and contemplate the various elements in a glass. You’ll want to take your time to really explore the bouquet and enjoy the complexity in your mouth. It’s not your average wine.

Finish: After you swallow a sip of wine, think about the flavors and aromas that are left on your palate. These lingering elements are referred to as the finish of a wine.

Nose: Refers to the aroma of the wine.

Robust: This means it’s a big, assertive wine in terms of flavor.

Supple: Refers to a smooth and/or soft texture you feel in your mouth when drinking a particular wine.

Crisp: When a white wine has sharp, zesty acidity.

These are just a few pieces of wine lingo to get you started. It’s best to learn by drinking, asking others, and reading. A quick Google search will give you lots of information. Or, if you’re still confused… just enjoy your wine and don’t worry about it! But we do recommend you check out the film John Cleese- Wine for the Confused. It’s great!

Tagged ,
315 views | Email This Post | Print This Post | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »