Good Wine and Cookies
© {N}Duran
Is there anything that doesn't pair well with some kind of good wine? Probably not much, at least. For example, you can find a perfect wine to go with some of your favorite types of Girl Scout cookies. A port is a good wine to go with cookies, as is Madeira.
A white tawny port is an amazing variety to pair with a Do-Si-Do cookie, as well as a Samoa cookie. In fact, it could be the best wine for the Samoas overall. A bottle of Muscat Beaumes de Venise, which is a white version of a muscat, is one of the best wines to pair with anything chocolate, and the Moscato d'Asti pairs very well with cookies like Lemon Chalets. Dulce de Leche cookies are very sweet, and they pair best with a Vin Santo, although Vin Santo goes even better with biscotti. Sherry and white tawny also match up very well with the Dulce de Leche cookies, with perhaps the white tawny being the best choice.
Rising Worldwide Demand For US’ Wines
© USDA China
Wines from the US are increasingly lining liquor shelves around the world, as per the latest wine industry report.
Prepared by wine industry consultants Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates, the report reveals that wine drinkers are increasingly reaching out for wines from the US at stores. Export of wines from the US is up 26% to the estimated value of USD 1.14 billion in winery revenues last year. Of the wines exported 90% are from California.
Europe is noted to be the biggest market for US' wines with 38% of them being shipped to 27 countries in the European Union. This is USD 435 million in sales, an increase of 14% from 2009. Other top markets for US wines include Canada, Hong Kong, Japan and China.
Washington State Wines
© paulaloe
In under 40 years, Washington State has grown it's reputation as a world-class wine producer. At first, winemakers focused on Merlot and Rieslings due to their match with the state's short growing season and cooler northern climate. Merlot from Washington have a more acidic taste and fuller body, as well as being higher in alcohol content then California and Bordeaux wines. Washington Rieslings tend to have a floral bouquet with notes of pear, peach, apricot and apple.
Another variety that became popular during the 1980's was Chardonnay. The Washington Chardonnays are much crisper and more delicate then California's famous Chards. Following on the heels of their success with Merlot, Rieslings, and Chards, Washington winemaker Columbia Crest, based in Walla Walla, released their 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon after four years of aging, and it was crowned "Wine of the Year" by Wine Spectator magazine in 2009.
