Thirsty Girl's Whiskey Rebellion

Thank you

Thirsty Girl — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:24:19 +0000

As you may have noticed, I haven’t written a post in about a year. It’s not a lack of interest for the topic or in hearing myself speak, as I have a lot of love for both. Life has gotten busy and, during that, I moved to Vermont. Vermont? Yes, I’m still startled by it as well.

Thank you for all of your support and interest over the last few years. I hope I helped educate or at least brought you a laugh once in awhile. I will be blogging about my new adventures in Vermont. More to come…

The sexiest word in Pennsylvania: Privatization

Thirsty Girl — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 03:47:27 +0000

The big new controversy, or is the same old controversy, of the year is the rumors that the PLCB’s will be ended when Governor-Elect Tom Corbett takes office. As more and more people get frustrated with the laws and restrictions associated, privatization of liquor stores seems like an increasingly popular option to give Corbett a quick “win” to start his term. With such a contentious issue, there are many sides to consider, which may be why this issue has failed three times in the rather immediate past.

Taxes: To help with a $5 billion PA defiicit, selling 620 stores can easily generate $2 billion, a move much needed when Corbett has promised to neither raise taxes on the citizens nor tax Marcellus Shale businesses. While a good short term decision, it is important to decide how many taxes are too many to keep the current revenue the PLCB brings in if stores are privatized.

Drunk Driving/Underage Drinking: The PLCB currently has its own policing system to deal with these issues and can point to the low underage drinking numbers of Pennsylvania as evidence. Removing this force may or may not give local police more responsibility and may or may not lead to increases in both problems, but it will certainly enrage such groups as MADD which could be formidable opponents to Corbett’s gubernatorial service.

Jobs: Privatization will result in a rather immediate loss of approximately 5,000 jobs for those working in PLCB stores, most of whom are part of the state-wide union, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776. Some discussion has ensued regarding the requirement of hiring the same people for positions in new stores. This requirement seems fraught with problems, especially when considering smaller businesses.

No More Kiosks: Really, that’s my own issue, but I’ll be glad if they’re gone since they cost the state a bundle and are already down for maintenance like not giving customers their wine. Genius.

In the current plan, the PLCB would still exist, the number of stores sold is up for discussion, additional stores would likely result, and it is likely that jobs would increase.

NZ knows my soul

Thirsty Girl — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 03:02:23 +0000

After thinking about how horribly I failed my friend, I quickly learned about the new wine trends and just as quickly did not report them. But, a month later, I’m all over it.

The good news? Not only have people continued to buy wine throughout this recession, but recently they’ve started paying more for their bottles. In fact, “Compared with a year earlier, volume sales for the $15-per-bottle and higher category rose 10% to 9.1 million cases shipped through the 52 weeks ended July 4. Dollar sales rose more than 2% to $1.52 billion” which really brings the categories up close to what they were pre-recession.

Flavor trends are gearing toward fruity and lower alcohol according to this article from New Zealand boldly proclaiming that NZ tastes are similar to those of the rest of the world. What was NOT obvious was that New Zealand’s wine industry is working to become completely sustainable by 2012, inline with the organic/natural trends in both food and wine. Rosés and little known varietals are also slowly becoming the rage as consumers become more playful with their wine. Its like New Zealand knows me personally.

Next up? Spirits fun.

Microbrews v. Budweiser: Let’s hear the starting bell

Thirsty Girl — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 03:49:59 +0000

So, I’m talking to a friend who has an interview with a major wine company tomorrow and she is picking my brain on wine trends. Sadly at 11:30 at night on a perfectly wine friendly Wednesday, I must admit I’m not in the wine groove. I am, however, thinking a great deal about beer. Not only did I get to go to the Big Pour here in Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago (I do love me a good beer fest), but this David and Goliath story about microbrews taking market share from big papas Budwiser and Miller is everywhere. A particularly well written and pithy article was written by Damien Hoffman this week.

Hoffman writes about Budwiser’s loss of loyalty over the last 7 years, going from 16th to 223rd when ranked by Brand Loyalty Leaders List (who?) from 2003 to 2010. Apparently Budweiser’s reaction is to give away free beer. Interesting, but probably not useful. Everyone has had a Bud at one point or another, either tailgating, at some drunken college party or when there was really no other choice. No one will be surprised by its taste and switch from a microbrew.

I feel that Hoffman’s best point is that regarding Budweiser’s choice to continue fighting this downward spiral rather than doing what technology companies have done for years: buy out your competitor. “There’s no need to fight a trend when you are one of the richest companies in the world … just buy the trend.” I heartily agree.

I may not be up for helping on wine tonight, but beer? I am all over reporting someone else’s ideas about beer.

Its all about the Washingtons

Thirsty Girl — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:46:21 +0000

I generally try to remain open minded in this blog. Generally. I understand that taxes are important to operating a government and that the PLCB isn’t just one giant waste of time. They are very supportive of local wine, beer and liquor companies, for example.

New fee increases in liquor handling and storage by the PLCB, however, tend to rate high on my “completely ridiculous” scale. Fees will increase by $0.50 to $2 per bottle in January with increases continuing annually. They pretend that this is not just a new tax. Instead, they state: “Any business has to look at their costs on a yearly basis. We have not done that for 17 years and we have decided that we have to do that.”

Since when is a monopoly run by the state a business? If PA citizens had other choices and other companies to go through, then the PLCB could argue about being a business. A failing one. Shareholder seem to have no say in whether or not the PLCB’s strategies are the correct ones and the PLCB is therefore not held accountable to its customers.

With already sky high taxes on wine and liquor, restaurants, bars and the everyday consumer will soon have an additional $1-$3 per bottle to look forward to paying.

Kiosk FAIL

Thirsty Girl — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:02:01 +0000

I’ve decided to ignore the fact that I didn’t post for 2+ months and get straight to the meat of it. Kiosks Fail.

From KYW newsradio 1060

Alright, maybe not fail, but it seems everyone in America and beyond is confused by them.

Despite this, the PLCB has declared the testing phase of a few weeks a success and will continue installing the kiosks in stores throughout the state. According to PLCB chief executive Joe Conti, “sales at the two sites have been 20 to 30 percent higher than anticipated, a total of more than 3,300 bottles since June 21″ from the two existing kiosks. This success will most likely result in 98 more kiosks being approved in the next couple weeks.

The only problems they have seen include door seal stickiness and power surges causing outages. Each kiosk costs about $100,000 which is paid through a $1 surcharge per transaction (cause we need our alcohol taxed even more) and advertisements.

Interesting stuff which fails to include such statements from people like Rick Hauck in Harrisburg: “It’s not very welcoming,” he says of the kiosks. “When I go to a liquor store, I can pick up the wine and see the label. It’s not as accessible in a vending-machine.” Or, my favorite from Keith Wallace, president and founder of The Wine School of Philadelphia, that the machines treat customers like “conniving underaged drunks.”

And here’s just an article about the PLCB I like, not just because I like Bill Toland.

Two Points for Honesty

Thirsty Girl — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:58:14 +0000

You know its time to write a post when your spam filter has more comments then your actual posts.

Rather then being at the Philly Beer Festival (sad), I will be going next week to the World Cup in South Africa, which just means I’m an even worse blogger (but, frankly, a way cooler person). To make up for it? Quick discussion on two things. Feel free to chime in!

First, the debate over allowing beer distributors to sell 6-packs rages on. This is one of those laws I have never understood. If you create a business plan purely for selling beer, why not allow the sale of six packs? I understand that some restaurants have built up a business around this, but they can continue selling individual bottles into a mixed six-pack while a distributor makes life a bit more convenient. Additionally, much of the opposition to allowing beer in grocery stores and gas stations is distributors feeling threatened. Allowing them to sell six-packs would make everyone happy.

And my second rambling is about beer sales decreases this year. The expectation was a rise in sales, and it seem the only increase in sales has been in the craft brewing and really cheap beer, like your favorite Natty Light. Your typical light beers, like Bud Light, has decreased while the baby boomers decrease their consumption of beer as they get older.

You may have noticed the “craft-style” beer big companies are coming up with like Bud Light Golden Wheat or low calorie beers to sway the younger generation to buy more of their beer. Expect to see more (lucky us).

Yeah, I’m not moving on any time soon

Thirsty Girl — Tue, 25 May 2010 02:53:50 +0000

Apparently I’m turning into boxed wine girl. As you may know, I have obsessed a little in the past, but I feel like I’m getting niched. Of the limited free wine I get, half has been boxed. With the new trend toward better boxed wine and supposed green movement (though, that’s a bit like greenwashing in my opinion), I can’t be too upset. I guess I’m a trendsetter?

The new Argentinian Malbec boxed wine from Black Box Wines has a lovely dark blackberry and black cherry nose with a hint of terroir and sour cherry.

Some of those flavors follow through in the mouth, especially after having a chance to breathe. The dark berry flavors come through but the terroir flavor leaves an odd aftertaste and the tannins are a bit to aggressive for a wine I’d assume should be simple drinking. However, breaking down this 3L box of wine from the suggested $24 to the $6 a bottle it would otherwise be, this is a pretty decent inexpensive for Malbec lovers.

Black Box Malbec, 2008

Price: $24

ABV: 13.5%

Me: B-

Pittsburgh Wine Festival 2010 – Part II

Thirsty Girl — Thu, 20 May 2010 04:32:31 +0000

And this is where things get… interesting.

Those of you know know me may realize that I have horrible handwriting. It looks like I was taught to write by someone who felt I’d wronged them somehow and they got back at me by making me handwriting unintelligible for the rest of my life.

While this is generally fine and I’ve made some sort of semblance of written communication over the years, things get more difficult if I’m rushed. Or I’ve been drinking. Enter PGH Wine Festival Part II.

Now, there are wines we tried that I did not write about, either because they weren’t worth noting or my mom and I were rushing around too much for me to write. This includes my mom’s favorite. Sorry Mom.

Once we’d left the New World, we went in search for a different setting and found France. Trimbach, one of my standard Alsatian wines for Gewurztraminer or Riesling, was what we stumbled on first. The Riesling had a lovely scent of the expected petrol and some lemon. The mouth had a green taste like cucumber, citrus and was a bit light on taste, but a definite sold Riesling.

Being unable to resist, I also tried the Gewurzt. This had a very leechy nut smell and was a bit offgassy. The mouth was a lovely leechy nut, honey and citrus combination, but, again, I feel it could have offered a bit more weight and taste. It is, however, a lovely representation as always of Alsatian Gewurzt.

Clearly we were on a theme here and, as you may know, I can’t stop obsessing about finding a good rose in PA. So when E. Guigal‘s Cotes du Rhone Rose showed up, I was all about it. The nose was full of all kinds of red fruit which came out in the mouth. The mouth burst with cherry, raspberry, strawberry and orange. Delightful!

And as we were there and they offered us a taste of the Châteauneuf-de-Pape, one of my mom’s favorite wines (my mom has good taste), we tried that as well. It smelled and tasted smokey, with layers of black cherry and other dark fruit. While it needs several more years of aging, this was a good show for France.

All this time, all my mom wanted to do was try some Cakebread Cellars. So we hiked all the way to the other end of Heinz Field to the USA section. And I saw Trefethen and made her stop. Poor Mom. Low and behold, they had a Riesling! The nose was petrolly (man, I get mad when they aren’t!) and had a lot of tropical fruit. That’s when you know you’re in California. The mouth echoed the tropical fruit and topped it off with some lemon pith.

We also tried the Merlot. I haven’t had a decent Merlot in awhile since its so easy for producers to make and sell bad Merlot. Trefethen pulled out the stops. The nose was smokey. The mouth curled that lovely smoke around your tongue, mixing with pepper and deep red fruit. I could have hung out there for awhile, but Mom had her eye on the prize and off we went to Cakebread.

Cakebread was, of course, utter chaos. People were lined up and shoving (I am happy to say, for my mom, I am no exception). We got some Cabernet Sauvignon and a Meritage. The Cab was, frankly, amazing. Dark cherry nose and something that looks like “prsm.” The mouth was not only silky smooth, but full of dark cherry and dark chocolate. All I remember or can interpret about the Meritage is that it was good… but didn’t live up to the Cab.

Next was my favorite find of the night. I’d never heard of Bogle, but, oddly enough, my mom had had her first bottle the night before she flew to Pittsburgh. Not only was it all excellent, it was extremely affordable. The Riesling was far different from what I’d so far had, with my petrol, and some burnt almond in the nose. Both these flavors carried to the mouth with a splash of bright citrus added in. The Pinot Noir smelled of jam, cherries, blueberries and mushrooms. The mouth was carried the bright, non-heavy jam flavor with red cherry and mild mushrooms. The Old Vines Zinfandel was quite different. The nose smelled of grape Koolaid and cherry cough syrup while still managing to smell delicious. The mouth was completely different and tasted like a rich apricot tart. I swear, I’m in love.

At this point, I came upon these lovely people at Somerston. I’d never heard of them and said so. Turns out they’re new and, while I was excited to try their wine, my mouth had gotten a bit too much stimulation. I will do a review on two wines they graciously gave me in the upcoming week or so.

While I perhaps wish more of these wines were available in stores rather then on special order, I suppose I can no longer complain about lack of quality. Good show, Pittsburgh!

Trimbach Riesling, 2008

Price: $15

Me: B

Trimbach Gewurztraminer, 2006

Price: $18.99

ABV: 13.5%

Me: B

E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rose, 2008

Price: $12.99

ABV: 12%

Me: B/B+

E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2005

Price: $47.99

Me: B/B+

Trefethen Dry Riesling, 2008

Price: $22

Me: B/B+

Trefethen Merlot

Price: $40.29

Me: B+/A-

Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006

Price: $75

Me: A-/A

Bogle Vineyards Riesling, 2008

Price: $12.39

Me: B+/A-

Bogle Vineyards Pinot Noir, 2008

Price: $19.49

Me: B+/A-

Bogle Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel, 2007

Price: $12.99

ABV: 13.5%

Me: A-

Pittsburgh Wine Festival 2010 – Part I

Thirsty Girl — Thu, 13 May 2010 05:01:12 +0000

Holy crap. That’s what I call a festival. Hundreds of distributors and so much wine. While I am still working on getting a press pass (I’m legit, right?) to the 4 hour event, I think the 2 hours is well worth the money. A lot of big names with some surprises mixed in. Also, recognize that within 2 hours, my mom and I had tried probably over 40 wines. I will let you know when things got to hazy to trust (or read my notes). Here’s my first half of the review.

My mom and I first got there (she flew in. She’s adorable) and waited in a long long line. We immediately got glamoured and tried the Domaine Barons de Rothschild Bordeaux.

Perhaps not our best first choice. The nose was of pink and black pepper and blue and red berries. With a sour red raspberry and cherry mouth and some nutty bitterness, it was far too young but definitely had possibility. Give it a break, it was a 2008 vintage.

After that, my mom decided to really start off the evening comparing different sparkling wines. Hey, she’s the boss. Who am I to argue?

Moët and Chandon’s Grand Vintage was staring us right in the face so we took a taste. A smell of terroir, slight barnyard and yeast came through with some poor bubbles. I don’t know why, but I am a curse to bubbles. Even if other glasses are frothing forth, mine just fade. Regardless, there was a light citrus and green flavor in the mouth which emptied a bit on the midpalate.

This is when we decided to focus on rose sparkling wines cause, frankly, their fun and hard to find. Perrier-Jouët’s Blason Rose fit the bill. A lovely salmon color with almost no nose, it was a bit shy in the mouth tasting of flower and grapefruit. Nice, but I need a bit more.

My mom just could not stay away from the Moët so we tried their rose as well. Besides my exciting number of bubbles, it had a very interesting nose of maple syrup and mouth of butter, syrup and lemon pith. Yum.

Next up? The Veuve Clicquot Rose. Something was really wrong with this bottle. It was off gassing and frankly tasted bad. I’m giving the benefit of the doubt and saying there’s a wine fault, probably too much sulfer.

I decided to go outside the box and try the Taittinger Rose, owned by Louis Jadot. I’d never heard of it but wasn’t too disappointed. The nose was light and smelled of maraschino cherries, a flavor that continued in the mouth with orange, cherry and lemon. A bit shy but nice.

To ease my mom away from the sparklings, I spotted Inniskillin. We got the last drop, and it was of the Vidal Gold. We all know my obsession with Inniskillin (having just bought 6 bottles on super sale online), so I was quite the happy Thirsty Girl. The nose was of honey and green citrus with a mouth of honey, roses and almonds.

Since we’re in Canada territory with Inniskillin, I guess that means Cloudy Bay belongs next to it? Apparently that’s what the people in charge thought so I got to try some of Cloudy Bay’s newest Sauvignon Blanc. I am partial to New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc, so if its not for you, neither is this paragraph. The nose was of grass (of course), citrus and its rind (of course) and cantaloupe (what? okay!). The mouth was full of citrus, grass and grapefruit. A little too ripping in acid for me since the top of my mouth was basically dissolved but a great NZ Sauv. Blanc nonetheless.

And since we’re in New Zealand, lets talk about South Africa. Okay, I’m not sure how they connect, but, again, blame those in charge. I’m guessing its the wine growing areas they just weren’t sure what to do with.

Ken Forrester was there to give some tastes of his wines and he was so nice I tried four, starting with the Petit Chenin Blanc. Full of ripe fruit and some butter, the Petit Chenin was a nice, refreshing light wine for summer. The Sauvignon Blanc was also light with the expected greenness, but very different in tropical fruit flavor, a neat difference from the standard NZ Sauv. Blancs. We tried the Pinotage, but not matter how much I try, I’m just not a fan of Pinotage. Sorry South Africa.

Perhaps that will change when I go to South Africa next month for the World Cup! Ken and I talked about this and, as you can see, he’s pumped. Nearly as exciting was his signature wine, the FMC (or Forrester Meinert Chenin). Very much to my mother’s palate (nurtured in Sonoma and Napa), the FMC has lovely ripe fruit and explodes with butter and honey. While I am not a huge butter fan, I quite enjoyed this wine. It is very well made and balanced. Good show South Africa and good luck in the World Cup (but Go England!)!

Finishing up with some “unusual” countries for today, Part II shall come later. Enjoy the so far ratings!

Domaine Barons de Rothschild Bordeaux

Me: B-

Moët and Chandon Grand Vintage, 2000

Price: $59.99

ABV: 12.5%

Me: B

Perrier-Jouët Blason Rose, NV

Price: $87.29

ABV: 12%

Me: B-

Moët and Chandon Nectar Imperial Rose, NV

Price: $54.99

Me: B/B+

Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose, NV

Price: $57.99

WINE FAULT

Taittinger Cuvée Prestige Rose, NV

Price: $78.49

Me: B-

Inniskillin Vidal Gold, 2006

Price: $76.99

ABV: 40%

Me: A-

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, 2009

Price: Unknown

Me: High B

Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc, 2009

Price: $9.99

ABV: 13.5%

Me: B

Ken Forrester Sauvignon Blanc, 2009

Price: $14.99

ABV: 13.5%

Me: B-

Ken Forrester The FMC, 2008

Price: In the $50s, I think

ABV: 14%

Me: B+