Personally, I think it’s a great idea; who doesn’t want another reason to drink a stellar IPA aside from the fact that it’s there and it’s good? But moreover, it’s a nice lead in to International Beer Day, which this year is Friday, August 5th. It’s like a warm-up to the grand fête, an IPA appetizer to the all-style bacchanalia, and it forces beer lovers to think about why they love the fizzy stuff so much and what great selection and diversity is now available to consumers around the globe.

It also encourages people to try something new, whether it’s a different style than they’re used to or a brewery they’ve never heard of. Any concept that gets folks to try something new or talk about good beer or wine is A-OK in my book.

I’m reviewing South African wines today for the November issue of the magazine, but I’ll definitely be celebrating IPA Day tonight with some of my personal favorites. To start will be a Samuel Smith India Ale, a good opener that will ease me into the style and prep me for the more assertive American offerings. Then will be a Smuttynose Finestkind IPA, one of the more available and delicious selections in my neck of the woods. For the final act? Definitely an Imperial IPA, and I’m thinking I have to check out the cellar to see what’s ripe for the picking: If memory serves me right, there’s a bottle of Avery’s Maharaja from a couple of batches back I’ve been holding on to as an experiment of DIPA evolution that I can’t wait to check out. What better night than tonight!

You can find some more recommendations and descriptions of reviewed IPAs in our Buying Guide. You can also check out some informational articles on Winemag.com by searching for “IPA”.

For more information on how people are celebrating, what they’re drinking, local events or stories and specials from your favorite brewers, check out the buzz on Facebook and Twitter with #IPAday. For a list of events for International Beer Day, check out their Web site, Facebook page or @IntlBeerDay Twitter feed.

Prost!

This Monday, June 6th, marks the launch of the Sud de France Festival in New York. The month-long festival, now in its third year, encourages attendees to experience the spirit of the Mediterranean lifestyle, complete with fine wine, foods and entertainment from the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It allows people the opportunity to learn more about the culture and specialties of the region through a convivial approach of tastings and experimentation, all at exciting venues with welcoming ambiance and alongside local winemakers and artists.

For a region with so much to offer, the concept behind the annual festival couldn’t be more appropriate. Check out some more of the event details here. But, this is an area of France that, despite being the largest wine-producing region in the world, many people are not familiar with and certainly would have difficulty differentiating between the various AOCs.

Producers and promoters of the region are optimistic that the new classification system agreed upon in August 2010 (read our article here) will help to clear things up for many consumers. Rankings based on familiar buzz words like Grand Cru and Grand Vin will hopefully provide a bit more insight and value to the wines of each appellation, prompting consumers to learn more about their favorites.

But there’s little better to help people form connections with new wines than having them taste for themselves. Add to that the food and cultural elements of the Sud de France way of life and it’s almost like being transported to the region itself, idyllic Mediterranean lifestyle and all. The greater association between a wine and its sense of place helps consumers to feel comfortable since they understand where it is coming from, what it’s made of, the kind of people who produce it and why they enjoy drinking it.

Many of the wines are fantastic, and the options to try them are plentiful throughout the festival at various events and tastings at venues of all types. Visit festival-suddefrance.com for more information or browse the full schedule of events here.

Also be sure to check out reviews for wines from the South of France in our Buying Guide at buyingguide.winemag.com or by clicking here.

Are you currently familiar with any Sud de France (Languedoc-Roussillon) wines? Which are your faves now, or what are you hoping to discover from the region in the future? What part of the festival sounds the best to you?

I think these “events” can help, but because of the fragmented nature of the Internet and the incomplete social media networks we all find ourselves in, the results are often unpredictable. Some days and hashtags take off, others wither on the vine. Did you know that Wednesday, February 16th, is also #wbw70? That’s Wine Blogging Wednesday Number 70, hosted by Catavino and with a focus on Spanish wines. Like every Wednesday, it’s also #WW (Wine Wednesday), not to be confused with #FF (Follow Friday). It’s enough to make one forget that the # sign can also mean pound or number.

Other events include RAP‘s International Rosé Celebration Day (May 10, 2011), ZAP‘s Global Zinfandel Day (November 19, 2010–sorry I missed that one) and perhaps the granddaddy of all of these, The Wall Street Journal‘s Open That Bottle Night (the last Saturday of February, so February 26, 2011). Then-WSJ columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher started OTBN back in 2000, as a way of encouraging readers to open bottles from their cellars that they had been saving.

Since Gaiter and Brecher no longer have their outlet in WSJ, Liz O’Connell and Trish Barry have picked up the OTBN torch and have done what they can to promote it via Facebook and Twitter (#OTBN). OTBN is something I can identify with, as I tend to accumulate a lot of single bottles in my cellar that I have a hard time convincing myself to open. This year, I’m going to open one of those hoarded bottles, I swear.

I picked out a wine for Syrah Day last night, but as I am going to blind-taste my colleagues here at the office on it, I can’t say what it is yet. I’ll add it to the bottom of this post once the cat is out of the bag, but here’s a clue–the photo up top is of the region’s vineyards.

What do you think about cyberevents and special days? Do you participate? Should Wine Enthusiast be more active or vocal in promoting and participating in these occasions? Feel free to add your own wine-related cyberevents to the comments section–I’m sure there are many more out there.

#SyrahDay wine: Michel & Stéphane Ogier 2001 Côte Rôtie. Beatifully aromatic, with notes of smoke, pepper, cured meats, and olive. Maybe just a touch lean on the palate, but elegant and silky, with wonderful complexity. Anyone want to suggest a food pairing?

Every year, the CIVL (The Conseil Interprofessionel des Vins du Languedoc) organizes the Languedoc Ambassador Wine Tour, a trade and media tasting designed to promote the great diversity and superb quality of AOC wines found in the Languedoc wine region. This year is no exception, with fantastic wines announced today as the official CIVL Ambassador Wines of 2011.

It’s fantastic exposure for an oft-overlooked region. The wines will be served at organized events throughout the country, including Washington DC, Chicago and San Francisco. In addition, several owners and winemakers  attend the events, providing additional information and insight into the area and its beautiful wine bounty to attendees as their products are sampled. It’s an experience that’s second only to actually visiting the wineries in France.

This year excites me more than previous years, as the newly established hierarchy of appellations will truly be put to the test as we see how people respond to the new organization of classifications. For a recap of the changes, check out my article on it. Will the Cru system resonate with consumers? Will it help buyers to sort through the numerous regions and sub-appellations, finally bringing some clarity to the labels and what people should expect from the wines?

I hope so. I’ve been reviewing the wines of the region for the magazine for four years now, and although I’ve seen overall interest in the wines rise, it has not yet soared to the peaks that I believe the wines merit and have the potential for. In a wine culture currently hot on interesting varieties and rising star regions, Languedoc has potential to grab the spotlight; the wines are unique, high quality and frequently available at ridiculously reasonable prices.

This concept is the Languedoc in a nutshell. Of course, there are exceptions and outliers, as there always will be, and let’s keep in mind that I’m not talking about the Vin de Pays/IGP offerings. But the Languedoc AOC options – be it just AOC Languedoc, Grand Vins du Languedoc or Grand Crus du Languedoc – are largely excellent wines at extremely reasonable retail.

So here’s to the hope that the 2011 Ambassadors will open the eyes of consumers to their region. Based on the list of winners (many of which are reviewed in our Buying Guide), I’d be shocked if they didn’t.

The 2011 Ambassadors are:

AOC Languedoc:
Château des Karantes – Blanc – Languedoc –2009
Plan de L’Homme – Sapiens – Blanc – Languedoc – 2009
Vignobles Gilles Louvet – Rouge – Languedoc –2009
Jeanjean en Languedoc – Devois des Agneaux – Rouge – Languedoc – 2008

Grands Vins du Languedoc:
Vignobles Gilles Louvet – Esprit du Sud – Blanquette de Limoux NV
Bernard Delmas – Blanquette de Limoux – 2007
Domaine de Félines Jourdan – Blanc – Picpoul de Pinet – 2009
Mont Tauch – L’Ancien Comté – Blanc – Corbières – 2009
Castelmaure – Col des Vents – Rouge – Corbières – 2008
Château Ollieux Romanis – Classique – Rouge – Corbières – 2009
Domaine de Fenouillet – Réserve – Rouge – Faugères – 2006
Château du Donjon – Rosé – Minervois – 2009
Château Sainte Eulalie – Printemps d’Eulalie – Rosé – Minervois – 2010
Château de Paraza – Cuvée Speciale – Rouge – Minervois – 2007
Vignoble du Loup Blanc – Mère Grand – Rouge – Minervois – 2007
Château La Dournie – Cuvée Elise – Rouge – Saint Chinian – 2008
Domaine la Madura – Grand Vin – Rouge – Saint Chinian – 2007
Château Saint Bauléry – Rouge – Saint Chinian – 2009
Clos du Gravillas – Douce Providence – Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois – 2007
Les Vignerons de la Méditerranée – Les Petits Grains – Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois NV

Grands Crus du Languedoc:
Château Rives Blanques – Dédicace – Blanc – Limoux – 2008
Château Rives Blanques – Odyssée – Blanc – Limoux – 2009
Château Sainte Eulalie – La Cantilène – Rouge – Minervois la Livinière – 2008
Gérard Bertrand – Le Viala – Rouge – Minervois la Livinière – 2007
Gérard Bertrand – La Forge – Rouge – Corbières Boutenac – 2007
Château Ollieux Romanis – Atal Sia – Rouge – Corbières Boutenac – 2008
Château des Karantes – Diamant – Rouge – La Clape – 2006
Mas du Soleilla – Les Bartelles – Rouge – La Clape – 2008
Château de Lancyre – Coste d’Aleyrac – Rouge – Pic Saint Loup – 2008
Château du Lancyre – Vielles Vignes – Rouge – Pic Saint Loup – 2008
Domaine la Croix Chaptal – Les Terrasses – Rouge – Terrasses du Larzac – 2007

What do you think about the list? If you’ve had any of these, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Or what other producer or appellation you would have liked to see included?

Halloween is one of those strange holidays that people either do really well or not at all. To me, there’s no going halfway here because if you try to cut corners and just come up with a costume in five minutes (i.e. sheet ghost) you inevitably just end up feeling stupid for even bothering while marveling at other people’s elaborate costumes as they look at you and think “what a weak, lazy costume.” Awful.

Nope, for me and my loved ones, Halloween is all about fun and getting into the spirit of things, because while it might be a pain in the you-know-what to get your act together, the payoff in laughing and smiling with kids, family and friends makes it all worthwhile in the end.

First off, I make (as in sew) a fair portion of my costume every year. I don’t really believe in spending more than $50 on a costume, and by making a good part of it on your own you bring down that total expenditure to even less while keeping the integrity of the design in tact. The best way to do this? Set a date with a group of friends who also need to get crafty either for themselves or their kids, break out the sewing machines and a couple bottles of wine. For some reason, I find that a crisp, refreshing white like an Albariño from Rías Baixas or Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa really helps to get those creative juices flowing, and doing it with friends is just all the more fun.

Then, there’s the actual Halloween festivities. Of course if you have kids and must go trick or treating with them, there’s no reason you shouldn’t have a good time too. Dress up! Try something silly and adventurous. You’ll be an awesome parent for being fun and a great spouse for letting loose and maybe putting something on outside your comfort zone of the traditional post-7pm tee and sweats. The kids will get candy, and you can treat yourself to some hot buttered rum or a black martini after the sugar rush subsides and they finally fall asleep.

But the best way to celebrate is undoubtedly to have a Halloween party. You get to laugh (or cackle) with friends and family and take some awesome pictures, as well as make some crazy fun drinks. Here are some of my favorites:

Halloween Harvest Punch – Because you should ALWAYS have a giant bowl of booze.
Combine 1 part melon liqueur, 1 part dark rum, 1 part light rum, 2 parts white cranberry juice, 1 part unfiltered apple juice, 1 part simple syrup and juice of one lemon in punch bowl. Garnish with apple slices, blueberries and melon balls.

Dracula’s Kiss – delicious and deadly
Rim glass in thick red-colored simple syrup (not necessary, but definitely has a cool effect). Coat the bottom of the martini glass with ½ ounce grenadine. Add ice and 1 ounce black cherry vodka. Fill glass with cola and garnish with maraschino cherries.

Ghostbuster – I ain’t scared of no ghosts
Pour 1 ounce peach schnapps and 1 ounce melon liqueur into shaker with ice. Shake and strain into glass. Add 3-5 drops of Irish cream liqueur drop by drop into the center of the glass. Watch the ghost dance.

Walking Dead – For the zombies that need to pull an all-nighter
Half fill highball glass with Newcastle. Add 1 shot of chilled brewed espresso, 1 ½ ounces (a shot) of Jack Daniel’s and fill with red bull. Stir, drink and get ready to stay awake. (Note – The Newcastle DraughtKeg is especially useful for these, with less bottle waste and no flat half bottles lingering around. Also people can just have a regular beer if they don’t really want to stay up all night.)

In addition to cocktails, be sure to check out winemag.com’s article on hosting a Halloween party with tons of recipes and tips.

So, how will you wake the dead this year? Are you ready to take Halloween to another level? What are your favorite spooktacular drinks?

Photo courtesy, Brewer's Association/Jason E. Kaplan

Let me rephrase that… reflections on the beer fest. Last week was the 29th annual Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado, America’s biggest beer festival and Guiness record holder for the most beers tapped in one location as well as the largest selection of American beers gathered together on the globe. With close to 50,000 attendees over the course of four sessions in three days (Saturday afternoon is for Brewers’ Association members only), this is by no means a small production. Considering the amount of beers to try (over 2,200) and new experiences and information to be absorbed, all I can say is, good thing they give you a tasting book with the names of all the breweries and beers!

It’s a lot to take in, but after a week the haze begins to clear and coherent reflections can be assembled. Here are some of the highlights and epiphanies I experienced that I can’t wait to examine further:

Number One: What’s in a Name?
One of the hottest topics discussed among brewers and industry professionals was the question of style definition. While the festival itself is a great opportunity for the public to purchase tickets to try an outrageous assortment of beers, the heart of the event for the breweries themselves is the beer competition. More than 3,500 beers were entered into the competition this year in over 79 categories representing 133 different styles of beer (i.e. the fruit beer category is split into Fruit Beer and Fruit Wheat Beer subcategories). And definitely be sure to check out the winners here. But how many of these style definitions really mean anything to the general consumer?

Photo courtesy, Brewer's Association/Jason E. Kaplan

There are a couple of questions to be considered. First, how many of these styles are actually listed on any given beer’s label? Is it actually a benefit to segment all of these categories, hoping that they will provide some guidance and flavor profile reference to shoppers, or will it just inevitably lead to more confusion and intimidation á la some wine classification systems? Can we really expect beer lovers to know the differences between Vienna-style lagers, German-style Märzens and American-style amber lagers, and to know which beers fall in each category while perusing the aisles of their local distributor for their weekend stock-up?

It’s an interesting topic, and it’s something that plagues the wine business as well: how much should we assume consumers know about a product? The European school of thought (mostly) assumes that people will know where exactly their wine is from, what grape(s) they’re made of and how they are produced with the simple listing of a controlled appellation. Should beer be taking such a similar approach to definition? The amazing thing about beer, to me, is that the possibilities are endless, but it is important for customers to have some idea about what to expect in a beer they’ve never tried, or else they maybe are reluctant to even give it a shot in the first place.

I don’t think there’s one right answer, and we’ll just have to see what evolves from the debate and discussions. All I know is it’s nice to hear that the producers of these goods are concerned about making it easier for their supporters to enjoy good craft beer.

Number Two: A Rose by Any Other Name is… a Rose?
Speaking of names, there’s a controversy that’s been brewing in the beer world for quite some time about what exactly to call a certain kind of beer. What started on the East Coast as Black IPAs in the early 90s evolved to what Pacific Northwest brewers affectionately dub Cascadian Dark Ales today, and neither wants to play nice (in a fun, faux coast war kind of way). For the 2010 GABF style guidelines, the Brewers Association stepped in and officially named the category “American-style India Black Ale”, or IBA for short. So, be it Black IPA, CDA or IBA, the category was hot and seemed to be all over the place at the festival.

With examples on display from both coasts and even in-between, the floor was loaded with different samples to try from numerous breweries. I have to say, I enjoyed (almost) all of them. Matt Van Wyk from Oakshire Brewery, who makes his own version called O’Dark:30, explained that the CDAs are supposed to retain more of a porter profile in the mouth in addition to the hop aromas, while Black IPAs don’t have that distinction. He adds, “CDAs are more than just a black colored IPA. There is a marriage between the subtle roast malt flavors and the citrusy American hops that should not be lost. It’s a different beer style for sure.”

But gotta love the label with the shoutout to both names, and no matter what they’re called they are definitely worth a try. I also reviewed a few for the November issue of the magazine, so be sure to check those out for some stellar recommendations when it hits newsstands.

Number Three: Three Cheers for Wood!
One word: oak. So many breweries are playing with all different kinds of wood, from chips to barrels to flooring (hello Dogfish Palo Santo Marron) from all over the world. New oak, used oak, different coopers, varying toast levels, barrels from wineries, Bourbon producers, Scotch houses, Port and Madeira casks… you name it, they have or will try it.

And they’re aging in wood, too, anywhere from one month to three-plus years. It’s quite amazing to pick up on the different elements that the assorted barrels have on the finished beers, and it’s producing some of the most masterful and complex offerings today from the cult brewers of our generation (check out Russian River Brewing, Allagash, and Lost Abbey’s stellar selections, just to name a few). Bringing us to…

Number Four: Time to Stock Up the Cellar
I don’t know if there has ever been a better time to stock up on beer than today. I’ve never heard more discussion about cellaring beer than I did at the festival, and the trend was even more prevalent with the numerous offerings of aged or vintage beers being served on the festival floors. Then there was the Pints for Prostates Rare Beer Tasting, where some fantastic aged beers were served to the paying attendees like Bell’s 2004 Eccentric Ale (a specialty spiced strong ale that showed almost no sign of age whatsoever and in fact still had legs to run another 5-10 years easy), Samuel Adams Kosmic Mother Funk (a sour ale that’s been developing in oak in their barrel room for over 12 months), and Weyerbacher 2005 Decadence (a spiced amber ale) just to name a few.

Despite their age and development, and though they were all enjoyable now, they showed the promise of what can be achieved with a great, well-balanced product and proper storage. Like wine or vintage Champagne, the experience is different than enjoying them young, but it’s certainly worth a try (especially for some of the big barleywine or imperials available today) and worth considering. I’m almost at capacity myself… time for a new cellaring unit!

If you missed this year’s event, be sure to save the date for next year, the 30th anniversary of the festival, on September 29th to October 1st, 2011.

What do you think about my observations? Are you on board with any of these trends, or was there something else you experienced at GABF that I didn’t get to touch upon? I’d love to hear what you’re thinking about… what’s brewing in your brain?

Photo @ Christophe Grilhé

Nearly every grape seems to have its own advocacy group these days: ZAP for Zinfandel, PS I Love You for Petite Sirah, TAPAS for Tempranillo. And why not? Every berry deserves a little love.

Grenache still doesn’t have a group of its own, but at least it has a day. This Friday, September 24, 2010 is International Grenache Day, an initiative born of the First International Grenache Symposium, which was held this past June in France’s Rhône Valley.

There are numerous local wine events being planned around the world focusing on Grenache, like the Hospice du Rhône-Paso Bowl event if you happen to be in Paso Robles. Retailers and restaurateurs elsewhere are also participating–just search the Web and you’re bound to find something. Better still is this Google Maps link I just got in from the Symposium.

If nothing else, plan to open a bottle of Grenache and post about it somewhere–on a blog, Facebook, Twitter–using the official #Grenache hash tag. Give this unsung grape a little love.

These days, everything seems to be a little easier thanks in large part to the internet. What used to take days, weeks, even months of digging through dusty papers and fragile microfiche in the library is now at your fingertips via online archives and resource sites. The phone book I had delivered to my house last week?… a good fire starter considering I have a handy app on my smartphone that doesn’t leave my fingers black. And of course it’s almost too easy keeping up with friends and family through the use of email, blogs and social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

But one of the best reasons to love social media these days is the opportunity to follow people and events all over the world without leaving the comfort of your living room. During the exciting time in the Northern Hemisphere wine world that is late August through October, there’s no better place to be than behind the monitor following all your favorite producers. Aside from actually visiting all your favorite wine regions and estates, which is totally awesome if you have a limitless money supply but not completely accessible to most, there’s no better way to keep tabs on this year’s harvest without spending a dime.

Of course, during these months we’re talking about the Northern Hemisphere wine producing regions. The harvest typically occurs from February to April in the Southern Hemisphere, about 6 months ahead of the Northern frontier.

And since there are so many factors that influence the harvest, it’s informative and fun to see, hear or read about the different ways that each individual winery approaches it. Although it’s usually determined primarily by the ripeness of the grape (by sugar, acid and tannin levels through various scientific and experience driven techniques), there are so many additional considerations to be weighed before making that final decision: final style of wine to be produced, the weather (the most ominous and troublesome of circumstances), the amount of time it will take to harvest depending on whether you’re hand harvesting or going the mechanical route, and so much more.

Although this might sound a bit geeky to most, it helps foster a better understanding and increased appreciation for the wines that we all love so much and the fabulous, hard-working folks who make them. When you have a thin, lackluster ‘02 Barolo, you can connect the unfavorable weather and hailstorms with the resulting quality of the wine. Some winemakers in South Australia had trouble in 2008, when halfway through the vintage (and before some folks had decided to start harvesting) a heat spike swept through and cooked up any fruit still hanging on the vines, resulting in high alcohol levels, stuck fermentations and volatile acidity for some unfortunate few. It’s a gamble and a crapshoot that’s based in skill, experience, expertise and quick-thinking, and watching it all unfold is like tuning in to a wine soap opera.

So be sure to start following your favorite wineries and winemakers on Twitter, Facebook and on their harvest blogs today to catch all the action right from the start. Here’s some of my favorite blog spots from 2009 (and I’m sure the 2010 coverage will begin any day now if not already):

http://jvineyards.blogspot.com/
http://napavintners.blogspot.com/
http://blog.hugel.com/en/harvest/

http://domainesereneharvest.blogspot.com/

lenndevours.com (New York Cork Report)

Or just search for “Wine Harvest 2010” in posts by everyone on Facebook or on Twitter and see what the news of the day is!

I’d love to hear some of your favorite harvest stories, or the producers you like to keep an eye on.

They converge upon the Colorado Convention Center with such number and force, one never knows what to expect. Hotels are flooded with everyone from beer-belly twenty-somethings to groups of women looking to broaden their knowledge and affluent couples traveling from abroad with the event as the only item on their itinerary. The city of Denver becomes filled with locals and tourists alike, all carrying little 3 ounce tasting glasses with the same ubiquitous logo as the countless banners that adorn the streets.  With 462 breweries pouring over 2,200 beers, there’s a reason this event is listed as one of the top 1,000 places in the US to visit before you die and is the Guinness World Record holder for the most beers tapped in one location as well as the largest selection of American beers gathered together on the globe.

The Great American Beer Festival: need I say more? 

2010 is the 29th anniversary of the Great American Beer Festival. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, with anticipation of all four sessions selling out in advance as it had in 2007, 2008 and 2009, making it the hottest ticket in town from September 16th to 18th, 2010.  The 1st GABF held in 1982 hosted 22 breweries, 40 beers and 800 attendees; the festival has undoubtedly grown substantially and now welcomes breweries from almost all 50 states. 

The event, presented by the Brewers Association, is an opportunity for consumers and members of the industry alike to mingle and see what is currently going on in the craft brewing scene. It’s also a great opportunity to meet some of your favorite beer celebrewers and try new styles and brands of beer that might not be available in your hometown.

With over 1,595 breweries operating in the United States, almost every American is positioned to live within 10 miles of a local brewery.  The growth and availability of craft beer is helping to drive the segment, with the volume of craft beer sold in the first half of 2009 up 7.2% compared to 2008, and dollar sales up 10.3% by dollars. On top of that, craft brewers sold an estimated 9,115,635 barrels (where 1 barrel = 31 US gallons) of beer in 2009, up from 8,501,713 in 2008. Americans are a thirsty bunch, indeed!  

Attendees of the event are treated to unlimited one ounce samples in addition to a wide array of other activities. New this year is the addition of an enhanced state brewers guilds/Support Your Local Brewery pavilion, an even better Farm to Table Pavillion, and special speakers like Top Chef Season 5 winner Hosea Rosenberg, Sierra Nevada founder Ken Grossman and the Brewers Association’s President and ultimate homebrew champion Charlie Papazian. There’s also the Pro-Am Competition, now in its fifth year, which showcase award-winning homebrew recipes produced with the assistance of a professional brewer; the beers are all offered on the festival floor with the opportunity for all attendees to taste. With a full out awards ceremony, book signings, you be the judge lessons, silent disco and merchandise booth, there is definitely something for everyone.

Denver, and beer, is calling… like a sweet frothy siren, I have no choice but to follow the sudsy song and cross the country to achieve beervana.

If you’re ready to learn more about and, more importantly, taste your way through the beautiful beer bounty the small, independent and traditional (aka craft) brewers of this fine country have to offer, then hop on board. Visit www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com for more information; save the date, buy your tickets, and look forward to seeing you all there!

One of my favorite things to come out of the rise and proliferation of social media is the online or synchronized tasting. Whether it’s for wine, beer or spirits, online tastings have become one of the best ways to share the same bottle and informative experience with hundreds or even thousands of people simultaneously all over the world. Through the use of networking sites like Facebook and Twitter as well as personal blogs and organizational sites, people can share comments and opinions about a beverage and learn from participating representatives or producers all from the comfort of their home. Aside from being there one on one with the respective producer, what could be better than that?

And for the “sponsoring” producer, region or organization, what could be better than spreading the word on your product to all those people simultaneously, engaging them in conversation, soliciting their opinions and offering up additional information when required. Strong word of mouth is undeniably influential, especially when it comes to shopping and trying brands outside the mainstream. Especially when it comes to wine recommendations.

So, to kick off the summer, I decided to participate in a synchronized worldwide tasting organized by the folks at Sud de France in celebration of their 4th anniversary. Sud de France is a wonderful concept, acting as an umbrella brand for wine and food products from Languedoc-Roussillon. With over 30 appellations and 60 Vin de Pays situated within the region, there is obviously more than they could ever show with just one online tasting. However, the concept for this event was simply to offer an idea as to the breadth and diversity of the wines the region has to offer. As a fan of the region and the reviewer of the wines for the magazine, I couldn’t have been happier to participate and help spread the word about the bountiful offerings of the region.

Here were my impressions of the five wines selected for the synchronized tasting.

Sieur d’Arques NV Grande Cuvée 1531 Brut (Crémant de Limoux); $16, 12%.
Extremely pale yellow in color with delicate, fine bubble carbonation dancing up through the middle of the glass. The nose offers soft citrus (like pink grapefruit rind) alongside notes of Granny Smith apple and hints of yeast and yellow florals. The mouth is creamy and full with well-balanced acidity and a brisk lemony citrus character leading through to the clean finish. At about $16, this is an excellent value sparkler for brunch or casual bubbly with friends.

Gérard Bertrand 2008 Cigalus (Vin de Pays d’Oc); $30, 13.5%.
Composed of 75% Chardonnay, 20% Viognier, 5% Sauvignon Blanc, this is a beautiful wine from former rugby player turned rockstar vigneron Gérard Bertrand. The nose screams of Chardonnay goodness, with aromas of wood-grilled red apples, peach pit and butter-toasted almonds. After you get over that, the other components of the blend start to come in (the Viognier and Sauv Blanc) to liven things up with nuanced white floral notes (reminiscent to me of gardenia) and a suggestion of tropical acidity. Medium-light weight with full ripe apple and orange oil flavors, and toast coming through strong on the finish. Well-balanced and very enjoyable, this is a complex and very food-friendly wine that offers a higher-end VdP experience than I’m sure most people (unfortunately) haven’t yet had.

Vignerons Catalans NV Fruité Catalan Rosé (Côtes du Roussillon); $12, 13%.
Deep color for a rosé, like a true strawberry. The assertive bouquet offers plenty of small red berries and suggestions of strawberries and cream. It has a touch of sweetness to it, as though there was some simple syrup mixed in there with all those berries. The mouth is light and fresh with a ton of red cherry flavors and a hint of sweet spice in the background. Balanced and fruit-forward for sure, this rosé would be a great choice for the upcoming hot summer days to pair with lighter fare such as grilled chicken salad.

Domaine Dromadaire 30670 2006 Vin de Pays d’Oc; $12, 13%.
Wow… this pours impressively: opaque and almost black in color, like really dark prune juice. The nose is loaded with black fruit, including cherry, plum and berry, supported by some black olive and pepper flecks in the background. Moderately tannic and austere with a firm structure and more of that dark black fruit holding it all together. Leather, licorice and a touch of oak in the form of ground cocoa nibs appear on the finish. Balanced and big with plenty of fruit and spice for lovers of both. A superb value, indeed.

Mas de Madame 2006 Muscat de Frontignan; $17, 15.5%.
This wine is immediately attractive in the glass, with that nice, very typical nose of musky sweetness. Lovely aromas of mushy peach, honeysuckle and orange marmalade citrus are all very enticing, luring you in to a promisingly sweet experience. The mouth is a touch viscous and weighty, but the acidity livens up the ripe, lingering honeyed flavors. Apricot pit and dried orange rind drizzled with clover honey round out the finish. Well balanced, clean and easy to drink. A lovely choice for dessert, but just give me a nice chunk of blue cheese to go with it and I’m as happy as could be.

All in all, I think Sud de France did an excellent job of showing off the diverse selections the region has to offer. Even if they were all not my personal preference (though they did a darn good job nailing almost all five as such), the experience certainly showed some folks that there’s more to the region than what you might have tasted before, and with a little knowledge and adventure you can find some superb wines at excellent values.

To see what other people thought about the tasting, use the Twitter hashtag #SudDeFrance or #WorldTastingSync or check out the event’s website here and check out articles and comments on the tasting here.

What do you think about synchronized online tastings? Do you find them fun and informative like me, or would you rather just taste alone? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the subject!