Apollo by Sixpoint Brewery

Posted by Keith Wallace on Nov 5, 2012 in Beer Reviews | 0 comments

The Apollo is Sixpoint Brewery‘s adaptation of a  Kristalweizen, the lightest and most refreshing of wheat beers.  This is a dangerous style to brew, as any flaws are immediately obvious: the light malts, the minimal hops, and the low ABV give the brewmaster little wiggle room for errors. The other trepidation I had with this beer was the name. Any beer named after either 1) a famous rocket ship 2) a  Filipino televangelist or 3) the god of light and truth… well, that beer is really setting the bar a bit too high.

While I am pretty sure this beer will not save  your soul or take you to the moon, it is full of sunshine. And an excellent example of the style.  It pours a light amber with a slight haze and gentle lacing. On the nose, it offers up an aroma of floral hops, sour green apple, and toast. On the palate, banana notes come forward with a bit of allspice rounded off with a light sweetness of malt and the bitterness of a burnt orange peel.

The finish veers towards wet hay and banana bread. It remains crisp and clean with a fantastic roundness just shy of turning creamy. This is a top-flight session beer.

Another Day, Another Dollar

Posted by Keith Wallace on Mar 10, 2011 in News, Philly | 0 comments

The famed cellars of La Tour d’Argent are going up for auction.

The New York Times reports:  “Seven stories below La Tour’s dining area overlooking Notre Dame, the cellar stretches for 27 rooms and holds 450,000 bottles. Of that immense collection, a modest 4 percent — or 18,000 bottles — will be sold Monday and Tuesday in a public auction, the first known sale of its kind since the restaurant began in 1582.”

Read more here.

Phoodie.com Editor Joins Wine School Team

Posted by Keith Wallace on Mar 6, 2011 in News, Philly | 0 comments

One of the better known food and beverage bloggers in Philadelphia is now the newest member of the Wine School team. “Collin Flatt is going to be a great asset to the school,” says owner and founder Keith Wallace. “I hire only the best wine instructors available, and Collin has proven to me he has what it takes to play in the big leagues.”

Like many Fine Arts majors before him, Collin’s food and wine career was originally nothing more than a few gigs as a bartender. However, he pulled off the impossible. After several years in Rome and New York, he returned to Philadelphia as an industry insider. “This is my calling. I suck at everything else,” quips Collin.

Along with teaching at the Wine School, Collin will remain a notorious figure in Philly’s culinary scene. Along with his well-known work as the editor of Phoodie.com, he will continue in some less boisterous ventures. These include his work as a trusted broker in the fine wine auction market, and as a consulting sommelier. Most recently, he has teamed up with legendary chef David Ansill to redevelop the menus at Ladder 15.

Collin is the third well-known food and wine writer to join the staff of the Wine School. He follows in the footsteps of Brian Freedman and David Snyder. At one point, all three were students of the Wine School. “I am not sure if its a chicken-or-egg thing, but our Foundation program is a breeding ground for creative foodies. Go figure,” says Keith. “It sure helps that I don’t have to look far to find top-notch staffers.”

Come join us at the Wine School of Philadelphia this spring and give a warm welcome to our newest authority on fine food and wine, Collin Flatt!

To set up a time to speak to Collin Flatt, please contact the Wine School at 1-800-817-7351, ext. 33, or email press@vinology.com.

Weekly Wine Buy in Pennsylvania

Posted by Keith Wallace on Jan 7, 2011 in News, Wine Reviews | 0 comments

d’Arenberg 2004 “The Laughing Magpie” Shiraz/Viognier, McLaren Vale (AU)

Why does d’Arenberg sell this wine for so little in our humble state of Pennsyltucky? Why sell a wine for under $20 when so many people are happy to spend over $30? Even the critics all love it. Seems very silly to me. No matter the reason, we have yet another vintage of this killer Shiraz. FYI: the addition of Viognier (a white wine) is a common practice in the Northern Rhone region of France. It offers the enormously tannic and rich syrah with a delicate counterpoint.

Whoops, better get the review written: big rich inky lush jam oily flowers beef jerky.

Price: $17.99

PA Code: 27447

This wine is priced lower in Pennsylvania than in New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, or New York. Find the wine at a Wine & Spirits Shop near you: http://www.vinology.com/wine_finder

Italy Comes to New York

Posted by Keith Wallace on Jan 2, 2011 in News | 0 comments

Starting tomorrow, the largest Italian wine event ever outside of Italy will be held in New York. Vino 2010 is several days’ worth of tastings, seminars, meals, and more. I’ll be heading up there this afternoon and, while I doubt I’ll ever be able to compete with our own Frank Cipparone in terms of the depth of my knowledge about obscure Italian varietals and tucked-away regions, I’m positive that the next couple of days will at least put me on a more even footing when he starts waxing poetic about Gaglioppo and Coda di Volpe.

Wine School students, even if you’re not going to be in New York, can also participate from the comfort of their own computers. Thursday morning at 10:00, there’s a panel discussion being held on social media and the brave new world of online wine appreciation. It’s called Virtual Vino, and the organizers are encouraging people to post questions that they want answered on Twitter to @vino2010 or @JRvino2010. The event will also be streamed live at www.italianmade.com/vino2010.