Wine and Wild Boar

Welcome to my blog!  After much thought, haranguing, and gnashing of teeth, I was finally talked into sharing my love of "the vine."  However, this blog won't be limited to just wine.  My belief is that wine is always better with a meal and best when shared with friends so I will throw in some great pairings and recipes.  At the same time, I thought it would be fun to throw in some fun anecdotes on my Bears, Bulls, and Sox of the white variety.  It really shouldn't have taken me this long to get going on this blog, but it'll be worth the wait.....trust me! 

It's funny how things work out sometimes because it never, ever occurred to me in college that, at the age of 30, wine would be my career path.  A major in International Studies and Business relates to fine wine sales, right?  I think so.  Wine is fun.  Wine piques my intellectual side and my creative side.  There is so much to learn and so much to experience.  I know it's cliche to say that you learn something new everyday but working at one of the largest wine stores in the nation, the statement definitely rings true. 

A favorite memory of mine in my first few months at the store was trying to pair a great $15 wine to wild boar.  Wild boar, really?  I know....I know.  Luckily, D'Angelo Bros in Philly makes homemade wild boar sausage, which is an absolute treat.  My wife and I call the owner Mr. Sunshine for his "sunny" dispostion.  You'll know what I'm talking about if you go.  We have a nice chuckle every time we leave with their exceptional meats.  Anyway, I had an idea of where to go taste-wise.  The intellectual side came into play while trying to remember $15 wines in stock, any mental tasting notes, and wine magazine reviews if the customer is interested.  From there, I married the two sides and found my perfect pairing, which was Pinot Noir of course.

Here on this site, you'll find some easy to understand thoughts on my wines of the week, which will include at least three wines varying from the every day to special occasion.  I'll try to hit a low, medium, and high price point each week.  The wines will largely come from stores in Wilmington with some treats from my cellar.  The wife may even pick out some bottles for some blind tasting excitement.  Well, that's the plan at least.  I always manage to talk myself into more in the end.

Stay tuned tomorrow for "A Pinot Noir for the "Peanut.""  Until then, happy sipping!

PS - Outside of the obvious wine and Chicago sports connections, I bet you're all wondering where the name of my blog comes from.  My favorite late-night movie to pop in the DVD player is "Bottle Shock."  In the movie, Alan Rickman plays Steven Spurrier, an English wine merchant living in Paris, who decides to host a competition between the top American and French wineries on the eve of the American Bicentennial.  During a conversation with his next door neighbor, an American car service owner named Maurice played by Dennis Farina, the following exchange happens:

Maurice:  I just read an article that said California is gonna produce wine that will rival the finest of the French.  And when that happens, I'm going home.

Steven Spurrier:  No offense, but I don't foresee the imminent cultivation of the Chicago vine.

Maurice:  I'm from Milwaukee.

For a fabulous account of the true story, check out Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine.  It's a wonderful book about the history of Californian and French wine, and the controversial tasting that changed the wine industry.  One of my faves!